On the journey back to Liangzhou from Jiyang, the group wasn’t as spirited as when they had departed. Having just experienced fierce combat, everyone was exhausted. Lin Shuanghe returned the indenture contracts to the two young maids, Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao, leaving a sum of Silver Taels with their parents while instructing them never to sell their children again. Before departing, fearing the parents might secretly disobey, he invoked Commander Cui Yuezhi’s name as leverage.

The two young maids were reluctant to part ways, as masters who were this easy to serve and didn’t abuse their servants were rare to encounter. Sometimes, being a maid to such a kind-hearted Madam was far easier than struggling through these harsh times.

When they had departed from Liangzhou Garrison, spring hadn’t yet arrived. Now, after delays along the journey, it was already early summer upon their return.

He Yan had changed back into male attire, which proved more convenient for traveling. Lin Shuanghe kept fanning himself while sighing, “My Sister He Yan possesses such beauty, yet insists on male dress. What a waste.”

He Yan simply ignored his nonsense.

On the Second Day of the Fifth Month, Xiao Jue and He Yan arrived at Liangzhou Garrison.

At the foot of Bai Yue Mountain, the sounds of soldiers training carried from afar. He Yan jumped down from the carriage and gazed toward Wu Lu River and the training grounds, immediately feeling a rush of familiarity. Although she had spent barely a year in total at Liangzhou Garrison, she had completely adapted to life here. Upon arriving, she felt as comfortable as a tired bird returning to its nest.

Having received advance notice, Shen Han had already arrived to help unload the carriages. Seeing He Yan, Xiao Jue, and the others safe and sound, he felt immediate relief. They had received news of the Jiyang battle long after it occurred. The thought of twenty thousand Jiyang City troops against one hundred and fifty thousand Wutuo soldiers still made him anxious. He had worried about injuries during the fierce battle, but seeing everyone alive and energetic now, his concerns were put to rest.

“Commander must be tired from the journey. Please rest in your quarters first,” Shen Han said. “The rooms have all been cleaned.”

Xiao Jue nodded, and as they were speaking, another carriage arrived behind them. When the curtain lifted, Attendant Ying helped Chu Zhao step down.

Shen Han was startled. “This…”

“Fourth Young Master Chu will be staying temporarily at Liangzhou Garrison,” Xiao Jue said flatly. “Find him a room.” He turned to look at Chu Zhao, his tone mocking, “The garrison’s conditions are harsh. Fourth Young Master Chu will have to bear with it.”

Chu Zhao bowed in gratitude: “I wouldn’t dare complain. Zilan is extremely grateful.”

Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered with him and left first. He Yan quickly followed.

Though Cheng Lisu was no longer at Liangzhou Garrison, logically, his former quarters should have been returned to their original purpose. However, Xiao Jue seemed to have forgotten this matter, and staying here was indeed more convenient for He Yan’s bathing and grooming compared to sharing the communal quarters with others. Since Xiao Jue hadn’t mentioned it, He Yan also pretended not to know and carried her luggage back to Cheng Lisu’s former room—next door to Xiao Jue.

Shen Han followed them in, carrying military registers, saying: “These are the daily training contents from these past days. I’ve organized everything for the Commander’s review at your leisure. After the Commander’s return, the Southern Forces will continue under your command. Over these few months, Liangzhou Garrison’s battle formations have shown initial results.”

Xiao Jue took the military registers and casually flipped through them. Shen Han glanced toward the adjoining room behind the middle door, where He Yan sat on the bed with her luggage spread out, seemingly organizing items brought back from Jiyang. There were quite a few things at first glance—food, clothing, and trinkets covering the entire bed.

Looking at Xiao Jue again, he showed no sign of intervention. Shen Han fell into contemplation, knowing that Second Young Master Xiao was most particular about cleanliness, hence why the rooms were cleaned daily even after his departure. The military men were one thing, but the instructors who interacted with Xiao Jue wouldn’t dare act casually in his presence. At a minimum, they maintained proper sitting and standing postures, unlike He Yan’s casual behavior.

Yet Xiao Jue made no move to stop her. Could their relationship have progressed further after their trip to Jiyang?

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Xiao Jue calling his name. Seeing no response, Xiao Jue followed Shen Han’s gaze to He Yan organizing her luggage on the bed, then frowned and called again: “Shen Han.”

Shen Han startled back to attention, responding: “Commander!”

“I need to write a memorial to the throne. Find some men to watch Chu Zilan,” he said. “Report any unusual activities to me immediately.”

Shen Han nodded and left.

After Shen Han’s departure, He Yan flopped down on the bed and rolled around. Xiao Jue frowned in displeasure: “Are you a dog?”

“After such a long journey, being jolted around in carriages daily, I can finally get a good rest,” He Yan grabbed a handful of dried fruits from her luggage and held them out. “Commander, these are from Madam Cui’s concubine. Would you like to share some?”

Xiao Jue: “No.”

“It’s the thought that counts, you needn’t be so cold,” He Yan wrapped the dried fruits in a clean handkerchief. “I’ll leave them on your table later.”

Xiao Jue didn’t turn around, continuing to read through the military registers Shen Han had just delivered. He Yan thought to herself that being a commander had its burdens while being a common soldier had its advantages—for instance, she could roll around on her bed while Xiao Jue still had to handle accumulated official matters.

Looking at Xiao Jue’s back, He Yan suddenly remembered something and asked: “Commander, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

Xiao Jue: “Speak.”

He Yan hesitated for a moment, “Do you remember when we were in Jiyang City, the day the Wutuo forces attacked? When we set the fires together, I was supposed to swim to shore, but I choked on water. Was it… was it you who pulled me out?”

She had more to say but held back. In her hazy state, she seemed to remember someone giving her air, and though she couldn’t open her eyes underwater, she had a vague feeling it was Xiao Jue. But this seemed too absurd to mention—firstly, was Xiao Jue the type to give someone breath? Certainly not. Secondly, having such a dream at a life-or-death moment would only invite ridicule from others.

Xiao Jue’s eyes flickered slightly, and after a pause, he said: “Yes.”

Though somewhat embarrassing, He Yan bravely pressed on: “Commander, besides pulling me to shore, did you do anything else?”

Xiao Jue: “No.”

He Yan started: “Nothing else?”

He turned his head, slowly curling his lips into a half-smile, and spoke: “What did you hope I had done?”

He Yan couldn’t respond to that.

She laughed it off, saying: “Nothing, I was just asking.” Inwardly, she thought it must have indeed been a spring dream, and fortunately, she hadn’t spoken of it directly, or it would have been too embarrassing.

Xiao Jue returned to the military registers, though his eyes showed slight ripples of emotion as he glanced at the young woman still organizing her luggage on the bed. A moment later, he uncomfortably withdrew his gaze.

Nothing more was said about it.

After organizing the room’s luggage, noting the time, and estimating that today’s training at the practice field would soon end, He Yan headed out toward the training grounds. From tomorrow, she would resume daily training, but for now, she could chat with her long-unseen brothers-in-arms.

Just as she reached the training ground’s entrance, the day’s training concluded. From far away came Small Wheat’s voice: “It’s Brother He Yan, Brother He Yan is back!”

In a rush, everyone surrounded her. Whether they knew her or not, He Yan was now famous at Liangzhou Garrison. Small Wheat was pushed to the side, but He Yan pulled him back to stand beside her. Small Wheat said: “Brother He Yan, when did you return? Why didn’t you say something? I heard the instructors say you and Commander won another victory in Jiyang. Brother He Yan, you’re amazing!”

How had news spread so quickly? While He Yan was still puzzling over this, someone else said: “We heard Jiyang’s city forces only had twenty thousand men against fifteen thousand Wutuo soldiers. Brother He, tell us, how did you achieve victory?”

“Yes, quickly tell us brothers about it!”

He Yan felt that every time she returned to Liangzhou Garrison after completing a task, she became a storyteller, sharing tales with everyone. But now, surrounded in the center with no way to retreat, she could only sit on the training ground’s railing and gesture: “Everyone quiet down, quiet down. This is a long story, let me have some water first.”

Immediately someone offered a leather flask: “I have some! Drink mine!”

“Do you want something to eat? Dry biscuits maybe?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell the story. This battle wasn’t too difficult to fight, it was all thanks to the Commander’s excellent leadership. Jiyang is a water city…”

Liang Ping watched He Yan being surrounded by the crowd from afar and was speechless for a moment, saying: “How has this kid become so popular in Liangzhou Garrison? How did he get everyone to respond to his every word?”

Ma Damei smiled mysteriously: “This is a good thing.”

“Good in what way?”

“He Yan went to Jiyang with the Commander,” Ma Damei stroked his beard, “returning in the same carriage, clearly their relationship is harmonious. Having gone to Jiyang with the Commander means they fought side by side. Don’t you think when the memorial is submitted to His Majesty, he might be mentioned?”

“At least he deserves some credit. This youth has extraordinary martial skills and an open, cheerful disposition. As long as he follows the Commander, advancement is inevitable. I think his future won’t be limited to our Liangzhou Garrison.” Ma Damei smiled and patted his shoulder, “Brother, maintaining good relations with him isn’t a bad thing. You need to think long-term.”

“He’s only a teenager,” Liang Ping muttered. “How can you speak of him so grandly?”

Ma Damei smiled without responding.

On the other side, the crowd listening to He Yan’s story let out exclamations of amazement.

“So it was fire tactics!”

“That was too dangerous! What if there hadn’t been that wind? Wouldn’t you have just been waiting for death?”

He Yan smiled: “Without wind, we would have had to fight to the end. But war is complex—there’s no absolute victory for the strong over the weak. As long as timing and terrain are favorable, even the few can defeat the many. So you can’t approach any battle with predetermined ideas of victory or defeat. On the battlefield, everything can change in an instant. Until the final moment, victory and defeat remain unknown.”

Everyone nodded with varying degrees of understanding.

As the excitement died down, the crowd gradually dispersed. Those who remained were naturally Hong Shan and the others. Wang Ba crossed his arms while looking at He Yan, clearly disapproving of her manner: “Back for just a moment and already showing off, even peacocks aren’t as ostentatious as you.”

“Well, I need to have the ability to show off first,” He Yan jumped down from the railing, “Long time no see, friends.”

Having spent time in the Vanguard Camp, the daily training was much more rigorous than in regular camps. Stone, Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, and Huang Xiong all looked slightly darker and thinner than before. However, their spirits seemed better than ever. Jiang Jiao asked: “Who would have thought you’d achieve such a victory in Jiyang? He Yan, you’re something.”

“I didn’t win it,” He Yan humbly declined, “It was the Commander’s excellent leadership.”

“So, now that you’ve achieved merit, can you get promoted?” Huang Xiong was always practical in his thinking.

“I don’t know about promotion, but Commander promised to let me join the Southern Forces,” He Yan said. “Just that alone makes me very satisfied.”

“Really?” Hong Shan’s voice changed with excitement, “He Yan, your wish has finally come true!”

While everyone offered congratulations, only Stone remained calm, asking He Yan: “Brother He, why did the Wutuo people suddenly attack Jiyang? Had they come to Liangzhou before?”

He Yan’s smile gradually faded, her expression becoming serious. After a long pause, she said: “Great Wei… might be going to war.”

Now that the Wutuo forces had made their first move, they wouldn’t easily back down. All these years of lying dormant were merely in preparation for this moment.

Everyone fell silent. War was not something to celebrate, whether for the common people of Great Wei or anyone else.

In the dimly lit room, the young man at the desk was still reading the scroll in his hands. Stacks of military registers piled up like mountains, Liangzhou Garrison’s affairs seemingly endless.

Someone knocked gently at the door.

Without looking up, Xiao Jue said: “Enter.”

It was Shen Muxue. She carried a basket of food, carefully walking in and placing it on a small table beside him, saying softly: “Commander, you’ve been reading for so long, please eat something.”

Xiao Jue made a sound of acknowledgment but showed no intention of getting up. Shen Muxue let out a slight sigh.

When Xiao Jue returned, she had been working late at the medical hall. During the transition between spring and summer, the garrison’s soldiers were most susceptible to cold and heat-related illnesses. While brewing medicine, she heard of Xiao Jue’s return. Though she wanted to see him, she had to finish her work first.

Moreover, this journey back from Jiyang was particularly long, and she thought Xiao Jue would need rest. Yet here he was, still reviewing documents late into the night.

But this was Xiao Jue’s nature, exactly as he had been when she first truly knew him, never changing.

“There are local products from Jiyang on the floor, take some back with you,” Xiao Jue said while reading documents. “The room’s too crowded.”

Shen Muxue nodded, set down the food basket, and went to sort through the packages on the floor. Indeed, there were many bundles and wooden boxes, containing fabrics, pastries, and dried fruits that Jiyang was known for. These weren’t commonly found in Liangzhou Garrison, and the soldiers would be happy to have such treats in their daily meals.

On top was an exquisite round wooden box, lacquered and carefully carved with scenes from Jiyang’s Water God Festival. Opening it revealed an ointment that gave off a faint floral fragrance.

Though not particularly valuable, the box was delicate and lovely, the sort that young women typically favored. Liangzhou’s ointment boxes weren’t as special as those from Jiyang. The ointment was for hands, useful for those who worked with water or herbs and suffered from cracked skin. Although Shen Muxue took excellent care of her skin and had plenty of her ointments, she was still delighted by this one.

She picked up the box, held it in her palm, and looked toward Xiao Jue. Somewhat shyly, after hesitating, she said softly: “Commander, thank you, I like this ointment.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jue seemed confused about what she meant. He turned to look, his gaze pausing briefly on the box in her hands, before saying coldly: “That’s not for you.”

Shen Muxue’s face instantly turned red. She quickly put down the box, flustered as she spoke: “I’m sorry, Commander, I… I thought it was for me.”

Though Xiao Jue hadn’t said anything more, she felt extremely embarrassed, as if she had presumed too much.

“Take the rest, leave the box,” Xiao Jue said, then stopped looking at her.

Shen Muxue bit her lip, quickly gathered the other packages, and left with them. As she departed, her gaze lingered for a moment on the box on the table.

The garrison’s soldiers never cared about cracked skin, and with their daily training, they wouldn’t specifically seek out such moisturizing ointments. Even the few who were particular about such things wouldn’t use such a feminine and beautiful box.

Xiao Jue certainly wouldn’t use it, and he had said “That’s not for you,” meaning it was for someone else.

Who was he planning to give it to?

The night breeze was cool and gentle. After experiencing Jiyang City’s bustle, returning to Liangzhou Garrison’s desolation took some getting used to. Gone were the rivers and boats that traversed the city, replaced by the silent Bai Yue Mountain, the vast Wu Lu River, and the empty training grounds at night.

He Yan walked alone.

After meeting with her friends at the garrison and distributing the local products she’d brought back from Jiyang to Hong Shan and the others, she had chatted until late at night before heading back to her quarters. She planned to ask Xiao Jue if she could start training with the Southern Forces tomorrow. However, halfway there, she encountered Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao wasn’t accompanied by Ying Xiang, and upon seeing He Yan, he smiled in greeting: “He Yan.”

“Brother Chu,” He Yan looked around, seeing no one else, and asked curiously: “So late at night, are you out for a walk alone?” Even for a walk, with no trees or flowers around, it seemed rather pitiful.

Chu Zhao started, then smiled and shook his head: “No, I’m just looking for someone to help with something.”

“What help?”

Chu Zhao opened his palm, revealing a stone that looked like it had been picked up from the Wu Lu River’s edge. It was quite interesting—flat and shaped like a white horse, except for a black angular portion attached to its tail that seemed out of place.

“Doesn’t He Yan think this stone looks like a horse?” Chu Zhao smiled: “Except for this part here—” he pointed at the tail section, “there’s an extra piece. I wanted to find someone to help cut off this piece of stone. But it’s late now, and everyone seems to be asleep.”

Realizing he just needed someone with strength, He Yan looked at Chu Zhao, thinking that someone as frail as him who could be blown over by a breeze certainly couldn’t split this stone himself. Since it was a simple task, she asked Chu Zhao: “Brother Chu, do you have a knife?”

Chu Zhao pulled out a dagger from his robes. The dagger was extremely thin, with a handle shaped like bamboo leaves. He Yan held it silently for a moment, thinking that scholars were truly particular—this dagger was more decorative than functional, perhaps good enough to cut fruit, but using it for self-defense would be laughable.

After weighing it disapprovingly, He Yan said: “Give me the stone.”

Chu Zhao handed her the stone.

He Yan placed the stone on the ground, one hand holding the horse’s head, the other gripping the knife. With a swift “swoosh,” she brought it down. There was a crisp sound as the extra piece at the tail broke off. Simultaneously, the dagger’s tip chipped.

He Yan: “…”

“He Yan has excellent skill,” Chu Zhao didn’t seem to mind this at all, saying happily: “I’ll polish this part, and it will look complete.”

He Yan couldn’t understand Chu Zhao’s behavior at all. Craftsmen did such things for a living, but Chu Zhao seemed to genuinely enjoy it, like those noble officials who were known to enjoy farming in their courtyards—presumably a similar feeling. But staying up late to carve a stone, He Yan herself could never do such a thing.

She was, after all, a rough person with little appreciation for such refined pursuits.

Chu Zhao put away the dagger and held the stone, smiling at He Yan: “Come to think of it, I always trouble you with such tasks, yet I have nothing I can do for you in return. I feel quite ashamed.”

“It’s just a small favor, Brother Chu, don’t think too much of it. I regularly train with stone locks, so helping you split a stone takes little effort,” He Yan shrugged. “Besides that, I haven’t helped you with anything else.”

Chu Zhao lowered his head and smiled: “Back in Jiyang, didn’t He Yan also give me your clothes?” At this point, he seemed to blush slightly, saying softly: “Although I didn’t end up using them… thank you nonetheless.”

He Yan: “That was only natural.” After all, seeing someone so weak before her while she was busy with other matters, it was normal to help. If it hadn’t been Chu Zhao but someone else, she would have done the same.

“What are Brother Chu’s plans?” He Yan asked: “Do you intend to stay at Liangzhou Garrison permanently?”

Given Chu Zhao’s unique status, staying at Liangzhou Garrison indefinitely seemed to offer him no advantage. This was something He Yan couldn’t understand. Looking at Xiao Jue’s reaction, he merely observed coldly, showing no intention to intervene.

“No,” Chu Zhao shook his head, “Once the Jiyang matter is completely settled, I’ll return to the capital.”

“Hasn’t the Jiyang military situation already been resolved? What aspect are you referring to?”

Chu Zhao looked at He Yan. In the night, he smiled slightly, his smile as gentle as before, but within that gentleness lay deeper meaning, “He Yan will understand in time.”