Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!-Chapter 228 - 225: Because of Mu Ren, All Suffer Unjust Calamity
"Father, Mother! If you force me to marry the Princely Heir, I will die here in this Prince Mansion today."
"Hui’er! You mustn’t!"
The General’s wife was heartbroken, and immediately rushed to lift her precious daughter, staring blankly at Prince Yong.
"Prince, since it’s like this, let’s consider this marriage as if it never happened. We all know what truly happened."
"Since the Princely Heir is so severely injured, we won’t disturb any further." With those words, she took Ruan Jiao and left the Prince Mansion, and the marriage alliance was thoroughly canceled.
Before the servant discovered the injured Mu Ren, Mu Ren fainted in pain, and Ruan Mian took the opportunity to rescue those frail young girls.
Among them, two were Mr. Zhang’s students, who loved reading, but in Xingjia, girls were not allowed to attend school. Elder Zhang pitied them and allowed them to read and write in his small courtyard.
The others were either captured slaves or orphans without parents, and none were locals; most were women without a place to call home.
Because of Mu Ren, they all suffered an unforeseen disaster.
Once rescued, they knelt before Ruan Mian, grateful for her rescue.
Ruan Mian had no desire to be a glorified saint, but she couldn’t stand to see innocent people suffer.
She helped them at random, expecting nothing in return.
"You are now free. You can go wherever you want. I’ll give you some money for the journey."
"Thank you for your kindness, miss! But the world is vast, and there may no longer be a place for me."
As a girl started to sob, the other women behind her were also in deep sorrow.
"Miss, you may not know. I have no home to return to, and... and I’ve been defiled by the Princely Heir. Even with your money, I have no idea where to go..."
Who would have thought Mu Ren didn’t spare any of them!
Furious yet composed, Ruan Mian looked at them steadily and said resolutely.
"At least you have hands, feet, and life. In this vast world, there is surely a place to survive."
"Moreover, purity pales in significance compared to life. As long as you wish to live, I can take you to a place where, if you’re willing to work, you’ll surely have enough to eat and wear."
Her business routes in Wuheng were thriving, but she needed diligent and steadfast workers.
Upon hearing her words, the girls expressed their willingness to follow her!
She glanced at the distant night sky. Her heartbeat seemed to grow stronger.
She must take Wuheng, traverse the barren wildlands, to assist the great one in eliminating traitorous villains.
Ruan Mian temporarily settled the women in an inn.
In the inn, there was also a woman in a confused state who seemed better now than when Ruan Mian first rescued her from the refugees, where she had been disoriented.
That night, upon returning to the lodge, Xie Huai’an told him that Mr. Zhang’s affairs had been settled, and the students who were previously detained had been released.
He needed to return to Wuheng to take up the post at Longchang Post Station.
Ruan Mian could tell that he was perhaps in a hurry to go back, and there were other matters needing his attention.
Ever since the fire in the prison, the Fifth Princess left Xingjia the next day. The Prince Mansion, due to the Princely Heir’s misbehavior, lost this marriage alliance.
It’s said that General Hu Lie’s entire family left Xingjia in a rage.
It’s conceivable that Prince Yong and the others would have a difficult time ahead.
Once the news returns to the Capital City, Mu Ren will certainly face punishment, especially since he’s now half-disabled, confined to bed.
Seeing this, Ruan Mian took the group of women back to Longchang just in time.
She purchased a few two-horse carts and prepared plenty of food and drink for the journey, leading the group back to Wuheng grandly.
With her own remedies and spiritual spring water, Xie Huai’an’s injuries healed quickly, but he worried daily about certain matters, only regaining his smile when he saw Ruan Mian.
However, upon finally returning to the lodge, Ruan Mian learned that her brother had already been in Xingjia for some time.
Moreover, he had promised to send a message home but didn’t. Based on his departure time, he should have met with Ruan Mian long ago.
Xingjia State wasn’t large, and Elder Zhang’s matter was significant enough that following the students’ leads he should find Ruan Mian easily.
After all, he had the red rope token given by Huo Zong, and Elder Zhang’s students would surely help him.
Yet Ruan Mian and her people in Xingjia received no news of her brother.
Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Chen, was particularly anxious, unable to sleep well these days, and held Ruan Mian’s hand tightly as she spoke. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
"Mianmian, your brother promised me he would send a message home once he reached Xingjia. These few days, I’ve had people waiting at the post station, but there’s been no word of your brother."
"By now, Asong should have already found you. At the very least, he would have sent a message home about his safety. Mianmian, you know your brother – he’s a man of his word. Once he reached Xingjia, he couldn’t have failed to report to the family, I just fear... fear he..."
"Sister-in-law, don’t worry yet. Xingjia isn’t terribly far from Wuheng, but not extremely close either. Perhaps something else occurred."
"Here’s my plan: among the women I brought back, there’s one who has lived in Xingjia for many years. I’ll have her send a message to Xingjia, to see if anyone can find anything."
Though there’s currently no news of Ruan Qingsong, one cannot conclude he’s in trouble just because there’s no safety letter.
"But Mianmian, those people don’t know your brother, what if..."
"Sister-in-law, rest assured, I have other ways to find my brother. Please don’t worry; just wait for my news. I promise you I will find my brother."
"Moreover, brother has some capabilities, you have to believe in him."
After comforting her sister-in-law, Ruan Mian also consoled Mrs. Zhang and their family.
At night, she immediately sought out Zhang Yue to see if she could help keep an eye on things in Xingjia.
But more importantly, when no one was around, she touched the Jade Bracelet, calling forth many birds and beasts within.
She had them sniff her brother’s usual clothes to pick up his scent, and sent the birds and beasts towards Xingjia State.
Should there be any news, these creatures would return to Longchang at first opportunity to inform her.
Since she wasn’t sure if her brother was truly in trouble, she sent the creatures to gather information first. If no news came in a few days, she would personally make the trip.
Once these matters were handled, it was already late at night.
After ensuring Mrs. Zhang was asleep, she returned to her own quarters, only to find Xie Huai’an sitting on a chair waiting for her.
"Regarding your brother, tomorrow I’ll return to the post station and have the Assistant Minister go to Xingjia to gather some information. We have Hidden Guards there, finding someone shouldn’t be difficult, don’t worry too much."
