Legend of the Female General

Chapter 129: The Lady

From Liang Province to Jiyang City, even with a fast horse at full gallop, the journey took nearly a month.

They set off after the New Year as spring began, heading southward. The closer they got to Jiyang, the warmer the weather became. By the time they were almost there, wildflowers had bloomed along the roadside, and swallows were already gathering mud to build their nests. Spring had truly arrived.

Outside Jiyang City, Chi Wu drove the carriage over and said, "Young Master, this is the best carriage available nearby."

The carriage already looked quite luxurious, adorned with fine peacock-green silk on all sides, with white gauze gently fluttering inside. Even sitting inside, it was spacious and comfortable. After riding horses for many days in a row, He Yan felt exhausted, so she was quite satisfied to finally have some comfort. Yet Lin Shuanghe remained endlessly picky. "Just this? In Shuojing, I wouldn’t even glance at something like this. The wood is too inferior. Didn’t I say to pick the most expensive one?"

Chi Wu replied, "This is already the most expensive."

He Yan glanced at Lin Shuanghe and sighed inwardly. After all these years, this young master’s penchant for luxury and comfort hadn’t changed one bit. She couldn’t understand why Xiao Jue had brought Lin Shuanghe along to Jiyang for business. Wasn’t he just dragging himself down?

He Yan wasn’t the only one puzzled; Lin Shuanghe himself was baffled. Before leaving, he repeatedly confirmed, "Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? You want to bring me to Jiyang?"

Xiao Jue replied, "I’m sure."

"Why?"

"Because the journey requires a steward."

"A steward?" Lin Shuanghe was furious. "Have you ever seen a steward as distinguished as me?"

Xiao Jue looked him over. "Now I have."

Despite his complaints, Lin Shuanghe was actually quite eager to accompany Xiao Jue and broaden his horizons. He had never been to Jiyang before and had heard that the women there were exceptionally beautiful. Wouldn’t it be a pity to miss out on seeing them in this lifetime?

So, aside from a few verbal complaints, he gladly agreed to join the trip.

During the journey, they hadn’t paid much attention to other matters, but now that they were nearing Jiyang City, they had to carefully disguise themselves. After all, here, they were no longer Xiao Huaijin and He Yan, but Qiao Huanqing, a wealthy merchant from Huzhou, and his newlywed wife Wen Yuyan, along with their guards Chi Wu and Fei Nu, and their steward Lin Shuanghe.

Fei Nu took out the travel permit and, looking toward the distant gates of Jiyang City, said, "Young Master, once we enter the city and settle at an inn, we’ll need to buy two maidservants."

It wouldn’t make sense for a wealthy merchant and his young wife to travel without maidservants, handling all their daily needs themselves. Not even Cui Yuezhi would believe it—no one would.

"Buy maidservants?" Lin Shuanghe said. "I’ll go too. I know how to pick girls!"

Xiao Jue ignored him and simply instructed Fei Nu, "Find young ones. Once our business in Jiyang is done, send them back home."

Fei Nu acknowledged the order.

Chi Wu and Fei Nu drove the carriage from the outside, slowing its pace as it leisurely approached the gates of Jiyang City. Fei Nu handed the travel permit to the guards at the gate. The guards carefully examined the black characters on the permit and immediately became respectful. "So you are family of Commander Cui. Please enter."

Lin Shuanghe asked, "Is Cui Yuezhi highly regarded in Jiyang?"

"I heard he grew up with Princess Meng Ji. He is both loyal and capable, and highly trusted by the Princess," He Yan replied.

Lin Shuanghe asked curiously, "How do you know that?"

He Yan replied, "I heard it from someone."

Xiao Jue glanced at her but said nothing.He Yan had never been to Jiyang, but she had heard some stories about its people and events. This was because her master, Liu Buwang, hailed from outside Jiyang City and had shared many anecdotes about the place with her. Hearing so much, she had naturally developed a longing for Jiyang.

However, traveling to a feudal prince's territory was troublesome, and she never expected that now, riding on Xiao Jue's coattails, she would have the chance to take a look at the water city Liu Buwang had described. It felt truly novel.

Jiyang City was magnificent, with countless households connected and bustling commerce. Outside the city, a canal linked the area, teeming with merchant ships. The silk and tea produced in abundance in Jiyang flowed directly to Yangzhou via the Yuyang River, truly embodying the phrase "ships carrying ten thousand bushels sail as if on the wind." Within the city, rivers large and small crisscrossed the landscape, and small boats could be seen passing under bridges everywhere, their bows laden with fruits and trinkets—this was Jiyang's Water Market.

People from the Central Plains had never seen such sights. He Yan leaned against the carriage window, watching in amazement.

Lin Shuanghe sighed, "Jiyang truly lives up to what travelers say—it's a heavenly place. No wonder it's easy to enter but hard to leave. If I came here, I wouldn't want to leave either. Look at the girls here, how delicate and lovely they are, so different from those in Shuojing."

He Yan: "..." She thought to herself, That's not what you said when you were in Shuojing.

She turned to look at Xiao Jue. Sitting in the carriage, he seemed to have little interest in the bustling scene outside. He lounged lazily, his gaze calm and devoid of any surprise.

"Commander, should we find an inn first?" she asked.

"What commander?" Lin Shuanghe immediately interjected. "We're in Jiyang now. You can't call him 'Commander' or you'll give us away."

He Yan: "Then what should I call him?"

"Of course, 'husband'!"

As soon as the word "husband" was uttered, both He Yan and Xiao Jue were visibly shaken. Xiao Jue's expression was particularly indescribable, a mix of emotions. He suppressed it for a moment before finally flicking his sleeve and saying, "No need to call me that now."

And it would feel awkward to call him that later too, wouldn't it? He Yan thought, feeling utterly pained. This mission had seemed decent at first, but she never expected it to be so difficult to carry out, requiring her to cast aside her sense of shame. No wonder the condition for the exchange was entry into the Southern Garrison Troops.

Xiao Jue said, "Let's find an inn and settle down first."

Jiyang was abundant in resources, prosperous, and wealthy, so finding an inn wasn't a difficult task—they all looked quite decent. Chi Wu chose one closest to the city center for easy access and familiarity with the area.

The group first unloaded the heavier items from the carriage. Fei Nu approached and said, "Young Master, I've just inquired around. There's a restaurant nearby whose proprietress helps wealthy families buy and sell maidservants. If we stay here today, we can go see her now and ask for her assistance."

Xiao Jue nodded.

He Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "I won't go."

The others paused in their actions. Lin Shuanghe asked, "He... Young Madam, is there something else you need to do?"

He Yan didn't actually have anything else to do; she simply couldn't bear to see others selling their children. Even though she knew some children might not fare poorly as maidservants in wealthy households, it still made her uncomfortable. Back when she was with the army, in war-torn areas plagued by Qiang raids, it was common for people to sell their children. Sons were somewhat better off, often sold as laborers, but daughters were sold more frequently. He Yan had seen girls as young as thirteen or fourteen sold as concubines to sixty-year-old men for nothing more than a piece of flatbread.

Human life was just that cheap.

She truly disliked seeing people being picked over like goods."I... I'm currently posing as a woman, right?" she made up a random excuse. "I can't go around dressed like this—it doesn't look like Wen Yuyan at all. I was thinking, are there any clothing shops nearby? I'll go buy a couple of women's outfits. If there are accessories, I'll pick some up too, so when we meet Cui Yuezhi, we won't give ourselves away."

For convenience during the journey, she had still been borrowing Cheng Li Su's clothes. Now that they had arrived in Jiyang, continuing to dress as a man was no longer appropriate.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuanghe thought her reasoning made sense and said, "That works."

"Chi Wu, go with her," Xiao Jue instructed. "Signal if anything happens."

Chi Wu acknowledged the order.

Xiao Jue then turned to He Yan. "Stay nearby and don't wander too far. Jiyang isn't like Liang Province—be cautious."

He Yan nodded. "Alright."

"Then let's split up," Lin Shuanghe said, fanning himself. "Young Madam, remember to buy a few pretty outfits so we can show them how beautiful and captivating the young ladies of the Central Plains are."

Xiao Jue: "Shut up."

The three of them went downstairs from the inn and left, leaving He Yan and Chi Wu behind.

Chi Wu thought to himself that Lin Shuanghe's words were off the mark. He Yan wasn't a woman, so no matter how she dressed up, she couldn't possibly be beautiful and captivating. What was the point?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw He Yan facing the mirror, pulling out the hairpin from her head. Instantly, a cascade of dark hair tumbled over her shoulders.

"You..."

He Yan turned around. "As a man, going to a clothing shop to buy women's clothes would draw too much attention. I'll just let my hair down first. How about it?" she asked Chi Wu. "How do I look now?"

Chi Wu: "...It's... it's alright." He muttered to himself, why hadn't he noticed before that He Yan had such feminine features? He had thought her disguise as a woman would be unbearable to look at, but now, with her hair down... she really did look like a woman.

No wonder the young master had chosen her as a companion.

"Let's go," Chi Wu said. "While it's still light, let's look around nearby."

The two of them went out together.

Jiyang City was further south than Liang Province, so the weather was much warmer. Now, in spring, the sun peeked out gently, warming everyone with its rays. Willow trees sprouted soft green buds, painting an endless scene of spring.

Everywhere, vendors called out their wares. The people of Jiyang originally made their living by fishing, and their customs were lively and open, with everyone being warm and hospitable. When passing by a fruit vendor, noticing He Yan glancing over, the vendor insisted on stuffing a few pieces into her arms, saying, "Take these, miss! No charge, try them!"

Chi Wu: "..."

She was already being called "miss"? The disguise was too convincing!

He Yan accepted with a smile, handing a few pieces to Chi Wu. "Jiyang City really is nice."

No wonder Liu Buwang spoke of Jiyang with such nostalgia. Thinking of Liu Buwang, He Yan felt a twinge of worry. Now that she was with Xiao Jue, how could she find a suitable excuse to search for traces of Liu Buwang outside the city? Moreover, Liu Buwang had been vague back then, and now it seemed that with Jiyang City being so large, finding someone would be truly difficult.

Lost in thought, Chi Wu had already asked a nearby clay figurine vendor, "Brother, excuse me, are there any clothing shops around here?"Upon hearing this, the stall owner smiled and said, "Judging by your accent, brother, you're not from Jiyang, are you? You've asked the right person." He pointed in a direction ahead. "Jiyang's Xiuluo Workshop is the largest ready-to-wear clothing store, with the best and most extensive selection of garments. If you want to buy clothes, you can't go wrong there!"

Chi Wu thanked the stall owner and walked with He Yan in the direction he had pointed.

He Yan felt somewhat nervous.

Chi Wu asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"It's just a bit awkward buying clothes for a woman," He Yan replied.

Chi Wu nodded. "It is quite awkward."

In both her past and present lives, He Yan had spent more time as a man than as a woman. Even when she was a woman, she hadn't paid much attention to dressing up. She simply wore whatever was prepared for her in the mansion. If she had to choose for herself, she wouldn't know where to start. She worried about making a fool of herself by picking something unsuitable.

But no matter how afraid she was, she had to go through this. The Xiuluo Workshop wasn't far away, and they arrived shortly.

The clay figurine stall owner was right—the Xiuluo Workshop looked enormous, with five floors resembling a pavilion. Two green-clad attendants standing at the entrance greeted them with smiles. One of them said, "Is this your first time at Xiuluo Workshop, guests?"

He Yan nodded. "Yes, we'd like to buy a few pieces of clothing."

"May I ask if it's for you or this gentleman?" The attendant pointed upstairs. "At our Xiuluo Workshop, the first floor is for men's clothing, the second for children's clothing, and the remaining three floors are for women's clothing." He paused before adding, "The higher you go, the more expensive the clothes become." Rubbing his hands together with a smile, he asked, "What would you like...?"

"We'll go to the third floor," He Yan decided promptly.

"Right away!" the attendant replied cheerfully. "Please follow me."

The interior was indeed spacious, with each floor covered in fine carpets and exquisitely decorated. Unlike the refined elegance of Shuojing, Jiyang's style was more ornate and vibrant, much like its people. Murals adorned the walls, depicting scenes of people enjoying themselves together. A long scroll showcased the bustling water market, crowded and lively, which was quite fascinating.

Seeing He Yan staring intently at the mural, the attendant smiled and explained, "This is Jiyang's Water God Festival. We rely on water for our livelihood here, so every March, we hold a ceremony to honor the Water God. You two don't seem like locals. If you stay long enough, you might be able to catch the Water God Festival—it's incredibly lively!"

"March?" He Yan asked.

"That's right, it's this month! The Water God Festival is so much fun! Miss, if you go, I guarantee you won't regret it!"

The people here were naturally warm and enthusiastic. He Yan didn't say much, but she felt a growing curiosity about the Water God Festival he mentioned.

When they reached the third floor, the attendant stopped and said, "Here we are, miss. Please take a look around."

He Yan nodded. Chi Wu felt uncomfortable—this floor was entirely dedicated to women's clothing, and as a man, it didn't feel appropriate for him to stay. He said to He Yan, "I'll wait for you downstairs. Once you've picked something, just send someone to let me know."

He Yan replied, "Alright."

After Chi Wu left, the attendant continued guiding He Yan, explaining as they walked. "This cherry-red antique satin Yuehua skirt has been selling very well lately. With spring here, everyone loves wearing red—it stands out the most during outings. If you want to catch your sweetheart's eye, this is the best choice.""This lotus-colored carved silk peony and plain jade skirt is also excellent, paired with a round fan, you'd look just like a fairy from a painting. Elegant and ethereal, pure and graceful—truly marvelous!"

"Take a look at this one, this embroidered butterfly-patterned skirt has a hundred butterflies on it, all stitched needle by needle by our embroiderers. Imagine wearing such a skirt among flowers—it would surely attract many butterflies, both real and embroidered, fluttering around you. How delightful!"

He Yan: "..."

The shop assistant at Xiu Luo Fang was far too eloquent. He Yan was so swayed by his words that she felt every ready-made garment hanging on the wall was unique and exquisite. Even the most ordinary woman would look radiant wearing them. At the moment, she was the only one on this floor. If a few more people came to look at clothes, would the assistant even be able to handle it?

Fortunately, she still had some discernment and didn’t entirely believe everything he said. However, after looking through the entire third floor, she couldn’t help but feel dizzy. There were simply too many choices, and she had no idea which one to pick.

He Yan thought for a moment and turned to the assistant: "Young man, I rarely pick out clothes myself, so I’m not sure which one to choose. Could you help me find something that’s safe to wear, suits most people, and won’t be inappropriate for a banquet?"

The assistant was sharp. Hearing He Yan’s words, he understood she wasn’t skilled at choosing clothes and smiled. "No problem. Miss, I see your skin is fair, and unlike the women of our Jiyang, your striking appearance would be a shame to hide with just a safe choice. How about..." He walked over to a garment, lifted a corner, and showed it to He Yan. "Take a look at this one?"

"This Tianxiang gauze jade skirt is very light and feels delicate to the touch. The color is water-blue, which complements your complexion perfectly. The style is simple yet elegant, and if you wear it to a banquet, it will definitely not be inappropriate. There’s only one of this skirt left. If you like it, why not choose this one?"

He Yan walked over to the skirt. Compared to the others she had seen earlier, this one indeed looked much simpler, without all the flashy embellishments, and it felt comfortable to the touch. He Yan smiled and said, "Then I’ll take this—"

"This skirt is mine." A hand suddenly reached out from the side and snatched the skirt from He Yan’s grasp.

He Yan turned around and saw a young woman in a yellow skirt standing before her. She had an apricot-shaped face, peach-like cheeks, and a complexion as lovely as a lotus flower, though her skin was slightly darker. Her figure was excellent, and she was quite tall. Her eyes didn’t even glance at He Yan, as if He Yan weren’t there at all.

Behind her were two maids in green. One of them said, "What are you standing there for? Why aren’t you greeting our young lady?"

The assistant was taken aback and quickly bowed. "Miss Yan."

The woman called Miss Yan snorted in acknowledgment.

The assistant then turned back, wiping sweat from his brow, and said to He Yan, "Miss, perhaps... you could choose another one?"

Even a fool would understand what had just happened. No matter the place or time, there were always people who relied on their family background to act without restraint. The assistant was innocent, and He Yan didn’t want to make things difficult for him. Besides, it was just a piece of clothing. She smiled and said, "It’s fine. I’ll just choose another one.""I'm sorry," the shop assistant turned away and whispered, "Miss Yan usually never comes to our clothing store, and even if she does, she never goes to the third floor. I don’t know what happened today..."

"It’s fine." He Yan gave him a reassuring look. "No need to explain, I understand."

"Thank you, thank you."

The assistant then walked over to Miss Yan and smiled, "Miss Yan, would you like me to help you pick out some clothes?"

"Who do you think you are, picking clothes for me?" Miss Yan sneered. "Go pick for someone else. I don’t need your advice."

The assistant awkwardly stepped back and returned to He Yan. Compared to serving that sharp-tongued Miss Yan, this young lady was clearly much gentler and easier to talk to. He smiled and said, "Miss, how about taking a look at this? This Su embroidery pipa skirt is fitted at the waist, and the sleeves are very wide. Wearing it feels like walking through clouds, and it’s also extremely beautiful. The color is pear blossom white. On you, it would surely highlight your fair skin and elegant charm."

He Yan couldn’t help but laugh. This assistant was selling clothes, yet he effortlessly showered her with compliments. It was a bit embarrassing. She looked at the dress and thought it wasn’t bad, so she said, "Then I’ll take this one."

As soon as she finished speaking, the maid beside Miss Yan reached out and snatched the dress He Yan had pointed to, saying, "Our young lady wants this one too."

Again?

He Yan frowned slightly. If it happened once, it could be a coincidence, but twice seemed intentional. Yet she had never met this woman before—why was she repeatedly targeting her?

She turned to face the other party and asked politely, "Excuse me, Miss, have I offended you in any way?"

"Not at all." Miss Yan looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "I’m just picking out clothes. What’s this about offending?"

"One or two items is nothing," He Yan smiled, "but you’re not going to pick whatever I choose from now on, are you?"

Miss Yan pursed her lips and said arrogantly, "It seems you’re not stupid."

"I don’t understand, Miss. Why are you doing this?"

"You always have to ask why, that’s good. But I’m not your teacher—why should I explain anything to you? Today, I’m here, and even if I buy all the clothes on this third floor, that’s my ability. If you’re not convinced, you can buy them too. With so many clothes, there’s bound to be one I don’t want. However..." She looked He Yan up and down, her tone full of disdain, "judging by your appearance, you don’t seem like you can afford much."

He Yan was wearing Cheng Li Su’s clothes, which were originally made of decent fabric. But after days of traveling, she looked dusty and worn. She had come directly from the inn without changing, so in the eyes of others, she naturally appeared disheveled and poor.

What kind of luck was this? Even when she went out to buy a decent set of clothes, she encountered such a spoiled young lady. When dealing with men, He Yan had always been straightforward—if there was a disagreement, they could just fight it out. But with women, it was different. She couldn’t just beat up a young lady in public.

"Xiu Luo Fang isn’t owned by your family," He Yan said patiently. "I’m just here to buy clothes. Please don’t cause trouble."If she hadn't said that, it would have been fine. But as soon as the words left her mouth, the woman bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her beautiful eyes narrowed, and her voice grew sharper than before as she retorted, "Picking a fight? You dare say I'm picking a fight? Where did this country bumpkin come from? Not only do you not recognize me, but you're also spewing such foul language! Want to buy clothes? Look at your shabby appearance—can you even afford it?"

He Yan: "I..."

"Young Madam!" a voice interjected.

He Yan turned to look and saw that Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe had somehow found their way here. Chi Wu and Fei Nu were behind them, along with two young girls in pink dresses, their hair styled in double buns, standing timidly to the side.

Xiao Jue stepped forward. The women of Jiyang were known for their striking beauty and fiery temperament, while the men were robust and imposing. A young man as handsome, elegant, and spirited as him was truly a rare sight.

Miss Yan stared, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Xiao Jue gazed at her for a moment, then suddenly curved his lips into a faint smile. Leaning close to He Yan’s ear, he spoke in a low voice, yet just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

“What has you so flustered, my lady?”

Yan Yan’s skills in household intrigue were all directed at her uncle. Poor uncle, having to fend for himself in such matters [facepalm]

(End of Chapter)