Chapter 421 - 420: Traces
The plan was to explore for about a day when they set out from the pass, so each soldier only carried two days’ worth of rations and water.
Ye Yuzhi was no exception.
In the Great Desert, food and water sources are hard to find, and this area has very few oases. If Ye Yuzhi were lost in the desert, his chances of survival would be slim.
Moreover, so many days had passed, and the garrison had its rules. It was impossible to send people into the desert to search for a missing soldier.
After all, it was the Great Desert.
Let alone search for someone; even those sent to find him might suffer losses.
Even if General Huang were willing to search privately, the vast desert and buried tracks by the sand might prevent him from being found.
Mu Lianxiao felt a heavy weight in his heart.
Such is the life of a soldier; no one can guarantee safety, and anything could happen on the battlefield.
Ye Yuzhi chose to join the military, and his heart would have been prepared for such circumstances.
But for Mu Lianxiao, he had suggested Ye Yuzhi come to Shanyu Pass, not to see such an outcome.
Even if he couldn’t return to the capital alive, it should be dying heroically on the battlefield, not disappearing.
Huang Yun had cleared the battlefield back then. If Ye Yuzhi had died in battle, Huang Yun wouldn’t have missed his remains.
Du Yunluo looked at Mu Lianxiao with knitted brows; she read the heaviness in his eyes.
If Ye Yuzhi had lost his trace and never returned, how could Aunt Liao and Princess An Ran accept this?
In her past life, Du Yunluo had tasted the pain of a close relative dying at the border; she understood the stabbing agony.
And having the body not returned, just like the vanished Mu Liankang, thinking of Mrs. Xu’s appearance couldn’t help but make Du Yunluo want to sigh.
Mu Lianxiao leaned closer to the carriage window and said in a deep voice, "We’re not far from Shanyu Pass. Although Yu Zhi’s disappearance holds little hope, I want to hurry back.
The carriage travels slowly, and this road is not stable. If we proceed faster, you and Brother Yan might not be able to handle it.
Yunluo, I’ll go ahead, and let Jiuxi and Ming Liu escort you to Shanyu Pass."
Understanding the priorities, Du Yunluo nodded and said, "Princely Heir, just go; don’t worry about me and Brother Yan. In just another two or three days, we’ll arrive."
Mu Lianxiao smiled faintly, stood up straight, carefully instructed Jiuxi and Ming Liu, then whipped his horse and rode away.
As the sound of hoofbeats faded, Du Yunluo lowered the carriage window.
In the following days, Du Yunluo’s mind wasn’t on the scenery beside the mountain paths, but solely on hurrying along.
By evening, they reached a small town.
Ming Liu led the way, and the carriage halted outside a small courtyard.
Supported by Jin Rui, Du Yunluo dismounted and glanced around the surroundings.
The town was small, with few residents. Compared to a Xuancheng courtyard, the architecture was completely different, with no green trees in sight, just yellow earth everywhere.
The clouds on the horizon were dyed red by the sunset, giving the town a desolate air.
Ming Liu respectfully said, "Madam, make do with this."
Du Yunluo took Brother Yan from Lady Peng and followed Ming Liu into the courtyard.
It was just a single courtyard with a main hall, left and right wings, but no rear hall or connecting corridors.
Upon entering, there was no shadow wall; one could immediately see the main hall door draped with blue cotton cloth.
Though simple, Du Yunluo found it novel. In two lifetimes, it was the first time she stayed in such a house.
Especially since the inner room had a kang instead of a bed. She glanced at the kang and laughed, "It’s a pity it’s still summer; otherwise, I’d like to try the feel of a heated kang."
Everyone laughed at her words.
The maids and matrons dared not be picky; their concern was whether the pampered Du Yunluo would adapt, and seeing her satisfaction, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Hong Jinbao’s family, along with Jin Rui and Jin Lan, tidied up the luggage.
Ming Liu paid respects to Du Yunluo and went to report at Shanyu Pass.
Standing in the courtyard, Du Yunluo asked Jiuxi, "How far is it from here to the pass where the Princely Heir is? I heard it’s one or two hours?"
Jiuxi scratched his nose and said, "If you ride hard without stopping, it doesn’t take an hour to get there.
When the master shifts and rests, if the madam wishes to go, the carriage can be arranged."
Du Yunluo nodded.
As the twilight faded, lamps were lit inside the house.
After days on the carriage, feeling uncomfortable, Du Yunluo freshened up and said, "It’s late tonight; let’s rest early."
Jin Rui asked her, "Madam, won’t you wait for the Princely Heir?"
Du Yunluo calculated briefly, with Ming Liu reaching Shanyu Pass after dark, Mu Lianxiao shouldn’t come overnight, so she said, "No, let’s sleep."
Jin Rui helped her onto the kang and blew out the lamp.
It was her first time sleeping on a kang, the novelty couldn’t stop her exhaustion, and Du Yunluo soon fell asleep.
In the dead of night, as the door creaked open, she awoke with a jolt and sat up.
"Did I wake you?"
In the darkness came Mu Lianxiao’s voice, and Du Yunluo’s heart settled down.
Returning in the middle of the night, Mu Lianxiao washed briefly and climbed onto the kang.
Du Yunluo whispered to him, "I thought you wouldn’t come back."
"Afraid you’d have trouble adjusting." Mu Lianxiao embraced Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo adjusted to a more comfortable position and asked, "Is there any news about Young Master Ye?"
Mu Lianxiao sighed softly, "After Huang Yun found him missing, he took a few trusted soldiers beyond the pass to search once.
Not to mention Yu Zhi’s tracks, even the previous battlefield with the Changping Marquis’ private soldiers couldn’t be found.
Whether it was the wrong place or buried by sand, no idea.
We could only return with nothing.
I also tried to search yesterday with no result.
Honestly, neither General Huang nor I can mobilize a large number of troops to search just for Yu Zhi. Even if I were missing in the desert, General Huang couldn’t risk the troops’ safety to find me."
Du Yunluo frowned, gently kicked Mu Lianxiao, and scolded, "I understand the reasoning, but don’t speak such ominous words."
Mu Lianxiao chuckled, ruffled Du Yunluo’s hair: "Sleep, we’ll talk tomorrow."
Without bed curtains, as daylight crept in through the window, Du Yunluo opened her eyes.
Mu Lianxiao was about to go practice, rolling up his sleeves: "You should sleep more; you rarely get up this early."
"No more sleep," Du Yunluo donned her clothes and rose, "You’re heading back to Shanyu Pass soon, right? I’ll wait for you to leave before catching some more sleep."
It was because she cherished the time with him, couldn’t bear to miss even an extra moment.
Mu Lianxiao could hardly contain his mirth and called in Jin Rui to serve Du Yunluo, and he went out first.
Watching Mu Lianxiao finish his exercise, Jiuxi went to buy some breakfast.
They had arrived late yesterday; the town’s trade wasn’t bustling, and only by day was there anything to buy.
Throughout the journey, with no inns or posthouses, they mostly ate dry food.
This morning, Jiuxi wanted to change things up for Du Yunluo.
After breakfast, just as Mu Lianxiao was about to depart, Ming Liu rushed into the courtyard.