Song Jingchen glanced at the ten guards coldly and said, "Since you're back, let's keep moving. We'll go to the next town and sell the carriage for another one."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Although the leader of the guards, Lin Mu, felt guilty, he still braced himself and said, "That would be inappropriate. This is a gift from His Majesty. Besides… completing the journey quickly is more important."
Shen Yijia was unhappy. She swallowed the meat in his mouth and said angrily, "Hmph, you think that completing the journey quickly is important? We've been waiting for you for a long time. Moreover, that group of bandits was attracted by this carriage. Do you want to keep this carriage to attract more bandits to rob us?"
Shen Yijia only thought about things at the surface level, so she meant what she said.
However, those guilty people would think that Shen Yijia was mocking them.
Only Song Jingchen knew that Shen Yijia didn't mean it that way.
Ignoring what those people were thinking, he said directly, "There are many bandits around here. You are all sacrificing yourselves to protect this party filled with the old, weak, sick, and disabled. His Majesty wouldn't blame you when he finds out, right?"
He was basically implying that they should listen to him or die.
Song Jingchen followed Lin Mu's arrangements along the way not because he was afraid of them, but because he couldn't be bothered.
Since they've had a falling out, there was no need to be polite to them any longer.
Lin Mu knew that what Song Jingchen said was the truth. Even if he would be punished when he returned, it was better than losing his life here.
They initially thought that Song Jingchen, whose legs were crippled, was nothing to be afraid of. After this incident, he understood that even if the ten of them worked together, they might not be able to take down these people.
Shen Yijia was about to go over and pick up Song Jingchen like she usually did. However, he unexpectedly tilted his body slightly and avoided her hand.
Shen Yijia looked at Song Jingchen in confusion.
Song Jingchen coughed awkwardly and turned his head away. "Let Uncle Yang do it."
Shen Yijia pursed her lips. He had let her carry him before.
It was noon when they arrived at the next town.
Song Jingchen ignored Lin Mu and the others behind him, and asked Uncle Yang to stop the carriage in front of an inn.
This time, without being instructed, Uncle Yang got into the carriage and carried Song Jingchen down.
He did not notice that Shen Yijia, who had a resentful expression, was gritting her teeth.
Madam Li found it funny, but she did not expose her. She simply got out of the car with the two children.
"Let's stay here. We won't be traveling today. Everyone should get some proper rest," Song Jingchen said.
Except for the ten people following behind, no one had any objections.
After asking for four rooms, Uncle Yang was about to take out his money bag to pay when Shen Yijia pushed his hand away.
She gestured to Lin Mu who was standing behind her. "They're with us. Ask him for the money."
The shopkeeper looked awkwardly at Lin Mu.
Lin Mu said nothing.
He could only resign himself to paying.
Song Jingchen glanced at Shen Yijia, who was as happy as a cat who had successfully stolen a fish, and a smile flashed across his eyes.
Shen Yijia had a room for herself. She took a shower and fell asleep.
She was exhausted. She didn't even get up for dinner.
The next morning, Shen Yijia opened the door and went downstairs.
Everyone was present. They sat at two separate tables.
Shen Yijia had just sat down when a money bag was placed in front of her.
Shen Yijia was puzzled. She opened it and saw two hundred-tael notes and some silver pieces.
The silver pieces added up to more than 30 taels.
"Is… is this for me?"
Shen Yijia looked at Song Jingchen because he was the one who took out the money bag.
However, Song Jingchen didn't say anything.