Chapter 20.1: You’re Being Exiled, and You’re Taking the Whole Family for a Picnic?!

Su Bingsheng whispered continuously with Su Qingrou, both of them hiding their schemes behind their eyes.

Watching from among the Su family, Madam Qin felt a knot tighten in her heart.

She stared intently at Su Bingsheng, afraid he might manipulate her daughter into doing something foolish.

Finally, Su Bingsheng nodded Qin satisfaction and patted Su Qingrou’s shoulder.

“Rou’er, you’re really sensible. I haven’t spoiled you for nothing. Whether our Su family can live a good life from now on depends entirely on you.”

Su Qingrou nodded obediently before returning to Madam Qin’s side.

Before Madam Qin entered the Su household, she was the top courtesan in a brothel. Having entertained countless clients, she naturally understood Su Bingsheng’s character.

He was selfish and cared little for his daughters, seeing them only as tools for gaining power.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, so she quietly reminded Su Qingrou:

“Rou’er, listen to your mother. Your father always acts with only his own interests in mind. Don’t be swayed by his words and do something that will harm you or offend the wrong people.”

Su Qingrou had always felt ashamed of her mother’s lowly origins, and she couldn’t stand her mother’s small-mindedness. She snorted in disdain:

“What do you know?! Water flows downhill, and people climb to higher places. If you don’t treat yourself harshly, how can you rise higher?!”

Madam Qin immediately realized that it must have been Su Bingsheng who put such a twisted idea into her daughter’s head. She hurriedly tried to dissuade her:

“Oh no—Rou’er! I know you’re fond of the War King. I still have many things hidden away, but it’s inconvenient to take them out now with so many eyes around.”

“Things will get better with time, and I’ll help you plan this. Why listen to your father and take such risks now?!”

Su Qingrou impatiently brushed off Madam Qin’s hand that was holding onto her.

“Enough, stop meddling in my affairs!”

A lowly courtesan like her only had such narrow vision!

What Su Qingrou wanted was not just to marry Xiao Huaishuo.

She wanted more power, and then she would trample on Su Qingning, taking everything from her, including her man!

For this grand goal, what was the harm in sacrificing a little?

So even though Su Qingrou knew Su Bingsheng was using her, she still chose to follow his plan.

After resting for a while, the officers began using whips to hurry the group along.

It was now noon, and the sun was even harsher than before.

The exiled prisoners were drenched in sweat, their clothes clinging to their skin, their bodies feeling like they were soaked in sweat.

Many of the exiled prisoners, unable to buy water, collapsed from heatstroke and had to be revived by the officers pinching their acupoints before being forced to continue on their way.

Some elderly or sickly individuals collapsed and never got up again, with the officers simply tossing their bodies to the side of the road.

Meanwhile, the Xiao family, walking at the back of the group, clearly had it better than the others.

They drank spiritual spring water, enjoyed the cool breeze created by Su Qingning’s supernatural ability, and were occasionally given snacks by Su Qingning.

Aside from their feet hurting from walking so much, they didn’t feel particularly exhausted.

It didn’t feel like an exile; rather, it had more of the atmosphere of a family outing in the countryside.

Su Qingning occasionally used silver coins to bribe the nearby officers.

She sat under a leaf umbrella made by Xiao Huaishuo, casually snacking on sunflower seeds while enjoying the “air conditioning” and admiring the vast wilderness around them. Her life couldn’t have been more comfortable.

Seeing the Su family members who had once mistreated her original self trudging forward like walking corpses, miserable and full of suffering, her happiness only soared higher and higher.

The officers, who had benefited from her generosity, didn’t bother the Xiao family much.

When they saw Su Qingning continually pulling out various foods from her “bundle,” they attributed it to her maternal grandmother being thoughtful and didn’t think much of it.

After walking for another two hours, when the Su family members were about to collapse from exhaustion, they finally arrived at a rest station near a mountain and a river.

Although the rest station looked simple, it offered water, food, and lodging, so they would have somewhere to stay for the night.

As soon as they arrived, the people at the station began announcing their prices.

The officers could stay in better rooms, while the exiled criminals were only allowed to sleep in ten-person dormitories for 800 wen per room. If they wanted to use the kitchen or bath tubs, they would have to pay extra.

Those without money had to settle for eating coarse wheat buns and sleeping in a cow shed!