Chapter Text
The day was still cool, the sun only having recently risen. Later it would be scorching outside with the summer winds. The garrison was waking up with activity starting to ring through the air. Xiao Jue pulled on his blue robe embroidered with cranes. His hair was neatly tied up and he felt prepared to start the day. Drinking Autumn hung on the wall, silent and cold just like its general. Dark autumn eyes glanced at the central door. No sounds emanated from the other side. Perhaps He Yan was still asleep, or perhaps she had left before him. The man coldly turned and walked out. What she did was not his concern so long as she trained like the rest of the Nanfu. That woman was a wild cat that had wandered into his care. Sometimes she was docile but more often than not, she bristled and spat at him, and he was tired of her inexplicable moods.
“Commander! Commander!” No sooner had Xiao Jue left his tent, Ma Damei and several other instructors ran towards him. Among them, Liang Ping could be seen helping Shen Muxue to walk.
“What happened?” his dark gaze moving to the young doctor.
“Commander Xiao,” Ma Damei clasped his hands together hurriedly in a salute. “It’s best if we talk inside.”
The instructors carried Miss Shen into his tent, helping her to sit before finally establishing a polite distance from her frame.
“What is it? Are you injured?” Commander Xiao looked at her and could see nothing wrong, but she was the doctor, not him.
The young woman’s gaze burned in her lovely face but she still attempted to look delicate in front of him, tilting her head like a wilted flower. Her lips moved but no sound came out, reminding Xiao Jue of a little princess in Jiyang.
“Commander, it seems someone activated her acupoints. Soldiers found her in the woodshed unable to talk or stand,” Liang Ping said nervously.
“Shen Han, fetch Lin Shuanghe to look at Miss Shen. Fei Nu, prepare tea for her.” His men saluted and set to their given task. Xiao Jue knelt down to look at her better. Her gaze darted to his hand as he reached out to carefully release her acupoint. As soon as it was done, his touch was gone, and the look of disappointment filled her lovely face. “Who did this to you? Speak when you can manage it.”
Everyone stood awkwardly in the silence, waiting to know who would attack the delicate doctor. Fei Nu came over with fresh tea, pouring a cup and offering it to the young woman.
Finally, she felt like she was able to speak. “He Yan.”
Surprise rippled through everyone gathered. Xiao Jue sighed inwardly. It seemed He Yan would, in fact, be his concern today. “He Yan silenced you?”
Shen Muxue nodded, surprisingly calm despite the situation. Xiao Jue glanced at Liang Ping. “Go summon He Yan from his room.”
The instructor immediately went to do so but found the central door locked from the other side. The man was embarrassed to have run into such a simple obstacle, his gaze down as he hurriedly exited to go to the room from the main door. He returned just as sheepish as he reported, “He Yan isn’t in his room. Shall I go to the training fields to look for him?”
“No need.” Xiao Jue already had an idea of where she might be. The pit of his stomach gave an uncomfortable twist. “Search his room for the imperial seal and attire. Take Ma Damei with you.” They saluted and disappeared again.
Lin Shuanghe and Shen Han returned, both looking at Shen Muxue with concern.
Q> “Commander, I’m fine. Besides activating my acupoint, He Yan did nothing else to me,” Shen Muxue said.
Lin Shuanghe walked over to Shen Muxue, looking at her seriously. “What are you talking about? Huaijin, why did you ask me to come?”
Shen Muxue replied for him, “Commander Xiao thought I was unwell and asked Young Master Lin to check my pulse. But there’s no need. I am a medical practitioner myself and know very well. Besides, He Yan did nothing else to me last night.”
Lin Shuanghe became more confused. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Lin Shuanghe asked, “Miss Shen, why would He Yan activate your acupoint?”
Xiao Jue remained silent, meeting Shen Muxue’s gaze calmly and letting her answer for all of their benefit, “Last night, I was originally brewing medicine. The firewood was insufficient, so I thought of going to the woodshed to fetch some. I ran into He Yan and the others… They wanted to leave Liangzhou Garrison. I intended to call someone, but He Yan activated my acupoint. I had no choice but to watch them leave.”
“He Yan is leaving Liangzhou Garrison?” Lin Shuanghe remarked in surprise, looking to Xiao Jue, “Why is he leaving Liangzhou Garrison?”
Xiao Jue closed his eyes to take a calming breath. He knew what Miss Shen would say, and wasn’t surprised in the least. There would most definitely be a headache from this shortly.
Shen Muxue bit her lip, “I heard from their conversation that they are going to Rundu.”
Lin Shuanghe immediately said, “Impossible! Everyone knows the situation in Rundu. If he can’t endure the cold and hardship of Liangzhou, and the daily training is difficult, going to a prosperous place would make sense. But going to Rundu, isn’t he going to his death?” The white-clothed doctor looked remarkably shaken but his eyes settled on Xiao Jue. Did Lin Shuanghe think that this was his fault? Xiao Jue sneered. This was entirely her own choice; he had simply refused to make a military move without orders or evidence.
No one in the room responded. Fei Nu looked to him but wisely did not mention anything of He Yan’s request last night.
Xiao Jue’s face was unusually cold as he carefully hid his anger. Earlier, when she had brought up Rundu, He Yan’s behavior was strange. For some reason, she didn’t believe that Rundu would receive support from Flying Phoenix General. Although he had rejected her proposal to send troops to Rundu, it seemed that He Yan hadn’t entirely given up on this idea.
Even without troops and horses, she still wanted to go to Rundu. You will die, he thought bitterly.
After struggling for a long time, Lin Shuanghe finally asked, “Miss Shen, didn’t you say that He Yan didn’t leave alone? Who else is accompanying her?”
Shen Muxue answered readily, “There are also Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, Shitou, Hong Shan, Xiao Mai, and Huang Xiong.”
Shen Han was gnashing his teeth. He Yan was quite particular, picking the best ones and taking them away.
As if remembering that he could open it from the other side, the middle door opened and Liang Ping walked in from the next room. He shook his head at Xiao Jue and said, “Commander, we’ve searched the room, but there’s no official attire and seal.”
If the official attire and seal were not there, it meant that He Yan had left in the identity of Wuan Lang. This was indeed quite thorough, making it difficult to punish her even if she were caught later. She had thought carefully before acting.
“But… but what is the reason for this?” Lin Shuanghe was still puzzled, “Going so far just to meet his death?”
Why, indeed? He Yan added yet another riddle to frustrate him.
There was a knock on the door and Chiwu walked in. He looked surprised to see so many people gathered so early in the morning. Xiao Jue grabbed his attention with a firm, “Speak.”
“Young Master, a message from Luan Ying has arrived. Fourth Young Master Chu, who left earlier, is planning to pass through Rundu on his way back to the capital.”
What did this mean? Xiao Jue lightly frowned. Did He Yan chase after Chu Zhao?
The room fell into a heavy silence and the air became stifling. No one dared to speak for fear of incurring the commander’s anger.
After a while, the young man sitting in the room pulled the corners of his mouth into a grimace, his beautiful eyes darkening. “Well done.” <Q
He had been outplayed twice on the same day. Anger burned in his heart; the Jade Faced Commander was not accustomed to losing. “Everyone, attend to your duties.” He needed to be alone. He needed to think.
“Are we not…going after him?” Shen Han asked fearfully.
“No.”
“But…Commander Xiao. This is disobeying orders.”
“What orders?” he dared, letting some anger slip into his voice. All of the men were careful to stand properly, but Shen Muxue looked oddly pleased to see him upset. “He Yan is appointed to Wuan Lang by the emperor himself,” the words bitter on his tongue. “Let them go.” He turned his back on the group and discreetly squeezed his fists. “Dr. Lin, you are to stay with Dr. Shen today.”
“Commander!” she abandoned her tea.
“Huaijin!”
Xiao Jue turned back and fixed his gaze on them both. “Miss Shen, even if you feel fine, you were still compromised and alone for a long time. The men at Liangzhou Garrison depend on your care. Dr. Lin will ensure your care and assist with your duties today.”
Shen Muxue stood and gave a polite curtsy, eyed downcast even though she was clearly upset. “Understood. I’ll take my leave. Dr. Lin,” and with that, she turned to leave quickly.
Lin Shuanghe gave him a meaningful look as if daring Xiao Jue to reconsider but with so many people around, he couldn’t speak freely. The white-clothed physician followed Shen Muxue out and Xiao Jue felt some relief. He didn’t want to deal with Lin Shuanghe now. The man’s meddling would only aggravate him further.
The instructors took their leave, leaving Xiao Jue alone with Fei Nu and Chi Wu. “Keep me updated on the Rundu situation,” and with that, the commander left first, leaving his personal guards surprised.
Exuding an indifferent demeanor, he walked through the garrison, arms clasped behind him as eyes gazed ahead. Soldiers saluted and paid respects as he walked past but he didn’t see any of them. His attention lay elsewhere.
Cloth boots carried him to the Five Deer River, to where he’d seen He Yan crying the other night. The large rock now had large chips missing courtesy of her whip. His fingers followed along one of the furrows.
I don’t think he’s the hero everyone else thinks he is. Why did she distrust He Rufei? Rundu must not fall. Did she really think seven Liangzhou soldiers could spare the city? Xiao Jue blew hot air from his nostrils, staring at the mountain. How dare she act against him. Was this Chu Zhao’s plan all along? The two had spent so long talking to one another when He Yan was recovering from injuries but the idea that He Yan would share her distrust of Flying Phoenix General felt thin. Fourth Young Master Chu also had left before news of Huayuan arrived; it didn’t make sense for him to plant any ideas about Rundu in her ear.
The sun’s heat was already filling the sky but Xiao Jue remained by the rock. While their reunion in Rundu looked suspicious, it was coincidence. In this matter, Chu Zilan’s only offense was granting He Yan the ability to act freely.
His fingers craved to wield Drinking Autumn but the commander had left the icy sword in the tent in his haste to be alone.
If he left now, he could catch He Yan. Green Ear was faster than any other horse and Xiao Jue would not be burdened by heavy supplies. He Yan and her men would have prepared for a month’s journey, and he would only need a few days’ worth. Still, there was no point. He couldn’t order her back. What then, ask for her pity to return? He Yan was stubborn and Xiao Jue was admittedly prideful. He refused to appeal to her.
A wild cat will always be wild. She could leave Liangzhou Garrison just as easily as she came.