Author Note: Si Muchen

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Chapter Six

The march through the city could have been embarrassing for the Lu Family, but not for Yuechan. She'd expected for the carriages she'd used before to suddenly go MIA. Her brother pressed against her side, and two female servants by the name of Hua Ai and Huan Jia. Bother girl were 15 and were skilled and quick. 

When Madam Lu asked her to pick two servants she'd picked them as they seemed the most realist about the world beyond the back garden. She wasn't interested in any of the pretty soft skin girls who's greatest dreams were to share her husbands bed.

"Are these the Lu families people."

The question drew her out of her thoughts, and she looked forward to seeing that the guards who'd gathered them was currently speaking with a man on horseback. Seeing him look her and the other over with disdain, Yuechan could already see that this man was looking to make things difficult.

The guard who'd escorted gave a quick confirmation and the one horseback motioned or those with him to step forward. "I am Si Muchen, and I'll be escorting along with other convicts to the southern border. On this travel, forget your titles. None of you are those spoiled ladies and nothing more than commoners. From here you will come to me to sleep, eat and even piss."

Many of those who'd been escorted flinched and some who were on the otherside obviously from clans who'd been convicted for their sons choices in joining the coup wailed out.

He trotted his horse towards the gates. "Beyond the gates are your men, don't blame me for their appearance. I don't care. They fall you carry them; they grow sick you heal them. If they die, toss them."

His cold words even made Yuechan stiffen and once again she felt that there were hidden knives in his words. Forcing herself to remain calm she listened to what he had to say patiently.

Once Muchen had finished he looked over the women who'd been sent and saw that many wore looks of either fear or forced calm. Pleased that none had stirred up trouble, he gave a short nod and turned his horse and waved to the man near the gates.

The soldiers moved forward and opened the gates so that they could walk through along with the other escort guards.

As the woman were forced to walk through the gates many started sniffling and some pressed their lips together as their tears started to fall. Once misstep by their husbands and sons had damned them and their clansmen to being exiled from home. Many knew this meant there wasn't strong possibility that they would be back in their lives.

Yuechan held her brother close as they passed through the gates her eyes focused on what was ahead. She wasn't one to immerse herself in despair, even with out the space as a security blanket she refused to waste any time on emotions for what was already gone.

"Yuze!"

A scream caused all those who'd been walking quietly out of the city to stiffen. A young woman holding what looked to be 4-year-old broke the ranks and ran toward a man who Yuechan noticed was chained along with many others. None of the guards bothered to stop her.

Other women seeing their husbands, sons or even grandson broke out and ran towards them.

Yuechan took in their rough appearance, some even still appeared to be wounded or dazed.

"Sister, are those the ones who participated in the coup," Shoi-ming asked.

"I'm not sure, some of them could be just criminals who are also being sent south-west," she said searching the shackled man.

"Is sisters man among them," Shoi-ming asked as he looked up at her.

Yuechan didn't answer right away her eyes searching the line of man when she finally spotted Lu Yuxuan. Rather than answering Sho-ming she started walking toward him.

~~

Lu Yuxuan forced himself not to react to lashes that decorated his back. He should have known the emperor wouldn't let him leave without punishing him once more. As he watched the men he was shackled with be greeted by their loved ones he remained stoic. Those who were associated with the Lu, Ming, King of Ja the 3rd prince; were all being punished with execution or banishment.

Lu Yuxuan saw his wounds as something he deserved, even when he'd trusted compatriots he'd acted cold and avoided their looks as he couldn't pretend he hadn't damned them all. His dreams haunted by the screams of his man.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

A soft voice drew him out of his dark thoughts and met amused brown eyes. The eyes were familiar as they belonged to the woman who'd become his wife only last night. Despite the air being thick with despair she seemed almost cheerful as she looked him over.

By her side was a young boy with light brown skin with black eyes that showed intelligence.

"See, Shoi-ming. You're brother-in-law is the type to think too much." Yuechan said as she released her brothers hands and approached him.

Lu Yuxuan caught a sweet scent briefly before he felt her hands land on his shoulders, and she leaned forward. "Are you alright? Did anything happen last night?"

Her gaze searched his faze as her brows creased added weight to her young face.

Surprised by her sudden closeness he wanted to retreat but he stayed put and gave a short nod, swallowing back the words of greeting he'd been prepared to say. "I am alright. The emperor sent his soldiers to ask questions once more but nothing untoward happened."

She removed her hands, but he stopped her from fully retreating by grabbing her wrist. "I ask you once more, are you sure you wish to take this journey with me?"

With her free hand she tapped his cheek once again catching him off guard. "Why wouldn't I go on a journey with my husband," she leaned in and brushed her lips against his cheek. "You still owe me a wedding night," she quietly joked.

"Shameless!" Cheeks hot, Lu Yuxuan quickly released her and took a step back. He averted his gaze from the silly woman. She wasn't taking their situation seriously at all.

"Prepare to march out! All women will follow behind," Si Muchen announced as he road pass. "All handcuffs will be removed after three miles."

As he spoke escorts fiercely approached and dragged women away from their men. Ignoring their shouts of protest and the children crying.

After one of the guards boldly smacked one of the women with a curse. The others quickly grew quiet and huddled to the back.

"Head to the back, and keep you head down," Lu Yuxuan gently pushed her to go.

Yuechan heeded his words and turned to leave with Shoi-ming. As she was leaving she sent a look to the woman and servants who'd followed her. All of them quickly seeing her look followed her o the back. Most acted as if they had nothing to do with her. Which was what she'd advised, it was better if people didn't know immediately who she was or how she was tied with Lu Yuxuan even their brief encounter might not have been caught by many. As so many had flocked to their own men of interest.

~~

As they walked Yuechan could already see that a few would not make it. Especially amongst the elderly who were already moving slower after a mile. The road ahead would take them 2 weeks to reach the halfway mark. She'd spent her days in the country building her endurance, along with her brother and her chosen servants. Madame Lu at first had seen her practice as unbecoming but once she'd explained she'd pushed the others to participate.

She'd also advised the servants to carry small pouches with their necessities, nothing important. Things that could be seen as expensive goods were sent through merchants who deliver after they'd been dropped off. Those willing to make the money had eagerly taken the payment.

Now they made their way to their first stop which was 30 miles away Yuechan wasn't sure they'd make it before night. But instead of lamenting the journey she was excited about what was coming next.

~~

"We'll stop here tonight!"

Si Muchen shouted to his guardsmen; the order was repeated by the line of them going all the way back to the stragglers in the back. A few of the guardsmen had, had to beat some of the prisoners when they fell behind.

He turned to attention the two men who were in the wagon that held the rations. "Du Yi, get them together and hand out water and buns for eating."

Du Yi, a young guardsman with bright eyes but mischievous smile. Tossed the reigns to the older man with face scar that sat next to him. "Here An Rong."

Jumping down his waved over two others to help him start moving a sack off the wagon along with a barrel.

While the three worked on getting the rations off the wagon.

The prisoners who'd long ago had the chains removed started huddling up with their women and families.

Soon groups were gathered from each other. Even Lu Yuxuan had eventually come to side Yue Chans despites his first attempts to stay away. Yuechan had sent her brother forward to grab him and drag him back.

"Save your noble actions for when you're fighting the enemy," she chastised as she walked along side him. "Right now, we're surrounded by those who have all right to hate you. It's better for us three to remain together in case of something happening."

He'd looked down at her, surprised to see she was a head short then him. Or, her aura constantly put him in the mindset that she was taller than she appeared it felt surreal to realized how much short and thinner she actually she was. Thinking this he held out his much larger hand.

Glancing at it she looked up at him, "What?"

"Take it," he ordered not looking at her.

Seeing him looking away, Yuechan couldn't help the corner of her lips curling up as she took it.

Now as they came to a stop, she let go of his hand and walked over to her servants. Leaning in she whispered, "Go in groups of two to gather food once done we'll do as the others and form a circle and eat half and hold the other half."

Despite being hungry, the servants all nodded. Seeing as even though they had been walking all day and weren't feeling terrible they knew their mistress words would help them. "The food will be plentiful now, but later they will surely run low and that will be the time the half-half will work in our favor as our stomachs will require half the amount."

The servants quickly went to get their food.

"You're telling them not to eat their fill," Lu Yuxuan who'd overheard her words do to his martial art level frowned.

"Yes, right now most of those in your household are accustomed to eating their fill. As the journey progresses if they still are accustomed to eating much they won't be able to endure less. I don't need them to starve. Half a bun now, and then the other half at night. If they feed use twice, that means the night bun can be halved and eaten in the morning. This way they will always have extra pieces to eat. Enough of that, let us also go get our food."

The three of them went to get their food.

As Yuechan reached out to grab three buns and three water skins but the person handing it to her knocked their hands into hers causing the food fall to the ground.

Those who'd been standing behind her and those who'd only just started to walk away paused.

"Oh, its my mistake I should have held on to it tighter. It just my hands start to tremble when I saw it was the traitor and traitors wife getting food grown by the good citizens of this country," Dou Yi's voice was mocking when he finished.

He glanced at the bag and frowned, "Unfortunately it only once serving per person."

"Sister," Shoi-ming looked at his sister at worry.

Lu Yuxuan gritted his teeth and went to step forward but a brown on his arm stopped him.

Yuechan didn't say anything, she only knelt and grabbed the three buns that had been dropped and picked up the three waters skins. Without a word she turned and walked away.

"Sister."

"Wife," Lu Yuxuan followed Yuechan and Shoi-Ming.

Catching up to Yuechan he walked around forcing her to stop. "Why didn't you let me correct him?"

"For what," Yuechan asked as she rubbed the water opening to her gown. Then she handed them to Lu Yuxuan. "It's dirt out here, much better than the stone of the city."

She blew off the buns and handed one to her brother. "Here, peel off any dirt and eat. Can't been too picky."

Lu Yuxuan watched her do this and felt shaken. "You—, you shouldn't accept such treatment."

"I'm the wife of a traitor. Lu Yuxuan, I am not accepting anything but the facts. As long as they do not threaten me or mine. What they do does not bother me."

He frowned, "And what if it bothers me?"

"Hold it," she said tossing him a bun. "Burry it down until we reach our new home. And once we reach there, us it to carve out a new existence."

With that she and her brother headed to the circle of servants.

Lu Yuxuan watched her go, glancing back at the friendly faced Dou Yi. Fine he'd hold it for now, but when he got his chance he would return this insult. 

TBC

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Author Note: it's raining and I'm so sleepy, but I said I'd do it so here it is.