As dawn broke, the officials began urging everyone to set off.
Rui'er was still asleep and unable to walk on his own, so he had to be carried by an adult.
Before anyone could discuss the matter, Chen Shiyi took the initiative to hold the child in her arms, following the group as they continued their journey.
The slanting wind and drizzling rain had never ceased.
To keep Rui'er from catching a chill, she tucked his head against her chest, wrapping him tightly in her embrace. She bent her body slightly, trying to shield him from the cold.
The posture was uncomfortable and exhausting, but she was willing to endure it.
He was a soft, sweet child who would call her "sister" in the most endearing way.
As they walked, stopping and starting along the way, Chen Shiyi noticed something.
The official who had ordered her to braid ropes and called the Wen family's young lady out late at night was nowhere to be seen.
Could an official assigned to a task turn back halfway?
Suddenly, she remembered that night when the Marquis Mansion's Eldest Son had walked out for a while.
He was still wearing shackles and had chains bound to his legs—could he have killed someone in that state?
A chill ran down Chen Shiyi's spine.
Thankfully, she had argued with him before and stubbornly refused to care for his family, yet he had never laid a hand on her. Otherwise, she might have lost her life.
They were finally nearing Fangling, where the terrain and environment were completely different from the capital.
The capital was mostly flat, with few mountains, while here, the hills were not particularly high but layered with lush greenery, undulating and uneven.
Walking through the mountains and weaving through the forests, their pace grew slower and slower.
The spring rain had been intermittent, never fully stopping, and they had not seen the sun for a long time.
Rui'er had long since recovered from his illness. He remembered how Chen Shiyi had carried him on her back for days.
After recovering, he chattered and laughed around Chen Shiyi like a little sparrow.
Wen Zhirou supported Madam Wen, panting heavily.
"Elder Brother, how much longer until we reach Fangling? I really can't go on much longer."
Wen Zhiyuan was also exhausted, gasping for breath.
"We've already entered Fangling. The mountain paths are indeed difficult to traverse. Just endure for two more days, and we'll reach our destination."
Wen Zhiheng did not join their conversation. His eyes were deep and thoughtful, occasionally glancing in Chen Shiyi's direction.
Ever since that night when Chen Shiyi had taken the initiative to speak to him, she had been avoiding him, wanting to stay as far away as possible. He could clearly see the fear in her eyes.
Did he look that intimidating?
After sneezing twice in a row, Chen Shiyi suddenly felt a violent tremor from the ground.
Holding Rui'er, she froze in place, not daring to move a muscle.
Wen Zhiheng also sensed something amiss and alertly scanned their surroundings.
In an instant, the mountainside beside them came crashing down like an avalanche.
Terrified, Chen Shiyi dashed forward with lightning speed.
Without chains to restrain her, she ran exceptionally fast, but the other exhausted prisoners were not so fortunate. The massive mudslide from the mountain had already buried several of them.
The officials and others were also scrambling to flee in all directions—at this moment, who could spare a thought for the prisoners?
Chen Shiyi looked back and saw that the Wen family had already disappeared from sight.
Rui'er in her arms was so frightened that he burst into loud sobs.
Gritting her teeth, Chen Shiyi set Rui'er down and hugged his thin shoulders, saying:
"Rui'er, be good. It's safe now. Stay right here and don't move. I'll go check on your grandmother and the others. Wait for me to come back, okay?"
Rui'er nodded obediently.
The site of the landslide was truly shocking—half the mountain had already collapsed, with turbid yellow mud carrying massive rocks that completely buried the path they had just passed through.
Chen Shiyi looked around frantically and finally spotted Wen Zhiheng and Wen Zhiyuan searching like madmen for someone.
The second young mistress was supporting Madam Wen while weeping uncontrollably.
Only the Wen family's young lady was missing.
Chen Shiyi quickly ran over to Wen Zhiheng.
Seeing Chen Shiyi, Wen Zhiheng seemed to have found a lifeline.
"Hurry, help me find Zhirou. She's missing, she's missing…"
Chen Shiyi nodded.
"This place is dangerous. You take them and leave here immediately, go ahead and find Rui'er. I'll go look for the young lady."
The mud from the landslide was loose and sticky; with each step, her legs sank halfway in.
Chen Shiyi struggled through the mire, pulling her legs out as she searched everywhere.
She saw many exiled convicts buried in this immense disaster, yet no one came to their rescue. The guards had already led the remaining prisoners forward.
Life was truly fragile—in an instant, one could be separated from this world by the divide between life and death.
Chen Shiyi was frantic with worry.
She searched for a long time, checking every person she saw to see if it was the Wen family's young lady.
Could the young lady have been swept further down by the landslide?
She immediately began searching downhill.
Moving through the mud pits was incredibly difficult; she had become completely covered in mud, a veritable mud person.
After stumbling along for what felt like ages, the rain continued to pour from the sky. She had to move faster—given the situation, there was no telling when another uncontrollable disaster might strike.
Finally, in the mudslide debris, she spotted a head of black hair, half the body buried in yellow mud.
Chen Shiyi rushed over, turned the person over—it was the Wen family's young lady. She checked her breathing—thankfully, she was still alive.
There was no time for relief; she immediately tried to pull the young lady out of the mud.
Unexpectedly, the mud was too deep, and she couldn't budge her.
She had no choice but to push the mud aside with her hands, slowly digging out the young lady's legs from the earth.
The Wen family's young lady woke from her unconsciousness and, seeing Chen Shiyi digging her out of the mud, burst into loud sobs.
Wen Zhiheng was beside himself with anxiety. He wanted to break free from his shackles to rescue her but was stopped by his mother.
"You mustn't, Heng'er! Once the seal is torn, it can't be restored. When we reach Fangling, it'll still mean death! Wait a little longer, just a little longer. The girl has gone to find Rou'er—she'll definitely find her!"
Suddenly, an even louder rumble came from the ground.
Wen Zhiheng could no longer hold back. Dragging his chains, he ran toward the disaster site.
Madam Wen cried out loudly.
"Heng'er, don't go!"
Before he had run far, Wen Zhiheng froze in place, his eyes filled with both shock and joy.
A person completely covered in mud, carrying another mud-covered person on their back, was stumbling hurriedly toward him. Behind them, massive rocks tumbled down, and mud surged and cascaded, relentlessly devouring the path they had come from.
The exiled convicts and guards who had survived the disaster rested on the shallow bank of a small river.
The Wen family huddled together, with Madam Wen holding Wen Zhirou and weeping incessantly.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness, my child…"
Wen Zhirou's forehead had been cut open by a rock, the bright red bloodstains mixed with yellow mud. Tears streamed down her face—there was no trace left of the dignified young lady of the Marquis's Mansion.
How cruelly fate toys with people!
Chen Shiyi lay on the pebble-strewn riverbank, gasping for breath, not wanting to move an inch.
Covered head to toe in mud, she couldn't even muster the energy to clean herself.
She was utterly exhausted!
Never been this exhausted before.
After finally pulling Miss Wen out of the yellow mud, that terrifying sound emerged from beneath the ground once more.
At the critical moment, they ultimately managed to escape with their lives.
Wen Zhiheng crouched beside her and asked softly,
"Would you like some water?"
Chen Shiyi nodded.
Rui'er walked over from the side and, using a chipped porcelain bowl, slowly fed Chen Shiyi a few sips of water.
Once she had recovered a bit, she struggled to prop herself up and sat upright.
Wen Zhiheng looked at her, covered in yellow mud, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Thank you."
Chen Shiyi gave an awkward smile.
"Shizi, I'll work hard from now on, please don't kill me!"
Wen Zhiheng was immediately taken aback. Why would he kill her? Why would she think that?
"When did I ever say such a thing? Besides, you are Rou'er's savior. I am grateful to you beyond words, so don't overthink it."
Only then did Chen Shiyi feel at ease.
"Also, don't call me Shizi anymore. I am now just a prisoner, no longer the once illustrious son of the Marquis's Mansion…"
Hearing the bitterness in his words, Chen Shiyi sighed inwardly. No matter how down and out he was, he was still far better off than those of them living at the bottom of society!
"Then I'll call you Young Master."
Wen Zhiheng smiled and nodded.