Chapter 153: Terminating Mayor Wei

After asking all her questions, Tang Wei let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of disappointment and a subtle ache in her heart. She had always treated the people of Sangjia Village with genuine kindness. When she saw them starving, with their ribs almost touching their backs, she arranged food for them; when their clothes were tattered, hiding any trace of their former selves, she provided them with fabric; and when their future seemed uncertain, she went to great lengths into the deep mountains to find alternative food sources. Yet, despite her heartfelt efforts, she had failed to truly reach their hearts. For a mere ten taels of silver, they were willing to betray her on the spot. Human nature was truly frightening. No wonder it was said throughout history that “the human heart is unfathomable.” Perhaps she had been too naive, always hoping for the best, believing that sincere kindness would be met with equal sincerity, while ignoring the harsh reality. Truth always hides behind a veil, and once lifted, it can be unbearable to behold.

Though Tang Wei showed little outward reaction, internally she was filled with a sense of melancholy and reflection. She vowed that if faced with such situations again, she would no longer so readily extend her full support to strangers.

Sang Ye, upon hearing the conversation, began to weep silently. It was unclear whether her sorrow stemmed from the uncertainty of her father’s whereabouts or from resentment toward the old man’s callousness and betrayal.

This awkward moment was soon interrupted by the arrival of Wanwan, followed by Wei Xiaozi, who trailed in looking dejected.

“Tang Wei, let’s have a talk,” Wanwan proposed as she entered, glancing slyly toward Chief Wei, likely signaling Tang Wei to keep him restrained first. Regardless of whether her guess was correct, Tang Wei stepped beside Chief Wei and silently pressed a finger to pin him down. At this critical moment, any unexpected trouble would be unwelcome. However, Tang Wei refrained from sealing his silence completely; she thought that since he had no hope of escaping tonight, he might want to impart some final words. She decided to do a kindness and allow the father and son some time to converse, with Sang Ye standing guard nearby to prevent any tricks.

Wanwan pulled Tang Wei aside to exchange information gathered from their interrogations. After a brief comparison, they were surprised to find the father and son unusually honest. Their accounts differed slightly but were generally consistent. The two women shared a satisfied smile at this outcome.

As they entered the martial arena, the father and son were quietly whispering, seemingly giving instructions to Wei Xiaozi. Tang Wei and the others paid no mind and didn’t attempt to eavesdrop.

Once the conversation ended, Wanwan approached first with a cheerful smile. “Next, I’ll give you a choice: whose hands would you prefer to die by among the three of us?” Her tone was as casual as discussing dinner plans. There was no hint of mercy for the Wei family; evidently, they did not value human life lightly here.

Tang Wei chose not to follow, wary that Wanwan might suddenly compel her to act, and preferring to avoid unnecessary complications.

Chief Wei, maintaining a calm facade, replied, “No need for you to dirty your hands.” His composure was far from that of a man facing death, suggesting he was well prepared, having already resigned his fate to the wind. He believed firmly in the adage, “What’s done must be paid for.”

Tang Wei lacked the courage to watch what came next, stepping out of the courtyard early. She had no desire to witness the grim scene unfolding inside and waited only for Wanwan and Sang Ye to emerge. Outside, she quietly relieved the warriors of their vital points and knocked them unconscious, then casually settled where the gambling had taken place, eating rice cakes from the table with a bold air.

When the two women appeared, dressed neatly and moving with purpose, Tang Wei wasted no time. She took Sang Ye and leapt out, running steadily away from the town until they reached the path leading to another small settlement. There, the three women paused to discuss their next move.

The people of Sangjia Village had been split into two groups. Which should they rescue first—the children or the adults? None could decide. Sang Ye yearned to save her father and elder brother first, but she knew she had no authority here. She was sensible enough not to press the matter, entrusting the decision entirely to Tang Wei and Wanwan.

“Tang Wei, which side is in greater danger?” Tang Wei, valuing life above all else, hoped to rescue the most urgent group first.

“By your logic, the children are in greater peril,” Wanwan explained. “But they’re still safe for now. Once they reach the capital, it will be a different story. If we want to rescue them, it must be done quickly. They are currently on the way back to the capital, with only light guards, making rescue easier. If we wait until they arrive, it will be much more difficult.”

“Then we should hurry and get the children out first,” Tang Wei declared without hesitation. Her mind was only on the choice between saving or not saving; other considerations had yet to cross her thoughts.

“But have you thought about what we’ll do with so many children once we rescue them?” Wanwan’s mind was already working ahead, not only planning the rescue but also the aftermath.

Wanwan’s reminder brought a serious issue to Tang Wei’s attention. It wasn’t just one or two children—they had a whole boatload, at least a hundred. Once rescued, where could they all be sheltered? Sending them back individually would be troublesome and might cause unnecessary problems for their families. Yet if they kept so many together, they would become a large target. If the Tang king sent forces to eliminate them, Tang Wei might not be able to protect them all. No one would escape. It was a troublesome dilemma.

Frowning, Tang Wei pondered before turning to Wanwan. “What do we do then? Do you have any good ideas? Maybe we should discuss this together.”

Wanwan shrugged helplessly. “I don’t have a solution yet. If you think of anything, let’s share. We have to find a way together.”

“Since we can’t figure out a good plan for the children now, can we at least rescue my father and the others first? There are fewer of them, and it should be easier to accommodate them afterward,” Sang Ye finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer. Since Wanwan had asked for opinions, she seized the chance to express what had been weighing on her heart.

Wanwan and Tang Wei exchanged a glance, then Wanwan sighed before replying, “Rescuing your father and the others won’t be easy either. Those sold as slaves have already signed binding contracts. Escape means they become fugitives. I remember the Tang kingdom’s laws for runaway slaves are extremely harsh—it’s a nightmare, neither living nor dead. Once their masters report them to the authorities, they’ll be wanted nationwide. Where could they possibly run? To be frank, they’ll have no place to stand in Tang anymore.”

Sang Ye was silent for a moment, then suddenly fell to her knees before Wanwan, tears streaming as she pleaded, “Miss Wanwan, please help us! Aren’t you a princess of Ning? Could you take my father and the others to Ning? If they can leave here safely, I vow to serve you as long as I live, repaying your kindness in any way I can. Miss Wanwan, I beg you—please say yes! If you refuse, I will kneel here forever.”

Watching Sang Ye collapse in tears, Tang Wei felt a strange unease welling within her. Frowning, she turned to Wanwan and asked, “Wanwan, what do you think?”

“I can take them to Ning, but…” Wanwan hesitated. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but agreeing would require immense effort. She had to consider whether it was worth it. As a princess, she couldn’t make such decisions based on momentary compassion. The manpower and resources needed were unpredictable. Such thankless tasks weren’t something she could consent to lightly. Even if they returned to Ning, the King of Ning would likely object.

“But what is it? Please just say it. You’re making me anxious. Is there some secret difficulty? Come out and tell us, maybe we can solve it together,” Tang Wei urged impatiently. She couldn’t grasp all the complexities Wanwan was contemplating. To her, if they could help, they must. Since Wanwan was capable, there was no reason to hesitate. If there were obstacles, they could work through them together.

Wanwan, not expecting Tang Wei to suddenly understand, was forced to be candid. “To bring them to Ning, I would have to deploy Ning’s secret forces hidden within Tang. This small contingent was painstakingly arranged over a long time. Revealing them now would expose everything and undo all our efforts. Moreover, I must have my brother the King’s approval. If this mission offers no benefit to Ning and only harms the nation’s interests, he would never agree to such a dangerous action. For him, the nation always comes first.”

Wanwan paused, noting Tang Wei’s silence, then continued, “Ning’s current situation is precarious, and we tread carefully, unwilling to give neighboring countries any excuse. If even a hint of this leaked, the Tang King would surely order a full-scale attack on Ning. Given our current strength, we would have no chance. Everything we’ve worked for would be lost, and I would become a traitor to my country.” As she spoke, her voice grew passionate and intense.

After Wanwan finished, the group fell silent. Sang Ye sat on the ground, tears quietly streaming, the atmosphere heavy with despair.

“I understand,” Tang Wei said quietly, gazing into the still, dark night. “This is essentially asking the lives of all Ning’s people in exchange for saving those in Sangjia Village.”