Legend of the Female General

Chapter 101: Beauty and Bones

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze into ice.

What should have been a blush-inducing, heart-pounding scene was stripped of all ambiguity by the person before her, leaving only the embarrassment of being seen through and a sense of danger.

He Yan quickly composed herself, looking at him. The "fear and nervousness" unique to the youth Cheng Li Su faded away, replaced by her usual smile as she said, "Call me whatever you like, Commander. As long as you're happy."

"The daughter of the city gate captain He Sui actually came to enlist in the army." He stared at He Yan's eyes with a half-smile. "Miss He is quite bold."

This man... He Yan's mind raced. Since he even knew He Sui's name, it was clear he had been investigating her in secret, not because she had slipped up at the Sun residence. Even with fast horses and carrier pigeons, it would take over a month to send word from Shuojing to here. Had Xiao Jue suspected her long ago? But why?

The youth smiled. "I never imagined the Commander would pay such close attention to me. I'm truly ashamed."

Not a trace of panic showed on He Yan's face. Even if she was surprised, it was only for a fleeting moment. Even now, with her clothes undone and her identity exposed, an ordinary woman would likely be overwhelmed with shame and indignation. But this person was different—she seemed utterly indifferent, more thick-skinned than a man. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that, from the capital to Liang Province, and after staying in the Liangzhou Guard for so long, no one had discovered she was a woman.

When Xiao Jue received the secret letter from Shuojing, he could hardly believe it. The city gate captain did indeed have a child named He Yan, but it was a daughter, not a son. He also had a younger son named He Yun Sheng. Half a year ago, the daughter named He Yan was harmed by bandits on a pleasure boat on the Spring River, sinking into the river. To this day, her body had not been found. Judging by the timing, it coincided with the day He Yan enlisted in the army.

But for a woman to enlist and remain undiscovered for a day or two was one thing; to stay safe for over half a year meant either everyone around her was blind, or she was exceptionally good at disguising herself. Xiao Jue was not blind. Upon careful reflection of his interactions with He Yan, he realized she had concealed herself remarkably well.

She was delicate and frail in appearance, with a slender build, yet no one would associate her with a woman. After all, ordinary women were rarely so unrestrained, let alone possess skills that ranked among the best in the Liangzhou Guard.

"Why did you come to the Liangzhou Guard?"

He Yan's mind raced as she replied, "I got into trouble in Shuojing. If I were caught, it would mean certain death. I had no other choice but to enlist."

"What kind of trouble?"

This man still didn't believe her, even though he had already uncovered everything. He Yan sighed. "A young master from a wealthy family coveted my beauty and abducted me onto a boat, intending to force me into marriage. Unfortunately, assassins arrived at that moment and took his life. If I had stayed on the boat alone, I would have had no way to explain myself—people might have even thought I was in league with the assassins. Left with no choice, I could only enlist."

This story was half-truth, half-lie, but He Yan spoke with utmost sincerity. Xiao Jue looked at her with amusement. "Coveted your beauty?"

He Yan: "..."

What did he mean by that? Was he looking down on her? He Yan had looked at herself in the mirror before—Miss He's face was undoubtedly delicate and charming.

"After all, not everyone has standards as high as yours, Commander," she said with a forced smile.

Xiao Jue nodded. "I see."He Yan's words were half-truths and half-falsehoods. Knowing Xiao Jue was difficult to fool, she never expected him to believe so easily. Unexpectedly, he did not press further on the matter.

"Why were you out so late at night?" His gaze swept over He Yan, unable to conceal the scent of blood. A faint red stain had even seeped onto the bedding.

So he knew she was injured. Yet, even so, he showed no pity—questioning her relentlessly, and now not even moving his hand from her neck. In Xiao Jue's eyes, there was likely no distinction between men and women.

"I killed Yuan Baozhen's guard," she said.

After a long pause, Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"During the days you were away from the residence, Yuan Baozhen kept coming to see me. I always felt he suspected me. Later, I overheard their conversation," He Yan paused before continuing, "They seem to take orders from someone called Xu Xiang, sent to take your life. The incident at the night banquet was also their doing."

"You said Xu Xiang?" Xiao Jue looked up at her, his autumn-water-like eyes flickering with an unusual emotion.

He Yan shrugged. "Yes, you can think about whether you've offended someone named Xu Xiang. I woke up cold tonight, and when I did, none of you were there. The window was open, and when I went to close it, I noticed someone darting past. That person deliberately lured me to the abandoned side courtyard of the Sun residence—it was Yuan Baozhen's guard."

"He wanted to use me to restrain you, probably as a hostage." He Yan shook her head. "But I'm not really Cheng Li Su. I doubt the Commander would surrender for my sake. What if you decided to shoot me dead to eliminate any future trouble? After thinking it over, I couldn't let myself fall into his hands. I fought him bitterly and finally killed him." He Yan gestured to herself. "That's how I ended up like this."

Though she spoke lightly, she was indeed injured. Her complexion had grown pale, and her strength was beginning to fade.

"To kill Yuan Baozhen's guard and still be alive—you are quite capable."

"I think so too," He Yan forced a smile. "So, Commander, do I now qualify to join the Nine Banners Battalion?"

She truly made no effort to hide her desire to enter the Nine Banners Battalion.

"You think you can join the Nine Banners Battalion?" Xiao Jue retorted.

"Of course. And I've eliminated a hidden threat for you, Commander. You should reward me."

Instead of anger, Xiao Jue laughed, releasing his grip on He Yan and looking down at her with mockery. "Sending you back to Shuojing tomorrow is my reward for you."

"No!" He Yan sat up straight, but the movement tugged at her wound, causing her to gasp in pain. "I can't go back to Shuojing! If I return, the Fan family won't let me go. Commander, how could you bear to let an innocent person be wrongfully imprisoned?"

"I could."

He Yan: "...You can't do this!"

"You have no right to negotiate with me."

Having spoken so much, He Yan was already feeling dizzy and lightheaded, afraid she might collapse if she continued. Her wounds remained untreated. "You'll regret it," she said.

"Why would I regret it?"

"Since you're sending me back to Shuojing, there's no need to hide my identity anymore. Everyone knows a woman has come to the Liangzhou Guard, and they'll speculate about what's going on." He Yan smiled faintly. "I'll have to tell them that my relationship with you, Commander, is... unusual."Xiao Jue responded casually, "What's so unusual about it?"

"What's unusual is... I know there's a red mole an inch above your waist, Commander."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into silence, broken only by the faint rumble of thunder outside and the steady patter of autumn rain against the stone ground.

Xiao Jue slowly turned to look at her, his eyes darkening with anger.

The young man, however, wore a shameless expression, a faint smile playing on his lips as he said with a pale face, "When you were bathing earlier... my eyesight is quite sharp, and I caught a glimpse. Blame it on the fact that our Commander is so captivating—even the red mole on his waist is perfectly placed, making it unforgettable."

Could there really be such a woman in this world? Xiao Jue found it unbelievable, but as He Yan finished speaking, she seemed unable to hold on any longer. Her head tilted to the side, and she fainted.

Xiao Jue: "..."

Fei Nu's voice sounded from outside the door, "Young Master."

Xiao Jue said, "Come in." He casually grabbed a blanket from the bed and threw it over He Yan, covering her.

Fei Nu entered without glancing at He Yan and reported, "We found the body of Yuan Baozhen's guard in the side courtyard of the Sun residence. He was killed by his own plum blossom dart."

Xiao Jue replied, "Understood." This meant that He Yan had not lied about this matter.

The smell of blood in the room was too strong to ignore. Fei Nu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Young Master, is He Yan injured?"

When he learned that He Yan was a woman, Fei Nu was equally astonished. Apart from her figure and appearance, there was nothing about He Yan that resembled a woman. Yet this very woman had killed Yuan Baozhen's personal guard—a guard with exceptional skills, most notably his proficiency in using poison.

"She's seriously injured."

"What do you plan to do with her now, Young Master?" Fei Nu asked.

Xiao Jue paused before replying, "Go out now and find a female physician."

Fei Nu was slightly surprised. Xiao Jue's words indicated that he intended to save He Yan.

"Has Young Master confirmed that she is not one of Xu Xiang's people?"

"It doesn't seem like it," Xiao Jue said. "Xu Jingfu looks down on women and would never involve them in important matters. According to the secret letters from Shuojing, the He family has no dealings with Xu Jingfu. However," he added thoughtfully, "it's best to remain cautious."

Fei Nu nodded. "I will go find a female physician now."

After Fei Nu left, Xiao Jue turned to look at He Yan on the bed.

Not appearing to be one of Xu Jingfu's people didn't mean she was entirely free of suspicion. A sixteen-year-old girl from a city gate captain's family, even if she had trained in martial arts since childhood, shouldn't be so exceptional that no one in the Liangzhou Guard could match her. An ordinary person wouldn't have the resolve to blend into a military camp. After all, even some men couldn't endure the hardships, yet she had never complained. If she had joined the army solely because of Fan Cheng, it seemed somewhat far-fetched.

Moreover, she was still determined to enter the Nine Banners Battalion.

The rain continued to fall steadily. The girl's face was deathly pale, and when she returned, her injuries were severe, especially the deep, long knife wound on her back. Yet she had never once cried out in pain. Even now, having fainted from exhaustion, the corners of her lips were still slightly upturned, maintaining the shameless demeanor of a young rogue.

Could there really be such a woman in this world? Skilled yet detestable. Cunning yet shameless.

Xiao Jue closed the window and turned to leave.

...

When He Yan awoke, the sky had already brightened.She lay on the usual couch, but her clothes had been changed. He Yan sat up, instinctively lifting her inner garment to see white bandages wrapped around her waist—the wounds from her fight with Ding Yi the previous night had already been dressed.

Recalling carefully, she remembered the events of last night. She remembered confronting Xiao Jue, threatening him with the red mole on his waist, and how angry he had become. After that, she didn’t know what happened—she must have fainted. But now… she touched her head; her hair was still tied up, and she was still dressed in men’s clothing. Her identity as a woman had not been discovered by anyone else.

Had Xiao Jue kept her secret for now?

He Yan breathed a sigh of relief and looked around, but there was no sign of Fei Nu or Xiao Jue.

Had these two discovered she was a woman and simply abandoned her at the Sun residence?

He Yan wanted to get out of bed, but as she moved, a small long-necked bottle rolled out from her clothes. She opened the stopper to find some black pills inside. Beside the bed was a note that read: "Take the medicine when you wake up."

The handwriting was sharp and powerful, exceptionally beautiful. He Yan recognized it immediately as Xiao Jue’s. Back in the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, Xiao Jue excelled in everything, and even his essays were displayed at the entrance of the academy for others to admire. She remembered his handwriting well—she had secretly copied it a few times, trying to imitate it, but gave up because she couldn’t capture his style.

Since Second Young Master Xiao had left a note telling her to take the medicine, he must be relatively calm for now, and nothing serious should happen.

As she thought this, another question suddenly occurred to her. She examined herself carefully. If her identity as a woman was to remain hidden, the Sun residence’s servants couldn’t have been used. So, who had changed her clothes? And who had bandaged her wounds? It definitely couldn’t have been Xiao Jue—so was it Fei Nu?

Although she had served in the military for many years and wasn’t as particular about modesty as ordinary women, the thought still made her uncomfortable.

It felt as though she had been taken advantage of.

But dwelling on it now was pointless—they had only meant well. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door to look outside.

As soon as she stepped out, He Yan sensed something was off.

Because of the assassin incident at the Sun family’s banquet, the servants of the Sun residence were usually not allowed near the rooms where He Yan and the others stayed, though there were still maids sweeping and cleaning in the distance. Today, however, there wasn’t a single one in sight. From afar, it seemed as though the entire Sun residence had been emptied.

Even if Xiao Jue intended to abandon her, why would the entire Sun residence be empty? Had something happened? He Yan was puzzled. After a moment’s thought, she decided to venture outside. As she passed the room she had stayed in, turned through the garden, and arrived at the main courtyard, she saw many soldiers in red armor surrounding the main hall. Maids and servants were trembling, crouched in rows, while Sun Xiangfu and his son were encircled in the middle. Yuan Baozhen stood to one side, confronting Xiao Jue.

She had only slept for a while—how had things escalated to this? He Yan pondered, meeting Xiao Jue’s gaze as he looked over. His eyes were cold, inexplicably reminding her of the events of the previous night. Feeling awkward, she steeled herself and called out in Cheng Li Su’s cheerful tone, "Uncle!"

The tense atmosphere was momentarily broken by her cry of "Uncle." Everyone’s eyes turned toward her.Yuan Baozhen's eyes flickered. "Young Master Cheng, can you see?"

Only then did He Yan remember she wasn't wearing her blindfold, but it didn't matter anymore. Ding Yi was dead, and Xiao Jue had already exposed her identity as a woman. It seemed Xiao Jue had finally found the person who attempted to assassinate him, and now was the time to settle all accounts. Whether a minor character like her was blind or ordinary could no longer sway the overall situation.

He Yan scratched her head, answering in feigned confusion, "Really? It seems so. I really can see now. I truly am a blessed person favored by heaven."

This lie was far too perfunctory, but naturally, no one dared to question her at the moment.

Yuan Baozhen vaguely sensed something amiss and asked, "Has Young Master Cheng seen my guard?"

"No," He Yan replied. "Has Lord Yuan's guard gone missing?"

She smiled brightly, making it difficult to discern her thoughts. Yuan Baozhen felt uneasy. Ding Yi had gone out last night and hadn't returned by morning—something must have happened. Earlier, he and Ding Yi had argued. Ding Yi wanted to kidnap Cheng Li Su to threaten Xiao Jue, but Yuan Baozhen felt it wasn't the right time. They parted on bad terms, but Ding Yi ultimately answered to He Rufei, so Yuan Baozhen couldn't control him. If Ding Yi had sneaked out last night, it must have been for Cheng Li Su.

Now, Cheng Li Su stood here perfectly fine, even his eyes showing no abnormality, while Ding Yi had vanished without a trace. Yuan Baozhen's heart sank, sensing something was terribly wrong. And with Xiao Jue surrounding the Sun residence with soldiers early in the morning, the situation felt even more unsettling.

This man's actions truly defied conventional reasoning.

Not hearing Yuan Baozhen's response, He Yan wasn't in a hurry. She moved to stand beside Xiao Jue, first offering him an ingratiating smile, then quietly asked Fei Nu beside her, "Brother Fei Nu, what act is this now?"

Fei Nu looked at He Yan's usual smiling face and admired her composure and calmness even more. After such a major incident last night, with her identity already exposed, she could still continue acting as if nothing had happened—truly impressive.

Before Fei Nu could answer, Sun Xiangfu spoke up. His face was ashen, but he forced a smile. "Commander, what is the meaning of this? Have we at the Sun residence done something inappropriate to offend you?"

Sun Ling stood beside Sun Xiangfu, his gaze fixed on Xiao Jue with barely concealed hatred. He didn't speak, but his indignation was palpable.

"Indeed," Yuan Baozhen stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Commander, where did these soldiers come from? His Majesty strictly forbids privately amassing troops. Even if you have grievances against Magistrate Sun, you cannot vent your anger in this manner."

He Yan raised an eyebrow. These words were insidious, accusing Xiao Jue of two crimes at once—privately amassing troops and abusing power for personal revenge. What a sharp tongue.

Hearing this, Xiao Jue curved his lips into a slight smile. "Lord Yuan worries too much. These are soldiers I borrowed from Xialing County. I cannot bear the charge of privately amassing troops. As for the crime of slandering a court official, I wonder if Lord Yuan can bear that responsibility?"

Soldiers from Xialing County? Yuan Baozhen stiffened. How was that possible? The leading soldier in red cupped his fists and said, "I am under orders from Prefect Shi of Xialing County to assist the Commander and the Censor in investigating the case of the Liang Province magistrate conspiring to harm an official's family."Plotting against an official's family? Upon hearing this, Sun Xiangfu instinctively cried out in protest, wailing, "Commander, this is unjust! The assassins in the mansion truly have nothing to do with me! I have no idea what happened. You... you cannot wrong an innocent person! Moreover, the young master's eyes can now see again. You cannot arrest a good person out of anger! This humble official is wronged, this humble official is wronged!"

His cries were agonizing, heart-wrenching, yet Xiao Jue merely sneered in response. "Who said the official's family refers to Cheng Li Su?"

Not Cheng Li Su? Everyone, including He Yan, was momentarily stunned.

Just then, a woman's clear voice rang out from outside the courtyard. "I am the one who was plotted against!"

Two more figures appeared outside the courtyard. One was Xiao Jue's guard, Chi Wu, and the other was a young girl dressed in warm-colored ruqun, her hair tied in two buns, bright-eyed and lovely, with a delicate charm. It was none other than Song Taotao.

Under Chi Wu's protection, Song Taotao walked over to Xiao Jue's side and scolded Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling, "I am the legitimate daughter of the Deputy Director of the Palace Domestic Service. How dare you kidnap me in broad daylight? If not for encountering Second Young Master Xiao and Young Master Cheng on the road, who knows what fate would have befallen me. The people from the Wanhua Pavilion have already been captured by Second Young Master Xiao's men. With both witnesses and evidence in hand, I'd like to see how you deny it this time. When I return to Shuojing, I will tell my father everything. All of you can wait to lose your heads!"

This young girl looked sweet, but her words carried great authority. She must have harbored deep hatred for Sun Ling. If not for him, she would not have ended up in the Wanhua Pavilion, suffering greatly, her fingers nearly crushed. In other words, if He Yan had not accidentally encountered and rescued her that night, this young girl would likely have been ruined by Sun Ling by now.

The faces of Sun Xiangfu and his son turned ashen.

If the accusation of plotting against an official's family referred to Xiao Jue and Cheng Li Su, they could still struggle, as all the assassins were dead, leaving no evidence to link them to the crime. But who could have guessed that Xiao Jue would take such an unexpected approach and bring forth this young girl? And who would have thought that the girl Sun Ling had kidnapped was actually the daughter of a capital official?

But over the years, how many evil deeds had Sun Ling committed? Among the girls abducted to the Sun residence, some came from all corners of the land, including daughters of wealthy families or officials' precious daughters. However, once they arrived in Liang Province, they vanished like needles in the ocean, with no way out. This place had been dominated by Sun Xiangfu and his son for so many years that it had long been shrouded in darkness. Whether they were daughters of impoverished families or pampered young ladies, once they arrived here, there was no difference.

He Yan stared at Xiao Jue's back, unable to help but applaud him in her heart.

Second Young Master Xiao had been elusive these past few days, and it turned out he was busy with this matter. At the time, she thought he had taken Song Taotao away to protect her, but now it seemed that wasn't entirely the case. After all, if Xiao Jue had kept Song Taotao by his side and left her in the Sun residence, even if Sun Ling recognized her, he wouldn't have dared to do anything. He sent Song Taotao away to avoid arousing the suspicion of the Sun father and son. And now, Song Taotao's appearance had become the final straw to seal Sun Xiangfu's fate.

"This... this is all a misunderstanding, Commander. Please listen to my explanation..." Sun Xiangfu kicked Sun Ling, forcing him to kneel, and scolded, "You unfilial son! You've caused such a huge mess. What do we do now? Apologize to the Commander yourself!""Magistrate Sun has knelt to the wrong person," Xiao Jue said casually. "I am not the Censor." He turned his gaze to Yuan Baozhen and continued leisurely, "Censor Yuan has been in Liang Province for many days, yet you remain unclear about the disputes here. If word gets out, you could be impeached for dereliction of duty. By then, I'm afraid even your mentor won't be able to save you."

Yuan Baozhen was so furious he nearly spat blood. He glared at Xiao Jue, whose lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze calm yet brimming with overwhelming malice.

He wasn't targeting me after all—he was after Sun Xiangfu. But this was actually even worse, because his teacher Xu Jingfu would never have wanted this outcome. What was meant to be "trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice" was no longer just a handful of rice—it was as if his entire granary had been emptied.

Ding Yi had disappeared. How could he, alone, deal with the aggressive Xiao Jue?

Song Taotao glared fiercely at the Sun family. He Yan pondered thoughtfully: if it were only Song Taotao, perhaps Sun Ling could be convicted, but Sun Xiangfu might not be. If someone higher up protected him, Sun Xiangfu might still have a way out.

But would Xiao Jue leave any room for mercy? He Yan didn’t think so.

"Commander, please listen to our explanation! This humble official is truly wronged!" Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling wailed and cried.

With his own interests at stake, Yuan Baozhen spoke with difficulty, "Commander, perhaps there really is some misunderstanding here."

Xiao Jue stared at him with a faint, mocking smile, then nodded after a moment. "To the side courtyard."

To the side courtyard? What for?

Upon hearing this, Sun Xiangfu and his son turned pale, nearly fainting on the spot.

The red-armored soldiers escorted Sun Xiangfu and his son, along with the others, to the side courtyard. It had rained the night before, washing the dust from the ground clean. It should have been a tranquil and serene scene, yet an air of desolate misery seeped through.

He Yan glanced at the nearby room. Its door was tightly shut, and she recalled the countless Buddha statues piled on and under the table inside the night before. A chill ran down her spine.

But why had Xiao Jue brought them here?

Yuan Baozhen was also puzzled. "Commander, are you trying to..."

"Dig three feet into the ground and show our esteemed Censor Yuan what lies beneath." Though he smiled, his expression was indifferent, his tone calm as he ordered the soldiers, "Dig."

The soldiers obeyed, searching the Sun residence for hoes and sickles before beginning to dig.

Seeing this, Sun Xiangfu and his son seemed unable to hold on any longer. Their legs gave way, and they collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen.

Song Taotao whispered to He Yan, "What’s under the ground?"

The room filled with Buddha statues, the talismans pasted on the door, the overly lush weeds and wild grass growing in the desolate courtyard—He Yan’s expression grew serious as she began to guess. She didn’t speak, unsure how to even begin.

After a while, someone called out, "Commander, we’ve found something here!"

It was the body of a young woman wrapped in a straw mat. She was extremely small, even smaller than Song Taotao. Her clothes had rotted away, revealing pale bones. It was impossible to imagine how delicate and lovely she must have been in life.

"Continue," Xiao Jue said.

Not long after, another voice called out, "There’s a body here!"

It was also the body of a woman, her hair long, likely having died not long ago. Her delicate features were still faintly visible, a testament to her beauty in life.

A third, a fourth, a fifth...

Eventually, no one spoke anymore. Only the sound of digging filled the air. The silence was as heavy as death. It was unimaginable that so many bodies could be buried beneath this side courtyard. The yard was now filled with corpses covered in white cloth, piled on top of one another for lack of space.

Beneath the desolate side courtyard lay the remains of countless beauties—perhaps gentle and shy flower sellers, or enchanting married women. Here, regardless of wealth, status, or nobility, all had turned to mud, piled into this unrecognizable mountain of corpses.These were the young women abducted, violated, and ultimately killed by Sun Ling. In life, they suffered great calamity; in death, they found no peace. The wicked, consumed by guilt, piled countless Buddha statues and talismans to suppress and curse them.

The eternal lamps flickered forever, yet for these girls' lives, it was as if an endless night had fallen, with no light to be seen again.

He Yan took a deep breath.

The sins committed by Sun Xiangfu and his son were so heinous that neither heaven would shelter them nor earth bear them. Abandoned by gods and despised by men, they deserved death a thousand times over.

It’s been seven years since I started writing on Xiaoxiang, and I’ve never actively asked for monthly votes. Today, a reader privately messaged me saying monthly votes are quite important. Although I still don’t really know what monthly votes are or what they’re used for, I’ll give it a shot anyway! If you have extra monthly votes, you can cast them for Female General Star. If not, no worries. We’re taking a laid-back approach to campaigning—just happy to keep writing ∠(?」∠)＿

(End of Chapter)