Chapter 127: The Disappearance of Wei Mingting and Xu Zhengyong

“Very well, Miss Wei, rest assured. Tonight, several of us will take turns standing guard here, and we will respond immediately if anything happens,” Hong Ping said.

“You’ve worked hard as well,” Wei Ruo expressed gratefully.

“We serve in the magistrate’s office, drawing a salary from the imperial court. Protecting the people is our duty. Miss Wei, your involvement in this matter, which originally had nothing to do with you, and your initiative to seek the welfare of the people, commands our admiration.”

“You flatter me. I’m merely doing what I am capable of,” Wei Ruo replied, then turned her gaze toward the group of townsfolk inside the warehouse. Though not a fine place, it at least shielded them from the wind and rain. A few fire pits inside warmed the room considerably and ensured their lives were safe.

By the time Wei Ruo finished her tasks, night had deepened. Wei Jin Yi, seeing no urgent matters, returned to the Wei family residence with her.

The rain at night had indeed intensified, and the temperature dropped steadily.

Back at Tingsong Garden, Wei Ruo quickly washed up and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Wei Ruo and Wei Jin Yi went out again. First, because Wei Ruo worried about the townsfolk in the magistrate’s warehouse, concerned that some might be worsening in health, she wanted to see them personally to put her mind at ease.

Second, she wished to learn how the situation regarding the landslide in Xishan Village was progressing.

After a night of rain, it finally ceased, but the temperature had fallen further. Without a thermometer, Wei Ruo estimated it was below five degrees Celsius.

Though there was no frost yet, the heavy humidity gave an intense chill that penetrated to the bone.

Wei Ruo wore a thick cotton-padded jacket inside but still felt her hands grow cold.

No sooner had Wei Ruo and Wei Jin Yi stepped into the magistrate’s office than they were summoned by Magistrate Qian.

They were led to the public courtroom, usually used for trials, where Magistrate Qian was now directing the rescue efforts.

Magistrate Qian looked at the siblings before him, hesitating, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Please, Magistrate Qian, speak freely,” Wei Jin Yi said.

After a moment’s thought, Magistrate Qian said gravely, “Your father... has met with an accident.”

“What happened?” Wei Ruo asked.

“Your father led a rescue team to Xishan Village. During the rescue, a second landslide occurred. His fate is currently unknown,” Magistrate Qian reported with a heavy heart.

Wei Ruo stared at Magistrate Qian in surprise, her emotions a tangled web.

Her father was in trouble?

Wei Ruo knew from the original story that Wei Ming Ting had died young, but in the original memories, her father had fallen in battle.

The timing was roughly the same, but this time, due to certain changed circumstances, the Japanese pirates had been temporarily repelled.

In the original story, Wei Ming Ting was still fighting the pirates at this moment, unable to attend to events within the city.

Thus, though Wei Ruo was aware her father likely died around this time in battle, since hostilities had ceased for the moment, she believed the situation might have changed and did not dwell on it.

After a while, Wei Ruo composed herself and asked Magistrate Qian, “Besides my father, how many others went to Xishan Village?”

“Around one hundred. Because it was uncertain whether the pirates would return, your father dared not mobilize too many soldiers. He only dispatched about a hundred who were supposed to be resting. Among them was a newly promoted deputy captain who distinguished himself in the previous battle against the pirates,” Magistrate Qian explained.

Due to his outstanding performance last time and special promotion by the Seventh Prince, Magistrate Qian was impressed with this man.

It was Brother Xiao Yong!

Wei Ruo’s heart tightened again, then fell silent.

She understood she could not stand idly by; she had to find a way to save them.

But at a time like this, rashness was the greatest enemy.

She needed to calm herself and think carefully about the most effective way to rescue the people.

Wei Jin Yi, observing Wei Ruo’s grave expression, said, “I will accompany you to the rescue.”

“Second Brother?”

“Let’s go,” Wei Jin Yi replied without much explanation.

Seeing him head out, Wei Ruo hurried after him.

“How do you plan to save them?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, I have help,” Wei Jin Yi answered, his tone and expression inspiring confidence.

Though Wei Ruo did not know who this help was, she chose to trust him.

Wei Jin Yi and Wei Ruo left the magistrate’s office. As they departed, Wei Jin Yi gave instructions to Xiao Bei, who quickly departed.

To ease their journey into the mountains, Wei Ruo chose to ride a horse.

She tied the rope used for pulling the carriage, took the saddle placed behind the cart, secured it, and swung herself onto the horse.

But her experience riding was limited—she had only ridden once before, in the training grounds.

Wei Jin Yi followed closely behind. After riding a while and seeing her become more adept without trouble, he rode forward.

When they reached the usual path leading into Xishan Village, the road was gone—mud and rocks had completely buried it. From this vantage point, it was impossible to tell how much the landslide had covered; perhaps the entire village was buried.

By the time Wei Ruo and Wei Jin Yi arrived, some government workers were already clearing the path.

Wei Ruo dismounted and gazed at the scene, once again feeling how small humans were before the forces of nature.

The fallen earth and rocks piled before them like an insurmountable fortress.

Shortly after their arrival, Xiao Bei appeared, bringing a group of roughly twenty men dressed in coarse short cloth garments. They carried shovels and spades and began digging immediately.

Xiao Bei explained they were laborers hired to help.

Wei Jin Yi said, “Leave half of them here; the rest follow me.”

Xiao Bei relayed the order, and the men quickly divided into two groups: one continued helping the officials clear the road, while the other, tools in hand, followed Wei Jin Yi and Wei Ruo.

Wei Jin Yi told Wei Ruo, “We’ll take another route. If the village hasn’t been completely buried, we might find another way to enter from the rear.”

There was only one road into Xishan Village. To enter by a different path, they would have to cross the mountains.

Crossing the mountain carried risks; though the rain had stopped, the soil was soaked and vulnerable to further landslides.

But Wei Ruo did not hesitate; she chose to trust Wei Jin Yi.

His decision was cautious and well-considered. He assessed the vegetation on the mountain and chose to traverse a forested area rich with bamboo.

Bamboo roots were extensive and grasped the soil firmly, better protecting the mountain surface and making landslides less likely.

After more than an hour’s detour, they finally reached the rear of Xishan Village.

Before the landslide, Wei Ruo had stood at a high vantage point to overlook Xishan Village...