She recalled what Xiang Yuanshuo had just said.
Could it be just a coincidence?
But as Xiang Ying bent down, she realized the little guy was actually bleeding from his nose!
She immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe him and frowned, asking, "What's wrong?"
Xiang Yuanshuo, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, obediently tilting his head back to let Xiang Ying wipe his face.
"It's nothing, it happened occasionally before."
But Xiang Ying remembered that he had had a nosebleed once before.
Could it be that this kid is in poor health?
Once her space is upgraded to have a medical facility, she can find a chance to give him a thorough examination.
A soldier died, and Scar Face just spit contemptuously at the poor luck.
Then, they simply burnt his body by the roadside.
The Exile Team reached the next station only by dusk.
They had completely left the boundary of the capital.
Several consecutive days of intense travel had already taken their toll on the ladies and concubines, accustomed to luxury and comfort.
After the Military Supervisor permitted a rest, they removed their shoes and socks, broke the blisters on their soles, and cried out in pain intermittently.
Xiang Li silently watched those suffering women and called Xiang Ying over.
"Ah Ying, starting tomorrow, you and the three kids take turns riding in my cart, so you don't ruin your feet as well."
Listening to this, Xiang Ying couldn't help but laugh: "This wooden cart can only fit one person — you. If we get on, wouldn't it break?"
Besides, what's this distance considered?
She had once walked alone in the snowy apocalypse for three days, relying on the supplies from her space to keep from freezing to death.
Now, to Xiang Ying, this was no different from a hiking tour.
However, Xiang Li felt distressed and saw himself as a burden.
While everyone went to get thin porridge from the Military Supervisor, Xiang Ying went into the nearby forest to fill her stomach first.
The weather was hot today, she didn't have much appetite, and took some ice from the fridge to make herself a cold noodle dish.
Thin slices of ham as sheer as cicada wings, laid over the noodles, and complemented with strips of cucumber, carrot, and bean sprouts made a refreshing meal.
After eating, Xiang Ying also sliced three pieces of watermelon to satisfy her craving.
Only after she had eaten her fill did she prepare food for the kids.
For the three little ones and Tao Xue, she prepared mung bean soup to cool them down and a dish of old duck leg rice mash.
Xiang Ying let them turn their backs, leaning against Xiang Li's wooden cart, to eat in hiding.
Due to the wounds on Xiang Li's body, he could not eat certain foods and needed slow nourishment.
Thus, Xiang Ying prepared the simplest meal for him: two vegetable buns and a bowl of brown sugar porridge.
Xiang Li saw her entering the forest and coming back with the food, and was silent.
However, he asked no questions, took the food from Xiang Ying, and ate carefully.
"Elder Princess," Lin Lingxiang came over to greet Xiang Ying, "Thank you for the food, but you gave us two extra buns today."
There were nine people in the Lin family including the head of Qintianjian.
This time, Xiang Ying had given them eleven meat buns.
Seeing Lin Lingxiang wanting to return them, Xiang Ying held her hand.
"Just eat it, you help me take care of my brother every day, cleaning his body — you deserve it."
Hearing this, Xiang Li unconsciously looked up at Lin Lingxiang.
So it was this lady who has been taking care of him all along?
But, cleaning his body...
Xiang Li looked down and saw his indecent attire, ragged, with his chest and thighs exposed.
For a moment, the hand holding the bun tightened.
"Uncle, your ears are so red," said Xiang Yuanshuo, sticking close to Xiang Li after finishing his meal, like a pesky little devil.
Embarrassed to look at Lin Lingxiang's expression, Xiang Li just said seriously, "It's hot, Yuanxiao, go play over there."
"Oh..." The little one, after finishing their meal, grabbed his younger siblings and ran over to watch the ants move their nest.
Lin Lingxiang thanked them and then left.
Xiang Ying pulled Xiang Li up and wiped the sweat off his back.
She picked up the bear skin that had been under him and hung it out to dry.
Finally, she took a stone and started knocking on Xiang Li's wooden cart to make it more stable.
After she had finished, she looked up and saw Xiang Li silently watching her.
In those deep and thin eyes, there was astonishment, scrutiny, and even more so, a deep examination.
Xiang Ying's heart skipped a beat.
If Jie Chen could suspect that she wasn't the original owner of this body, then wouldn't Xiang Li, her brother, be even more suspicious that she wasn't his true sister?
Just as Xiang Ying was about to find a topic to gloss over the situation, Xiang Li suddenly sighed.
"Ever since you had a child, I haven't really interfered much with your life, but I didn't expect you to mature so much. You are completely different from the Ayin I remember."
Xiang Ying gently rubbed her fingers, Phoenix Eyes blinked slightly: "People change."
Xiang Li nodded, seemingly quite agreeing.
"Did you see our mother for the last time?"
Xiang Ying pressed her lips together: "No, I heard that she had already hanged herself before the enemy forces entered the Imperial Palace."
Xiang Li lowered his dim eyes.
"Yes, before our mother hanged herself, she summoned me. She left two last wishes; first, she hoped that I could take you away; second—"
He looked up at Xiang Ying, the wind blowing passed, and the expression in Xiang Li's eyes faltered, like a shimmer of tears.
"If we were captured unfortunately, she wanted me to protect your honor at all costs."
Xiang Ying remained silent.
The mother of this body, even in the original owner's memories, they barely spent any time together.
Xiang Ying could only piece together an image of a dignified, graceful, and proud Empress based on those few memories about her mother.
Xiang Li bitterly smiled: "Mother so hoped that we would survive, yet she hanged herself on the eve of Xizhou's collapse. Seeing you now, independent and capable, I feel both happy and guilty."
"I failed to fulfill mother's last wish and stayed behind to lead the troops in resistance. I also fear I haven't protected your... your honor."
After he finished speaking, Xiang Ying understood.
"You're worrying too much. I've protected myself very well. All this food, I obtained through my own abilities. Brother, I told you, I am very different now."
She stood up, with the dusk of the approaching night overhead and the mountain breeze in her ears.
Xiang Ying's black hair fluttered in the wind, carrying a pleasant scent of jasmine.
"Mother died by suicide, sacrificing herself for the country, which is commendable. She showed more courage than Father. But we are still alive, and we must live beautifully and with value."
"Now is a good opportunity for us to enter Nanyue. As long as we live, there's a chance to turn things around," she spoke, her Phoenix Eyes sparkling brightly.
Xiang Li looked at her, full of determination; her fearless aura was unmistakable.
He laughed, feeling as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart.
"I thought you would cry."
"Cry? I, Xiang Ying, only shed blood, not tears."
Xiang Li was surprised by her words.
In his heart, his recklessly acting sister actually possessed such courage and magnanimity.
Xiang Li lowered his voice: "I trust your capability, but you must hide the Jade Seal well."
Xiang Ying was startled, then annoyed: "Why do you say that too? That dog emperor has killed me, where would I have the Jade Seal?"
"What?" Xiang Li was also taken aback, "But Father previously... I understand now, he wanted to shift Nanyue's attention, to buy himself time to escape."
Realizing this, Xiang Li's expression turned extremely ugly.
Their Father, at a critical time, didn't think about taking them with him, instead intentionally pushing his daughter out as a shield.
"I think he did it on purpose, perhaps the Jade Seal was taken away by him. If I catch him, I'll... kill him!"
While the siblings were talking, a voice from Qianqian came from not too far away.
"Team leader, thank you. We will do better next time. Let me know if there's any dish you want to eat."
Xiang Ying turned her eyes and saw Xiang Qianqian, with a small face beside scar face, the team leader. Behind her, several concubines were holding buns and pickles.
Xiang Qianqian stealthily glanced towards Xiang Ying's position, secretly revealing a smug expression.