Chapter 184: Old Dreams on the Pleasure Boat
He Yan had not expected there to be such a history between Yang Mingzhi and Xiao Jue. After listening to Lin Shuanghe’s account, she pondered for quite some time.
Indeed, the words Yang Mingzhi had spoken in the end were far too hurtful. But why would he say such a thing without reason? If he didn’t want to help, he could have simply refused—why twist the knife in someone’s heart? Moreover, Yang Mingzhi’s original temperament had never been so sharp and bitter. Even He Yan thought this way; as Yang Mingzhi’s former close friend, Xiao Jue should have considered this as well.
He Yan asked, “What happened afterward? Did the Commander-in-Chief never interact with Lord Yang again? Was there no misunderstanding between them?”
Lin Shuanghe shook his head. “After Huaijin led troops to Guocheng, he rarely returned to the capital. As for Yang Mingzhi, not long after Huaijin left, he also stopped attending Virtuous Prosperity Academy. Given his talent, I had thought he would take the imperial examination, become the top scholar, and remain in Shuojing. With his father’s connections and his own abilities, that wouldn’t have been difficult. But after that, he seemed to vanish without a trace. We were all brothers once, and what he did to Huaijin was truly wrong. I also stopped associating with him afterward, so I had no idea when he became the governor of Jinling City.”
It seemed these brothers had truly gone their separate ways, He Yan thought to herself.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, accompanied by Yan He’s impatient urging: “Lin Shuanghe, open up!”
Lin Shuanghe stood up, walked to the door, and opened it. As soon as he did, he saw Yan He standing outside. Lin Shuanghe smiled. “General Yan, what brings you here so late?”
Yan He was about to speak when he caught sight of He Yan inside the room. Suspiciously, he asked, “Why is he in your room?”
“I came to see if there were any ants here,” He Yan replied. “If there were, I could help Brother Lin get rid of them.”
“Exactly,” Lin Shuanghe said seriously. “I invited him here to deal with the ants. Don’t go suspecting anything improper between us.”
“What nonsense,” Yan He frowned. “Hurry up and change your clothes. Come with us.”
“Where to?” Lin Shuanghe asked, bewildered.
Yan He cleared his throat. “I sent someone to inform Yang Mingzhi that we’re going on a pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River tonight. As the local governor, he should naturally arrange a reception for us. Hurry up and change your clothes, and let Xiao Huaijin know.”
No one had expected Yan He to do this. Lin Shuanghe was stunned. He asked, “…Why are we going on a pleasure boat?”
“The way Yang Mingzhi and Xiao Huaijin acted—who are they trying to fool?” Yan He said smugly. “I could see through it at a glance. I’m feeling generous today and willing to act as a bridge for them. Xiao Huaijin won’t be in Jinling every day. The more time they spend together, the more likely their misunderstanding will be resolved.” He played with the end of his ponytail. “Over the years, I’ve traveled extensively and learned a lot about human relationships. With Xiao Huaijin’s unpleasant temperament, it’s impossible for him and Yang Mingzhi to resolve their misunderstanding on their own. As for Yang Mingzhi, he’s not so bad. I’m not doing this for Xiao Huaijin—I’m doing it for Yang Mingzhi.”
Seeing that Lin Shuanghe remained silent, Yan He lifted his chin. “Well? Don’t you think I’m being magnanimous? Hurry up and thank me for your dear friend’s sake.”
He Yan: “…”
Lin Shuanghe: “…I really can’t thank you enough.”Yan He truly was a talent, He Yan thought with a sigh, always managing to step precisely into Xiao Jue’s forbidden territory. No wonder the two of them had never gotten along back at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy.
“No need for thanks,” Yan He said dismissively. “I’ll go tell Chu Zilan.”
“…Wait,” Lin Shuanghe asked, “Yang Mingzhi is one thing, but why call Chu Zilan along?”
“We’re all staying here. Leaving him out alone would make me seem petty. Besides, as someone in official circles, one must be tactful. Does picking fights like a fighting rooster make you look impressive?” Yan He scoffed. “Oh, I forgot—you’re not in the government, so naturally you wouldn’t know these things.”
He patted Lin Shuanghe’s shoulder and indeed headed toward Chu Zhao’s courtyard.
Lin Shuanghe and He Yan exchanged glances, speechless. Truly, Yan He was something else—inviting two enemies at once. Not just Yang Mingzhi, but Chu Zhao as well. Xiao Jue would probably be furious. He might not even come along at all.
“Sister He,” Lin Shuanghe said, “maybe… you should go tell Huaijin.”
He Yan: “Together.”
This was a life-threatening mission—how could she bear it alone?
The two of them dragged their feet, hesitating for a moment, before finally heading together to Xiao Jue’s room. They explained what Yan He had just said, fully expecting Xiao Jue to refuse. To their surprise, he turned around and said, “Alright.”
He Yan and Lin Shuanghe were both stunned.
He agreed just like that, and with such a calm expression? Lin Shuanghe whispered to He Yan, “He wouldn’t start a fight with Yang Mingzhi on the boat, would he? That would be so undignified.”
He Yan: “Highly likely.”
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow slightly. “Aren’t you going?”
“Going, going, of course we’re going.” Lin Shuanghe leaned close to He Yan’s ear and whispered, “We have to go. If a fight breaks out, remember to step in and mediate.”
He Yan was at a loss for words.
With that settled, they each returned to their rooms to change. Having traveled for so long, they were dusty and weary. Arriving in Jinling, it would be out of place to board a pleasure boat dressed for the road. He Yan had someone fetch water, bathed, and changed into fresh clothes.
When they left Rundu, the townspeople who saw them off had gifted them plenty of food and clothing. The fabric wasn’t particularly expensive, but it fit well. He Yan looked at herself in the mirror—a youth in blue robes and cloth boots, hair tied in a simple knot, with clear brows and bright eyes, looking no different from the students who had studied at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy in her past life. She seemed to have grown a little taller since first arriving at the Liangzhou Guard. Standing in the room, she was as straight and tall as a poplar tree, youthful and full of vitality.
After finishing her preparations, He Yan pushed the door open and stepped out, only to find everyone else already ready and waiting outside. Yan He spoke impatiently, “You’re just a lowly Wu Anlang—why are you so troublesome? Everyone’s waiting for you. Were you in there putting on makeup?”
He Yan thought to herself, what a coincidence—she really had been putting on makeup. A girl disguised as a boy still needed careful grooming.
Xiao Jue glanced at her, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Let’s go.”The residence arranged for them by Yang Mingzhi was not far from the Qinhuai River, so the group decided to walk there instead of taking a carriage. Their procession, composed of either dashing youths or handsome men, stood out conspicuously on the streets. From time to time, bold young women would pretend to twist their ankles and lean toward them. However, Xiao Jue, who never liked physical contact, naturally avoided them with precision. Yan He was not the type to be tender toward women, and it was already generous of him not to scold or punish them. Chu Zhao had a beautiful maid by his side, so the women settled for second best, leaving Lin Shuanghe and He Yan to bear the brunt.
He Yan had lost count of how many lovely young women she had helped, but the tender, affectionate gazes they cast her way were truly overwhelming. For a moment, she thought it would be better to have someone as innocent and adorable as Song Taotao.
Lin Shuanghe was in the same predicament, having called out "sister" countless times.
Yan He watched them with gleeful schadenfreude and said to Lin Shuanghe, "Lin Shuanghe, after all these years, I never thought you’d still be so popular with women."
Lin Shuanghe straightened his slightly wrinkled robe and smiled faintly. "Naturally, just as you remain consistently unpopular with them."
Yan He snorted. "I already have a wife. I don’t need to please anyone else."
He Yan was taken aback and looked at Yan He. "General Yan is already married?"
At her words, both Xiao Jue and Chu Zhao turned their gazes toward He Yan.
Lin Shuanghe fanned himself with his folding fan. "Surprising, isn’t it? Our General Yan married young—what a pity."
"You’re just jealous," Yan He retorted coldly.
He Yan found it peculiar. Since enlisting in the army, she had rarely kept in touch with her former classmates from the Virtuous Prosperity Academy and had no idea when Yan He had gotten married. Although it was not unusual for someone of Yan He’s age to be married, given his arrogant, combative temperament—like a fighting rooster—it was hard to imagine him as someone’s husband. It was at this moment that He Yan truly felt it: the youths of those days had indeed grown up.
As they conversed, they arrived at the Qinhuai Riverbank, where several attendants were waiting. Upon seeing He Yan and the others, they stepped forward and said, "Commander Xiao, General Yan, Governor Yang has prepared a pleasure boat and is waiting aboard."
Given the Yang family’s status, Yang Mingzhi didn’t need to go to such lengths; his gesture was already quite humble. However, among the group, his former close friend was now estranged from him, while Yan He, who meant well but often caused trouble, was not particularly tactful. Chu Zhao was not very familiar with Yang Mingzhi, and He Yan had even changed her identity. Thus, as they boarded the boat, they could already sense Yang Mingzhi’s awkwardness.
Yang Mingzhi had removed his governor’s official robe and changed into a sandalwood-colored long gown. Although he was an official, his demeanor lacked the worldly air typical of those in government. Standing there, he appeared more reserved, carrying a hint of youthful pride. For a moment, He Yan felt as if she had returned to the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, with Yang Mingzhi still the same as he was back then.
Yan He patted Yang Mingzhi on the shoulder and walked to the bow of the boat to look out. "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself, picking such a fine place as Jinling. Little did you know that just a while ago, we were fighting in Rundu, not far from your Jinling. It was a living hell—people were even resorting to cannibalism."Yang Mingzhi was stunned: "Really?" Then a flicker of indignation rose in his eyes. He moved his lips as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.
While the Wutuo People wreaked havoc in Jiyang and Rundu Huayuan, Jinling City remained completely unaffected. It was still a scene of peace and prosperity. On the Qinhuai River, many painted pleasure boats drifted downstream, the sounds of strings and pipes wafting gently over the water. The riverbanks were brightly lit, bustling and splendid.
He Yan sat inside the boat, looking out through the window. The water surface was almost dazzlingly bright from the lanterns on the boats and fishing lights, as if it were truly a golden age of peace.
This place was different from Jiyang. The boats in Jiyang were small, the Water Market lively, and the women of Jiyang were bold and simple. Jinling, however, was like an old dream of towers and pavilions, filled with music, boats, lanterns, and pavilions, a scene of lush spring and vibrant beauty.
From one of the pleasure boats came the sound of a pipa, its notes like pearls falling onto a jade plate, stirring one's thoughts. Lin Shuanghe stood at the bow of the boat and laughed, "Jinling City is exactly the same as it was many years ago. The boats, the water, the sound of the pipa—not a single thing has changed."
Ying Xiang, hearing this, asked curiously, "Has Young Master Lin been to Jinling before?"
"Of course," Lin Shuanghe flicked open his fan, elegant as jade. "Speaking of which, I wasn't the only one on this boat who came to Jinling last time. Brother Yan, Huaijin... Lord Yang, isn't that right?"
He then turned to He Yan, who was gazing at the scenery on the water. "Brother He, this must be your first time in Jinling, right? What do you think?"
He Yan nodded. "It's beautiful."
She thought to herself that this was not her first time in Jinling. Just as Lin Shuanghe had said, the last time she came to Jinling, there was one more person on this boat—herself.
It was a summer day at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, much like the current season. A poetry gathering was being held in Jinling City, inviting renowned scholars from across Great Wei. It was the first such event in ten years, a rare opportunity. The academy's teachers, hoping to broaden the horizons of the young students, selected the top ten youths in literature and classics from the academy and secured invitations to the poetry gathering.
He Yan, of course, did not receive an invitation. Although she was better at literature and classics than martial arts, she was not among the top ten. However, He Yan had little interest in leaving the capital for Jinling. Wearing a mask was always particularly inconvenient, and traveling with those young men day and night along the way would make it difficult to find time to avoid them. It was better not to go at all. Thinking this, she felt little regret.
That day, as usual, He Yan stayed a while longer after class to study. As the sun began to set, she estimated there might still be some food left in the kitchen and headed there. The Virtuous Prosperity Academy would never withhold food from its students. No matter when one went to the kitchen, there was always some pastries or meals available.
Just as He Yan reached the kitchen, she noticed the door to the nearby woodshed was slightly ajar. As she approached, she heard the excited voices of young men coming from inside: "Brother Lin's suggestion is excellent. Since we're going to Jinling anyway, why not visit the Yunru Tower to broaden our horizons? I've long heard of the famous Flower Fairy there. If I could see her once, my life would be complete."
"Right?" Lin Shuanghe's voice chimed in. "They say the beauties and fine wine at Yunru Tower are unparalleled in Great Wei. How could a poetry gathering compare to the fun at Yunru Tower? I say we stay in Jinling a few extra days. The teachers won't be following us anyway. As long as we keep our guards and servants in check, we can enjoy ourselves for a few days, and no one will be the wiser!"He Yan listened in stunned silence. She knew of Ruyun Tower—it was said that among all the pleasure houses in Great Wei, Ruyun Tower had the most beauties, each with her own unique charm and allure, like a hundred flowers in bloom. Among them, the Wandering Flower Fairy was especially ethereal and unforgettable.
These fellows were actually using the poetry gathering as a pretext to sneak off to a pleasure house. If their teacher found out, they’d all have their legs broken. He Yan marveled at their audacity and had no intention of getting involved. She turned to leave, but suddenly a voice called out from inside, “Who’s there?”
The next moment, the door to the woodshed swung open. A group of young men sat gathered inside, staring out. Yan He grabbed He Yan by the collar and demanded angrily, “Were you eavesdropping?”
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop,” He Yan defended herself. “I was just passing by.” They were the ones talking so loudly and leaving the door open—how could they blame her for their own recklessness?
Yan He shoved her into the woodshed and slammed the door shut. The young men fixed their intense gazes on her, all talking at once.
“He Rufei actually overheard us—what rotten luck! Maybe we should just call it off. What if this guy snitches?”
“No way! We finally have a chance to go to Jinling. We can’t let this ruin it—that would be such a waste!”
“Then what do we do? Silence him?” one of the youths suggested darkly. “Bury him alive right here?”
He Yan was startled and spoke up timidly, “...There’s no need to be so brutal. I really didn’t hear anything. L-Lin Shuanghe?” She looked to Lin Shuanghe for help. After all, they had “progressed together” before—surely he wouldn’t abandon her now.
Lin Shuanghe studied her thoughtfully for a moment, then snapped his fan shut. “Oh, it’s not that big a deal. I believe Brother He wouldn’t snitch even if he did hear something.”
“What good is your belief?” Yan He’s expression darkened. “Will you take responsibility if something goes wrong?”
“I won’t take that responsibility. But, we could just bring him along with us,” Lin Shuanghe suggested, spreading his hands. “That way, he won’t be able to snitch on himself, right?”
He Yan: “...”
Lin Shuanghe always came up with the most bizarre solutions in situations like these.
He Yan protested weakly, “The teacher won’t agree. I don’t have an invitation...”
“Don’t worry about that,” Lin Shuanghe said with a smile. “Leave it to me.”
And so, He Yan was forced to accompany the young men to Jinling.
Lin Shuanghe somehow managed to procure an invitation, and the teacher agreed. Although Lady He was uneasy about it, He Yuansheng fully supported the idea. Anything that could bring glory and fame to “He Rufei” had his approval. Thus, with little effort, He Yan embarked on her first independent journey with the young men to Jinling.
They traveled by water.
It was He Yan’s first time on a large boat, and she was miserably seasick, nearly vomiting her heart out along with everything else. The other young men, who already disliked having her as a burden, mocked her for being weak and delicate. The only one who was somewhat friendly with her, Lin Shuanghe, had already become fast friends with the boatman’s daughter. He spent his time telling her stories, making the girl laugh endlessly, and had no time to spare for “Brother He,” whom he had dragged along on this long journey.
He Yan’s heart ached, but she had no one to complain to. Leaning over the side of the boat, she listened to the cheerful laughter of the young men inside as they battled crickets, gazed up at the cold, lonely moon in the sky, and shivered in the chilly wind, feeling utterly desolate.While pondering whether one could fish from this boat, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder from behind. He Yan instinctively turned around, and the next moment, something cold was shoved into her mouth. Startled, she tried to cry out reflexively, causing the object to slide down her throat and into her stomach.
"Cough, cough, cough—" She coughed violently, looking at the person before her.
The young man in white robes leaned casually against the ship's railing, tilting his head to glance at her. Under the moonlight, his eyes clearly reflected her own image.
He Yan frantically clutched her throat and asked, "What... what did you just give me to eat?"
Xiao Jue replied lazily, "Poison."
"What—" He Yan paled in shock.
"Shh," he rested his chin on his hand, gazing at the distant flowing river. "Don't shout. If you're too loud, you'll die faster."
"I," He Yan's eyes welled up with tears, "I have no grudge against you. Why would you want to harm me?"
The young man curled his lips slightly, his usually languid expression now carrying a hint of mischief. "Isn't it to keep you from telling secrets?"
"I won't tell any secrets!" He Yan grew anxious. "Quick, give me the antidote!"
"There is no antidote," Xiao Jue replied indifferently. "It's incurable."
He didn't seem to be lying. He Yan stood there stunned for a moment, feeling her legs go weak. Unable to hold herself up, she slumped to the ground.
How could this be?
So these young men had tricked her into coming out just to make it easier to silence her? Looking around, this place was indeed perfect for such a deed—toss a body into the river, and no trace would remain. But after dying and being eaten by fish, would she feel cold?
Back then, she wasn't very brave but had plenty of thoughts. After wallowing in sorrow for a long time, she finally looked up and asked the young man standing at the bow of the boat, "How many days do I have left to live?"
As if he hadn't expected her to ask this, Xiao Jue paused for a moment before snorting, "Five days."
"Five days..." He Yan murmured. "We'll reach Jinling in just three days. Well, that's fine. I still have two days left to go see the Flower Fairy."
Since she was going to die anyway, seeing a beauty before her death wouldn't be a loss, she thought.
Xiao Jue scoffed but didn't respond.
He Yan hugged the ship's mast and sat for a while longer. After some time, she stood up and staggered inside. After taking two steps, she suddenly realized something.
She was no longer feeling nauseous.
Belatedly understanding, He Yan hurried over to Xiao Jue and looked up at him excitedly. "Brother Huaijin, I'm not seasick anymore! Was what you gave me just now seasickness medicine?"
Although the mask hid her face, it couldn't conceal the upward curve of her lips or the joy in her voice. Xiao Jue glanced at her indifferently, a faint smile playing on his lips. His tone was gentle, yet his words were cutting: "Fool."
He turned and walked inside.
He Yan watched his retreating figure and thought to herself how utterly boring this person was. If it was just seasickness medicine, why did he have to tease and scare her like that?
...Even though she really had been frightened.
Recalling this amusing childhood memory, He Yan couldn't help but smile. Just then, from the nearby pleasure boat where the pipa music had been coming from, a woman's singing voice drifted over.
"...Distant are the Cang Mountains, distant are the Wu Mountains, a small boat sails far, dreams hard to hold onto, how many verses of this fleeting life's song... Hard to yearn, hard to resent, now you and I are separated by railings, spring breeze ages the youth..."The woman's voice was soft and clear, even more captivating than the pearl-like sound of the pipa. Lin Shuanghe pointed his fan at the boat and said, "That's the one! The qin music of the Flower Fairy back in the day was just like this—its lingering notes circled the beams for three days without fading. I..."
He suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and quickly stepped forward to speak with a servant on the boat. The servant soon departed, and before long, the boat ahead came to a stop. The curtain was lifted, and a woman holding a pipa emerged from within.
She wore a light, begonia-red gauze dress, her phoenix eyes half-curved, lips like dotted cherries, graceful and delicate, charming yet fragile. Standing at the bow of the boat, her mere demeanor was enough to stir one's heart. The flickering lights on the boat made it difficult to see her face clearly, but even without a clear view, it was evident she must be a beauty of unparalleled grace.
She held the pipa in her arms, not speaking, only bowing gracefully to the crowd, truly like a dream tinged with nostalgia by the Qinhuai River, illuminating the bewildered eyes of the youths.
"...Lady Youxian?" Lin Shuanghe exclaimed in surprise.
(End of Chapter)
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