Legend of the Female General

Chapter 102 Riding the Wind

The desolate courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and beneath the soil lay countless bleached bones.

Song Taotao could no longer bear to look, turning her face away in shock and anger.

As the last corpse was carried out, there was no longer any space left to stand in the entire courtyard. Even the red-armored soldiers of Xialing County, who had witnessed countless tragic scenes, couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts at this sight.

“This… this…” Yuan Baozhen was at a loss for words.

“What does Imperial Censor Yuan wish to say?” Xiao Jue spoke slowly. “Or does the censor still believe this is merely a misunderstanding?”

“How could this possibly be a misunderstanding?” Before Yuan Baozhen could respond, He Yan interjected. “This is Magistrate Sun’s own residence. If someone were to secretly bury female corpses here without his knowledge, one or two might be plausible, but dozens or even hundreds? It’s no wonder assassins managed to infiltrate. Magistrate Sun’s gates must be made of paper, and the guards and servants he employs must all be deaf and blind!”

Sun Xiangfu was drenched in sweat. He had no idea how Xiao Jue had uncovered the secrets buried beneath the ground. After gritting his teeth for a moment, he argued, “These are merely servants from my household who committed offenses and were beaten to death before being buried here. Such… incidents are common among wealthy families.”

He Yan sneered, “I, too, come from a wealthy family, but none of us engage in such brutality. If these were indeed servants who committed offenses, I ask Magistrate Sun to produce their contracts, which should record the reasons for their punishment and death. Moreover, all the corpses here are women… Magistrate Sun, were all of them maids in your household? As a mere seventh-rank magistrate, you have over a hundred maids, and you casually beat them to death? You truly wield more power than His Majesty!” By the end, her tone and gaze had sharpened, making it impossible to withstand.

At these words, Sun Xiangfu immediately knelt and kowtowed, crying out loudly, “No! No! I am wronged! I am wronged!” He repeated these phrases over and over but could not explain why he was wronged. The situation was already beyond his control.

He Yan’s anger remained unabated, feeling nothing but hatred for the man before her. The previous night, when she had fought with Ding Yi, he had said that every statue in that room represented a dead person. At the time, she had thought it was just a joke to frighten her, but now it seemed to be true. How absurd!

Sun Ling and his son had committed countless atrocities in Liang Province, abducting numerous women. At the slightest displeasure, or even just out of boredom, they would casually take their lives. Those buried in the Sun family’s backyard were the fortunate ones, at least leaving behind intact bodies. Who knew if there were even more pitiful ones, discarded in mass graves after death, their bodies devoured by wolves and beasts, leaving not a trace behind.

Such arrogance, such inhumanity!

A chill washed over Song Taotao’s heart. If she hadn’t encountered He Yan that night, would she have ended up like these women—reduced to a handful of yellow earth, rotting in the darkness beneath the ground, forever undiscovered?

Her eyes reddened with anger as she cried out, “This is despicable! We must avenge these women!” As soon as she finished speaking, she felt someone nudge her arm. Turning to look, she saw He Yan giving her a meaningful glance, gesturing toward Yuan Baozhen.

In that instant, Song Taotao understood her meaning and turned to Yuan Baozhen, calling out, “Uncle Yuan, after all I’ve suffered here, you are the only one I trust. You must seek justice for me!”Song Taotao's father had once been Yuan Baozhen's superior. Considering himself close to the Song family, Yuan Baozhen naturally could not ignore Song Taotao's words. He wiped his sweat and forced a smile. "Of course, of course."

"Commander, this corpse is different," a soldier in red armor said.

He crouched halfway down, picked up a cloth, and wiped the face of the person on the ground clean, revealing their features. Among the room full of female corpses, this was the only man. He must have died recently, his expression frozen in terror.

"Tsk," Xiao Jue, who had been standing in place, spoke leisurely. "It seems Imperial Censor Yuan's guard has been found."

The male corpse that had been dug up was none other than Ding Yi, whom Yuan Baozhen had been searching for all morning without success.

He Yan: "..."

After killing Ding Yi last night, she truly hadn't had the mind to deal with his body and had simply fled. Later, when Xiao Jue discovered her identity, she had only mentioned that Ding Yi was dead. This must have been Xiao Jue's doing—having Ding Yi dragged out and buried, only to dig him up now in front of Yuan Baozhen. At this moment, He Yan felt a twinge of sympathy for Yuan Baozhen.

Yuan Baozhen's lips trembled, unable to speak for a long while.

"Imperial Censor Yuan's guard was loyal and righteous. He discovered that the Sun family's backyard concealed many female corpses and was silenced and buried underground by Magistrate Sun." Xiao Jue looked at him with a faint, mocking smile. "Imperial Censor Yuan, don't you feel regret for your unjustly slain guard?"

"You're lying!" Sun Ling roared as he struggled to stand, only to be forced back down by the soldiers beside him. Still unwilling to give up, he thrashed and shouted, "I didn't kill him! This is slander! I don't know why he's here—I didn't kill him—"

His voice grew hoarse from shouting, piercing the silence of the courtyard. Xiao Jue frowned and said indifferently, "Gag him."

The soldiers stuffed rags into the mouths of Sun Ling and Sun Xiangfu, leaving them only able to emit muffled, resentful sounds.

"Imperial Censor Yuan," Xiao Jue looked at him and smiled faintly. "What do you intend to do?"

Yuan Baozhen was seething with hatred and knew full well that Ding Yi could not possibly have been killed by Sun Xiangfu's men. The man before him already knew everything, but he was powerless to refute it. He could only force out a few words through gritted teeth: "I await the Commander's guidance."

"Sun Xiangfu and his son abused their power, embezzled and plundered, extorted the people, and preyed upon the villagers. They abducted innocent women, leaving corpses piled like marshes." He continued, "Such heinous villains—as an Imperial Censor, tasked with investigating and rectifying officials, you surely will not tolerate them. I have already informed the Prefect of Xialing Commandery, who will join you in reporting this matter to the Emperor. As for you, Imperial Censor Yuan," his gaze fixed on Yuan Baozhen, tinged with faint mockery, "whether you submit an open memorial or a secret impeachment, this Marshal will not interfere."

Yuan Baozhen nearly choked on his breath.

Despite saying "this Marshal will not interfere," it was clear he had orchestrated everything from start to finish. Even if Yuan Baozhen still wanted to do something, the matter had already been reported to Xialing Commandery, leaving him no room to evade. The original recommender for Sun Xiangfu and his son had been a disciple of Chancellor Xu. Chancellor Xu's disciples were spread throughout Great Wei, and the case of the Liang Province magistrate would bring shame upon him. Moreover, to avoid suspicion, the new magistrate would certainly not be one of Chancellor Xu's men.

Chancellor Xu would completely lose control over Liang Province. How could he possibly cause trouble for Xiao Jue now?!

When he returned to Shuojing, Chancellor Xu would surely not let him off lightly. Yuan Baozhen felt nothing but despair.

Xiao Jue then turned to the trembling servants and maids huddled to the side and said calmly, "Tell us what you know, and you may avoid severe punishment."This was about having the servants of the Sun residence expose the crimes of Sun Xiangfu and his son.

The male servants still hesitated, fearing that if Sun Xiangfu and his son managed to escape, they would return for revenge. The maids, however, were overjoyed and stepped forward one after another to respond. As women in the Sun household, they had no prospects at all. Even if they possessed beauty, talent, gentleness, and understanding, the best they could hope for was to be gifted to a superior, perhaps extending their lives by a few years. More often than not, they were killed after Sun Ling and his father grew tired of them, becoming nothing more than fertilizer for the flowers.

For women, living here was like being imprisoned, with no one knowing when their execution day would come. Now, suddenly given a sliver of hope, they all wished for Sun Xiangfu and his son to perish immediately, with no chance of recovery. Thus, everyone spoke of the crimes committed by the Sun father and son, each tale more chilling than the last, making it clear that such ruthless and vicious individuals had incurred the wrath of both gods and ghosts.

Fei Nu and the leader of the soldiers from Xialing County recorded everything as Sun Xiangfu and his son were forced to kneel on the ground. Xiao Jue turned and walked away.

Yuan Baozhen remained standing in place, stunned by the sudden upheaval. With no one around to consult or rely on, his thoughts were in disarray, and he was at a loss for what to do. Just then, he saw the person who made him gnash his teeth in anger walking over calmly and composedly.

As Xiao Jue passed by him, he suddenly stopped. The young commander curved his lips slightly and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Imperial Censor Yuan wanted my life, but I hope you live. Your living will trouble Xu Jingfu more than your death."

He straightened up again, his smile tinged with mockery, and spoke calmly, "When you return to Shuojing, send my regards to Minister Xu. Imperial Censor Yuan, have a safe journey."

He turned and left.

Behind him, someone exclaimed, "Imperial Censor Yuan! What's wrong with Imperial Censor Yuan? Imperial Censor Yuan?"

Yuan Baozhen had fainted. He Yan looked back, but Xiao Jue's figure had already disappeared beyond the flower wall, leaving no trace.

This matter... was thus settled.

...

The magistrate's residence was sealed off by the soldiers from Xialing County. The once-majestic mansion now had its entrance plastered with seals, lanterns torn and scattered, presenting a scene of utter desolation. Song Taotao saw many female corpses in the courtyard and felt deeply unsettled. He Yan comforted her for a long time, finally managing to calm her down. When Song Taotao began to feel drowsy and rested her head on the table for a nap, He Yan exchanged a few words with Chi Wu, who was protecting Song Taotao, and went to find Xiao Jue.

She still had some unresolved questions.

Xiao Jue was speaking with Fei Nu.

Sun Xiangfu and his son had committed countless atrocities, and the maids had eagerly exposed them. There was no need to recount each one in detail; the crimes already uncovered were more than enough to seal their fate. The sins they had committed warranted death ten times over. Such heinous acts were rare even across the entire Great Wei.

When cruel individuals wielded power, it spelled disaster for ordinary people. Fierce beasts like jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards were terrifying, but how could they compare to the malice in human hearts?

"Uncle!" He Yan called out from the doorway.

Xiao Jue and Fei Nu abruptly stopped their conversation. He Yan walked in, and Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "Still calling me uncle?"

He Yan: "...Commander."

As if anyone wanted to call him uncle. Clearly, he was the one benefiting, yet he acted so reluctant.

"Why aren't you keeping Miss Song company? What do you want with me?" he asked.

His words were sharp and pointed. He Yan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Today, when you dealt with the Sun father and son, why did you spare Yuan Baozhen? You clearly know that Yuan Baozhen was the one who wanted to kill you."The Sun father and son were indeed despicable, deserving of death, yet the one who truly orchestrated the assassination attempt against Xiao Jue at the banquet was Yuan Baozhen. Ding Yi was already dead, but Yuan Baozhen could still return alive to Shuojing. Would Xiao Jue be so merciful?

"I didn’t kill him here because he will die once he returns to Shuojing," Xiao Jue said, looking out the window. "Sooner or later."

"What about the others?" He Yan asked. "The Sun father and son could dominate Liangzhou City, so there must be accomplices." Those who supported Sun Xiangfu, his followers, still lurked in Liangzhou. Why not round them all up?

Xiao Jue replied, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Miss He, you are too naive."

Fei Nu stood silently to the side, as if he hadn’t heard their conversation. Outside the window, the trees grew lush and green. Who would have thought such a magnificent mansion could bury so much evil?

In truth, Xiao Jue’s goal had never been Yuan Baozhen.

He had long known that the Sun family’s night banquet was a trap. He had also anticipated that Yuan Baozhen’s appearance would bring danger. His purpose in coming to Liangzhou City was never to participate in a game of cat and mouse but to seize control of the city itself.

Leading new recruits to garrison Liangzhou was merely a temporary retreat, a way to avoid Xu Jingfu’s watchful eyes. However, Xu Jingfu’s disciples were spread throughout Great Wei, and the practice of buying and selling official positions was rampant across the country. Sun Xiangfu of the Liangzhou Guard was one of them. Yuan Baozhen had come under Xu Jingfu’s orders—if he could kill Xiao Jue, that would be ideal; if not, he would secretly collaborate with Sun Xiangfu, who took direct orders from Shuojing. Causing trouble for the Liangzhou Guard would be effortless.

Even if a fly cannot kill an elephant, its constant buzzing can still be deeply irritating.

On the night of the banquet incident, He Yan had "gone blind." In the following days, Xiao Jue disappeared, and everyone assumed he had left the mansion. Even Ding Yi, who had been tailing him, was actually following Fei Nu in disguise. The real Xiao Jue had remained in the Sun mansion the entire time.

Sun Xiangfu had committed countless atrocities and maintained close ties with many wealthy families in Liangzhou. These families "offered" him gold and silver, and in return, Sun Xiangfu ensured their "smooth operations" in Liangzhou City. He also meticulously managed his superiors and subordinates, keeping detailed records of every transaction and gift exchanged.

Xiao Jue found these account books and replaced them. Here, he made another discovery.

Over the years, Sun Ling had caused the deaths of countless young women. The earlier victims had been discarded in mass graves. In recent years, perhaps haunted by the weight of his crimes, Sun Ling suffered frequent nightmares. The Sun family hired a Taoist priest, who advised burying the women who had died at Sun Ling’s hands in the northwest direction and suppressing their spirits with Buddha statues and talismans.

Thus, the mound of corpses and the Buddha statue in the backyard came to be.

Xiao Jue had originally planned to use Song Taotao to bring charges against the Sun father and son. With this discovery, even if Xu Jingfu himself came to protect them, he would be powerless.

In the past few days, Xiao Jue had spent the first part confirming the identities of the buried victims and searching for the account books. Only on the final day did he truly leave the mansion. And when he did, he didn’t do much else—he selected a few names from the account books, copied the relevant records, and delivered them to the respective households.

The merchants and powerful gentry of Liangzhou City now had their secrets in his hands. When the new magistrate of Liangzhou took office, whether they were Xu Jingfu’s people or not, they would be powerless against him.

From this day forward, Liangzhou City was his.The biggest mistake Yuan Baozhen made was miscalculating his direction. The assassination attempt at the night banquet had never been Xiao Jue's main concern; what he truly wanted was always Liangzhou City.

It was just by a twist of fate that He Yan's appearance and peculiarities captured Yuan Baozhen's full attention. In a way, He Yan became the bait—but this bait carried a hook, tearing the mouths of the prey that followed the scent, which made things proceed so smoothly.

While he remained silent, He Yan was also deep in thought.

Today's events had long been anticipated by Xiao Jue. She asked, "The reason you let Yuan Baozhen go—is it because he botched his mission and will be abandoned and punished by his master, and that master is Xu Xiang?" She paused before asking, "Is Xu Xiang the current Prime Minister, Xu Jingfu?"

At these words, even Fei Nu couldn't help but glance at He Yan in surprise.

She had spoken so directly. The implication was that she didn't know Xu Jingfu, but who could tell if she was lying?

"Does your father know that Miss He is so concerned with court affairs?" Xiao Jue remarked lightly.

With this response, He Yan knew that the "Xu Xiang" mentioned by Yuan Baozhen was indeed Xu Jingfu.

"Although my father is now just a city gate captain, and Xu Xiang is the current Prime Minister—seemingly worlds apart—the Commander also knows not to underestimate the poor in their youth. I am sixteen this year, undefeated in all of Liangzhou Guard," she boasted shamelessly. "In the future, I might achieve great deeds and hold a higher office than the Commander. What of a mere Xu Xiang? I also have a younger brother, even younger than me. To speak treasonously, we are like the rising sun, while Xu Xiang is already in his twilight years. By the time my brother and I reach the Commander's age, who knows if Xu Xiang will even still be in this world?"

Fei Nu choked on his own breath and coughed.

Based on He Yan's words, it was almost certain she wasn't one of Xu Jingfu's people. Could Xu Jingfu tolerate such a treasonous creature under his command? That He Yan had survived until now was likely due to sheer luck.

Hearing this, Xiao Jue let out a derisive laugh. "With your reckless disregard for your life, you might not even live as long as Xu Jingfu."

He Yan thought to herself that Xiao Jue was mistaken. She had already outlived Xu Jingfu by one lifetime—who cared about living long?

"Commander, there's no need to be so wary of me," He Yan said, looking at him. "We share a common enemy."

"I don't know," he replied indifferently. "Why would Xu Jingfu bother entangling himself with a city gate captain?"

"A city gate captain naturally can't reach Xu Xiang, but if a dog bites someone, its master should also be held accountable." He Yan sighed. "My enemy is Xu Xiang's subordinate, which essentially makes Xu Xiang my enemy too." She smiled. "Since the Commander and I share a common enemy, we should be friends. Yet the Commander repeatedly suspects me—it's quite disheartening."

Xiao Jue glanced at her. Her expression showed no trace of heartbreak.

"Then you'll be disappointed," he said. "I don't make friends, much less with liars."

He Yan: "..."

Was this man impervious to both force and persuasion? She really wished she could fight him to vent her anger.

"Then, Commander," He Yan suppressed her anger and asked, "what should we do about the corpses in the Sun residence courtyard?"

Among those corpses, some had been there so long that only bones remained, their faces unrecognizable, while others could still be vaguely identified. Leaving them all piled up in the Sun residence was not a solution.Xiao Jue gazed at the tree outside the window, its shadow swaying gently. After a moment, he said to Fei Nu, "Notify the townspeople to come identify the bodies."

...

When the people of Liang Province learned that the Right Army Commander had sealed the gates of the Sun residence and arrested the Sun father and son, they all clapped in approval. The bolder ones ran to the Sun family's doorstep to spit and curse, while the more timid stood hesitantly at a distance. When soldiers passed by, they would cautiously tug at one and ask, "Sir, is it true... is it true that Magistrate Sun has been arrested?"

After so many years of darkness in Liang Province, the sky had finally brightened.

The Sun father and son confessing their crimes was, after all, a good thing. Wails echoed from the magistrate's residence, and those who had lost daughters or knew their daughters had been abducted but were powerless to act, upon hearing the news, came one after another to identify the bodies.

The women's corpses were laid out in the courtyard, filling three yards front and back. Though it was autumn, a foul odor still permeated the air. He Yan followed Fei Nu over and saw an elderly woman supported by her daughter-in-law searching among the corpses for her daughter, who had been missing for three years. There was also a young man dressed as a scholar, holding his wife who had been abducted on their wedding night, weeping uncontrollably.

He Yan saw a dark-skinned man in a white cloth jacket, cradling a female corpse and sobbing, "Little sister, little sister! Your brother is here, I'll take you home." His mournful voice brought tears to those who heard it.

The young girl in his arms was small and slender, at most twelve or thirteen years old—still a child. At that age, if she had been mischievous at home, she might have enjoyed catching crickets and making them fight. Now, her tiny body curled into a ball, no longer able to show the lively figure of the past. A flower that had yet to bloom had already withered.

The courtyard was filled with cries, filled with final farewells. He Yan looked up at the sky, feeling as though the wails were about to pierce through the heavens. There was nothing more tragic in this world.

Fei Nu glanced at her with some surprise.

Women were tenderhearted and could not bear such scenes. Like Song Taotao, who had already retreated into the house, unable to watch any longer. Yet He Yan stood there, her eyes filled with sorrow, but she did not shed tears.

Partings in life and death—He Yan had seen far too many of them. On the battlefield, countless men who left as the eldest sons of their families, as husbands to their wives, returned as nothing but a handful of yellow earth. To live in this world was to experience joy and sorrow, reunion and parting.

These young women, bullied in life and imprisoned in death, lived tragic lives. But now, they were finally free, returning to the embrace of their families. Their families would remember them forever and weep for their suffering.

And what about her?

He Yan thought in a daze, was there anyone who would shed tears for her death? Someone who would mourn her in solitude, sharing her pain. In her previous life, her family had personally sent her to the underworld, and even in death, she was exploited. Had there ever been a moment when she received genuine affection from her family?

"Young Master," Fei Nu's voice interrupted He Yan's thoughts. She turned her head and saw that Xiao Jue had emerged at some point.

He asked, "Have all the bodies been claimed by their families?"

Fei Nu shook his head. "Twenty-three remain unclaimed."

Among the young women abducted to the Sun residence, some, like Song Taotao, were not from Liang Province. Scattered across the land, once separated from their families, it was a farewell forever.

"Bury them."

He Yan was taken aback and looked up at Xiao Jue.

Tall and graceful, he stood amidst the desolation of the courtyard, like the Drink Autumn Sword hanging at his waist—sharp, calm, and reassuring."Young master, where shall we bury him?" Fei Nu asked.

"Outside Liang Province City, there is a peak terrace called Riding the Wind." Xiao Jue gazed into the distance, as if seeing something beyond the branches in the courtyard. His expression was calm, his tone indifferent, yet within that indifference lay a trace of imperceptible compassion. He said, "These women had no control over their lives in this world, like caged birds or fish in a pond. Burying them here, may they ride the wind freely in their next life, roaming proudly over lakes and mountains."

(End of Chapter)