At around 3 to 5 a.m. the next day, three jailers arrived carrying buckets filled with corn buns and watery porridge.
One of them banged loudly on the cell doors with his sword, scaring everyone inside.
"This is your breakfast—one corn bun and one bowl of porridge per person. No fighting. After eating, change into these reddish-brown prison robes and prepare to depart."
(Note: Reddish-brown robes were the standard clothing for criminals in ancient times.)
Without checking whether anyone understood him, the jailer turned away indifferently.
Sun Juanfang accepted the situation calmly. She was the first to fetch the food, leading her daughter by the hand. She chose a slightly better bowl—a chipped one—and deliberately scooped two thicker bowls of porridge from the bottom of the bucket.
Then she took two corn buns and returned to her spot with her daughter.
One of the guards glanced at her with some respect. He had seen many noble ladies fall into disgrace, but few maintained such quiet composure as she did.
The others finally came to their senses and rushed forward to get food. But when they saw the contents of the buckets—worse than what the servants used to eat—they were appalled.
Qian Mingluan was the first to object, fuming, "Is this what you're giving us? I am the daughter of a first-rank official! How dare you treat us like this?"
A nearby jailer spat phlegm contemptuously and sneered, "First-rank official? Bullshit. Once you're in here, you're all criminals. Not eating? Fine, don't eat."
He then spat into the porridge bucket again before sauntering off, humming a tune, while the women stood frozen with anger and humiliation.
Watching this unfold, Sun Juanfang was quietly satisfied she had acted quickly. Otherwise, they'd be stuck with only hard, dry buns for breakfast.
She remembered this happening in her past life, but at the time, she had been busy tending to the old madam and hadn't managed to get any clean porridge.
Now, the others were left with ashen faces, still unable to accept how lowly they'd fallen. It seemed a single night was enough for them to forget most of what happened.
Just then, her sister-in-law approached, and Sun Juanfang frowned slightly.
"Dear sister-in-law, I noticed you have two bowls of porridge. Could you spare one for Mother and your nieces and nephews?"
"We've already finished eating," she replied, raising her empty bowl.
Her sister-in-law's expression faltered slightly, but she persisted, "But look, your daughter still has some in her bowl. Surely you understand filial piety, don't you?"
Hearing those final, forced-out words, Sun Juanfang thought to herself: She's not the original host who could be guilt-tripped into submission with talk of filial duty.
"You're absolutely right. And that's why the person my daughter should honor most—is her mother."
With that, she finished off the remaining porridge in her daughter's bowl, completely ignoring the stunned look on her sister-in-law's face.
Li Yuexi was livid. She never imagined her usually timid sister-in-law would become so bold. Was all that gentleness in the past just an act?
Before the matter could rest, the old madam of the Qian family—Qian Pozi—finally awoke. Finding herself lying alone on the cold floor with no one attending her, she started screaming, "You heartless wretches! Not a single one of you cares for your old mother!"
Her curses grew louder and more vulgar. Sun Juanfang, hearing how strong her voice still was, couldn't help but think it was a pity: So the old hag still has some strength left. Shame the night in jail didn't wear her down more.
No one said a word, and Sun Juanfang remained indifferent. Seeing that no one responded to her, the old madam's rage gradually quieted.
"Where's that second daughter-in-law? Come help your mother-in-law!"
The others made way for Sun Juanfang to go forward—clearly hoping she'd handle the ticking time bomb.
But no matter how much the old madam shouted, Sun Juanfang didn't budge.
Qian Pozi was so infuriated by her apathy that her chest ached, and she nearly coughed up blood.
"Fine! Eldest daughter-in-law, come help me!" she ordered, her eyes like two dead fish glaring at Li Yuexi.
In an era where filial piety was everything, Li Yuexi had no choice but to comply, though her heart burned with resentment.
At that moment, the two women silently developed a mutual hatred for Sun Juanfang.
Half an hour later, everyone had changed into the reddish prison robes, leaving behind their silks and brocades as they prepared to start their journey into exile.
Servants without official indentures were released, while those with contracts were handed back to human brokers for resale.
Sun Juanfang's personal attendants were bonded to the Sun family, so they were spared. She was confident her natal family would treat them well.
Once the women exited the prison, they saw the men of the Qian family. Every male over twelve wore heavy shackles, per imperial law—meant to prevent escape attempts on the road.
Soon, they also saw members of the extended Qian clan, who stared at them with murderous glares, wishing they could tear them apart.
The clan patriarch had died on the spot upon receiving news of the imperial edict—his eyes wide open in disbelief.
As the group was paraded through the streets of the capital, furious commoners began throwing rotten vegetables and stones, cursing them as they passed.
"Look at that—there's the corrupt scum Qian family who stole the army's food rations!"
"Yeah! If you've got a grudge, throw it now. My son is a soldier on the frontier!"
"Right, right—don't just talk, throw! Smash these heartless crooks!"
…
Sun Juanfang and her daughter hid behind the old madam and the sister-in-law. Though they still got hit a little, it was far better than taking the full brunt of the attacks.
The other two tried to hide too, but Sun Juanfang clung tightly to them, making it impossible to get away.
By the time they passed the city gates, the angry crowd finally dispersed. The Qian family members were filthy, bruised, and beaten.
Sun Juanfang and her daughter fared better, with only some wilted leaves on their heads to show they'd been in the thick of it.
Everyone else looked utterly defeated—once so high and mighty, now crushed under the feet of furious commoners.
Old Master Qian looked utterly despondent. One night in prison had made it clear: he was nothing more than a discarded pawn. The Qian family was finished.
After another dozen miles, they finally saw a group of people by the official road. The guards, seeing the scene ahead, allowed the prisoners to stop and rest.