The dungeon was very damp, and there were bloodstains and stains on the floor. He Xinying hugged her knees and sat in the corner, watching the black insects crawling under the hay. She couldn't help but shiver.
It was too cold here, and no one paid any attention to her. She had been pampered since she was a child, so when had she ever suffered such grievances? But the jailers here didn't pay any attention to her. He Rufei and Xu Zhiheng weren't locked in the same place as her, so she didn't know where they were. In the beginning, she didn't know what had happened.
It wasn't until the jailers here began to chat and talk about what happened on the Heavenly Star Platform that He Xinying recalled what Liu 'er had said to her before she was caught, and she slowly came to her senses.
Her dead elder sister was the real General Feihong. For all these years, He Rufei and He Yan had been using each other's identities. After He Yan entered the capital, He Rufei falsely claimed meritorious service, and in order to get rid of future troubles, he actually drowned He Yan in the Xu Family's pond.
No wonder, no wonder every time she passed by the pond in the courtyard, she always felt cold all over. No wonder Xu Zhiheng searched He Yan's former residence for He Yan's belongings.
Xu Zhiheng … Did he also know about this matter? Or was he also one of the executioners in this matter? He Xinying felt cold all over.
The one who revealed the truth was General Fengyun, Xiao Huaijin. Previously at Yu Hua Temple, when her mother saw Xiao Huaijin, she took the initiative to talk to him. Thinking of He Er's wife, He Xinying felt a burst of heartache.
Did He Er's wife also know about this matter from beginning to end? When Eldest Uncle made this request, didn't Father say anything to stop it? He Rufei ordered He Yan to be drowned. Did Father know about it but didn't say anything, or was he completely unaware? He Xinying hoped it was the latter, but in her heart, she felt it was very likely to be the former.
She leaned against the wall weakly. Looking back on half of her life, she felt like it was a joke. The father that she thought loved her dearly turned out to be a person who could disregard the kinship of his own flesh and blood for the sake of benefits. She thought that she had married the ideal husband, but it turned out that her big brother, who she thought was awe-inspiring and could bring protection to the family, was actually an impostor who only knew how to seize other people's merits and use the power of others to intimidate others. In the end, her family was broken up. Her mother was gone, and her elder sister was long gone. She was all alone here, and her heart was filled with desolation.
The crime of deceiving the monarch was punishable by death. He Xinying sobbed softly. Forget it, death was death. There was no one in this world that she was reluctant to part with. Being able to reunite with his family after death was not necessarily a bad thing.
Just as he was thinking, he suddenly heard footsteps. He Xinying looked up and saw a prison guard following behind an unfamiliar man.
The two of them walked to He Xinying's cell door. The jailer opened the door and said to He Xinying, "Miss He, please."
He Xinying was startled, "Where are we going?"
"His Majesty is benevolent. He is grateful to General Feihong for his meritorious service in pacifying Western Qiang and died with injustice. Miss He is General Feihong's biological sister, so His Majesty is lenient. However, in the future, he will be demoted to a commoner and will spare Miss He's life. From today onwards, Miss He does not need to stay here. "
He Xinying took a while to understand what the jailer meant. She slowly stood up and walked out of the door. She followed the two of them out of the prison.
The night outside was dark. Her clothes were thin and she stood alone. She suddenly gained freedom, but she did not know where to go next. The He family and Xu family were no longer here. The world was big, but there was no place for her to stay.
He Xinying lowered her head and smiled bitterly. She muttered to herself, "Where else can I go?"
"Miss He." Someone spoke from behind her.
He Xinying turned around to look. It was the man who came with the jailer. He seemed to be a guard from some family. He Xinying said, "Miss He, if you don't have anywhere else to go, you can temporarily go to a place to hide."
"Where?" He Xinying asked.
"Your sister studied at the Xianchang School when she was young. The head of the Xianchang School, Wei Xuanzhang, had a teacher-student relationship with your sister. After learning the truth, I sympathize with your sister's situation. If Miss He has nowhere else to go, you can go to Mr. Wei's house first. Mr. Wei often stays at the school and only has his wife at home. "
He Xinying was stunned.
After a while, she laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "So even after my sister's death, she is still protecting me …"
"Young Master, please lead the way," she said. Now that the He and Xu families were in trouble, she did not need to think to know that her former relatives and friends were afraid of getting into trouble and avoided them like snakes and scorpions. If she went now, no one would dare to take her in. She had not thought of what to do next, but first, she had to find a place to sit down and thoroughly understand all the things that she did not understand.
She really did not have anywhere else to go.
Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, who were in prison, did not know that He Xinying had been taken out.
They were detained separately to prevent the two of them from colluding. He Rufei could not see Xu Zhiheng, and Xu Zhiheng could not see He Rufei. However, this was a good thing for the two of them. If the two of them were really locked up together, they would probably fight on the spot.
Xu Zhiheng hated He Rufei for being a burden to him. He Rufei hated Xu Zhiheng for being impatient to throw all the blame on him when something happened on the Heavenly Star Platform.
In the end, because of the benefits of the alliance, it was as fragile as paper. As long as the wind blew, the rain fell, and there was no need to tear, he would be unrecognizable.
He Rufei sat in the corner of the prison. Even at this time, he did not give up. He was still thinking of a possible escape plan. Prime Minister Xu's people would definitely not sit by and do nothing. If they wanted to save Xu Jingfu, they might be able to help him as well. In the worst case scenario, Xu Jingfu would abandon the rook to save the king. However, he still had evidence of Xu Jingfu's treason. How could Xu Jingfu leave him behind to protect himself? How could it be possible?
The incident on the Heavenly Star Platform was really beyond his expectations. He did not expect that woman called He Yan to be so powerful. He also did not expect that Xiao Jue already had so much evidence in her hands. Step by step, she forced him to a point of no return.
He Yan … Thinking of that woman, He Rufei's eyes flashed with a trace of malice.
What was the relationship between that woman and his dead cousin? He Rufei did not know. He did not see He Yan's heroic appearance on the battlefield. Because when he returned to Shuo Jing, He Yan had quickly changed back to her female appearance. Therefore, he only heard about the legends of "General Feihong" and did not see it with his own eyes. From his point of view, the dead He Yan, his cousin, was merely a woman who appeared to be a bit stronger than ordinary women.
When others said that General Feihong's skills were extraordinary, he did not believe it. When others said that General Feihong could fight against ten people on the battlefield, he also did not believe it. The reason why he did not believe it was very simple. It was because he could not do it. If he could not do it, He Yan was a woman. It was even more impossible for her to do it.
Until the sword duel on the Heavenly Star Platform.
He Rufei closed his eyes. A wave of frustration rose in his heart.
If the real He Yan was still alive, would she be like this when she used a sword? But how could she still be alive? She definitely could not be alive!
In the quiet prison, the sound of footsteps could be heard. He Rufei was locked in the innermost cell. He listened carefully. The footsteps were getting closer and closer until they stopped in front of him.
The prison guard actually opened the cell door.
He Rufei raised his head and looked at the person who came in.
The young man in black coldly glanced at him. It was as if he was stingy to waste a second on him. He was standing, while He Rufei was sitting. It was as if he was showing that he was inferior.
"I wonder what Military Governor Xiao is doing here?" He Rufei sneered. "Don't tell me he is here to silence me?"
Without waiting for Xiao Jue to reply, he opened his mouth again. "Actually, I don't understand. How did Military Governor Xiao find out about this matter?"
If it was Xu Zhiheng who leaked the information to Mother Qin, then Xiao Jue immediately guessed the reason. Furthermore, she had already started to collect evidence. He Rufei could not understand even if he thought about it now. After all, putting everything else aside, if he told others that "General Fei Hong is a woman", they would only think that he was spouting nonsense.
Why did Xiao Jue know about it?
The young man looked at him indifferently and said coldly, "How do you think I found out?"
"I don't know." He Rufei stared at the person in front of him and suddenly smiled. He leaned against the wall and said slowly, "I heard that you and my dead sister went to school together. Let me think, maybe you had an affair with her. Are you treating me like this because you want to stand up for my sister?" He snorted and his face became a little distorted. "Is there really someone in this world who likes my rebellious sister? What's so good about her? She doesn't even seem like a woman …"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a pain in his chest and flew out. His back hit the stone wall and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Xiao Jue did not hold back. He Rufei was kicked for a long time. The prison guard had already received the news and retreated outside. He turned a blind eye to the situation inside.
If Xu Jingfu fell, no one in the imperial court would be able to stop Xiao Jue. At this juncture, no one dared to offend the Right Military Governor.
He Rufei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Xiao Jue. He slowly smiled.
General Fengyun, the jade-faced Military Governor of Da Wei. He was so mighty and heroic. Just by standing here, he was enough to make people unable to look away. No one could steal his limelight. If He Yan had not changed everyone's fate that year, he might not have interacted with Xiao Jue in his life.
But he did.
"Why are all of you so angry?" He Rufei sneered. "Everyone is fighting for justice for my sister, but what about me?" His voice suddenly rose. "What about me?! What about my life?! Is it not important? She should pay for her stupid decision for her entire life! Why should I? I also have things that I want to do. Do you think I want to be a general? " His eyes were red. He was like a wild beast that wanted to tear everything apart. "Who wants to be a general? Ah, who wants to be a general?! "
He Rufei had not lived in the He residence for as long as he could remember. He lived in a faraway village. He knew that his health was not good and he also knew that he had swapped identities with his cousin. He could not go to places that were too far away and he could not leave his side. He Yuansheng and his wife would sometimes secretly come to see him, but they would always leave in a hurry.
The doctor said that he would not live for more than a few years, but he did not know if it was because he was tough, but he endured year after year. When he was sixteen years old, his body had completely recovered. He thought that he could leave the village and return to the He family as the Eldest Young Master. But at that time, he received news that He Yan had gone to the battlefield and he could not return for the time being.
He Rufei was forced to continue staying in the village.
He had also secretly prayed that He Yan would not die on the battlefield. It was not because of the deep sibling relationship, nor was it because he was kind-hearted. It was because He Yan was using his identity. If He Yan died on the battlefield, he, the Eldest Young Master, would never be able to return to the He family.
Fortunately, He Yan came back.
In those many years, He Rufei did not have many feelings for He Yan. He did not like him, but he also did not hate him. Until the day he returned to the He family, He Yan had just returned home and did not see him. Outside, the soldiers and horses were crowding around the young deputy general. She wore a mask and stood in the sunlight, looking magnanimous and frank. Her sword was beautiful and sharp, and her warhorse was strong and gentle. Although her face could not be seen, her eyes were as bright as the stars.
He Rufei's heart suddenly had a trace of resentment.
For so many years, he had been living a shameful life in the village. He thought that He Yan was the same as him, but when he really saw her, he realized that she was completely different. She used her identity to live such a happy life. What right did she have? She decided the fate of others without permission and then returned the fate that had already been arranged to his own hands.
Why?
He Rufei's heart was very complicated. On one hand, he hated accepting the fate that He Yan had already chosen, such as being a military general. But on the other hand, when he stood in the throne room and received the Emperor's reward, he would feel satisfied when the courtiers looked at him with envy and jealousy.
But this kind of satisfaction humiliated him because He Rufei was very clear that the praise and good name belonged to He Yan, and not to him. Every time he heard those people praise General Feihong's bravery and invincibility on the battlefield behind his back, his heart would be especially tormented. This little bit of torment would eventually give birth to anxiety. This anxiety made him feel uneasy. Even when He Yan got married, he did not solve this problem.
For example, when he stole a beautiful gemstone, he was proud of himself for being able to own this gemstone. He also accepted the envious and longing gazes of others, but he was also worried that one day, someone would discover that the owner of this gemstone was not him.
This evil thought grew bigger and bigger until one day, he thought, if only He Yan was dead. When this thought appeared, He Rufei found that he actually calmed down.
He found a way to solve this problem.
Breaking the wings would only make General Feihong unable to fly into the sky, but Feihong was still Feihong. It would be better to pull the bird down from the sky, drown it in the water, and bury it in the ground. In the future, no one would find this bird's trace.
He finally calmed down.
But why, not long after the peaceful days passed, it was impatiently interrupted by someone who could not wait.
"Liar." The young man's voice was calm, and his eyes were as cold as water. "You really want to be General Feihong, but you don't dare to admit it."
As if the secret in the depths of his heart was seen, He Rufei suddenly raised his head. "I don't!"
"You do."
He Rufei gritted his teeth. The man's eyes were clear and indifferent, but it made him unable to hide his embarrassment. He clenched his fists and tried to stand up. "Tell me, is she He Yan or not?"
"If I say yes," the young man lowered his eyes, his silver crown drew a cold light under the dim light of the prison. "What will you do?"
"I don't believe it." He Rufei could not help but tremble. He did not know whether it was from hatred or fear. He said, "I don't believe a word you say."
But in fact, he somewhat believed it.
Those inexplicable coincidences, the familiarity with the He family's terrain, the secret in the study room, the secret of the exquisite box … … and that "Big Brother" on the Heavenly Star Platform.
The two of them were born at the same time on a certain night many years ago, so fate was forced, coincidental, and entangled together. Like two intertwined vines, they absorbed nutrients from each other. If he wanted to live, he had to pull out the vine beside him. The so-called twins did not bring about dependence and trust, but betrayal and enemies.
He Yan lived in the light, so he had to live in the dark. If he wanted to walk in front of people openly, he had to pull out the person who was originally in the light by the roots.
He did well … … He Rufei smiled bitterly.
At this moment, there was an inexplicable sense of relief.
He did not know whether he was jealous or resentful of He Yan, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that what he hated was the feeling of being a substitute. When others looked at you, they were looking at another person. When others thought of you, they were thinking of another person. How laughable, how sad.
The shadow killed the master, but the shadow was still the shadow. In his life with He Yan, whether he was the substitute of He Yan or He Yan was his substitute, no one could say for sure. Was he He Rufei or He Yan? No one could answer him.
What if he and He Yan did not exchange identities at the beginning?
What if he was the eldest son of the He family from the beginning, and each of them chose their own path? What would it be like now?
He Rufei gradually laughed, laughing louder and louder. In the end, he laughed until tears came out of his eyes. He had been pushed forward his whole life, and perhaps only at the last moment of his life could he be free. However, what he left for "He Rufei" was a bad reputation for deceiving the world.
"Xiao Huaijin," He looked up at the person in front of him, "I'll just treat her as He Yan. Didn't you find me at all costs just to stand up for her? If you want my life, fine, take it. "He opened his arms and looked like he was ready to be captured," In the end, this is just a grudge between me and her. What does it have to do with you? "
Xiao Jue walked in front of him and looked at him quietly. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed his neck. The youth's fingers were white, but it seemed like they could crush his bones.
He Rufei could not breathe. He stared at the other person and forced out a cold smile.
"What does it have to do with me?" Xiao Jue asked slowly.
His dark eyes stared at He Rufei like a dark storm. He said word by word, "This is the first time in my life that I, Xiao Jue, tried to coax a girl that I saved. In the end, she was drowned by you. You tell me, what does it have to do with me?"
He Rufei struggled with all his might, but the hand tightened. His eyes rolled up and he kicked his legs. Great fear rose from his heart. He knew that he was going to die in this person's hands.
But in the next moment, the hand around his neck suddenly loosened. He Rufei hugged his neck and coughed.
"I won't kill you." Xiao Jue stood up, back facing him, and said coldly, "Because you don't deserve it."
After that, he left He Rufei, who was still holding his throat and gasping for air.
In the morning, when He Yan woke up, the snow outside had stopped.
Qing Mei called out to Chi Wu in the courtyard, "Imperial Bodyguard Chi Wu, don't add more firewood. The fire is too big and the medicine won't cook well."
Chi Wu silently picked up a few pieces of firewood with a pair of iron tongs.
Lin Shuanghe was, after all, a man. It was not good for him to stay in the He family all the time. Moreover, the He family did not have any extra rooms for him to stay in. The medicine this morning was brewed by Qing Mei herself. He Yunsheng and He Sui went out early in the morning. Qing Mei fanned the fire with a fan. She, who was usually lively, was a little depressed.
He Yan and Fan Cheng were also like this. After they came back, they fell seriously ill. Although He Sui also invited a doctor and the doctor prescribed medicine, He Yan drank bowl after bowl of medicine. His body did not get better. Instead, it got worse. At that time, Qing Mei thought that He Yan might not survive. However, later on, he miraculously got better. She even thought that perhaps Madam's spirit was in heaven. Now, He Yan fell ill again.
Although the white-robed divine physician, Doctor Lin, said that there was nothing serious, Qing Mei was still worried.
Chi Wu saw that she was absent-minded. He thought for a moment and comforted her, "Don't worry. If Young Master Lin says that there is nothing wrong, then Madam He will definitely be fine."
"Not only that," Qing Mei sighed, "When I went to change the water in the room this morning, I saw that Miss was crying in her sleep. At that time … it was also like this. If Miss wasn't hurt, how could she be like this? Yesterday, didn't Miss Tianxing Platform and General Feihong have a sword duel? How could it be like this? Imperial Bodyguard Chi Wu, do you know what happened? "
Chi Wu shook his head. Regarding He Yan, there were too many incomprehensible and suspicious points about him. However, since Xiao Jue didn't allow them to investigate, they naturally wouldn't deliberately investigate.
"Master and Young Master were also very worried yesterday. They really hope that Miss will get better soon," Qing Mei said.
The two of them did not deliberately lower their voices, and He Yan's hearing was outstanding, so he heard their conversation clearly. She was stunned for a moment. The woman in her dream had completely disappeared from her sight. The stove in the room was burning brightly. Beside the table, there was a small white porcelain bowl. The small bowl was filled to the brim with candied fruits.
The candied plums were bright red and sweet. She slowly reached out and picked one up. She looked at it for a while before putting it into her mouth.
It was so sweet that it made her mouth bitter.
Qing Mei pushed the door open with the medicine. When she saw that He Yan was awake, she was startled at first. Then, she smiled happily, "Miss, you are awake. Do you feel unwell?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good." Qing Mei put the medicine bowl on the table. She glanced at the small bowl of candied plums and smiled, "Military Governor Xiao asked this servant to put it here. He said that the medicine brewed by Doctor Lin is bitter. Miss, after drinking the medicine, remember to keep two in your mouth. "
He Yan lowered her head and smiled, "Okay."
Qing Mei felt that He Yan was a little strange, but she couldn't tell what was wrong. She could only move a stool to sit in front of the bed and nagged him not to catch a cold.
Sunlight shone in from the window and the room was inexplicably lively. He Yan looked out of the window. As she looked, she lowered her head and covered her eyes with tears.
Everything was over.
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