The Water God Festival ceremony took its time, lasting nearly half a day. By the time He Yan and Xiao Jue came down, the day was already late. Ling Xiu and Yan Min’er had long since disappeared. Concubine Wei said, “You’ve been out all day without eating. Young Master and Miss Yu Yan must be hungry?”
He Yan patted her stomach. “It’s not too bad.”
“Then let’s go eat first,” Cui Yuezhi said. “Ji Yang has several excellent restaurants. Which one would Yu Yan like to visit?”
“I want…” He Yan pointed at the covered boats on the river, “to eat on one of those.”
She had already noticed many people riding small boats with stoves lit at the bow, though she couldn’t tell what kind of soup or broth was simmering inside. For other dishes, the boats would either dock at the shore or approach river vendors to make purchases. People could enjoy their meal while taking in the lively scenes along both banks, experiencing the riverside culture—it was quite special.
She had never been to Ji Yang before and found it novel, so she wanted to try it.
“Those are Firefly Boats,” Concubine Wei explained with a smile. “When evening comes, the boatmen will row to Falling Firefly Spring. Our Ji Yang’s weather is warm, so we have fireflies even before summer arrives. At night, when you row past the woods by Falling Firefly Spring, you can see fireflies all along the riverbanks and throughout the dense forest. It’s beautiful! I was fortunate enough to go once with my lord years ago. Even now, thinking about it, the beauty was beyond words.”
Upon hearing this, He Yan became even more eager to go. She looked at Cui Yuezhi: “Uncle, shall we take a Firefly Boat?”
“Young ladies always enjoy such things,” Cui Yuezhi waved his hand with a smile. “Someone like me won’t go. These Firefly Boats are prepared for couples or lovers, two people per boat. With so many of us, we can’t all ride in one boat.”
He Yan’s words caught in her throat. She thought to herself that Ji Yang’s Water God Festival seemed no different from the Central Plains’ Qixi Festival—rather unfriendly to those without lovers. Was it reasonable that those without romantic partners couldn’t visit the famous Falling Firefly Spring? How absurd!
“Since Miss Yu Yan wants to go, she should go with Young Master Huan Qing,” Concubine Wei said with a smile. “There will be many other boats going the same way, and there should be floating theaters along the route tonight. It will be very lively.”
He Yan felt torn. She truly wanted to experience it, but Xiao Jue… might not be willing.
She turned to look at Xiao Jue and tentatively asked, “Young Master?”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Young Master, my desire to go is genuine.”
Xiao Jue’s mouth twitched. “I can see your tendency to push boundaries is genuine.”
“I’ve never seen what a large group of fireflies looks like,” He Yan said softly. “Since we’re here, don’t you want to see it too? Don’t think of me as a woman, just think of me as a subordinate. We’re passing through, so let’s appreciate the local customs.”
“Young Master? Husband?” He Yan called out to him again in a coaxing manner.
Xiao Jue’s mouth twitched again: “Speak properly.”
“If you don’t agree, your wife will keep speaking this way.”
Concubine Wei covered her mouth and smiled, seemingly unable to watch these young people’s banter any longer. She whispered something to Cui Yuezhi, who nodded. Concubine Wei then called someone to wave down a boat by the riverside. She told He Yan and Xiao Jue, “The master has already paid. Tonight, the boatman will take you through the Ji Yang River. Feel free to buy any food or interesting items you encounter. When the time comes, he will also take you to Falling Firefly Spring.” She paused, then added, “We thought about having some guards accompany you, but city garrison troops are patrolling near Falling Firefly Spring, so there shouldn’t be any problems. However, if you’re concerned, we can…”
“Thank you, Concubine Wei! We won’t need guards…” He Yan said happily, then suddenly remembered something and asked Xiao Jue, “What if Lin Shuanghe and Chi Wu want to see it too?”
Xiao Jue looked back to see Chi Wu and the others had already stepped back several paces, shaking their heads to indicate they weren’t interested.
Indeed, rough men generally didn’t appreciate things like fireflies, or even if they did, they wouldn’t dare show it here.
“Then let’s get on board,” He Yan said happily, climbing onto the covered boat first.
The boat wasn’t as luxurious as those on Spring River in Shuo Capital—it could even be called plain from the outside—but the interior was quite spacious, with floor cushions and a small stove for cooking. Sitting here, eating while enjoying the river breeze and watching the lantern-lit night markets along both banks was truly one of life’s pleasures.
He Yan bent down to enter and sat on the floor cushions, looking out over the river.
Ji Yang’s canal was extremely long, running through the city. Being a festival day, both banks were decorated with numerous lanterns, with people calling out and laughing everywhere, creating a lively atmosphere. The boatman was a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat, built very solidly with strong arms, rowing the oar energetically.
He Yan leaned on the bow. She had always been somewhat afraid of water, but with the bustling atmosphere and perhaps because Xiao Jue was beside her, her former fears had largely faded, leaving only excitement.
As she was enjoying the view, a small boat suddenly passed by. The couple on that boat included a woman who unexpectedly scooped up some water and splashed it on her. He Yan was caught off guard and was soaked from head to face, completely stunned.
The boatman laughed heartily: “Miss must be from out of town, not knowing our Ji Yang customs. On the canal, when two boats meet, people engage in water fights. They say the canal water has nurtured everyone in Ji Yang—it’s not just water being splashed, but blessings and good fortune!”
That young woman also looked at her with a smile, good-natured but with a hint of mischief, making it difficult to get angry. He Yan thought to herself, what kind of custom was this? Weren’t they worried about getting their clothes completely wet and being unable to go out?
He Yan’s concern wronged the Ji Yang people—anyone who knew about tonight’s boat water fights brought several changes of clothes for convenience. Only she had foolishly come wearing a single outfit, and Cui Yuezhi, having not taken a Firefly Boat in so long, had completely forgotten about this custom.
Seeing how easy she was to splash, several other boats surrounded them. Both men and women bent down to scoop up canal water to throw at He Yan.
He Yan: “?”
She called out loudly: “Boatman, please row the boat further away!”
Before she finished speaking, a large splash of water hit her face. He Yan was startled, but in the next moment, someone stood in front of her, pulling her head against his chest, blocking the oncoming water.
Xiao Jue glanced at the opposite side—the person splashing water at He Yan was a man, and one without any sense of chivalry, grinning stupidly at He Yan. Xiao Jue’s lips curled slightly, and in the next moment, the teacups from the boat created a large ripple in the water as a huge wave “swooshed,” drenching that man from head to toe.
The woman next to the man, whether his wife or lover, anxiously said, “How could you do that?”
Xiao Jue looked at them with a half-smile and drawled, “Sending you extra blessings, no need to thank me.”
He Yan: “…”
She raised her head from Xiao Jue’s embrace and said, “There’s no need to take it so seriously.” Looking around, she added after a moment of silence, “Look how scared they are.”
Several boats that had been approaching, probably finding He Yan’s reactions amusing, now witnessed that man’s fate and quickly retreated, having their boatmen row away as if avoiding a plague.
Xiao Jue laughed softly: “You still have the mind to worry about others?”
He Yan looked down at herself—half her body was soaked. Xiao Jue stood up, walked to the stern, got a handkerchief for her and threw it over, then sat by the small stove brewing tea. “Come here.”
He Yan obediently complied, and Xiao Jue said, “Dry your hair.”
He Yan responded with a soft sound of agreement, placing her long hair above the small stove, using the heat to dry it while asking, “Commander, are you hungry?”
“Are you hungry?”
He Yan patted her stomach, “Very.”
Her appetite had always been impressive. Xiao Jue sighed, went to the front, and said something to the boatman. Soon after, the boatman rowed the boat to a water market.
The water market consisted of several dozen boats moored together, selling snacks, hot tea, various small foods, and even roasted chicken and goose—the aromas were extremely appealing. The boat stopped at the edge of the water market, and Xiao Jue called He Yan to the bow: “Choose for yourself.”
The boat food all had Ji Yang characteristics, very different from Shuo Capital. He Yan craved this and couldn’t resist that, picking a bit of everything until she had a huge pile of oiled paper packages. Xiao Jue was silent for a moment before asking, “Are you a bottomless pit?”
“If we can’t finish it, we can take it back for Lin Shuanghe and the others,” He Yan said with a smile. “I’m already showing restraint.”
Xiao Jue was speechless for a moment, then picked a few items himself, paid, and helped her carry the packages into the boat.
With all this food and drink, He Yan was extremely happy. Sitting on the floor cushions, looking outside while cheerfully unwrapping the packages to eat and drink. She had always had a good appetite, and having been hungry all day, she ate without any regard for appearance. Xiao Jue held back for a while before saying, “Mind your manners.”
He Yan carelessly responded with a sound of acknowledgment but continued as before. After two unsuccessful reminders, Xiao Jue gave up.
She propped both hands on the boat’s small window, suddenly remembering her youth when she had also taken a boat to Jinling with her classmates from Xian Chang Academy, and Xiao Jue had been there too. It was her first time on a boat, and she had been seasick, throwing up several times, and almost dying on the boat.
Now she no longer got seasick, but thinking back, those youths had all gone their separate ways, yet in the end, it was still Xiao Jue who remained by her side.
Life was unpredictable.
“There seems to be a floating theater over there,” He Yan said excitedly. “Boatman, can you row the boat over there?”
The boatman replied, “Of course!” and rowed the small boat toward the floating theater.
The theater was supported by something underwater, with only wooden poles visible above the surface, upon which the stage was built. The audience could only watch from their boats. The performers wore theatrical makeup and were singing enthusiastically. The martial artist performed exceptionally well, and though the singing was somewhat difficult to understand, the atmosphere was very lively.
There was another boat selling sweet drinks, and He Yan ran to the bow to look. Many young ladies were making purchases. Seeing He Yan’s absorbed interest, the vendor explained with a smile: “Miss, everything’s fresh. Would you like a drink after watching the opera? We have everything—lychee syrup water, yangmei thirst quencher, apricot kernel drink, plum blossom wine, sugarcane juice, strained pear juice, sweet bean soup…”
He Yan noticed among the displayed cups a snow-white, ice-cold drink topped with red balls, and asked, “What’s that?”
“This is sugar-ice with cold yuanzi. Sweet and cool—take one sip, and you won’t regret it, Miss. Would you like a cup?”
He Yan was tempted and was about to speak when Xiao Jue asked, “Is this cold?”
“Yes, it’s cold,” the vendor replied enthusiastically. “The ice hasn’t even melted, very refreshing!”
“Not this one, get something hot instead,” he said.
He Yan was startled, but the vendor responded warmly: “Then how about sweet bean soup? Just finished cooking, nice and warm in your hands. Oh, Miss, did you get splashed earlier?” The vendor smiled while scooping sweet bean soup from a small bucket into a bowl for He Yan, saying, “Then you should drink something hot to warm up. Your gentleman is so thoughtful!”
He Yan was confused but didn’t dwell on the vendor’s words, only asking Xiao Jue: “Won’t you have something to drink?”
“I don’t drink sweet things,” he turned and walked back into the boat.
He Yan asked the vendor: “What do you have that isn’t sweet?”
“The perilla drink isn’t sweet.”
He Yan pulled some copper coins from her sleeve: “One perilla drink, please.”
She carried the sweet bean soup in one hand and the perilla drink in the other, following Xiao Jue into the boat. She handed him the perilla drink: “This one isn’t sweet, I asked. Drink up, it’s my treat!”
Xiao Jue replied flatly: “The money you’re using is from me.”
“It’s the thought that counts. How can you be so petty?” He Yan took a spoonful of sweet bean soup—the sugary water was sweet and warm. She narrowed her eyes, “This is delicious!”
Xiao Jue sneered, “You’re easily pleased.”
“You don’t know,” He Yan said, “I rarely ate sweet things before, but I love them.” She added, “Ji Yang is wonderful. I wish I could be a Ji Yang resident.”
“You could stay here.”
“That’s impossible,” He Yan sighed. “There are still many other things to do.”
As they spoke, another small boat approached. People exclaimed in admiration, and He Yan crawled over to look. She saw a craftsman sitting at the bow, making dough figurines. Whatever was being performed on stage, he would recreate it. His bamboo stand was already full of figurines that looked exactly like the opera’s dan and sheng performers—truly exceptional craftsmanship.
He Yan leaned on the bow, watching intently as the dough transformed rapidly in the man’s hands. The elderly craftsman smiled and asked, “Miss, if you like them, would you like to buy one? I can make one that looks just like you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
He Yan was tempted but hesitated, “Better not.”
Xiao Jue, who was brewing something on the small stove, looked up at her words and asked, “Why not?”
He Yan turned around and said softly, “I can buy one now as a woman. But when I return to the garrison, I’ll have to dress as a man. Having such a figurine wouldn’t be convenient—it could be discovered as evidence. If it must be discarded eventually, why possess it at all?”
Xiao Jue stared at her intently, suddenly smiled, and said lightly, “You’re not very tall, but you have many thoughts.” He flicked his fingers, sending a string of copper coins flying onto the craftsman’s table. “Make one for her.”
The old man smiled as he collected the coins: “Right away!”
He Yan hurriedly turned back, walking to Xiao Jue’s side: “Why did you buy it? I can’t take it with me when we leave Ji Yang anyway, why waste money?”
“You like it,” he smirked. “If you like something, buy it. If you never pursue what you want for fear of losing it, life would be too dull.”
Seeing He Yan still motionless, his eyes were mocking but his tone was very calm, “Miss He, this is Ji Yang. Today you can do anything you want without worrying about consequences. Be yourself. Whatever you like or dislike, you can say it directly. No need to compromise, no need to deceive everyone.”
He Yan was speechless, not knowing what to say.
After a while, she asked, “I can do whatever I want?”
Xiao Jue shrugged, “Do as you please.”
He Yan sat down.
The dough figurine craftsman was very skilled. In just a moment, he finished one and called out to He Yan from the other end: “Miss, your figurine is ready!”
He Yan thanked him and took the figurine. It was made with extreme detail—even the lace on the dress matched hers exactly, and the face was quite pretty. She was mesmerized looking at it, and after a while held up the figurine to ask Xiao Jue: “Commander, does she look like me?”
Xiao Jue coldly replied: “She surpasses you by far.”
He Yan was used to his jibes and wasn’t upset, just said happily: “I really did look quite feminine.”
She noticed Xiao Jue scooping something from the pot on the small stove into a bowl. He Yan went over to look—at some point, Xiao Jue had cooked a bowl of clear noodle soup. The noodles were snow-white with a touch of soy sauce, no green onions, just an egg on top and some green vegetables, giving off a fragrant aroma.
He Yan was startled. She had been busy looking at the scenery outside and eating, not noticing when Xiao Jue had cooked a bowl of noodles. She asked, “Commander, are you hungry?”
Xiao Jue didn’t speak, just pushed the bowl in front of her and handed her a pair of chopsticks: “Eat.”
“For me?” He Yan took the chopsticks, pleasantly surprised. “Why? I bought lots of food, and I’m not—”
Before she could say “hungry,” the man before her said quietly: “Isn’t today your birthday?”
He Yan froze.
After a while, she asked, “…How did you know?” Even in front of Cui Yuezhi, she had said it was… a few days after the Spring Equinox.
“Miss He,” Xiao Jue said languidly, “Do you know that your ability to deceive is inconsistent? Sometimes full of holes.”
He Yan didn’t speak. After a moment, she said softly: “So today, the reason you’ve been so kind to me is because you knew it was my birthday?”
“Kind?” Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows: “You seem to have many misunderstandings about kindness. Am I kind to you?”
Not exactly, He Yan thought to herself. Besides Liu Buwang, she hadn’t met anyone as kind to her as Xiao Jue. No one had ever remembered her birthday. On past birthdays, they called her “He Rufei.” That was He Rufei’s birthday, not hers.
But today, this bowl of longevity noodles was made by Xiao Jue for “He Yan.”
She raised her head, looked at Xiao Jue, and said with a bright smile: “Commander, you’re so good to me, thank you.”
The young woman’s eyes were curved in a smile, but her eyes, misted by the steam, seemed slightly red. Xiao Jue was momentarily stunned. Before he could speak, He Yan had already lowered her head to eat the noodles.
So he said nothing more.
The sky had completely darkened, like ink spilled across the heavens, scattered with countless stars, their reflections in the water creating a river of stars, pressing down on a boatload of old dreams.
The boatman rowed slowly, and at some point, they had left the busiest section of the river. There were fewer boats around, and a cool breeze blew by, making one feel content.
A dim green light flashed across the water’s surface, stopping at the bow.
The boatman had stopped rowing, and the small boat floated quietly on the water.
He Yan pulled Xiao Jue to go out and look. They saw countless points of light, some bright and some dim, floating and swaying in the dense forest by the spring, dancing around the water’s surface and through the trees. Like luminous rain, thousands of flying lights reflected in people’s eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” He Yan sighed.
In past years, it wasn’t that she hadn’t seen beautiful scenery, but on military campaigns, who had the heart to appreciate it? Thinking about it, it had been many years since she had let go of everything like this.
She would never forget a night like this. He Yan turned her head to see Xiao Jue lying down at the bow, hands behind his head, watching the fireflies. After some thought, she also lay down beside Xiao Jue, copying his posture with her hands behind her head, watching the lights that even the night wind couldn’t extinguish as if the stars were within reach.
“This is the happiest birthday I’ve ever had, Commander, thank you,” she said.
Xiao Jue did not comment, only saying, “Don’t people usually make wishes on their birthdays? Go on, finish what you started.”
“Make a wish?” He Yan said, “I don’t have any wishes anymore.”
Praying for heaven’s grace was generally a self-deceptive act—if you want something, you have to fight for it yourself.
“So detached?”
“If I had to say… I hope there’s someone in this world who comes for me.”
Not for He Rufei, not for the Flying Swan General, just for her—someone who comes just for her.
“What kind of wish is that?” Xiao Jue sneered. “I thought you’d wish for promotion, achievements, or at least entry into the Nine Banners Camp.”
The dots of light in the forest glittered against the night sky. Perhaps because the night’s breeze was so pleasant and the scenery so wonderful, she wanted to say a few more words.
So she said: “Commander, have you noticed that since I’ve been with you, I’m always being someone else’s substitute? Sometimes I’m Cheng Lisu, sometimes I’m Wen Yuyan, and who knows who I’ll be next time.”
Xiao Jue asked: “Feeling wronged?”
“Not really, it’s just…” She looked into the distance somewhat wistfully. “Sometimes when you’ve been someone’s substitute for so long, you tend to forget who you are.”
“Commander, you must remember my name.”
“My name is…”
“He Yan.”
The young woman faced the vast sky, smiling slightly. Xiao Jue turned his head to look and saw that while her gaze was clear and joyful, it seemed to contain a layer of obscure sorrow. The previous brightness disappeared as if countless hardships couldn’t be expressed in words, which were ultimately swallowed back.
He turned his head back, also looking at the vast sky. In the wilderness, wild lights danced, stars flowed like a waterfall, cool wind brushed against faces, and the water’s surface was deep and unstable.
How many people’s beautiful dreams would this night enter, and how many people would see these midnight lights?
The young man curled his lips and said slowly: “Such an ugly name, once heard is enough to remember.”
“Don’t worry about me forgetting, Miss He.”
“He Yan.”
Uncle isn’t a clueless man, Uncle has very high emotional intelligence~