When those words were spoken, everyone in the room fell silent. Even Lin Shuanghe, who typically showed little interest in state affairs, displayed a puzzled expression.

After all, it seemed absurd that their emperor would show such consideration for an enemy nation that had invaded and suffered defeat.

“Currently in court, the Crown Prince, Minister Xu, and the civil officials largely support making peace, while the military commanders haven’t yet taken a position,” Yang Mingzhi looked toward Xiao Jue. “I wanted to ask what you all think about this.”

“Is that even a question?” Yan He said, “We’re not spineless. When someone slaps us, should we turn the other cheek? I must drive the Wuto people back to their homeland and ensure they never dare step foot in Great Wei again!”

“That puts my mind at ease,” Yang Mingzhi said gravely. “However… I’m not sure if your words can change His Majesty’s mind.”

After discussing recent Wuto movements, everyone rose to leave. Given Yang Mingzhi’s news, Xiao Jue and the others no longer planned to stay in Jinling for extra days. Since Wuto envoys were already en route to Shuojing, they needed to hurry back to have an audience with the emperor. Currently, Shuojing was dominated by Minister Xu’s people, and even those who weren’t his supporters were pressured into silence. If they truly agreed to Wuto’s peace terms and even allowed gambling houses in Great Wei, it would bring countless harms and no benefits to the common people.

After regrouping their forces, everyone had lunch before departing. Xiao Jue and Yan He rode horses at the front with the troops, while He Yan and Lin Shuanghe shared one carriage, and Chu Zhao and Ying Xiang’s carriage followed at the back.

Between the two riders, Xiao Jue asked, “After the Xianchang Academy incident, have you seen He Rufei?”

Yan He was startled before replying, “I’m not close with him. I’ve only seen him a few times from afar since he was appointed general. But since he became a general, have you seen him lead troops except for the Huayuan battle? I think he’s grown too comfortable with an easy life, which is why he performed so poorly at Huayuan. Why are you asking about him? Want to reminisce about old times?”

Xiao Jue didn’t answer his question and continued asking, “The He Rufei you saw later, was he different from before?”

“Different? How would I know?” Yan He frowned. “I haven’t been following him around. Though he has grown taller these years, a bit more than before. He seems better at smooth talking too. Before I went to Ling Prefecture, I heard the He family was planning to arrange his marriage. Xiao Huaijin,” he glanced at his companion, “if He Rufei marries before you… don’t tell me you can’t even beat He Rufei in this?”

Xiao Jue ignored him and rode ahead.

In the carriage, He Yan was unaware of the conversation between Xiao Jue and Yan He. As they got closer to Shuojing, her worries grew heavier. Lin Shuanghe noticed and sat across from her, asking, “Sister He, what’s wrong? I’ve felt something was off since I first saw you in Rundu. You’ve barely spoken these days. Are you facing some trouble? If you have any difficulties, just tell your brother, and I’ll help you find a solution.”

He Yan gave a bitter smile.

She was just thinking about how to expose He Rufei after returning to Shuojing. Now that she had become the Wuan Lang, her position was more advantageous than her previous status as a military officer’s daughter for approaching the He and Xu families. However, the position of Wuan Lang came with many restrictions. The confidants who could prove He Rufei’s true identity had been silenced by him. Regarding human testimony, it was quite difficult, so she had to approach it from another angle. The Xu family shared this secret.

If she could start with the Xu family, they might implicate the He family for self-preservation… their alliance would crumble. After all, alliances formed for profit were never too stable.

He Yan was lost in thought when Lin Shuanghe waved his hand in front of her, “Sister He?”

He Yan looked at him and said, “I’m thinking about what to do after returning to the capital.” She counted on her fingers, “Brother Lin knows I fled from Shuojing and got involved in a court case. The neighbors all know I’m a woman, so it’s not time to return openly yet. I probably need to meet my father and brothers in secret.” She pondered for a moment, “From His Majesty’s previous conferment, I still have some silver left. It’s enough to rent a small residence, but I can’t appear in person. If Brother Lin has connections, could you help arrange this? I’ll pay you every cent.”

After hearing her words, Lin Shuanghe slapped his thigh, “I thought it was some big trouble. This is simple, leave it to your brother.” He lifted the carriage curtain and called out, “Huaijin, Huaijin!”

Xiao Jue paused, slowed down, and rode back to the carriage, asking, “What is it?”

Lin Shuanghe flashed him a smile, “I just promised Brother He to help rent a residence in the city when we return to Shuojing. But you know renting a house isn’t done in a day or two. Before finding a suitable place, could Brother He stay at your manor? Your Xiao family compound is spacious; sparing a room for Brother He shouldn’t be difficult, right?”

He Yan never expected Lin Shuanghe to suggest this and hurriedly said, “Brother Lin, that’s not what you said earlier. Commander, it’s fine, I can stay at an inn…”

“Staying at an inn wastes money,” Lin Shuanghe said. “You’re so young, how can you be so wasteful, not understanding the virtue of frugality? Listen to me, stay at Huaijin’s place. Huaijin, give us an answer, will you?”

Xiao Jue glanced at He Yan, who stiffened, then saw him give a slight nod, “Alright.”

He Yan: “…”

After saying this, Xiao Jue rode forward again. Lin Shuanghe lowered the carriage curtain and looked at He Yan triumphantly, “See, isn’t this the perfect solution?”

He Yan leaned weakly against the carriage, thinking this was truly a fateful bond – not only had they failed to maintain distance, but they were getting closer, even living in Xiao Jue’s home.

Though staying at Xiao Jue’s house did have its advantages. Being by Xiao Jue’s side on various occasions meant more chances to see Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, possibly discovering useful clues.

She suppressed the barely noticeable excitement in her heart, coughed lightly, and told herself silently, that it must be for this reason.

In Shuojing, at the Xu family residence, a servant guarded the study door while people talked inside.

Two men sat at a small table, one in scholar’s robes with a refined demeanor, the other also a handsome young man but with a more reserved and profound look in his eyes. They were contemplating the chess board before them, where black and white pieces were scattered in what appeared to be a chaotic game.

These two men were the Xu family’s eldest son, current Hanlin Academy Scholar Xu Zhiheng, and He Rufei, who had recently returned to the capital after a bitter victory against the Wuto forces at Huayuan.

“Second Young Master Xiao is about to return to the capital,” Xu Zhiheng placed a piece, “After the Return to Virtue General and Second Young Master Xiao return, they will surely advise His Majesty to drive the Wuto people out of Great Wei.”

He Rufei remained silent, staring at the chess board.

“Is Brother He still thinking about the Huayuan incident?” Xu Zhiheng smiled faintly, “Everyone who knows has passed away. Brother He can rest assured, that no one else in this world will know this secret. Even if someone does know, they have no evidence and can’t turn the tables anymore.”

He Rufei glanced at him, “Young Master Xu seems a bit too relaxed. Don’t forget, back when studying at Xianchang Academy, Xiao Huaijin, Yan Nanguang, and Lin Shuanghe all knew He Rufei.”

“So what?” Xu Zhiheng spoke dismissively, “The young He Rufei wasn’t particularly close with his classmates. If they were close, his identity wouldn’t have remained undiscovered despite years of studying together. I think Brother He is overthinking. Even if Xiao Huaijin and Yan Nanguang return to Shuojing, you won’t have much interaction with them.”

He Rufei placed another piece, “Let’s hope so.”

In his mind, he suddenly recalled last night’s nightmare. In the dream, he was leading troops in battle at Huayuan when suddenly a sword struck from behind. Unable to dodge, he was stabbed in the heart. As he fell, he saw someone approach and kneel before him.

It was a young person wearing a mask and armor. As they slowly removed their mask, revealing a familiar, beautiful, and heroic face, He Yan smiled at him and softly said, “Big Brother—”

He Rufei jolted awake, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Although He Yan had been dead for over a year, her name was gradually forgotten by the world – or rather, she had never been remembered by the world. Days had passed peacefully for so long, yet she still appeared in his dreams at such a crucial moment, leaving him unable to sleep.

“Your concubine…” he said.

Xu Zhiheng’s expression turned cold, “She’s dead.”

He Yan died at He Wanru’s hands. A month after He Yan’s death, he found a casual excuse to have He Wanru beaten to death. The body was dragged to a mass grave and probably long since devoured by wolves and wild dogs. If somehow… if somehow something was discovered in the future, everything could be blamed on He Wanru. All the thugs, servants, and maids involved that day were also dealt with, and the entire Xu household staff was completely replaced.

He Yan was a general in life; in death, she had so many servants accompanying her. This could be considered fulfilling the bond between husband and wife.

“Very good,” He Rufei said coldly, “Don’t let there be any loose ends.”

Just then, someone knocked on the study door. Xu Zhiheng rose to open it, and a young woman entered. She was also in the prime of youth and looking closely, her features bore a three-part resemblance to He Yan, but lacked the heroic determination forged on the battlefield, instead showing more delicate sweetness, like the tender spring flowers of Shuojing city, every movement revealing her pampered upbringing and pleasing nature.

This was Xu Zhiheng’s newly wedded wife, now Madam Xu, He Xinying, who was also the second legitimate daughter of He Yuansheng, He Rufei’s cousin, and He Yan’s biological sister.

“Big Brother, husband, while you were talking, I had the kitchen prepare some snacks,” He Xinying smiled as she placed several plates of pastries on the small table. “You can have something to eat if you’re tired from talking.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Xu Zhiheng said warmly, pulling her to sit beside him, “Do sit with us.”

He Xinying sat down next to Xu Zhiheng as instructed and looked at He Rufei, smiling, “Big Brother hasn’t visited the Xu family for some time. Are Father and Mother well?”

He Rufei gave a slight nod: “They’re fine, you needn’t worry.”

He Xinying didn’t know what else to say. She wasn’t close with this cousin in the past. He Rufei had been particularly solitary since youth, often wearing a mask. The He family all knew He Rufei wore the mask to hide his ugliness. When He Xinying was young, seeing He Rufei always alone at He family banquets, she felt sorry for him. But when she tried to approach him several times, He Rufei avoided her like the plague, and after a few attempts, He Xinying gave up on the idea.

Later, He Rufei joined the army without the He family’s knowledge and earned military merit. This elevated the status of all unwed He family young ladies, including her legitimate elder sister, the famous invalid from the He family’s second branch.

When He Yan returned to the He family, He Xinying was already quite grown. At that time, because of He Rufei’s influence, the He family had arranged a good marriage for He Yan. The Xu family’s eldest son, Xu Zhiheng, was already a Hanlin Academy Scholar at a young age and was refined and handsome. He Xinying had once envied this sister – despite being so sickly and absent from the capital for years, completely unknown among the capital’s noble ladies. Yet upon returning, she immediately became the principal wife of the Xu family. What incredible fortune.

However, this envy disappeared after He Yan’s death. He Xinying grieved for He Yan; though she had little emotional connection with this sister, blood was thicker than water. Just when she had secured a good marriage and was about to enjoy prosperity, her life was cut short.

Strangely, after He Yan’s death, when the He and Xu families held a grand funeral for her, all of Shuojing knew the He family valued this deceased legitimate daughter from the second branch. But only He Xinying understood that within the He family, except for her mother, everyone – including her father – didn’t seem as grieved as outsiders believed.

After the funeral, except for occasionally wiping away tears when He Yan was mentioned in public, the family rarely spoke of her. It was as if the legitimate eldest daughter of the He family’s second branch had never existed.

He Xinying felt something was amiss, but before she could figure out why the family was so cold toward her sister, He Yuansheng suddenly arranged her marriage to Xu Zhiheng, wanting her to be his second wife.

Though Xu Zhiheng was a widower, he remained a desirable match in Shuojing. Especially after He Yan’s death, his display of deep love made many young ladies admire him even more. Although He Xinying knew Xu Zhiheng was exceptional, she was extremely reluctant to marry into the Xu family. Sisters serving the same husband wasn’t uncommon in Shuojing, but usually, it was legitimate daughters as principal wives and concubine daughters as secondary wives, supporting each other. When had there ever been two legitimate daughters marrying the same man one after another? The He family’s daughters weren’t difficult to marry off. She was young and beautiful, with a good family background – wouldn’t it be better to find a suitable young master and be a principal wife than to become Madam Xu?

But on this matter, He Yuanliang, who usually doted on her, was unusually firm. And her mother, the second Madam He, though willing to fight for her, was powerless – in the He family, women’s words never counted.

Thus He Xinying married into the Xu family against her wishes.

After marrying into the Xu family, He Xinying discovered Xu Zhiheng was even more considerate and gentle than she had imagined. It was easy to fall for a handsome and outstanding husband who cared for her in everything, and indeed, Xu Zhiheng was very appealing to women. His occasional displays of regret and remembrance for his deceased wife made people believe even more that he was a man of deep feelings, worthy of lifelong commitment.

After He Xinying married into the Xu family, her cousin He Rufei visited her occasionally. He Xinying was somewhat flattered – she was now probably the best-married among all the He family young ladies, enjoying all the fortune that He Yan hadn’t been able to.

Only sometimes it felt unreal.

“Oh right, Big Brother, husband,” He Xinying spoke up, “Previously every autumn, I would go to the temple in the mountains with Mother to pray for blessings. Though I’m not at home this year, I still want to go with Mother.”

Xu Zhiheng smiled, “Of course you can. If I’m free that day, I’ll accompany you.”

He Xinying replied joyfully, “That would be wonderful.”

After sitting for a while longer, she rose and left, leaving Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei to talk. After leaving, her maid Xiaoliu asked, “Madam, are we returning to your quarters?”

He Xinying shook her head, “Let’s take a walk.”

In the courtyard, the summer pond was lush with green, its water as still as a mirror. The He family’s ponds were always full of lotus flowers, fragrant at this time of year, but the Xu family’s pond had not even a single artificial mountain, let alone lotus flowers.

Though Xu Zhiheng was a refined person, this pond alone seemed like dead water, looking like a bottomless abyss after staring at it for too long as if it could pull someone down at any moment. Her sister He Yan had drowned here after losing her footing. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps due to their blood connection, whenever she walked here, the wind felt especially cold and the water particularly chilling, making her uncomfortable.

He Xinying looked away.

Her dowry maid Xiaoiu asked, “Madam, why didn’t you stay longer in the room earlier? The longer you stay… the better the Xu family will treat you.”

He Xinying understood that the Xu family’s master and mistress were so generous to her as their daughter-in-law largely because of He Rufei. The closer her relationship with this “Flying Swan General” brother, the less likely the Xu family would dare mistreat her.

He Xinying shook her head with a self-mocking smile, “Big Brother wasn’t here to see me anyway, how long I stayed wouldn’t have made any difference.”

If anyone who knew He Yan was present, they would notice that in this sweet and soft face, the understanding and brightness in her eyes were so similar to the former “Madam Xu.”

It was all just self-deception.

In less than a month, from Jinling to Shuojing, with stops for rest and hurried travel, they finally reached the city gates before the beginning of autumn.

At Shuojing’s city gates, guards who had received word had already opened the gates wide. As the troops entered the city, people along the streets pointed and stared at the procession.

He Yan and Lin Shuanghe remained hidden in their carriage, avoiding these stares. Lin Shuanghe was restless and said to He Yan, “If I had known it would be this impressive, I should have asked Huaijin for a horse. On horseback, the young ladies would have had a better view of my face.”

“…Even without being on horseback, Brother Lin, the young ladies of Shuojing are quite familiar with your face already,” He Yan reassured him.

“That’s true,” hearing her say this, Lin Shuanghe thought carefully and stopped fretting about it.

He Yan herself had no particular thoughts about being in the spotlight. When she had returned to the capital with the victorious Fuyue Army years ago, it had been just as lively as today, but she had worn a mask then, extremely uncomfortable and afraid of being discovered. After returning to the He family, the next day, the real “He Rufei” had taken her place to receive all the subsequent glory and burdens.

She had never faced anything that came with being the “Flying Swan General” using her face.

The carriage creaked to a stop, and Yan He’s voice came from outside: “How much longer are you going to sit in there? We’re almost at the palace gates.”

He Yan started and got out with Lin Shuanghe.

After entering the city, Chu Zhao had already separated from their carriage, only sending a servant to inform them. He Yan didn’t mind – they weren’t traveling companions anyway, so splitting up was natural. It’s not like Chu Zhao could also stay at the Xiao manor with her.

“Commander, are we…” He Yan asked.

“I need to enter the palace,” Xiao Jue glanced at her, “You wait in the carriage.”

“Wait,” Yan He looked at him puzzled, “Why aren’t you taking this young man along? You’ll certainly have an audience with His Majesty, and this is a good chance to let His Majesty get to know him better, which would benefit his future career. As someone’s superior, you should seize every opportunity to promote your subordinates. Or are you afraid the He fellow might surpass you in achievements, so you’re deliberately holding him back?”

He Yan was truly impressed by Yan He – out of all possibilities, he always managed to think of the most ridiculous one.

“Now is not the time,” Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered to explain to Yan He, and looked at He Yan, unusually patient as he asked her, “Will you be all right by yourself here?”

He Yan smiled, “What could happen to me? Commander, please go ahead, I’ll just take a nap in the carriage.”

Lin Shuanghe sensed something and poked his head out, “Huaijin, do you mean I have to enter the palace too?”

Xiao Jue gave him a cold look.

Lin Shuanghe coughed lightly, “May I ask, can I not go?”

“No,” Xiao Jue said with a cold smile, “Although I wrote to ask you to come to Liangzhou, you didn’t tell anyone in the Lin family before leaving. The urgent letters from Doctor Lin piled up in my tent looking for you, do you want to see them now?”

Lin Shuanghe smiled awkwardly, “I was just… thinking that since you were looking for me it must have been urgent, and when people are anxious, they don’t think straight, I forgot, yes, I forgot to tell my family.”

Yan He stood watching with folded arms, coolly commenting as if hoping for chaos, “Aren’t you his good friend? Taking the blame for him won’t kill you.”

Lin Shuanghe was deeply moved: “Brother Nanguang, after knowing you for so many years, I finally heard something sensible from you.”

“Shut up,” Xiao Jue frowned slightly with impatience, and Lin Shuanghe immediately fell silent. After he got out of the carriage, Xiao Jue was about to leave with them when he suddenly remembered something and walked back to the carriage.

He Yan lifted the carriage curtain to look at him.

“Stay here, don’t wander off. There are many people and eyes around the palace,” Xiao Jue instructed her, then paused, his tone softening slightly, “Wait for me to come out of the palace, then I’ll take you home.”