That night, it was clear the attackers were targeting the young princess, undoubtedly acting on orders from someone in the capital. Their intent was to kill Shun Yu, and in doing so, eliminate all witnesses, including the other exiles and the guards. The official report to the imperial court would simply attribute the massacre to bandits, as was the custom of the person behind this plot—leave no loose ends.

Cai He had taken a fatal blow meant for Shun Yu. The stab was deep, piercing her heart. Even the old ancestor, who could perform miracles, had said there was no way to save her. When the ancestor had spoken, it was clear there was nothing more that could be done.

Lu Qing sighed deeply. “Your Highness… I’m powerless.”

Gu Xingzhao had wanted to help, unable to just watch a life slip away. But the system had already scanned the injury: the blade had penetrated three inches into the heart, severing a major artery. Even in modern times, with access to the best hospitals, nothing could be done.

Shun Yu, sobbing uncontrollably, choked out, “It’s my fault… it’s all my fault!”

“But how could you be so foolish…”

Lying in a pool of blood, Cai He wanted to comfort her mistress, but she had no strength left. She couldn’t even lift her hand. Her voice was faint, “Your Highness… the Son of Heaven has no mercy…”

She feared that Shun Yu, too kind-hearted by nature, might still trust that man in the capital. Regret filled her heart—regret that she hadn’t told the princess everything sooner, that she hadn’t exposed the true nature of that man. But it was too late now. Her time had run out.

Tears filled her eyes as she passed away, her eyes wide open in a final expression of regret and resentment.

“Cai He? Cai He!”

The air was thick with the stench of blood, and Shun Yu’s cries were filled with despair, her body convulsing until she eventually fainted.

Gu Xingshao turned away, unable to bear watching any longer. She had never been able to handle scenes of life and death, which was why she fled back home the moment she got her diploma.

Cai He’s death was an immense blow to Shun Yu, who now truly found herself alone in the world.…

Because of the numerous injuries in the group, Du Hangwu decided to stop at the next village they would pass for a day’s rest, to allow the wounded to be seen by a doctor. Continuing the journey with so many injured people would only slow them down further.

When the exile group reached the village gates, the villagers, upon seeing the guards and the prisoners, hurriedly sent their wives and children inside to hide.

The village head came out to negotiate, clearly reluctant, but in the end, he accepted some silver and agreed to let the group stay for a day. However, he insisted that all the prisoners, regardless of age, wear shackles, to ensure the safety of the villagers.

The exiles grumbled, unhappy about having to put the shackles back on so soon after removing them. But one menacing look from Du Hangwu shut them up quickly.

The group entered the village and was housed in the ancestral hall, which was situated far from where the villagers lived.

The villagers whispered amongst themselves, “How could the village head let these criminals stay here? What if they hurt us?”

“They’re armed, just looking at them is terrifying!”

“I wonder what crimes they’ve committed…”

The ancestral hall was not particularly large but could accommodate over a hundred people. It had a main hall and two side rooms.

The prisoners were divided into three groups, each overseen by Du Hangwu and his men. The seriously injured were placed in the side rooms to shield them from the night wind.

Du Hangwu stationed himself in the main hall to personally supervise the thirty or so people there, including the Lu family.If not for the lightning incident the previous night, he wouldn’t have paid much attention to the Lu family. But now, after what happened, he couldn’t afford not to watch them closely, in case they tried anything.

The doctor they had found was not very skilled and could only give out herbal remedies to treat the wounds. For those who developed fevers due to worsening infections, they could only prescribe simple medicinal soups and hope for the best.

Among those in the main hall, along with the Lu family, were Shun Yu and the remaining members of Liu Yushi’s household.

Since fainting the night before, Shun Yu had been silent, barely eating or drinking. She sat alone in the carriage, her face pale and sickly. The guards didn’t bother attending to her, as she was now just another exile, stripped of her royal status.

The two guards from the Liu family had died, and the rest were injured, especially Liu Xiangbai, the young master of the Liu family. The strain of the journey had already taken a toll on him, and after the shock and injuries of the previous night, he was now running a high fever, unconscious and unresponsive.

In contrast, the Lu family, under the protection of their ancestor, had some injuries but nothing too serious. Thanks to timely treatment, they were in relatively good shape.

Because they were staying in a village, everyone received a bowl of hot soup and a soft bun. Many of the exiles hid their buns, wanting to save them for their children when they got hungry.

The Lu family, however, didn’t lack food. Their basket still held the hot water and compressed biscuits that Gu Xingshao had been sending, so they ate the soup and buns they were given.

Gu Xingzhao had been around for a while, originally planning to secretly deliver warm clothes to the Lu family, to wear under their prison uniforms, as the weather had gotten colder. But with Du Hangwu watching the Lu family so closely, she couldn’t find the right moment, so she decided to wait until later in the night.

She sat beside Lu Qing, munching on a piece of bread, and looked around. By now, she recognized most of the Lu family members, so she began observing Shun Yu and the Liu family, who were also in the main hall.

Shun Yu remained in the farthest corner, silent and barely touching her food. Song Shi tried to comfort her once, and the young princess reluctantly drank a few sips of soup.

The Liu family had requested more medicine, leaving them short on food. Although they received two buns, they were denied any more hot soup.

Under Lu Qing’s instructions, the Lu family shared some of their hot soup with the Liu family.

Seeing Liu Xiangbai’s condition, the Liu family pleaded with Du Hangwu to let them summon the doctor again to examine him.

But Du Hangwu had already paid for the doctor once and wasn’t willing to do it again. Besides, the doctor had already seen him, and the medicine had been administered. Whether Liu Xiangbai survived the night depended on his own fate.

To Du Hangwu, it didn’t matter whether these people lived or died. If they died, it would be less trouble for him.

“That unconscious one—he’s the son of that Yushi who was beaten with the imperial rod by the dog emperor, right?” Gu Xingzhao asked Lu Qing, recalling the day they were exiled.

She had some recollection of the day at the city gates, but it had been almost half a month, so she wasn’t sure if she remembered correctly.

Hearing the ancestor’s inquiry, Lu Qing responded internally, “Yes, ancestor, that’s him.”

Thinking of the old Yushi who had implicated his family for speaking up for the Lu family, Lu Qing felt a pang of guilt. Seeing the old man’s son in such a state was difficult for him.

Why was that old man so stubborn? Everyone else kept quiet, but he had to stand up and speak out… Did he think justice was more important than the lives of his family?

Gu Xingshao remembered hearing that this man had a wife and daughter. On the day the troubles began, he had conveniently divorced his wife for being unable to bear a son, casting her and his daughter out. The story made him sound like a heartless, cruel man.

At the time, she had just shrugged it off, as such things happened even in modern times.

But seeing him today, it didn’t seem as simple as she had thought.