Chapter 234: Real or Fake
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In an instant, a chill permeated through every limb and bone of He Rufei. He widened his eyes in astonishment, staring at the woman before him. In his mind, scenes from the past surfaced—the moment he returned to Shuojing, inside the He Mansion, when he first saw “He Yan.” At that time, He Yan had already changed back into female attire. She stood before He Rufei, calling him “big brother,” and a subtle sense of envy and resentment arose in his heart.
How could he not feel resentful?
Clearly, he was the true Young Master He, yet he had been living in the shadow of this woman for many years. If in the past, circumstances forced this upon him, now, when He Yan left the He family and embarked on the path of military service, destiny had broken free from everyone’s control, heading toward an unforeseen future.
He Rufei never really liked martial arts, even though his body had recovered later. The He family had no martial generals, but due to He Yan’s insistence, he had to learn the same sword techniques as He Yan.
The same dietary habits, the same lifestyle preferences, the same handwriting, the same martial skills… even the same temperament.
He and He Yan played the role of each other’s substitute. This feeling was so uncomfortable that, after he returned to the capital, amid the silent comparisons by others, it reached its peak.
So, he suggested blinding He Yan’s eyes. A blind woman would be restricted to the inner courtyard and couldn’t stir up trouble. He also didn’t have to worry that one day, someone would notice the difference between him and the original Flying Phoenix General, while his cousin bore a striking resemblance to the original.
However, even after being blinded, He Yan did not fall into silence. Unable to see the light, He Yan only sank into a temporary depression. Later, on one occasion, when He Rufei went to the Xu family, he saw He Yan secretly practicing swordsmanship.
A blind woman secretly practicing swordsmanship.
She seemed to sense someone’s presence, stopped her movements, and cautiously asked, “Is someone here?”
He Rufei didn’t say anything, just turned and walked away. When he returned to the He Mansion, he made up his mind—He Yan had to go.
As long as He Yan was alive, it was a threat to the He family. It was a constant reminder that he could never measure up to the original Flying Phoenix General.
Only after He Yan’s death could He Rufei finally let go.
His swordsmanship was an imitation of He Yan’s, and now, in the hands of this woman, it seemed fragile, like a child playing. Her mocking gaze towards him and the casual “big brother” made goosebumps rise on his skin.
The Qinglang sword, at some point, had fallen to the ground. He Yan glanced at it, smiled gently, and picked it up. She looked at He Rufei, who had fallen to the ground after being kicked, and said, “Thanks to Lord He, the Qinglang sword is now mine.”
With a sword in hand, she turned and walked out of the square.
Everyone was stunned; this was definitely not something He Rufei could accomplish by holding back. A person who showed mercy wouldn’t be defeated by a woman in such a miserable state.
The posture of kneeling was somewhat humiliating.
Yan He furrowed his brows and asked Xiao Jue, “Earlier, when He Yan and I were talking bad about He Rufei, I thought she was trying to flatter me. Now it seems she does indeed have some grievances with He Rufei. Do you know where He Rufei offended her?” But without waiting for Xiao Jue to respond, he added, “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
No one in the crowd spoke; they were all shocked by the outcome. Who could have expected that the Flying Phoenix General would be defeated by a woman?
Maningbu’s eyes flickered.
Before anyone could speak, He Rufei suddenly leaped up from the ground, pulled out a dagger from his sleeve, and fiercely pounced toward He Yan.
“Be careful!” Lin Shuanghe couldn’t help but blurt out. Chu Zhao’s gaze was also tense.
He Yan furrowed her brows, dodged aside, and He Rufei missed his target. However, he didn’t give up. There was a gleam on the dagger in his hand, indicating it might have been tempered with something else. He advanced step by step, pressing He Yan.
In the next moment, Xiao Jue rushed forward, reaching the empty space of the square. He casually took He Yan’s Drinking Autumn sword, kicked away He Rufei’s dagger, and the tip of the sword grazed He Rufei’s neck, leaving a thin bloodstain.
“If you move again,” Xiao Jue’s eyes revealed a chilling light as he warned coldly, “I won’t mind making a ‘mistake’ here.”
The icy sensation on his neck brought He Rufei back to his senses. He looked at the man in front of him, and the indifference in Xiao Jue’s eyes completely awakened him. Unlike He Yan, who just wanted to scare him, this man genuinely wanted to take his life.
He Rufei forced a smile, “Just sparring with Marquis Wuan. Commander Xiao, you seem a bit too nervous.”
“Spar?” Xiao Jue’s gaze was sharp, mocking, “I never expected that Young Master He would resort to sneak attacks in a spar. I also never expected that Young Master He would be so concerned about winning or losing.”
This statement caused a new round of discussions among the officials.
“Yes, attacking a woman like this is disrespectful.”
“A gentleman should accept defeat gracefully; this behavior is unbecoming.”
“But Marquis Wuan reacted quickly; even under such circumstances, he couldn’t succeed. This woman is indeed skilled in battle, perhaps General He is truly inferior to her?”
“Speaking of which, this girl is also surnamed He. In the future, if one of them becomes a general, which one do you think will be more formidable?”
People who practiced martial arts had keen ears, and the discussions of the officials poured into He Rufei’s ears. He couldn’t help but clench his fists, feeling a throbbing pain in his head.
Here it comes again, here it comes again. Although He Yan has clearly died, why has another person with the same name and surname emerged, and why is he still inferior to her?
On Tianxing Terrace, Emperor Wenxuan’s expression had already turned quite ugly.
Originally, he thought he could showcase an elegant sword duel in front of the Wutuo envoy. Unexpectedly, it ended up with such a result, truly losing face. Not only did He Rufei lose to a woman, but the defeat was also not pleasant to watch. To make matters worse, in the end, he even attempted to launch a sneak attack. What kind of situation was this? It was truly a spectacle today.
Drinking Autumn on his neck still hadn’t left, and He Rufei’s gaze was fixed on He Yan behind Xiao Jue. Despite myriad suspicions in his heart, with all eyes watching and Xiao Jue guarding in front, in the end, he could only reluctantly smile with some grace and say, “I’ve lost. Marquis Wuan is indeed a heroine among women. Just now, it was a joke, and I hope the young lady won’t take it to heart.”
He Yan looked at him and also returned a smile, “It’s nothing. I haven’t taken it to heart.”
He Rufei breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as He Yan didn’t push aggressively and he covered up this matter for now, he could slowly plan for the future. However, he didn’t expect that both Xiao Jue and He Yan had already targeted him. Could it be that they discovered the truth about the previous attempt to assassinate He Yan?
Just as He Rufei thought of this, he heard the woman in front of him lightly laugh and say, “But Young Master He, why do you have a poisoned dagger hidden in your arms when you already have the Qinglang sword?”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too low, just enough for the people on the square to hear. In an instant, a stone stirred a thousand ripples, and the gazes of the crowd toward He Rufei changed.
“Poisoned? Is it true?”
“Why does Flying Phoenix General carry a poisoned dagger?”
He Rufei never expected that He Yan would suddenly challenge him. A fleeting look of panic appeared on his face as he rebuked, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Is that so?” He Yan continued to smile, showing no signs of anger. She said, “Maybe I was mistaken. If that’s the case, Young Master He, would you dare to use the dagger to make a cut on your own hand? If nothing happens, I’ll believe you. There is no poison on this dagger.”
He Rufei was left speechless.
Indeed, this dagger was poisoned. If there was no bloodshed, everything would be fine, but if there was any bleeding, the poison would quickly penetrate, causing death from vomiting blood in just a few steps.
Due to various recent incidents, he had become uneasy and suspicious, so he carried this dagger with him. He wouldn’t take it out to harm others unless absolutely necessary. However, the provocative attitude of the woman in front of him just now reminded him of the deceased He Yan, easily stirring up his inner violence and anger, causing him to act impulsively. And now, he had been caught red-handed by Xiao Jue.
Wait a minute. A trace of horror flashed in his mind. Could it be that He Yan deliberately provoked him from the beginning for this moment? But how did she know about the hidden dagger on him? He Yan, a woman, naturally couldn’t know, so it must be Xiao Jue… Were there people from Xiao Jue in the He family?
He hesitated to speak, which, in the eyes of the onlookers, appeared guilty. Leaving aside other matters, just this duel alone had significantly tarnished He Rufei’s reputation in the eyes of the court officials. If what He Yan said was true, and the dagger was poisoned, then He Rufei not only lost the duel but also resorted to malicious and treacherous tactics by attacking in secret when He Yan left. If it weren’t for Xiao Jue’s intervention, who knows what the outcome would have been.
The Flying Phoenix General of Great Wei, is he really such a person?
Emperor Wenxuan felt that his old face had been completely disgraced today, and he didn’t want to say anything. Xu Jingfu stood among the civil officials, his face so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it. He Rufei turned out to be so useless, losing to a woman and having his weakness exposed. With Xiao Jue’s intervention, He Rufei must have fallen into the trap set by these two without even realizing it since the beginning. But… Xu Jingfu pondered, why did Xiao Jue create such a big fuss? What was his intention?
Lin Shuanghe suddenly spoke, “Your Majesty, whether Young Master He’s dagger is poisoned or not, this commoner can see at a glance. Why not let this commoners come forward to take a look, so as not to misunderstand and damage the relationship between the two generals.”
To be fair, Lin Shuanghe didn’t have much resentment towards He Rufei. Unlike Yan He, he and He Rufei were fellow students who had progressed together back then. Although he didn’t know what happened between Xiao Jue and He Rufei, judging from Lin Shuanghe’s understanding of He Rufei, he shouldn’t be the kind of malicious person who attacked from behind. There might be some misunderstandings between them, and at this moment, Lin Shuanghe hoped that Xiao Jue and He Rufei could reconcile and avoid escalating the situation.
He considered it a goodwill gesture, not expecting He Rufei to hesitate for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying, “No need. This dagger is indeed poisoned.”
The court officials were in an uproar.
Emperor Wenxuan angrily said, “He Rufei, why did you bring a poisoned dagger to Tianxing Terrace?”
He Rufei immediately knelt down, bowed to Emperor Wenxuan, and raised his head, saying, “Your Majesty, the past few days in Shuojing City have been turbulent. I encountered an assassin during my travels a few days ago, and not long ago, my mansion was raided by thieves. I suspect that someone is secretly attacking me, and to prevent accidents, I concealed a dagger in my arms. However, due to the urgency of today’s situation and the impromptu sparring with Marquis Wuan, I forgot that the dagger was inappropriate. I am ashamed and request Your Majesty’s punishment.”
He Yan looked at him and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at his fluent fabrication of lies. He Rufei might be considered a talent, coming up with such an excuse in such a short time. Although the excuse was quite forced, it was still an excuse.
Seeing this, Xu Jingfu also stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the matter of General He’s mansion being robbed is something I have heard about. Carrying a dagger on one’s person, while inappropriate, doesn’t warrant a death sentence. Today, with the feast on Tianxing Terrace, it’s not suitable for bloodshed. I hope Your Majesty will be lenient. However, General He’s actions were indeed dangerous. With a slight mistake, he might have harmed Marquis Wuan, and I’m afraid Commander Xiao might have taken drastic action in response.”
His words carried a slight hint of teasing, obviously intending to help He Rufei downplay the situation. After all, there were many hidden connections between He Rufei and him. If something happened to He Rufei, it might implicate him.
Xu Jingfu looked at He Yan and smiled, “Marquis Wuan is probably quite shocked.”
All eyes were on Xu Jingfu and Xiao Jue. These two were known enemies, and everyone in the court knew Xiao Jue was ruthless, but his fiancée, Marquis Wuan, always seemed amiable and moderate in conversation, appearing to be an easygoing person. Moreover, if Marquis Wuan insisted on not letting go, being aggressive and unreasonable, it wouldn’t only seem irrational for a woman, but would also displease Emperor Wenxuan. After all, this was a family affair, and it was better not to make it too big in front of outsiders.
Xu Jingfu threw a lifeline, and Emperor Wenxuan was happy to intervene, scolding, “He Rufei, quickly apologize to Marquis Wuan!”
He Rufei hastily bowed to He Yan and said, “I apologize, Marquis Wuan. The sparring earlier was entirely my own fault for being overly competitive, nearly injuring Miss He. Fortunately, she is unharmed.” Although he was speaking to He Yan, his gaze was fixed on Xiao Jue beside He Yan. In He Rufei’s view, He Yan’s actions must have been sanctioned by Xiao Jue. He wasn’t concerned about He Yan but couldn’t help but feel wary of Xiao Jue.
Yet, amidst his wariness, He Rufei felt a bit triumphant.
So what if it was Xiao Jue? Now that Emperor Wenxuan had spoken, what could Xiao Jue do? Still, Xu Jingfu was impressive; it wasn’t in vain that he had compensated for the loss of a confidant and established a connection with Xu Jingfu.
As he was thinking this, he saw the commander of the Right Army of Great Wei standing in front of him, eyes lowered, filled with silent mockery as if watching a clown. Suddenly, an unnamed anger surged within him. Before he could speak, He Yan spoke up.
He Yan said, “Young Master He, no need to apologize to me. After all, you didn’t really harm me. If you had injured the Sacred person today, you would be the one facing a dead end.”
He Rufei’s expression changed. “What did you say?” He instinctively looked towards the imperial platform.
“I said,” He Yan picked up the dagger that He Rufei had been knocked down with, played with it in her hand, and then looked at him.
Slowly, she said, “Does Young Master He really carry a dagger on him in countless ways just to harm me? I am just a woman, why would Young Master He go through all this trouble? The one Young Master He truly wants to harm… is actually His Majesty!”
As her words reached the end, her voice became as sharp as a knife, startling everyone present.
“He Yan!” Before she could continue, He Rufei interrupted her harshly, “Don’t spout bloodthirsty lies here! Your accusations are baseless, Your Majesty,” he hurriedly looked at Emperor Wenxuan, loudly pleading his innocence, “I, your humble servant, have no intentions of such treason. I do not know where I have offended Marquis Wuan or Commander Xiao, to be accused so unjustly.”
Xu Jingfu was also caught off guard by He Yan directly placing the hat of regicide on He Rufei’s head. Upon hearing this, he quickly spoke, “Marquis Wuan, please do not speak irresponsibly. General He only accidentally injured you during the sparring. Why push him into a desperate situation?”
“Your Majesty, your humble servant followed the pacification of the Fuyue army to suppress the rebellion. I only wish for the prosperity and safety of Great Wei. My lifelong aspiration is to guard the land of Great Wei for Your Majesty, and I have no ulterior motives. Your Majesty, please believe in your humble servant’s loyalty!” He Rufei shouted.
Maningbu slightly widened his eyes. This turn of events was unexpected and quite amusing. Although there was cooperation between He Rufei and the Wutuo people, the Wutuo people didn’t truly trust him. After all, He Rufei’s methods of leading the troops were evident. If the two great generals of Great Wei joined forces, it would be detrimental to Wutuo. And now they were at odds; breaking Emperor Wenxuan’s arm would open a rift in Great Wei.
He decided to remain silent.
The emperor sat on the high seat, watching the officials bowing beneath, his expression somewhat subtle.
Although he was a mediocre emperor, unfamiliar with court affairs, he possessed the inherent qualities of a ruler, including suspicion. Leaving that aside, once a seed was planted, his perception of people began to change.
The military officers, after hearing He Rufei’s words, felt a bit sympathetic and couldn’t help speaking up for him.
“Indeed, General He risked his life to pacify the rebellion in the western Qiang region, and his loyalty is evident to all. How could he harbor intentions to harm Your Majesty?”
“Marquis Wuan’s words have gone too far. If he truly harbored malicious intent, why bother risking his life in battles?”
“I’ve heard people in the army say that General He is loyal and fearless, not the kind of person described here.”
Various discussions reached He Yan’s ears, and she smiled slightly without confirming or denying anything. Only when the situation gradually quieted down did she slowly speak up.
“Flying Phoenix General is loyal to the country, formidable in battle, and unmatched in the world. He would never commit treason or regicide.”
“However,” she smiled as she looked at He Rufei, her gaze gradually cooling, “Young Master He, are you Flying Phoenix General?”
He Rufei felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
The woman in front of him looked at him with a hint of coldness at the corner of her lips, her gaze disdainful, as if looking at a negligible ant.
She looked down on him.
Chu Zhao was taken aback, and someone murmured by his side, “What does Marquis Wuan mean? What does it mean to ask if General He is Flying Phoenix General? General He is undoubtedly Flying Phoenix General!”
Yan He frowned, staring at He Rufei with a scrutinizing gaze.
He Rufei said, “What are you…”
“I said,” this time, before he could finish, He Yan interrupted him, “Young Master He, tired of pretending to be Flying Phoenix General for so long, aren’t you?”
“I think it’s time for you to take off the mask you’re wearing,” she said calmly.
Tianxing Terrace immediately became lively.
Even Emperor Wenxuan couldn’t control the situation anymore. For a moment, He Rufei felt like he had been stripped naked and left in broad daylight. The sun was blinding, making it hard for him to open his eyes. Beside him, Xu Zhiheng felt the same, struck as if by lightning.
Both of them trembled, their eyes filled with panic. In their hearts, there was only one thought—escape quickly. However, just as they were about to move, they realized their legs had gone weak, and they had no strength to take a step.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” He Rufei struggled to maintain his composure, hatingly saying, “Is Marquis Wuan suffering from hysteria? Pretending to be Flying Phoenix General, wearing a mask… I was appointed as Flying Phoenix General by the emperor himself. How can it be false? Accuse me if you must, but I thought Marquis Wuan was a heroic and broad-minded woman. I didn’t expect such narrow-mindedness. If I had known, I wouldn’t have competed with you.”
“At a time like this, is it still meaningful to say these things?” He Yan looked down at him, “You’ve been pretending to be Flying Phoenix General for so long, yet you haven’t learned anything from her. Flying Phoenix General is bold and forthright, but you, having done all that, now dare not admit it.”
“Marquis Wuan,” Emperor Wenxuan looked at He Yan, his gaze profound, “What do you mean by what you just said?”
“Your Majesty,” He Yan bowed to Emperor Wenxuan, “Flying Phoenix General will not betray Great Wei, nor will she betray Your Majesty. But Young Master He will. This Young Master He is not the real Flying Phoenix General.”
“You’re spouting nonsense!” He Rufei couldn’t help but say, “I am not Flying Phoenix General. Who is Flying Phoenix General?”
He Yan’s lips curled up, and her tone, mild to the point of being eerie, “Young Master He, have you truly forgotten about your cousin who drowned?”
With this statement, the entire hall fell silent.
Xu Zhiheng almost fainted, Xu Jingfu turned pale, and Emperor Wenxuan coughed several times, covering his chest. The eunuch beside him quickly handed him a handkerchief to rub his chest. Only then did Emperor Wenxuan say, “He Yan, do you know what you’re saying?”
The matters of the Wutuo envoy and sword dance were no longer important. Emperor Wenxuan stared fixedly at He Rufei lying on the ground. He Yan’s words, with a little thought, could be understood. But at this moment, no one discussed it, mainly because this revelation was too shocking.
Wei Xuanzhang widened his eyes, full of disbelief. Yan He frowned deeply, and Lin Shuanghe stared blankly at He Rufei, finding it hard to accept what he had just heard.
“Your Majesty,” Xiao Jue, who rarely spoke, finally stepped forward. He glanced at He Rufei before saying, “Young Master He is not Flying Phoenix General, or rather, the Flying Phoenix General who led the Fuyue Army to pacify the Western Qiang rebellion on the battlefield and the Flying Phoenix General who later returned to the capital for rewards are not the same person.”
“This Young Master He doesn’t know how to fight; he only knows how to collect rewards.”
The Tianxing Terrace fell into silence.
Emperor Wenxuan’s voice contained restrained anger, “Do you have evidence?”
Xiao Jue smirked, “Yes.”
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