In his past and present lives, this was the first time He Yan saw Emperor Wenxuan.

Emperor Wenxuan had already reached the age of knowing the destiny, but he looked younger than his age. His face was rosy and he was neat and tidy. Although he was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, he was not as majestic and domineering as He Yan had imagined. He was even more kind and amiable, like an ordinary elder. He did not put on airs. After arriving, he sat down under the high seat and signaled all officials not to be so reserved.

Sitting next to Emperor Wenxuan was Empress Zhang. Empress Zhang and Emperor Wenxuan were childhood sweethearts. They were from a distinguished family and were made the Crown Princess by the late Emperor. Empress Zhang had a son and a daughter, the current Crown Prince Guangyan and Princess Yuchan. Princess Yuchan was already married and had not been feeling well recently, so she did not come to the palace banquet today. Sitting below Empress Zhang was Consort Lan.

Concubine Lan was of similar age to Empress Zhang, but her figure was not as graceful and round as Empress Zhang's. She was thin and frail. She had a gentle temperament and did not fight for power. She gave birth to the fourth prince, Guangshuo.

The fifth prince Guangji was led by his nanny, standing beside his two elder brothers. His biological mother was Ni Guiren. Ni Guiren was very young, just as delicate as a bud, with a domineering temperament. She was originally selected as the daughter of a local official, and then because she was pregnant with a dragon fetus, she was promoted all the way. However, Emperor Wenxuan disliked her arrogant character and refused to promote her to a concubine. In the past two years, Ni Guiren has also been much more well-behaved.

The second and third princes were originally twins, conceived by a palace maid who was doing laundry in the palace when Emperor Wenxuan had sex with her. Unfortunately, the birth of twins was difficult, and the mother and her three children all died during the birth.

Emperor Wenxuan did not have many offspring. For an emperor, having many offspring is not always a good thing. There is only one position, and with many people, some people will inevitably be dissatisfied and have dissident ideas. Now the fifth prince Guangji is still young, and the only ones who are capable of sitting on that position are the crown prince Guangyan and the fourth prince Guangshuo. Empress Zhang's family is powerful, the crown prince is the legitimate heir, and Concubine Lan Guifei did not fight for it. Originally, it was nothing wrong for the crown prince to inherit the throne.

But the Crown Prince Guangyan has no talent or virtue, has not made any achievements in government affairs, has a mess in his own house, and usually only knows how to play. In contrast, the Fourth Prince Guangshuo is both talented and virtuous, has outstanding talents, is gentle in temperament, and keeps himself clean.

The Crown Prince was so incompetent and the Fourth Prince was so outstanding, so naturally someone would have an idea. Moreover, among the three thousand beauties in the harem, Emperor Wenxuan's favorite was Concubine Lan. Although Concubine Lan did not fight for power, no one in the harem dared to look down on her. Gradually, the power in the court was divided into two factions. One faction supported Guangyan, and the other faction tried to ask Emperor Wenxuan to make Guangxiao the Crown Prince instead.

He Yan still remembered that when he was in Liangzhou, he had heard people say that the Crown Prince disliked Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue led his troops to Liangzhou to defend the city. In addition to avoiding Xu Jingfu's sharp edge, the Crown Prince also played a role in it.

In other words, Xu Jingfu and Crown Prince Guangyan were most likely in cahoots.

She thought in her heart, but kept calm.

The fifth prince Guangji is only five years old this year. Emperor Wenxuan thought that Concubine Ni was arrogant and had led a good child astray, so he gave him to Concubine Lan to raise together. Concubine Ni was furious, but she could do nothing about it. Guangji had been raised by Concubine Lan for a long time, and he was very close to Guangshuo. Sitting at the table, he pulled Guangshuo's sleeve and whispered, "Fourth brother, the emperor said there is a happy event to announce today. What is it?"

Guangshuo looked at him with a smile, "I don't know either, I'll know later."

Guangyan, who heard their conversation, sneered, "Fourth brother, father likes you so much, I thought you knew all the secrets. Why didn't I tell you in advance this time?"

The prince's provocations were frequent, but Guangshuo didn't take it seriously and remained gentle, "Your Highness is joking."

The undercurrent on their side was naturally noticed by those who cared. Emperor Wenxuan was getting older and older... Some things, sooner or later, would come.

He Yan sat at the men's table, close to Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jing, and a little further away from Yan He. He Rufei sat even further away, and she could even feel Xu Zhiheng's eyes secretly sizing her up. He Yan also saw Chu Zhao, who didn't greet her today. He still spoke softly to people, but treated He Yan like a stranger. He Yan didn't care about this, but Chu Zhao seemed a little strange today.

Not long after the banquet began, Queen Zhang spoke. She smiled and said, "Today is a good day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. I want to take advantage of today to do something good."

The people below looked at each other in bewilderment, thinking about the previous battle between Rundu and Jiyang, where Wei defeated Wutuo. Today was supposed to be a celebration banquet, but the protagonist Xiao Huaijin was not present. If He Rufei was to be rewarded, then He Rufei's performance in the battle of Huayuan was not outstanding. If he was to be rewarded at this time, it would not only not make people feel honored, but also insulting.

"Mr. Shi Jin," Empress Zhang said with a smile, "It is time for the fourth young master of your mansion to marry."

Chu Linfeng was startled, stood up, and said hurriedly: "That's right."

Chu Zhao also stood up.

"Chu Zilan, I know that you and Pingting from Lord Xu's house have been childhood sweethearts. I watched Pingting grow up, and I like you very much. You two look like a perfect match made in heaven. How about I do this good thing today and betroth Pingting to you?"

Xu Pingting was not at the banquet today. Chu Zhao heard this and knelt down and said, "Thank you very much, Her Majesty, for your kindness. I am deeply grateful."

Xu Jingfu also accepted the order with a smile and bowed to express his gratitude.

The banquet became lively, and the people around began to thank Chu Linfeng and Xu Jingfu. Chu Linfeng was very proud. He had four sons, and the other three were plain-looking and talented, nothing special. Only this son, whose biological mother came from a small town, was stunning and outstanding, and he could become the prime minister's in-law. If this were to be told to others, it would be a great honor.

Chu Zhao also smiled and thanked her, but He Yan looked at the smile on his face and didn't think he was happy. Although she didn't spend much time with Chu Zhao, he often smiled, but now even his fake smile was not as genuine as before.

"It's pitiful," Lin Shuanghe murmured in a low voice, "At a time like this, a single word can determine one's life. What's the difference between one and a puppet?"

He Yan turned his head to look at him. Lin Shuanghe knew he had said something wrong and hurriedly said with a smile, "Hey, Brother He, the Queen Mother has already said that they are childhood sweethearts, so they should be together."

He Yan didn't say anything. Although Chu Zhao and Xu Jingfu were teacher and student, he often had to rely on Xu Jingfu to do things. Since he chose this path, he had to pay something, such as... freedom. Everyone has their own choices. She felt sympathy for Chu Zhao's situation, but wasn't this Chu Zhao's own decision?

Because of this happy event, the banquet was no longer as reserved as before, and became lively. Emperor Wenxuan saw this and said with a smile: "Since this is the case, I will do something good today."

Everyone at the banquet was startled. What did this mean? Could it be another happy event? Could it be that they were going to witness two happy events today? Since the marriage was arranged by His Majesty and the Queen herself, the couple must not be small-time people?

Guangji's eyes sparkled as he looked at Guangshuo, "Fourth brother, who are you arranging a marriage for this time?"

The prince was also surprised. He knew about Xu Pingting and Chu Zilan. Xu Pingting was pretty, and the prince felt sorry for her. However, he also knew that he already had a crown princess, and Xu Jingfu would never let his daughter be a concubine. As for Chu Zilan, she was also someone he needed to keep an eye on, so he could only let Xu Pingting marry Chu Zilan.

He hadn't heard anything about the person that Emperor Wenxuan was going to marry.

"Where is He Yan from Liangzhou Guard?"

When these words came out, everyone at the table was shocked. Lin Shuanghe looked at He Yan in surprise, "Why..."

He Yan was not worried at all. He stood up, walked forward openly, knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Wenxuan, "I am He Yan, the humble servant, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Wenxuan laughed and said, "You are the Wu'an Lang appointed by me personally, how can you call yourself a commoner?"

He Yan said: "I am guilty of my crime."

Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, who were sitting at the table, heard the name and looked at the young man in the hall at the same time. Yan He frowned and whispered to himself, "What's going on here?"

Chu Zhao secretly clenched the teacup in his hand. At the other end of the table with female relatives, Shen Muxue lowered her head with a gloomy expression.

Guangji asked: "Who is this brother?"

Guang Shuo shook his head. The name He Yan was too unfamiliar to them. They had never seen this young man before. Only the "Wu An Lang" still had some impression. It seemed that he was Xiao Jue's subordinate when he was in Liangzhou Wei. He had made contributions together with Xiao Jue.

"I know that you have been to Jiyang and Rundu with General Feng Yun before. You were also present when Ridamuzi attacked Liangzhou. The Jiyang water battle and the defense of Rundu were all your ideas. You are brave and resourceful at such a young age, which is not easy. I think that the title of Wu'an Lang is unfair to you. It is better to give you a marquisate. In the future, you will be Wu'an Marquis."

"This..." The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

From an unknown boy to a marquis, without any big shot to recommend him, what a miracle! Even though he was a general in the past, at least someone in his family was an official. What kind of background did this boy have to be so powerful right after he arrived?

They didn't see the memorial, so they didn't know how the memorials from Jiyang and Rundu detailed the key role He Yan played in the battle. Emperor Wenxuan liked talents the most, especially young talents. This reminded him of the geniuses in poetry. For geniuses, secularity and rules were constraints.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." He Yan knelt down, his heart calm.

"What good luck this kid has," Yan He gulped down the tea in the teacup and said depressedly, "He got promoted faster than me."

Lin Shuanghe was really happy for He Yan, his face almost broke from smiling.

"Can't!"

At this moment, an abrupt voice interrupted. He Yan turned around and saw a strange face on the men's table. He Yan had never seen this man before. He looked young and was wearing an official robe. There was a hint of impatience between the man's eyebrows. He lifted the corner of his robe and walked forward, kneeling in front of Emperor Wenxuan, "Your Majesty, you cannot confer the title of marquis on him. This guy is a liar. He is not a man at all, he is a woman!"

As if these words were not shocking enough, this person raised his hand and pulled out the wooden hairpin that He Yan used to tie her hair. Immediately, her long hair flowed down. She had the same eyebrows and eyes, but at this moment, she was as beautiful and bright as a girl.

The young man knelt in the hall, his expression very calm, without the slightest sign of panic. But the crowd of onlookers, like boiling water, suddenly became noisy.

"What's going on? Is it really a woman?"

"Aren't you talking about Liangzhou Guards? Are there women in Liangzhou Guards?"

"Whether she is a woman or not, this is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"

At the banquet, Chu Zhao stared at the girl's back, his hands clenched into fists. Yan He couldn't help but stand up and shouted, "How is it possible?"

When the man said "no", Lin Shuanghe had a bad feeling in his heart. When he said the word "woman", he almost blacked out. However, he still insisted. At this moment, he would be labeled as an accomplice of "deceiving the emperor". Lin Mu held his arm and signaled him not to move. Lin Shuanghe moved his lips and quickly thought about how to get away with it.

Insisting that he is just a boy with a feminine appearance? Impossible, it has come to this point, the palace maids only need to come over and do a quick check and the truth will be revealed. Why not just say that He Yan is stupid and thinks he is a woman and is talking nonsense? This is not right either, if he is really stupid, how can he deceive so many people.

He always had a lot of bad ideas, but at this moment, he couldn't think of a single solution. He was so anxious that he kept scratching his head, not knowing what to do.

Although Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei were sitting in different seats at the long table, they couldn't help but be shocked when they saw this scene and almost screamed out loud.

Being named "He Yan" was accidental. She disguised herself as a man, joined the army, won merits, and was even granted a title of nobility. How could all these things be called "accidental"? If people have an afterlife, it should be like this.

Xu Zhiheng felt extremely guilty and his body was shaking. If Emperor Wenxuan and his entourage had not been there, he would have fled immediately.

Who exactly is this He Yan?

No one had expected such a thing to happen when they were rewarding him properly. Emperor Wenxuan looked at He Yan, "Wu Anlang, what do you say?"

"I am indeed a woman," He Yan said, "Your Majesty is very observant, I dare not hide it."

You actually admitted it so openly?

All the ministers were outraged.

Shen Muxue sat among the women, staring at the cups in front of her, as if she hadn't seen the farce, but when she looked closely, her fingertips were trembling slightly. Xia Chengxiu sat next to her and was a little surprised to see Shen Muxue like this, but he said nothing.

Empress Zhang had not expected this, and a hint of surprise flashed across her face. However, Emperor Wenxuan did not look angry, and only looked down at He Yan. After a while, the emperor's voice was heard in the palace.

"In fact, I already knew that Wu Anlang was a woman."

Shen Muxue raised her head suddenly. How could this be possible?

Lin Shuanghe was also stunned, and the court officials were even more at a loss. This was full of twists and turns, and even a play was not so exciting. First, the identity of Wu Anlang as a woman was revealed, and now the emperor said that he had known that Wu Anlang was a woman for a long time? What was going on?

Chu Zhao frowned slightly, and suddenly looked at Xu Jingfu beside him. Xu Jingfu had a gentle smile on his face and did not look surprised. His mind flashed, and he seemed to have caught a glimpse of a clue.

It was Empress Zhang who broke the silence, "Your Majesty, what you mean is..."

The eunuch outside shouted: "General Feng Yun has arrived——"

He Yan's heart was moved. Why would Xiao Jue come? Didn't he go out of town? Wouldn't he come today?

Emperor Wenxuan laughed and said, "What's going on? Let Xiao Aiqing tell it himself."

He Yan was shocked. This seemed... different from what she expected. Why was Xiao Jue involved? She clearly didn't mention Xiao Jue at all... Why did Emperor Wenxuan's words have something to do with Xiao Jue?

Someone walked into the hall.

The young governor changed into a court robe with black background and gold embroidery, and he looked handsome and graceful, like a new willow in spring, with catkins swaying in the wind. Although he was a warrior who had fought in the battlefield, he did not look crude at all. He looked like a noble and elegant young man from the capital of Shuo, which made all the officials here look a little pale in comparison.

Shen Muxue stared at Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue walked to the side of He Yan, leaned forward and knelt in greeting. From the perspective of the officials, he and He Yan looked like a newlywed couple greeting each other side by side.

"My dear, please stand up." Emperor Wenxuan glanced at He Yan, "Wu Anlang, you should stand up too."

He Yan and Xiao Jue stood up.

Lin Shuanghe tightly grasped the fan in his hand, almost breaking it. He knew that since Xiao Jue showed up, he would definitely protect him, but how could he let He Yan escape unscathed?

"Miss He is my fiancée," he said, "I took her with me because I was afraid of the war in Liangzhou and couldn't bear to part with her. But I didn't expect Miss He to be so smart and brave, and she could achieve achievements that were no less than those of men as a woman. Huai Jin didn't dare to deceive Your Majesty, and he reported the truth to the emperor a long time ago."

Emperor Wenxuan laughed out loud, as if he found Xiao Jue's behavior amusing. He shook his head and sighed, "I always thought that Xiao Aiqing would never marry in his lifetime. I didn't expect that I could see the day when the iron tree blooms. In my opinion, there are not many men in the world who are as deeply in love as Xiao Aiqing."

He Yan was stunned. When did this happen? How could she not know? Even though she was in the palace, she couldn't help but look at Xiao Jue. However, the latter had a calm expression and there was no clue at all.

At this moment, another woman's voice interrupted sharply, "You're lying."

Shen Muxue sat at the women's table, looking at He Yan with a gaze like a thorn, almost piercing through He Yan. Her voice was no longer as gentle and soft as before, but like a pot of boiling water, sharp and hoarse.

"When did Governor Xiao have such a fiancée? Why didn't we know about it?"

Everyone in Shuojing City knew about Shen Muxue's affairs, but when you think about it, it's hard to believe that Xiao Jue had such a fiancée, and how come there was no news at all.

Xiao Jue stared at her coldly.

Shen Muxue couldn't help but shiver.

"She is indeed not my fiancée."

He Yan was startled. The next moment, the young man's cold and deep voice sounded, with unquestionable certainty.

"It's the scenery in my eyes, the things in my heart, and the person in my mind."

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

With my obsessive compulsive disorder, I finally managed to find an even number of chapters to express my feelings!

Dating and marriage in one stepヾ(?°?°?)? ?