Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The situation below had become chaotic. Sending ordinary civil officials to escort grain was impractical. Some military officers exploited soldiers. If grain reached such people, they would likely withhold half and sell it expensively. Only trusted, disciplined troops could be chosen.

Xiao Ying nodded. She found Ye Qing’s words reasonable. If she delayed her return, more people would die.

Refugees harbored great resentment toward the court. Without action, Dazhao might descend into chaos.

If she hadn’t requested to investigate secretly, she wouldn’t have realized the disaster’s severity. Many places didn’t report truthfully.

“You’re right. If possible, I’ll depart in a few days,” Xiao Ying said thoughtfully.

“If feasible, medical officers should accompany relief efforts. Epidemics often follow disasters. These need caution. Also, refugee resettlement and next year’s taxes are issues. You officials must discuss them thoroughly,” Ye Qing said. She knew the general relief process. Tax exemptions and resettlement required expert discussion.

Xiao Ying nodded again. She looked at Ye Qing curiously. “Have you really never studied?” she asked.

Ye Qing nodded. “Yes, I only know letters. These are bad ideas. Listen casually. You officials must decide,” she said.

Ye Qing excused herself to check the pot and slipped away.

Xiao Ying turned to Jiang Jinhuang. “What did she do when you met her?” she asked.

“Nothing much,” Jiang Jinhuang said honestly. She softened Ye Qing’s past. In Linzhou, Ye Qing hung out with bad friends daily, teasing animals or gambling.

Xiao Ying looked skeptical. Ye Qing’s earlier words didn’t sound like an uneducated person’s. Thinking Jiang Jinhuang was evasive, she didn’t press further.

Xiao Ying stood. She took a whistle-like object from her neck. She blew it at her lips. It made bird calls. Moments later, a person drifted to her side silently, like a falling leaf.

Ye Qing startled. She heard no sound before the person appeared.

The black-clad person bowed to Xiao Ying. They waited respectfully for her orders.

“Go inform the other team. Escort me back to the capital together. Depart tonight, as fast as possible,” Xiao Ying ordered.

“Yes, Highness,” the person said. They vanished like a breeze, leaping into the trees. They disappeared moments later.

Xiao Ying spoke thoughtfully. “I’ll leave tonight. I caused you trouble today. I planned to hide in the cart among refugees. Meeting you was fate,” she said.

Xiao Ying looked at Jiang Jinhuang. “I’m rushing back and can’t take you and your sister. Settle in the south with Ye Qing, then find a way back to the capital,” she said.

After thinking, Xiao Ying added, “Write a short letter. When I return to the capital, I’ll deliver it to your family to report your safety.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Jinhuang said. She avoided saying “Thank you, Highness,” using polite thanks instead. She wanted to reassure her family.

Jiang Jinhuang ran to Ye Qing. “Ye Qing, do you have ink and a brush?” she asked.

Ye Qing nodded. She had everything, like a treasure chest. She pretended to search. “I have them, but they’re at the cart’s bottom. I’ll look,” she said.

“Good. Find them. I’ll report my safety to my family,” Jiang Jinhuang said eagerly.

“Okay,” Ye Qing said. She went to the cart. No such items were there. They were in her space.

Ye Qing took ink, brush, and paper from her space. She hurried out.

“Found them,” Ye Qing said. She placed the items on the stone Jiang Jinyang used for meals. Jiang Jinhuang mixed ink with water. She wrote with the brush.

Jiang Jinhuang’s letter was short, three pages. She detailed her and her sister’s journey, omitting Ye Qing’s initial mistreatment. She wrote they were safe, heading south to settle, and would return to the capital when the disaster stabilized.

After writing hundreds of words, Jiang Jinhuang gave the letter to Xiao Ying carefully. “Thank you, Highness, for delivering my letter despite your busy schedule,” she said softly.

Xiao Ying shook her head. “It’s fine. When I return, I’ll send someone to deliver it to the Jiang household. It’s no trouble,” she said.

Xiao Ying glanced at Ye Qing. She removed a jade token from her chest. The token, carved from fine jade, featured a lifelike phoenix.

Xiao Ying held the jade token. She walked to Ye Qing. She spoke to her. “Last night, I endangered you. This token is compensation. If you and Jiang Jinhuang return to the capital and need me, bring this token to the palace,” she said.

Ye Qing thought and accepted the token. She nodded at Xiao Ying. “Thank you,” she said.

“No need. Without your advice, I’d have gone south, costing more lives,” Xiao Ying said. She sighed heavily.

The distant mourning cries had stopped. Refugees resumed their numb expressions.

Xiao Ying ate dinner with Ye Qing’s group. She received a signal from her hidden guard. She slipped into the darkness, as if she’d never been there.

Ye Qing stored extra cups and chopsticks to avoid trouble. Their group returned to four.

Their escape was swift. Ye Qing noticed Zhou Mancang’s family hadn’t kept up. It didn’t matter. They were chance acquaintances. Parting was normal.

At night, as Ye Qing’s group prepared to sleep, noises came from the grove. Refugees’ screams echoed faintly.

Ye Qing frowned and stood. She tossed long swords to Song Zhao and Jiang Jinhuang. She held one, standing protectively before them.

Fighting sounds grew closer. Ye Qing’s group couldn’t hitch the cart to flee. They had to fight. Fortunately, few attackers came, and they were scattered.

Masked men charged into the refugee crowd, killing frantically.

Soon, two black-clad men attacked Ye Qing’s group.

Ye Qing and Song Zhao each blocked one with swords. Jiang Jinhuang held her sword, guarding the little one.

The masked men’s swords moved swiftly. They seemed like the assassins targeting Xiao Ying.

Ye Qing blocked with her sword. She countered the black-clad man’s three strikes quickly. His strength was great, and his attacks were fast. He was trained. Worse, he knew lightness skills, making him tougher than typical thugs.

Song Zhao barely held her own. If another attacker came, Jiang Jinhuang and the little one would be in danger.

While Ye Qing was distracted, the black-clad man’s sword slashed near her face. Sensing it, she dodged sideways. The blade cut a strand of her hair.

Ye Qing had no time to breathe. The man’s next strike aimed at her right shoulder. She blocked with her sword. “Who are you? Why attack us refugees?” she asked.

The man ignored Ye Qing. He hadn’t expected a refugee to counter so many strikes. Growing impatient, he swung faster.

Ye Qing blocked one strike. The next aimed at her face.

Under relentless strikes, Ye Qing’s palm numbed. She dared not relax or lose focus.

If this continued, she and Song Zhao would falter. Ye Qing tried withdrawing her left hand. She used her right to match the man’s strength. This shift weakened her. The man kicked her chest. Ye Qing grabbed her crossbow with her left hand from her space. The kick sent her flying back two or three meters.

Ye Qing landed on her back. Pain made her gasp. She knew meeting Xiao Ying was bad luck. Xiao Ying left, but they and the refugees were implicated. These men wanted no survivors, killing rather than risking escape.

Ye Qing lay on the ground. The black-clad man showed no mercy. His sword aimed at her face.

“Ye Qing!” Jiang Jinhuang shouted. She struck the man’s sword with hers, delaying him briefly. This drew his attention.

The man turned his blade. He slashed at Jiang Jinhuang’s shoulder.

Ye Qing aimed her crossbow at the man’s throat with her left hand. She felt calm like never before. She pulled the trigger firmly. An arrow shot at his throat. He hadn’t expected her attack. The arrow pierced his neck. His sword was two fists from Jiang Jinhuang’s face.

Jiang Jinhuang stepped back, shaken. The man fell backward.

Jiang Jinhuang had told the little one to crouch and cover her head to avoid harm. The little one obeyed, shrinking to avoid notice.

Ye Qing exhaled. Ignoring her back pain, she stood. She fired an arrow at the man fighting Song Zhao. The crossbow’s range was hundreds of meters. At close range, the arrow hit his back. He fell in a pool of bl00d moments later.

Ye Qing rushed to Jiang Jinhuang. Seeing her unharmed, Ye Qing shouted loudly. “Didn’t I tell you to stay back? Do you know how dangerous that was? You nearly died!” she said.

Ye Qing’s heart had nearly stopped. These men’s strikes were deadly fast.

Jiang Jinhuang pursed her lips. She had rushed to block the man, worried for Ye Qing. She was terrified but feared Ye Qing’s injury more.

Before they could speak further, more black-clad men charged toward them.