The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Li Zhaoning's fingertips landed on the two characters "Li Zheng" recorded in the intelligence report, and a warm feeling appeared in her eyes.

That was her most respected second brother.

Three years ago, he went to the battlefield in Baiji, hoping to make a name for himself.

Unfortunately, although Li Zheng made many military achievements, he did not get many opportunities to show them.

This also disappointed Li Zheng quite a bit.

Li Zhaoning hadn't expected that Li Zheng's Bai Ji trip would bring her such a pleasant surprise.

"So he was Qin An." Li Zhaoning murmured to herself, gently closing the file.

The butler bowed his head and said, "Miss, would you like to confirm again? Although the Second Young Master mentioned Qin An, we still don't know the true nature of their relationship."

"No need," Li Zhaoning shook her head.

She trusted her second brother's judgment; anyone mentioned by Li Zheng couldn't be a bad person.

Moreover, she had witnessed Qin An's act of helping her today, and he was a man she could rely on.

Li Zhaoning stood up, walked to the window and looked in the direction of Qin An's room. The moonlight was shining through the window and onto the ground, just like her chaotic thoughts at this moment.

In fact, her trip to Beijing this time was out of necessity.

Although his father, Li Yuan, was the Duke of Qin in Daxing and even had some kinship with the royal family, he was not trusted by the Daxing Emperor.

During this period, he was even more suspected.

Li Yuancai ordered her to bring her younger brother to the capital, ostensibly to manage the Li family's business in the capital, but in reality to take him as a hostage.

They intended to keep a low profile and avoid being watched along the way, but unexpectedly they encountered this group of ruthless bandits.

If it weren't for Qin An's intervention, she and her younger brother would probably have already perished under the bandits' blades.

The road ahead remains fraught with danger. The Yuwen and Li families in the capital have a long-standing feud, and if they discover my whereabouts...

Li Zhaoning shuddered, a resolute glint in her eyes.

……

The next morning, Li Zhaoning waited at the entrance of the inn.

Seeing Qin An preparing to depart with his men, she stepped forward and bowed gracefully: "General Qin."

Qin An reined in the horse, raising an eyebrow at her: "Miss Li, is there something you need?"

"I have a favor to ask," Li Zhaoning said, looking up with sincere eyes. "We women and children have encountered many dangers along the way. We have heard that the General is also returning to the capital. I wonder if you would allow us to accompany you? I am willing to offer a large sum of money..."

"No need," Qin An interrupted her, his tone indifferent. "We are escorting Lord Yuwen, and it is inconvenient for us to bring outsiders."

He harbored resentment towards this woman who deliberately concealed her identity.

Anyone with eyes could see the flaws in her words at yesterday's banquet.

Seeing that Li Zhaoning was about to speak again, Qin An was about to speak as well when he heard Yuwen Zhi's voice from behind: "Oh, what's so difficult about that! Miss Li, please come along!"

Yuwen Zhi, leaning on his cane, limped over, his gaze sweeping over Li Zhaoning, a malicious smile playing on his lips.

He thought about it all last night and felt that Li Zhaoning's identity was unusual, and the luxury in the carriage was something that ordinary merchants could not afford.

But so what?

Once they arrive in the capital, the Yuwen family's power will be enough to crush any other family. At that time, wouldn't this beauty be at his mercy?

"Lord Yuwen..." Li Zhaoning frowned, clearly somewhat resistant to his enthusiasm.

"Miss Li, there's no need for you to be so polite." Yuwen Zhi waved his hand, then turned to glare at Qin An. "General Qin, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and have your men pack up and take Miss Li's people with you!"

Qin An's expression darkened. He knew what Yuwen Zhi was planning, but he also understood that refusing at this moment would be pointless.

Although he had already become a general, he was nothing in front of a behemoth like the Yuwen family.

"Since Lord Yuwen has spoken, we shall obey your will," Qin An said coldly, turning his horse around and refusing to look at them again.

Li Zhaoning watched Qin An's retreating figure, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She then curtsied to Yuwen Zhi and turned to instruct the steward to pack their belongings.

When the team set off again, there were more than 20 people, including Li Zhaoning.

Li Zhaoning still rode in the same rosewood carriage, but this time she had a seven or eight-year-old boy by her side.

The boy was wearing a brocade jacket, had a round face, but always kept his head down, and his eyes were somewhat vacant. He was the child who had been frightened and cried yesterday.

"This is my younger brother, Li Xuanfu," Li Zhaoning introduced, her tone tinged with tenderness.

Qin An nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the child's face.

Li Xuanfu timidly hid behind his sister, his fingers unconsciously picking at the hem of his clothes, a trace of drool hanging from the corner of his mouth.

Qin An frowned almost imperceptibly; the child's expression was indeed somewhat unusual.

"I am shy, General, please forgive my rudeness." Li Zhaoning quickly shielded her younger brother behind her, her tone somewhat distant.

Qin An didn't ask any further questions and spurred his horse to the front of the group. He had no interest in other people's private affairs, especially since Li Zhaoning was keeping things hidden and clearly didn't want people to know too much.

During their time together, Li Zhaoning would often use the pretext of delivering water and snacks to get closer to Qin An.

Sometimes he would ask Qin An about his battlefield experience, his tone naturally intimate.

Although Qin An remained indifferent, he would occasionally respond with a few words.

You can't hit someone who's smiling.

Although Li Zhaoning was indeed hiding something, Qin An could sense that she had no ill intentions towards him.

This woman was impeccable in her dealings with people and her conduct, making people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze. Qin An couldn't keep rejecting her with a cold face.

All of this seemed to Yuwen Zhi like adding fuel to the fire.

He had always coveted Li Zhaoning, and seeing how warmly she treated Qin An while remaining cold and indifferent to him only fueled his jealousy and hatred.

"What is Qin An? Just a lowly military officer from humble beginnings!" Yuwen Zhi cursed at his confidants inside the carriage. "When we get back to the capital, I'll make him understand what it means to be subservient! And that Li Zhaoning, daring to give me attitude, I'll make her kneel and beg me!"

The confidants dared not speak, and could only listen with their heads down. They all knew that this Lord Yuwen was always narrow-minded, and those who offended him never had a good ending.

Qin An saw all of this, but didn't take it to heart.

Yuwen Zhi's threat was like a child's rant, not worth mentioning.

The more enthusiastic Li Zhaoning was, the more Qin An felt something was amiss.

That evening, the group stopped to rest in a small town.

Qin An was wiping the precious carved bow in the backyard of the inn when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

"General Qin is in high spirits." Li Zhaoning walked over with a plate of pastries and placed it on the stone table. "This bow is quite imposing; the general seems to like it very much."

She vaguely felt that the bow looked somewhat familiar, but she didn't think much of it; she just wanted to use it to start a conversation.

Qin An looked up at her: "Miss Li seems quite interested in my bow."

"I was just curious." Li Zhaoning smiled and reached out to touch the bowstring, but Qin An subtly avoided her.

"This bow was a gift from an old friend, and I will not lend it to outsiders." Qin An's tone carried a hint of detachment.

Li Zhaoning's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face, before she casually withdrew her hand: "I was being presumptuous."

She paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "The general seems to harbor some resentment towards me?"

Qin An lowered his bow and looked directly into her eyes: "Miss Li, how much weight do you think the word 'honesty' is worth?"

Li Zhaoning's face paled slightly, and she avoided his gaze: "General, you jest."

"I never joke." Qin An stood up, unwilling to say any more.

But before leaving, he still subconsciously reminded her: "If Miss Li is just an ordinary merchant's daughter, then you'd better be careful after you enter the capital. I'm sure you've already seen through Yuwen Zhi's character."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Li Zhaoning standing alone, her expression constantly changing.

As night fell, Qin An lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, thinking about returning to the capital.

Suddenly hearing a slight noise outside the window, he sat up abruptly, drew his knife, and stabbed.

"It's me." Li Zhaoning's voice came from outside the window, tinged with a hint of panic.

Qin An sheathed his sword, walked to the window, and lifted the curtain. He saw Li Zhaoning standing in the moonlight, holding a pot of wine in her hand, her face somewhat pale.

"Miss Li, aren't you afraid of causing trouble by visiting so late at night?" Qin An said coldly.

"I have something I'd like to say to the general," Li Zhaoning said, raising his wine jug. "Could we speak in private?"

Qin An hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. The two went to the pavilion in the backyard of the inn. Li Zhaoning poured Qin An a cup of wine, and poured one for herself as well, drinking it all in one gulp.

"General, do you know why I have to conceal my identity?" Li Zhaoning looked at him, a hint of weariness in his eyes.

Qin An looked at her with surprise.

Why would they come so late at night to reveal their true identity?

Qin An was at a loss for words and simply listened quietly.

"My father is Li Yuan, the Duke of Qin!"

Upon hearing this, Qin An was momentarily stunned.

When Li Zheng first met Li Yuan, the Duke of Qin, he learned about Li Zheng's family background from Luo Kai.

He was the second son of Li Yuan, the Duke of Qin.

So Li Zhaoning is also Li Yuan's daughter? That means...

He looked Li Zhaoning up and down: "Are you Young Master Li Zheng's sister?"

Li Zhaoning nodded: "It seems that you do know my elder brother. I also vaguely heard the name of General Qin from my second brother before. It seems that the two of you do have some connection."

She was quite curious when she said this.

Her intelligence report only stated that Li Zheng had mentioned Qin An, indicating that the two had crossed paths on the Baiji battlefield, but she did not know the details.

Li Zhaoning knew that her second brother was a man of great talent and ambition with high standards, and she was indeed a little curious about how Qin An had caught his eye.

Qin An didn't offer much explanation, only saying, "The precious bow you saw earlier was a gift from Young Master Li!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoning was somewhat surprised.

No wonder that bow looked familiar; it was actually made by my second brother.

This made her even more curious about the relationship between Li Zheng and Qin An.

However, there was one thing she was certain of: Qin An was a friend, not an enemy, of the Li family.

Before Li Zhaoning could even ask, Qin An asked curiously, "Since you are children of the Qin State Dukes, how did you end up like this?"

He learned from Luo Kai that the Li family was not only a family of dukes, but also had a blood relationship with the royal family.

The fact that the daughter of a nobleman almost fell into the hands of bandits seems a bit like a fantasy!