For four or five days in a row, He Yan didn't go to the practice field to practice.
Actually, she didn't care about the injury on her leg, but the Liangzhou Guard's female doctor, Shen Muxue, came every day without fail to deliver medicine to her. She also repeatedly warned her not to do any strenuous activities. Hong Shan also jeered from the side, "Just listen to Doctor Nu. If you keep tormenting her, when the day of the battle for the flag comes and you can't get first place, you can't enter the Vanguard Battalion. Don't cry at that time."
He Yan thought about it and gave up. She wasn't in a hurry for a day or two.
However, these days, as long as she left the practice field, her room was basically full. There was an endless stream of people who came to see her. People often came to visit her. Today, Jiang Jiao sent several sour and astringent plums. Tomorrow, Huang Xiong brought a skewer of roasted quail. The most speechless was Wang Ba. He couldn't bring himself to come, so he had the new recruit in his room send half a gnawed dry bun. One look and you could tell it was a spoil of war he had plundered from someone else. He really did treat the barracks as his own mountain.
Liang Jiaotou came twice. Both times, he saw He Yan surrounded by people with a beaming face. He glanced at the mountain of food on her table and sourly said, "Oh, your life is pretty good." Then he left again. He Yan was also very helpless.
Just like this, by the time the scab on He Yan's elbow was almost completely healed and her leg could jump on the ground, seven or eight days had already passed. The day of the battle for the flag was getting closer and closer.
On this day, before the sun set, Hong Shan and the others came back. He Yan was astonished and asked: "It's not time to leave the practice field yet. Why did you all leave?"
"Today is the 14th of July, the Hungry Ghost Festival." Xiao Mai rushed to answer. "The head instructor told us to leave the practice field early. After eating, we went to the riverside to light water lanterns to worship our ancestors."
"The Liangzhou Guard is pretty good. They actually give people time to worship their ancestors and loved ones." Hong Shan sighed.
He Yan smiled, thinking that this was a tradition in the military camp. When she was in the Fuyue Army, every year during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the local government would set up a Taoist temple for the soldiers who died in battle. Now that the Liang Province Guards were backed by mountains and rivers, it was very convenient for them to release water lanterns.
"Big Brother and I are going to light up water lanterns for our parents." When Xiao Mai talked about her parents who had passed away, she didn't seem sad at all. She only seemed a little sad. Perhaps her parents had passed away too early, so her memory of them was very faint. She asked Hong Shan, "Brother Shan, are you going to pay your respects?"
"Go, my mother left early, I'll go light one for my mother."
Everyone looked at He Yan at the same time. "Is A He Ge going?"
Among them, He Yan's identity was probably the most mysterious. She didn't like to talk about her family's matters with Mai Mai and the others. Hong Shan only knew that He Yan's family had fallen into dire straits, and she had come to join the army because she had nowhere else to go. However, seeing her confident appearance on the martial arts field before, he felt that He Yan wasn't a child from an ordinary family.
"Me? I'll go too. "He Yan lowered her eyes and lowered her voice." I also have someone I want to worship. "
Xiao Mai and the others sensed that the atmosphere wasn't right. They didn't dare to pursue the matter and immediately changed the topic to something more relaxed.
After dinner, the sun had completely set and the moonlight seeped through the dark clouds. Almost all of the new recruits of the Liang Province Guards had come out.
The water lanterns had to be folded by themselves. The paper was piled up in a few large baskets in the practice field. He Yan also went to get one. She wasn't very good at handwork, so it was Xiao Mai who saw it and folded it into the shape of a lotus lantern for her. She then dripped a white candle into the center of the lotus lantern and handed it to He Yan. "It's done!"
"Thank you," He Yan praised. "You're really good with your hands."
Xiao Mai smiled embarrassedly. "In the past, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, Big Brother and I folded a lot of lanterns to sell. I'm used to folding them. If the paper was bigger, I'd be able to make a prettier and bigger one! "
Shi Tou knocked his head and said disapprovingly, "This isn't the time for you to show off."
Xiao Mai stuck out her tongue and ran towards the Wulu River with the water lantern in her hand. "I'll go light the lantern first. A He Ge, hurry up!"
After the beginning of autumn, the weather in Liang Province became cooler at night. It had rained in the morning, but the cool air had yet to dissipate. The dense forest on the mountain produced cool frost and dew. The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, illuminating the river.
The riverside was already crowded with people who came to pay respects to their ancestors. The flickering candlelight illuminated the entire river like thousands of silver flowers, reflecting the dancing flames. The fiery red lotus carried the thoughts of the people who came to pay respects and floated into the distance. It became a bright spot of light at the place where the water met the sky and gradually disappeared.
"It's fine here. A He Ge …" Xiao Mai turned around and was stunned. "Where's A He Ge?"
Hong Shan and Shi Tou looked at each other. "I don't know. He was just here."
He Yan sat on Shi Tou in the innermost part of the riverside. It was not the most open place, so not many people would light the lantern here. He Yan silently looked at the lotus lantern in her hand. The bitterness in her heart was indescribable.
Suddenly, she remembered the moment before He Wanru drowned her in the water. She said to her, "You're pregnant."
At that moment, she was actually more happy than confused.
However, this happiness didn't last long. She and her unborn child were drowned in the Xu family's pond together.
He Yan always felt that she had never wronged anyone in her previous life. She had done everything she could to the He family, to He Rufei, and to Xu Zhiheng. However, the only thing she felt guilty about was the flesh and blood in her belly. She had given him life, but before she could bring him into the world, she had killed this possibility because of herself. Perhaps when she was a general, too many people had died at her hands. She had killed countless people, so the heavens punished her like this. However, it was right to punish herself. Why did she have to punish an innocent child? She didn't even know if the child in her belly was a little girl or a little boy before it died prematurely.
He Yan took out a match. The spark from the match splashed on the candle and lit it up in an instant. The water lantern slowly bloomed in her hand. The light from the flame was reflected in her eyes, forming a small flame. It seemed that tears were about to fall from her eyes, but they quickly blurred.
"I'm sorry," she said in a low and sad voice. "You and I are not fated to be together in this life. If there is an afterlife, you must be reincarnated into a good family. You must live a happy and worry-free life. Don't ever meet me again."
"I will also …" She put the water lantern into the river. "I will avenge you."
The murmuring river gently wrapped around the small water lantern and moved forward. He Yan stared at it. It floated until it merged with countless light spots. She couldn't tell who was who. Then she looked away and rubbed her eyes.
"He Dage, I didn't think you would be here!" An excited voice sounded behind her. "What a coincidence. You also came to release water lanterns!"
He Yan turned around and saw a young man with rosy lips and white teeth. He was holding a lantern in his arms and happily walking towards her. It was Cheng Li Su.
His clothes were neat and new. When he walked to He Yan's side, he carefully lifted the corner of his robe, afraid that the river water would splash it. He gave He Yan a large handful of water lanterns.
He Yan asked, "… Are you going to release water lanterns?"
"Yes!"
"Why are there so many?" He Yan was speechless.
"I originally didn't have so many to release. I don't know the ancestors of my Cheng family. However, I think my uncle won't be coming today. I will release some in his place. This is my maternal aunt's, this is my maternal uncle's, this is my … "
He counted them one by one. There wasn't the slightest bit of sadness on his face. He was so happy that people would mistakenly think that he was releasing lanterns instead of Zhongyuan water lanterns.
"Wait a minute," He Yan interrupted him. "Why are you releasing them in your uncle's place? Can't he come himself? "
"There are so many people. He won't come." Cheng Li Su sighed. He looked as if his heart was broken. He shook his head and said, "I'll do it. Who told him to be my uncle?"
He Yan found it funny. The pain from the past had been diluted quite a bit. Although Cheng Li Su's brain seemed to be a little less than normal people's, he was still very serious about releasing water lanterns. He lit the water lanterns in his hands one by one and solemnly released them into the river. He was extremely nervous and prayed that they wouldn't be blown out by the wind or knocked over by the waves. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The water lanterns gradually floated into the distance.
After releasing the last lantern, Cheng Li Su released a breath. He took out a piece of coarse cloth and placed it on the Shi Tou. Only then did he sit on it.
"The Liang Province Guard is quite cool at night," he muttered. "It was so hot a few days ago. I've never experienced such a hot summer in my life."
He Yan laughed in spite of himself. Cheng Li Su used to live in Shuo Jing. During the summer, the Cheng family would have ice cubes to cool off the heat. He stayed in the fu all day without the sun. Of course, it wasn't as bad as the Liang Province Guard. She said, "If that's the case, why did you come with your uncle to Liang Province to suffer?"
"I had no choice," Cheng Li Su spread his hands. "If I didn't come with my uncle, I would have been engaged."
He Yan paused. "What?"
"I'll tell you a secret. I ran away from the engagement." Cheng Li Su curled his lips. "I'm still young. How could I be engaged? Besides, I don't like her, so I ran away. "
He Yan: "… …" This child really was straightforward. However, He Yan was even more surprised that Xiao Jue had agreed to bring Cheng Li Su along. He wasn't afraid that the Cheng family would be dissatisfied with him. After all, he had secretly abducted their young master and even helped the young master escape from the engagement. Even if they were relatives, he was afraid that there would be animosity in their hearts.
"Your relationship with Military Governor Xiao is quite good," He Yan said, choosing his words carefully.
"It's alright," Cheng Li Su was extremely proud. "I was the one who took the initiative to pester him."
He Yan felt that it was inconceivable. "Your uncle's personality is so terrible. You actually took the initiative to get close to him?" Amazing, amazing. Who said that Cheng Li Su was a "good-for-nothing prince"? Not everyone could endure such humiliation.
"My uncle is very powerful. If it wasn't for him when I was young, I might not be where I am now."
Perhaps it was because of the beautiful moonlight tonight, Cheng Li Su was actually very excited when he talked about the past.
Cheng Li Su's mother, Madam Cheng, was actually about the same age as Xiao Jue's mother. Therefore, when Xiao Jue was born, Madam Cheng was already married. Although Cheng Li Su and Xiao Jue were different in terms of seniority, the age difference wasn't that big.
Although the Cheng family and Xiao family didn't interact frequently, they were definitely not cold. However, when Cheng Li Su was young, he actually didn't see Xiao Jue much. Most of the time, he spent more time with Eldest Uncle Xiao Jing. Xiao Zhongwu had two sons. Eldest Young Master Xiao, Xiao Jing, had a weak body when he was young, so it wasn't suitable for him to practice martial arts. After he recovered, he was already past the best age to practice martial arts. Madam Xiao also didn't want Xiao Jing to join the military, so Xiao Jing took the path of a civil official.
After Xiao Jue was born, Xiao Zhongwu paid special attention to this son.
Xiao Jue didn't disappoint Xiao Zhongwu's expectations. When he was young, he already showed his talent. Xiao Zhongwu brought Xiao Jue to the mountains, where he was personally taught by four masters. As for which mountain, and who these masters were, Cheng Li Su didn't know. In any case, he would only see him once a year. Sometimes, he wouldn't even see him once.
When Xiao Jue turned 14, he went down the mountain and returned to Shuo Jing. He entered the Xianchang School and studied martial arts with the nobles of Shuo Jing. That year, Cheng Li Su was nine years old. When he went out to play with his good friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival, he was kidnapped. At his age, it was reasonable to say that he was too old to be kidnapped. However, he was born with a delicate face, like a silver doll in a New Year's painting. The kidnappers took him out of the city. Cheng Li Su cried for help, but no one answered. He hid in the carriage and shivered.
When he woke up, he cried. With tears in his eyes, he ate something and went back to sleep. He didn't know how long he slept, but the sound of fighting came from outside the carriage. Cheng Li Su's nose was bruised and his face was swollen. Just as he was crying for help, the carriage stopped.
He hurriedly opened the curtain of the carriage and climbed out. He saw that the ground was covered with corpses, all of them had their throats slit with a sword. It wasn't just one kidnapper who kidnapped him. There were dozens of kidnappers. The kidnapped children were all tied up and stuffed into the carriage. At this moment, some of them fell out, while others were still in the carriage. A group of people cried incessantly. In the chaos, Cheng Li Su trembled as he climbed out. Then, he touched the corner of a snow-white robe.
He looked up and saw a handsome young man with a silver crown and white robe standing in front of him. He held a long sword. The sword was like frost and snow, dripping with blood. The blood was bright and beautiful, but it was not as red as the young man's lips. His expression was calm as his gaze fell on Cheng Li Su.
This was a very fierce picture, but Cheng Li Su felt inexplicably at ease. He trembled as he hugged the young man's leg. He imitated his mother's tone and flattered, "May, may I ask your name, where do you live? I am the young master of the Right Minister's residence. You saved me. Our residence will reward you handsomely."
The young man's mouth twitched. He looked down at Cheng Li Su with a pair of clear eyes. He said coldly, "I am your Jiujiu."
"Only then did I know that he was the Jiujiu that I had never seen before." Cheng Li Su rested his chin on his hand and looked at the moon. "At that time, I thought, this Jiujiu is really amazing."
Xiao Jue had saved him, as well as the other children who had been abducted. Cheng Li Su felt honored to have such an Jiujiu. He wanted to stick to him. However, Xiao Jue did not like this nephew very much. After sending him back to the Cheng Family, he never came to see him again. Cheng Li Su sent him an invitation to be a guest at the residence, but Xiao Jue did not come even once. Moreover, Xiao Jue was very busy. When Cheng Li Su saw Xiao Jue, he rarely saw him.
He Yan thought of the scene Cheng Li Su described and wanted to laugh. Thinking about it, Xiao Jue really had no choice but to have such a nephew.
"Then how did the two of you become close?" He Yan asked.
If it was just a life-saving grace, then as Cheng Li Su said, it did not change their relationship much. Then something must have happened later for the uncle and nephew to come to the Liang Province Guard together.
"Actually, the Cheng Family, including my mother, and the relatives and friends who know the Xiao family, do not like Jiujiu." Cheng Li Su said, "They like Eldest Jiujiu more."
The two young masters of the Xiao family were both born to Da Wei. The eldest son of the Xiao family, Xiao Jing, was also born with good looks. He was like a jade, modest and bright. In terms of temperament, it was definitely more comfortable to get along with Xiao Jing. However, it was not to the extent that they did not like Xiao Jue.
"Why?" He Yan asked. "Didn't Military Governor Xiao save your life? Even if he was your savior, your mother would not dislike him."
"That is true, but Jiujiu does not see our relatives often enough. We don't know him well."
Before Xiao Jue was fourteen, he was rarely in Shuo Jing. After that, he entered the Xianchang Mansion. Not to mention relatives and friends, even Madam Xiao was not close to this son. Cheng Li Su knew that there were a few times when Madam Xiao was talking to her mother. She was worried about how to get along with her son.
Since she did not know him well, she naturally had a lot of prejudice. Xiao Jue was originally lazy and did not like to interact with others. Compared to his warm and bright brother, the contrast was even more obvious. However, as He Yan said, it was not that she did not like him. The real dislike was after Xiao Zhongwu died in the Battle of Mingshui.
Xiao Zhongwu's death came suddenly and was a huge blow to the Xiao family. Madam Xiao had never experienced any hardships and treated her husband as her everything. After Xiao Zhongwu's death, Madam Xiao took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and hanged herself. She followed her husband and left with only two sons.
The two young masters of the Xiao family, Xiao Jue and Xiao Jing, were heartbroken. Xiao Jue did not shed a single tear. After the general and his wife were buried, the first thing Xiao Jue did was to go to the throne room to make a statement. He wanted to take control of the Nan Fu Army.
Before the seventh day of Madam Xiao's death, he led the Nan Fu Army to quell the chaos of the Southern Barbarians. That day, Xiao Zhongwu died in the Battle of the Southern Barbarians. Some people said that he was avenging his father, while others said that he was eager for quick success. Whether it was his father's death or his mother's death, Xiao Jue did not show excessive sadness. Thus, the symbol of coldness and ruthlessness and a heart as hard as iron was imprinted on him.
Without the noble Second Young Master Xiao in the capital, others could only find out about Xiao Jue's recent situation from the few words that came back from the battlefield. It was rumored that he was a killer at a young age. Countless people had died under his sword. He was also strict and did not care about human feelings.
"Have you heard of Zhao Nuo?" Cheng Li Su asked.
He Yan faintly felt that the name was familiar, but he did not know where he had heard it before. He shook his head and said, "I don't know."
"Zhao Nuo is the eldest son of the current Minister of Revenue. He was once the Jiedushi of Jingzhou." When Cheng Li Su said this, her expression dimmed. "In fact, the misunderstanding between the Cheng family and the Xiao family towards Uncle was caused by this person."
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