Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 21

Yu Lu waved a hand toward the crowd, signaling the group to wait, and then went forward alone: “Troubling you two colleagues for the inspection.”

After handing over the official document for escorting the prisoners, his heart quietly tensed up.

It was important to note that there were originally only twenty prisoners, but now there were six more. Shi Niang and the five young women did not have identity documents. If the inspection was strict, he would have to waste a lot of words and might not even be able to talk his way through it.

Unexpectedly, the older soldier merely glanced at the document. Seeing the seal of the Ministry of Justice, he closed it without a close look.

“It’s been a long time since anyone has come to our Zhenshan County relay station. Please come in quickly. I will lead the way for the Sir,” the older soldier said, handing the document back and smiling as he led the way.

Yu Lu felt a slight release of tension. He nodded calmly, waved his hand again, and led the group into the city.

The soldiers escorted them to the government-run relay station in Zhenshan County. It looked reasonably clean, but the space was a little small.

Yu Lu was given a single room, the officers shared two people per room, and that left only two rooms for the prisoners.

The minor official at the station clearly knew how to host exiled prisoners and immediately arranged for the men to be in one room and the women in the other, packed tightly. Most people would have to sleep on the floor.

Yu Lu tacitly accepted the arrangement and said nothing.

It would be too illogical if he were to crowd the officers just to make the prisoners comfortable.

Even the meals were different. The officers had wine and meat, while the prisoners only had coarse grain flatbreads and boiled water.

In the relay station hall, everyone was starving. Upon seeing the food, they stopped talking and practically devoured it.

While everyone was eating, Yun Chi quickly gnawed on a bun and then tugged at Ye Xuejin’s sleeve, saying in a nasty tone: “My stomach hurts. Come into the room and rub it for me.”

Ye Xuejin lowered her gaze, stood up, and followed her obediently.

Most people were used to this sight, and although some looked surprised, they didn’t show anything outwardly.

After all, one side was willing to beat, and the other was willing to take it. After Ye Xuejin’s intervention, anyone with a brain wouldn’t interfere again.

Inside the room, Yun Chi closed the door and pulled Ye Xuejin deeper inside: “Something happened last night… it seems that Sir Yu and that Shi Niang are friends, not enemies. What do you think?” She recounted the events at the riverbank the previous night, quickly updating Ye Xuejin.

Ye Xuejin thought for a moment and offered her perspective: “Yu Lu comes from the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice and several Vice Ministers are all trusted, vital officials who are dedicated to serving the people’s welfare.”

The implication was that Yu Lu was likely acting on the orders of those Lords within the Ministry of Justice.

“As for Shi Niang, I vaguely recall seeing her once. She should be from the household of Lianhua.” She paused, then explained, “Lianhua is the Prime Minister’s daughter you asked about before, surname Tao, and she is my close friend.”

When Yun Chi heard that Shi Niang was arranged by the female protagonist, she felt half-relieved. Why only half?

Because although Shi Niang was trustworthy, she likely couldn’t ensure Ye Xuejin’s safety, as in the original novel, Ye Xuejin did not live to see the day her name was cleared.

She thought for a moment and whispered: “For now, we can only trust Shi Niang. We still need to be wary of everyone else, including Sir Yu.”

Since Ye Xuejin vaguely remembered seeing Shi Niang at the female protagonist’s place, there should be no mistake.

However, Yu Lu could not be easily trusted yet.

Ye Xuejin nodded: “Understood.”

“I saw that the water wasn’t very clean just now, and you didn’t drink any. Are you thirsty?” Yun Chi said, taking out a bottle of mineral water. Just as she was about to hand it over, she paused: “What do you think we need most right now?”

Since the golden finger could grant a high probability of a desired reward if she wished for it in advance, she naturally had to make good use of every opportunity.

Ye Xuejin looked at her and said softly, “Silver.”

“Silver?”

“Yes. Although we cannot leave on our own, Shi Niang can. The group should be staying in the city for one day, and she can help us buy things.” After Ye Xuejin finished, she gave Yun Chi a meaningful look.

Yun Chi understood. Although she could rely on the golden finger for supplies, many things couldn’t be obtained openly.

After silently wishing for silver a few times, she handed the water to Ye Xuejin: “You… drink more.”

Ye Xuejin looked thoughtful but only drank half the bottle.

【Sent out half a bottle of mineral water. Please choose a reward: five taels of broken silver or five taels of broken silver】

Yun Chi: “…” The golden finger was persistently obsessed with the format, ensuring there was an option but no difference.

Also, this water was becoming less valuable with every delivery. Previously, it was ten taels of silver ingots. Now, it was down to five taels of broken silver.

“I’ve only managed to save twenty-five taels so far. Let’s give it all to Shi Niang and let her act as she sees fit.”

Yun Chi took out all the silver she had acquired during the journey and handed it to Ye Xuejin.

Ye Xuejin gently shook her head: “It would be better if you gave it to her. There are more people watching me.”

Yun Chi agreed and put the silver away again.

Just then, everyone finished eating and returned to the rooms.

As Ye Xuejin expected, Shi Niang entered the room and immediately told the young women: “You accompany me to look around the city and buy some things we’ll need for the road.”

The young women were very obedient and immediately stood by her side.

Shi Niang subtly glanced at Yun Chi and intentionally raised her voice: “Since we meet by fate, if any of you need me to help you bring back anything, just come talk to me privately. I will wait outside the door.”

After saying this, she left the room and instructed the young women to wait by the relay station entrance.

Yun Chi saw the situation and understood. Shi Niang was worried they didn’t have money and wanted to cover up the transaction.

Inside the room, Yun Chi exchanged a look with Ye Xuejin and was the first to leave.

Behind her, Zhou Qiyue looked at Old Madam Zhou: “Mother, I’ll go find big brother and father to ask them.”

Asking someone to bring things required money, naturally.

The confiscation was sudden, and the officers were ruthless, even ripping away her earrings and hairpins. She was currently penniless.

Old Madam Zhou shook her head. She pulled out an exquisite small gold lock from her robe: “They don’t have anything on them anymore. I have everything here. Take this to trade for some food and buy a waterskin.”

This gold lock was originally intended as a birthday gift for her little granddaughter. The gold shop had just delivered it, and before she could put it away, the confiscating officers arrived.

Zhou Qiyue was delighted: “Mother, how did you hide this? Didn’t the officers search everyone on the day of the confiscation?”

Old Madam Zhou gave Ye Xuejin a non-committal look, not avoiding the subject, and said frankly: “I hid it in my mouth.”

Zhou Qiyue suddenly realized: I wondered why Mother was so calm that day and didn’t speak.

“What about big brother’s silver note…” Big brother managed to buy wound medicine from an officer with a silver note two days ago.

Old Madam Zhou offered a rare smile: “Your big brother is also a clever one. He hid it under his foot.”

Zhou Qiyue’s eyes brightened: “What about Father? What did he hide?” Thinking that her family still had some wealth, she felt a little happier.

Old Madam Zhou’s smile faded slightly: “Your father is an impractical one. He always spoke of the purity of scholars. When disaster struck, all he was left with was that ‘purity.’ He didn’t manage to keep even a single copper coin. At a critical moment, he is less prepared than a child. Ying’er even had a jade pendant hidden on her.”

Currently, the Zhou family’s entire remaining assets consisted only of her little granddaughter’s personal jade pendant and this gold lock.

Zhou Qiyue fell silent. Well, I am also less prepared than a child, and impractical.