Legend of the Female General

Chapter 104 Cohabitation

Because they had to take care of Song Taotao, the carriage moved slowly, taking more time than the journey there. By the time they reached Liangzhou Guard, it was already evening.

Shen Han and his group had long been waiting on the horse path outside the guard station. When the carriage stopped and Shen Han saw Xiao Jue step down, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

During Xiao Jue’s trip to Liang Province City, they had received no letters about what he was doing there. Over the past few days, their hearts had been in their throats, fearing that the situation might have changed. Now, it seemed everything had been resolved smoothly. Just as Shen Han was about to speak, Liang Ping beside him exclaimed, “This… why is there a young lady here?”

A young lady? They saw a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl in a pink dress jump down from the carriage in front. She was delicate and lovely, with a face as beautiful as a flower.

Glancing at He Yan beside her, who looked weary and yawned listlessly, Shen Han was greatly shocked. Had the commander brought back a young lady from his trip to Liang Province, deciding to cut ties with He Yan?

But doing so in front of He Yan seemed too heartless.

As he was thinking this, he heard a cheerful young voice from behind: “Uncle, Brother, you’re finally back!”

Bouncing over like a rabbit was none other than Cheng Li Su. Beside him was the ethereally beautiful physician Shen Muxue, dressed in white. Cheng Li Su approached and first addressed Shen Han with dissatisfaction: “Instructor Shen, why didn’t you tell me Uncle was back? If I hadn’t heard it myself, wouldn’t I have missed the chance to welcome him back?”

“Brother, seeing you return safely, the trip must have gone smoothly. Is that fellow Yuan Baozhen gone? I knew you could do it… huh?” His cheerful expression shattered into pieces when he saw Song Taotao, his tone instantly turning shrill as he jumped up and pointed at her, demanding, “Second Miss Song, why is she here?”

“What’s that look on your face?” Song Taotao frowned.

“We ran into Ms. Song in Liang Province City,” He Yan said with a smile. “It was a coincidence. Ms. Song will be staying at the guard station for a while.” She didn’t elaborate on how they had encountered Song Taotao, covering for her.

“Brother,” Cheng Li Su looked at him in disbelief. “I asked you to help me avoid Yuan Baozhen so I wouldn’t be dragged back to get married. And you brought her right to me? You’re going to be the death of me!”

“Cheng Li Su,” Song Taotao couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped forward, hands on her hips, and roared back at him fiercely: “Do you think I want to see you? To be honest, I came to Liang Province City to escape the marriage. If I hadn’t run into Second Young Master Xiao, I wouldn’t have come here. You don’t want to marry me? I don’t even like you! A useless young master, dreaming of being a match for me? You’re like a man dreaming of marrying Xishi—wishful thinking!”

When it came to sharp tongues, Cheng Li Su was no match for Song Taotao. At this moment, he deeply regretted not reading more books in the past, leaving him without any good retorts.

“…You shrew!” he could only weakly retort.

“Still better than a useless person like you,” Song Taotao shot back with a roll of her eyes.

The two bickering fools started arguing right there. Liang Ping had to step in as the peacemaker: “Young Master Cheng, the commander and the others have been traveling for most of the day. They must be tired. Let them rest for a while and have some food before we continue, alright?”

With someone offering a way out, Cheng Li Su naturally took it. “I won’t argue with you. I’m worried about my uncle and brother!”The immediate situation was finally somewhat eased.

Shen Muxue, who had remained silent until now, walked up to Xiao Jue and said, "Second Young Master, the secret letter sent back earlier mentioned that someone was injured. Is it..."

Everyone present seemed fine.

Xiao Jue glanced at He Yan, who immediately spoke up, "It's me!"

Shen Muxue: "...Are you feeling unwell?"

"Just some minor external injuries," He Yan replied with a smile. "I’d appreciate it if you could find me some ointment for wounds. The kind from last time worked well."

Upon hearing this, Song Taotao looked at her in surprise. "Young Master He, you’re injured?" She hadn’t witnessed He Yan getting hurt and thought nothing had happened.

Cheng Li Su pulled He Yan away, eyeing Song Taotao as if she were a thief. "You shrew, stay away from my elder brother!"

The two started arguing again.

He Yan: "..."

The energy of young people was truly enviable.

After returning to the garrison, everyone rested for a while and had their meal. By then, the sky had completely darkened.

Shen Han said to Xiao Jue, "I’ve cleaned your room every day, Commander. Today, I changed the bedding, so you can stay there without worry."

Xiao Jue’s obsession with cleanliness bordered on paranoia, so Shen Han had long prepared thoroughly.

Xiao Jue nodded and was about to enter when He Yan grabbed his sleeve. "Wait!"

Was this a private conversation? Shen Han pondered inwardly. This was not a situation for an outsider like him to be involved in, so he said, "Commander, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave." Without waiting for Xiao Jue’s reply, he hurried away.

He Yan pushed Xiao Jue into the room.

Xiao Jue asked coldly, "What is it?"

"Have you forgotten what you promised me earlier, Commander? You’re General Feng Yun—your word should count."

"What did I say?" Xiao Jue looked at her calmly.

Was he trying to go back on his word? He Yan grew anxious. "Didn’t we agree before returning that you’d arrange a new room for me? I don’t want to stay in the communal barracks anymore. It’s inconvenient for bathing and changing bandages."

Before Xiao Jue could reply, another voice chimed in. "Isn’t it just about changing rooms? Why bother him? I can help you too!"

The two turned to see Cheng Li Su running over. Cheng Li Su’s room was right next to Xiao Jue’s, separated by a connecting door that divided the large residence into two rooms. Usually, when Cheng Li Su was forced to copy texts and Xiao Jue kept an eye on him while reading, the connecting door remained open. Now, Cheng Li Su had jumped over from his room, his enthusiasm almost overwhelming.

"Elder Brother, what do you think of my room?"

He Yan: "Huh?"

"If you think my room is decent, I’ll swap with you," Young Master Cheng eagerly offered. "We can move tonight. I’ll start packing right now! What do you think, Elder Brother?"

He Yan was momentarily stunned. Xiao Jue frowned at his nephew, who always seemed to march to the beat of his own drum, and asked, "What are you up to?"

"Uncle," Cheng Li Su said with a pained expression, "it’s all because you brought that shrew back. I just asked Instructor Liang, and Song Taotao is temporarily staying with Physician Shen, just a dozen steps away from us. If I stay here, won’t I have to see her every day? I feel dizzy just looking at her now. It’s better not to. Since Elder Brother also wants to change rooms, I’ll just swap with him. We can switch back whenever Song Taotao leaves."

He Yan: "Great!"Xiao Jue: "No."

Cheng Li Su's dislike for Song Taotao outweighed his fear of his uncle. He simply pretended not to hear Xiao Jue's words and happily turned around to pack his things. Xiao Jue angrily shouted, "Get back here!" He reached out to drag him back but was blocked by He Yan.

Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Li Su ran off, and with a loud "bang," he even closed the middle door behind him.

Xiao Jue: "Cheng Li Su!"

"Being so fierce might scare the child," He Yan said with a smile, looking at him. "Commander, Young Master Cheng has already agreed. It's a matter of mutual consent. What right do you have to interfere?"

Her words made it sound as though Xiao Jue was an unreasonable person trying to tear apart a loving couple.

Xiao Jue sneered, "On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that... I am only a single red mole away from being the woman the Commander deeply loves." He Yan beamed at him.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Jue disdainfully averted his gaze. "Miss He, you don't actually intend to stay in Liangzhou Guard, do you?"

"Regarding this matter, I have never lied," He Yan replied, her smile fading as she spoke earnestly. "Not only that, but I truly wish to join the Nine Banners Battalion."

"Don't push your luck."

"I always know when to stop," He Yan said. "Commander, I only need a chance to prove myself—to prove that I am not a spy and that I am worthy of becoming your trusted aide."

Xiao Jue scoffed, "Such arrogance."

"If you won't even give me a chance, isn't that too rash?"

"You?" Xiao Jue glanced her over and spoke indifferently, "How long do you think you'll last in Liangzhou Guard?"

"Longer than you imagine."

"You're a woman."

"I won't be discovered."

"I won't cover for you."

Hearing this, He Yan laughed. "That's what you wanted to say, isn't it?"

Second Young Master Xiao was noble, aloof, and unfeeling. It was unthinkable that he would go out of his way to cover up the truth for her sake. However, He Yan's skills were truly exceptional, and if he were to give up on her, Xiao Jue would feel some hesitation. After all, in Xiao Jue's eyes, whether someone was a man or a woman wasn't all that important. What mattered was their ability, their excellence, and whether they were worth keeping.

"If you can't do it, leave," he replied, as heartless as ever.

"It's a deal," He Yan said. "I will rely on my own abilities to stay here, whether it's joining the Nine Banners Battalion or earning merits. I promise not to cause the Commander any trouble."

Xiao Jue stared at her intently. After a long pause, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "You really want to join the Nine Banners Battalion?"

"Of course!"

"Fine," Second Young Master Xiao said with a slight smile. "I'll give you one month to recover from your injuries. After that, your daily training will match that of the Nine Banners Battalion." As if worried He Yan didn't understand, he added, "The training intensity of the Nine Banners Battalion is three times what you're doing now."

He Yan: "..."

Xiao Jue, what a ruthless man.

"If you can endure it, stay. If you can't, get out of Liangzhou Guard." He looked at He Yan with a half-smile, his clear eyes shifting between light and dark, carrying a faint mockery. "Miss He, how long do you think you'll last?"

He Yan responded with a gritted-teeth smile.

"...Commander, there's plenty of time ahead. Just wait and see."

...

Finally settling into her room, He Yan had to return to her previous dormitory to pack her things and see her comrades. As she approached the dormitory, Xiao Mai, who was leaning against the doorway, spotted her from afar and called out, "Brother He, you're back!"Whoa, that shout brought everyone inside rushing out. In an instant, heads popped out from every doorway, and the bolder ones crowded around He Yan, asking, "He Yan, you came back with Commander Xiao? So, how was it? Any gains from this trip? Was Liang Province City fun? What did you all do there?"

"Go on, go on, don't all crowd here," Hong Shan shooed them away and ushered He Yan inside. "You're back just in time. Everyone's here—we were just wondering when you'd arrive. Ah He, you look a bit thinner from this trip. You didn't get the short end of the stick, did you?"

"Nope," He Yan replied, stepping into the room to find it quite lively. Wang Ba, Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong—they were all there. Jiang Jiao said, "We heard Commander Xiao was back, so we figured you'd be arriving soon and waited here for you."

He Yan sat down on the bed and sighed, "It's good to be back."

The Sun family's bed had been soft and plush, but the thought of all those girls buried in the courtyard made it feel eerie and chilling. Here, the bedboards were hard and the blankets thin, but the hearts of the people were open and honest, making for restful sleep.

"Did things improve between you and Commander Xiao on this trip?" Huang Xiong asked.

Previously, because of the Vanguard Battalion selecting Huang Xiong, He Yan had been fuming with resentment toward Xiao Jue. During this trip to Liang Province City with Xiao Jue, Hong Shan and the others had worried He Yan might not hold back and end up fighting with Xiao Jue along the way.

"It was alright," He Yan replied vaguely.

Wang Ba snorted, speaking with a hint of schadenfreude, "Doesn't look like it went well from his expression. If it really went smoothly, why did he come back empty-handed without any rewards?"

Just as he finished speaking, Cheng Li Su, dragging three large suitcases, arrived at the door and asked He Yan, "Brother He, can I come in?"

"Come in."

As soon as Cheng Li Su entered, he was startled by the room full of people and said, "So lively? Won't it be noisy for sleeping at night?"

Xiao Mai widened his eyes, "What does that mean?"

He Yan smiled and drawled, "On this trip to Liang Province, I performed a great service. The Commander was quite impressed and decided to swap rooms with Young Master Cheng as a reward. Young Master Cheng will stay here, and I'll live next door to the Commander."

Everyone was stunned.

"Is what this kid said true?" Wang Ba asked Cheng Li Su.

"It's true," Cheng Li Su replied, clasping his hands respectfully toward the others. "I'll be counting on all you big brothers to look out for me from now on."

The room erupted like boiling water, instantly buzzing as everyone clamored to question He Yan.

"What great service did you perform? What big thing did you all do out there?"

"Just swapping rooms? No other rewards? Didn't they let you into the Vanguard Battalion?"

"He Yan, are you getting promoted? If you get promoted, can you bring your brothers along?"

He Yan, surrounded like a victorious general, was the center of attention. Meanwhile, Shen Han had just learned the full story of Xiao Jue's trip to Liang Province City.

"Sun Xiangfu served in Liang Province for eight years, leaving the people in misery," Shen Han sighed. "You reap what you sow. Such an end is what he deserved."

Having spent years in Liang Province, Shen Han had heard of the many misdeeds of Sun Xiangfu and his son. But he wasn't an imperial censor, nor did he possess Xiao Jue's extraordinary abilities, so he could only swallow his anger. Now, Xiao Jue had uprooted Sun Xiangfu and his son and made Yuan Baozhen stumble without being able to voice his grievances—truly a cause for celebration."Has the Governor thoroughly investigated He Yan's background before heading to Liang Province?" Shen Han hesitated for a moment before asking. He couldn't quite figure out the current relationship between He Yan and Xiao Jue. If they were on good terms, Xiao Jue clearly still distrusted He Yan. If they weren't, he had just received instructions from Cheng Li Su, saying that He Yan would now occupy Cheng Li Su's room.

Wasn't that right next to Xiao Jue's quarters? Unless they were close, how could it come to this?

Could it be that old feelings had rekindled? But judging by Xiao Jue's demeanor, it didn't seem so. Shen Han had been single for many years and was utterly clueless about matters of the heart. Still, he had heard that lingering affections were hard to sever—perhaps this was such a case?

"More or less," Xiao Jue replied. According to the military register, He Yan's family background was indeed as written: a father who served as a city gate captain and a brother of similar age. However, the fact that the young man was actually a woman was hard to believe.

"Is he... one of us?" Shen Han asked cautiously.

"For now, it's fine to treat him as such," Xiao Jue lowered his gaze, "but there's no need to inform him of everything."

Shen Han roughly understood and said, "I understand, sir."

"There's something I need you to do," Xiao Jue added.

...

After finally answering the brothers' questions, He Yan returned to her room late at night.

Xiao Jue disliked noise, so his residence was quite secluded. When He Yan entered, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed. Suddenly transitioning from a crowded bunkhouse shared by over a dozen people to having her own room made her feel as if she were dreaming. Cheng Li Su, a young master with refined tastes, had even remembered to light incense in the room before leaving.

The faint fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose, making her feel very relaxed. He Yan lay down on the bed to test it—it felt as if she were sinking into a cloud of cotton, and drowsiness washed over her instantly. She thought, This is truly the height of luxury and indulgence. Sleeping on such a bed, it's no wonder one could laze around until midday.

Her gaze then fell upon the connecting door.

The door was concealed by a beaded curtain on the other side. Lifting the curtain would reveal the door, and beyond it was Xiao Jue's room. Xiao Jue had likely installed it to supervise Cheng Li Su's daily studies, but for now, the door was closed. He Yan tried pushing it gently, but it didn't budge. Undeterred, she pushed harder, but it remained firmly shut.

Xiao Jue had actually locked it from his side.

He Yan thought to herself, With such tight security, one might think he's the woman and I'm some flower thief sneaking into boudoirs at night. Second Young Master Xiao truly leaves no room for error—is this really necessary?

Second Young Master Xiao's thoughts were truly unfathomable.

In the center of the room stood a large wooden tub filled with hot water. He Yan walked over and dipped her fingers in to test the temperature—it was just right. This was likely prepared by Shen Han. After traveling all day and covered in dust, a proper bath was in order. At least she wouldn't have to soak in the cold waters of Five Deer River. Satisfied, He Yan was about to undress when she suddenly remembered something and glanced at the connecting door.

She had almost forgotten about that door.

Both sides of the connecting door had locks. If one side was locked, the other couldn't be opened unless both were unlocked simultaneously. Xiao Jue had locked his side, so He Yan needed to lock hers as well. Otherwise, what if Xiao Jue suddenly had a change of heart and decided to come over while she was bathing? Wouldn't that expose her completely?Though the likely outcome of doing so would be Second Young Master Xiao finding it an offense to his noble eyes and storming off in disgust.

He Yan locked the middle gate before continuing to bathe and change clothes. After changing, she dragged the wooden bucket outside to empty the water. Finally, she returned to the room and sat on the bed.

Shen Muxue had already delivered the bandages and medicinal ointments, placing them on the small table beside the bed. Given the previous incident involving the "pure and chaste only for one’s betrothed" remark, this time she didn’t even bother offering to help apply the medicine. He Yan faced the mirror, unwrapped the bandages, and replaced the old ointment. Just as she was about to reapply fresh bandages, she noticed a small jade-colored round box nearby.

The box was tiny, smaller than the palm of a hand, and she had almost overlooked it. He Yan picked it up and saw the words "Scar Removal and Skin Regeneration" written on it. She was taken aback for a moment before shaking her head with a smile.

It was thoughtful of a young lady to be so considerate, but this was almost excessively attentive. Shen Muxue truly was kind-hearted, showing such care even for a lowly soldier. Yet, ordinary men, once injured, simply accepted it—they weren’t entertainers from a male brothel, so why would they care about such things?

He Yan should have thought the same.

But just as she was about to put the box back, the memory of that night suddenly resurfaced: the red candle weeping wax, the warm hibiscus-curtained bed, and the way that warm hand had stiffened abruptly upon tracing the scars on her back. While she was still anxiously wondering how to deceive her husband with the lies she had prepared, the man before her had calmly blown out the candle, avoiding the topic altogether.

He remained gentle, yet she was suddenly overwhelmed with shame. That hurt more than any words or glances ever could.

The cool ointment stung and itched slightly as she applied it to the wound. She asked herself inwardly, Do you really not care?

No.

She cared desperately. Even with a second chance, it was hard to let go.

He Yan rewrapped the bandages, placed the jade-colored box under her pillow, extinguished the lamp, and lay down on the bed.

The room was quiet and warm, free from the thunderous snores of her bunkmates or the stray legs that would often sprawl over her in the middle of the night. She should have fallen asleep instantly and slept soundly till dawn, yet for some reason, her mind was in turmoil, making it difficult to rest.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have dwelled on the past.

…

Early the next morning, He Yan rose at the usual hour of mao shi. Now living in the courtyard where Xiao Jue resided, she was far from the other soldiers and even farther from the Martial Arts Field, so she had to set out earlier. As she went to fetch steamed buns before heading to the Martial Arts Field, she encountered Shen Han, Liang Ping, and a group of other instructors.

He Yan greeted them.

Liang Ping watched her spirited demeanor with a twinge of envy. As an instructor, he hadn’t risen as quickly as this lowly soldier. Just look—in such a short time, she was already living close to the Commander. What had she done on that outing to earn the Commander’s special favor? Shen Han had told them about the incident involving Sun Xiangfu and his son, but what role He Yan had played or what merits she had earned remained unknown.

Liang Ping sighed inwardly, gazing skyward. I, too, want to earn merits, to gain the Commander’s special favor, to live close to the Commander!

"He Yan, you’ve come at just the right time. I have something to tell you," Shen Han beckoned to her.He Yan ran over, and Shen Han sized her up: "The Commander mentioned to me yesterday that you were injured and should avoid intense training for the time being. Activities like horsemanship and crossbow practice can be paused. While we train these days, you can find exercises suitable for yourself." He paused briefly before adding, "However, don’t slack off. You must come to the Martial Arts Field every day, and the morning runs cannot be skipped either!"

"Understood!" He Yan replied, though inwardly she thought, Xiao Jue was actually quite considerate. Her injury, though only superficial, was located on her lower back. If she continued training as before, it would likely worsen and be slow to heal.

In her past life, it had been just like this—old wounds never fully healed before she was leading troops east and west. Injuries lingered, leaving stubborn ailments all over her body. Even after she resumed her female identity and no longer endured the elements as before, the wounds would ache faintly during rainy seasons or cold winters, with no relief in sight.

Enduring was possible, but if she could avoid pushing herself so hard, that would naturally be best.

She thanked Shen Han and headed toward the Martial Arts Field. Today’s training focused on blade techniques, which she could manage. Since her spar with Huang Xiong on the field’s platform, everyone knew her blade skills were exceptional. Her temperament was also amiable; whenever someone asked for advice, she would patiently answer with a smile, far more approachable than the stern-faced instructors. Thus, the young soldiers often sought her out to discuss their doubts.

Just as He Yan was being pulled aside by a young soldier for guidance on blade techniques, a crisp voice suddenly called out, "Brother He!"

Turning, she saw it was Song Taotao.

In the Liangzhou Guard, Shen Muxue was the only young woman, revered by all as an untouchable fairy. Now, unexpectedly, another had appeared, seemingly even younger than Shen Muxue. Though not as ethereally beautiful, she made up for it with a charming, innocent cuteness, like a small flower blooming in spring, its vines carrying a delicate fragrance.

Her hair tied in double buns, she lifted her skirt and ran to He Yan’s side, ignoring the eager gazes of the surrounding soldiers, and asked, "I heard from Ms. Shen yesterday that you were badly injured. Are you feeling better now?"

He Yan: "..."

Since arriving at the Liangzhou Guard, Song Taotao had been staying with Shen Muxue, so no one paid her much attention. Chi Wu and Fei Nu couldn’t spend all their time watching over a young girl instead of attending to their duties. Thus, no one had noticed when she had come to the Martial Arts Field, nor how she had spotted He Yan so quickly.

He Yan smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Song. It’s just a minor injury."

"How can this be minor?" Song Taotao tugged at her sleeve. "Let me take you to Ms. Shen for another look."

Without needing to be told, He Yan could sense the teasing looks from those around her. Liang Ping’s face had turned ashen. What kind of behavior was this, openly pulling and tugging? Liang Ping had been single for nearly thirty years, and here was He Yan, acting all affectionate—who was it for? But since he couldn’t afford to offend the Second Miss Song, he could only glare at He Yan, signaling her to quickly send Song Taotao away.

Just as He Yan was about to speak, an angry shout rang out, "Second Miss Song, what are you doing here?!"

He Yan felt a headache coming on at the sound of that voice. Cheng Li Su, like a cat catching the scent of prey, had followed Song Taotao here. Seeing her clutching He Yan’s sleeve, he immediately separated them in a fury, shouting, "Stay away from my Brother He! My Brother He already has a fiancée!"

Song Taotao first looked at He Yan in surprise, then turned to Cheng Li Su, who was gloating beside her. After a moment of thought, she sneered, "So what if he has a fiancée? Engagements can be broken. Wasn’t I once your fiancée? What does that even mean?"

Cheng Li Su staggered back as if struck by lightning.

The onlookers were equally stunned.He Yan and Cheng Li Su are sworn brothers. Song Taotao is Cheng Li Su's fiancée, and He Yan is also engaged. Yet, Song Taotao has a special regard for He Yan alone. What a heart-wrenching, twist-filled, dramatic, and sensational story this is!

If there were a hole right now, He Yan would have dived into it without looking back.

She weakly defended herself, "I'm not... I didn't..."

Shen Han: Getting addicted to shipping couples day after day [Sa Beining oxygen mask.jpg]

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(End of Chapter)