Chapter 205: Jade Splendor Temple
The Second Young Master Xiao had a fiancée now, bestowed by the Emperor himself. This fiancée was a young woman who had once disguised herself as a man, fought alongside Xiao Jue on the battlefield, and achieved remarkable military feats. She was now the first female marquis since the founding of Great Wei—the Marquis of Wu'an.
Overnight, the streets and alleys, taverns and teahouses of Shuojing City buzzed with the same topic. Some said Second Young Master Xiao was indeed extraordinary, for his fiancée was clearly a formidable figure, a heroine who rivaled any man. Others wondered why he would pass over the proper Miss Shen to marry an ordinary woman with neither family background nor status, and one who so brazenly flouted convention by appearing in public. They simply couldn't understand his thinking.
Regardless of the gossip outside, the Xiao household remained immersed in joy. Early the next morning, Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing, having hastily prepared gifts overnight, dragged Xiao Jue along to pay a visit to the He family.
Unsurprisingly, this once again drew a crowd of curious neighbors.
He Sui inwardly groaned, thinking the Xiao family had arrived far too quickly—he hadn't even had time to send Qingmei out to buy tea leaves. Qingmei could only sigh helplessly and pour several cups of hot water instead. The entire family sat awkwardly in the room, facing their guests.
He Yan had just finished practicing martial arts in the backyard. The Xiao family's sudden arrival left her no time to change, so when Xiao Jing and the others were seated, they saw a young woman walk in wearing work clothes, her hair tied in a simple bun, wiping sweat from her forehead as she approached.
He Yan had assumed Xiao Jue would come alone today. When she noticed Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing were also present, she froze in uncertainty and glanced toward Xiao Jue. Before Xiao Jue could speak, Xiao Jing began, "Master He, Miss He, we apologize for our abrupt visit today. Please do not take offense."
"No, no, it's fine," He Sui replied with a forced smile. He hadn't slept a wink the previous night, having spent hours sitting in the courtyard just staring at the sky. He Yan's engagement had come too suddenly, and it all felt unreal. Even though it was an imperial decree, he still couldn't quite believe it. Everyone said Xiao Jue was an exceptional match, but such a family belonged to a world entirely different from theirs.
His brief interaction with Xiao Jue the night before had left him with the vague impression that General Feng Yun lacked the airs of a spoiled young master—far better than Fan Cheng. Still, He Sui had heard a little about Xiao Jue's family situation. With no elders above him, only his elder brother and sister-in-law remained. Xiao Jing was known throughout the capital as a refined gentleman, but He Sui knew nothing of Bai Rongwei. Yet, marrying his daughter into another family always made him fear she might be mistreated. Moreover, He Yan had been spoiled by him—what if her future in-laws didn't cherish her as he did?
He Sui never wished for He Yan to marry into a prominent family. As the saying goes, there is wisdom in matching social status. Rather than climbing high only to be looked down upon, he would prefer her to marry an ordinary, humble family where she could be cherished and held dear.
He Sui's heart ached.
However, the attitude of Xiao Jue's elder brother and sister-in-law now took He Sui by surprise.
Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing were not people who craved prestige or wealth. They were simply overjoyed that Xiao Jue had finally found someone he loved, and they were careful not to scare the young woman away, going out of their way to be considerate. Regarding the marriage arrangements, Bai Rongwei discussed every detail thoroughly with He Sui. Seeing the Xiao family take the matter so seriously, the stone in He Sui's heart eased somewhat.Being valued is always a good thing.
He Yan sat to the side, completely unable to get a word in. Fortunately, He Yun Sheng had gone to school early in the morning; otherwise, if he had stayed in the house, who knows how he would have made things difficult for the Xiao family.
He Sui was also observing Xiao Jue. The couple from the main branch of the Xiao family seemed quite reliable, and He Sui had no doubts about Xiao Jue’s own excellence. However, it was widely rumored that Xiao Jue was indifferent to women and cold-hearted, so He Sui wondered what Xiao Jue truly thought of He Yan. Occasionally, he would ask Xiao Jue questions about He Yan, such as what she liked to eat, what she enjoyed doing, and how she had performed at the Liangzhou Guard...
Xiao Jue answered each question one by one.
He Yan: “...”
She felt like a complete outsider here. When this cordial meeting finally came to an end, He Sui even tried to invite them to stay for a meal.
“No need to trouble yourself, Master He,” Bai Rongwei said with a smile. “We must first return to the manor to inform the various relatives of the Xiao family. The imperial decree arrived in such haste last night that we didn’t have time to notify them. Today, we should share the joy with all our relatives and friends.”
“Well... you must come another day,” He Sui replied cheerfully.
He Yan: “...”
The rice in their household’s storage jar wasn’t even enough to prepare a single meal, and they only had Qingmei as a maid. If they really tried to host a meal, the guests would likely go hungry waiting, only to be served a simple porridge and side dishes. Watching He Sui’s jubilant expression, He Yan felt utterly speechless.
He Sui escorted Bai Rongwei and the others out. The neighbors who had gathered outside to watch the commotion greeted He Sui with good-natured teasing: “Ah, congratulations, Old He! You’ve found a wonderful in-law family!”
“Old He, you’re truly blessed to have raised such a fine daughter. Why aren’t we as fortunate?”
“When you prosper in the future, don’t forget us! I even held He Yan when she was born!”
He Yan thought to herself that if the real Miss He were here, hearing such teasing would surely have made her blush crimson with embarrassment. Even someone as thick-skinned as herself felt a little uncomfortable upon hearing these words.
Xiao Jue walked beside her at the back, as if Bai Rongwei and the others had intentionally left space for the two of them to talk. He Yan asked, “Commander, what are your plans for tomorrow?”
Xiao Jue looked at her. “Why do you ask?”
“I plan to visit Jade Splendor Temple on Lotus Snow Mountain tomorrow to pray,” He Yan said with a smile. “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, after all. I’ve heard that the Buddha at Jade Splendor Temple is very efficacious, and many people go up the mountain to pray for blessings at this time. Yun Sheng has school, and Father has work, so I’ll be going alone. If you have nothing to do, you can come with me. Praying to the Buddha can’t hurt.”
She often thought about how that nighttime encounter with Xiao Jue had ultimately changed her life. Although fate had inevitably led to a tragic end, before that end, it had given her a little more courage. That courage had carried through to the present, forging a bond with Xiao Jue. Fate, long and winding, was like a red silk ribbon hanging from an ancient tree—discarded, trampled upon, yet still picked up by another who would bend down and carefully hang it again in a place untouched by wind and rain.
How fortunate.
“I have nothing to do tomorrow,” Xiao Jue said, a faint smile curling his lips. “I can go with you.”
“Great!” He Yan replied. “Then tomorrow at Chen hour, I’ll wait for you at the entrance of Xiao Manor.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Xiao Jue chuckle. He Yan asked curiously, “What are you laughing at?”“Miss He has forgotten she is a woman again.” Xiao Jue spoke leisurely, his gaze carrying a hint of teasing.
He Yan understood and coughed lightly. “Between you and me, there’s no need to be bound by worldly conventions.”
“Go to sleep,” he chuckled softly. “Tomorrow at seven, I’ll come to pick you up.”
He Yan nodded.
…
While this He family in the capital was filled with joy and laughter, the other He household was shrouded in a tense and oppressive atmosphere, as if a storm were about to break.
He Rufei slammed the cup in his hand against the wall with a sharp crack.
The porcelain cup shattered upon impact, the peony pattern on its surface instantly splintering into pieces. The servants in the room dared not even breathe, standing with their heads bowed in silence.
Outsiders often spoke of the Flying Goose General as cheerful, generous, and unconstrained—and indeed he was. But occasionally, within the confines of his home, He Rufei would reveal a darker, more violent side. Even the He family servants were sometimes puzzled: why did the great general, so confident and awe-inspiring in public, shining like the sun, sometimes turn as gloomy and venomous as a snake lurking in the shadows, his brows and eyes heavy with resentment?
“All of you, leave.” He Yuansheng stepped into the room, using his shoe to sweep the shards aside before dismissing the servants.
Once the door was closed, He Yuansheng sat down across from He Rufei.
“Now, rumors are spreading everywhere that your tactics in the Battle of Huayuan were a thousand miles apart from before, completely different from the past.” He Yuansheng poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip. “I think for the next few days, you should feign illness and avoid court.”
“Why go that far?” He Rufei scoffed dismissively. “Victory and defeat are common in war. One battle is nothing.”
“Is that so?” He Yuansheng looked at him. “Then why have you been so restless since returning home last night? Is it because of that woman named He Yan?”
He Rufei’s head snapped up to meet his gaze.
“She is not He Yan.” He Yuansheng spoke unhurriedly. “We’ve already sent people to investigate. She’s just the daughter of a city gate captain, with no prior connection to our family. Somehow, she managed to latch onto Xiao Jue and even earned a noble title. Just one appearance at the palace, and you’re this frightened? Don’t forget, you are the Flying Goose General.”
Though the speaker meant no harm, to a listener with something to hide, the words felt like mockery.
He Rufei’s eyes darkened. “Of course I know it’s just a trick. But at this very moment, just as people are spreading rumors that I’ve changed, this woman named He Yan appears. Isn’t it too much of a coincidence? She also disguised herself as a man, rose through the ranks, and earned a title. Don’t you think it’s all too convenient, Father?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“That woman named He Yan’s background shows no issues. As a woman, she likely wouldn’t dare scheme against the He family. Besides, everyone who knew about what happened back then has been silenced, except for the Xu family… Xu Zhiheng is as timid as a mouse and wouldn’t speak up willingly. Father, that woman named He Yan is Xiao Huaijin’s fiancée, and last night at the palace, Xiao Huaijin defended her repeatedly.”
“Are you saying this was all orchestrated by Xiao Huaijin?” He Yuansheng frowned slightly. “The He and Xiao families have had no grievances in the past. Why would he do this?” If possible, he had no desire to make an enemy of Xiao Huaijin. Even Xu Xiang, who wielded immense power in the court, could do nothing against Xiao Huaijin. And that Commander Xiao—he wouldn’t hesitate to behead the son of a court official at the slightest provocation. What wouldn’t he be capable of?"When He Yan studied at Virtuous Prosperity Academy, she was classmates with Xiao Jue," He Rufei said with a profound gaze. "Perhaps she discovered the secret of He Yan's identity long ago. Now that we have aligned ourselves with Xu Xiang, and Xiao Huaijin is at odds with Xu Xiang, naturally he will come after our family."
"We have been very discreet in our actions..."
"Father," He Rufei interrupted before He Yuansheng could finish, "there are no walls that wind cannot pass through. The capital is filled with spies everywhere. Since we have become entangled in the feud between the Xiao and Xu families, it is impossible for us to remain untouched."
He Yuansheng sighed softly.
He always sought to act with caution, hoping to reap all the benefits while letting others bear the risks upfront. Aligning with Xu Jingfu certainly brought countless advantages, but at the same time, they had also drawn the attention of Xiao Huaijin—a truly disheartening matter.
"Now that we are Xu Xiang's people, Xiao Huaijin will not spare us. In that case," He Rufei's eyes filled with murderous intent, "we must strike first."
He Yuansheng frowned. "Dealing with Xiao Huaijin is not something to be taken lightly."
"Who said I was going to deal with Xiao Huaijin?"
"You mean..."
"Didn't they find a woman to play tricks and deceive people?" He Rufei spoke slowly, his eyes flickering with boundless malice. "We will start with that woman first."
...
He Yan had not expected that the appearance of the Xiao family would inspire He Sui to consider renovating their residence. He had not thought of moving to a different house. Part of the silver He Yan had previously saved was given to He Yun Sheng, part was used to bribe Fuwang of the Xu family, and she kept a small portion for future use. Besides this, although she was now a marquis, she had not been granted an official residence or land by the imperial court and was even penalized with a year's suspension of her salary. Even as an official, she was one with clean hands and empty sleeves.
She had originally planned to visit Wang Ba and the others at the camp outside the city. If Hong Shan and his group learned she was a woman, their shock would undoubtedly be immense. However, she felt that going there rashly without a proper reason was unwise, so she decided to wait a few more days.
For now, she would simply go to Jade Splendor Temple on Lotus Snow Mountain to pay her respects to the Buddha.
Early the next morning, He Yan rose and changed into a crab-shell green silk gown with subtle woven patterns. Thank heavens, although the He family was not wealthy, He Sui was still quite willing to buy dresses for the eldest daughter. However, over the past year, He Yan had grown slightly taller. Though still slender, she was no longer as frail as before, looking much healthier now. Qingmei gathered a small section of her long hair into a bun at the back, leaving the rest to flow freely. He Yan looked at herself in the mirror, still quite unaccustomed to the sight, when Qingmei smiled joyfully and said, "Young lady looks much better this way. When you first returned, this servant almost didn’t recognize you."
He Yan thought to herself, This is the version that truly wouldn’t be recognized.
All the jewelry she had before was taken by Qingmei to the pawnshop and sold off at He Yan’s request. Now, she couldn’t even find a hairpin. After rummaging through the drawers for a while, Qingmei finally pulled out a wooden hairpin, likely carved by He Sui himself. It wasn’t worth much, which was why it hadn’t been pawned along with the rest.
"Young lady looks lovely with this hairpin. Commander Xiao will surely be pleased to see it," Qingmei murmured.He Yun Sheng and He Sui left early, but the two of them were quite at ease with Xiao Jue. Once they learned that He Yan was going to Lotus Snow Mountain with Xiao Jue, they asked no further questions. Perhaps it wasn’t so much trust in Xiao Jue as it was trust in He Yan. After all, ever since they found out that He Yan had beheaded two Wutuo people at the Liangzhou Guard, the way the father and son looked at her had become entirely different from before.
"Alright, alright," He Yan patted her head. "Just relax." She grabbed the bundle on the table and smiled. "I’ll be off now!"
She didn’t bring Qingmei along, as Qingmei walked too slowly.
They had agreed to meet at Chen hour. Not knowing when Xiao Jue would arrive, He Yan opened the main gate first to see if anyone was outside. As soon as she opened it, she saw a carriage parked right in front of her house. Fei Nu was holding the reins, and the carriage curtain was half-open. Inside, Xiao Jue was sitting and reading a book.
He Yan was taken aback and jogged over to ask him, "When did you arrive? Why didn’t you come in?"
"Just arrived," Xiao Jue set down the book in his hand. "I thought you might still be asleep, so I waited."
He Yan climbed into the carriage with practiced ease. Chi Wu began driving, and as He Yan sat down, she rubbed her hands together. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Xiao Jue glanced at her but said nothing. Instead, he retrieved a rosewood box from beneath the small table in the carriage. As soon as he opened it, a fragrant aroma wafted out—steaming pastries and a cup of sweetened soy milk.
"How did you know I hadn’t eaten yet?" He Yan was deeply moved. Since they were heading up the mountain early, Qingmei had already gotten up early to help her with her hair. He Yan couldn’t bear to ask her to wake up even earlier to prepare a meal, so she had planned to buy a couple of steamed buns from the street before Xiao Jue arrived. She never expected Xiao Jue to be so thoughtful.
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "The vegetarian meals at the temple are limited. I was afraid they wouldn’t fill you up."
Given that he had prepared breakfast, He Yan decided not to take offense at his teasing remark about her appetite. As she ate, she chatted idly with Xiao Jue. "Commander, I’ve heard that the Jade Splendor Temple on Lotus Snow Mountain is very efficacious. Once, there was a man who was so poor his family couldn’t even afford food. One day, while he was up the mountain gathering firewood, it suddenly started thundering and raining. He took shelter in the Jade Splendor Temple, which at the time was just a dilapidated shrine. The beggar looked at the Buddha statue and said, 'Buddha, oh Buddha, please show me a way to survive. The elders in my family are starving to death.' Then, while he was sleeping in the temple, he had a dream. In the dream, the Buddha told him to go home and dig a hole beside the well in his courtyard."
At this point, He Yan deliberately glanced at Xiao Jue’s expression. However, the man merely looked at her with a faint, amused smile, neither anxious for the rest of the story nor urging her to continue, as if he were listening to an inconsequential piece of idle gossip.
He Yan almost doubted whether she was telling the story poorly. If Wang Ba were here, he would surely have pressed her eagerly, "What happened next? What happened?"
But since she had started the story, she naturally had to continue.
"When the man woke up, he still remembered what had happened in the dream. After returning home, he took a hoe at night and went to dig a hole beside the well. As he dug, he unearthed a bag of gold from the ground.""This poor man, having obtained the gold, used it to start a business. He grew more and more prosperous, eventually becoming a great local magnate. After acquiring wealth, he visited Jade Splendor Temple once more, donating a generous sum of incense money to the abbot and helping to renovate the temple. The Buddha statues were even gilded. Later, Jade Splendor Temple became increasingly efficacious, and people said the more incense money one donated, the more likely their wishes would come true."
The story finished, He Yan drank the last sip of sweet broth. "So, Commander, don't you think the legend is impressive?"
Xiao Jue neither agreed nor disagreed. "Young Lady He spins a fine tale."
He Yan: "..."
It was true that she had made up the story—she couldn't remember from whose mouth she had heard it, and of course, it wasn't about Jade Splendor Temple but some other temple. Still, it was enough to fool people, but Xiao Jue had bluntly pointed it out. He Yan couldn't help but wonder if her ability to deceive others had truly deteriorated.
As if sensing her dejection, Xiao Jue said, "The abbot of Jade Splendor Temple is well acquainted with my elder brother."
He Yan: "Huh?"
"So your story is too fake."
He Yan fell silent.
It was indeed a bit awkward to lie in front of someone who knew the truth. But... she looked at Xiao Jue. "Alright, the temple isn't Jade Splendor Temple, but the story is true. Commander, do you believe that sometimes the things that happen in dreams might be real?"
Xiao Jue: "Dreams?"
"Have you ever thought that perhaps everything happening now—whether in Liang Province, Jiyang, or even Rundu—is just a dream? When you wake from the dream, you become another person, and everything you once had vanishes into nothing." Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying a deeper meaning that made Xiao Jue glance at her.
He pondered for a moment before replying, "Even if it's a dream, it doesn't matter."
He Yan looked at him.
"If the dream ends, just start over again."
He Yan was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but lower her head and smile.
That was true. If the dream ended, she could simply start over again. Just as she had met Xiao Jue in her previous life, then died, became a general, and ended up working for others. But when the dream ended and she started over, she still met Xiao Jue and became He Yan on the battlefield once more.
What is destined to be yours, even if temporarily lost, will return in another form.
The moon and her sword were the same.
...
The day was clear and sunny, with many worshippers visiting.
At the entrance of Jade Splendor Temple, a carriage stopped. A young woman helped an older lady out of the carriage. The older lady was elegant and beautiful, though she looked pale and sickly. The young woman beside her bore a striking resemblance to her—they were mother and daughter.
"Mother, walk slowly, watch your step," He Xinying said softly.
Lady He the Second nodded gently.
He Xinying sighed inwardly. When she left home to marry, Lady He the Second's health was already poor, and now it had worsened. That morning, when she went to the He family to fetch her mother and helped her into the carriage, she felt how slender Lady He the Second's arm was—so thin it was startling."How exactly has Father been taking care of you? Are all those physicians in the manor just idling around?" He Xinying complained with dissatisfaction. "Maybe I should still ask my husband to request an imperial physician from the palace to examine you. Mother, how can I rest easy seeing you like this?"
Lady He the Second waved her hand dismissively. "I'm fine. There's no need to trouble yourself."
He Xinying felt both heartache and helplessness as she supported Lady He the Second, slowly walking further inside. The He family did not favor climbing mountains to worship Buddha, so today, only the mother and daughter had made the ascent. The guards were waiting outside the temple. He Xinying first led Lady He the Second to meet the temple abbot, presenting the agreed-upon donation.
She hadn't truly come to worship the Buddha today anyway—she had merely sought an excuse to see her mother and incidentally discuss her discoveries in the Xu household. But now, seeing Lady He the Second in such a frail state, she found herself unable to speak of anything.
Forget it. She wouldn't trouble her mother with these matters. As for the doubts concerning Xu Zhiheng, she would investigate them herself.
After all, there would be plenty of time ahead; there was no need to rush.
(End of Chapter)
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