Zheng's father heard about it and didn't feel much. After all, their family didn't need to sacrifice their daughters for wealth and status. As long as their daughter liked it, it was fine.
Soon, at the hint of the Zheng family, Yang Zhongqing brought a matchmaker to propose marriage.
Not long after, he followed the Zheng family to the border. Knowing that he wanted to build his career on military achievements, Zheng's father personally guided him in martial arts and taught him military affairs by his side, teaching him hand-to-hand. By the time they got married, he was already a minor general.
Time flowed like water, and six years passed in the blink of an eye. In these six years, they had a son, and their life was sweet and happy.
One night, as they were sleeping soundly, Zheng Xilin suddenly burst in, covered in blood. As if he couldn't see their shock, he stuffed the bundle in his arms into Zheng Nian'er's arms, pulled them to the rockery in the yard, pressed a button, and shoved the bewildered group into a secret tunnel. He said anxiously, "The Xiongnu have broken into the city. You should leave quickly. This bundle contains a memorial to the Emperor, stating the whole process of events. Whether the Zheng family can clear their name depends on you."
"What about you? Aren't you coming with us?" Zheng Nian'er looked at him with some worry.
"Our Zheng family has guarded the border for generations. We either return home in glory or die on the battlefield. If we are all gone this time, the future path will depend on you." Zheng Xilin said, giving Yang Zhongqing a deep look.
Yang Zhongqing immediately understood and promised, "Brother, don't worry. I will take good care of them and their son in the future."
After that, he pulled Zheng Nian'er forward despite her struggles.
"Let go of me! I want to go back to see my father and brother. Even if we die, we die together." Zheng Nian'er cried hysterically. Thinking of the dangers they were about to face, and the possibility that they might never see each other again, her heart ached to the point of breathlessness.
"Your father and brother don't want you to die with them, otherwise my brother wouldn't have risked his life to send us out himself. Besides, good fortune favors the brave. Maybe they can turn the danger into a blessing. You going there would only be a hindrance." Although Yang Zhongqing was also worried about their situation, he was very rational. He knew they had encountered insurmountable difficulties, otherwise, they wouldn't have been kicked out without even having time to prepare. Didn't they look disheveled now?
What he said just now was to comfort her. He had clearly seen blood dripping from his brother's body. He didn't know how long the entrance to the secret tunnel could be concealed. The thieves might discover their escape soon, so time was life, and they had to leave quickly.
Yang Zhongqing's words had a significant impact on Zheng Nian'er. Although she was still crying, she stopped struggling and ran forward mechanically with him.
The exit of the secret tunnel was in a small grove outside the city. Not long after the two of them walked into the grove, they heard unusual noises. Knowing that the pursuers were catching up, they quickened their pace. Holding their child in his arms and his wife by the hand, Yang Zhongqing was extremely anxious. If this continued, they would be caught sooner or later.
As they ran, he quietly discussed with Zheng Nian'er, "Their target is me. It's very dangerous for you to follow me. I'll find a safer place to leave you for a while, and then I'll lure them away. I have some money with me that I grabbed in a hurry when we left. I'll give it all to you later."
Without waiting for her reply, he placed the mother and child on a dense tree. Zheng Nian'er sat on a branch, holding her son tightly, and watched him deliberately make some noise to attract those people to him, and then flee desperately.
The two sat there quietly, neither of them speaking. The events of the night had been too shocking for Zheng Nian'er. She hadn't recovered yet. Rui'er didn't understand what had happened and, sensing his mother's sadness, stayed with her without a sound.
The group who went after Yang Zhongqing didn't return for a long time. She didn't know if he could escape. Zheng Nian'er thought for a moment, quietly pulled her son down, and slowly walked towards the city.
They didn't dare to walk on the main road openly and could only shuttle through the small groves on both sides of the road, observing the situation ahead carefully and hiding at the slightest disturbance.
As a woman, she was often holding a young child. If she weren't so worried about her family, she definitely wouldn't have been able to persevere.
Fortunately, she usually liked to ride horses in the suburbs and was very familiar with the terrain of the area. Otherwise, in this desolate wilderness, it was dark, and she didn't know where to go.
She could see thick smoke billowing from afar. The city was eerily quiet. She didn't know what had happened.
Suddenly, she remembered another secret tunnel at home. The Zheng family had been operating at the border for so many years; if they didn't have anything else, they had dug quite a few secret tunnels. Pulling her son, she carefully walked inside. She reached the entrance of the tunnel, put her ear against it, and listened quietly for a long time. It was silent, so she secretly lifted a corner and slowly crawled out.
This turned out to be a woodshed. It was rarely opened, and even with the faint light, she could see that it was different from what she usually saw; it was messy, clearly having been searched by someone.
Just as she was about to pull her son out to assess the situation, she suddenly heard footsteps and quickly returned to her original position, hiding in the pile of firewood.
"General, not a single soul was left alive in the Zheng family; they all perished." Even though she couldn't see his face clearly, Zheng Nian'er heard this voice, which was so familiar she could have cried out in surprise.
If she hadn't misheard, this person was the steward's son, named Zheng Zhongcheng. He had grown up with Zheng Nian'er and her siblings. She never expected him to betray the Zheng family.
"How did I hear that there was a married daughter of the Zheng family who escaped?" the person called General asked in a hoarse, calm voice.
"We have dispatched more people to search for them. I believe they will be reunited underground in no time." Anyone could hear the lightness in his tone.
The conversation between them contained a lot of information. Zheng Nian'er couldn't help but burst into tears. The worst she had feared had happened. It was a pity she didn't see the culprit's face, but she also secretly vowed that as long as she was alive, she would avenge them.
She had thought she understood Zhongcheng quite well due to their frequent contact, but now she realized that was just the tip of the iceberg. Trying hard to recall their years of interaction, she couldn't understand what the Zheng family had done to him to make him so insane.
However, her question was soon answered by the person opposite her, "I heard that the Zheng family was like a second chance at life for your family. Why did you join forces with us to bring down the Zheng family?"
Speaking of this, Zheng Zhongcheng's face contorted, and he sneered, "Were they kind to us? I think they just felt our family was useful and didn't want to let us go. If they had truly treated us well, why didn't they remove our slave status? Why not let us have official positions?"