When He Yan returned home, it was already deep into the night.

He Yunsheng told her about Bai Rongwei’s visit to the mansion, and when He Yan heard that they had even calculated an auspicious date, she couldn’t help but pause: “After the New Year?”

“Yes,” He Yunsheng observed her expression, “Do you also think it’s too rushed?”

“Not really,” He Yan replied, “It’s just that there are many court matters lately, and the Wutuo envoys just arrived in the capital today. The next two months will be extremely busy. How will Xiao Jue and I find time to prepare for the wedding?”

He Yunsheng frowned: “Don’t you personally feel it’s too quick?”

“It’s fine.” He Yan said: “Since His Majesty has arranged the marriage, I’ll have to marry sooner or later. What difference does it make?”

“But it’s your wedding,” He Yunsheng was getting a headache: “Could you at least show some concern?”

He Yan felt it unnecessary to make a fuss.

In her previous life, when she got married, it was also shortly after returning to the capital and switching identities with He Rufei. Though time was tight, the He family had arranged everything in advance, from the dowry to the wedding dress – she hadn’t needed to worry about anything. She didn’t know if other women experienced the same when getting married, but in her memory, marriage was simply moving from one family to another.

He Sui scolded He Yunsheng: “Your sister knows what she’s doing, what are you worried about!” Then he turned to He Yan and asked: “Yan’er, when Madam Xiao came today, she said the betrothal gifts were already prepared. Since you hold an official position, after marrying into the Xiao family, you won’t need to perform morning and evening courtesies – everything will remain as before. As for your dowry, your father has been saving for you early on. Though our family can’t compare to the Xiao family, you shouldn’t feel ashamed about it. Our daughter will bring her salary when she marries, with monthly income – isn’t that better than a dowry?”

“However, there’s one last matter,” He Sui scratched his head, “You’ve been in Liangzhou for so long, and your wedding dress hasn’t been embroidered. There’s not enough time to embroider it by hand now… There are several excellent embroiderers in Shuojing City. Whichever one you like, I’ll invite them to make your wedding dress. It should be finished in time.”

“Wouldn’t that be expensive?” He Yan asked.

“For my daughter’s wedding, of course, we need the best.” He Sui said carelessly: “Your father has plenty of money.”

“I’m not short on money either.” He Yan said: “I have my plans for the wedding dress, Father needn’t worry about it.”

“But…”

“It’s my wedding, naturally I should make the decisions.” He Yan stood up, “Father, do you mean to choose even the wedding dress for your daughter?”

“That’s not what I meant.” He Sui hurriedly said, but upon seeing He Yan’s gaze, he conceded, “Very well, whatever you think is best. But when you choose an embroiderer, you must tell me, so I can go invite them for you.”

“I understand.” He Yan looked outside: “It’s late, Father, you and Yunsheng should rest too.”

After washing up, Qingmei came in to take away the hot water basin, saying: “Now that the auspicious date is set, Miss will be married right after the New Year. Yet you don’t seem nervous at all?”

“Getting married isn’t like going to battle,” He Yan laughed, “What is there to be nervous about?”

“Miss, you’re too relaxed,” Qingmei mumbled, “What about the wedding dress? Haven’t you imagined what you’ll look like wearing it when you marry Governor Xiao?”

He Yan paused slightly.

In her previous life, when she married Xu Zhiheng, the wedding dress prepared by the He family was indeed elegant and exquisite. However, when He Yan looked at herself in the mirror wearing the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, she always felt somewhat uncomfortable. The scars beneath the delicate clothes would catch others’ eyes, and she had to accept an unknown future living as a woman in a strange household.

Even with anticipation, deep in her heart at that time, there was fear.

Now…

She was no longer afraid of marriage. Perhaps because Xiao Jue had promised her that even after marrying into the Xiao family, she wouldn’t need to sacrifice or dedicate anything, but could truly be herself.

Seeing He Yan silent, Qingmei thought she had finally become shy, and smiled contentedly as she carried out the basin of hot water. The sound of the closing door startled He Yan back to awareness. She lay down on the couch and suddenly remembered something, taking out the black jade with snake patterns from her inner clothes.

The black jade gleamed with a cool yet warm luster in the night’s lamplight. After Xiao Jue gave her this jade, He Yan was afraid of losing it at her waist, so she strung it with a cord and wore it as a necklace.

A beautiful wedding dress would certainly cost quite a bit of silver. He Sui and He Yunsheng were already stretched thin because of her wedding affairs. She wondered if she took this jade to an embroidery shop, would others allow her to buy it on credit for Xiao Jue’s sake?

But… if word got out that she was buying her wedding dress on credit, it wouldn’t just be her face that would be blackened, but Xiao Jue’s as well.

This wouldn’t do.

He Yan tucked the jade pendant back in and turned over.

Throughout history, weddings have indeed been expensive affairs.

…

At night on the mountain, in the empty great hall, two wooden tiger statues crouched before the hall, as quiet as if they were sleeping.

A gray-feathered pigeon fluttered down to land before a small table, its black bean-like eyes blinking as it pecked at the red wild fruits in the porcelain dish. A slender hand reached over to remove the copper tube tied to the pigeon’s leg.

A moment later, with a “clang,” the copper tube fell to the ground with a crisp sound. Someone yawned and said drowsily: “What’s wrong?”

The speaker had a round white face, with eyes squeezed into slits by the flesh, yet rather than being unpleasantly greasy, it appeared somewhat comical and endearing. If He Yan were present, she would recognize this person as Lu Daichuan, Xiao Jue’s master skilled in sword forging whom she had met previously.

“Oh?” Lu Daichuan noticed the gray pigeon stealing food and was startled, “A letter, from whom?”

“Who else could it be but your precious disciple?” The woman holding the letter turned around, revealing a face full of charm.

This woman was probably in her thirties or forties, her appearance not particularly stunning, but what was remarkable was that hint of allure between her brows. Her eyes were very coquettish, but her lips were thin, appearing restrained and aloof. She had well integrated these contradictions, leaving only an ineffable immortal charm. With such a face, she yet wore coarse cloth clothes, her hair casually pinned up with a broken tree branch, looking just like a legendary mountain spirit hiding in the hills.

“Huaijin sent a letter?” Lu Daichuan said in surprise: “Why would he suddenly send a letter?”

The beautiful woman gave a cold laugh, “Of course, he’s asking someone to do something. Did you think he was showing concern and filial respect for us?”

“I certainly know he’s asking someone to do something.” Lu Daichuan said with a smile: “What is it this time?”

“This fellow is getting married right after the New Year, and his noble wife still needs a wedding dress. He’s troubling me to embroider one for him.” As the beautiful woman spoke, she became furious, “Is this place some embroidery shop? He orders me around so freely!”

“Now, now, don’t be angry.” Lu Daichuan poured her a cup of tea, “After all, Miss Ruxing, you were once the Great Wei’s most renowned First Embroiderer.”

Ruxing was unmoved by his flattery, “At this age, don’t call me Miss! Besides, what embroiderer – that was all so many years ago, I’m surprised you still remember.”

Lu Daichuan blinked, “Of course, I remember. After you came up the mountain, how many people searched everywhere for your whereabouts? There are still legends about you in Shuojing City.” Lu Daichuan said: “Your embroidery skills are unmatched in heaven or earth. This is exactly why Huaijin came to ask for your help.”

“I’ve never seen a disciple who orders his masters around so comfortably.” Ruxing glared at him, “Among us all, you spoiled him the most. This brat’s terrible attitude now is all because of your indulgence!”

Lu Daichuan looked very innocent, “We five people were all his masters, why blame it all on me? Besides, Ruxing, do you think I spoiled him back then?”

Ruxing gave him a sideways glance and said nothing.

Of course not. Xiao Jue was very young when he came up the mountain, and when he went down at fourteen, he was still just a youth. But during those dozen or so years in between, there probably wasn’t a single easy day. Xiao Zhongwu knew well that he would have to shoulder the future of the Xiao family and walk a lonely and difficult path, so he required the five of them to train and teach Xiao Jue in the most rigorous way possible.

One must endure what others cannot to gain what others cannot obtain. Everyone said Xiao Zhongwu was fortunate – his eldest son was already outstanding, yet his second son proved even more exceptional. If not for his cold temperament, he would have surpassed all the young men in Great Wei. However, no one knew what kind of life Xiao Jue had lived during those years on the mountain.

That was certainly no enjoyment.

The masters were human, not real immortals – they had emotions and desires. Sometimes seeing such a small child in such a pitiful state would inevitably stir compassion, but they couldn’t show it. Over time, Xiao Jue’s attachment to his masters wasn’t very deep. After he left the mountain, apart from the annual ceremonial visit, he had little interaction with them.

Lu Daichuan understood completely – who could show a pleasant face to someone who had tortured, beaten, and frequently locked them in formation arrays since childhood?

It was already showing great restraint that Xiao Jue hadn’t come back for revenge.

“Thank goodness,” Lu Daichuan pressed his palms together, “I was originally worried that staying on the mountain too long had made his personality isolated and cold, afraid he might remain a bachelor all his life. Now I can finally rest easy. If our treatment had caused this boy to never marry, that would have been a great sin. Thank goodness, Amitabha.”

Ruxing gave him a sideways glance: “What’s the girl like?”

Lu Daichuan: “What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you meet that girl?” Ruxing asked impatiently, “That Shen family girl chased after the brat for so many years without catching his interest. Yet he’s taken a liking to this girl, even asking me to embroider her wedding dress. I want to know what’s so special about her,” she touched her hair, “Is she as beautiful as me?”

Lu Daichuan chuckled, “She’s only seventeen or eighteen, in the prime of youth. You’ve got one foot in the grave already, how can you compare?”

“Have you forgotten what it feels like to be beaten?” Ruxing smiled.

“I was joking,” Lu Daichuan coughed lightly, “That young lady seems quite good to me. You should trust Huaijin’s judgment.”

“A man’s judgment can never be trusted.” Ruxing dismissed.

“But you should trust a sword’s judgment.” Lu Daichuan smiled slightly, “Huaijin’s Yinqiu sword likes her.”

“What?”

“That day when she came to help Huaijin retrieve the repaired Yinqiu sword when the sword touched her hands, I could feel that Yinqiu liked her. I’ve lived on this mountain for many years and seen more swords than people. Yinqiu follows its master – if Yinqiu likes Miss He, she must be special.”

After a moment of silence, Ruxing said: “Perhaps that sword has been on the battlefield too long and lost its senses.”

“Now you’re just being difficult.” Lu Daichuan said: “Do you know what you sound like? Like a bitter mother-in-law who disapproves of the new bride.”

“Who are you calling a bitter mother-in-law?” Ruxing’s gaze suddenly turned murderous.

“I’m saying you should relax,” Lu Daichuan said: “Huaijin is better at judging people than either of us. Since he likes Miss He, we as elders should support him. Though Huaijin may seem cold to us, you know very well why our mountain has remained peaceful all these years without disturbance.”

Ruxing remained silent.

“Now that he can marry and have a family, we haven’t failed General Xiao’s trust in us.” Lu Daichuan sighed.

The cool wind in the hall reminded them of nights on the mountain years ago when a small boy practiced sword techniques with a cold face, and before they knew it, he had grown up.

After a moment of silence, Ruxing stood up to leave. Lu Daichuan called after her: “Hey, where are you going?”

“Back home, of course!” Ruxing said through gritted teeth: “To help your cursed disciple embroider a wedding dress. I raised a debt collector – finally got through sending him down the mountain, and now when he’s about to marry, he comes back to trouble me!”

“Well, you are the Great Wei’s First Embroiderer,” Lu Daichuan smiled behind her: “The wedding dress you make will naturally be unmatched under heaven.”

“Of course,” there was a hint of a smile in Ruxing’s voice, “I hope that girl deserves my craftsmanship.”

…

He Yan didn’t know that Xiao Jue had asked his master to embroider her wedding dress. Bai Rongwei sent someone to say that Xiao Jue was already preparing the wedding dress. He Sui and He Yunsheng felt somewhat uncomfortable – how could the groom’s family prepare the bride’s wedding dress? But He Yan thought Xiao Jue was being very considerate, knowing she wasn’t good at such things and taking care of it himself, which made her feel relieved.

The wedding date was finally set for the tenth day of the New Year.

The Xiao family’s wedding invitations had been sent out, and all of Shuojing knew. The He family didn’t have many relatives and friends, just a few close comrades from when He Sui was still a captain at the military camp. He Sui had been worried these days that too few people would come from the bride’s side to attend the ceremony, but He Yan didn’t think this was a big deal. A wedding wasn’t a fight – more people didn’t necessarily mean better.

Besides, she didn’t want to be surrounded by people staring at her like some spectacle.

She put the wedding matters aside for now, because there were more important matters at hand.

The Wutuo envoys had finally arrived in the capital this winter.

On their first day in the capital, Emperor Wenxuan accepted their apology gifts, as well as their desire for peace.

When He Yan heard this news, although she wasn’t surprised, she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. The Emperor’s heart leaning toward peace wasn’t good news for her and Xiao Jue.

He Yunsheng sat before He Yan and asked: “In three days, His Majesty will host a banquet at the Tianxing Tower. Those Wutuo people will surely take this opportunity to make things unpleasant. Can you handle it?”

“Whether I can handle it or not, I must,” He Yan gave a bitter smile, “Your sister’s position isn’t high enough to disregard His Majesty’s orders.”

The banquet at Tianxing Tower was also meant to display Great Wei’s might, to let the Wutuo people see Great Wei’s prosperity and strength. However, as a military general, He Yan couldn’t accept standing together with enemy forces who had slaughtered Great Wei’s people. She especially didn’t want to see those despicable Wutuo people strutting about on Great Wei territory.

“Do you think,” He Yunsheng pondered, “His Majesty will agree to let them establish trading posts in Great Wei?”

This news had spread throughout Shuojing, so it wasn’t a secret that He Yunsheng knew. He Yan occasionally shared the current court situation with He Yunsheng. In her view, whether He Yunsheng chose a civil or military path, he would likely enter official service in the future. Letting him understand these matters early would only benefit him.

He Yan shook her head: “I don’t know.”

She had asked Xiao Jue the same question, but he only said that Emperor Wenxuan hadn’t agreed yet, though the future remained uncertain.

“Ah,” He Yunsheng heaved a deep sigh, “Those Wutuo people killed so many Great Wei citizens. If we still welcome them in to do business, what would those dead citizens think? What would the soldiers who died at their hands think? It’s really…” He wanted to say more, but since it concerned the Emperor, how could he dare comment? He could only swallow his words, though disappointment remained in his eyes.

He Yunsheng wasn’t the only one disappointed.

He Yan knew clearly that Emperor Wenxuan agreeing to the Wutuo people’s peace proposal at this crucial moment was also a slap in Xiao Jue’s face. What did it matter if he was the Fengyun General? No matter how invincible and heroic, no matter the great victory at Jiyang, as long as they gained the Emperor’s favor, they could still stride boldly into Great Wei’s territory and even enjoy conveniences that Great Wei merchants couldn’t.

How ironic.

However…

Sometimes, being too clever only results in shooting oneself in the foot. If everything went smoothly, the peace between Wutuo and Great Wei would benefit He Rufei, Xu Jingfu, and Xu Zhiheng, and even benefit the Wutuo ruler thousands of miles away… but it would bring no benefit to Great Wei’s people, to Xiao Jue, or He Yan herself.

Therefore, they couldn’t let the blood of the fallen soldiers be shed in vain.

They had to make Emperor Wenxuan guard against these cunning Wutuo people and see their true nature.

He Yan lowered her eyes – in three days at Tianxing Tower, there would truly be quite a spectacle to see.