Legend of the Female General

Chapter 119: Old Friend

Outside the garrison stood a group of people.

Servants by the carriage were busy unloading trunks from the vehicle. In the resting area near the garrison entrance, guests were seated drinking tea.

The moment Xiao Jue entered, he saw Liang Ping pouring tea for someone.

"Chu Fourth Young Master," Lin Shuanghe was the first to greet, stepping forward with a fan in hand, smiling as familiarly as a host entertaining guests. "I hope the tea suits your taste?"

Chu Zilan stood up and cupped his hands toward Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jue. "Commander Xiao, Young Master Lin," he smiled. "The Yunwu tea of Liangzhou Guard is mellow, bright, and elegant, leaving a lingering fragrance on the palate. The Commander has excellent taste."

Xiao Jue casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and stared at him. "Just coarse tea, no need for such courtesy."

Chu Zhao was not offended, merely smiling as he replied, "The Commander jests."

The fourth son of the Shi Jinbo household was the same age as Xiao Jue. Compared to Xiao Jue's often indifferent and weary expression, he appeared much gentler. He was also exceptionally handsome, with refined features, fair skin, and a jade-colored, loose robe that made him look even more slender and ethereal. His eyes were narrow and long, always carrying a hint of a smile—truly a graceful gentleman, gentle as jade.

The two of them together, one as cold and aloof as autumn water, the other as pure and bright as an orchid, made for a pleasing sight.

Beside Chu Zhao stood a young woman dressed as a maid. Though clad in simple servant's attire, she was strikingly beautiful, with deep, radiant features that even plain clothing could not conceal. Even Lin Shuanghe, who was accustomed to seeing beauties, couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, inwardly marveling that this master and servant standing together seemed even less like ordinary mortals. Among Shi Jinbo's four sons, the first three were plain in appearance, while only this one had grown into such a striking figure—a testament to the importance of maternal beauty.

"What brings Chu Fourth Young Master to Liangzhou Guard?" Xiao Jue asked.

Chu Zhao smiled and replied, "His Majesty heard that Commander Xiao annihilated tens of thousands of enemy troops in Liangzhou Guard and eradicated the remnants of the Qiang Tribe. He was overjoyed and specifically sent me to deliver rewards, as well as to observe the morale of Liangzhou Guard's formidable troops."

"Delivering rewards?" Xiao Jue looked at him with amusement, speaking nonchalantly. "Liangzhou is a harsh and bitter land. For Chu Fourth Young Master to condescend to visit and observe," he smiled slightly, "is no small matter."

Chu Zhao said, "To witness the formidable troops led by Commander Xiao in person is Zi Lan's good fortune."

Xiao Jue chuckled but did not respond.

"For this great victory in Liangzhou, His Majesty also ordered me to host a celebration banquet here," Chu Zhao continued. "However, I am not familiar with how Liangzhou Garrison typically celebrates victories, so I must trouble the Commander with the arrangements."

"The newly fallen soldiers have just been buried," Xiao Jue said. "Holding a celebration now might not be appropriate."

Chu Zhao's smile remained gentle, but his tone was firm. "In war, how can there be no bloodshed? Moreover, annihilating the enemy is a joyous occasion. Rewards should be given where they are due—this is also His Majesty's intention."

Was he invoking Emperor Wenxuan now?

Xiao Jue stared at him for a while before finally nodding and smiling. "Very well." He stood up and said meaningfully, "The celebration banquet can be held tomorrow. I invite Chu Fourth Young Master to join us."

Chu Zhao rose and returned the courtesy. "I dare not refuse such an honor."

Xiao Jue left the room and instructed Fei Nu, "Arrange rooms for Chu Fourth Young Master's people."

Fei Nu accepted the order and departed.Lin Shuanghe followed him out, sidled up to him, and asked in a low voice, "What is Chu Zhao here for? From the looks of it, he intends to stay at Liangzhou Guard for a while?"

"With the person gone, Xu Jingfu is anxious," Xiao Jue replied calmly. "He sent his dog over to take a look. Is there a problem?"

Lin Shuanghe glanced back at the room, where Chu Zhao was sipping tea with his head lowered, and asked, "Is it safe to let him stay here? After all, this guy is Xu Jingfu's man."

"Safe?" Xiao Jue said. "That depends on his capabilities. Let's go."

"Where to?"

"Since it's a reward, we should see what's in it." Xiao Jue spoke with a hint of amusement. "Coming to my Liangzhou Guard with such fanfare—just a few crates of rewards seems rather inadequate."

"You're going to pluck feathers from a passing goose again?"

Xiao Jue shot him a glance.

Lin Shuanghe said, "No other meaning, just asking. Don't be angry. Let's go, let's go see the treasures!"

...

He Yan returned from the Martial Arts Field and found herself idle once again. She lay in bed reading a few travelogues, waiting for Song Taotao to bring her meal. After eating, as Song Taotao was leaving, she heard movement outside the door, as if Song Taotao was talking to someone. Thinking it was Xiao Jue returning, she propped herself up with a stick, got out of bed, and opened the door, only to see Lin Shuanghe.

"Doctor Lin?" He Yan looked around but didn't see Xiao Jue, so she asked, "Is the Commander not here?"

"He went to discuss the victory banquet with the drillmaster," Lin Shuanghe said with a smile. "I'll wait for him in his room first. I still have something to discuss with him."

"Victory banquet?" He Yan was momentarily confused. "What victory banquet?"

"The Liangzhou Guard victory banquet." Lin Shuanghe waved to Song Taotao, and after she left, he walked toward He Yan. But as he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and refused to go any further.

He Yan was puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Lin Shuanghe withdrew his hand and said seriously, "It's improper for a man and a woman to be alone in the same room. If word got out, it would damage your reputation."

He Yan: "..."

She said, "No one here knows my identity, Doctor Lin. You can just treat me like an ordinary recruit. Besides, haven't you been here before?"

Lin Shuanghe waved his hand reservedly. "There were other people in the room before, but now it's just the two of us. I'm afraid it might cause misunderstandings."

"What misunderstandings?" He Yan said helplessly. "The Commander and I are often alone in the same room, and nothing improper has ever happened."

Hearing this, Lin Shuanghe took another step back. "That makes it even more inappropriate. 'A friend's wife is not to be trifled with.' How could I be the kind of scoundrel who betrays a friend?"

He Yan: "..."

What nonsense was this person spouting?

After some thought, she finally came up with a good solution. "How about this, Young Master Lin? You go to the Commander's room, and I'll stay in mine. I'll open the middle door, and we can talk through it. That way, we won't be in the same room but in two separate rooms. Is that acceptable?"

Lin Shuanghe hadn't expected He Yan to come up with such an idea. After a moment of surprise, he slapped his fan and said, "Let's do it!"

So, after He Yan returned to her room, used Cheng Li Su's silver wire to pick the lock, and laboriously pushed a stool to the other side of the middle door, Lin Shuanghe was already waiting there.

He examined the middle door and asked He Yan, "Do you two usually play like this?"

"Play like what?"

"I mean..." Lin Shuanghe trailed off, seeming to feel a bit embarrassed himself. He shook his head and laughed. "I never thought Huaijin would be like this..."He Yan was baffled by his words but still remembered the matter of the victory banquet he had mentioned earlier, so she asked, "Doctor Lin, what is this Liangzhou Guard victory banquet you just spoke of?"

"Didn't you all defeat Rida Muzi's forces earlier, wiping out tens of thousands of enemy troops?" Lin Shuanghe replied. "When His Majesty heard of this, he was greatly pleased. He specifically sent someone to bring rewards and commendations, and even ordered a victory banquet to be held at Liangzhou Guard to honor the three armies."

Upon hearing this, He Yan was stunned. "Now? Holding a victory banquet now doesn't seem appropriate."

Celebrating a victory at Liangzhou Guard at this moment was hardly a good idea. Although they had won the battle, it had come hastily. At the outset, dozens of scouts had died without knowing the full situation. Even though they ultimately prevailed, it was largely due to the support of the Southern Garrison Troops. At this moment, the new recruits were likely feeling more sorrow for their fallen comrades and fear of war than the joy of victory. How could a celebration be fitting now?

"What can be done about His Majesty's decree?" Lin Shuanghe sighed. "Can we afford to be ungrateful?"

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

After a while, He Yan asked, "The person who came to deliver His Majesty's decree—is that the Chu Zilan you mentioned today?" She continued, "Who is Chu Zilan?"

"You've never heard of Chu Zilan?" This time, Lin Shuanghe was genuinely surprised.

He Yan shook her head.

"Among the dream lovers of young women in the capital, Xiao Rubi ranks first, Xiao Huaijin ranks second, and Chu Zilan ranks third," Lin Shuanghe remarked with a sigh. "But ever since Xiao Rubi got married, only Xiao Huaijin and Chu Zilan remain. Our Huaijin is aloof by nature and doesn't enjoy speaking with young ladies, so in recent years, he has fallen behind Chu Zilan in popularity. Although Chu Zilan's background is somewhat humble, he is exceptionally handsome, gentle, and amiable, and he is still unmarried. If you ask the women of the capital who they would most like to marry, nine out of ten would name Chu Zilan." He looked at He Yan. "When you were in the capital before, didn't you hear his name? That's impossible, isn't it?"

He Yan, of course, had no idea. She had been busy leading troops and fighting battles, with no time to concern herself with romantic affairs or the handsome men of the capital. Later, after returning to the capital and quickly marrying, she had no opportunity to learn about men outside her household. She truly had never heard of this Chu Zilan.

"I was raised in seclusion by my father since childhood, rarely leaving the inner chambers and seldom speaking with men outside the family," He Yan said earnestly, though casually. "I truly know nothing about such matters."

"Is that so?" Lin Shuanghe said. "Then your father really did keep you under strict supervision."

He Yan nodded. "Indeed." She then asked, "What is the relationship between this Chu Zilan and Commander Xiao?"

Xiao Jue was a person who, though not particularly close to anyone, had never shown any special fondness for anyone, nor had he ever displayed any particular dislike for anyone. Xu Jingfu was one exception, and this Chu Zilan—though they hadn't even met today, merely hearing his name seemed to displease Xiao Jue.

Could there have been some past conflict?

"That's a long story," Lin Shuanghe said, rising to pour himself a cup of tea from the small table. After taking a sip to moisten his throat, he sat back down and said to He Yan, "You may not have heard of Chu Zilan, but have you heard of his father, Shi Jinbo Chu Linfeng?"

He Yan felt the name sounded somewhat familiar. After a moment of thought, she said, "Is he the one who married nineteen concubines, each one a stunning beauty?"

"Exactly!"He Yan remembered the name Chu Linfeng. Back in the military days, when the deputy generals and their subordinates gathered to chat, they didn’t envy the emperor—what they envied most was this Shi Jinbo. Shi Jinbo was as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, a famously handsome man in Great Wei, yet the wife he married was several years older than him, famously ugly, and fierce-tempered.

A libertine like Chu Linfeng would never have given up. Before marriage, he spent his days lingering in pleasure quarters, and after marriage, he became even worse. The wife he married was virtuous and gentle, seemingly aware of her plain looks and lack of favor from her husband, so she never stopped him from taking concubines. Over the years, he had taken nineteen concubines, each as beautiful as flowers, capable of making fish sink and geese fall, each with their own charm.

But taking concubines was one thing—over all these years, aside from the three young masters born from his wife, not a single concubine had ever borne Shi Jinbo’s child.

It was said that before these concubines entered the Chu family, they were forced to take infertility medicine. No matter how favored they were, without children, aside from pleasing their master, they could only please the mistress. Lady Shi Jinbo kept these concubines firmly under her thumb, and none dared to cause trouble under her watch. Shi Jinbo continued to dote on his concubines every day, while Lady Shi Jinbo simply pretended not to see it, focusing on raising her three sons.

Chu Zilan was Shi Jinbo’s fourth son, but he was not born to Lady Shi Jinbo.

“Is he a son born to a concubine?” He Yan asked.

“No, no,” Lin Shuanghe said. “Madam Chu managed the concubines more strictly than your father managed you. How could a concubine possibly give birth to a son?”

“Then…”

“I don’t know the specifics, but one day, during a Chu family banquet, a four-year-old son suddenly appeared, named Chu Zhao.” Lin Shuanghe took another sip of tea. “Though no one said it outright, everyone understood—this Chu Zhao was likely Chu Linfeng’s illegitimate son born to an outside woman.”

He Yan’s eyes widened.

“Madam Chu guarded against everything but never expected Shi Jinbo to have such a trick up his sleeve. The child was already four years old, acknowledged in front of everyone—what could she do?” Lin Shuanghe spread his hands. “If that were all, Chu Zilan would merely be Chu Linfeng’s illegitimate son. But when Chu Zilan turned ten, he was registered under Madam Chu’s name. So now, his status is that of the legitimate Fourth Young Master of the Shi Jinbo estate. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because he is the most favored student of the current Prime Minister, Xu Jingfu.”

He Yan was taken aback—Xu Jingfu again?

“Though Shi Jinbo was a libertine and not a particularly kind father, life under Madam Chu couldn’t have been easy for Chu Zilan. I don’t know how he managed to survive safely until the age of ten, and then how he connected with Xu Jingfu. How could Shi Jinbo dare to disregard the Prime Minister’s face? Later, registering Chu Zhao under Madam Chu’s name was likely Xu Jingfu’s idea.”

“So this Chu Fourth Young Master is quite impressive.”

Lin Shuanghe looked at He Yan. “Do you think he’s impressive?”

“Impressive. As you said, he had no external support in the estate—his father didn’t care for him, his birth mother wasn’t by his side, yet he became a legitimate young master and even had the Emperor send him to Liangzhou Guard to deliver an edict. To have come this far on his own is truly remarkable.”

“If he weren’t impressive, how could he have become Xu Jingfu’s favorite student?” Lin Shuanghe shook his head and sighed."What about his birth mother?" He Yan asked. "Was she not taken into the Shi Jinbo residence?"

"I don't know," Lin Shuanghe shook his head. "I heard she fell ill and passed away after giving birth to him. If not for that, given Chu Zilan's current abilities, he could have provided her a better life."

He Yan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. No wonder Commander Xiao dislikes Chu Fourth Young Master."

Xiao Jue and Xu Jingfu were enemies rather than friends. Since Chu Zilan was Xu Jingfu's student, he naturally became Xiao Jue's enemy as well.

"He... Brother He," Lin Shuanghe said, "if you had to choose between Huaijin and Chu Zilan, who would you side with?"

He Yan found the question utterly baffling. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm just curious about what the young ladies of Great Wei would choose."

"I don't even know Chu Zilan," He Yan replied. "Of course I'd stand with the Commander."

Lin Shuanghe then revealed a meaningful smile. "No need to answer so quickly. At tomorrow's victory banquet, you'll get to meet Chu Zilan."

He Yan: "..."

What difference would meeting him make? Was there something special about him?

He Yan hadn't expected that, just as Lin Shuanghe said, she would indeed meet this legendary figure the very next day—the man who haunted the dreams of Great Wei's young maidens, the one said to rival Xiao Jue: Chu Fourth Young Master, Chu Zilan.

...

That night, it surprisingly didn't snow, and the following day turned out to be clear and sunny.

Though the weather remained cold, the sunlight shining on people brought a comforting warmth. When He Yan got up to drink her porridge, she felt that under the sun's rays, the wound on her waist seemed to heal faster. Liangzhou Guard truly was peculiar—in summer, people complained bitterly about the scorching heat and cursed the sun, yet in winter, they rejoiced at even half a day of sunshine.

Unable to participate in the daily training at the Martial Arts Field, but finding the sunlight too pleasant to waste, He Yan decided to take her cane and stroll around the courtyard. Just as she reached the entrance, she heard Song Taotao's voice declaring, "I saw this golden cake roll first! It's mine!"

This was followed by a woman's patient voice: "Young lady, this was specially made by our young master's personal chef. It didn't come from the guard's kitchen, so it isn't yours."

"You say it's your young master's, so it must be?" the girl retorted angrily. "It's placed in the kitchen—how am I supposed to know if your chef made it? Since you have your own chef, can't you just make another one?"

"The golden cake roll requires complicated preparation. Making another would delay our young master's meal."

"Then don't eat it!"

"Young lady..."

He Yan couldn't listen any longer and stepped out. "Ms. Song."

Song Taotao turned, along with the woman she was arguing with, and exclaimed joyfully, "Brother He! This is a golden cake roll. Would you like to try it?"

He Yan: "..."

The woman also spoke up: "That belongs to our young master..."

He Yan took the golden cake roll and returned it to the woman. "Please don't mind her—she's just a child who doesn't know better."

"Brother He!" Song Taotao stamped her foot in frustration. "Why did you give it back to her?"

"It was theirs to begin with," He Yan shook her head. She guessed that the "young master" the woman referred to must be that Fourth Young Master of the Shi Jinbo residence, Chu Zilan. Given the delicate relationship between Chu Zilan and Xiao Jue, causing trouble for Xiao Jue over this would be more trouble than it was worth.

"Thank you, young master," the woman smiled gracefully at He Yan.He Yan was also taken aback for a moment, startled by the girl's appearance. There were already few women in the Liangzhou Guard, and aside from her, the fake one, there were only Shen Muxue and Song Taotao. One was elegant and refined, the other cute and lively. Now, with this peony-like beauty appearing, she stood out even more.

Even Chu Zilan’s maidservant was this beautiful? He Yan thought to herself. Before, Lin Shuanghe had said that among the women of Great Wei, the ranking for ideal husbands placed Chu Zilan first. Only a fool would choose Chu Zilan. If even his maidservant was such a stunning beauty, how could ordinary women ever catch his eye? It would be better to choose Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue was always surrounded by men, and perhaps after seeing so many men, his standards for women would be lower, giving them a slight chance.

Seeing He Yan staring at the other’s face without speaking, Song Taotao grew even more anxious. She tugged at He Yan’s sleeve and said, “Why are you looking at her? What’s so good about her?”

The woman holding the golden cake rolls chuckled softly, her smile captivating.

“Ying Xiang,” someone spoke.

The maidservant named Ying Xiang immediately stopped smiling and bowed slightly toward the front. “Fourth Young Master.”

Fourth Young Master? Chu Zilan? He Yan turned around, her gaze falling on the person before her.

This was a young man dressed in a pale jade-colored robe with wide sleeves, wearing a jade crown. He was as elegant as an orchid and as handsome as an immortal. A faint smile graced his face as he nodded toward He Yan.

He Yan frowned. This person’s appearance seemed very familiar.

When he saw He Yan, he was also taken aback. After a moment, he smiled, as if understanding He Yan’s thoughts. He extended his hand, palm facing upward, and spoke softly, “Young brother, you dropped something.”

These words snapped He Yan back to reality. She remembered where she had seen this person before! Back when she was still in Shuojing, struggling to come up with the tuition for He Yun Sheng’s studies, she had no choice but to gamble at Letong Manor. After being chased by the losers, she managed to defeat them all, only for someone to suddenly appear and tell her she had dropped some silver.

Such a handsome face was hard to forget once seen. Now, seeing him here so suddenly, and in broad daylight, He Yan hadn’t recognized him at first. Instead, he had recognized her first.

“You… Chu Fourth Young Master?” He Yan asked.

Chu Zilan nodded. “It’s me.”

For a moment, He Yan was speechless. What kind of luck did she have? Randomly climbing walls and fighting at night, yet she managed to run into the dream man of Great Wei’s young maidens. What kind of coincidence was this?

“I am Chu Zhao,” Chu Zilan said, smiling at He Yan. “Young brother and I are old acquaintances, but I still don’t know your name. May I ask for your esteemed name?”

Such gentleness and politeness made He Yan understand why he could rival Xiao Jue. She quickly returned the courtesy and said, “You flatter me. I am He Yan. The ‘He’ of grass and trees, and the ‘Yan’ of peace and prosperity.”

Chu Zhao smiled. “A good name. However,” he looked around, puzzled, “why is Brother He here?”

“Me?” He Yan replied, “I am a new recruit of the Liangzhou Guard, but I was injured a few days ago, so I haven’t been attending daily training at the Martial Arts Field.”

“I see.”

At this moment, Song Taotao, who had been silent all along, finally caught on. She carefully tugged at He Yan’s hand, perhaps noticing how handsome Chu Zilan was. Her earlier hostility toward Ying Xiang instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of shyness. She whispered, “Brother He, who is this person? Do you know him?”This was a difficult question to answer. She knew Chu Zhao, but not as well as Song Taotao imagined. It was just that seeing a familiar face at the Liangzhou Guard had stirred a moment of instinctive excitement.

He Yan then said, "This is the Fourth Young Master of the Shi Jinbo residence. I once had a brief encounter with him when I was in Shuojing."

Chu Zhao smiled and said, "We can be considered old friends."

(End of Chapter)