Sheng Yunrong frowned slightly, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes. She was not shaken by the rude look of the businessman. She gently held the hand of the maid Xiang Zhu and replied lightly:

"Mr. Merchant, although the border is dangerous, there are always people who want to go there. Although I, Sheng Yunrong, am a woman, I also have the responsibility to protect my homeland. I go to the border to find the belief in my heart."

The merchant smiled disdainfully upon hearing this. He was about to say something else, but was interrupted coldly by Xiang Zhu:

"Sir, you should take back what you said. How can someone like you understand our girl's ambitions?"

Sheng Yunrong gently patted Xiang Zhu's hand, signaling her not to be angry. She turned to look at the merchant and said calmly:

"Sir, since you are a businessman, you should know that everything in the world has its reason for existence. I, Sheng Yunrong, did not act on impulse, but made a decision after careful consideration. If you don't believe it, then forget it."

The merchant's eyes flashed with doubt, but he still insisted: "Miss Sheng, why are you doing this? Women should be gentle and virtuous. Why do you have to go to a place like the border to suffer?"

Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly, but her eyes were firm as iron: "Sir, your so-called gentleness and virtue are nothing but shackles that bind women. I, Sheng Yunrong, would rather serve the country on the frontier battlefield than waste my time in this deep courtyard."

At this time, a guard beside Sheng Yunrong couldn't help but interrupt and said, "Miss, we all understand your kindness. But the border is indeed too dangerous. How can we be assured if you go alone?"

Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly, looked at the guard, and said gently: "Don't worry, I will bring a team of people with me and will not put myself in danger. Besides, Xiang Zhu and the others will be with me, so I won't be alone."

A trace of determination flashed in Xiang Zhu's eyes. She stood up and said to Sheng Yunrong: "Girl, don't worry, Xiang Zhu will definitely protect you and won't let you get hurt."

Sheng Yunrong looked at Xiang Zhu, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. She gently patted Xiang Zhu's shoulder and nodded: "Okay, I believe you."

The merchants and guards looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Sheng Yunrong ignored them and returned to the inner room of Sheng Mansion.

In the inner room of Sheng Mansion, Sheng Yunrong sat by the window with deep eyes. Xiang Zhu walked to her side and asked softly: "Miss, have you really decided to go to the border?"

Sheng Yunrong nodded gently, with a firm look in her eyes: "Yes, Xiangzhu. I must go. This is not only to find the faith in my heart, but also to prove that women don't have to rely on men. We can also protect our homeland."

Xiang Zhu was silent for a moment, then said seriously: "Girl, since you have made up your mind, Xiang Zhu is willing to go with you. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are ahead, we will face them together."

Sheng Yunrong looked at Xiang Zhu, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes.

"Xiang Zhu, look, how beautiful those stars are." Sheng Yunrong pointed to the sky and said softly.

Xiang Zhu looked up, a hint of emotion flashed in her eyes: "Yes, girl. Those stars are like our dreams, although far away, but as long as we work hard, we will be able to reach them one day."

Sheng Yunrong nodded gently, with a determined light in her eyes: "Yes, we must work hard for the beliefs in our hearts and for our homeland."

The next day, Sheng Yunrong, Xiang Zhu and others set out on a journey to the border. They crossed mountains and deserts, and experienced untold hardships along the way, but they never gave up. At the border, they proved the strength and responsibility of women with their actions.

…

The tunnel was winding and twisting, and it led to more than one place. Sheng Yunrong tightly grasped the lantern in her hand, with a flash of surprise in her eyes. She turned her head and whispered to the maid Xiang Zhu beside her: "Xiang Zhu, this tunnel seems to be much more complicated than we imagined."

Xiang Zhu nodded slightly, with worry in his eyes: "Miss, we should be careful. After all, this tunnel is full of dangers."

Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly and patted Xiang Zhu's hand: "It's okay, with you by my side, I feel more at ease. Let's keep going."

The two walked along the tunnel, which was dark and damp, with the occasional chirping of unknown insects. Sheng Yunrong and Xiang Zhu chatted as they walked, and the atmosphere did not seem tense.

Sheng Yunrong: "Xiang Zhu, where do you think this tunnel leads to?"

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, in my opinion, this tunnel may lead to a secret place outside the Sheng Mansion. Otherwise, we would not have found such a complicated tunnel in the Sheng Mansion."

Sheng Yunrong: "So what do you think we will discover on this trip?"

Xiang Zhu: "I don't know about that, but don't worry, Miss. No matter what happens, I will do my best to protect you."

Sheng Yunrong smiled and patted Xiang Zhu's hand: "Okay, I feel relieved with your words."

Sheng Yunrong: "Xiang Zhu, do you think other people in the Sheng Mansion know about our expedition?"

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, I think it's better to keep this a secret. After all, the people in Sheng Mansion are evil. If other people knew our whereabouts, it would probably cause unnecessary trouble."

Sheng Yunrong: "You are right. Apart from you and me, no one else can know about our operation this time. Xiang Zhu, I trust you to do the job."

Xiang Zhu: "Don't worry, Miss, I will do my best."

Sheng Yunrong: "Xiang Zhu, do you think there are traps in this tunnel?"

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, since this tunnel is so complicated, there must be some traps. We must be careful and not be careless."

Sheng Yunrong: "Well, I will pay attention. Xiang Zhu, you should be careful too."

Xiang Zhu: "Don't worry, Miss, I will protect myself."

The two continued to move forward, and the atmosphere in the tunnel became more and more weird. Sheng Yunrong suddenly stopped and stared at a fork in the road ahead.

Sheng Yunrong: "Xiang Zhu, which way do you think we should go?"

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, we should choose the left road. Because the right road seems to be a little wrong."

Sheng Yunrong: "Why do you think so?"

Xiang Zhu: "The road on the right is too flat and has no traces, which does not conform to the characteristics of a tunnel. The road on the left is a bit bumpy, but you can see traces of people walking on it."

Sheng Yunrong nodded in agreement: "You are right, let's take the road on the left."

Sheng Yunrong: "Xiang Zhu, what do you think the secret in this tunnel is?"

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, I guess this tunnel might have been built by the ancestors of the Sheng family to escape the war. Perhaps there are precious cultural relics or secrets of the Sheng family hidden in it."

Sheng Yunrong: "Well, this is very likely. We must find the end of this tunnel and uncover its secrets."

Xiang Zhu: "Miss, I believe we can find the answer."

The two continued along the road on the left, and the atmosphere in the tunnel became increasingly tense. Sheng Yunrong held the lantern tightly, with a determined light flashing in her eyes. Xiang Zhu followed closely behind, ready to respond to any emergency.

Finally, after turning a corner, they found a stone door. On the stone door was engraved a line of words: "The secret treasure of Sheng Mansion, only the master can open it."