General Feihong's case caused a huge uproar in the entire Shuo capital. The soldiers and commoners who had received General Feihong's favor went to the palace to beg for the truth to be investigated. General Feihong had a good reputation among the soldiers and commoners. Once the truth came out, the He and Xu families were angered.
Emperor Wenxuan handed the case to the Supreme Court. In a few days, He Yuanliang couldn't take it anymore and revealed the truth. The officers and soldiers also found a lot of evidence of He Rufei and the Wutuo people in the He family. After this case, the He family deceived the monarch, falsely claimed meritorious service, colluded with the enemy and committed treason. Other than General Feihong's di sister He Xinying, all of them were sentenced to death. The main culprit, He Rufei, was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts. He was sent to the city to be cut 120 times and beheaded.
As for the Hanlin Academy Scholar Xu family, other than Xu Zhiheng, all the men were exiled and the women were not enslaved.
This case was solved very quickly. After hearing the result, the commoners all clapped their hands and said that the He and Xu families deserved it.
The day before the execution, Xu Zhiheng looked at the rancid food in front of him and didn't want to eat.
It was his last meal on the road to the Yellow Springs. The other prisoners had food and wine, but he had nothing. This was because even the jailers felt that Xu Zhiheng's actions were too cruel and heartless. There were many people who had received General Feihong's favor. Now, even if it was for the dead General He, there were many people who didn't want Xu Zhiheng to have an easy time.
The jailers mocked him, "Why aren't you eating? After today, you won't be able to eat anymore. I advise you not to be so picky. "
Hearing this, Xu Zhiheng became emotional. He rushed to the door and grabbed the bars. He looked at the jailers outside, "No … I won't die! I'll give you money. Help me find people and ask them to save me! I'll give you money! "
"Okay," the jailers smiled and looked at him, "Who do you want me to find?"
Find who?
Xu Zhiheng suddenly froze.
The He Clan had already fallen along with them. He Rufei himself could not even protect himself. The colleagues who used to be on good terms with his Clan had probably long avoided them, afraid that they would get into trouble. No one could save him.
Xu Zhiheng collapsed to the ground powerlessly. In his despair, he felt a great sense of unwillingness. He muttered, "Why? I didn't kill anyone … I didn't do anything! "
"You really didn't do anything?" A voice sounded from the darkness. Xu Zhiheng suddenly looked up and saw a person slowly appear in front of him. His entire body was covered in a black cloak. At first, he was overjoyed, thinking that someone had come to save him. But in the next moment, his joy turned into fear, because that person took off the hood of his cloak, revealing his face.
It was Marquis Wu An, He Yan.
Xu Zhiheng was startled and quickly retreated until he reached the foot of the wall. He said vigilantly, "Don't come over … Don't come over!"
The jailers had already left. He Yan looked at the embarrassed man. Xu Zhiheng seemed to be very afraid of her. He stared at her as if he was looking at an evil spirit crawling out of hell, full of horror.
He Yan had never seen Xu Zhiheng like this. Whether it was the young man in green who pulled her out of the snow when she was 14 years old and helped her carry her bag with a smile, or the Xu Zhiheng who smiled warmly at her after she married him, they were completely different from the man in front of her, who was like a frightened bird with a twang of a bow. Even when He Wanru brought people to drown her, Xu Zhiheng did not appear from beginning to end.
She had seen Xu Zhiheng in his glory days, the Xu Zhiheng who looked like a human, but the Xu Zhiheng in prison was actually like this.
He Yan was a little disappointed.
Just like a general, if he died at the hands of an opponent who was on par with him, he would not regret it. But if there was a huge gap between them … it would make people sigh.
"Don't be afraid." Her voice was gentle, and she even showed a little smile. "I'm here because I have something to ask you."
The woman's eyes were bright, and there was no hatred in her eyes. But that smile seemed to confuse Xu Zhiheng. He still did not move. He stared at He Yan and hesitated for a long time before asking, "What do you want to ask?"
"You …" He Yan smiled. "When did you find out that your wife He Yan was General Feihong?"
He Yan had never been able to understand this matter. When she married Xu Zhiheng, she thought that Xu Zhiheng knew nothing about her. In order to cover up the scars on her body, she made up a lot of excuses. She also made up a lot of excuses to show that she was different from ordinary women. It was not until the day she died that she found out from He Wanru that Xu Zhiheng had already known.
Perhaps all those years of covering up and hiding were like a joke in Xu Zhiheng's eyes.
But when did he find out? Was it after she married into the Xu family, before she married into the Xu family, or even earlier? But if that was the case, why did he marry her?
Xu Zhiheng looked at her evasively, and there was a trace of vigilance in his eyes. "Why do you ask this? Who are you? "
"I'm the one who can get you out of here," He Yan said softly.
Xu Zhiheng's eyes lit up. "Get me out of here?" He took a few steps forward, as if he was afraid of He Yan. He looked at her through the iron bars and asked anxiously, "Can you really get me out of here?"
He Yan smiled and nodded.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "I already knew."
When did Xu Zhiheng find out that He Yan was General Feihong? In fact, it was not long after General Feihong returned to the capital. At that time, he was not a Hanlin scholar. Although the Xu family was a scholarly family, the position of a Hanlin scholar was not something he could climb up to at his age. Most of the officials in the court were now Xu Jingfu's students. Sometimes, talent was secondary to climbing up the ranks. If one did not have connections, sometimes they would not be able to succeed in their lifetime.
When he was young, he was known as a child prodigy. As he grew older, people praised him too highly, and he also thought highly of himself. It was like a cage, and he unknowingly trapped himself.
Xu Zhiheng was temporarily blocked in his official career, and his heart sank. Madam Xu saw that he was depressed and thought that with his age, it was time for him to find a marriage. Madam Xu was also an astute person. After picking and choosing, she picked General Feihong's cousin, the second young miss of the He family.
This second young miss's health was not good when she was young, so she was sent to a farmstead to recuperate early on. She also came back not long ago. Madam Xu's plan was very good. Becoming in-laws with this new noble of the court would be beneficial to Xu Zhiheng's official career.
However, at that time, Xu Zhiheng was not the best choice for the He family. After all, there were too many talents of the right age in the capital. Because of her relationship with the He family's eldest son, the He family's second young miss was in high demand. There were many people who wanted to marry her.
Madam Xu took Xu Zhiheng to the He family's invitation. Although they said they were guests, they were actually just looking at each other.
At that time, he went to the He family for the first time. Coincidentally, a servant poured tea on him, so he went to a dark room to change his clothes. He didn't expect that not long after he went in, someone would come in before he could come out.
Xu Zhiheng didn't know whether to advance or retreat. There were two people who came in, and they didn't seem to notice that he was behind them. Someone spoke. It was a woman's voice, clear and pleasant. "Eldest brother, what … what is Eldest Aunt doing? She actually invited these young masters to her home!"
"There are so many young masters. Don't tell me you don't like any of them?" A man's voice answered her.
Xu Zhiheng almost immediately understood that the people talking outside were probably the He family's second young miss and his eldest brother, He Rufei.
He should have immediately stood up and apologized, but for some reason, not only did he not move, he also tried his best to hold his breath so that he could hide better.
Now that he thought about it, the deep meaning of fate had already begun to appear at that moment.
Xu Zhiheng heard a secret.
"Eldest brother, you're in such a hurry to marry me off. Could it be that you're afraid that I'll tell others that we've swapped identities and that I'm General Feihong?" The woman said, "I already said that I won't say anything. Since I've hidden it for so many years, I'll keep hiding it."
"That's not the case." The man's voice had a hint of impatience. "At your age, an ordinary woman should be married. He Yan, you're just living the life you should be living. "
Behind the screen, Xu Zhiheng covered his mouth in horror.
What did he just hear? What swapping identities? What He Yan was General Feihong?
He pinched his arm hard. The pain from his arm reminded him that this wasn't a dream.
Xu Zhiheng didn't listen to what the siblings were arguing about at the back. It wasn't until the two people left that Xu Zhiheng slowly stood up and looked at the closed door.
He wasn't stupid. In fact, he was quite smart. With just a few words, he figured out the ins and outs of the matter. He was shocked by the He family's audacity and He Yan's outstanding methods. But more than that, he found an opportunity. A gift from fate.
Therefore, he tidied up his clothes and returned to the banquet table. He looked at the He family's second daughter, who had arrived late, and revealed a gentle and refined smile.
Xu Zhiheng found He Rufei.
He Rufei looked at him with an unfathomable expression. "Eldest Master Xu wants to marry my sister?"
Xu Zhiheng smiled and said, "Yes."
"This matter needs to be discussed with the elders," He Rufei said. "I can't make the decision alone. It also depends on my sister's thoughts." After saying that, he turned to leave.
Xu Zhiheng said neither quickly nor slowly, "Your sister is a heroine. She's not inferior to any man. This one admires her very much. I hope that General He will fulfill our wish."
"What did you say?" He Rufei suddenly looked at him. His eyes were filled with killing intent.
"Before I came to find General He, I wrote a letter and gave it to a friend. If there is an accident, the secret letter will be spread throughout the capital." Xu Zhiheng smiled. "I hope that General He will fulfill my wish."
He had a card up his sleeve. He was determined to succeed.
Just like that, Xu Zhiheng married He Yan. Not long before he married He Yan, he became a Hanlin Scholar as a "dowry" that General He gave to his sister.
Riches and honor were found in danger. Xu Zhiheng naturally understood that the more secrets one knew, the faster one would die. But he didn't think that this kind of thing would happen to him. He was a person who knew when to stop. In the end, he was a civil official, not a general. He Rufei could only help him by becoming a Hanlin Scholar at most. He had to walk his own path in the future. As for marrying He Yan … marrying General He's daughter would be beneficial to him.
The He Family should also be relieved. After all, compared to marrying the second daughter of the He Family to another family who might discover the secret, it was better to marry the second daughter of the He Family.
"So," He Yan looked at Xu Zhiheng in front of her and slowly said, "from the moment you proposed to marry the second daughter of the He Family, you wanted to use her?"
"Use?" Xu Zhiheng shook his head. "No … it's not using. Even without me, she would still marry … From the beginning to the end, the one who wanted her life wasn't me. I didn't do anything."
Xu Zhiheng already couldn't remember He Yan's face.
Although he married He Yan at that time, he still felt a little disdain in his heart. The etiquette and rules he learned since elementary school made him look down on women like He Yan who deviated from the norm. He liked docile and charming women like He Wanru. Not He Yan … She was careless. Although she tried her best to pretend to be a lady from a noble family, she would always unconsciously reveal some unsuitable awkwardness. She didn't know how to play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, so she couldn't make him proud. She also couldn't learn how to tactfully make him happy. There were even terrible scars on her skin. Sometimes, when Xu Zhiheng looked at He Yan, he would think of how she used to eat and sleep with other men in the military camp. He simply couldn't stand it.
Although he was willing to be a "good husband," more often than not, even he himself couldn't control his disdain.
Fortunately, these days soon came to an end. The He Family sent a bowl of medicine. After He Yan drank it, she became blind.
In fact, at that time, when Xu Zhiheng was sitting in the next room and watching He Yan drink the medicine, he felt a little sympathy. The He Family's actions were too ruthless. Moreover, if he brought a blind mistress out, what would others say about him behind his back?
Fortunately, He Yan was very obedient and didn't make much noise. Even if she was blind, she didn't cry much. Most of the time, she just sat silently in a daze. He heard that before He Yan got married, she had raised a mute dog in the courtyard. Sometimes, Xu Zhiheng felt that He Yan and that mute dog were actually very similar. No one cared and they lived in silence.
If that was the case, it would be fine. But she worked too hard. She worked so hard that even if she was blind, she still made the He Family feel threatened. As a result, she died in the hands of He Wanru in the Xu Family's pond.
"I didn't use He Yan." He tried hard to explain. "I was protecting her … It's all He Rufei's fault. It's all the He Family's fault!"
He Yan stared at Xu Zhiheng and asked, "Other than at the He Family, have you seen the He Second Miss?"
Xu Zhiheng was stunned and subconsciously shook his head. "No, no! The first time I saw the He Second Miss was at the He Family's residence. "
He had already forgotten.
This was to be expected.
He Yan found that when she faced Xu Zhiheng now, she was very calm. Perhaps when she faced Xu Zhiheng back then, she always thought that she was facing the young man in green that she met on the hunting field. But it turned out that perhaps from the beginning, they were two different people. For Xu Zhiheng, "He Yan" was just an exchange product based on interests. What was important was this identity, not the name or the person. As long as he could become a Hanlin Scholar, it didn't make any difference whether he was He Yan or He Xinying.
A life was nothing more than an official position.
She slowly stood up.
Xu Zhiheng looked at her movements and finally ignored everything else. He grabbed the fence and asked, "I've told you everything I know. Can you get me out of here now?"
His eyes were full of desire, just like when he stumbled upon the He Family's secret and wanted to use it to add glory to his official career.
He Yan bent down slightly and looked into his eyes. "I lied to you."
Xu Zhiheng was stunned.
"I didn't do anything. I just lied to you." Her eyes curved. "You also lied to me. This is very fair."
After that, she straightened up and left. Xu Zhiheng's angry shout came from afar, but He Yan pretended that she didn't hear it.
She walked out step by step, as if she was leaving her past life step by step. From now on, Marquis Wu An, He Yan, and the He Family's Second Miss had nothing to do with each other.
The last question about her previous life was finally answered. He Yan didn't feel much at the moment.
It was as if these people and these things couldn't withstand the waves in her heart anymore.
It was just that … her heart was empty.
A person stood at the gate outside the prison with his back to her. His posture was as straight as the sword at his waist. He was looking sideways at the snow piled up under the eaves, revealing a beautiful silhouette.
He Yan stood in place and looked at the back of the person. Unknowingly, her heart slowly filled up. It was as if the emptiness that she couldn't step on finally had a sense of reality at this moment. The traveler who couldn't find his way finally found a little light in his aimless search.
He Yan walked over and called out softly, "Xiao Jue."
He turned around and glanced at He Yan. "Are you done?"
He Yan nodded.
Tomorrow was the day of the execution. There was nothing left to say between her and He Rufei, and between He Yuansheng and his wife. However, she still wanted to know when Xu Zhiheng found out about her identity. So she asked Xiao Jue to bring her here to see Xu Zhiheng for the last time.
"Why did you talk for so long?" Xiao Jue frowned.
"Was it long?" He Yan asked curiously. "Why do I feel like it wasn't long? This is already very convenient … "He Yan glanced and saw Xiao Jue's expression. He stopped talking at the right time. After a moment of silence, she secretly tugged at Xiao Jue's sleeve." Are you angry again? "
"What's there to talk about with that kind of person?" Xiao Jue turned around and walked forward. He Yan chased after her. "There's nothing to talk about, but after thinking about it, I feel that it's too easy for him to just let it go. So I said that I'm a malicious spirit who came back for revenge and scared him half to death. Am I very powerful? "She casually made up a story.
"Don't lie."
"I'm not lying to you. It's true. You should have seen his expression when he was scared by me just now … "
The girl chattered non-stop beside him. The gloominess she had when she came out just now had completely disappeared. He saw this and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He deliberately ignored her and let her talk nonsense.
"Xiao Jue, it's not good to get angry so easily. You have to change it."
"I'm not angry."
"You're not angry. You're just unhappy."
"…"
"Xiao Jue, Xiao Jue!"
"What are you doing?"
She grabbed the corner of his sleeve. "Nothing."
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