He Yan accompanied Song Taotao until evening before heading back to the inn.
There was a stall selling tanghulu along the way. The tanghulu on the straw figurine looked sweet. He Yan took out the last few copper coins he had and bought a few skewers. He took the biggest one and gave it to Song Taotao. "Are you hungry? Eat some of this to fill your stomach. When we get back to the inn, we'll eat something good. "
God had mercy on her. Along the way, she had been thinking about what to do if Song Taotao wanted to eat at a restaurant and she didn't have enough money. Fortunately, she ate too much in the morning and the little girl was picky, so she didn't want to eat anything along the way. She just sat down and drank a few cups of tea, ate two pieces of cake, and spent a few copper coins.
Song Taotao took the tanghulu and looked at He Yan. "Thank you for your hard work today." She paused and said, "Actually, there isn't much to see in Liangzhou City. The things are ordinary. If it wasn't to hide from Second Young Master Xiao, I wouldn't have let you accompany me until so late."
"Huh?" He Yan also took a stick of candied haws and put one in his mouth. The hawthorn was sour and astringent, and the honey was sweet and sour together, making him salivate. He Yan lamented that he hadn't eaten such childish things in a long time. He asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like Military Governor Xiao? "
"It's not that I don't like him, it's just … I'm a little scared." The little girl pursed her lips. "It seems that in front of him, everyone will feel inferior."
He Yan was amused. Inferior? Song Taotao was like this because she was too young. He Yan smiled. "But he's handsome and powerful. Don't all little girls like him?"
When he was young, there were many girls who secretly came to see Xiao Jue. He Yan had never seen a girl who didn't like him. Song Taotao's behavior was already very special.
"I'm different from them." Song Taotao snorted. "They only know how to look at appearances. But such a cold person who doesn't know how to speak sweet words will make their lives miserable. I don't like this kind of man. I like a gentle man. "She sighed and said regretfully," Young Master Xiao is very good like that. It's a pity that he already has a wife. "
He Yan almost choked on the hawthorn in his mouth.
What? Xiao Jue wanted to be his niece-in-law's uncle, but he didn't know that she wanted to be his sister-in-law!
Song Taotao was indeed someone who had almost become her "little fiancée". She actually had such a different view of people. He Yan said, "Actually, Military Governor Xiao is quite gentle sometimes … but it's rare to see someone like you who doesn't like him." Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to get something out of Song Taotao, so she asked, "Do you know General Feihong, who is now as famous as him? Have you seen him before?"
"General Feihong?" Song Taotao said, "Are you talking about He Family's eldest young master? The one who said that he couldn't see anyone because of the injury on his face and that he wore a mask all day long? "
He Yan, "…"
"It's rare for him to wear a mask every day for ten years. I saw him before I ran away from the marriage. At that time, he had already taken off his mask. He looked alright. Do you know why he wore a mask? "Song Taotao asked.
He Yan, "Why?"
"Naturally, it was to find a gimmick for himself. Think about it. He didn't take off his mask earlier or later. He took it off right before His Majesty conferred him the title. He said that he had the help of a godly doctor to heal the scar on his face, but how could there be a godly doctor who couldn't even see the scar? After so many years, everyone knew that He Family's eldest young master was ugly and terrifying. When he suddenly took off his mask, he turned out to be an elegant young master. This was so bizarre. So, his original five points of appearance became seven points. "
He Yan couldn't help but applaud Song Taotao in his heart. What she said made sense. If she wasn't the one who wore the mask, he would almost believe that Song Taotao was telling the truth.
"Then what do you think of General Feihong compared to Military Governor Xiao?"
Song Taotao answered without thinking, "Of course it's Second Young Master Xiao. That He Family's eldest young master isn't as good-looking as Second Young Master Xiao!"
Fine, in this world, people still judged people by their appearance.
He Yan said in surprise, "I've never seen General Feihong before. I have the same surname as him. I've always wanted to see him with my own eyes. I wonder if I have the chance in this lifetime?"
"Of course you have the chance. However, He Family's eldest young master is now very valued by His Majesty. Before I left the capital, His Majesty often summoned him to the palace. Previously, when his cousin passed away, He Family's eldest young master didn't attend court for a few days. His Majesty even gave him a lot of things. "
He Yan's smile was a bit forced, "Are you talking about Xu Family's eldest young mistress?"
"Did she marry someone with the surname Xu? I'm not too sure either. I don't know what her name is. This older sister wasn't in the capital before. There were very few people in the capital who knew her, and she didn't have any close sisters. I only know that she was General Feihong's younger sister. After being married for a year, she contracted a strange disease and became blind. After she became blind, she wandered around the manor by herself. The servants didn't notice and she fell into the pond and drowned. "Song Taotao sighed," How pitiful. She clearly had General Feihong as her backing. How could she have lived a bad life? I can only say that she had a hard life. What was her name again? He something? Ai, I really don't remember. "
He Yan thought to himself, She was called He Yan. Unfortunately, this name was destined to be buried under General Feihong's name. The only people who knew of her was the young mistress of the He Family, General Feihong's younger sister, who was born with a weak body and was sent to a farmstead to be raised. No one remembered her name.
"Then what about Eldest Young Master Xu?" He Yan asked, "After Xu Family's eldest young mistress died, what happened to him?"
"I usually don't like to hear about these things when I'm in the manor. I vaguely remember my sisters mentioning that Miss He's husband was very depressed for a period of time after the death of the young mistress of the He Family. The truth was that he was deeply in love. But this kind of thing, who knows? "Song Taotao had a kind of insight that surpassed her age in this kind of matter. She said," When can a man's words be taken seriously? Who knows, he might still be reminiscing today and welcoming a new person into the manor tomorrow. "
He Yan smiled bitterly, "What you said makes a lot of sense."
"Why are you suddenly asking me these things?" Song Taotao said, "But I really don't know much. If you really want to know, you should ask Second Young Master Xiao. They are both military generals and colleagues. They should know more than me."
He Yan thought, Wasn't that because she was afraid that Xiao Jue would suspect her? Right now, she already didn't regard her as one of their own. If she continued to ask about the He Family, Xiao Jue would probably dig up everything about her. If her identity as a woman was exposed before she even found out anything, she wouldn't even be able to stay in the military camp. Then, the gains wouldn't make up for the losses.
As they spoke, they had already reached the entrance of the inn. He Yan and Song Taotao went upstairs. Song Taotao said, "Thank you so much for today. I will go in and change my clothes and rest for a while. Later, accompany me to eat something."
He Yan smiled and said, "Okay."
Although this young lady had the habits of a young mistress and liked to order people around, he didn't dislike her. After she left, He Yan didn't return to his room. Instead, he knocked on the door next door.
Today was very good. Someone in the room answered, "Come in."
As soon as He Yan entered, he saw Xiao Jue sitting at the table. She was using a white handkerchief to wipe the guqin in front of her. He Yan took a closer look and saw that it was the guqin that she had crushed.
"Commander in chief, is the guqin fixed? It's not broken, right? "He Yan leaned over and asked in a low voice.
Xiao Jue lazily said, "What's the matter?" She completely didn't want to talk to him.
He Yan took out his hands from behind his back and said, "Look! I brought you a gift today! Although I accompanied Miss Song to buy things, I still miss you in my heart. This tanghulu is for you! "
Xiao Jue glanced at the tanghulu in her hands and said, "Take it away."
She was so unreasonable. He Yan said, "Don't. I have already tasted it. It's very sweet!"
"I don't eat sweets." He said indifferently.
He Yan looked at him and cursed in his heart. What was he pretending for? When they were together at the Xianchang Restaurant, this person carried a small sachet with him. At that time, the young man who was close to him tried to snatch it, and he protected it tightly. He Yan thought that it was some kind of treasure. In the end, he found out that it was just a bag of osmanthus candy.
He went home two days a month. When he came back to the Xianchang Restaurant again, the sachet was full again. A person who always carried osmanthus candy with him when he was young was now telling her that he didn't eat sweets. Did this person dislike the fact that it was bought with two copper coins?
"If you don't eat it, you can give it to Fei Nu." He Yan put the tanghulu into the pen holder on the table. He changed the topic and his expression softened. He smiled and said flatteringly, "Governor, I still have something to discuss with you."
Xiao Jue looked at him with a calm gaze.
He Yan continued to say shamelessly, "I accompanied Miss Song out today. Miss Song wanted to buy clothes and jewelry. She has already spent all the money she got from fighting for the flag. I thought that since Miss Song is your niece-in-law, she is your relative. Although I shouldn't spend the money to buy things for your relative, I am sincere to the Governor. How can I let the Governor spend money? It's just that … I don't have any money now. If Miss Song wants to buy something, can you give me some money? If I don't have money to buy things, I don't want to embarrass you, right? Uncle? Uncle? "
The young man's smile was particularly flattering. His eyes flashed with intelligence, like a fox cub that he had hunted when he was young. He could bite people, but when he asked for food, he pretended to be obedient and docile.
Xiao Jue looked at him coldly, unmoved.
He Yan asked, "Can you do it?"
The man's reply was very heartless, "No."
"… Really?" She was still unwilling to give up.
"No."
He Yan straightened up and stared at him with hatred. In her previous life, when she joined the army, she had heard people say that a person's true growth began from borrowing money. He Yan now understood. She was already so humble. Xiao Jue was so rich, but he didn't give her any money. He was deliberately targeting her!
Xiao Jue raised his head with a calm expression and mocked, "I still remember that I'm not your uncle. Did you forget that Song Taotao is Cheng Li Su's fiancée, not yours?"
He Yan thought for a while before she understood. She said, "You don't think that I and Miss Song …"
Xiao Jue lowered his eyes and continued to wipe the zither, "I hope you still remember who you are."
He Yan almost cursed out loud in his heart. Look at what he was saying, was this something a human would say? Was Xiao Jue afraid that she would steal Cheng Li Su's fiancée? What a joke. If she hadn't taken the initiative to leave home, how could Cheng Li Su have this fiancée? Also, Xiao Jue wanted to be her uncle. Did he know that she wanted to be his sister-in-law? She didn't want to be his wife, so what did he know?
He Yan was angry in her heart. She put on a fake smile and said, "Of course I remember who I am. I'm He Yan who won 'first place' in the Liangzhou Guard Competition." She emphasized the word 'first place' and said, "If the Commander in Chief doesn't want to give me money, then forget it." She turned to leave, but suddenly remembered something. She turned around and grabbed the tanghulu on the table, "Since the Commander in Chief doesn't like to eat sweets, I'll take this tanghulu and eat it myself."
She took a big bite as if she was venting her anger. As she walked out, she mumbled, "What kind of Commander-in-chief is he? He's just a stingy miser …"
Xiao Jue, "…"
Fei Nu, who was outside, happened to hear this when he came in. He looked at He Yan's back and closed the door in confusion.
Xiao Jue looked up at him.
"Young Master, he …"
"It's nothing," Xiao Jue interrupted him, "Did you get anything today?"
Fei Nu shook his head, "He Yan has been accompanying Miss Song. He didn't do anything today. He just strolled around the streets and drank tea. He didn't meet anyone."
Xiao Jue nodded, "I know."
"Is it possible that the person he met wasn't from Liangzhou?" Fei Nu asked, "I feel that He Yan is a bit strange."
Not to mention his extraordinary skills, he was a new recruit, but he knew how to set up arrays. However, he didn't get caught. It could be seen that his attitude towards Xiao Jue was extremely bold. Ordinary people … wouldn't be like this, right?
"He's by my side. I won't make any mistakes. Tell Chi Wu to come here and pick him up. "
"Young Master, do you want Chi Wu to accompany Miss Song?" Fei Nu asked.
Xiao Jue nodded, "Yuan Baozhen is about to arrive in Liangzhou. It's not suitable for Song Taotao to travel with him. There are no good meetings and no good feasts, "he said calmly," We have to be fully prepared. "
Fei Nu replied, "I understand."
The next few days were very comfortable.
Song Taotao's hand hadn't fully recovered from the first day of strolling around. She was too lazy to go out these days. Xiao Jue and Fei Nu were often absent during the day. He Yan didn't want to leave Song Taotao alone at the inn, so he could only accompany her.
The little girl was easy to coax. He casually told her about the strange people and strange things he met in the army. She listened very seriously. When she was tired of listening, she casually ate downstairs at the inn. The day passed quickly. He Yan herself really wanted to go out with Xiao Jue and the others and ask around for some information, but they didn't bring her along at all. It was obvious that they wanted to exclude her. After a few times, He Yan was also a person who knew her own limits and was too lazy to go forward.
This trip to Liangzhou wasn't worth it. His only hope was that Imperial Censor Yuan Baozhen. He Yan had never looked forward to someone's arrival so much. Fortunately, after three days, Imperial Censor Yuan finally arrived in Liangzhou City.
This morning, Fei Nu brought someone over.
This young man was also dressed like a guard. His name was Chi Wu, and he should be Xiao Jue's confidant. He came over to take Song Taotao away.
"You can't stay here for the time being. Chi Wu will send you to a safe place. I'll come to pick you up after the matter in Liangzhou is settled, "Xiao Jue said.
Song Taotao looked at He Yan, "Then … Young Master Cheng won't come with me?"
The others immediately looked at He Yan, especially Xiao Jue. Her eyes were extremely cold. He Yan instantly understood the meaning of "you have to deal with your own problems".
She could only stand up and smile at Song Taotao, "I have to do something with Second Young Master Xiao, so I can't accompany you for now. Don't worry, this … Chi Wu will protect you. "
"What is it? Is it dangerous?" Song Taotao asked again.
He Yan was embarrassed, but also touched. He didn't dote on this child for nothing. She even knew to ask if it was dangerous. She smiled, "With Second Young Master Xiao around, it's not dangerous. Don't worry."
"Then you must be careful." Song Taotao warned her, then walked away, looking back every few steps.
He Yan turned around and was met with Xiao Jue's mocking gaze. She said, "I really didn't do anything …"
Xiao Jue turned around and left. He Yan hurriedly chased after her, "Uncle, don't be angry. Although Miss Song only asked if it was safe for me and not you, it wasn't because she thought you were cold and unapproachable. I'm kind, gentle, and likable. Please don't take it to heart!"
"Shut up." Xiao Jue stopped and looked at her from head to toe. He sneered, "If you have time to talk nonsense, why don't you think about how to not be exposed at the banquet? Cheng Li Su is still the young master of the You Si Naolang's residence. And you, "he looked at her meaningfully," Can you act like it? "
After saying this, he left without looking back. He Yan was stunned for a moment before she realized that this person was mocking her again. She shouted at Xiao Jue's back, "What's wrong with the You Si Naolang!"
In the end, she was also the young master of the He Family. Who wasn't an official? She had pretended to be the young master of a rich family for so many years. What couldn't she pretend to be? Tonight, she must make Xiao Jue look at her in a different light.
At the Liangzhou city gate, a carriage stood out among the crowd.
This carriage was very luxuriously decorated. Even the outside was embroidered with a large mountain and river painting. There was also a white crane in the grass. The white crane's eyes were made of black crystal. It was very exquisite and interesting.
Someone lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. After a while, the curtain was put back down.
Yuan Baozhen covered his nose with a handkerchief and said, "The wind in this Liangzhou city is really strong. It's much worse than the capital."
He was now in his forties. In fact, he was about the same age as Sun Xiangfu. Compared to Sun Xiangfu, he took good care of himself. His clothes were neat and tidy. His face was white and beardless. When he spoke, there was a hint of a smile. He looked very amiable.
"Say, Xiao Jue coming to this place, isn't he asking for trouble?" He asked the person next to him.
Next to him sat a person who looked like a guard. His appearance was mediocre and his body was thin. If it wasn't for the thick calluses between his thumb and index finger, others would think that he was just an ordinary servant.
"I don't know." The guard replied.
"Forget it. Since I'm going to see him today, I'll ask him myself." Yuan Baozhen smiled, "Hey, is the Sun Family coming?"
Sun Xiangfu had personally come to welcome him.
A satisfied smile appeared on Yuan Baozhen's face, "Not bad, not bad. Magistrate Sun is very polite."
Sun Xiangfu looked at the carriage that had stopped and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Originally, when the Imperial Censor came to Liangzhou, although he couldn't neglect him, he didn't need to welcome him at the city gates. However, he had already offended Xiao Jue. If he offended Yuan Baozhen as well, he wouldn't have any chance of survival. He still hoped that Yuan Baozhen would back him up and make Xiao Jue suffer a little. Naturally, he had to use all his efforts to please the person in front of him.
When Yuan Baozhen got off the carriage, Sun Xiangfu went up to him and cupped his hands, "Lord Yuan, please forgive me for not going out to welcome you."
"Don't mention it." Yuan Baozhen smiled amiably, "I feel that Lord Sun is very friendly. Lord Sun, you don't have to be so polite."
The two of them chatted for a while before Sun Xiangfu said, "If that's the case, please come to my residence to rest."
Yuan Baozhen had come to Liangzhou to temporarily stay at the Sun Estate. The two of them then boarded the carriage that Sun Xiangfu had prepared. Inside the carriage, Yuan Baozhen asked, "I heard that the Right Army's Commander-In-Chief has arrived in Liangzhou. Is he in your residence right now?"
"Military Governor Xiao is temporarily staying at an inn in Liangzhou City. He said that he has important matters to attend to. He just arrived tonight. Speaking of which, this official has something that I need Lord Yuan's help with. "
Yuan Baozhen's eyes flickered, but his smile remained the same as before. He only asked, "Magistrate Sun, what is troubling you?"
"It's the matter of Military Governor Xiao. My unfilial son accidentally offended Military Governor Xiao's nephew. I'm afraid that Military Governor Xiao will resent me because of this. Since I've prepared a banquet to welcome Lord Yuan, I hope that Lord Yuan can mediate and resolve this misunderstanding. "Sun Xiangfu's face was full of shame.
Although he didn't say what the matter was, Yuan Baozhen could guess. The son of a county magistrate who could cover the sky with one hand in Liangzhou was naturally not a good person. That Xiao Jue's nephew was the Young Master of the Right Army's Minister Naolang. If the two clashed, the Young Master Sun was destined to suffer.
He thought this in his heart, but said, "I think that Magistrate Sun is overthinking this matter. That Military Governor Xiao isn't an unreasonable person. Since it was an accident, it's fine to clear things up. Why would he still hold a grudge? "
"That's true," Sun Xiangfu wiped his sweat and smiled apologetically, "But Military Governor Xiao … didn't he deal with Zhao Nuo the same way back then?"
As soon as he said this, Yuan Baozhen's expression changed.
Everyone in Da Wei knew that Xiao Jue had beheaded the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Nuo, at the Monument Hall. However, too much time had passed, and other people thought that he was young and impetuous, so they gradually forgot. Now that Sun Xiangfu mentioned it, Yuan Baozhen remembered it again. When Zhao Nuo was in trouble, the first person that Minister Zhao went to was actually Prime Minister Xu. Prime Minister Xu handed over the invitation, and Minister Zhao went to the throne room and cried in front of the Emperor. The Emperor was very sympathetic, but did not punish Xiao Jue.
"If the wood is not cut from its roots, it will come back to life; if the water is not cut from its source, it will come back to flow; if the disaster is not cut from its roots, it will come back to chaos." At the time, Prime Minister Xu only said this one sentence, "If I don't get rid of this person, he will become a big problem for me in the future."
They all wanted to take advantage of the fact that Xiao Jue was still young and hadn't grown up yet to quickly get rid of him. However, ever since he led the Southern Mansion Soldiers to the Southern Barbarian Lands, he never left anyone with this opportunity. His speed of growth was astonishing. In just a few years, the person who killed Zhao Nuo, whom everyone thought was unreasonable, was doing the same thing now. Others would think it was normal.
This was the result of Xiao Jue's efforts in these few years.
He was much more powerful than Xiao Zhongwu, and much younger.
"Daren, Daren Yuan?" Seeing Yuan Baozhen's strange expression and silence, Sun Xiangfu did not understand and asked anxiously.
"It's nothing, I just thought of something else." Yuan Baozhen smiled, "Since Military Governor Xiao has come to the banquet tonight, I will speak to him for you. However, I don't know the temperament of Military Governor Xiao. If he does not listen to me, don't blame him."
"No, no," Sun Xiangfu was moved to tears, "I am already very happy that Daren Yuan is willing to speak."
Yuan Baozhen smiled and shook his head. His thoughts had already flown to other places.
No matter how powerful Xiao Jue was, he came to Liangzhou this time to get rid of this big problem for Prime Minister Xu.
He hoped that everything would go well.
In the evening, He Yan was going to go out with Xiao Jue.
They were going to Sun Xiangfu's residence, so they had to send Song Taotao away. Otherwise, if Sun Ling saw Song Taotao, or if Song Taotao saw Sun Ling, something might go wrong.
Because they were going to the banquet, He Yan deliberately changed into a very "Cheng Lisu" robe. It was a honey-colored robe with a red carp embroidered on the corner. Cheng Lisu looked cute and innocent in this robe, but He Yan looked different in it. He looked brighter and more open, but he was still a handsome young man. She picked a hairpin of the same color and stuck it in her hair. She did not forget to pick up the folding fan and held it in front of her chest. When she looked at the person in the bronze mirror, she was very satisfied.
After tidying up, He Yan stepped out of the door. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Xiao Jue standing at the door.
He had also changed into a different robe. It was a dark blue robe with two cranes. He did not wear a golden crown today, only a red sandalwood hairpin was inserted. It looked simple, but if one looked carefully, the material and embroidery were of high quality. He was born exceptionally handsome, and with such attire, he lost some of his aloofness and gained a trace of elegance. He was indeed a noble and elegant young master.
He Yan thought that the bright and beautiful young man had finally grown into such a handsome young man. He did not seem to have changed, but at the same time, he seemed to be completely different from before.
Xiao Jue turned sideways and met He Yan's slightly dazed gaze. He smiled and said, "Wipe your saliva clean."
He Yan subconsciously wiped his saliva. He immediately came back to his senses and said, "When?"
"You look like a fool." His words were full of disdain. "You still want to hide it from Yuan Baozhen?"
As soon as He Yan heard this, she was not convinced. With a "shua" sound, she opened up her folding fan and walked to Xiao Jue's side. She smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "With my appearance, if I was in Shuo capital, even if I don't dare to be a governor, I would at least be on par with Cheng gongzi. Otherwise, why would Miss Song only tell me before she left and not you? "
The young man's eyes were full of smiles. His eyes were as bright as the stars, but he could not stop his foolishness. Xiao Jue mocked, "Because you are stupid."
"What?"
"Stupid people always need a lot of reminders."
He Yan frowned. "Uncle, do you hate me?" This person, would he die if he did not mock him for a day?
"You are my nephew. Why would I hate you?" Xiao Jue glanced at him with a smile and ordered Fei Nu, "Let's go."
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