Everyone said that General Fei Hong and General Feng Yun were incompatible and fought openly and secretly. But in fact, He Yan always felt that it was not that exaggerated.

At most, they were all young men who joined the army, had made great military achievements, and were awarded titles at a young age, so everyone liked to compare them together. The rest was just hearsay, which was exaggerated and passed around until it became a strange story that made people laugh and cry.

At least in the heart of the fourteen-year-old He Yan, she definitely had no hostility towards the young master of the Xiao family.

By then, she had been pretending to be a man for many years, and she was very good at playing the role of "He Rufei". The only difficulty was that at this age, boys should have gone to school to study with a teacher.

Men and women are different. Women can invite teachers to teach them in their homes, but men cannot do so. The He family has always invited teachers to teach them in their homes, but as they grow older, it will not sound good if the news gets out. The He family still has to save face.

So after much procrastination, they finally sent He Yan to Xianchang Hall when she was fourteen years old.

Xianchang Hall is the most famous academy in the capital. The founder of the academy was the tutor of the current emperor when he was the crown prince. The academy teaches the six arts, and the teachers are all well-known in the court. Those who come here to study are the most distinguished among the nobles.

Although the He family had a title, it was still inferior to those families in Xianchang Hall. Who knew that He Yuanliang had some good luck. One day when he was drinking in a restaurant, he encountered a quarrel. He said a few words to the person who was helped. It turned out that the person was a tutor in Xianchang Hall. He mentioned that there were new students enrolled in the spring. He remembered that the eldest son of the He family seemed to have a legitimate son, so why not send him to Xianchang Hall for a study.

He Yuanliang hesitated for a long time and discussed this matter with He Yuansheng. He Yuansheng has always pursued fame and fortune, and he thought this matter was feasible. If He Yan is sent to Xianchang Hall, he might get to know many other noble children. It will only benefit the He family to befriend them, not harm. If the real He Rufei returns one day, the title of "Xianchang Hall student" will be the icing on the cake for He Rufei.

He Yan was very happy when he learned about this.

She dressed like a man, but in the He family, she acted according to the rules of women. She was not allowed to play Cuju, show her face in public, and even practiced martial arts secretly without her family's knowledge. But if she were to be a woman, she would be incompetent. The daughters of the He family learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but she, "He Rufei", could not follow them.

It seems like there is nothing I can do.

But it is different to go to Xianchang Hall. I heard that there are many talented people there, and there are many young people of the same age. If you go there, you can not only learn a skill, but also make many friends.

This was a benefit that women could not enjoy. She suddenly felt fortunate that she had replaced He Rufei's identity.

He Yuansheng's wife, her nominal mother, but actually her aunt, handed the mask that the craftsman had carefully crafted to her and said worriedly, "Be careful on your way there, and don't let anyone discover your identity."

He Yan nodded.

She actually didn't like wearing this mask. Although the mask was thin, it was airtight, revealing only her chin and eyes. For so many years, she never took off the mask, even when she slept. The craftsman was very skilled. One side was buckled into her hair bun and equipped with a mechanism so that it would not fall off even if she fought. Only she could open it.

Mrs. He warned sternly: "Remember, if you miss the trap, the entire He family will be doomed!"

I know, this has been said thousands of times, the crime of deceiving the emperor will punish all nine generations of the clan.

"I'll remember that." He Yan answered respectfully.

Mrs. He sent her to the carriage with great anxiety.

To outsiders, this scene was a scene of deep love between mother and son. But in He Yan's heart, she heaved a sigh of relief, her chest overflowing with the joy of freedom. She had finally escaped the days of being controlled by others in her every move, and freedom was just around the corner.

The carriage stopped at the gate of Xianchang Pavilion. The servant took her off the carriage and then waited for her to finish school at the gate.

She arrived too early. The teacher had not yet arrived at the academy. She could faintly hear the sound of students studying and talking and laughing. He Yan stepped into the door, full of anticipation.

The spring sun rises early in the morning. When you enter the academy, you first see a large courtyard, then a garden, and finally the academy. There is a stable in the courtyard, which looks like a smaller parade ground. The garden is very elegantly maintained, with a pond and poplars and willows.

There is also a swing.

The wind blew the swing slightly, and He Yan stretched out his hand, wanting to sit on it, but he didn't dare. If he told others that a man was swinging on a swing, he would be laughed at. So he could only touch it reluctantly before continuing to walk forward.

The willow trees had all sprouted, and clusters of green poured into the lake, making the scenery even more beautiful. The sunlight made people feel sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and saw a loquat tree in front of her.

The He family had plenty of money to eat loquats, and He Yan had eaten loquats over the years. But this was the first time he had seen a loquat tree full of fruits. The bright yellow fruits seemed to contain honey, full of fragrance, and very tempting under the sunlight.

She was just a 14-year-old girl, and she was playful. Seeing this scene, she recalled the maids in the yard hitting plums with bamboo poles in the summer. However, the eldest son of the He family could not hit plums himself, but now in the school, picking a loquat should be okay, right? It is not shameful for a boy to pick loquats.

When He Yan thought of this, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to do something big.

But she was in a hurry to go out, and she had nothing with her except the tuition for her teacher and some books, paper and pens, and there was no long pole anywhere. Fortunately, the loquat tree was not too high, so she should be able to reach it by jumping.

He Yan stared at the nearest fruit in front of him. The fruit was pressed on the top of the branch, heavy and golden, as if tempting people to pick it.

She leaped with all her might, but missed.

Almost.

He Yan did not give up, and continued to make another leap with all his strength.

Still nothing.

She has always been a person who never gives up, so she tried again.

Still nothing.

After many failed battles, she didn't know how many times she had failed. Just when He Yan was exhausted and panting, she suddenly heard a sneer coming from above her head.

He Yan looked up in confusion.

The loquat tree was lush and leafy, and she was staring at the fruit so intently that she didn't notice that there was a person sitting on the tree.

She didn't know how long the man had been sitting there, and probably saw everything she did. She looked up, and the sunlight was shining down, illuminating every inch of the man's face.

This is a beautiful young man in a white robe and golden boots, with a lazy look and a hint of arrogance, with his hands behind his head, looking like a breeze leaning against a jade tree. He looked down impatiently, his eyes were heart-warming.

He Yan was stunned.

She had never seen such a handsome boy before, and he seemed to have all the beauty of spring reflected on him. She felt ashamed for a moment, but fortunately the mask covered her blushing face. However, she was still young, and could not hide the surprise in her eyes.

The handsome young man glanced at her and then picked up a fruit.

This... is for her?

He Yan felt shy for a moment.

The young man suddenly turned over and landed gracefully on the ground. His white robe dazzled He Yan's eyes. She watched the young man approach with the fruit, and hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Should I say thank you? Or should I say you are so pretty?

She was so nervous that she almost wanted to reach out and tie the hem of her clothes.

The young man had already walked in front of her and suddenly smiled.

This smile was like thousands of trees blooming, as bright as the dawn of spring. He Yan said excitedly: "Thank you..."

Before she could finish the second "thank you", the other person passed her by.

He Yan: “?”

She looked back and saw the young man in white robe walking forward, tossing the big yellow loquat up and down, with a leisurely posture, as if he was laughing at her self-conceit.

He Yan stood there, calming down for a long time before following the direction of the young man and walking into the academy.

However, just as she walked outside the school, she heard people talking inside. There was a lot of noise and a cheerful voice asked, "I heard that the new young master of the He family is also coming to study at our school today. Brother Huaijin, have you seen him?"

She took a step forward and peeked in through the crack in the window, and then she heard a lazy voice, "The eldest son of the He family didn't see anything, he only saw a stupid and short person."

And...stupid and short?

He Yan had never been called that in his life. Stupid, that's fine, but short... short?

How is she short? Her height is already very good among girls of the same age!

He Yan wanted to see who was so blind to come to such a conclusion. He raised his eyes and saw the bright-looking boy surrounded by other boys, looking towards the window slit with an innocent look.

As if he knew she was peeping.

Bursts of laughter came from the academy.

The vegetation on earth is endless, the spring scenery is lush and the flowers in the forest are like brocade.

This was her first meeting with Xiao Jue.