Qi Yue hurried to the riverbank and in less than fifteen minutes, she came back carrying several fish.
Many people saw her and thought there were really fish in the river, so they all ran to the riverbank, even the Government Official took some criminals to catch fish.
As a result, despite their busy efforts until dusk, they had not caught a single fish.
By then, Qi Yue had already greeted Guan Yidao and was cooking the fish with her young sisters-in-law.
Of the five fish, one was stewed clear and intended for Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Xiyan.
The other four were all braised, two of which the Zhao Family kept, and the other two were given to Guan Yidao and the Government Official.
Now on the road to exile, the fate of the family was essentially in the hands of the Government Official, and it was necessary to maintain certain appearances.
Otherwise, just a few extra whips from them on the journey could be deadly.
Shen Yu and Zhao Yonglian nodded again and again upon hearing Qi Yue's arrangements, saying she was capable.
After the family had eaten, Qi Yue, as usual, cleaned the pots and bowls and returned them. Just as she was about to leave the station, a Government Official ran over to her, saying Guan Yidao had summoned her.
It was the usual upper room of the inn where Guan Yidao was seated next to the table, with only a skeleton of fish bones beside him.
Qi Yue bowed slightly as a greeting.
"Commander Guan called for me, is there something you need?"
While picking his teeth, Guan Yidao lazily uttered a sound from his half-opened mouth.
"There's something, you might be interested."
"Please tell me, sir."
"Tomorrow at the station, there's a man named Qian Faliang, you should beware of him. It's said he's targeting Zhao Xiyan."
Hearing that a new Lieutenant General named Qian Faliang was coming and that he had sinister motives, Qi Yue felt uneasy.
Upon returning and reporting the matter, Zhao Yonglian was the first to leap out.
"Damn Emperor, our Zhao family has already suffered so much, yet he won't let us go?"
However, Zhao Yongzhe shook his head.
"Our Emperor has always been obstinate and indifferent; Yanyan has been sick for a long time, he stopped caring long ago."
"Why then?" Zhao Yonglian was still puzzled.
The others were also confused, with Shen Yu particularly worried.
"Yanyan, do you know this Qian Faliang? What is his background?"
Zhao Xiyan shook his head, his face cryptic.
At this point, Zhao Yongzhe suddenly instructed Shen Yu to take out all the money she had.
Knowing it was to save her son, Shen Yu immediately pulled out all the hidden silver.
Even Zhao Shuanghua and the young sisters-in-law took out the little silver they had.
As Qi Yue was wondering whether and how much to contribute, Zhao Yongzhe suddenly said, "Yueyue, take this money and go ask Commander Guan exactly what is going on."
"This…" Just as Qi Yue was about to say that seeking Guan Yidao might be futile, she only heard Zhao Yongzhe sigh.
"Yueyue, father knows it's not good to take advantage of General Qi's friendship, but now you're the only one who can talk to him."
Qi Yue was even more confused.
What did this mean?
Why involve Qi Yunzhang?
"Father, I don't understand, what does my father have to do with Guan Yidao?"
Zhao Yongzhe was momentarily stunned.
"Didn't you know? Guan Yidao was a Lieutenant General under your father's command back in the day, and they were very close."
Qi Yue understood at once; no wonder Guan Yidao looked after her somewhat.
But Guan Yidao, always talking in riddles, seemed to hold some resentments towards her.
Seeing Qi Yue silent, Zhao Yongzhe thought she was unwilling and his face showed embarrassment.
"Yueyue, I understand this request is a bit much, but you're the only one who can save Yanyan now."
Zhao Xiyan, who had been silent, could not hold back any longer.
He had never imagined one day his life would depend on a woman; he would rather not live if that were the case.
"Father, let Qian Faliang come if he must, I am not afraid of him."
The strength in Zhao Xiyan's voice jolted Qi Yue back to her senses, it struck her like a profound and resounding bell.
"Father, don't worry, I'll go to him right now."
With that, she turned and left.
She could control her eyes from looking at Zhao Xiyan, but her ears were beyond control.
This voice was more lethal to her than his stunning face.
Just as she took a few steps, Zhao Shuanghua caught up with her, stuffing the forgotten silver into her hands and tearfully begging her to save her elder brother.
Qi Yue was overwhelmed.
She felt she was probably indebted to this family.
She went to the station in the dark, but Guan Yidao didn't even open the door, only saying he didn't know the specifics either, and they would see when the man arrived.
Qi Yue had no choice but to return.
The family anxiously awaited the arrival at the next station.
It was another hard day's journey, and only in the evening when they reached the station could the exile team finally rest.
Concerned about the new Vice commander, Qi Yue planned to use the kitchen as a pretext to look for Guan Yidao, after she and Zhao Yonglian had settled the carriages.
Before she could make her move, several unfamiliar faces of Government Officials appeared, specifically summoning Zhao Yongzhe and the ailing Zhao Xiyan to the station.
"Let's go, Vice Commander Qian is waiting to welcome you."
"Welcome?" The family was puzzled.
"Yes, Vice Commander Qian has also brought a medical officer to examine your injuries!"
The family members looked at one another, not understanding what this meant.
The Government Officials looked cheerful and seemed amiable, yet their gazes constantly swept over Zhao Xiyan and the young sisters-in-law, making Qi Yue uneasy.
If it was about checking their injuries, where had these people been all along?
Eventually, Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Xiyan were taken away by them, with Zhao Yonglian claiming he was helping, only then was he allowed to follow.
Once the three men were gone, the women felt somewhat helpless.
"How will we manage, surely nothing bad will happen!"