After receiving Xiao Jue's verbal promise that she would bring He Yan to the palace banquet, He Yan slept exceptionally soundly that night. When she woke up the next morning, as usual, Xiao Jue was not there. There was only Bai Guo sitting in the courtyard, waiting for her to wake up and have breakfast, just like yesterday.
He Yan was used to waking up early in her previous life. Now that she had slept until late in the morning, she felt embarrassed to let a little girl wait for her. She asked Bai Guo, "Bai Guo, did your Second Young Master say where he went?"
Bai Guo shook her head, "Is Young Master He looking for Second Young Master for something urgent?"
He Yan smiled, "I'm just asking casually." However, she felt a little strange. After returning to the capital, Xiao Jue seemed to be very busy. What exactly was she busy with?
However, she did not think too much about it. She had other things to do today.
He Yan greeted Bai Guo, changed her clothes, and went out. She did not call for a carriage. Instead, she wore a curtain hat and walked on the streets by herself. She could walk past the Xu residence with her eyes closed. Not long after, she stopped in front of the vermilion door.
He Yan stood at the door and looked at the residence in front of her.
Looking in from the outside, the residence looked even narrower. It was so narrow that it seemed like it could not contain one's ambition. It was so narrow that it was like a coffin, burying her in it.
He Yan thought that after so much time had passed, she had already calmed down. However, when she really stood here, she found it difficult to calm down. It was here that He Wanru had pushed her into a pool of cold water and she had never seen the sun again.
The servant at the door was sweeping the floor. Xu Zhiheng was a very particular person. The residence had to be clean at all times. He did not like blemishes, just like how he did not like scars on a woman's skin.
He Yan walked forward and said, "Little brother, I want to ask you about someone."
The manservant who was sweeping stopped and looked at He Yan, asking, "You are …"
"I was asked by someone to inquire about someone," He Yan said in a low voice. "Is there a concubine mother called He Wanru in your family?"
As soon as these words came out, the manservant's face changed. "You …"
The next moment, he felt a heavy object in his hand. Looking down, he saw that it was an ingot of silver. The manservant swallowed his saliva and subconsciously put the silver into his sleeve. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention and said in a low voice, "Young master, please wait for me under the locust tree in the alley ahead. This is not the place to talk."
He Yan nodded. "I understand. You will definitely come. If you can help me find out about this person …" She smiled. "I won't forget to reward you."
The young servant was overjoyed. "Of course, of course!"
He Yan did not say much to him. Just as the manservant was worried, this was not the place to talk. Moreover, with the relationship between Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, it was inevitable that He Rufei's men would be walking around outside. She lowered her veil hat and waited under the locust tree in the alley where they had agreed to meet.
He Yan was not afraid that the manservant would take the silver and not admit it. Although the Xu Family was also an official family, they were not generous to their servants. It was probably because Xu Zhiheng was originally a Hanlin scholar and learned to be a scholar. He was more willing to spend money on decorations, such as the tiles of the residence. Madam Xu's favorite saying was: If you treated your servants too well, it would not be good if they became disloyal. You have to know that one should be grateful for one's worth and hate for another. Servants and masters should not get too close.
Because she had stayed in the military camp for many years, she did not have much of an opinion about the relationship between "servants" and "masters." She always felt that people were people. High or low status was just an accessory brought about by reincarnation. How could one really rely on this? Therefore, when she first married into the Xu Family and was not blind, she was very generous. At that time, the servants of the Xu Family were also very happy to be ordered around by her. It was also because of this matter that He Wanru secretly complained to Xu Zhiheng many times about He Yan.
Like master, of course, the servant would be the same. Xu Zhiheng was a person who could conspire with outsiders to kill his wife for benefits. Therefore, the servants in his residence would certainly be mercenary and would sail according to the wind.
Sure enough, after the time it took to burn two sticks of incense, someone sneaked into the courtyard. It was the manservant from before.
He Yan said, "Little brother, there is a teahouse nearby. Let's go in and talk."
The manservant nodded.
When He Yan arrived at the teahouse, he ordered a pot of good tea and a few plates of exquisite desserts. He was extremely generous. The manservant in front of him couldn't help but secretly ponder. Which family's young master was so rich?
"Little brother, how should I address you?" He Yan pushed the teacup in front of him.
"Young master, you can call me Fuwang."
He Yan did not take off his curtain hat and said softly, "Then Fuwang, is the concubine mother called He Wanru in the residence right now?"
Fuwang looked troubled. "Young master, I won't hide it from you. Our residence does have a concubine mother called He Wanru. However, a year ago, she stole Madam's property and sold it outside the residence. She was punished by Eldest Young Master. Later, she fell seriously ill and died."
He Yan said, "So that's how it is."
She was not surprised. A year ago, not long after her death, He Wanru was dealt with by Xu Zhiheng. In fact, she had already reminded He Wanru. Since Xu Zhiheng could kill her to keep a secret, he could also kill her.
"Young master, you are looking for concubine mother He …" The manservant looked at He Yan. However, his face was covered by the curtain hat and he could not see what this person looked like. He only vaguely felt that he was very young.
"I was concubine mother He's childhood playmate. However, I was not in Shuo Jing in the past." He Yan sighed. "I haven't seen her for many years. I originally wanted to see her, but I didn't expect …"
Fuwang suddenly understood. What childhood playmate? Was he interested in He Wanru or was he her past lover? After all, although he had never seen her, he had heard that concubine mother He was very beautiful and charming. She was so attractive that his young master was so infatuated that he did not even care about Eldest Young Mistress.
"A concubine who made a mistake would not be buried in the Xu family's tomb," He Yan said. "Where is she buried? If possible, I want to take her away. "
"Young master, after concubine mother He died of illness, she was rolled up in a mat and thrown into a mass grave," Fuwang said with difficulty. "Now, I'm afraid that her bones can no longer be found."
He Yan sneered in his heart. At that time, Xu Zhiheng was very affectionate towards He Wanru. She had envied him. Now, it seemed that this man was really cold-blooded and heartless. When it came to her, she could say that he did not love her, so he could be so ruthless. But when it came to He Wanru, the woman he truly loved, she was just like this.
Fuwang saw that the man in front of him was silent and thought that he was really a sentimental person. He was already married and still could not forget her.
He Yan raised his head and asked him: "Then what about concubine mother He's personal maid? If they are still here, I want to take them away from here. These years, I missed a lot of things about Wanru. Perhaps they can tell me. "
"Young master, concubine mother He's personal maid left the fu after she passed away," Fuwang said.
He Yan smiled slightly. "Then what about the other servants in the courtyard?"
Fuwang was stunned.
He had just entered the fu at the beginning of this year. When he entered the fu, the Xu family had also recruited a large number of servants. At that time, the children who came with them were still surprised. Generally speaking, this kind of large family had no lack of servants. Suddenly recruiting so many people, either the house was marrying a new wife and needed servants, or something had happened at home and the original people were no longer there.
Xu da da did marry a new wife, but the wife was General Feihong's cousin. Eldest Young Mistress had brought enough servants with her when she entered the fu, so the servants did not go to Eldest Young Mistress's courtyard to serve her.
Then … something must have happened, so the original people were no longer there. The so-called no longer there … actually meant that they were dead?
Fuwang was not stupid. On the contrary, he was the smartest among this group of servants. However, he could only guard the door, so he often complained about the unfairness of fate. However, at this moment, he saw a corner of an iceberg from this strange man's mouth.
For things like secrets, the more you knew, the easier it was to die. But at the same time, it was easy to change one's fate. Riches and honor were found in danger. Without risk, how could there be riches and honor?
He Yan saw that this servant's eyes were already shining with desire, so she faintly added, "Fuwang, I see that you are quite smart. How does your master treat you?"
Fuwang was stunned. After a while, he said, "Master … doesn't remember this little one."
"That's a pity." He Yan smiled. "If it were me, I would definitely put a talent like you to good use."
Fuwang was a little excited.
Some words did not need to be said. He Yan took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and put it on the table. "Today, I also know a lot of information. Thank you. However … if you can help me find out more information, such as concubine mother He's maids, or the servants who were still there at that time, you can get much more than this. Also, "she exhorted," when doing these things, be careful. So many servants have 'left the fu'. The master of the Xu family seems to be very strict. If you are not careful, Fuwang, you might also 'leave the fu'. That would be a pity. "
Fuwang looked at the young master in front of him. He was both nervous and excited. He asked uneasily, "But, where should this little one go to find young master?"
The fish had taken the bait.
He Yan smiled slightly. "When I have free time, I will come here to sit. Fuwang, if you need me, you can come here. Who knows when I will come."
After saying this, she got up and left the tea room, leaving the servant sitting at the table alone. His expression was unpredictable.
As soon as he left, He Yan's smile faded.
Before dealing with Fuwang, He Yan observed the servants coming in and out of the Xu family's door. He found that most of them were unfamiliar faces. The group of people when she first married into the Xu family were almost all gone.
This was very natural. Xu Zhiheng wanted to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, so those servants could not be left. He Yan actually did not expect to find any survivors. He was afraid that Xu Zhiheng had already destroyed all the witnesses. However, she needed a servant like Fuwang to work for her in the Xu family.
Paper could not wrap fire. There would always be traces of what was done. It was not a witness, but as long as there was some material evidence, such as something left behind by He Wanru, it could become material evidence one day in the future. If no one found out, Fuwang could collect information for her. But if someone found out … Xu Zhiheng would be nervous. A nervous person's work would always be full of loopholes.
A person with a guilty conscience, walking under the sun, would suspect that the shadow was an evil spirit coming for revenge.
Fu Wang was smart and ambitious, and that was enough.
For example, when He Rufei sent Ding Yi to harm her, Xu Zhiheng, as her pillow, watched coldly from the sidelines. How they used the people around her to deal with her, she did not do anything and returned it all.
Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei's nightmare had just begun.
When He Yan returned to the Xiao family, it was almost evening.
As soon as he walked into the courtyard, he heard Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing talking. Xiao Jing said, "You don't have to make so many. One for Huaijin is enough."
Bai Rongwei rebuked, "How can you do this? Besides, these sachets were all embroidered by the servant girls. I just stuffed some herbs inside. It's not hard. "
He Yan stopped and bowed to them. "Young Master Xiao, Young Mistress."
"Young Master He," Bai Rongwei said with a smile. "You came at the right time. I was just about to ask someone to give you a sachet." She took two sachets from the servant girl beside her and handed them to He Yan. "One is for you, and the other is for Huaijin."
He Yan took them and looked at them. The sachets were very small. One was black with a silver python embroidered on it, and the other was an ordinary auspicious cloud pattern. They should be for her.
"It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival. I asked the servant girls to make some sachets. There are herbs and protective talismans inside. You and Huaijin often go out, so it's not bad to have them." She smiled. "Young Master He, please don't dislike them."
He Yan did not expect that she would have one. He was very surprised. "I won't dislike them. Thank you very much, Young Mistress."
"You're Huaijin's friend. You don't have to be so polite," Xiao Jing said warmly.
He Yan nodded. She was always at a loss when it came to the overflowing kindness of the Xiao family couple.
"That's right, in three days, there will be a banquet." Bai Rongwei seemed a little embarrassed. "I told Young Master He earlier that the banquet will be hosted in my name. At that time, there will be many madams and misses … Young Master He, are you busy that day? If not, you can stay at home."
He Yan: "…"
They were choosing a wife for Xiao Jue. Why was she chosen? He Yan hurriedly said, "Let's talk about it later," and ran away.
Looking at He Yan's back as he hurried away, Bai Rongwei said curiously, "Why is Young Master He so afraid when he hears about a girl? Although he's still young, it's not impossible for him to get engaged. Could it be that he's been with Huaijin for too long and wants to be alone for the rest of his life? "
Xiao Jing smiled. "Huaijin treats him very well."
"That's true." Bai Rongwei nodded. After she married into the family, although she knew that Xiao Jue didn't have a bad heart, she wasn't someone who liked to show her emotions. But towards this young Young Master He, it could be said that she was very protective of him.
"It's good to have friends." Xiao Jing's gaze was gratified. "At least, there are many things that he can discuss with others."
Under the oil lamp, He Yan leaned on the table and looked at the sachet that was wrapped around her finger.
Bai Rongwei gave her two sachets and asked her to give the other one to Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue's sachet was very beautiful. He Yan wrapped the red string around her finger and sighed in her heart. Even the maid of the Xiao family was so good at needlework. It really made her feel ashamed.
He Yan obviously didn't know how to needlework. When she first married into the Xu family, He Wanru would make shoes and clothes for Xu Zhiheng every few days. He Yan stayed up several nights and only managed to make a handkerchief. She wanted to embroider mandarin ducks playing in water on the handkerchief. Xu Zhiheng stared at it for a long time before asking, "This is … a duck?"
He Yan was greatly shocked. Xu Zhiheng laughed loudly. Although he later accepted the handkerchief, he didn't use it. He Yan understood. After all, he was an official in the imperial court. If he took out a handkerchief with a duck embroidered on it, he would be laughed at by his colleagues. But later, when she found the crumpled and yellowed handkerchief at the bottom of Xu Zhiheng's drawer, she felt a little wronged when she thought about how her hands were full of needle marks.
She had always been learning things that men needed to learn. She didn't know how to play the zither, go, calligraphy, painting, needlework and embroidery. When she had to work as an ordinary woman, she felt at a loss.
There was also a small wooden basket on the table. In the basket, there were some needlework and silver scissors. It should be used by the servants. He Yan picked up the silver scissors. The scissors were very delicate. She was used to holding swords, knives, sticks, and spears with both hands. But this pair of scissors felt particularly heavy.
In fact, He Yan didn't know how to do needlework at all. After all, during the years that he joined the army, he only had two sets of clothes. It was inevitable that there would be times when they would be tattered. As long as there was a tear, the brothers would casually find a piece of cloth or something to fill in the hole. But in the end, the men's skills weren't as meticulous as the women's. It could only be said that they sewed, but it really couldn't be considered beautiful. Sometimes, if there were too many patches on a piece of clothing, it would look worse than a beggar on the street.
He Yan had also sewed by candlelight before, but that was already a matter of his previous life.
The two sachets were placed side by side in front of her. Xiao Jue's sachet was more gorgeous, while He Yan's was more ordinary. She reached out and pinched it. The insides were flat. She could vaguely feel a triangular piece of paper and some hairy medicinal herbs. He Yan thought for a moment, then took out the needlework from the wooden basket.
The oil in the oil lamp was about to burn out. He Yan stretched and stood up.
Half the night had passed. She wiped the beads of blood from her fingers and lightly sighed.
It seems that Lady He's needlework wasn't very good. In both her previous and current life, she really didn't have any talent for needlework. He Yan smiled, extinguished the lamp, and got on the bed. The moonlight outside the window was weak, faintly illuminating a corner of the front table.
On the table, there were two sachets lying side by side. They didn't look any different from before.
In the capital, Shen Muxue's room, the lanterns were still lit.
The servants in the courtyard were already asleep, but Shen Muxue wasn't sleepy at all. She laid flat on the bed and stared at the sachets hanging in the four corners of the curtains.
It had been a few days since she returned to the capital. Xiao Jue should have already known. This time, she didn't go to the Xiao Mansion. But at the same time, Xiao Jue didn't say anything. It was Eldest Madame Bai Rong who sent someone to the Xiao Mansion to ask about her.
Shen Muxue was a bit annoyed as she turned over.
Even Censor Shen could tell that something was wrong. He asked her if she had quarreled with Xiao Jue. Shen Muxue shook her head and perfunctorily brushed it off. But in her heart, she felt a bit more nervous.
She originally wanted to let Xiao Jue know that she was uncomfortable. But after a few days of stalemate, she was the one who was unsure. Perhaps Xiao Jue didn't know. He was a person who didn't care about these things. But what if he knew … and did it on purpose?
There was a ball of fire in Shen Muxue's heart.
When she left the Liang Zhou Guards, she found a figurine and a drawing made of wood in the box. She couldn't help but think about it. The figurine was a woman. Did Xiao Jue have someone in his heart? If that was the only thing, she wouldn't be so worried. But the figurine on the drawing was a female general.
And her eyes were very similar to He Yan's.
In an instant, all the things that she had suspected in the past became evidence in front of her eyes. Xiao Jue was overly close to and took care of He Yan. He Yan sometimes showed signs that made her uncomfortable. When they were in Jiyang, Xiao Jue had also brought He Yan along. Xiao Jue's black jade, which never left his side, was once in He Yan's hand. The ointment that Xiao Jue especially emphasized not to take away appeared in He Yan's hands the next day.
If he was gay, it would be too shocking. But … what if He Yan was a woman?
Shen Muxue closed her eyes.
When the young lady was dressed as a young man, she was already very handsome and eye-catching. Her eyes were delicate and pretty. If she was dressed as a woman, Shen Muxue thought bitterly. She could easily catch people's attention.
In the past few years, although she didn't have Xiao Jue, she didn't feel too threatened. This young man was very outstanding when he was young. He had a lazy temperament. Later on, when his family experienced great changes, he became more indifferent and introverted. Although his temperament was like this, his talent and appearance made the ladies who liked him throw themselves at him dauntlessly. But she had never seen Xiao Jue fall in love with anyone.
He wasn't easy to fall in love. So Shen Muxue believed that she was the only woman in the world who could accompany him on the battlefield and support him. As long as there was enough time, everything would happen naturally.
Her confidence came from her arrogance. But now, her arrogance was completely shattered.
There was a woman who could do more than her. Not only could she accompany Xiao Jue on the battlefield, but she could also fight side by side with him. He Yan could do what she couldn't. As for family background … Xiao Jing could even marry Bai Rongwei, who was a concubine's daughter. Xiao family didn't care about this at all.
Shen Muxue's heart tightened.
She couldn't get Xiao Jue's love, but she also didn't want to see He Yan beat her to it. She was the one who came first. She was the one who stayed by Xiao Jue's side the longest …
In the dark night, Shen Muxue suddenly sat up.
She put on her outer clothes, walked to the table, and lit the oil lamp. She found paper, brush, and ink and sat in front of the table.
The light from the oil lamp was so dazzling that it hurt her eyes. Her hands were trembling slightly. After a while, Shen Muxue seemed to have made up her mind. She picked up the brush and started writing.
No one would be satisfied if they didn't get a happy ending after spending so much time and energy. She couldn't accept such an ending. If Xiao Jue wasn't destined to stand on her side and think for her, then … she could only start from He Yan's side.
Shen Muxue wrote faster and faster. Suddenly, the tip of the brush was wrong. She used too much strength and scratched the paper. She stared blankly at the thin paper in front of her. She suddenly raised her hand, rolled the paper into a ball, and threw it on the floor.
After a while, she covered her face with her hands and cried softly.
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