On the way to the martial arts arena, He Yan was still thinking about what Lin Shuanghe had just said.

The snake-patterned black jade in her hand was as cool as water, and it made her mind clearer in the winter. Yesterday, she got drunk and stole Xiao Jue's jade. She could do such a shocking thing. It seemed that she really couldn't drink easily in the future.

As He Yan was thinking, he had already walked to the edge of the martial arts arena.

There was a man standing in front of Xiao Jue, wearing the black armor of a Southern Army soldier, with his head lowered and not saying a word. When he approached, he heard Xiao Jue coldly say, "Is this the formation you made?"

The man was probably his deputy general, the leader in charge of training the Southern Army. He looked tall and mighty, but in front of Xiao Jue, he was like a child who had made a mistake. He lowered his head and said, "I know I was wrong. You may not be used to the snow in Liangzhou..."

"Not adapting?" Second Master Xiao glanced at him and asked, "Do you need me to teach you how to adapt?"

He Yan saw clearly that this burly man was actually frightened by Xiao Jue's words and trembled. He said, "I will take them to train well now!"

"Double the daily training," Xiao Jue said calmly, "If it happens again, you won't have to stay in Liangzhouwei."

"Yes!" The man walked away again with a nod. He Yan stretched his neck to look at the other end of the martial arts arena. He saw that after the man went down, he scolded the few Southern Army soldiers standing in front of him and started to practice the military formation again. He was shocked.

Xiao Jue's attitude towards the soldiers of the Southern Palace and the new recruits of Liangzhou Guards was different. He rarely showed up to the new recruits of Liangzhou Guards, and was more distant and polite to Shen Han and his men. Only when he was with the soldiers of the Southern Palace did he really show his usual self, casual and cold, like a governor who would curse at people if he disagreed with them.

Was she also so annoying when she was a general of Feihong? He Yan silently reflected on herself in her heart.

Just as she was thinking, Xiao Jue had already turned around, and when he saw her, he was also stunned. After a moment of silence, he asked impatiently, "What are you doing here again?"

He Yan smiled apologetically and stretched out her palm. A black jade was lying in her hand. She said, "The governor seemed to have left something here with me last night. I specially returned it to him."

"Return it?" Xiao Jue chewed on her two words playfully, bent down to stare into her eyes, pulled the corners of his mouth, and said indifferently: "My dear daughter is so considerate."

He Yan: “…”

Why does this person hold a grudge like this? Besides, even if she calls him dad, it was Xiao Jue who took advantage of her. But when Xiao Jue says it, it sounds like she has done something extremely evil.

He Yan tried hard to maintain her composure and said, "The governor is really good at joking. This black jade looks very valuable. The governor should not lose it in the future and should keep it well." She picked up the jade and reached for Xiao Jue's waist.

Xiao Jue took a step back, looking alert: "What are you doing?"

"I'll tie it on for you." He Yan said innocently, "Isn't this jade pendant meant to be tied around the waist?"

Xiao Jue's mind suddenly popped up what Lin Shuanghe said yesterday: "She likes your waist."

He Yan was about to step forward, but Xiao Jue raised his hand to stop her and gave her a complicated look: "I'll do it myself."

"Oh." He Yan didn't understand what was going on, so he handed the jade pendant to him. Seeing Xiao Jue put the jade pendant back on, the black jade looked very beautiful on his dark blue robe.

She was watching seriously, but she didn't know that when Xiao Jue saw her like this, his eyes narrowed, and he immediately turned around and lifted up his robe.

Was he bitten by a bug? He Yan was puzzled.

In the martial arts arena, the sound of soldiers shouting orders came. He Yan followed him to the edge of the platform and looked down. The Southern Army was already very disciplined and their morale was excellent. He almost scolded such a brave soldier to tears just now. What's wrong with Xiao Jue? Is he too picky?

If he had taken over the Vietnam War, he wouldn't have had time to eat all day and wouldn't even have enough time to curse people.

He Yan watched and said what was in her mind. She said, "They practiced very well. You were too fierce just now."

"Violent?"

"Yeah," He Yan said, "If it were me, I would have been scared to death."

Xiao Jue smiled again, with a hint of mockery in his smile, "I guess you don't think I'm fierce."

"That's because I'm used to being scolded." He Yan looked down at the Nanfu soldiers: "Sharp Arrow Formation."

Xiao Jue asked, "How is it?"

"We have trained well, but the snowy roads are slippery recently, so the soldiers on the left side of the last row can't keep up."

"Besides the Sharp Arrow Formation, what other formations do you know?" Xiao Jue asked casually.

"Well, there are a lot," He Yan counted on her fingers: "Star Scattering Formation, Goose Formation, Fish Beauty Formation, Crane Wing Formation..." She listed more than ten in a row. Seeing Xiao Jue's eyes fixed on her, she stopped unconsciously and asked: "What... are you looking at me for?"

Xiao Jue turned around, put her hands on the railing on the balcony, and said with a lazy smile: "Look at how powerful you are, female general star."

He Yan: “…”

She said shamelessly, "I'm so powerful, why don't you consider giving me a promotion? Let me be your right-hand man? If we join forces, we will definitely be able to destroy the world!"

Xiao Jue sneered: "Who said 'we' to you?"

"Don't be so aloof all the time. You should learn to be more approachable like me."

Xiao Jue was too lazy to pay attention to her. He Yan was about to say something when someone's voice rang out from behind: "Young Master."

It's Fei Nu.

"Master," Fei Nu glanced at He Yan, "there's movement from Lord Lei's side."

Xiao Jue nodded: "Got it." He turned and walked downstairs, probably to the dungeon. He Yan wanted to follow him, but stopped after taking a step.

Forget it. If there is something, Xiao Jue will know it even if she doesn't say it. Now I just follow her eagerly and don't want to bother Xiao Jue. It's better to go find Chu Zhao and ask her if she did anything out of line to Chu Zhao when she was drunk yesterday.

If there is, you have to queue up to apologize.

Thinking of this, she waved to Xiao Jue and said, "I have something else to do, so I won't go with you, Governor. See you later."

Fei Nu twitched her lips. Look at how familiar she is. Did anyone invite her?

Xiao Jue had long been accustomed to He Yan's rogue behavior, and stepped down the stairs: "Let's go."

…

When He Yan went to Chu Zhao's room, Chu Zhao was practicing calligraphy.

She came in a hurry yesterday, and it was night, so she just drank in the yard and didn't pay attention to where Chu Zhao lived. She just thought it was not luxurious enough. When she took a look today, she found that it was not only not luxurious enough, but it could even be called simple.

In addition to the table and bed, there were only two chairs in the room, and there were no decorations. However, this Fourth Master Chu was quite happy with himself, and he even placed incense and hung gauze curtains in the room, so that the originally simple room looked a bit hermit-like and elegant.

Ying Xiang saw her and said with a smile, "Master He, are you here to see our Master?"

"Well," He Yan said, "I... came here to bring some snacks to the Fourth Young Master Chu." She raised the box, which contained the scallion pastry that Lin Shuanghe had given her in the morning. He Yan had wanted to save some for when she was hungry, but it would not be good to come to see Chu Zhao empty-handed, so she reluctantly considered it as a meeting gift.

"The fourth young master is practicing calligraphy," Ying Xiang said with a smile, "Young Master He, please follow me."

He Yan followed her inside and saw Chu Zhao sitting at the table writing.

She stood behind Chu Zhao and couldn't help but read aloud.

"There is not a speck of dust on the green mountain, not a single cloud in the blue sky. There is only one moon in the sky, and only one person in the mountain."

"At this moment, I hear the sound of pines, at this moment, I hear the sound of bells, at this moment, I hear the sound of weeds, at this moment, I hear the sound of insects."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Zhao also finished writing the last stroke, turned around, saw her, and smiled, "Brother He is here."

He Yan circled around the words he wrote and exclaimed, "Mr. Chu's handwriting is really good."

Chu Zhao's handwriting is different from Xiao Jue's. Xiao Jue's handwriting is sharp and vigorous, with a kind of cold and hard willfulness. Chu Zhao's handwriting is very beautiful and gentle, just like the feeling he gives people. His poems are also so indifferent and elegant. It is really hard to imagine that he has anything to do with Xu Jingfu.

But thinking about Xu Jingfu, if He Yan had not been close to Xiao Jue now, and had not heard what Ding Yi said before, in her heart, Xu Jingfu would have been just an honest and upright old prime minister.

"Brother He, you came to see me, what's the matter?" Chu Zhao stood up, put away the paper and pen, and took He Yan to the only table in the room and sat down. The two chairs were just right. He said to Ying Xiang, "Pour tea for Master He."

Ying Xiang smiled and went to get tea. He Yan said, "I didn't come to see you for anything. I just felt bad for drinking the Chang'an Spring of the Fourth Master Chu last night, so I sent you some snacks." She gestured to Chu Zhao to look at the snack box on the table, but was too embarrassed to open it because it looked too simple.

"Thank you." Chu Zhao was very considerate. "I just wanted to try the difference between Liangzhou Wei's snacks and Shuojing's. Brother He brought it just in time."

He Yan cleared her throat twice, "I almost forgot to ask the Fourth Young Master, I drank two extra glasses here last night, did I cause any trouble to the Fourth Young Master?" She shook her head, "I like to talk nonsense when I'm drunk, if I said anything, the Fourth Young Master must not take it to heart."

Chu Zhao looked at her and smiled, "Brother He, you came to me today just to ask me this, right?"

Look, he is worthy of being the favorite student of the prime minister of the current dynasty. He is so meticulous and thoughtful that she is speechless.

As if he could see He Yan's embarrassment, Chu Zhao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Brother He was here last night and did nothing but discuss the art of war with me. It's just that I don't know much about the art of war, so I can't ask Brother He for advice. It's just that Brother He's efforts were wasted." He looked at He Yan and sighed, "It's just that I'm surprised that Brother He knows so much?"

He Yan: "..." She silently reflected on herself in her heart. She would never call others peacocks again. Looking at her drunken appearance, she was the peacock, right? It was too embarrassing to show off how much she had read when she was drunk.

"You are too kind, Fourth Young Master." He Yan covered her face with her hands, "If you say anything more, I will be really embarrassed."

Ying Xiang came over with two cups of tea, placed one in front of He Yan, and said with a smile, "Master He, have a taste."

He Yan picked it up and took a sip, and couldn't help but sigh, "So sweet."

"Shuojing's tea is not as bitter as Liangzhou's," Ying Xiang placed another cup in front of Chu Zhao, "As long as Master He likes it."

He Yan looked at the tea in front of him and suddenly thought of something else. He looked at Chu Zhao and asked casually, "Has the Fourth Master Chu been living in Shuojing for a long time?"

"Yes."

"You must know a lot about the latest news in Shuojing." He Yan looked at the tea leaves in the cup and said, "I have been in Liangzhou for more than half a year. It's been hard training every day here, and it's very boring. After I was injured, I simply stopped training every day. I stayed in the house all day and almost got sick. It's not easy to find a friend from the capital." She moved closer and looked at Chu Zhao with a burning gaze, "Fourth Master, can you tell me about the interesting things that happened in the capital in the past six months?"

"Interesting thing?" Chu Zhao was stunned.

He Yan nodded: "It's just something fun."

"That's a lot to talk about," Chu Zhao said gently, "Brother He, what do you want to hear about?"

"Which aspect?" He Yan thought for a moment, "I'm afraid there's nothing particularly interesting about ordinary people, let's talk about the officials in the capital, for example, the master was caught cheating on someone else's wife, someone's son is not his biological son but was adopted... something like that, right?"

Even though Chu Zhao had always had a good temper, he was still choked by what He Yan said.

He slowly said, "I don't know much about these private matters, so I'll tell you what I know."

He Yan nodded hurriedly.

Then, she listened to the fourth son of Shi Jinbo's mansion talk about all the officials in Shuojing City, but she didn't hear anything interesting at all. It was nothing more than who got promoted, who got a salary increase of two stones, who wrote a memorial with ugly handwriting and was rejected by the emperor, who's wife got a rare piece of cloth and gave it to the imperial concubine to please her.

Mr. Chu Si was good-looking, had a good temperament, and was patient. He was not like Xiao Jue who would quickly become impatient. But when talking to him, He Yan almost lost his patience.

She endured and endured, and after two cups of tea, she still didn't hear what she wanted to hear. She couldn't bear it anymore, so she interrupted Chu Zhao and said, "Fourth Master Chu, you are in Shuojing, do you know the current General Feihong?"

Chu Zhao paused after hearing this. He took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, "Why are you talking about him suddenly?"

"Every day in Liangzhou Guard, the coaches always discuss in private who is better, General Feng Yun or General Feihong. I see General Feng Yun every day, so there is nothing strange about him, but I have never seen General Feihong." She smiled, "You know, General Feihong and I both have the surname He, so maybe we are from the same family in our previous life. I want to hear about his uniqueness and whether he is really that powerful?"

Chu Zhao looked at He Yan, shook his head and smiled for a while, "General He and I are only officials in the same court, so we are not very familiar with each other. I have only met him a few times, but he is a very nice and powerful person. He was very brave in suppressing the rebellion of the Western Qiang."

"What about now? Has he been promoted in the capital?"

"He was originally a third-rank military officer. If he was promoted too quickly, people would talk about him behind his back," Chu Zhao said. "But His Majesty really appreciates him. He summons him to the palace every now and then and even lets him teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince swordsmanship. I think he will be no worse than Commander Xiao in the future."

He Rufei...has it come to this?

He Yan's smile faltered.

Chu Zhao asked: "What's wrong with you?"

He Yan picked up the cup, took a sip to disguise it, and said, "I'm just sighing. We both have the last name He, and he's only a few years older than me, but I'll never be able to achieve what he has achieved in my lifetime."

"Brother He, don't belittle yourself," Chu Zhao consoled her with a smile, "General Feihong also earned his achievements by risking his life on the battlefield. Besides, you are still young now, and you may not be worse than him in the future."

These words did not comfort He Yan. She raised her head again and smiled heartlessly, "Is that all? What about the others? General Feihong should be engaged at his age, right? Doesn't he have any girls he likes? This is too tragic. The two famous generals of Wei, Feng Yun and Feihong, both lived alone their whole lives?"

Chu Zhao was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and said, "I don't know about that, but so far, there is no news of General Feihong's engagement."

He Yan nodded.

"Why?" Chu Zhao looked at her with a smile, "Brother He has sisters at home, so you want to..."

"No, no," He Yan waved his hands quickly, "I only have one brother, I have never thought about these things. He is General Feihong, how can ordinary people like us marry him? I dare not even think about it."

Chu Zhao nodded thoughtfully.

…

In the dungeon, Xiao Jue sat on a chair and looked at the people in the cell.

Ten days had passed, and Lei Hou had become shockingly thin, like a completely different person from ten days ago. He also hadn't slept well, and he looked like he was tormented by nightmares, with deep sunken eye sockets. The originally tall man had become much more hunched.

Fei Nu handed over the letter and whispered, "The person who was in contact with Lei Hou has been found. The letter came from Jiyang."

"Jiyang?" Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows.

"nice."

"Xiao Huaijin," Lei Hou spoke. His voice was as hoarse as if it had been burned by fire, as if he would be unable to make any sound in the next moment. His lips were covered with blood from cracks. He said, "I have already written a letter to the contact person as you said. According to the agreement, you can let my wife and children go."

Xiao Jue glanced at him and smiled: "In your eyes, am I a person who keeps his promises?"

"You!" Lei Hou's face changed drastically, and he suddenly jumped up, but his hands and feet were handcuffed, and every time he moved, they made a rustling sound. He had eaten very little in recent days, and he had no strength in his body. With this move, he failed to reach Xiao Jue, and fell to the ground instead.

The young man sat on a chair, looking down at him with his head tilted, as if admiring his arrogance. After a long while, he said slowly, "I'm just saying, think about it."

As a prisoner, one must have the consciousness of a prisoner. Lei Hou finally realized that from the moment he stepped into Liangzhou Wei, he was destined to be a prisoner. He was no match for this man. When he was 16 years old, he could drown 60,000 people in Guocheng and kill Zhao Nuo without changing his expression. His cruelty and means were unmatched.

"I beg you." He slowly knelt down and kowtowed to Xiao Jue, "Let my wife and children go."

The man looked at him for a moment, then slowly spoke in his direction, "Okay, let me ask you again, do you and your contact only communicate through letters?"

"Yes, yes!" Having already decided to surrender, his purpose was nothing more than to let Xiao Jue let go of his wife and children, so he said everything in his mind, hoping to get a little leniency from the man in front of him. He said: "We will send a letter every month. The contact was in Shuojing before, and later in Jiyang. This is all I know. If you want to find him, go to Jiyang, and you will definitely find him!"

"Jiyang City..." Xiao Jue hesitated for a moment and looked at him: "Jiyang City does not allow outsiders to live there for a long time. With what identity did your contact enter the city?"

"I don't know." Lei Hou said, "I only know that he lives in Cuiwei Pavilion in Jiyang."

"Cuiwei Pavilion." Xiao Jue stood up and said, "I understand."

"Xiao Huaijin... Commander Xiao!" Lei Hou called him, crawled two steps like a dog, and said in his direction: "I have already said it, I have told you everything I know, can you let my wife and children go?"

The handsome young man stopped at the door without turning back. He said sarcastically, "Don't worry. You may remember something in a few days. It won't be too late to release him then."

He turned and walked out.

Outside the door, Chiwu was standing at the door waiting.

Seeing him, Chi Wu said, "Young Master, there is news from Luanying."

Xiao Jue: "Speak."

"We have found Chai Anxi's whereabouts. He is now in Jiyang."

"Jiyang?" Xiao Jue turned around.

Chi Wu didn't know what happened in the dungeon just now, and asked hesitantly: "Is there something wrong?"

Fei Nu came out from behind him, looking solemn, "The messenger that Lord Lei mentioned is also in Jiyang."

"Young Master is suspicious..." Fei Nu said in surprise, "The person who secretly cooperated with Lord Lei is Chai Anxi?"

"I haven't seen anyone, so I can't be sure."

"But," Chi Wu couldn't help asking, "Jiyang is a vassal state, and no one outside the state is allowed to stay there for a long time. Even if you want to stay for a short time, you need a pass. Even we can't just go there, so how did Chai Anxi get in? And how could he stay in Jiyang for so many days? Is there any scam?"

"Who knows? Even Lord Lei didn't say anything." Fei Nu glanced at Xiao Jue's expression and asked cautiously, "Young Master, should we think of a solution and go to Jiyang first?"

"That's easy to say," Chi Wu poured cold water on him, "When the old man was here, we passed by Jiyang and stayed for a few days, but King Mengji refused to let the old man's soldiers enter the city. He said that we had to get a pass, and we had to go to the government office to get the pass, and we had to report to the palace. We must not publicize our visit, so what should we do?"

"No rush." ​​Xiao Jue played with the longevity lock in his hand: "Wait a few more days."

Chi Wu and Fei Nu looked at each other. Fei Nu saw the longevity lock in his hand and remembered what Lei Hou had said in the dungeon. He asked, "Master, Lei Hou's wife and children are still being watched by our people... Should we continue or..."

There were people in the capital who were watching over Lord Lei's wife and children. Although they were locked up these days, they did not do anything to harm them. The news from Jiyang came, and it seemed that Lord Lei would not be able to squeeze out any more information. How to deal with his wife and children was still a problem.

Xiao Jue's eyes fell on the longevity lock in his hand. He smiled and threw it to Chi Wu.

Chiwu: "Young Master?"

He turned and walked forward, saying lazily, "Let him go."