Chapter 14: Miss Zhang, Where Are You Really From?

Zhang Xiaolan and Li Rui rode their horses back, but their pace was not hurried. As they neared the villa, Li Rui hesitated before finally speaking.

“Earlier, when I went down the mountain, I encountered those people.”

“Oh? Who were they?” Zhang Xiaolan wondered why he suddenly brought it up now, when he hadn’t answered her earlier.

“They’re like you—refugees who crossed the border through the forest,” Li Rui replied carefully, afraid Zhang Xiaolan might be saddened by their story.

“There really are people who fled from the other side,” Zhang Xiaolan hadn’t expected that citizens from another country would climb over the mountains to seek refuge in a neighboring land.

“Yes. These people can’t stay here—they’ll disturb the locals and become a burden to us. So, they must return,” Li Rui spoke with helplessness and regret, fearing Zhang Xiaolan would question why they couldn’t shelter these pitiful souls. That was why he hadn’t dared mention it earlier.

“Is that so? Why can’t you take them in?” As expected, Zhang Xiaolan voiced her doubts; those refugees were indeed pitiable.

“There’s an uprising and unrest in the north. This area is close to the capital—if all the refugees poured in, and if just a few happened to be rebels, it would be a threat to us. Miss Zhang, you wouldn’t blame us for not sheltering them, would you?” Li Rui explained the concerns of the Li Dynasty. Anyone who entered the country without proper procedures had to be sent back.

Li Rui had expected Zhang Xiaolan to accuse them of being heartless, but her response surprised and impressed him.

“I understand your actions. It’s much the same where I come from. If someone from one country wishes to enter another directly, it’s not permitted—they must apply formally and pass strict requirements.” Zhang Xiaolan thought this resembled the policies of modern nations, and was happy to share this information.

“Oh! Miss Zhang, your homeland sounds quite remarkable. Here, to enter or pass through the Li Dynasty, one only needs the proper travel documents. Your country truly has stricter rules than ours.” Li Rui followed her lead, grateful she hadn’t questioned him about the refugees, though he still harbored doubts.

“Ha ha! Yes, indeed.” Zhang Xiaolan gladly spoke of her homeland—it was a way of remembering, after all.

“Miss Zhang, where are you really from?” Li Rui had pondered this for a long time, and finally could not resist his curiosity, asking about her origins. From her clothing and speech, she didn’t seem like someone fleeing from the north.

He had also heard Xiao Lian talk about Zhang Xiaolan’s hometown—stories shared while helping him tidy his room, tales so unimaginable he felt sure Zhang Xiaolan wasn’t from Northern Wei.

“What’s this? Didn’t you say I was a refugee from the north?” Zhang Xiaolan didn’t answer, but instead turned the question back to him.

“I don’t think so. The way you speak and dress, and the things you’ve told Xiao Lian—they’re so different from us, and nothing I’ve ever seen or heard.” Li Rui spoke honestly, not insisting on knowing, but feeling he’d been mistaken from the start.

“In truth, I come from a place very, very far away. I don’t know how I got here, but I know I can’t go back.” Zhang Xiaolan smiled and gazed at the sky, her expression tinged with helplessness and melancholy, sadness welling up as she thought of being unable to return to her world. She missed her parents, family, friends, mentors, and the career she loved.