When we returned, it was already very late at night.

As soon as Xiao Jue returned to the yard where he lived, a yellow puppy rushed towards him excitedly and bit the corner of his robe and refused to let go.

He squatted down and touched the yellow dog's head. The little dog became more aggressive and started wagging its tail at him while biting his sleeve and pulling it back madly.

Its behavior is exactly the same as its master's.

After the night visit to the He Mansion, the yellow dog named Ermao ran out of the dug dog hole at some point. Since He Yan raised him, he naturally couldn't lose him. But He Rufei was now looking for the thief like crazy. He Yan was afraid that he would find the He family and see Ermao, so he entrusted Ermao to Xiao Jue. No matter how brave He Rufei was, he didn't dare to go to the Xiao family, so he couldn't find Ermao.

Xiao Jue had no choice but to take Ermao back to the Xiao family.

The little girl named Baiguo in the yard liked Ermao very much. She gave him a bath and combed his hair clean, finally making him look like a stray dog. She also used a red rope to tie the hair around his ears into two small tufts.

Although Ermao is obviously a male dog.

Xiao Jue was playing with the dog when he heard a voice behind him: "Huai Jin... when did you get a dog in your house?"

Xiao Jue stood up and turned around. Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were standing at the edge of the yard, looking at him with strange eyes.

It was well known that the second son of the Xiao family was very particular about cleanliness. He was fine in the military camp, but when he returned to Shuojing, he was even more picky. The Xiao family never kept any birds, and except for the green-eared horse, there were no other animals in the house.

This puppy looks like an ordinary farm puppy, with yellow fur mixed with a little black. It should not be a precious creature.

Xiao Jue lowered his head to glance at Ermao, who was barking silently "Woof woof woof" at him.

"I'm raising him for someone else."

"Who would ask you to help raise a dog?" Xiao Jing laughed. "That's too much to ask."

Bai Rongwei nudged Xiao Jing with his arm and said with a smile, "The only person in Shuojing City who can ask Huai Jin to help her raise a dog is probably Miss He."

Xiao Jing suddenly realized, and looked at Xiao Jue with a little more relief. This brother was always too cold and unkind to women, but now it seems that he is quite good at pleasing girls.

Bai Rongwei had already prepared a birthday banquet for Xiao Jue in the mansion during the day, and knew that he would accompany He Yan to the night market tonight. There were many foods at the night market, so she did not save any food for Xiao Jue tonight.

"Brother and sister-in-law are still waiting for me so late at night," Xiao Jue asked, "what's the matter?"

Xiao Jing approached him, looked at Ermao who was playing with snow in the yard, and said with a smile: "Do you know that the fourth son of Chu from the Shijinbo Mansion will marry Miss Xu next month?"

Xiao Jue hummed absentmindedly.

"You and the Fourth Master Chu were arranged to be married together by His Majesty." Xiao Jing said, "Now that the Fourth Master Chu's wedding date has been set, your sister-in-law and I would like to ask about your marriage. When is the date planned?"

Xiao Jue was slightly stunned.

"Your elder brother and I have already discussed this with Master He. Master He said that as long as Miss He likes it, he doesn't mind. Miss He is a girl after all, so I can't ask too much," Bai Rongwei looked at Xiao Jue, "You are usually with Miss He, have you told her about this?"

The Xiao family is very open-minded. When Xiao Zhongwu and Madam Xiao were alive, Xiao Jing wanted to marry Bai Rongwei, a concubine's daughter. Madam Xiao disagreed, but she finally gave in to Xiao Jing's wishes. Now that Xiao Zhongwu and his wife are gone, Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei will not interfere in Xiao Jue's marriage decision. Everything depends on Xiao Jue's wishes.

"I plan to get married after the new year." Xiao Jue said.

Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing looked at each other, and they both saw the surprise in each other's eyes. They thought it would take another year or so, but they didn't expect Xiao Jue to make the decision so quickly. This was good, it seemed that Xiao Jue liked this Miss He more than they thought.

"In that case, I will give your birth dates to the master tomorrow and let him choose an auspicious date for you. I will also discuss with Mr. He what to do next. Don't worry about the betrothal gift, Rubi and I have already prepared it for you." Bai Rong smiled with genuine joy, holding Xiao Jing's hand and said, "Rubi and I will ask someone to send the invitation to the master first. Huaijin, you are tired today, go back to your room and have a good rest. I will come to talk to you tomorrow morning."

Xiao Jue nodded, and Bai Rongwei took Xiao Jing away with satisfaction.

Xiao Jue looked at their backs until Ermao came to pull his boots again, and then he came to his senses.

In the past I felt that the yard was empty and cold, but now there is just a puppy, a dumb one that can’t bark, but it seems to have suddenly become lively.

He lowered his head and smiled, without going back to the house, he turned and walked towards the ancestral hall.

In the Xiao family's ancestral hall, the tablets of Xiao Zhongwu and his wife were placed at the front. Xiao Jue walked to the side, took out incense from the niche and lit it.

Green smoke rises.

Xiao Jue's face was hidden behind the smoke, and his expression was washed out.

Whenever he returned to Shuojing, he would often come to the temple, whether it was when there was thunder, when offering sacrifices, or when he was bored.

He was not a person who liked to complain. In this world, there were too few people to complain to. Everyone had their own sufferings, so why share them with others? During the most difficult time, he was scolded by scholars behind his back during the battle of Guocheng. When he returned home, he just went to the ancestral temple to light three incense sticks.

After lighting three incense sticks, everything returned to normal.

Many flavors of the world need to be experienced bit by bit over many years. When he was young, he saw everything and found everything boring. He actually yearned for the fireworks of the world, but the fireworks of the world avoided him. What if he was successful at a young age, or a young man from a noble family wearing fox fur and brocade clothes? Everyone thought he was the moon high in the sky, but in fact, the moon was just a lonely boy.

He had friends, but they betrayed him. He also looked forward to having a family, but they left him. His most carefree youth was only a few short years, and the only candy left in his life was given to a person who was seeking death on the road. He had been alone all these years, leaving nothing behind, until one day, a smiling girl rushed into his life and said to him, I like the moon, but the moon doesn't know.

He had never been so sure of anything as he was at that moment.

Xiao Jue raised his eyes and looked at the tablet behind the green smoke.

"Father, Mother," he said calmly, as if making an unshakable vow, "I like someone."

"I will marry her."

…

In the He Mansion, in a certain courtyard, there were intensive coughing sounds.

The maid who was sleeping in the outer room of the courtyard turned over because of the noise and said in a daze, "The Second Madam is coughing again, go and check on her."

"I won't go," the other maid beside her turned over and said impatiently, "Even the Second Master doesn't care, why should we meddle? Just wait until daytime. If you want to go, go ahead."

"It's so cold, I won't go." The maid covered her head with the quilt and said, "Just pretend you didn't hear it."

The coughing sound outside continued, and after a while, it seemed as if being deliberately suppressed, with a few muffled groans.

Madam He Er struggled to stand up, her throat aching as if it had been burned by fire. The handkerchief in her hand was already stained with blood. She took a deep breath and fumbled for a long time before lighting the lamp.

He Yuanliang hadn't been to her yard for a long time. To be precise, it was after the incident at Yuhua Temple that she was confined to the He family, and He Yuanliang refused to come and see her again.

This was actually something that Madam He Er had expected a long time ago. Her husband was a mean man, a cowardly and greedy one at that. Now he was even more afraid of offending He Rufei, so he was busy trying to cut off ties with her, even though she was his first wife.

First wife, Madam He Er smiled sarcastically, so what if she was his first wife? He could be so cruel to his own daughter. To him, his first wife, who had no blood relationship with him, was no different from a stranger.

Madam He Er looked at the flickering flame in the oil lamp.

She was the eldest daughter in the family. Her father arranged for her to marry He Yuanliang because he saw that the He family still had a place among the noble families in Shuojing City. In her original family, the purpose of a daughter's marriage was to pave the way for her father and brother's official career. She didn't expect that the same would happen after she married into the He family.

Unfortunately, she was unlucky and gave birth to two daughters, so naturally, her children became sacrifices of the He family.

Madam He Er hated He Rufei for being cruel and ruthless, hated He Yuansheng and his wife for coming up with the idea of ​​exchanging children, hated He Yuanliang for being cowardly and incompetent and just standing by and watching, and more often than not, she hated herself.

Hate myself for being powerless to change anything.

If she could give birth to a son, maybe He Yuansheng wouldn't be so arrogant. But she didn't have one, so she couldn't protect He Yan or He Xinying.

There was a knock on the door.

Madam He Er said, "Come in."

The person who came in was a little girl, who looked unfamiliar.

Madam He Er asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Cui Luo, and I'm the maid who sweeps the yard." Cui Luo answered respectfully, holding a pot of hot water in her hand. "I went outside to get some hot water. Madam, please drink some water, or you'll get sick from coughing." She walked to the table, picked up a tea bowl, poured a cup of water and handed it to Madam He.

The water was just the right temperature, not too hot. Madam He Er took a sip and the stinging pain in her throat suddenly eased a little. She said, "Thank you."

Cui Luo lowered her head and said softly, "These are all my responsibilities. If Second Madam needs my help with anything else, please let me know."

"Everyone in my yard has already treated me as if I don't exist." Madam He Er smiled bitterly and said, "Why bother you?"

"My master is Madam He, so naturally I have to obey her orders." Cui Luo's voice did not change at all.

Madam He was slightly stunned and couldn't help but look at the maid in front of her carefully.

The maids of the He family were usually disciplined by He Yuansheng and his wife. They used to be lively, but now they have become dull because of their fear of He Rufei. The servants were always trembling and timid. The maid stood here, neither humble nor arrogant. She looked at her with no respect or transgression, as if she were treating an ordinary person.

Madam He Er was moved and asked tentatively, "Can you really help me with anything?"

"Madam, please give me your orders."

"Can you find a doctor for me?"

Cui Luo was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm afraid it won't work these days, but I can bring some pills back for the Second Madam first."

Mrs. He Er suddenly understood something.

She sat forward a little and lowered her voice, "You are not from the He Mansion, who is your master?"

Cuiluo looked at Madam He Er with some surprise. Master Feinu asked her to sneak into the He Mansion to secretly look after Madam He Er, and she did so. In recent days, it seems that Madam He Er has almost no status in the He family, and the maids under her do not take her seriously. Even though she was so seriously ill, He Yuanliang never took the initiative to come and see her, nor did he call a doctor for her. Just like tonight, if Cuiluo had not entered the room, Madam He Er would have been coughing like this until dawn.

She had always thought that this woman was an ordinary, somewhat cowardly and incompetent woman, but now, after hearing these words, she realized that this woman was actually smart and had vision.

Cui Luo didn't say anything.

"Is your master General Feng Yun?" Madam He Er asked in a low voice.

Cui Luo was even more surprised.

Madam He Er laughed instead. After a while, she became serious again and said, "I know what your master wants to do. Go back and tell him that I can help him. However, as the price of the deal, he must protect my daughter He Xinying."

Cui Luo was silent for a while and said nothing. She just put the kettle on the table and said softly, "If Madam has any instructions, please call me in." After that, she closed the door and walked out.

Mrs. He Er looked at the hot tea on the table, not knowing what she was thinking. After a long time, she swallowed the fishy and sweet taste in her throat and lay down again.

…

A night passed, and early the next morning, Fei Nu brought back news from the He family.

In the study, Xiao Jue frowned slightly: "Transaction?"

"That's what Madam He said," Fei Nu replied. When Cui Luo sent back the message, Fei Nu was also surprised. He didn't know whether he should admire the courage of this woman or say something else.

"He Rufei and Miss He Er exchanged identities, and Miss He Er was the real General Feihong. Madam He Er should know about this." Fei Nu said, "He Rufei may be using He Xinying to threaten Madam He Er, so Madam He Er dared not tell the truth. With the help of Madam He Er, the secret of the He family should be easily revealed." Speaking of this, Fei Nu sighed in his heart. Who would have thought that the General Feihong who frightened the Qiang people on the battlefield was actually a woman? And how could Madam He Er and Master He Er be so heartless that they would let a girl bear such a heavy fate, and then retire after she achieved success.

The Nine Flags Battalion believed they had seen all kinds of cruelty on the battlefield, but when they learned the truth, they couldn't help but feel sorry for General Feihong who died unjustly.

A famous general should die gloriously on the battlefield, even if he dies, instead of being killed in an ordinary backyard by someone's sinister trick.

"Did Madam He only mention He Xinying?" Xiao Jue asked.

Fei Nu nodded: "Yes."

Xiao Jue lowered his eyes: "I understand."

"Master, then..."

"Let Cui Luo tell Madam He Er," Xiao Jue looked out the window, "I've made this deal."

…

On the first day of the twelfth month, the Utopian envoy Maninbu arrived in the capital.

Emperor Wenxuan summoned the Wutuo envoy to the Jinluan Palace. In the Qinglan Palace, Concubine Lan was leaning against the couch, watching the palace maids brew tea.

Concubine Lan is not young anymore. Every year, new beauties enter the harem, but she is the only one who is favored by His Majesty. Everyone says that Concubine Lan has such good luck. She is favored by the emperor and has a son with both virtue and talent. However, she is not competitive. Not to mention that she is oppressed by the empress above, even Concubine Ni dares to be arrogant to her.

However, since Emperor Wenxuan handed the fifth prince Guangji over to Concubine Lan for upbringing, Concubine Ni has become more restrained. The fifth prince Guangji was young, and although Concubine Ni repeatedly told him that Concubine Lan was not a good person, Guangji felt that Concubine Lan was much gentler to him than his biological mother, and there had never been a dispute between them.

Today is the same.

Guangji ran in from outside, and the old nanny behind him hurriedly followed him, saying, "Fifth Prince, run slower, be careful not to fall!"

"Mother!" Guangji ran to Concubine Lan Guifei in one breath and said with a smile: "Today, the Wutuo envoys came to the palace. Father summoned them in the palace. I heard that the Wutuo people sent a lot of gifts, including ivory half a person's height and a white peacock... Mother, I want to see it!"

Concubine Lan Guifei smiled and patted the snow off his body. "Go if you want to."

"Won't mother come with me?" Guangji asked.

"I won't go." Concubine Lan Guifei smiled, "Just let Nanny Chang take you there."

The fifth prince was young, and all he wanted was to see the white peacock. Hearing this, he said, "Okay, I'll go now. After I'm done, I'll come back and tell mother about this new experience!"

Nanny Chang took the Fifth Prince's hand and left. Concubine Lan smiled and shook her head, "He's still like a little child."

"Fifth brother is young to begin with," a voice came from outside the door, "it's normal for him to be a little childish."

The palace maid behind her hurriedly said, "This servant has seen the Fourth Prince."

The fourth prince, Guangshuo, stepped in.

Concubine Lan was born delicate and delicate, while the Fourth Prince took after his mother in appearance, handsome and elegant. Compared with Crown Prince Guangyan, who was always indulging in sensual pleasures, he seemed much more approachable and reliable.

When Concubine Lan saw Guangshuo, she immediately smiled and pulled him to sit down in front of the stove. She asked the maid to pour Guangshuo some hot tea and asked, "How come you have time to come to my place today?"

"My father is meeting those Wutuo envoys in the palace, and the crown prince is also here, so I came to see my mother." Guang Shuo said with a smile.

Concubine Lan smiled slightly and said nothing.

"Mother, you also know about those Utuo messengers, right?"

Concubine Lan Guifei's expression was no longer as relaxed as when she was facing Guangji just now. She sighed and said, "I know."

"Father's willingness to meet those envoys has already shown that he is willing to accept the peace proposal from the Wutuo people." Guangshuo's smile faded. "That's fine. After the battles of Jiyang and Rundu, the Wutuo people dare not act rashly for the time being. But if Father agrees to let them open a market in Wei... the consequences will be disastrous."

Concubine Lan looked outside and said, "Everyone else please leave. Yugui, close the door."

The palace maids all retreated and Yugui closed the door.

Concubine Lan looked at Guangshuo and asked, "Have you ever said these words in front of your father?"

Guang Shuo shook his head: "No. Father never talked about these things with me."

Emperor Wenxuan liked the fourth prince because he was like Concubine Lan. Concubine Lan was talented in writing, gentle in temperament, and not competitive. In the deep palace, she was like the last piece of pure land in the emperor's heart, and she could not be defiled. Therefore, even though Empress Zhang disliked Concubine Lan very much, Concubine Lan still lived well in the deep palace for so many years. Because she did not make mistakes, the emperor also protected her. This pity and respect for Concubine Lan was also extended to Guangshuo.

The same was true for Guangshuo. No matter how the court officials encouraged him to compete with the crown prince for the position, Guangshuo remained unmoved. When he was with Emperor Wenxuan, they mostly talked about poetry and painting - politics and state affairs should be the crown prince's concern. If he overstepped his boundaries, he would arouse the emperor's disgust.

"Guangshuo," Concubine Lan looked at him and suddenly asked, "Do you want to fight for it?"

Guangshuo was stunned.

"Do you want to compete for that position?" Concubine Lan repeated.

As if the secret deep in his heart had been exposed, Guangshuo avoided Concubine Lan Gui's gaze in a wolfish manner, "I dare not."

"I only asked you whether you wanted to do it or not, not whether you dared to do it." In the eyes of the usually gentle woman, there was an unprecedented firmness and a strange coldness.

Guang Shuo was stared at by those eyes, and he couldn't help but say: "...I want to."

After a while, he calmed down and said, "I think, mother, the prince is not worthy of being a successor to the throne. He only knows how to eat, drink and have fun. There must be some private contact between him and Wutuo. If there were other brothers with both virtue and talent in the palace, I would also support him, but there is no one else now. If Guangyan takes that position one day, no one knows what the future of Wei will be like."

"Perhaps, there is no Da Wei at all."

As the last word fell, the palace fell into extreme silence, as if everyone was shocked by his outrageous words.

Concubine Lan sighed softly.

"For so many years, I have never thought about anything else. I didn't want to enter the palace at first, but now that I'm here, I'll live well. I don't care what the Wutuo people are like, or what the emperor is like, or even what the Wei will be like in the future." She looked at Guangshuo, and stroked his face with her hand, with a gentle smile in her eyes. "In this palace, Guangshuo, I only care about you."

"If Guangyan becomes the emperor, you and I, mother and son, will have no way to survive." She spoke softly, saying the cruelest words, "I have lived for most of my life, and it doesn't matter whether I live or die. But you can't, Guangshuo." She smiled, "You are so smart and gentle, and so young, how can you die in the hands of such a person? I will never allow it."

Guangshuo looked at the woman who stood up from the couch. Her features were still as beautiful and elegant as before. With one move, her demeanor had completely changed. His heart suddenly surged with emotions, as if the impulse that had been accumulated for a long time was about to burst out.

"Mother..."

"I already have the favor of His Majesty. You also have the love of the court officials and the people. But these two things alone are not enough. He Rufei has been bribed to compete for this position..."

"You must get Xiao Huaijin," she said.

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

Sister Lan: It’s my turn to perform.

Just stick to the main storyline. Friends who want to read the love story can keep reading, or come back during the Chinese New Year when it will probably be finished.