RPAGF Chapter 407 Shi Wanxia Disappears
Chapter 407 Shi Wanxia Disappears
Shi Wanxia remained steadfast at the forefront of the breach. Her official robes were soaked with mud and blood, and it was impossible to tell whether the water on her face was rain or sweat.
Her physical strength was already exhausted, and she was only able to keep going with a strong will.
With each tidal wave, she felt her internal organs churning, yet she still resolutely directed everyone, adjusting the defensive deployment.
The flood peak lasted for a full hour, an hour that felt like an eternity.
When the flood finally subsided and the water level began to recede slowly, everyone on the embankment was almost completely exhausted.
"The floodwaters have receded...the floodwaters have receded!"
Someone shouted in a trembling voice, filled with unbelievable joy.
Everyone looked up and saw that the turbid floodwaters were indeed receding little by little. Although they were still surging, they no longer looked like they were about to devour everything.
The breach that had been breached was finally successfully plugged, and although the dam was scarred, it stubbornly held on.
"We've held them! We've defended the dike!"
After a brief silence, deafening cheers erupted.
People hugged each other, weeping with joy, releasing the fear and exhaustion of the past few days in that moment.
However, amidst the cheers, some people noticed something was amiss.
"Where is Lord Shi? He was just here a moment ago!"
"Yes, where did Lord Shi go?"
"Lord Shi! Lord Shi!"
It started as a few people shouting, but it quickly spread.
People searched everywhere on the embankment, but they never saw that familiar figure.
During the most critical moment, Shi Wanxia stood at the forefront of the breach, directing operations. Could it be...?
A terrible thought arose in everyone's minds, and the cheers vanished instantly, replaced by panic.
"Quickly! Everyone, find Lord Shi!"
"Search carefully along the embankment! Don't miss any spot!"
People immediately scattered, anxiously searching through the mud and floodwaters, their cries of "Lord Shi" echoing across the river, filled with sobs and worry.
The news quickly reached Cui Zhihao and Lin Yiyu, who were in charge of resettling the disaster victims in the city.
"What did you say? Miss Shi is missing?"
The medicine box in Cui Zhihao's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," scattering the medicinal herbs all over the ground. He didn't bother to pick them up, but grabbed the arm of the soldier who brought the news, his voice trembling.
"Say it again! What's wrong with Miss Shi?"
"Lord Cui, Young Master,"
The soldier's face was full of anxiety. "After the flood receded, we couldn't find Lord Shi. The current was strongest at the breach. I'm afraid... I'm afraid Lord Shi was swept away by the flood..."
Lin Yiyu's face turned deathly pale instantly. He staggered and had to grab onto a nearby pillar to steady himself.
He recalled his words to Shi Wanxia when he handed her the dagger before he left: "This journey is dangerous. Keep this dagger with you, whether for self-defense or to bolster your courage. You must return safely." But now, she...
"go!"
Lin Yiyu snapped back to reality, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "Go to the dam!"
Cui Zhihao had long lost his usual composure. He rushed out of the resettlement point like a madman and ran towards the dike outside the city.
Lin Yiyu followed closely behind, and the two hurriedly entrusted their work to their subordinates, with only one thought in their minds: to find Shi Wanxia.
When they arrived at the embankment, a huge crowd was searching along the riverbank and on the embankment, and everyone's face was filled with worry.
Looking around, all that could be seen was floating debris in the murky river and weary figures on the muddy embankment. Where was there any trace of late summer?
Cui Zhihao rushed to the riverbank, looked at the surging river, his legs went weak, and he collapsed heavily into the mud.
His eyes were vacant, his vision was blank, and his mind was filled with memories of his time with that resilient and courageous woman.
She clearly promised to take good care of herself, and she clearly said that she would try the special snacks of Chuzhou after the flood receded. How could she break her promise?
"Miss Shi! Miss Shi!"
Cui Zhihao suddenly knelt down and roared at the surging river, his voice hoarse and broken, filled with endless pain and despair.
He reached out as if trying to grab something, but only grasped a handful of cold, muddy water.
"Miss Shi~"
He shouted again and again, tears mingling with rain and mud streaming down his face, his hands pounding the earth beneath him until he felt a pain as if his finger bones were breaking, but he was oblivious to it.
The surrounding people who witnessed this scene were all heartbroken and shed tears.
During these days, Shi Wanxia took the lead, eating and living with them, and fighting alongside them on the dike. Her perseverance, her courage, and her sense of responsibility have already won everyone's respect.
This young female official exemplified through her actions what it means to "serve the people and benefit the region during one's term in office."
"Everyone, keep up the search! We must find Lord Shi!"
"Search downstream! Lord Shi must still be alive!"
People spontaneously organized themselves and searched downstream along the river, their shouts echoing across the open riverbanks.
Suppressing his anxiety, Chief Guard Zhou directed his soldiers to expand the search area while simultaneously ordering an urgent report to be written down and sent to the capital by fast horse.
He himself stayed where he was, carefully questioning the soldiers who last saw Shi Wanxia, trying to piece together every detail before her disappearance.
Meanwhile, outside Chuzhou City, a large convoy was slowly approaching.
Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou, who was at the head of the group, reined in his horse and looked at the distant Chuzhou City shrouded in rain, his brows furrowed slightly.
Upon receiving the urgent report of the flood situation in Chuzhou, he immediately personally escorted the remaining grain and medicine to the scene, traveling at full speed and finally arriving today.
"Your Highness, we are approaching Chuzhou City," the guard beside him reported.
Shen Yanzhou nodded slightly and was about to give the order to enter the city when a soldier, soaking wet, rushed out of the city and knelt down in front of him in a panic.
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"
The soldier's voice was urgent, trembling with tears.
"Just now, the flood peak passed through, and Lady Shi organized people to reinforce the river embankment. The flood... the flood was contained, but Lady Shi... she's gone missing!"
"What did you say?"
Shen Yanzhou was struck dumb, and the composure on his face vanished instantly.
He abruptly dismounted, grabbed the soldier by the collar, and his eyes were sharp as knives.
"What's wrong, Miss Shi? Explain yourself!"
"Your Highness, when the flood was at its fiercest, Lady Shi was directing operations at the breach. After the flood receded, no one could find her anymore. We suspect... we suspect she was swept away by the flood..."
Shen Yanzhou felt his mind go blank, and his heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, so painful that he could hardly breathe.
How could he forget that seemingly frail woman who always stood firm in the most dangerous places?
"Ready your horse!"
Shen Yanzhou abruptly released the soldier, his voice trembling with extreme anxiety.
Before the guards could react, he had already snatched the reins from the guard beside him and mounted the horse.
"drive!"
He squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the horse neighed loudly, carrying him as it galloped towards the river.
The rain lashed his face, icy cold, but he had only one thought in his mind: find her, he had to find her.
The rapid hoofbeats echoed on the muddy road, splashing water as if chasing after a faint hope.
The rain in Chuzhou showed no signs of stopping, and the whereabouts of Shi Wanxia remained shrouded in a vast curtain of rain.