He Yan entered the Virtuous Prosperity Hall at the age of fourteen and joined the Fuyue Army at the age of fifteen. She joined the army in a hurry and no one knew about it. The shibao in the Virtuous Prosperity Hall were all shocked. Later, when she returned to the capital, she had already received meritorious service and was conferred an imperial title. Thus, the He Family did not pursue the matter as to why she joined the army.
Now that she thought about it, if she did not receive any meritorious service at the time and was just an ordinary soldier, she might not have ended up like this after a few years of wandering from place to place before returning to the He Family.
He Yan still remembered Song Taotao.
At the age of fifteen, He Yan used the identity of He Rufei to study in the Virtuous Prosperity Hall. Her aptitude was mediocre and she was a girl. She was naturally not as strong as men. She really could not be compared to the youths in the Virtuous Prosperity Hall. He Yuansheng gradually saw this, but he did not blame her. He Yan also thought that she could continue to live peacefully like this.
Until that day.
There were two days every month in the Virtuous Prosperity Hall when the students could go home. But because of the rainy season, the rainwater washed down the signboard at the entrance of the Virtuous Prosperity Hall. The shibao let the students go home one day in advance and come back three days later.
He Yan went back in a hurry and no one knew. She first changed her clothes and then went to find He Yuansheng. Every month when she returned to the He Family, He Yuansheng would ask her about how she was doing in the Virtuous Prosperity Hall. This kind of distant and almost monitoring question did not make He Yan feel warm. Every time she spoke to He Yuansheng, she was actually a bit nervous.
But that day, when she went, He Yuansheng had not returned. Even the manservant was not at the door. She first sat in He Yuansheng's study and waited. There was a screen in the study. He Yan felt that since she had nothing to do, she might as well sit behind the screen and read a book for a while.
She had not sat for a moment when someone came in.
The one who spoke was He Yuanliang's voice. He said: "He Yan's matter, what do you think?"
He Yan, who was about to go out, heard this and was momentarily stunned. She wanted to go around the screen, but then she stopped. She did not go out. Instead, she shrank her body back.
He Yuanliang and He Yuansheng had different temperaments. He Yuansheng looked gentle, but he was actually very strict. Later on, Madam He gave birth to other children and treated them very harshly. He Yuanliang, her biological father, had a completely different personality. He was always smiling. He also pampered and spoiled his children, except for her.
He Yan's feelings towards He Yuanliang were very complicated. If one were to say that she revered He Yuansheng, her adoptive father, and her Eldest Uncle, then towards He Yuanliang, there was a trace of imperceptible dependence and expectation. She had hoped that He Yuanliang would treat her as kindly and affectionately as he treated his younger sisters, but He Yuanliang did not. Every time he looked at her, it was as if he was looking at his nephew. He was polite and at most lecturing her a little.
In this way, after being disappointed many times, He Yan didn't force it.
But today, he heard his name from his biological father's mouth. He Yan didn't know why he hid here and didn't go out.
"She's doing very well now. She's studying in the Xian Chang Dojo and no one has found out. She's fifteen now … At most, before she's eighteen, she has to settle her marriage. "
He Yan, who was hiding behind the screen, held her breath for a moment.
Marriage? She had never thought about this. She was now using the identity of He Rufei, a man. How could she get married? Once she got married, what would He Rufei do? Who would be this "He Rufei"?
She thought it was natural. She was a woman, so she naturally had to get married to a man. After all, she didn't have the time to polish herself. However, He Yuanliang's following words shocked her.
"Eldest Brother, have you seen a suitable young lady in the capital?"
Young lady?
How could it be a young lady?
He Yan raised her head. The two people on the other side of the screen had their backs to her. She couldn't see their expressions clearly, but from their tone, she could tell that they were calm and didn't feel that their words were shocking at all.
"The Vice Director of Internal Servants, Song Ci, has two daughters. The eldest daughter is already married, and the younger daughter is eleven years old now." He Yuansheng said: "She's a bit young, but when He Yan turns eighteen, she'll be of marriageable age. After she reaches marriageable age, she can wait two years before getting married. "
"Song Ci's daughter?" He Yuanliang hesitated, "Is it that little girl called Song Taotao? I remember that Song Ci searched through all the merchants in Shuo Jing to find a birthday gift for her daughter two years ago. "
"That's right," He Yuansheng stroked his beard and smiled, "Song Ci's fu doesn't have any young boys, only two daughters. Now that the eldest daughter is married, she's especially doting on the younger daughter. If we can get married to the Song family, we'll have the Song family's help. Why should we worry that our fu won't prosper? "
He Yuanliang heard this and relaxed his expression, only saying: "Eldest Brother's words are reasonable. Why don't I host a banquet in a few days to invite Song Ci to the fu? We can talk about the children. At the very least, we have to let him know that we have this idea. "
The two of them spoke happily and harmoniously, as if this marriage was just a transaction. This wasn't a big deal. Nowadays, in the nobles' fu, women were mostly used as a bargaining chip. But using her as a bargaining chip was one thing, but how could they not take her identity into consideration?
She was a woman! How could a woman marry another woman? If they really did get married, wouldn't they be harming the girl's life?
He Yan thought this in his heart. Suddenly, he bumped into the screen and made a sound. He Yuansheng turned his head and shouted: "Who is it?"
He Yan saw that he had been discovered and simply stood up, saying: "It's me."
"He Yan?" He Yuansheng let out a sigh of relief and then frowned, saying: "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the Xian Chang Dojo today? "
"Shi Bao told us to leave school a day early, so I came here to find father." He Yan said this and paused, secretly glancing at He Yuanliang. He Yuanliang revealed his usual smile, his expression not changing at all because he called He Yuansheng "father."
It was just another disappointment, why would he not give up? He Yan lowered his head, hiding the disappointment in his eyes.
"I have matters to discuss with your second uncle right now. Come find me later." He Yuansheng said: "Go see your mother first."
He Yan did not move.
"He Yan?" He Yuansheng's brows furrowed again.
"I already heard what father and second uncle said just now." He Yan raised his head, his voice calm. "Father, I am a woman, how can I marry the second miss of the Song Family?"
Not expecting that He Yan would speak like this, the two brothers of the He Family stilled.
"This is not something you should care about." A moment later, He Yuansheng responded, "I will arrange everything for you."
"I will not marry the second miss of the Song Family. As a woman, it is enough to sacrifice me. There is no need to involve unrelated people, "He Yan said.
She was already fifteen years old now, a bit taller than before, and dressed as a youth. Her eyes were clear and magnanimous. Standing here, she was tall and straight like a poplar tree, like a stranger.
He Yuansheng angrily said: "What do you mean? Are you resentful of us? Are you blaming us for sacrificing your right to be a woman? "
He Yuanliang looked at her with a smile. "He Yan, how can you speak to big brother like this? Big brother is doing this for your own good. "
He Yan thought, was this really for her own good? When she was studying in the Xian Chang Dojo, the teacher had taught her: "A heart of compassion is the end of benevolence; a heart of shame is the end of righteousness; a heart of refusal is the end of propriety; a heart of right and wrong is the end of wisdom." But what the He Family wanted her to do now was to be heartless, unrighteous, impolite, and unwise. How preposterous was this?
He Yan was not afraid, loudly replying: "I will never agree to be engaged to the second miss of the Song Family! Not only that, I will not marry any woman in this life and delay the lives of others! "
He Yuansheng and He Yuanliang were both dumbfounded.
The He Family knew what kind of temper He Yan had. She was gentle and easy to talk to, even a little timid and weak. In the He Family, she would do whatever she was told to do and didn't like to cause trouble. If it wasn't for the accidental exchange of identities, she would be the same as all the other ordinary young ladies in Shuo Jing, taciturn, obedient, and living her life like a puppet.
But what was she like now?
"He Yan, you dare to speak to me like this?" He Yuansheng was really angry. When he was angry, his facial features were very fierce, and the children of the He Family's first branch were very afraid of him.
He Yan looked at him, unmoved. "Father sent me to study in the Xian Chang Dojo to learn etiquette and to know virtue, not to be a liar for profit."
The young man raised his head, proud, clear, and clean. Probably the disdain in her eyes stung He Yuansheng, and He Yuansheng flew into a rage out of humiliation. He Yan fiercely slapped He Yan's face.
That was the first time He Yan was hit by He Yuansheng.
And her biological father just watched from the side, not saying anything. From the beginning to the end, the only sentence he said was "Big Brother is doing this for your own good."
The quarrel between He Yuansheng and He Yan this time alarmed the entire He Family. And He Yuansheng was the most powerful person in the He Family, so no one doubted his decision. He Yan was locked up in the ancestral hall for a day and a night, and was only released on the second night.
During this day and night, no one came to visit her. Whether it was her adoptive parents, or her biological parents. During this day and night, He Yan looked at the big and small memorial tablets in the ancestral hall, and only thought of one question in her heart.
What kind of family was the He Family? Did she really want to stay in the He Family? If the meaning of her existence in this family was to be a substitute, to tie up the interests that didn't belong to them, without any sincerity, then there was really no place for her to stay here.
A puppet also wanted to break free from the strings and control her own life.
The second night, she returned to her room, and the room was cold and cheerless. He Yan remembered that these days, the Fuyue Army was recruiting soldiers on the streets. She sat on the couch, thinking that if someone came to see her tonight and asked her if she was okay, she wouldn't leave.
But there was no one.
The sound of the night watch came from afar, He Yan carried her bag on her back, and sneaked out the door under the cover of the night. For so many years, ever since she started practicing martial arts, she had been like this, and was already familiar with the way. It was also because the He Family didn't value her that she was so relaxed when she left.
Forget it, she thought. Although she couldn't continue to stay in the He Family, she still saved a little girl from Shuo Jing. If she wasn't here, how could the He Family arrange a marriage? That girl called Song Taotao, when she became of marriageable age in the future, she would be able to spend the rest of her life with a suitable young man, and not be implicated in this shameful scheme and become a pawn to be sacrificed.
The night was dark, she couldn't see the end of it, the young girl disguised as a young man didn't know what the road ahead was. She turned back to look at the He Family's door, the courtyard was hidden in the night, and connected with the past. She steeled her heart, turned around, and walked straight ahead, never looking back.
The past laid out in front of her eyes, as if the dust covering it was blown away, it gradually became clear as if it had just happened yesterday. Only He Yan knew that it was a past life that she couldn't go back to.
At that time, she was young and impetuous, angry at the absurdity of the He Yuansheng brothers' decision, and didn't seriously think about it. She was a woman, if she really married the Song Second Miss, sooner or later, this secret would be exposed, how could the He Family allow this to happen?
Unless, they already knew that this kind of thing would never happen.
He Yan stared at the scented sachet hanging on the bed curtain.
He Yuansheng and He Yuanliang knew a long time ago, that sooner or later, He Rufei would return. He Yan didn't know He Rufei's situation, but presumably, He Yuansheng already knew at that time, He Rufei's body was gradually getting better, and wasn't on the verge of death like they said.
It was because they knew He Rufei would return sooner or later, He Yan and He Rufei would return to their original positions, that was why they talked about the engagement without any scruples. They must have already made up their minds, before He Rufei got married, He Yan would take off the man's clothes, and return to being the He Family's young miss.
At that time, He Yan didn't realize this, she thought that she would be He Rufei for a long time, perhaps sacrificing her entire life, she didn't expect that one day, she would return to being herself. But this wasn't a blessing, after being someone's substitute for a long time, it was inevitable that she would forget who she was.
Moreover, that day, she left the He Family with a bag and joined the Fuyue Army, from that day on, she had already disrupted the He Family's plans, and the chess game was already out of control.
Who would have thought?
Who would have thought that after living for a lifetime, dying once, and waking up again, after going around in circles, she would actually meet the girl who was almost "engaged" to her in her previous life here. The eleven year old girl had already grown into a graceful lady, the young man who left home with a bag, had already tasted all the flavors of the world. Fate was mysterious, if it wasn't for Song Taotao, she wouldn't have left home, she wouldn't have joined the army, and she wouldn't have become General Feihong, He Yan today.
In the darkness, He Yan smiled silently.
Fate let them meet here, maybe it was to tell her one thing.
She didn't do anything wrong, she saved a girl.
The next morning, when He Yan woke up, Fei Nu was no longer in the room.
Last night, she thought about things until late into the night, so she fell into a deep sleep. She didn't even know when Fei Nu left. When she woke up, she went to freshen up before leaving the room. She wanted to knock on the door next door to see if Xiao Jue was there.
However, as soon as she knocked, the door next door opened, and Song Taotao's head popped out from behind the door. She said, "Are you looking for Second Young Master Xiao? They're having breakfast downstairs. "
They didn't even call her for breakfast? He Yan thought to himself, they really didn't treat her as one of their own. He Yan asked, "Have you eaten? Let's go downstairs and eat together. "
Song Taotao nodded.
The young girl went downstairs with her, and sure enough, she saw Xiao Jue and Fei Nu sitting by the window downstairs. There were some small dishes on the table. He Yan didn't know if it was because he was shocked by Xiao Jue's identity last night, but the innkeeper made the breakfast especially exquisite. He Yan wanted to scold the innkeeper for being extravagant.
"Uncle, why didn't you call me for breakfast?" He Yan muttered. "It's fine if you didn't call me, but why didn't you call Miss Song?"
"I wanted to sleep more, it has nothing to do with Second Young Master Xiao," Song Taotao hurriedly said. He didn't know why, but she seemed to be a little afraid of Xiao Jue. However, when he thought about it, Xiao Jue was always sarcastic. How could a delicate young girl like her stand it?
He Yan picked up a single-basket golden cake and stuffed it into his mouth. The cake was fragrant and sweet. It was fresh out of the steamer, so it was piping hot and very appetizing. She smiled and said, "Uncle, what are we doing today?"
Xiao Jue looked at her with a faint smile. "What do you want to do?"
"I …" Before He Yan could finish her words, Song Taotao interrupted her.
"Cheng … Young Master Cheng." She already knew that He Yan wasn't Cheng Li Su, but she could also see that He Yan was pretending to be "Cheng Li Su," so she didn't expose him. She called out Cheng Li Su's name and said, "Can you go out with me?"
After she said this, the other three people at the table looked at Song Taotao.
"I … I don't have any clothes. I'm really not used to wearing men's clothes. I want to go out and buy some ready-made clothes to change into, but I don't remember the way. Young Master Cheng, can you go out with me to buy something? "She gathered her courage and finished in one breath.
Of the three people at the table, Fei Nu didn't say a word the entire night, and Xiao Jue didn't look like the kind of person who would accompany a young lady to buy things. Only He Yan was kind and gentle. He Yan said, "Of course! It's just that … "She looked at Xiao Jue." Uncle, do we have anything to do today? "
"Nothing." Xiao Jue lowered his eyes and said lightly, "You can go with Second Miss Song."
"Thank you, Second Young Master Xiao!" Song Taotao was overjoyed.
After dinner, He Yan went out with Song Taotao. After the two of them left, Fei Nu said, "Young Master, I'll go and follow them now."
"Don't get too close." Xiao Jue ordered, "He still has Song Taotao with him."
Fei Nu complied and was about to leave when he suddenly thought of something. He hesitated and said, "Young Master, are we just going to let Sun Ling's matter go?"
"Who said so?" Xiao Jue curled his lips. "Let's wait a little longer. It's not the right time yet."
He Yan followed Song Taotao out of the inn.
After leaving Second Young Master Xiao, Song Taotao became more cheerful. She leaned closer to He Yan and whispered, "Why did you call Second Young Master Xiao 'Uncle'? Why did you call yourself Cheng Li Su? "
"It's a long story. Young Master Cheng has something to do and can't come to Liangzhou for the time being, so I came in his place. Don't tell anyone else about this."
Song Taotao said, "Of course I won't tell anyone! That good-for-nothing must have asked you to come in his place because he can't do it himself, right? This kind of person wants to be my husband? Why doesn't he just dream about it! "
Second Miss Song's prejudice against Cheng Li Su was indeed very deep.
"Then what's your name?" Song Taotao asked.
"I can't tell you now, in case I accidentally spill the beans. I'll tell you when I'm done with my business in the city. "He Yan smiled.
Song Taotao pursed her lips, not very happy. He Yan pointed at a clothing store. "Look, there are clothes over there. Do you want to go in and pick some?"
Song Taotao changed her mind. He Yan sighed in relief. However, before he could relax for long, he suddenly thought of something and cursed inwardly.
When He Yan came out of the Liangzhou Guard, Cheng Li Su gave her clothes, hairpins, and jewelry, but forgot to give her money. He Yan didn't dare to ask Xiao Jue for money, so she only had the silver ingot from the flag contest. She couldn't bear to use it. She would rather pull the buttons on Cheng Li Su's clothes in exchange for tea than use it. Song Taotao had just come out of the Wanhua Pavilion, so her traveling expenses had already been plundered clean. How could she have any money left? She was afraid that whatever she bought today, He Yan would have to pay for it.
This was all she had now!
Fortunately, Liangzhou City wasn't the capital. There weren't tailors that could sell clothes for tens or hundreds of taels of silver. The clothes here were considered cheap, so He Yan could afford them. Song Taotao picked a piece of clothing, as well as a pair of shoes, a hairpin, and a pair of earrings. He Yan had no choice but to pay, so he only had a single copper coin left to pay.
After Song Taotao picked out the clothes, she changed inside before coming out. The moment he came out, the originally delicate young master turned into a delicate little girl in an instant. She picked out a cherry-red dress and tied her long hair into two flat buns with a cherry-red hairband. She had bright eyes and white teeth, looking extremely cute.
He Yan's eyes lit up when he saw her. In an instant, the heartache of spending money disappeared in front of the cute little girl.
"It's really beautiful," she praised sincerely.
Song Taotao's face turned red. She turned her head and muttered, "The clothes here are too shabby. There aren't any good clothes. Even the clothes made by the Song Estate's tailors are much nicer than this! "
He Yan thought to himself, How could this be called shabby? She had already spent half a year's worth of savings on this!
Song Taotao wrapped up the original clothes in a cloth bag and walked out of the clothing store. "Let's go shopping somewhere else."
He Yan replied, "… Okay."
A little girl's beauty and cuteness also cost money, especially a little girl who grew up in a wealthy family. He Yan only hoped that there wouldn't be anything else in Liangzhou that would attract Second Miss Song's attention. She already had no money.
God seemed to have heard her thoughts. Song Taotao didn't want to buy anything else along the way. However, she was still in high spirits when she strolled around Liangzhou City. He Yan kept her company with all his heart and didn't seem bored at all. In the end, this arrogant little girl felt a little embarrassed. She asked He Yan, "You've been walking with me for so long? Was it boring? "
"No," He Yan said with a smile, "I just wanted to walk around."
Song Taotao looked at him for a while and said, "You're really a good person."
He Yan was a little surprised. When she said that, the little girl had already continued walking. He thought for a while and shook his head with a smile.
He Yan didn't just feel like taking care of Song Taotao. He also felt like he was doting on her like an elder. After all, this little girl almost became his "fiancée". He was also the person who she didn't hesitate to run away from home to fulfill. In a way, he changed her fate. In the years after that, Song Taotao didn't get involved in those strange things and grew up well.
He Yan felt very lucky. If she didn't do that back then. Perhaps Song Taotao wouldn't have married another woman, but the person who got married would have been He Rufei. Was marrying into the He Family really a good thing? There was no warmth in this family, only benefits. It really wasn't suitable for a little girl like Song Taotao.
However, He Yan felt a little helpless as he looked at the little girl's bouncing figure. When she left home, it could be considered as "running away from marriage". Now, Cheng Lisu was also running away from marriage. Song Taotao was also running away from marriage. Was this the same as running away from marriage?
She had to have a good talk with Cheng Lisu.
The Sun Residence in Liangzhou City was in a miserable state.
Sun Ling was sent back to the Sun Residence last night. Sun Xiangfu invited famous doctors to treat Sun Ling's injuries overnight. Although they were all superficial injuries, they weren't light. He had to recuperate for a few months.
Since young, when had Young Master Sun suffered such a big loss? Sun Xiangfu was also in a bad mood. Early this morning, he punished several servants for their mistakes.
The servants didn't dare to make a single mistake. The residence was quiet. Sun Ling was lying on the bed. Mrs. Sun sat by the bed and wiped her tears. She scolded fiercely, "Your father is too much. He's just a general. How could he beat you up like this? My son has suffered. I don't know how long it will take for him to recover … "
Sun Xiangfu heard this as soon as he came in. He said angrily, "What a woman! What do you mean by 'just a general'? Do you know that he even dared to kill the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue? The Minister of Revenue even reported it to the Emperor. What happened in the end? In the end, he could only admit that he was unlucky! If he had killed this unfilial son last night, what do you think you could have done? You couldn't have done anything! "
Mrs. Sun was stunned by the scolding. After a while, she said in a panic, "He, he's really that powerful? Then what should we do now? Should we apologize to him? "
"You can leave." Sun Xiangfu was annoyed. He waved his hand. "I will arrange this. I came to ask Ling 'er a few things. "
Mrs. Sun left with tears in her eyes. Sun Xiangfu walked to Sun Ling's side. Looking at Sun Ling's pale face, he was distressed and angry. He said, "Of all the people you could provoke, you had to provoke that King of Hell."
"I … didn't provoke him. It was his nephew who went too far." When Sun Ling mentioned this, he was angry. He told him everything that happened last night. In the end, he said, "How did I know that Cheng Lisu would suddenly attack?"
"Was that servant girl the one you liked?" Sun Xiangfu asked.
Sun Ling shook his head. "I don't know. Before I could see her face clearly, that person surnamed Xiao arrived."
"If it was just a misunderstanding, it would be fine. If it was really this girl, since Cheng Lisu protected him, it was inevitable that he would be prejudiced against you." Sun Xiangfu sighed. "It's my fault. I didn't tell you that Xiao Jue was coming to the city. Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way."
Sun Ling never cared about politics. He only knew how to eat, drink, and gamble. Therefore, he didn't know that Sun Xiangfu had sent an invitation to Xiao Jue.
"Father, we have already offended them. They won't make trouble for us in the future, right?" Sun Ling was a little anxious.
He was used to being lawless in Liangzhou City. He only relied on his father, the county magistrate. But last night, when Sun Xiangfu cried in front of Xiao Jue, Sun Ling understood that Xiao Jue was not someone the Sun family could afford to offend.
"Don't be afraid," Sun Xiangfu said. "In a few days, Censor Yuan will arrive. Censor Yuan is Prime Minister Xu's man. Prime Minister Xu and Xiao Jue have always been at odds. Perhaps, we can do something about it. "
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