The night enveloped the wilderness.

Inside the thatched hut, someone was hiding in the corner, his lips moving, but no one knew what he was saying.

"Young Master, we've found the people. Xu Jingfu's men are chasing them. The brothers are now a little unconscious. We may need to take them back to the city and let Young Master Lin take a look." Luanying stood beside Xiao Jue and whispered.

These are the people who survived the Battle of Naruto.

In the Battle of Mingshui, Xiao Zhongwu's troops were almost wiped out. Among his deputy generals, none survived except Chai Anxi. The surviving soldiers have died one after another in recent years. As for how they died and whether there was any mystery, no one cares. Five years have passed since the Battle of Mingshui. Perhaps in this world, except for Xiao Zhongwu's son, no one will care about the dead general Guangwu and the sinister conspiracy hidden in that famous defeat.

"Is there no other way?" Xiao Jue frowned. "At this rate, I'm afraid they won't be able to make it back to the city."

"We were in a hurry when we left, and only brought wound medicine with us, not anything to calm our minds." Luanying shook her head, "Xu Jingfu's men chased them for seven days and seven nights, and they didn't sleep or rest, so they couldn't hold on."

Of course, fighting on wheels is exhausting, especially such a relentless fighting on wheels. Xiao Jue thought for a moment and took out a scent bag from his waist. It was the scent bag that He Yan had given him earlier, made by Bai Rongwei. He held the bag tightly and untied the string. Inside was a tiny amulet and some herbs. He Yan said that this was to concentrate the mind.

Xiao Jue poured out the herbs and handed them to Luanying, "Take them over and let them smell them. We won't leave tonight. Let's go to another place and let them rest for a night."

Luanying responded.

After so long investigating Xu Jingfu and the Mingshui case, it was not easy to finally find two living witnesses. But this also shows that Xiao Jue's ability has gradually grown over the years to the point where he can compete with Xu Jingfu. For example, he won the robbery this time.

We couldn't stay here for long, we had to move to another place. We found a family outside the city, and settled down with the unconscious brothers.

Chiwu and Feinu stood guard at the door of the brothers to prevent any accidents at night. Luanying went out to get information. The night in the suburbs is always particularly deserted. Especially in autumn, there are few people within a dozen miles. However, the moon is white and bright, shining on the empty wilderness, like flowing silver water, which suddenly creates a bit of desolation.

He actually didn't like the Mid-Autumn Festival. For him, it always reminded him of bad memories from the past. The fuller the moon was, the lonelier one seemed. Every year around this time, he always had trouble falling asleep. In previous years, when he was in the military camp, he could still read official documents for half the night, but now that he was back in Shuojing, there was really nothing he could do here.

Xiao Jue lowered his head and looked at the sachet in his hand. The herbs in the sachet were hollowed out, leaving only a flat layer and a small amulet. After thinking for a while, he opened the sachet and planned to put the amulet back in.

Although it was embroidered by a maid of the Xiao family, the fabric and pattern were personally selected by Bai Rongwei. Bai Rongwei was always very particular about this matter, and the sachet was made very delicately. When I touched it with my fingers, the silk felt as cool as moonlight.

Xiao Jue's gaze paused for a moment, and the next moment, his fingertips slid across the inside of the sachet and touched a rough bulge. This bulge looked particularly different on the smooth satin surface. He lowered his eyes and turned the sachet over.

The inner side appeared in front of Xiao Jue.

This sachet is embroidered with two layers inside, a double layer of embroidery. The inner cloth strip is ordinary black, without any patterns. However, at this moment, there is a crooked, bright yellow corner embroidered on the inner cloth. It is impossible to tell what it is, but it can be seen that the craftsmanship of the person who embroidered it is really not satisfactory, and the thread ends were not cut cleanly.

Well, the black python outside the sachet and the yellow horn inside the sachet don’t seem to be in the same work.

What is this? Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows. Bai Rongwei's craftsmanship was much better than this. If the maids of the Xiao family could make embroidery like this, it would be a bit scary if people told others about it. This sachet was given to him by He Yan. In the entire Xiao family, there should be no one else who could make embroidery like this except Miss He.

He toyed with the sachet over and over again, trying to find traces of other things He Yan had embroidered, but there was nothing. Apart from this yellow horn, she had not embroidered anything else.

Xiao Jue's mouth twitched.

Is she practicing with his sachet? She is practicing so stealthily and quietly. If he hadn't opened the sachet to take out the herbs inside, he would never have discovered the secret in his life. But what's the point of doing this? If he really wanted to practice, he could have found a white handkerchief and embroidered it endlessly, hiding it in it. He always felt that there was a deeper meaning that he didn't understand.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard again in the wilderness. A teenager of about twelve or thirteen years old came up to him and said to him with a smile, "Young Master!"

This child is Luanying's son, named Baiyan. He has handsome features and looks very similar to Luanying, but he is younger and has some flesh on his cheeks, which makes him look a bit simple and cute. Unlike Luanying's cold and frosty temperament, Baiyan is like all teenagers of his age, innocent and even a bit talkative.

He liked Xiao Jue very much. No matter how many times Luanying had warned him to respect the hierarchy and not to be presumptuous, Bai Yan could not remember. Xiao Jue did not care about it. Therefore, whenever Bai Yan saw Xiao Jue in a place where Luanying was not there, he would find ways to stick to him.

Bai Yan saw the sachet in Xiao Jue's hand at a glance. He had good eyesight and could see the embroidery on the lining clearly in the dark. He blurted out, "Huh? This moon embroidery is so beautiful!"

"...The moon?" Xiao Jue was stunned.

Bai Yan answered confidently, "Young Master, look, it's yellow and curved, it's the moon!" He moved a little closer, tiptoed to observe the embroidery in Xiao Jue's hand, and praised, "This is a black lining, representing the night, and the moon embroidered on it is the moon in the night, representing Young Master. You are the moon in the night, eye-catching and dazzling!" The child became excited as he spoke, and asked mysteriously in a low voice, "Young Master, is this a gift from the girl to you?"

Xiao Jue: “…”

He felt a little uncomfortable and took back the sachet, "No."

"How could it not be?" Bai Yan was puzzled. "If it wasn't a girl, how could a man embroider such exquisite embroidery?"

Xiao Jue once wondered if Bai Yan was He Yan's biological brother. Their opinions on "beauty" were surprisingly similar.

Bai Yan was about to ask again, but a voice suddenly exploded from behind him, "Bai Yan!"

Bai Yan was so scared that she hid behind Xiao Jue, "Mother... I just came out to use the restroom and happened to see the young master."

Luanying grabbed his ears and pulled him out from behind Xiao Jue, "How many times have I told you not to disturb the young master? Why is this child so ignorant? Young master, I'm sorry, I'll take the kid back now!"

Luanying carried Bai Yan back, and Xiao Jue was left alone at the edge of the field.

The moonlight shines on the black fields, and the soil is stained with white frost, like the snow on the banks of the Wei River in Liangzhou, bringing in a chill of the morning.

The moon is heartless, but dreams are full of love. He curled the corners of his lips, turned around and was about to leave. Suddenly, he paused, as if he thought of something, and raised his eyes.

In my memory, in the midst of the noisy and laughing crowd, on the podium, there was a girl's face hidden under a mask, she was talking nonsense.

"One last secret," she stood on tiptoe, got close to his chin, and whispered softly, "I like the moon."

"The moon doesn't know."

…

The day to enter the palace soon arrived.

Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were also going to the palace together. They were a little surprised to learn that He Yan was not going with them but with Lin Shuanghe. However, they were very considerate of other people's feelings and did not ask too many questions. When Lin Shuanghe's carriage arrived, they sent He Yan to the carriage and told him to see her again in the palace.

Lin Shuanghe sat in the carriage, fanning himself, and said, "Huai Jin was probably afraid that you and Brother Rubi wouldn't get along. We are old friends, so it would be more comfortable for us to get along." He looked at He Yan again and sighed, "It's really his loss that Huai Jin couldn't come back today. Our sister He looks so heroic in this gorgeous men's clothing. If she had entered the palace with me, there would be no one among the civil and military officials who could steal our limelight."

He Yan was thinking about other things and responded perfunctorily. Seeing this, Lin Shuanghe thought she was nervous because it was her first time in the palace, so he comforted her, "Don't be afraid, sister He, I'm here. I know the palace very well, you can walk around freely, as long as you don't kill or set fire, you can ask my grandfather to settle it."

He probably had gotten pretty good at cheating his father and grandfather, so he took He Yan with him as well.

The carriage sped along, and after who knows how long, it finally arrived at the palace gate. The guards in front of the palace were already familiar with Lin Shuanghe's carriage. Lin Shuanghe and He Yan got off the carriage and followed the palace attendant who led the way inside.

This is He Yan's first time entering the palace.

If it was this time in her previous life, she would be nervous because she would be able to meet the emperor and receive rewards. But after dying once, she knew that the so-called future and wealth were like floating clouds. She entered the palace now, not for the future, but just to settle a score in her previous life.

Passing by the long corridor garden and the front hall, the monarch's banquet was held to celebrate his success. The people who came were all prominent figures in the court, such as Lin Shuanghe, who was able to sneak in because of his relationship with Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu.

Many people had already arrived in the front hall. He Yan looked around but didn't see any trace of Xiao Jing and his wife. Lin Shuanghe whispered, "We took the shortcut. Brother Rubi should have taken the main road and might have arrived later. It's okay, Brother He. I'll follow you all the way. When someone comes to say hello, tell them your name so that you can get to know some people."

As soon as the words fell, someone said, "Lin Shuanghe!"

However, this person was not here to get to know He Yan, because this person was Yan He. Yan He was wearing his official robes, and the woman standing beside him was beautiful and gentle. Her appearance was not particularly stunning, but she was very attractive. She bowed to Lin Shuanghe, "Mr. Lin."

This is Yan He’s wife, Xia Chengxiu.

Yan He was a man who did things as he pleased. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he put his arm around Xia Chengxiu's shoulders and pouted at He Yan, "Chengxiu, this is what I told you, a close friend who dislikes He Rufei just as much as I do. But now he's Xiao Huaijin's man," he looked at He Yan, "Do you want to work with me?"

Without waiting for He Yan to speak, Lin Shuanghe waved his hand righteously, "No! In this kind of situation, of course you have to stick to one person to the end. How can you change people halfway?"

Yan He was puzzled: "Does this also mean you have to be faithful to one person?"

"Are you such a fickle person in your heart?" Lin Shuanghe looked at Xia Chengxiu, "Sister-in-law, I am worried about you."

Xia Chengxiu: “…”

Yan He was furious: "Lin Shuanghe, shut up. How can you sow discord like this?"

Lin Shuanghe: "It's good that you know."

Yan He left with Xia Chengxiu in his arms, cursing. Lin Shuanghe breathed a sigh of relief. He turned around and was about to ask He Yan, but saw He Yan staring blankly in one direction. Lin Shuanghe followed her gaze and saw someone talking not far away. Standing in the middle was a young man in a long robe. He was elegant and handsome, and he was not unfamiliar. This was the Hanlin scholar Xu Zhiheng.

Lin Shuanghe was a little puzzled. He Yan was staring at him straight, and those who didn't know would think that she was attracted to Xu Zhiheng. But Xu Zhiheng already had a wife, and Chu Zhao was not bad in terms of being elegant and handsome. Compared with Chu Zhao, Xu Zhiheng was far behind.

Could it be that he was looking for a replacement because he couldn't get Chu Zhao? Lin Shuanghe's mind was a mess.

On the other side, Xu Zhiheng seemed to have noticed someone was looking at him, and he followed the gaze. He Yan was a stranger here, and Xu Zhiheng had never seen him before, but he knew Lin Shuanghe. Lin Shuanghe did not hold an official position, and Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu were also very good at dealing with people in the court. Most of the officials in the court were on good terms with the Lin family, or at least would not take the initiative to make enemies. Seeing that Lin Shuanghe was also looking at him, Xu Zhiheng was a little surprised at first, and then he said goodbye to his colleague who was talking to him and walked towards Lin Shuanghe.

"Brother Lin." He stopped in front of Lin Shuanghe and said gently, "Long time no see."

Lin Shuanghe knew Xu Zhiheng, but he was just an acquaintance, not very familiar with him. However, he was a smart man, so he said, "Yes, after spending some time in Liangzhou, I think Shuojing is better. By the way, this is a brother I met in Liangzhou."

He Yan raised his eyes and looked towards Xu Zhiheng.

It had been more than two years, almost three years, since she last "saw" Xu Zhiheng. In her memory, Xu Zhiheng was a gentle, considerate, and at least a handsome man whose appearance could deceive people. But now, looking at him again, perhaps because of the saying "appearance reflects the heart", Xu Zhiheng's face had become much more harsh.

He had lost a lot of weight, and his official robe was already loose, which made him look even more hunched. Because he was too thin, his face looked old, and even the smile he forced looked particularly stiff.

Xu Zhiheng was also looking at the person in front of him.

This was a very handsome boy, with heroic spirit between his eyebrows and eyes. He was wearing a red round-necked robe that made his lips and teeth look red and white. A black belt around his waist outlined his beautiful figure. The most attractive thing was his eyes, which were gentle in shape but sharp in gaze. This boy had stared at me from a distance just now. It was the first time they met, but his eyes seemed to be filled with all kinds of emotions, cold and gloomy, as if he had seen through all his disguises, which made me feel palpitations.

Xu Zhiheng felt uncomfortable with such a look, and turned to Lin Shuanghe, "Who is this..."

"Master Xu, don't underestimate this little brother because he is young. He is now a Wu'an Lang appointed by His Majesty himself. His name is He Yan. He will be our colleague in the future."

Xu Zhiheng was smiling as he listened to Lin Shuanghe's words, but when he heard the latter part, his smile disappeared in an instant and he asked, "What is his name?"

"Master Xu," He Yan looked at him with a smile, "My name is He Yan, He for seedlings, and Yan for peaceful rivers and tranquil seas."

Xu Zhiheng's face changed drastically.

The young man in front of her had his lips slightly curled up, looking friendly and youthful, but when looking closely at his eyes, there was no smile at all. It was like a pool of cold water, taking people back to that afternoon. The young woman was struggling in a dark and bottomless abyss, with a suffocating feeling at her throat.

His throat was dry and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

Fortunately, at this time, someone called Lin Shuanghe's name. It turned out to be Lin Qingtan. Lin Shuanghe then dragged He Yan away and said, "Brother He, that's my grandfather. I'll take you to see him."

The person in front of me left.

Xu Zhiheng almost suspected that the name he had just heard was a dream, caused by his restless mind recently. However, when he looked up, he saw the young man standing next to Lin Shuanghe in the distance and talking to Lin Qingtan... which reminded him that this was the fact.

There was indeed a person named "He Yan" who appeared in front of him.

Xu Zhiheng was sweating profusely. A colleague noticed his abnormality and asked with concern, "Master Xu, what's wrong? Why do you look so bad? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xu Zhiheng forced a smile and waved his hand, "Nothing." He turned and walked to an empty corner, not daring to let others notice his shock.

He curled his fingers and tried to convince himself. So what if he was called He Yan? There were many people with the same name in the world. "Grandma Xu" was already dead, and he personally watched her being sealed in the coffin. The current He Yan was a man, and he didn't look very old, so it shouldn't be right.

but……

but……

But the way that young man named He Yan stared at him, when he thought about it now, a chill ran down Xu Zhiheng's spine.

Indifference, hatred, sarcasm, and in an instant, turned into a knowing smile.

And he just said that.

When he first met He Yan, or rather, when he first met He Yan using her real name, the girl was wearing a skirt and said rather uncomfortably, "My last name is He, and my given name is Yan. The He of He Miao, and the Yan of He Qing Hai Yan."

Xu Zhiheng closed his eyes.

How could there be such a coincidence?

How could such a coincidence happen right in front of him? This is really...

His restlessness was seen by He Yan who was not far away, and he sneered in his heart.

Wang Ba always said that if you walk for a long time at night, you will encounter ghosts. I thought he was too timid at first, but now it seems that he is right. For example, Sun Ling and his son in Liangzhou City did too many evil things to count, and countless women died in their hands. However, they were afraid of evil spirits to come and take their lives, so they filled their yard with Buddha statues and talismans.

Lin Shuanghe was popular with people, and he couldn't help but greet people wherever he went. He Yan followed him all the time, matching the positions of these people with their faces.

Do what you are doing in the place you are in. When the battlefield is changed to the court, the general never fights a battle without preparation.

At this time, someone was heard shouting, "General Feihong is coming! General Feihong is coming!"

The officials present calmed down a little and looked towards the outer gate. To be honest, the two famous generals of Wei, Fei Hong and Feng Yun, always attracted attention at any time. Xiao Jue couldn't come today, so the only person who attracted attention became He Rufei.

Yan He, who was standing at the side, sneered and said disdainfully, "You are not the emperor, why do you have to put on such a big show?"

Xia Chengxiu tugged at his sleeve, and Yan He stopped talking.

He Yan also turned his head to look towards the outer door along with the others.

But someone came in, led by a palace maid. The man was wearing a military officer's robe, and was handsome, with a certain demeanor and ruggedness that a military officer would have. When someone greeted him, he nodded in response, looking friendly, yet just the right amount of distant.

This distance makes him, the "Flying General", seem even more mysterious.

"Tsk." He Yan heard Lin Shuanghe beside him say, "This kid was quite cute when he was little, why is he getting less and less likable as he grows up? How is he different from the old guys who have been in the officialdom for many years?" He added in a low voice, "The officialdom is a big melting pot... Fortunately, I am not an official."

It was the first time that He Yan saw He Rufei like this when facing his colleagues in the court. With the name of General Feihong, he lived like a fish in water without any burden, as if he was General Feihong himself from beginning to end.

He Yan felt disgusted.

Perhaps because his eyes were too focused, He Rufei seemed to notice something and looked towards her. The moment their eyes met, He Yan turned his head in time and spoke to Lin Shuanghe. So He Rufei only saw a strange boy standing next to Lin Shuanghe. Maybe it was his illusion? He Rufei didn't take it seriously and sat with a colleague he was on good terms with.

Of course, the colleagues he made friends with were all known to him after he took off his mask. He had no connection with him in the past, and Xu Zhiheng, in front of outsiders, they were not close. Everyone knew that He Rufei and He Xinying had a deep brother-sister relationship, but for this brother-in-law, it could only be considered a gentleman's friendship. After all, they were a civil official and a military officer. I think even if they wanted to be close, there was nothing to talk about.

He Yan knew otherwise.

It was just that they were guilty and afraid of being caught, so they did it on purpose. It seemed that they were very afraid that the matter would be discovered. The more afraid they were, the more confident He Yan became.

Lin Shuanghe said: "Let's sit down first."

Male and female relatives were supposed to sit at separate tables, but there were very few female relatives who came to such palace banquets. Apart from the few ladies that the Empress Dowager liked and their daughters, there was no one else.

After an unknown amount of time, a eunuch came to announce that Emperor Wenxuan had arrived.

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

The past two days of Double Eleven have been exhausting for people, with calculations, purchases, and refunds. I even dreamed of Li Shaohong tutoring me in math homework...