Chapter 124: Gentleness
After the midday meal, soldiers sought warm places to rest briefly.
Xiao Jue was on the Martial Arts Field speaking with the deputy commander, outlining the daily training schedule for the next month. Lin Shuanghe approached from a distance, gesturing with his fan for Xiao Jue to step aside for a private word.
After finishing his instructions, Xiao Jue walked toward Lin Shuanghe, asking impatiently, “Weren’t you supposed to be helping at the infirmary?”
Lin Shuanghe, who spent his days idly, had recently volunteered to assist Shen Muxue in distributing medicinal broth brewed in large pots to ward off the cold and warm the stomach. However, after two days, he refused to continue, complaining about the unwashed and unkempt soldiers of the Liangzhou Guard.
“I was on my way there, but I ran into someone on the road. A guest has arrived at the Liangzhou Guard,” he said.
Xiao Jue asked, “Who?”
A meaningful smile appeared on Lin Shuanghe’s face. “Xu Pingting’s personal maid.”
…
Inside the room, a young maid stood smiling by the door, instructing servants to open the chests one by one. “These are all gifts personally selected by the young lady for the Fourth Young Master.”
Xu Jingfu, the current prime minister, wielded immense power, with half the court officials having once been his students. Having lived most of his life with an impeccable reputation and the emperor’s trust, his only regret was having no sons. Later, after consulting a renowned physician, his wife gave birth to a daughter in his fifties—Xu Pingting.
As the late-born treasure of the family, Xu Pingting was indulged in every way, surpassing even a princess in pampering. Now seventeen, she was a delicate and charming beauty, though her domineering and overbearing nature made her difficult to handle.
Chu Zhao, Xu Jingfu’s most accomplished student, often dined at the Xu residence and, over time, became acquainted with Xu Pingting.
“Sister Motai, you must be weary from the journey,” Ying Xiang said with a smile, offering a cup of tea. “Have some tea to warm yourself.”
Motai glanced at Ying Xiang, her smile not reaching her eyes. “No need. I’m not accustomed to the coarse tea of the Liangzhou Guard.”
Unperturbed, Ying Xiang maintained her smile and withdrew the tea. Watching her retreat, Motai’s eyes flashed with disdain, inwardly cursing her as a seductress.
Such a seductress, constantly by Chu Fourth Young Master’s side—who knew if she might use her seductive tricks on her own master? Though Miss Xu was also young and beautiful, she could never compete with this wretch in the art of pleasing others. Xu Pingting had considered driving Ying Xiang away from Chu Zhao, but even the usually gentle Chu Zhao firmly refused. In the end, it was Xu Xiang himself who intervened to settle the matter.
Was it worth protecting a mere servant so fiercely? Motai felt resentful but could not vent her frustrations on Chu Zhao.
She surveyed Chu Zhao’s quarters and shook her head after a moment. “The place where the Fourth Young Master resides is far too humble. After just half an hour here, I already feel my hands and feet turning cold. There isn’t even any charcoal for warmth. It seems you have suffered greatly these past two months.”
“It’s fine,” Chu Zhao replied gently. “All the new recruits here live like this.”
“How can they compare to you?” Motai said. “You must not equate yourself with such lowly people.”A cold glint flashed in Chu Zhao's eyes. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to its gentle demeanor. He asked, "Is there something you need, Miss Motai?"
"Nothing much," Motai replied with a smile. "It's just that the young lady hasn't seen Fourth Young Master for a long time and misses him. Hearing that winters in Liang Province are extremely cold, she ordered me to bring a carriage train to deliver some warm clothing for Fourth Young Master."
She bent down, took a fur coat from the chest, and walked over to Chu Zhao, holding it out. "This was personally ordered by the young lady, purchased from traveling merchants. It will keep you warm. Would Fourth Young Master like to try it on?"
The fur was smooth, glossy, soft, and light—clearly of great value.
Chu Zhao stood up, draped the fur coat over his shoulders, and thanked her with a smile. "It's very warm. Please convey my thanks to Miss Xu."
Motai covered her mouth with a light laugh. "I cannot take your place in this matter. If you wish to thank her, Fourth Young Master should do so in person." As if remembering something, she asked Chu Zhao, "When does Fourth Young Master plan to return to Shuojing?"
"Within the next couple of days."
"In my opinion, Liang Province is truly no place for anyone to stay. If Miss Xu were here, she would surely feel sorry for Fourth Young Master. How about setting off tomorrow? The sooner you depart, the sooner you'll return to Shuojing and see Miss Xu." She smiled slightly. "Before I left, the master was even discussing Fourth Young Master with Miss Xu."
Though her words were probing, her tone left no room for doubt. Amidst her lighthearted talk, she had already made the decision, leaving Chu Zhao no room to object.
Chu Zhao paused for a moment, then looked up and smiled. "Alright, I'll set off tomorrow. I miss the master as well."
"That's wonderful." Motai's face immediately blossomed into a smile as she urged the servants to unpack the items from the chest one by one.
"This chest contains all the warm clothing. I'll unpack it for you first, and once everything is arranged, I'll help you pack for tomorrow's departure," she said. "I hope Fourth Young Master won't blame me for being meddlesome."
"How could I?" Chu Zhao replied with a smile. "I'm nothing but grateful."
Ying Xiang stood behind the curtain, watching Motai's commanding presence in the room. She lowered her gaze, stood quietly for a moment, and then walked away.
...
On a winter evening, the sky darkened early. Lamps were lit in the room.
Lin Shuanghe lay sprawled on the couch, spitting out melon seed shells. "What's with Xu Pingting's maid? She's been talking from day to night without letting Chu Zhao leave. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was Miss Xu herself. The way she's marking her territory is just too obvious. Honestly, I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Chu Zilan."
Xiao Jue was sitting at the table reading military documents. Hearing this, he said, "If you pity him, you can go rescue him."
"Better not," Lin Shuanghe sat up, resting his hands behind his head. "But who can he blame? It's his own fault. Who told him to be so good-looking and gentle? A man like him was already a sought-after figure in the capital. And he went out of his way to flatter Xu Jingfu. It's no surprise he caught Miss Xu's eye."
Xiao Jue scoffed. "If he can really become the Xu family's son-in-law, that's his skill."
"True," Lin Shuanghe agreed wholeheartedly with Xiao Jue's words. "He was already ostracized and bullied in Shi Jinbo's household. If it weren't for his connection to Xu Jingfu, how could he have been registered under the legitimate wife's name? If he really marries the Xu family's eldest daughter," Lin Shuanghe continued, "then in the future, Chu Zilan will be the one in charge of Shi Jinbo's household!"People often say women are social climbers, that finding a good husband is like leaning against a big tree for shade. But how are men any different? When real interests are laid out before them, all choices are made simply to live better. So-called likes or dislikes, willingness or reluctance, sincerity or insincerity—none of it matters anymore.
Who knows whether this is Xu Pingting’s tragedy or Chu Zilan’s.
“I think that maid’s claim of taking care of him is fake—keeping an eye on him is the real purpose.” Lin Shuanghe spread his hands. “Chu Zilan won’t get any sleep tonight.”
“Chu Zilan?” Cheng Li Su’s head popped in through the window. “What’s wrong with him? Isn’t he going to see the moon with my elder brother tonight?”
“See the moon?” Lin Shuanghe asked.
“Yeah, going to see the moon at the foot of White Moon Mountain. I originally wanted to show my elder brother the puppet show I just learned, but he said he’s going to see the moon with Chu Fourth Young Master tonight, so we had to reschedule for tomorrow.” Cheng Li Su looked at Lin Shuanghe, then at Xiao Jue. “Uncle, what did you mean just now?”
Xiao Jue pushed his head back outside and closed the window. “Go back to sleep.”
Cheng Li Su banged on the window outside to no avail, and after a while, he had no choice but to leave.
After he left, Lin Shuanghe stroked his chin and asked, “My little sister He made an appointment with Chu Zilan to see the moon tonight? Have things progressed that quickly?”
Xiao Jue continued reading military documents, ignoring him.
“No way,” Lin Shuanghe got up from the couch. “I have to go check.”
He walked straight to the connecting door between the two rooms and knocked. “Brother He? Brother He! Brother He, are you there? Say something if you are.”
He pressed his ear against the other side—it was completely quiet inside, with no sound at all.
Lin Shuanghe knocked a few more times, but there was still no response. He took two steps back and muttered to himself, “Could it be that my little sister He doesn’t know Xu Pingting’s people have arrived and went to see the moon alone?”
“Huai Jin!” he shouted.
Xiao Jue’s ears ached from the noise and he replied impatiently, “What?”
“My little sister He might have gone to see the moon alone,” Lin Shuanghe walked up to him. “You should go look for her.”
“No.” Xiao Jue replied coldly. “Go yourself if you want to.”
“I’d like to, but White Moon Mountain is so big, and I don’t know the way. What if there are bad people on the mountain like during the Rida Muzi incident? You have martial arts skills to defend yourself, but if I go, I’d just be lying there waiting to be killed. Wouldn’t you regret it if something happened?”
Xiao Jue: “No.”
“How can you be like this?” Lin Shuanghe simply plopped down on his desk, blocking the military documents. He pleaded earnestly, “Look at my little sister He, how pitiful she is. Chu Zhao doesn’t know she’s a woman and is gentle to everyone. But this is the first time my little sister He has encountered someone so gentle. A young woman’s heart is delicate, so it’s easy for her to be moved. But her identity can’t be revealed, so she can only keep this love hidden deep in her heart. Her beloved invited her to see the moon—she must have been overjoyed. But she doesn’t know that this beloved of hers is already someone else’s chosen son-in-law. Now she’s alone on the mountain, surely cold and heartbroken. Can’t you just go see her? Comfort her a little?”
Xiao Jue found his reasoning baffling. “She likes Chu Zilan, hits a wall, and I’m supposed to comfort her? What kind of logic is that?”
“Now is your perfect opportunity!” Lin Shuanghe encouraged him. “This is the best time to take advantage of the situation!”
Xiao Jue sneered. “Then I definitely won’t go.”"Alright, alright," Lin Shuanghe said. "Let's not talk about matters of the heart. She's your soldier, and you're her superior. Sister He even helped you protect Liangzhou Guard not long ago. You should at least show some concern for your subordinate."
"I'm her superior, not her father," Xiao Jue replied coolly. "Besides, she has legs. If she can't wait for someone, she'll naturally come back."
Lin Shuanghe fell silent for a moment before asking, "Do you think she's the type to give up if she can't wait?"
Xiao Jue's hand, holding the brush, paused.
An image flashed before his eyes—the young man on the Martial Arts Field, running with a sandbag on his back.
He Yan was not one to give up easily. At times, she was clever and cunning, but at other times, stubborn and persistent. It was hard to say whether this was determination or foolishness, but Lin Shuanghe was right. Given her nature, there was a high chance she might wait on the mountain all night.
Ridiculous.
Seeing Xiao Jue's attitude soften slightly, Lin Shuanghe immediately added fuel to the fire. "Think about it—she's only sixteen, a young girl. It's already remarkable that she's come this far in Liangzhou Guard. Now, with Chu Zilan's blow, it's just too pitiful. Consider it a good deed—go up the mountain and bring her back. She'll be grateful to you, and in the future, she'll serve you with even more sincerity."
When Xiao Jue still didn't move, Lin Shuanghe added the final push: "When Madam Xiao was alive, she was the kindest and most compassionate. If she saw Sister He, she would definitely help."
"Shut up," Xiao Jue snapped, unable to bear it any longer. He grabbed his cloak and stood up, heading for the door. "I'll go."
Lin Shuanghe watched his retreating figure, thoroughly satisfied. "Now that's a real man."
...
At the foot of White Moon Mountain, there was a massive boulder, flat and expansive, resembling a stone platform. Following the platform downward to its end, one could hear the sound of rushing water.
Looking down, a majestic river flowed beneath; looking up, the moon stretched for miles, illuminating mountains and rivers.
He Yan sat down at the edge of the stone. The sound of water splashed rhythmically against distant rocks, like ancient echoes from a faraway time, vast and lingering.
She had agreed to meet Chu Zhao at the hour of Xu, but now, she had no idea what time it was, and there was still no sign of him. She had found the pavilion Chu Zhao mentioned, but there were no prepared drinks, food, or snacks inside. She wasn't sure what was going on.
Perhaps she should go down and look for Chu Zhao, but having come this far, once she sat down, she no longer felt like getting up.
Snow covered the surrounding forests, blanketing the mountain peaks in white. Moonlight bathed the entire river, clear and refreshing.
It was an exceptionally beautiful moonlit night, and the snowscape was equally stunning. Feeling weary, He Yan hugged her knees and gazed toward the river's end.
She preferred night over day, the moon over the sun. It was because, during the years she lived as "He Rufei," she wore a mask without fail. The mask was stifling and heavy, and as a mischievous youth, she would secretly remove it for the time it took an incense stick to burn in the dead of night.
No one could see the true face beneath the mask—except the moon outside the window.
She reached out, trying to grasp the moonlight hanging over the distant mountains and rivers. The gentle moonlight fell onto her hand, as if it would stay with her forever.
"What are you doing?" a voice came from behind her.
He Yan turned and saw a young man in fox fur and fine robes walking out of the depths of the night. He was exceptionally tall, exuding a cold, striking handsomeness.
It was Xiao Jue.
He Yan was taken aback and instinctively looked behind him. Seeing this, Xiao Jue scoffed, "Chu Zilan isn't coming.""Why?" He Yan asked.
Xiao Jue glanced at her: "Someone from the capital came, and he couldn’t get away due to matters, so he asked me to pass on a message."
He Yan nodded, then looked at him in surprise: "The Commander would actually deliver a message for Chu Fourth Young Master?"
Xiao Jue and Chu Zhao were like fire and water—Chu Zhao asking Xiao Jue to pass on a message was already unbelievable, but Xiao Jue actually listened to him and came here to find her—it was even more shocking.
"You can still care about this, so it seems you’re not too heartbroken," he said, sitting down on the other end of the large rock.
The winter night wind blew, chilling to the bone. He Yan asked, "Why should I be heartbroken?" As soon as she finished speaking, she sneezed—"Ah-choo!"
The uniform of Liangzhou Guard was padded for winter, but coming out into the night wind was still bitterly cold. She sat listlessly, her face pale from the cold, like green jade, fragile and translucent.
Xiao Jue was silent for a moment, then stood up.
Just as He Yan was about to look up, a fox fur cloak was thrown over her head, plunging her into darkness. By the time she emerged from the cloak, Xiao Jue had already returned to his original spot and sat down.
The fur cloak was slightly warm, instantly blocking out the wind and snow. He Yan was stunned for a long time before finally saying, "Thank you."
Xiao Jue turned his head and glanced at her.
The young girl’s hair was tied up, and she wore his black fur cloak. Her shoulders were narrow, making her look frail. Before, she was always lively and chattering, which felt noisy and headache-inducing, but when she was quiet, it was as if she had become a different person.
It made him uncomfortable.
Xiao Jue lowered his eyes to look at her, then after a moment, curved the corners of his lips. "Your bitter and resentful look is truly unattractive." He paused before adding, "Can’t bear to part with Chu Zilan?"
"What?" He Yan was puzzled.
"Even when you were about to die, I didn’t see you this disheartened," he said lazily. "It seems you really like him."
He Yan didn’t quite understand what he was saying.
"If you’re already like this before he’s even left, what will you do when he’s gone tomorrow?" Xiao Jue gazed at the distant river.
"Tomorrow?" He Yan was startled. "So soon?"
She remembered Chu Zhao telling her it would be in the next few days, but he hadn’t said it would be tomorrow.
Xiao Jue gave her a half-smile. "Anxious?"
"No," He Yan said. "I’m just a bit surprised…" Then, remembering something, she spoke gloomily: "That’s right, he needs to catch up with Xu… Young Master Xu’s wedding banquet, so he has to leave as soon as possible."
He Yan asked Xiao Jue, "Does the Commander know the eldest young master of the Xu family in the capital?"
Xiao Jue: "I’ve heard of him."
"Xu Zhiheng is getting married, and Chu Fourth Young Master is rushing back to attend his wedding banquet," He Yan’s voice was dry and strained.
"The one getting married is Xu Zhiheng, not Chu Zilan," Xiao Jue frowned. "Look at how pathetic you are now. Do you still want to join the Nine Banners Battalion?"
He Yan forced a smile and was about to speak when Xiao Jue waved his sleeve, tossing something into her lap.
He Yan looked down—it was a stick of candied hawthorn. It had been left outside for a while and was as cold as ice, yet its bright red color stood out vividly against the snowy white.
"This… where did it come from?"
"Song Taotao’s," Xiao Jue said. "I grabbed one on the way."He didn't know how to comfort a young lady. Before leaving, he asked Lin Shuanghe, who replied, "For others, cheering up a sad girl would require considerable effort—taking her to see lanterns, flowers, and stars, buying her jade, pearls, and gold hairpins. But you're different. You just need to sit there and use your face."
Xiao Jue was left speechless. As he passed by Shen Muxue's room, he noticed a stick of candied hawthorn by the window, bought by Song Taotao, and casually picked it up.
The last time he saw her eating this, she looked very happy.
He Yan took the candied hawthorn, peeled off the rice paper wrapper, and licked it. The treat was cool and slightly sweet, the sweetness spreading from the tip of her tongue, yet it left a bitter ache in her heart.
Suddenly, she remembered her earlier conversation with Chu Zhao.
She had asked Chu Zhao, "What is the name of the new Madam Xu?"
Chu Zhao replied, "Her name is He Xinying. She is the second daughter of the second branch of the He family and a cousin of the previous Madam Xu. I met her once—she is innocent and gentle in temperament. One could say she is a good match for Master Xu."
"He Xinying..." He Yan murmured, "Do you know the name of the previous Madam Xu?"
Chu Zhao was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and shook his head. "The previous Madam Xu lived a secluded life and was never in Shuojing before. I never met her and don't know her name."
Not even a name remained.
The world remembered the Flying Goose General, remembered He Rufei, remembered Xu Zhiheng, and even remembered Xu Zhiheng's newlywed wife. But no one remembered He Yan.
She thought that after so long, and knowing Xu Zhiheng's true nature, she would no longer feel heartache. Yet, upon hearing he was to marry again, an inexplicable pain still pierced her. It was as if the persistence and trust of many years had collapsed overnight, not even leaving behind a lie.
All that remained was her foolishness and unwillingness.
She raised her head to look at the moon. The moonlight gently spilled over the desolate mountains and rivers, over the snow-covered forests, over her bleak and lonely years, and over her eyes beneath the mask.
The moon knew her secret, but the moon would not speak.
"Do you know," she began softly, "the name of Xu Zhiheng's new wife?"
Xiao Jue replied lazily, "How would I know?"
He Yan smiled self-deprecatingly and asked again, "Then do you know the name of the previous Madam Xu?"
The river waves crashed violently against the rocks, as if time roared from the distant past.
He glanced at He Yan indifferently, his features under the moonlight impossibly handsome. A trace of mockery flickered in his autumn-water-like eyes as he said calmly, "What, just because the names are the same, you want to be Madam Xu?"
He Yan was stunned.
"You know... you know her name..." Her heart pounded wildly.
"He Yan."
The waves broke against the rocks, shattering into fine droplets that merged into the river and sea, indistinguishable from where each wave originated.
But...
The name He Yan was remembered.
He Yan abruptly looked up at him.
"Do you know... no, have you met Madam Xu?"She thought to herself, impossible. She and Xiao Jue had only been classmates for a year before going their separate ways. When she returned to Shuojing, she became the eldest Miss He, no longer "He Rufei." She was quickly engaged and married, hardly stepping out of the house a few times, let alone meeting men from outside. After marrying into the Xu family, she lost her sight not long after the wedding, spending her days confined to the estate, almost completely cut off from the world.
How could Xiao Jue have seen her?
Unless...
"I have seen you."
The young man sat lazily, his striking features captivating, the beauty of mountains, rivers, wind, and moon paling in comparison to the brilliance in his eyes.
For a moment, his voice overlapped with that of a certain night.
It was also such a night, such mountain scenery, with the rain drizzling endlessly. Her world was bleak and lightless, teetering on the brink of despair.
Xiao Jue said, "She owes me a piece of candy."
(End of Chapter)
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