Ye Zhinan pursed her lips and promptly cut off the conversation.
The current situation was different from before, and there were countless pairs of eyes watching around.
The fewer words she said, the safer she would be.
"I think..."
"Brother, you must be seeing things. She just has a good-looking face. There's nothing as mysterious as you described."
Ye Zhinan gave a subtle look. The siblings, being in sync, both shut up and didn't mention it anymore.
However, none of the family members noticed that a figure was sneaking away outside.
...
"Get out of the way! Someone reported that you stole public grain. We're just doing our duty!"
Ye Zhinan was boiling medicine in the room when she faintly heard the commotion outside.
She quickly put down the fan and rushed out in three big steps.
"I don't know which family spread such idle gossip. It's really bothering you to come all the way here."
She forced a flattering smile and led the officials into the room.
The room smelled strongly of medicine. As soon as the officials entered, they covered their noses in disgust.
"What the hell is this!"
Ye Yingfeng stepped in front of Ye Zhinan and stepped forward to explain.
He understood that someone must have stabbed the Ye family in the back.
Even if this matter was settled today, there would always be someone looking for their flaws in the future.
So it was better to be careful.
"This is the medicine boiled for my father. He's not in good health. Without this medicine, he might not be able to hold on."
The official glanced at the person lying on the bed, snorted, and kicked over the medicine pot on the ground.
The scalding medicine splashed on Ye Yingfeng, leaving ugly stains.
Ye Zhinan stared at the medicine on the ground for a moment.
The Ye family was like this fragile medicine pot. As long as others moved their fingers, they would be smashed to pieces.
Only by being cautious and living on in humiliation could they survive for a long time.
"A dying man doesn't need medicine. What a waste!"
The leading official waved his hand slightly, and several people in the same uniform rushed in from outside.
In an instant, they ransacked the shabby cottage.
Ye Zhinan had anticipated all situations, but never thought that these people would even spare the life - saving medicine.
She clenched her fists and was about to speak when Ye Shenyan beside her grabbed her.
The withered hand tugging at her sleeve made her eyes inexplicably hot.
"I also heard that your family's food is better than ours. Since that's the case, you should share it with us!"
The official walked quickly to the kitchen. Ye's mother's heart skipped a beat.
But when they got in, they found it empty.
"Don't worry. They won't find anything."
Ye Zhinan had anticipated this and had hidden all the food in the space, leaving only a rotten cabbage.
She leaned over to Ye's mother and whispered to calm her down.
She mustn't let others see any flaws.
"We're law - abiding people and would never do anything sneaky. You've searched and questioned. Please let us go."
The kitchen was ransacked. Apart from the rotten cabbage, there was nothing else.
The official's face darkened instantly. He stared at Wei Shiqi hiding behind the door, his eyes filled with indescribable anger.
Wei Shiqi suddenly met his gaze, shivered, and hid deeper.
Ye Zhinan quietly observed their interaction and glanced at the shadow by the door, her eyes cold.
She knew that the officials wouldn't come to trouble the Ye family for no reason.
"The Ye family has hidden herbs and treated a criminal without permission. According to the law, they should receive fifty big boards. Who will take it?"
The official sized up the people in front of him, a sneering smile on his lips.
The Ye family was either sick or weak. Anyone picked at random couldn't withstand fifty boards.
No matter who took it, he could give an account to his superiors.
Ye Zhinan pinched the corner of her clothes. Her grievance and hatred reached the extreme.
"The herbs we used were picked from the mountains. We never touched a single bit of the public's."
Ye Yingfeng blushed and defended.
But as soon as his words fell, the official laughed even more wildly.
"All the land in this world belongs to the emperor. Does Vice - General Ye want to occupy the mountains and become a king?"
These people were all glib - tongued. Ye Yingfeng was straightforward and no match for them.
Seeing their defeat, the official spat hard.
"Who will it be! If it's too late, it won't be this number!"
Ye Zhinan stopped Ye Yingfeng, stepped forward boldly, and said in a deep voice,
"I'll take it."
The onlookers all sighed. It seemed that the Ye family was really having a hard time.
It was so miserable that a girl had to step forward to take the blame.
Ye Zhinan was tied to the wooden board. Her wrists were rubbed raw by the rough hemp rope.
She thought an ordinary official would do the beating, but unexpectedly, it was Qin Yihuai who walked over with the stick.
Against the light, he straightened his back and walked slowly towards Ye Zhinan.
For some reason, she always felt that she might be saved.
...
The night was thick, and there were twinkling lights in the sky. But no matter how much she prayed, she couldn't see the moon hidden in the clouds.
When there were too many clouds, the moonlight would be dim.
She heard the familiar footsteps approaching and looked up, pretending to look at the stars.
The man's clear - cut aura surrounded her. The next second, there was a soft touch behind her.
"I brought you a cotton cushion. It'll be more comfortable to sit on."
Ye Zhinan put her hands behind her back and secretly pinched the cushion.
The cotton was soft, and it was obviously a really good thing.
In the place of exile, it was not easy to have such a thing.
She turned her head, ready to say something sarcastic, but when she met those frank eyes, all her emotions vanished.
"Where did you get this? My family is in a difficult situation. Don't get involved because of us."
Qin Yihuai let out a dumb laugh. He thought she would be angry when he came.
Seeing her deliberately ignoring him, he felt inexplicably flustered.
He had already thought about how to explain, but unexpectedly, these were the words she said.
"I'm not afraid of being involved. Just take it."
Ye Zhinan nodded. There were so many things she wanted to say in her heart, but in the end, she swallowed them all back.
The two sat in silence, waiting for the moon to come out.
"I heard them say that you're good at giving board punishments..."
Ye Zhinan's voice sounded along with the cicadas' chirping, a bit out of place.
"One shouldn't just seek death but also strive for life. Learning a skill is the same."
The two talked in a rather cryptic way.
But Ye Zhinan understood.
She had received fifty big boards in full view. The officials counted carefully. Even half a board less, they wouldn't let them go.
For an ordinary person, fifty big boards would either mean death or disability.
But she could move freely. Apart from the swelling pain, there was no other pain.
"The feeling of having one's life in others' hands is really unpleasant."
Ye Zhinan curled her lips self - deprecatingly, her eyes full of desolation.