nucmednet Chapter 232 The People's Will Is Hard to Bear
Chapter 232 The People's Will Is Hard to Bear
The people were still unwilling to leave, and they made way for the adults, reluctantly standing by the roadside, insisting on escorting them out of the city.
Hearing the commotion outside, Xu Mingyi was worried about the safety of the people and Miss Shi, so he rushed out in a hurry, followed by the county yamen runners and Ye Wenshu.
Shi Wanxia's eyes were red and her voice trembled as she performed a curtsy.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my fellow villagers for their kindness. Please go back now! I assure you that nothing will happen."
"I will come back to continue contributing my strength to everyone in Xinyang, even if I am not an official!"
The people were moved to tears and began to voice their condemnation.
"Heavens! This is unfair! Why make things so difficult for someone as talented as Miss Shi?"
"Lord Shi, please rest assured, we only recognize you as our county magistrate."
"That's right, now that you're gone, what will we do?"
The crowd was in high spirits, and Xu Mingyi immediately dared not let Miss Shi get hurt again, so he quickly spoke up to comfort her.
"Fellow villagers, don't worry! Lord Shi will definitely be alright. His Majesty is a wise ruler. Even if Miss Shi is a woman serving as an official..."
"Miss Shi is well-read and intelligent. She has many good ideas for governing the country and its people. I think His Majesty will not punish her too severely."
Ye Wenshu quickly spoke up, "Fellow villagers, please calm down. I am the daughter of the current Grand Tutor Ye, and I know Lord Shi's character and conduct very well."
"I will accompany Lord Shi on this journey, so please rest assured. At the same time, after returning to the capital, I will also persuade my father to plead for Lord Shi."
Hearing Ye Wenshu's words, the people's emotions calmed down a bit.
An old woman came forward and handed a package to Shi Wanxia.
"My lord, this is some dry food that I made myself. Please don't go hungry on the road."
Shi Wanxia took the package, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you so much, Auntie."
Then, several more children ran over and put the flower wreaths they had made on Shi Wanxia's head.
"Sister Shi, you must come back." Shi Wanxia squatted down and gently stroked the children's heads.
"My sister will definitely come back."
Pei Xuan was somewhat moved by this scene, but knowing his mission, he coughed lightly.
"Miss Shi, it's getting late, we should get going."
Shi Wanxia stood up, bowed to the people again, and then turned around and followed Pei Xuan on the road to the capital.
On the ancient city wall, the shadows cast by the wall stretch long, as if reluctantly trying to hold onto Shi Wanxia.
The people crowded around Shi Wanxia's carriage, their steps heavy and slow, the procession like a winding dragon, slowly moving out of the city.
At the very front of the line, a few strong young men spontaneously formed a vanguard, their eyes scanning the surroundings with unwavering determination.
They gripped their simple sticks tightly, as if they would rush forward without hesitation should any danger approach.
Although their clothes were worn and tattered, they seemed to be imbued with a special radiance in the light they shone, a testament to their unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness.
Looking out the car window at the familiar faces, Shi Wanxia could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.
These people, who were once the people she wanted to protect, have now become her strongest support.
She knew she couldn't let them down, and whatever awaited her ahead, she had to face it bravely.
An old man walked shakily to the carriage, holding a bowl of steaming tea in his hands.
"Sir, please have some hot tea. You've had a long journey, so don't catch a cold."
Shi Wanxia quickly leaned out and took it with both hands, saying, "Thank you so much, sir. Please take care of yourself."
She took a small sip, and the warm tea flowed down her throat like a warm current, flowing into her heart and bringing comfort to her weary body and mind.
Beside the carriage, a group of women were gathered together, holding needles and thread, hurriedly making some warm clothes for Shi Wanxia.
As they sewed, they talked in hushed tones, glancing up at the carriage every now and then with concern and worry in their eyes.
"Now that the lord is leaving, it will be very cold in the capital. We must hurry up and finish making this cotton-padded coat so that the lord doesn't get cold."
"Yes, the lord has done so many good things for our Xinyang, and this is all we can do."
Children ran and weaved through the crowd, holding flowers and paintings they had drawn themselves.
A little girl ran to the carriage and held up a scroll in her hand. It depicted Shi Wanxia smiling as she stood at the entrance of the county government office.
"Sister Shi, this is a drawing of you. You must come back and visit us!"
Shi Wanxia's eyes welled up with tears again. She reached out and gently touched the little girl's head.
"Your sister will definitely come back, so be a good girl."
As they got further and further away from the city, the roads became increasingly rugged and difficult to travel.
But the people showed no sign of backing down; they supported each other and helped the Imperial Guards push carts and clear the way.
When they encountered steep slopes, the men worked together to pull the carriage slowly forward with ropes; when they encountered muddy paths, they took off their shoes and laid them on the ground so that the carriage could pass smoothly.
Pei Xuan, mounted on his horse, watched all this quietly, and couldn't help but feel a deeper respect for Shi Wanxia.
He had never seen an official so popular. The people's actions were not out of fear of power, but rather stemmed from their deep respect and trust for Shi Wanxia.
He began to think that in this complex officialdom, there might really be some people who are silently upholding their original aspirations, not for fame or fortune, but only for the belief in their hearts.
At the very back of the procession, Xu Mingyi led his constables, vigilantly watching behind them to prevent any unexpected incidents.
His eyes revealed determination and resolve. He knew that he bore the heavy responsibility of protecting Xinyang. In Shi Wanxia's absence, he had to ensure that Xinyang continued to prosper and remain stable.
He secretly vowed to govern Xinyang better, waiting for the day when Shi Wanxia would return.
As darkness fell, the escorting team continued their steadfast march forward. Dotted torches flickered in the night, illuminating the path ahead and the glimmer of hope in Shi Wanxia's heart.
The people followed silently behind, all the way to the city gate.
Once outside the city, the people stopped and watched the group of people walk away into the distance.
As Xu Mingyi watched Shi Wanxia walk away, he secretly vowed to govern Xinyang well and wait for Lord Shi to return.
At this time, Cui Zhihao, who was far away in Youzhou, also received a message from Xu Mingyi in Xinyang County via carrier pigeon, informing him that His Majesty had suddenly sent people to arrest Miss Shi and bring her to the capital.