"We're about to leave the capital," Shang Ruoyi said calmly. "Now that you're awake, have some food."

She handed him the steamed bun. He Jingheng stared at it for a long while as if just coming to his senses. Then he snorted coldly, "Now that your goal has been achieved, why come along to suffer in exile? Haven't you caused us enough misery?"

"With the Young Master's intelligence, you should know that I'm not the one behind this," she said, placing the steamed bun in his hand. "Even if it weren't me, there would be someone else. It's just a formality, after all."

He Jingheng looked at her coldly. "You're quite self - aware."

Shang Ruoyi said in a solemn tone, "Young Master, rest assured. After we reach the place of exile and get settled, we'll get a divorce. I won't burden you."

She added in her mind, And you'd better not burden me either. I still want to explore the great rivers and mountains.

Divorce?

Hearing these two words, He Jingheng was momentarily stunned for some reason. When he came to his senses, there was a hint of anger in his voice. "As you wish."

Shang Ruoyi handed him the water bag. "Drink some water."

Concubine Zhang and the other two also received a water bag and each got a white - flour steamed bun.

"How can anyone swallow this dry thing?" Concubine Zhang complained. "Even the servants in the mansion wouldn't eat such a thing."

Her son, He Qinian, and daughter - in - law, Lin Shuyu, ate the steamed buns in silence, taking sips of water from time to time while Concubine Zhang kept muttering to herself.

"Ouch, my leg hurts so much!"

"My feet are about to break."

"Ugh, is this even fit for humans or dogs?"

Not far from Concubine Zhang, several prisoners were gnawing on the dried cakes. They curled their lips and said, "Hmph, still thinking she's a lady. She should be grateful to get white - flour steamed buns."

Hearing this, Concubine Zhang immediately turned around and looked at the dirty prisoners. "You bunch of beggars! I'm a concubine of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion. I'm different from lowly commoners like you."

When the prisoners heard that she was from the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, their eyes immediately turned fierce.

There was a murderous aura!

Shang Ruoyi immediately became alert.

Not only those three prisoners, but more than half of the exiled prisoners were looking at them with anger.

What was going on?

The people of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, sensing something was wrong, were all confused. Concubine Zhang finally felt a bit scared and shut up sheepishly.

"Shut up if you can't speak properly," the old Consort of the Prince said in a deep voice. "Zhang, you're being reckless with your words!"

With He Jingheng's leg broken, He Qinian was the only male left, and his martial arts skills were mediocre. If they angered the crowd during the exile, how could this group of women, children, and the elderly manage?

Apparently, Concubine Zhang also realized the seriousness of the situation and lowered her head, not daring to say a word.

Just then, a whip cracked in the distance.

"Get up, get up! Time to move!" The guards took their whips and lashed at a few people who were moving slowly.

"Hurry up!"

It was getting dark, and wolves often 出没 in this area. If they didn't leave soon, there would be danger.

However, there were always some people in the exiled group who were physically exhausted.

Those who fell behind were whipped by the guards in a hurry.

But being whipped only added to their injuries, making them move even slower.

There were three or four such prisoners in the entire exiled group. As a result, they didn't manage to leave the forest before dark.

The sky gradually darkened, and as the last ray of light disappeared below the horizon, it was time for the beasts to hunt.

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"Speed up! We can rest in just one li," the guards' voices, mixed with the sound of whips cracking, sent chills down everyone's spines.

Shang Ruoyi didn't feel tired. Along the way, she had secretly added spiritual spring water to the water bags several times. Each time she drank it, she felt refreshed.

The others in the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, although they didn't drink as much as her, didn't show signs of fatigue either. Especially He Qinian, who thought he had become stronger. He had been carrying He Jingheng for so long without feeling sore or numb.

However, the physical strength of the others had clearly reached its limit. Just then, a rustling sound came from the depths of the forest.

Shang Ruoyi immediately became alert.

He Jingheng, who also heard the sound, saw the change in her expression and raised his eyebrows slightly.

She had heard the sound before him.

It seemed that what Yun Qi had said was somewhat credible.

Shang Ruoyi subtly moved closer to the old Consort of the Prince and Concubine Qin.

This subtle movement was noticed by He Jingheng, and he felt a twinge of anger. Was this woman using them as shields? How despicable.

Just then, a wolf howl came from the distance.

Damn! Wolves were pack animals. In her previous life, every time she heard such a wolf howl, it would attract a large number of wolves.

Shang Ruoyi stood in front of them, her eyes fixed intently on the front, her heart sinking slightly.

If she wanted to escape on her own, it would be easy.

But there were so many people in the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, all defenseless.

Protecting them would be extremely difficult.

Seeing her actions, He Jingheng paused. He had underestimated her.

The guards were also in a panic.

They exchanged glances and then simply abandoned the people who couldn't move anymore. They shouted loudly, "Run! It's just a few hundred meters to safety! Hurry!"

The crowd, already terrified by the wolves, found some strength from somewhere upon hearing that there was still a glimmer of hope for survival. They all ran for their lives.

The few people who were abandoned were quickly caught up by the wolves and torn to pieces.

But with dozens of wolves, those few people were far from enough.

Another wolf howl was heard, and dozens of wolves leaped over the corpses of those few people and charged towards the crowd.

Shang Ruoyi kept an eye on the situation behind her.

Seeing several more people fall prey to the wolves, the unease in her heart grew. Running blindly wasn't a solution. They couldn't run faster than the wolves. Moreover, they were all wearing shackles on their feet, which made it impossible for them to run fast.

Before long, they were surrounded by wolves.

Unlike other animals, wolves had a very strict hierarchical system and could coordinate their attacks.

It was completely dark, and the wolves' eyes glowed with a greenish - oily light, looking extremely creepy.

Many people started crying.

Even He Yunyi, who usually didn't say much, began to sob softly.

Just then, several wolves pounced towards them.

The guards brandished their large knives and tried their best to cut them down.

The smell of blood directly excited the wolves waiting to attack.

They kept scratching the ground with their front paws. Suddenly, a hasty wolf howl came from behind, and the wolves swarmed towards them.

In this situation, the guards were no match for the wolves. The speed of their sword - swings couldn't keep up with the wolves' attacks.

"Ah! Help!" A man's shrill cry was heard. His leg was firmly bitten by a wolf, and in the next instant, another wolf bit his throat.

The people who saw this were all horrified.

Shang Ruoyi turned to the people of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion and said, "There are many stones by the roadside. If a wolf gets close to you, throw stones at it. Hit it hard."