Chapter 166: Entering Officialdom
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“Not allowed to go.”
He Yan froze.
After a moment, she asked, “Why?”
Xiao Jue looked at her, curved his lips, and spoke in the usual mocking tone, “Chu Zilan is under Xu Jingfu, staying in the Liangzhou Garrison with ulterior motives. Are you getting too close to a spy? Thinking of defecting to Xu Jingfu?”
This accusation was quite serious. He Yan repeatedly denied, “I’m not, I didn’t!”
Xiao Jue coldly snorted and ignored her.
“Commander, I certainly know the special status of Fourth Young Master Chu,” He Yan’s attitude was very sincere. “I promise that what we talk about in our daily conversations has nothing to do with any Liangzhou Garrison secrets. Besides, I don’t know any secrets of the Liangzhou Garrison. If Fourth Young Master Chu really has intentions to probe military affairs in Liangzhou Garrison, I will avoid it. Moreover, if he indeed has ulterior motives in the Liangzhou Garrison, being close to him like this might help us get some information that could benefit us.”
Xiao Jue glanced at her. “You’re so foolish; you might not get any information but reveal yourself first.”
He Yan: “…”
Perhaps Jiang Jiao is not entirely correct. In this world, it’s not only women who experience mood swings; men also have a certain period each month when they become extremely irritable and find fault with everyone.
Regardless of the circumstances, Xiao Jue would not let anyone go today. He Yan sighed inwardly and said, “Alright, Commander, I won’t go look for him then. But I’ll still inform the maid by Fourth Young Master Chu’s side. It wouldn’t be good to break the appointment without reason.”
When Ying Xiang came, she spoke earnestly, she hoped that there wasn’t really something urgent.
Xiao Jue remained calm, “No need, you won’t have any dealings in the future anyway.”
He Yan: “…”
Xiao Jue is indeed a straightforward person.
…
As the night deepened, Ying Xiang came in from outside, closed the door, and walked to the man by the window. She whispered, “Fourth Young Master, the lamp in Miss He’s room has gone out; she should have rested.”
Chu Zhao heard this, his expression not showing anger. He just shook his head and smiled, “As expected.”
“It’s probably because Commander Xiao didn’t allow it,” Ying Xiang said, “But breaking the appointment without even a greeting is really…”
“No matter,” Chu Zhao looked at the songbird in the cage hanging in front of the window. The cold and desolate place seemed to brighten up a bit because of him, as if he had returned to the bustling capital. After playing with the bird for a while, he turned around and said, “For Xiao Huaijin, the more nervous he is, the more it proves one thing.”
“He treats He Yan differently.”
The lamp on the table gently swayed, and along with his voice, it disappeared into the shadows.
“She will become Xiao Huaijin’s weakness.”
…
The next day, He Yan went to the martial arts training ground as usual. Today, Xiao Jue was also present, and due to Xiao Jue’s unusual mood these past few days, He Yan did not dare to be lazy; she trained especially hard. At noon, just before the break, suddenly, Shen Han and a few others hurriedly ran over from the direction of the Liangzhou Garrison’s new recruits. They reached Xiao Jue and said, “Commander, Commander, people from the capital have arrived!”
The voice was a bit loud, but the soldiers of the Nnafu remained unaffected. He Yan, however, felt somewhat strange. Why would people from the capital come to the Liangzhou Garrison for no apparent reason? After driving away the Wutuo people led by Ridamuzii last time, the Liangzhou Garrison had been calm and peaceful for more than half a year. At this time, people from the capital arriving seemed to indicate that something big had happened.
Xiao Jue instructed Tian Lang to continue training the new army, while he walked with Shen Han towards another direction. After a while, Shen Han and Xiao Jue reappeared, followed by a large group of people. Leading them was a eunuch dressed in palace attire, holding a dust whisk and wearing a friendly smile. Xiao Jue gestured to Tian Lang, who immediately signaled the Nanfu soldiers to stop their training.
The kindly-looking eunuch took a step forward and asked, “Which one is He Yan?”
Startled at being addressed, He Yan stepped forward and saluted, “It is I.”
The eunuch scrutinized He Yan from head to toe, his gaze making her feel uneasy. She was not unfamiliar with such situations, having experienced them before. Her heart suddenly jumped—could it be…
The next moment, the eunuch said, “His Majesty has issued a decree. Young Master He, please receive the decree.”
He Yan respectfully knelt down, and as the eunuch opened the bright yellow imperial decree, he read aloud, “By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor declares: Today, He Yan of the Liangzhou Garrison, for displaying bravery, loyalty, and exceptional martial prowess in the Wutuo campaign, has greatly pleased our hearts. We hereby confer upon him the title of Wuan Lang, along with the corresponding honors and attire. Let this proclamation be known throughout the realm, with approval—”
He Yan was stunned, Wuan Lang?
Seeing her hesitation, the eunuch reminded, “Young Master He? Why are you not quickly receiving the decree and expressing your gratitude?”
He Yan quickly stepped forward to receive the decree and express her thanks. Still, she couldn’t shake off her confusion. Why would His Majesty commend her at this particular moment? On the surface, it seemed related to the previous incidents involving the Wutuo soldiers and the affairs in Jiyang City. However, how could the palace have known about these matters? Xiao Jue wouldn’t disclose them, and even if Mu Hongjin did, she would only provide an accurate account of the events. The emperor should not have paid attention to such a minor figure, especially considering He Yan wasn’t the protagonist in these two conflicts.
As her doubts lingered, the eunuch, still smiling, said, “Congratulations, Young Master He. With your outstanding talents, you are sure to have a bright future.”
He Yan reciprocated the courtesy with a smile and glanced at Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue’s brows were slightly furrowed, indicating that he wasn’t entirely pleased with the situation. He Yan understood that this matter was probably unexpected even for Xiao Jue.
The arrival of people from the capital was undoubtedly not solely for the purpose of praising her. It was mainly to reward Xiao Jue, the commanding general, with crates of rewards being carried into the Liangzhou Garrison. The soldiers of the Nanfu trained rigorously and didn’t dare to look askance. The new recruits in the Liangzhou Garrison, having never experienced such a scene, eagerly gathered on the martial arts training ground, craning their necks to listen to the commotion.
When Xiao Jue went to speak with the palace officials in the guard station, the new recruits of the Liangzhou Garrison rushed over in a wave, surrounding He Yan in the center, showering her with compliments and congratulations.
“Congratulations, Brother He! You’ve risen in rank so quickly!”
“Will you no longer stay with us in the Liangzhou Garrison in the future? You’ll have to go to the capital! Hey, does anyone know what kind of official Wuan Lang is? Is he more powerful than our head instructor? Will the head instructor have to call you big brother in the future?”
“I always said Brother He is extraordinary. The first time I saw Brother He, I knew he was no ordinary person. Rising to prominence was just a matter of time.”
“Pah, spare us your hindsight!”
The crowd pressed in so tightly that He Yan couldn’t complete a sentence. Seeing the situation, Hong Shan pulled her out of the crowd and ran wildly until they reached the riverbank. With fewer people around and Xiao Mai and the others catching up, He Yan finally had some space.
“Ah He, congratulations!” Hong Shan laughed heartily. “Your wish has finally come true.”
“The road to military success is now half-complete,” Huang Xiong said, twirling the prayer beads around his neck. “It happened quite quickly.”
“What kind of dumb luck did you run into?” Wang Ba was quite unwilling. “Did you feed some kind of enchantment drug to the higher-ups?”
Jiang Jiao laughed, “This is all earned step by step by Brother He. Places like Jiyang are places where you can lose your life with a single misstep. Since he risked it all and received the rewards he has now, it’s well-deserved.”
“But,” Xiao Mai looked at He Yan, “Brother He doesn’t seem very happy. Why?”
Everyone turned to look at He Yan. When they were competing for the flag in the Liangzhou Garrison, He Yan seemed eager to join the Nine Banner Battalion for military exploits. Now that he had actually received an official appointment, there was no sign of joy on his face, and there was even a hint of worry.
Shitou asked, “What’s wrong?”
He Yan forced a smile, “Nothing, just… I can’t believe it.”
“Hey,” Wang Ba sneered, “This is like a poor guy finding money and going crazy with joy. What’s there to be unhappy about? You’re just being pretentious!”
He Yan didn’t say anything. In fact, she wasn’t really unhappy, just a bit puzzled. Because when she was “He Rufei” in her previous life, merits were earned step by step, so she knew how difficult it was to be promoted. Now, she was suddenly appointed without any apparent reason, and it seemed very unreasonable. Moreover, it was the position of Wuan Lang.
It’s hard for people not to think too much.
Maybe she should go and ask Xiao Jue what exactly happened.
…
After talking with Hong Shan and the others, He Yan planned to go back and find Xiao Jue to figure out what had happened.
Before she could reach her residence, she saw Shen Muxue and Xiao Jue in the courtyard. The two were standing under a tree, and Shen Muxue was saying something to Xiao Jue. In a short while, Shen Muxue bent down and picked up a piece of silk from a box on the ground. Probably the rewards bestowed by the emperor included precious fabrics. Unfortunately, Xiao Jue had no family, and in the Liangzhou Garrison, there was only Shen Muxue as a young lady. Naturally, these clothes and fabrics were given to Shen Muxue.
Shen Muxue seemed very happy, thanking Xiao Jue as she held the silk. Since He Yan saw Shen Muxue, this girl had always been cold and distant, like a fairy who couldn’t be approached. Now, seeing her smiling at Xiao Jue, He Yan’s steps forward stopped as if her legs were weighed down by a thousand pounds, making it difficult to take another step forward.
She hesitated, planning to wait until the two finished their conversation before approaching. Unexpectedly, a voice came from beside her, “Why don’t you go over?”
He Yan turned around, and Chu Zhao stood in front of her, looking at her with some confusion.
“It’s not an urgent matter. It’s fine to go over in a while,” He Yan replied casually. “Why is Brother Chu here?”
“I came to look for you,” Chu Zhao glanced at the two under the tree, then looked back at He Yan. “Since Brother He isn’t in a hurry, why not go to my side first.”
After thinking for a moment, He Yan said, “Sure.”
She turned her head and walked in the opposite direction of Xiao Jue with Chu Zhao, asking, “Brother Chu, do you have urgent matters to discuss with me?”
“It seems Brother He is indeed very busy with daily training, so busy that he forgot about our appointment last night, and hasn’t remembered it until now.”
He Yan suddenly realized. She had remembered it today, but the imperial decree from the capital had overshadowed her thoughts about Chu Zhao. Apologizing, she said, “I’m sorry, I fell asleep last night without realizing it. I intended to come and apologize to you today, but…”
“It’s just a joke, don’t take it to heart,” Chu Zhao smiled. “You’ve officially entered the officialdom today, so you should be happy.”
He Yan paused, “You also know about it?”
“I knew it yesterday.”
Seeing He Yan’s momentarily confused face, Chu Zhao explained, “People from the capital sent a message to me by carrier pigeon yesterday, saying they would arrive today. I looked for you last night, intending to inform you about this matter. Considering your sudden promotion, I thought it would be better to inform you in advance, so you wouldn’t be caught off guard. But you fell asleep. However, looking at Brother He’s calm demeanor even after being promoted, it seems I was overly concerned.”
“You said people from the capital sent you a message yesterday?” He Yan looked at him. “Why did they inform you?”
Perhaps even Xiao Jue hadn’t received the news in advance.
“Because,” Chu Zhao looked into her eyes, smiling slightly, “I personally requested His Majesty to appoint Brother He to an official position.”
It was him?
Even though He Yan had many speculations, she never expected this possibility. She asked, “Brother Chu, why did you do this?”
Chu Zhao continued walking, whispering, “In Jiyang City, both of us witnessed the brutality of the Wutuo soldiers. By the canal, Brother He gave me clothing that could resist water and fire, for which I am very grateful. In the cruel war, Brother He is fearless, and I witnessed Brother He’s courage when facing Ridamuzi before. It’s a blessing for Great Wei to have a hero like Brother He.”
“I don’t know the reason why Commander Xiao didn’t promote you, but if I can help Brother He ‘establish a career,’ I’m willing to do so.”
These words seemed problem-free, but for some reason, He Yan still felt strange. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “But Brother Chu, your actions are really unexpected.”
“You seem, as if you’re not happy about entering officialdom?” he asked.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed for the moment.”
Chu Zhao looked at her, and after a moment, smiled. “I thought you would be happy. After all, with your promotion, the distance between you and Commander Xiao has shortened. Since you like him, you don’t have to be troubled by your status all the time.”
He Yan almost choked on her own saliva, looking sharply at Chu Zhao. “What did you say?”
“Aren’t you fond of Commander Xiao?” Chu Zhao’s smile was gentle as he touched his nose. “Otherwise, when you saw Doctor Shen and Commander Xiao together just now, you wouldn’t be so upset.”
“I don’t.” He Yan instinctively refuted.
Chu Zhao smiled without speaking, neither pressing her for more details nor going along with her statement. For a moment, He Yan felt extremely frustrated, wondering if she had missed many details in the past days. How could everyone else see things so clearly, from Liu Buwang to Lin Shuanghe, even Chu Zhao?
Was her behavior that obvious? She had always been restrained and courteous, cautious.
Chu Zhao looked into the distance. “Actually, Commander Xiao may not necessarily be without feelings for you. Considering Commander Xiao’s temperament, he has already taken care of you in many ways.”
He Yan asked, “Do you really think so?”
“If Brother He wants to know Commander Xiao’s feelings, it’s quite simple.” Chu Zhao smiled. “I can help you test it.”
“How to test it?” He Yan was puzzled.
The man in front of her suddenly approached. Leaning against a tree, she almost instinctively threw a punch, but he stopped just in front of her, his gaze containing a smile, especially intoxicating. “It’s simple. Brother He is a girl and may not understand a man’s possessiveness. If I deliberately appear close to the girl, if Commander Xiao has feelings for her, he will surely be very angry. If he remains indifferent… the girl doesn’t need to worry too much about him. So, it’s a simple method.”
He Yan repeated his words in her mind before understanding his meaning. She was well-versed in the thirty-six strategies of military tactics, but this kind of interpersonal strategy was something she had never encountered before. She asked, “…So, in your means, isn’t this using you?”
Chu Zhao continued to smile at her, his gaze tender to the extreme. “If it’s Brother He, it’s okay to use me.”
These words were really touching. However…
He Yan straightened up and took a step to the side, avoiding his approaching chest. “Thanks for your kind intentions, Brother Chu, but I don’t want to do it this way.”
Chu Zhao’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. “Why?”
“I probably understand what you mean. But matters of the heart, how can we mix deception into them? I like someone, whether I express it openly or keep it in my heart forever, I want it to be straightforward. If I have to use cunning to test and speculate, wouldn’t that be tiring? Even if I obtain such a relationship, it’s not what I want in my heart. Haven’t you heard a saying? Using lies to verify lies will only result in another lie. In the end, I won’t know what’s true and what’s false.”
He Yan had one more thing to say. If Xiao Jue had a strong aversion to Chu Zhao, seeing He Yan and Chu Zhao together would likely infuriate him. If she misunderstood and made unfounded assumptions, wouldn’t it be a case of wishful thinking?
Chu Zhao was momentarily stunned. “So, Brother He isn’t curious about your position in Commander Xiao’s heart?”
“Not curious.”
He Yan’s answer was straightforward, leaving Chu Zhao momentarily speechless.
“Fourth Young Master Chu, I never intended for him to know,” He Yan said. “I don’t plan for him to know in the future either. So, I appreciate your kindness, but I’ll decline.”
“Don’t you want to be with him?”
“In this world, things change in the blink of an eye. The term ‘together’ that Fourth Young Master Chu can be sure of is only temporary, not a lifetime. What I can be sure of is only my own heart.”
Chu Zhao looked at He Yan, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t say anything. After a moment, he returned to his previous smile. “Since it’s Brother He’s decision, I won’t act presumptuously. However, what was said earlier still stands. If one day Brother He changes your mind and wants to ‘use’ me, I won’t hesitate.”
He Yan also smiled, her tone particularly firm. “That day will not come.”
…
He Yan’s figure gradually faded away. Ying Xiang came out from the house and said softly, “Fourth Young Master.”
Chu Zhao looked at his empty hands and clicked his tongue. “She actually refused.”
“Miss He doesn’t want Commander Xiao to know her feelings. Perhaps she doesn’t want to make Commander Xiao feel difficult.”
Chu Zhao smiled faintly. “There are such foolish women in the world. They neither want to strive for love nor seek companionship, guarding an invisible and intangible affection, thinking it’s the purest thing in the world. Ridiculous.”
This reminded him of Ye Runmei, who was the same. Women who sacrificed themselves for love were so foolish, deserving disdain.
Ying Xiang lowered her eyes without speaking. After a while, she heard Chu Zhao say, “Let’s go.”
…
He Yan slowly walked back.
She never expected that it was Chu Zhao who requested Emperor Wenxuan to grant her an official title. The reasons Chu Zhao gave sounded very reasonable. If He Yan were a clueless new recruit and suddenly received a promotion, she might have been overjoyed. Even if she had any preconceptions or suspicions about Chu Zhao before, they would have disappeared in an instant. She might even blame herself for having ill thoughts.
But she was not an ignorant recruit; she was Flying Phoenix General, very familiar with military matters. Therefore, He Yan understood better than anyone that the military title of Wuan Lang was just a position without real power. Although it was a fourth-rank position on the surface, in reality, it couldn’t command any troops. In her previous life, she had to start from scratch, accumulating numerous merits to climb up the ranks until there were no more obstacles to block her before the Emperor took notice. Now, it seemed like she had soared to great heights in one step, but in reality, she had less power than a Centurion.
If Chu Zhao only requested Emperor Wenxuan to grant a title, and the specific position was the Emperor’s decision, that would be one thing. However, if the position of Wuan Lang was suggested by Chu Zhao himself, the implications would be much deeper.
If he requested a title for himself but chose a position with no real power, what was he plotting?
…
In the room, Fei Nu and Lin Shuanghe stood, looking at the person standing by the window.
“My Little Sister He has been granted an official title?” Lin Shuanghe was puzzled. “Didn’t you say you would see the Emperor after returning to Shuojing? What’s going on?”
“Young Master Lin,” Fei Nu couldn’t help but say, “this time, it was Fourth Young Master Chu who requested the title from the Emperor.”
“Chu Zilan?” Lin Shuanghe frowned. “What does it have to do with my Little Sister He gaining an official position? What is he up to?”
Xiao Jue’s expression remained calm, but upon closer inspection, his eyes held a hint of coldness.
Fei Nu sighed. “It’s not about being considerate or not. Entering into an official position now is not a good thing.”
Lin Shuanghe paused in his fan-waving motion, looked at Fei Nu, then glanced at Xiao Jue. “What does that mean? I’m having trouble understanding.”
“I originally planned to request the title for her as a woman after returning to the capital,” Xiao Jue said indifferently. “Chu Zilan took the initiative, seemingly helping He Yan, but in reality, he planted a hidden danger.”
“In the future, if He Yan’s identity is exposed, it will be deceiving the emperor, implicating nine generations.”
Lin Shuanghe took a sharp breath.
He stammered, “No, no way. Chu Zilan has known my Little Sister He’s identity for a long time. It’s been so long, and the secret has been kept well. In the future… it shouldn’t be revealed, right?”
“This is the cleverness of Chu Zilan,” Xiao Jue sneered. “Originally, he only wanted to deal with me.”
He Yan was just a tool that could be used. Chu Zhao did keep He Yan’s identity secret, but then he requested a title for her, successfully turning He Yan’s identity into a trap. Without this incident, when He Yan’s female identity was eventually revealed, various reasons could have been used to handle the situation. But after receiving recognition from the Emperor for entering officialdom, things would be different.
He Yan would become the perfect dagger, thrust into Xiao Jue’s heart.
That was Chu Zilan’s plan.
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