Confiscating property? A stunningly beautiful substitute bride empties the national treasury and is

There were many other exiles who were just as lost in thought as the Lu family. Some were so hungry that they couldn't bear it and stared longingly at the porridge cooking in the big pot.

I had some hope, but when I saw the wild vegetables floating on top, my stomach was filled with bitterness.

The carriage was loaded with so much rice and flour, but when it got to the pot, it was all greenish vegetable water, and it was rare to find even a few grains of rice.

There were two kinds of steamed buns. The officers and soldiers ate white flour steamed buns, while the exiled people were given hard and sour coarse flour steamed buns.

The Lu family members were starving and staring at each other. Bai was just about to take some money to the soldiers to buy something when Song Qingqian stopped her after she finished washing up.

She took out half a chicken left over from yesterday and several fragrant meat buns from her package.

After giving each person two, Song Qingqian took out a small, crispy glutinous rice ball wrapped in oil paper and placed it in the middle.

"Let's just make do with this. We'll buy a pot when we pass by the market, and then we can cook whatever we want to eat in the future!"

Song Qingqian explained with a smile that these were all readily available in her spatial storage, so she could just take whatever was available. If she wanted to eat anything else, she would have to make it herself.

"This...this is enough!"

The old lady looked at the two still-warm buns in her hands, speechless with gratitude. Her third son's wife must have been afraid they'd get cold, so she'd held them in her arms all night...

"Third son's wife, thank you for your hard work."

“Mother-in-law, we are family, there’s no need to be so formal. This is what I should do.”

"Everyone, eat in peace. We still have a long way to go after we've eaten our fill. If it's not enough, I'll think of another way."

Song Qingqian completely ignored Lu Yunqi, who was sitting to the side looking aggrieved.

Without her speaking up, none of the Lu family members dared to sympathize with Lu Yunqi. After all, the items weren't theirs, and they were only obliged to help him because they were eating his food. Besides, they all knew about the embarrassing scene that had unfolded last night.

Lu Yunqi had been starving for a day and a night, and now his eyes were practically sparkling when he saw the steamed buns in their hands. He couldn't possibly resist them.

He stepped forward and snatched the two steamed buns from Zhan'er's hand, then wolfed them down into his mouth.

Zhan'er was startled and burst into tears, accusing, "Second Uncle is bad!"

"Zhan'er, don't be afraid, your second uncle is just playing with you."

Bai quickly hugged her son and handed him one of her steamed buns.

Song Qingqian remained silent, and the old lady, enraged, picked up her cane and struck Lu Yunqi twice, muttering curses under her breath.

"Shameless thing, you even steal children's things, are you even human? Is this how you act as an elder? You've completely disgraced the Lu family."

"Get out of here! The Lu family will never have a son like you again!"

"Get out of here!"

The old lady started crying as she beat him. She felt ashamed to have raised such a good-for-nothing son.

Lu Yunqi knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Mother, I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I will change. I promise I will change!"

"Mother, I'll never do it again..."

"Mother, please..."

"Mother, I don't want to steal it either, but I'm starving to death..."

The mother and son wept, their eyes brimming with tears. Lu Jingchuan clenched his fists, his eyes red-rimmed, and spoke:

"Second brother, Qingqian has worked so hard for our family. She always thinks of us and wants what's best for us. But what about you?"

"As the pillar of this family, what have you done?"

"I am a man of the Lu family, and now I have become a burden to everyone. I am truly ashamed, and I feel speechless in front of everyone..."

"If possible, I hope that I am the one who will take on the responsibility of this family, rather than pushing a weak woman to protect the Lu family from the wind and rain."

After Lu Jingchuan finished speaking, the two Lu sisters lowered their heads and silently wiped away their tears. They hadn't felt anything before when they were in the Marquis's mansion, but now they truly understood the hardships of life.

"Chuan'er, I swear... this is really the last time, your second brother will never dare to do it again."

As Lu Yunqi spoke, he turned and pleaded, grabbing Song Qingqian's sleeve and begging:

"Sister-in-law, this is really the last time, I swear..."

Song Qingqian glanced at him as he ruthlessly pulled out her dress, and said coldly:

"You don't need to beg me or make any vows. What you do from now on is your own business, I can't control it. That's it!"

Lu Yunqi…

This woman is so heartless; she didn't fall for his tricks at all...

Seeing that Song Qingqian ignored him, he cautiously glanced at the little meatball on the cushion and was about to pick it up.

Song Qingqian bent down and picked up the oil packets, distributing the rest to the others. Then, in front of everyone, she solemnly spoke:

"I never thought of currying favor with the Lu family. My marriage with Lu Jingchuan was a marriage of convenience, where each of us got what we needed."

"It's a favor if I help you, and it's perfectly acceptable if I don't. I don't care what you think of me. The last thing I'm afraid of is moral blackmail."

"Now, let me make this clear upfront: if Lu Yunqi snatches the food I provide for everyone, that's none of my business. But if someone gives it to him willingly, I won't interfere next time."

"Song Qingqian, explain yourself clearly. What exactly do you mean? What is this 'marriage of convenience'?"

Seeing Lu Jingchuan's ashen face, Lu Yunqi stood up and anxiously asked, "If we're getting married, why is there a marriage of convenience?"

"Don't you understand the concept of mutual benefit? If he likes a woman in the future, I will make way for her. If I like a man in the future, I can divorce him at any time."

"Song Qingqian, you are ungrateful, you...you have broken your promise..."

"You...you only took advantage of Chuan'er's current misfortune to kick him while he was down...A woman like you is far too treacherous and cunning..."

Lu Yunqi trembled with anger. Their Lu family's proud war god general was marrying a woman from a humble family, which was already considered a great honor for her. And now she dares to slander him like this, just because the Lu family has fallen on hard times?

"Lu Yunqi!"

Lu Jingchuan gritted his teeth and called out his second brother's name, explaining in a low voice:

"Don't blame Qingqian for saying such harsh things, but this was indeed something we arranged in advance. It was I who dragged her down."

"So Qingqian, don't worry, I won't break my promise. You can leave us whenever you want, and I won't complain at all."

That's what he said, but for some reason, Lu Jingchuan felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't breathe properly, blaming himself for being incompetent...

The old lady burst into tears and slumped to one side. It was all her fault; she shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and favored her second son.

Song Qingqian sighed, handed a handkerchief to the old lady, and comforted her:

“Mother-in-law, it’s not that I’m abandoning you. I’m just stating the facts. As long as we work together, we will definitely be able to reach the barbarian land safely.”

"What good would it do to go? It would be unbearable to get there; it would be better to die on the way."

The old lady said sadly that sometimes she really wanted to die, but she couldn't bear to leave these children behind.

"Mother-in-law, as long as we live, there is hope!"

"it is good!"

The old lady nodded and took Song Qingqian's hand. Looking at the woman in front of her, she began to reflect on the ups and downs she had experienced over the past few decades.

If... if she had been as insightful as Song Qingqian back then, would the Lu family have been spared this catastrophic disaster?