Chapter 90: My Uncle
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The horse galloped through the silent night, and after an unknown amount of time, He Yan pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a halt.
This was an empty market square, with all the vendors having gone home for the night. The fierce-tempered young woman who had been trembling since she got on the carriage seemed to have regained a bit of her strength and could speak now. She was weak and feeble, saying, “Let go of me.”
He Yan helped her down from the horse and sat her down in front of a tofu shop.
Rushing earlier, He Yan hadn’t really had the chance to closely observe the girl’s appearance. But now, in the dim light of the lantern hanging from the eaves of the tofu shop, she could clearly see that the girl was indeed beautiful. Delicate and fair, with exquisite features, her cheeks were a bit chubby, giving her a somewhat childish appearance. She seemed quite young, probably around the same age as Cheng Lisu.
But this young girl had been dressed up by the people at the Myriad Blossom Pavilion to be quite flashy. She was dressed in inappropriate thin silks, heavily made up, and was shivering from the cold.
As they sat down, the girl shrank back, looking at He Yan warily. “Who are you?”
He Yan paused for a moment, then remembered that the girl might have mistaken her for a thief. So, she removed her mask and smiled, “Don’t be afraid. I’m the one who came to rescue you. I covered my face earlier because I didn’t want to reveal myself. Did I startle you?”
Under the moonlight, the young boy who had removed his mask had delicate brows and eyes, speaking softly and gently, gradually causing the girl to lower her guard.
“How did you know…” She still spoke with some difficulty. He Yan took out a crumpled piece of paper from her sleeve. “I found this that you threw out. Someone told me about the Myriad Blossom Pavilion’s forced prostitution business, and I followed the carriage that took you away from beside the Myriad Blossom Pavilion to here.”
He Yan looked at the girl. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
As soon as she mentioned it, the girl’s eyes began to well up with tears. She trembled and held out her hand, revealing ten fingers that were swollen and bruised, as if they had been clamped by something.
For courtesans in the brothel, especially newcomers, even if they didn’t understand the rules, they wouldn’t be treated with methods that left visible marks. After all, the girls still had to entertain guests, and if they had bruises all over their bodies, it would ruin the guests’ appetite, causing more harm than good. So, they came up with torturous methods like this.
Seeing her condition, He Yan felt a pang of sympathy. If someone’s daughter were treated like this, her parents would be heartbroken. She lowered her voice even softer and asked, “Miss, where is your home? Let me take you back.”
“Home?” The girl was taken aback for a moment, then looked at He Yan and answered after a while, “My home is in Shuo Jing…”
“Shuo Jing?” Now it was He Yan’s turn to be surprised. “Were you kidnapped?”
“Sort of,” the girl replied. “I ran away from a forced marriage. I originally wanted to go to Yangzhou, but I got lost on the way and ended up in Liangzhou. I just wanted to stay in Liangzhou for a few days and leave, but then I was seen by Sun Ling.” She continued with a hateful tone, “If I return to Shuo Jing, I’ll make them pay!” Towards the end, it was almost through gritted teeth.
He Yan: “…”
This young girl appeared delicate and timid, but her courage was quite something. She dared to run from Shuo Jing to Liangzhou by herself? Could it be that running away from marriage was a trend among young people in the capital? First Cheng Lisu and now this girl.
He Yan asked, “Did you come here alone? Do you have any acquaintances in Liangzhou or a place to stay?”
The girl shook her head.
He Yan also faced a dilemma. Could she really take her back to the inn, given her current state? Xiao Jue shouldn’t beat her to death, although in a few days, they were scheduled to attend a banquet at Magistrate Sun’s residence. Despite this, she had just intercepted someone from Magistrate Sun’s son tonight.
The girl seemed to sense He Yan’s difficulty. She struggled to sit up, still showing some backbone. She bit her lip and said, “You… you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll find a way to hide on my own. Your great kindness, I will have my parents repay it when I return to Shuo Jing. Whatever you want—gold, silver, jewels, mansions, beauties—it’s all fine. What’s your name? When I return, I’ll…”
“Miss, you are currently in danger yourself,” He Yan interrupted her. “It’s uncertain whether you can even leave Liangzhou, let alone think about distant matters.”
“What of it?” The girl looked away from her, her eyes reddening. She said with determination, “Anyway, I won’t beg you.”
The young ladies and young masters who come from Shuo Jing are all quite spirited. He Yan thought to herself, being strong-willed is a good thing, but being too rigid is not ideal. If Cheng Lisu were here, he could adapt and endure, and perhaps even avoid much suffering in the Myriad Blossom Pavilion.
He Yan helped the girl up. “Let’s go?”
“Where to?”
“Of course, back to my place. Miss, I just abducted you. It won’t be long before Sun Ling starts searching the whole city for your whereabouts. At this late hour, you have nowhere else to go. In the end, you’ll be found by Sun Ling. He’ll only intensify his torture. I’ve worked hard all night. Is this the result I’m striving for?”
The young girl, lacking strength, was supported onto the horse by He Yan. She hesitated, “If you take me home, it will bring trouble for you. The Sun family wields great power in Liangzhou, and you…”
This young girl seemed to have a clear understanding. He Yan said, “Rest assured, my family wields great influence in Da Wei.”
If things got difficult, she could bring up Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue was certainly influential in Da Wei.
He Yan asked, “I forgot to ask, what’s your name?”
“I’m… Tao Tao,” she replied.
Tao Tao? The name sounded somewhat familiar. It seemed like she had heard it somewhere. He Yan thought for a moment but couldn’t remember. Given the urgency of the situation, it wasn’t the time to ponder such matters. She’d have to question Tao Tao in detail once tonight passed.
…
He Yan hadn’t grown up in Liangzhou city, so she wasn’t familiar with the roads. Fortunately, she had a good memory for directions and found her way back to the inn. To avoid raising suspicion about Sun Ling’s horse being there, she and Tao Tao dismounted a distance away from the inn. She gave the horse a slap on its rear, watching it disappear into the darkness.
Second Young Master Xiao had picked a suitable inn. This area was quieter than the vicinity of Myriad Blossom Pavilion, and it seemed much more peaceful. At this late hour, there were almost no people around. As He Yan helped Tao Tao upstairs, the inn’s ground floor was deserted. Opening the door, He Yan found that Fei Nu wasn’t there either, which put her at ease.
There was water prepared in the room. He Yan said, “You should wash your face first. I have some clean clothes here. You should change. You can’t wear what you have on; you’ll catch a cold.” She handed over the stack of clothes Cheng Lisu had given her to Tao Tao. “Pick the ones you like.”
Tao Tao looked at her, her face turning red. “Could you go outside?”
Only then did He Yan remember that she was currently in male disguise. She said, “Sure, sure, I’ll go out. I’ll wait by the door. Take your time changing.”
After closing the door, He Yan hesitated for a moment and then quietly moved to the outside of Xiao Jue’s room, pressing her ear against the door, trying to listen if Xiao Jue was inside.
The lamp in the room was out, and she didn’t know if Xiao Jue was asleep. He Yan whispered softly, “Commander, Commander?”
There was no response. She tapped on the door with her fingers, but still no one answered. He Yan stood upright, hesitated for a moment, and then pushed open the door.
The window in the room was open, letting in the breeze from outside. Illuminated by the moonlight, the bed was neat and tidy, showing no sign of being slept in. Xiao Jue was already gone, and the Autumn Sword he had placed on the table was missing. This man was always armed, so he must have gone out.
He Yan also noticed the familiar zither placed on the small table nearby. She curled her lips and thought to herself, on the surface, he claimed to be here to repair the zither, but he must be doing some sort of secret mission in Liangzhou. Since Fei Nu wasn’t here either, it seemed that the master and servant had gone out together, not taking her with them—clearly indicating a lack of trust.
Although she had long known that Xiao Jue didn’t trust her, it still made her slightly uncomfortable. After all, they had been classmates for so many years. When it came to going out for tasks, she wouldn’t reveal anything to others! He was really being petty.
She retreated from Xiao Jue’s room, closing the door again.
On the other side, Tao Tao had already changed her clothes. She opened the door and saw He Yan, lowering her head and saying, “I’ve changed.”
He Yan pushed her back in and whispered, “Shh, the walls have ears. Come in and talk.”
She lit the lamp in the room, and Tao Tao changed into Cheng Lisu’s clothes, looking much more refined. Cheng Lisu’s clothes were often bright and colorful. The saffron robe looked particularly elegant on the young girl, enhancing her fair and delicate appearance. Her eyes were still red, and her hair was cascading down her shoulders. She looked so obedient, like a pure white rabbit that He Yan had seen before, the kind of girl raised carefully in a well-off household.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t say this, but your taste in clothing is truly lacking,” the girl spoke, her cuteness fading away. Tao Tao frowned and pointed to the fish embroidered on her robe. “It’s just too gaudy.”
He Yan: “…”
What kind of timing was this young lady on? She was still focused on observing clothing? Were all the young ladies from Shuo Jing like this? He Yan thought to herself that she wasn’t like this in the past. She coughed lightly and said, “Given the current situation, Miss Tao Tao, let’s postpone discussing clothes for now.”
She handed Tao Tao a box of hairpins that Cheng Lisu had given her. “Choose a hairpin you find less gaudy and use it to tie up your hair. It’s not suitable for you to be dressed as a young lady right now.”
“Why?” Tao Tao was puzzled.
“Sun Ling’s people will likely come looking for you soon, searching the city for any girls who resemble you. We won’t be exempt.”
Tao Tao became nervous upon hearing this. “What should we do?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to divert them. It’s very late, and you probably haven’t eaten anything yet. I have some dry rations from the journey. Tomorrow morning, I’ll arrange for the inn to prepare something warm for you to eat. There’s also tea here, although it’s a bit cold. Help yourself.”
Tao Tao touched her stomach and realized she was hungry. She went to pour herself some tea from the teapot. Seeing this, He Yan sighed. This girl was truly naive. After the incident at Myriad Blossom Pavilion, she was still so easily trusting of others. If it weren’t for He Yan, and if it were someone with malicious intent, they could easily deceive her with a little manipulation and put something in the tea, thus abducting her without much trouble.
Back when she left the He family, she was with the Fuyue army, so she wasn’t in such a dangerous situation. In this world, it was always more difficult for women. She pondered this as she thought about how she originally wanted to keep this situation secret from Xiao Jue. However, since neither Xiao Jue nor Fei Nu were here, it made things more complicated. Initially, she had planned that if Sun Ling’s men came knocking, with Xiao Jue here, they wouldn’t dare to enter the room to search for someone. Without this shield, mentioning Xiao Jue’s name would likely be seen as a lie by others.
She could only hope that Xiao Jue would return sooner. He Yan had never found herself in a situation like this, where she was eagerly awaiting Xiao Jue’s return.
Tao Tao ate a few bites of the dry biscuits and drank some tea. She said, “I’m not hungry.” Based on the disdainful expression she made while saying “I’m not hungry,” she likely wasn’t full but just didn’t like the taste.
She sat at the table, looking at herself in the bronze mirror and combing her hair for a while. Then she turned around and said, “Done!”
At the moment, He Yan also felt thirsty. She took a cup and was about to drink some tea when she saw Tao Tao’s hair. She almost spat out the tea. The girl’s hair was a mess, looking like she had just escaped from a disaster. She couldn’t help but ask, “Did you… tie your hair yourself?”
“I’ve never done it myself in the mansion. It was always the maids who did it for me,” the young girl said, her eyes filled with grievances. She tossed the comb aside. “I don’t know how!”
He Yan: “…”
Feeling helpless, she walked over, picked up the comb, and said, “If you don’t know, you don’t know. What’s the use of getting angry? Let me help you.”
With that, she really took Tao Tao’s long hair in her hands and began to comb it strand by strand.
Tao Tao was momentarily stunned. The reflection in the bronze mirror showed a gentle and handsome young man. Unable to resist, she asked, “You can do this too?”
“I’ve tried it a few times,” He Yan answered with a smile.
Having posed as He’s eldest young master for many years, nobody besides the elders in the main and second branches knew about her switch in identity. As a result, the servants and maids in the He household had never grown too close to her. Even tasks like tying her hair could have blown her cover. Thus, from a young age, He Yan had been doing everything herself.
It wasn’t just tying her hair; she did anything that could potentially reveal her secret. Over time, she developed a personality where she wanted to handle everything herself. Although she occasionally envied the young masters and ladies who were pampered, she quickly reconsidered. For instance, in a situation like today, she wouldn’t be crying and making a fuss. Overall, there was more confidence in handling things on her own.
After tying her hair, He Yan darkened Tao Tao’s face a bit and thickened her eyebrows. She was well-practiced in cross-dressing as a woman pretending to be a man. After finishing the makeup, Tao Tao looked at herself in the mirror and said in a daze, “Thank you so much… you’re really skilled.”
He Yan clapped her hands. “Practice makes perfect. Miss Tao Tao, could you turn around? I need to change into different clothes as well.”
…
Tonight, Liangzhou City was particularly bustling.
Someone had actually intercepted Young Master Sun’s horse carriage not far from the Sun County Magistrate’s residence. The person in the carriage was Sun Ling’s recently taken concubine. For a moment, the government offices in Liangzhou were in chaos, swearing to capture the thief.
“Sir, sir, that person is clearly her lover!” The guard who had been punched by He Yan earlier was now kneeling on the ground, crying out in protest, “They are working together. They deliberately took her away!”
“She’s not even from Liangzhou. Where would she find a lover?” Sun Ling kicked him. “You idiot!”
Sun Ling was now thirty years old but hadn’t achieved anything. He relied on his father, the county magistrate, to live his life. He bullied men and women in Liangzhou City, causing much trouble. He had a bizarre birthmark on his cheek, which made his rabbit-like face look even more terrifying. He had numerous concubines in his residence and had also humiliated and discarded many respectable girls. The people of Liangzhou dared not voice their anger, allowing him and his father to rule the city with impunity.
But today, he was ambushed on his way home. While a woman’s matters were trivial, losing face was significant. To Sun Ling, it was a blatant act of disrespect toward the Sun family!
“City gates have been sealed off now,” another guard said. “The woman is injured; she should still be in the city. If we go house by house, we should be able to find her whereabouts!”
“Idiot,” Sun Ling cursed again. “When did the people in Liangzhou become so bold, daring to provoke the mighty Sun family! Since the person knew they are being sought by me, yet still dared to act, they must be fools who don’t value their lives. Most likely, they’re not from Liangzhou.”
“She’s not from Liangzhou either. Who knows if they’re working together?” the previous guard said.
“Whether they’re working together or not, anyone who dares oppose the Sun family should be prepared to face life and death! Tell me again, what did that person look like?”
“He had his face covered at the time. He was about seven foot* tall, a bit shorter than me. He was thin but dressed extravagantly. The fabric of his clothes didn’t seem ordinary,” the guard racked his brain to remember. “In any case, he wasn’t poor.”
* chinese foot; around ⅓ of metre
Sun Ling pondered for a moment. “I see.”
Both guards looked at him.
“The people and horses in the city should continue to block the city gates. The rest of you, come with me to check the inns!”
“Inns? Sir, why?” a guard asked.
Sun Ling scolded, “Idiots, can’t you think for yourselves? Since the person is most likely not from Liangzhou, they must have stayed in an inn! Given that the person was dressed extravagantly, they wouldn’t have stayed in a shabby inn. Just search the good, expensive inns. Isn’t that obvious?”
“I see,” the two guards praised quickly. “Sir, you’re wise, sir, you’re wise!”
“Hmph,” Sun Ling sneered, his cheek’s birthmark making his face look even more sinister. He said darkly, “When did Liangzhou City ever see someone so daring? I want to see who dares act so recklessly. And that woman, she really doesn’t know her place. After causing trouble repeatedly, it seems she doesn’t understand how formidable I am.”
“Don’t let anyone escape!”
…
The night in the city was as bright as day, illuminated by torches. People should have been sleeping, but the sound of hooves disrupted the peace as households were awakened. The city guards and constables rushed into the homes of ordinary citizens, conducting thorough investigations.
In theory, this shouldn’t have happened, but the Sun family had been abusing their authority for a long time. Upon hearing that Sun Ling’s concubine had been abducted, many people secretly criticized him.
“Ha, nonsense. Where would he find a concubine? With that appearance, even if he had wealth, no one would want him. He’s likely been abducting another innocent girl. How is this any different from robbery? Even robbers choose to strike at night. Who would dare act so openly?”
“But the woman was indeed abducted, right? It must be some righteous person who couldn’t stand by anymore.”
“If it really was a righteous person, I’d pray for their safety every day in front of the Buddha. Hopefully, they won’t be caught by those with the Sun surname!”
“Sigh, times have changed.”
These voices naturally didn’t dare to appear openly in front of the officials and soldiers. They waited until the people left and then whispered quietly before quickly fading into the night, leaving no trace.
The inns in the city had also fallen under scrutiny tonight. Innkeepers, along with their staff and guests, were pulled out one by one for questioning. If they seemed well-off, the inquiries were even more meticulous, searching their rooms without leaving anything untouched, not even a fly.
He Yan sat on the edge of the bed. The lamp had already been extinguished, and only a sliver of moonlight seeped in through the window. By now, it was deep into the night, and both Xiao Jue and Fei Nu hadn’t returned yet. She wondered if these two had decided not to return? Just like families who were too poor to raise extra children, taking their young son to a bustling street, promising to buy him candy, and in the blink of an eye, they would vanish, the child abandoned by the roadside.
Did Xiao Jue abandon her? She would indeed be pitiable then! She only had a small amount of silver left, she still needed to pay for the inn tomorrow, eat, and return to the Liangzhou Garrison. Was this something a person could do? If it really came to that, she would have to sell the Evening Fragrance zither next door. He Yan was lost in thought, wondering if this person would come back or not. If not, tonight she and Tao Tao could each have a room, saving some expenses.
While pondering, Tao Tao, who was sitting by her side, whispered, “Are you planning to escape?”
“Huh?” He Yan was surprised.
“They said Sun Ling holds significant power in Liangzhou, and everyone fears the Sun family’s influence. Before, I sought help from many people, just like many others did. However, when those people heard it was Sun Ling involved, not a single person dared to help me.”
Tao Tao spoke with a resentful expression. When she had been abandoned at Myriad Blossom Pavilion, she hadn’t fallen into a trap right from the start. She struggled along the way, seeking help whenever she could. She had approached many people, strong warriors with imposing figures and scholars with high morals. There were older wealthy merchants who could pass as her father and wandering knights who carried swords. She tried to find those who seemed capable of rescuing her, but as soon as they heard it was at Sun Ling’s behest, they quickly left with their tails between their legs. Even if she promised them a fortune, disclosed her identity, none of them paid her any attention.
In the end, Tao Tao had lost hope. When she threw that piece of paper outside, she never expected to see another day. She just wanted to end it all when facing Sun Ling. Unexpectedly, someone rushed out at the last moment.
She turned her head to look at the person beside her. The young person was tilting their head, lost in thought. It was strange that this seemingly delicate and young person could give her an inexplicable sense of security. Perhaps it was the gentle smile on their face, or maybe it was their clear eyes untouched by the world.
Tao Tao somehow felt a strong trust in this person, but also some worries. She asked, “Can a strong dragon overcome a local snake*?”
* metaphor that even a strong and powerful person cannot suppress a local brutal and vicious person
“You know about that saying?” He Yan laughed. “Actually, I’m a local snake too. I’m quite formidable.”
Seeing He Yan’s relaxed expression, Tao Tao also eased up a bit. She looked at He Yan and couldn’t help but ask one final question, “Sun’s family is so overbearing. You’re not from Liangzhou, and you don’t know what kind of trouble helping me could bring. Since no one dared to help me, why did you save me?”
This child has so many questions. He Yan turned her head and saw the young girl looking at her with red eyes, a mix of curiosity and anticipation. She couldn’t help but reach out and pat her head.
“Because you’re a girl,” she silently thought to herself, “and I’m a woman too.”
…
The bustling noise surrounded the entire inn.
The night was reddened by the glow of flames, and everyone in the inn, from top to bottom, was awakened by the sudden arrival of officials and constables. They stood at the doors, awaiting questioning.
Sun Ling stood by the entrance, his gaze fixed on the last room on the upper floor. He asked, “What about that room? Why isn’t it opening?”
The innkeeper trembled as he went to knock on the door. “Young Master, Young Master?”
After a while, someone sluggishly opened the door. It was a handsome young man dressed in inner garments, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He asked, “What’s the matter at this late hour?”
Before he could finish speaking, the officials and soldiers entered to search. Inside the room, there was also a personal servant busily helping the young man put on his boots. “Young Master, don’t catch a chill.”
After searching the room and finding nothing, the officials quickly came out and shook their heads at Sun Ling.
Sun Ling looked at the young man before him. The young man was not very old and appeared well-nurtured. His servant was helping him put on his boots.
“What are you all doing?” He Yan frowned. “You don’t even greet before barging in.”
“Greeting?” Sun Ling sneered. “What a joke. There’s no need for me Sun Ling to greet anyone in Liangzhou.” He looked at He Yan and recalled what his guard had said earlier, a height of about seven feet, slender figure. This young man fit the description.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Cheng Lisu.” He Yan replied.
With a snap, the boots in the servant’s hand fell to the ground. Everyone turned their eyes to the source of the noise. Sun Ling’s expression changed suddenly, and he commanded, “You, lift your head.”
He was referring to the servant.
He Yan felt a sense of unease. “What’s the matter? It’s broad daylight, and you want to kidnap someone from me?”
“Someone from you?” Sun Ling’s gaze intensified as he glared at the servant. “Don’t speak too soon. Lift that person’s head up from the ground!”
The person on the ground didn’t move, keeping their head lowered. Upon closer inspection, their hands were trembling.
Seeing this, Sun Ling’s expression grew more sinister. He took a step forward, ready to grab the servant’s hair. In the next moment, He Yan stepped in front of the servant and held onto Sun Ling’s arm. “Young master, mind your words and actions.”
“The assassin who took away this master’s concubine, that’s you, isn’t it?” Sun Ling smiled, his birthmark resembling a demonic tattoo. “You’re as good as dead!” He declared, “Get them both for me!”
“Capture me?” He Yan laughed and said, “I advise you to think twice. Do you know who my uncle is?”
Sun Ling asked, “Who’s your uncle?”
“My uncle is the General Fengyun personally appointed by the current emperor, and the current commander of the Right Army, Second Young Master Xiao. Young master Sun, are you sure you want to come and capture me?” He Yan raised an eyebrow.
Sun Ling was momentarily stunned, but after a moment, he burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that tears were about to come out. He pointed at He Yan and asked those around him, “Did you hear that? He says his uncle is who?”
Everyone around burst into laughter.
“You brat,” Sun Ling stopped his laughter, stared at He Yan fiercely, and said, “Since your uncle is Xiao Jue, let him come out! So what if he’s Xiao Jue? Today, right in front of your uncle, I’ll let you know there’s no escape for you, and death is your only way out!”
“Is that so?”
A stranger’s voice sounded from behind him.
Sun Ling turned around and saw a young man, as bright as the moon, approaching with his attendant. His voice was deep and carried a chilly mockery.
“Feel free to try.”
——Side Note——
Yan Yan: If you can’t handle it, call your parent
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