Above the rivers, the moonlight shone for thousands of miles, chilling people's sleeves. The white light leaked through the gaps between the branches in the forest, like residual snow that had not yet melted.

He Yan turned his head and looked at the person opposite him.

The young man's eyes were as clear as autumn water, and they were attractive even without any embellishment. His profile was sharp, heroic and lazy, and the faint smile on his lips instantly brought her back to that night in the mountain temple.

It’s you, she felt a little confused and bewildered.

She didn't know who the other person was until the end.

She only remembered that she was sent to a room in the mountain temple, and a woman with a gentle voice took care of her, washed her, and sent her back to Xu Zhiheng.

Xu Zhiheng asked her what happened, and He Yan just said that she wanted to go out for a walk and got lost. He didn't say much, and as for the woman who sent her back, Xu Zhiheng never mentioned it again. Therefore, she didn't know who the strange man she met was.

But what the other person said, "If you really want to be strong, it doesn't matter if you are blind. Even if you are blind, you can still be the most unique one among the blind people," has always remained in her mind, and she has never forgotten a single word of it.

She later tried to identify shapes by listening to sounds, so that she could live without her eyes. This process was difficult, but every time she wanted to give up, she would think of the moon behind Tianshan Temple.

The moonlight is so beautiful, it would be a pity to give up on it.

It’s not that I haven’t thought about everything that happened that day. When I calm down and recall, some things may not be intentional. How could she hear the maid's conversation at the door by such a coincidence? A man stumbled into the mountains, and no one in the Xu family noticed him? When she was returned, Xu Zhiheng easily believed what she said and did not pursue any further investigation.

I just hope she can free herself.

She was not a snow-white kitten raised in the yard of a rich family, held in the arms of a lady, and made happy by playing with a ball of thread, gentle and weak. She was a wild cat that walked out of the alley in the dark, dirty and stubborn, and could sit on the wall to hunt even if she was blind.

They wanted her to die, but she didn't want to die. After all, someone in this world had given her a piece of candy and taught her to taste the sweetness of the world.

He Yan had always thought that the stranger that night might be a kind-hearted young man or a patient young master, but he never expected that it was Xiao Jue.

How could it be him?

She said softly: "What kind of person is Grandma Xu?"

Xiao Jue smiled and said lazily, "She is a fierce, crying, bad-tempered woman."

He Yan also laughed, but her eyes were a little wet. She asked, "Does Grandma Xu know that you said that behind people's backs?"

The worst side of her life was reserved for Xiao Jue that night. And the gentlest side of Xiao Jue's life was probably also reserved for her that night.

He didn't know that his stay at that time became the only salvation for the desperate He Yan.

The moon is lonely and indifferent, hanging in the sky, but no one knows that it once shone its moonlight so gently on a person.

"She has no chance to know." Xiao Jue said indifferently.

Because Grandma Xu died.

"Maybe she knows." He Yan lowered his head and smiled, then suddenly looked toward the horizon and said with emotion: "The moonlight is so beautiful."

Xiao Jue put his hands on his sides and looked up without looking at her. "Didn't you say you were going to drink with Chu Zilan? Didn't you bring any wine?"

He Yan said loudly: "A glass of wine for the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas!" She clenched her hands, and the moonlight fell into her hands, as if filling a whole glass. She raised her hands and saluted to the sky: "To the moon!"

The young man looked on coldly and sneered, "You are sick."

The girl turned around and raised the cup in her hand to him solemnly: "Cheers to you too!"

No longer the tired and gloomy look just now, He Yan's eyes were bright and smiling brilliantly. There was even a hint of gratitude in her eyes when she looked at him.

gratitude?

He raised his eyebrows and snorted, not responding to her silly gesture, "Flattery."

He Yan stared into Xiao Jue's eyes and said silently in his heart.

Thank you very much.

…

That night, He Yan and Xiao Jue sat together until very late. In the end, it was because it was too cold on the mountain that she and Xiao Jue went down the mountain.

It was already midnight when I got back, so I woke up late the next day. After lunch, I wanted to talk to Chu Zhao about what happened last night, but when I got there, I found that the house was empty.

"Looking for Chu Zilan?" Lin Shuanghe passed by and said, "Early this morning, Chu Zilan returned to the capital with the people from Shuojing."

"This morning?" He Yan was stunned. "He didn't tell me it was this morning."

"The man came in a hurry," Lin Shuanghe spread out his fan and waved it, "Brother He, everything is predestined, he will have to return to Shuojing sooner or later, you don't have to force it."

He Yan was puzzled. What was she asking for? She just felt a little regretful that she didn't even say goodbye to Chu Zhao before leaving. After all, the Fourth Master Chu had been sorting out his connections in the officialdom of Shuojing with her every day during his stay in Liangzhou.

But since the person is gone, there is no point in talking about these things.

Not long after Chu Zhao left, Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu also set out to return to Shuojing. The people who escorted them back to the capital were arranged by Xiao Jue. Before leaving, the little girl held He Yan's clothes with tears in her eyes and said, "Brother He, you must come back to see me..."

"Why are you looking at me? You are a girl, how can my brother, a grown man, come to see you?" Cheng Lisu pulled her away and took his place. He smiled and said to He Yan, "Brother, look at me, look at me. Come to our house as a guest. I will treat you to a meal at Shuo Jing Restaurant."

Song Taotao: "Cheng Lisu!"

"I know, I know. I'll cancel the engagement when I get back." Cheng Lisu scratched his ears and muttered softly, "She-devil, only a ghost would want to marry you."

The two kids were playing and fighting, so it looked like they wouldn't be lonely on the journey.

He Yan saw them off to the carriage, and for a moment he felt a little lost. He usually thought they were noisy and naughty, but when it was time to leave, he felt very reluctant to let them go.

When she was "He Rufei", due to her status, she could not get too close to her brothers and sisters in the mansion. Cheng Lisu and Song Taotao were just like ordinary brothers and sisters in the family. Like He Yunsheng, they made up for her fantasy of family in some ways.

Wang Ba and Jiang Jiao came over, and Jiang Jiao said, "Brother He."

After the misunderstanding was resolved, Jiang Jiao finally believed that He Yan did not steal someone's wife, and his attitude improved a little. He said, "Someone from home sent some things over. I picked out a few things to eat and use. You can go get them for me later."

Wang Ba said sourly: "The young master of the martial arts school is so good that even after he came here to join the army, people still give him gifts."

"Aren't you the leader of the bandits?" He Yan asked curiously, "Why didn't your men send you anything?"

"No money! Poor! The bandit den cannot be disbanded!" Wang Ba was angry and said, "Why are you asking me? Didn't you receive it?"

"...I'm just asking, don't get excited." He Yan thought, can she be like Wang Ba? She is now living incognito. If the He family still sends things to this guy, is it because they think she didn't die quickly enough, or because they can't write a wanted order for her?

"But...Brother Jiang, why did your family suddenly send you something?" He Yan asked.

Jiang Jiao said helplessly: "Brother He, have you forgotten that the New Year is coming soon?"

new year?

He Yan was startled. She had been living such a comfortable life these days that she almost forgot that it would be New Year's Day in a few days.

The new year is coming.

It’s the new year that belongs to “He Yan”.

She suddenly became happy, which surprised Jiang Jiao and Wang Ba. Wang Ba asked suspiciously, "Why are you so happy? Did Governor Xiao give you something good behind our backs?"

He Yan answered seriously, "Yes! Good wine, good food, and a good future. Are you jealous or not?"

After saying that, he turned around and walked away. Wang Ba was stunned for a moment, then chased after him and said, "Hey, tell me clearly! What did I give you? Don't run away!"

…

The Liangzhou Guards had a good New Year. Commander Xiao Jue treated all his new recruits equally, and all of them had a hearty New Year's Eve dinner. There were dishes, meat, and good wine, and it was very lively. The joy diluted the bitter cold of the border a little.

But the year went on, and the training went on. After the New Year, He Yan's injuries were almost healed, so he joined the training. Although she wanted to join the Nine Banners Camp, the daily training volume of the Southern Army was not something that He Yan, who had just recovered from a serious illness, could afford, so she could only work hard with the Liangzhou Guards.

The days passed peacefully like this until one day, Fei Nu received a letter from Lou Jun.

In the room, Fei Nu was talking to Xiao Jue.

"Young Master, Luanying said that if the governor wants to find a suitable person to go with him, it would be best to set out in the next few days if he is ready. Jiyang is not close to Liangzhou. If he sets out now, it will be spring by then, and he can catch up with Princess Mengji's birthday. On the princess' birthday, Chai Anxi might show up."

Xiao Jue raised his eyes: "Qiao Qingqing?"

"This boy is the nephew of Cui Yuezhi, a general under the Jiyang princess," Fei Nu said, "He was taken away by Cui's enemies when he was young, but was fortunately rescued and drifted to the Central Plains, where he was adopted by a wealthy businessman. The wealthy businessman had no children, so Qiao Xingqing inherited his wealth. He got married last year, but somehow Cui Yuezhi found out where he was. Cui Yuezhi has no other family now, so he wrote to invite him to come and attend the princess' birthday banquet. However, Qiao Xingqing was very timid. Before he arrived in Jiyang, he was robbed by bandits when passing through Lou County and suffered some minor injuries. He also heard that there were many bad guys on the road to Jiyang, so he refused to go any further."

Xiao Jue's eyes moved slightly, and he smiled without saying anything.

Needless to say, the "bad guy" must be Luanying's handiwork. However, after frightening Qiao Qing so much, he dared not go to Jiyang again, which was a bit too much.

"The person Luanying sent has agreed with Cui Yuezhi to go to Jiyang for the banquet on behalf of Qiao Xinqing, but Qiao Xinqing has to pay a thousand taels of gold as a reward. Qiao Xinqing has been separated from his family for many years, and Cui Yuezhi has not seen his nephew for more than ten years, so no one knows what Qiao Xinqing looks like now. This person has the right identity and the right time. Luanying has also sent the pass and the jade token proving his identity. Master, it should be OK."

As a nephew who had been separated from the prince's confidant for many years, this identity was very convenient, but...

"You said it lightly," Chi Wu couldn't help but speak, "but Luanying has already said that Cui Yuezhi invited Qiao Qingqing and his wife in the invitation, and also brought his newly married wife. The governor is fine, but where can he find a woman to pretend to be a couple with the governor? He can't just say that his wife disappeared halfway!"

Fei Nu had a wooden face, but he knew Chi Wu was right. The Southern Army and the Nine Banners Camp had no shortage of men. Whenever they needed men, they had all kinds of men who were agile, smart, good-looking, and had strange means, but no women. Luanying was the only woman, but Luanying... her son was already twelve years old, how could she be the beloved wife of "Qiao Qingqing"!

Xiao Jue frowned, and for the first time, a look of embarrassment appeared on his handsome face.

"You can go find a strong warrior with excellent martial arts skills..." Fei Nu reminded.

"How can that be possible!" Chi Wu refused without a second thought, "We haven't known each other for a long time, how can we know whether it is good or bad? If we secretly harm the young master, can you and I bear the responsibility for this crime?"

Chiwu was outspoken and Feinu had nothing to say, so he just asked, "Then do you have a candidate?"

"Me?" Chi Wushi thought for a moment and then said, "Let's not talk about the soldiers of the Southern Mansion. Even in our Xiao Mansion, we don't know many girls who can fight. When the Madam was alive, she didn't like the old man to wield swords and sticks. Even the maids she took in could only write poems and take care of flowers and plants. I have never seen many girls like this."

"Looking for a girl?" Someone outside the window waved a folding fan leisurely and said elegantly, "I know this. Why don't you ask these two rough guys instead of me? Xiao Huaijin, are you wasting natural resources? Have they ever seen a girl? You ask them such a difficult question. Why don't you ask me? I will help you solve your doubts."

Xiao Jue glanced at him and said calmly: "Who let him in?"

Chiwu: "Not me!"

Fei Nu: "It's not me."

"Do I need to release it?" Lin Shuanghe felt very good about himself. "Everyone in Liangzhouwei knows that you and I have been close friends for many years. I am also a white-robed master who can bring people back to life. Of course, they respect me very much. I have unimpeded access to every place in Liangzhouwei."

"Throw him out."

Fei Nu: “…”

"Hey, Xiao Huaijin, what's wrong with you?" Lin Shuanghe said as he walked in naturally from the gate and waved his hand, signaling Fei Nu and Chi Wu to leave: "Let me solve your young master's difficult problems."

Fei Nu and Chi Wu retreated, Lin Shuang He closed the door and the window, Xiao Jue watched his actions coldly, Lin Shuang He sat down on the chair in front of him and asked: "Looking for a girl?"

Xiao Jue kicked it.

Lin Shuanghe jumped up, "Just talk, don't make any moves. I didn't eavesdrop on your conversation just now, I just listened to half of it. What's the point of being so nonsensical? What kind of girl with good skills? What do you want a girl with good skills to do? Female bodyguard?"

Xiao Jue stared at him and suddenly smiled. He curled his lips lazily and said slowly, "Find a 'wife'."

Lin Shuanghe: “?”

After a while, he suddenly came to his senses and realized what Xiao Jue meant, "You're going to get married? That's not enough!"

"That's not right. You keep talking about blind marriages and unmarried women. If you want to marry a wife, you should find one yourself. Why do you let Fei Nu and the others find one for you like you're picking vegetables? Xiao Huaijin, are you talking nonsense?"

Xiao Jue: "I said you were looking for a wife for me?"

Lin Shuanghe: "You are looking for someone else! You don't even know where you are!"

Xiao Jue said impatiently: "It's fake, do you understand acting?"

"What?" Lin Shuanghe was stunned, then slowly came to his senses. He looked at Xiao Jue for a long while, and when Xiao Jue looked unhappy, he approached and said, "Are you going to do something like the last time you went to Liangzhou Wei to deal with Sun Xiangfu, and find someone to pretend to be your wife?" Last time, Lin Shuanghe finally got the truth out of Song Taotao. The little girl was no match for such a cunning person, and Lin Shuanghe knew what was going on in just a few words.

"Not too stupid."

"Then isn't there someone in front of you?" Lin Shuanghe said without thinking, "Of course, find my sister He! Have you forgotten that my sister He is also a woman, and she is quite good at fighting, brave and resourceful, not hypocritical, and very cute! If she can play the role of your nephew, she can certainly play the role of your wife."

Xiao Jue: “No.”

"Why not?" Lin Shuanghe was dissatisfied, "Is it unfair for you to call me Madam when I can call you Dad?"

Xiao Jue took a sip of tea and looked at him indifferently: "Did you accept money from He Yan to speak for her?"

"I'm so rich, why would I accept other people's money? But you," Lin Shuanghe approached him, "why are you so resistant? Xiao Huaijin, Xiao Huaijin, have you forgotten that you are looking for a fake wife? Don't use the conditions you would use to criticize your real wife. Or..." He stood up straight, fanning himself gracefully, and said in a mysterious tone, "Are you afraid that you will fall in love with her?"

"Cough cough cough." Xiao Jue choked.

He said expressionlessly, "You can go now."

"Just get out of here," Lin Shuanghe said, "Don't blame me for not reminding you, He Yan is the best candidate you can think of. Although I don't know what you are going to do, whatever you do is very dangerous. In this kind of dangerous situation, Miss Xun Chang will definitely not be able to withstand it, and you can't trust those who can withstand it. He Yan has fought side by side with you for a few times, and you know her well. In terms of loyalty..." He looked at Xiao Jue, as if he was a little amused, "Are you going to take Shen Muxue with you? I think she would be happy to go with you, but I'm afraid that if Lord Shen finds out, he will rush to Liangzhou to chop off your legs."

"As for me, I have seen more girls than you have trained soldiers. I think Sister He doesn't like you now. If a woman who doesn't like you pretends to be your spouse, that is the least likely to cause trouble. You changed to Shen Muxue? That would be a big problem. The most important thing is that Sister He has always dressed as a man. Except for you, no one knows what she looks like. It's like a person falling from the sky. If she is really exposed, it's better to hide her identity."

Xiao Jue looked at the teacup in his hand calmly, not knowing whether he had heard Lin Shuanghe's words or not.

"Girls' thoughts are the hardest to guess. Girls like Sister He are simple and straightforward, and everything is written on their faces, or they say it directly, so they are suitable for doing things."

"You might as well call her an idiot.

Lin Shuanghe choked and said angrily, "I have said all that needs to be said. I only said so much because we are brothers. You should think about it carefully! Think about it before choosing someone!" After that, he grabbed the fan and went out.

After he left, Xiao Jue put the teacup back on the table and sighed lightly.

…

It was late at night. After He Yan washed up, he sat in front of the mirror.

The food in the army was so good during the New Year that I looked in the mirror and found myself to be a little plumper. Fortunately, Miss He was born slender and frail, and if she gained some weight, she would not be too plump, but would be less skinny and more dainty. She looked like a little girl raised by a wealthy family.

But this kind of coquettishness is really inappropriate in the military camp. He Yan waved his fist at himself in the mirror and made a ferocious expression. He felt relieved when he felt that he was still majestic. He walked to the bed and climbed up.

The bed was as cold as ice. The army was short of charcoal. Although the weather had warmed up a little after the New Year, it was still a bit cold on a night like this.

You need to use your body to warm the mattress underneath you.

Just when she felt a little warm, she heard someone knocking on the door. He Yan was stunned for a moment and cursed inwardly, who is this? It's the middle of the night and I just warmed up the bed with great difficulty. Now I'm going to be freezing cold again. The knocking continued. Even if He Yan wanted to pretend that he didn't hear it, it was impossible. He Yan had to put on his outer clothes and open the door again. When he opened the door, Lin Shuanghe was standing outside.

This guy is really, in such a cold day, wearing a thin white shirt, even if it is padded, it must not be very thick, otherwise he can't act so elegantly. He even fanned himself, and He Yan couldn't help but grab his fan: "Doctor Lin, can you please stop fanning? It's really cold."

Lin Shuanghe paused and said with a smile, "Okay."

"What's the matter that brings you to see me so late?"

Lin Shuanghe: "Brother He, let's go inside and talk."

"I have no problem," He Yan replied, "But didn't Brother Lin say that a single man and a single woman..."

Before she could finish her words, the young man walked past her and walked in, stamping his feet and saying, "I'm freezing!"

He Yan: “…”

She closed the door and turned around. Lin Shuanghe was still nagging: "Why don't you light a charcoal brazier in your room? It's too cold."

"The charcoal is used up," He Yan said patiently, "Since it's so cold, Doctor Lin, can you just tell me what's going on?"

"I thought about it and I must tell you about this..."

The sound of "click, click" interrupted him. The two of them looked towards the middle door of the house. The knocking sound came from inside.

He Yan was stunned. The person knocking on the middle door was Xiao Jue? What did Xiao Jue mean by knocking on the door in the middle of the night? She looked at Lin Shuanghe, who also had a suspicious look on his face. He Yan walked over, hesitated for a moment, and opened the lock directly.

Mr. Xiao II looked calm and elegant. His eyes swept across Lin Shuanghe for a moment, then quickly returned to He Yan. It was unknown if it was He Yan's illusion, but he always felt that his expression was a little strange.

"Captain...what's the matter?"

"Miss He." He took a step forward, leaned forward slightly, and looked at her level. The young man had a handsome face, and his long eyes like autumn water were filled with moonlight. At such a close distance, she could see his long and slightly curled eyelashes. His voice was also low and magnetic, which made people feel warm and excited when they heard it.

"Do you like me?"

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

Yanyan: !!! Who can hold up a duck? !

The old-fashioned Marisole trope of pretending to be a couple is really tacky, but I inexplicably like this tacky trope (covering my face)