It was getting dark.

The prepared medicine juice for the coaches was taken away and drunk by the coaches. Since Lin Shuanghe came to Liangzhou Guard, Xiao Jue's medicine soup was always in charge of Lin Shuanghe, so there was no topic to talk to. Shen Muxue stood here, and Xiao Jue was focused on the daily training of the Southern Army soldiers, and had no intention of talking to her. After a long time, she naturally felt awkward.

After all, she was a daughter of a wealthy family, and her self-esteem was extremely strong. She could give up everything to share the hardships with Xiao Jue, and give up the luxurious life of a rich official to become a female doctor in such a cold and bitter place. But she could not express her feelings to Xiao Jue frankly and directly like those girls from ordinary families, even servants and maids.

Shen Muxue had always hoped that as long as she stayed with Xiao Jue, he would one day discover her goodness and take the initiative to tell her that they were the most suitable people in the world. This was her modesty, and she was always relieved. After all, there were many beautiful women around Xiao Jue over the years, but he had never been moved. Xiao Jue was not interested in women at all.

But now, Shen Muxue was confused. Something made her have a bad feeling. What if Xiao Jue fell in love with someone else before she let him see her good side?

Shen Muxue couldn't imagine such a scene.

She picked up the empty bamboo basket and walked out without saying goodbye to Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue didn't like to be disturbed when he was training. Over the years, she had already figured out Xiao Jue's preferences.

"Miss Shen." Someone called her.

Shen Muxue raised her head. The man in front of her, wearing a long robe with wide sleeves, smiled and pointed ahead, "If you keep walking with your head down, you'll bump into the rocks ahead."

Not far away, there stood a huge stone. The new recruits of Liangzhou Guards often liked to sharpen their knives and chop at this stone. Now, it was full of holes and marks, and some people even carved some abusive words on it. She was so distracted that she didn't even notice the huge stone. If Chu Zhao hadn't reminded her, she would have bumped into it.

Shen Muxue stopped and bowed to Chu Zhao, "Fourth Master Chu."

She knew that Xiao Jue and Chu Zhao had different views. After all, Chu Zhao was Xu Xiang's favorite student. But Chu Zhao was good-looking and gentle, so it was difficult for ordinary women to have any bad feelings towards him. Shen Muxue was the same. She would never lose her manners when they met on weekdays.

"Miss Shen seems to be worried." Chu Zhao smiled slightly: "Are you worried about Governor Xiao?"

Shen Muxue was startled, and instantly felt panicky as if someone had discovered her thoughts. But she calmed down after a moment and said softly, "Nothing, I was just thinking about the pharmacology in the medical book I read today. Mr. Chu, you worry too much."

Chu Zhao nodded and was about to continue walking forward. When they passed by each other, Shen Muxue suddenly asked, "It seems that the fourth master Chu is on good terms with a new soldier named He Yan from the Liangzhou Guard?"

Shen Muxue had seen Chu Zhao talking to He Yan several times. Although Chu Zhao was usually approachable and never acted like a young master, he was definitely not a passionate and talkative person. In Liangzhou Guard, apart from talking to that overly beautiful maid, he did not interact much with other people. But when it came to He Yan, his attitude was very cordial.

"Brother He?" Chu Zhao paused. "Brother He is my good friend in Liangzhouwei. Does Miss Shen have anything to ask him?"

After he admitted it so straightforwardly, Shen Muxue didn't know what to ask. After a moment, she looked at Chu Zhao, "When Wu Tuo sent troops to Jiyang, I heard that the Fourth Master Chu was there and lived with the governor in the residence of Lord Zhongqi. The Fourth Master Chu is also a good friend of He Yan, so he must know a lot about He Yan's affairs."

Chu Zhao listened to her quietly.

Shen Muxue hesitated for a moment before asking, "How is the relationship between the governor and He Yan? Are they...getting along well?"

"Miss Shen, your question is a bit strange," Chu Zhao's eyes swept over the woman in front of him. Shen Muxue tugged at the hem of her skirt nervously. Chu Zhao smiled, "Brother He is very skilled and straightforward, and is trusted by Governor Xiao. Miss Shen should know better than anyone that Governor Xiao is definitely not an easy person to approach, but Brother He is not an ordinary person, and seems to have easily won Governor Xiao's heart."

"Rather than being a master and his confidant, I think Governor Xiao and Brother He are more like friends."

"Friends?" Shen Muxue's voice became slightly sharp for a moment, and she frowned: "How can the commander-in-chief of the right army and a new soldier be friends when their status is so different?"

Chu Zhao smiled, "Miss Shen is wrong. When making friends, one should follow one's heart. Age, status, and stance are not important. How can there be a distinction between high and low among friends? Commander Xiao has always been very good to Brother He. When they were in Jiyang, they lived in the same room and ate at the same table. Commander Xiao even bought clothes for Brother He. If we say that they are superiors and subordinates, it would be a bit too much."

Shen Muxue was secretly shocked when she heard this.

Xiao Jue was a clean and solitary person. Eating at the same table with others was already the limit for him, and living in the same room with them? She couldn't imagine it. He even bought clothes for He Yan. When had he ever cared about these details of others?

Chu Zhao stared into Shen Muxue's eyes: "What is Miss Shen worried about?"

Shen Muxue met his thoughtful gaze and could not help but take a step back, subconsciously shaking her head in denial: "No."

"Ms. Shen is a woman who has come all the way from Shuojing to Liangzhou. She must be a person of strong will, courage and integrity. How could she be so timid about this matter?"

Shen Muxue pursed her lips and said nothing.

"I can probably understand what Miss Shen is worried about. Brother He is my good friend, so I can't say too much. However, I also admire Miss Shen's feelings, so... if Miss Shen really can't let it go, she might as well go and explore it herself. Sometimes," he said lightly, "people should trust their intuition. Especially... women."

Shen Muxue raised her head. The man in front of her was still smiling slightly, his eyes were gentle and caring, but she unconsciously felt a slight chill all over her body.

"I... don't understand what Mr. Chu Si is talking about." She frowned, clenched the basket in her hand, and walked quickly around Chu Zhao: "I have to go back to prepare the herbs. Mr. Chu Si, goodbye."

Shen Muxue left in a hurry, and from behind she looked a bit savage. Chu Zhao looked at her from behind, and the smile on his face faded slightly. After a moment, he lowered his head and said to himself, "It's getting more and more interesting."

"Shen Muxue," he murmured, "Xiao Huaijin, which one will you choose?"

…

The daily training of the new recruits in the drill ground is over.

When Lin Shuanghe passed by the martial arts arena, he happened to see Xiao Jue disbanding the Southern Palace soldiers, so he went up to say hello and planned to go back with Xiao Jue to have dinner.

"Huai Jin, you may have trained my sister He too hard these days. I haven't seen her for a long time. I have to remind you that she is still injured. Although it is not serious, girls are different from boys. They should rest more. You'd better be more considerate."

Xiao Jue said coldly: "Mind your own business."

"How can this be considered a trivial matter? Sister He is my friend and your friend as well. Friends should help each other."

"Take care of yourself first."

Lin Shuanghe waved his fan, and sensitively noticed that Xiao Jue was in a bad mood today. Although this person would not show his good or bad mood on his face, but...after all, they have been friends for many years, some subtle details can still be captured.

He was about to ask, but when he looked up, he saw someone walking forward not far away. The only people coming and going in Liangzhou Guards were new recruits and coaches, and those who were not wearing uniforms always stood out. Lin Shuanghe asked, "Master Chu the Fourth?"

Chu Zhao turned around and saw Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe. He nodded and said, "Commander Xiao, Master Lin."

"It's so late, what is the Fourth Master Chu doing here?" Lin Shuanghe asked.

"I just went for a walk along the Wulu River and now I'm going back."

The weather has gradually started to warm up, with the heat of early summer. The Wulu River is no longer cold and lonely as it was in winter. It is cool and pleasant. It is really comfortable to take a walk there at night.

Xiao Jue was cold as ice, and didn't even bother to talk to Chu Zhao. Lin Shuanghe, however, was a smooth person, and he couldn't make the atmosphere so awkward. However, he and Chu Zhao didn't have much contact, so he had to make small talk. He asked Chu Zhao, "What is tied around the waist of the fourth master Chu?"

Chu Zhao followed his gaze and smiled: "It's just a stone."

Lin Shuanghe was a little curious. Chu Zhao was the fourth son of the Chu family and Xu Jingfu's favorite student. Although his clothes were not overly gorgeous and expensive, they were still elegant. He thought Chu Zhao was wearing a piece of jade around his waist, but it turned out to be a stone. The Chu family was about to fall? So poor?

As if he saw the surprise in Lin Shuanghe's eyes, Chu Zhao smiled, took the stone off his waist and handed it to Lin Shuanghe.

Lin Shuanghe took a look and saw that it was a flat stone, naturally in the shape of a horse, with traces of grinding at the tail. The horse's head and body were also carved. If it was made of jade, it would be interesting and vivid, but since it was made of stone, it looked more like a toy for children to play with. There was nothing special about it.

It is really just a stone.

"How could Fourth Master Chu think of tying a stone on his body?" Lin Shuanghe handed the stone back to him and cleared his throat twice, "This stone is not worthy of Fourth Master Chu's status."

“A friend’s kindness is priceless even if it’s made of stone.” Chu Zhao answered seriously.

When Lin Shuanghe heard this, he suddenly felt nervous and looked at Chu Zhao with a smile: "Mr. Chu, do you mean this is a gift from your sweetheart?" His opinion of Chu Zhao changed greatly. You know, Chu Zhao is the one Xu Pingting likes. No matter how powerful Chu Zhao is, he is not powerful enough to openly confront Xu Xiang, and Xu Xiang loves his daughter the most. Xu Pingting is very picky and will definitely not give Chu Zhao a stone. The girl who can give such a thing is most likely the daughter of an ordinary family. Chu Zhao dared to wear the gift given by a woman other than Xu Pingting openly, and he was not afraid of being discovered by the Xu family father and daughter, so that he would be in trouble.

How can one not admire this?

Chu Zhao was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled: "It's not some sweetheart, it's Brother He."

After these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

Xiao Jue's eyes fell on Chu Zhao's face, but Lin Shuanghe couldn't wait to ask: "You said it was given to you by Brother He...?"

"I guess so," Chu Zhao said, "She was the one who carved the stone."

Lin Shuanghe was greatly shocked.

Despite all the precautions, He Yan still fell for him! She even sent him a stone, which showed that she really loved him. But she couldn't be blamed. She was just at the age of falling in love, and who could resist the attack of a gentle and kind handsome man?

If it was someone else, it would be fine, but Chu Zilan, Lin Shuanghe thought, was not a good match. Not to mention the mess in Chu Zilan's father Chu Linfeng's yard, Xu Pingting alone was difficult to deal with. After all, He Yan had no status or background, so it would be easy for Xu Pingting to find a reason to deal with He Yan. If Chu Zhao really had feelings for He Yan, the best thing to do would be to keep a distance from her, but he was so open about it, didn't he make He Yan a sitting duck, waiting for Xu Pingting to cause trouble.

Besides, Chu Zhao knew that He Yan was a woman.

For a moment, Lin Shuanghe, who had always been "kind to others", looked at Chu Zhao with some hostility in his eyes.

Who is Chu Zhao? He noticed the sudden hostility from Lin Shuanghe without changing his expression. He then looked at Xiao Jue. The young man's dark blue brocade robe looked cold and desolate in the night. He had a handsome and tall figure, with a dark look in his eyes, and looked at him indifferently.

Seems to have a sharp edge.

He smiled and bowed: "We've arrived at my room. I won't disturb Commander Xiao and Master Lin for now. See you tomorrow." After saying that, he turned around and went in another direction.

"This Chu Zilan seems to have bad intentions." Lin Shuanghe murmured as he looked at his back.

It seemed to be directed at He Yan.

…….

The lights in the house were turned on again.

Xiao Jue changed his clothes and sat down at the table. During the day, he watched the training of new soldiers in the military training ground, and at night he had to read the military registers sent from the capital.

Lin Shuanghe sat aside, looking at him, and went out after a while. Then he came back quickly with a plate of preserved fruits in his hand, which he placed quietly on Xiao Jue's table.

Xiao Jue glanced at him.

"The kitchen here just happened to make some today. Since you like it, eat more."

Xiao Jue frowned: "What is this?"

"Plums!" Lin Shuanghe slapped his thigh and said seriously, "Don't you like sour things? These are just picked and not pickled. They are as sour as they can be."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Jue said, "Take it away."

Lin Shuanghe stood up straight, fanning himself, and said, "I won't leave. Xiao Huaijin, Chu Zilan has said this, and you are still sitting still? If you don't take action, it will be a matter of time before Sister He is kidnapped by Chu Zilan."

The young man replied indifferently: "It has nothing to do with me."

"You, me, and Sister He have lived and died together in Jiyang City. We have no love but loyalty. You and I both know what kind of person Chu Zilan is. We are both men, and even a fool can see what he wants to do. Chu Zilan can't get rid of Xu Pingting, but Sister He wants Sister He to think about him all the time. You don't know that when I was in Jiyang before, Sister He loved Chu Zilan but couldn't get him, and she told me that she didn't plan to get married in this life. Tell me, how much sin has this man committed?"

Xiao Jue lowered his eyes, his pupils moved slightly, but he did not stop Lin Shuanghe from continuing.

"He doesn't have the ability to marry someone but he still flirts with her. I think he has bad character," Lin Shuanghe said. "My sister He is a little stupid, but she is good at fighting, loyal, and good-looking. Except for her ordinary family background, she is no worse than others. Such a good girl should not be delayed by Chu Zilan. Apart from me, you are the only one in Liangzhou Guards who can compete with Chu Zilan. Go and win back sister He's heart, and we will make a long-term plan."

Xiao Jue sneered: "Who do you think I am?"

"I know, I've wronged you." Lin Shuanghe patted his friend's shoulder, "But think about it, if Chu Zilan continues to act so recklessly, something bad will happen sooner or later. You dare to say that there is no one arranged by Xu Pingting around him? As long as the news gets back, Sister He will be in big trouble. I can't stand by and watch, and neither can you. After all, you have also played fake husband and wife. Once you are married, you will be grateful to each other for a hundred days. How can you be so heartless?"

The more he talked, the more he went too far. Xiao Jue said, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll have someone send you back to Shuojing tomorrow."

Lin Shuanghe choked and sighed, saying, "I've said everything I need to say. If you don't take action, I will. I can't let my sister He be bullied by Xu Pingting in vain."

Having said that, he waved his hand and left.

The room became quiet again. Xiao Jue's eyes fell on the plate of green plums on the table. He suddenly felt a little irritated. The pen in his hand paused and broke in two.

The next moment, there was a rustling sound from the middle door, and the door lock opened with a click. The door was already open, but the other party still pretended to knock on the door: "Captain, can I come in?"

Xiao Jue: “…”

"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as your agreement." The man said very naturally, pushed the door open, and as soon as he entered, he was met with Xiao Jue's cold gaze.

"Hey," He Yan stood up straight, "Commander, you are in the room, why didn't you say anything? I thought you were not there."

Xiao Jue: "What's the matter?"

"I came here to ask you," He Yan said seriously, "When I do the daily training tomorrow, should I follow today's amount, or should I do the same as before?"

Even though she had offended Xiao Jue today and made him angry, Xiao Jue was her boss after all, so He Yan still had to be in a good mood and take the initiative to ask.

"If you have enough energy, you can add five times more."

Why does it sound like he's still angry and is getting more and more angry? He Yan thought about it and felt that it would be better not to provoke Xiao Jue today, so he nodded and said, "I understand. Then the governor should have a good rest soon. I have something else to do, so I won't bother you anymore." He was about to leave.

"Are you busy?" Xiao Jue sneered, "What's going on?"

"Mr. Chu asked me to go to him in the evening, saying he had something very important to tell me." He Yan said, "It should be about time."

She said this with trepidation. In fact, He Yan had no idea what Chu Zhao wanted to talk to her about. When Ying Xiang came, she spoke so seriously that no one dared to underestimate her.

Xiao Jue raised his eyes and looked at her.

Under the light, the young commander looked incredibly handsome, with loose clothes and skin as white as jade. However, his eyes were like a pond that had been frozen for three years, and his gaze was so sharp that it made people feel timid.

His voice was very calm, with a hint of anger.

"You are not allowed to go."