Chapter 12: Tattoo

The matriarch ordered the entire group to head northeast, a direction completely different from before. Wang Keyue knew that at the northeastern border lay the home of Lady Wang's maiden family.

Lady Wang's maiden name was Zhang; her family was renowned for its martial prowess. General Zhang had spent his life following the old emperor across the battlefield, and the sons of the Zhang household strictly abided by the ancestral command: generation after generation, they swore to defend the border to the death, never to interfere in politics.

Lady Wang was General Zhang's youngest daughter, originally named Zhang Li-niang. She had two elder brothers. After her marriage, she became Wang Zhang-shi, now the headmistress of the entire Wang clan.

Since her marriage, she rarely returned home. The last occasion was more than a decade ago, when the elderly General Zhang passed away; she returned for her father's funeral.

Now, so many years had passed; she wondered how her two brothers were faring.

Lady Wang was filled with guilt, but helpless nonetheless. For now, the only place she could go was her maiden home.

On this day, over a hundred members of the Wang family, in pursuit of freedom and hope, began their new journey.

When Wang Keyue followed her clan, changing course toward the northeast, a voice from the system sounded in her mind.

“Congratulations, host, for completing the first step of the mission: leading your clan out of adversity. Reward: one bottle of dissolving potion, capable of erasing the clan’s tattoos. Reward: one Strength Pill—take one and instantly gain the strength of an ox, effective for twenty-four hours. Reward: one Mask of Many Faces, able to change one’s appearance at will.” System 9538 announced.

Wang Keyue could see these prizes in her mind. The dissolving potion especially delighted her.

As the system described, this potion could remove the clan’s tattoos. What tattoos? Of course, it referred to the character for “crime” etched at the back of every person's neck. This tattoo was made with a long needle and a special ink, deeply penetrating the skin. Unless a large patch of skin was cut away, there was no way to remove it.

Thanks to the carriage, Lady Wang, the second wife Lady Jiang, Wang Keyue herself, and the third wife’s infant son could ride comfortably. The rest, including all the illegitimate children, had to go on foot.

Inside the carriage, Lady Wang spoke of her intentions. “Ah, I wonder how your two uncles are now. Were it not for having no other choice, I truly shouldn’t… Ah!”

She sighed long and short, her heart full of remorse. She knew that this large group was a burden, a source of trouble, yet in her heart, she still hoped her maiden family would accept her children. As for the others, Lady Wang resolved to find another way for them when the time came.

Lady Wang touched the back of her neck. Thinking of their future and her current status as a criminal, she felt nothing but sorrow.

“Grandmother, Heaven never seals off all paths. Look, what is this?” Wang Keyue revealed the bottle of dissolving potion.

Lady Wang curiously took the small bottle from her granddaughter’s hand. It was palm-sized and cool to the touch. “Yue’er, what is this?”

“This was picked up from that officer’s belongings. I suspect it’s a potion that can dissolve tattoos. Grandmother, look here…” Wang Keyue pointed to the lower right corner of the bottle, where the word for “dissolve” was inscribed.

Naturally, Wang Keyue had just carved that word herself with a sharp stone.

Lady Wang squinted, carefully examining the bottle, feeling a mix of surprise and doubt.

She didn’t understand why an officer escorting criminals would carry such a potion, nor why her granddaughter was so certain it would remove the tattoos. Still, it was worth a try.

She signaled Lady Jiang to bring Zhang Momo into the carriage.

Zhang Momo was tall and sturdy. As soon as she entered, the carriage felt cramped. Lady Jiang, ever tactful, picked up the infant beside her and stepped out, leaving the space to the three.

She knew that the eldest daughter of the main branch was becoming ever more capable; the more capable she was, the better Lady Jiang’s own life would be. She had no other skills, her maiden family was a fallen minor official’s household. Now that trouble had struck, she dared not stick her neck out for fear of inviting disaster. She bore no resentment; a girl married off was like water poured away.

Lady Jiang held the infant, thinking the child was blessed—having lost both parents, she herself had gained a great advantage. The more she thought about it, the more satisfied she became.