Chapter Six, The Lonely Grave in the Wilderness

Only after she had painstakingly finished eating, and Mo Yan had tidied up the dishes and left, did she retreat back to a corner where the yamen runners could not see her, taking out the shoe from earlier.

Xiao Chen had little patience: "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point."

Mo Yan sat down on the ground, opened the food box, and took out each item one by one, placing them on the ground. She smiled and said, "I brought two large chicken legs, and a big bowl of braised pig's trotters with yellow beans. You have to travel tomorrow, so you must eat well. ... ... Hurry up and eat!"

Before her exile to the frontier, Bao Zheng granted her a special reprieve, allowing her to bury her father before setting out on her journey

Mo Yan gently patted her back and clumsily advised, "Do not be too sad."

Thank you for bringing me something again, " Bai Yingyu expressed her gratitude. Although the prison food is not spoiled, it is certainly not as sumptuous as what Mo Yan has brought.

He said lightly: "There are many people in this world who are more pitiful than her"

Have you already thought of a way to do it

"You saying it won't work; it has to be Zhan Zhao who goes to scare them." He advised

Bai Yingyu knelt before the grave, dressed in plain mourning clothes, which made her face appear even paler. It was this very mourning attire that Mo Yan had sent to her in the prison early in the morning for her to change into

Hearing his agreement, Mo Yan entered with a smile, and upon seeing the discarded robe on the bed, she quickly said: "Is it dirty? I'll take it to wash."

Xiao Chen was certainly not as naive as Mo Yan, but knowing that this information was deliberately leaked to Mo Yan by Ning Jin and Zhan Zhao, it seemed they also had the intention to help Bai Yingyu. However, due to legal constraints, they chose to use Mo Yan as a proxy.

She remained silent, her eyes devoid of tears, quietly burning paper money, kneeling at the grave for a long time. Zhan Zhao, Mo Yan, and others stood behind her, silent and speechless. Although they felt sympathy for her loneliness and helplessness, it was all due to Bai Baozhen's wrongdoing, and they did not know how to offer comfort.

She slowly turned around and suddenly charged headfirst towards the tombstone

Bai Yingyu wanted to thank her, but saw Mo Yan winking at her while pointing at her shoe, and asked in confusion: "Hmm?"

Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Chen tapped her on the head, "When will you change this impulsive temperament of yours? Leaving a little later would avoid raising suspicion. Moreover, the people escorting her are all on foot, while we are on horseback; we can catch up in a day."

When it comes to the escort route, it was mentioned casually. What’s the matter, Second Brother, are you afraid they might suspect? No, don’t worry, especially with Miss Bai's incident today; so many people witnessed it. When the news of her jumping into the water spreads, no one will have any doubts.

Hmm

Mo Yan obediently turned back and peeked her head in: "Second Brother, do you have something to discuss?"

Mo Yan was still speaking enthusiastically: "... she jumps into the water, and when the time comes, all I have to do is pull her up from the bottom of the water..."

Xiao Chen had just returned to his room to change out of his bloodstained robe when he heard Mo Yan calling him from outside the door in a sneaky manner. Just by the flattery in her voice, he knew it could not be anything good

Indeed. Mo Yan smiled and agreed, saying, "It is still you, Second Brother, who understands. I think if you were to become an official, you would surely surpass Lord Bao."

Xiao Chen snorted coldly: "Nonsense! What does it matter about officials? When have I ever cared about that?"

Fully aware that what she said was reasonable and not mere politeness, Bai Yingyu did not hesitate, tearing off the chicken leg meat with her hands, placing it in the steamed bun, and eating it in large bites

At this moment, Xiao Chen understood why Mo Yan had said at the tomb of Bai Baozhen, "Why seek death? Even if you want to die, you should jump into the water; how could you think of crashing into a rock?" At that time, he found it strange, but now he realized that this girl had long since devised a way for Bai Yingyu to escape.

Bai Yingyu curled up wearily in a corner, her head resting against the wall as she dozed off. She knew that she would set off for the frontier tomorrow, embarking on a long, arduous journey. Fearing that she might be unable to continue and face punishment from the officials, she had no choice but to force herself to rest more.

A month ago, I was still living in the embroidered building, dressed in brocade and enjoying sumptuous meals, with every matter attended to by my maidservants in a proper manner. At that time, how could I have imagined that today I would find myself in this gloomy prison cell? Indeed, the world is full of changes.

After the paper money was burned, she gracefully rose and bowed to Zhang Zhao and the others, while Mo Yan hurriedly stepped forward to support her

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao let out a quiet sigh, feeling an urge to go and hit a rock. He quickly pulled Mo Yan away to prevent her from continuing her nonsensical talk, especially since Wang Chao and Ma Han were still present nearby

A cold crow perched on a high branch, calling out a few scattered cries. Bai Yingyu sat in place, gazing at the gradually fading figure in a blue shirt, as if lost in a dream

Knowing that she was utterly useless and not wanting to cause trouble for others, Bai Yingyu quietly returned to her room and secretly made a decision

Mo Yan gestured for her to be quiet before saying: "Keep these shoes safe, you will definitely need them on the road"

Firstly, the laws of the Song Dynasty indeed have their shortcomings; her father's crime has nothing to do with her. Secondly, she has shown us kindness on the mountain. In terms of both sentiment and reason, we should not stand idly by.

The handwriting is slender and upright, possessing a certain elegance. It is unexpected that such a small person as Mo Yan has mastered such excellent calligraphy. I often hear others say that a person's character is reflected in their writing, but after looking at it again, I can't help but feel that it does not resemble Mo Yan's personality at all. It seems that the saying may not always hold true. ... As she was lost in her thoughts, outside, the constable suddenly coughed a few times, as if he was getting up ...

Are you alright? Seeing her body go limp, Mo Yan rushed forward, anxiously saying, "Why would you seek death? Even if you want to die, you should jump into the water; how could you think of crashing into a rock?"

It was His Highness, Prince Ning, and at that time, Lord Zhan was also present; he acknowledged that such an incident did indeed occur

She lifted the insole with her fingers, revealing a neatly folded piece of paper hidden underneath. As she unfolded it, she was instantly filled with both joy and anxiety

"Hurry up and eat, the pig's trotters are still hot," Mo Yan smiled at her and deliberately urged loudly, "It won't taste good once it cools down"

I want to save her!" Mo Yan had no choice but to be straightforward

There is no need to rush; it is not too late to wait another two or three days.

Just as I was thinking, I suddenly heard footsteps. Turning my head to look, I found that it was Mo Yan entering with a food box and carrying a bundle.

Indeed, indeed, it is still you, Second Brother, who is the smartest. Mo Yanhua said joyfully, leaning closer to his ear, "I have inquired thoroughly; the route for the exile will pass through Fen River and Luo River. Moreover, I have heard that in the past, there were prisoners with fierce tempers who jumped into the water. The current is swift, and the bodies could not be found at all..."

He put on a clean robe and said impatiently, "Come in."

Mo Yan quickly closed her mouth, but then thought of something: "Tomorrow, Miss Bai will be escorted to the border, we should also make preparations and follow her there."

Xiao Chen did not deny this point, nodding and saying: "It is indeed not easy for her to take such action."

A mouse scurried past her feet, and she recoiled slightly, a faint, bitter smile appearing at the corners of her lips

On this day, in the fields outside the capital, the wind blew, flames licked the air, and ashes of paper money danced in the sky

Seeing that she did not understand, Mo Yan simply pulled her hand over and pressed it into the shoe. Bai Yingyu felt something slightly protruding under the insole...

I still have some words I wish to say to my grandfather she said softly

Mo Yan scratched her ear and said, "That is true... I must go find the escorting officers and ensure they do not bully Miss Bai on the way." With this thought in mind, she hurriedly walked outside

Bai Yingyu, upon hearing this, looked up to see the bloodstains on Xiao Chen's hands, and immediately felt a great sense of guilt. She hurriedly said: "You... are you seriously injured? It's all my fault, I..."

However ... ...

As for Bai Yingyu herself, according to the law, she is the daughter of an official and was originally designated to be a courtesan. However, considering that she was willing to testify in court, her punishment was reduced by one degree, and she was lightly sentenced to be exiled to the frontier.

Oh... Second Brother, don't you think Miss Bai is very pitiful?" Mo Yan asked tentatively.

Bai Yingyu understood that there must be some mystery within the shoes and nodded her head

"Wait a moment," Xiao Chen and the librarian raised their eyebrows slightly. "Who told you that there were prisoners who had thrown themselves into the water before?"

Everyone understood that she probably did not want them to hear her words, and they all knew to turn around and step back

"Second brother, what do you think?" Mo Yan asked

Xiao Chen was originally traveling with Mo Yan. Due to his visual impairment, his hearing was more acute than that of ordinary people. Upon hearing an unusual sound of footsteps, without needing to turn around, he swiftly darted out and narrowly saved Bai Yingyu

Well

"You should take care of your injuries and not cause any more trouble," Xiao Chen said as he took his robe and set it aside. "Let’s get to the point!"

Indeed, in the end, she herself was relegated to the frontier, which is truly pitiful. Don't you think?" Mo Yan gently guided the conversation.

Mo Yan saw Xiao Chen holding his waist and asked curiously, "Second brother, what happened to you?"

Mo Yan looked over the probe and exclaimed: "Ah! It's bleeding."

"This is also acceptable. I originally intended to rescue the prisoner, but she will inevitably face pursuit in the future, and will have to live in hiding. It would be cleaner and more straightforward to stage her death instead." Xiao Chen nodded in agreement

Mo Yan quickly agreed, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

Father has finally been laid to rest, which can be considered as her putting down a significant concern in her heart. As for the aunts still in the Suzhou family, it is uncertain whether they have already received the news and fled in all directions; this is truly not something she needs to worry about.

"For no reason at all, what do they say this is for?"

The paper stated that when she reached the Fen River, she should pretend to drown herself, and Mo Yan would naturally come to rescue her from the water. This plan would not only spare her from the suffering of exile, but also, given the significant implications of this case, since she had previously testified in court, feigning her death would prevent anyone from seeking revenge against her.

Half a month later, the trial of the Jiangnan corruption case finally concluded, and everything settled down

It is good to know one's mistakes. Xiao Chen remained indifferent, saying, "The body and skin are received from one's parents; to harm oneself is the utmost act of unfiliality"

Due to the existence of account books, along with the testimony of Bai Yingyu, nine officials, led by Bai Baozhen, in Jiangnan, both large and small, were dismissed and their properties confiscated. Many officials in the capital also fell from grace in this case, including Zhang Yaozuo, the Minister of the Three Departments, who was demoted by Emperor Renzong

Bai Yingyu nodded slightly, forcing a smile at her, and continued to watch her turn and leave, her gaze filled with sorrow and determination: The marriage was called off, her father had met a tragic end, and her relatives and friends avoided her in fear, leaving her alone and adrift in a foreign land. She had always been a useless person, and now that her confession had been submitted, and her father had been laid to rest, there were no more ties in this world. It would be better to follow her father to the underworld, thus achieving a sense of purity.

Mo Yan exclaimed in surprise: "Second brother, so you originally intended to save her as well?"

The sun outside is glaring, and the sunlight filters through the small iron bars onto the floor of the cell, quickly losing all warmth

Second elder brother

"Come back!" Xiao Chen shouted

Oh!

As she ate, Mo Yan untied the bundle, saying: "These are the clothes for changing on the road, along with shoes and socks. I have prepared an extra set."

She only learned that Mo Yan had driven the carriage to the riverbank and jumped into the water to make the assassins believe she was still in the carriage after waiting until dawn when Zhang Zhao and the others returned. When Mo Yan came back, she was unconscious and had suffered a serious injury to her shoulder. It was said that fortunately, Lord Zhang found her in time; otherwise, her arm would have been rendered useless.

Just now, when he was bumped by Bai Yingyu, Xiao Chen's lower back was pressed against the edge of the stone tablet, causing a wave of soreness and pain. He reached out to touch it, feeling a warm and slippery sensation.

The constable stopped her and diligently inspected the food box and bundle. Upon seeing that they contained only some food and clothing, including shoes and socks, he took the key, opened Bai Yingyu's cell, and allowed Mo Yan to enter

Zhan Zhao and the others had already gone far away, and it was too late to turn back and seize the moment. Although Mo Yan was close by, her movements were too slow, and she could only grasp a small corner of Bai Yingyu's clothing. Just as Bai Yingyu was about to collide with the tombstone, at the critical moment, someone rushed in front of her and forcefully stopped her; it was none other than Xiao Chen.

Having said that, he walked away on his own. Fearing that his senior brother might have difficulty walking, Li Xu hurriedly caught up with him

"But she has helped us a great deal, hasn't she?" Mo Yan was referring to Bai Yingyu's voluntary appearance in court to provide testimony.

This mutation was something that no one could have anticipated