Due to the need to take care of Song Taotao, the carriage moved slowly, taking more time than the journey there. By the time they reached Liangzhou Guard, it was already dusk.
Shen Han and his group had been waiting on the horse path outside the garrison. When he saw Xiao Jue get down from the carriage, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
During their time in Liangzhou City, they hadn’t received any letters about what Xiao Jue was doing there, and their hearts had been suspended for several days, fearing something might go wrong. Looking at the situation now, it seemed to have been resolved smoothly. Just as Shen Han was about to speak, he heard Liang Ping say, “This… why is there a young lady?”
A young lady? They saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl in a pink dress jump down from the carriage in front, delicate and lovely, with a beautiful face like flowers and the moon.
Looking at He Yan on the side, who appeared listless and yawned, showing signs of fatigue, Shen Han was greatly shocked. The Commander went to Liangzhou and brought back a girl – was this a decision to cut ties with He Yan?
However, doing this in front of He Yan seemed too heartless.
While he was thinking, another young voice came from behind: “Uncle, Big Brother, you’re finally back!”
Bouncing over like a rabbit was Program Li Su, accompanied by the medical lady Shen Muxue in white clothes, who was extraordinarily beautiful. Program Li Su first complained to Shen Han: “Head Instructor Shen, how could you not tell me when Uncle returned? If I hadn’t heard it myself, wouldn’t I have missed the chance to welcome Uncle back?”
“Big Brother, I see you’ve returned safely, so this journey must have been successful. That fellow Yuan Baozhen has left, right? I knew you could do it… Huh?” His joyful expression shattered when he saw Song Taotao, his tone instantly becoming harsh as he jumped up pointing at Song Taotao and demanded: “Second Miss Song, why are you here?”
“What’s with that expression?” Song Taotao frowned.
“We met Miss Song in Liangzhou City,” He Yan smiled and said, “It was quite a coincidence. Miss Song will be staying at the garrison for a while.” She didn’t elaborate on how they met Song Taotao, covering up for her.
“Big Brother,” Program Li Su looked at him in disbelief, “I asked you to help me avoid Yuan Baozhen so I wouldn’t be forced to marry. Yet you directly brought her to me? Are you trying to make my life miserable?”
“Cheng Li Su,” Song Taotao couldn’t stand it anymore. She stood up with her hands on her hips and shouted back at him fiercely, “You think I want to see you? To be honest, I came to Liangzhou City to escape marriage too. If I hadn’t met Second Master Xiao, I wouldn’t have come here. You don’t want to marry me? Well, I wouldn’t lower myself to marry you either! A useless young master, dreaming of being worthy of me – you might as well dream of marrying Xi Shi – how dare you!”
When it came to sharp tongues, Cheng Li Su was no match for Song Taotao. At this moment, he particularly regretted not reading more books, as he didn’t even have any good phrases to curse with.
“…You shrew!” That was all he could say, without much force.
“Still better than being useless like you.” Song Taotao rolled her eyes at him.
These two bickering enemies started arguing right there, forcing Liang Ping to step forward as peacemaker: “Young Master Cheng, the Commander, and others have traveled most of the day, they must be tired now. Why don’t we let them rest for a while and have some food before continuing this discussion?”
With someone offered a way out, Cheng Li Su naturally took it, saying, “I won’t argue with you anymore, I’m concerned about my uncle and big brother!”
Finally, the immediate situation was temporarily defused.
Shen Muxue, who had been silent all this time, walked up to Xiao Jue and said, “Second Master, in the secret message sent back earlier, it mentioned someone was injured…”
Everyone present appeared normal.
Xiao Jue glanced at He Yan, and He Yan immediately said, “It was me!”
Shen Muxue: “…Do you have any discomfort?”
“Just some superficial wounds,” He Yan smiled and said, “I trouble Miss Shen to find me some medicine for external injuries, the kind from last time would be good.”
Song Taotao heard this and looked at her in surprise: “Young Master He, you were injured?” She hadn’t seen when He Yan was injured and had thought nothing had happened.
Cheng Li Su pulled He Yan away, watching Song Taotao like a thief: “Shrew, stay away from my Big Brother!”
The two started arguing again.
He Yan: “…”
The energy of young people was truly enviable.
After returning to the garrison, everyone rested for a while and had dinner. By then, the sky had completely darkened.
Shen Han said to Xiao Jue: “Commander’s room has been cleaned daily, and today I changed the bedding. Commander can just move in.”
Xiao Jue’s cleanliness was almost to the point of obsession, so Shen Han had made thorough preparations.
Xiao Jue nodded and was about to walk in when He Yan grabbed his sleeve: “Wait!”
Was this going to be a private conversation? Shen Han pondered, that such a scene was not appropriate for an outsider like him to participate in, so he said, “Commander, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.” Without waiting for Xiao Jue’s response, he hurriedly left.
He Yan pushed Xiao Jue into the room.
Xiao Jue coldly said: “What is it?”
“Commander, have you forgotten what you promised me? You are General Feng Yun, you must keep your word.”
“What did I say?” Xiao Jue looked at her calmly.
Thinking he was trying to go back on his word, He Yan became anxious, “Didn’t we agree before returning that you would arrange new quarters for me? I can’t stay in the dormitory, it’s not convenient for bathing and changing bandages.”
Before Xiao Jue could answer, another voice rang out, “If it’s just changing rooms, why do you need him? I can help you too!”
They turned to look and saw Cheng Li Su had come over. Cheng Li Su’s room was originally next to Xiao Jue’s, with a connecting door between them that divided the large house into two rooms. Usually, when Cheng Li Su was forced to copy books, Xiao Jue would watch him while reading, so the connecting door was never closed. Now Cheng Li Su had jumped over from his room, being overly familiar.
“Big Brother, how do you like my room?”
He Yan: “Hm?”
“If you think my room is not bad, I can switch rooms with you.” The young master Cheng eagerly said, “We can move tonight, I’ll go pack my belongings now! What do you think, Big Brother?”
He Yan was a bit dazed, while Xiao Jue frowned at his nephew who usually didn’t think like normal people, asking, “What are you up to?”
“Uncle,” Cheng Li Su said with a dejected face, “It’s because you brought that shrew back. I just asked Head Instructor Liang, that Song Taotao is temporarily staying with Medical Lady Shen, just fifteen steps away from us. If I stay here, won’t I have to see her every day? Just looking at her now makes me dizzy, I’d rather not. Since Big Brother also wants to change rooms, I can just switch with Big Brother. When Song Taotao leaves, we can switch back.”
He Yan: “Alright!”
Xiao Jue: “No.”
Cheng Li Su’s dislike for Song Taotao exceeded his respect for his uncle. He pretended not to hear Xiao Jue’s words and happily went back to pack his things. Xiao Jue angrily said, “Come back here!” He reached out to grab him but was blocked by He Yan.
Cheng Li Su took the opportunity to run away, closing the connecting door with a “bang.”
Xiao Jue: “Cheng Li Su!”
“Being so fierce will scare the child,” He Yan smiled at him, “Commander, Young Master Cheng has already agreed. When both parties are willing, why are you being the unreasonable one blocking it?”
The way she said it made Xiao Jue seem like an unreasonable person trying to break up a good arrangement.
Xiao Jue coldly smiled: “What gives you the right?”
“Just that I… am only one red birthmark away from being the woman the Commander deeply loves.” He Yan looked at him with a beaming smile.
The room instantly fell silent.
Xiao Jue turned away his gaze in disdain: “Miss He, you can’t be thinking of staying at Liangzhou Guard?”
“Regarding this matter, I have never lied.” He Yan’s smile faded as she spoke seriously, “Moreover, I truly want to join the Nine Banners Camp.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“I always know when to stop.” He Yan said: “Commander, I only need one chance to prove myself, to prove that I am not a traitor, and to prove that I am worthy of becoming your confidant.”
Xiao Jue sneered: “How presumptuous.”
“Isn’t it arbitrary to not even give me a chance?”
“You?” Xiao Jue looked her up and down, speaking coolly: “How long can you last at Liangzhou Guard?”
“Longer than you imagine.”
“You’re a woman.”
“No one will discover that.”
“I won’t cover for you.”
Hearing this, He Yan smiled: “That’s what you wanted to say, isn’t it?”
The noble and cold Second Master Xiao, being unsympathetic, would unlikely go out of his way to cover up the truth for her sake. But He Yan’s martial skills were indeed exceptional, and if she were to truly give up, even Xiao Jue would hesitate. After all, in Xiao Jue’s view, whether one was male or female wasn’t so important – what mattered was ability, excellence, and worth.
“Leave if you can’t handle it.” His answer was characteristically ruthless.
“It’s a deal,” He Yan said: “I’ll stay here by my own abilities, whether joining the Nine Banners Camp or achieving merits, I guarantee not to cause Commander any worry.”
Xiao Jue stared at her steadily, after a while, he raised an eyebrow and asked: “You want to join the Nine Banners Camp?”
“Of course!”
“Fine,” Second Master Xiao curved his lips and said: “You have one month to recover from your injuries. After that, your daily martial training will match the Nine Banners Camp’s training volume.” Fearing He Yan might not understand clearly, he added: “The Nine Banners Camp’s training volume is triple what you do now.”
He Yan: “…”
Xiao Jue, what a ruthless man.
“If you can handle it, stay. If not, get out of Liangzhou Guard.” He looked at He Yan with a half-smile, his clear eyes carrying a hint of mockery: “Miss He, how long can you last?”
He Yan returned a teeth-gritting smile.
“…Commander, we have plenty of time ahead, just wait and see.”
…
Finally getting the room settled, He Yan had to return to the previous dormitory to pack and see her brothers. Before she even reached the dormitory, Xiao Mai, who was leaning by the door, spotted her from afar and shouted: “Brother A-He, you’re back!”
That shout brought everyone out from inside. Suddenly, heads were popping out from the room, and the bolder ones squeezed next to He Yan, asking: “He Yan, did you return with Commander Xiao? How was it? Did you achieve anything this time? Was Liangzhou City fun? What did you all do there?”
“Go on, stop crowding here,” Hong Shan shooed them away, letting He Yan enter the room. “You’ve come back at the right time, everyone’s here. We were just wondering why you hadn’t arrived yet. A-He, you look thinner from this trip, didn’t suffer any losses, did you?”
“No.” He Yan said as she stepped into the room, finding it quite lively with Wang Ba, Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong, and others present. Jiang Jiao said: “We heard Commander Xiao had returned, and figured you’d be arriving soon, so we waited here for you.”
He Yan sat down on the couch and sighed: “It’s good to be back.”
The bed at the Sun family’s place was soft and comfortable, but thinking about how many girls were buried in that courtyard made it feel particularly eerie and horrifying. Though the beds here were hard and the blankets thin, people’s hearts were bright, making for sound sleep.
“Did your relationship with Commander Xiao improve during this trip?” Huang Xiong asked.
Previously, because the Vanguard Camp selected Huang Xiong, He Yan had been furious with Xiao Jue. When He Yan traveled to Liangzhou City with Xiao Jue this time, Hong Shan and others were worried He Yan might end up fighting with Xiao Jue midway.
“It’s alright.” He Yan said vaguely.
Wang Ba sneered, gloating as he spoke: “Look at his expression, it couldn’t have gone well. If it had been good, how could he return empty-handed without any rewards?”
Just then, Cheng Li Su arrived at the door dragging three large boxes of luggage, asking He Yan: “Brother A-He, can I come in?”
“Come in.”
As soon as Cheng Li Su entered, he was startled by the packed room, saying: “So lively? Won’t it be noisy at night when sleeping?”
Xiao Mai’s eyes widened: “What do you mean?”
He Yan smiled and slowly said: “During this trip to Liangzhou, I accomplished a great achievement. The Commander was quite impressed and decided to let me switch rooms with Young Master Cheng. Young Master Cheng will stay here, while I’ll live next to the Commander as a reward.”
Everyone was stunned.
“Is this kid telling the truth?” Wang Ba asked Cheng Li Su.
“It’s true.” Cheng Li Su properly cupped his hands toward the others, “From now on, I’ll be in your care, elder brothers.”
The room boiled with excitement as everyone bombarded He Yan with questions.
“What achievement did you accomplish? What big thing did you do out there?”
“Just a room change and no other rewards? Didn’t even get into the Vanguard Camp?”
“He Yan, are you getting promoted? If you do, can you help your brothers out?”
While He Yan was being surrounded by a victorious general, on the other side, Shen Han had just learned about everything that happened during Xiao Jue’s trip to Liangzhou City.
“Sun Xiangfu has been in office in Liangzhou for eight years, leaving people destitute,” Shen Han sighed: “You reap what you sow. Such an end is what he deserves.”
He had been in Liangzhou for several years and had heard of the numerous misdeeds of Sun Xiangfu and his son, but he wasn’t a censorate official, nor did he have Xiao Jue’s extensive connections, so he could only endure in silence. Now that Xiao Jue had completely uprooted the Sun father and son, and made Yuan Baozhen suffer without being able to complain, it was truly satisfying.
“Commander, during this trip to Liangzhou, did you find out about He Yan’s background?” After some hesitation, Shen Han asked. He couldn’t quite understand what kind of relationship He Yan and Xiao Jue had now. If it was good, Xiao Jue was still guarding against He Yan, but if it wasn’t good, he had just received orders from Cheng Li Su saying He Yan would be staying in Cheng Li Su’s room from now on.
Wasn’t that right next to Xiao Jue? How could someone who wasn’t close get to this point?
Could they have rekindled their old feelings? But looking at Xiao Jue’s manner, it didn’t seem so. Shen Han had been single for many years and was completely clueless about matters of the heart. But he had heard about how love was hard to sever – perhaps this was such a situation?
“More or less.” Xiao Jue said. Come to think of it, the family information He Yan wrote in the military registry wasn’t false – there was a father who was a gate captain and siblings of similar age, except the young man was a woman, which was hard to believe.
“Is… is he one of our own now?” Shen Han asked carefully.
“It’s fine to treat him as one of our own for now,” Xiao Jue lowered his eyes, “However, there’s no need to tell him everything.”
Shen Han roughly understood and said: “I understand, sir.”
“I have something for you to do.” He said.
…
By the time He Yan finished answering her brothers’ questions and returned to her room, it was already night.
Xiao Jue disliked noise, so his living area was quite peaceful. When He Yan entered, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed. The sudden change from sharing a dormitory with over ten people to having her room made her feel like she was dreaming. Young Master Cheng, being particular about such things, hadn’t forgotten to light the incense in the room before leaving.
The faint fragrance lingered at her nostrils, making her feel relaxed. He Yan lay down on the bed to try it – it was like lying on a cloud of cotton, instantly making her feel drowsy. She thought, truly this was luxurious living. Sleeping on such a bed, it was no wonder one would sleep until late morning.
She glanced at the connecting door.
The door was covered by a pearl curtain on the other side, and behind the curtain was the door leading to Xiao Jue’s room. Xiao Jue probably kept it this way to supervise Cheng Li Su’s daily studies, but now the door was closed. He Yan tried pushing it gently, but it wouldn’t budge. Not giving up, she pushed harder, but it remained firmly shut.
Xiao Jue had locked the door from his side.
He Yan thought to herself, with such strict defenses, one might think he was the woman and she was a flower thief who prowled women’s chambers at night. Second Master Xiao truly couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand in his eye – was this level of precaution necessary?
Second Master Xiao’s thoughts were truly unfathomable.
In the center of the room sat a large wooden tub filled with hot water. He Yan walked over and tested the temperature with her finger – it was perfect. This was probably prepared by Shen Han, as they had gathered dust from traveling all day and needed a good wash. At least she wouldn’t have to bathe in the cold water of the Five Deer River. He Yan was quite satisfied and was about to undress when she suddenly thought of something and looked at the connecting door.
She had almost forgotten about that door.
The connecting door had locks on both sides. Whichever side was locked couldn’t be opened from the other side unless both sides were unlocked together. Xiao Jue had locked his side, and He Yan needed to lock her side too. Otherwise, if Xiao Jue suddenly had some strange urge to come over while she was bathing, wouldn’t he see everything?
Though the likely outcome would just be Second Master Xiao feeling his noble eyes had been defiled and storming off in a huff.
He Yan locked the connecting door before proceeding to bathe and change clothes. After changing, she dragged the tub out to dispose of the water. Finally returning to the room, she sat on the couch.
Shen Muxue had already delivered the medicine and bandages, placing them on the small table by the bed. Because of the previous “pure as ice and jade only for his fiancée” incident, she didn’t even bother offering to help apply the medicine this time. He Yan faced the mirror, unwrapped the bandages, replaced the medicine underneath, and was about to wrap new bandages when she noticed a small jade-colored round box nearby.
The round box was tiny, not even as big as a palm, and she had almost overlooked it. He Yan picked it up and saw it was labeled “Scar Removal and Flesh Regeneration”. He Yan was startled, then shook her head with a smile moments later.
Women were indeed more attentive to detail, but this was too thoughtful. Shen Muxue was truly kind to be so considerate even to a common soldier. Ordinary men wouldn’t care about such things when injured – it wasn’t as if they were courtesans who needed to maintain their appearance.
He Yan should have thought the same way.
But just as she was about to put the box back, suddenly, she recalled that night – the red candles weeping wax, the warm lotus curtains, that warm hand that suddenly stiffened upon touching the scars on her back. While she had been anxiously wondering how to deceive her husband with her prepared lies, the man before her had simply blown out the candles, avoiding the topic altogether.
He remained gentle, but she suddenly felt utterly ashamed. This hurt more than any words or looks could have.
The cool ointment stung and itched as she applied it to her wounds. She asked herself silently, do you really not care?
No.
She cared immensely, and even in this second life, it was hard to let go.
He Yan rewrapped the bandages, placed the jade-colored box under her pillow, extinguished the lamp, and lay down on the couch.
The room was quiet and warm, without the thunderous snoring of her dormitory brothers or legs suddenly stretching across her body in the middle of the night. She should have fallen asleep immediately and slept until dawn, but for some reason, her heart was in turmoil, making it difficult to sleep.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have thought about the past.
…
Early the next morning, He Yan rose at dawn as usual. Now living in the courtyard where Xiao Jue stayed, she was far from the other soldiers and the training grounds, so she had to leave earlier. When she went to get her steamed bun before heading to the training grounds, she met Shen Han, Liang Ping, and other instructors.
He Yan greeted them.
Seeing her spirited appearance, Liang Ping felt bitter inside. As an instructor, none of his soldiers had been promoted so quickly – look at this, in such a short time, this one was already living next to the Commander. Just one trip out, and somehow he had gained the Commander’s special favor. Shen Han had told them about the Sun Xiangfu father and son matter, but what exactly He Yan had done, what merit he had earned, remained unknown.
Liang Ping sighed to the heavens in his heart – he too wanted to achieve merit, wanted to gain the Commander’s special attention, wanted to live next to the Commander!
“He Yan, you’ve come at the right time, I have something to tell you,” Shen Han beckoned to her.
He Yan ran over, and Shen Han looked her over: “The Commander told me yesterday that you’re injured and temporarily unsuited for intense training. You can pause activities like horse riding and archery for now. During these days when we practice, you can find training more suitable for your condition.” After a pause, he added: “But no slacking off – you must come to the training grounds daily, and morning runs cannot be skipped!”
“Understood!” He Yan said, though thinking to herself that Xiao Jue was quite considerate. Although her injury was external, it was on her lower back, and if she continued training as before, it would be difficult to heal with the constant aggravation.
In her previous life, it had been like this – before old wounds could heal, she had to lead troops here and there, wounds never properly healing, leaving stubborn old injuries all over her body. Even after returning to her identity as a woman, no longer exposed to wind and sun as before, the wounds would still ache dully during rainy seasons or cold winters, difficult to ease.
Endurance was possible, but if she didn’t have to push herself so hard, that would naturally be better.
She thanked Shen Han and continued toward the training grounds. Today they were practicing sword techniques, which she could manage. Since her previous sparring match with Huang Xiong on the training platform, everyone knew of her exceptional sword skills. Her temperament was also good, always smilingly answering anyone who asked questions, much more approachable than the stern-faced instructors. Therefore, whenever the soldiers had any confusion, they would always consult her.
He Yan was just demonstrating sword techniques to a soldier when suddenly, a clear voice called out: “Brother He!”
Turning around, it was Song Taotao.
In Liangzhou Guard, there had only been one young lady, Shen Muxue, who was revered as an immortal by everyone and treated with utmost respect. Now somehow another had arrived, seemingly even younger than Shen Muxue. Though not as ethereally beautiful as Shen Muxue, she made up for it with her adorable charm, like a spring flower in bloom, her every movement carrying a subtle fragrance.
She wore her hair in two buns and lifted her skirts as she ran to He Yan’s side, ignoring the burning gazes of the surrounding soldiers, looking only at He Yan as she asked: “I heard from Miss Shen yesterday that your injury was serious. Are you feeling better?”
He Yan: “…”
After arriving at Liangzhou Guard, Song Taotao had been staying with Shen Muxue, so people hadn’t paid her much attention, and Chi Wu and Fei Nu couldn’t spend all day guarding a young lady instead of doing their duties. Thus, no one had noticed when this young lady had come to the training grounds, much less that she had spotted He Yan immediately.
He Yan smiled and said: “Thank you for your concern, Miss Song, it’s just a minor injury.”
“How can this be called minor?” Song Taotao tugged at her sleeve: “Let me take you to see Miss Shen again.”
Without needing to be told, He Yan could feel the teasing looks from those around her, while Liang Ping’s face had turned almost blue. Such public pulling and tugging – what kind of behavior was this? He, Liang Ping, had remained single for almost thirty years, and here was He Yan being all lovey-dovey – who was this display for? But since he dared not offend Second Miss Song, he could only glare at He Yan, signaling him to send Song Taotao away quickly.
Just as He Yan was about to speak, another angry shout rang out: “Second Miss Song, what are you doing here!”
He Yan got a headache just hearing this voice. Cheng Li Su, like a cat-smelling fish, had followed Song Taotao here. Seeing Song Taotao grabbing He Yan’s sleeve, he angrily separated them, shouting: “Stay away from my Brother He! My Brother He already has a fiancée!”
Song Taotao first looked at He Yan in surprise, then seeing Cheng Li Su’s smug expression beside her, pondered for a moment before sneering: “So what if he has a fiancée? Even engaged couples can break up. I was your fiancée too, what meaning did that have?”
Cheng Li Su staggered back as if struck by lightning.
The surrounding people were also dumbfounded.
He Yan and Cheng Li Su were sworn brothers, Song Taotao was Cheng Li Su’s fiancée, He Yan also had a marriage engagement, yet Song Taotao showed special favor only to He Yan – what a heart-gripping, dramatic, shocking story this was!
If there had been a hole nearby, He Yan would have dived into it without looking back.
She weakly defended: “I’m not… I haven’t…”
Shen Han: All day long getting carried away shipping couples [Inserts Sa Beining breathing oxygen.jpg]