Chapter 168: Confrontation
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All trusted confidants annihilated?
In He Yan’s mind, there was a moment of blankness, followed by an outburst of grief and anger.
This was not an accident at all; it was murder! If He Rufei was not deliberate, it was likely that during the battle in Huayuan, he had already exposed himself. Perhaps, even before anyone discovered it, he had decided to cut the grass and eliminate the roots. Since the He family could ruthlessly kill her, who was still related by blood, He Rufei could use the same method to deal with “trusted confidants” who were neither relatives nor friends.
Anger left her body ice-cold, her body slightly trembling, and her eyes instantly turned red. The hand holding the tree branch couldn’t help but exert force, and the branch was crushed into two pieces. The sound alarmed the people talking. Lin Shuanghe and Shen Han turned their heads to see He Yan. Lin Shuanghe asked, “Brother He, why are you here?” He was about to step forward, but He Yan took a step back, knowing that she couldn’t talk to Lin Shuanghe properly at the moment. It would only expose her, so she hurriedly said, “I have something to do; I’ll leave first.” She turned around and left.
Lin Shuanghe stood still, and after a while, he turned to look at Shen Han. “…Did you hear a hint of sadness in Brother He’s voice just now?”
Shen Han: “…Maybe Young Master Lin misheard.”
Did he mishear? Lin Shuanghe carefully recalled and felt that He Yan’s voice just now had a somewhat strange tone, as if she couldn’t help but cry.
At this moment, Xiao Jue and Fei Nu walked in from outside, frowned slightly when they saw Shen Han and Lin Shuanghe standing in the courtyard, “What are you doing standing here?”
“Come to tell you something.” Lin Shuanghe asked, “Didn’t you see Brother He when you came in just now?”
“He Yan?” Xiao Jue said indifferently, “No.” As he spoke, he entered the room.
Shen Han cupped his hand to Lin Shuanghe; he was going to the martial arts field. Lin Shuanghe followed Xiao Jue into the room, and Fei Nu stood on the side. He closed the door, turned to look at the cloak that Xiao Jue took off, and said, “Huaijin, are you still giving my Little Sister He the cold shoulder?”
Xiao Jue glanced at him, “I’m not as bored as you are.”
“Why did my Little Sister He look like she was about to cry just now?” Lin Shuanghe muttered to himself, then looked at him, “These days, treat my Little Sister He better. I don’t know what happened between her and Chu Zilan, but I can see that her mood has been low these days. My Little Sister He is particularly insecure deep down, and she can’t get what she wants from Chu Zilan. If you continue to speak harshly to her, she is, after all, a little girl, and it’s inevitable that she will be sad.” Lin Shuanghe gestured to Fei Nu to follow along with his words, “Isn’t that right, Fei Nu?”
Fei Nu stood straight, pretending not to have heard his words. He thought that He Yan was insecure? In the Liangzhou Garrison, there was no one more arrogant and self-confident than He Yan. These two words, insecure, could not be mentioned in the same breath as He Yan.
Hearing this, Xiao Jue’s expression became even colder, and a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his mouth, “That’s Chu Zilan’s business.”
Lin Shuanghe thought to himself, one by one, why were they all so stubborn? Upon careful consideration, it’s no wonder He Yan refused to believe that Xiao Jue had feelings for her. With Xiao Jue’s cold and ruthless attitude, even Lin Shuanghe would be suspicious if he were in He Yan’s shoes. This didn’t seem like affection; it was more like being sworn enemies.
“If you have nothing else, then go out first,” Xiao Jue said, “I have something to discuss with Fei Nu.”
He was about to do something important. Lin Shuanghe didn’t dare to disturb, saying, “Alright, you talk. I’ll leave first and come back later.”
After Lin Shuanghe left, Fei Nu locked the door and walked to Xiao Jue’s side. “Commander, about the situation in Huayuan…”
“A repeat of the Battle of Mingshui,” Xiao Jue interrupted him.
Fei Nu fell silent for a moment. “It seems fine on the surface, but it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Flying Phoenix General led one hundred and fifty thousand troops, and considering his past military achievements, it shouldn’t be such a disastrous defeat.”
“Not only that,” the young man leaned against the back of the chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, his fair hands stroking the tea cup in front of him, his voice calm, “but all the trusted lieutenants died in battle. There is no such coincidence in the world.”
Flying Phoenix General’s trusted subordinates were all vice generals who had fought alongside him, emerging from the blood-soaked battlefields. This wasn’t their first time on the battlefield, and although there were rumors of a spy, it could still be deceiving to others, and it might even be barely convincing for them. However, considering the Battle of Mingshui and now looking at the Battle of Huayuan, it felt like there were loopholes everywhere.
“Young Master, do you think…”
“More than an accident, it looks like a cover-up,” Xiao Jue replied calmly.
Fei Nu fell silent. If it was a cover-up, what could be the reason? In the Battle of Mingshui, not a single one of Xiao Zhongwu’s trusted subordinates survived, but now He Rufei was still alive. So, He Rufei wasn’t among those targeted for the cover-up. Then, perhaps He Rufei wanted to conceal some secret, which led him to kill all his trusted subordinates.
What secret could He Rufei be trying to hide?
Xiao Jue lowered his gaze and, after a moment, looked at Fei Nu. “Go and inform Luan Ying. I want to know all the details of the Battle of Huayuan from beginning to end.”
Fei Nu took his leave.
Leaning back in his chair, Xiao Jue’s gaze fell on the swaying branches outside the window. He had been classmates with He Rufei for a year, and He Rufei was… an extremely stubborn, almost foolishly naive and persistent person. Xiao Jue wasn’t surprised when He Rufei became Flying Phoenix General. If a person was particularly persistent in something, they would succeed in anything they did. However, Xiao Jue still doubted that He Rufei would personally kill the comrades who had followed him for many years. This didn’t seem like the He Rufei from the past.
But… in everything, there were no absolutes. People’s hearts changed easily, and perhaps He Rufei had already changed.
…
He Yan had been sitting by the Five Deer River all this time. It was already late at night. After hearing the news of the Battle of Huayuan from Lin Shuanghe, He Yan left the crowd. With no one around the Five Deer River, she could sit here and vent her emotions freely.
The trusted subordinates when acting as “He Rufei” were all brothers who had fought alongside her, step by step, surviving the battles together. They shared life and death, and their bond was deeper than with others. He Yan initially thought that even if He Rufei feared exposure of his identity, at most, he would stop leading troops into battle or rarely show up among old acquaintances. However, He Rufei was more ruthless than she had anticipated. He didn’t hesitate to wipe out all those vice generals.
What were they thinking before they died? Perhaps some had noticed something wrong with He Rufei, or maybe no one had detected it yet. Maybe when they died, they didn’t expect to be killed by their trusted general. Instead of falling under the enemy’s blade on the battlefield, they perished in the ugly and treacherous internal strife. How absurd and unreasonable it was!
A loud “crack” echoed as the whip struck a huge rock, shattering a corner of it. He Yan fiercely whipped the long whip in her hand, as if trying to vent all the grief and anger in her heart. The sound traveled far in the open riverside.
She didn’t know how long it had been until the whip struck the rock so forcefully that the tassel hanging from the wooden handle was thrown away. He Yan stopped to catch her breath, looking at her hands. When she was releasing her emotions, she didn’t feel it, but now, looking at her hands, there were red marks all over them. She finally realized how tired she was.
She put away the long whip around her waist, walked to the tassel that had been thrown aside, and saw that the small pomegranate flower had been split into two halves.
He Yan stared at the broken pomegranate flower, and in an instant, memories of celebrating victories with her brothers in the military camp flashed in her mind. Unable to hold back her grief, she sat down on the ground, buried her head in her arms, and couldn’t suppress the low sobbing that erupted.
She rarely shed tears for herself, but now she couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened. The analogy of not killing the enemy’s general but having the general die because of oneself echoed in her mind. For a moment, guilt, self-blame, sorrow, and anger intertwined, and apart from painful sobbing, there seemed to be no other thoughts.
In the wilderness, only the faint sound of the wind existed, and the wind was cold, colder than the snow in the vast desert.
Footsteps approached.
At first, they were subtle, but eventually, they stopped a few steps away from her. The cold and indifferent voice almost merged with the night as he called her name. “He Yan.”
Before He Yan could wipe away the vivid tears, she instinctively raised her head and turned to look. A young man in luxurious attire with green boots, possessing a graceful demeanor and picturesque features, gazed at her with deep, limpid black eyes, his expression indifferent.
“…Commander.” He Yan reached out, hastily wiping away her tears as if nothing had happened, and casually said, “Why did you come here?”
He didn’t answer; his gaze fell on He Yan’s palm. She still held the tassel from earlier, with half of it exposed.
After a moment, Xiao Jue looked away and asked, “Why are you crying?”
He Yan’s heart tightened, originally intending to find a secluded place to vent, but unexpectedly, Xiao Jue came here. What was this? She couldn’t speak the truth, but the colorful tassel in her hand reminded her. He Yan thought for a moment and said, “My… my tassel is broken, and I was in a hurry.” Afraid that Xiao Jue wouldn’t believe her, He Yan opened her palm to show him the broken pomegranate jade: “Look, it broke into two halves, I’m afraid it can’t be fixed.”
She still dressed as a young man, her eyes red. The last time he saw her like this was when Liu Buwang passed away. He Yan was definitely not someone who would cry over a broken tassel. For a moment, Xiao Jue recalled Lin Shuanghe’s previous words.
“My Little Sister He is particularly self-conscious and insecure. She loves Chu Zilan but cannot have him. If you speak harshly to her, she’s just a young girl and will inevitably be hurt.”
Loves but cannot have?
Yes, back when Chu Zilan broke their appointment on White Moon Mountain, he had already seen He Yan’s despair.
He Yan saw the young man in front of him walk towards her, bending down to look at her. His eyebrows and eyes were extremely beautiful, and he came very close. However, inexplicably, He Yan felt a bit scared. The man’s voice was calm as he spoke, “Do you like it so much, even if it hurts, you still have to persist?”
He Yan widened her eyes slightly.
What does he… mean by that?
He stared at her in silence, his eyes like the night in the city, deep and shallow, clear and light.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Jue stood up, turned his back to her, and said softly, “You being here will disturb the Nanfu soldiers resting nearby.”
“Go back.”
After saying this, he walked away without looking back. After He Yan waited for him to leave, she wiped her face with her sleeve, stood up, and looked back at the river in the distance.
She couldn’t let He Rufei continue like this.
He Rufei had lost his reason, and it would only get worse. There wasn’t much time left for her, and staying in Liangzhou Garrison probably wouldn’t work.
She must return to Shuojing as soon as possible.
…
This was what He Yan was thinking, but before she could figure out how to return to Shuojing, someone left ahead of her, and it was Chu Zhao.
On this day, after the daily training at the martial arts field, He Yan had her meal and walked towards her room. In the past few days, because of the battle at Huayuan, she felt uneasy every day, and no one understood what was on her mind. He Yan wanted to continue to inquire about the news of He Rufei, but the news about He Rufei first reached Xiao Jue, followed by the instructors, and finally the new recruits. Flying Phoenix General was far away in Huayuan, and the daily training was arduous, so he couldn’t focus only on the distant matters.
She walked back to her yard and saw someone sitting on the stone table in front of her door. At first, He Yan thought it was Xiao Jue, but these days Xiao Jue came and went early and late, and it was difficult for He Yan to even catch a glimpse of him. When she approached, she realized it wasn’t Xiao Jue; it was Chu Zhao.
The weather was getting hotter, and his clothes were extremely light and thin. Because of his slender figure, the wide-sleeved green robe gave him a somewhat ethereal appearance even in this simple courtyard. He Yan approached and greeted, “Brother Chu.”
“Brother He,” Chu Zhao stood up, smiling. “I came to find you. Since you weren’t here, I waited. I thought you would only return late at night. Fortunately, you came back early.”
“Why wait outside?” He Yan sat down on the stone bench. “In the summer, there are mosquitoes everywhere. You are already thin; if you feed the mosquitoes, there will be nothing left of you.”
Chu Zhao was puzzled for a moment, but her words made him laugh. He shook his head and took out a small sachet from his sleeve. “Thank you for your concern, Brother He. However, I have mosquito-repelling herbs here. Carrying them with me keeps the mosquitoes away.”
The young master of a wealthy family was indeed a young master, meticulous in his actions, hence never experiencing any sorry moments.
Chu Zhao placed the sachet on the table and said, “Brother He, I’ve come to bid farewell to you once again. Last time, I left in a hurry without saying goodbye, so this time, I want to be more courteous.”
“Farewell?” He Yan was not too surprised; Chu Zhao staying in Liangzhou Garrison was not a long-term plan. The people in Liangzhou Garrison underwent rigorous training every day, and even if Chu Zhao was a spy or looking for opportunities, there was nothing to gain here. This place was cold and harsh, and there was no need for a well-off young master to suffer here. Sooner or later, he would return to Shuojing.
Chu Zhao nodded, “Brother He, you should already know about the Huayuan battle, right?”
Not expecting him to bring up the matter of Huayuan, He Yan was momentarily surprised but answered, “Yes.”
“The Wutuo people are planning to take action against Great Wei, and the capital cannot be without people. Not only me, but I believe Commander Xiao will also return to Shuojing soon. Now that the Wutuo people are still in Huayuan and haven’t moved north, I need to take the initiative. Once they head north, the road will be difficult. It’s probably not easy to return to Shuojing at that time. Besides, I originally planned to leave Liangzhou Garrison after the Jiyang matter was resolved. Now that you have been appointed as Wuan Lang, I have nothing to worry about.”
This statement was tactful, as if he had stayed in Liangzhou Garrison specifically for He Yan. He Yan responded, “Brother Chu’s kind intentions, I am truly grateful. I hope for a smooth journey back to the capital.”
The handsome young man smiled gently, his gaze deep and fixed on He Yan, not saying a word.
He Yan touched her face, “…Is there something on my face?”
Chu Zhao lowered his head and smiled before raising it after a moment, saying, “Actually, apart from bidding farewell to Brother He today, there’s something I want to discuss.”
He Yan asked, “What is it?”
“Brother He…” he slowly began, “would you be willing to accompany me back to Shuojing?”
The surroundings fell silent.
After a while, He Yan spoke, “Brother Chu, don’t joke. How can I leave with you?”
“Although Brother He is still a member of Liangzhou Garrison, in essence, you are the Wuan Lang appointed by the emperor. You can be assigned by Commander Xiao but are not under his command. I have the imperial decree, allowing me to select new recruits from Liangzhou Garrison as escorts. If Brother He is willing, you can accompany me, and there’s no need to worry about the emperor’s blame.”
Before He Yan could speak, Chu Zhao continued, “I understand Brother He’s concerns and fear that Commander Xiao might not be pleased. However, Brother He, Liangzhou is harsh and cold, and for a young man like you, it’s difficult to endure such hardship. Sooner or later, you will return to Shuojing. You have aspirations for achievements; if you accompany me back to Shuojing, I will arrange for you to meet the emperor. There is more than one way to achieve success, especially the path you chose earlier is quite slow.”
Chu Zhao was always good at speaking, targeting people’s weaknesses directly. Knowing that He Yan wanted to achieve success, he presented particularly tempting conditions.
But He Yan didn’t want to go with Chu Zhao; she didn’t trust him.
“I have no intention of leaving Liangzhou Garrison,” He Yan smiled and declined. “I also don’t think I have the ability to achieve success now.”
Chu Zhao stared into her eyes and slowly said, “Your reluctance to leave Liangzhou Garrison is probably not for this reason, right?”
He Yan was stunned, and with a smile in his eyes, Chu Zhao seemed to see through everything. Instead of feeling embarrassed as when Lin Shuanghe discovered her secret, this time, she felt uncomfortable.
Chu Zhao’s sense of propriety was too low.
Actually, He Yan’s words were a bit excessive. Chu Zhao has always been gentle and refined, making people feel like a spring breeze. Although ordinary girls would gradually let down their guard when teased by him, it’s not about deep-rooted feelings, but a gradual lowering of defenses. However, Chu Zhao initially encountered He Yan, who, on the surface, appeared straightforward and loyal but was not someone easily trusting of others deep down. Especially with the recent events involving He Rufei, it made her more sensitive. So, whenever Chu Zhao approached a little, she became vigilant.
The wind blew, causing the branches above to sway slightly. A leaf fell and landed on He Yan’s hair.
“Are you really,” Chu Zhao, still wearing a gentle smile, reached out as if to brush away the fallen leaf from He Yan’s head, his voice carrying a hint of seduction, “considering whether you want to leave Liangzhou Garrison?”
He Yan: “I…”
Before he could finish, a cold voice interrupted, “Didn’t you hear her say she doesn’t want to?”
He Yan turned to see Xiao Jue walking towards them from the courtyard behind. She didn’t know how long he had been standing there, listening to everything. In the night, with a straight and handsome figure, he approached He Yan.
Is this… getting caught red-handed while poaching? He Yan felt bitter. Why is it that every time something bad happens, Xiao Jue is always there? The misunderstandings seem to be piling up. She stepped back behind Xiao Jue and cleared her throat. “Commander, Fourth Young Master Chu is just saying goodbye to me. As for traveling together, it’s just a joke. How could I leave Liangzhou Garrison? It’s impossible.”
Xiao Jue, with an expressionless face, looked at her, and suddenly reached out in a gesture as if to hit her head. He Yan was startled, but his fingertips landed on the fallen leaf on He Yan’s head, gently flicking it away.
He Yan stared at the fallen leaf on the ground, silently criticizing. So, he was going to sweep the leaves for her? Even sweeping leaves carries such a menacing air with Xiao Jue. It seems that whenever he sees her with Chu Zhao, he gets especially angry.
Fortunately, Chu Zhao is about to leave Liangzhou Garrison, He Yan thought with relief. There won’t be these kinds of misunderstandings in the future.
“Go inside,” Xiao Jue said, “I have something to discuss with Fourth Young Master Chu.”
He Yan hesitated for a moment, looking at Xiao Jue’s expression. Although he was angry, his demeanor was calm. No matter how angry he was, he probably wouldn’t resort to violence. He Yan wasn’t defending Chu Zhao; it was just that, based on her upbringing, beating up Chu Zhao with someone like Xiao Jue would be considered bullying the weak.
Bullying the weak is always wrong.
Carefully, He Yan said, “Can’t you say what you have to say in front of me? I promise not to repeat it.”
If Xiao Jue couldn’t control himself from getting violent, she could help intervene.
Xiao Jue turned his head, glanced lightly at her, and with just that look, He Yan lost any words of dissuasion. She cleared her throat, “Well, I’ll go in first. Take your time talking. Stay calm, Commander. Fourth Young Master Chu, I’m leaving.”
Chu Zhao wasn’t angry, just smiling as he picked up a sachet from the table and handed it to He Yan. “This is for Brother He. I have many of these. If Brother He wears it, he won’t be bothered by mosquitoes at night.”
Without a second thought, He Yan took it from him in the gaze of Xiao Jue’s cutting eyes. She thought, oh well, it’s just this once. After all, there won’t be such opportunities in the future.
After He Yan left, Xiao Jue sat down on the stone stool where He Yan had just been.
He remained silent, just looking at Chu Zhao calmly.
Chu Zhao’s gentle smile gradually faded. After a while, he slowly spoke, “Commander Xiao seems to be possessive.”
At these words, Xiao Jue actually laughed. His expression was lazy, and in his dark eyes, there was a sharpness like lightning. Indifferently, he said, “Does Fourth Young Master Chu admit to having intentions to snatch her away?”
“Why use the word ‘snatch’?” The softness in Chu Zhao’s gaze disappeared for the first time, revealing a beast with bared fangs, cold and fierce. “She is your subordinate, not your woman.”
“At least,” the young commander smirked, “she is ‘mine.'”
Chu Zhao neither confirmed nor denied, “But how can Commander Xiao guarantee that in the future, ‘yours’ won’t become ‘mine’?”
“If you’re not afraid of death,” under the night sky, the young commander’s face was exquisite, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He sarcastically said, “you can give it a try.”
—Side Note—
Onlookers: Fight, fight!
Please cherish the days when they are in the same frame…
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