Chapter 88: Enemies journeying together
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Upon receiving the promise, Cheng Lisu couldn’t believe his ears. He waited until He Yan repeated herself several times, even swearing by the heavens, before he finally believed that she was truly willing to help him.
He poured a cup of tea for He Yan and offered it with both hands. “Thank you, big brother. You’ve truly saved me! If there’s anything you need in the future, even if it means going through fire and water, I’ll be there for you!”
He Yan was about to speak, but he was quick to interject, “I know, big brother, your wish is to join the Nine Banner Battalion and make a name for yourself. Rest assured, once this matter is over, I will praise you to my uncle every day. Even if I have to transcribe books every day, I’ll make sure to help you settle this matter!”
“… I was going to say,” He Yan stopped his exuberance, “I agreed to take your place at the banquet, but you still need to convince your uncle.”
Was Xiao Jue the type to easily agree? After all, this whole situation sounded quite bizarre.
“Don’t worry about that,” Cheng Lisu happily approached her, “I’ve already talked to my uncle about it before coming to you.”
“Xiao Jue agreed?” He Yan was surprised.
“Perhaps he felt guilty for not letting you join the Nine Banner Battalion earlier and wanted to give you a chance to prove yourself,” Cheng Lisu earnestly looked at He Yan. “So you see, with the right timing, location, and people, big brother, you taking my place at the banquet is fate.”
He Yan didn’t bother with Cheng Lisu’s nonsense. She was only surprised that Xiao Jue had agreed so easily. It didn’t seem like his usual approach. Could there be some sort of trap?
Seeing He Yan’s silence, Cheng Lisu grew anxious, “Big brother, are you having second thoughts?”
“No,” He Yan sighed, “I’m just thinking about how to impersonate you. After all, you and I are different.”
“Don’t worry. Yuan Baozhen has never seen my face, so you won’t be exposed. But I do need to give you some instructions to avoid arousing suspicion. I love to eat chicken with mushrooms, and I hate eating rice porridge. I dislike people following me; if I eat peanuts, I’ll get a rash on my face. I take baths every day, change my clothes frequently, and use incense… “
As he went on, He Yan could only see the life of a pampered rich young master. She shook her head.
Cheng Lisu continued for the time it took to burn an incense stick before finally stopping, picking up a cup of tea to moisten his dry throat, and then came back to life.
“Big brother, do you remember everything I just said?”
He Yan: “…I remember.” She said, “Is there anything else you need to instruct me about? Let’s get it all out at once.”
“Let me think,” Cheng Lisu sat down and looked at He Yan. He Yan was around the same age as him, and among the new recruits in Liangzhou, she was quite outstanding. She didn’t appear strong or robust, but rather small and delicate. Yet, this actually worked in his favor. If she were dressed as a wealthy young master…
“Wait, I almost forgot something important!” Cheng Lisu slapped his forehead, “You can’t attend the banquet dressed like that. At the very least, I am the son of the Right Division Director. How can you dress so shabbily? Wait here.” He rushed into the room, busy with something. In a short while, he came back carrying a bundle.
“These are some clothes I picked out. Take them and wear them. Our builds are quite similar, so they should fit you. Even though it’s a disguise, big brother, you should look presentable. Besides looking somewhat decent, I don’t have any other strengths. If even this advantage is lost, won’t I be worthless?”
He could actually talk about disguises with such a refreshing and elegant tone, He Yan was truly amazed.
He turned around and fetched a box from a drawer, putting some items in it and handing it to He Yan. “These are hairpins, fans, and jade pendants, among other things. In acting, you have to go all out, so don’t skimp on these details.”
He Yan: “You really thought of everything.”
Cheng Lisu scratched his head in embarrassment. “You’re too kind.”
After He Yan carefully put away the bundle and the box, she asked, “Have you really talked to your uncle about this? You’re not deceiving me, are you?”
“No, no,” Cheng Lisu said, “I’ve already spoken to my uncle. Once it’s early morning tomorrow, you can probably set off.”
“So soon?” He Yan was surprised.
“It was supposed to be a few days later, but Yuan Baozhen hasn’t arrived in Liangzhou yet. However, my uncle needs to go to the city to find artisans to repair his zither, so he wants to leave a bit earlier.”
He Yan thought of the zither she had accidentally damaged, and fell silent.
Cheng Lisu patted her shoulder. “He Yan, this time it’s all up to you. Thank you!”
…
He Yan returned to the common garrison room of the new recruits with a bundle of items. Surprisingly, Wang Ba and the others hadn’t left yet. They were eating the mooncakes that He Yan had brought from Cheng Lisu’s place the night before. Seeing He Yan return, carrying something in her hands, Wang Ba sarcastically said, “Oh, receiving gifts again?”
“Did Young Master Cheng send you more food?” Xiao Mai’s gaze was fixed on the bundle in He Yan’s hands, and he was nearly drooling. “What delicious things are in such a big bundle?”
He Yan slammed the bundle onto the table, and the loose ties came undone, revealing the contents inside. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, it wasn’t food, but rather clothes and accessories.
This unexpected turn of events surprised everyone. After a moment, Hong Shan hesitated and asked, “Ah He, why did Young Master Cheng give you clothes? We’re in the military camp; we can’t just wear civilian clothes.”
“I’m accompanying Commander Xiao to the city tomorrow,” He Yan explained, “Perhaps fearing that I would appear shabby and embarrass Commander Xiao, Young Master Cheng specifically gave me some clothes to improve my appearance.”
“You’re accompanying Commander Xiao?” Huang Xiong looked at her. “That’s a good thing. Why don’t you seem too happy?”
If last night’s incident hadn’t occurred, He Yan would indeed have been happy. After all, being around Xiao Jue could provide her with a lot of information. However, after last night, Xiao Jue might dislike her even more. Who knew if she would do something inappropriate again and annoy this Second Young Master.
All she could do was put on a brave face.
“I’m so happy that I don’t even know how to express it,” she answered.
The group of them continued to ask her many questions until they finally dispersed. Later that night, when He Yan got into bed, she was still thinking about this matter.
The reason she agreed to help Cheng Lisu attend that strange banquet wasn’t because of her deep brotherly affection for him or any heroic ideals. It was simply because she had heard Yuan Baozhen’s name.
He Yan had met Yuan Baozhen before. When she received the title of Flying Phoenix General, He Rufei stood in for her to accept the reward. After reverting to her female identity, she had met Yuan Baozhen at the He residence. Yuan Baozhen had been standing with He Yuansheng, father and son, and she had even paid her respects to him.
Seeing He Ruifei’s tone of conversation, he seemed quite familiar with him. At that time, He Yan had thought that He Ruifei had just been “rewarded,” and in the court of Shuo Jing, he had not been particularly close to his colleagues. She hadn’t expected him to make friends so quickly.
Now that He Rufei’s acquaintance had come to Liangzhou and had a connection with “Cheng Lisu,” maybe she could use this opportunity to get close and gather some information about He Rufei. It might be helpful for her future. If she wanted to rise through the ranks and be in a position to have her voice heard, she needed to achieve something significant in the military. However, Liangzhou was far from the imperial capital, and the distance between it and the He residence was vast, making it difficult for information to pass through.
Yuan Baozhen’s arrival in Liangzhou might just be a great opportunity. But she wondered why Xiao Jue had agreed to Cheng Lisu’s unconventional plan. She was finding it increasingly hard to understand Xiao Jue. She thought he might assign her to the Vanguard Camp, but he picked Lei Hou. She thought he wouldn’t let her impersonate Cheng Lisu, but he surprisingly agreed.
From the nearby corner came the sound of Hong Shan snoring. He Yan turned over, closed her eyes, and gave up. Since she couldn’t figure out the result, she might as well go along with it. With the opportunity to be close day and night, she would have plenty of time to analyze Xiao Jue’s thoughts. She believed that she, He Yan, had nothing to fear.
…
Unlike He Yan’s carefree attitude, inside a room in the Liangzhou Garrison, Shen Han had a look of surprise on his face. After a while, the surprise turned into anxiety.
“Commander, how could you take He Yan to the city? His identity is still unknown, and if he’s by your side, what if he tries to harm you…”
“I’m not so easily threatened,” Xiao Jue said.
“But…”
The candle flame inside the silver lamp on the table flickered in the wind and nearly extinguished. He adjusted the wick, and the room brightened up again.
“If he’s working for Xu Jingfu, attending the banquet with me might reveal his true intentions. Keeping him at the garrison, if there’s any unusual activity, you might not be able to handle it. It’s safer to keep him close to me.”
“Moreover,” he smirked, “He Yan fancies himself skilled. This time’s Hongmen Banquet is an opportunity for him to prove himself.”
A chill ran down Shen Han’s spine as he realized that Xiao Jue intended to use He Yan as a pawn.
Commander Xiao was indeed the same old Commander Xiao. He didn’t even consider past sentiments, not to mention that he didn’t seem to recall how He Yan had angered him in the first place. Thinking of this, a hint of sympathy emerged in Shen Han’s heart for He Yan.
Xiao Jue continued, “After I leave tomorrow, you need to protect Cheng Lisu and prevent him from wandering around. You’ll be in charge of the garrison’s affairs for now.”
Shen Han pushed aside his wandering thoughts and replied, “Understood!”
…
Early the next morning, when Xiao Mai got up, he found the neighboring bed empty.
He rubbed his eyes, the time was still early; the other residents of the room hadn’t woken up yet. The bedding on He Yan’s bed was neatly arranged, but the person was nowhere to be seen. Xiao Mai was puzzled. Had He Yan already left? But he said yesterday that he would depart at the Chen hour today, and it wasn’t time yet.
After a while, the others gradually woke up. They all noticed that He Yan was missing. Hong Shan said, “Could this brat have left already? Without even a word?”
“Could he be afraid of waking us up, so he left?” Xiao Mai tentatively asked.
“Who knows? Shitou, have you seen him before?” Hong Shan asked.
Shitou shook his head as well. “No.”
The group exchanged puzzled looks. Nevertheless, they couldn’t wait for He Yan there; they still had to go on the morning run. They started washing up one by one.
Xiao Mai had already gotten dressed and tidied up. He was the first to finish and hurriedly left to get some warm hardtack. Shitou and Hong Shan were still washing up when they suddenly heard Xiao Mai shout, “Brother, Brother Shan —”
“What now?” Hong Shan wiped his face. “We’re washing up here.”
“Come out quickly and see!” Xiao Mai’s voice couldn’t contain his excitement.
Hong Shan gave Shitou a puzzled look. Shitou shrugged, indicating he didn’t know either. He shook the water off his hands, walked out of the room, and said, “Xiao Mai, can you not be so…”
His words trailed off.
He Yan stood facing him, smiling. “Brother Shan, how do I look?”
Hong Shan’s mouth hung open, momentarily speechless. The other new recruits gradually came out of the room as well, and upon seeing He Yan, they crowded around, talking excitedly.
“Handsome! Too handsome! He Yan, you look just like a young master from a wealthy family in the capital!”
“More than just a young master from a wealthy family. I think he looks like he came out of the palace.”
“You’re exaggerating. It sounds like you’ve seen someone from the palace.”
“I haven’t, but in my imagination, palace residents look like this!”
“This outfit isn’t cheap, right? He Yan, can you let me try it on?”
“Get lost! Can you even fit in it? Don’t ruin the clothes. Step aside!”
He Yan was surrounded by them, allowing them to scrutinize her. Shitou, Hong Shan, and the others stood a little apart. Xiao Mai looked at He Yan with sparkling eyes and said, “Brother Ah He looks really handsome!”
“It’s no wonder they say clothes make the man. You see, usually he’s quite unremarkable, but after putting on this outfit and a hairpin, he looks different from us.” Hong Shan rubbed his chin and asked Shitou, “Right?”
Shitou nodded. “Right.”
After letting them scrutinize her to their satisfaction, He Yan adjusted the bundle on her shoulder and smiled. “I wanted to show you all before leaving. My fellow brothers all say I look good, so I can be at ease. Even if I show others, I won’t embarrass our Liangzhou Garrison.” She waved her hand. “Alright, I’m leaving!”
The group waved back at her in farewell.
As He Yan bid her companions farewell, on the other side, Cheng Lisu had already left his room.
Shen Han was in the courtyard talking to Xiao Jue. Green Ear was nibbling on grass beside them. Cheng Lisu had spent a long time last night picking out some cute little chestnut horses from the stables. He felt that these horses were adorable and matched his style quite well.
“Why are you picking out horses when you’re not even going?” Xiao Jue remarked without committing to an opinion.
“I might not be going, but my elder brother is representing me. I can’t let people say behind my back: ‘The young master from Right Division Director’s household, though skilled, doesn’t look good.’ They say to emphasize one’s strengths and avoid weaknesses. This is my one strength, so of course I need to highlight it.”
Xiao Jue sneered, “What can you do? With your elder brother’s appearance, it seems like he can’t help you highlight anything.”
“Uncle, you’re wrong,” Cheng Lisu looked at him earnestly, “I’ve observed closely. My elder brother, appearance-wise, shouldn’t be bad. Although he’s not at our level, in the Liangzhou Garrison, he can be considered outstanding.”
Listening to this conversation between nephew and uncle, Shen Han had no words. Just as they were talking, someone approached, and he said, “He Yan is here!”
The two talking men turned their heads simultaneously and were taken aback by what they saw.
On this autumn morning, the air was clear, and a brisk autumn wind blew, refreshing the heart. The sun had not yet fully risen; only a small head had emerged, with a line of golden light falling on the youth, making him particularly outstanding.
The youth was wearing a dark red cicada-patterned brocade robe, cinched at the waist. Although he usually appeared thin and frail, the outfit completely hid that, leaving only elegance. He had a handsome face to begin with, and he had tied up his long hair with a carved wooden hairpin, looking fresh and spirited. Walking leisurely, carrying a bundle, there was no trace of the sweaty recruit from the training ground. He looked exactly like a young scholar from the capital, each of his smiles and frowns brimming with poetic charm.
The youth arrived in front of the group, “Snap” went the folding fan in his hand as he unfurled it, the fan fluttering elegantly. His smile was even more captivating than the landscape on the fan, his voice intentionally lowered, “Sorry for being late.”
Cheng Lisu widened his eyes as he looked at him, finally snapping out of his daze. He circled He Yan and said joyfully, “Older brother, I didn’t expect you to be so handsome. The Liangzhou Garrison has truly buried your elegance! The way I see it, you’re almost catching up to me!”
He Yan felt proud in her heart but maintained humility on her lips. “Where, where, you’re exaggerating.”
Early in the morning, she had gone to the river and changed into the outfit when no one was around. Cheng Lisu’s outfits were mostly yellow. The young man loved bright colors like this. He Yan felt a bit frivolous wearing them. She had struggled to find a more subdued color and had picked a hairpin that she deemed relatively plain. She had stared at her reflection in the water for a long time, extra cautious to show her friends to avoid surprises.
The new recruits of the Liangzhou Garrison all praised her appearance. Comparatively, it wasn’t bad. When she disguised herself as a young man in her previous life, she had to wear a mask. Now she could appear openly as a young master, but she still felt a hint of unfamiliar nervousness.
On the side, Shen Han watched He Yan and took in a sharp breath. He had initially wondered how He Yan had caught Xiao Jue’s eye, even if they had an old relationship. After all, there were countless stunning women who admired Xiao Jue. But now, seeing He Yan’s appearance, he somewhat understood. It wasn’t common for a man to have such looks. Furthermore, this young man was exceptionally skilled and had a good temperament. If not for the suspicions about his identity, well… it wasn’t too strange to see him standing beside Commander Xiao.
Cheng Lisu was still babbling on, and He Yan looked towards Xiao Jue. But he was standing where he was, calmly sweeping his gaze over her, showing no appreciation. A sense of urgency welled up in her, and she walked over to Xiao Jue.
“Commander,” she half-opened the fan and covered her face as she laughed, like a flirtatious young scholar teasing a virtuous lady, “What do you think of me like this?”
The young man looked at her indifferently. After a moment, he slightly bent his waist and leaned in, almost reaching her ear. His voice had been a bit husky compared to ordinary young men’s voices even in his youth, and now with age, it had gained a certain casual magnetism.
“You actually…”
She seemed to feel the heat of his breath near her ear. He Yan inexplicably felt a blush on her face. She thought about how it wasn’t easy for anyone to withstand being praised in this manner by him.
“…are shorter than Cheng Lisu,” he finished the remaining half of his sentence.
He Yan: “…”
Stepping back two paces, she looked at him in disbelief. Shouldn’t ordinary people say things like “you’re actually so eye-catching” or “you’re actually so stunning”?
Shorter than Cheng Lisu?
The beautiful young man seemed to find this still insufficiently malicious. Looking at her, he raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Also, your belt is tied the wrong way.”
He brushed past her and moved forward. When He Yan lowered her head for a look, she saw that Cheng Lisu’s clothes were intricately styled, something she had never worn before, and she didn’t know how to fasten them. Hearing the reminder, she hastily began to untangle it. Seeing her struggling, Cheng Lisu finally saw what was going on and came over to help. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, my belt is different from others’, you need to fasten it like this…”
He Yan looked at Xiao Jue’s retreating back and ground her teeth.
Xiao Jue could never be feeling guilty about the flag incident, making her stand in for Cheng Lisu. He Yan seriously doubted it. He had taken her along just for the sake of convenience and humiliation.
It was like they were natural enemies.
…
From the Liangzhou Garrison to the city, the journey on horseback would take about three hours. They set out in the morning, and by the time they arrived, it was already afternoon. Accompanying He Yan and Xiao Jue was a guard named Fei Nu.
Perhaps because she wasn’t truly Cheng Lisu, they even did away with a carriage. They rode horses all the way, not even stopping for food. By afternoon, they had finally reached the city.
The last time He Yan had been to Liangzhou city was when she had just arrived with the new recruits from Shuo Jing. She hadn’t stayed in the city and had gone directly to the garrison at the foot of White Moon Mountain. Now, wearing ordinary young master’s clothes, she found herself in the bustling streets of Liangzhou. Unlike Shuo Jing, Liangzhou had a unique charm.
This place was considered in the eastern region, with distinct seasons. Although it couldn’t compare to the prosperity of the capital city, it was lively in its own right. Pedestrians hurried back and forth, and once they entered the city, there was no need to ride the horses at such a fast pace. He Yan walked while admiring the scenery, feeling like she couldn’t get enough.
However, Xiao Jue hadn’t come to the city to sightsee. They arrived at an inn, which, to He Yan’s eyes, seemed like one of the most luxurious establishments in Liangzhou. It had three stories. The exterior was grand and splendidly adorned. When they reached the inn’s entrance, Xiao Jue dismounted, and a stable hand helped take the horses to the stable. The three of them entered the lobby.
Truth be told, in this life or the previous one, even though He Yan was the eldest son of the He family, he had never stayed in a particularly luxurious inn. Xiao Jue, on the other hand, was indulgent and extravagant like his nephew. He even paid attention to where he rested. As He Yan thought about this, she heard Xiao Jue say to the innkeeper, “Two guest rooms.”
“Two rooms?” He Yan was surprised. “Me and Fei Nu in one room?”
After finally leaving the garrison, couldn’t they give her a room to herself? Cheng Lisu had even instructed her to bathe daily. With Fei Nu in the room, how was she supposed to do that?
“Is that a problem?” Xiao Jue stared at her, asking in return. “Do you want to share a room with me?”
“No, no, no,” He Yan hurriedly said, “I’ll share with Fei Nu.” She wasn’t completely lacking in self-awareness. After all, the second young master Xiao was pure and refined. How could he share a room with someone as rough as her? She thought to herself that the second young master Xiao should be staying with the temple’s Buddha, with incense burners and offerings laid out in front of him, enough to receive worship.
Xiao Jue ignored her.
The innkeeper accepted the money and went to arrange the rooms. Because they hadn’t eaten lunch yet, after making their way here since morning, they planned to have a meal on the first floor before going upstairs.
Having sensed Xiao Jue’s wealthy status, the innkeeper stood attentively by their table and said, “Our signature dishes include green bean chess noodle, five-flavored steamed gluten, spicy tripe slices, sesame rolls, eight treasure wild duck, shredded chicken with cucumber, five-spice squab… What would the three of you like to order?”
Before Xiao Jue could respond, He Yan asked loudly, “Innkeeper, do you have mushroom fattened chicken?”
“We have it, we have it.” The innkeeper quickly answered.
Xiao Jue turned his head slightly, calmly looking at her. He Yan blinked, “What’s the matter, uncle? You know, my favorite is mushroom fattened chicken!”
Fei Nu: “…”
When acting, you have to be thorough, as Cheng Lisu had told her. Now that they were in Liangzhou city, she wasn’t He Yan anymore, she was Cheng Lisu, the second young master Xiao’s nephew. If his nephew wanted to eat his favorite dish, was there anything wrong with that?
There was absolutely nothing wrong!
Xiao Jue withdrew his gaze and said, “Bring us a plate of mushroom fattened chicken.”
He Yan couldn’t believe how easy it was. Well, if they had encountered someone he knew here, he couldn’t really deny it in front of others. With this, He Yan felt bolder. She had been eating dry biscuits in the garrison for so many days, rarely tasting meat. Since she had a chance now, Xiao Jue wasn’t lacking in silver, and she should take advantage of this opportunity to fleece the sheep a bit. It wouldn’t be fair to herself otherwise.
“Uncle!” He Yan called out in a sweet and crisp voice, smiling brightly, “I also want to order spicy tripe slices, sesame rolls, eight treasure wild duck, shredded chicken with cucumber, five-flavored steamed gluten, five-spice squab… and that, what was it? Green bean chess noodles! I want everything!”
Fei Nu twitched his lips, wanting to say something but restraining himself. It had been a long time since he had seen someone who wasn’t afraid of death like this.
The innkeeper was first surprised, then laughed heartily. He looked at He Yan as if he had just spotted a god of wealth. He turned to Xiao Jue and said, “This young master really has good taste, having so much confidence in our inn’s dishes!”
“Sorry,” Xiao Jue lightly chuckled, his movements elegant, but his tone carried a slight mocking edge. He casually said, “My nephew isn’t well-traveled, so please forgive him for making people laugh.”
He Yan: “…”
“Give us a serving of everything.”
With Second Young Master Xiao’s lavish spending, the innkeeper was overjoyed and left to give orders to the kitchen.
He Yan had originally intended to tease him, thinking that she might get to taste a few dishes. She hadn’t expected Xiao Jue to agree so readily and order one of everything. Could it be that Cheng Lisu was this favored by his uncle in their usual interactions? The way he was indulging her was almost insane. He Yan was starting to feel jealous.
She leaned closer to Xiao Jue and asked cautiously, “Commander, how come you’re so easygoing?”
“Why?” Xiao Jue replied casually, “As an uncle, I can’t let my nephew go hungry.”
The term “uncle” seemed to carry some deeper meaning. He Yan pondered it for a while and felt that something was off. After all, she and Xiao Jue were peers. They had been classmates in the past and later became generals, achieving equal status. But in this life, she became Xiao Jue’s subordinate, addressing him as “Commander.” Now, she was even his nephew, lowering her status even further.
Xiao Jue had taken full advantage of this situation!
She fell silent and decided not to call him “uncle” again. Who knew that her attempt to tease Xiao Jue would backfire and make her suffer? She really lost that game of chess.
Setting aside the quality of the dishes, the kitchen was surprisingly fast. Before long, the dishes were all served, filling the entire table. Such extravagance drew the attention of those around them.
He Yan felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Commander, I’m sorry for the expense.”
“If it’s what you want to eat, of course, you should eat it,” Xiao Jue replied leisurely. “But I’ve taught you before, moderation brings prosperity, while indulgence leads to ruin. Don’t waste.”
He Yan sensed something was amiss and was about to speak when the person in front of her continued, “If you have a single grain of rice left, then you shouldn’t eat tomorrow.”
He Yan: “…”
— Side Note —
Uncle Roasting Wife in Daily Life
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