Chapter 39: Stirring the Minds of the Bailiffs

Song Shiwei clicked her tongue, casting a strange look at Song Shilan; it seemed the woman still hadn't fully adjusted to her status as a prisoner. Making such a fuss was practically inviting the bailiffs to rob her.

Among the group of bailiffs, only Zhang Huai did not spare Song Shilan a second glance. To Wang Laosan and the others, however, Song Shilan looked like a piece of succulent meat. Yet, they did nothing and ignored her completely. The rest of the Song family wouldn't even deign to look at her. Seeing this, Song Shilan had no choice but to crawl toward her father.

"Father, please, save me," she sobbed miserably, suppressing her pain. "My foot, my foot is going to be ruined."

Her father raised his eyelids and said coldly, "Your foot is being ruined—what does that have to do with me?"

Song Shilan’s wailing faltered. She looked at her father as if he were a stranger. "Father, I am your daughter..."

"I wish you were not my daughter," he interrupted coldly, making no effort to hide his disgust. "After all the heinous things you’ve done since you were a child, you expect me to save you now? Keep dreaming!"

There was not a single person in the entire family who hadn't been schemed against or exploited by Song Shilan.

Song Shilan did not believe she had done anything wrong. She put on a pitiful act. "Father, it was the concubine who forced me. If I hadn't acted that way, she would have beaten and scolded me."

Her father merely snorted, turned to the side, and faced away from her, clearly unwilling to engage further.

"Concubine Qin is already dead at your hands, so you can say whatever you like with no one to refute you," Song Mingting sneered.

Seeing that her entire family despised her, Song Shilan felt a hatred so intense it made her whole body ache. It was clearly Song Shiwei and the others who were in the wrong; they were the ones who had brought the family to this state and caused her such misery. Yet, her father favored them and treated her this way. It was hateful.

"Father, I am your daughter too!" she cried out with resentment. "Why do you only care about Eldest Sister and the others, and not whether I live or die?"

Her father remained silent.

"Father, we should continue on our way," Song Shiwei said, helping him stand and calling out to the rest of the family. "Everyone, keep moving, so as to avoid giving others an excuse to cause trouble."

The Song family members, supporting one another, followed behind Song Shiwei as they resumed their journey, not a single one uttering a word of complaint.

Song Mingyu, who was in charge of the donkey cart, asked Song Shiwei, "Shiwei, should we let Father and Auntie Chun ride in the cart?"

Seeing that there was space on the cart, Song Shiwei said to her father and the others, "Father, take turns riding in the cart. You are all ill and need to rest properly."

Her father tried to refuse, but Song Shiwei persuaded him. "Father, we bought the cart specifically to rest our feet. Besides, your health is most important. If you collapse, the cost will be far greater."

Hearing this, her father stopped arguing. "Auntie Chun, you women should go first. We men can hold out a bit longer."

Auntie Chun and the others exchanged glances, all reluctant to take the cart. "Master, shouldn't you all ride instead? We can keep going; there is no need for us to ride."

Song Shiwei sighed in frustration. She first helped her mother, who was struggling, onto the cart, then helped Auntie Chun up. "We will rotate every hour so that everyone gets a turn."

The family had no objections. Only Auntie Chun sat uneasily. "Eldest Miss, why don't you ride first? I have taken my medicine and feel much better."

Song Shiwei held her down and put on a stern face. "Auntie Chun, I just said it. Your health is the priority. If you collapse, it will only create more trouble."

Her mother also urged, "Auntie Chun, just sit and rest. It’s not like you’re staying there forever; we are rotating every hour."

Seeing this, Auntie Chun finally settled onto the cart. "Then I will get down in an hour."

A smile appeared on Song Shiwei's face. "That’s better."

No sooner had she spoken than she heard Song Shilan’s voice, sharp with urgency and anger. "I want to ride the cart! I am the one who is injured; I deserve to ride!"

She stumbled toward the cart, her eyes filled with malice. "Auntie Chun, you lowly concubine, get off the cart this instant!"

Without breaking her stride, Song Shiwei backhanded her, knocking her to the ground. She glanced at Song Shilan with cold, indifferent eyes. "Song Shilan, if you say one more word, I will make sure you stay here forever!"

Her demeanor was like that of a vengeful ghost from hell, causing Song Shilan to tremble uncontrollably. "You, you..."

She covered her mouth, screaming, "Father, help! Eldest Sister is trying to kill me! Father, save me!"

Her father paid her no mind.

Song Mingting chuckled. "Song Shilan, keep causing trouble. The louder you scream, the more likely you are to die right here. I, for one, would be delighted to see you gone."

Song Shilan could see that everyone present wanted her dead. She had no choice but to appeal to Wang Laosan. "Bailiff, please, save me. I will give you silver, lots of silver."

Wang Laosan finally walked over and helped her up. He raised his head slightly, shouting with feigned anger, "What is all this noise..."

*Smack!*

Zhang Huai slapped him across the face, his eyes glinting with a lethal intent. "You had better shut your mouth. On this journey of exile, it is perfectly normal for a bailiff or two to die."

He only kept Wang Laosan around because he was the leader of the other bailiffs. By suppressing Wang Laosan, he could control the rest. Wang Laosan saw that he was serious. He swallowed hard, his face turning slightly pale, and he dared not show any resistance.

"Captain, you joke. I am only worried that our escort mission might fail." He had been too eager to complete the task assigned by Princess Anning and had overlooked the Captain.

Zhang Huai was well aware of his petty motives. He let out a cold laugh. "Wang Laosan, I look forward to the day you come begging for mercy."

With that, he turned toward the Song family, ignoring Wang Laosan further. A sense of unease began to creep into Wang Laosan’s heart. Before he could process it, he heard Song Shilan’s voice, low and filled with murderous intent.

"Get rid of him, and you will be the captain. Then you can do whatever you want."

Wang Laosan knew exactly what she was plotting. He scoffed, "Don't think you can use me. I only take orders from Princess Anning. As for you... you are a condemned prisoner, and the fact that I give you the time of day is already a favor."

Song Shilan ground her teeth, but she knew that the man before her was the only one she could use. "I am only thinking of you," she said, putting on a ingratiating smile. "Think about it—the Captain protects Song Shiwei and the others and works against you. If you want to complete Princess Anning’s mission, the Captain will surely be the one to stop you."