She took out a bottle of ointment from her sleeve and pouted. "Take good care of the wound on your foot. Otherwise, you might end up with a chronic problem."
Qin Yihuai tightened his right foot, and a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes. "You know medicine?"
"Just a bit."
To be able to tell his injury from his walking posture, it couldn't be just a smattering of knowledge.
Qin Yihuai curled his lips, his smile somewhat ambiguous.
As people gradually walked away, Ye Shenyan still stood at the door, looking into the distance. His drooping eyebrows made it hard to tell his emotions. He half - squinted his eyes and sighed, "So alike, incredibly alike. It's like a bright jade covered in dust."
Ye Zhinan was completely confused. Well, these two seemed to get along quite well.
Taking advantage of getting the supplies, Ye Zhinan took out a few items from the space to replenish them. After eating for several days, there was still food in the house. Ye's mother couldn't help but be surprised. "In all my years of managing the household, I've never seen such long - lasting cabbages."
Ye Zhinan rubbed her nose and smiled awkwardly.
While some were happy, others were sad. Wei Shishi was half - starved to death, and her family was of no help. She planned to wait for Qin Yihuai on his way back from duty. But she waited until it was dark and didn't see his figure.
After inquiring, she found out that Qin Yihuai had taken a long - way home, which made Wei Shishi furious. So she set her sights on the Ye family.
Wei Shishi squatted in front of the Ye family's door. She specifically waited for Ye Zhinan to go out before knocking on the door. It was Ye's mother who opened it. She recognized Wei Shishi, who was also in exile at a glance.
"Auntie, out of sympathy for our shared plight, please have mercy on me. If I don't get some food to take back, my family will eat me alive!"
As she spoke, Wei Shishi squeezed out a few tears. Ye's mother felt so sorry for her that she finally gave her some food.
When Ye Zhinan came back, she found that there was much less food in the house. She was very puzzled.
Just as she was about to ask Ye's mother what was going on, she saw the government officials on horses, wielding long whips, gathering all the exiled officials together menacingly.
"Do you really think you're still the high - and - mighty nobles? Now that you're exiled to the northern border, you should obey the orders obediently. Get your tools and go to work! Whoever dares to be lazy, my whip won't show any mercy!"
A terrifying crack of the whip pierced the sky, scaring everyone.
The Ye family also followed the crowd to the fields and was unfortunately assigned to the area for heavy work, mining.
The mine was pitch - black. Only the tanned workers dragged carts in and out, moving back and forth. The sweat dripping from their cheeks left trails on the ground.
"Those new ones, hurry up and get your tools and go into the mountains to carry things!"
The official shouted harshly and casually threw a few tools over. Ye Zhinan wrinkled her brows as the small barbs on the wooden handle pricked her delicate palm. Having lived a life of luxury, she couldn't bear such heavy work.
The cave was filled with dust and a sour smell, which made people feel dizzy. Ye Zhinan bent over and dragged the cart with difficulty while Ye's mother pushed it from behind. Unpleasant curses kept ringing in their ears.
After a day's work, the supply station just gave them a few dry steamed buns and chased them away. Ye Zhinan covered her blistered hands and frowned in pain.
"Dad!"
Ye Zhinan exclaimed. Just as they got to the door, Ye Shenyan's hunched body fell heavily. Ye's mother's eyes were filled with panic. "I'll go and call a doctor."
"They won't care whether we live or die." Ye Zhinan gently pursed her lips and held Ye's mother back. Ye Shenyan was carried to the couch by the two of them.
Ye Zhinan squatted beside the bed and felt his pulse. Ye's mother covered her face and sobbed, "Those inhumane beasts! Your father's health was already poor. How could he carry those stones? He didn't even get a sip of water all day. They're just using us like animals!"
Ye's mother lifted Ye Shenyan's collar with her muddy hands. Immediately, her eyes were filled with tears. The swollen whip marks and purple bruises were extremely eye - catching on his fair skin.
"If we delay any longer, Dad's body will surely collapse. Let me give it a try."
Now Ye Shenyan was so tortured that he was barely breathing. His pulse was faint. Ye Zhinan could only rely on the herbs in the mountains to nurse his body.
Ye's mother nodded slightly. Ye Zhinan had been extremely interested in medicine before, so she had invited a famous doctor to teach her. This made her worried heart calm down a bit.
The small, dilapidated door outside the tile - roofed house was almost knocked apart. Ye's mother's face was very gloomy. She gritted her teeth secretly. "You stay with your father. I'll go and have a look."
Ye's mother wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and strode towards the door. With a gloomy face, she opened the door. "You..."
The curse that was about to blurt out turned into a shocked silence. Ye's mother covered her mouth, and her lips trembled slightly. "Son, why... shouldn't you be in the military camp at this time?"
Ye Yingfeng still had his armor and military uniform on. There were heavy shackles on his feet, and his hands were tied behind his back. The once - high - spirited young man was now in a sorry state.
The officers escorting Ye Yingfeng laughed mockingly. Ye's mother looked at him expressionlessly. His back was still straight. She felt a lump in her throat and patted his shoulder. "You've suffered."
It was really laughable that his former subordinates who were jealous of him had become the officers escorting him.
The official pushed him in roughly and sneered, "Deputy General Ye, enjoy your family reunion. You'll have to go to work as a miner early tomorrow morning."
As soon as the restraints on Ye Yingfeng were removed, his big hand supported Ye's mother. When he heard the bad news about his family in the camp, he was first puzzled about the emperor's punishment and then worried about his family's safety.
"How are you? Can Zhinan hold up?"
Ye's mother pursed her lips tightly, looking bitter, and shook her head.
Ye Yingfeng strode into the house and immediately saw the girl in the coarse and old clothes squatting beside the bed. Her already thin body had become like a withered tree that hadn't been watered for a long time, fragile and shriveled.
"Zhinan..." Ye Yingfeng's eyes were slightly moist. She suddenly turned her head. The surprise in her starry eyes quickly gave way to a complex sense of desolation. Ye Zhinan didn't expect that even her elder brother, who had made great achievements in the military, would be involved this time.
This time, someone wanted to completely wipe out the Ye family.
"Big brother, you must be exhausted from the journey. Have a good rest." Ye Zhinan hid the emotions in her eyes. Just as she was about to stand up, her feet went numb, and she almost fell. Fortunately, Ye Yingfeng's strong arm caught her.
Ye Yingfeng's eyes were fixed on Ye Shenyan's sunken cheeks for a long time. He clenched his fists tightly, and there seemed to be a glimmer of light in his eyes. "Big brother is late. From now on, I'll take care of everything."
The man who had been beaten black and blue by his father's rattan whip when he was a child was on the verge of tears at this moment.
Ye Zhinan's nose felt a bit sour. She forced a smile and just silently watched his broad, silent back. After feeling Ye Shenyan's pulse and confirming that his condition had improved a bit, she left some space for the father - and - son to be alone.
After a tiring day, Ye Zhinan felt sleepy as soon as her head touched the pillow. Her mind was full of Ye Shenyan's weak body. Finally, she propped herself up and sat up.
The supply space had appeared so suddenly that she hadn't had time to check the supplies in it carefully. This was a good opportunity to see if there was anything useful.