Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Ye Qing and her group left the clothing shop. Everyone carried armfuls of items. Even Ye Qing couldn’t hold the little one, as her arms were full.

Fortunately, the little one was obedient. She followed Ye Qing closely. The group returned home once, placed their purchases in the front hall, and then went out for dinner.

Many refugees from the north passed through Raozhou City. Most carried some silver. They lacked food, but Raozhou had plenty. These days, many people visited Raozhou. Local businesses, including restaurants and teahouses, were packed.

Ye Qing’s group visited two shops. Both were full. With no choice, they kept searching and finally found a place with seats.

A worker at the door welcomed Ye Qing’s group inside. He stood by attentively. “Guests, what would you like to order?” he asked politely. “Here’s our menu.”

Ye Qing took the menu and looked at it. She ordered chicken and fish without hesitation. She added several stir-fried dishes and a pot of rib soup. For staples, she chose rice. In total, she ordered a large table of dishes.

After ordering, Ye Qing and her group waited in the hall.

Perhaps due to their looks, many people glanced at them secretly. Several stared at Jiang Jinhuang especially.

Jiang Jinhuang didn’t mind much. She was in Raozhou, not the capital, where rules were less strict.

Soon, the worker brought the dishes one by one.

The little one was thrilled. She sat in Jiang Jinhuang’s lap and ate eagerly.

When Ye Qing’s group returned home, it was getting late. It wasn’t curfew yet, so Raozhou’s streets remained lively.

Back at the courtyard, Ye Qing boiled a large pot of hot water. They each returned to their rooms to wash up.

For the next month, Ye Qing’s group ate and drank happily. Every morning, Ye Qing and Song Zhao went shopping for meat, vegetables, and fruits. Jiang Jinhuang stayed home with the little one. Their days passed comfortably.

If they didn’t need to escort Jiang Jinhuang back to the capital, Ye Qing wanted to settle in Raozhou. She imagined buying a small courtyard and eating daily. The thought made her happy.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ying hurried back to the capital day and night. She reported the true disaster situation in Dazhao to the Empress. Empress Xiao Wenlan was furious. She sent General Deng Tao with troops to provide relief and arrest officials hiding the truth.

The army worked quickly. Deng Tao’s soldiers, known for strict discipline, distributed food along the way and saved many refugees.

Back in the capital, Xiao Ying was swamped. She remembered Ye Qing’s advice. She suggested sending the capital’s doctors to the disaster areas with ample herbs to save people. They also cleared dead bodies promptly to prevent plagues.

After half a month of busy work in the capital, Xiao Ying remembered Jiang Jinhuang’s letter. She sent a guard to deliver it to the Minister of Rites’ residence.

Jiang Jinhuang’s father was at his office. Only her elder sister, Jiang Jinyang, and her mother were home. Jiang Jinyang received the guest.

Since the messenger was from Second Highness, Jiang Jinyang didn’t dare neglect him, even if just a guard.

“This letter is from my Highness for you,” the guard said. He handed over the letter directly, saying nothing more.

“Thank you for delivering it,” Jiang Jinyang said. She signaled a guard, who slipped silver to the messenger.

Jiang Jinyang looked at the envelope. Her pupils shrank suddenly. She recognized her sister’s handwriting.

She hurriedly asked the guard, “Did Highness say anything else?”

The guard shook his head. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll report back,” he said.

The guard left.

Jiang Jinyang eagerly opened the envelope. She saw Jiang Jinhuang’s letter. Her eyes reddened.

Since her two sisters and mother got separated, her mother kept sending people to search. Even after returning to the capital, they sent two more groups to Linzhou, but found nothing. Unexpectedly, Second Highness met her sisters in the south.

Jiang Jinyang didn’t finish the letter. She ran to her mother’s courtyard.

“Mother, Mother!” she called urgently.

An Shuran was about to send someone to ask why the Second Highness sent a messenger. Her eldest daughter ran in.

An Shuran had never seen her daughter so flustered. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why so panicked?”

“It’s my sisters,” Jiang Jinyang said. “It’s Jinhuang’s letter.” She handed the letter to An Shuran, catching her breath.

An Shuran quickly opened the letter. She saw it was indeed her second daughter’s handwriting.

In the letter, her second daughter said she and Yangyang were safe. They met a female Qianyuan who protected them southward. She added that when the disaster eased, she’d find a way to bring Yangyang back to the capital.

An Shuran finished the letter. Her tears fell. Both daughters left the capital with her, but bandits and refugees separated them. She sent people to search multiple times, but heard nothing.

An Shuran had prepared for the worst. Still, she sent servants to keep looking, unwilling to give up. Now, her daughters were truly safe.

A weight lifted from An Shuran’s heart. But reading about the female Qianyuan in the letter, she felt afraid. Could her daughter already be with that Qianyuan?

An Shuran dared not think further. No matter what, even if her daughter was with an outsider Qianyuan, staying alive was what mattered.

“Jinyang, what else did the messenger say?” An Shuran asked, wiping her tears. “Where are your sisters now? Are they okay? I’m afraid Jinhuang wrote only good news to spare us worry.”

Jiang Jinyang shook her head. “I asked,” she said. “The messenger knew nothing. Highness just sent him to deliver the letter. To know Jinhuang’s situation, we’d need to see Second Highness.”

“Fine,” An Shuran said. “Jinyang, handle this. Send a visiting card now. I won’t rest until we know. Without their exact location, we can’t send people to find them.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinyang said. “I’ll send the card now.” She hurried off.

At noon, she sent the card. Second Highness’s residence replied, asking Jiang Jinyang to come at 3 p.m.

Jiang Jinyang arrived early at Second Highness’s residence. After waiting, a servant led her to Xiao Ying’s study.

Jiang Jinyang entered and bowed to Xiao Ying respectfully.

Xiao Ying glanced at her. “Stand up,” she said. “You’re here about Jiang Jinhuang?”

Jiang Jinyang stood quickly. “Yes,” she said. “Where did Highness meet my sister? Is she okay? Our family wants to send people to fetch her. Please tell us the general location.”

Xiao Ying thought for a moment and shook her head. “I only spent one day with them,” she said. “They went south. If all went well, they’ve likely passed Raozhou. I don’t know where they settled. Meeting them was pure chance.”

Jiang Jinyang felt disappointed. Xiao Ying didn’t know her sister’s exact location.

Seeing her disappointment, Xiao Ying comforted her. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Your sister has two young female Qianyuan protecting her. One of them seems close to her…”

“Close how?” Jiang Jinyang asked. She noticed Jinhuang’s letter praised Ye Qing, full of admiration. It made her teeth itch.

What rustic village girl stole her sister?

“I can’t say exactly,” Xiao Ying said honestly. “But your sister and Ye Qing seem very close. Ye Qing protects her. That Ye Qing is striking, not less than you.”

In the capital, Jiang Jinyang’s looks ranked high among female Qianyuan. Ye Qing matched her beauty.

Jiang Jinyang’s face softened slightly. Her sister wasn’t entirely blind, picking a decent-looking Qianyuan. Still, she felt that woman didn’t deserve her sister. Jinhuang’s talent topped the capital’s noble ladies. That Ye Qing got lucky.

The thought angered Jiang Jinyang. But knowing her sister was protected, her anger faded. Being with a village girl was fine if it kept her alive.

“I know the disaster is urgent,” Jiang Jinyang said. “I shouldn’t disturb Highness. I was worried about my sister, so I came.”

“I understand,” Xiao Ying said. “You haven’t seen the disaster areas. You can’t imagine the suffering. People starve daily, bodies everywhere. Many eat roots and clay. Ye Qing is capable, with food. Your sisters didn’t starve. She kept them well-fed and healthy.”

“That’s good,” Jiang Jinyang said. “I hope they’re safe.”

“They should be fine,” Xiao Ying said. “Ye Qing seems ordinary but not simple. Don’t worry too much. Their safety is the greatest fortune.” She sighed.

“Highness is right,” Jiang Jinyang said. “I’m relieved.” She chatted briefly with Xiao Ying and left with a bow.

Back at the Jiang residence, her father and mother waited.

“What did Second Highness say?” An Shuran asked eagerly.

Jiang Jinyang drank a cup of water quickly. “Highness said Jinhuang suffered little,” she said. “Many starve on the road, but the Qianyuan with her is capable. She kept them from hunger.”

“Hmph, absurd,” Minister Jiang said angrily. “My daughter, from the Minister of Rites, with a rustic village girl? Absurd!” His face turned from red to green.

“Father, don’t say that,” Jiang Jinyang said. “Without Ye Qing, they might not have survived.”

“Still, she shouldn’t be betrothed to a village girl,” he said. “Now Second Highness knows. It’s over, all over!”

His daughter was renowned in the capital. He raised her hoping she’d marry a prince or princess. The Empress had only two daughters. Now, with this news out, not only would a royal match fail, but even equal families might avoid their house.