Chapter 239: Twins
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In the dungeon, it was extremely damp, with bloodstains and stains remaining on the ground. He Xinying sat in the corner, hugging her knees, watching black insects crawl from under the hay. She couldn’t help but shiver.
It was too cold here, and no one paid any attention to her. She had been pampered since childhood and had never experienced such grievances. The guards here ignored her, and she didn’t know where He Rufei and Xu Zhiheng were. Initially, she had no idea what had happened.
It wasn’t until the guards here started chatting, mentioning the events on Tianxing Terrace today, that He Xinying recalled what Liu Er had said to her before she was captured. Slowly, she pieced everything together.
Her deceased elder sister was the true Flying Phoenix General. For all these years, He Rufei and He Yan had been using each other’s identities. When He Yan entered the capital, He Rufei falsely claimed achievements and, to eliminate future troubles, actually drowned He Yan in the pond at the Xu family.
No wonder, every time she passed by the pond in the courtyard, she felt a chill. No wonder Xu Zhiheng was searching for He Yan’s belongings in the yard where he used to live.
Xu Zhiheng… did he know about this? Or was he also an executioner in this matter? He Xinying felt a chill throughout her body.
The one who revealed the truth was General Fengyun, Xiao Huaijin. It was only when her mother saw Xiao Huaijin at Yuhua Temple that she took the initiative to speak. Thinking of Second Madam He, He Xinying felt another pang of heartache.
Did Second Madam He know about this from start to finish? Did Father not speak out when Uncle proposed such a demand? When He Rufei ordered He Yan to be drowned, did Father know but remain silent, or was he completely unaware? He Xinying hoped for the latter, but in her heart, she felt it was more likely to be the former.
She leaned against the wall weakly, feeling that her life was like a joke. The father who she thought loved her turned out to be someone who could disregard family affection for the sake of interests. The husband she married as her ideal partner turned out to be harboring evil intentions. The elder brother who seemed imposing and could bring blessings to the family turned out to be a fake who seized others’ merits and intimidated people. In the end, the family fell apart, the mother left, the elder sister was long gone, and she was left alone in this place, feeling desolate.
The crime of deceiving the monarch is a capital offense, punishable by death. He Xinying sobbed softly. Well, if she had to die, so be it. In the end, she had no one in this world to cherish. After death, in the underworld, she could reunite with her family, which might not be a bad thing.
Just as she was thinking this, suddenly, footsteps approached. He Xinying looked up and saw a guard following a stranger.
The two reached the door of He Xinying’s cell, and the guard opened the door, saying to He Xinying, “Miss He, please.”
He Xinying was surprised, “Go where?”
“His Majesty, in benevolence, recognizes Flying Phoenix General’s meritorious service in pacifying the Western Qiang. Bearing wrongful accusations and dying, Miss He is Flying Phoenix General’s legitimate sister. His Majesty is giving you a chance. However, you will be demoted to a commoner from today onwards, but your life will be spared. From today, Miss He no longer needs to stay here.”
He Xinying took quite a while to understand the guard’s words. Slowly, she stood up and walked out, following the two until they were outside the prison.
The night outside was dark, and she stood there alone with her thin clothes, suddenly granted freedom but unsure where to go next. The He family and the Xu family were no more, and with the vast world around her, there seemed to be no place for her.
He Xinying sighed bitterly, lowering her head and murmuring to herself, “Where else can I go?”
“Miss He,” someone spoke behind her.
She turned around to see the man who had come with the guard earlier. He seemed to be a guard from some household and said to He Xinying, “If Miss He has nowhere to go for the time being, you can temporarily find refuge in a certain place.”
“Where?” He Xinying asked.
“When Miss was young, she studied at Xianchang Academy. The head of Xianchang Academy, Mr. Wei Xuanzhang, had a teacher-student relationship with Miss. Learning about the truth, he sympathizes deeply with Miss’s plight. If Miss He has nowhere to go for now, you can go to Mr. Wei’s residence. Mr. Wei usually stays at the academy, and there’s only his wife at home.”
He Xinying was stunned.
After a moment, she self-mockingly smiled and said, “So, even after my elder sister’s death, she’s still watching over me.”
“Please, gentleman, lead the way,” she said. With the troubles befalling the He and Xu families, she knew that relatives and friends from before would avoid getting involved, fearing trouble. At this time, no one dared to shelter her. She hadn’t figured out her next steps, but first, she needed a place to sit down and thoroughly understand all the unclear aspects.
She truly had nowhere else to go.
…
The fact that He Xinying was taken out of prison went unnoticed by Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, who were kept in separate cells to prevent collusion in their testimonies. Xu Zhiheng couldn’t see He Rufei, and He Rufei couldn’t see Xu Zhiheng. For them, it was actually a good thing; if they were locked up together, they might have started fighting immediately.
Xu Zhiheng resented He Rufei for dragging him down, while He Rufei hated Xu Zhiheng for eagerly shifting all the blame onto him as soon as things went wrong on Tianxing Terrace.
In the end, the alliance based on mutual interests was as fragile as paper. A slight breeze or a sprinkle of rain could tear it apart, revealing their true faces.
He Rufei sat in the corner of the cell, even at this moment not giving up and still contemplating plans that might save his life. He knew that Xu Xiang’s people wouldn’t stand idly by; rescuing Xu Jingfu might also help him. The worst-case scenario was Xu Jingfu abandoning him to save himself, but he still held evidence of Xu Jingfu’s treason. How could Xu Jingfu leave him alone?
The incident on Tianxing Terrace truly caught him off guard. He never expected that the woman named He Yan would be so formidable, and he certainly didn’t anticipate that Xiao Jue already had so much evidence, gradually pushing him onto an irreversible path.
He Yan… Thinking of that woman, a trace of resentment flashed in He Rufei’s eyes.
What was the connection between that woman and his deceased cousin? He Rufei didn’t know. He hadn’t seen He Yan’s prowess on the battlefield because by the time he returned to Shuojing, He Yan had quickly resumed her female identity. Thus, all the legends about “Flying Phoenix General” were just heard stories to him. In his eyes, the deceased He Yan, his cousin, seemed to be nothing more than a woman who appeared slightly stronger than ordinary women.
Others claimed that Flying Phoenix General was exceptionally skilled, but he didn’t believe it. They said Flying Phoenix General could take on ten opponents on the battlefield, but he remained unconvinced. The reason was simple – he couldn’t do it himself, so He Yan, a woman, was even less likely to achieve such feats.
It wasn’t until the sword duel on Tianxing Terrace.
He Rufei closed his eyes, feeling a surge of frustration.
If the real He Yan were alive, would she fight with a sword like this? But how could she still be alive? It was impossible!
In the quiet prison, footsteps approached. He Rufei was locked in the innermost cell, and he carefully listened as the footsteps drew nearer and nearer until they stopped in front of him.
To his surprise, the prison door was opened.
He Rufei raised his head and looked at the newcomer.
The young man in black glanced coldly at him, seeming reluctant to waste even a moment on him. He stood, while He Rufei sat, inadvertently emphasizing their status difference.
“I wonder, Commander Xiao, what brings you here?” He Rufei sneered. “It’s not to kill me and silence me, is it?”
Without waiting for Xiao Jue to answer, he continued, “Actually, I don’t understand. How did Commander Xiao find out about this?”
If Qin Momo leaked the news on Xu Zhiheng’s end, that’s one thing, but how did Commander Xiao figure it out and start collecting evidence so early? Even now, he couldn’t comprehend it. After all, if you tell others that ‘Flying Phoenix General is a woman,’ they would think you’re just talking nonsense.
How come Xiao Jue knew?
The youth looked at him indifferently and asked, “How do you think I knew?”
“I don’t know,” He Rufei said, staring at the person in front of him. Suddenly, he laughed, leaning against the wall and spoke casually, “I heard that you and my deceased sister once studied together. Let me think, perhaps there was already a private affair between you two. The way you’re treating me now, could it be for the sake of my sister?”
He snorted and his expression twisted a bit, “Is it possible that someone in this world actually liked my wayward sister? What’s so good about her? She doesn’t resemble a woman at all…”
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a sudden pain in his chest, and he was thrown against the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Xiao Jue did not hold back in that kick, and He Rufei was left breathless for a while. The prison guard, having received the signal, had already retreated outside, ignoring the situation inside.
Well, if Xu Jingfu fell, in the court and among the people, no one could stop Xiao Jue. At this critical moment, no one dared to offend the commander of the Right Army.
He Rufei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked at Xiao Jue, and slowly smiled.
General Fengyun, the handsome commander of Great Wei, was so powerful and charismatic that just standing here, he already captivated everyone’s attention. No one could steal his limelight. If it weren’t for He Yan changing the fate of everyone back then, perhaps he would never have intersected with Xiao Jue in his entire life.
But unfortunately, it happened.
“Why are you all so angry?” He Rufei sneered, “Everyone is standing up for my sister, but what about me?” His voice suddenly rose, “What about me! Is my life not important? Should I spend a lifetime paying for her stupid decisions? Why? I also have things I want to do. Do you think I want to be a general like this?” His eyes turned red, like a wild beast going mad, ready to tear everything apart, “Who wants to be a general? Ah, who wants!”
Since he could remember, He Rufei had not lived in the He Mansion. He lived in a distant village. He knew his health was not good, and he knew about the exchange of identities with his cousin. He couldn’t go too far, and he couldn’t be without someone by his side. He Yuansheng and his wife would sometimes come to see him, but they always left in a hurry.
The doctor predicted he wouldn’t live more than a few years, but perhaps due to his tough luck, he survived year after year. Then, in his sixteenth year, his body completely recovered. He thought he could leave the village and return to the He family, becoming the young master again. However, at that time, news came that He Yan had gone to the battlefield, and he couldn’t come back temporarily.
He Rufei was forced to continue staying in the village.
He also secretly prayed in his heart that He Yan wouldn’t die on the battlefield. It wasn’t because of deep sibling affection or his kind heart; it was because He Yan carried his identity. If He Yan died on the battlefield, he, as the young master of the He family, could never return.
Fortunately, He Yan came back.
In those many years, He Rufei didn’t have many emotions towards He Yan, not much liking or hatred. It wasn’t until the day He Yan returned to the He family that He Rufei’s heart suddenly harbored a hint of resentment.
For so many years, he had been living in seclusion in the village, leading a hidden life. He thought He Yan would be the same, but when he actually saw her, he found it was completely different. She lived so freely with his own identity. Why? She decided the fate of others on her own and then took back the arranged fate to herself.
Why?
He Rufei’s inner turmoil was complex. On one hand, he hated accepting a destiny that had already been chosen by He Yan, such as being a military commander. On the other hand, when he stood in the Golden Luang Hall, receiving the emperor’s rewards and facing the envious or jealous gazes of the courtiers, a sense of satisfaction would arise within him.
However, this satisfaction also humiliated him because He Rufei was well aware that the praise and good reputation belonged to He Yan, not himself. Whenever he heard people praising Flying Phoenix General for his invincible bravery on the battlefield, he felt particularly tormented. This torment eventually turned into frustration, making him uneasy. Even if He Yan got married, it did not solve this inner ailment.
It was like stealing a beautiful gem. He felt proud to possess the gem, accepting the admiring and longing looks from others. However, he also worried that someday someone would discover that the owner of this gem was not him.
The malicious thoughts grew larger until one day, he thought, it would be better if He Yan died. The moment this thought surfaced, He Rufei found himself surprisingly calm.
He found a solution to his inner ailment.
Breaking the wings would only prevent Flying Phoenix General from soaring into the sky, but Flying Phoenix would still be Flying Phoenix. Instead of breaking the wings, why not pull the bird from the sky, drown it in water, bury it in the soil, so that no one would ever find traces of that bird again.
He finally calmed down.
But why, just as the calm days had not lasted long, someone was impatiently about to disrupt them.
“Lies,” the young man’s voice was calm, his gaze cold as water. “You do want to be Flying Phoenix General; you just don’t dare to admit it.”
As if having his innermost secrets exposed, He Rufei suddenly raised his head. “I don’t!”
“You do.”
He Rufei gritted his teeth. The man’s gaze was clear and indifferent, laying bare his embarrassment. He clenched his fists, trying to stand up. “Tell me, is she really He Yan?”
“If I say she is,” the young man lowered his eyes, the silver crown under the dim prison lights casting a cold light, “what will you do?”
“I don’t believe it.” He Rufei couldn’t help but tremble, unsure if it was hatred or fear. He said, “I don’t believe a single word you’re saying.”
But in reality, he did believe some of it.
Those inexplicable coincidences, the familiarity with the layout of the He family, the secret compartments in the study, the mysteries of the Ling Long box… and the “big brother” on the Tianxing Terrace.
The two of them were born in the same place on a certain night many years ago, and their destinies were forced, coincidental, and entangled like two vines, drawing nourishment from each other. To survive, he had to pull out this vine by his side. The so-called twin destiny brought not dependency and trust but betrayal and enmity.
He Yan lived in the sunlight, and He Rufei had to live in the shadows. If he wanted to walk openly in front of people, he had to uproot the person who originally lived in the sunlight.
He did it very well… He Rufei bitterly smiled.
At this moment, an inexplicable sense of relief emerged.
He didn’t know if he envied or resented He Yan, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that what he disliked was the feeling of being a substitute. Others looked at you, but they were seeing another person. Others remembered you, but they were remembering another person. How ridiculous and pathetic.
The shadow killed the master, but the shadow was still a shadow. Whether he became He Rufei for He Yan or He Yan became a substitute for him, no one could make it clear. Was he He Rufei, or was he He Yan? No one could answer him.
What if, from the beginning, they hadn’t exchanged identities?
What if, from the beginning, he was the eldest son of the He family, each choosing their own path? What would it look like now?
He Rufei gradually laughed, the laughter getting louder and louder, until, in the end, he laughed until tears came. He had been pushed forward involuntarily all his life. Perhaps only at the very last moment of his life could he be free. However, what he left behind for “He Rufei” was a notorious name for impersonation and deceit.
“Xiao Huaijin,” he looked up at the person in front of him, “I’ll consider her as He Yan. Is it that you’re going to such great lengths to expose me, just to defend her? If you want my life, go ahead, take it,” he opened his hands, appearing as if he surrendered, “In the end, this is just the grudge between me and her. What does it have to do with you?”
Xiao Jue walked to him, silently watching him. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed his neck. The young man’s fingers were slender and fair, yet they seemed capable of crushing his bones.
He Rufei struggled to breathe, staring at the other person, managing to force out a cold smile.
“What does it have to do with me?” Xiao Jue slowly asked.
His dark pupils stared at He Rufei, like a storm brewing with a dark color. He uttered each word slowly, “The first girl I ever coaxed back to life, in the end, was drowned alive by you. Tell me, what does it have to do with me?”
He Rufei desperately struggled, but the hand tightened even more. His eyes rolled up, kicking his legs, intense fear rising in his heart. He knew he was about to die at this person’s hands.
But the next moment, the hand choking him suddenly loosened. He Rufei, holding his throat, began to cough violently.
“I won’t kill you,” Xiao Jue stood up, turning his back to him, coldly saying, “Because you’re not worthy.”
With that, he left the still coughing He Rufei, walking away with big strides.
…
In the early morning, when He Yan woke up, the snow outside had already stopped.
Qingmei called out in the courtyard to Chiyu, “Guard Chiyu, don’t add more firewood. The fire is too strong, and the medicine isn’t brewing well.”
Chiwu silently picked out a few pieces of firewood with iron tongs.
Lin Shuanghe was, after all, a man, and it wasn’t suitable for him to stay at the He family indefinitely. Besides, the He family didn’t have any spare rooms for him. The morning medicine today was brewed by Qingmei herself. He Yunsheng and He Sui had already gone out early in the morning, and Qingmei fanned the flames, feeling a bit dull.
Back when He Yan fell ill after the incident with Fan Cheng, despite having called a doctor and receiving medicine, He Yan’s condition worsened instead of improving. Qingmei once thought He Yan might not survive, but miraculously, she recovered. Now, He Yan was unexpectedly sick again.
Although the Physician Lin assured that there was no serious issue, Qingmei couldn’t help but worry.
Seeing her absent-minded, Chi Wu thought for a moment and comforted, “Don’t worry, Young Master Lin said there’s nothing wrong, Miss He should be fine.”
“Not only that,” Qingmei sighed, “this morning when I went to change the water in the room, I saw Miss crying in her sleep. Back then… it was the same. If Miss didn’t suffer a heartbreak, how could it be like this? Yesterday on the Tianxing Terrace, Miss had a sword match with that Flying Phoenix General, right? How did it end up like this? Guard Chiwu, do you know what happened?”
Chiwu shook his head. There were too many puzzling points about He Yan, but since Xiao Jue forbade them to investigate, they naturally wouldn’t deliberately do so.
“Master and Young Master were extremely worried yesterday, truly hoping that Miss would recover soon,” Qingmei said.
Their voices were not deliberately lowered, and He Yan, with her exceptional hearing, heard their conversation clearly. She was stunned for a moment, the woman in her dream had completely disappeared from her sight. The room was warm with a blazing fire, and on the table, there was a small white porcelain bowl filled with sweet preserves.
The preserves were brightly red, sweet and luscious. She slowly reached out, picked one up, looked at it for a while, and then put it in her mouth.
It tasted so sweet that it made her mouth feel bitter.
Qingmei entered with the medicine, pushing the door open. When she saw that He Yan was awake, she was first surprised and then joyfully exclaimed, “Miss is awake! Is there anything uncomfortable in your body?”
“It’s fine.”
“That’s good.” Qingmei placed the medicine bowl on the table and noticed a small bowl of preserves next to it. She smiled and said, “Commander Xiao asked this servant to place it here. He said Doctor Lin’s medicine is bitter. After drinking the medicine, remember to keep two of these in your mouth.”
He Yan lowered her head and smiled, “Alright.”
Qingmei felt that her mistress was a bit strange, but she couldn’t point out what was odd. She could only fetch a stool, sit by the bedside, and incessantly remind He Yan not to catch a cold.
Sunlight streamed in from the window, bringing a subtle lively atmosphere to the room. He Yan looked outside, and as she continued watching, she lowered her head, concealing the tears in her eyes.
Everything had come to an end.
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