"Duan Jin." Duan He called out to Duan Jin and caught up with him.
Duan He was from the Xuanhua Army.
Duan Jin naturally did not know anything about past lives, he only knew that when they set out earlier to attack Fangcheng, Duan He had stepped forward to speak, catching Ye Suijin's eye. She had specifically asked him to bring Duan He to her side.
Duan Jin followed beside Ye Suijin, and would pay attention to anyone Ye Suijin paid attention to.
He had been observing Duan He for a while, and found him to be quite congenial. As expected, he would like whoever his mistress liked.
Except for Zhao Jingwen.
Duan He caught up and complimented: "I really didn't expect that, Young Master Duan is so young, yet so eloquent."
Duan Jin smiled and said, "I was raised to be a messenger for my mistress, how could I not be eloquent?"
Duan He reminded him: "Young Master Duan is already a Captain, you may call yourself 'Sir'."
Duan He was not the first person to tell him this.
Duan Jin cast a sideways glance at him in the wind.
"Even this captain position was given by my mistress," he said, "Without my mistress, I am nothing, I may not even survive. Whether I live or die depends on her."
"What's wrong with calling her 'Mistress' for a lifetime?"
Duan He stroked his nose to dissolve the awkwardness, and laughed: "Young Master is loyal, the Madam will surely see it."
This sentence touched Duan Jin's heart deeply.
He pulled Duan He along: "Come, let's go drink in my room."
Duan Jin did not use to need to consider interpersonal relationships before.
He grew up by Ye Suijin's side since he was little, and was favored by her. He was also handsome and eloquent. In the entire Ye Family Fort, he was well-liked by all.
The Ye family elders saw him as a clever and delightful servant boy, the children of the Ye family grew up with him as playmates.
The stewards gave him face.
Someone so well-liked like him never needed to specifically curry favor with anyone.
It was Zhao Jingwen who taught him a lesson.
Duan Jin would pay special attention to anyone Ye Suijin paid attention to, how could he not pay attention to Zhao Jingwen? He had always been observing Zhao Jingwen, analyzing his behaviors.
Zhao Jingwen's actions in winning over the guests' and family retainers' hearts did not escape his eyes.
Observing out of personal motivations, and pondering meticulously, when he grasped some insights on conducts in life, he was not ashamed to learn from someone he disliked.
Everyone had their strengths, if Zhao Jingwen had no strengths, how could he stand by his mistress' side?
But in the Ye manor, most people he sincerely admired were of high status, it was not his place to get close with them. Those of ordinary status rarely caught his eyes.
On the contrary, this Duan He who had caught Ye Suijin's eyes did not look bad to him, and he was interested in getting close with him.
Duan He's thoughts were similar, he also wanted to get close with this intimate attendant of the military governor.
Furthermore, this person was not one of those useless sycophants, despite being young, he was clever and composed, his etiquette and speech were all excellent, comparable to the young masters of the Ye family. In the previous battle at Fangcheng, his military achievements were also real.
Wherever the military governor was, Duan Jin would be there. Not only could he enter the council hall, it was said that in the military governor's study, the only person in the entire Ye Manor who could enter without announcing, was Duan Jin alone.
Or to put it another way, in the entire Deng Prefecture, only he had that privilege.
Now, Duan He was definitely not the only one who wanted to get close with Duan Jin.
Duan Jin was apparently happy to get close with him, so how could Duan He not go along?
The two went to Duan Jin's residence, just in time to meet a maid from Ye Suijin's room bringing a package to Duan Jin: "Mistress asked us to sew these clothes for you. Hurry and take them, they are so heavy I'm exhausted."
The package was not small, Duan Jin quickly took it over.
The autumn outfits in the manor had just been distributed not long ago. Although Duan He was a personal guard and not part of the manor servants, seeing many servants wearing new clothes, he knew about it too.
This package that was delivered was clearly special treatment beyond the norm.
He eyed it and saw that Duan Jin was clearly very accustomed to this kind of preferential treatment beyond the standard. He did not even ask "Why are there clothes again" at all, but instead asked: "Why did you come? Where is Qiuqiu?"
This maid was a little younger, Qiuqiu was a few months older than Duan Jin. Back then they had learned the rules together and grew up together, and were very familiar with each other.
Although Qiuqiu was now a senior maid beside Ye Suijin, usually when sending things to Duan Jin, she would personally come over.
The little maid giggled: "Sister Qiuqiu got engaged, these days she's hiding away shyly."
Duan Jin sighed: "She's settled down? Who's family did she get engaged to?"
"It's Brother Xiaoliang, Steward Qin's son."
"That's great, Liang is very reliable in his work, in the future he can also become a steward. Wait for me a moment."
Duan Jin apologized to Duan He, and hurried into the room first to take out a purse with some loose silver: "I'll give a gift for the engagement, to buy her candy to eat. Oh yes, when is her wedding day?"
"It's said to be this time next year. She'll lead us for one more year."
"Then tell her, at that time I'll give her a big silver bangle, nice and thick, to add to her dowry." The little maid left cheerily holding the purse, and Duan Jin only invited Duan He into the room after that, to sit on the kang. He took out some snacks and wine to entertain him.
Duan He looked around the room, it was tidy and the cabinets were still wrapped in copper corners.
Even the steward's room was just like this.
Moreover, as he looked around, he saw: "You live alone?"
The other rooms had open windows, you could see that there were several people sharing each room.
Duan Jin's eyes lit up: "That's right, I'm different. I grew up at Mistress' knees."
Just now at the barracks, he had been cold-faced and stern, able to restrain many grown men despite his young age. But now he acted like an innocent and naive youth.
Duan He saw through it clearly.
Because Ye Suijin was also only around twenty years old.
There was still a very obvious gap between a seventeen or eighteen year old girl and a twelve or thirteen year old boy. But the gap between a twenty year old woman and a fifteen year old adolescent was not so big.
Especially since Duan Jin was tall, clearly well-fed and well-dressed, his physique was sturdy and agile. Seen from behind, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his build was completely like a grown man already.
These many preferential treatments beyond the norm would surely cause envy and even resentment, and invite unfavorable gossip.
But just looking at Duan Jin's devotion in serving Ye Suijin, Duan He felt that Ye Suijin's doting on this youth was justified.
Duan He did not point it out and just poured some wine with Duan Jin, toasting by the window.
Smart people got along well with other smart people, it was relaxing.
"I'm young, elder brother need not be so polite with me, just calling me Duan Jin will do," Duan Jin said, "I've always wanted to ask elder brother, before Fangcheng, have you been on the battlefield before?"
"I've suppressed bandits before."
Duan Jin's eyes lit up: "I knew it, one look and I can tell elder brother is no novice."
Duan He also had to boast: "After all, we're from the Xuanhua Army."
Not some miscellaneous army, but the formal army of the previous dynasty.
Then Duan Jin discussed the battle at Fangcheng with him, analyzing the situation at the time.
Speaking of the battle at Fangcheng, Duan He slammed the table: "I must say, our Madam is truly worthy of being a general's daughter. That was her first time leading troops in actual combat right? Myself and some veteran brothers from the Xuanhua Army have discussed, every arrangement she made, there were barely any mistakes. If there were, it was because the men below had no battlefield experience, were nervous in their first battle, it was absolutely not Madam's problem."
Duan Jin was even happier than being praised himself, his handsome face glowed: "Of course."
The two used snacks, dishes, and wine cups to recreate the terrain, and analyzed in great detail. They talked enthusiastically for a full half a shichen.
When leaving, Duan He was already arm in arm with Duan Jin: "Let's meet at my home another day, I'll have my wife stew a chicken, and I'll invite some brothers over, we can have a great time drinking."
Because it was in the Ye manor, even Duan Jin only dared to drink a little, and did not dare get drunk.
Duan Jin agreed with smiling eyes, and also wrapped up some pastries for him to bring back to the kids. Duan He did not decline either, and thanked him with a smile as he accepted it.
Duan Jin sent him to the back door of the Ye manor. Duan He marveled: "Deng Prefecture is clearly becoming more and more peaceful and prosperous, it would be even more stable if Madam could have another son soon. I hope Young Master Zhao returns soon."
The sky darkened.
Duan Jin hid his expression in the shadow of the eaves, and just laughed as he punched Duan He's shoulder: "Don't worry yourself over it."
Duan He laughed: "You're right."
Drawing the guards' pay, but loyal to the military governor at heart.
Duan Jin returned to his room alone to tidy up the cups and dishes.
Ye Suijin had actually already reviewed the battle at Fangcheng with him before. Many things in military books need to be experienced like this to truly grasp them.
But Ye Suijin's perspective was completely a commander's perspective, which was why Duan Jin looked for Duan He to review it again, to think through the gains and losses repeatedly from the perspective of a low-ranking soldier. It was indeed very helpful.
He now understood those textual things more deeply.
Waging war, it really was a very interesting thing.
But Duan Jin's good mood was ruined by Duan He's big mouth before leaving.
The fact that Ye Suijin had decided not to have children was not widely known. Apart from her immediate family, only a few trusted people knew about it. Both Duan Jin and Qiuqiu were among those trusted people.
Thinking of Duan He's words, Duan Jin felt very conflicted.
She felt sad that Ye Suijin could not have her own children - all women want to have kids, right?
But there was also a secret sense of relief that Ye Suijin would not give birth to Zhao Jingwen's children.
Otherwise, if the mistress and Zhao Jingwen had a little master, would he love the little master or loathe him?
Just thinking about it made him feel very troubled.
Fortunately, this would never happen.
Where was Zhao Jingwen now?
Duan Jin even hoped, it would be best if that man never came back.
There were those unwanted son-in-laws who ran away on their own, he had heard about such cases when he was little. Why didn't Zhao Jingwen run away?
Tsk.
The first major inspection of the new Ye family army recruits was extremely spectacular. Over a thousand strong men were bare-chested, lining up to take turns in the assessment. Veterans in green shirts were in charge of the tests, patrols, and record keeping.
Despite the large number of people, everything was orderly. There were shouts and reprimands to maintain order, and often cheers or jeers rang out, making the scene lively and exciting.
Almost all Ye family members with military positions had come.
The young masters were especially excited, because Ye Suijin had promised that they could pick first, and take whoever caught their eye to be personal guards. Of course, they had to pass all three inspections and be officially recruited first, but they could select in advance now.
Except for the consistently composed Third Young Master Ye, the others like Fourth Young Master Ye and Fifth Young Master Ye, had their eyes wide open, clenching their fists, determined to pick some good seedlings and register them first, so others couldn't snatch them away.
Ye Suijin was walking among the queues in military attire, with her waist gathered in and a long sword at her side, the hem of her robes billowing in the wind.
Wherever she went, the military men there would quickly straighten their backs.
Everyone followed behind her, also looking around.
The lively scene stirred up many indescribable feelings in Fourth Uncle Ye.
He looked at Ye Suijin walking ahead. Although a woman, she had an agile bearing and straight back.
She was the head of the Ye family in Deng Prefecture.
The military governor of Deng Prefecture.
And she was still so young! With unlimited future ahead!
Fourth Uncle Ye felt proud and heartbroken at the same time, and also a sense of pride filling up his chest.
