On the road, a constable walking alongside Zhang Tou couldn’t help but ask, “Zhang Tou, why did you let that courier sell the water flask to Jiang Huai?”

There was a subtle note of accusation in his tone.

It was common knowledge that during the escort of these prisoners, relying solely on the imperial stipend wasn’t worth the journey. Those who volunteered for these assignments often looked to extract some benefits from the prisoners along the way.

Of course, even this kind of exploitation had its rules. If the prisoners were excessively squeezed, and any of them turned out to have connections with officials, it could backfire, affecting the constables’ careers. Hence, the usual approach was to first make the prisoners suffer a little, then sell them basic necessities at inflated prices. Even if the prices were steep, it was easier to justify since it involved a legitimate transaction, and the prisoners would find it hard to make an issue out of such trivialities.

The water flasks were their first planned item of exploitation. The prisoners had to be parched enough to realize the value of an ordinary flask, making them willing to pay exorbitant prices. Therefore, it was strictly prohibited for others to sell these items to the prisoners, as that would be akin to giving away their own share of the profit.

“Have you forgotten his identity?” Zhang Tou glanced at the constable and warned him.

With Jiang Huai’s background, they needed to tread carefully. They couldn’t afford to treat him too well, considering the gravity of the Jiang family’s crimes. However, singling him out for mistreatment could also be problematic. Those who had once benefited from the Jiang family might seize the opportunity to repay their debt, using the constables as pawns. These benefactors wouldn’t risk openly opposing the emperor but could easily deal with the constables discreetly.

Moreover, the water flask was handed over by a courier in front of many witnesses. If Zhang Tou had openly denied it, it would’ve looked like deliberate targeting of Jiang Huai.

Zhang Tou didn’t explain all of this but expected the constable to catch on.

“Besides,” Zhang Tou continued, “do you see him carrying any silver?”

The questioning constable froze. He had indeed been observing Jiang Huai. Given his prestigious background, if he had any hidden silver, it would likely be substantial. At the very least, someone like him, unaccustomed to suffering, would have used money to ease his discomfort, especially early in the journey. Even if Jiang Huai was cautious about revealing his wealth, there would still be moments of hesitation or indulgence.

However, upon reflection, Jiang Huai, despite being visibly parched, hadn’t bought a single drop of water. He only drank when the group encountered natural water sources. Based on his longing looks when others purchased water, it was clear—he had no money. If he had even a little silver, he wouldn’t be so miserly.

The constable cursed under his breath, now understanding why Zhang Tou acted as he did. There was no silver to extort from Jiang Huai. If it were any other prisoner, they could vent their frustrations, but Jiang Huai’s case was delicate. They couldn’t be too harsh or too lenient with him. In the end, indifference seemed the safest approach.

Jiang Huai didn’t overhear the constables’ discussion. Clutching the water flask in his hands, he felt a slight boost of energy as he trudged along.

However, this newfound vigor waned as the journey grew longer. His legs ached more with each step. Thankfully, the ground hadn’t yet heated up in the morning, sparing his feet from additional suffering.

Jiang Huai couldn’t help but think that if he endured a few more days of this, his walking experience alone would qualify him for a racewalking competition back in modern times. Winning a prize might be far-fetched, but he was confident he could at least finish the race.

Today, for some reason, it seemed like the constables were pushing the pace to make up for lost time. The constable at the back was driving the prisoners to move faster. If Jiang Huai hadn’t rested well the night before, he might not have kept up.

Fortunately, even the constables couldn’t sustain this speed for long. When the sun was at its peak, Zhang Tou finally called for a rest.

The moment the words left his mouth, several prisoners collapsed to the ground. Some didn’t even bother finding shade, plopping down under the blazing sun just to catch their breath.

The constables, however, didn’t sit immediately. They first drank water and refilled their flasks before seeking shade to rest.

Jiang Huai, already parched, was eager to quench his thirst. However, unlike last time when he blended in with the group to drink, now it seemed he was the only one heading to the water source. Who should he ask for permission?

Instinctively, he thought of Zhang Tou, but quickly remembered Zhang Tou’s earlier words. Since Xiao Jingzhao was assigned to oversee him, it made sense to approach Xiao Jingzhao instead.

Although Jiang Huai had never worked a job, he knew one thing—going over a superior’s head could earn their resentment. Considering his current lowly status, he had to tread carefully.

Most importantly, Jiang Huai felt that Zhang Tou wasn’t someone to mess with. Unless absolutely necessary, he preferred to stay out of Zhang Tou’s sight.

As he turned to find Xiao Jingzhao, he realized the man was already standing behind him, his dark eyes fixed on him.

Jiang Huai was briefly puzzled but didn’t dwell on it. He assumed Xiao Jingzhao, being new to escorting prisoners, was simply more cautious.

“Officer, may I go drink some water?” Jiang Huai asked carefully.

Xiao Jingzhao listened silently, his expression unreadable. After a brief glance at another prisoner he was watching, he nodded slightly, signaling Jiang Huai to go quickly and return.

Jiang Huai hadn’t expected Xiao Jingzhao to agree so readily. He hurried to the stream, drank several gulps of water, and began eating his dry biscuit with sips of water.

As he ate, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but think of the meal at the courier station. Though it paled compared to modern cuisine, it was a feast compared to the coarse biscuit in his hand.

Shaking his head vigorously, Jiang Huai forced himself to stop reminiscing. Dwelling on it would only spoil his appetite further.

This motion inadvertently caught Xiao Jingzhao’s attention. Jiang Huai noticed Xiao Jingzhao didn’t seem to have a water flask. If his memory was correct, Xiao Jingzhao hadn’t drunk any water during the journey either.

Could it be that Xiao Jingzhao had rushed out too quickly and forgotten his flask?

Initially, Jiang Huai didn’t think much of it. After all, it wasn’t like he could offer his own flask. But as he gnawed on his biscuit, he recalled the morning incident. If Zhang Tou’s whim had denied him the flask, what would’ve happened without a kind word from someone?

“Officer, it’s so hot. You should drink some water too,” Jiang Huai offered.

Xiao Jingzhao, lost in thought, was startled by the sudden appearance of a flask before him.

Turning, he met Jiang Huai’s earnest gaze.

Jiang Huai’s reasoning was straightforward. He had nothing else to offer, so if a bit of water could win him some favor, why not try? At worst, Xiao Jingzhao might snatch the flask, which wasn’t a huge loss. It was also a chance to gauge the constable’s character.

Xiao Jingzhao studied Jiang Huai in silence. The scorching sun and his morning thirst made the offer tempting. Besides, he had watched Jiang Huai fetch the water himself and even take a sip, ruling out any tampering.

Taking the flask, Xiao Jingzhao drank a sip, then gulped it down.

Relieved, Jiang Huai quickly refilled the flask at the stream, noting this small success. While his actions weren’t loud, the unusual gesture caught everyone’s attention. By now, Jiang Huai was the focus of the entire group, especially after the morning’s incident.

The prisoners, many of whom envied his water flask earlier, now mocked his attempt to curry favor with the constable.

“That little brat thinks fetching water will earn him favor?”

“Maybe the officer will actually be charmed by his eagerness.”

“Does he really think the constable is as stupid as that courier? Wait till he loses the flask instead.”

“Haha, who knows? Maybe he’s got that kind of luck.”

“Luck? If he were lucky, he wouldn’t be here in the first place!”

The prisoners who spoke up were mostly the same ones who had mocked Jiang Huai earlier in the morning. Even though their ridicule had backfired on them, they still hadn’t learned their lesson. They simply chalked it up to Jiang Huai being lucky enough to encounter a foolish courier who didn’t know how to exploit the situation. 

There was no way, they thought, that the constables this time would be just as naive.