He Yan still remembered that day at the hunting grounds. All the young men were around ten years old when they suddenly saw such an exceptionally beautiful young lady, naturally drawing their attention. It was Lin Shuanghe who remarked, “What a beautiful lady. If I were to say she deserves to be called the First Beauty of Shuojing City, I don’t think anyone would object?”

“No objections at all!”

“Who would have thought that Inspector Shen, with such a nasty temper, could have such a heavenly beautiful daughter.”

Inspector Shen was known for his upright and sharp personality, daring to speak directly even to Emperor Wenxuan. He was extremely strict in his daily affairs, and anyone in court who showed the slightest misconduct would be reported by him. Yet when the previous emperor was alive, he had praised Inspector Shen for embodying the spirit of Great Wei, and the current Empress Dowager was particularly fond of him. His position was unshakeable, so his court colleagues could only respect him from a distance. The more his colleagues isolated Inspector Shen, the more Emperor Wenxuan felt that Inspector Shen was a pitiable and upright official, a pure stream among his ministers, and treated him with extra tolerance.

With such a stone-faced father, it was surprising that his daughter possessed such contrasting beauty. When “unapproachable” was used to describe old men, it meant they were eccentric and harsh; when used for beautiful young ladies, it meant they were aloof and otherworldly.

He Yan remembered that although Shen Muxue was just a young girl at the time, after the hunt when they were counting the prey and Xiao Jue came forward to receive the emperor’s praise, his cloak fell to the ground. This should have been picked up by his servants, but Miss Shen, like a fairy, walked forward herself, picked up the cloak, and handed it to Xiao Jue on horseback.

At that time, all the young men were somewhat surprised. Someone sourly remarked, “It’s over, it’s over. While we were all chatting excitedly here, this lady set her eyes on Brother Huaijin.”

“How does Brother Huaijin attract all the ladies’ attention? At least leave some face for us.”

Lin Shuanghe sighed while fanning himself: “That’s naturally because Miss Shen also judges by appearance.”

He Yan followed everyone’s gaze. The young man on horseback was proud and graceful, while the lady below was reserved and beautiful. Just in terms of appearance, they could be called a divine couple, perfectly matched.

She quietly lowered her head, looking at her empty hands that hadn’t caught any prey, silently sighing. Outstanding people should be outstanding people. Perhaps all she could do was stand far away and watch others in their glory.

“Brother He?” Chu Zhao’s voice pulled He Yan back from her thoughts.

He Yan came back to her senses and asked, “Will Inspector Shen agree to Miss Shen traveling so far to Liangzhou?”

Inspector Shen had only one son and one daughter. Compared to his strictness with his eldest son, he was extremely doting on his younger daughter. Although Shen Muxue appeared obedient and courteous, He Yan didn’t consider it an unforgivable sin for women to enter military camps, in most people’s eyes, this would be considered rebellious. How could Inspector Shen, as an imperial inspector, allow his daughter to act so recklessly?

“Miss Shen was determined to go, and Inspector Shen couldn’t refuse. Moreover,” Chu Zhao smiled, “General Xiao when he was alive, had close relations with the Shen family. Inspector Shen and General Xiao were good friends. After the incident with the Xiao family, Inspector Shen provided much support. Commander Xiao is also promising at a young age. Inspector Shen trusts him, and secondly…” he paused, “he probably has thoughts of forming a marriage alliance with the Xiao family.”

He Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively objected, “How is that possible?”

Chu Zhao looked at her, seemingly not understanding her reaction, “Why not?”

“…The Commander usually stays away from women,” He Yan pretended to be casual, “He focuses solely on military affairs. I’ve noticed he doesn’t interact much with Shen Muxue either.”

Xiao Jue was cold to everyone, and he showed no special treatment to Shen Muxue.

“Ah Yan, you’re a lady,” Chu Zhao smiled, “You don’t understand men’s thoughts. If such an excellent, gentle lady silently accompanies him every day, following him in campaigns north and south without saying anything, even a heart of stone would be moved. Being moved turns into tender care, and tender care becomes love. The reason Commander Xiao hasn’t sent her away is because he has developed tender feelings.”

He Yan pressed her lips together without speaking, feeling that Chu Zhao’s words were quite unpleasant to hear.

“If it were you, would you also develop feelings from tender care?” He Yan asked.

Chu Zhao was startled for a moment, then shook his head, “No.”

“Then why wouldn’t you?”

Chu Zhao looked at her, a trace of amusement passing through his eyes: “I don’t like gentle ladies.”

“I prefer someone more lively and cheerful.”

He Yan glanced at him without speaking, thinking it was hard to imagine that someone as mild and quiet as Chu Zhao would prefer lively and cheerful people.

The room was right ahead, and Chu Zhao smiled, “I’ll see you off here. Rest early, you have daily training tomorrow.”

He Yan nodded, thanked him, and entered the room.

The middle door was closed today, and she didn’t know if Xiao Jue was asleep on the other side. Usually, He Yan would probably knock on the door or pick the lock to chat briefly, but today she wasn’t in the mood. After washing up and getting on the bed, she lay on her back, thinking about what Chu Zhao had said earlier, feeling somewhat disturbed.

Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue?

She hadn’t noticed before, but after hearing Chu Zhao’s words tonight, she realized she had overlooked some things. Why was Shen Muxue the only female doctor in the Liangzhou Guard? She had heard Shen Han address Shen Muxue as “Miss Shen” before. The instructors not only felt grateful towards Shen Muxue but even showed respect. So this was why.

The daughter of Inspector Shen, and the son of General Xiao, are both from matching backgrounds, matching in appearance, and even their fathers were good friends.

He Yan turned to face the wall, thinking bitterly that they were quite compatible.

…

The next day was daily training again.

With the experience from the first day, the second day was much more familiar. The Southern Garrison’s daily training had no two-person combat items, and without battles, it was peaceful. Moreover, the Southern Garrison mainly practiced battle formations, which He Yan was already familiar with. She could keep up with every formation change and never fell behind. This even surprised Tian Lang.

“How is it?” Shen Han watched He Yan in the formation and asked Tian Lang, “This kid is doing well, right?” Although He Yan was now part of the Southern Garrison, she had come from the Liangzhou Guard, and Shen Han was very concerned. Besides, this kid had a close relationship with Xiao Jue, so Shen Han thought he should show constant attention.

Tian Lang said, “The aptitude is good.”

Shen Han was amused inwardly. When He Yan first came to Liangzhou Guard, Xiao Jue himself had concluded that her aptitude was too poor. At that time, none of the instructors had high hopes for He Yan, thinking she would eventually be sent to become a cook, but unexpectedly, He Yan had come the farthest. Indeed, on the battlefield, who could predict anything?

Other instructors gathered around. At this time, the recruits of the Liangzhou Guard were resting, but the Southern Garrison had much less rest time, so they came to see how He Yan was adapting.

“Hasn’t brought shame to our Liangzhou Guard!” Liang Ping was very proud but tried to appear modest, “In the future, please teach this kid more, Deputy Commander Tian! Don’t mind our face, discipline as needed!”

Tian Lang: “…”

Ma Damei smiled, “Deputy Commander Tian, this young man learns quickly, and we’re not just bragging about Liangzhou Guard. If you teach him more, he’ll surely surprise you often in the future.”

Tian Lang was quite speechless. To him, He Yan was just a recruit with decent aptitude who happened to be trusted by Xiao Jue. But in terms of skills and abilities, there were too many excellent people in the Southern Garrison. Not to mention the Nine Banners Camp, it was just that Liangzhou Guard was remote, and having produced such a person, they treated them like a Buddha, showing their limited perspective.

As they were talking, a woman in moon-white clothes approached from afar. There was only one woman in Liangzhou Guard, and everyone said, “Miss Shen.”

Shen Muxue walked over.

She put down her basket and said, “I’ve gathered some herbs, already washed and dried them. Please trouble the instructors to have someone brew these herbs into medicine. With the change from spring to summer, each soldier should drink a spoonful to ward off the cold.”

Shen Han hurriedly thanked her: “Thank you for your trouble, Miss Shen.” He turned to order someone to take the basket away and immediately brew the medicine.

Shen Muxue didn’t leave immediately but looked at the soldiers training in the drill ground, her gaze falling on that small figure in the ranks.

He Yan blended in among them, clearly unremarkable in height, yet somehow impossible to ignore. Over these years, she had followed Xiao Jue to different places and met different people. Among so many recruits coming and going, only this one left a deep impression. Like a nimble wind, completely different from those around.

That box of hand cream… it was just an ordinary box of hand cream, and she rarely liked things or showed desire for them. For Xiao Jue, it would have been just a casual gesture. Yet he specifically stopped it, and soon after, she found it in He Yan’s possession.

Did Xiao Jue refuse her because of He Yan?

For a talented youth who might become a trusted subordinate in the future, showing extra care was natural. Shen Muxue understood, but even though Xiao Jue trusted his close attendants Chiyu and Feipu, that trust never extended to such minute details – it was almost like… almost like treating a lady. Thinking this way, Shen Muxue felt that Xiao Jue’s daily treatment of He Yan was indeed extraordinarily good. Though it was Cheng Lisu’s room, even after Cheng Lisu left, He Yan hadn’t moved out. A recruit living next to the Right Army Commander was quite unusual. Towards He Yan, Xiao Jue didn’t show the thousand-mile distance he maintained with others, and even allowed many of her out-of-line behaviors.

It was this indulgence that made Shen Muxue feel uneasy.

Perhaps it was because women’s thoughts were always particularly delicate, and their intuition unusually accurate. After Xiao Jue and He Yan returned this time, Shen Muxue felt even more that something was not quite right.

She didn’t want to leave yet, wanting to stay at the training ground a bit longer, so she said, “I’ve already prepared some in advance. Instructors, you can drink first. The medicine pot is not far away, please trouble the instructors to find someone to help me carry it.”

Shen Han said, “How could we trouble Miss Shen like this? I’ll go with you.” After saying this, he informed the others and walked away with Shen Muxue.

Looking at Shen Muxue’s departing figure, Liang Ping sighed, “Miss Shen truly has a Buddha’s heart, and she’s so beautiful too. How can there be such a perfect woman in this world? If one could marry her, even dying would be worth it.”

“You’re dreaming quite nicely,” another instructor heard this and mocked him, “How could an ordinary person like you dare to fancy Miss Shen? You should know that among so many talented young men in the court, she doesn’t look at any of them. How could she look at a mere instructor like you?”

“What’s wrong with being an instructor?” Liang Ping refused to accept this. “Since Miss Shen is willing to lower herself to come to such a harsh place as Liangzhou, and doesn’t look down on us rough people, even brewing medicine for everyone, it shows she doesn’t discriminate between rich and poor, and has a noble and kind heart. Such a person would only look at one’s character.” He mumbled quietly, “My character is very good, what if… just what if…”

Ma Damei couldn’t listen anymore: “She didn’t lower herself for you.”

“That’s right, Old Shen, she did it for Commander Xiao. How can you compare yourself to Commander Xiao? Are you as handsome as Commander Xiao? Are your martial skills as extraordinary as his? Whether it’s family background, scholarship, bearing, or strategy, you’re inferior to him in every way, yet you dare to speak so presumptuously here. If I were Miss Shen and heard you being so impudent, I’d have servants beat you to death with a stick to prevent you from damaging her reputation.”

Liang Ping: “…Are you still my brothers?”

As they were talking, they heard a voice from the side: “Instructors!”

Everyone looked over. The Southern Garrison troops were now at rest, and He Yan, seeing the instructors standing on the high platform, came to greet them. Perhaps because she was no longer part of the Liangzhou Guard and Tian Lang was now her superior, her relationship with the former instructors was more like friendship. She jumped onto the platform, walked to the middle of the group, greeted them one by one, and asked with a smile, “What were you all discussing so enthusiastically just now?”

“We were talking about how we have a toad among us dreaming of eating swan meat,” an instructor answered with a grin.

He Yan asked curiously, “What does that mean?”

“We were talking about Medical Lady Shen,” Ma Damei explained with a smile, “Saying how Medical Lady Shen is noble in status, pure in character, and beloved by all.”

He Yan froze, but someone who didn’t know better came close and mysteriously told He Yan, “Brother He, do you know Medical Lady Shen’s background?”

If this had been before last night, He Yan would have been quite surprised, but having learned about Shen Muxue’s identity from Chu Zhao, she no longer found it strange. That person couldn’t keep secrets either, and without waiting for He Yan to speak, continued, “Medical Lady Shen is the young lady of the current Inspector’s household! Someone of such noble status, if not for Commander Xiao, how would she travel thousands of miles like this? If I had such a beauty treating me this way, in this life, I would be good only to her!”

He Yan thought to herself, had she recently been cursed to keep running into Shen Muxue’s name? Why did everyone have to line up to stab her heart?

“What you’re all saying is unreliable,” Liang Ping refused to give up, stubbornly insisting, “If Commander Xiao liked Miss Shen, why hasn’t he said anything until now? I’m a man, I understand best – when a man likes a woman, he can’t hide it. If he can hide it, it means he doesn’t like her that much. The world is so big, why should Miss Shen hang herself on one tree? She should open her eyes and look around, perhaps fate is right beside her.”

“Liang Ping, you’re sick, and seriously so. I think Medical Lady Shen should send you some medicine to check your eyes. How did your brain grow to say such shameless words?”

As everyone was arguing noisily, Tian Lang quietly moved a step aside; he didn’t want to join in discussing his superior’s private matters. If he got caught, he’d really be in trouble.

He Yan also wanted to slip away, not wanting to hear these heartbreaking words, but everyone wouldn’t let her go. An instructor patted her shoulder: “Brother He, why aren’t you saying anything? You’re one of us too, come on, tell us, aren’t Medical Lady Shen and Commander Xiao a match made in heaven? Isn’t Old Shen being presumptuous?”

He Yan: “…”

Everyone looked at her eagerly, as if her comment was crucial.

He Yan steeled herself, and despite the unwillingness in her heart, forced a smile and said, “…Yes, Miss Shen is a noble lady, radiant as spring flowers. Commander Xiao is jade-like in appearance, handsome and dignified, they are indeed a match made in heaven.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt overwhelmed with grievance. She wondered what she had done to deserve this – it was bad enough hearing others stab her heart, but now she had to stab herself too.

“What about their status? Isn’t that also well-matched?”

He Yan: “…Yes, the Right Army Commander and the Inspector’s daughter are from the same world. It has nothing to do with us.”

“Brother He, you’re now much trusted by the Commander. Perhaps when the Commander gets married, he’ll invite you to the ceremony. For such a congratulatory event, shouldn’t you start saving money now to prepare a wedding gift?”

He Yan carefully memorized this speaker’s face, gritting her teeth inwardly while maintaining an outwardly casual appearance, “Of course, for such a joyous occasion, I must prepare a grand gift.”

Everyone burst into laughter and began giving He Yan suggestions about what to give when Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue got married, none noticing He Yan’s stiff expression.

“Are you all very free?” a cold voice sounded from behind.

Everyone turned to look – sometime earlier, Xiao Jue had arrived, with Shen Muxue and Shen Han carrying the medicine pot behind him.

Knowing they had been caught discussing their superior’s private matters, everyone fell silent in fear, not daring to say a word. They still harbored some hope that Xiao Jue hadn’t heard much, otherwise, given his temperament, he would have stopped them at the beginning if he had heard. Speaking only now probably meant he had just arrived.

Xiao Jue stepped forward, his dark blue brocade robe making his face appear as refined as jade, his bearing as elegant as the moon, but his voice was cold. Though his words were directed at everyone, his eyes were fixed on He Yan, his gaze as sharp and deep as a hidden blade.

“If you have time to gossip here, I assume your daily training is going very well?”

The instructors immediately became like quails, none daring to speak. Tian Lang was greatly relieved, glad that he had the foresight to not join these rabble in their misconduct. See? Didn’t they just get caught? He immediately stood even straighter with pride, showing himself to be distinctly different from others in his uprightness.

Shen Han was also lamenting inwardly, thinking he should have let Liang Ping go with Shen Muxue to get the medicine pot. When he and Shen Muxue returned, they met Xiao Jue walking toward the training ground, and the three came together, arriving just in time to hear everyone asking He Yan if Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue were well-matched.

The person who asked this question was truly ill-intentioned! How could they make He Yan answer such a question? Wasn’t this just stabbing someone in the heart? Before he could see clearly who had asked this brilliant question, he heard He Yan’s unhesitating answer.

“…Yes, Miss Shen is a noble lady, radiant as spring flowers. Commander Xiao is jade-like in appearance, handsome and dignified, they are indeed a match made in heaven.”

Shen Han could immediately feel the cold aura emanating from the person beside him. Secretly glancing at Xiao Jue again, his expression was as ugly as if his wife had been stolen.

Shen Han beat his chest inwardly – why did he always have to witness such embarrassing things? He had lived his life honestly and cautiously, never doing anything bad, why was it so difficult?

He Yan looked at Xiao Jue. The young commander looked at her expressionlessly, a trace of mockery at his lips: “As a recruit, mixing with the instructors. Since you have so much energy, it seems your daily training load isn’t enough.”

He turned to Tian Lang and said coldly: “He Yan’s daily training can be doubled.”

Tian Lang: “…Yes.”

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow coldly: “Why aren’t you going?”

He Yan looked at him once: “Yes.” She turned and jumped down from the platform, walking toward the troops.

She could feel that Xiao Jue was dissatisfied with her. But… shouldn’t she be the more angry one? He Yan entered the ranks, and picked up her long spear again, her gaze falling on the figure on the platform. By his side stood Shen Muxue, like a jade beauty, a perfect match.

He Yan lowered her head.

The instructors were each punished and left dejectedly. Before leaving, they were warned that if anyone in the Liangzhou Guard spoke such nonsense again, they would be sent packing back home.

Tian Lang had long since escaped using the excuse of needing to drill formations, leaving only Shen Han, who wished he could turn into a decoration, and Shen Muxue on the training ground.

Shen Muxue stood behind Xiao Jue, looking at his straight, tree-like figure, feeling an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

Earlier when she and Shen Han arrived here and heard people discussing her and Xiao Jue together, besides embarrassment, she was delighted.

She liked hearing these things, liked hearing her name tied together with Xiao Jue’s. It was as if this somehow proved her relationship with Xiao Jue, also hinting that she was special to him. So when she heard He Yan say those words, Shen Muxue was very happy.

But when she raised her head and saw Xiao Jue’s instantly condensed gaze, she was stunned.

She dared not say she completely understood Xiao Jue, but she did understand much about this man’s joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. He didn’t like hearing people say such things – completely different from her secret joy, Xiao Jue was even somewhat angry.

Why would someone be angry hearing such things? There was only one reason – the person simply didn’t like her.

Xiao Jue didn’t like her.

Shen Muxue’s expression darkened, and within her gloom, there was also some confusion. If he didn’t like hearing it, he could ignore it, but such anger was still somewhat unexpected. Xiao Jue was someone who rarely showed his emotions, and for many things, he was mostly indifferent.

He cared very much about this, why?

Shen Han: [Witnessing a major breakup scene between the couple]