Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Zhang Tianai handed the steamed bun in his hand to Chunmei and softly ordered: "Eat it."

Chunmei's gaze fell on the steamed bun in front of her, then turned to her master. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, no sound came out. Her hands were tightly bound, and the slightest struggle made her brows furrow, and her face was full of pain.

She was still in bondage.

Zhang Tianai took a sip of water and didn't untie Chunmei or call for anyone else to come. She tore off a piece of steamed bun and put it in her mouth, then carefully broke off another piece and held it to Chunmei's lips.

"Let's leave it at that for now." Her voice was calm and gentle.

Chunmei's eyes whispered a silent call, "Master..." Gratitude welled up in her heart as she finally began to chew the bun. She had never imagined she would be personally fed by her master. This kindness was something she would never forget.

Zhang Tianai urged her to eat faster, and they quickly finished a steamed bun, taking a piece from each other. Zhang Tianai hid the remaining bun, and Chunmei's eyes kept watching her movements, full of curiosity.

"Don't look at it." Zhang Tianai smiled slightly, indicating that she should be at ease.

Chunmei nodded gently, her heart filled with emotion.

After Zhang Tianai hid the buns, she drank a few more sips of water, but didn't drink too much. She picked up the water bag again and carefully fed it to Chunmei.

"Master..." Chunmei called softly.

"Drink it." Zhang Tianai stared at her, tilted the water bag in his hand slightly, and slowly put the water into Chunmei's mouth. Chunmei drank two sips and shook her head, indicating that it was enough.

"Don't be so polite all the time." Zhang Tianai put down the water bag, waited for Chunmei to recover, and handed her the water again.

A warm feeling welled up in Chunmei's heart. She remembered her master's kindness to her, and she would always remember this kindness in her heart. She finally finished drinking the water. Zhang Tianai put away the water bag and hid it together with the water bag he had drunk at noon.

Zhang Tianai recalled the moment she woke up alone after Chunmei fell into a coma. She wanted to cough but dared not make a sound, so she could only endure it silently. It was the baby in her belly that gave her strength and allowed her to persevere.

At this moment, the firelight outside still flickered, the wind howled, and the weather was a bit chilly. The sky was starless, only a bright moon hung high. The voices of men could be heard faintly, as if they were drinking and having fun.

Drinking? They didn’t even stay in the inn. Zhang Tianai originally thought that they would arrive at the inn in the evening, but now it seems that this night is destined to be spent in the wilderness.

She had thought about escaping, but now was clearly not the best time. Although she could find a way and a place to hide, the time was not yet ripe.

Chunmei also noticed the movement outside. She listened to the men's conversation and a glimmer of hope rose in her heart.

"Master, are those people playing drinking and finger-guessing games?" she asked softly.

"Yes." Zhang Tianai responded softly.

"This is an opportunity." Chunmei said suddenly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai immediately leaned close to Chunmei's ear and whispered, "It's not possible to escape now, but we can act accordingly. If there's another opportunity later, we'll try to escape again."

Chunmei nodded silently in her heart, with a determined light flashing in her eyes.

Zhang Tianai continued to teach Chunmei how to deal with the situation, telling her how to save herself if someone covered her mouth and nose and tried to knock her unconscious. She shared her own way of dealing with the situation when someone covered her mouth and nose, so that Chunmei could learn and remember it.

"Master..." Chunmei felt more at ease after hearing about her master's wisdom and bravery. She knew that her master had not been knocked unconscious, which made her feel extremely relieved.

Zhang Tianai continued, "If it doesn't work, we'll wait another day. If it's still like this, we'll run away!"

Chunmei let out a cry of surprise when she heard this.

"Don't make any noise." Zhang Tianai reminded softly, "It would be better if you could escape to a crowded place, such as in a town or other busy areas."

They had no poison or knives. If they had poison, they might have been able to take down these people; if they had knives, they could have tried to resist. But the reality was cruel: they had nothing.

A full day and a night passed, and Zhang Tianai felt a bloating and pain in her bladder. She'd woken up wanting to go to the bathroom, but the situation was dire, so she had to hold it in. However, now she couldn't hold it in any longer.

She knew that those guarding them might have forgotten this, or perhaps hadn't even thought about it. But they couldn't say anything, couldn't make a fuss, and could only endure it silently.

Chunmei also felt uncomfortable. She twisted her body and called out uncomfortably: "Master..."

Zhang Tianai noticed her discomfort and asked softly, "Do you want to go too?"

Chunmei was stunned and paused. She looked at her master in surprise. Could it be that her master had the same need?

Zhang Tianai nodded slightly and gestured with her mouth to ask her to call for help.

Chunmei immediately looked outside and called out loudly in the direction of someone: "Is anyone there? I need to go to the bathroom!"

She finally called out the desire in her heart. Only Chunmei could say such words. Zhang Tianai knew she couldn't do it. She wanted to laugh when she thought about the scene of herself calling out loudly.

However, there was no immediate response from outside. Chunmei continued to call out, her voice filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Finally, someone came over. His voice was displeased and dull: "What's wrong? You guys are so thoughtful that you want to go to the bathroom now? There's really nothing else you don't have to do, but this is the most important thing. If you can't bear it, just bear it for a while, or do it in the carriage?"

The figure gradually emerged, and it was not the same person from before. His tone was full of sarcasm and impatience.

"How can we do that in the carriage? Besides, I can't bear it anymore, it's been so long." Chunmei mustered up the courage to retort.

The man stopped and pondered for a moment before saying, "It's just one day and one night, what's that? Who hasn't experienced something like this? Are you the only ones who can't stand it? My lord? Get off the carriage and go take care of it somewhere else. Don't go too far."

He pointed to a place nearby as a toilet.

"Okay." Zhang Tianai agreed softly. Although the voice was very soft, Chunmei still heard it. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at Zhang Tianai.

Zhang Tianai gestured for her to help herself up, and they also wanted to go downstairs to stretch their muscles.

They had been sitting in the carriage for a long time. They had never experienced such a long period of restraint and stillness. This night and day seemed to last for a century. Their bodies were so stiff that they could hardly move.

However, at this moment, they are full of hope and courage. They know that if they have the chance, they will escape without hesitation. They are unwilling to become prey to others.

Backaches and leg cramps—these minor aches and itches were no longer worth mentioning. Their situation left them with no time for thought, no one to confide in, no one to care.

Chunmei looked at her master, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Zhang Tianai had pain in her waist and her body was swaying when she stood up, almost falling down.

Chunmei exclaimed, "Master!"

She knew very well that her master's suffering must be even worse than her own.

Zhang Tianai stopped him softly: "Don't make any noise."

Chunmei then kept silent.

"After sitting for a long time, my buttocks hurt so much. When I stand up, my legs feel weak and my abdomen feels heavy." Zhang Tianai supported his bulging abdomen, gasping for breath, and held Chunmei's hand tightly.

Chunmei repeatedly warned: "Be careful."

"I understand." Zhang Tianai responded, and the two slowly got off the carriage.

Before getting off the carriage, the door opened, and a breath of fresh air blew in. Stepping out of the carriage, it was pitch black, with torches blazing and several men standing around.

Breathing the free air again, Zhang Tianai and Chunmei couldn't help but take a few deep breaths.

Chunmei was worried: "Master..." She was afraid that something might happen.

Zhang Tianai sighed in his heart: I am the fish and others are the butchers!