Chapter 120 War

The two men rode away on horseback overnight and never returned again. When the two families found out the next day, they were furious.

The letter left by Yun Zhao was written frankly, saying that the northern border was in danger and her father was going into danger alone, so she needed to go and protect him secretly.

Zhao Ze's letter was vague, saying only that he was ambitious and wanted to travel far and wide. No one in the Zhao family believed this statement - he was always eagerly following Yun Zhao, and his intentions were obvious, so why would he suddenly go on a long journey alone?

Zhao Ze's mother, Sun Xiayu, was extremely worried. She went straight to the Yun family to inquire, her face full of anxiety and worry. "Sister Yuanying, that bastard of ours ran away without a word. He wrote in a letter saying he was going to gain experience. Who can believe such nonsense? He has never traveled far away alone since he was a child! Do you know where Ah Zhao went? Did they leave together?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanying felt guilty, and guessed that it must be his daughter who abducted the young master of the Zhao family and went to the dangerous place of Xuanhua.

She could only force herself to remain calm, holding Sun's hand and soothing her, "Don't worry, Sister Yu. My Ah Zhao is indeed not home. He left a note saying he's going out to travel for a while and will be back before the beginning of winter. The children are all grown up and independent now. It's no longer up to us to make the decision."

When Sun Xiayu heard this, she was even more surprised: "A Zhao also went together?" She originally thought that her son was reckless, but she didn't expect that they were actually going together.

Zhao Yuanying was filled with grievances but had no one to vent them to. He could only sigh, "That's right! They all left quietly in the middle of the night. It seems like they had planned this long ago, and we, as parents, were kept in the dark."

Seeing this, Sun Xiayu suppressed her worries and turned to comfort Zhao Yuanying: "That brat! It's fine if he just acted up on his own, but he even took Ah Zhao away! Don't be too anxious, sister. Maybe the two children just went out to relax together and will be back in a few days. The Wala are restless now, and there are so many refugees outside. Where can they run to?"

Zhao Yuanying was nervous and could only nod in agreement.

After seeing Sun Xiayu off, Zhao Yuanying immediately summoned his trusted servant and instructed him, "Old Zhang, take two reliable men and give chase along the official road to the north. If you can catch up, give the silver to the young lady. If not... return. There's no need to force it."

The old maid who had been serving by her side shook her head slightly and whispered, "Madam, I'm afraid we can't catch up. The young lady has been an excellent horseman since she was young. She left last night and is probably already out of the state. Besides... if the young lady really wants to avoid being caught, she has her own ways."

Zhao Yuanying sighed deeply, his face filled with worry. "What other girl is like her? She's so righteous, not in a hurry to get married, but always thinking about running away, and going to a place full of war..."

The old nanny gently counseled, "Madam, the eldest daughter is a rare talent, not comparable to ordinary women in the boudoir. The comfortable life of this small family will not be enough to keep her. You should relax and let her go. Fortunately, there is the second young master who is by her side and is the most caring and filial. With the eldest daughter's extraordinary ability and intelligence, she will definitely be able to turn danger into safety."

Zhao Yuanying couldn't help but reveal a hint of unconcealable pride when he heard this. "That's true. I don't know who she inherited her cleverness from. When it comes to her wit and tactics, no one in the mansion can rival her."

The old nanny smiled and agreed, "Of course he takes after you, Madam. You have both a stunning appearance and a kind heart."

…

The official road leading to the northern border was devastated, with displaced civilians streaming in. Sallow-faced children, ragged elderly people and women supporting each other, even pregnant women struggling to make the journey... The sight was so tragic it made one's heart ache.

Yun Zhao was soft-hearted and hated to see such scenes. Whenever he met poor people along the way, he couldn't help but give them some dry food and money to help them.

Seeing a frail little girl huddled in her mother's arms, her large eyes filled with fear and bewilderment, she instinctively reined in her horse, took the last few pieces of dry food from her bag, and handed them to her. The mother took them tremblingly, thanked her repeatedly, tears welling in her eyes.

Zhao Ze initially supported them silently, but as he saw their remaining money and rations dwindling, he finally couldn't help but dissuade them: "A Zhao, it's not that I'm mean. It's just that our journey is long, and our destination is a war-torn area. These dry food and money are the foundation of our survival. If we spend it all, I'm afraid we'll be in trouble before we even reach Xuanhua."

His tone was earnest, his gaze stern. "To truly help these people, we must quell the war at its root and restore peace. If we can reach the northern border as soon as possible and kill as many of the invading Wala bandits as possible, that would be the greatest kindness we can offer them. What do you say?"

Yun Zhao looked at the widespread grief in the distance, took a deep breath, suppressed the sorrow in his heart, and finally nodded: "You are right, I was unable to bear it for a moment and almost missed the important task."

She looked at the civilians stumbling forward, her eyes growing firmer. "These displaced people should have been living and working in peace and contentment at home, but they have been forced to leave their homes because of the war. We must end this war as soon as possible."

Seeing her listening, Zhao Ze felt a sense of relief. He reached out and gently grasped her wrist, his tone firm and warm, "Ah Zhao, I'm incredibly glad I insisted on coming with you. Seeing firsthand how desolate and dilapidated the northern border is, and the people being displaced, I truly understand the saying, 'Every man's share of responsibility for the fate of his country.' We truly can't afford to indulge in the leisure of Jinzhou any longer."

Yun Zhao looked back at him and saw the same determination in his eyes as his own.

She suddenly smiled, a smile that seemed especially bright on the dusty official road. "You're right, Aze. Let's speed up and reach Xuanhua as soon as possible so that we can join the army and serve our country."

The two men smiled at each other, their faith growing stronger. They remounted their horses, raising a cloud of dust as they galloped eastward towards Xuanhua City.

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, as if they were two determined silhouettes running towards a future full of unknowns and dangers, but also with the passion and courage unique to young people.

The further north they went, the more miserable the scene on the road became. Sometimes they would encounter entire villages of refugees, carrying the elderly and children, pushing simple wheelbarrows with their meager belongings piled on them.

Although Yun Zhao no longer gave alms casually, he still couldn't help but share some dry food with the elderly or children in particularly difficult situations.

Zhao Ze stopped trying to dissuade them and silently shared some of his own rations with Yun Zhao. They all knew that their fate in the northern border was uncertain, but these small acts of kindness might be the only comfort they could bring to these suffering people.

As night fell, the two rested in a dilapidated temple. Zhao Ze built a bonfire while Yun Zhao heated up some dry food.

The flickering firelight illuminated her resolute profile, and she suddenly whispered, "Aze, thank you for coming with me."