The case of General Fei Hong caused an immense stir throughout Shuo Capital. Soldiers and civilians who had received General Fei Hong’s kindness spontaneously went to petition at the palace gates, demanding a thorough investigation of the truth. General Fei Hong had maintained a stellar reputation among the military and common people, and when the truth emerged, both the He and Xu families faced public outrage.

Emperor Wen Xuan handed the case to the Supreme Court. Within days, He Yuanliang broke under interrogation and revealed the entire truth. Officials also discovered extensive evidence of He Rufei’s communications with the Wuto people in the He family residence. Through this case, the He family was found guilty of deceiving the emperor, falsely claiming military achievements, and committing treason. Except for General Fei Hong’s younger sister He Xinying, all were sentenced to death. The primary culprit, He Rufei, was condemned to death by Lingchi for his heinous crimes, to be executed in the marketplace with one hundred and twenty cuts, and his head displayed as a warning.

As for the Hanlin Scholar Xu family, besides Xu Zhiheng’s death sentence, all male members were exiled, and the women were relegated to slavery.

The case was resolved swiftly, and upon learning the outcome, the public applauded the decision, declaring that both the He and Xu families deserved their fate.

On the day before the execution, in his prison cell, Xu Zhiheng stared at the spoiled food before him, refusing to touch it.

While other death row inmates received wine and proper meals for their final supper, he got nothing. The jailers felt Xu Zhiheng’s actions had been too heartless and cruel. Many who had benefited from General Fei Hong’s kindness in the past now wished to make Xu Zhiheng’s final moments miserable if only for the deceased General He’s sake.

The jailer mocked him, “Why aren’t you eating, Master Xu? After today, you won’t have another chance. I advise you not to be so picky.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhiheng became agitated, rushing to the cell door and grabbing the bars, pleading with the jailer: “No… I won’t die! I’ll give you money to find someone who can rescue me! I’ll pay you!”

“Very well,” the jailer smiled mockingly, “Who should I find for Master Xu?”

Who indeed?

Xu Zhiheng suddenly froze.

The He family had fallen with him, and He Rufei could barely save himself. Their former associates had surely distanced themselves by now, fearing guilt by association. No one could save him.

Xu Zhiheng collapsed helplessly to the ground, and in his despair, he felt an overwhelming sense of injustice. He mumbled, “Why? I wasn’t the one who killed… I didn’t do anything!”

“Did you do nothing?” a voice emerged from the darkness. Xu Zhiheng suddenly looked up to see someone slowly appearing before him, completely shrouded in a black cloak. He felt a moment of joy, thinking someone had come to rescue him, but the next instant, joy turned to terror as the person removed their hood, revealing their face.

It was Marchioness Wu’an, He Yan.

Xu Zhiheng startled, quickly retreating to the wall, cautiously speaking: “Don’t come closer… stay away!”

The jailer had already left. He Yan looked at this wretched man. Xu Zhiheng seemed terrified of her, staring at her as if she were a demon crawling out of hell, his eyes filled with horror.

He Yan had never seen Xu Zhiheng like this. Whether it was the young man in blue robes who had helped her up from the snow and smiled while retrieving her bundle when she was fourteen, or the gentle Master Xu who spoke softly with a warm smile after their marriage, none resembled this unshaven, frightened man before her. Even when He Wanru had led people to drown her, Xu Zhiheng had never shown his face.

She had seen Xu Zhiheng in his glory days when he maintained a proper appearance, but now she discovered this was how he looked in prison.

He Yan felt disappointed.

Just as a general would not regret dying at the hands of an equally matched opponent, but facing someone far inferior… it was rather pathetic.

“Don’t be afraid,” she spoke gently, even showing a slight smile. “I came to ask you something.”

The woman’s eyes were bright, showing no hatred, and that hint of a smile seemed to confuse Xu Zhiheng. He remained still, staring at He Yan, hesitating for a long while before asking, “What do you want to know?”

“When…” He Yan smiled slightly, “Did you discover that your wife He Yan was General Fei Hong’s sister?”

This was something He Yan could never understand. When she married Xu Zhiheng, she thought he knew nothing about her, even making up excuses to hide her scars. She had fabricated many explanations for her differences from ordinary women. It wasn’t until the day she died that she learned from He Wanru’s mouth that Xu Zhiheng had known all along.

Perhaps all those years of hiding and concealment had seemed like a joke to Xu Zhiheng.

But when did he find out? Was it after she married into the Xu family, before the marriage, or even earlier? And if so, why did he marry her?

Xu Zhiheng’s eyes darted around as he looked at her, still wary: “Why are you asking this? Who are you?”

“I’m someone who can save you,” He Yan said softly.

Xu Zhiheng’s eyes lit up: “Save me?” He took a few steps forward, still seemingly afraid of He Yan, looking at her through the prison bars, urgently asking, “You can really save me?”

He Yan smiled and nodded.

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, “I knew long ago.”

Xu Zhiheng discovered He Yan was General Fei Hong’s sister shortly after the general’s return to the capital. At that time, he wasn’t yet a Hanlin Scholar. Although the Xu family had a scholarly background, the position of Hanlin Scholar was beyond someone of his age. Most court officials were now disciples of Xu Jingfu, and sometimes in climbing the ranks, talent was secondary – without connections, one might never rise to prominence.

He had been called a child prodigy in his youth, and as he grew older, people placed him on such a high pedestal that he began to view himself the same way, unconsciously trapping himself in a cage of expectations.

His temporary setback in his official career left Xu Zhiheng depressed. Madam Xu, seeing his melancholy, thought that at his age, it was time to arrange a marriage. Being astute, she carefully selected and chose the recently appointed General Fei Hong’s cousin, the second daughter of the He family’s second branch.

This Second Young Lady had been sickly in her youth and was sent to recuperate at a countryside estate early on, only recently returning. Madam Xu had calculated well – becoming in-laws with this new court favorite would only benefit Xu Zhiheng’s career.

However, at that time, Xu Zhiheng wasn’t the best choice for the He family. There were many eligible talented young men in the capital, and the Second Young Lady He was highly sought after due to her connection to Young Master He. Many wanted to marry her.

When the He family sent an invitation, Madam Xu brought Xu Zhiheng along. Though it was called a visit, it was a match-making meeting.

During his first visit to the He residence, he accidentally had tea spilled on him by a servant and went to a side room to change. Shortly after entering, before he could leave, people came in.

Xu Zhiheng couldn’t move forward or backward. Two people entered, apparently not noticing him in the back. Someone spoke – a woman’s clear, pleasant voice: “Brother, what is Mother… Great Aunt doing, inviting all these young men to our home!”

“Among so many young gentlemen, isn’t there one you fancy?” a male voice replied.

Xu Zhiheng almost immediately realized that the speakers outside must be Second Young Lady He and her elder brother He Rufei.

He should have immediately stepped out to apologize, but inexplicably, not only did he not move, he held his breath to hide himself better.

Looking back now, the deep meaning of fate had already begun to slowly reveal itself in that moment.

Xu Zhiheng had overheard a secret.

“Brother, are you rushing to marry me off because you’re afraid I’ll reveal that we switched identities, that I’m General Fei Hong?” the woman spoke. “I’ve told you, I won’t say anything. I’ve kept it hidden all these years, and I’ll continue to do so.”

“That’s not it,” the man’s voice carried a hint of impatience. “At your age, ordinary women should be married. He Yan, you’re just living the life you were meant to have.”

Behind the screen, Xu Zhiheng covered his mouth in shock.

What had he just heard? What about switching identities, and He Yan being General Fei Hong?

He pinched his arm hard, and the pain reminded him this wasn’t a dream.

Xu Zhiheng barely registered the siblings’ subsequent argument. Only after they left did he slowly stand up straight, staring at the closed door.

He wasn’t foolish; in fact, he was quite clever. With just these few exchanges, he pieced together the whole story. He was shocked by the He family’s audacity and He Yan’s exceptional abilities, but more than that, he recognized an opportunity – a gift from fate itself.

So he straightened his clothes, returned to the banquet table, and greeted the late-arriving Second Young Lady He with a refined smile.

Xu Zhiheng sought out He Rufei.

He Rufei looked at him with an inscrutable expression: “Master Xu wants to marry my sister?”

Xu Zhiheng smiled, “Indeed.”

“This matter needs to be discussed with the elders,” He Rufei said. “I cannot decide alone, and we must consider my sister’s feelings.” He turned to leave.

Xu Zhiheng spoke unhurriedly: “Your sister is a heroine among women, no less capable than men. I admire her greatly, and hope General He will help make this match.”

“What did you say?” He Rufei whirled around, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

“Before coming to see General He, I left a letter with a friend. Should anything happen to me, this secret letter would spread throughout Shuo Capital,” Xu Zhiheng smiled. “I hope General He will be amenable.”

He was confident, and determined to succeed.

And so, Xu Zhiheng married He Yan. Shortly before the marriage, he became a Hanlin Scholar – General He’s “dowry gift” for his sister.

Fortune favors the bold, and Xu Zhiheng understands that knowing too many secrets could lead to an early death. But he didn’t think this would happen to him, as he knew when to stop. He was a civil official, not a military one – He Rufei could only help him become a Hanlin Scholar at most. His future path would be his own to walk. As for marrying He Yan… marrying General Fei Hong’s daughter brought him many benefits.

The He family should be reassured – rather than marrying Second Young Lady He to another family who might discover their secret, better to marry her to someone who needs favors from the He family.

“So,” He Yan looked at Xu Zhiheng before her, speaking slowly, “from the moment you sought to marry Second Young Lady He, it was all to use her?”

“Use her?” Xu Zhiheng shook his head. “No… it wasn’t using her. She would have had to marry someone anyway… and I wasn’t the one who wanted her dead. I didn’t do anything.”

Xu Zhiheng could barely remember He Yan’s face anymore.

Although he had married He Yan, he had always harbored some disdain. His lifelong education in propriety and etiquette made him look down on such an unorthodox woman as He Yan. He preferred docile, charming women like He Wanru. Not He Yan… she was unrefined, and though she tried hard to play the role of a noble lady, she would unconsciously reveal moments of awkwardness. She couldn’t play musical instruments, chess, paint, or write calligraphy; she couldn’t bring him face, nor could she learn to be coy and pleasing. Her skin even bore frightening scars. Sometimes when Xu Zhiheng looked at He Yan, he would think about how she had once lived and slept among men in military camps, and he found it unbearable.

Though he was willing to be a “good husband,” more often than not, he couldn’t control his contempt.

Fortunately, these days ended quickly. The He family sent a bowl of medicine, and after He Yan drank it, she went blind.

Actually, at that time, Xu Zhiheng sat in the adjacent room, watching He Yan drink that bowl of medicine, and felt a moment of sympathy. The He family’s actions seemed heartless. Moreover, how would others gossip about him behind his back for having a blind mistress of the house?

Luckily, He Yan was obedient and didn’t make much noise. Even after going blind, she didn’t cry or make a fuss; most of the time, she just sat silently lost in thought. He had heard that before marriage, He Yan had raised a mute dog in her courtyard. Sometimes Xu Zhiheng thought He Yan and that mute yellow dog were quite similar – living silently, unnoticed by anyone.

If that had been all, it would have been fine. But she tried too hard, so hard that even blind, she still posed a threat to the He family. So she died at He Wanru’s hands, died in the Xu family pond.

“I didn’t use He Yan,” he tried to defend himself. “I was protecting her… it was all He Rufei’s fault, all the He family’s fault!”

He Yan stared at Xu Zhiheng and asked, “Besides at the He residence, had you ever seen Second Young Lady He before?”

Xu Zhiheng froze, instinctively shaking his head: “No, no! The first time I saw Second Young Lady He was at the He residence.”

He had forgotten.

This was expected.

He Yan discovered that now, facing Xu Zhiheng, she felt completely calm. Perhaps in the past, when facing Xu Zhiheng, she always thought she was facing the young man in blue robes she had met at the hunting grounds in her youth. But perhaps from the very beginning, they had been two different people. To Xu Zhiheng, “He Yan” was just a commodity exchanged for benefits – what mattered was the identity, not the name, and certainly not the person. Whether it was He Yan or He Xinying made no difference, as long as it could make him a Hanlin Scholar.

A human life was worth nothing more than an official position.

She slowly stood up.

Watching her movement, Xu Zhiheng finally grabbed the bars desperately and asked, “I’ve told you everything I know, can you save me now?”

His eyes were full of desire, just like when he had stumbled upon the He family’s secret and wanted to use it to advance his career.

He Yan bent slightly, looking into his eyes: “I lied to you.”

Xu Zhiheng froze.

“I didn’t do anything, I just deceived you,” her eyes curved. “You deceived me too, so it’s fair.”

With that, she straightened up and left, ignoring Xu Zhiheng’s angry shouts behind her.

She walked away step by step as if walking away from her past life. From now on, Marchioness Wu’an He Yan would have no more connection with the Second Young Lady He of the He family.

The final question about her previous life had been answered, yet He Yan felt little reaction.

It was as if these people and events could no longer stir waves in her heart.

Only… there was an emptiness in her heart.

At the main gate outside the prison stood a man, his back to her, as straight as the sword at his waist. He was turning his head to look at the snow piled under the eaves, revealing his handsome profile.

He Yan stood still, gazing at his silhouette, and unconsciously, her heart began to fill as if the groundless void finally found substance in this moment. Like a lost traveler finally discovering a glimmer of light after endless searching.

He Yan walked over and called out softly: “Xiao Jue.”

He turned around, glanced at He Yan, and asked, “Finished talking?”

He Yan nodded.

Tomorrow would be the execution day. There was nothing left to say between her and He Rufei, or between her and the He Yuansheng couple, but regarding Xu Zhiheng, she still wanted to understand when exactly he had discovered her identity. So she had asked Xiao Jue to bring her here to see Xu Zhiheng one last time.

“Why did it take so long?” Xiao Jue frowned.

“Was it long?” He Yan asked curiously. “I didn’t think it was. I was already being quick…” She caught sight of Xiao Jue’s expression and promptly closed her mouth. After a moment of silence, she quietly tugged at Xiao Jue’s sleeve: “Are you angry again?”

“What’s there to say to someone like that?” Xiao Jue turned and walked forward. He Yan hurried after him, “There wasn’t much to say, but thinking about it, I felt it would be too easy to just leave it at that. So I told him I was a vengeful ghost came back for revenge and scared him half to death. Wasn’t that clever of me?” she made up the story casually.

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not lying to you, it’s true. You should have seen his frightened expression just now…”

The girl chattered endlessly beside him, her earlier melancholy completely gone. He saw this and his lips curved slightly upward, deliberately ignoring her as she rambled on about everything under the sun.

“Xiao Jue, this habit of yours of getting angry so easily isn’t good, you should change it.”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’re not angry, you’re just unhappy.”

“…”

“Xiao Jue, Xiao Jue!”

“What is it?”

She grabbed the corner of his sleeve, “Nothing.”