When He Yan returned, Xiao Jue had not returned yet. She said to Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao, "I was willful today. I was afraid that my husband would blame me for running around without guards. So don't tell my husband about the three of us going out today."

Cuijiao and Hongqiao nodded.

"You guys go down." She fell on the bed and said, "I'll take a rest."

The two maids left the inner room, and He Yan lay on the couch, feeling troubled. Liu Buwang might be in Jiyang City, but how could he be found? If he had known this, he should have agreed with Liu Buwang on a specific location when they parted. It was a bit hasty to go to a teahouse where he didn't even know his name.

But even if she found Liu Buwang, what would she say? The current He Yan was no longer the same as before. Even she herself felt it was absurd to talk about the resurrection of a dead body.

However, she still wanted to see Liu Buwang very much. After all, in her previous life, Liu Buwang was one of the few people who had given her real warmth. He was both her teacher and friend. The reason why General Feihong was able to become General Feihong was precisely because of the skills Liu Buwang taught him.

Thinking of General Feihong, I couldn't help but think of He Rufei. I wonder how He Rufei is doing now, and whether her former subordinates have discovered something wrong. Xu Zhiheng... and He Xinying should have been married. She is a legitimate daughter of the He family, a real lady from a noble family.

He Yan inexplicably felt irritated, and he rolled into the room next to the wall with the quilt in his arms, facing the wall, looking unhappy.

A voice echoed behind me: "What are you thinking about here?"

He Yan turned around: "Young Master?"

She sat up with a grunt, "You're back!"

Xiao Jue looked at her, took off his coat, and said, "Are you bored and crazy?"

"It's really boring here." She sat on the couch, looked up at Xiao Jue, and asked, "How is it going? Have you found Chai Anxi's whereabouts today?"

"no."

"How come we didn't find it?" He Yan asked curiously, "Is the intelligence wrong?"

"Dead."

He Yan was stunned.

"He was burned to death in a fire. Not even his body was left."

He Yan frowned: "That's not right, why did he die at this time? And he was burned to death, leaving no trace at all, is this a lie?"

Xiao Jue's lips curled slightly: "Is the liar very experienced?"

"I'm very observant." He Yan crossed his legs and analyzed for him: "Could this person have received some news in advance? But Master, you have always been secretive in doing things, so outsiders should not know that we came to Jiyang. Besides, Jiyang is easy to leave but difficult to enter. If he really wants to hide from someone, Jiyang is the best choice. He should be reluctant to leave."

Xiao Jue picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, then said lazily, "Go on."

"That means he is hiding, waiting for the right time to do something big." He Yan said, "The best time to fish in troubled waters is when the water is the most muddy. When is the water the most muddy in Jiyang? Isn't it the Water God Festival? These days everyone is talking about the Water God Festival, which is the biggest festival in Jiyang. With such a grand scene, it would be the right time, right place and right people if we want to cause trouble."

Xiao Jue laughed, his tone was neither admiring nor harsh, "Miss He is really smart."

"I can't even say I'm a master of strategy." He Yan waved his hand modestly, "I'm still far behind Young Master."

Xiao Jue glanced at her, and for some reason, his previously depressed mood suddenly became much lighter. He shook his head and sneered, "Flattery."

"It is only natural for me to flatter my husband." He Yan deliberately disliked him.

After a few times of being disgusted, this person got used to it. Xiao Jue looked at her with a smile: "Before you talk about me, please take a look at your sitting posture. Your sitting posture is worse than your husband's."

He Yan lowered his head, uncrossed his legs, and coughed twice: "I forgot, I forgot."

"I see you're confused yourself," he sneered, "Are you a man or a woman?"

"It's not that I don't want to be a woman," He Yan muttered, "but someone has to treat me as a woman first."

Xiao Jue was startled and looked up at her. After the girl said this, she hugged the quilt and rolled to the corner of the room again. She was so happy that she didn't seem to notice that there was a hint of loss in her words just now.

But he was caught.

…

On the fourth day of mid-spring, spring is in its prime. The moon lingers over the green fields, and clouds intermittently appear in the clear sky.

The day of the Spring Equinox is the Water God Festival, which is celebrated throughout Jeyang City.

Early in the morning, He Yan was lying on the bed. As soon as she woke up, she felt some pain in her abdomen. She reached out and touched it. She was startled and got up quickly. Without saying hello to Xiao Jue, she secretly took out the menstrual belt from her bag and walked towards the bathroom.

These days in Jiyang City, things have been happening one after another, and I almost forgot that my period is about to come.

If we talk about past and present lives, the most troublesome problem for He Yan in the military camp is the menstruation. There are always a few inconvenient days, and you have to be careful to avoid the eyes of others. In the past life, it was okay, probably because her physique was strong, so she didn't feel any discomfort. But now Miss He is originally a delicate woman, and her menstruation is also a bit painful. When she was in the military camp, she had to grit her teeth and endure it. Now she hasn't had daily training for a long time, and her body is a little lazy, and she immediately feels uncomfortable.

He Yan changed her menstrual belt and came out of the toilet. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart. It didn't come earlier or later, but today, during the Water God Festival. Isn't this just causing trouble?

She returned to the house listlessly. Cui Jiao brought over a bowl of iced goat milk. The Cui family's food was really delicious. He Yan liked these snacks very much. But today, she touched her stomach and shook her head, saying, "I don't want to eat anymore."

Xiao Jue looked at her in surprise.

He Yan sighed and went to the inner room to pour herself some tea. Xiao Jue stared at her back, puzzled, and asked Hong Qiao: "What happened to her?"

Hong Qiao shook her head, "I don't know, Madam has been like this since she came back from the concubine's room."

"I don't know that," Lin Shuanghe was just walking in from outside. Hearing this, he approached Xiao Jue and whispered, "It's her period. You have to take good care of this girl during her period. Don't let her get tired, don't let her move heavy objects, and don't let her eat cold food. She will be in a bad mood and may get angry with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard He Yan in the room shouting, "Cui Jiao, forget it, you should bring the bowl of goat milk over here. I've thought about it and I still want to eat it."

Xiao Jue: “…”

He said to Cui Jiao, "Take it out. Don't give it to her."

Cui Jiao was a little embarrassed, but between the amiable lady and the indifferent young master, she chose to listen to the young master and went out with the bowl of goat milk.

He Yan sat on the couch for a while, seeing no movement. When he came out, he saw Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe. There were no snacks on the table, so he asked, "Where is Cui Jiao?"

"Hurry up and get dressed before we leave the house." Xiao Jue said, "Don't wait too long."

He Yan asked: "Now?"

"Yes," Lin Shuanghe replied with a smile, "Lord Cui and his party are already in the hall."

He Yan didn't dare to delay any longer.

The Water God Festival is a traditional festival in Jiyang. Every year on the Spring Equinox, there will be various performances on the canal in the center of the city. Men are fine, but women have to comb their hair on the Jiyang side.

Hong Qiao originally lived near Jiyang, and was very good at combing hair. In a short while, she had combed He Yan's hair into a Jiyang girl's braid. There was a circle of fine braids around the forehead, and the braids were braided into the long hair at the back of the head. It was very delicate, with only a rose red hairpin inserted at the right temple. The clothes were also bright red long skirts, which tied the waist very well. On the feet were black boots embroidered with small flowers. She was smart and cute, with bright eyes and white teeth. She really looked like a girl in Jiyang City.

When He Yan walked out of the house, Lin Shuanghe's eyes lit up and he said, "Our wife is so beautiful. She looks good in anything she wears."

"Thank you for the award." He Yan said modestly, and walked to the hall with Xiao Jue and others. When they arrived at the hall, just as Lin Shuanghe said, Cui Yuezhi and his concubines were already waiting.

"Yuqing is here." Cui Yuezhi stood up and said with a smile, "The way Yuyan is dressed today, if you don't know her, you would really think she is the girl who grew up in Jiyang. What do you think?"

The concubines in several rooms were all obedient and responded yes.

"It's getting late, let's set off." Cui Yuezhi called out.

Today in Jiyang, we cannot take a carriage, because the people are all out, and the streets are crowded with people. If we take a carriage, it will be inconvenient. So we walked to the canal.

The canal is located in the center of the city, passing through the city and forming a circle around Jiyang. He Yan thought that the Water God Festival in Jiyang was similar to the Dragon Boat Festival in the Central Plains. There were various decorated boats on the rivers and streams in the city, and boatmen in red clothes and black scarves sang and rowed. They were probably singing Jiyang folk songs, and it was very lively. There were girls on the riverside singing with them, and the atmosphere was very lively.

"The Water God Festival in Jiyang is also a festival for young girls and boys to pledge their love." The aunt surnamed Wei explained to He Yan, "In addition to offering sacrifices to the Water God, there are many other festivals prepared for lovers. I heard that Miss Yuyan and our young master have just got married, so we can go and have some fun."

He Yan: "...not really necessary."

Cui Yuezhi heard their conversation and laughed, "Not bad, not bad. I remember the famous Lover's Bridge in Jiyang. You should go there. According to the legend in Jiyang, lovers who walk across the Lover's Bridge during the Water God Festival will never be separated for the rest of their lives."

He Yan whispered to Xiao Jue, "Did you hear me? We will never be apart for the rest of our lives."

Xiao Jue's eyes fell on her face and sneered, "How terrible."

He Yan: “…”

After all, they were not real husband and wife, so the words "never to be apart for the rest of our lives" did not sound like a blessing, but rather a curse. Unfortunately, Cui Yuezhi seemed to have endless concern for his nephew's family affairs. When they were not far from the canal, he said, "Look, this is the Lover's Bridge."

He Yan looked in the direction he pointed, and saw a bridge about 20 to 30 feet high diagonally above the canal. Both ends of the bridge were submerged in the extremely high stone walls on both sides.

This bridge is a suspension bridge. It wobbles and is extremely narrow, barely allowing one and a half people to pass through. If two people want to pass through, they have to stand very close together. The bridge deck is made of wooden boards, but the gaps between the boards are very large, and you will fall down if you are not careful.

Such a suspension bridge makes people feel terrified just by looking at it. If you walk on it, you will be looking at the rushing river when you lean over. It is also very high, so timid people may wet their pants out of fear.

"This is our Jiyang's 'Lover's Bridge'." Cui Yue said proudly, "Only those who are brave enough and love each other deeply dare to walk on this bridge. If you walk across it, the water god will bless the lovers, and the lovers will never be separated for the rest of their lives." At this point, he patted his chest and said, "I have walked on this bridge four times!"

He Yan looked at the four concubines behind him and said nothing. He was puzzled. If this kind of thing walked around too much, would the water god really bless it? Wouldn't he feel offended? Moreover, being with several people for life and never being separated from them seemed too disrespectful.

If she leaves, she will only leave once in her life, and only with one person.

Thinking about this, I felt that I was thinking too much. What does this have to do with her? In this life, there should be no such opportunity.

"This opportunity is rare. Qingqing, Yuyan, you two should go for a walk too."

He Yan: “?”

"Yuyan, are you afraid of heights?" Cui Yuezhi smiled and said, "Don't worry. Even if you really fall, there are people around to catch you. You know, there are thousands of lovers walking on the Lover's Bridge every year, but only a few make it. If it was really dangerous, people would not be allowed to cross the bridge. Crossing the bridge is just a test of courage and love." He looked rough, but when he mentioned this, he was particularly delicate, "Love will give you courage, and the courage born of love will make you invincible."

He Yan thought, but there is no love between Xiao Jue and her, so where does she get the courage from?

Aunt Wei agreed with a smile, "Yes, Miss Yuyan, didn't you say that Master Qingqing is very obedient and dotes on you? He loves you so much, he will definitely protect you and walk across the bridge together in peace."

They were discussing so enthusiastically that the people around them could hear it. He Yan and Xiao Jue were both very good-looking, so the people around them started to boo them in a friendly way: "Sir, just go with the girl."

"Walk the Lover's Bridge, and live in love forever."

"Go ahead! You two are such a good-looking couple. The water god will bless you!"

He Yan was surrounded by people, listening to the people around him making noises, feeling helpless. Unfortunately, Lin Shuanghe saw the excitement and laughed, "That's right, since we are here, let's walk over a bridge to show them that our young master from Huzhou is really brave!"

Cui Yuezhi patted Xiao Jue on the shoulder and said, "Besides, the princess loves lovers who are as strong as gold. If you can walk across the Lover's Bridge, it will be much more convenient when I take you to the palace to see Her Highness the Princess."

Mengji Prince Mu Hongjin, He Yan was startled, then saw Xiao Jue frowning slightly and said, "Okay."

He Yan: "...Young Master?"

You don't really want to walk across this damn Lover's Bridge, do you?

She is not afraid of heights, water gods, or crossing bridges, but these three things combined, plus Xiao Jue, sound so creepy!

It's ridiculous.

Xiao Jue glanced at her and said calmly, "Are you scared?"

"I'm afraid of something else," He Yan whispered, "I'm afraid of damaging your reputation."

His eyes were calm and his tone was calm: "It has been damaged so many times, this time won't be a big deal."

He Yan: “……?”

As fate would have it, she was pushed to the end of the Lover's Bridge with Xiao Jue.

When I walked to the bridge head, I found that the bridge was narrower than it looked from below. The gaps between the wooden boards were particularly large, and I almost had to jump to walk the whole way. It was okay for one person to walk on it, but if there were two people, I'm afraid they would have to stick very close to each other. Of course, I couldn't use Qinggong on it, so I could only try my best to maintain my balance, and rely on the tacit understanding of the people next to me, plus a little bit of luck to walk the whole way.

After reading this, He Yan complained in his heart. If this person had martial arts skills, it would be fine. But if a weak scholar took a young lady to walk on the bridge, it would be strange if they didn't fall down. Although there were people below to catch them, they would not go wrong, but they would still be frightened. Besides, it was not a good omen. It would bring bad luck to themselves. The conditions of the Water God were too harsh.

Cui Yuezhi and the others did not come up, but just watched them from afar on the bank below the bridge. Lin Shuanghe shouted loudly: "Master, Madam, the water god will definitely bless you!"

Chiwu was speechless, and whispered to Feinu: "Young Master, this time the sacrifice is really too great."

If it's fake, forget it, just consider it a wasted trip. If the water god is real... it's too scary, two men will never be apart for the rest of their lives? Their young master doesn't have the good relationship with Long Yang, and the old master in the grave will probably be pissed off. Thinking of this, I feel more and more that this move is inappropriate, so I can only pray in my heart: It's just a temporary measure, it's just a temporary measure, the water god, you are magnanimous, don't take it seriously.

He Yan looked at the narrow bridge and was in a dilemma. He asked Xiao Jue, "How do we go? One by one?"

"Do you think we can leave one by one?" Xiao Jue asked back.

He Yan looked down at the people watching the excitement on the shore and said helplessly, "Maybe not."

Xiao Jue stretched out his hand and said, "Catch me."

The hand that emerged from the sleeve was particularly slender and distinct. He Yan hesitated for a moment and did not grab his hand, but only held his wrist. Seeing that Xiao Jue did not react, he felt a little relieved and encouraged himself again and again in his heart: It's just a festival where people follow local customs. They are not real lovers. There is no need to think too much. Just cross the bridge quickly.

"Let's go." Xiao Jue walked forward.

The two walked onto the bridge together.

As soon as they stepped onto the bridge, it began to sway and shake, almost throwing people off. The weight of the wooden board made it impossible for two people to walk side by side. The only solution was to walk face to face, but Xiao Jue and He Yan could never do that. Therefore, He Yan could only walk forward a little, while Xiao Jue stood behind her, protecting her side with his hands and moving a little away from her. But in this way, it seemed as if Xiao Jue was holding her in his arms, and the two of them walked forward together.

He Yan felt a little uncomfortable at such a close distance. If she raised her head slightly, her forehead would almost touch Xiao Jue's chin. She could only look straight ahead and pretend to be calm and said, "Commander-in-chief, this bridge is so shaky that it's hard to walk. How about using Qinggong? Or pretend to be unable to walk and just fall down? Anyway, there will be someone to catch you."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Jue said, "Step on my boots, hold on tight."

He Yan was stunned: "No, it's not good, right?"

"Hurry up."

Since he had said so, He Yan couldn't refuse again and again. Besides, it was indeed much simpler for the two of them to walk on this Lover's Bridge.

But... if he wanted to step on his boots, how should he put his hands? If he put them on his waist... it would seem a bit ambiguous, but if he grabbed his wrist like he did just now, it would be really unstable. After thinking about it, He Yan reached out his hand and clasped his shoulders, barely able to maintain his balance.

"Hold on tight." Xiao Jue said, while holding the two ropes of the suspension bridge with both hands, he slowly walked forward.

In the past, it's not like someone had never thought of other ways, such as a man carrying his beloved girl on his back and crossing the bridge directly, but this was the first time that one person walked the bridge for two people by stepping on the other's boots. If you want to say this is smart, it is smart and touching to watch, but if you want to say it is intimate, it seems a bit restrained.

The people under the bridge felt confused, but did not think too deeply about it. They just thought that the young men and women from Huzhou were not as open as those from Jiyang, and did not like to do overly intimate things in public, so this was the case.

But in the eyes of some colleagues, it is quite different.

Chi Wu immediately took a deep breath, and looked at He Yan as if he had defiled his master. He said in hatred, "How can this be? This brat has taken all the advantage!"

Who is taking advantage of whom? He Yan on the bridge wanted to cry but had no tears. The suspension bridge was very unstable. Every time Xiao Jue took a step, it shook violently. His steps were very steady and his expression was calm, without any disturbance. However, He Yan felt his heart beating very fast. When he reached the middle, the wooden board under Xiao Jue's feet seemed a little unstable. He stepped on it and his body tilted, almost falling down.

He Yan was startled and subconsciously put her hands around his neck. When they came to their senses, they were both stunned.

The distance was very close. If his lips were just one centimeter closer, they would have touched the corner of He Yan's mouth. He Yan looked up and met the other person's long eyes. At this moment, the eyes were deep and dark, like a bottomless pool of water, with ripples all over. The handsome young man pursed his thin lips, his Adam's apple moved slightly, and he seemed to want to say something for a moment, but after a moment, he turned his head away gently.

He Yan was extremely embarrassed.

She whispered, "I'm sorry."

Xiao Jue did not answer.

He Yan didn't dare to look at his face. She felt the atmosphere was awkward for some reason. She just hoped that the bridge could be finished soon. On the other side of the bridge, the lively crowd was waiting. Xiao Jue steadied his pace and continued to walk forward. He Yan was delighted when he saw that the suspension bridge was about to end. He breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself that this was more torturous than the daily training in the martial arts field.

When Xiao Jue reached the end of the bridge, He Yan couldn't wait to say, "We're here!" She wanted to take a step back to distance herself from Xiao Jue. However, the suspension bridge had been in disrepair for a long time and was unstable. When she stepped back, the wooden board behind her flipped out and she stepped on empty space.

Xiao Jue scolded in a low voice: "Be careful!"

Grabbing her and pulling her towards him, He Yan followed the force and threw herself forward, feeling that she had fallen into a warm embrace. She subconsciously steadied herself and raised her head to look. It would have been fine if she hadn't moved. As soon as she moved, the other person seemed to be looking down at her, so a soft, feather-light object brushed across her forehead, approaching and leaving in just a moment.

She froze in place.

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

This joke is so old that it makes me feel embarrassed...