CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: OR HAS THE TIMELINE BEEN DELAYED?

The woman sneered sarcastically: "You shameless thing, seducing and stealing my master’s possessions, are you claiming you’re wronged now?"

Unexpectedly, Qi Lin decided to smash the pot and shattered the wallet against Liu Family’s face.

"Yes, I did those things! I thought of seducing the Magistrate to stay here! Isn’t it all because of my mother teaching me well and my brother? If it weren’t for them, how would I have fallen so low?"

The bystanders gasped in shock; she actually did such things!

Liu Family, furious beyond measure, couldn’t help but slap her twice, bearing the foul smell: "Stop talking!! A young lady, how can you be so shameless?"

Qi Nanfeng couldn’t listen any longer and rushed to the backyard, cursing as he went: "You good-for-nothing! Idiot! Utter fool!"

Until a group of governor officials came, yelling, and took the woman away. Seeing no escape, she still shouted.

"Lord! That woman still has my master’s stolen money, a whole wallet, plenty of gold leaves and silver notes! Quickly take them away!"

Before Qi Lin could speak, several governor officials swung a sword, knocking her unconscious and hooked the wallet away with the sword handle.

The farce ended, leaving only Liu Family as a mother to manage her.

The Qi Mansion family now completely lost any so-called reputation.

Even those servants looked down on their masters.

Uncle’s Mansion people felt like watching a play, thoroughly amused.

Ruan Mian couldn’t be bothered with those matters; although Ding Cheng paid the price, there were still many unresolved issues.

For example, the grain and salary she had, and the thick stack of bribery lists—she couldn’t conveniently enter the Capital City, and there wasn’t anyone nearby worth trusting.

Not to mention the snow kept falling, and Ding Cheng’s embezzled relief grain could only help Hui City’s residents last for a while.

She had to think of a way, find someone to send a message to the Capital City.

If only she could spot the Prime Minister’s people in town.

Ever since receiving assistance on the way last time, she never saw the person with the gourd around the waist again.

At this moment, she wasn’t sure when the heavy snow would stop.

Obviously, the government officers didn’t want to delay here too long, after all, if they didn’t promptly deliver people to Wuheng, they would lose a lot of silver.

Thus they immediately whipped, directing a whole team to clear the road overnight.

If the snow stopped by morning, they would depart immediately.

So the whole team had no rest, but thanks to Ruan Mian, the elderly Ruan Family couple could rest at the post station, and others had little work.

In contrast, Uncle’s Mansion and Qi Mansion people had endless work, especially Qi Mansion, sweeping snow and clearing roads were minor tasks.

Moreover, they had to move stones, clear roads, clean the stables, pigsties, and latrines of the post station thoroughly.

This infuriated Qi Nanfeng, making him throw the broom in rage on the spot!

His eyes were bloodshot, thinking of the Princess’s commission, eager to carry it out immediately!

Since he gave Ruan Mian opportunities time and again, and she refused them, instead making things difficult for his family, he wouldn’t hold back anymore!

After midnight, the heavy snow gradually lessened. Seeing the weather improving, Ruan Mian couldn’t help but wonder if even disasters were overturned.

Or perhaps, the timeline was pushed forward?

She wasn’t very sure, given her appearance had already altered the original story’s plot.

As she pondered, Cui Zhu seemed to notice something astonishing and shouted aloud.

"Miss! Miss!! It’s the Young Madam, the Young Madam and Rui!"

Hearing this, people working at Ruan Mansion looked shocked in Cui Zhu’s direction.

In the night, a man carrying a child, followed by a fatigued woman, ran towards them.

Ruan Mian, seeing this, found the man very familiar, recognizing upon approach that it was Guard Liu.

Upon seeing Ruan Mian, Guard Liu was also excited but had no time to speak, quickly getting off the horse, helping Mrs. Chen and her son down.

Ruan Qingsong, hearing the news, rushed over and, seeing his wife and child, eyes full of tears, eagerly embraced Mrs. Chen, wrapping his cloak around her.

He hurriedly called Ah Qing to fetch the small heater.

By now, Mrs. Chen looked haggard, her cheeks chapped and peeling from the cold wind, red and swollen.

Rui was unconscious.

Guard Liu wasn’t much better but, as a man, was still conscious.

He quickly said: "Luckily you are here, Miss Ruan, the child is nearly frozen, is there a doctor here?! Or any place to warm up?"

Behind him, Mrs. Chen, extremely weak, pleaded: "Mianmian, quickly, please save Rui..."

Ruan Mian held Rui in her arms, felt his cold body, and without further thought, turned around and ran into the post station with the child.

The government officials all let her go, after all, now Ruan Mian was, to them, like a patron.

She took Rui to her room, where the charcoal fire was booming, and Cui Zhu hurriedly boiled hot water, fetching thick clothing from a trunk.

Ruan Mian had earlier prepared a thick padded jacket for Rui, specially sewing a layer of down inside.

After all, a child’s resistance isn’t like an adult’s.

Seeing people gradually come to check, Ruan Mian first sent Cui Zhu to guard the door.

"If my brother comes, say I’m treating the child and let them wait outside."

Cui Zhu quickly nodded, and as the door closed, Ruan Mian placed the brazier near the bed.

Then undressed Rei’s cold clothes and put him in a warm water basin.

By now, he was frozen stiff, with a faint heartbeat.

Ruan Mian could only touch the Jade Bracelet, taking some spiritual spring water from the space.

As long as there was a breath left, not a terminal illness, the spiritual spring water would have some effect.

After feeding it to him, Ruan Mian held the child’s arm, patiently waiting for a while.

Until she clearly felt the child’s body temperature gradually recovering, finally felt relieved.

Fortunately, he was just frozen, the pulse still there.

After soaking him for a while, she wrapped him in a warm down blanket, stoked the charcoal fire, and then walked out of the room.

"Mianmian! How is Rui now??"

"Rui won’t have any problem, right? My dear grandson, he’s still so young!"

Ruan Mian understood their worry and stepped forward to reassure them.

"Don’t worry, the child is only frozen, now his temperature is recovering, he’ll wake up soon. Cui Zhu, you stay and watch the child, and after Rui wakes up, let mother and them in to check."

"Where is sister-in-law now? I also want to check on her."

Ruan Qingsong quickly led her to see Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen had changed into clean, thick clothing, wrapped in an animal-skin blanket by the fire, and Guard Liu sat by the stove, seeing Ruan Mian approaching, he quickly stood up.