Chapter 203: Sensation
While He Yan was tossing and turning over her own doubts, Xiao Jue, who had returned to the Xiao residence, ran straight into Xiao Jing and his wife, who had been waiting at the main gate to question him.
Bai Rongwei hadn’t even had time to change her clothes, and she and Xiao Jing had been sitting in the main hall, waiting anxiously for Xiao Jue to return. Xiao Jing immediately fired off questions: “Huai Jin, what is going on? How could Lord He… the young lady… be a girl?”
The Xiao household was currently in utter chaos.
Out of nowhere, they had learned during the banquet that the young master staying in their home was actually a girl—shocking enough on its own. And then the emperor had gone ahead and bestowed a marriage. No matter how open-minded their family was, they couldn’t immediately adjust to the idea of Xiao Jue’s friend becoming his wife. The only thing they could be sure of was that Xiao Jue must genuinely like Miss He. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such cringe-worthy words in front of all the civil and military officials in the palace. Looking back now, every little thing—like insisting He Yan stay in his courtyard, always subtly protecting her—suddenly made sense.
Having just explained the same thing to He Sui at the He residence, Xiao Jue now had to explain it all over again to Xiao Jing. Fortunately, this was his own family, so he didn’t go into as much detail, giving only a rough outline so the couple could grasp the gist of it.
Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei barely managed to understand, exchanging bewildered glances.
Bai Rongwei tentatively asked, “Huai Jin, do you truly like Miss He?”
Xiao Jue replied calmly, “If it were false, could the Xiao family defy the imperial decree?”
Bai Rongwei was left speechless—of course they couldn’t.
A faint smile touched his lips. “If it were false, this marriage decree wouldn’t have happened.”
The others paused, realizing he was right. Xiao Jue might seem indifferent to court affairs, but he wasn’t without connections or means. This marriage was something he had maneuvered to achieve. If he didn’t like He Yan, not only would he not have gone to such lengths, but even if Emperor Wenxuan had intended it, he could have found ways to sabotage it.
“But,” Bai Rongwei chided, “you foolish child, even if you’re happy, how could you have brought a young lady directly into our home before? While your elder brother and I don’t mind, if outsiders found out, they would gossip and damage Miss He’s reputation.”
“Before her identity was revealed, it wouldn’t have been appropriate for her to return home abruptly. Bringing her to our residence ensured no outsiders knew,” Xiao Jue explained. “It won’t happen again.”
The couple finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had always worried that, given Xiao Jue’s temperament, he might never marry in his lifetime. Now that he had finally taken a liking to a young lady, it was a good thing. But they feared that youthful impulsiveness might lead to trouble for the sake of momentary pleasure. Seeing that he understood the boundaries, they felt slightly reassured.
“Where is Miss He from? Where does she live? Does she have any other family?” Bai Rongwei asked. “Young Master Lin mentioned before he left that Miss He’s father was a captain. Since we are now in-laws, and her parents are no longer here, your elder brother and I should pay a visit. We mustn’t let them think we lack manners.”
“Exactly,” Xiao Jing chimed in. “We should go and discuss the details of the marriage with Lord He. And as for your betrothal gifts, we need to start preparing them now.”This imperial marriage decree came so suddenly that the family had no time to prepare anything. Over the years, the Emperor had bestowed many gifts, but Xiao Jue himself was too lazy to manage them. Bai Rongwei had carefully stored them all in the treasury, thinking it would take three to five years before they would be of any use. Never did she expect such a pleasant surprise to arrive so abruptly.
Yet, the couple never once cared about He Yan's family background. Even when inquiring about He Yan's family, it was merely to understand the situation. With the elders having passed away, the eldest brother acted as the father and the eldest sister-in-law as the mother. Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were never ones to crave vanity. Back when Xiao Jing married Bai Rongwei, rumors in Shuojing City ran rampant, and the Xiao family's relatives strongly opposed it. Yet in the end, Bai Rongwei, a daughter of a concubine, still became the eldest lady of the Xiao family. Therefore, for He Yan, they believed that as long as her background was clean and her character decent, it was more than enough.
"What does Miss He usually like?" With a task at hand, Bai Rongwei felt the weight of responsibility settle upon her. The Xiao family was simple in number, making household management easy. She and Xiao Jing rarely had disagreements, and now that Xiao Jue's marriage was finally settled, she felt compelled to handle this matter flawlessly. "How about I go buy some beautiful silk fabrics tomorrow? And some jewelry too—nothing too extravagant, lest it seem disrespectful. How old is Master He? Since he serves as a captain, he must often face hardships. Let's buy some tonics..."
She spoke in detail, engrossed in her discussion with Xiao Jing, completely unaware of when Xiao Jue had slipped away. By the time she realized and wanted to ask for Xiao Jue's opinion, she found the chair before her already empty.
Xiao Jue returned to his room, removed his court robes, placed them on a chair, and sat down by the couch.
A dim lamp glowed in the room, while faintly lively sounds drifted in from outside—likely Bai Rongwei instructing the servants to fetch the keys to the treasury. Tonight, it seemed everyone was too shocked to sleep.
Still... it wasn't entirely without gain.
Emperor Wenxuan's marriage decree had come at just the right time, sweeping that eyesore Chu Zhao out of the picture and sealing the matter between him and He Yan once and for all. After all these years of the Emperor's muddled thinking, he had finally done something right.
Previously, he had thought He Yan admired Chu Zhao. Though he had many thoughts in his heart, he never wanted to bring them up to He Yan. In this world, there were those who would seize what they desired by force, but someone like him despised coercion the most.
Yet... this was not coercion.
He lowered his gaze and took out a sachet from his bosom. The sachet had been turned inside out—the exquisite embroidery on the outside was now hidden within, while the rough inner fabric was exposed. On that inner fabric, under the dim light, a clumsily stitched, unevenly embroidered "moon" shone brightly.
It was ugly, no doubt, but...
She had even added a bit of gold thread to it.
The handsome young man lowered his head, unable to suppress a smile.
In the small room outside, Chi Wu threw a punch, which Fei Nu steadily caught and twisted aside. "Calm down."
"Did you know all along?" Chi Wu was so angry his nose seemed crooked. "No wonder every time I found him displeasing, you had that hesitant look. And every time I was sweating over the young master's lifelong matters, you remained calm and untroubled. It wasn't that you were carefree—you already knew!""We've worked together for the young master all these years as brothers, and you kept this from me. Doesn't your conscience ache?"
Fei Nu sidestepped another charging punch, equally exasperated. "How did I deceive you? Back in Jiyang City, didn't you see her dressed as a woman? How could you still think Miss He was a man?"
Chi Wu froze.
That was true. He Yan had indeed worn women's clothing before. When she wore a dress in Jiyang City—Cui Yuezhi and his concubine, Princess Mu Hongjin of Jiyang, the common folk, the street vendors—not a single person had doubted her identity as a woman. With her delicate features and graceful figure, if she weren't truly a girl, how could no one have noticed anything amiss?
"I thought she was just a man with feminine features," Chi Wu muttered dejectedly. "Besides, how could I believe a woman would go to Liangzhou Guard, lift twenty stone locks in a row, and even defeat burly men?"
And eat so much!
He hadn't doubted He Yan's identity as a woman not because she failed to act like one, but because she played the role of a man too perfectly! What young woman could sit among a group of rough men, listening to their crude jokes without batting an eye?
Sometimes she even chimed in with a few of her own.
Fei Nu patted his friend's shoulder. "Look on the bright side. Weren't you always worried the young master would be criticized in Shuojing City for being a cut-sleeve? Now that Miss He is a woman, your worries won't come true."
"That may be so," Chi Wu grumbled as he sat down, "but thinking back now, I feel like a fool."
"It's not just you," Fei Nu said honestly. "It's because Miss He does many things better than most men."
Fei Nu reflected inwardly: if Xiao Jue hadn't asked Luan Ying to investigate He Yan's background, accidentally discovering she was a woman, even if He Yan stood before him in a dress, he'd likely have reacted the same as Chi Wu—marveling at how striking she looked in women's attire.
But dwelling on this was pointless now. The young master had gotten his wish, and this young mistress was both capable and courageous. Once tonight's news spread, Shuojing would likely be in an uproar by tomorrow.
...
Indeed, Fei Nu was right. Even before the next day arrived, those who had interacted with He Yan in the past, upon learning she was a woman and had been betrothed to Xiao Jue, could hardly believe their ears.
In the military camp, Hong Shan and his companions lay on their shared bunk, idly picking at their toes and chatting.
After returning to the capital, their troops were stationed near the mountains outside the city. They still trained daily, but compared to Liang Province, life was much easier. At least there were fields nearby, and when not training, the soldiers helped farmers with work, earning fresh vegetables and fruits in return. Shuojing also lacked the fierce sandstorms of Liang Province, so within just a month of returning to the capital, everyone had visibly gained weight.
Those whose families lived in Shuojing were allowed one day each month to leave camp and visit home. Jiang Jiao had just arranged with the drill instructor to return home in a few days and was walking back to his quarters when he saw a short figure darting toward his room like a gust of wind.
Jiang Jiao recognized the short man—his surname was Bao. Because he was always prying into trivial matters and had a knack for gathering information, everyone called him Bao Datong ("Bao the Informant"). Over time, his original name was forgotten, and he was simply known as Bao Datong.Judging by his manner, he must have gotten some big news again. Jiang Jiao followed him at a leisurely pace. These days in Shuojing had been rather dull, and since He Yan now held an official rank and no longer lived here, they missed him quite a bit.
The gossipmonger rushed into Hong Shan’s room, where everyone was chatting idly. In one breath, he jumped onto the table in the middle of the room, drawing a chorus of scolding.
“Your feet are covered in mud—get down from there!”
“That’s where I eat! Are you trying to start a rebellion, Gossipmonger?”
“If you have something to say, say it—what are you doing with your feet?”
In this room were also the likes of Wang Ba and Huang Xiong, who were not to be trifled with. Under normal circumstances, the gossipmonger would have obediently jumped down upon hearing such remarks, but today was different. Not only did he not move, but he seemed even more agitated, his face flushed and neck taut. “Big news, big news! I just came back from the drillmasters—big news, nothing bigger than this!”
People passing by from other rooms gathered outside, drawn by his rare state of incoherence. Assuming the news must indeed be significant, someone asked, “What exactly is it? Is Commander Xiao getting married?”
This was said offhandedly, as there were ten impossibilities in Liangzhou Guard. For example, Shen Han could never be soft-hearted, Liang Ping could never refrain from scolding, Ma Damei could never stop gambling… The greatest impossibility, and the one everyone believed was absolutely unshakable, was: Xiao Jue could never get married.
If this impossibility were broken, it would indeed count as big news—though it was likely impossible.
As they thought this, they saw the gossipmonger nod vigorously. “Yes, yes! Exactly—Commander Xiao is getting married!”
At first, no one reacted. But as the words sank in, excitement erupted instantly. They swarmed around the table, pressing the gossipmonger for details.
“Who? Who is Commander Xiao marrying?”
“Are you sure it’s Commander Xiao getting married and not someone else? Gossipmonger, how reliable is your news? It sounds pretty unbelievable to me.”
“Does Commander Xiao seem like the kind of person who would get married? I think it’s fake. Let’s just disperse—don’t get fooled.”
Hearing this, the gossipmonger grew frantic, veins bulging on his neck as he clenched his fists and stomped his feet. “Why would I lie? I heard it clearly—the drillmasters were all shocked… It’s a marriage arranged by His Majesty himself!”
As soon as the words “arranged by His Majesty” were spoken, those inside and outside the room believed it halfway. Commander Xiao would never actively seek marriage, but when it came to an imperial decree—the golden words of the emperor—how could he defy it? Put that way, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Xiao Mai asked, “Really, an imperial arrangement? Then which noble family’s young lady did His Majesty betroth to Commander Xiao?”
Someone leaning against the window outside, eavesdropping, replied without thinking, “Isn’t it obvious? It must be Miss Shen from Censor Shen’s household!”
Shen Muxue had stayed in Liangzhou Guard for so long, helping many wounded soldiers. A young lady like her, who didn’t look down on them and even provided them with medicine, was well-liked by the soldiers, and many spoke up for her.
“Right, a lady like Miss Shen is a perfect match for the Commander!”
“They’re like a golden couple—talented man and beautiful woman. They must be the most well-suited pair in all of Great Wei.”
But the gossipmonger’s answer disappointed them. “No, it’s not Physician Shen!”
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.It actually wasn't Shen Muxue? How could someone as kind-hearted and fairy-like as Miss Shen fail to become Xiao Jue's wife? Which young lady did His Majesty bestow in marriage?
"If it's not Physician Shen, then who is it?"
The gossipmonger: "It's He Yan!"
The moment the name "He Yan" was uttered, both inside and outside the room fell silent. Even Wang Ba, who had been lazily dozing off, sat up straight. Jiang Jiao had just entered the room when he heard this and thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
"Which He Yan?" Shitou, the most composed, asked.
"It's our He Yan from Liangzhou Guard!"
Someone laughed, "Gossipmonger, have you had too much to drink? Spreading false imperial decrees could land you in trouble if you're not careful. He Yan is a man—how could His Majesty arrange a marriage between two men? Have you gone mad? Or is this just another He Yan with the same name?"
At this point, the gossipmonger was in no hurry.
He knew his words would explode like thunder among the new recruits of Liangzhou Guard—no, even among the Southern Garrison Troops. After all, he had the sharpest ears and was the first to hear such big news.
"Who says His Majesty couldn't arrange a marriage between two men?" His gaze swept across everyone in the room, taking in their varied expressions before he leisurely continued, "Besides, He Yan is a woman, so of course she can become Commander Xiao's wife."
Crash—
Liang Ping slipped and fell flat on his face, but instead of crying out in pain, he looked at Shen Han with disbelief. "What did you say?"
"He Yan is a woman," Shen Han said with a frosty expression.
Despite his outward calm, heaven only knew how incredulous he had been when Tian Lang, the deputy commander of the Southern Garrison Troops, came to deliver the news.
He Yan is a woman?
How could that be!
How could there be a woman who eats more than men, fights better than men, and adapts more easily to Liangzhou Guard's harsh climate and training than men? Since hearing the news, all the instructors had fallen into a collective, self-doubting silence. No matter how they tried, they couldn't imagine that the person who had sweated profusely on the Martial Arts Field, yet remained cheerful and spirited, and even personally beheaded two of Rida Muzi's personal guards, was a woman.
This was clearly a prodigious young man—how could she be a woman? If a woman could achieve such feats, and they had all been effortlessly outshone by He Yan, with no one in Liangzhou Guard able to match her, didn't that mean they, grown men, couldn't even compare to a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl?
If they were merely shocked and dismayed by the revelation that He Yan was a woman, then His Majesty's marriage arrangement between Xiao Jue and He Yan sent chills down the spines of these instructors.
Before leaving, Tian Lang kindly and discreetly reminded Shen Han, "The Commander holds Miss He in high regard."
What a joke—high regard was an understatement! This iron tree that had never blossomed finally did so in front of the civil and military officials at court, in the presence of the Emperor and Empress. As soon as the victory banquet ended, rumors began to spread everywhere about how tenderly the Right Army Commander treated his "beloved."
So here was the question: if Commander Xiao was so considerate toward his beloved, how much resentment did he harbor toward these devilish instructors who had subjected his beloved to grueling training, forced the young girl to run with heavy loads, and made her stand under the scorching sun for hours on end?
Hard to say.Ma Damei's face was pale. "Back in Liang Province during winter, I once soaked in the hot springs with Miss He..."
Everyone's faces turned ashen, especially the drill instructor who had been the most enthusiastic troublemaker back then—he looked like he was about to cry. They now understood why He Yan had repeatedly refused to enter the water and claimed to have a hidden ailment. So she was actually a woman? Fortunately, Xiao Jue had appeared in time back then. Otherwise, if things had progressed further, perhaps every drill instructor in this room would now be suffering from a hidden ailment.
"So... what should we do now?" someone asked, trembling.
"What do you mean, what should we do?" Shen Han replied. "Just carry on with your duties. What does this have to do with you?"
Although it now seemed incredibly foolish how firmly he had believed in the rumors about He Yan and Xiao Jue being involved in a romantic relationship, Shen Han felt he had been quite perceptive. At least he had sensed the unusual atmosphere between the two, hadn't he? In his support for these two, Shen Han had never wavered. Now, it was merely a matter of He Yan being a woman instead of a man—what difference did it make?
In any case, he had always firmly stood on Xiao Jue and He Yan's side. He Yan was a person of strong character and emotions—surely she wouldn't repay kindness with ingratitude.
...
At Chu Linfeng's residence, today was also a day of great joy.
Shi Jinbo, though still considered an official in Shuojing City, had long since lost his former glory. Of Chu Linfeng's three legitimate sons, only the eldest had secured a minor official position in Shuojing City—and even that was bought with money from Madam Chu. The other two legitimate sons had failed to enter government service. In contrast, the illegitimate son who had been brought back from outside had now become the most accomplished one. Not only was he the favored disciple of the current Prime Minister, but he had also become the Prime Minister's son-in-law. With this connection, the Chu family had no worries about prospering in the future.
Thinking of this, Chu Linfeng was immensely pleased. After the celebration banquet ended and he returned home, he immediately ordered people to spread the news widely and prepare various items. He even said he would renovate Chu Zhao's courtyard so that Xu Pingting would not find their residence shabby after marrying into the Chu family.
Madam Chu watched Chu Linfeng's undisguised joy coldly without saying a word. However, her three biological sons were indignant, their faces filled with resentment. After Chu Linfeng left, they complained before Madam Chu, "Father is being far too biased! He's just the son of a brothel woman, yet with a little success, he gets treated like this. When we three brothers got married, Father was never this happy."
This was indeed true. Although Chu Linfeng had never treated his three sons poorly, he disliked their mediocrity. In comparison, he preferred Chu Zhao, who could bring him face among his colleagues. When Chu Zhao first arrived at the Chu residence, the three brothers had bullied him relentlessly. Madam Chu had also once planned to eliminate Chu Zhao once he grew older—just like those from the concubines' wombs. Unfortunately, the boy had somehow learned cunning ways and charmed Chu Linfeng, who took him everywhere, leaving Madam Chu no opportunity to act. Later, he even managed to form a connection with Prime Minister Xu. With someone from Prime Minister Xu's side, Madam Chu dared not act rashly.
"His birth mother relied on her looks to make a living, and her son is the same," the Third Young Master Chu spoke with particular harshness. "Chu Zhao is even more capable than his mother—at least he sold himself to the Xu family in the capital for a good price."
Madam Chu frowned.Although she also disliked Chu Zhao and wished he would meet with misfortune and die in the wilderness tomorrow, she did not want her sons to become as petty and mean-spirited as some women because of it. Sometimes, when she thought about it, she couldn't blame Chu Linfeng for doting on Chu Zhao. Compared to her own three sons, who had likely been spoiled since childhood, Chu Zhao was indeed far superior.
"Are we just going to let that kid rise to prominence so easily?" The eldest son of the Chu family spoke with resentment. "If this continues, we'll have even less say in the Chu family in the future!"
"No need to worry." Madam Chu chuckled, her tone dark. "Do you really think the prime minister's daughter is so easy to marry? Don't forget, Chu Zilan still has Ying Xiang, that beauty who brings misfortune, by his side."
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel