Legend of the Female General

Chapter 132 Family Banquet

“Do you want to try it?”

The distance was far too close.

He Yan was startled at first, then bewildered. When she met those autumn-water-like eyes, she felt her cheeks rapidly heat up. She wanted to retreat, but her shoulders were pinned in place, leaving her unable to move. She could only tilt her head back from his embrace and stammer a refusal, “…Try what?”

“After seeing so much, don’t you want to try it?” He raised an eyebrow, leaning closer, his gaze falling on her lips, making He Yan’s heart pound like a drum.

Compared to his youthful brightness and handsome charm, the man’s features had grown more refined and imposing, carrying a cold, unrestrained air. This kind of person, usually aloof and distant like a flower on a high peak, became irresistibly captivating when he lazily curved his lips, his gaze turning scorching.

He Yan said, “I don’t want to.”

“Oh?” He smiled lightly, his tone growing even more dangerous. “How will you know how it’s drawn if you don’t try?”

“This… you don’t necessarily have to try it,” He Yan clumsily explained. “Actually, once you’ve seen enough, you’ll understand—it’s all the same thing. It’s just differences in details… and some aren’t suitable for ordinary people anyway. They’re all drawn for novelty and amusement. There’s really no need to try; reading is enough.”

Xiao Jue: “For amusement?”

He Yan: “…Some people might also be thirsting for knowledge.”

Xiao Jue’s eyes turned cold, his smile growing more teasing. He said lightly, “Since you’re so experienced, you must try it.” He pressed closer and closer, forcing He Yan to retreat until her back hit the headboard, with nowhere left to go. He tilted his head slightly and leaned in. His thin lips were about to land on the corner of He Yan’s mouth.

He Yan cried out in alarm, “Husband!”

The cry of “husband” was so loud that it startled Xiao Jue. After a moment, he stopped, still only a hair’s breadth away from He Yan, and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I’m still an unmarried girl,” He Yan pleaded softly. “I have to marry someday. It’s not good for us to be like this.”

“What’s not good about it?” Xiao Jue said calmly. “We’ve already looked at the pictures together.”

“Looking at pictures is one thing, but actually doing it is another,” He Yan begged. “Please spare me this time, Commander. I’ll never dare to ask you to look at pictures with me again.”

She thought to herself, Xiao Jue’s mind was truly unfathomable. Was he really going to turn a charade into reality just because they looked at some pictures? Who would dare to look at pictures with him in the future? It would lead to trouble.

Xiao Jue looked at her with a half-smile. “Now you’re scared?”

“Scared, scared,” He Yan said obediently. “I promise I’ll never ask you to look at pictures with me again.”

“You mean,” he said unhurriedly, “you’ll ask someone else?”

“I won’t ask anyone else either!” He Yan immediately replied. “I won’t even look at them myself, really!”

Her grape-like pupils stared at him, clear and bright, cautious as a student caught by a teacher. Xiao Jue suddenly felt perplexed, thinking his own actions were utterly inexplicable. What did it matter to him what He Yan liked to look at? Just because she called him “father” once, did he have to worry about every little thing as if raising a daughter?

But then again, how exactly had her father raised his daughter to produce such a peculiar creature who didn’t even know what shame was?He abruptly released his grip on He Yan, glanced at the painting on the wall, and thought it was quite something that Cui Yuezhi had gone to such lengths for his nephew, even considering nighttime entertainment—though it was entirely unnecessary. Casually, he pulled a piece of satin cloth from the small table nearby, draped it over the painting, and with two swift flicks of his wrist, embedded silver needles into the wall, securing the cloth firmly in place.

At this point, He Yan finally understood: Xiao Jue simply disliked seeing such images. Thinking about it, it made sense. Second Young Master Xiao was pure and aloof, with eyes set high above the ordinary. Such vulgar pictures would surely offend his sensibilities.

How particular.

After finishing this task, he stood up and walked to one side of the room, retrieving a mattress from a low yellow wooden cabinet. He spread it over the soft couch by the window.

The soft couch was originally designed for guests to sit by the window, enjoy the scenery outside, and savor tea and snacks. Seeing this, He Yan was momentarily taken aback and asked, "Commander, are you sleeping here tonight?"

"Otherwise?"

He Yan hesitated for a moment. "Actually... you could come up and share the bed."

Xiao Jue paused in his task of arranging the mattress and looked at her coldly. "You seem to have quite the nerve."

"No, I understand your concerns," He Yan replied. "We can just use two separate mattresses. Back when I was in Liang Province, I slept in a communal bunk with over a dozen people sharing one bed, and it was fine. Besides, I trust your character, Commander. You wouldn’t tarnish my reputation."

Xiao Jue gave a faint, cold smile. "But I don’t trust your character. I’m afraid you might tarnish mine."

He Yan: "..."

She had no response to that.

She watched as Xiao Jue finished arranging the mattress and lay down. After a moment’s thought, she blew out the lamp and settled onto her own bed.

In the room, only a sliver of moonlight from outside the window seeped through the cracks, casting a silvery glow on the floor by the table.

Back in their days at Virtuous Prosperity Academy, they had shared a room but slept far apart. Thanks to He Yuanliang’s special arrangements with the instructors, He Yan had always slept alone.

Now, sharing a room with Xiao Jue brought back faint echoes of those times.

Lying flat on her back, feeling the soft warmth of the mattress beneath her, He Yan spoke up. "Are you asleep?"

Xiao Jue didn’t answer.

He Yan continued on her own. "You probably aren’t yet... Young Master, let’s talk."

Xiao Jue still ignored her.

"Why exactly have we come to Jiyang?"

She only knew they were here to assist Xiao Jue with some task, but she had no idea what it entailed.

From the darkness, Xiao Jue’s voice came. "To find someone."

He Yan was taken aback, not expecting him to answer. "Who?"

"Chai Anxi."

"Who is Chai Anxi?"

Silence filled the room for a moment before Xiao Jue replied, "One of my father’s subordinates."

Xiao Zhongwu’s subordinate? He Yan was stunned. During the Battle of Ming River, Xiao Zhongwu and his most trusted men had all perished. If this person was referred to as a subordinate, and judging by Xiao Jue’s tone, he must have been someone highly trusted. Could this person still be alive, and in Jiyang?

Jiyang was a territory under a feudal lord, where people from the Central Plains rarely ventured. Even if they did, they were merely passing through and never stayed long. For Chai Anxi to be in Jiyang seemed as though he was hiding from someone. Could it be that he was hiding from Xiao Jue? But why would he hide from Xiao Jue? Xiao Jue was Xiao Zhongwu’s son—he should be loyal to him.

Perhaps a military commander’s instincts were particularly sharp in such matters. He Yan immediately wondered: Could there have been something amiss about Xiao Zhongwu’s defeat and death in battle?After all, the defeat of Xiao Zhongwu in the Battle of Ming River was too devastating. The world said he was stubborn and self-willed, missing the opportunity, but judging by Xiao Zhongwu's past achievements, he was not a stubborn person.

Perhaps... Xiao Jue came here for the events of that year. Those who knew the truth were no longer around, but this Chai Anxi was still alive—indeed suspicious.

He Yan thought for a moment and said, "We will definitely find this person."

In the faint night, she seemed to hear him chuckle softly. He asked, "Why did you come to Jiyang?"

"Me?" He Yan was puzzled. "Didn't you ask me to come?"

Xiao Jue snorted. "Even if I didn’t ask you to come, you would have found a way to follow, wouldn’t you?"

He Yan’s heart skipped a beat—this person’s intuition was far too sharp. She indeed had ulterior motives, hoping to find Liu Buwang in Jiyang.

But she would never say that to Xiao Jue.

"You’re too suspicious," He Yan bluffed. "This time, I came purely for you. As long as you need me, I would go through fire and water without hesitation."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then he said, "Flattery."

He Yan: "Is that all you can say besides 'flattery'?"

"Bragging."

"And?"

"Sweet talk."

"And?"

"Deceit."

He Yan: "..."

She said, "Young Master, do you know how childish you’re being right now?"

Xiao Jue: "Sleep."

He ignored her after that.

The spring night still carried a chill, but for some reason, perhaps because someone was beside her tonight, He Yan didn’t feel cold. She happily burrowed into the covers, the bedding warm, and in no time, she fell asleep.

...

The next day, when He Yan woke up, Xiao Jue was no longer in the room.

She was taken aback, estimating that it had only just dawned. Had Xiao Jue woken up even earlier than her? He Yan stood up, quickly washed up, and threw on an outer robe. At a glance, she saw Xiao Jue sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard. On the stone table in front of him lay a dirty stray cat, nibbling small bites from the food in his hand.

As He Yan approached, she saw him holding a plate of pastries from who knows where, breaking them into small pieces to feed the stray cat. The cat, seeing someone approach, bristled all over. It seemed to have rolled in some pond, its fur stained with dirty water and clumped into patches.

"How did this cat get here?" He Yan asked, reaching out to pet it. The cat immediately bared its teeth, and He Yan withdrew her hand, saying, "Quite fierce."

Xiao Jue glanced at her. "Found it."

The young man’s fingers were slender, and he was extremely patient, breaking the pastry into tiny pieces. The cat, perhaps judging by appearances, was incredibly gentle with Xiao Jue, eating while softly meowing.

Honestly, it looked quite lovely.

He Yan couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master, aren’t you the one who loves cleanliness the most?" Hah, when he was with her, he was endlessly picky, even flicking dust off his sleeves. How come he was so generous with a dirty stray cat?

"It depends on the situation," Xiao Jue replied unhurriedly.

He Yan thought to herself, what did he mean by "depends on the situation"? Was she less important than a cat?

As she pondered, Xiao Jue had already fed the last piece, patted the cat’s head, and the clever creature arched its back, leaped onto the wall, and vanished in a flash.

He Yan stared in astonishment.

Just then, Cui Jiao’s voice sounded from outside: "Young Master, Young Mistress, breakfast from the small kitchen has been delivered."He Yan felt hunger pangs. "Let's go, time to eat something."

Xiao Jue washed his hands and followed He Yan into the room, just in time to see Lin Shuanghe withdrawing a silver needle from the dishes. "Eat up, I've tested it, no poison," he said, then added quietly with indignation, "The difference between people is just too great. Why don't we get to eat such a lavish spread?"

Now that he was "Steward Lin," he couldn't dine with Xiao Jue and He Yan; he had to eat with Chi Wu and Fei Nu. He couldn't even take a single bite, lest anyone notice something amiss.

Xiao Jue: "Get lost."

Lin Shuanghe scurried away.

Hong Qiao stood behind He Yan, who waved a hand. "You two go eat with Chi Wu and the others. The young master and I don't like being waited on. I'll handle serving the dishes."

Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao were taken aback. They glanced at Xiao Jue, and seeing he didn't object, Cui Jiao said, "Understood, mistress," and pulled Hong Qiao away with her.

Once outside, Hong Qiao hesitated and asked, "Cui Jiao, is it really alright for us to leave like this? Why don't the young mistress and young master ever want us to serve them? Are they dissatisfied with us?"

"Not necessarily," Cui Jiao, being clever, replied. "Perhaps it's different for those from the capital compared to us in Jiyang. Besides, I heard the young mistress and young master are newlyweds. Maybe she wants to personally attend to the young master's needs—it's called... romance."

Meanwhile, the so-called young mistress, who was "personally attending" to the young master during the meal, was happily munching on a plum blossom bun.

The last time she had eaten this well was when she pretended to be a nephew accompanying Xiao Jue to Liang Province. But back then, the food was merely the inn's specialties. This time was different. Cui Yuezhi held a respectable position in Jiyang, and since it had been so long since he'd seen his nephew, he went all out with the hospitality. Just look at the spread on the table this early in the morning: assorted baked pastries, Xishi's Delicacy, wild pheasant soup, fish maw stewed with ham, bird's nest and shredded chicken soup...

"This is way too greasy for breakfast," He Yan remarked while taking a bite of the Eight-Treasure Wild Duck.

Xiao Jue held back but finally couldn't resist. "Have I been starving you?"

He Yan's mouth was stuffed full. "Huh?"

He looked away in disgust. "Must you eat like a starving ghost?"

"But don't you think it's delicious?" He Yan struggled to swallow the food in her mouth.

Xiao Jue mocked, "Is that the extent of your taste?"

"You're a young master, a commander, pampered and privileged. Of course you've seen the world and think nothing of it. For us common soldiers, just having our fill is a blessing, let alone eating well," He Yan grumbled. "The well-fed don't understand the hunger of the starving."

He choked back a retort, gave up on reasoning with her, and lazily said, "Suit yourself."

As she ate, He Yan watched Xiao Jue, marveling at his elegant table manners. Logically speaking, those who spent years in the military camps, whether they were young masters or nobles before, eventually stopped caring about such refinements. When He Yan was "Young Master He," she too had paid attention to etiquette. But when it came to actual battles, wolfing down a pancake in a few bites before getting back to work—who had time for poise?

He Yan didn't believe Xiao Jue had never been like that. Yet, after such rough experiences, he could seamlessly revert to the former Second Young Master Xiao. That was something not just anyone could do. At the very least, she had long forgotten how to be a "young master."After the meal, Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao came to help He Yan dress and do her makeup. At noon today, Cui Yuezhi would host a banquet at the residence, inviting all the distinguished guests of note in Jiyang City, all to give Xiao Jue face. Therefore, they could not afford to be careless.

Xiao Jue had gone out to find Lin Shuanghe. He Yan sat before the dressing mirror as Hong Qiao took out the "Mermaid Silk" dress from the chest and asked, "Madam, shall we wear this today?"

He Yan thought for a moment. Since there would be many guests today, it would be safer to wear the most expensive one. She nodded and said, "Alright."

The two maids busied themselves.

He Yan was usually the most impatient with such matters. Sometimes she even felt that these delicate tasks for women were far more exhausting than those for men. Just combing hair, applying makeup, selecting jewelry and shoes, and even arranging every strand of hair to look charming was truly no easy feat. As they combed her hair, she gradually fell asleep.

He Yan was awakened by Hong Qiao, who called out, "Madam?"

He Yan opened her eyes and asked groggily, "Is it done?"

"It's done," Cui Jiao laughed from the side, her eyes filled with admiration. "Madam, you look truly beautiful."

He Yan replied, "Thank you."

She raised her eyes to look at herself in the mirror and was momentarily stunned. Her previous women's attire had leaned toward elegance and simplicity, but this "Mermaid Silk" dress could be described as delicate and luxurious. Cui Jiao and Hong Qiao had clearly put in great effort today, not even allowing the makeup to be flawed. He Yan gazed at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, slightly lost in thought.

Now, she didn’t even resemble the real Miss He anymore.

Cui Jiao smiled and went to push the door open, saying, "The young master is next door. I’ll go call him over to see."

He Yan said, "No need—"

Before she could finish the word "need," Cui Jiao had already cheerfully rushed out.

He Yan stood up, suddenly feeling hesitant. She was still thinking about how to act naturally in front of Xiao Jue when she heard a casual voice from behind her ask, "Done?"

He Yan turned to look.

The young lady seemed lost in thought, her clear pupils tinged with a hint of confusion, which made her expression appear somewhat hazy. She was already naturally beautiful and charming, but the boldness in her brows and eyes had been deliberately softened with makeup, making her purely captivating. Her face was delicate and lovely, her dark hair simply tied up and falling obediently over her shoulders. Her figure appeared slender and petite, accentuated by the pale white embroidered skirt, which made her look even more graceful. The skirt was adorned with faint, subtle patterns, and when sunlight shone through, it shimmered like mermaid scales, glowing with a faint blue-purple and gold dust. It enveloped her in a layer of magnificent color, as if she were a legendary mermaid who had just crawled ashore and stepped into the mortal world for the first time.

Xiao Jue’s gaze paused slightly.

Behind him came Lin Shuanghe’s voice: "I want to see what a dress worth a hundred gold looks like when worn. Let me see, let me see!"

His clamor vanished the moment his eyes fell on He Yan, leaving only awe in his gaze.

Chi Wu and Fei Nu, who followed closely behind, also saw her. Fei Nu remained calm, but Chi Wu seemed deeply shaken. This person… could women’s attire really achieve such beauty?

It was completely impossible to tell it was a man. How terrifying!

He Yan felt flustered under their collective gaze, as if she had become a monkey on display for everyone to admire. Clutching the hem of her dress, she pitifully asked, "...Is it... a bit too much?"

Wasn’t it just attending a banquet? Was such elaborate dressing and makeup really necessary? Wasn’t it too extravagant?Her expression was fine before, but once she made that gesture, her brows seemed to furrow yet not quite, instantly evoking a pitiful, delicate look. Xiao Jue found it hard to describe and said, "...Don’t speak with that expression."

"But, but!" Lin Shuanghe grew excited. "Perfect, just perfect! A hundred gold pieces' worth of clothing is truly extraordinary. This money was well spent!"

Cui Jiao cheered up. "Right, Madam? I told you it really looks beautiful!"

When He Yan acted as a man, she was often praised as "mighty, brave, and exceptionally handsome." She had never tried being praised for her appearance as a woman, so she felt a bit shy and didn’t know how to respond for a moment. Instead, she cupped her hands in a fist and said loudly, "I dare not accept such praise."

Xiao Jue: "..."

Lin Shuanghe: "..."

The others: "..."

Lin Shuanghe said, "...It looks beautiful, but Madam, sometimes there’s no need to be overly forthright."

Xiao Jue sneered, "You’d better go back to using that expression from earlier when you speak. Otherwise, I might forget you’re actually a woman."

He Yan: "..."

Alright, she got carried away for a moment.

...

By noon, the Cui residence began to bustle with activity.

Carriages continuously stopped at the entrance of the Cui residence, as ladies, young misses, young masters, and gentlemen all entered one after another.

Jiyang was a fiefdom of a feudal prince. The current Princess Mu Hongjin had grown up with Cui Yuezhi. Cui Yuezhi was Mu Hongjin’s trusted confidant and also the Grand Cavalry Commander of Jiyang. Everyone had to give him face. Hearing that Cui Yuezhi had found his long-lost nephew and was hosting a banquet to celebrate his return, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse.

The Cui residence was vast, with a lake bordering the back of the estate. Jiyang was rich in water, and the gentle hues of the lake were soothing. In the middle of the lake was a long pavilion, and today’s banquet was set there.

In the long pavilion, servants had long prepared low tables and long benches, with a lavish feast already laid out. Some distinguished guests had already taken their seats. Cui Yuezhi, the host, had not yet returned from the princess’s residence. As he had no wife, only four concubines, the only one helping to greet the guests was the old steward, Zhong Fu.

Beside a lady seated on the right side of the pavilion was a young woman in pink. This young woman was delicate and lovely, though her skin was slightly dark, so she had applied extra powder, which unfortunately diminished her wild charm and added a touch of gloomy maturity. A hint of impatience lingered between her brows as she asked, "It’s already this late. Why haven’t Young Master Qiao and his wife arrived yet?"

"What’s the hurry?" The lady beside her, likely her mother, smiled reassuringly. "The banquet hasn’t started yet, has it? Besides, Lord Cui hasn’t even arrived. How could Young Master Qiao show up first? Is Min’er hungry?"

Yan Min’er—the young woman in pink—frowned. "I’m not hungry. It’s only natural for us to wait for Commander Cui. But I heard that after his nephew was lost outside Jiyang City, he was adopted by a merchant. Now he’s just a mere merchant. How can someone reeking of money be worthy of us waiting like this? Does he really think he’s someone important?"

After all, the fact that Qiao Huanqing was a merchant was known among the noble families of Jiyang. Although they came to the banquet today out of respect for Cui Yuezhi, they privately looked down on Qiao Huanqing. They just wouldn’t say it as bluntly as Yan Min’er did."Shh—" Lady Yan quickly covered her mouth. "Don't speak nonsense. No matter what, he is still Minister Cui's nephew. I think I've spoiled you too much in daily life, which is why you've become so reckless. Didn't you see that Minister Cui held the banquet today precisely to welcome this Young Master Qiao? If you say Young Master Qiao is no good, how could Minister Cui possibly feel pleased?"

"So what," Yan Min'er said disdainfully. "Minister Cui is my father's friend. He wouldn't blame me."

"You..." Lady Yan wanted to stop her beloved daughter's unrestrained words, yet couldn't bring herself to truly scold her.

Yan Min'er's beautiful eyes shifted thoughtfully. After a moment's consideration, she remarked dismissively, "I think it's more likely that he's never seen such a grand occasion before and is hiding somewhere, too afraid to come out, waiting for Cui Zhongqi to come and guide him."

(End of Chapter)