The atmosphere in the room froze in an instant.
It should have been a scene that made people blush and their hearts race, but when it was said by the person in front of them, there was no longer a trace of ambiguity, only the embarrassment and danger of being seen through.
He Yan quickly regained his senses and looked at him. The "fear and nervousness" that belonged to the young Cheng Li Su faded away, and he revealed his usual smile. "You can call me whatever you want, as long as the Governor is happy."
"The daughter of He Sui, the Gate Commandant, actually came to join the army." He stared into He Yan's eyes with a smile that was not a smile. "Lady He is very brave."
This person … He Yan's mind moved. Since he even knew He Sui's name, it was obvious that he was secretly investigating him, and it was not because he was exposed at the Sun manor. From Shuo capital to here, even if a messenger pigeon was sent at top speed, it would still take more than a month. Xiao Jue had long suspected him? Why was this?
The young man smiled. "I did not expect the Governor to pay so much attention to me. I am ashamed."
He Yan's face did not show any panic. Even if he was surprised, it was just a flash. Even now, if it was a normal woman, her clothes were pulled open and her identity exposed, she would probably be ashamed and angry. This person, on the other hand, looked like he did not care at all, and his heart was bigger than a man's. Perhaps it was because of this that from Jingcheng to Liangzhou, and even after staying in the Liangzhou Guards for so long, no one discovered that he was a woman.
When Xiao Jue received the secret letter from Shuo capital, she could not believe it. The Gate Commandant did have a child called He Yan, but it was a daughter, not a son. He also had a younger son called He Yunsheng. Half a year ago, He Yan's daughter was killed by thieves on a boat on the Chunlai River. She sank into the river, and her body was still not found. According to the time, it was the day that He Yan joined the army.
But for a woman to come out and join the army without being discovered for one or two days, and be safe and sound for more than half a year, it was either that the people around her were blind, or that this person was too good at disguising. Xiao Jue was not blind. Thinking carefully about the moment when she interacted with He Yan, she felt that this person was very good at disguising himself.
She was born delicate and weak, and her figure was small and thin, but people would not associate her with a woman. This was because no ordinary woman would be so casual about trifles. Moreover, she was one of the best in the Liang Province Guards.
"Why did you come to the Liang Province Guard?"
He Yan thought quickly and replied, "I committed a crime in Shuo Jing. If I was caught, I would be dead. I had no choice but to join the army."
"What is it?"
Even now, this person still did not believe her. She had clearly investigated everything. He Yan sighed, "There was a young master from a wealthy family who coveted my beauty. He kidnapped me and wanted to take me as his wife. Unfortunately, an assassin came and took his life. If I stayed on the ship alone, I wouldn't be able to explain myself. Perhaps others would think that I was in cahoots with the assassins. I had no choice but to join the army. "
He Yan's words were half true and half false. He sounded very sincere. Xiao Jue looked at her playfully. "Coveting your beauty?"
He Yan: "…"
What did this mean? Was he looking down on her? He Yan had looked at himself in the mirror before. Miss He's face could definitely be called dainty and charming.
"After all, not everyone's standards are as high as the Governor's," she said with a fake smile.
Xiao Jue nodded. "So that's how it is."
He Yan's words were half true and half false. She knew that Xiao Jue was not easy to fool, but she did not expect him to believe her so easily. She did not expect him to stop talking about it.
"Why did you come out in the middle of the night?" His gaze swept over He Yan, and the smell of blood was hard to hide. It dyed the mattress on the bed a light red.
This person actually knew that she was injured. Even so, he didn't have any pity for her. He questioned her, and now, he didn't even move his hand away from her neck. In Xiao Jue's eyes, there was probably no difference between men and women.
"I killed Yuan Baozhen's guards," she said.
After a while, Xiao Jue raised her eyebrows. "Why?"
"In the past few days when the Governor was not in the fu, Yuan Baozhen kept coming to see me. I always felt that he was suspicious of me. Later, I overheard their conversation. "He Yan paused before continuing." They seemed to be following the orders of a person called Xu Xiang to take your life. They were also the ones who prepared the banquet. "
"You mean Xu Xiang?" Xiao Jue looked up at her. Her limpid eyes showed a strange emotion.
He Yan shrugged. "Yes, you can think about whether you have offended someone called Xu Xiang. I woke up because of the cold. When I woke up, you were not there. The window was open. When I closed the window, I saw someone pass by. That person deliberately led me to the abandoned courtyard of the Sun fu. He was Yuan Baozhen's guard. "
"He wanted to use me as a hostage to tie you down." He Yan shook her head. "But I am not the real Cheng Li Su. I don't think the Governor would give up for me. What if the Governor killed me with an arrow to prevent future trouble? After thinking about it, I could not fall into his hands. I fought with him for a long time and finally killed him. "He Yan gestured for her to look at herself." That's how I ended up like this. "
Although she said it casually, she was still injured. Her complexion was not good and her body was losing strength.
"To be able to kill Yuan Baozhen's guard and still be alive, you are very capable."
"I think so too," He Yan forced a smile. "Then, Governor, do I have the qualifications to enter the Nine Flags Battalion now?"
She did not hide her desire to enter the Nine Flags Battalion.
"You think you can enter the Nine Flags Battalion?" Xiao Jue asked.
"Of course, and I helped you get rid of a big problem. Governor, you should reward me."
Xiao Jue was not angry. Instead, she laughed and let go of He Yan's hand. She looked down at her and said mockingly, "Sending you back to Shuo Jing tomorrow will be my reward for you."
"No!" He Yan sat up straight, and with this movement, it pulled on his wound, causing him to hiss in pain. She said, "I can't go back to Shuo Jing! If I go back to Shuo Jing, the Fan Family will not let me go. Governor, do you have the heart to let a good person be wrongly imprisoned? "
"Have the heart."
He Yan: "… You can't do this!"
"You don't have the qualifications to negotiate with me."
He Yan said so much that she felt dizzy. She was afraid that if she continued, she would not be able to hold on. She did not even treat the wound on her body. She said, "You will regret it."
"Why would I regret it?"
"Since I am going to be sent back to Shuo Jing, there is no need to hide my identity. Everyone knows that there is a woman in the Liangzhou Guards and will guess what is going on. "He Yan smiled slightly." I can only tell them that my relationship with you is not normal. "
Xiao Jue heard this and said carelessly, "How is it not normal?"
"Not normal means not normal … I know that there is a red mole on your waist."
As soon as she said this, the room suddenly became silent. There was only the sound of thunder outside the window and the continuous autumn rain falling on the stone floor.
Xiao Jue slowly turned to look at her. The anger in her eyes grew stronger.
The young man looked like a rascal. He smiled and said with a pale face, "Previously when you were bathing … My eyesight is not bad. I saw it with one glance. If you want to blame someone, blame it on our Governor for being so charming. Even the red mole on your waist is so perfect that it is hard to forget. "
There was such a woman in this world? Xiao Jue could not believe it. After He Yan said this, she seemed to be unable to hold on. Her head tilted and she fainted.
Xiao Jue: "…"
Fei Nu's voice came from outside the door. "Young Master."
Xiao Jue said, "Come in." She grabbed the mattress on the bed and threw it on He Yan to cover her.
Fei Nu came in and did not look at He Yan. She said, "The body of Yuan Baozhen's bodyguard was found in the side courtyard of the Sun residence. He died from his own plum flower darts."
Xiao Jue said, "I know." So, He Yan did not lie about this matter.
The smell of blood in the room was so strong that it could not be ignored. Fei Nu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Young Master, He Yan is injured?"
Fei Nu was also very surprised when she found out that He Yan was a woman. Other than her figure and appearance, He Yan did not look like a woman at all from head to toe. However, it was this woman who killed Yuan Baozhen's bodyguard. That bodyguard was very skilled in martial arts and was best at using poison.
"Her injury is not light."
"Young Master, what do you plan to do with her now?" Fei Nu asked.
Xiao Jue paused for a moment and said, "Go out and find a female doctor."
Fei Nu was slightly surprised. Xiao Jue's words meant that she wanted to save He Yan.
"Young Master, have you confirmed that she is not one of Prime Minister Xu's people?"
"It doesn't seem like it." Xiao Jue said, "Xu Jingfu despises women. He will not let women participate in important matters. In the secret letter from Shuo capital, it said that the He family and Xu Jingfu have no contact. However, "he thought for a moment," it is better to be careful. "
Fei Nu nodded, "I will go and find a female doctor."
After Fei Nu left, Xiao Jue turned sideways and looked at He Yan who was lying on the bed.
She did not seem to be one of Xu Jingfu's people, but it did not mean that she was not suspicious. A sixteen-year-old girl who was born in the family of a military officer at the city gate. Even if she had practiced martial arts since she was young, she should not be so outstanding and invincible in the Liangzhou Guards. How could an ordinary person have such willpower to mingle in the military camp? It should be known that there were men who could not bear hardships, but she did not complain. If she joined the army only because of the matter with Fan Cheng, it was a bit far-fetched.
Moreover, she had always wanted to join the Nine Flags Battalion.
The rain continued to fall, and the girl's face was pale. When she returned, she saw that she was covered in wounds, especially the knife wound on her back. It was very deep and long, but she did not cry out in pain. Even when she fainted due to exhaustion, the corners of her mouth were still curled up. She looked like a rascal.
There was such a girl in the world. She was powerful and hateful. She was cunning and shameless.
Xiao Jue closed the window and left.
When He Yan woke up, the sky was already bright.
She was sleeping on the bed she usually slept on, but her clothes had been changed. He Yan sat up and unconsciously opened her inner clothes. She saw that there was a white bandage wrapped around her waist. The wound from her fight with Ding Yi last night had already been bandaged.
Thinking back carefully, he recalled what had happened last night. She remembered that she and Xiao Jue were at loggerheads. She used the red mole on Xiao Jue's waist to threaten the other party. Xiao Jue was very angry, and then she did not know what happened. She must have fainted. But now … she touched her head. Her hair was still in the bun, and her clothes were men's clothes. No one else knew that she was a girl.
Was Xiao Jue keeping it a secret for her?
He Yan sighed in relief. She looked to her side and did not see Fei Nu or Xiao Jue.
Did the two of them know that she was a girl, so they simply left her in the Sun residence?
He Yan wanted to get out of bed, but when she moved, a small bottle with a long neck rolled out from her chest. She opened the bottle, and there were some black pills inside. There was also a note beside the bed. It said: Wake up and take medicine.
The handwriting was sharp and strong, and it was very beautiful. He Yan recognized that it was Xiao Jue's handwriting at a glance. When she was in the Xianchang School, Xiao Jue was outstanding in everything. Even the essays she wrote were hung at the entrance of the school for people to see. He Yan had a deep impression of this handwriting. She secretly copied a few copies and wanted to imitate it, but because she could not write the feeling of Xiao Jue, she gave up.
Second Young Master Xiao left a note for her to take medicine. It should be relatively peaceful, and nothing should happen for the time being.
He Yan thought to herself. Suddenly, she remembered something and looked at herself. If she wanted to protect her identity as a girl from being exposed, she could not use the servants of the Sun residence. Then who changed her clothes? Who helped her bandage her wounds? Xiao Jue could not be, so it must be Fei Nu?
Although she had been in the army for many years and did not care as much about her skin as other girls, she still felt uncomfortable thinking about it.
It was as if she had been taken advantage of.
But it was useless to think about it now. The other party had good intentions. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door to take a look.
As soon as she went out, He Yan felt that something was wrong.
Because of the assassin at the Sun family's banquet, the servants of the Sun residence were not allowed to go near the room that He Yan and the others lived in. However, there were still maids sweeping from a distance, but today there was not a single one. Looking from a distance, it looked like the entire Sun residence was empty.
Even if Xiao Jue wanted to abandon her and not care about her, why was the entire Sun residence empty? Could it be that something had happened? He Yan was confused. After thinking about it, she decided to go outside. She walked past her room, turned around the garden, and arrived at the main courtyard. She saw many soldiers wearing red armor surrounding the main hall. The maids and servants were squatting in several rows. Sun Xiangfu and his son were surrounded in the middle. Yuan Baozhen stood to the side, facing off against Xiao Jue.
She had just woken up from a nap. Why were they fighting? He Yan was deep in thought when she met Xiao Jue's gaze. His eyes were cold, inexplicably reminding He Yan of what happened last night. He was inexplicably embarrassed, but after thinking about it, he braced himself and used Cheng Li Su's unique happy tone to call out, "Uncle!"
The tense atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by him calling out "Uncle." Everyone turned to look at her.
Yuan Baozhen's eyes flashed, "Young Master Cheng, you can see?"
He Yan remembered that she had not tied the cloth around her neck. However, that was not important now. Ding Yi was dead, and her identity as a woman had been exposed by Xiao Jue. It seemed that Xiao Jue had finally found the person who tried to assassinate her. Now was the time to settle the score. She was just a small person. Whether she was blind or a normal person, she could not change the overall situation.
He Yan scratched her head and replied, "Is that so? It seems so. I can indeed see. I am indeed blessed by the heavens. "
This lie was too perfunctory, but naturally, no one dared to question her.
Yuan Baozhen seemed to have realized something and asked, "Has Young Master Cheng seen my bodyguard?"
"No." He Yan said, "Could it be that Imperial Censor Yuan's bodyguard has disappeared?"
She smiled, making it difficult for others to read her thoughts. Yuan Baozhen felt very uneasy. After Ding Yi went out last night, he did not return until this morning. Something must have happened. Previously, he had an argument with Ding Yi. Ding Yi wanted to kidnap Cheng Li Su and use her to threaten Xiao Jue. Yuan Baozhen felt that this was not a good time. They parted on bad terms. However, the person who Ding Yi really listened to was He Rufei. There was nothing he could do. If he had snuck out last night, it must have been for Cheng Li Su.
Now, Cheng Li Su was standing here perfectly fine. Even her eyes looked normal. However, Ding Yi had disappeared. Yuan Baozhen's heart sank. He felt that something bad must have happened. Xiao Jue had ordered people to surround the Sun Estate early in the morning. This made him even more uneasy.
This person's way of doing things was very logical.
When he didn't hear Yuan Baozhen's reply, He Yan wasn't in a hurry. He moved to Xiao Jue's side and stood properly. He first smiled at Xiao Jue in an ingratiating manner before asking Slave Fei beside him in a low voice, "Big Brother Slave Fei, what's going on now?"
Fei Nu looked at He Yan's normal smiling face and felt that He Yan's calmness was even better. After such a big incident last night, her identity had clearly been exposed. However, she could still continue to act as if nothing had happened. It was admirable.
Before Fei Nu could reply, Sun Xiangfu had already opened his mouth. His expression was very ugly, but he still forced a smile, "Governor, what do you mean by this? But what did our Sun Residence not do well enough to annoy the Governor? "
Sun Ling stood beside Sun Xiangfu and stared at Xiao Jue with hatred. He did not speak, but it seemed that he could not calm down.
"That's right," Yuan Baozhen stroked his beard and muttered, "Governor, where did you get these soldiers from? His Majesty currently forbids private soldiers and horses. If you are really dissatisfied with Magistrate Sun, you cannot vent your anger in this way. "
He Yan raised his eyebrows. These words were harsh, accusing Xiao Jue of two crimes in one breath. One was privately raising soldiers and the other was using public office to avenge private wrongs. What a sharp tongue.
Hearing this, Xiao Jue curved her lips and said, "Imperial Censor Yuan is overthinking. These are soldiers that I borrowed from Xialing County. The crime of privately raising soldiers and horses is not something that I can bear. I wonder if Imperial Censor Yuan can bear the crime of slandering an official of the imperial court? "
Soldiers from Xialing County? Yuan Baozhen's body stiffened. How was this possible? The leading red-clothed soldier cupped his hands and said, "I am here on the orders of Xialing County Chief Shi to assist Governor Imperial Censor in investigating the murder of an official's family by the magistrate of Liangzhou."
Murder of an official's family? When Sun Xiangfu heard this, he subconsciously cried out, "Governor, I am innocent! The assassin in the residence has nothing to do with me! I don't know what is going on. You, you can't accuse me! Furthermore, the young master can see now. You can't arrest people just because you are angry! I am innocent, I am innocent! "
His cries were tragic and heartbreaking. Hearing this, Xiao Jue sneered, "Who said that the official's family was referring to Cheng Li Su?"
Not Cheng Li Su? Everyone, including He Yan, was stunned.
At this time, a clear female voice came from outside the courtyard, "I am the one who was murdered!"
Two people came into the courtyard. One was Xiao Jue's bodyguard, Chi Wu. The other was a Niao Niao wearing a warm dress. Her hair was tied into two buns. She had bright eyes and white teeth. Who else could it be but Song Taotao?
Under the protection of Chi Wu, Song Taotao walked over to Xiao Jue and scolded Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling, "I am the daughter of the Vice Minister of Internal Affairs. You dare to kidnap me on the street? If it weren't for Second Young Master Xiao and Young Master Cheng saving me, I don't know what would have happened to me. The people from Wanhua Pavilion have already been captured by Second Young Master Xiao's people. There are witnesses and evidence. Let's see how you will deny it this time. When I return to Shuo Jing, I will tell my father about this. You can all wait to lose your heads! "
This little girl looked sweet, but her words were very imposing. She must hate Sun Ling. If it weren't for Sun Ling, she wouldn't have ended up in Wanhua Pavilion and suffered so much. Her fingers were almost broken. In other words, if it weren't for He Yan accidentally saving her that night, this little girl would have been ruined by Sun Ling.
Sun Xiangfu and Sun Xiangfu's faces were ashen.
If it was Xiao Jue and Cheng Li Su who were involved in the murder of an official's daughter, they could still argue. After all, the assassins were all dead and there was no evidence to prove that they were involved. But who knew that Xiao Jue would go so far and find such a little girl. Who would have thought that the girl Sun Ling kidnapped was the daughter of an official in the capital?
But in these years, how could this be the only evil thing Sun Ling had done? The girls who were kidnapped to the Sun residence came from all over the country. There were also daughters of wealthy families or officials. But once they arrived in Liangzhou, it was like a needle in the ocean. There was no way out. Sun Xiangfu and Sun Xiangfu had covered the sky here for so many years that it had long been dark. Whether it was the daughter of a poor family or the daughter of a wealthy family, once they arrived here, there was no difference.
He Yan stared at Xiao Jue's back and couldn't help but clap for him in his heart.
Second Young Master Xiao was nowhere to be seen these days. It turned out that he was busy with this matter. At that time, he thought that he took Song Taotao away to protect her. Now, it seemed that wasn't the case. After all, if Xiao Jue took Song Taotao with him and left her in the Sun residence, even if Sun Ling recognized her, he wouldn't dare to do anything. He sent Song Taotao away to prevent the Sun father and son from suspecting anything. Now, Song Taotao's appearance was the most important straw to convict Sun Xiangfu.
"This … This is all a misunderstanding. Commander-in-chief, let me explain …" Sun Xiangfu kicked Sun Ling, causing him to kneel down. Sun Xiangfu scolded, "Unfilial son, you've caused such a huge mess. What should we do now? Ask for forgiveness from the Governor! "
"County Magistrate Sun kneeled to the wrong person," Xiao Jue said casually, "I'm not the Imperial Censor." He looked at Yuan Baozhen and said slowly, "Imperial Censor Yuan has been in Liangzhou for many days. You don't even know what's going on here. If someone finds out and accuses you of dereliction of duty, I'm afraid that even your teacher won't be able to save you."
Yuan Baozhen was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He looked at Xiao Jue. The young Governor had a smile on his face. His gaze was calm, but the malice in his eyes was overwhelming.
He wasn't here for Yuan Baozhen. He was here for Sun Xiangfu. But this was actually worse because his teacher, Xu Jingfu, definitely didn't want this situation. What did it mean to go for wool and come home shorn? This wasn't just a handful of rice, it was his entire granary being emptied.
Ding Yi was missing. How could he deal with the aggressive Xiao Jue alone?
Song Taotao looked at the Sun family aggressively. He Yan was deep in thought. If it was just Song Taotao, he might be able to punish Sun Ling. But Sun Xiangfu might not. If there was someone protecting him, Sun Xiangfu might still have a way out.
When Xiao Jue made a move, would he leave a way out for others? He Yan didn't think so.
"Governor, please listen to our explanation. I'm really innocent!" Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling cried and howled.
This matter concerned him. Yuan Baozhen said with difficulty, "Governor, maybe there really is a misunderstanding."
Xiao Jue looked at him with a faint smile. After a while, he nodded and said, "Go to the side courtyard."
Go to the side courtyard? Why go to the side courtyard?
When Sun Xiangfu and his son heard this, their expressions changed drastically. They almost fainted.
The red-armored soldiers escorted Sun Xiangfu and his son to the side courtyard with the rest of the people. It rained last night. The dust on the ground of the courtyard was washed clean by the rain. It was originally a quiet and peaceful scene, but now it was overflowing with desolation and misery.
He Yan looked sideways at the room next to him. The door was tightly shut. When he thought of the Buddha statues on and under the table last night, he couldn't help but feel disgusted.
But, why did Xiao Jue bring them here?
Yuan Baozhen also didn't understand, "Governor, do you want to …"
"Dig three feet underground. Let Great Imperial Censor Yuan see what's underground." Although he was smiling, his expression was indifferent. His tone was very calm. He ordered the soldiers, "Dig."
The soldiers obeyed the order. They searched the Sun family's residence for hoes and sickles and dug down.
When Sun Xiangfu and his son saw this, they seemed to be unable to hold on. Their legs went soft and they fell to the ground. Their faces were ashen.
Song Taotao asked He Yan in a low voice, "What's underground?"
The house was full of Buddha statues, the talismans pasted on the door, and the overgrown weeds that grew in the deserted courtyard. He Yan's expression became serious. He could roughly guess. She didn't say anything. She really didn't know where to start.
After a while, someone said, "Governor, there's something here!"
It was a female corpse wrapped in a mat. Her body was very small, even smaller than Song Taotao's. The clothes she wore had already rotted, revealing her white bones. It was unknown how delicate she was in the past. She was pitiful and cute.
"Continue." Xiao Jue said.
Not long after, someone else said, "There's a corpse here!"
It was also a female corpse. Her hair was long and it seemed like she had died not long ago. One could vaguely see her charm when she was alive.
The third corpse, the fourth, the fifth …
In the end, no one said anything. There was only the sound of digging. There was a deathly silence in the air. It was hard to imagine that the ground of this courtyard could hold so many corpses. The courtyard was full of corpses covered in white cloth. There was no place to put them, so they could only be piled up together.
Under the deserted courtyard, there were countless skeletons of women buried. Perhaps there were gentle and shy flower girls, but there were also beautiful women. Here, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, high or low, they were all turned into mud and piled up into a mountain of unrecognizable corpses.
These were all women who had been kidnapped by Sun Ling, then bullied and killed. They had suffered a great disaster when they were alive, and they could not rest in peace after death. The guilty man piled up countless Buddha statues and talismans to suppress and curse them.
The altar lamp swayed forever. To these women, their lives were like an eternal night. There was no light.
He Yan took a deep breath.
The sins committed by Sun Xiangfu and his son were not covered by heaven and earth. God was angry and people abandoned them. Even after death, they were still punished.
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