Chapter 240: Separation
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The case of Flying Phoenix General has caused a great sensation throughout the entire Shuojing. Soldiers and civilians who had once received Flying Phoenix General’s favor spontaneously gathered in front of the palace, beating drums and petitioning, demanding a thorough investigation of the truth. Flying Phoenix General had a good reputation among the military and civilians, but when the truth came out, the He and Xu families faced public outrage.
Emperor Wenxuan handed the case to the Dali Temple, and in a matter of days, He Yuanliang couldn’t withstand the pressure and confessed to the truth. Numerous pieces of evidence linking the He family to dealings with the Wutuo people were found in their house. As a result of this case, the He family was accused of deceiving the emperor, falsely claiming achievements, colluding with the enemy, and committing treason. Apart from Flying Phoenix General’s younger sister, He Xinyin, all members of the He family were sentenced to death. The main culprit, He Rufei, faced severe charges and was sentenced to death of a thousand cuts. He was paraded through the market, subjected to 120 knife cuts, and publicly executed by beheading to serve as a warning.
As for the Xu family, besides the death penalty for Xu Zhiheng, all male members were exiled, and female relatives were spared from slavery.
The case was swiftly resolved, and upon learning the outcome, the people applauded, acknowledging the deserved punishment for the He and Xu families.
On the day before the execution, in the prison, Xu Zhiheng stared at the stale food in front of him, hesitating to eat.
For the last meal on the road to the underworld, other condemned prisoners had wine and food, but he had nothing. This was because even the jailers found Xu Zhiheng too ruthless and heartless. Many who had once benefited from Flying Phoenix General’s favor now wished ill upon Xu Zhiheng in the name of the deceased General He.
A jailer mocked him, “Why doesn’t Master Xu eat? After today, there will be no more meals. I advise you not to be picky.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiheng became agitated. He rushed to the cell door, grabbed the bars, and looked at the jailer outside, saying, “No… I won’t die! I’ll give you money, find someone to save me! I’ll pay you!”
“Sure,” the jailer grinned, “Who should I ask on Master Xu’s behalf?”
Who should he ask?
Suddenly, Xu Zhiheng was at a loss.
The He family had already fallen, and even those colleagues who had good relations with them would likely have distanced themselves by now, fearing trouble. No one could save him.
Xu Zhiheng collapsed weakly to the ground. In despair, he felt an overwhelming sense of unwillingness and murmured, “Why? It wasn’t me who killed anyone… I didn’t do anything!”
“Did you really do nothing?” a voice echoed from the darkness. Xu Zhiheng looked up and saw someone slowly emerging, wrapped in a black cloak from head to toe. At first, he was relieved, thinking someone had come to save him, but the next moment, his relief turned to fear as the person removed the hood, revealing a face.
It was Marquis Wuan, He Yan.
Xu Zhiheng was startled, quickly retreating until he was against the wall, speaking warily, “Don’t come near… stay away!”
The jailer had left, and He Yan looked at the disheveled man. Xu Zhiheng seemed genuinely afraid, staring at her as if she were a ghost emerging from h*ll, filled with terror.
He Yan had never seen Xu Zhiheng like this. Whether it was the young man in green who, at the age of fourteen, lifted her from the snow and helped her retrieve her belongings with a smile, or the gentle and smiling Master Xu who married her later, they were completely different from the man before her now, disheveled and startled like a frightened bird. Even when He Wanru led people to drown her back then, Xu Zhiheng never showed up.
She had seen the prosperous Xu Zhiheng, the well-groomed Xu Zhiheng, but she didn’t expect the imprisoned Xu Zhiheng to look like this.
He Yan felt somewhat disappointed.
Just like a general, if they were to die in the hands of an equally matched opponent, there would be no regret. However, if the gap between them was too wide… it was inevitably a cause for sorrow.
“Don’t be afraid,” her voice was gentle, even showing a hint of a smile. “I’m here to ask you something.”
Her eyes were bright, devoid of hatred, and that bit of a smile confused Xu Zhiheng. He still didn’t move, keeping a watchful eye on He Yan. After hesitating for a while, he finally asked, “What do you want to know?”
“When did you… really know that your wife, He Yan, was Flying Phoenix General?”
He Yan has never been able to understand this matter. When she married Xu Zhiheng, she thought that he knew nothing about her. To conceal the scars on her body, she made up many excuses. She also fabricated many reasons to explain the differences between herself and ordinary women. It wasn’t until the day she died that she learned from He Wanru’s mouth that Xu Zhiheng had known all along.
Those years, perhaps her concealment and hiding, looked like a joke in Xu Zhiheng’s eyes.
But when did he find out? Was it after she married into the Xu family, or before that, or even earlier? And if so, why did he choose to marry her?
Xu Zhiheng avoided her gaze, his eyes showing a trace of wariness. “Why do you want to ask this? Who are you, really?”
“I am the person who can save you,” He Yan said softly.
Xu Zhiheng’s eyes lit up. “Save me?” He took a few steps forward, seeming both eager and wary of He Yan. He looked at her through the iron bars, urgently asking, “Can you really save me?”
He Yan smiled and nodded.
After hesitating for a moment, he slowly said, “I knew it a long time ago.”
In fact, Xu Zhiheng had known that He Yan was Flying Phoenix General’s sister shortly after Flying Phoenix General returned to the capital. At that time, he was not yet a Hanlin Scholar, and despite the scholarly background of the Xu family, the position of a Hanlin Scholar was not something he could attain at his age. Most of the literary officials in the court were disciples of Xu Jingfu nowadays, and sometimes, climbing up was more about connections than talent. If one lacked connections, they might never stand out in their lifetime.
He gained the reputation of a child prodigy at a young age. As he grew older, people held him in high esteem, and he, in turn, began to see himself as someone exceptional. It was like a cage that unconsciously trapped him severely.
Encountering temporary setbacks in his career, he felt disheartened. Seeing his gloom, Madam Xu, considering his age, thought it was time for him to find a suitable match. Madam Xu was a shrewd person and, after careful consideration, chose a young lady from Shuojing City, the cousin of the newly appointed Flying Phoenix General and the second daughter of the He family.
This young lady had been in poor health since childhood and had been sent to the countryside for recuperation early on. She had only recently returned. Madam Xu made a wise move by establishing a connection with this rising aristocratic family, benefiting Xu Zhiheng’s career without causing harm.
However, at that time, Xu Zhiheng was not necessarily the best choice for the He family. After all, there were numerous eligible talents in the capital, and Miss He, due to her elder brother’s influence, was a sought-after match. Many were vying to marry her.
Madam Xu took Xu Zhiheng with her when she responded to the He family’s invitation. Although it was framed as a visit, it was essentially an evaluation.
During his first visit to the He family, a servant accidentally spilled tea on him. Xu Zhiheng went to a nearby dark room to change clothes, but before he could come out, two people entered.
Xu Zhiheng neither entered nor retreated. The two people were apparently unaware of him behind the screen, and a female voice spoke, clear and pleasant, “Big brother, what is Moth… Aunt doing? Why did she invite so many young masters to our home?”
“So many young masters, aren’t there any you like?” answered a male voice.
Xu Zhiheng almost immediately understood what was going on. The people outside were likely Second Miss He and her elder brother, He Rufei.
Instead of immediately apologizing and revealing himself, inexplicably, he not only stayed put but also held his breath, trying to hide better.
Looking back now, the deep meaning of fate had already begun to slowly unfold at that moment.
Xu Zhiheng heard a secret.
“Big brother, are you in such a hurry to marry me off because you’re afraid I’ll reveal that you and I switched identities, and I am actually Flying Phoenix General?” the girl spoke. “I’ve said it before; I won’t say anything. I’ve hidden it for so many years, and I will continue to hide it.”
“Not at all,” the male voice carried a hint of impatience. “At your age, ordinary girls should be getting married. He Yan, you are just living the life you were supposed to live.”
Behind the screen, Xu Zhiheng covered his mouth in shock.
What did he hear? Switching identities? He Yan being Flying Phoenix General?
He pinched himself hard, the pain reminding him that this was not a dream.
What did that pair of siblings argue about, Xu Zhiheng didn’t really listen. It was only when they left that he slowly stood up, looking at the closed door.
He was not ignorant, and he was quite clever. With a few words, he deduced the ins and outs of the matter. He was amazed at the audacity of the He family and He Yan’s outstanding tactics, but more importantly, he discovered an opportunity. A gift that fate had bestowed upon him.
So, he straightened his clothes and returned to the banquet table, looking at Second Miss He, who arrived late, with a refined and gentle smile.
Xu Zhiheng found He Rufei.
He Rufei looked at him with an unreadable expression. “Does Master Xu want to marry my little sister?”
Xu Zhiheng smiled, “Indeed.”
“This matter needs to be discussed with the elders,” He Rufei said. “I alone cannot make the decision; we also need to consider my sister’s feelings.” With that, he turned to leave.
Xu Zhiheng calmly spoke, “Your sister is a heroine among women, not inferior to men. I am deeply attracted to her, and I hope General He can appreciate the beauty of the situation.”
“What did you say?” He Rufei looked at him sharply, with a sudden surge of killing intent.
“Before I came to find General He, I wrote a letter handed to a friend. In case of any mishap, the confidential information would spread throughout Shuojing,” Xu Zhiheng smiled. “I hope General He can understand.”
He had everything under control; success was within his grasp.
And so, Xu Zhiheng married He Yan. Just before marrying He Yan, he became a Hanlin Scholar, a “dowry gift” from General He for his sister.
Riches and risks coexisted, and Xu Zhiheng clearly understood that the more secrets he knew, the faster he would die. But he did not believe that such a thing would happen to him because he was someone who knew when to stop. After all, he was a civilian, not a military man. The most that He Rufei could do for him was to make him a Hanlin Scholar. He still had to pave his own way in the future. As for marrying He Yan… marrying the daughter of General He had many advantages for him.
The He family should also be reassured. Compared to marrying Second Miss He into another family that might discover the secret, it was better for her to marry him, who had interests in the He family.
“So,” He Yan looked at Xu Zhiheng in front of her, slowly saying, “From the beginning of seeking to marry Second Miss He, you did it for the purpose of using her?”
“Using?” Xu Zhiheng shook his head. “No… it’s not using. Even without me, she would have to get married… From beginning to end, her life was not in my hands. I did nothing.”
Xu Zhiheng had already forgotten He Yan’s face.
Although he married He Yan, deep down, he still felt a bit repulsed. Since childhood, he had learned the rules of etiquette, making him look down on a woman like He Yan who went against the norm. He preferred gentle, charming women like He Wanru. Not He Yan… she was too straightforward. Although she tried hard to play the role of a young lady, she would unconsciously reveal a bit of awkwardness. She couldn’t play musical instruments, lacked the refinement to give him face, and couldn’t learn the art of pleasing him. Even on her skin, there were terrifying scars. Sometimes when Xu Zhiheng looked at He Yan, he would think about her sleeping and eating with other men in the military camp, and he couldn’t stand it.
Although he was willing to be a “good husband,” most of the time, he couldn’t control his disdain.
Fortunately, such days quickly came to an end. The He family sent a bowl of medicine, and after He Yan drank it, she became blind.
At that time, Xu Zhiheng sat in the next room, watching He Yan drink the medicine. There was a bit of sympathy. The He family’s move was too heartless. Moreover, with a blind wife, what would others say about him behind his back?
Fortunately, He Yan was obedient, not causing trouble. Even though she was blind, she rarely cried or made a fuss. Most of the time, she just sat silently, lost in thought. It was heard that before He Yan got married, she once kept a mute dog in the courtyard. Sometimes Xu Zhiheng thought that He Yan was similar to that mute yellow dog. Ignored, silently living.
If it was just that, it would be fine. But she insisted on trying so hard, even though she was blind. So, she died at the hands of He Wanru, dying in the Xu family’s pond.
“I didn’t use He Yan,” he tried to explain, “I was protecting her… It’s all He Rufei’s fault, all the He family’s fault!”
He Yan stared at Xu Zhiheng and asked, “Besides at the He family, have you ever seen Second Miss He elsewhere?”
Xu Zhiheng was taken aback and instinctively shook his head, “No, never! The first time I saw Second Miss He was at the He Mansion.”
He had already forgotten.
This was expected.
He Yan found that when facing Xu Zhiheng now, she was very calm. Perhaps when she faced Xu Zhiheng in the past, she always thought she was facing the young man in green from the hunting ground in her youth. But in fact, perhaps from the beginning, they were two different people. For Xu Zhiheng, “He Yan” was just an exchange item based on interests. What mattered was the identity, not the name, and certainly not the person. As long as it could help him become a Hanlin Scholar, whether it was He Yan or He Xinying, there was no difference.
A human life was just a position.
She stood up slowly.
Xu Zhiheng watched her movements, finally abandoning everything. He grabbed the bars and asked, “I’ve told you everything I know. Can you save me now?”
His gaze was full of longing, just like when he discovered the secret of the He family and wanted to use it to shine in his career.
He Yan bent down slightly, looking into his eyes, “I lied to you.”
Xu Zhiheng was stunned.
“I did nothing. I just lied to you.” She smiled. “You also lied to me; it’s fair.”
After saying that, she straightened up and left. In the distance, Xu Zhiheng’s angry shouts were faintly heard, but He Yan pretended not to hear.
She walked step by step, as if stepping away from her past life. From now on, Marquis Wuan He Yan and Second Miss He from the He family would no longer have any connection.
The last question about the past life has finally been answered, but He Yan doesn’t feel much about it.
It’s as if these people and these matters can no longer withstand the ripples in her heart.
However… there’s a hollow feeling inside.
At the entrance of the prison gate, a person stood with their back to her, looking at the snow piled up on the roof, revealing a handsome silhouette, much like the sword hanging at his waist.
He Yan stood still, gazing at this back. Unconsciously, her heart was slowly filled, as if the emptiness that couldn’t find solid ground finally becomes tangible in this moment. Like a traveler who couldn’t find the way, she finally discovered a glimmer of light in the aimless search.
He Yan walked over and softly called his name, “Xiao Jue.”
He turned around, glanced at He Yan, and asked, “Finished talking?”
He Yan nodded.
Tomorrow is the day of execution. There’s nothing left to say between her and He Rufei, between her and the He Yuanliang couple. But regarding Xu Zhiheng, she still wanted to figure out when he discovered her identity. So, she asked Xiao Jue to bring her here, to see Xu Zhiheng for the last time.
“Why did it take so long?” Xiao Jue frowned.
“A long time?” He Yan wondered, “Why do I feel like it wasn’t that long? This is already quite concise…” She glanced at Xiao Jue’s expression, and at the right moment, she shut her mouth. After a moment of silence, she quietly tugged at the sleeve of Xiao Jue, “Are you angry again?”
“What’s there to say to someone like him?” Xiao Jue turned around and started walking. He Yan caught up, “There’s indeed nothing to say, but after thinking about it, it feels too cheap to let him off like this. So, I said I’m a vengeful ghost coming back for revenge, scared him half to death. Am I not amazing?” She improvised.
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not lying to you; it’s true. You should have seen his expression when I scared him just now…”
A girl chattered non-stop beside him, and the melancholy she had when she came out had completely disappeared. Seeing this, he smirked, deliberately ignoring her, letting her talk nonsense.
“Xiao Jue, your habit of getting angry so easily is not good; you should change it.”
“I’m not angry.”
“You are not angry; you’re just unhappy.”
“…”
“Xiao Jue, Xiao Jue!”
“What?”
She grabbed a corner of his sleeve, “Nothing.”
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