“Any news of Chai Anxi’s whereabouts?”

Ying Xiang shook her head, “This servant has learned that the Princess of Mengji is currently sending people to search for Chai Anxi everywhere.”

Chu Zhao smiled indifferently: “Xiao Huaijin’s coming to Jiyang is nothing more than looking for someone.” After a pause, he asked the woman beside him: “Who is Liu Buwang?”

“I haven’t heard of this person’s name before. Officially, he’s Military Governor Xiao’s martial arts master.”

“Since when did Xiao Huaijin have a martial arts master?”

Ying Xiang nodded in agreement: “However, they seem to trust and value this Master Liu greatly.”

Chu Zhao put down his teacup: “None of this matters. What’s most important is finding Chai Anxi before Xiao Huaijin does.”

“Your servant understands.” After a moment, Ying Xiang hesitantly spoke: “But how does Young Master plan to deal with Miss He?” Although she had already learned from Chu Zhao that He Yan was a girl and had mentally prepared herself, it wasn’t until she saw He Yan’s feminine appearance through the window that it felt real. It was incredibly difficult to connect this delicate and fragile young woman with the memory of that sharp and fierce young man.

“Don’t you find it fascinating that Xiao Huaijin has a woman by his side?” Chu Zhao smiled slightly, “I’m very curious to know just how much he trusts this woman.”

Ying Xiang lowered her eyes and remained silent, while only the steam from the tea in the cup rose swiftly into the air, disappearing without a trace.

…

Meanwhile, everyone sat in their respective places in the room.

“This is the Wutuo people’s military defense map,” He Yan handed the scroll to Liu Buwang.

“The Fourth Young Master of Stone Grand Earl’s mansion brought news that the Wutuo people will attack Jiyang soon, though we don’t know if it’s true or false. Master, please look at this defense map and see if there are any issues?”

Liu Buwang looked at it for a moment before putting down the scroll: “I don’t know if this map is genuine or fake, but if the Wutuo people truly want to attack Jiyang, they would indeed start with the canal, as shown in the map.”

After all, the most important thing in Jiyang City was this canal. Cutting off the canal meant cutting off the city’s lifeline.

“Master Liu previously mentioned that you were investigating the Wutuo people when you came to Jiyang,” Xiao Jue looked at Liu Buwang, “Could you tell us more about this?”

Liu Buwang thought for a moment before saying: “Every year around the Water God Festival, I return to Jiyang to check on things. This year, before reaching Jiyang, I encountered a horrific massacre outside the city. Someone killed all the residents of a homestead at night, put on their clothes, and assumed their identities to enter the city. A child who fortunately escaped told me about this. I initially thought it was revenge or robbery, but during my investigation, I discovered they weren’t Great Wei people. These Wutuo people disguising themselves as civilians and entering the city isn’t something that happened overnight. What I could investigate was only a small portion. I fear that before this, many civilians outside the city had already fallen victim, and there are many disguised Wutuo people within Jiyang city.”

“Master, are you saying many Wutuo people have already entered?” He Yan asked.

Liu Buwang replied: “Indeed, they’ve been planning this for a long time. They were waiting to cause trouble during the Water God Festival, which is why they kidnapped the Young Prince, but their plans were disrupted by you all, so they should make their second move soon.”

“Master Liu means there will be fighting in Jiyang City soon?” Lin Shuanghe asked nervously, “Isn’t it very unsafe here?”

“Don’t worry,” He Yan comforted him, “The Princess of Mengji mentioned to us that she would evacuate civilians from the city to safer places in the coming days. Brother Lin can leave with the civilians of Jiyang city then, and nothing will happen.”

Lin Shuanghe felt slightly relieved but immediately put on a righteous expression and said: “What do you mean to leave with the civilians? Am I such a cowardly person? Of course, I must stand together with my brothers, live or die together. Don’t try to persuade me, I must stay with you all, I won’t survive alone.”

He Yan was speechless for a moment before saying to Liu Buwang: “Master, the Princess of Mengji has handed over the city gate troops to the Military Governor. Would you like to take a look as well?”

“Ah He, have you forgotten?” Liu Buwang said somewhat helplessly, “I only know formations, I don’t know how to fight wars.”

This was true. Liu Buwang knew the art of divination and weapons, but these were individual skills. When he taught her divination years ago, it was He Yan who studied and applied it to military formations, gradually developing her own system.

“You don’t know how to fight wars?” Lin Shuanghe was surprised, “But my sister He memorized military texts so well, I thought it was a case of a great teacher producing an excellent student. So, my sister He is self-taught?”

He Yan laughed awkwardly: “Perhaps it’s exceptional talent, or maybe I was a female general in my previous life, so I understand things quickly!”

Xiao Jue snorted with laughter but said nothing.

“These days I will continue to track down those Wutuo people,” Liu Buwang said. “Finding their leader might solve many problems. As for Jiyang’s city gate troops, I’ll leave that to Military Governor Xiao.” Liu Buwang looked at Xiao Jue, now knowing his identity, “The city gate troops are not at an advantage in numbers. Military Governor Xiao, please take extra care. I entrust Jiyang’s civilians to you.”

He seemed to have deep feelings for Jiyang, and Xiao Jue nodded.

Everyone continued discussing the Wutuo matter for a while. Starting tomorrow, Xiao Jue will go to train Jiyang’s city gate troops. With such little time, it wouldn’t be an easy task for him. Liu Buwang would continue investigating the Wutuo people’s whereabouts, while Lin Shuanghe wasn’t expected to do much besides staying safely at the Cui mansion. As for He Yan, she ended up in the most awkward position. She wanted to go with Xiao Jue to see the city gate troops, but Mu Hongjin hadn’t allowed her to go, worried about potential issues. She decided to make another copy of the military defense map and study it overnight, hoping to devise new formations based on Jiyang’s terrain. If the map was genuine, this would make things easier. If it was fake, they could at least discover its flaws and avoid being deceived.

After finishing their discussion, everyone prepared to leave. Just as they opened the door, they saw a beautiful maid standing under a tree in the courtyard – it was Chu Zhao’s attendant Ying Xiang. No one knew how long she had been standing there. Seeing everyone come out, she went straight to He Yan and curtseyed: “Miss He.”

He Yan returned the greeting.

“The Young Master has something to say to Miss He,” Ying Xiang smiled. “He’s waiting in the front hall. Does Miss He have time?”

He Yan looked back and saw Lin Shuanghe making small gestures, indicating she shouldn’t go. Xiao Jue’s expression remained calm, showing no particular thoughts. Seeing this, Ying Xiang smiled and said: “The Young Master said there might have been some misunderstandings with Miss He before, and he wishes to clarify in person. Last time in Liangzhou Guard, he left without saying goodbye, which was very rude. He hopes Miss He won’t take offense, and today’s meeting is meant as an apology.”

He Yan hadn’t taken the matter of leaving without a goodbye to heart. With so many things happening in Liangzhou Guard, who had time to dwell on such minor details? For the Young Master of Stone Grand Earl’s mansion to remember so clearly and speak so politely, if she continued to act aloof, it would seem ungracious. Moreover… He Yan indeed wanted to know in what capacity and with what stance Chu Zhao had come to Liangzhou Guard now, and whether his talk of dealing with the Wutuo people was just an excuse or if he had other purposes.

Thinking this, she cheerfully replied: “Alright.”

Lin Shuanghe’s face changed dramatically: “Sister He!”

“Thank you for your understanding, Young Miss,” Ying Xiang was overjoyed.

“Military Governor, I’ll go take a look,” He Yan said to Xiao Jue, “Don’t wait for me for dinner tonight.” Then she bid farewell to Liu Buwang: “Master, I’ll take my leave.”

Lin Shuanghe wanted to say more words of dissuasion, but He Yan had already left with Ying Xiang. Liu Buwang had other matters to attend to, so he merely gave a slight bow to Xiao Jue and the others before leaving.

After they left, Lin Shuanghe asked Xiao Jue: “You just let her go like that?”

“What else?”

“That’s Chu Zilan! Didn’t Sister He use to like him so much she was completely lovesick, going alone to look at the moon after being stood up? Such an irresponsible heartbreaker, now coming back to find our Sister He. Just watch, he’ll surely use his old tactics, using gentleness to move our Sister He’s maiden heart!”

“That’s good then,” Xiao Jue turned around and lazily mocked, “The deceiver finally gets what they want.”

“Aren’t you worried?” Lin Shuanghe waved his fan while following closely beside him, “What if Chu Zilan sees how stunning our Sister He looks in her feminine attire and, overcome with bestial desires, does something unspeakable to her?”

Xiao Jue entered the room, poured himself a cup of tea, and said carelessly: “Do you have some misunderstanding about Chu Zilan’s taste? Does that deceiver’s feminine appearance deserve to be called stunning?”

“How is it not stunning?” Lin Shuanghe protested angrily, “Xiao Huaijin, you can’t compare everyone to your face.”

Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered with him and just said: “Besides, is Chu Zilan doing something bad to her?” His eyes flashed with mockery, “That person could twist off Chu Zilan’s head with bare hands. Rather than worrying about her virtue, you should worry about Chu Zilan.”

Lin Shuanghe: “…”

…

He Yan met Chu Zilan in the front hall.

Seeing her arrive, Chu Zilan smiled and stood up, saying: “Miss He.”

“Fourth Young Master Chu,” He Yan returned the greeting.

The sky had already darkened, and Jiyang City’s nights were bustling and prosperous. Chu Zhao looked outside and said: “Shall we go for a walk?”

He Yan didn’t know what he was planning, but since there were many people in the Cui mansion and it wasn’t convenient to talk, she said: “Alright.”

The two walked out of the mansion.

Jiyang’s spring nights were warm and gentle. Along both banks of the river, vendors carried lanterns selling their wares, buildings were arranged in pleasing patterns, and the scenery stretched far into the distance. It truly embodied the saying “Among villages and alleys, strings and pipes play, songs rise, feasts and gatherings continue day and night without break.”

However, within this seemingly gentle and prosperous night, who knew how many killing intentions lay hidden, and behind the smiling faces of the coming and going vendors, how many ill-intentioned Wutuo people lurked? Thinking this way, even the most lively and interesting scenery became meaningless, and He Yan’s brows couldn’t help but furrow.

“Is Miss He angry with me?” Chu Zhao softly spoke from beside her.

“How could I be?” She was somewhat surprised.

“Then why does Miss He furrow her brows and appear so preoccupied after coming out with me?”

He Yan laughed: “It’s not that. I was just thinking about the Wutuo people’s matter and feeling worried.”

After a moment of silence, Chu Zhao said: “Miss He needn’t worry. Her Highness the Princess will arrange everything well, and besides, isn’t there Military Governor Xiao?”

He was quite generous with praise for Xiao Jue. He Yan wanted to probe further, so she asked: “I thought Fourth Young Master Chu and our Military Governor didn’t get along well.”

“Military Governor Xiao has some misunderstandings about me,” Chu Zhao smiled. “However, his stance and mine are naturally somewhat different. We each serve our masters.”

Did he admit it so directly? He Yan was somewhat surprised.

“But regarding the Wutuo matter, my stance aligns with Military Governor Xiao’s. Miss He needn’t worry,” Chu Zhao said. “I am a Great Wei person; naturally, I don’t wish to see Great Wei’s territory invaded by foreign tribes.”

He Yan nodded: “That’s natural. When the nest is overturned, no egg stays unbroken. We should indeed unite against outside threats.”

“Now that I’ve said this, does Miss He feel more at ease?” he asked.

He Yan: “Why speak of being at ease?”

“I won’t harm Military Governor Xiao, so Miss He needn’t be so guarded against me regarding his matters.”

He Yan gave a dry laugh: “Fourth Young Master Chu overthinks. I’m not being guarded against you.”

“Is that so?” Chu Zhao smiled somewhat sadly, “But since this meeting, you no longer call me ‘Brother Chu,’ instead using ‘Fourth Young Master Chu,’ as if deliberately drawing a line.”

Does this work too? He Yan said: “That’s not true. If you don’t like it, I can go back to calling you Brother Chu.”

“Then may I call you Ah He?”

He Yan was stunned for a moment.

The young man smiled with particular gentleness, like an elegant and harmless orchid blooming in the night. In Jiyang’s spring evening, his robes carried fragrance, his features refined and handsome. Passersby couldn’t help but glance at him; he truly drew attention. Faced with someone so good-looking and good-tempered, it was truly difficult to say anything harsh. He Yan hesitated before saying: “If you want to call me that, then go ahead.”

A trace of amusement flashed in Chu Zhao’s eyes as he continued walking along the riverbank with He Yan, saying: “I haven’t properly apologized to Ah He for the previous matter. That day, we had agreed to drink together at White Moon Mountain, but I had an urgent matter and couldn’t keep our appointment. The next day I left early and didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Ah He. Later, when I remembered this in Shuojing, I felt very regretful.”

“Such a small matter, Brother Chu needn’t take it to heart,” He Yan said. “Besides, you didn’t mean to, and I wasn’t angry about it.” If not for Chu Zhao, she wouldn’t have gone to the foot of White Moon Mountain that night, wouldn’t have waited and met Xiao Jue, and wouldn’t have known that the person who rescued her from darkness on the mountaintop behind Yuhua Temple years ago was Xiao Jue.

Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise?

“Ah He doesn’t mind because Ah He is magnanimous,” Chu Zhao smiled slightly. “But I can’t treat this as if it never happened. I must make it up to Ah He.” He looked ahead, “Let me give Ah He something.”

He Yan was startled: “What?”

Chu Zhao extended his hand, and in his palm lay a small tassel with an exquisitely crafted pomegranate flower made of red jade, with red silk tassels hanging below. Though small, it was very ingenious.

“Today at the palace gate, I saw Ah He wearing a long whip at your waist,” Chu Zhao looked at her gently. “I once fortunately obtained this flower tassel, but I don’t practice martial arts and carry no weapons, so it would be wasted with me. However, this tassel would match Ah He’s whip perfectly. Why don’t you try it and see if it looks better?”

He Yan instinctively wanted to refuse, “One shouldn’t accept gifts without merit, Brother Chu. Let’s forget it, besides, this thing doesn’t look cheap.” That small red jade, with its color transparent like clouds at sunset – who knows if it might be another “several hundred gold pieces”? Taking gifts makes one indebted; if she kept taking things here and accepting “small gifts” there, people might think she came to swindle food and goods.

“Ah He calls me ‘Brother Chu,’ which means you consider me a friend, and between friends, giving gifts is very normal. Besides, Ah He overthinks – this flower tassel isn’t expensive, and the jade is fake. Ah He needn’t feel burdened. Keeping it with me would be useless. If Ah He won’t accept it, is it because you look down on me, or perhaps in your heart, you still view me as an enemy?”

Even though his words carried a hint of accusation and grievance, when he spoke them, they remained gentle and composed. He Yan hesitated: “Is this pomegranate flower made of fake jade?”

Chu Zhao smiled: “If Ah He wants real jade, I might need to save up some more silver.”

Since it was fake jade, it wasn’t very valuable, making it easier to accept. He Yan smiled: “Then thank you, Brother Chu.” She took the purple jade whip from her waist and tied the flower tassel to its wooden handle. The dark glossy whip instantly gained some vitality, becoming more attractive.

“It truly matches Ah He’s a whip,” Chu Zhao smiled.

“Gift-giving should be reciprocal. Since Brother Chu has given me a flower tassel, I should give Brother Chu something in return.” He Yan still felt indebted; if she didn’t give something back, she felt as if she was taking advantage of Chu Zhao. She said: “Whatever Brother Chu likes in this night market today, I can give it to you.” After speaking, she reached into her sleeve and felt her pitiful string of copper coins, then added without much confidence, “However, I left in a hurry and didn’t bring much silver. Brother Chu… please choose accordingly.”

After all, she hadn’t brought Lin Shuanghe today, so she couldn’t spend freely.

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile and looked at her: “Alright.”

He Yan walked with him. Jiyang’s night market was very lively, selling everything from snacks and food to rouge and powder, from old books and manuscripts to rusted weapons. The two of them were outstanding in appearance, and wherever they went, they received warm greetings.

Walking to the end of the path ahead, they saw a crowd gathered around a vendor. He Yan followed Chu Zhao forward to look and saw it was someone making candy art. The vendor was a young man wearing clean blue cotton clothes, sitting at a small stall with a clean stone slab in front of him and a large pot of boiling, crystal-clear red syrup beside him. He used a large iron ladle to scoop syrup from the pot, and drizzled it on the stone slab, moving quickly. The iron ladle rose and fell in his hands like a brush, the falling sugar threads outlining complex and elegant patterns. They quickly solidified, and he would use a small scraper to lift the picture from the stone slab and attach it to a bamboo stick.

“These are sugar paintings!” He Yan became excited, “I didn’t expect Jiyang to have them too.”

Before in Shuojing, there would be temple fairs every year, but due to her delicate status and fear of being exposed, she avoided such crowded places whenever possible, and thus had never been to a temple fair. She could only wait for her sisters to return from the temple fair and secretly listen to them describe the lively scenes and novel things. “Sugar paintings” were one such thing. There was a master of “sugar paintings” in Shuojing who made them extremely well, and every time He Yan heard them talk about it, she yearned to see them. Once, unable to resist, she secretly begged Madam He to bring her one. Perhaps seeing how pitiful and eager she was, Madam He felt some compassion and truly brought her one from the temple fair. He Yan still remembered it was a bird pattern. She couldn’t bear to eat it and put the sugar figure in her brush holder, but due to the hot weather, it melted within two days, leaving sticky syrup all over the table, and she was scolded by Madam He.

She didn’t think it was dirty at the time, just regretfully tried to scoop it up with her hands, thinking how nice it would be if the sugar painting could last a bit longer.

The novel thing she couldn’t see in her childhood was unexpectedly found in Jiyang. And looking at this young man’s craftsmanship, it seemed no less skilled than that old master in Shuojing. He Yan pulled Chu Zhao to squeeze forward, seeing many completed sugar paintings already stuck in the haystack beside them, all auspicious patterns of flowers, birds, phoenixes, and animals, vivid and lifelike.

Chu Zhao glanced at He Yan, suddenly smiled, and said: “I like this. If Ah He wants to give me something, how about a sugar painting?”

“You like this? That’s easy!” He Yan said grandly, waving her hand: “Young brother, what’s your most expensive sugar painting?” There was a sign on the side with clear prices, two copper coins each. She had brought a big handful of copper coins, which should be more than enough.

The stall owner smiled: “The most expensive would be the flower basket, eight copper coins total. Miss, would you like one?”

What was a flower basket? But choosing the most expensive one couldn’t be wrong. He Yan asked Chu Zhao: “Brother Chu, does that work?”

Chu Zhao held back his smile: “That would be fine.”

“Young brother,” He Yan laid out eight copper coins, “Please make a flower basket, and make it beautiful.”

The vendor said: “No problem!”

He scooped a ladle of syrup from the pot and first made a thin round disc, then poured sugar threads around the disc, slowly drawing vertically. He Yan watched intently as the flower basket transformed from an initially flat bottom into something rich and lively. After making the basket frame and handle, the vendor was very conscientious and added many flowers to the handle. He Yan counted them: roses, daffodils, chrysanthemums, peach blossoms, lotus flowers… flowers from different seasons were all gathered in one basket, creating a lively and brilliant display.

He Yan watched as the basket was gradually filled, and suddenly had an idea. She asked the vendor: “Young brother, this flower basket is a gift for my friend. Could you write my friend’s name on it?”

“Of course!”

Chu Zhao paused, his smile fading slightly: “Ah He, that won’t be necessary…”

“Why not?” He Yan didn’t understand, “Your name is so beautiful, it would be a shame not to put it on the flower basket.”

“Beau…tiful?”

“Yes,” He Yan nodded, “Zhao means brightness, and Zi Lan means fragrant grass. The person who gave you this name must have loved you very much, hoping you would be noble in character and have a bright future, to give you such an elegant name.”

Chu Zhao was stunned, but the young woman had already turned to the vendor, saying: “Young brother, please just write the characters ‘Zi Lan.'”