Chapter Sixty-One
Xia Jingshi’s shout echoed like thunder through the entire camp, jolting Feng Xiyang from her feigned slumber. Her eyes flew open just as a maidservant rushed in, panic-stricken. “Your Highness, we’ve been hit by a flood!”
As she watched helplessly while the maidservants scurried in and out, frantically moving belongings, the curtain of the Luan Carriage was flung aside. Xia Jingshi, drenched, barged in and barked, “Take only what’s necessary! Leave everything else behind and follow them to higher ground!”
She hadn’t misjudged him—he still remembered her.
Before she could savor the sweetness swelling in her heart, Xia Jingshi was already turning to leave. Feng Xiyang barely had time to call out, “Husband, I’ll go with you!” But he had already plunged back into the curtain of rain without a backward glance.
Amidst the clamor of voices and whinnying horses, everyone had retreated to the safety of the mountainside. Looking back at the camp below, most of the abandoned carts and larger items were already floating away, tossed about in the muddy currents.
Torrential rain lashed down, sending countless streams gushing from the mountain crevices. The deafening roar of the deluge was accompanied by the collapse of rocks and earth, all surging downhill in a violent, churning tide.
Xueying had sprained her ankle while helping rescue the military horses. Now, curled in Ning Fei’s equally exhausted embrace, she stared blankly at the raging mudslide below. Whether from cold or lingering fear, she trembled faintly.
Ning Fei rested his chin lightly atop her head, one hand holding up his outer robe to shield them from the rain while the other encircled her, gently patting her back as he murmured soothing words into her ear.
“Where is he?!” A shrill, panic-twisted voice shattered the quiet—Feng Xiyang.
She clutched a tattered oiled umbrella, her once-meticulous makeup now smeared by the rain. Her entire appearance was a disheveled mess, as if she had just survived a calamity.
At the start of the climb, she had tried to maintain her dignity, letting her maidservant hold the umbrella for her. But as the mountain path grew steeper, she had no choice but to abandon it. Like everyone else, she hiked up the slope in the pouring rain, hiking up her skirts and scrambling on all fours.
Now, she searched frantically for Xia Jingshi.
“Where is he?!” Her voice rose higher as she spotted Ning Fei turning toward her. “Answer me!”
Ning Fei frowned and raised his right hand, pointing in another direction.
Feng Xiyang didn’t speak. As she moved to pass behind him, Xueying sighed. “Even if you won’t address us, the least you could do is say thank you.” Feng Xiyang paused, muttered a quick “Thank you,” then trudged forward, stumbling through the mud.
Along the winding mountain path, makeshift shelters had been hastily erected. Soldiers sat scattered beneath them, their idle chatter halting as she approached. A few younger soldiers stood to salute but hesitated, glancing around before sitting back down.
Feng Xiyang forced a smile. “My husband, he—” A general stood and politely cut her off. “His Highness values cleanliness. He became quite disheveled helping us salvage supplies earlier. He’s likely freshening up at the rear. Please wait here, Your Highness. Allow this humble servant to inform him.”"No need," Feng Xiyang didn't wish to stay longer, as everyone's gaze upon her felt peculiar, making her feel prickly discomfort wherever she stood. "I'll go find him directly." Though displeased, the military general didn't insist and pointed toward a nearby bend. "His Highness is over there."
Rounding the corner, she saw Xia Jingshi and Xiao Weiran standing not far ahead. Xiao Weiran, holding an oiled umbrella, had a mud-caked garment draped over his shoulder—barely recognizable by its color as the one Xia Jingshi had worn earlier. Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi had already rinsed off the mud with rainwater and changed into clean clothes, now tying up his smoothed-out hair.
Xiao Weiran noticed Feng Xiyang first and gave a light cough. "Your Highness, the Princess Consort is here." Xia Jingshi made an acknowledging sound, calmly finished fastening his hair, and turned. "You were looking for me?"
"I came to check on you," Feng Xiyang said, but the moment their eyes met, she suddenly felt ashamed. Even drenched, he maintained his usual grace, while she was utterly disheveled—then her gaze froze. The aqua-blue hairpin securing his hair resembled the Glass Hairpin she'd once seen in his study.
Why would he use a woman's hairpin so openly?
Unthinkingly, she blurted, "Husband's hairpin..." Xia Jingshi paused briefly before smiling. "The one I was using earlier was accidentally lost. This happened to be on hand, so I used it instead." Noticing her fixed stare, he pulled it from his hair and handed it to her. "If we're fortunate enough to encounter a kiln opening this trip, you could purchase more for future use."
Just as Feng Xiyang took the hairpin, a fierce mountain wind carrying raindrops as large as beans swept past, flipping her umbrella inside out. In her frantic scramble to catch it, her hand suddenly emptied—almost simultaneously, as Xiao Weiran let out a horrified shout, Xia Jingshi brushed past her and slid down the steep cliff face.
Feng Xiyang's eyes widened in terror...
She'd forgotten the hairpin in her hand—raising her arm had flung it away...
The hairpin bounced twice on the ground before snapping in half. Xia Jingshi lunged for it but dislodged a large section of the cliffside, sending him tumbling downward. Below, several yards down, roared a torrent of mud and rocks rushing like a river...
"Your Highness—!" Xiao Weiran bellowed before leaping after him. The soldiers who came running at the commotion erupted into chaos—some shouting for His Highness, others calling for the Army Advisor, while two military generals recklessly slid straight down the slope after Xia Jingshi and Xiao Weiran.
Within moments, Xia Jingshi had rolled to the valley floor, swallowed by the mudflow before resurfacing as a figure caked in sludge. The mud-covered figure tumbled, submerged, emerged, and submerged again...
One after another, Xiao Weiran and the two generals plunged in, managing only feeble struggles before succumbing to the overwhelming current, rolling helplessly like Xia Jingshi.
Feng Xiyang stood petrified, statue-still for what felt like an eternity before finally unleashing a heartrending scream, "Husband..." Her hands pressed to her chest as she slowly crumpled to the ground.Ning Fei had arrived at some point, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot as he yanked Feng Xiyang up from the ground and roared, "What the hell happened? Speak now!" Feng Xiyang, clearly terrified, could only stare blankly and mumble, "I don't know... I didn't mean to..."
Ning Fei shoved her aside and turned to leave. Xiyang staggered back a few steps, falling to the ground, but quickly scrambled up and ran after him, grabbing his sleeve. "Please save him! I beg you..."
With a sharp flick of his arm, Ning Fei threw her off and said coldly, "Four people. If even one is missing, I swear I'll drag you down with me at the cost of my life!"
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