Chapter 206: Farewell

Shen Yu saw his expression change and hurriedly persuaded him: "I haven't been back to Hezhou to see my grandmother for a long time. Now we don't have much time to rest and recuperate. When the war starts, there will be no chance. I want to go back to see her first."

"Besides, I have to check the accounts every year in previous years. Although the shopkeepers below are all family-born children, people are greedy and there is no guarantee that there will be no evil thoughts. I am afraid that someone will bully my grandmother who is old."

Xie Tingzhou nodded, "It's time to go back, and I should go, but now..."

"I understand." Shen Yu's eyes sparkled, "Let's talk about the rest later."

Xie Tingzhou pushed a strand of hair from her temples back behind her ears, "You go to Hezhou first, and I will go to Hezhou to pick you up after I go back to Beilin to see the situation."

Shen Yu nodded, "Want to take a walk?"

"Okay."

The nights have started to get cooler after the beginning of autumn. Xie Tingzhou took the cloak and led her out of the tent.

Xi Feng wanted to follow, but was blocked by Xie Tingzhou. Only Bai Yu spread his wings and flew ahead of them.

The place where they were stationed usually chose to be close to the water source. There was a small river next to the forest, and the moonlight was scattered on the water surface like stars.

Xie Tingzhou led her along the river, "You can't take so many people to Hezhou, but you have to take at least some of them, more than a thousand people, without going into the city, find a place to station in Hezhou. We made such a big fuss in the capital, and if the state government is not good for Lu, it will be good to have someone to take care of us."

Shen Yu said: "It's inconvenient to move if the target is too big. We have to hurry. I want to keep a low profile all the way. If it is confirmed that Li Zhaonian ascended the throne, there is no need to worry about the problem of the state government. Li Zhaonian is not that kind of person."

Xie Tingzhou slowed down his pace, "How long have you known him? Do you trust him so much?"

Shen Yu turned her head to look at him. The moonlight was not bright enough, and she couldn't see clearly whether there was jealousy on his face.

"In fact, he already knew that I was a woman at the Baishan hunting ground, but he didn't expose me or use it as a threat. I believe in his character."

"He is a kind-hearted person." Xie Tingzhou said, "But kindness and soft hands can't suppress those old ministers who formed a party."

"Isn't there Jiang Yuanqing? With his assistance, the head of the Ministry of Revenue is Li Zhaonian's man, and he will hold the lifeline of the Great Zhou in his own hands first."

Speaking of the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Xie Tingzhou thought of Jiang Lianzhi.

Since Ge Liangji was beheaded, the Ministry of Revenue has always been headed by Jiang Lianzhi. He was young and sat in the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, which was beyond the rules. He was not qualified enough and could not move up, but now he is the head of the Ministry of Revenue, which is like a minister.

"I feel strange about something." Xie Tingzhou said.

Shen Yu said, "What is it?"

Xie Tingzhou stopped and stood face to face with Shen Yu, "My hostility towards this person is far beyond my imagination, as if..."

He couldn't find the right words.

"As if what?" Shen Yu looked at him seriously.

Xie Tingzhou had a flash of inspiration, "It's like he snatched you from me, I wish I could tear him into pieces, you say... do people have past lives and future lives?"

Shen Yu's face froze, she had never mentioned her past life to Xie Tingzhou.

Without waiting for her to answer, Xie Tingzhou looked at her and said seriously: "I don't remember my past life, but you are mine in this life and countless future lives."

Hezhou and Beilin are not in the same direction.

The next day they set out at dawn, marched until noon, and it was time to say goodbye.

Shen Yu and Xiao Chuan had talked in the morning, Xiao Chuan wanted to go to Hezhou with her, Shen Yu told him that if he followed her, the five thousand soldiers would become masterless soldiers, who would restrain them?

Xiao Chuan was still persuaded, and the final result was that Xiao Chuan took five thousand soldiers to Beilin with Xie Tingzhou, and Xie Tingzhou assigned ten other skilled soldiers to escort Shen Yu all the way to Hezhou.

The more than ten people and horses had already gone far away, and the wind was blowing the yellow sand kicked up by the horses' hooves.

Xie Tingzhou stared at the direction she left. It was a long way to Hezhou. It would take two or three months to go back and forth.

"Your Highness, let's go." Xifeng said, "The girl has gone far."

Xie Tingzhou didn't say anything. After a while, he gently patted Bai Yu on his shoulder and said, "Go."

Bai Yu flapped his wings and followed the direction Shen Yu left.

Shen Yu heard Bai Yu's clear cry and looked up while whipping the whip.

She understood his thoughts, asking Bai Yu to take her a ride.

"Go——"

Shen Yu took the lead and headed towards Hezhou in the flying sand.

...

A carriage was traveling on the official road. A bare hand was on the window. She looked at the sky and urged the driver to drive the carriage.

"Faster."

"No faster." The driver said, "The horse must be able to run."

The maid let down the curtain and whispered, "I think he did it on purpose. He would rather run for ten or half a decade if he was paid by the day."

The lady looked a little anxious, but still maintained her ladylike demeanor, "Wait until we enter the city, and then change the car to continue the journey tomorrow."

The maid said, "We can't enter the city today at this speed."

More than ten people rode on horses, all wearing windproof fences.

"Ah." Shen Zhao reined in his horse and slowed down. "Pingcheng is ahead. We can enter the city before dark by galloping. Find an inn to stay tonight."

Shen Yu took off the fence and shook off the sand on it. "This road was not so difficult to walk on before."

Shen Zhao's face was solemn. "It's already desolate in autumn. The refugees have no food to eat, and they have eaten all the grass roots along the road. Naturally, the road is difficult to walk on. Let's go."

The group continued on their way, turned around the mountain and walked onto a straight road. They saw a carriage parked on the side of the road from a distance.

When they got closer, they could vaguely hear a man and a woman arguing.

Shen Zhao glanced sideways as he passed by, and ran about a mile before he suddenly reined in his horse.

Shen Yu couldn't stop, and ran a few feet away before turning back, "Brother, what's wrong?"

Shen Zhao seemed to be stunned there, with confusion and disbelief on his face.

He immediately turned his horse's head and ran back the way he came.

Shen Yu was confused, and even called Shen Zhao several times but there was no response, so he had to follow him.

Fortunately, they didn't run very far, and the quarrel on the side of the road had not ended when Shen Zhao returned.

These years were not peaceful, with bandits everywhere. The groom and the maid were wary of the sudden arrival, so they stopped arguing and stared at the people who came.

Shen Zhao was covered in ashes and wearing a veil. There was a knife hanging on the side of his horse's back. He suddenly stopped by the roadside, which would have alerted anyone.

The maid thought she had encountered a bandit. Just as she was about to move to the carriage, she heard the man call out uncertainly, "Ying'er?"