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Besides those who accompanied them into the city and those sent to investigate the horse feed from the previous day, only twenty guards remained. Ten of them were military officers sent from Liangzhou, and they would no longer follow the group after leaving Liangzhou territory.
Among the group, the ones who complained the most about not being able to enter Qingfeng County were none other than the Liang family themselves.
It was Master Liang’s younger brother, who, because he had not yet separated from his elder brother, was being sent to Beiguan with his wife, concubine, and two children. He was the one who took out silver and begged the guards to let them enter the city.
The guard took the loose silver Second Master Liang gave him, weighed it in his hand, and said with a wry smile, “Second Master, please don’t make things difficult for us. We can’t possibly let you into the city, but if you need to buy anything, I can run errands for you.”
The court had decreed that exiled people should travel fifty kilometers per day, and staying in Qingfeng County for these two days was already a violation. Being able to bring a few people into the city was already a great favor.
If the number of people entering the city was any greater, it would be reported to the capital by someone with malicious intent, and that would be a huge problem.
The guard patiently explained to Second Master Liang, keeping the silver he had received in his pocket and showing no intention of asking for more.
Seeing that he was about to lose his silver if he didn’t make a request, Second Master Liang reluctantly said, “Fine, then help me buy two jugs of wine from the city, and some roast meat and snacks.”
“No problem,” the guard readily agreed, but stayed put.
Second Master Liang gritted his teeth and handed over another piece of loose silver.
The guard then said with a chuckle, “Second Master, wait here, I’ll go into the city to buy things for you!”
One more guard was gone from the group, leaving nine guards and ten military officers. They formed two lines, one in front and one behind, guarding both ends of the group.
Wei Yunlan led her family to stop near the nine guards.
Dong Da and Liu Quan parked the mule cart and unloaded the cooking utensils from the cart. Granny Wang skillfully set up the pot, took some rice and cured meat, and began to cook rice.
Ningshuang and Tingxue were about to unload the bedding rolls from the cart, but Wei Yunlan stopped them. “No need to make the beds yet, don’t unload them. You two help Big Sister-in-law boil a pot of hot water and make some rice paste for Little Jiarong.”
Actually, one person would be enough to do this, but the two maids had long been accustomed to following their young mistress’s orders. Without asking why, they immediately let go of the bedding rolls and went to Granny Wang.
Everyone in the family had something to do.
Madam Gao was applying ointment to Wei Maolin’s neck, Wei Mingxuan and Wang Gui were feeding the mules and ewes.
Officer Wang was chopping firewood, Cheng Yue’e was taking care of Jiayan and Little Jiarong.
For a moment, only Wei Yunlan was idle. Her gaze swept over the busy crowd and landed on the woods nearby.
The grass swayed, as if something was darting through the bushes. Wei Yunlan cautiously approached, and upon getting closer, she unexpectedly discovered that what was running out from the depths of the woods was a group of more than ten weasels, big and small, with their young!
They had obviously noticed Wei Yunlan’s scrutiny, but they didn’t hide or dodge. They continued to run eastward in their original direction.
Wei Yunlan took a step back and stepped on a branch, making a “crack” sound.
She subconsciously looked down at her feet, but her peripheral vision caught a fist-sized hole in the mud not far away. She didn’t know what animal had dug it.
Judging from the traces, the hole had appeared not long ago, and it was still slightly damp. The animal that had been inside had obviously left only in the past two days.
“Big Sister, look!”
Wei Mingxuan had followed her into the woods at some point. He tugged at Wei Yunlan’s sleeve, asking her to look at a withered tree nearby.
A fine, dense spider web was woven on the branches, and the spider clinging to it was still continuously spinning silk.
“Big Sister, this is the first time I’ve seen a spider spinning so much silk!”
This was also Wei Yunlan’s first experience, and just as she was about to speak, a series of “caw caw” calls from birds echoed in the distance.
The siblings looked up in unison and saw a flock of crows circling above the forest.
Wei Yunlan’s unease peaked at that moment. She withdrew her gaze and looked behind Wei Mingxuan.
“Mingxuan, where is the bundle I prepared for you?”
“It’s at the camp!” Wei Mingxuan had been carrying the bundle close to him as instructed by Wei Yunlan, but he had just unloaded it upon reaching the camp.
“We’re going back,” Wei Yunlan said, taking a deep breath and turning to head out of the woods.
“But Big Sister, I haven’t gathered the firewood yet…”
“Forget the firewood!” Wei Yunlan grabbed Wei Mingxuan’s sleeve, “We’re going back. Make sure to carry your bundle with you.”
Wei Yunlan’s tone was serious, and Wei Mingxuan finally reacted, feeling nervous. “Big Sister, is something about to happen?” He had heard his sister and father discussing potential disasters over the past few days.
Wei Yunlan nodded. “The animals in the woods seem off, and the mules and horses in our group are especially restless today… We shouldn’t leave the camp anymore. You need to tell Wang Gui and granny Wang to keep their bundles close and stay alert at all times.”
Just as Wei Yunlan and Wei Mingxuan sat back by their fire, they overheard two guards conversing nearby. “Isn’t the sky a little strange today?”
“What’s strange about it? It’s just a bit redder than usual. Those who read fortunes call it… what do they call it? Evening glow?”
It was evening, so seeing an evening glow wasn’t unusual, but this one was so red it looked somewhat bloody, which was a bit frightening.
Wei Yunlan felt her heart racing faster, and her sense of unease intensified.
She walked over to Cheng Yue’e and Jiayan, whispering, “Big Sister-in-law, you must keep a close eye on Jiayan and Jiarong. Don’t let them out of your sight.”
“Yunlan, don’t worry. I know,” Cheng Yue’e replied solemnly, nodding.
“Aunt, I will stay close to Mother and keep an eye on my sister!” Little Jiayan promised, puffing out his chest.
“Good, our Jiayan is the most sensible,” Wei Yunlan gently patted Jiayan’s head.
At this moment, the pot of cured meat rice was done, and the Wei family sat silently around the fire, eating from their bowls. Each person had a bundle within reach.
The rice was perfectly cooked, glistening with the oil from the cured meat, but Wei Yunlan ate with her mind elsewhere.
She heard the guard who had previously mentioned the “strange sky” asking others, “Do you feel the ground shaking?”
“Where?”
“Old Lu hasn’t returned with the wine from the city yet, are you drunk without drinking?” The questioned guards laughed and teased.
But the next moment, their smiles froze on their faces.
The ground was truly trembling!
“Not good, the earth dragon has turned!”