Xiang Ying slept a satisfying sleep.
The next day, she decisively pulled out the prepared water sacks.
They were filled with ice-cold water.
She tied the water sacks on the children's bodies and also gave one to Tao Xue.
Xiang Ying then took out several small pouches the size of a palm and hung them around the children's necks.
"These contain shredded salted crackers that can be stored for a month. I just taught you, if there's an earthquake, what should you do?"
Xiang Xiuxiu raised her hand eagerly to answer: "Run to an open space!"
"Correct, and what if you can't find an open space?"
Xiang Ying turned to Xiang Yuanshuo and let him answer.
Xiang Yuanshuo offhandedly said, "Find a triangular area and hide inside because triangles are the most stable."
"That's right, after hiding there, the clear water and dry food on you are for that time, then don't panic because I will come to find you."
Xiang Ying finally looked at Xiang Yuanlang: "Did you remember?"
Xiang Yuanlang casually raised his pouch: "Big brother just ate half of my crackers."
Xiang Ying checked and indeed it was so.
"Xiang Yuanshuo!" She pinched the little guy's cheeks, "How could you eat your brother's food!"
Xiang Yuanshuo's chubby hands fluttered struggling: "You were talking so slowly just now, I just wanted to taste it."
Xiang Ying had no choice but to refill Xiang Yuanlang's pouch.
Then, as before, she also hung water sacks and pouches on Xiang Li.
Xiang Li smiled gently: "Ayin, you don't have to worry about me, I only have one request, if a real earthquake happens, you take the children and run first, don't worry about me."
Xiang Ying patted his shoulder: "Alright brother, when that time comes, the kids will definitely run faster than you, I will carry you on my back, our whole family stays together, we live together."
Xiang Li's dark thin pupils flashed with emotion.
Xiang Ying had Tao Xue also deliver some dry food and three water sacks to Elder Lin's family just now.
Even the Seventh Princess and Yu Pin got some.
However, Elder Lin secretly called Lin Lingxiang to his side.
"Lingxiang, take these." He handed over his own dry food and water sack.
Lin Lingxiang was stunned: "Grandfather, how can you not keep it?"
Elder Lin chuckled and waved his hand: "Grandfather is old, and has long been ready to die for Xizhou, better before the country falls."
"For the sake of the Crown Prince, grandfather has been holding on for a few more days, since the disaster is coming, let's not waste these good things."
"Lingxiang, promise grandfather that no matter when, you must protect the safety of the Crown Prince and Princess, remember our Lin family's teachings."
Lin Lingxiang's eyes moistened: "I remember, 'Take care of the world before serving the lord, loyalty comes first in loyalty and filial piety.'"
Elder Lin slowly nodded: "You have been learning astronomy with me since you were young, and you have achieved some success now. You must use our family's studies to help Xizhou rise again, go, follow the Crown Prince, you don't need to worry about grandfather here."
"Yes…"
With teary eyes, Lin Lingxiang came beside Xiang Li.
"Miss Lin, what's wrong?" Xiang Li asked caringly.
Lin Lingxiang only said, "I didn't sleep well last night... Your Highness, let me wipe your body again."
She picked up a handkerchief, silently moved behind him.
Perhaps she didn't want Xiang Li to see her tears again.
At this moment, Xiang Ying was feasting in the nearby forest.
She had egg soup for the children in the morning, and for herself, crabmeat Xiaolongbao with a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup.
After eating, she reorganized the space again from top to bottom.
Though some supplies had been used these days, the space was still brimming.
She only cleared out half of the fourth floor to stockpile goods from Yu City.
Indeed, Xiang Ying proposed going to Yu City with Jie Chen to continue looting.
She heard that when Nanyue was attacking, the Lord Garrison Commander of Yu City immediately surrendered.
Such an official, Xiang Ying decided to rob them clean.
The Exile Team started their journey.
They walked continuously for a whole day, whether Jie Chen listened to Xiang Ying's words or not, by evening he actually requested to continue traveling without resting in place.
They kept going until almost midnight, when they were still a bit away from Yu City, Military Supervisors stationed at an inn outside the city.
Xiang Ying first surveyed the surrounding environment.
The inn was located in a mountainous open space, with a cliff nearby, but quite far away.
The trees were also slender, and falling wouldn't kill anyone.
Xiang Ying then set her mind at ease and she and Tao Xue set up their bedding on the spot.
"Big brother, second brother, look, why is the sky red?"
The three little ones sat on a rock, tilting their heads back, Xiang Xiuxiu pointed to the sky, puzzled.
Xiang Yuanshuo was about to speak when Xiang Yuanlang immediately covered his mouth.
"Big brother, if a disaster is coming, you'd better not speak first." Xiang Yuanlang said with a serious face.
Xiang Yuanshuo pulled his hand away and said, "I wanted to ask you guys, doesn't this red thing look like egg yolk?"
The three children talked about food and gathered together, murmuring.
Listening to the children's laughter, Xiang Ying felt that being a child was indeed good.
Who knows what a natural disaster really means?
Xiang Yuanshuo and the others, having been imperial grandsons since young, probably never really suffered.
Just then, a voice came—
"Princess, I am the new team leader of your team."
Xiang Ying turned around at the sound, a tall and thin team leader from Nanyue stood behind her, rubbing his hands and smiling ingratiatingly.
"You? What about Scarface before?"
"Oh, the Military Supervisor transferred him to supervise the grain at the back of the team."
The tall and lanky man chuckled, squinting his eyes: "Princess, just call me Shouhou. On the road of exile, I will not trouble you, and I hope you will cooperate with me."
Xiang Ying's phoenix eyes were cold: "Just don't provoke me."
Shouhou nodded repeatedly, then turned to scold other exiled criminals.
His fierce demeanor was completely different from when he faced Xiang Ying.
Tao Xue walked up to Xiang Ying: "That guy smiles like a rat, perhaps he might even be worse than Scar Master."
Xiang Ying's lips moved slightly: "Whatever."
Night fell.
Xiang Ying took Xiang Xiuxiu to Jie Chen's room.
The little girl was somewhat shy, hiding behind Xiang Ying, her hand gripping the hem of her dress, timidly looking at the indifferent Jie Chen.
"Is the hot water ready? You leave, I will bathe the child," Xiang Ying said assertively.
Jie Chen just looked at Xiang Xiuxiu, seemingly lost in thought.
Xiang Ying got the hint and gently tugged the little one: "Xiu Xiu, call him uncle."
Jie Chen: ...
Xiang Xiuxiu spoke, her voice obedient: "Hello uncle, thank you, uncle."
Jie Chen's eyes, sharp as knives, swept across Xiang Ying's face; he bypassed the mother and daughter and left, closing the door.
After he left, Xiang Ying held her daughter and got into the bathing tub.
The little one hadn't had a bath in a long time, happily submerged in the water, blowing bubbles like a little fish before surfacing.
"Mother, uncle is really nice."
Xiang Ying took out a soap nut from her space and began scrubbing her daughter's hair.
She chuckled and asked: "Don't you think he's very fierce?"
"Fierce, yes, but when he looks at us, he doesn't have that kind of gaze."
"What kind of gaze?"
"The way people from Nanyue look at prisoners, only he doesn't."
Xiang Ying paused her movements.
She hadn't expected this little one to be so perceptive.
She flicked a mound of foam onto Xiang Xiuxiu's nose.
The little girl sneezed: "Mother, you're naughty! Watch out for Xiu Xiu!"
Jie Chen stood outside by the wall, hearing the splashing laughter of the mother and daughter inside.
His eyebrows were slightly furrowed.
Do they not have any sense of being prisoners?
After bath time, Xiang Ying carried the pearly-white Xiang Xiuxiu out of the room.
Seeing Jie Chen, Xiang Xiuxiu waved her little hand: "Goodbye, uncle."
Jie Chen's frown deepened.
Returning to Tao Xue, Xiang Yuanshuo and Xiang Yuanlang immediately gathered around, listening to Xiang Xiuxiu proudly boasting about her fragrant hair.
At night, most of the prisoners had fallen asleep.
Only Xiang Ying was still awake.
She was keeping watch in case of an earthquake.
Because the redness in the night sky was unsettling, she knew.
Just then, she caught a glimpse of Xiang Qianqian's sneaky figure heading towards the back of the team.
Xiang Ying narrowed her eyes for a better look; she seemed to be heading for the exiled team's grain.
What mischief was Xiang Qianqian up to now?
Xiang Ying thought for a moment and silently followed behind her.