Summer Jingshi’s shout echoed through the entire camp like a thunderclap, jolting Feng Xiyang awake from her light slumber. She abruptly opened her eyes as one of her attendants rushed in, exclaiming in panic, “Princess, we’ve encountered a flood!”
As she watched her maids frantically moving in and out carrying belongings, the curtain of her palanquin was suddenly thrust aside. Summer Jingshi, soaking wet, burst in and barked, “Take only the essentials and abandon the rest. Follow the others to higher ground!”
Indeed, she hadn’t misjudged him; he still remembered her. As Summer Jingshi turned to leave, Feng Xiyang barely had time to savor the sweetness that welled up in her heart. She only managed to call out, “Husband, I’ll go with you!” But Summer Jingshi had already plunged back into the rain without looking back.
Amidst the shouts of people and neighing of horses, everyone had retreated to the safety of the mountainside. Looking back at the campsite at the foot of the mountain, most of the vehicles and some abandoned large objects in the open area were already floating away in the mud.
As the downpour intensified, thousands of water columns burst forth from the mountain gullies, creating a spectacular scene. Rocks and mud collapsed, mixing and surging down the mountainside.
Xue Ying had sprained her ankle while helping to rescue the warhorses. Now she was curled up in Ning Fei’s equally exhausted arms, staring blankly at the rolling muddy floods below. Whether from cold or lingering fear, she trembled slightly. Ning Fei rested his chin gently on top of her head, one hand holding up a coat to shield them from the rain, the other arm around her, soothingly patting her back as he whispered in her ear.
“Where is he?!” The previous calm was shattered by a woman’s voice, distorted with terror—Feng Xiyang.
She held a somewhat damaged oil-paper umbrella, her once-delicate makeup now smeared by the rain, her entire appearance a disheveled mess after the ordeal. At first, she had managed to maintain some semblance of dignity, having her maid hold the umbrella as they climbed. But as they ascended, the path grew steeper, forcing her to abandon the umbrella and, like everyone else, hike up her skirts and use both hands and feet to scramble upwards through the downpour.
Now she was frantically searching for Summer Jingshi. “Where is he?!” Seeing Ning Fei turn his head, Feng Xiyang’s anxious voice rose even higher, “Answer me quickly!”
Ning Fei frowned slightly and raised his right hand, pointing in another direction. Feng Xiyang said nothing and was about to walk past Ning Fei when Xue Ying sighed, “Even without a title, you should at least say thank you.” Feng Xiyang paused, tossed back a “Thank you,” and continued on her unsteady path forward.
Along the winding mountain path, temporary rain shelters had been set up, under which sat scattered soldiers from their group. Upon seeing her approach, they unanimously halted their idle chatter. A few younger soldiers stood up, intending to salute, but after looking around uncertainly, they sat back down.
Feng Xiyang forced a smile, “My husband, he—” A military officer stood up, politely interrupting her, “His Highness is fastidious. Having just helped us salvage supplies, he’s covered in mud. He should be tidying up behind us now. Princess, please wait here for a moment while I go inform him.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Feng Xiyang didn’t want to linger, as everyone’s gaze made her feel uncomfortable as if she had thorns at her back wherever she stood. “I’ll go to him directly.” Though displeased, the officer didn’t insist. He pointed towards a nearby bend, “His Highness is over there.”
Rounding the bend, she saw Summer Jingshi and Xiao Weiran standing not far ahead. Xiao Weiran, holding an oil-paper umbrella, had a mud-covered garment draped over his shoulder, barely recognizable as the one Summer Jingshi had been wearing earlier. Beside him, Summer Jingshi had already rinsed off the mud with rainwater and changed into clean clothes. He was in the process of tying up his now-neat-long hair.
Xiao Weiran noticed Feng Xiyang first and cleared his throat softly, “Your Highness, the Princess has arrived.” Summer Jingshi made a noncommittal sound, calmly finished arranging his hair, and turned around. “You were looking for me?”
“I came to see how you were,” Feng Xiyang met his eyes and suddenly felt ashamed. Even soaking wet, he maintained his usual grace, while she was a complete mess. Her gaze suddenly fixed on the light blue hairpin in his hair—it looked like the glass hairpin she had seen in his study before.
It was a woman’s hairpin, yet he wore it without hesitation. She unconsciously said, “Husband, your hairpin…” Summer Jingshi paused briefly, then smiled, “I lost the one I was using earlier, and I happened to have this one with me, so I’m using it for now.” Seeing her still staring at the hairpin, he casually removed it and handed it to her. “If we’re lucky enough to come across a kiln opening on this trip, you can buy more for future use.”
Just as Feng Xiyang took the hairpin, a violent gust of mountain wind carrying large raindrops blew past, upending her oil-paper umbrella. She frantically raised her hands to catch it, suddenly feeling her hand empty—almost simultaneously, with a wild shout from Xiao Weiran, Summer Jingshi brushed past her and slid down the steep mountainside.
Feng Xiyang’s eyes widened in terror… She had forgotten about the hairpin in her hand, and in raising her arms, she had inadvertently thrown it…
The discarded hairpin bounced twice on the ground before breaking in two. Summer Jingshi dove for the hairpin but stepped on a large patch of mud on the mountainside, which gave way. He fell downward, with the raging mud and rock-filled waters just a few zhang below, flowing like a river…
Xiao Weiran shouted fiercely, “Your Highness—” and leaped down after him. The soldiers who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion became chaotic, some calling for “Your Highness,” others shouting for the “Adjutant.” Two military officers, disregarding their safety, slid straight down towards the valley floor, following the falling figures of Summer Jingshi and Xiao Weiran.
In just moments, Summer Jingshi had tumbled to the bottom of the ravine and sunk into the mudflow. He resurfaced briefly, now completely covered in mud, only to be submerged again as he was tossed about by the current, emerging and sinking repeatedly…
One after another, Xiao Weiran and the two military officers also fell in. The three men barely managed to struggle for a few moments before they too were overcome by the tremendous force of the current, rolling in the mud like Summer Jingshi.
Feng Xiyang was stunned, standing motionless like a stone statue for a long while before finally letting out a heart-wrenching cry, “Husband…” She slowly collapsed, clutching her chest.
Ning Fei had arrived at some point. With bulging veins on his forehead and reddened eyes, he yanked Feng Xiyang up from the ground and roared, “What happened?! Speak quickly!” Clearly, in extreme shock, Feng Xiyang could only stare blankly and mutter, “I don’t know, I didn’t mean to…”
Ning Fei shoved Feng Xiyang aside and turned to leave. Feng Xiyang stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground, but quickly scrambled to her feet. She chased after Ning Fei, grabbing his sleeve, “Please save him! I beg you…”
Ning Fei shook his arm violently, throwing her off, and said grimly, “Four people went down there. If even one of them is missing, I swear on my life that I’ll drag you down to die with them!”