"The ditch is dug, but the stone bricks are not yet laid, and I want to build two stone roads on both sides of this ditch. This will also trouble you."
"Naturally, with so many of you, and working so quickly, it will be done in at most two days."
Baili Hao and the others felt like spitting blood.
If they could, they would really want to roar, who wanted encouragement!
Unfortunately, under the eaves of man, one must bow his head.
Didn't they see that the guards had already started acting upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words?
With a mixture of heartache and helplessness, Baili Hao could only follow the guards' pace.
Since Baili Hao and the others were all people who lived pampered lives and had no experience in laying stone bricks, they could only be bitter porters.
That is, to move the bluestone slabs that were farther away from here.
Shen Xiaoyan had not prepared any tools like carts for them.
One reason was that with so many people, carts would not be able to move quickly and would only delay time.
The other reason was that there were not enough carts to find.
Apart from the technicians waiting to lay the stone bricks, there were about 700 other people. If each person carried two slabs at a time, they could move over 1,000 slabs in one trip.
Yes, the speed was quite fast.
After watching them start to work, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei did not leave immediately.
This was different from digging earth, and it was better to watch them work to feel more at ease.
They stayed for the entire day, and even lunch was brought by Huo Fen and his men.
During lunch, Baili Ziyun's eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
The reason was none other than that Baili Ziyun and the others were eating coarse grain noodles, all cooked in one large pot, and they were not tasty at all.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, on the other hand, sat on stools at a wooden table, with three dishes and one soup, and two bowls of rice.
Baili Ziyun and the others finished their lunch amidst the aroma of the dishes wafting through the air.
Logically, Shen Xiaoyan could have gone back to eat, or eaten more discreetly.
But Shen Xiaoyan was unwilling to do so.
This was her home, and she could eat whatever she wanted without hiding it from others.
Besides, she was not the type of person to compromise herself for the sake of others' opinions or thoughts.
Having died twice, who cared about these things?
Especially since these people were merely her captives.
Shen Xiaoyan had initially thought it would take at least two days to finish everything, but unexpectedly, by late afternoon, the last brick was laid.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan had to sigh, truly, the strength of many people is great.
"Indeed, worthy of the Grand Princess Zande, and worthy of the elite guards of the Grand Princess Zande's mansion. This speed is not to be underestimated."
Shen Xiaoyan beamed, showering the Grand Princess Zande with compliments.
The Grand Princess Zande's lips twitched, and she still stood there expressionlessly.
Shen Xiaoyan was certain that although the movement of the Grand Princess Zande's lips was very subtle, it was definitely not a smile.
It was understandable; if the Grand Princess Zande could still smile and say "thank you for your compliment" after all this, Shen Xiaoyan would have killed her without a second thought.
After all, a person who could remain impassive and endure what ordinary people cannot is the most unsettling.
"As I promised you, I will let you go after this is done, and I will surely keep my word," Shen Xiaoyan said, her gaze sweeping across each person's face.
From August 12th to today, it has been 6 days, and these people have truly felt like they have lived through 6 years.
No, it felt like 16 years.
When they first arrived that day, they were all high-spirited and majestic, but now they were all covered in dust and had lost a lot of weight.
Looking at their faces, it was clear that they had lost weight due to overexertion, lack of rest, and poor nutrition.
And looking at the Grand Princess Zande, from a young woman in her thirties to a woman in her fifties now, one truly had to say, fate plays tricks on people.
"I won't say much more. The meal will be here soon. After you eat, you can leave."
Shen Xiaoyan finished speaking, no longer looked at them, turned around, and left with Zheng Wei.
After Shen Xiaoyan and the two left, Huo Fen soon arrived with people carrying food.
Baili Hao and the others had been so hungry that their chests were sticking to their backs all day. Seeing the food arrive, they did not need to be urged and voluntarily lined up.
Although Shen Xiaoyan and the two went directly to the main courtyard, Shen Xiaoyan kept asking Luoluo to give her a live broadcast. After Luoluo reported that Baili Hao and the others had finished eating all the food they had served, a satisfied smile appeared on their faces.
By the time Baili Hao and the others had dinner, it was already completely dark. Shen Xiaoyan glanced at the watch; it was 9 PM.
In ancient times, people had no entertainment facilities and went to bed early.
Moreover, this was a village, not a town, and everyone in the village was already asleep.
Therefore, even if the Grand Princess Zande were to leave at this time, no one would see them.
Just to be safe, Shen Xiaoyan had Luoluo go out to scout the area. After ensuring that there was no one outside, she and Zheng Wei waited at the entrance of the old courtyard, and had Huo Fen lead people to bring the Grand Princess Zande and the others over.
Within a quarter of an hour, the Grand Princess Zande and the others arrived behind Huo Fen.
As they were finally about to leave, joy appeared on their faces.
The gate was open, and Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei stood by the gate, watching the Grand Princess Zande and the others walk towards them.
"Grand Princess Zande, you are leaving. My husband and I are here to see you off. Although your efforts were not sincere, we still have to thank you for helping us complete the ditch."
Shen Xiaoyan's tone was exceptionally sincere, and her smile was exceptionally bright.
The Grand Princess Zande, however, did not find Shen Xiaoyan pleasing to the eye at all. Instead, she felt that Shen Xiaoyan's smile was like a sharp nail piercing her eyes.
"If you look at me like this, I might not want to let you go," Shen Xiaoyan blinked and said.
"You..."
Before the Grand Princess Zande could speak, Baili Ziyun behind her was already losing her temper.
Fortunately, she could still control her temper and her mouth at this moment. She only uttered the word "you" and then fell silent.
However, her dagger-like gaze still conveyed her anger to Shen Xiaoyan.
"What do you want?" the Grand Princess Zande asked with her eyes closed, her tone calm.
"I just hope that the Grand Princess can guarantee that after you leave, you will not try to cause us trouble again," Shen Xiaoyan said, then raised her eyebrows at the Grand Princess Zande. "After all, you can't do anything to me, no matter who you find, the result will be the same."
The Grand Princess Zande's gaze instantly became sharp. "Do you really think so?"