Jiang Huai had no idea that the new constable before him was none other than Xiao Jingzhao, the deposed Crown Prince whose downfall had implicated the Jiang family in imprisonment and exile. He raised his head briefly to let Xiao Jingzhao get a good look at him, then quickly lowered it.

The act of standing still, head tilted up for someone’s inspection, made Jiang Huai feel like a caged animal at a market, waiting for a buyer’s appraisal.

Jiang Huai couldn’t fully mask his emotions, and the fleeting expressions on his face didn’t escape Xiao Jingzhao’s notice. Realizing that Jiang Huai hadn’t recognized him, Xiao Jingzhao hesitated for a moment before continuing to examine the other prisoners.

Once all the prisoners were introduced, the constable in charge left Xiao Jingzhao alone, retreating to a shaded corner to rest. Xiao Jingzhao circled the shed twice, carefully matching names to faces. Yet, his gaze involuntarily returned to Jiang Huai.

Earlier, his tension had prevented him from thinking clearly, but now he recalled something important: Jiang Huai had never been involved in court life. The only time Jiang Huai might have seen him was during Xiao Jingzhao’s visits to Grand Tutor Jiang’s residence to check on the elder’s health, but Jiang Huai hadn’t been present on those occasions. It was entirely possible Jiang Huai didn’t recognize him at all.

Still, Xiao Jingzhao couldn’t afford to take chances. What if Jiang Huai had seen him without his knowledge? His identity must remain concealed.

Closing his eyes, Xiao Jingzhao vividly recalled the blazing inferno that consumed the Eastern Palace, the sound of clashing blades still echoing in his ears. The memory sent a chill through his heart.

Zhang Tou, having finished his tasks, returned to assess Xiao Jingzhao’s progress. Satisfied that the new constable had memorized all the prisoners’ identities, he allowed himself a rare smile. If a mistake occurred because a constable failed to recognize a prisoner, Zhang Tou would be the one held accountable. Fortunately, the new recruit seemed competent.

It was time to assign prisoners to the constables.

During the exile, the constables guarded the prisoners as a group. However, when many constables watched over many prisoners, vigilance often slackened, leading to errors. Zhang Tou mitigated this by assigning specific prisoners to each constable. This way, if someone escaped, there was always someone accountable.

“On the road, you’ll be responsible for…” Zhang Tou’s eyes scanned the shed as he considered his options.

Since Xiao Jingzhao was new, Zhang Tou figured he wasn’t yet as reliable as the veteran constables. It was best to assign him two prisoners who would be easier to manage.

“You’ll look after Jiang Huai and Li Shan,” Zhang Tou decided.

Li Shan was one of the more docile prisoners, unlikely to cause trouble. As for Jiang Huai, Zhang Tou’s brow furrowed at the memory of earlier events, but he quickly dismissed his concerns. Despite Jiang Huai’s cleverness, his frail body made him easy to subdue. He wouldn’t get far even if he tried to escape. Moreover, given the severity of the Jiang family’s crimes, the emperor’s decision to exile them instead of executing them was already a mercy. Jiang Huai wouldn’t dare attempt escape, as it would only further implicate his family.

Hearing Jiang Huai’s name, Xiao Jingzhao froze momentarily but quickly regained his composure before Zhang Tou could notice. He responded with a quiet acknowledgment, expressing gratitude for the assignment.

Xiao Jingzhao’s earlier observations had given him a clear sense of the group’s dynamics. Zhang Tou’s choice of prisoners—especially Li Shan—showed a degree of consideration. Xiao Jingzhao recognized this as a gesture of goodwill.

“Keep an eye on these two during the journey. If nothing goes wrong, that’ll be the best thanks you can give me,” Zhang Tou said. Despite his words, he seemed pleased with Xiao Jingzhao’s gratitude. While the task itself wasn’t difficult, Zhang Tou appreciated Xiao Jingzhao’s acknowledgment of his kindness.

Their conversation wasn’t quiet, and Jiang Huai overheard it clearly. Realizing that Xiao Jingzhao had been assigned as his guard, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the man.

So young!

Jiang Huai was surprised. Earlier, he’d been too tense to notice much about Xiao Jingzhao’s appearance, only registering the stubble on his face and assuming he was around thirty. Now, upon closer inspection, Xiao Jingzhao didn’t look a day over twenty-five. His prominent brow bones and deep-set eyes gave him a sharp look, but the subtle gentleness in his expression made Jiang Huai instinctively think he might have a kind personality.

Maybe being guarded by him won’t be so bad, Jiang Huai thought.

Though he appeared lost in thought, Xiao Jingzhao immediately sensed someone’s gaze and turned toward Jiang Huai. Their eyes met, Jiang Huai’s filled with curiosity.

Xiao Jingzhao’s brows knitted slightly, but before he could react, Jiang Huai quickly ducked his head, clearly intimidated by the constable’s authority.

To see a young scion of a prestigious family reduced to such a state… Xiao Jingzhao thought, lowering his eyes. How much suffering must he have endured on this journey?

Early the next morning, Jiang Huai was awakened by the commotion of constables distributing dry biscuits. He hurried over to get his share, knowing he’d need it.

The previous day’s biscuit had long been digested, but the dry lump in his hands reminded him of his parched throat. Yesterday, aside from the water Wang Er provided, Jiang Huai hadn’t managed to obtain any food or drink.

He hesitated. Eating the biscuit without water was a choking hazard. A quick glance at the other prisoners revealed many had taken only a few bites before stopping for the same reason. Without water to help swallow, it was better to endure hunger than risk choking.

Seeing that no one else was continuing to eat, Jiang Huai decided to hold off as well. If everyone had a biscuit, his wouldn’t attract unwanted attention.

Meanwhile, the prisoners were also watching him. Noticing that Wang Er hadn’t appeared this morning, some began to mock him.

“Serves him right! Yesterday, he thought he was so clever, all that effort for nothing.”

“At least he got some water. That’s more than we did. Maybe Wang Er’s refusing to supply him now because of his arrogance.”

“Teaching some math and expecting a whole day’s worth of food? What a joke!”

“Typical young master attitude—thinking the world owes him something.”

Their sour words finally clued Xiao Jingzhao in on the events of the previous day. He glanced at Jiang Huai, piecing together the situation.

Jiang Huai felt a bit disappointed. While Wang Er’s help had been an unexpected boon, he hadn’t delivered the promised food. Still, Jiang Huai reasoned that his luck wasn’t terrible. After all, he’d managed to get water yesterday, which was invaluable.

The prisoners’ snide remarks didn’t bother him much. Calmly calculating the pros and cons, Jiang Huai decided he hadn’t lost anything significant. He also resolved to be more cautious in future dealings—always securing his due immediately to avoid complications.

The prisoners, hoping to provoke a reaction, were deflated by Jiang Huai’s calm demeanor. Their chatter fizzled out.

When Zhang Tou arrived to check on the prisoners, he was surprised by the unusual quiet in the shed but thought little of it. After confirming the headcount, he ordered the doors opened and the group prepared to depart.

As they left the station, a voice called out from behind.

“Constable! Constable!”

It was Wang Er, panting as he ran to catch up. He had intended to discreetly deliver something to Jiang Huai in the morning as compensation for not bringing him food the previous day. But seeing the group leave so early, he had no choice but to approach openly.

Confronted with Zhang Tou’s stern gaze, Wang Er faltered, clutching the item in his hand. Reminding himself that Zhang Tou wasn’t a local constable and had no authority over him, Wang Er straightened his posture.

“What is it?” Zhang Tou asked.

Wang Er scanned the group until his eyes landed on Jiang Huai. With a nervous laugh, he explained, “Constable, I made a deal with someone and came to deliver the goods.”

Stepping closer to Jiang Huai, he tried to hand him the item, but Zhang Tou intercepted it.

It was a bamboo water flask. Zhang Tou inspected it thoroughly, ensuring it didn’t contain any hidden contraband, before tossing it to Jiang Huai.

Jiang Huai caught the flask just before it hit the ground. Unlike biscuits, which could survive a fall, a damaged flask would have been a significant loss.

With genuine gratitude, Jiang Huai thanked Wang Er. According to their deal, Wang Er had only owed him food, but the water flask was far more valuable. For a prisoner, a reliable container for water was a rare treasure.

The other prisoners watched with envy. They had thought Jiang Huai’s deal with Wang Er was a loss, but now it seemed he’d come out ahead. Some couldn’t hide their frustration, especially those who had mocked him earlier.

As the group resumed their march, resentment simmered among the prisoners. Meanwhile, Jiang Huai clutched the flask, resolved to make the most of this small stroke of fortune.