CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 75: IS THIS SOMETHING A MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER COULD DO?

The stationmaster no longer had his usual arrogant demeanor, realizing he was at the mercy of others. He could only plead for his life.

But Ruan Mian thought of the whip that struck Shaoxi. How could she face Shaoxi, who had been so loyal to her, without returning the punishment?

So she mercilessly whipped down, one lash after another, until the stationmaster’s skin was broken and bleeding.

The stationmaster was sweating from the pain, moving from pleading to anger to cursing, and finally back to crying and begging.

Yet Ruan Mian remained indifferent. Only when he was too weak did she throw away the whip and look at those huddled in the corner.

Ruan Mian turned and went to an empty room next door, taking out some dry food and money from her space, and handed everything to them.

"You should leave. It’s not safe to stay here. Leave as soon as possible."

The civilians didn’t expect this woman to be their savior. After a moment’s daze, they quickly knelt down in gratitude.

"Miss, thank you for saving our lives! Miss..."

Before they could finish, Ruan Mian had already turned and left the stable.

The refugees finally had a chance to survive. They were originally the oppressed laborers of Ru Ning, caught here for forced labor without a channel to complain, enduring beatings for a long time.

Now, they could vent their anger by picking up stones, mud, broken tables, and even horse manure from outside, throwing them all at the stationmaster!

Yet, they still couldn’t release all their resentment. They wanted to take back the suffering of the unjust beatings during this time.

In the small stable, only the stationmaster’s painful cries echoed, but these sounds were long drowned out by the chaos of soldiers and civilians outside the post station...

Meanwhile, Qi Nanfeng was trapped in a room, his head dizzy. The fire outside raged wildly, and the scorching heat surged towards him. Watching the beams and tiles outside continuously fall, he grew more and more flustered.

The whole family screamed fearfully, but their minds were cloudy, and they had no energy.

Qi Nanfeng tried to open the window but found the doors and windows sealed from the outside.

In that moment, he was shocked, realizing belatedly that those people weren’t letting him off, wanting him to perish along with Ruan Mian!

Qi Nanfeng knew today’s plan was to silence witnesses, but he was the Princess’s man, and he never thought they would harm him.

Unexpectedly... they were merciless!

Panic-stricken, he kicked the door desperately, and Liu Family clutched his arm urgently with her heavy body.

"Nanfeng, Nanfeng, what’s happening? Get mother out of here! Mother doesn’t want to die!"

Qi Nanfeng mustered his strength, and as a beam ahead burnt and fell, he jumped back in shock; the wooden door had burned through.

Flames flickered beside him, and an old woman trapped under a beam screamed, "Help, young master, help!"

But Qi Nanfeng didn’t even look back, not caring about his own mother, rushing out of the room towards the flames!!

"Nanfeng!"

Liu Family was greatly shocked, her heart sinking to the bottom.

All the hardships along the way hadn’t killed her, but these two children made her taste despair and heartbreak.

She wasn’t willing to die here either, so she charged through the inferno like Qi Nanfeng, at all costs.

...

Outside the post station, the menials and soldiers were all extinguishing the fire, and the escaped convicts were dragged back to help.

Ruan Mian settled her family first, ensuring no one was injured, before going to assess the situation.

Qi Nanfeng and his mother also escaped, but alas, Liu Family had her face blackened, hair disheveled and singed, with even her eyebrows burnt off.

They were as wretched as could be, with Qi Nanfeng no better, his clothes all tattered like a beggar’s.

Ruan Mian was about to step forward when she suddenly spotted Vice Minister Dong in the shadows.

She quickly walked over to Vice Minister Dong and whispered a question.

"Vice Minister Dong, is everything settled inside?"

Vice Minister Dong gave her a few extra glances. Just then, a familiar voice called from behind them.

"Master! My lord was ambushed and injured. Please go and see him quickly."

Hearing this, Vice Minister Dong’s face changed drastically, and Ruan Mian turned to look, realizing this was indeed the young man she had once saved in the Beast Fighting Arena.

But there was no time to ask in detail. She turned to Vice Minister Dong and said, "Take me to Mr. Xie, I can treat him."

Without hesitation, Vice Minister Dong decisively led Ruan Mian away into the shadows.

Everyone near the post station was busy extinguishing the fire, and with her brother and their people there, Ruan Mian wasn’t worried.

But Mr. Xie being ambushed was troubling.

She quickly returned to her family’s side, gave Cui Zhu and her brother brief instructions, then grabbed a bundle and slung it over her shoulder.

Following Vice Minister Dong, she entered a dilapidated house with perforated eaves.

The door creaked open to reveal someone lying motionless on the ground.

Vice Minister Dong and the young man turned pale and rushed forward, shouting, "My lord!"

Ruan Mian lit the flint.

When the room lit up, it revealed Xie Huai’an lying in a pool of blood.

A slash had cut his back, and although it was tightly wrapped with cloth, the bleeding had not stopped.

Seeing this, Ruan Mian quickly instructed Vice Minister Dong and the youth to boil some hot water outside and bring a clean cloth or towel.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the moment alone, she touched the Jade Bracelet, entered her space, and retrieved painkillers, along with antibiotics and saline.

There were no modern suture kits here, but thankfully, some injury remedies like needles and mulberry white threads from this era were found in the Xuanjia Army Arsenal the last time.

Carefully propping Xie Huai’an up, she removed his shirt and used the saline solution to clean his wound first.

The pain brought him back to his senses somewhat; his gaunt face barely registered a furrowed brow.

Seeing his tolerance, Ruan Mian couldn’t help but advise, "If the pain during the stitching becomes unbearable, feel free to cry out, no need to hold back."

She spread out a piece of cowhide, cleaned her hands, and then sterilized the needle with the flame before starting to stitch the wound under the dim light.

Xie Huai’an didn’t make a sound, but beads of cold sweat trickled down his shoulders and back.

Ruan Mian sped up her work, and when she finished, she noticed a slight smile on his lips.

She was slightly taken aback, "You have quite the good attitude, my lord."

Xie Huai’an’s bright gaze fixated on her, as if trying to see through her.

Amidst the flickering candlelight, his hoarse voice asked, "Miss Ruan... just who are you?"

Hearing this, Ruan Mian continued to bandage him as she replied.

"I am Ruan Mian, daughter of the Ruan Family, merchants in the Capital, and my brother is Ruan Qingsong, a Hanlin Editor."

This was the first sentence she had said back then when she found him.

And now, she repeated the same sentence.

Xie Huai’an turned his gaze away, speaking to himself.

"You once sent word through the Assistant Minister, provided intelligence about Dong Jun’s subordinates, and later had your guards deliver those corrupt officials’ registers and account books. Is this something a merchant’s daughter would do?"