CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 73: WHY SHOULD I?!

And that medicine prescription by Ruan Mian was already praised as top-notch.

Ruan Jiao immediately set her sights on that prescription.

She changed her plans right away, and while others were moving bricks, she secretly returned to the house under the pretense of getting sick, tiptoed to Ruan Mian’s cart, and quickly searched through it!

The moment she searched, her eyes turned red with greed.

The food, medicine, and various supplies inside were beyond imagination, no wonder they had been living well all this time!

In contrast, she shared the surname Ruan, yet faced such hardships, why? Why!!

As she stuffed dry food into her pocket, she looked for that prescription.

Today, she was sure Ruan Qingsong would still drink it, so the ingredients must be prepared.

However, it wasn’t long before a hand landed on her shoulder!

Ruan Jiao was startled, and before she could make a sound, she was grabbed by the hair. Intense pain surged, and she was dragged down from the cart.

Immediately after, a fist swung at her face, causing her to struggle violently from the pain.

"Dare to steal from us?"

The person was Shaoxi, and though she lacked skill, she had strength.

These things were the most treasured by Mianmian, how could outsiders have ideas about them?!

Without hesitation, she beat Ruan Jiao, making her howl.

Their commotion caught the attention of the station-master, who ran over fiercely and stopped them with a few lashes: "Don’t you want to live?! Making noise and fighting here, watch out or I’ll cut you down!"

With her hair all messed up and face full of grievance, Ruan Jiao looked at the station-master and quickly started to cry out.

"Lord, Lord, please save me... I only saw they had life-saving medicine, I don’t want to die, so I came to check, but she’s trying to kill me, Lord..."

She cried bitterly, continuously emphasizing, "They are just as exiled as I am, yet why do they have so much good food and clothing? I just wanted their life-saving medicine."

At the mention of life-saving medicine, the station-master’s expression immediately changed.

He had heard about Ruan Qingsong’s life-saving story overnight and was quite interested in the medicine.

Now, hearing Ruan Jiao’s words, he felt the medicine was of great value.

He immediately looked at Shaoxi and ordered, "Where’s the medicine?!"

Shaoxi’s face showed a slight change; guessing that the officer wanted to keep it for himself, she certainly couldn’t reveal it, so she only said.

"Lord, this woman attempted to seize others’ property, caught in the act of theft by me. How can she be tolerated?!"

"I asked where the medicine is!!" The station-master didn’t want to hear anything else, he just wanted her to hand over the medicine.

Seeing Shaoxi not responding, anger rose, and he whipped her severely.

"Speak!"

Shaoxi bit her lip, steadfastly refused to speak, not wanting to cause Ruan Mian trouble. So, she didn’t resist at all, letting the station-master’s whip strike her, even when her clothes tore and her skin split, she remained silent.

It wasn’t until Ruan Mian returned to pick things up that she saw the scene.

She immediately stepped forward, grasped the station-master’s whip, and facing his vicious expression, she merely lowered her gaze, then revealed a cold smile.

"Lord, can’t this matter be discussed calmly? She’s a weak woman, how could she withstand your few lashes?"

The station-master snorted, extending his hand: "Hand over the medicine, and I won’t lash her for no reason!"

"If she’s unwilling to speak, I’ll keep beating until you hand over the medicine."

With that said, he raised his whip again. Ruan Mian chuckled lightly: "Isn’t it just a prescription, officer, come with me, I can give you several more."

"Miss!"

Shaoxi endured the pain and called out to her, only to see Ruan Mian give her a look before calmly leading the station-master to the cart.

She rummaged through a box, found some medicine, and handed it to the station-master.

"Officer, if this isn’t enough, I can procure more for you tomorrow."

The station-master squinted, eyeing her with ill intent.

"You, just an exile, where did you get so much Silver Coin? And bringing such good things along the way, I’ve never seen anyone like you."

Ruan Mian smiled: "Naturally... someone behind the scenes paved the way. Otherwise, how could the officers escorting us indulge me so much?"

Finishing, she implied a bigger reward for the officer after leaving the post station: "If the officer doesn’t make things difficult, once out of the post station, I have even greater benefits for you."

The station-master had heard rumors about someone backing her, but tonight all of their lives were to be ended here, a pity for this money pot.

His eyes turned, and suddenly he was reluctant to see Ruan Mian, this money pot, meet her end, so he said.

"In that case, I’ll give you a chance at life. Tonight, don’t go to the woodshed with your family. After nightfall, come directly to the horse stable at the post station, and you can save your life."

With that, he took the medicines and turned to leave.

Ruan Mian’s gaze shifted, faintly sensing something amiss.

Not going to the woodshed? Going to the stables to find him? Another chance at life?

Could it be... the ones behind the Princess are making a move? Or is it the station-master’s selfish desire?

She restrained her expression, and at this moment, Shaoxi hurried over, concerned, and asked: "Miss, what did he just say?"

Ruan Mian gave a reassuring smile: "He said... tonight is his death day."

"Huh?"

Before Shaoxi understood, Ruan Mian had already walked up to Ruan Jiao.

Ruan Jiao felt extremely uncomfortable, not just from the dog bite wounds, but she also caught a cold, feeling dizzy, as if she could faint at any moment.

Seeing that the theft attempt failed, her life hanging by a thread, she didn’t wish to die so easily.

Despite her reluctance, with a trembling yet humble voice, she suddenly pleaded with Ruan Mian.

"Sister! I was wrong, I really was wrong."

She cried, continuously kowtowing: "I shouldn’t have done those foolish things, I don’t want to die, sister, I’m still part of the Ruan Family, still bear the name Ruan."

"Although my mother was just a concubine, and I wasn’t liked by the family from birth, still... I just want to survive, that’s all. For the sake of us sharing the same surname, could you save me? Don’t let me die from illness, I know you have excellent medical skills!"

"I promise you, as long as you can save me, I’ll never be the same as before, I’ll certainly behave and..."

Before she could finish, Ruan Mian’s voice, devoid of warmth, interrupted her.

"Where in this world is there a remedy for regret? You’ve come to the wrong person asking for help."

"And besides, isn’t Mr. Qi supposedly close with you? Why not have him help you in your desperate time, instead of coming to me, someone you’ve had enmity with?"

On hearing this, Ruan Jiao cried even louder, choking on her words: "Sister, I truly realized my mistake! I didn’t intend to get close to Mr. Qi, but he insisted on it, insisted on giving you trouble."