Hua Youxian paused, asking, “Isn’t Young Master He female?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Xiao Jue frowned, his beautiful eyes suddenly sharp. “You said ‘young lady’ from ‘back then’?”

Hua Youxian nodded, somewhat puzzled. “That masked young lady… doesn’t Young Master Xiao know?”

Xiao Jue’s gaze became incredulous. “Young lady?”

“Could it be Young Master Xiao still doesn’t know?” Hua Youxian expressed surprise. “Back then, Young Master Xiao specifically had someone replace the young lady’s Bifang Wine with Rose Dew. This servant thought the young master knew all along…” Her eyes curved as she recalled something. “That’s precisely why this servant deliberately teased her then, making her blush crimson. It was quite amusing.”

Xiao Jue was visibly shaken, muttering, “I didn’t know.”

He had detected that Bifang Wine was rich and potent, likely too strong for someone who had just been beaten at the estate and recently treated with medicine. He had ordered Hua Youxian to switch it to the milder, sweet Rose Dew instead. But Xiao Jue never imagined that Hua Youxian would now tell him He Rufei was a girl.

“Are you certain,” Xiao Jue looked at the woman before him, “that he is female?”

“This servant grew up in Ruyun Tower. Occasionally, young ladies from wealthy families would come to play dressed as men. Mother instructed us sisters that if we encountered such ladies, we shouldn’t expose them, just let them have their fun and protect them a bit. So if someone is a woman dressed as a man, this servant can tell at a glance.”

“That masked young master disguised herself quite well as a man. There were no traces of earrings or hairpins, and her actions and behavior were identical to ordinary men. However, this servant felt something was amiss and deliberately sat beside her…” She smiled. “She was wearing a chest binding and was extremely nervous. When this servant teased her a bit, she became flustered. Though that mask was quite intimidating – if it were someone else, they probably wouldn’t have noticed. And naturally, the young masters didn’t have much interaction with women then, so they couldn’t spot her female identity at first glance.”

Xiao Jue was speechless.

Though his time as He Rufei’s classmate wasn’t particularly long, just over a year, he had never doubted He Rufei was male in all these years. Suddenly hearing this from Hua Youxian was truly unbelievable. Yet he knew very well that Hua Youxian wasn’t one to speak carelessly. Though she spoke tactfully, she must have been certain to say such things.

“It seems… today’s Miss He can’t be the same person as that young master from back then.” Hua Youxian looked at Xiao Jue curiously. “This servant thought Young Master Xiao was taking such good care of that lady, just like before, assuming they were the same person.”

Xiao Jue, his mind in chaos, shook his head and said, “She’s not.”

“Young Master Chu seems to have intentions toward Miss He,” Hua Youxian rested her chin on her hand, the gesture giving her a girlish playfulness. “However, this servant can tell that young lady likes you.”

Xiao Jue raised his eyes to look at her.

“Young master probably doesn’t know,” Hua Youxian laughed softly, “at today’s drinking table, she spent far more time looking at you than at Young Master Chu. And when Cailian sent someone to propose a toast, Miss He was so nervous she almost dropped her cup.”

“If young master likes Miss He, you should be more proactive. When a flower is beautiful enough, there’s bound to be more than one person wanting to pluck it.” After saying this, she straightened up, picked up the wine pot from the pavilion table, and said, “This servant is drunk too, and will retire to rest. Young master, stay here and think it through slowly. Once you’ve figured it out, everything will be clear tomorrow.” She gave Xiao Jue a coquettish bow. “Farewell.”

As Hua Youxian disappeared into the depths of the corridor, Xiao Jue sat in the pavilion, staring at the lantern on the table.

After such a long conversation, what still shocked him was one thing – He Rufei was a woman?

No one had ever seen He Rufei’s face beneath the mask. Was He Rufei a woman from the beginning, or was only the “He Rufei” who came with them to Jinling female? After pondering briefly, Xiao Jue firmly concluded that the He Rufei who came to Jinling hadn’t been switched – it was the same He Rufei they knew from Xianchangguan. This meant that He Rufei from Xianchangguan, the He Rufei known to the world, was a woman.

Suddenly, all of He Rufei’s past peculiar behaviors found reasonable explanations.

Why would someone wear a mask covering their entire face, never removing it even while sleeping? Why were He family’s close servants unusually distant from He Rufei, never providing intimate service? Why had no one ever bathed in hot springs with He Rufei? Why was He Rufei physically weak, short in stature, and much frailer than ordinary young men?

Because “He Rufei” was a woman.

Yet the He Rufei who removed the mask before Emperor Wenxuan was unmistakably and undeniably male.

The battle of Huayuan flashed before his eyes again. Despite He Rufei’s martial prowess, the defeat at Huayuan was devastating, with all close confidants killed – how similar it was to the battle of Mingshui. The silencing at Mingshui was because Vice Commander Xiao Zhongwu’s deputies knew the truth about their commander’s assassination. What was the reason that required silencing at the Battle of Huayuan?

What incredible secret had those “fallen” confidants discovered? After much consideration, the biggest secret could only be that the “Flying Swan General” who went to battle back then and the current “Flying Swan General” personally appointed by His Majesty were not the same person at all.

They were vastly different.

“Flying Slave.”

In the darkness, Flying Slave emerged, also unable to conceal his astonishment. He had been one of the guards accompanying Xiao Jue to Jinling back then. Naturally, he knew that the masked youth was He Rufei. After so many years, learning that the Flying Swan General, who struck fear into people’s hearts, was a woman – how could one not be shocked?

“Quickly inform Luan Ying to thoroughly investigate all matters of the He family, starting from He Rufei’s birth. Additionally, check if there are still any soldiers in the Fuyue Army who fought alongside He Rufei, and secretly protect their safety.”

He stood up, “I fear someone will soon attempt to silence them.”

……

The sun warmed her face with its fuzzy heat. He Yan raised a hand to block the dazzling sunlight from outside, slowly opening her eyes.

A young woman was placing baskets of porridge on the table in the room. She smiled, “Has the young master awoken?”

“Did I fall asleep?” He Yan asked. After drinking several cups of Rose Dew last night, she had become unusually drowsy, not knowing when she had fallen asleep. Her current alcohol tolerance truly couldn’t compare to her previous life – to think that even in her younger years then, He Yan could handle more than just a few cups.

“Young master retired early. Young Master Xiao carried you back to your room,” the young woman smiled demurely. “Young Master Lin and Young Master Yan have already awakened and finished their meal. They’re waiting downstairs. After the young master has breakfast and freshens up, please join them below.”

She showed no intention of attending to He Yan, withdrawing after setting out the food. This was likely Xiao Jue’s instruction – now that her female identity was known, among their group, only Yan He and Yang Mingzhi remained unaware. For now, at least, the fewer who knew, the better.

He Yan ate and tidied herself before going downstairs. As soon as she descended, she heard Yan He and Lin Shuanghe arguing incessantly. Yan He insisted, “Impossible! You got drunk first yesterday!”

“Come off it, Yan Nanguang. I watched you drink too much. How could I have gotten drunk first? Don’t deny it. Let’s ask Huaijin – Huaijin, who got drunk first, me or him?”

Before Xiao Jue could answer, Yan He hurriedly interjected, “Why ask him? He’s your friend, of course, he’ll take your side! Anyway, you got drunk first!”

“…Yan Nanguang, does your wife know you’re such a sore loser?”

He Yan reached the bottom of the stairs and greeted them, then looked toward Xiao Jue sitting by the window. He was gazing outside, lost in thought about something, so deeply absorbed that he hadn’t even noticed He Yan come down. This was rare. He Yan walked to Lin Shuanghe’s side and asked, “What’s wrong with the Commander? He seems preoccupied.”

Lin Shuanghe shrugged: “Who knows? He’s been like this since early morning. Maybe he’s thinking about matters after returning to Shuojing.”

Though he spoke simply, He Yan felt somewhat uneasy. Could she have said something foolish while drunk last night? She truly couldn’t remember anything.

“But…” He Yan looked around, “Where are Official Yang and Fourth Young Master Chu?”

“It seems they didn’t stay at Ruyun Tower last night, probably out of propriety. Yang Mingzhi never liked such places, to begin with, and as for Chu Zilan,” Lin Shuanghe deliberately looked at He Yan and said slowly, “If he had stayed at Ruyun Tower, once back in Shuojing, Xu Pingting would skin him alive. And that’s not all – the entire Ruyun Tower might suffer consequences too. So he did everyone a favor.”

As they were talking, Yan He walked to Xiao Jue’s side and slammed the table hard. “Wake up!”

Xiao Jue barely raised his eyes.

“Weren’t we supposed to meet Yang Mingzhi this morning? Hurry,” Yan He was anxious, “say whatever needs to be said quickly, don’t delay our return to the capital.” He rubbed his hands, “I told Chengxiu when we’d return, not even a day late is acceptable.”

Ever since becoming known as the “model husband,” he did not attempt to hide it anymore, mentioning his wife in eight out of ten sentences. Xiao Jue ignored his seemingly casual boasting and stood up, saying to everyone, “Let’s go.”

Once in the carriage, He Yan finally found the opportunity to ask what concerned her, “Commander, General Yan, why are we going to see Official Yang?”

Perhaps because of last night’s shared drinking, Yan He now considered He Yan part of “their side” and didn’t conceal anything, saying, “Don’t know, just said it’s related to the Wutuo people. We’ll find out when we get there.” At the mention of the Wutuo people, his expression grew serious, “Wonder how things are in Shuojing.”

Yang’s residence wasn’t particularly close to or far from Ruyun Tower. After about the time it takes to burn several incense sticks, the carriage stopped at Yang’s gate.

As Jinling’s Inspector-General, Yang Mingzhi’s residence was remarkably modest, looking no different from ordinary homes at first glance. He Yan remembered when Liu Rui was Jinling’s Inspector-General, according to what friends had said, his residence was so luxuriously renovated that the youths who went to steal the identity contracts nearly got lost in the garden.

Yang Mingzhi… didn’t pursue wealth and luxury, at least staying true to his original principles. So why had he spoken such hurtful words to his friend back then?

He Yan pondered this as she followed everyone through the main gate.

Yang Mingzhi’s household had few servants, making it look like any ordinary scholar’s residence in Jinling. The garden was barely maintained, with casually planted bamboo. In the main hall, there were few decorations, the only eye-catching items being various landscape paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls.

He Yan went closer to look – they weren’t works by famous artists, all were personally created by Yang Mingzhi. On the table lay a piece of newly written calligraphy, not yet mounted:

“Ten years spent studying, youth’s beauty remains.

Not pursuing worldly affairs, cockfighting on the eastern suburban road.

Wealth and status are like floating clouds, gold and jade are not treasures.

Once the pewit bird cries, frost covers the strong grass.

Ambitions often fail, tears soak the embracing arms.”

He Yan was stunned – why would Yang Mingzhi write this? Who was he satirizing? For whom was he shedding tears?

Before she could figure it out, someone walked out from inside, saying, “You’ve arrived.” It was Yang Mingzhi.

Today he wasn’t wearing his official robes, just ordinary clothing, making it even harder to associate him with the Inspector-General of Jinling.

Everyone found places to sit, and Yang Mingzhi ordered servants to pour tea. As the tea’s fragrance wafted through the air, Yan He held his cup and looked up at Yang Mingzhi, asking, “Speak plainly. There are no outsiders here. You had someone tell us you had important matters to discuss – what are they?”

After a moment’s silence, Yang Mingzhi said, “I heard you came from Rundu?”

“What? Has my reputation reached your ears?” Yan He said proudly, “Indeed, we came from Rundu. If I hadn’t led reinforcements there, everyone in Rundu City would likely have been slaughtered by the Wutuo people. You don’t know how dire the situation was – when we arrived, the Rundu city general had started eating people.” At this point, disgust flashed in Yan He’s eyes, “How could he do such a thing!”

Once Yan He started boasting about his achievements, he wouldn’t stop. Yang Mingzhi didn’t want to hear him show off and interrupted directly: “Commander Xiao, you were present at both the Jiyang naval battle and the Rundu city battle. You’ve encountered these Wutuo people – what do you think of them?”

Xiao Jue: “Not much to think about.”

His expression was calm, so He Yan quickly explained: “I was also at both the Jiyang naval battle and Rundu city battle. Official Yang, those Wutuo people are extremely cruel and come well-prepared. Their methods are treacherous, and they massacred Great Wei civilians outside Rundu city – truly despicable.”

Yang Mingzhi looked at her and asked, “Do they covet Great Wei’s territory?”

He Yan: “Obviously.”

Yang Mingzhi nodded: “That’s what I think too.”

“Everyone in the world thinks so,” Lin Shuanghe said, “Isn’t that the case?”

“The court doesn’t think so.”

Everyone was stunned, looking at Yang Mingzhi.

Yang Mingzhi’s brows were furrowed, his expression very solemn. “I received news that Wutuo envoys are on their way to Shuojing. The court is divided between those advocating war and those favoring peace, and His Majesty is inclined toward peace.”

“Have they gone mad?!” Before Yang Mingzhi could finish, Yan He shouted, “They’re attacking our doorstep, how can we still talk of peace? Do they think Buddha has descended to save all beings?”

Yang Mingzhi shook his head, “Not only that, they propose establishing trading posts within Great Wei territory for commerce between the two nations.”