Chapter 44: If the two of them continue like this, then...
Wen Yu didn't say anything in the end.
The mountain breeze rustled, the forest hushed, and even the deep, secluded Houchun Mountain remained silent. Spring leaves spun through the trees, swirling down from above, caressing Wenyu's hair and making the back of her head itch.
It's really interesting, this is what they call leaves falling on the top of the tree. Wen Yu didn't know what was going on, but his thoughts were scattered for a moment.
Wen Yu looked up in the direction of the falling leaves and suddenly heard a voice:
"Madam Wenyu——"
Wen Yu turned around. It must have been Song Linsheng, dressed in his new clothes, coming to look for her. She glanced down at Zhibai Niangzi, then half-bowed and spoke to her.
After giving some instructions, Wen Yu turned around and walked back.
This was the adventure that happened in Houchun Mountain earlier. Thinking of Song Linsheng’s repeated calls, Wen Yu’s thoughts returned.
She slowed down her pace, exploring the Yuanshui River as she walked. However, she felt that Song Linsheng's voice was becoming more and more real, unlike the voice in her memory.
Wen Yu walked slowly, with the wet sand and stones of the Yuanshui Riverbed under her feet, the gentle river breeze caressing her ears, and the Yuanshui River channel where the ice and snow had melted in the spring.
Fishing boats were moored on the shore in twos and threes, with the towing ropes at the bow hung on wooden stakes and tied in knots, as if guarding a safe haven for the fishermen.
The ice in the colder areas upstream hasn't broken up yet, so nearby fishermen haven't gone out into the water yet. Navigation on the Yuanshui River hasn't opened yet either.
Wen Yu walked the riverbank, one foot deep, one foot shallow, gazing out at the sand and gravel that accumulated in the Yuan River's channel. Because the river had remained unchanged for years, the water had eroded the riverbed year-round, forming a triangular island in the center. Aquatic plants grew on it, even lush and not sparse.
If this level of siltation is not dredged soon, it will be even more difficult to deal with when summer and the thunderstorm season arrive. By then, the outlet will be blocked, the river will backflow, and the surrounding fields will probably suffer.
Wen Yu observed the state of the Yuanshui River while secretly memorizing these omissions. When she returned to the Song residence, she would explain them in detail to Song Linsheng. Once Chen Mian's matter was settled, they would begin dredging the river, and they must complete it before summer so that fishermen could go fishing.
Wen Yu thought so, lost in her own thoughts. She couldn't even hear the sound of the wind behind her...
"Madam Wenyu—Madam Wenyu—"
The river breeze blew past Wen Yu's ears with the chill of early spring, leaving him no peace.
She had risen early this morning and, without asking A-Bo to come in and comb her hair, had simply casually gathered her dark hair into a ponytail. It now flew high in the swirling wind, and her dress clung to her legs. Wen Yu's hands were too busy to adjust the hem of her dress, but she still managed to keep walking along the riverbank.
From her observations over the past few days, Jiangyang Prefecture must be a prosperous state, with fertile fields and a harmonious population. Lord Jia must have contributed to this, not to mention personally organizing and overseeing the annual sacrifices on Shangsi Day.
Wen Yu had observed his behavior over the past few days, and her impression of Master Jia had changed somewhat. Perhaps it was true, as Song Linsheng said, that one should eat one bite at a time and do one thing at a time. She had been too hasty earlier.
But why did Lord Jia, who was so prudent in his administration and diligent in his work, neglect the management of the Yuanshui River?
Not to mention that Chen Mian was just a small clerk. Even if he was really the canal transport officer in charge of water conservancy projects, he should be under the jurisdiction of the Tongzhi, Lord Jia. How could he shift all the blame onto Chen Mian with just a few words?
In any case, Lord Jia cannot escape blame.
Wen Yu was unwilling to make a judgment on someone's life or death based on her own speculation. If that were the case, she would be no different from the previous Lord Jia...
Wen Yu thought of what Zhi Bai Niangzi said again. She said that Chen Mian was a person as bright as the stars and the moon, and would never be corrupt, lazy, or go with the flow.
She supported her elbow with one hand and rubbed her chin back and forth with the other hand. Wen Yu always liked to do this when she was thinking.
Wen Yu's heart felt like a pure, white string, and as she thought, it gradually stretched, hanging between the two ends of her heart. As her mind battled with her inner thoughts, the string grew tighter and tighter, her swirling thoughts like invisible hands, strumming back and forth on the string.
All I could hear was the sounds that were sometimes rapid and high-pitched, and sometimes gentle and melodious. The sounds of the piano were sometimes fast and sometimes slow, intertwined one after another. The mood was there before the melody was formed.
At the moment of the climax, there was a loud "snap!" and the string suddenly broke in two.
Wen Yu felt a great pain in his heart and suddenly came to his senses.
She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that a sudden voice interrupted her, and her thoughts vanished without a trace, leaving only a palpitation in her heart. Wen Yu seemed to hear someone calling her, and the voice became more and more real.
Wen Yu turned around and looked around. The river was wide and flat, stretching as far as the eye could see. Even the sound of the wind was easily dissipated, not to mention the faint shouts.
She concentrated her mind and carefully distinguished the sounds around her.
"Madam Wenyu——"
Wen Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a frosty figure approaching her amidst the rustling wind. The man walked hurriedly, his steps struggling. Perhaps because of the strong wind, he covered his face with his sleeves, coughing occasionally and waving his arms. His thin figure stood on the riverbank, gazing at Wen Yu from below.
That is, Song Linsheng?
Wen Yu squinted her eyes. The river wind whistled past her ears, the rumbling sound like sobbing, the humming sound endless. She couldn't hear what Song Linsheng was saying, only that his frosty outer robe was filled with the wind, and it bulged into two huge bulges.
After seeing clearly that the person coming was Song Linsheng, Wen Yu no longer cared about her previous complicated thoughts, nor did she have time to think about why Song Linsheng was here. She just wanted to walk quickly to Song Linsheng's side.
He was born weak and frail, as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind.
"Song Linsheng—what did you say?" Wen Yu cupped her hands and put them around her lips to speak, so as to make her voice sound farther away.
The sky and water were one color, the riverbank stretched out in both directions, stretching as far as the eye could see. Wen Yu and Song Linsheng, dressed in garments one moon-white and one frost-colored, stood amidst the wind and dew, moving toward each other and slowly approaching.
Like two drops of water on a leaf holding a rain cover, they rolled down to the same place.
Wen Yu couldn't hear Song Linsheng's call clearly, and a hint of anxiety appeared between her brows. She lifted her robe with one hand and ran quickly, intending to get to Song Linsheng as soon as possible.
But if you walk by the river, your shoes will get wet.
Even Wen Yu, a tree spirit with considerable cultivation, was not immune. She didn't know what she had stepped on, but felt her feet soften. Unlike the firm pebbles she had felt before, her feet were now completely soft mud, and she couldn't help but fall to the side.
"ah--"
Wen Yu exclaimed in surprise. If only this accident had happened earlier—not too early, just before Song Linsheng showed up. As long as no one saw her, she could just make a hand gesture and fly up. But now, with Song Linsheng not far away, Wen Yu couldn't move.
Why had she wanted to find Song Linsheng just now? Wen Yu felt as if her eyes were completely dark. She saw that Song Linsheng was able to run and jump, and it didn't seem like he was in any trouble. She could only sigh inwardly. But in a moment, she was almost "in trouble".
"Madam Wenyu—" Song Linsheng's rapid shout swirled and flew to Wenyu's ears. She finally heard Song Linsheng's words clearly—
"Watch your step!"
It didn't matter whether she was careful or not. Wen Yu felt her body falling lightly, like a leaf in the wind. She breathed a long sigh of relief in her heart.
This Song Linsheng is her calamity!
Seeing Wen Yu miss a step, Song Linsheng ran even faster. He rushed forward, hoping to grab Wen Yu, but he only managed to touch the corner of her clothes.
He didn't have time to think; he made up his mind and leaped to follow Wen Yu. It was better to fall together than alone. It was so dark down there, and he worried that Wen Yu would be scared alone.
“Ouch—”
Wen Yu fell to the ground with a cry, but before she could cry out the pain in her lower back, she heard another "bang" sound.
No way...could it be Song Linsheng?
Wen Yu stiffened her neck and slowly turned her head. She saw Song Linsheng's brows furrowed slightly, a few loose strands of hair tangled in his mouth, tangling with his slightly pink lips and teeth. He held his forehead with one hand, seemingly injured. His clothes were disheveled and unkempt. How could he possibly resemble the Mr. Song who worked at the Jiangyang government office?
Wen Yu couldn't help swallowing, feeling speechless and choked up.
It wasn't a big deal that she fell down, she just wanted to avoid letting Song Linsheng notice anything. But as long as Song Linsheng was still outside and saw her fall with his own eyes, he would definitely send someone to rescue her.
Now Song Linsheng was slumped to the side, and the two of them were trapped in what was probably a foundation pit or something else. How could they ask for help? Moreover, she had noticed on her way out today that the streets of Jiangyang Prefecture were deserted, not to mention the Yuanshui River outside the city. How could she expect to see any passersby?
Wen Yu’s vision grew increasingly darker.
How would she perform a fairy-like performance for Song Linsheng? Or would she wait until nightfall, when she discovered they hadn't returned home for a long time, and then bring people out to look for them?
It was just chilly at night, and she and Song Linsheng must have been freezing to death by then.
"Song Linsheng?" Wen Yu called out tentatively, wondering if he had fallen. The surroundings were dark and buzzing, with only Wen Yu's voice floating in the air, accompanied by the gentle sound of dripping water.
Song Linsheng seemed to have just come back to his senses from the dull pain. Without time to get up, he fell to the ground and reached towards Wen Yu.
"Madam Wenyu! Madam Wenyu!" Song Linsheng asked anxiously, "Are you okay? Are you injured?"
"I... I'm fine..." But if the two of them continue like this, something will happen sooner or later. Wen Yu sighed inwardly and did not say what he was thinking.
Song Linsheng seemed to let out a soft breath, a mixture of worry for Wen Yu and the panting from his earlier rapid pace. He let out all the emotions that came together...
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