Chapter 19: This Is How A Mo Family Woman Should Be

Chapter 19: This Is How A Mo Family Woman Should Be

Mo Hanyue stared wide-eyed at Old Lady Mo, disbelief etched across her face.

"Mama, where would I have any silver?"

"If you don't have silver, then eat what's available," replied Old Lady Mo. While she was concerned for her daughter, she had lost all the hidden banknotes on her when they left the Mo residence; she was now penniless.

Although her daughters-in-law had some money, as an elder, it wouldn't be proper for her to ask them for it.

"Mama, I have some silver here. Perhaps I can buy some plain steamed buns from the officials?"

Seeing her usually lively and adorable younger sister-in-law shed tears over food, Third Sister-in-law couldn't help but feel pained.

"Third Sister-in-law, don't worry. Let's see how others are handling this."

This was He Zhiran's intention. With the entire national treasury in her possession, she naturally wouldn't begrudge spending on plain steamed buns for her family. However, it was only their first day of exile, and she hadn't yet gauged the situation with the officials or other convicts. She didn't wish to draw too much attention to herself just yet.

"He Zhiran speaks wisely. Let's observe first before taking action," agreed Old Lady Mo, concurring with He Zhiran's suggestion.

The Mo family heeded her words and remained inactive, adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

Indeed, the other four families that were exiled were rather unfortunate. They received the imperial edict of confiscation and exile almost simultaneously with the Mos, without any prior notice – it seemed to be an impromptu decision by Emperor Shunwu.

As a result, these four families were practically penniless.

Normally, escorting exiled convicts was a lucrative assignment. They usually turned a blind eye to the relatives who came to bid farewell, and they genuinely welcomed their presence.

That was the only way the prisoners would have money on them.

With the prisoners having money, the escorts stood to gain.

To their surprise, after shouting for hours that a pair of steamed buns was worth one silver coin, not a single person actually paid in silver to buy them.

In a fit of anger, the officials reduced the free black flour buns from one per person to half a bun each.

The Mo family was fortunate, with most being female relatives, and their usual appetite wasn't large, except for Mo Jiuye.

The sisters-in-law all thought that, even though it was only half a bun, as long as they didn't starve to death, it would be fine.

To their surprise, when they received the buns, they were stunned.

The black flour buns were as hard as stones; one bite might chip their teeth...

"Mother, this bun is so hard, I can't bite it," Mo Hanyue wept again.

"Yes, Mother. If we rely on such buns throughout the journey, we might not starve to death but choke instead."

"Mother, Third Sister and I have some silver. Why don't we buy some white flour buns?"

Upon hearing her daughters-in-law and daughter's suggestions, Old Lady Mo, for some reason, looked naturally towards He Zhiran.

Though she didn't know much about this newlywed daughter-in-law, Old Lady Mo could tell that He Zhiran was a woman of strong will.

He Zhiran responded to Old Lady Mo with a subtle, unhurried shake of her head.

"Mother, please calm down. Let's observe a little longer."

As she finished speaking, the sound of a child's wailing echoed from the nearest Xie family group.

Second Sister-in-law hurriedly rose to investigate.

"Big Brother, what happened to Lin'er?"

Xie Chao's eyes were filled with pain as he held out his palm toward Xie Fang.

"Lin'er's slightly loose front tooth was knocked out by a steamed bun."

Looking again at the five-year-old Xie Lin, blood still stained the corner of her mouth.

Xie Lin was the only grandson in the Xie family, and this child had been educated exceptionally well, growing up obedient and sensible.

Xie Fang had married Mo Erlang just three months prior, only to receive the devastating news of his death on the battlefield.

Regrettably, after her marriage, she was unable to conceive a child of her own.

Knowing that she would never bear children in this life, she poured all her affection and hopes into her well-behaved and understanding nephew, even contemplating his role in supporting her in her old age.

Thus, Xie Fang's feelings for Xie Lin exceeded those of an ordinary aunt-niece relationship.

Seeing the blood still seeping from the corners of Xie Lin's mouth due to her weeping, Xie Fang's heart ached unbearably.

She snatched the coarse wheat bun from Xie Lin's hand and threw it on the ground, turning to confront the officials.

"Although we have been exiled, we haven't been sentenced to death. We still have the right to live. How can we survive this journey to the northwest by feeding us these hard, stale black buns?"

Aware that the situation was deteriorating, He Zhiran quickly rushed towards her second sister.

She had noticed that the moment her sister began to protest, an official had already drawn out a whip. It could be said that she arrived just in time.

As the whip was about to land on Xie Fang, He Zhiran swiftly stepped forward, firmly grasping one end of the whip, sparing Xie Fang from physical torment.

In his many years as an officer, it was the first time he had been humiliated by a prisoner, and particularly, a young woman.

The officer's face darkened, and he began to vent his anger at He Zhiran with curses.

Mo Jiuye, lying on the wooden cart, listened to everything unfold with immense anxiety, nearly overwhelmed by the urge to intervene.

His tense figure caught the attention of the meticulous Old Lady Mo, who gently patted his back, signaling him not to act impulsively.

After soothing Mo Jiuye, Old Lady Mo rose and approached her two daughters-in-law.

In her understanding, the men of the Mo family were brave, and their women should not be cowards; they would share in adversity together.

Aware that she had caused the trouble through her impulsive actions and witnessing the officer preparing to punish Ninth Brother's wife, Xie Fang quickly positioned herself in front of her.

"I spoke those words. If there's any resentment, direct it solely at me; don't take it out on my Ninth Sister-in-law."

He Zhiran was prepared to confront the official head-on, but to her surprise, she was blocked by her second sister-in-law.

Anxious, she seized her sister-in-law's collar and pulled her back, catching the whip that the official had thrown again with her other hand.

With a clever twist of strength, she snatched the whip from him and held it firmly in her own grip.

The other officials, who had been pretending to enjoy their white steamed buns to taunt the prisoners and enjoy the spectacle, could no longer continue their act.

Putting down their buns, they drew their swords from their belts and encircled the trio of women.

He Zhiran unleashed her full aura.

"You bunch of cowards, my family, the Mo, have shed blood and sacrificed our lives for the peace you now enjoy. Yet, when my family falls victim to treachery, you mimic the actions of base villains, bullying weak women like us. Looking at your cowardly demeanor, it seems that's all the skill you possess. If you were sent to battle against enemy forces, your heads would likely have been severed long ago."

With He Zhiran's words resounding firmly, Old Madam Mo instantly felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her veins.

"Well spoken! This is precisely the demeanor a woman of the Mo family should possess," Old Madam Mo declared, concurrently observing the expressions of the officials.

It was evident that not all the officers were malevolent; some had already discreetly sheathed their weapons, adopting a wait-and-see attitude.