After lunch, the soldiers scattered to find warm places for a brief rest.

While Xiao Jue was discussing the next month’s training schedule with the Deputy General at the training ground, Lin Shuanghe approached from a distance, gesturing with his fan for a private word.

After finishing his instructions, Xiao Jue walked towards Lin Shuanghe, saying impatiently, “Weren’t you supposed to be helping at the medical center?”

Lin Shuanghe, who usually spent his days idly, had volunteered to help when Shen Muxue used large pots to brew warming medicinal soup for everyone during the cold weather. Being particular about maintaining his genteel appearance and finding the unwashed soldiers’ odor offensive, he quit after just two days.

“I was planning to go, but I met someone on the way. We have a visitor at Liangzhou Guard,” he said.

“Who?” asked Xiao Jue.

Lin Shuanghe’s face broke into a meaningful smile. “Xu Pingting’s… personal maid.”

In the room, the young maid stood at the door with a bright smile, directing servants to open boxes one by one, saying, “These are all gifts personally selected by Young Miss for Fourth Young Master.”

Current Prime Minister Xu Jingfu wielded immense power, with half the court officials being his former students. Having lived most of his life with an excellent reputation and the Emperor’s trust, his only regret was having no sons. Later, after consulting a famous physician, his wife conceived at over fifty years old and gave birth to a daughter, Xu Pingting.

Having received this precious daughter in his old age, the Xu family indulged Xu Pingting completely, perhaps even more than a princess. Now seventeen, Xu Pingting was an exquisite beauty, though notably domineering and difficult to refuse.

Chu Zhao, being Xu Jingfu’s most favored student, frequently dined at the Xu residence and gradually became acquainted with Xu Pingting.

“Sister Mo Tai must be tired from the journey,” Ying Xiang smiled, offering a cup of tea. “Have some tea to warm up.”

Mo Tai glanced at Ying Xiang and replied with a false smile, “Never mind, I’m not used to the crude tea of Liangzhou Guard.”

Ying Xiang remained unfazed, maintaining her smile as she took the tea away. Mo Tai watched her leave, eyes flashing with contempt, mentally cursing her as a seductress.

Such a seductress staying by Fourth Young Master Chu’s side daily – who knew if she might use her charms on her master? Though Young Miss Xu was also young and beautiful, she couldn’t compare in the art of pleasing others. Xu Pingting had considered removing Ying Xiang from Chu Zhao’s side, but the usually gentle Chu Zhao firmly refused, and the matter was only settled when Prime Minister Xu personally intervened.

Why protect a mere servant so carefully? Mo Tai was dissatisfied but couldn’t vent her frustrations at Chu Zhao.

After surveying Chu Zhao’s room, she shook her head and said, “Fourth Young Master’s quarters are truly too humble. I’ve been here just half a moment and already feel frozen – there’s not even a charcoal fire. You must have suffered these past two months.”

“It’s fine,” Chu Zhao replied gently. “All new soldiers here live like this.”

“How can they compare to you?” Mo Tai protested. “You shouldn’t put yourself on the same level as such lowly people.”

A flash of coldness crossed Chu Zhao’s eyes, but when he looked up again, his expression was gentle as usual. He asked, “Miss Mo Tai, do you have some business here?”

“Nothing particular,” Mo Tai smiled. “Young Miss just misses Fourth Young Master after not seeing you for so long. Hearing that Liangzhou winters are extremely cold, she sent me with a convoy to bring you some warm clothes.”

She bent down, took out a fur coat from a box, and presented it to Chu Zhao, saying, “Young Miss personally had this acquired from merchants. It’s very warm. Would Fourth Young Master like to try it on?”

The fur coat was smooth and lustrous, soft and light – expensive.

Chu Zhao stood up, draped the coat over his shoulders, and smiled in thanks. “It’s very warm. Please thank Young Miss for me.”

Mo Tai covered her mouth and laughed, “That’s something I can’t do on your behalf. If you want to express thanks, Fourth Young Master should tell Young Miss personally.” She seemed to remember something and asked, “When does the Fourth Young Master plan to return to Shuojing?”

“In the next couple of days.”

“I find Liangzhou truly uninhabitable. If Young Miss were here, she would certainly feel distressed for Fourth Young Master. Why not depart tomorrow? The earlier we leave, the sooner we’ll reach Shuojing and see Young Miss.” She smiled slightly, “Before I left, the Master was just speaking to Young Miss about Fourth Young Master.”

Though her words seemed inquiring, her tone left no room for refusal, making the decision while appearing to chat casually, giving Chu Zhao no chance to object.

Chu Zhao paused for a moment, then looked up and smiled, “Very well, we’ll depart tomorrow. I miss Teacher as well.”

“That’s wonderful!” Mo Tai’s face instantly bloomed like a flower as she urged the servants to take everything out of the boxes.

“This box contains all the warm clothing. I’ll help you take them out first, then arrange your luggage for tomorrow’s departure,” she said. “I hope Fourth Young Master won’t mind my presumption.”

“How could I?” Chu Zhao smiled. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Ying Xiang stood behind the curtain, watching the imperious Mo Tai in the room. She lowered her gaze, stood silently for a moment, then walked away.

As evening fell early in winter, lamps were lit in the rooms.

Lin Shuanghe lay back on the couch, spitting out melon seeds, and said, “What’s with Xu Pingting’s maid? She’s been keeping Chu Zhao occupied from dawn till dusk. Anyone would think she’s Young Miss Xu herself. This way of marking territory is too obvious. I’m starting to feel sorry for Chu Zilang.”

Xiao Jue, sitting at the table reading military documents, responded, “If you feel sorry for him, you could go rescue him.”

“Better not,” Lin Shuanghe sat up, placing his hands behind his head. “Who can we blame but Chu Zilang himself? It’s his fault for being handsome and gentle. Such men are already highly sought after in the capital, and he deliberately curried favor with Xu Jingfu. Being noticed by Young Miss Xu was inevitable.”

Xiao Jue sneered, “If he can become the Xu family’s son-in-law, that would be quite an achievement.”

“Indeed,” Lin Shuanghe strongly agreed with Xiao Jue’s words. “He was already bullied and ostracized at Marquis Shi Jin’s household. If not for his connection to Xu Jingfu, how could he have been registered under his legal mother’s name? If he marries the Xu family’s young miss,” Lin Shuanghe continued, “Marquis Shi Jin’s household will be under Chu Zilang’s control in the future!”

People often say women seek advantage and a good marriage to gain protection, but how are men any different? When real benefits present themselves, all choices are made for a better life. Whether one likes it or not, whether one is willing or sincere, none of that matters.

It’s hard to say whether this is Xu Pingting’s tragedy or Chu Zilang’s.

“I think that maid’s talk of care is false – she’s there to monitor him,” Lin Shuanghe spread his hands. “Chu Zilang won’t get any sleep tonight.”

“Chu Zilang?” Cheng Lisu’s head poked through the window. “What about him? Isn’t he going to watch the moon with my brother tonight?”

“What moon-watching?” Lin Shuanghe asked.

“At the foot of White Moon Mountain. I wanted to show my brother my new puppet show, but he said he was going moon-watching with Fourth Young Master Chu tonight, so we’ll have to do it tomorrow.” Cheng Lisu looked at Lin Shuanghe, then at Xiao Jue. “Uncle, what were you talking about just now?”

Xiao Jue pushed his head back outside and closed the window, saying, “Go to bed.”

After failing to knock on the window, Cheng Lisu eventually left.

After he left, Lin Shuanghe stroked his chin and asked, “Sister He Yu made plans to watch the moon with Chu Zilang tonight? Are they progressing this quickly?”

Xiao Jue continued reading his military documents, ignoring him.

“No,” Lin Shuanghe climbed off the couch, “I need to check on this.”

He walked directly to the connecting door between the two rooms and knocked. “Brother He? Brother He! Are you there? Say something if you are.”

He put his ear to the door, but there was complete silence inside.

Lin Shuanghe knocked several more times but still got no response. He stepped back and muttered to himself, “Could it be that Sister He Yu doesn’t know about Xu Pingting’s people arriving and going moon-watching alone?”

“Huaijin!” he shouted.

Xiao Jue’s ears rang from his shout, and he replied irritably, “What?”

“Sister He Yu might have gone moon-watching alone,” Lin Shuanghe walked up to him. “Go look for her.”

“No,” Xiao Jue replied coldly. “If you want to go, go yourself.”

“I’d like to, but White Moon Mountain is huge and I don’t know the way. What if there are bandits up there, like the Ridamu incident? You have martial arts skills to defend yourself, but I’d be helpless. Would you regret it if someone died?”

Xiao Jue: “No regrets.”

“How can you be like this?” Lin Shuanghe sat directly at his table, blocking the military documents. He persuaded earnestly, “Look at Sister He Yu, isn’t she pitiful? Chu Zhao doesn’t know she’s a woman and is gentle with everyone. But this is the first time Sister He Yu has encountered someone so gentle, and being a young woman with delicate feelings, she’s naturally moved. But she can’t reveal her identity, so she can only keep this love hidden in her heart. When her beloved invites her to watch the moon, she must be overjoyed, but she doesn’t know he’s already promised to another. She must be cold and miserable up there alone now. Can’t you just go check on her? Comfort her?”

Xiao Jue found his reasoning absurd: “She likes Chu Zilang and got rejected, so I should go comfort her? What logic is that?”

“This is your perfect opportunity!” Lin Shuanghe encouraged. “Now is the best time to take advantage of the situation!”

Xiao Jue sneered: “Then I definitely won’t go.”

“Alright, alright,” Lin Shuanghe said, “Let’s put aside the emotional aspect. She’s your soldier, you’re her superior. Sister He Yu even helped protect the Liangzhou Guard recently. You should at least show some concern for your subordinate.”

“I’m her superior, not her father,” Xiao Jue said coolly. “Besides, she has legs. If no one shows up, she’ll naturally return.”

Lin Shuanghe was silent for a moment, then asked, “Do you think she’s the type to give up just because she’s kept waiting?”

Xiao Jue’s hand holding the brush paused.

He remembered the image of the youth running with sandbags on the training ground.

He Yu wasn’t someone who gave up easily. Sometimes she was clever and cunning, but other times, she was stubborn and persistent. It was hard to say whether this was determination or foolishness, but Lin Shuanghe was right – given her personality, there was an eighty or ninety percent chance she would wait on the mountain all night.

How foolish.

Seeing Xiao Jue’s attitude softening, Lin Shuanghe immediately added, “Think about it, she’s only sixteen, a young girl. It’s already not easy for her to have come this far in the Liangzhou Guard. To be hurt by Chu Zilang like this is too pitiful. Just consider it a good deed – go up the mountain and bring her back. If she’s grateful to you, she’ll be more sincere in serving you in the future.”

Seeing Xiao Jue still not moving, Lin Shuanghe added his final push: “Madam Xiao was most merciful and kindhearted when she was alive. If she saw Sister He Yu like this, she would certainly help.”

“Shut up.” Xiao Jue couldn’t stand it anymore. He grabbed his cloak, stood up, and walked towards the door, saying, “I’ll go.”

Lin Shuanghe watched his retreating figure with great satisfaction: “Now that’s a real man.”

At the foot of White Moon Mountain, there was a huge boulder that extended out like a stone platform. Following it down to the end, one could hear the sound of waves.

Looking down, there was a magnificent river; looking up, the bright moon illuminated thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.

He Yan sat at the edge of the rock, where the water crashed against distant reefs with a rhythmic sound. It was like an ancient melody echoing across time and space, vast and endless.

She had agreed to meet Chu Zhao at the Hour of the Dog, but now she didn’t know what time it was, and he still hadn’t appeared. She had found the pavilion he mentioned, but there was no wine or snacks set up, and she wasn’t sure what was going on.

Perhaps she should go look for Chu Zhao, but once she sat here, she no longer wanted to move.

Snow covered all four directions of the forest, blanketing the mountaintop in white, while moonlight flooded the entire river, clear and refreshing.

It was extremely beautiful moonlight and extremely beautiful snow. He Yan felt tired, hugging her knees and looking toward the end of the river.

She preferred night to day, and the moon to the sun. Because in those years of being “He Rufei,” she wore a mask constantly, and that mask was stuffy and heavy. As a mischievous youth, she would secretly remove it for the length of an incense stick in the dead of night.

No one could see her true face beneath the mask, except for the moon outside the window.

She reached out her hand, trying to catch the moonlight hanging over the distant mountains and rivers. The moonlight fell gently on her hand as if it would stay with her forever.

“What are you doing?” a voice came from behind.

He Yan turned around to see a young man in fox fur and fine silk emerging from the darkness, very tall, with a cold handsomeness.

It was Xiao Jue.

He Yan was startled and instinctively looked behind him. Seeing this, Xiao Jue scoffed, “Chu Zilang isn’t coming.”

“Why?” He Yan asked.

Xiao Jue glanced at her: “Someone came from the capital, he couldn’t get away. He asked me to let you know.”

He Yan nodded, then looked at him in surprise: “The Commander would deliver a message for Fourth Young Master Chu?”

Given that Xiao Jue and Chu Zhao were like water and fire, it was already incredible that Chu Zhao would ask Xiao Jue to deliver a message, but even more shocking that Xiao Jue listened and came to find her.

“You can still care about that, so you must not be too heartbroken,” he said, sitting down at the other end of the boulder.

The winter night wind blew bitterly cold, and He Yan asked, “Why should I be heartbroken?” As soon as she finished speaking, she sneezed.

Though the military uniform was padded for winter, it was still terribly cold sitting out in the night wind. She sat there listlessly, her face pale as jade, with a kind of fragile transparency.

Xiao Jue was silent for a moment, then stood up.

Just as He Yan was about to look up, a fox fur coat dropped over her, plunging her into darkness. By the time she emerged from under the fur, Xiao Jue had already returned to his original spot.

The fur coat was slightly warm, instantly keeping the wind and snow at bay. He Yan was stunned for a long while before saying, “Thank you.”

Xiao Jue turned to look at her.

The young girl had her hair tied up and wore his black fur coat. Her shoulders were extremely narrow, making her look very fragile. Usually, she was always lively and chattering, which he found noisy and headache-inducing, but when she was quiet like this, she seemed like a different person.

It made him uncomfortable.

Xiao Jue looked at her with lowered eyes, and after a moment, curved his lips slightly, “Your miserable look is really ugly.” He paused, then added, “Missing Chu Zilang?”

“What?” He Yan was puzzled.

“I haven’t seen you this dejected even when you were near death,” he spoke lazily. “Seems you really like him.”

He Yan didn’t quite understand his words.

“You’re already acting like this before he’s gone. What will you do when he leaves tomorrow?” Xiao Jue gazed at the distant river.

“Tomorrow?” He Yan was startled. “So soon?”

She remembered Chu Zhao telling her it would be in the next few days but hadn’t mentioned it would be tomorrow.

Xiao Jue gave her a meaningful look: “Anxious?”

“No,” He Yan said, “I’m just surprised…” Then, remembering something, she spoke dejectedly: “But of course, he needs to make it to Young Master Xu’s… wedding feast, so he must leave early.”

He Yan asked Xiao Jue: “Does the Commander know the eldest young master of the Xu family in the capital?”

Xiao Jue: “I’ve heard of him.”

“Xu Zhiheng is getting married, and Fourth Young Master Chu is rushing back for his wedding feast.” He Yan’s voice was hoarse.

“It’s Xu Zhiheng getting married, not Chu Zilang,” Xiao Jue frowned. “Look at how pathetic you are now. You still want to join the Nine Banners Camp?”

He Yan forced a smile and was about to speak when Xiao Jue waved his sleeve, tossing something into her lap.

He Yan looked down to see a string of candied hawthorns. They had been out in the cold for a while and were as cold as ice, but still brilliantly red against the snow-white surroundings.

“Where… did this come from?”

“From Song Taotao,” Xiao Jue said. “I grabbed one string.”

He didn’t know how to comfort young girls. When leaving, he had asked Lin Shuanghe, who told him: “For others, to console a heartbroken girl would require much effort – taking her to see lanterns, flowers, and stars, buying jade, pearls, and golden hairpins. But you’re different – you just need to sit there with your face, that’s enough.”

Xiao Jue was speechless. Finally, when passing by Shen Muxue’s room, he saw Song Taotao’s candied hawthorns by the window and took a string.

The last time he saw her eating these, she looked very happy.

He Yan picked up the candied hawthorn, removed the rice paper, and licked it. The cold sweetness spread across her tongue, making her heart ache with its sweetness.

She suddenly remembered her previous conversation with Chu Zhao.

She had asked Chu Zhao: “What’s the name of the new Madam Xu?”

Chu Zhao answered: “Her name is He Xinying, the second young miss of the He family’s second branch. She’s a cousin of the previous Madam Xu. I met her once – she’s innocent and gentle. You could say she’s a good match for Young Master Xu.”

“He Xinying…” He Yan murmured. “Do you know what the previous Madam Xu was called?”

Chu Zhao was stunned, hesitated, then shook his head: “The previous Madam Xu lived in seclusion and wasn’t in Shuojing before. I never met her and don’t know her name.”

Not even her name remained.

People remembered the Flying Swan General, remembered He Rufei, remembered Xu Zhiheng, and even remembered Xu Zhiheng’s new bride, but no one remembered He Yan.

She thought that after so long, knowing Xu Zhiheng’s true nature, it wouldn’t hurt anymore. But hearing about his marriage still caused her pain. As if all those years of persistence and trust had collapsed overnight, not even leaving behind lies.

All that remained was her foolishness and unwillingness to let go.

She looked up at the moon. Its gentle light spread over the wild mountains and great rivers, over the snow-covered forests, over her desolate lonely years, over her eyes behind the mask.

The moon knew her secrets, but the moon couldn’t speak.

“Do you know,” she began softly, “the name of Xu Zhiheng’s new wife?”

Xiao Jue replied lazily: “How would I know?”

He Yan smiled self-mockingly and asked: “Then do you know the name of the previous Madam Xu?”

The river waves crashed against the rocks, like time howling from a distant past.

He glanced at her coolly, his features incredibly handsome in the moonlight. Those autumn-water eyes held a trace of mockery as he said softly: “What, just because you share the same name, you want to be Madam Xu?”

He Yan froze.

“You know… you know her name is…” her heart began to race.

“He Yan.”

The waves broke against the rocks, shattering into fine droplets, merging into the river, impossible to tell where each wave came from.

But…

The name He Yan was remembered.

He Yan suddenly looked up at him.

“Did you know… no, have you met the previous Madam Xu?”

She thought to herself, it’s impossible. She and Xiao Jue were classmates for only a year before going their separate ways. When she returned to Shuojing, she became Young Miss He, no longer “He Rufei,” and quickly got engaged and married, barely leaving the house, let alone meeting men outside the family. After marrying into the Xu family, she went blind shortly after the wedding and stayed in the mansion all day, almost completely isolated from the world.

How could Xiao Jue have met her?

Unless…

“I have.”

The young man sat lazily, his features captivating, the mountains and rivers, moon and wind, couldn’t compare to the glitter in his eyes.

For a moment, his voice overlapped with a voice from a certain night.

It was a night just like this, with similar mountain scenery, endless drizzling rain, her world dark and gloomy, a hair’s breadth from despair.

Xiao Jue said: “She owes me a piece of candy.”