Chapter 224 Evidence
Aside from the servant who had gotten up in the middle of the night to use the outhouse earlier, they encountered no one else along the way. He Yan cautiously approached a room and whispered into Xiao Jue’s ear, “This is He Rufei’s study.”
It had originally been He Yan’s study, but now it belonged to He Rufei. After checking the surroundings and finding no hidden mechanisms, He Yan gently pushed the door open and entered.
Having once lived here, she was familiar with the layout. Xiao Jue followed her inside, and as soon as they entered, He Yan was taken aback.
The bookshelves and desk were still the same, but the furnishings in the study had multiplied several times over. Porcelain and antiques filled the room, a stark contrast to how it had looked when He Yan lived there. She guessed that He Rufei had likely displayed all the rewards bestowed by the emperor here, perhaps to show off to someone. The bookshelves, once only half-filled with books, were now packed to the brim.
On the wall in the center hung a sword. Its blade was a bluish-green, and its scabbard had a hint of emerald hue—it was Qinglang.
She froze for a moment, her gaze involuntarily fixed on Qinglang. She reached out to take the sword but withdrew her hand just before her fingers could touch it.
Xiao Jue asked, “What’s wrong?”
He Yan shook her head. “It’s not the right time yet.”
Even if she could steal Qinglang tonight, He Rufei would surely report it to the authorities tomorrow. The sword in her possession would then become “stolen goods,” unable to be openly displayed. Wouldn’t that be an insult to Qinglang?
So, it wasn’t the right time yet.
He Yan thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to the bookshelf. She crouched down, half her body pressed against the floor, and reached deep inside. When her fingers found a familiar protrusion, a hidden compartment made a soft “click.” It was an empty layer, and from it, He Yan retrieved a small box the size of a palm.
Xiao Jue asked, “What is this?”
“The Linglong Box,” He Yan whispered in reply. “It was a reward from the emperor, the only one of its kind in the world. Before I left, I gave it to He Rufei. I doubt he would have thrown it away.”
The hidden compartment in the bookshelf had been installed by He Yan long ago. The Linglong Box was precious, and before she married into the Xu family, she couldn’t take these things with her, so she entrusted them all to He Rufei. The Linglong Box was perfect for storing confidential scrolls. Even the most skilled craftsman in the world couldn’t open it—only the person who had set its unlocking method knew how to do so, and the method could only be set once.
Given its value and He Rufei’s temperament, he likely wouldn’t have discarded it. Moreover, in He Rufei’s eyes, He Yan was dead, making him the only person in the world who knew how to open the Linglong Box. He must have felt quite at ease.
He never expected that He Yan would return from the dead, and now, it was all the more convenient for her.
“I wonder what he’s kept inside,” He Yan thought to herself. She picked up the Linglong Box and, following the memory in her mind, gently twisted the lock mechanism. In an instant, with a soft “snap,” the lid of the Linglong Box opened.
The two of them peered inside.
…
In Lady He the Second’s room, He Xinying sat with her mother on the edge of the bed, holding the military strategy book they had secretly taken from He Yan’s old room in the Xu family. She asked, “Mother, what is this? Did my sister leave it behind? Why would she leave something like this?”She kept her voice very low. In the room, only a small oil lamp was placed by the bedside, and the maids had all been sent out. He Xinying had only said that she hadn’t seen her mother in a long time and wanted to share a bed with her at night to keep her company and care for her while she was ill. Now, she dared not trust anyone, nor keep anyone by her side, especially those brought from the Xu family.
Lady He the Second stared blankly at the military book in her hands, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but she said nothing.
He Xinying felt that her mother must know something, and her anxiety grew. "Mother, why aren’t you speaking? Are you hiding something from me? I always feel that Xu Zhiheng is acting strangely. Eldest Sister..." She wanted to say that perhaps He Yan’s death was not as the rumors claimed, but as soon as she saw Lady He the Second, the words died on her lips.
If He Yan’s death truly was not simple, Lady He the Second would only be more heartbroken upon learning of it. Her mother’s health was already poor—she absolutely could not add to her burden.
"Ying’er, don’t concern yourself with these matters," Lady He the Second finally spoke after a long silence, her voice weary. "Just live your life well."
"How can I live my life well? I don’t want to die as mysteriously as Eldest Sister!" He Xinying blurted out.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Lady He the Second’s face paled, and she coughed violently twice. He Xinying hurriedly picked up a nearby handkerchief to wipe her mouth. When she lowered the handkerchief, a splash of blood stained it, a sight that was both shocking and alarming.
He Xinying was startled and cried out in panic, "Mother... how did your illness become so severe?"
When she arrived, she had already known that Lady He the Second had been bedridden for days, but the He family had only said it was a common cold and that she would recover after resting at home for a while. Yet now, it was clear the illness was far more serious.
"Has Father not called for a physician? What is really going on?" He Xinying grew frantic and moved to get out of bed. "I’ll send someone to fetch a physician with a formal request..."
"Don’t go." Lady He the Second grabbed her hand tightly. Though she appeared frail, her grip was surprisingly strong, as if she were using every ounce of her strength. "This is an old ailment of mine, nothing serious. It’s fine."
He Xinying’s tears welled up. "Mother, why won’t you tell me anything? I feel like there are secrets in this household, but I know nothing."
Before her marriage, she had been carefree, innocent, and happy. When her eldest sister passed away and she married Xu Zhiheng, she had protested for a time, but she was quickly won over by his gentleness and attentiveness. A girl who had never experienced the harshness of the world naively believed she could be protected for a lifetime. But when ugly truths began to surface, and she caught a glimpse of the filth and danger lurking beneath, she felt the powerlessness of being a woman.
"Ying’er," Lady He the Second spoke slowly, "your eldest sister is already gone. You are my only daughter now." She looked at He Xinying with affection, reaching out to pat her head soothingly, just as she had when He Xinying was a child. "Remember this: whether in the He family or the Xu family, trust no one. I lack the ability to protect your sister, and I cannot protect you either. If you want to live well, don’t look, don’t ask, and don’t listen."He Xinying said woodenly, "Elder Sister went blind not long after marrying into the Xu family, didn’t she? She couldn’t see anything anymore. Yet she still died."
A flicker of pain flashed in Lady He the Second’s eyes.
"Mother, just tell me—is this military manual truly left behind by Elder Sister? Why does Xu Zhiheng regard it as so important? And Elder Brother… he visits the Xu family every few days, not to see me, but clearly to find Xu Zhiheng. And you…" she continued, "Have you been… confined by Father?"
Lady He the Second looked at the woman before her. Though they were biological sisters, she always felt that He Yan and He Xinying did not resemble each other. He Yan was strong, independent, silent, and reserved. She had worn a mask since childhood, so much so that now, when Lady He the Second tried to recall, she could not even picture He Yan’s face as a child. It was only after she grew up and returned to the He family as a woman that they had met those few, fleeting times.
A girl with a somewhat heroic and delicate beauty, her eyes firm and resolute.
He Xinying, however, was different—soft, gentle, like a snow-white dumpling, pleasing to the eye at first glance. She would cry loudly if someone stepped on her foot, and she would wheedle and act sweetly for a beautiful dress.
These two daughters had completely different temperaments, so she had naturally assumed that He Yan was inherently strong, while He Xinying was inherently in need of affection and care.
Until He Yan died.
One day, she suddenly realized that perhaps, in all those past days, He Yan had also been like He Xinying—wanting to cry when wronged, longing to possess things she liked. Just as even strong girls need their mother’s care and affection, this little girl who always tugged at her sleeve, clamoring to buy sweets, had unknowingly grown up.
He Xinying did not know that when she grew serious, stubbornly pursuing the truth, she bore an uncanny resemblance to her deceased elder sister.
Yet, even so, she still could not say anything.
Knowing too much would only put He Xinying in greater danger. She had already lost one daughter; she absolutely could not lose another.
"I…"
Before Lady He the Second could finish her sentence, a sudden shout came from outside: "Thief! There’s a thief in the mansion! Catch the thief!"
Instantly, the entire He residence erupted into commotion.
"A thief?" He Xinying instinctively shrank toward the head of the bed, muttering, "What fool of a thief dares to break into our mansion?"
Lady He the Second grabbed her arm. "Don’t speak, and don’t go out. Be careful!"
He Xinying nodded.
Meanwhile, He Yan was leading Xiao Jue as they hurried through the courtyard, inwardly cursing He Rufei’s cunning. Though He Rufei could no longer alter the unlocking mechanism of the Exquisite Box, he was exceedingly suspicious and had installed a trap inside. Once the box was opened, a whistle would sound.
Thus, anyone who opened the Exquisite Box here would inevitably be discovered.
However, when she opened it just now, she saw clearly—inside were several letters. She tucked them into her robe. Since He Rufei had not left the box empty and had gone to the trouble of setting a trap, these letters must be extremely important. This trip today was not entirely in vain.
"The guards are all awake," Xiao Jue reminded her. "Escape or fight?"
"I’m carrying your sword. If it’s drawn, we’ll be exposed. We can’t fight," He Yan lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment. "Follow me!"She knew every corner of the He residence by heart, and avoiding people should have been easy. But perhaps He Rufei had been particularly guilt-ridden and anxious lately, for the guards in the estate now outnumbered the servants. The moment the whistle sounded, torches and men emerged from all directions.
"They're over there, after them!"
"The general said to capture the assassins—no need to keep them alive, dead or alive!"
He Yan sneered inwardly. So terrified, were they? That only confirmed the letters she carried in her bosom were anything but ordinary. She pulled Xiao Jue along, sprinting through the estate. Passing by a building, she slipped inside.
Lady He the Second was huddled with He Xinying by the bedside, clutching the blankets nervously. Suddenly, two figures appeared in the room. He Xinying was about to scream when a cold blade pressed against her throat. The masked figure in black spoke, "Quiet. Make a sound, and you die."
He Xinying immediately fell silent.
He Yan held the sword, inwardly annoyed. She had thought Lady He the Second's courtyard was closest to the outer wall, making it a convenient escape route. Who would have thought that in the dead of night, Lady He the Second would still be awake, and He Xinying would be here too? What were they doing up so late, whispering mother-daughter secrets? A sour feeling welled up in He Yan's heart. But what was this now? She was holding her own birth mother and younger sister hostage?
Perhaps some noise from inside had reached outside, for a maid called out, "Lady He the Second? Is something wrong?"
He Yan's heart skipped a beat. Before she could utter a threat, Lady He the Second spoke, her tone calm as usual, "It's nothing, just a bit of a cough."
The noise outside ceased, and He Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced back at Xiao Jue, who was vigilantly watching the door, ready to fend off anyone who might charge in.
"Listen," He Yan whispered, "I have no intention of harming either of you. Give me the key to the back courtyard and let us leave."
He Xinying trembled as she spoke, "How do we know you won't kill us to silence us?"
He Yan was surprised. This younger sister seemed meek and gentle, yet she had some courage. Deliberately lowering her voice, He Yan spoke menacingly, "Do you think you're in any position to bargain with me?"
He Xinying paled and fell silent.
Lady He the Second, however, ignored the sword at He Xinying's throat. She stepped down from the bed, rummaged in a drawer, and pulled out a key, handing it to He Yan. "Go," she said.
He Yan was taken aback.
She had expected Lady He the Second to bargain with her or find a way to alert the He family. He Yan had even prepared to stay on guard, but she hadn't anticipated such calmness. He Yan couldn't help but look at the woman before her. The lady's eyes were fixed on her, filled with a complexity He Yan couldn't decipher.
It seemed as though she was looking at He Yan, yet also as if she was seeing someone else through her. If He Yan hadn't known she was wearing a black mask, she might have suspected Lady He the Second had recognized her.
Seeing He Yan hesitate, Lady He the Second gave her a gentle push. "The guards will be here soon. Go quickly."
Xiao Jue nodded to her. "Let's go."
He Yan had no time to dwell on it. She grabbed the key to the back courtyard and turned to leave. As she brushed past Lady He the Second, she suddenly felt something being pressed into her hand. Without time to examine it, she instinctively tucked the object into her bosom, unlocked the back courtyard gate, and fled.Lady He the Second was right; the pursuers arrived in the blink of an eye. They had entered through a dog hole, but there was no time for that on the way back. Since they were already exposed, they went straight over the back wall. The guard chasing them was about to follow closely when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his knee. Looking down, he saw a yellow dog from nowhere biting his calf, causing him to howl in agony. Unable to give chase in time, he could only watch helplessly as the two figures in black disappeared into the night.
...
The mansion was thrown into chaos. He Xinying finally managed to calm herself, relit the lamp on the table, and patted her chest, saying, "That was truly terrifying just now. That man's gaze was so fierce; I was afraid he would kill us. Mother, if Uncle finds out we let the assassins escape, even if it was to save our lives, he will be furious. If no one discovers this, let's not tell anyone for now... Mother?"
Lady He the Second stared blankly at her hands, as if she hadn't heard a word her daughter had just said. He Xinying urged anxiously, "Mother!"
Lady He the Second snapped back to reality and looked at her, saying, "Understood. Don't tell anyone about this either... not even Master Xu."
He Xinying found it strange. Her mother's expression when she looked at the figure in black had been very odd. Then she suddenly remembered something, "But were those two really here to steal? I saw they had nothing in their hands and didn't take anything. My military treatise... right, where is my military treatise?"
While speaking with Lady He the Second on the couch, the military treatise had been placed by the bedside. Now it was gone. He Xinying was stunned, "Oh no, did those two steal my military treatise? But why would they steal a military treatise? Mother, did you see my military treatise?"
Lady He the Second coughed lightly before replying, "No need to look for it. I gave the military treatise to the figure in black just now."
"Why... why?" He Xinying never expected Lady He the Second to do such a thing.
"That thing is nothing but trouble in our hands," Lady He the Second said with a vacant expression. "Those two came here to steal. If they left empty-handed, I don't know if they managed to take what they wanted. If they did, it would be adding flowers to brocade. If not, it would be offering charcoal in snowy weather, not letting their risk in coming to the He family be in vain."
"Mother," He Xinying said angrily, "How can that be? I went through so much trouble to get that from the Xu family."
"Ying'er, remember this," Lady He the Second's expression turned serious. "Whether it's tonight's assassins or the Xu family's military treatise, keep them buried in your heart. Don't mention a single word to anyone."
He Xinying had come seeking answers, but now, with one mystery unresolved, there were only more questions. Yet there was nothing she could do. In the end, she could only reply, "Understood. I won't mention it to anyone."
...
Fei Nu, waiting outside, received He Yan and the other two, and the three immediately hid in a separate courtyard.
"What is this place?" He Yan asked curiously.
"My private residence in Shuojing City. Sometimes when things are inconvenient to handle at the mansion, I come here," Xiao Jue replied.
He Yan thought for a moment and understood. Xiao Jing and his wife were especially kind, but Xiao Jue's circumstances meant that his actions would not be understood by most of the world. This was just as well—out of sight, out of mind, saving a lot of trouble.He Yan took out the letters from the Linglong box from her bosom, waving them triumphantly at Xiao Jue. "Look, this trip was quite fruitful. I told you, going to the He family would definitely be worth it."
Xiao Jue glanced at her and said, "It was dangerous. Just this once, no more." He paused before adding, "Starting tomorrow, He Rufei will surely use this as an excuse to search the entire Shuojing City. Stay at home these days and don’t act rashly. With these letters missing, He Rufei’s first suspicion will fall on me, and I’m afraid you’ll be implicated."
"It’s fine. After all, I’m the Marquis of Wu'an, personally conferred by His Majesty. As long as he can’t produce evidence, he can’t do anything to me." He Yan eagerly opened the letters. "Let’s first see what’s written in these letters. He Rufei hid them so carefully—I don’t believe they’re love poems."
There were three letters in total. He Yan and Xiao Jue opened them. They weren’t long, but after reading them, both of their expressions changed.
"Bastard!" He Yan put down the letter in her hand and couldn’t help but slam her fist on the table. "How could there be such a heartless and ungrateful person in the world!"
Of the three letters, two were addressed to the Wutuo People, and one was addressed to Xu Jingfu. Although He Yan had suspected that He Rufei might have connections with Xu Jingfu ever since she saw He Rufei’s servant, Ding Yi, in Liang Province City, there was no concrete evidence. Now, with these letters in black and white, it was confirmed.
In the Battle of Huayuan, He Rufei had indeed struck a deal with the Wutuo People. He Rufei provided the Wutuo People with military intelligence about the Pacify Yue Army, deliberately making the victory appear hard-won and tragic. In return, he gained a connection with Xu Xiang, expressing his sincerity in cooperating with Xu Jingfu. Moreover, he would advocate for peace when the Wutuo envoys came to the capital to sue for peace, facilitating the establishment of a Trade Market for the Wutuo People in Great Wei.
From beginning to end, what He Rufei feared most was having his identity exposed—that people would discover he was different from the once capable and battle-hardened "Flying Goose General." Yet, just to conceal his identity, he had betrayed his country, disregarding the lives of the people of Great Wei, showing neither loyalty nor righteousness.
Xiao Jue looked at the letter in his hand. He Rufei’s connection with Xu Jingfu was also troublesome. Xu Jingfu held immense power among civil officials, most of whom advocated for peace. Those who advocated for war were merely a few military officials. However, the "Flying Goose General" had always held considerable prestige among military officials. If He Rufei advocated for peace, the few remaining military officials who advocated for war would be even fewer.
He Yan took a deep breath. "Once such a shameless person enters the officialdom, they indeed become even worse. And to think he’s using my reputation—it’s truly disgusting."
"Don’t worry," Xiao Jue said calmly. "I’ll handle everything."
He Yan suddenly remembered that when she left the He residence earlier, Lady He the Second had stuffed something into her hand. At the time, the situation was urgent, and she didn’t have time to examine it closely, so she simply tucked it into her bosom. Now, with time to spare, she took it out.
It was a book, likely rolled up for a long time, its pages wrinkled and yellowed, with all the corners curled up. The book had probably been read many times, as the pages were worn thin. As soon as He Yan opened it, she froze.
Xiao Jue stood behind her, his gaze also falling on the book.
"This is...""My military strategy book," He Yan murmured, lowering her head to flip through a few pages. Yes, indeed, it was her handwriting. Ever since she enlisted in her previous life, she had read many military strategy books, repeatedly studying the most precious ones among them and jotting down her own notes and annotations in the margins.
Later, when she married, everything related to the "Flying Goose General" had to be completely abandoned. Her sword could not be taken, her warhorse could not be taken, and her trusted aides certainly could not be taken. In the end, He Yan secretly hid one military strategy book in her dowry chest and brought it to the Xu family.
In public, Madam Xu maintains a dignified and gentle demeanor, no different from any ordinary woman. Yet in private, she often reminisces about her days of galloping freely across the battlefield. Each time her fingers brush over the pages of a book, she recalls the comrades who once fought alongside her through life and death in the military camp.
She had hidden this military manual within the pillar of her bed, and now, it had been lost and found once more.
(End of Chapter)
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