Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 70

Chapter 70

For the next few days, Ye Qing’s group encountered no trouble. They reached Xiangzhou after three days. As before, many local refugees in Xiangzhou fled south. Guards blocked refugees trying to enter the city at the gate.

Learning from past experiences, Ye Qing didn’t stop to watch the commotion. She drove the cart away directly.

Song Zhao’s back injuries had nearly healed in recent days. Drinking spiritual spring water daily sped up her recovery. She hadn’t taken medicine recently. Feeling better, she refused to stay in the cart. Ye Qing and Song Zhao now drove the cart, one on each side. Jiang Jinhuang and the little one rested inside.

With the cart, Ye Qing’s group traveled faster. This exhausted Zhou Mancang’s family following behind. They hurried constantly to match Ye Qing’s pace.

South of Xiangzhou lay Nanjiang. Crossing Nanjiang meant leaving Huizhou’s borders, essentially exiting the province. Ye Qing’s group headed toward Nanjiang now.

On the way, Ye Qing’s group met a group with horses. Ye Qing counted roughly. The group had over ten people, all wearing black cloaks. Two carts carrying grain and luggage followed them. They looked like trained fighters.

Song Zhao noticed the group ahead of them. “Master, look at those people. They look impressive and grand,” she said.

Ye Qing nodded in agreement. “They do look grand. They seem tough and likely skilled,” she said.

Not only Ye Qing noticed them. Refugees watched them too. The group carried long swords, and their horses were sturdy. No one dared provoke them.

Ye Qing’s group traveled at a similar pace to the cloaked group. As dusk fell, Ye Qing’s group found a grove for shelter. About a hundred meters away, the cloaked group stopped to rest too.

Jiang Jinhuang and Song Zhao unloaded items from the cart. Jiang Jinhuang saw Ye Qing glance at the distance. Recalling past events, she asked worriedly, “Are those people too noticeable? We’re not far from them. Will bandits target them?”

Ye Qing shook her head, thinking they weren’t that unlucky. “Probably not. Bandits aren’t that common. Those people carry swords and aren’t pushovers. No one would dare try. Don’t worry,” she said.

Hearing Ye Qing’s words, Jiang Jinhuang relaxed slightly. She continued unloading items.

Ye Qing looked away. She helped move everything off the cart.

They had eaten all the horse meat Ye Qing killed earlier. With many people around, Ye Qing couldn’t act freely. She took out a few eggs and half a cabbage. She planned to stir-fry eggs with cabbage. For the meal, she chose simple, quick-cooking rice. She also took out four potatoes to roast later.

Since recovering, Song Zhao eagerly took on tasks. She now handled lighting the fire. Ye Qing and Jiang Jinhuang split other chores. Ye Qing chopped cabbage, and Jiang Jinhuang cracked eggs. With an extra person, they cooked faster.

Soon, Ye Qing steamed the rice. Song Zhao waited nearby to stir-fry the dish.

Jiang Jinhuang relaxed. She played with the little one nearby.

When Ye Qing’s group started eating, the cloaked group lit fires too. They seemed to be cooking as well.

Ye Qing ate her egg and cabbage rice bowl. She thought they needed more meat tomorrow for flavor.

After dinner, Ye Qing and Song Zhao cleaned the pots by the fire. Jiang Jinhuang watched the little one draw on the other side.

Drawing was the little one’s favorite pastime. She mumbled while drawing. Jiang Jinhuang found her sister adorable just watching.

When they finished resting, they prepared to sleep. With Song Zhao, Ye Qing and Jiang Jinhuang felt less pressure keeping watch. Three people split the night watch, so each slept more. Jiang Jinhuang took the first shift. Near midnight, Ye Qing took over.

Ye Qing sat by the fire after waking. She took a while to feel alert. She kept her sword nearby for protection. The surroundings stayed quiet. Other refugees likely slept.

While Ye Qing walked around the fire, she heard noises in the grove. She detected hoofbeats. Her heart raced nervously.

Were they really so unlucky to face bandits repeatedly?

In her brief distraction, black-clad figures, fully covered, emerged from the grove. Ye Qing watched them tensely. She realized their target wasn’t her group.

The black-clad figures charged toward the cloaked group Ye Qing saw earlier. Soon, fighting sounds echoed from the distance.

Ye Qing woke Jiang Jinhuang and the others. The little one sat up. She couldn’t keep her eyes open, sleepy.

“What’s wrong, Ye Qing?” Jiang Jinhuang asked. She felt annoyed, woken shortly after sleeping.

“They’re fighting over there. It’s a group of masked black-clad people. They’re not after us,” Ye Qing said. She hesitated briefly and ordered, “Song Zhao, hitch the cart. We’ll pack. If needed, we’ll flee.”

“Yes, Master,” Song Zhao said. She hurried to hitch the cart. Ye Qing and Jiang Jinhuang folded blankets and stuffed them into the cart.

Zhou Mancang’s family woke too. Seeing Ye Qing’s group pack, Zhou Mancang urged his family to pack quickly.

“Hurry, hurry. Our benefactor’s leaving. Grab our things,” Zhou Mancang said. He feared falling behind Ye Qing’s group carelessly.

As Ye Qing’s group packed, many nearby refugees fled too. Soon, the fighting spread. People scattered, drawing the black-clad figures to chase. They killed refugees in their way. Some black-clad figures headed toward Ye Qing’s group.

Ye Qing urged Jiang Jinhuang and the little one onto the cart. She and Song Zhao sat outside to drive.

Zhou Mancang’s donkey cart followed Ye Qing’s closely. The black-clad figures searched the grove relentlessly. Ye Qing and Song Zhao, like many refugees, rushed to the main road. They feared the conflict would harm them.

Inside the cart, Jiang Jinhuang covered the little one’s mouth. They stared at an unexpected person across from them.

The woman opposite frowned at Jiang Jinhuang. After a moment, Jiang Jinhuang whispered tentatively, “Second Highness?”

The woman gestured for silence quickly. Jiang Jinhuang closed her mouth immediately.

Jiang Jinhuang whispered to her sister. “Yangyang, be good. Don’t speak. Many bad people are outside,” she said.

The little one nodded obediently. Jiang Jinhuang released her.

The little one stayed silent. She stared curiously at the sister opposite.

The female Qianyuan looked at Jiang Jinhuang, full of questions. She suppressed them all. “Do you have clothes? Something plain like you wear. Give me one,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang understood her meaning instantly. She pulled a dress from the box below. She handed it to the female Qianyuan respectfully. She held the little one and moved to the curtain, giving the female Qianyuan space to change.

The female Qianyuan quickly tossed her cloak and silk dress out the window. She sighed with relief afterward. She thanked Jiang Jinhuang. “Thank you,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang bowed in return. This was Xiao Ying, Dazhao’s Second Highness. The female emperor’s harem was empty except for one empress. She had only two daughters, Xiao Jing and Xiao Ying.

Xiao Jing, named crown princess young, fell from a horse years ago during a hunt. She used a wheelchair since. Xiao Ying became a popular candidate for future empress. In the capital, no one dared offend her.

Jiang Jinhuang frowned slightly. Why was the Second Highness here, chased by assassins? Who was bold enough to target a future empress candidate?

Jiang Jinhuang was curious but didn’t dare overstep. Accompanying royalty was like accompanying a tiger. This Second Highness was nearly the future empress.

Ye Qing heard the noise inside the cart. She frowned and lifted the curtain. She saw an extra person inside.

Ye Qing prepared to act. Jiang Jinhuang stopped her. “Ye Qing, she’s an old acquaintance. I’ll explain later,” she said.

Ye Qing saw Jiang Jinhuang’s signal. She nodded and sat back. She wondered who this person was. Was she from the cloaked group? Why was she chased? How did Jiang Jinhuang know her?

Ye Qing knew it wasn’t time to talk. Refugees fleeing the grove hurried along. Ye Qing’s group wanted to leave the danger zone quickly. If the black-clad figures caught up, their group would suffer.

Thinking this, Ye Qing ordered, “Song Zhao, make the horses go faster.”

“Yes, Master,” Song Zhao said. She whipped the horses to run faster.

Inside the cart, silence reigned. Jiang Jinhuang, a minister’s daughter, had little to say to Xiao Ying. As a Qianyuan, Xiao Ying required distance in the capital. No such conditions existed now.

Xiao Ying didn’t know what to say to Jiang Jinhuang. She vaguely recalled her, perhaps from a palace banquet, but didn’t know her name.

The little one watched the adults stare at each other. She scratched her pigtails, puzzled.

Children couldn’t stay still long. Soon, the little one moved to Xiao Ying’s side. She smiled sweetly at Xiao Ying. She praised her kindly, “Sister, you’re really pretty.”

Jiang Jinhuang gasped, startled. Such words in the capital would offend the royal family. “Yangyang, don’t be silly. Come back,” she said.

Xiao Ying saw the little one’s fair face with two pigtails. She looked cute. She shook her head at Jiang Jinhuang. “It’s fine. Your sister is quite adorable,” she said.