“I’ve memorized it, Father,” she said.

Xiao Jue looked at her in disbelief. “What did you just call me?”

He Yan stared at him with clear, earnest eyes and recited seriously, “The way of great learning lies in illuminating bright virtue, in loving the people, and in resting in the highest good. Only by knowing where to stop can there be stability; with stability comes tranquility; with tranquility comes thoughtfulness; with thoughtfulness comes the attainment of goals… Everything has its root and branch, every affair has its beginning and end… Knowledge comes from investigating things… All of these are founded on self-cultivation… Never has there been a case of what is truly important being treated as unimportant, or what is of little importance being treated as significant!”

Lin Shuanghe first stared in amazement, then gradually came to his senses and pointed at He Yan, asking Xiao Jue, “Has my little sister He got drunk?”

Before his words could settle, He Yan suddenly rushed forward, throwing herself into Xiao Jue’s arms and hugging his waist, nearly causing him to stumble backward. She buried her face against his chest and said stammering, “Father, I’ve memorized it, I’ve improved!”

The room fell deathly silent.

Words alone could hardly describe Xiao Jue’s unsightly expression at this moment.

Lin Shuanghe covered his face, his shoulders shaking with unstoppable laughter.

“Oh my, Huaijin, I’ve seen people treat you as a husband, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone treat you as a father. How does it feel to be a father? And what an adorable daughter you have! She recites so well, such talent!”

Seemingly encouraged by Lin Shuanghe’s praise of her “talent,” He Yan lifted her head from Xiao Jue’s chest, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. “Father, I’m now number one in the Liangzhou Guard.”

Xiao Jue grabbed her arms, attempting to pry her hands from his waist. “Let go.”

“I won’t!” He Yan’s strength was remarkable, perhaps from her daily stone-lifting exercises, and Xiao Jue couldn’t break free. She looked up at him. “Test me, I can answer anything.”

She was just like a child proudly wagging their tail after getting first place.

Xiao Jue held his forehead. “Let go first.”

“No.” She hugged his waist even tighter, trying to press herself against him. Xiao Jue desperately leaned backward, attempting to maintain distance between their bodies, but it was futile.

As Xiao Jue tried to pry He Yan’s hands away, Lin Shuanghe said, “Hey, I should mention that little sister He is still injured. If you force her away, you might aggravate her wounds. It would take another half year to heal, which wouldn’t be good.”

Xiao Jue’s gaze was sharp as blades: “Find a way to get her off me.”

“Just let her hug you for a while,” Lin Shuanghe enjoyed watching the scene unfold. “Perhaps you look similar to He Yan’s father, which is why she’s mistaking you in her drunken state. She’s just a young lady who’s traveled thousands of miles to Liangzhou, and hasn’t been home for so long – she must miss her father. Can’t you give her a bit of,” he made a hugging gesture, “familial warmth? Don’t be so stingy, it’s not like you’re losing anything.”

Before Xiao Jue could respond, the person in his arms had already buried her head against his chest and started reciting again in a muffled voice.

“The one who commands both civil and military affairs is the army’s general. The one who combines both hardness and softness handles military matters. When people judge a general, they often look at bravery, but bravery is just one part of many qualities a general needs. A brave person tends to engage rashly, and rash engagement without understanding advantage is inadequate. Therefore, a general must be cautious in five aspects: First is principle, second is preparation, third is determination, fourth is military discipline, and fifth is conciseness. The principle means commanding many as if commanding few; preparation means leaving home as if facing the enemy; determination means facing the enemy without thoughts of survival; military discipline means maintaining initial battle vigor even after victory; conciseness means keeping laws and orders simple and not burdensome. Accepting orders without decline and speaking of return only after defeating the enemy – these are a general’s etiquette. Thus, when the army sets out, there is the glory of death but no disgrace of survival.”

Lin Shuanghe listened in amazement. While he knew the first passage she had recited, he didn’t know this one. He asked Xiao Jue, “What is our little sister He reciting now?”

“The ‘Discussion of Generals’ chapter from Wu Zi’s Art of War,” Xiao Jue replied, somewhat surprised that she knew this text.

“Our little sister He is truly well-versed in everything,” Lin Shuanghe praised. “She even knows this.”

“Of course,” He Yan poked her head out from Xiao Jue’s embrace, “As a military commander, one should be like this.”

“Little sister He has great ambition,” Lin Shuanghe smiled. “She even wants to become a general.”

“I am already a female war star!”

“Yes, yes,” Lin Shuanghe laughed, covering his face with his fan. “Look how capable you are.”

He Yan looked up again, gazing at Xiao Jue, and asked happily, “Father, did I recite well?”

Another “father” – Xiao Jue’s feelings at this moment were indescribable.

Outside the door, Shen Han had just approached when he saw through the unclosed window two people embracing. Looking closer, he realized it was Xiao Jue holding He Yan, while He Yan hugged his waist, speaking softly about something unknown. Shen Han was stunned, his face instantly turning red, finding the scene inconceivable.

Good heavens! Although he had known these two had an unusual relationship, witnessing such an intimate scene was still shocking. Shen Han pondered whether this meant Xiao Jue still had lingering feelings for He Yan, or perhaps they had already rekindled their relationship and mended their broken mirror.

And there was Lin Shuanghe in the room too, just standing there watching – didn’t he feel like a third wheel? With Xiao Jue and He Yan being intimate while Lin Shuanghe watched, didn’t they feel awkward?

These high officials from Shuojing were hard to understand. At that moment, Shen Han also felt weary. He turned around and tiptoed away.

Well, better pretend he hadn’t seen anything!

Inside the room, Lin Shuanghe was almost dying from laughter, while Xiao Jue’s face was ashen. After several attempts to pull He Yan away had failed, she still clung tightly to his waist as if holding onto a family heirloom.

“Father, I’ve improved, I’m first now, why aren’t you saying anything,” she said sadly. “Won’t you praise me?”

Xiao Jue: “I’m not your father.”

This statement only made things worse – He Yan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she looked at him as if he had committed some unforgivable sin. She asked, “You don’t recognize me either?”

Xiao Jue paused, suddenly feeling an inexplicable irritation.

He was most afraid of women’s tears, especially in this situation where it seemed he had made He Yan cry.

Sure enough, the White-Robed Divine Hand, who was most sympathetic to beauty in distress, immediately stood up for his newly recognized sister. He said, “It’s just a matter of one word, and look, you’ve made the young lady cry. Such a sensible and clever child and you won’t even acknowledge her? Others would be fighting to claim her as their own, you know? Xiao Huaijin, praise her, right now, immediately!”

Xiao Jue: “…”

Suppressing his annoyance, he looked down at her. She was still dressed in her usual boyish attire, but with her furrowed brows and pitiful expression, she truly looked like a little girl. Perhaps she had mistaken him for He Sui, though… was He Sui usually very strict with her? Even when drunk, she still sought her father’s approval.

At that moment, Xiao Jue saw a reflection of himself in this girl.

He suddenly deflated, giving up on trying to pry her hands away like one accepting their fate, and said, “You’ve done very well.”

“Really?” He Yan immediately looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“Really.” Xiao Jue spoke against his conscience.

“Thank you,” she became somewhat shy, “I’ll do even better next time, make Father even prouder.”

Xiao Jue’s head was throbbing. He just said, “Then release me first, you’re hugging too tight.”

“But I love hugging Father,” He Yan showed a content smile, greedily holding him without wanting to let go, “I’ve wanted to hug Father like this for so long. Why can my brothers and sisters do it, but I can’t?”

Lin Shuanghe, who had been laughing, heard this and nearly shed tears of sympathy, saying, “Is little sister He bullied at home? Does her father never hug her?”

Xiao Jue was also puzzled – according to the secret letters from Shuojing, He Sui only had one son and one daughter, and He Yan only had a brother, where did these sisters come from?

“I’m first now,” He Yan stared at Xiao Jue, asking, “Father, aren’t you happy?”

Xiao Jue: “…”

He said expressionlessly, “I’m very happy.”

“Then what’s my reward?”

“Reward?” Xiao Jue frowned, “What reward do you want?”

He Yan rubbed her face against the buttons on his clothes. Her face was hot, and the coolness felt pleasant, but it made Xiao Jue’s body stiffen.

“You… don’t move around!” Just as he said this, he saw He Yan release her grip and feel for something at his waist, triumphantly holding it up to show him.

“I want this!”

“This is not allowed.” Xiao Jue reached out to grab it, but she dodged away.

Though drunk and confused, her movements remained agile and her steps steady. Looking at her appearance alone, one couldn’t tell she was intoxicated.

He Yan lowered her head to examine the object in her hand – it was a jade pendant carved with snake patterns, and remarkably, it was black jade. Smooth and cool to the touch, it was precious.

She was delighted with it, unable to let go as she said, “Thank you, Father!”

Xiao Jue laughed in exasperation: “I didn’t say you could have it.”

Lin Shuanghe blocked his attempt to retrieve the jade, saying, “Why argue with a drunk person? Let her play with it now, and tomorrow when she’s sober, you can ask for it back. Would she refuse? Although,” he stroked his chin, “little sister He has quite an eye – she immediately spotted the most valuable thing on your person, not bad at all.”

Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered to respond to him but also gave up trying to retrieve the jade from He Yan.

“Watch this,” Lin Shuanghe walked up to He Yan and lightly coughed: “Brother He, let me ask you, do you like this jade?”

He Yan played with the jade pendant in her hands: “I like it.”

“Do you like Chu Zilan?”

“Chu Zilan…” He Yan asked puzzled, “Who’s that?”

“Drunk and can’t remember this person – seems she’s not with Chu Zhao’s group.” Lin Shuanghe smiled brightly, “Then do you like Xiao Jue?”

Xiao Jue: “Are you done yet?”

Unexpectedly, He Yan raised her head, seemingly pondering this name, and after a while nodded: “Like.”

Lin Shuanghe’s eyes lit up: “What do you like about him?”

“Medicine… gave me…” He Yan held her head: “So sleepy.” As soon as she finished speaking, with a “plop,” she fell onto the nearby couch and began snoring heavily.

Lin Shuanghe stood up straight: “She said waist.”

Xiao Jue hadn’t heard clearly what He Yan said and was feeling irritated, “What?”

“She likes your waist,” Lin Shuanghe fanned himself: “How direct.”

Xiao Jue threw a teacup at him: “Get out!”

…

Meanwhile, in another room, Ying Xiang was putting away the empty wine jar.

The courtyard seemed to still hold traces of Chang’an Spring’s fragrance.

Chu Zhao removed his outer garment, wearing only his middle clothes, and sat down on the couch. The beds in Liangzhou Guard weren’t like those in Shuojing – though not as hard as sleeping platforms, they could hardly be called comfortable.

Ying Xiang walked over and knelt before the couch: “Young Master, your servant has failed to win over Young Master He.”

That youth called He Yan, so young, had drunk a jar of wine and appeared drunk, yet insisted on discussing military strategy with Chu Zhao. Chu Zhao didn’t understand military matters, so he just listened to the youth expound. Finally, probably tired, the youth was left alone.

Ying Xiang was very confident in her beauty. Though she wouldn’t claim everyone would fall for her charms, like Xiao Huaijin and Chu Zilan, dealing with a recruit from Liangzhou Guard, a mere youngster, should have been more than manageable. Yet tonight, despite her displaying all manner of gentle speech and alluring charm, He Yan’s gaze showed only appreciation, no hint of desire.

A man’s different way of looking at a woman is immediately apparent. That youth called He Yan, though amazed by her beauty, harbored no other thoughts.

This left Ying Xiang feeling defeated.

Her master, Chu Zhao, heard this and was first stunned, then shook his head and smiled, saying: “It’s not your fault.”

Ying Xiang looked up: “Fourth Young Master…”

Chu Zhao looked at the incense burning on the room’s table, it was calming incense brought from Shuojing – he always slept lightly and needed to bring it wherever he went.

Before his eyes flashed that fleeting glimpse at the Shuojing horse grounds – the woman’s lively eyes beneath white gauze.

“Who would have thought that among Liangzhou Guard’s recruits, there would be a woman?”

He slowly began to smile.

…

When He Yan woke up, she was in her room, sprawled across the bed, one leg dangling off the edge, not even covered by a blanket.

Outside, the sun was bright, shining through a crack in the window. The light stung her eyes, making it momentarily impossible to tell if it was day or night, or what time it was.

He Yan sat up and shook her head. Surprisingly, there was no hangover pain, instead, she felt refreshingly clear-headed. She thought that Chang’an Spring was indeed much better than Liangzhou Guard’s inferior yellow wine – though stronger, it didn’t cause headaches afterward. There was a reason for its premium price.

Last night, she had been pulled away by Chu Zhao and his servant girl to drink two cups of wine in Chu Zhao’s room. She seemed to have drunk a bit too much, the alcohol went to her head and made her very sleepy, and she didn’t know when she had returned to her room to sleep. But looking at the situation now, she probably hadn’t caused trouble like last time.

He Yan planned to get up and pour herself some tea – after sleeping all night, she was terribly thirsty. But as soon as she moved her hand, she felt something clutched in it. Looking down, she saw her right hand was still tightly gripping what appeared to be a jade pendant.

What was this thing? When did it end up in her hand? He Yan was stunned for a moment, opening her palm to examine it carefully.

The black jade pendant in her palm wasn’t large, but it was carved very intricately, with complex and magnificent snake patterns. As she moved it, it cast elegant reflections of light, unlike ordinary jade pendants.

Had she gone robbing while drunk last night? He Yan stared at the jade pendant in bewilderment, facing each other in confusion for a moment, still completely baffled.

Deciding to ask others about it, He Yan placed the jade pendant on the table first, then got up to wash and dress. Once ready, she grabbed the jade pendant and went out, planning to also ask Song Taotao if there were any leftover steamed buns – she had woken up too late and missed breakfast.

As soon as she stepped out, she met Shen Muxue, who lived nearby. Shen Muxue was carrying a medicine tray heading to the medical hall and stopped to greet He Yan when she saw her.

“Miss Shen,” He Yan asked, “Is Young Lady Song here? I need to see her about something.”

Shen Muxue replied, “She’s not in her room, she went to the training grounds. What do you need? If it’s important, I can relay the message when she returns later.”

He Yan scratched her head: “It’s nothing major. If she’s not here, never mind.” She turned to leave.

As she moved, the jade pendant in her hand became visible, causing Shen Muxue to pause and hesitate: “That jade…”

Oh? She seemed to know who owned this jade pendant.

“Miss Shen recognizes this jade pendant?” He Yan smiled casually.

Shen Muxue still looked surprised: “How did the Commander’s jade pendant end up with you?”

Xiao Jue’s?

How did Xiao Jue’s jade pendant end up with her? He Yan wanted to know this too – she had no idea! What exactly had she done after drinking last night? Had she gotten into another fight with Xiao Jue and stolen his jade?

Meeting Shen Muxue’s suspicious gaze, He Yan cleared her throat: “This is indeed the Commander’s jade pendant. Yesterday while talking with me, he found wearing it inconvenient, so he asked me to keep it for him temporarily. I… I was just about to return it to him.”

“But…”

“Miss Shen, Brother He.” Lin Shuanghe’s voice came from behind. He must have overheard part of He Yan and Shen Muxue’s conversation, and smiled while waving his fan, “Miss Shen, are you heading to the medical hall?”

Shen Muxue nodded gently.

“Then hurry along, or the medicine will get cold.” He then turned to He Yan: “Brother He hasn’t eaten yet, right? I have some pastries, have some to fill your stomach.”

He Yan said: “Thank you, Young Master Lin.”

After Shen Muxue bid them farewell, He Yan followed Lin Shuanghe to his room, hesitating to ask questions, not knowing where to begin.

Lin Shuanghe placed several plates of savory pastries on the table and poured her a cup of hot tea. Seeing her hesitant manner, he smiled knowingly: “Still thinking about the jade?”

He Yan was startled: “You know?”

“Last night when little sister He got drunk and went to Huaijin’s room, I was present throughout.” Lin Shuanghe propped his chin with his fan handle, “Little sister He truly opened my eyes.”

He Yan grew increasingly uneasy at his words, but thinking carefully, she had always been a person of restraint and couldn’t possibly have made a scene while drunk. At most, she might have sparred with Xiao Jue, but was he so weak that she not only beat him but also managed to steal his jade?

“Last night… I didn’t do anything inappropriate, did I?” she asked tentatively.

This question only made things worse, as Lin Shuanghe seemed to recall something amusing, first trying to hold back his laughter before completely losing control and breaking into table-slapping guffaws. He Yan watched as this refined young man laughed uncontrollably, completely losing his composure, nothing like an elegant young master from Shuojing.

He Yan grew increasingly anxious watching him, and when Lin Shuanghe finally stopped laughing, she asked: “Doctor Lin, what exactly did I do that you find so amusing?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Lin Shuanghe waved his hand, still laughing: “Actually, it wasn’t anything major, just that you gave Xiao Huaijin a taste of what it feels like to be a young father.”

The scallion pastry in He Yan’s hand dropped onto the table with a “plop.”

“I called him father?”

“Oh?” Lin Shuanghe said curiously, “You remember?”

He Yan covered her face – she truly didn’t remember. But she recalled a time during a He family feast in her youth when she had improved from last place to third last in her studies and hoped for her father’s praise. However, no one paid attention, and at the feast, she accidentally drank plum wine thinking it was an osmanthus drink. At that time, He Yan hadn’t yet joined the military and hadn’t developed her thousand-cup tolerance, so she passed out after one cup. They said she had hugged He Yuanliang’s leg, called him father, and asked for a reward.

The next day when she sobered up, the He family members all said it must have been because He Yuansheng was too strict with He Yan, causing her to mistake her second uncle for her father and act spoiled. But Madam He was very taboo about it and gave her a good scolding in private, warning her to never speak such words again.

But that remained an insurmountable barrier in her heart. Because she had never received affirmation, she especially yearned for it. Because she saw other sisters could act spoiled with their father, she longed for her father to pat her head and say: you’ve done well.

Perhaps seeing Lin Shuanghe in Liangzhou Guard now kept reminding her of those things from her youth. What occupies the mind during the day appears in dreams at night, and even when drunk she couldn’t escape it, instead becoming a laughingstock.

Well, what’s done is done, it’s not like she could turn back time. He Yan placed the jade on the table: “So what’s this about?”

“This is Huaijin’s reward to you.” Lin Shuanghe said, suppressing his laughter.

“Reward?”

“You recited texts very well, completing both ‘The Great Learning’ and ‘Wu Zi’s Art of War’ in front of Huaijin. He was very pleased and gave you his jade as a reward.”

He Yan: “…I stole it, didn’t I?”

Lin Shuanghe failed to hold back his laughter again, bursting out while fanning himself, “Little sister He, you should have seen Huaijin’s face then. I’ve known him for so long, and it was the first time I’ve seen him so flustered.”

“Tell me, what woman would dare to hug him and refuse to let go, forcing him to retreat step by step, and even make him give up his family heirloom jade without protest? Only you, sister,” he clasped his hands to He Yan, “only you!”

He Yan felt dizzy from his words but caught the key phrase: “Family heirloom?” She looked at the jade on the table: “This?”

“The night before Madam Xiao gave birth to Xiao Rubi, she dreamed of a black snake carrying two pieces of jade, coiling around the pillar at their mansion gate. After Xiao Jin was born, he was given the style name Rubi. ‘Like unto a gentleman, like metal, like tin, like a gui, like bi.'”

“When Xiao Jue was born, he was styled Huaijin.”

He Yan said: “Holding jade and gems, with nowhere to show them.”

“Yes, exactly!” Lin Shuanghe closed his fan, “Both brothers had names related to jade, and because Madam Xiao dreamed of the black snake, the Empress Dowager bestowed dual-colored jade, half black and half white, made into two snake-patterned pendants. The white one was given to Xiao Rubi and the black one to Xiao Huaijin. Since I’ve known Xiao Huaijin, I’ve never seen this jade pendant leave his person.”

He Yan looked at the jade pendant before her, suddenly feeling its weight worth thousands of gold.

“So as I said, little sister He, you have an excellent eye,” Lin Shuanghe praised admiringly. “Of all Xiao Huaijin’s possessions, apart from the person himself, only this jade is most valuable. You’ve captured both, thoroughly and beautifully done!”

Shen Han: I’ve witnessed true romance again!