Shen Yuning's heart tightened. She quickly grabbed his hand. "You mean... Xuanzhi is among them?"
Chen Wenwei quickly shook his head. "I don't know the specific identities of those people. I only secretly found out that this matter was handled in great secrecy. Their identities were all concealed and couldn't be publicly announced. Yuning, if this matter were to be made public, it would damage the prestige of our Great Zhou. General Zhu's decision to keep it a secret is reasonable."
Tears streamed down Shen Yuning's face. "He has his reasons? So, the families who lost their sons just lose their loved ones like this? They don't even ask for post - death honors, just... just want them to die with a purpose."
Chen Wenwei held Shen Yuning's hand tightly in return. "Yuning, don't say that. Although the Zhu family won the battle, the Great Ye has been coveting our territory for a long time. One day, when our Great Zhou becomes prosperous and powerful and is no longer troubled by foreign enemies, the truth will surely come to light..."
Shen Yuning sat there in a daze for a while. She had just lost her temper due to her emotions, but she also understood the reasons behind the emperor and the Zhu family's actions. She couldn't blame others. The will of heaven was unalterable. But she still held a glimmer of hope that Xuanzhi wasn't among them.
She raised her head and slowly asked, "What about the survivors?"
Chen Wenwei said in a low voice, "The survivors were hidden by General Zhu. The news must not leak... I only got a hint of this because I'm quite familiar with the young general of the Zhu family. Moreover, most of this might not be true. These are just my speculations."
Shen Yuning withdrew her hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, and calmed down. "Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the country. Xuanzhi told me before he left that it's the Jiang family's responsibility to protect the Great Zhou. In fact, it's everyone's responsibility. You, me, and others. Since we're from the Great Zhou, we should strive to do something for it."
"Yuning..."
Shen Yuning forced a smile. "Fourth Brother Chen, thank you for telling me this. I've been in a daze these days and even mistook others for Xuanzhi. Now that I know all this, I can feel at ease. Whether he's still alive but can't see me or has already passed away, I understand him. He did all this for the country, the family, and the people of the Great Zhou."
Chen Wenwei stared blankly at the young girl in front of him. In the past three years, he had met her a few times, but their meetings were always brief, and they couldn't say much. She was growing up day by day, and so was he.
They were no longer the innocent teenagers they used to be.
He didn't come here just for Xuanzhi's matter today, but at this moment, he just couldn't say anything else.
After seeing Chen Wenwei off, Shen Yuning immediately wrote a visiting card and personally sent it to the Duke Zhu's mansion, requesting an audience with the heir of the Zhu family.
However, after General Zhu returned, he was immediately arranged by the emperor to the Brave Cavalry Battalion and wasn't often at home. For the time being, she couldn't meet him.
The doorman went in. After a short while, Young Master Zhu came out in person and greeted Shen Yuning. "Lady Shen, my second uncle is on official business and isn't at home. I wonder if I can answer your questions on his behalf."
Shen Yuning quickly returned the greeting and entered the mansion with Young Master Zhu, heading towards the main hall. The Duke's mansion was vast, and the buildings were all regular and imposing. In front of the broad corridors, there were large gardens. Even in midsummer, there were many flowers and plants, which were very pleasing to the eye.
Looking at such a beautiful scenery, Shen Yuning thought of the declining population of the Zhu family and couldn't help but feel sorry.
Not far away, a handsome young man was pushing a wheelchair and bending down, chatting and laughing with the person in the wheelchair.
Shen Yuning stopped and looked. That person was Zidu wearing a mask, and sitting in the wheelchair was the old Duke.
The old Duke used to fight on the battlefield. His bravery scared the enemy generals. There was a rumor among the people that as long as the great general was in charge, no matter where the enemy came from, they would flee without a fight.
In the past, when there was no war and the old Duke returned to the capital, Grandfather Xue would take her to the Duke's mansion. The two bad chess players would play chess merrily, and Shen Yuning would sit beside them, propping her face and watching.
The Zhu family had no grand - daughters. The old Duke liked her the most. Knowing that she was coming, he would order someone to prepare candied fruits and snacks in advance. She would eat so much that her teeth would hurt, and she would cry when she got home. Grandmother was so angry that she even ran to the Duke's mansion to scold the old Duke face - to - face.
Now... things had changed completely.
Zidu pushed Duke Zhu over. Even though his face was covered by the mask, Shen Yuning could still tell that he was smiling at her. She also smiled and nodded in greeting.
Duke Zhu had broken his leg, and his health was getting worse year by year. When he saw Yuning, his face immediately beamed with joy. He shouted, "Why did you come, girl Yuning? Where's your old man?"
He was used to using vulgar words in the military camp. In front of this delicate young girl, he had already restrained himself.
Zhu Bin's expression changed slightly, and he was about to explain.
Shen Yuning had already stepped forward with a smile, motioning Zidu to step aside. She held the handle of the wheelchair and said coquettishly to the old Duke, "The Duke is living a leisurely life now, but my grandfather is still busy. My grandfather was afraid that you would be lonely, so he specially asked me to come and accompany you today."
Duke Zhu burst into laughter and nodded. "That old man still remembers me. Tsk, tsk, tsk. But girl Yuning, it's really not right of you not to come and see me for so long. Last time when your eldest uncle came on business, I even asked him about you..."
Shen Yuning changed the topic coquettishly and accompanied Duke Zhu for a while. When the old Duke was exhausted and needed to rest, she finally got a chance to leave.
Zidu walked out with Shen Yuning and whispered, "Your relationship with... my grandfather is quite good?"
Shen Yuning frowned and thought for a while. She originally thought that Zidu was a nephew from the wife's family of one of the young masters of the Zhu family. But hearing him call the old Duke his grandfather, he must be the child of the old Duke's daughter.
The old Duke seemed to have two daughters. One was the former queen, the biological mother of the crown prince, but the queen died in a difficult childbirth many years ago. The other daughter also seemed to have passed away early. She didn't quite remember whether the old Duke's youngest daughter had gotten married and had children.
She quickly stopped thinking about it, nodded with a smile, and said, "I often came here with Grandfather Xue when I was a child."
Zhu Bin felt a bit apologetic. "My grandfather's health is getting worse year by year... His mind is not clear either. He doesn't remember that your grandfather has... Please don't blame him, Lady Shen."
Shen Yuning shook her head. "Actually, it's better that the Duke doesn't remember. Why should we remember unpleasant things?"
She wanted to liven up the atmosphere, so she said again, "I remember that when I came here as a child, Young Master Zhu was rarely at home."
Zhu Bin changed the topic accordingly. "Yes. I grew up in Wuyun with my father when I was a child and only returned to the capital when I grew up."
Zhu Bin's father had also passed away. When he said this, there was a sense of sadness.
There were not many people left in the Zhu family now.
Zhu Bin laughed self - deprecatingly. "I always thought I was still young in the past. With my father and uncles supporting the family, I could grow up slowly. It was only when I experienced things myself that I realized that some things could change overnight."
Shen Yuning was deeply touched. She didn't say any words of comfort but just replied in a low voice, "Young Master Zhu has worked hard all these years."
Zhu Bin shook his head. "I'm not the one who has worked hard. The one who has worked the hardest in the family is my second uncle."
When they sat down in the main hall, two maids came to serve tea. Maybe they were temporarily transferred from elsewhere, and they looked a bit inexperienced.
Zhu Bin apologized first and then asked, "Lady Shen, you came at this time. Do you have something to ask?"
Shen Yuning took a sip of tea, looked up into Zhu Bin's eyes, and said, "Young Master Zhu, I came today to ask about a light cavalry team that went to the Great Ye at the beginning of last year."
Zhu Bin's hand holding the tea bowl almost trembled. He forced himself to calm down, glanced at Zidu, and then asked, "Lady Shen, where did you hear this? This can't be true. How could the Great Zhou do such a thing..."
Zhu Bin was a military general and wasn't used to speaking in a refined way. After saying this, he got goosebumps all over.
Shen Yuning interrupted him. "I naturally have my sources. Young Master Zhu doesn't need to deny it. This matter concerns the Great Zhou, and I won't disclose it. I want to know the names of those dozen light cavalrymen."
Zhu Bin subconsciously asked, "Why do you want to know this?"
Shen Yuning lowered her head. "I want to know whether my younger brother is alive or dead."
Zhu Bin was speechless. He looked up at Zidu but didn't dare to say a word. Maybe he had underestimated a elder sister's determination to find her younger brother.
After a long time, Zidu slowly said, "Lady Shen... please accept my condolences."
Tears welled up in Shen Yuning's eyes, but she still looked up and smiled at Zidu. "Thank you, Young Master. So, Xuanzhi died for the country. He's a real hero, right?"
Zidu avoided her gaze and nodded after a long time. "Yes."
Shen Yuning quickly asked again, "Does Young Master Zidu know Xuanzhi?"
Zidu looked back at her with a puzzled look in his eyes.
Shen Yuning explained, "I think that since it's a military secret, ordinary soldiers can't be chosen. Xuanzhi was capable, talented, and loyal, so he was selected by the generals, right?"
Zidu nodded, indicating his agreement.
Shen Yuning smiled again. "Then, did the Young Master ever hear him talk about me and his family?"
Zidu's voice was gentle but trembling. "I... was a bit acquainted with him. I also heard... him say that he missed his family and his sister..."
Shen Yuning was in a daze. She didn't know why, but when she heard Zidu say that Xuanzhi missed his family and sister, she felt a sense of sadness. It wasn't the sadness of losing him, but the feeling that he only missed his family and sister.
It seemed that there were other emotions surging in her heart.
Seeing Shen Yuning in a daze, Zhu Bin advised, "Lady Shen, please accept my condolences."
Shen Yuning came back to her senses and smiled at them. "Thank you, Young Masters. I've always known that Xuanzhi was a man with great ambitions. He cared about the country and the people. Of course, I couldn't keep him in my shop. Now... he died for the country. Although his identity can't be made public for the time being, I believe he would be willing."
After saying that, Shen Yuning couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She covered her face and sobbed.
Zhu Bin stammered for a long time and then said dryly, "Lady Shen, please accept my condolences... Although we couldn't retrieve the bodies of the thirteen deceased light cavalrymen, we... built tombs with their clothes and caps for them at the border. And my second uncle ordered the soldiers guarding the border to pay tribute to them every autumn. They will never be forgotten."
Shen Yuning cried for a long time. When she wiped away her tears and looked up, except for her red and swollen eyes and the tears on her cheeks, her expression had returned to normal. She bowed to them and took her leave.
After she left, Zhu Bin looked at Zidu. "Zidu, she..."
Zidu shook his head and turned around to go to the study.