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The group arrived at the foot of the mountain, where the path was paved with gravel, making the walk extremely uncomfortable.
During the summer, their shoes were made thin for breathability, with both soles and uppers barely providing any cushioning. While this wasn’t an issue on the flat roads of the capital, the mountain terrain was a different story.
Before long, people felt as if their soles were burning. Some shoes had already worn through, exposing bare skin to the sharp gravel, raising painful blisters with every step as though walking on knives.
Complaints rose among the group, but the officials, wearing thick-soled official boots, remained unaffected by the rough path.
Seeing the prisoners slow down, the officials cracked their whips at the stragglers.
“Move faster! What’s the holdup?”
Those at the back wore straw sandals, long since worn through. The blisters on their feet had burst, leaving a trail of blood along the way.
The people from the Dingguo Prince Residence weren’t faring much better.
“Mother, how are your feet?” Madam Qin asked softly, supporting the Old Princess.
The Old Princess’s face was pale. Though she hadn’t developed blisters, the gravel was unbearable, and her soles burned with pain.
She shook her head, unable to endure much longer.
More and more prisoners struggled to walk. Just then, the officials at the front halted, frowning at a two-meter-wide chasm ahead.
“Boss, where’s the wooden bridge that used to be here?”
“Word is it collapsed during the earthquake a while back.”
“We could go around from behind, but that path is treacherous—it’ll take a lot more time.”
After a moment’s thought, the lead official said grimly, “Then we’ll take the detour.” He checked the time—it was already noon.
“Let’s stop here for lunch before moving on.”
They opened the food crates, revealing the same coarse rice cakes as before.
Shang Ruoyi took out the cold buns she had saved and shared some with the officials. The remaining few were nowhere near enough for everyone in the Dingguo Prince Residence.
But if she excluded the second branch, there would be just enough for one bun per person.
Shang Ruoyi distributed them accordingly—leaving none to spare.
The second branch, smelling the fragrant buns and comparing them to the dry, tasteless rice cakes given by the officials, found their meal even harder to swallow.
He Ning’an scoffed. “I say, daughter-in-law of the main branch, where are our buns?”
“Second Uncle, how forgetful of you,” Shang Ruoyi replied with a smile. “Didn’t your son say he wouldn’t accept food given in contempt? Then you and Aunt should fend for yourselves. Besides, we barely have enough for our own—how could there be extras for you?”
“Shang Ruoyi, don’t go too far,” He Jinghe snapped. “I never thought you’d hold such a grudge. How petty.”
“Exactly,” Madam Zhang sneered. “One would expect a girl from the Prime Minister’s Residence to have better manners. Turns out she’s worse than my daughter-in-law, who comes from a humble family.”
Madam Qiao paused mid-bite, shooting a cold glance at her complaining mother-in-law.
Shang Ruoyi smirked, finishing the last bite of her bun. “I made it clear this morning—from today onward, any food I bring back, even if there are leftovers, I’d rather give to others than share with you.”
“Mother, listen to what Jingheng’s wife is saying!” He Ning’an said sternly. “Is this any way to speak to elders?”
The Old Princess took a bite of her bun and glanced at him. “Elders should behave like elders. All these things were brought back by Ruoyi, yet have any of you thanked her? Is this how I raised you all these years?”
Shang Ruoyi felt immensely gratified upon hearing this.
She had known the Old Princess would be fair-minded.
He Ning’an flushed red and lowered his head without another word.
Shang Ruoyi took out a shoe pad and placed it inside her shoe.
With limited time, making new shoes wasn’t possible, but adding two layers of padding made walking much more comfortable.
Seeing her actions, the He family members brightened visibly.
This way, they could at least spare themselves some suffering.
“Ruoyi, do we all get these shoe pads?” Madam Qin approached and asked softly. “Could I have a few extra pairs?”
Shang Ruoyi nodded. “They’re not as good as proper shoes, but they’ll help.”
Just then, a prisoner came up to her ingratiatingly. “Could you sell me a few pairs?”
“What will you trade for them?”
He pulled out a silver bracelet from his pocket. “This was my wife’s. How many pairs could I get for it?”
Shang Ruoyi weighed the bracelet—it was solid silver. She took out four pairs of shoe pads from her bundle, two for men and two for women. “Deal?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” He eagerly took the pads and hurried back to his spot.
Seeing that Shang Ruoyi was willing to barter, other prisoners who had valuables began considering their options.
Madam Zhang noticed that everyone in the He family had shoe pads—except for the second branch. Limping over to Shang Ruoyi, she thrust out her hands. “Hey, where are our shoe pads?”
“There aren’t any.”
What?
None?
Without shoe pads, how were they supposed to survive?
The mountain path was steep, littered with sharp rocks that could cut their feet bloody with one misstep.
Their feet would be ruined before they even reached the foot of the mountain.
“Shang Ruoyi!”
“Aunt, even strangers know to offer money or goods in exchange. Are you blind or deaf?” Shang Ruoyi sneered. “Or have you grown so accustomed to freeloading that you’ve forgotten how to ask properly?”
“Shang Ruoyi, is this how you speak to your elders?”
“Don’t try to pull rank on me, Aunt. We’re all in exile now—each of us is like a clay Bodhisattva fording a river, barely able to save ourselves.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Madam Lin from the third branch chuckled. “Jingheng’s wife, I’d like a few more shoe pads. Would this be acceptable in exchange?” She produced a pair of gold earrings. “I don’t have much, but please take a look.”
Madam Zhang knew Madam Lin was doing this deliberately.
They had never gotten along, and Madam Lin seized every opportunity to spite her.
“No need for formalities, Aunt. We’re family—no need for bartering.” With that, Shang Ruoyi took out several pairs of shoe pads from her bundle. “I have plenty more. Feel free to ask if you need them.”
“Thank you kindly.” Madam Lin smiled triumphantly at Madam Zhang before returning to her spot.
Madam Zhang trembled with rage at the sight.
Meanwhile, He Jingheng eyed Shang Ruoyi’s small bundle suspiciously.
How could such a tiny package hold so many shoe pads?