Yuan Baozhen
He Yan accompanied Song Taotao till the evening before returning to the inn.
There was a candied haws seller on the road, and the red candied haws stuck in the straw seemed sweet. He Yan took out her last few copper coins, bought a few from the vendor, and handed the largest one to Song Taotao, “Aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat some of this to stuff our stomachs first. When we get back to the inn, we will eat something good.”
It was a pity. She has been thinking about what she would do if suddenly Song Taotao wanted to eat at a restaurant since she did not have the money for that. Fortunately, the girl was too full from the morning and was a picky eater too. She didn’t want to eat anything all the way. She only sat down, drank a few cups of tea, ate two cakes, costing just a few copper coins.
Song Taotao took the candied haws and looked at He Yan, “Thanks for your hard work today.” After a pause, she said again, “Actually, Liangzhou City is not good for shopping at all, and everything is average. If we weren’t hiding fromYoung Master Xiao, I wouldn’t have gotten you to accompany me until so late.”
“Huh?” He Yan also took a candied haw, biting once in her mouth. The taste was sour and astringent, together with the honey it was sweet and sour, making cheeks sink with sourness. He Yan lamented for a while that she hadn’t eaten such a childish thing for a long time and asked, “Why? Don’t you like General Xiao?”
“It’s not that I don’t like him, but… I’m a little scared.” The little girl flattened her mouth. “It seems that everyone will become very inferior in front of him.”
He Yan sniffed pleasantly after hearing the words, low self-esteem? Song Taotao was so young and thinking like that. He Yan smiled and said, “But he looks good and is powerful, don’t little girls like this type of man?”
When she was a teenager, many girls secretly came to see Xiao Jue daily at the entrance of Xianchang Hall. He Yan hadn’t seen a girl who didn’t like him. Song Taotao was so special.
“I’m different from them.” Song Taotao snorted softly. “They only know to look at the outer appearance. Living with people who are so cold and can’t speak sweet words would be sad. I don’t like this, I like gentle ones,” she sighed as she said, regrettingly, “First young Master Xiao is like that, but it’s a pity that he is already married with a wife.”
He Yan almost choked from the hawthorn in her mouth.
What? Xiao Jue wanted to be the uncle of his nephew’s fiancee, but he did not know that what the girl wanted was to be his sister-in-law!
Song Taotao deserves to be the one who almost became her “little fiancée”. She actually sees people so differently. He Yan said, “In fact, General Xiao is also very gentle sometimes… But there are very few people who don’t like him, such as you.” She felt moved in her heart and wanted to get something out of Song Taotao’s mouth, so she asked, “Do you know General Feihong, who is now as famous as him? Have you seen him?”
“General Feihong?” Song Taotao said, “Are you talking about the eldest son of the He family? The one who said before that he had injuries on his face and couldn’t see people, wearing a mask all day just to pretend?”
He Yan, “…”
“It is rare for him to wear a mask for ten years. I saw him before I escaped from the marriage. He had already taken off the mask at that time and looked good. Do you know why he wears a mask?” Song Taotao asked.
He Yan, “Why?”
“Naturally, it’s to find a gimmick for myself. Just think, he didn’t take off his mask anytime, but he took it off before his majesty gave the seal of approval to face the saint. It was said that only a divine doctor can heal the scars on his face. But no doctor treated him, yet even a little scar was not seen! For so many years, Everyone thought that Young Master He was ugly and terrifying, and suddenly he took off his mask. This was so bizarre, so his original five-point appearance changed to seven points.”
He Yan couldn’t help applauding Song Taotao in her heart, saying it made sense, if she wasn’t the person behind the mask, she would almost believe that what Song Taotao said was true.
“Then how do you think General Feihong compares with General Xiao?”
Song Taotao replied without thinking, “Of course the second son of Xiao. The son of the He family is not as good-looking as the second son of Xiao!”
Okay, in this world, people are still judged by their appearances.
He Yan suddenly said, “I haven’t met General Feihong. Yet I share the same surname as him. I have always wanted to see him with my own eyes. I wonder if there would be a chance in this life?”
“Of course there is a chance, but Grand Duke He is highly valued by his Majesty. Before I left the capital, His Majesty often called him into the palace. When his cousin passed away, Grand Duke He did not go to court for a few days, and His Majesty even gave him a lot of things.”
He Yan’s smile was a little reluctant, “Are you talking about Mrs. Xu?”
“Was she married to someone surnamed Xu? I don’t know too well. I don’t know what her name was. This elder sister was not in Shuojing before. Very few people in the capital knew her, and no one knew her well. I only know that she was General Feihong’s younger sister. She had only been married for a year and was blinded by a strange disease. After she turned blind, she just wandered around in the mansion. When the servant didn’t pay attention, she fell into the pond and drowned.” Song Taotao sighed, “It’s really pitiful. It’s obvious that there is General Feihong as the backer, so life won’t be bad. We can only say that it might be her fate. What was her name again? What was it? Huh, I really can’t remember.”
He Yan said in her heart, her name was He Yan. Unfortunately, this name was destined to be submerged under the name of General Feihong He Rufei. What the world knew was that she was born weak and sent to the village to grow up. The sister of General Feihong, no one remembers her name.
“What about Grand Master Xu?” He Yan asked, “What happened to him after his wife died?”
“I usually stayed in the house and didn’t like listening to these things. I vaguely remember that the sisters mentioned that the husband of Miss He was very depressed for a while after the death of Miss He, showing his deep feelings. But this kind of thing, who knows,” Song Taotao has a kind of transparency beyond the age when it comes to this kind of thing. She said, “Men’s words, how often can they be taken seriously? They may be cherishing the memory today, but will welcome the new one into the house tomorrow.”
He Yan smiled bitterly, “What you say makes perfect sense.”
“Why are you asking me this suddenly?” Song Taotao said, “But I really don’t know much. If you really want to know, you should ask Second Young Master Xiao. Since they are both military commanders and are colleagues, he should know more than me. “
He Yan thought, she’s afraid of raising Xiao Jue’s suspicion. At this moment, she was no longer considered as their own. If she inquired about the He family, she was afraid that Xiao Jue would be able to find out everything about her. If the matter of her being a woman is exposed, she wouldn’t even get to stay in the barracks. She will lose more than she gains.
While talking, time passed and 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 to change clothes and rest for a while. Later, I’ll accompany you to eat.”
He Yan smiled and said, “Okay.”
Although this girl has the habit of being a noble lady and loves to give orders, she was not annoying. After He Yan waited for her to leave, she did not return to her room, but instead knocked on the door next door.
Today was good, someone in the room responded, “Come in.”
As soon as He Yan entered, she saw Xiao Jue sitting at the table. He was using the white silk to wipe the zither in front of him. He Yan fixed her eyes to see that it was the evening fragrance zither that had been crushed by her.
“General, has this zither been repaired? It’s not broken, right?” He Yan leaned over and asked in a low voice.
Xiao Jue said lazily, “What’s the matter?” He didn’t want to talk more with her.
He Yan took out her hands from behind, “Look! I brought you a present today! Although I was shopping with Miss Song, I still had you in mind. I will give this candied haw to you as a gift!”
Xiao Jue glanced at the candied haw in her hand, “Take it away.”
So unreasonable, He Yan said, “No. I have already tasted it. it’s sweet!”
“I don’t eat sweets.” He said indifferently.
He Yan looked at him, slandering in her heart, what is he pretending for. When they were in Xianchang Hall together, this person always carried a small sachet with him. When the boy who was close to him tried to grab it, he guarded it tightly. He Yan initially thought it was some precious treasure, but she later discovered that it was a bag of sweet-scented osmanthus candy.
He goes home two days a month, and when he comes to Xianchang Hall again, the sachet would be bulging again. A person who used to eat sweet-scented osmanthus candy when he was a teenager, is now telling her that he doesn’t eat sweets? Is this person afraid that it would be disgusting because she bought it with just two copper coins?
“If you don’t want to eat it, you can give it to Brother Fei Nu.” He Yan inserted the candied haws into the penholder on the table, and the conversation turned, her expression softened again, as she said with a flattering smile, “General, I still have something to discuss with you.”
Xiao Jue looked at her with no waves in his eyes.
He Yan brazenly continued, “I accompanied Miss Song out today as she wanted to buy clothes and jewelry. So the silver I had won before in the flag competition has all been spent. I think Miss Song is your niece-in-law, your relative, and that I have bought things for your relatives. Although I shouldn’t be paying this money, I’m very sincere to the General. How can I make the General spend money? But it’s… Because I don’t have any money now. If Miss Song wants to buy something, can you… Can you give me some silver? I can’t afford to lose your face when going out to buy something, right? Uncle? Uncle?”
The young man smiled extraordinarily flatteringly. His eyes gleaming brightly, like a fox cub that he had hunted in his youth. Obviously, they can bite people, but when begging for food from people, they pretend to be extraordinarily docile and meek
Xiao Jue looked at her coldly, unmoved.
He Yan asked, “Can you do it?”
The man answered very ruthlessly, “No.”
“…Really no?” She was still reluctant.
“No.”
He Yan straightened up and stared at him bitterly. When she joined the army in her previous life, she had heard people saying that the moment a person truly grows up only when he starts borrowing money. He Yan now understood this so deeply; she was so humbled and Xiao Jue was so rich, yet he was not giving her anything at all; he was deliberately targeting her!
Xiao Jue raised his head, looked calm, and mocked, “You should still remember that I am not your uncle. Did you forget that Song Taotao is Cheng Lisu’s fiancee, not yours?”
He Yan thought about this for a while before she figured it out. She said, “You aren’t thinking that I’m interested in Miss Song, are you…”
Xiao Jue looked down and continued to wipe the zither, “I hope you still remember who you are.”
He Yan almost yelled in her heart, look at him, is he even saying human words? Xiao Jue, is he afraid that I’ll steal Cheng Lisu’s fiancee? What a joke. Back then if she hadn’t taken the initiative to leave her home, where would Cheng Lisu have gotten his financee now? Also, Xiao Jue wants to be her uncle? Does he even know that the little girl wanted to be his sister-in-law? She didn’t even want to be here! What does he know?
He Yan was angry in her heart, but still, she smiled and said, “Of course I remember who I am. I am He Yan who won first place in Liangzhou Wei’s battle.” She bit the word “first” heavily, and said, “The General is not willing to give money. It’s fine.” She turned to leave, suddenly remembering something, turned around, grabbed the candied haw on the table, “Since the General doesn’t like sweets anyway, I’ll take this candied haw and eat it myself.”
She took a big bite as if she was venting her anger. While she was chewing, the crunching could be heard as she walked out. She said vaguely, “What kind of right army captain is just a stubborn iron rooster…”
Xiao Jue, “…”
Fei Nu heard such a sentence just when he came in. Looking at He Yan’s back, he turned around and closed the door somewhat puzzled.
Xiao Jue looked up at him.
“Master, he…”
“Nothing,” Xiao Jue interrupted him, “Are there any gains today?”
Fei Nu shook his head, “He Yan has been by Miss Song’s side all the time. He didn’t do anything the entire day, just went shopping and drank tea on the side of the street, and didn’t even meet anyone.”
Xiao Jue nodded, “I see.”
“Is it possible that the person with whom he is connected to is not from Liangzhou City?” Fei Nu asked, “I always think that He Yan is a bit strange.”
He was unusually skilled, let alone the fact that he was only a new recruit, he even knew how to do formations. It could be seen from his attitude towards Xiao Jue is really bold. Ordinary people… wouldn’t behave like this, right?
“He is by my side, so he won’t make any mistakes. Tell Chi Wu and let him come here to pick up people.”
“Young Master wants Chi Wu to accompany Miss Song?” Fei Nu asked.
Xiao Jue nodded, “Yuan Baozhen is coming to Liangzhou. Song Taotao is not suitable for traveling. There will be no good meetings, no good banquets,” he said lightly, “We must be fully prepared.”
Fei Nu responded, “Subordinate understood.”
…
The next few days were very pleasant.
After the first day of long shopping, Song Taotao’s hand injury was not completely healed, and she was too lazy to get out of the door these few days. Xiao Jue and Fei Nu were often absent during the day, so He Yan could not leave Song Taotao alone in the inn and had to accompany her.
The little girl was so easy to coax, and she listened so seriously when He Yan casually talked to her about some strange things that she had encountered in the past when she was in the army. Whenever she felt tired of listening, they would go to eat something downstairs at the inn, and the day would pass. He Yan actually wanted to go out with Xiao Jue and the others to ask for some news. However, she was not taken with them at all. It was obvious that she was excluded. After several times of rejections, and He Yan was also a self-knowing person, she did not bother to move forward.
This trip to Liangzhou was really not a good deal. The only thing to look forward to was supervisor Yuan Baozhen. He Yan had never looked forward to the arrival of a person so much. Fortunately, three days later, Master Yuan finally arrived in Liangzhou City.
This morning, Fei Nu brought a person over.
This was also a young man dressed as a guard, named Chi Wu, who should also be Xiao Jue’s confidant. He came here to take Song Taotao away.
“You can’t stay here, for the time being, Chi Wu will send you to a safe place. After the matter in Liangzhou is over, I will pick you up again.” Xiao Jue said.
Song Taotao looked at He Yan, “Then… Mr. Cheng won’t be with me?”
The gazes of several other people suddenly turned towards He Yan, especially Xiao Jue, whose eyes were extremely cold. He Yan instantly understood the meaning of “handling your own troubles by yourself”.
She had no choice but to stand up and smile at Song Taotao, “I have something to do with Second Young Master Xiao, and I can’t accompany you for the time being. Don’t worry, this… Brother Chi Wu will protect you.”
“What is it, is it dangerous?” Song Taotao asked again.
He Yan was embarrassed and also felt a little moved. The child was hurting herself, and she still knew to ask her if it was dangerous. She smiled and said, “There is Second Young Master Xiao. It won’t be dangerous, don’t worry.”
“Then you must be careful.” After Song Taotao told her, she turned her head, taking one step at a time, and left.
He Yan turned her head and met Xiao Jue’s mocking gaze. She said, “I really didn’t do anything…”
Xiao Jue turned and left, He Yan hurriedly chased after him, “Uncle, don’t worry, Miss Song only asked me if I would be safe and didn’t ask you. It’s definitely not because she thinks your temper is too cold to approach, while I am kind, gentle, and likable. You must not take it to heart!”
“Shut up.” Xiao Jue stopped, looked at her from head to toe with his scrutiny eyes, and said, “If you have time to talk nonsense, why don’t you think about how you would behave at the banquet?. No matter what, Cheng Lisu is the young master of the Right secretary’s mansion, and you,” he glanced at her meaningfully, “Can you pretend to be one?” “
After putting down these words, he left without looking back. He Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing that this person was mocking her again. She shouted at Xiao Jue’s back, “What’s the matter with the Right secretary’s mansion!”
After all, she was also a young master from the He family. Weren’t they also an official! She has pretended to be the young master of a big family for so many years. Why wouldn’t she be able to pretend now? Tonight, I willimpress Xiao Jue.
…
At the gate of Liangzhou, a carriage was particularly conspicuous among the crowd.
The carriage was gorgeously decorated. The outside alone was embroidered with excellent embroidery, with large pictures of mountains and rivers. There was also a white crane in the grass. The eyes of the white crane were actually made of black crystals, which were especially delicate and exquisite.
Someone lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, but in a moment, the carriage curtain was lowered.
Yuan Baozhen covered his nose with a handkerchief, and said, “In this Liangzhou city, the wind, and sand are really strong… It’s far worse than the capital.”
He was now in his forties, and in fact was about the same age as Sun Xiangfu, but compared to Sun Xiangfu, he was well maintained. The clothes were neat and exquisite, the face was white, and he spoke with a slight smile, giving him a pleasant appearance.
“You say, Xiao Jue didn’t ask for trouble when he came to this kind of place?” He asked the people around him.
Next to him was a person who looked like a guard, with a mediocre appearance and thin body. If it was not for the thick cocoon on the palm of his hands, others would only think that he was an ordinary servant.
“I don’t know.” The guard replied.
“Fine. I’m going to meet him today anyway. When we meet, I will ask him personally.” Yuan Baozhen smiled, “Ah, did the Sun family come here?”
Sun Xiangfu came to pick up the people in person.
A satisfied smile appeared on Yuan Baozhen’s face, “Yes, yes, this Prefect Sun is very courteous.”
Sun Xiangfu looked at the stopped carriage and wiped his sweat. Originally, he could not neglect his supervision to Liangzhou, but he did not have to go to the gate of the city to meet him. It was just that now he has offended Xiao Jue, and if he was to offend Yuan Baozhen as well, there would be no way to survive. He was hoping to rely on Yuan Baozhen for support and make Xiao Jue suffer a little bit. Naturally, he had to devote himself to please the person in front of him.
When Yuan Baozhen stepped out of the carriage, Sun Xiangfu greeted him and said, “Master Yuan is here. The official is sorry for making you come from so far away to welcome you. For any negligence, please don’t blame the Lord.”
“Not at all,” Yuan Baozhen smiled kindly, “I see that Master Sun is very kind. Master Sun, you don’t have to be so polite.”
The two chatted and laughed for a while, and Sun Xiangfu said, “If this is the case, please ask the excellency to come to the house and rest.”
Yuan Baozhen came to Liangzhou and was going to stay in Sun’s Mansion for the time being. The two got into the carriage that was prepared by Sun Xiangfu. In the carriage, Yuan Baozhen asked, “I heard that the General of the Right Army has arrived in Liangzhou. I wonder if he is in the house now?”
“General Xiao was staying at the inn in Liangzhou City, for the time being, saying that he has important matters. He has only arrived at the house tonight. Speaking of which, this official has one more thing to ask Master Yuan for help.”
Yuan Baozhen’s eyes moved, but his smile was the same as before. He only asked, “What is the matter that Prefect Sun is distressed about?”
“It has to do with General Xiao. My unfilial son has accidentally run into General Xiao’s nephew. I’m afraid General Xiao will resent me because of this. Since I will be hosting a banquet for Master Yuan tonight, I hope Master Yuan will help to solve this misunderstanding.” Sun Xiangfu looked embarrassed.
Although he didn’t clearly say what was going on, Yuan Baozhen could also guess a little. A magistrate that covers the sky in Liangzhou, the son he would raise, would naturally not be a decent person either. Xiao Jue’s nephew is the young master of the Right Secretary’s mansion, and the two conflicted, fearing that Master Sun was destined to suffer.
He thought this in his heart, but said with his mouth, “I think Prefect Sun is overthinking about this matter. General Xiao is not an unreasonable person, since the both of you accidentally collided. Just say it clearly. How can he still hold a grudge?”
“That’s what I said,” Sun Xiangfu wiped his sweat, and said with a smile, “But General Xiao… dealt with Zhao Nuo that way back then!”
Yuan Baozhen’s expression changed as soon as he said this.
Everyone knew about the beheading of Zhao Nuo, the eldest son of the Minister of Finance, who was known to everyone in the Great Wei. It’s just that too much time has passed, and others thought he was young and vigorous, they gradually forgot. Now when Sun Xiangfu mentioned it, Yuan Baozhen remembered it again. When Zhao Nuo had an accident, the first person Zhao Shangshu found was actually Minister Xu. Xu Xiang handed over the post and Zhao Shangshu went to the Golden palace, crying to His Majesty with snot and tears. His Majesty sympathized with him but did not deal with Xiao Jue.
“If logging is not extracted from its roots, it will regenerate; if water is not blocked from its source, it will re-flow; if the disaster is not removed from its roots, it will return to chaos.” [1 ]Xu Xiang said at that time, “If this son is not eliminated, in the future, he will become a big problem for me.”
All they thought was to quickly get rid of Xiao Jue when he was young before he matured, but since he took the Southern soldiers to the southern barbarians, he had never left any opportunity for others. He grew up at an amazing speed. In just a few years, the person who killed Zhao Nuo back then and was regarded as unreasonable by the world, would now do the same thing again. People would only find it reasonable.
This is the result of what Xiao Jue has done in the past few years.
He is much more powerful than Xiao Zhongwu and much younger.
“My Lord? Lord Yuan?” Seeing Yuan Baozhen’s expression was different and silent, Sun Xiangfu said in an anxious tone.
“Nothing, I just thought of something else.” Yuan Baozhen smiled, “Since General Xiao is coming to the banquet tonight, I will talk to him for you. It’s just that I don’t understand the temperament of General Xiao. If he doesn’t listen to me, please don’t blame me.”
“Why would I?” Sun Xiangfu sighed with gratitude, “Master Yuan is willing to talk, I’m already very happy.”
Yuan Baozhen smiled and shook his head, his mind already drifting elsewhere.
No matter how powerful Xiao Jue was, he came to Liangzhou this time just to get rid of this big trouble for Xu Xiang.
I hope everything goes well.
…
In the evening, He Yan was going out with Xiao Jue.
They were going to Sun Xiangfu’s mansion, 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 he was going to a banquet, He Yan deliberately changed into a very “Cheng Lisu” type attire, a honey-colored robe. The corner of the robe was still embroidered with a red carp. Cheng Lisu wearing this outfit would give a cute and innocent feeling, but He Yan wearing it gave off a different feeling. She looked bright and sparse, but also like a handsome young man. She picked another hairpin of the same color and stuck it on her head. She didn’t forget to take the folding fan, half-open the folding fan across her chest. Looking at the person in the bronze mirror, she felt quite satisfied.
After finishing the arrangement, He Yan went out with a kick, and as soon as she went out, she saw Xiao Jue standing at the door.
He has also changed his clothes. It was a dark blue dark patterned double crane brocade dress. Today, he did not wear a golden crown; only a red sandalwood hairpin was inserted. It looked clean and simple. If one was to look closely, the embroidery of the material was excellent. He was born extraordinarily handsome, and in such a dress, he was a little less indifferent, but a little more heroic, like jade, and was really looking like a noble and elegant honorable son.
He Yan thought in her heart that the original bright and beautiful boy eventually grew into such a handsome and beautiful man. It seemed that he had not changed much. Still, it seemed that he was completely different from the past.
Xiao Jue turned to one side and met He Yan’s dazed gaze. He curled his lips and said, “Wipe your saliva clean.”
He Yan wiped it subconsciously, and then returned to her senses, “Where is it?”
“You look like a fool.” His words were filled with dislike. “And yet you still want to hide it from Yuan Baozhen?”
He Yan was not convinced when she heard this. She unfolded the folding fan with a “huh”, very playful, she walked to Xiao Jue, smiled, and whispered, “I wouldn’t dare to mention the governor, but with looks like this in Shoujing I should at least be comparable with Master Cheng. Otherwise, why would the Song Girl alone worry about me instead of you when she left?”
The corners of the young man’s eyes were smiling, his eyes were as bright as stars, but he was still couldn’t stop being silly, Xiao Jue mocked, “Because you are stupid.”
“What?”
“Stupid people always need a lot of reminders.”
He Yan frowned, “Uncle, do you particularly hate me?” This person, will he die if he doesn’t pick on her for a day?
“You are my nephew. How could I hate you?” Xiao Jue glanced at her with a smile, and told Fei Nu, “Go.”