Night shrouded the wilderness.
In the thatched hut, someone was hiding in the corner. His lips were moving, but no one knew what he was saying.
"Young master, we found them. Xu Jingfu's men are chasing after them. These two brothers are a bit delirious now. We might have to bring them back to the city for young master Lin to take a look." Luan Ying stood beside Xiao Jue and said in a low voice.
These were the survivors of the Battle of Mingshui.
In the Battle of Mingshui, Xiao Zhongwu's soldiers were almost completely annihilated. Among them, apart from Chai Anxi, no one else survived. And the soldiers who were still alive also died one after another. As for how they died and whether there was anything strange about their deaths, no one cared anymore. It had been five years since the Battle of Mingshui. Perhaps in this world, apart from Xiao Zhongwu's son, no one would care about the dead General Guangwu and the sinister plot hidden in that famous defeat.
"Is there no other way?" Xiao Jue frowned. "Like this, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold on until we return to the city."
"When we came out, we were in a hurry and only brought medicine for injuries. We didn't bring anything to calm the mind." Luan Ying shook her head. "Xu Jingfu's men chased them for seven days and seven nights. They didn't sleep and didn't rest, so they couldn't hold on."
Of course, a war of attrition was very tiring, especially a war of attrition like this. Xiao Jue thought for a moment and took a sachet from his waist. It was the sachet made by Bai Rongwei that He Yan gave him. He held the sachet and pulled open the string. Inside, there was a very small protective talisman and some medicinal herbs. According to He Yan, it was very important to focus the mind.
Xiao Jue poured out the medicinal herbs and gave them to Luan Ying. "Let them smell it. We won't leave tonight. Let them rest for a night in another place."
Luan Ying agreed.
After investigating Xu Jingfu and the Mingshui case for so long, they finally found two living witnesses. It wasn't easy. But this also showed that Xiao Jue's ability had gradually grown to the point where he could compete with Xu Jingfu. For example, this time, he won the kidnapping.
He couldn't stay here for long. He had to find another place. After finding a house outside the city, everyone, including the two delirious brothers, settled down.
Chi Wu and Fei Nu stood guard in front of the brothers' door to prevent any accidents during the night. Luan Ying went out to scout for information. Nights in the suburbs were always exceptionally cold and cheerless. Especially during autumn, when there was rarely any sign of human habitation within a dozen li radius. The moon was white and bright, shining down on the empty wilderness like flowing silver water, giving rise to a sense of desolation for no reason.
Actually, he didn't like the Mid-Autumn Festival. This was because the Mid-Autumn Festival always reminded him of very bad memories of the past. The more perfect the moon was, the lonelier it seemed. Every year around this time, he would find it hard to fall asleep. In the past, when he was in the barracks, he could read documents for half the night. Now that he was back in Shuo Jing, there was nothing he could do.
Xiao Jue lowered her head and looked at the sachet in her hand. The medicinal herbs in the sachet had been emptied, leaving only a flat layer. The Protective Talisman was small. After thinking for a while, he opened the sachet, intending to put the Protective Talisman back in.
Although it was embroidered by a servant of the Xiao family, the silk material and patterns were personally chosen by Bai Rongwei. Bai Rongwei was always very persistent on this matter, so the sachet was especially exquisite. Her fingers touched it, and the silk was as cold as moonlight.
Xiao Jue's gaze paused for a moment. In the next moment, her fingertips brushed against the inside of the sachet, touching a rough protrusion. This protrusion on the smooth surface of the sachet was particularly different. She lowered her eyes and turned the sachet over.
The inside appeared in front of Xiao Jue.
The inside of the sachet was embroidered with two layers. It was a double-layer embroidery, and the inner layer was a normal black cloth without any patterns. However, at this moment, there was a crooked, bright yellow horn embroidered on the inner layer. It was impossible to tell what it was, but it could be seen that the embroiderer's skill was not very good. The thread was not even cut clean.
How to say it, the black python outside the sachet and the yellow horn inside the sachet did not seem to be the same thing.
What did this mean? Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. Bai Rongwei's skill was much better than this. If the Xiao family's servant's needlework looked like this, it would be a bit scary if word got out. This sachet was given to him by He Yan. In the entire Xiao family, other than Lady He, there was no one else who could make needlework like this.
He turned the sachet over and over again, trying to find traces of other things that He Yan embroidered. However, there was nothing. Other than this yellow horn, she did not embroider anything else.
Xiao Jue's mouth twitched.
Was she using his sachet to practice her skills? She also practiced it so sneakily and silently. If he did not need to take the herbs inside to open the sachet, he was afraid that he would never discover the secret inside. But what was the point of doing this? If she really wanted to practice, she could find a white handkerchief and embroider it endlessly, hiding it inside. He always felt that there was a deeper meaning that he did not understand.
Just at this time, in the wilderness, there was the sound of footsteps. A twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy walked up to him and said with a smile, "Young Master!"
This child was Luan Ying's son, called Bai Xian. He had handsome features and looked very similar to Luan Ying. However, he was young and his cheeks were a bit chubby, making him look simple and honest and cute. Unlike Luan Ying's cold temperament, Bai Xian was like any other boy his age. He was naive and even a bit talkative.
He liked Xiao Jue very much. No matter how many times Luan Ying warned him not to be impudent, Bai Xian did not remember. Xiao Jue did not care about these things. Therefore, whenever Luan Ying did not look, Bai Xian would try to find a way to stick to Xiao Jue whenever he saw her.
Bai Xian saw the sachet in Xiao Jue's hands. His eyes were good. In the darkness, he could see the embroidery on the cloth clearly. He blurted out, "Eh? This moon embroidery is so beautiful! "
"… Moon?" Xiao Jue was stunned.
Bai Xian answered confidently, "Young master, look. It's yellow and curved. It's the moon!" He moved closer and stood on his tiptoes to observe the embroidery in Xiao Jue's hands. He praised, "This is a black lining. It represents the night. This moon is embroidered on it. It represents the moon in the night. Young master, you are the moon in the night. You are the moon in the night. Dazzling, dazzling!" The more the child spoke, the more excited he became. He whispered mysteriously, "Young Master, is this a gift from Miss?"
Xiao Jue was speechless.
He was a bit uncomfortable and took back the sachet. "No."
"How could it not be?" Bai Xian was very confused. "If it wasn't a girl, how could a man embroider such exquisite embroidery?"
Xiao Jue wondered if Bai Xian was He Yan's biological brother. It was rare that they had the same evaluation of "beauty".
Bai Xian wanted to ask more, but a voice suddenly exploded behind him. "Bai Xian!"
Bai Xian was so scared that he quickly hid behind Xiao Jue. "Mother … I came out to use the toilet and just happened to see young master."
Luan Ying grabbed him by the ear and pulled him out from behind Xiao Jue. "How many times have I told you not to disturb young master? Why is this child so immature? Young master, I'm sorry. I'll take him back now! "
Luan Ying carried the White Pheasant back, leaving Xiao Jue alone in the wilderness.
The moonlight shone on the black wilderness. The soil was covered with white frost. It was like the snow by the Wei River in Liang Province, pouring into the cold.
The emotionless moon was like a dream. He curved his lips and turned to leave. Suddenly, he paused as if he thought of something and looked up.
In his memory, there was a girl whose face was hidden under a mask in the midst of a lively and laughing crowd. She was chatting nonchalantly on a high platform.
"The last secret." She stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to his chin. She said softly, "I like the moon."
"The moon doesn't know."
The day of entering the palace arrived quickly.
Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei also wanted to enter the palace. When they found out that He Yan didn't go with them, but with Lin Shuanghe, they were a bit surprised. However, they were very considerate and didn't ask much. When Lin Shuanghe's carriage arrived, they sent He Yan to the carriage and told him to meet again in the palace.
Lin Shuanghe sat in the carriage and waved his fan. "Huaijin is probably afraid that you won't get along with Brother Rubi. We're all old friends, so it'll be easier for us to get along." He looked at He Yan again and sighed. "It's Huaijin's loss that he didn't come back today. Our He Meimei looks so handsome in such gorgeous men's clothing. If you go to the palace with me, no one among the civil and military officials will be able to steal our light. "
He Yan was thinking about other things and gave a perfunctory reply. Lin Shuanghe saw this scene and thought that she was nervous because it was her first time entering the palace. He comforted her. "Don't be afraid, He Meimei. I'm here. I'm very familiar with the palace. You can do whatever you want. As long as you don't kill or set fire, you can find my grandfather to settle it. "
He was already very good at setting up his father and grandfather, so he brought He Yan along as well.
The carriage sped along. After an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at the palace gates. The imperial bodyguards in front of the palace were already very familiar with Lin Shuanghe's carriage. Lin Shuanghe and He Yan got off the carriage and followed the palace attendant inside.
This was He Yan's first time entering the palace.
If it was at this time in her previous life, she would be nervous because she could see the Emperor and be rewarded. But after dying once, she knew that the so-called future and riches were fleeting clouds. She didn't enter the palace for the future, but for a debt from her previous life.
Bypassing the palace's long corridor and garden, they walked past the front hall. The Emperor's banquet this time was nothing more than a celebration. The people who came were all important people in the imperial court. For example, Lin Shuanghe could also sneak in because of his relationship with Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu.
In the front hall, there were already many people. He Yan looked around and didn't see Xiao Jing and his wife's shadow. Lin Shuanghe said in a low voice, "We took the shortcut. Brother Rubi should have taken the main road, so he might be a bit late. It's okay, He Yan. I'll follow you. When someone comes to greet you, I'll tell them your name. It'll help you get to know some people. "
As soon as he finished speaking, someone said, "Lin Shuanghe!"
However, this person didn't come to get to know He Yan, because this person was Yan He. Yan He was wearing his official robe. The woman standing next to him was elegant and gentle. Her appearance couldn't be considered stunning, but it was very pleasant to look at. She bowed from Lin Shuanghe. "Young Master Lin."
This was Yan He's wife, Xia Chengxiu.
Chengxiu was a person who did things as he pleased. Under everyone's gaze, he put his arm around Xia Chengxiu's shoulder and pouted at He Yan. "Chengxiu, this is the confidant I told you about. He hates He Rufei as much as I do. However, he's now Xiao Huaijin's man. "He looked at He Yan." Do you want to work for me? "
Before He Yan could speak, Lin Shuanghe waved his hand righteously. "No! Of course, this kind of thing has to be faithful to the end. How can you change people halfway through? "
Yan He was confused. "You have to be faithful to the end?"
"Could it be that you're such a fickle person in your heart?" Lin Shuanghe looked at Xia Chengxiu. "Sister-in-law, I'm worried about you."
Xia Chengxiu: "…"
Yan He was furious. "Lin Shuanghe, shut up. How can you sow discord like this?"
Lin Shuanghe: "It's good that you know."
Yan He cursed and left with Xia Chengxiu. Lin Shuanghe heaved a sigh of relief. He turned his head and was about to ask He Yan, but he saw that He Yan was staring blankly in a direction. Lin Shuanghe followed her gaze and saw that not far away, there were people talking. Standing in the middle was a young man in a long robe. He was refined and handsome. He was no stranger. This was the Hanlin Academy scholar, Xu Zhiheng.
Lin Shuanghe was a little puzzled. He Yan was staring at Xu Zhiheng. Those who didn't know better would think that she had taken a liking to him. However, Xu Zhiheng was already married. Moreover, in terms of refinement and handsome, Chu Zhao wasn't bad either. Compared to Chu Zhao, Xu Zhiheng was far inferior.
Could it be that she couldn't get Chu Zhao and was looking for a substitute? Lin Shuanghe's mind was a mess.
On the other side, Xu Zhiheng seemed to have noticed that someone was looking at him. He followed the gaze and looked over. He Yan was a stranger here. Xu Zhiheng had never seen her before, but he recognized Lin Shuanghe. Lin Shuanghe didn't have an official position. Lin Qingtan and Lin Muzhi were good at conducting themselves in the imperial court. Most of the officials in the imperial court were on good terms with the Lin family. At least, they wouldn't take the initiative to make enemies. Seeing that Lin Shuanghe was also looking at him, Xu Zhiheng was a little surprised at first. Then, he temporarily left his colleagues who were talking to him and walked over to Lin Shuanghe.
"Brother Lin." He stopped in front of Lin Shuanghe and said warmly, "Long time no see."
Lin Shuanghe recognized Xu Zhiheng, but they were just acquaintances. They weren't familiar with each other. However, he was a shrewd person. He took advantage of the situation and said, "Yes, I went to Liangzhou for a while. Our Shuojing is still the best. Oh right, this is a brother I met in Liangzhou. "
He Yan raised her eyes to look at Xu Zhiheng.
It had been more than two years since she last "saw" Xu Zhiheng. In her memory, Xu Zhiheng was a gentle and considerate man. At the very least, he was a handsome young master with a face that could completely deceive people. Now that she looked at him again, she didn't know if it was because the face reflected the heart, but Xu Zhiheng's face had become a lot harsher.
He had lost a lot of weight. His official's robe was already loose, so it made him look even more stooped. Because he was too thin and weak, his face also looked a little old. Even the smile he deliberately squeezed out looked exceptionally stiff.
Xu Zhiheng was also sizing up the person in front of him.
This was a very delicate and pretty young man. His eyebrows were full of heroic spirit. His red round-necked robe made his lips red and his teeth white. A black belt around his waist outlined his extremely beautiful figure. The most attractive thing was his eyes. They were clearly gentle, but his gaze was sharp. This young man had been staring at him from afar. It was clearly the first time they had met, but his gaze seemed to surge with all kinds of emotions. It was cold and gloomy, as if he could see through all of his disguises. He couldn't help but feel his heart palpitate.
Xu Zhiheng felt uncomfortable being stared at like this. He turned to Lin Shuanghe. "This is …"
"Lord Xu, don't look at this little brother's young age. He has already been personally conferred the title of Mu An Lang by Her Majesty. His name is He Yan. In the future, he will be our colleague. "
Xu Zhiheng originally had a smile on his face as he listened to Lin Shuanghe's words. When he heard the last part, his smile disappeared in a flash. He asked, "You said … what is his name?"
"Lord Xu." He Yan looked at him with a smile. "This one is called He Yan. He as in He Miao, and Yan as in He Qinghai."
Xu Zhiheng's expression changed greatly.
The corners of the young man's lips were slightly raised. He looked friendly and inexperienced. However, when he looked carefully at his eyes, there wasn't the slightest hint of a smile. It was like a pool of ice-cold water that brought people to an afternoon when a young woman was struggling to fall into a bottomless abyss. The oppressive feeling of suffocation rose up his throat.
His throat was dry, and he couldn't say a complete sentence.
Fortunately, at this time, someone called Lin Shuanghe's name. It was Lin Qingtan. Lin Shuanghe dragged He Yan away. He said, "Brother He, that's my grandfather. I'll take you to see him."
The person in front of him left.
Xu Zhiheng almost suspected that the name he had just heard was a dream, caused by his uneasiness. However, when he looked up, the young man standing beside Lin Shuanghe in the distance and talking to Lin Qingtan … reminded him that this was reality.
There really was a person called "He Yan" in front of him.
Xu Zhiheng was drenched in cold sweat. A colleague noticed his abnormality and asked with concern, "Lord Xu, what's the matter? Why is your face so ugly? Are you not feeling well? "
Xu Zhiheng forced a smile and waved his hand. "It's nothing." He turned and walked to an empty corner, not daring to let others see his shock.
He curled his fingers and did his best to convince himself. So what if he was called He Yan? In this world, there were many people with the same name. "Young Mistress Xu" was already dead. He had personally seen her being sealed into a coffin. This He Yan was a man. Moreover, he didn't look very old, so it shouldn't match.
But …
But …
But that young man called He Yan, the way he stared at him, made Xu Zhiheng's back crawl with chills when he thought about it.
Indifference, hatred, mockery, and in an instant, it turned into a smile as if he had seen through everything.
Moreover, he had said those words.
When he first saw He Yan, or rather, when he first saw He Yan with his real name, that girl was wearing a skirt and said rather uncomfortably, "My surname is He, first name is Yan. He as in He Miao, Yan as in He Qinghai."
Xu Zhiheng closed his eyes.
How could there be such a coincidence?
How could such a coincidence happen in front of him? This was really …
He Yan, who was not far away, saw his uneasiness and sneered in his heart.
Wang Ba always said that if one walked in the dark for too long, they would encounter ghosts. He originally thought that this person was too timid, but now it seemed that his words were not without reason. For example, Sun Ling and his son in Liangzhou City had committed countless evil deeds. Countless women had died in their hands, but they were still afraid of evil spirits coming for their lives, so they filled their courtyard with Buddha statues and divine talismans.
Lin Shuanghe was very popular. Wherever he went, he couldn't help but exchange greetings with people. He Yan followed beside him, matching the positions of these people with their faces.
Where they were, what they were doing. When the battlefield changed to the imperial court, the general would never fight an unprepared battle.
At this moment, someone shouted, "General Feihong is here, General Feihong is here!"
The officials present quieted down and looked in the direction of the outer gate. It had to be said that the two great generals of the Great Wei, Fei Hong and Feng Yun, were always eye-catching no matter the time. Today, Xiao Jue couldn't come, so He Rufei was the only eye-catching person.
Yan He, who was standing at the side, snorted and said disdainfully, "He's not the emperor. Is there a need to put on such airs?"
Xia Chengxiu tugged at his sleeve, and Yan He stopped talking.
He Yan followed the crowd and looked in the direction of the outer gate.
Following the palace servant's lead, someone walked in. This man was wearing the official robes of a military general. He was quite handsome and had the unique style and roughness of a military general. When someone greeted him, he would nod in response. He seemed to be friendly, but he also maintained a sense of alienation.
This bit of estrangement made this "General Feihong" seem even more mysterious.
"Tsk." He Yan heard Lin Shuanghe say, "This kid was quite cute when he was young. Why is he becoming more and more unlikable as he grows? How is he different from those old fellows who have been in the bureaucracy for many years? "He added softly," The bureaucracy is a big dye vat … Fortunately, I'm not an official. "
This was the first time He Yan saw He Rufei like this in front of his colleagues in court. With the name of General Feihong, he lived like a fish in water without any burden. It was as if he was General Feihong from start to finish.
He Yan felt disgusted.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was too focused that He Rufei also seemed to sense it and looked towards him. The moment their eyes met, He Yan turned his head and spoke to Lin Shuanghe. He Rufei only saw an unfamiliar youth standing next to Lin Shuanghe. Maybe it was his imagination? He Rufei didn't take it to heart and found a good colleague to sit with.
Of course, he got to know his good colleagues after he took off his mask. In the past, he had nothing to do with them. As for Xu Zhiheng, in front of outsiders, they weren't close. Everyone knew that He Rufei and He Xinying were very close as siblings. However, towards this brother-in-law of theirs, they could only be considered as friends of a gentleman. After all, one was a civil official while the other was a military official. Even if they wanted to be intimate, there was nothing they could talk about.
He Yan knew this wasn't the case.
They were just people with a guilty conscience. They were afraid of being caught, so they did it on purpose. It seemed that they were very afraid of that matter being discovered. The more afraid they were, the more confident He Yan was.
Lin Shuanghe said, "Let's sit down first."
The men and women had to sit separately. However, there were very few women at this kind of palace banquet. Other than the madams that the Empress Dowager liked and their daughters, there was no one else.
After some time, an eunuch came in to announce that Emperor Wenxuan had arrived.
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