The moonlight casts silver dew drops as the mountain wilderness stretches vast and clear. The bonfire reflected the fragrance of wine, creating an elegant and unrestrained atmosphere. The recruits sat drinking wine and eating meat, raising their heads to chat and admire the moon – a sight unique to Liangzhou Garrison.

Sparks drifted with the autumn wind, making one wonder if they might catch on clothes. But in moments they turned to ash, accompanied by soft sobs.

Xiao Mai cried, “I can’t even remember what my parents look like anymore…”

“I have it worse,” Wang Ba said expressionlessly. “I never even saw my parents since birth.”

He Yan: “…” She raised her hand and poured down a large gulp of wine, trying to calm herself.

Originally meant to comfort her, others had shared their misfortunes for comparison, but by the end, it had become a contest of who had suffered more. While other recruits were full of laughter and joy, their group was enveloped in gloom and misery.

Looking at Xiao Mai and Wang Ba crying with their heads buried, then at Young Master Jiang Jiao drinking sullenly with red-rimmed eyes, He Yan was speechless. Well, it was hard to tell who was comforting whom anymore.

Huang Xiong glanced at her and said, “Brother He, you can hold your liquor.”

He Yan started, looking down at herself – without realizing it, she was already on her third bowl. She didn’t know how well the original Young Lady He could handle alcohol, but surely that delicate young lady wouldn’t have drunk such harsh liquor from chipped bowls. However, for the former Flying Swan General, this was familiar.

In times of cold, fear, emotional distress, or hunger, if there was wine at hand, it could temporarily ward off difficult moments. Wine could drive away cold, boost courage, satisfy hunger, and drown sorrows.

When she was in Shuo Capital, she hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, afraid of exposing herself. However, after joining the Fu Yue Army in Mo County, it gradually became a habit. She built up her tolerance – none of the young officers or recruits could outdrink her. Sometimes during victory celebrations, she would be the only one still sober by the end of the feast.

This might be what they called “lonely at the top.”

What surprised her was Shi Tou – she’d thought growing up in the mountains and being sturdy, he’d handle alcohol well. But he hadn’t even finished half a bowl before falling backward, snoring heavily – drunk already?

His remaining half bowl was taken by his brother Xiao Mai, who drained it with Wang Ba, saying, “Who knew we were all wandering souls? From now on, we’re family.” After speaking, he drained it in one gulp, his nose turning red from the harsh liquor. Shortly after, like his elder brother, he too fell backward, drunk.

He Yan: “…Truly born brothers indeed.”

Wang Ba, suddenly losing a drinking companion, went to put an arm around Jiang Jiao’s shoulders, offering him some roasted rabbit meat. “Don’t just drink in silence, here, eat some meat. If your fiancée didn’t choose you, it means you two weren’t meant to be.” This was the first time he’d spoken like a normal person. “In life, meetings and partings are all fate, don’t force it.”

Jiang Jiao took the rabbit meat but continued drinking silently. Seeing this, Huang Xiong smiled and looked up at the moon, murmuring, “I miss my family.”

He Yan took out a moon cake from the basket of snacks Cheng Li Su had given her. The moon cake was small, shaped like a flower, with “Flower Blooms, Moon is Full” written in red on top. She took a bite, tasting the sweetness of sesame and peach kernels.

“If they were alive, I probably wouldn’t be here. I’d be at our family farm,” Huang Xiong said. “My mother’s cooking was delicious. I miss her food.”

He Yan silently ate her cake, and Huang Xiong asked, “What about you? How did you usually spend this time?”

Previous Mid-Autumn Festivals? He Yan felt somewhat dazed.

Before joining the army, she had spent Mid-Autumn at the He family home, celebrating with others. But due to her special status, people watched her everywhere, limiting her freedom. She enjoyed the liveliness of moon worship ceremonies, but wearing a mask made it inconvenient. She was an awkward existence in the He family – by status, she was the legitimate daughter by blood, but she belonged neither to the first branch nor the second branch.

During her three years serving in the army in Mo County, she initially lived each day in fear, not knowing which day she might die on the battlefield. Mid-Autumn reunions were unthinkable then.

Later, after returning to the capital and marrying into the Xu family, around this time last year, she had already gone blind.

Her hopes of celebrating the full moon with that person hadn’t been realized before she was plunged into darkness. At that time, she thought she couldn’t move forward, that this would be her life forever. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, she had asked Xu Zhi Heng to take her up the mountain to pray to Buddha, hoping for a blessing to restore her sight. Xu Zhi Heng had agreed.

That day, she hadn’t gone to pray for Buddha’s blessing.

A sharp pain on her tongue – she had accidentally bitten herself. The sweet taste was instantly replaced by pain. He Yan came back to her senses, avoiding Huang Xiong’s gaze, and said casually, “Just like this, similar to now.”

“When I look at you, I see myself from years ago,” Huang Xiong took a drink and said, “You’re just like I was then.”

He Yan smiled, “Brother, my family is alive and well.” They were living better than most people.

“But you’re not at peace,” she heard Huang Xiong’s voice and turned to look. The bald man’s face showed the wisdom and world-weariness of a middle-aged person who had weathered many storms. He fingered his prayer beads and said, “Your great revenge remains unfulfilled, your heart is unsettled, so you’re often troubled, trapping yourself.”

He Yan’s heart stirred, but she remained silent.

“I don’t know what revenge you seek,” he looked at the moon, “but sometimes your eyes look just like mine did then.”

He Yan felt confused – did they? She had always thought she hid it well.

“Things will get better someday,” the big man lowered his head and patted her shoulder. “You must believe this.”

He Yan said nothing, silently raising her wine bowl to drink. Huang Xiong fell quiet, eating and drinking by himself. Wang Ba was also somewhat drunk, holding his head and sitting there with a foolish grin, while Jiang Jiao had his head buried in his knees, unclear whether he was crying or sleeping.

The instructors had also gathered around a bonfire, eating meat and drinking wine. After days of rigorous training, they were finally seeing results in this batch of recruits. Everyone was more relaxed. Cheng Li Su had also mixed in with them. As a young master from the capital, he had never experienced this kind of novel entertainment, finding even the salt-rubbed roasted rabbit leg delicious. He had originally planned to find time to talk with He Yan, but after just one sip of wine, his legs went weak, and he sat back down.

The instructors laughed good-naturedly, with someone saying, “Young Master Cheng still needs to build up his alcohol tolerance. With this level, you can’t be one of our Liangzhou Garrison men!”

“I’m not part of your Liangzhou Garrison anyway,” Cheng Li Su mumbled. “I’m just here for fun.”

This child could always make his inadequacies sound perfectly reasonable. If he were the instructors’ offspring, he would have been picked up and beaten ten or eight times already. But since he was Xiao Jue’s nephew, everyone said, “Young Master Cheng is so open-minded!” “Drinking too much isn’t good anyway, my wife won’t let me drink! Everyone should learn from Young Master Cheng!”

“But Young Master Cheng,” Liang Ping asked, “Is the Governor not coming to join our celebration?”

“Uncle doesn’t like noisy places,” Cheng Li Su answered. “He definitely won’t come.”

Everyone felt somewhat disappointed, and some thought Xiao Jue was too aloof, after all, this was the Mid-Autumn Festival. A commander who wouldn’t even celebrate Mid-Autumn with his subordinates – how deep could his feelings for his men be? It seemed rather arrogant.

However, some didn’t mind too much. Ma Da Mei chuckled, “Why don’t we send some wine and food to the Governor? It must be lonely being alone on such a big holiday.”

“No need,” Cheng Li Su said. “My uncle wouldn’t drink this inferior yellow wine.”

Everyone: “…”

Well, he was the second young master from the Xiao family of Shuo Capital after all – he wouldn’t compromise even on wine.

Du Mao asked curiously, “Young Master Cheng, do you know how well the Governor holds his liquor? I heard the Flying Swan General could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. How does the Governor compare to the Flying Swan General?”

Hearing this, the instructors immediately turned their keen gazes toward Cheng Li Su. Any topic comparing the Flying Swan General and General Feng Yun always sparked interest. From swordsmanship to alcohol tolerance, from height to temperament, people wanted to compare everything. Unfortunately, apart from being former classmates, these two had never appeared together or competed directly, and the Flying Swan General had always worn a mask, so who was superior remained a mystery.

“Of course, it’s my uncle,” Cheng Li Su answered without hesitation. “In all my years, I’ve never seen my uncle get drunk.”

In truth, Cheng Li Su had never seen Xiao Jue drink at all. But he couldn’t possibly say that in front of the instructors. No matter how impressive the Flying Swan General was, they surely couldn’t surpass his uncle.

“Oh stop it, quit gossiping behind people’s backs,” Shen Han waved his hand. “Drink up, drink up, why are you all chattering like old women? Young Master Cheng, let me toast you… Young Master Cheng?”

Young Master Cheng’s cheeks were flushed red – he was already drunk.

…

That night, green curtains held back the bright moon, casting sparse shadows on the couch. The autumn night was quiet as someone played the zither.

The moon rose over the magnolia tree with dignity, the ice-cold thoughts of a person pure as jade. A frost-white sword hung on the wall, and the handsome young man wearing an outer robe played with a peaceful expression. Where his hands touched the strings, the music soared emotionally, enchanting listeners.

He was playing “Flowing Light.”

The zither’s melody was distant, like pearls falling on a plate. On this Mid-Autumn night, a time for family reunions, even though the Liangzhou Garrison’s instructors and recruits were thousands of miles from their families, they gathered together, singing and drinking merrily, unlike his solitude. He seemed unaware, focused only on plucking the strings, his tied-back dark hair falling over his shoulders, bathed in the moon’s cold light.

From spring to autumn, summer to winter, it all seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

The moonlight grew colder with his music, the night sky clear as water. The melody seemed to drift endlessly through the vast sky, moving listeners to tears.

Suddenly, something crashed into the courtyard with a crisp sound, interrupting the cold, lonely music. Xiao Jue paused, raising his head. Through the window, he could see something else being thrown over the courtyard wall.

He hesitated briefly, stood up, and pushed open the door. At that moment, a third object flew in, landing right beside him. He bent down to pick it up and found it was a pebble.

The hidden servant emerged from behind, whispering, “Young Master, outside…”

Xiao Jue opened the courtyard gate.

Outside stood a youth in red robes, holding a small jar of wine. The stopper had been removed, releasing a rich fragrance – it was Eighteen Immortals wine.

He was quite generous – such a small jar of wine that ordinary people would save and only dare to sip occasionally, but judging by his appearance, he had already drunk quite a bit.

It was He Yan.

Xiao Jue looked at her coldly. He Yan widened her eyes, as if just clearly seeing his appearance, and said, “Xiao Jue?”

The servant behind couldn’t help but glance at He Yan – to directly call out the Young Master’s name, truly bold.

“What are you doing here?” Xiao Jue asked.

“I’ve been thinking and thinking,” the youth, who had drunk an unknown amount, reeked of alcohol but appeared normal, showing no signs of drunkenness. It was hard to tell if he was drunk or not. He said, “You chose Lei Hou for the vanguard camp, and I’m not satisfied. So, Xiao Jue,” his lips curved, “let’s fight!”

Before the words finished, he lunged straight at Xiao Jue!

The servant behind, seeing this, was about to step forward when Xiao Jue commanded: “Don’t move.” The servant immediately froze.

The youth leaped forward, raising his fist toward Xiao Jue, who stepped aside and frowned at him.

He Yan had no weapons, coming empty-handed. If this were an assassin, it would be too foolish. But his words were clear, his gaze bright, not seeming like a drunken rampage. Xiao Jue decided to watch leisurely, seeing what this person wanted to do. When He Yan’s first attack failed, she turned to strike again.

The youth moved nimbly, seemingly sincere about wanting to fight, though his methods were crude and clumsy. At first glance, it looked like schoolyard fighting, just throwing punches and kicks at the opponent without concern for accuracy.

Xiao Jue dodged again, and after two failed sneak attacks, He Yan muttered puzzled: “When did my skills become so poor?”

The servant standing aside: “…”

Did this youth think he could defeat Second Young Master Xiao? They’d heard that this He Yan from Liangzhou Garrison was arrogant and conceited, and now seeing him, it was indeed true. The Young Master was truly patient, not having thrown this bragging youth out immediately.

She kept attacking and failing, yet showed no discouragement, immediately coming again. Once more Xiao Jue dodged, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw a dark object flying at him from behind. His brows furrowed, and without thinking, he drew his Yin Qiu sword and slashed across.

With a “crash,” the object shattered. He stepped back several paces, remaining untouched. He Yan, who had followed the object, couldn’t dodge in time and was drenched from head to toe.

The moon was full, the wind carried dew, osmanthus flowers were just blooming, and wine fragrance filled the air. Eighteen Immortals wine fragments scattered on the ground, each piece crisp and fragrant. The youth’s clothes were soaked in the scent as he frowned.

She seemed awakened by the scattered wine jar pieces, looked at Xiao Jue, stepped forward like a young lady whose hairpin had been trampled in the flower market, and said, “You broke it, you must compensate!”

The servant looked on, thinking this youth must truly be drunk, otherwise he wouldn’t speak so presumptuously and confusedly. He quietly said to Xiao Jue, “Young Master, shall I escort him away?”

Xiao Jue raised his hand to stop him, slightly shaking his head.

Master and servant had worked together for years; one gesture was enough to convey thoughts. The servant immediately understood that Xiao Jue hadn’t immediately thrown He Yan out not because of his good temper, but because he wanted to test He Yan. This youth’s identity was suspicious and full of questionable points. If they could get something out of him while he was drunk, it would save effort. If this was another pretense of drunkenness concealing other motives, that would be unforgivable treachery.

The servant concealed himself in the trees, saying nothing more.

Xiao Jue turned to walk inside, saying as he walked, “Why should I compensate?”

Hearing this, the youth rushed into Xiao Jue’s room after him. She ran extremely fast, stumbling slightly, getting ahead of Xiao Jue to block his path, saying, “Do you know who I am?”

Xiao Jue laughed coldly, his eyes cold: “Who are you?”

He Yan slapped her thigh, “A great man neither changes his name nor takes a false one when seated. I am He Yan! Number one in Liangzhou Garrison!”

“Number one in Liangzhou Garrison?” Xiao Jue looked at her with an ambiguous smile: “Who told you that?”

“Does someone need to tell me?” The youth, drunk or not, spoke with astounding certainty, “I know it in my heart.”

Xiao Jue stepped around him, put down his sword, and picked up the teapot on the table to pour himself tea, but had only taken one step when the youth stuck to him like a tail, standing in front of him to ask: “Tell me, am I short?”

Was this person fond of comparing heights when drunk? Xiao Jue glanced at the top of his head, which barely reached his chest, and nodded: “Short.”

He Yan: “I’m not short!”

Xiao Jue: “…”

He Yan asked again: “Am I stupid?”

Xiao Jue stopped pouring tea, stared at him, and said slowly: “Stupid.”

He Yan: “I’m not stupid!”

Xiao Jue suddenly regretted not throwing He Yan out of the courtyard immediately, instead subjecting himself to this attempt to draw out information. Apart from listening to his nonsensical rambling, he hadn’t gained any useful information. Either He Yan was too foolish, or this person was clever enough to be completely impenetrable.

“What else do you want to boast about? All at once,” he lowered his eyes and spoke flatly.

He Yan: “I’m tall and mighty, fierce and invincible, exceptionally handsome, and righteous beyond measure. Such a noble person, why, why doesn’t anyone like me? Do you know how hard I try every day?”

Xiao Jue: “…”

“Because of you, I’m very unhappy on this Mid-Autumn night. Let me ask you,” she stepped forward, getting extremely close to Xiao Jue, looking up at him, earnestly asking: “Do you like me?”

Xiao Jue stepped back, creating distance between them, brushing off his sleeve that she had wrinkled, like someone avoiding the plague. He calmly answered: “I’m not interested in men.”

“Neither am I,” He Yan mumbled, then suddenly raised her head, expression indignant, loudly demanding: “Then why would you rather like Lei Hou than me! Apart from being slightly taller than me, how does he compare? Whether it’s looks, skills, or our past relationship, Xiao Jue, you’re too much, too blind! I’m very disappointed!”

At this moment, Shen Han, who was walking outside planning to bring some roasted rabbit meat to Xiao Jue, covered his mouth in shock. Just now, he seemed to have heard some extraordinary secret.

Inside the room, the young man wearing only a moon-white inner robe silently watched the person before him. The youth looked up at him, eyes bright, voice showing no fear or hesitation, so forthright it made one wonder what was going through their mind.

What past relationship? Just because he had given him a pair of medicine bottles before, it became a “past relationship” – this person was far too familiar.

“But it doesn’t matter,” the youth suddenly curved his lips in a crafty smile, saying softly: “You chose Lei Hou for the vanguard camp, so I’ll challenge Lei Hou every day. Ten matches, ten losses – everyone in Liangzhou Garrison will know that you, Xiao Jue, are blind, with terrible judgment. Let’s see what you’ll do then?”

Xiao Jue: “…”

After saying this, He Yan hiccupped, swayed, and collapsed onto Xiao Jue’s couch. As she fell, half her body landed on the Wan Xiang zither lying across it, pressing the strings to make a harsh twang, then “clang” – it fell to the floor.

Xiao Jue stood in the middle of the room, his brow twitching slightly, feeling that today’s plan to get information through wine had turned out as badly as possible.

Glimpsing a hesitant figure by the door, he said coldly: “Why stand outside? What are you doing?”

Shen Han was startled, trembling as he entered. Earlier, he had overheard the secret at the door, then was seen by the hidden servant in the courtyard – he couldn’t move forward or back. Now with the Governor in a bad mood, he hoped not to be toyed with.

“Your servant brought some freshly roasted rabbit meat, thinking the Governor might not have had dinner,” Shen Han placed the oil paper-wrapped roasted meat on the table. “Please enjoy, Governor. I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait.” Xiao Jue spoke displeased, “Such a large person, you can’t see them?”

He gestured for Shen Han to look at He Yan. Shen Han looked and his heart stirred. Earlier he had only heard He Yan’s words suggesting a deep relationship with Xiao Jue, but now seeing this youth so boldly sleeping on Second Young Master Xiao’s couch – that was Second Young Master Xiao’s couch! In all of Liangzhou Garrison, probably only this one person would dare to do such a thing.

Their relationship must truly be unusual!

Xiao Jue walked to the couch, lifted He Yan by the collar of her neck, and threw her in front of Shen Han: “Your person, take them away.”

“I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare,” Shen Han said.

Xiao Jue: “What?”

Shen Han hurriedly said: “I mean, all recruits in Liangzhou Garrison are under the Governor’s command, how could they be my people? They’re the Governor’s people.”

Xiao Jue laughed in anger: “Shen Han, you’re very talkative today.”

“I understand,” Shen Han tensed up, “I’ll take him away right now!” Turning to leave, he seemed to remember something and asked: “Governor, where should I take this youth?”

Xiao Jue looked at him calmly: “Should I send him to your home?”

“No- no need!” Shen Han’s scalp tingled, and he said: “I’ll… take He Yan back to his original room!”

After Shen Han left, the hidden servant entered the room.

Xiao Jue had already picked up the Wan Xiang zither from the ground. Thanks to He Yan’s pressure, one string had broken. Looking at the broken string, the young man couldn’t help but massage his temples.

“Young Master,” the servant looked in the direction Shen Han had gone, “Chief Instructor Shen was acting strange today.”

“He’s often strange,” Xiao Jue answered.

“Young Master, do you think He Yan was drunk today?”

Xiao Jue put the zither away. The tea He Yan had interrupted earlier had gone cold. He poured out the cold tea, poured a fresh cup, took a small sip, and said: “Not certain.”

He wasn’t certain if He Yan was drunk, because normally sober people wouldn’t talk to him like that. But observing her steps, words, and expressions, there was no trace of confusion. Most importantly, tonight apart from breaking a zither, smashing a wine jar, and speaking nonsense, she hadn’t done anything else – including revealing whose side she was on.

This was puzzling.

“He seemed quite dissatisfied about Lei Hou entering the vanguard camp,” the servant said. “He wants to enter the vanguard camp.”

Xiao Jue sneered: “Not just the vanguard camp, he’s determined to join my Nine Banners Camp.”

“Then…” the servant asked, “should we send him to the vanguard camp, following along with his plan?”

“No need,” Xiao Jue said: “I have other arrangements.”

The servant fell silent. Xiao Jue thought of He Yan’s earlier words about challenging Lei Hou daily to prove his poor judgment. Such unreasonable behavior seemed to come quite naturally to this person.

Looking at the mess in the room and the fragments scattered throughout the courtyard, plus needing to find time to go into Liangzhou City to find a master to repair the zither, He Yan had the nerve to say “Because of you, I’m very unhappy this Mid-Autumn night” – it was truly unreasonable.

The young man stood in the room, elegant as jade and straight as a pine tree. After a while, he snorted: “Insane.”

…

Outside, Shen Han carrying He Yan on his back was also unhappy.

Others who saw them were surprised, saying: “He Yan is drunk, why is the Chief Instructor carrying him?”

Shen Han kept a stern face and said nothing. If he hadn’t discovered He Yan and Xiao Jue’s relationship, at most he would have found someone to drag He Yan back. But now knowing their deep connection, how could Shen Han dare to be negligent?

He Yan had just mentioned having a “past relationship” with Xiao Jue! It seemed they had known each other long ago. Then why did the Governor pretend not to know He Yan, yet secretly investigate his identity? Perhaps they were once close, but various events had occurred, leading to their current situation.

No wonder everyone in Great Wei knew Governor Xiao showed no interest in women. Looking like that, being one of the most outstanding and heroic figures, with so many women throwing themselves at him, remaining unmoved by countless beauties – it turned out… it turned out he simply wasn’t interested in that sort!

At Xiao Jue’s door, He Yan’s cry “Why do you like Lei Hou and not me” is so tragic it would move listeners to tears. But the Governor’s heart was hard as iron, completely unmoved. As Shen Han’s thoughts ran wild, the more nervous he became, the more strange stories came to mind.

For instance, He Yan and Xiao Jue truly knew each other before and were close for a time. But later Xiao Jue discovered He Yan’s identity was suspicious, so he cut off their relationship and drew a clear line. He Yan, being young and unwilling to accept this, learned Xiao Jue was coming to Liangzhou and enlisted to seek an explanation. Even training hard, wanting to enter the vanguard camp to impress Xiao Jue.

He Yan had indeed done well, but unfortunately, Xiao Jue chose Lei Hou’s name to avoid suspicion. He Yan, heartbroken and suffering, couldn’t help but drink to drown his sorrows, then spoke his true feelings when drunk, seeking an explanation from Xiao Jue.

The iron-hearted Governor Xiao firmly refused, though ultimately, due to a trace of old feelings, he had let He Yan sleep on his couch.

Very good, Shen Han applauded himself internally, very reasonable, this must be it, almost certainly correct.

Uncle: Straight man, don’t involve him

Shen Han: Drunk on strong wine, shipping the wildest couple