Zhao Hanzhang regained her composure and asked, “And what about your father?”

Awei replied with a detached expression, “My father died too.”

He reached into his sleeve and pulled at his arm, extracting a white band. The band should have been tied around his wrist, but perhaps due to his active nature or other reasons, it had rolled up and been hidden by his sleeve.

This band signified that there had been a death in the family within the last three months—meaning his father had passed away less than three months ago.

Zhao Hanzhang felt even more regretful. She hadn’t expected that such a knowledgeable person would also pass away.

“Please accept my condolences.”

Awei said, “I’m no longer in pain. My mother said that people must look forward—my father is already a person of the past.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s spirits lifted as she stared at him and asked, “Did your mother ever say anything particularly philosophical?”

Awei asked, “What’s philosophical?”

“Words that sound very reasonable when you hear them.”

Awei answered without hesitation, “Oh, there are plenty of those. When it’s cold, add clothes. When you’re hungry, eat food…”

Seeing no particular expression on Zhao Hanzhang’s face, Awei became unhappy. “Aren’t these reasonable sayings?”

Fu Tinghan, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle. Seeing Awei glare at him, he said, “These are absolutely correct principles.”

Only then did Awei’s expression soften.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Since your father felt that Zhao Hanzhang was not a person of loyalty and righteousness, why were you still heading to Yuzhou?”

“My father only said she had no loyalty to Jin, but she had a benevolent heart toward the common people. Although she might be pretending, if she could continue pretending forever, she wouldn’t be a bad ruler.”

Even Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but say, “This was a talented person. What a pity…”

Zhao Hanzhang felt even more regretful. How could such a person die so young?

Because of his father’s illustrious reputation, Zhao Hanzhang found him much more agreeable now. She asked with a smile, “Since you’re going to Yuzhou, why don’t I write you a letter? I’m from Yuzhou and have some friends there. Perhaps they could help you meet Zhao Hanzhang.”

Awei waved his hand directly. “No need. I’ve already decided not to seek her out.”

He continued, “Although my father said she was capable and worth serving, I believe that when one accepts a lord’s salary, one should serve the lord’s affairs loyally. Since she’s a Jin official, she should devote herself wholeheartedly to Dajin. Having such ambitions truly makes her a bad person, not worth my allegiance. So I’ve decided to follow you instead.”

There were so many points to address that Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know where to start with her criticism. After steadying her mindset, she asked, “So you want to devote yourself to Dajin? And have me join you?”

Awei looked surprised. “Why would Miss Zhao think that way? My grandfather already said that Jin obtained its position improperly and lacks virtue—it’s not worth following. Why would I go follow it?”

He encouraged Zhao Hanzhang, “With Miss’s vision and abilities, you could completely start your own enterprise, just like that Zhao Hanzhang.”

He said with certainty, “I think Miss is even more capable than Zhao Hanzhang. Really.”

That knife technique aimed straight at the neck—he didn’t think Zhao Hanzhang could do it.

Shi Hongtu and the others looked at him as if he were a fool, but Zhao Hanzhang seriously considered it for a moment before nodding. “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I’m turning back tomorrow and won’t be going to Yuzhou…” So we’re fated but not destined to be together.

But Awei quickly said, “I’ll go with you!”

He continued, “Wherever you go, I’ll go.”

His eyes shining brightly as he looked at Zhao Hanzhang, he urged, “Really, Miss Zhao, I think you’re very talented. Jin is incompetent and lacking in virtue. You’re so capable—why not replace them?”

Zhao Hanzhang understood now. This person didn’t object to rebellion—he only objected to Jin officials rebelling.

She looked at him with a sorrowful expression. How should she tell him that she was Zhao Hanzhang?

However, she soon had no time to worry about this. Old Li arrived late at night with one son and one grandson. Zhao Hanzhang sat up with proper dignity to receive the three of them.

Fu Tinghan took off his outer garment and draped it over her, perfectly covering the wound on her shoulder. So when Old Li and his family arrived, they didn’t see Zhao Hanzhang’s injury—they only noticed that her face seemed somewhat pale in the firelight.

Zhao Hanzhang had originally wanted to stand up. She tried to rise with Fu Tinghan’s supporting hand but surprisingly couldn’t manage it. Watching Old Li approach, she simply remained seated.

In the eyes of the Li family father, son, and grandson, this was arrogance.

Old Li’s son and grandson both showed some anger on their faces, but Old Li’s expression didn’t change. He remained gentle as he greeted Zhao Hanzhang with proper courtesy.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed inwardly and tested moving slightly. It seemed that due to excessive blood loss, her vision now swam whenever she moved even a little.

She knew that even if she stood up, her hands and feet would be weak. Old Li was shrewd and would certainly notice. Then what she wanted to accomplish wouldn’t get done.

So she could only adopt an arrogant attitude and remain seated. However, her face remained gentle with a faint smile. After allowing the old man to finish his greeting, she said, “Please sit down, Old Li.”

She said to Awei, who was still standing, “I understand your intentions, but this is a major matter. You still need to go back and get your mother’s consent, and you need to discuss it with your other brothers at home.”

To Awei’s ears, this meant Zhao Hanzhang had agreed to take him in, but it required his family’s consent.

Awei felt that his family wouldn’t be much of a problem, so considering himself already Zhao Hanzhang’s person, he said happily, “Just wait—I’ll go back right now and tell them.”

With that, he only nodded to Old Li and his family before rushing off excitedly.

Old Li and his family watched him walk toward a fire pit not far away. That fire pit was surrounded by quite a few people—a rough count showed at least fifty or sixty. Through the firelight, they could see that the clothes on their bodies were fairly decent, at least not the type patched upon patches.

It seemed they hadn’t guessed wrong—Young Master Gu’s background was probably not bad.

Old Li became even more serious in his attitude toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang acted as if she hadn’t noticed his scrutiny and got straight to the point. “It’s getting late, and we all have to travel early tomorrow morning. I won’t delay Old Li too much. The reason I asked you to come in the middle of the night is to collect my payment.”

Old Li’s heart settled by half. Without asking what payment she wanted, he directly said, “Please speak, Miss Zhao.”

Zhao Hanzhang gestured for him to look at Shi Lei lying on the ground. “I need a physician, medicine for ten people’s injuries, and ten days of rations for ten people.”

The Li family wasn’t poor, but they weren’t wealthy enough to keep a family physician either. Old Li countered, “I can only arrange for a physician to see your friend and treat him, but I cannot have the physician follow you, Miss.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s brows furrowed tightly, but she reluctantly agreed.

Old Li continued, “Medicine for injuries is worth its weight in gold among the refugees now. We didn’t bring much out with us, and after using some, I can at most spare three portions for you.”

Zhao Hanzhang said expressionlessly, “Too little. It must be at least eight portions.”

Old Li shook his head. “Only three portions, Miss Zhao. It’s not that we’re insincere, but we truly have no more medicine.”

Zhao Hanzhang stared at him fixedly. “Three portions won’t do.”

Old Li locked eyes with her. After a stalemate, he gritted his teeth. “Five portions at most.”

Zhao Hanzhang reluctantly nodded.

Old Li breathed a sigh of relief, then said with difficulty, “Miss Zhao, we’ve been traveling for quite a while, and our grain supplies are running low. How about I exchange it for money instead?”

Zhao Hanzhang said expressionlessly, “Old Li, I don’t lack money.”

Actually, she did, but what she lacked most right now was grain.