"Do you like me?" His voice seemed to have the ability to hook one's soul, causing He Yan to be rooted to the ground, unable to move at all. He couldn't help but gulp.
Xiao Jue frowned slightly. "He Yan?"
"I …" He Yan subconsciously curled her fingers and dug her fingertips into her palms.
She didn't feel it when this person was lazy, but when he got close, even his aura became extremely dangerous. He raised his eyebrows, curled his lips, and asked again, almost bewitchingly, "Do you like me?"
"No … I don't like you." He Yan subconsciously curled her fingers and dug her fingertips into her palms. The pain cleared her mind for a moment, so that she wouldn't say something shocking.
She looked at Lin Shuanghe, who was standing at the side, and was also stunned.
Hearing this, Xiao Jue didn't get angry. Instead, she seemed to be slightly relieved. She stood up straight and raised her eyebrows. "Very good, it's you."
"Me?" The ambiguous atmosphere just now was swept away. He Yan took a step back and couldn't help but look at him. "What do you mean by 'me'?"
"Madam Qiao."
"Madam … Qiao?" He Yan was confused.
Lin Shuanghe seemed to have suddenly understood. He walked over and said, "You're finally willing to listen to me. You think that my Sister He is the best choice, right?"
He Yan was even more confused.
"It's a long story."
"Then take your time." He Yan went to get a stool for them.
Xiao Jue glanced at her, turned her head, and reminded her. "Put on your clothes first."
He Yan looked down. When Lin Shuanghe knocked on the door, she casually put on her clothes and didn't put them on properly. Now that she was bending over to get a stool, her clothes slipped off her shoulders.
Lin Shuanghe said, "I didn't see anything!"
He Yan felt that Xiao Jue was making a mountain out of a molehill. It wasn't like she wasn't wearing undergarments inside. What should be covered was tightly covered. Second Young Master Xiao was too gentlemanly. But since he had already said it, she had to sort it out.
After she was done, she listened to Xiao Jue tell her the important parts of the story.
He Yan slammed the table. "Does Commander in Chief mean that you and I should disguise ourselves as husband and wife and set off for Jiyang? This is ruining my reputation! "
If he pretended to be a nephew, he would have to call Xiao Jue uncle. If he pretended to be a husband and wife, he would have to call Xiao Jue husband! He Yan couldn't bear to look at the way he called Xiao Jue Hubby.
"Ruin your reputation?" Xiao Jue narrowed her beautiful eyes and sneered, "You feel wronged?"
He Yan: "…"
That was true. In the eyes of others, Xiao Jue's reputation would most likely be ruined if this matter were to spread out.
But … wouldn't it be embarrassing for him to do whatever he wanted?
It was rare that Xiao Jue had a favor to ask of him. He Yan held his head high and was about to raise the price and extort him when he heard Xiao Jue say casually, "If you do this, you can join the Southern Mansion Army."
He Yan: "Deal!"
Lin Shuanghe felt a headache coming on. "Sister He, you are a girl. You should be more reserved."
"Then I'm afraid you have overestimated her." Xiao Jue mocked, "How could she have that kind of thing?"
"Being reserved is not worth mentioning in this kind of situation." He Yan giggled and said, "Commander in chief, don't worry. I can definitely act as a good wife and win face for you. I'll let others envy you and praise you for the good fortune you've accumulated over several lifetimes."
Xiao Jue suppressed her anger and said calmly, "Qiao Huanqing's wife is a famous talented woman in Da Wei."
He Yan's self-praise came to an abrupt end.
"Proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting," he glanced at He Yan with a bit of pity, "Obedient, sensible, and considerate. These sixteen words, may I ask which one is related to you?"
"Human-Like," He Yan answered honestly.
"Pfft." Lin Shuanghe couldn't help but laugh. Halfway through, he felt that it was inappropriate and said, "Nonsense. Xiao Huaijin, you are talking nonsense again. How is Sister He not obedient, sensible, and considerate? As for zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting …" He looked at He Yan, "Do you know how to do it?"
He Yan: "Not really."
Xiao Jue sneered.
Lin Shuanghe immediately said, "That's okay, I know how to do it! Don't you have to wait for a few days before you set off with me? Before you set off, I promise that I will teach you. I don't dare to say that I will be very good at it, but I will definitely be able to deceive that group of uncouth people. Xiao Huaijin, leave Sister He to me. In less than five days, I will give you a different kind of graceful woman. "
"She is short, stupid, and has no talent. Then it will be hard on you," Xiao Jue said casually. She stood up and walked to He Yan's side, staring straight at him.
He Yan felt goosebumps from her stare. Xiao Jue leaned closer, tilted his head, and smiled. "But I can't say for sure. After all, our Lady He is the best at deceiving people."
He Yan: "…"
Xiao Jue always made praises sound derogatory.
"My good wife will make others envious of me. I will …" His gaze deepened and he smiled faintly. "I will wait and see."
He left.
The door closed and the sound of the door being locked could be heard. He Yan heaved a sigh of relief and sat on the couch. Lin Shuanghe also stood up and smiled. "It's getting late. I will leave first. Sister He, I will look for you tomorrow. Let's familiarize ourselves with the four arts."
He Yan nodded. Lin Shuanghe wanted to say something but stopped. He Yan asked, "Doctor Lin, is there anything else?"
He looked at He Yan with a complicated expression. "Nothing." He waved his fan and left.
After the door closed behind him, Lin Shuanghe sighed and pressed his chest.
He had boasted to Xiao Jue that He Yan didn't like Xiao Jue and was most comfortable with her. This was true. After all, He Yan didn't sense a trace of affection for Xiao Jue in their previous conversation. However, just now, when Xiao Jue approached He Yan, Lin Shuanghe clearly saw He Yan's nervousness and helplessness.
Something didn't seem right!
It didn't seem like he was completely uninterested in Xiao Jue!
What was going on? Lin Shuanghe was burning with anxiety. If He Yan actually liked Xiao Jue, wouldn't they get into trouble on this trip?
No, no, no. It must be because Xiao Jue was too beautiful. When the woman saw his face, she was instantly captivated by his beauty. She wouldn't feel anything after seeing him a few more times. He comforted himself. It must be so.
He Yan sat on the couch in the room.
Xiao Jue actually asked him to pretend to be her husband and wife when they went to Jiyang. This was unbelievable. Not to mention her, just the fact that Xiao Jue was pretending to be someone else's wife would make people doubt their ears.
Now that he knew the origin of the Nine Flags Battalion, He Yan didn't have much hope that he could really enter the Nine Flags Battalion. Those who could enter the Nine Flags Battalion were Xiao Jue's brothers who had risked their lives to stand up for her. They were heroes who had risked their lives to stand up for her. This had to do with ability. Presumably, the Nine Flags Battalion wouldn't easily recruit people in the future. It was also good to be able to enter the Nan Mansion Army. In Da Wei, the Nan Mansion Army was well-known for its fighting prowess.
However, He Yan readily agreed to Xiao Jue's proposal. Even if these conditions didn't exist, she would still make concessions in the end. This was because the place Xiao Jue proposed was Jiyang.
He Yan's master was the passerby who saved her from the pile of corpses during the Battle of Mo County in her previous life. He was also a strange person who later taught her how to arrange troops, set up formations, and use swords, bows, and horses. His name was Liu Buwang.
When they parted that year, she once asked Liu Buwang, "Master, if I want to find you one day, where should I go?"
"We'll meet if fate wills it." Liu Buwang smiled and said, "But if you insist on finding me for something important, you can go outside Jiyang City. I'll eventually arrive here. "
She remembered it in her heart.
Now that "He Rufei" was dead, she accidentally received such a strange mission. But if she really went to Jiyang, she might be able to see Liu Buwang. In her previous life, other than the He Family, only Liu Buwang knew her identity.
She really wanted to see her master.
"Ji Yang …" He Yan sighed slightly. He actually began to hesitate in his heart.
She didn't know if she could see him. She also didn't know if Liu Buwang could still deny her identity.
She was very nervous.
The next morning, He Yan woke up early and had breakfast. She wanted to go to the Martial Arts Practice Field for day training. As soon as she walked to the door, she was stopped by someone outside the courtyard. "Brother He!"
She turned around and saw Lin Shuanghe.
He Yan asked, "Brother Lin, why are you here?"
Judging from his appearance, he should have arrived long ago. Lin Shuanghe waved his fan and said, "I'll wait for you here." He looked up and down at He Yan's black clothes and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Day training at the Martial Arts Practice Field! I haven't run yet in the morning. Doctor Lin, I'll tell you later. If you don't go now, it'll be too late. "
"Hey." Lin Shuanghe stood in front of her and said, "If you're talking about day training, you don't have to go for the time being. I've asked Huaijin to inform Chief Instructor Shen that you don't have to go for the next few days. "
He Yan asked, "Why?"
"Did you forget that you'll be going to Jiyang in a few days?" Lin Shuanghe smiled and said, "There are priorities. The Martial Arts Practice Field is right here. When you come back from Jiyang, you can train however you want. However, you don't have much time left. Of course, you have to hurry up and do what's in front of you. "
He Yan was puzzled. "What's in front of me?"
"Look." Lin Shuanghe pointed to He Yan.
On the stone table in the courtyard, there was a zither, a chess set, a few pieces of paper, a brush, ink, and an inkstone. The Liangzhou Guard was a place for men to practice martial arts. When he suddenly saw these elegant things, for a moment, He Yan thought that Chu Zhao had returned.
"Since you're going to act as Qiao Huanqing's' wife ', you have to know a little about zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. When King Meng Ji was still alive, he admired literati very much. In Jiyang City, the vassal king's territory, the people worshipped talented people. Coincidentally, Qiao Huanqing's wife, Wen Yuyan, was also a famous talented woman. He … Brother He, "Lin Shuanghe said," You're very good looking, and your skills are also very reassuring. You can't make any mistakes in this area. Come, write something for me to see. "
He Yan was speechless.
For a moment, He Yan felt that he was back in Shuojing's Xianchang Gymnasium. He and Lin Shuanghe, who was also in last place, were about to sit down and recite to each other.
Lin Shuanghe didn't seem to realize that his words had brought back nightmares. He was still urging him, "Come, Brother He, write something. Let me see how you're doing."
This person had nothing to do all day. He Yan was too lazy to argue with him, so he immediately picked up the brush and wrote something.
"Annoying!"
This word was written in a flamboyant and messy style. When Lin Shuanghe saw this, he stopped waving his fan. He was probably afraid that he would hurt He Yan, so he said in a gentler tone, "Brother He's writing is quite spirited, but it's a bit too spirited. Don't you think that … a woman's writing should be gentler?"
He Yan felt that there was a problem with his words, so he immediately asked, "Who said that a woman's writing should be gentler? According to what Doctor Lin said, men can't write Hairpin-style Small Regular Script? "
"Yes, yes, yes," Lin Shuanghe said, "But even if it's not gentler, it shouldn't be so sloppy!"
He Yan was speechless.
Lin Shuanghe said, "It's fine, it's fine. Why don't you draw a picture? Just draw a picture of plum blossoms reflecting snow. It should be more than enough to fool those people from Jiyang."
He Yan spread out the paper and raised his hand to draw three flowers and a few dots of snow that looked like pockmarks.
Lin Shuanghe looked at it and asked suspiciously, "Brother He, are you drawing a fried sesame seed cake? Did you accidentally fry the sesame seeds?"
He Yan said, "… I only know how to draw maps."
This happened one after another. Lin Shuanghe began to panic. He said, "What about chess? Do you know how to play chess? "
"My chess skills are very bad, and I like to regret my moves. I'm afraid that I can't play chess. Otherwise, I won't be able to control myself, and it won't be good if people see me as a joke. "
"What about the zither? You're a zither master, right? " Lin Shuanghe's eyes were filled with despair. "Now, there are girls in the residence who have to start learning the zither from the age of five."
He Yan spread his hands. "I don't know anything about musical instruments."
The two of them looked at each other, and the atmosphere was awkward and silent.
He Yan felt very uncomfortable and wronged. She had been raised as a boy since she was young, so she didn't learn the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Later, she went to the Xianchang School, but she wasn't very good at learning. Even when a pie fell from the sky in the end and she received the guidance of a famous teacher and Liu Buwang, who taught her all his skills, it was all about surviving on the battlefield. The zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting could neither make her bleed less on the battlefield, nor help her win more battles in the battle. For her, it was too extravagant. She didn't have the conditions, and she didn't have the time.
Of course, the most important thing was that she didn't have the talent.
He Yan wasn't the only one who felt wronged. Lin Shuanghe also felt wronged. He had seen so many noble ladies in Shuo Jing, and each of them was good at at least three kinds of talents. Everyone knew how to play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but He Yan couldn't even do it?
Lin Shuanghe suddenly doubted himself. Was it wrong for him to suggest to Xiao Jue that He Yan should play Wen Yuyan?
"Doctor Lin?" He Yan saw that Lin Shuanghe hadn't said anything, and she was afraid that Lin Shuanghe was frightened by her lack of talent, so she asked with concern.
Lin Shuanghe came to his senses and forced a smile. "Nothing, I'm thinking about something."
It was needless to say how exquisite it was when it was so bad. It could only be said that she had learned the most ordinary skills, and then she just needed to put on a show. There was a ready-made female teacher in the Liangzhou Guards, Shen Muxue, who was very talented. However, if Shen Muxue knew that He Yan was a woman and was asked by Xiao Jue to play the role of husband and wife, he was afraid that something would go wrong.
Although Lin Shuanghe didn't care about Shen Muxue, he didn't want to see any girl sad.
Forget it, if he didn't go to hell, who would? Lin Shuanghe looked at He Yan. His heart was bleeding, but he gritted his teeth and smiled. "Brother He, you don't need to panic. As long as you work hard, you can grind an iron pestle into a needle. If you have a will, you can achieve anything. Since you don't know how to do it, let me teach you. We'll learn from the beginning, and I'm sure we'll be able to impress others!"
He Yan saw that this person was inexplicably excited, so she coughed lightly. "That … Doctor Lin, do you know how to do it?"
If she remembered correctly, Lin Shuanghe was ranked last with her in the past. What qualifications did he have to teach others?
Lin Shuanghe opened his folding fan and proudly said, "I don't know anything else, but I know how to paint. Watch me. "
Late at night, the sharp sound of a zither could be heard from the room next door.
Fei Nu was helping Xiao Jue tidy up the documents on the table. When she heard the sound, her hands trembled, and the documents scattered in a mess. He looked up at Xiao Jue again. Xiao Jue reached out her hand to support her forehead. She looked like she couldn't bear it.
Fei Nu secretly sighed. He Yan shone brightly in the martial arts arena. He knew everything, but he didn't expect him to be so slow when it came to zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This zither, if it was any girl in the capital who learned the zither, even if she was five years old, she would be able to play it much better than this.
Three days, three whole days. They would be leaving in two days, but He Yan's zither was just a wall away. He didn't seem to be improving at all. It was as if because he was getting impatient, his music was getting worse and worse.
Chi Wu was an impatient person. He secretly pulled Fei Nu aside a few times and said, "If you don't know how to play, then don't play! Young Master must be crazy. It's fine if he found a man to pretend to be his wife, but he even found one who doesn't know how to do anything. Isn't this giving others a chance to find out? Even if there's a shortage of people, it shouldn't be like this! "
He still didn't know He Yan's identity as a woman, so Fei Nu didn't say much. He only said, "Talk less, do more."
But tonight, Fei Nu muttered in his heart. He Yan was so slow. Could he really bear such a heavy responsibility?
Suspense.
In the room next door, Lin Shuanghe waved his hand and said weakly, "Younger Sister He, that's enough. You can stop playing."
He Yan stopped and looked at him. He humbly asked, "Brother Lin, have I improved compared to yesterday?"
Lin Shuanghe choked and was speechless.
Although he wasn't outstanding in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he was still an elegant young master in the capital. He still knew a thing or two about these things. He originally thought that with his guidance, even if he couldn't practice very well in three days, he would at least be able to put on a show.
But looking at He Yan's current appearance, he realized that he had overestimated himself.
He had never seen such a stubborn woman! After three days, not only did she not improve, she played more and more harshly. Lin Shuanghe finally realized that there was actually someone in the world who could play the zither with such a sound. It was said that one was marked by the company one kept. Xiao Jue was also a master in both literature and martial arts. Her elegance was unparalleled. He Yan had been with Xiao Jue for so long, but why didn't he have the slightest bit of elegance?
Yet, this girl still looked like she was very hardworking. Seeing how hardworking she was, he couldn't even say harsh words. This reminded Lin Shuanghe of a classmate when he was young. That classmate was also like this. His head hung from a beam and an awl pierced his thigh.
It was too horrible to look at.
Forget it, forget it. This child couldn't be taught. Lin Shuanghe stood up and said with a smile, "Good, very good. Younger Sister He, you're really talented. As long as you practice a little harder, you'll definitely amaze the world. You should practice for the next few days. When you reach Jiyang, you can ask Huaijin to personally give you a few pointers. I think you'll be able to graduate from his apprenticeship. "
He Yan: "Really?"
Lin Shuanghe: "It can't be any more real." He thought that He Yan was really too difficult to handle. It was better for him to retreat early. This kind of complicated teaching should be left to Xiao Jue. After all, He Yan was his person and his "wife". This was also Xiao Jue's responsibility.
When he thought of this, he felt relieved and relaxed. Lin Shuanghe smiled and said, "Then I won't be coming for the next two days. Younger Sister He, you should practice more, practice more. "
He was debt-free and left lightly.
He Yan was still skeptical. She clearly felt that it was unpleasant, but Lin Shuanghe said it like that. Was it really that good?
The interests of elegant people were indeed different from those of ordinary people.
In the next two days, besides practicing the zither, He Yan also found time to bid farewell to Hong Shan and the others.
Jiyang was not like Liangzhou City. If he came and went, he would probably be away for at least half a year and would not be able to return to the Liangzhou City Guards. He missed his old friends after not seeing them for such a long time.
"You went to work with Military Governor Xiao again?" Hong Shan came closer and asked, "A He, are you going to be promoted?"
"Give birth? What do you mean by giving birth? " Xiao Mai was roasting a bird's egg that he had just picked up from the fire. It was very hot. He flipped it around in his palm. "Who's giving birth?"
Shi Tou gently knocked his head and looked at He Yan. "Take care."
He Yan smiled. "Of course. I haven't congratulated you guys on entering the Vanguard Battalion. "
After the end of the year, a portion of the new recruits were selected to enter the Vanguard Battalion. Shi Tou, Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, and Huang Xiong were among them. Xiao Mai was still young and did not perform well in training. Hong Shan had always been average in all aspects. Fortunately, the two of them did not mind this. They were satisfied with being ordinary soldiers.
"Entering the Vanguard Battalion is not as good as you." Wang Ba took the opportunity to mock He Yan. "You can go out with Military Governor Xiao every few days. You don't have to go through daily training, and you can also gain favor in front of your superior. Even the gods are not as good as you."
"Brother Wang, that's not right. When Brother He goes out with the Governor, it will not be as easy as we think. There might be danger. "Jiang Jiao looked at He Yan." You must be careful. "
He Yan stretched. "I've always been careful."
Seeing this, Huang Xiong twisted the prayer beads around his neck and said, "Since you've always wanted to be promoted, this is a good opportunity. Military Governor Xiao is willing to take you with him because he has taken a fancy to something you have. If you can seize this opportunity and earn military merits, you will be one step closer to what you want to do. You will also be able to accomplish what you want to do faster. "
He Yan thought that Xiao Jue was willing to take her with him because he had taken a fancy to something she had. That was because he had taken a fancy to her as a woman. You didn't expect this, did you?
"Well said, well said." She waved her hand. "Everyone, don't worry. We are all brothers who fought for the flag on White Moon Mountain and slept together on the same bed. As long as I have a bite to eat, you will all have a bite to drink. If I can really be promoted, I will definitely not forget my comrades. However, I also believe that even without me, you will be able to make a name for yourself in Liangzhou. "
"Well said!" Huang Xiong said. "If you don't rely on others and rely on yourself, you are all heroes."
He Yan smiled slightly and looked at the vast sky of the Liangzhou Garrison.
The snow-capped mountains in the distance would gradually melt. Winter had passed, and spring would soon arrive. Jiyang was different from Liangzhou. The mountains were high and the rivers were far away. Who knew what would happen in the future?
She clapped her hands and stood up.
The future was not something that could be imagined just by thinking about it. She just had to keep her head down and keep moving forward.
End of Volume Three
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