Ten days later, the group arrived in Jinling.

Unlike the warmth and simplicity of Jiyang, or the heavy melancholy of Rundu, Jinling city was gentle and passionate. Like an elegant and beautiful lady, it carried a touch of pink hue. Under the clear sunlight and morning breeze, amid the soft Wu dialect, music filled the air – truly a place of earthly prosperity.

Lin Shuanghe stopped in his tracks upon arriving, watching the graceful ladies passing by on the street, and exclaimed, “This is truly a paradise! No wonder people say that once you enter Jinling, you never want to leave.”

He Yu: “…You said the same thing when we were in Jiyang.”

Lin Shuanghe opened his fan, “Brother He, I’m merely following local customs.”

He Yu: “…”

What an interpretation of ‘following local customs.’

Upon reaching Jinling, they naturally needed to pay their respects to the Governor of Yingtian Prefecture, as Yan He’s troops couldn’t move freely within the city. The Yingtian Prefecture had already received news of Yan He’s group’s arrival, so Yan He went there first to make arrangements for the troops.

Guards were already waiting outside the prefecture office, with people assigned to settle the troops. He Yu was originally supposed to join Wang Ba and others in the “troops” queue. However, Lin Shuanghe patted her shoulder: “You’re now the Court-Appointed Military Officer bestowed by His Majesty, not a commoner. You should naturally come with us – it’s a good chance for you to experience official circles.”

He Yu was speechless. Just as she was about to ask Xiao Jue, Yan He glanced at her and added, “That’s right. Since you hold an official position, come with us.”

It was surprising to others that Yan He, who was usually aloof and difficult to get along with, showed special consideration to He Yu. However, He Yu knew well that this was because she had criticized “He Rufei” in front of Yan He, making him think she was a rare kindred spirit.

As they entered the hall, they saw a man seated in the main seat. Upon their entry, he rose. Wearing the Governor’s official robes, he appeared very young, with a slim build and delicate features that carried a hint of determination. He looked more like a student from the Imperial Academy than a Governor. Standing up, he first bowed to Yan He, saying “General Yan.” Then his gaze fell on Xiao Jue, and his face immediately showed surprise, though it quickly turned to bewilderment.

He Yu was also shocked – she hadn’t expected to encounter Yang Mingzhi here.

What an incredible coincidence – Xiao Jue, Lin Shuanghe, Yan He, and Yang Mingzhi – four former classmates from Xianzhang Academy meeting here! It seemed almost unbelievable. However… He Yu raised her eyes, secretly glancing at Xiao Jue beside her. Hadn’t Xiao Jue and Yang Mingzhi been closest friends during their school days?

Though He Yu had received secret help from Xiao Jue in her youth, they weren’t particularly close on the surface. At that time, Xiao Jue had his close friends – Lin Shuanghe was one, and Yang Mingzhi was another. Compared to Lin Shuanghe, who was carefree and only knew how to enjoy himself, Yang Mingzhi appeared much more serious.

Yang Mingzhi’s father, Lord Yang, was a Scholar of the Guanwen Hall. Perhaps due to his father’s influence, Yang Mingzhi showed remarkable talent from a young age. However, he had poor health, frequently suffering from headaches and fevers, making him terrible at martial arts. Yet neither the teachers nor other students mocked him for this. In literary subjects, Yang Mingzhi was exceptionally brilliant. It was said he could compose poetry spontaneously at age five and could discuss classics with famous Wei scholars by age eight. When He Yu entered Xianzhang Academy, Yang Mingzhi was already famous. He excelled in policy essays and poetry and had excellent calligraphy, which He Yu greatly admired. His temperament was also gentle, neither as playful as Lin Shuanghe nor as aloof as Xiao Jue – he struck just the right balance.

While Yan He always competed with Xiao Jue in martial arts at Xianzhang Academy, Yang Mingzhi was Xiao Jue’s equal match in literary subjects. Despite his gentle nature, Yang Mingzhi’s writings and policy essays always carried a sharp edge, revealing his inner pride. He wasn’t afraid to criticize current affairs, and when inspired, his essays dared to challenge even the imperial court. Though often scolded by teachers, He Yu could tell they admired him.

In her youth, He Yu had always believed that someone as talented as Yang Mingzhi would inevitably enter government service and leave a significant mark in Wei’s history. However, after she joined the army, she lost track of him. She never expected to meet him here, much less as the Governor of Jinling. Why hadn’t he stayed in Shuojing? And Xiao Jue’s indifferent reaction to seeing him was strange.

Back then, Xiao Jue’s relationship with Yang Mingzhi had been similar to his relationship with Lin Shuanghe. Yet now they met like strangers.

He Yu wasn’t the only one who noticed this – so did Yan He. He said, “Oh, isn’t this Brother Mingzhi? How did you end up as Governor here?”

Yan He didn’t know either? It seemed Yang Mingzhi had kept a low profile these years.

Yang Mingzhi snapped out of his daze and smiled at Yan He: “Just a twist of fate.”

“Xiao Huaiqin, this is your old friend, why are you so cold?” Yan He’s gaze moved between them, “Did you two have a fight?”

Though he asked casually, as if they were still young, it caused Yang Mingzhi’s expression to change slightly.

“We can catch up later, now isn’t the time,” Lin Shuanghe intervened opportunely, changing the subject. “Well, Governor Yang, we’ll be staying in Jinling for two days, please help arrange accommodations for us. You can handle General Yan’s troops as you see fit. We’ll return to the capital after two days of rest.”

Lin Shuanghe’s attitude was also strange. Even though Xiao Jue was typically unreadable, Lin Shuanghe was usually quite perceptive. Yet his current attitude toward Yang Mingzhi seemed deliberately distant, showing none of their past familiarity.

Chu Zhao naturally noticed the undercurrent, and even the usually oblivious Yan He sensed something was wrong. For once, he kept quiet instead of speaking out.

Yang Mingzhi’s smile became slightly stiff: “Of course. The rooms have been prepared, someone will show you there shortly.”

Lin Shuanghe closed his fan: “Thank you, Governor Yang.”

Soon, several servants came to lead He Yu and the others to their lodgings. They weren’t staying at the Governor’s mansion but in a residence near the Qinhuai River, presumably owned by Yang Mingzhi. The house had been cleaned thoroughly, with exactly enough rooms for everyone to have their own.

Chu Zhao also got a room.

Throughout the journey, he hadn’t spoken much with He Yu. He remained quiet and pensive, which made things easier for He Yu. He also hadn’t had any conflicts with Xiao Jue, maintaining a peaceful coexistence.

He Yu’s room was originally the most remote one, which made sense as she held the lowest rank among the group. However, Lin Shuanghe suddenly jumped in, saying to her, “Brother He! I saw ants in my room, and I was scared. Could we switch rooms?”

He Yu: “…”

She said, “If there are ants in your room, there will be ants in mine too since we’re in the same building.”

“But I’m only afraid of the ants in my room,” he replied cleverly.

Yan He, who overheard their conversation, frowned: “Lin Shuanghe, are you sick?”

“Indeed,” Lin Shuanghe smiled sweetly and asked, “Do you have any medicine?”

Yan He stormed off.

Chu Zhao, standing nearby, gave He Yu a thoughtful look, shook his head with a smile, and followed Ying Xiang into his room.

He Yu glared at the gleefully smiling Lin Shuanghe. She immediately saw through his scheme – his room happened to be next to Xiao Jue’s! He was trying to push her closer to Xiao Jue when she had just resolved to keep her distance.

She looked up and caught Xiao Jue’s clear, sidelong glance, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Lin Shuanghe said, “Then it’s settled, Brother He, I’m going!” He quickly grabbed his belongings and rushed into what was supposed to be He Yu’s room, leaving her no choice but to reluctantly move into Lin Shuanghe’s room.

After closing the door, He Yu let out a sigh of relief. Though she knew this wasn’t Liangzhou Guard, and there was no connecting door that could be easily pried open between the rooms, she still felt nervous. She silently scolded herself – in Jiyang City, at Cui Yuezhi’s mansion, they had even shared a room, so what was there to be nervous about now? There was a wall between them – it’s not like they could fly through it.

Thinking this, she relaxed a bit.

However, she kept thinking about the unusual interaction between Xiao Jue and Yang Mingzhi earlier. After a while, she slipped out of her room and, seeing no one around, knocked on Lin Shuanghe’s door.

Lin Shuanghe opened the door while yawning, but upon seeing He Yu, he immediately grabbed the doorframe tightly. “Brother He, a deal is a deal – we’ve already switched rooms, and we can’t switch back. I won’t leave even if I die.”

He thought He Yu had come to switch rooms back.

He Yu helplessly said, “I’m not here to switch rooms. I have something to ask you.”

“That’s even more inappropriate,” Lin Shuanghe said seriously, “I’m a man of honor. We’re both unattached… men. If certain people saw us, wouldn’t it cause a scandal?”

What nonsense was he talking about? He Yu ignored him, pushed him into the room with one hand, followed him in, and closed the door.

Lin Shuanghe, pushed onto a chair by He Yu, covered his chest with both hands and declared dramatically, “Sister He, one shouldn’t trifle with a friend’s wife. I’m not that kind of person.”

“I’m asking about Yang Mingzhi,” He Yu cut off his theatrics.

Lin Shuanghe was startled, then looked alarmed, “You’re interested in Yang Mingzhi?”

This person only had romance on his mind. He Yu took a deep breath, “I’m not interested in him. I want to ask about what happened between Governor Yang and the Commander. Earlier, General Yan mentioned that Governor Yang was the Commander’s good friend, but from what I observed outside, their interaction didn’t seem like that of friends.”

After she finished speaking, Lin Shuanghe finally understood her intention. He stayed silent for a moment, then slowly sat up straight, his usually cheerful face showing traces of worry. He sighed and said, “So you noticed.”

He Yu asked, “Did something happen between them?”

“Yan Nanguang, Huaiqin, Yang Mingzhi, and I were classmates,” Lin Shuanghe put down his fan, picked up the nearby teapot, poured a cup for He Yu, and then one for himself. He stared at the tea in his cup, seemingly recalling the past, his voice floating softly: “Yan Nanguang was like a fighting cock, always competing with everyone, and wasn’t close to us. Back then, Huaiqin, Yang Mingzhi, and I were closest. Yang Mingzhi and Huaiqin were probably closer than Huaiqin and I were.”

His face showed no trace of jealousy or dissatisfaction, he just smiled and said, “After all, I wasn’t good at either literature or martial arts, so I could only chat with Huaiqin about which young lady was pretty or which restaurant had new dishes. Yang Mingzhi and Huaiqin had more to talk about. Yang Mingzhi had poor health, and in his youth, some people secretly called him effeminate, but after Huaiqin started spending time with him, no one dared say such things anymore.”

He Yu knew all this. She had thought then that talented people often shared similarities, and since both Xiao Jue and Yang Mingzhi were outstanding, it was no wonder they became close friends.

“What happened after?” she asked.

“After…” Lin Shuanghe lowered his head, his gaze becoming wistful.

The year the Xiao family fell, the political situation was very tense. Xiao Zhongwu had died and was blamed for the failed command at the Battle of Mingshui. The Xiao family was on the brink of collapse, and Minister Xu’s influence in court grew increasingly rampant. Although the students at Xianzhang Academy were all from high-ranking official families, at such a critical time, no one dared speak up for the Xiao family.

Except for Lin Shuanghe.

His family served as court physicians, and neither Lin Qingtan nor Lin Mu involved themselves in court politics. Lin Shuanghe had no intention of entering official service. When he learned of the Xiao family’s troubles, Lin Shuanghe begged his father and grandfather to speak well of Xiao Zhongwu before the Emperor. Lin Mu did so – his expertise in women’s medicine was extraordinary, and he was quite diplomatic, maintaining good relationships with many imperial consorts. Lin Mu approached several consorts to whisper in the Emperor’s ear for several days. They didn’t mention Xiao Zhongwu directly, only speaking of how pitiful the two young Xiao sons were, both talented youths whose households had met with misfortune.

The Emperor was someone who cherished talent and was easily swayed. After hearing these words repeatedly, he truly began to feel sorry for Xiao Jing and Xiao Jue. He decided that the guilt for the Battle of Mingshui would fall only on Xiao Zhongwu, not affecting other Xiao family members.

But this alone wasn’t enough.

The Southern Army’s military authority hadn’t been retrieved yet. Even though the Emperor now showed mercy and didn’t punish other Xiao family members out of consideration for past relationships, a Xiao family without military power was like meat without weapons to protect it – anyone who wanted could take a bite, let alone stand against Minister Xu. The Emperor’s mercy would only fade as time passed since Xiao Zhongwu’s death. To reclaim military authority, they had to act immediately – it would be too late if they waited.

Among all the civil and military officials, besides Xiao Zhongwu’s former subordinates and Censor Shen, no one dared speak up.

At Xianzhang Academy, Xiao Jue had only two close friends: Lin Shuanghe and Yang Mingzhi. Lin Shuanghe had begged his father to speak for Xiao Jue. Yang Mingzhi’s father, Lord Yang, the Scholar of Guanwen Hall, was the Emperor’s personally selected top scholar, and Emperor Wenxuan was very fond of him. If Lord Yang spoke up, the Emperor might listen.

Xiao Jue asked Yang Mingzhi for help.

Lin Shuanghe still remembered Yang Mingzhi’s words at that time. His eyes full of urgency, he patted Xiao Jue’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll convince my father to speak up for General Xiao in court, asking His Majesty to thoroughly investigate the truth about the Battle of Mingshui. Huaiqin, rest assured, Lin Brother and I will always stand by you.”

Though he was gentle and refined, his words carried weight. Lin Shuanghe had never doubted Yang Mingzhi’s sincerity at that moment. It seemed Xiao Jue hadn’t either. So they waited for news from Yang Mingzhi.

One day, two days, three days… Yang Mingzhi didn’t come to Xianzhang Academy. When they asked the teachers, they were told he was sick.

Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jue suspected Yang Mingzhi might be unable to leave his house or was confined by his family, never suspecting anything else. After discussing it, they disguised themselves as servants and snuck into the Yang residence to find Yang Mingzhi.

At that time, Yang Mingzhi was practicing calligraphy in his room.

There were no locked doors, no confinement, not even any illness. He looked the same as before, and because he was at home rather than at school, his complexion even seemed better.

“Mingzhi,” Lin Shuanghe looked at him in surprise, “Why aren’t you coming to school? Huaiqin and I thought something had happened to you.”

Yang Mingzhi stood up and looked at them, or more precisely, at Xiao Jue, without speaking.

Xiao Jue seemed to understand something and said, “Your father…”

“I’m sorry,” Yang Mingzhi interrupted before Xiao Jue could finish, “About what I promised you earlier, I’ve broken my word. My father cannot speak up for General Xiao.”

“Why?” Lin Shuanghe became anxious, “Didn’t we agree?”

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Jue spoke up, lowering his eyes, “I was asking too much. You don’t need to apologize.”

Lin Shuanghe fell silent. He knew how difficult it was to ask for even one word of support at such a critical moment. They shouldn’t blame Yang Mingzhi, but the greater the hope, the harder the disappointment was to bear.

He Yu looked at the person before her and asked in confusion, “Did the Commander and Governor Yang break their friendship over this? But perhaps Governor Yang did try his best, only failing because Scholar Yang wouldn’t agree.”

She couldn’t believe Yang Mingzhi was a cold-hearted person because he had always been kind and gentle. During her time at Xianzhang Academy, He Yu didn’t receive much kindness from other students, but Yang Mingzhi was an exception. Moreover, someone whose poetry and essays were so passionate should have an especially righteous and enthusiastic heart.

Lin Shuanghe didn’t answer her immediately, remaining silent for a while before saying, “That’s what I thought at first too, that Yang Mingzhi might have had his reasons.”

“Then what happened?”

“Then as we were leaving, Yang Mingzhi said something,” his voice became slightly uneven as the memories of that day resurfaced.

Yang Mingzhi called out to the two who were about to leave, saying, “Huaiqin, have you considered that perhaps there wasn’t anything suspicious about the Battle of Mingshui? That it might have truly been General Xiao’s fault?”

Xiao Jue had already reached the door. Hearing this, he turned back. The young man’s expression was calm, his features as beautiful as a painting. Without a word, he walked to Yang Mingzhi’s side and threw a punch.

“That punch was fierce,” Lin Shuanghe winced, showing some schadenfreude, “Yang Mingzhi had poor health and ended up bedridden for half a month after being hit. Lord Yang was furious and almost submitted a memorial to the throne, but for some reason didn’t in the end – probably because he felt sorry for Huaiqin.”

“But it didn’t matter anyway,” Lin Shuanghe sighed softly, “Not long after that, Huaiqin went to the palace himself to request a command, leading three thousand men to Guo City, where he made his name in a single battle.”

A short side story about a warm class reunion, where every old classmate played a supporting role (′?ω?`)