Legend of the Female General

Chapter 141: Little Princess

The room fell silent for a moment before Liu Buwang’s voice broke through He Yan’s reverie.

“And you,” he asked, “Ah He, how did you end up like this? Is it a disguise? Young Master Qiao shouldn’t be your husband.”

It was a long story. He Yan lowered her head with a faint smile. “Master, I’m no longer called He Rufei. I’m He Yan now. That person… is my superior. We came to Jiyang to find someone, so we pretended to be husband and wife. As for the disguise, I’m not wearing one. This is how I look now. The way I used to look… I can never go back to that.”

Liu Buwang thought for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”

He was always like this—extremely measured when it came to others’ affairs. If someone was unwilling to speak, he wouldn’t pry. To some, this might seem aloof, but for He Yan at this moment, not being questioned further was the greatest relief.

After a while, Cui Jiao knocked on the door from the inner room and came out, leading the little girl from earlier.

The girl seemed to have recovered from the effects of the drug, walking with more strength. Her face had been washed clean, revealing a delicate and lively appearance, no more than ten years old. Her eyes were as captivating as black jade, and she stood tall and graceful. Hong Qiao had styled her hair in the long braid favored by Jiyang girls, the braid looped to the front and hanging over her chest, adorned with a row of small bells. She wore a red riding outfit borrowed from the Cui estate’s steward. As she walked, the bells tinkled softly, making her look both charming and adorable, yet with a spirited elegance uncommon among ordinary girls.

Liu Buwang gazed at her, momentarily lost in thought.

He Yan smiled and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Cui Jiao looked troubled. “Madam, the young lady refuses to eat.”

He Yan turned to the girl. “Why won’t you eat? Aren’t you hungry?”

The girl turned her head away, ignoring her, still quite proud.

“Perhaps she’s been tricked by food before and no longer trusts others,” Liu Buwang chuckled softly, looking at the little girl. “Little one, since we’ve already rescued you from the villains, we won’t harm you. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have brought you back to the estate. You can rest assured. If you don’t believe us, we can eat together. That way, you won’t have to go hungry, and you won’t have to worry about anything being wrong.”

Liu Buwang was always gentle yet carried a faint sense of detachment. Coupled with his graceful and elegant demeanor, it was easy for people to take a liking to him, and this little girl was no exception. After staring into his eyes for a moment, she said, “Alright.”

Her attitude finally softened.

He Yan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly instructed Cui Jiao to prepare some easily digestible food that children would enjoy. Cui Jiao withdrew as instructed. Liu Buwang smiled again and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Xiao Lou,” the girl replied, her pride diminishing and her obedience growing in Liu Buwang’s presence.

“A good name,” Liu Buwang said with a smile. “Whose child are you? How did you end up being kidnapped?”

At this question, Xiao Lou closed her mouth and refused to speak further.

He Yan and Liu Buwang exchanged a glance. This child’s defenses were strong, and it was unclear what she had experienced before.

As they pondered, Xiao Lou’s gaze fell on the long qin on the table. She studied it for a moment before asking Liu Buwang, “Is this your qin?”

Good eye, He Yan thought to herself, immediately recognizing that such refined, romantic things weren’t suited to her.

“Yes.”

“Can you play it?”Liu Buwang replied, "Yes."

"Play a tune for me," Xiao Lou said.

This child, so good at ordering people around. He Yan remained silent. Although Liu Buwang always carried a qin with him, he rarely played it. When He Yan was his disciple, she had also asked him to play, but Liu Buwang refused every time.

This time, however, Liu Buwang's response was beyond He Yan's expectations. He simply looked at Xiao Lou gently and smiled, "Alright."

He Yan: "...Master?"

Whose master was this, really?

"What would you like to hear?" he even asked Xiao Lou softly.

Xiao Lou fiddled with the braid hanging over her chest and shook her head, "I don't know. Play whatever you're best at."

He lowered his head, earnestly seeking Xiao Lou's opinion, "How about 'Slow Passing of Time'?"

"Haven't heard it," Xiao Lou nodded, "Play it!"

He Yan was speechless.

Liu Buwang was far more compliant with Xiao Lou than with her, his own disciple. If not for the age difference, He Yan would almost suspect that Xiao Lou was Liu Buwang's long-lost daughter.

The little girl sat on a high stool, her feet swinging back and forth. Liu Buwang placed the guqin on the table, sat down before it, wiped his hands, and began to pluck the strings.

He Yan had rarely heard Liu Buwang play the qin. On the few occasions she did, it was late at night. Waking up to use the outhouse, she would hear faint, haunting melodies and think she had encountered a ghost, trembling with fear. Later, gathering her courage to investigate, she discovered it was Liu Buwang.

As a young girl, she didn't understand why Liu Buwang played the qin in the courtyard late at night, only feeling an indescribable sorrow in the music. It wasn't until she grew older and experienced many things that she gradually realized her master had his own story. Perhaps there had been someone in Liu Buwang's past who left a deep mark on his life, so much so that he could only reminisce through music in the quiet of the night.

Now, after many years apart, the sorrow and loss in his music had grown even heavier.

Willows in the west city sway in the soft spring breeze, stirring sorrows of parting, tears hard to cease. I still remember the tender moments, once mooring the returning boat by the bridge. The green fields and vermilion bridge of that day remain, but the person is gone, only the water flows in vain.

Youth does not linger for the young. Resentment stretches endlessly, when will it end? When catkins drift and flowers fall, I climb the tower. Even if the spring river were all tears, it could never wash away the many sorrows.

Xiao Lou, being young, didn't perceive the sadness in the music, only finding it pleasant and delightful. But He Yan felt that in Liu Buwang's melody, he seemed to be bidding farewell to something, as if something was about to depart from his life, mingled with reluctance and loss, never to return.

Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jue had entered the room at some point. Lin Shuanghe walked over to He Yan and whispered, "Sister, your master plays the qin exceptionally well, on par with Huaijin. It's just a bit too sorrowful."

Even Lin Shuanghe could hear it. He Yan sighed softly. Even after being Liu Buwang's disciple for many years, she felt she had never truly entered his heart. What kind of person Liu Buwang was, what he had done in the past—she knew nothing, and Liu Buwang never spoke of it.

He was like someone who had abandoned his past, yet he didn't take the future seriously either, drifting along as if he could leave at any moment, leaving no trace behind.The final notes of "Slow Passing of Time" lingered in the air. Xiao Lou looked at him, suddenly clapping eagerly with a smile. "I've heard my grandmother play this piece before, but she wasn't as good as you. You play it much better. What's your name?"

Liu Buwang patted her head. "You can call me Yunlin Recluse."

"That name is too long," Xiao Lou replied, dissatisfied with his answer. "Aren't you surnamed Liu?"

Lin Shuanghe wholeheartedly agreed with Xiao Lou's words. "You truly play very well. Even in Shuojing, you would be among the renowned. However..." He turned to He Yan, his expression puzzled. "Sister He, forgive me for saying this, but your master possesses unparalleled skill in the qin, and your 'husband' is exceptionally refined and elegant. How is it that your own qin playing is... like this? Did your master never teach you?"

He Yan replied expressionlessly, "My master only taught me martial arts. As for my husband..."

Xiao Jue stood beside her, raising an eyebrow slightly as he waited for her to continue.

He Yan cleared her throat. "As long as he plays for me, why should I trouble myself to learn such things?"

Lin Shuanghe: "..."

After a moment, he nodded. "Truly an irrefutable reason."

Cui Jiao brought in the meal. Since He Yan and Xiao Jue had already eaten earlier, only Liu Buwang and Xiao Lou sat down to eat together. Xiao Lou seemed uncomfortable dining with others, showing signs of unease several times. Likely to ensure the food wasn't poisoned, she had Liu Buwang eat with her. Liu Buwang understood the little girl's thoughts well, taking only a small bite of each dish with his chopsticks before stopping.

Xiao Lou was picky with her food but managed to eat a little.

He Yan sighed in relief and said to Xiao Jue, "Now we just have to wait for Lord Cui to return, ask whose child this is, and send her back."

Speak of the devil, Zhong Fu's voice came from outside: "My lord, Young Master Qiao and Miss Yuyan have returned earlier and brought back two guests. They are currently dining inside. Young Master Qiao seems to have something to discuss with you."

Then came Cui Yuezhi's gruff voice: "Understood."

The door curtain was lifted abruptly, and Cui Yuezhi's voice followed from behind it: "Huanqing, Yuyan, you're back? Is there something urgent? This morning, the Princess summoned me urgently, so I couldn't stay in the residence for long. I'll have to leave again soon..."

His voice trailed off abruptly as his eyes fell on Xiao Lou's face. After a moment of stunned silence, his tone shifted with shock: "Little Princess—how are you here?"

Xiao Lou, the proud little girl He Yan had brought back, set down her chopsticks, looked at Cui Yuezhi, lifted her chin, and replied arrogantly: "Cui Zhongqi, you've finally arrived."

Little Princess?

Everyone in the room was taken aback.

Cui Yuezhi stepped forward, half-kneeling before Xiao Lou, his tone filled with urgency: "The Princess summoned me to her residence early this morning, saying the Little Princess had gone missing last night. Her Highness was beside herself with worry. How is it that the Little Princess is here?" He turned to He Yan. "Yuyan... what is going on?"

He Yan also wanted to know what was going on. She had already guessed the little girl's identity was not ordinary, but she never expected it to be the "Little Princess.""Last night, He Yan and I fell asleep on the Luoying Boat. Early this morning, we planned to hire a carriage near the post station to return to the residence. On the way, we encountered the Little Princess being abducted and rescued her from the assailants," Xiao Jue answered Cui Yuezhi on He Yan's behalf. "One of the kidnappers is dead, and the others fled. When He Yan and I rescued the Little Princess, we did not know her identity."

Upon hearing this, Cui Yuezhi was greatly alarmed and asked Xiaolou, "You were actually abducted? Does the Little Princess know who they were?"

Xiaolou seemed reluctant to discuss the matter and replied impatiently, "How would I know? As soon as I left the palace, I encountered them near the canal. They didn’t look like bad people, but who knew..." At this point, she added resentfully, "They harbored evil intentions and deserve to die!"

Cui Yuezhi then asked Xiaolou, "Is the Little Princess injured?"

"No," Xiaolou muttered, glancing at Liu Buwang and pointing at him. "I was almost killed, but this person... Yunlin Recluse saved me."

Only then did Cui Yuezhi notice the stranger in the room. Seeing Liu Buwang’s extraordinary demeanor, he bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for saving her, esteemed sir. May I ask your honorable name?"

"This is my martial arts master," Xiao Jue said calmly. "He taught me martial arts years ago. We haven’t seen each other for many years and unexpectedly met in Jiyang. Uncle, you may call him 'Yunlin.'"

"So it’s Master Yunlin," Cui Yuezhi said, taken aback, and felt even more admiration for Liu Buwang. "I will soon head to the palace to escort the Little Princess back. Master Yunlin, why not accompany me? If the Princess learns of your life-saving grace for the Little Princess, she will surely reward you generously."

Liu Buwang smiled faintly and returned the gesture to Cui Yuezhi. "Yunlin is already a man beyond worldly affairs. I appreciate your kindness, but I must decline the offer to enter the palace for a reward. When I intervened, I did not know Xiaolou was the Little Princess."

People of such skill often possessed a certain degree of pride, and Cui Yuezhi could understand this. Moreover, since he was Qiao Huanqing’s master, there would be plenty of opportunities to build a relationship in the future. The urgent matter now was to return Mu Xiaolou to the palace, as Mu Hongjin was nearly frantic with worry.

Cui Yuezhi then said to Liu Buwang, "In that case, I will not insist."

Liu Buwang nodded with a smile.

"Does the Little Princess still wish to eat?" Cui Yuezhi asked Mu Xiaolou. "If you are finished, please accompany me back to the palace. The Princess will be overjoyed to see you safe and sound."

Mu Xiaolou jumped down from the stool and said, "Understood. Prepare a sedan chair." As she was about to follow Cui Yuezhi out, she paused beside Liu Buwang and asked somewhat reluctantly, "Are you really not coming with me to the palace? My grandmother will reward you with a lot of gold. You can ask for anything you want."

Liu Buwang bent down and gently ruffled her hair. "The Little Princess’s safety is all that matters."

Cui Yuezhi watched in surprise. Mu Xiaolou had been pampered by Mu Hongjin since childhood and was often critical of others, yet she seemed particularly fond of Liu Buwang. As fellow martial artists, Cui Yuezhi could sense Liu Buwang’s profound skill. If this man could stay in the palace to accompany and protect the Little Princess, it would be nothing short of perfect.However, these matters would have to wait until they met Mu Hongjin. He then turned to look at He Yan and the other two: "Yuyan, Huanqing, pack your things and come with me to the palace immediately. You saved the Little Princess, so Her Highness the Princess will surely have many questions for you. Sooner or later, you'll have to go to the palace, so why not make it today?"

He Yan and Xiao Jue exchanged a glance. He Yan said, "Yes, Uncle."

Cui Yuezhi took Mu Xiaolou out. He Yan said to Liu Buwang, "Master, please stay in the mansion for now. We'll discuss everything when we return." Afraid that Liu Buwang might leave without saying goodbye upon their return, she also instructed Lin Shuanghe, "Brother Lin, please look after my master for a while. Make sure he doesn't go anywhere alone."

Liu Buwang looked at her and smiled helplessly.

Lin Shuanghe immediately understood He Yan's meaning and said, "No problem. I guarantee that when you return, Master Liu will be exactly as he is now, not a single hair out of place."

Only then did He Yan feel reassured. She asked Hong Qiao to redo her hair, changed into clean clothes, and freshened up before following Xiao Jue toward the gate of the Cui mansion. As they walked, she whispered to Xiao Jue, "Commander, why did you say earlier that my master is your martial arts instructor?"

And he had said "Yunlin Recluse" instead of "Liu Buwang."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "Your master seems very unwilling to reveal his identity. Saying he's my master at least helps avoid suspicion."

That was true. He Yan was pondering this when she suddenly heard Xiao Jue add, "But your master's identity is quite unusual. It seems he is an old acquaintance of the Princess."

He Yan was startled. "How could that be?"

"The way he looks at Mu Xiaolou is as if he's seeing someone else through her. If I'm not mistaken, that person is likely Her Highness the Princess." Xiao Jue spoke unhurriedly. "How is it that you, as his disciple, know nothing about this?"

"He never told me anything!" He Yan could hardly conceal her shock. Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin were old acquaintances? This was truly the most shocking news she had heard today! Yet He Yan faintly felt that what Xiao Jue said might be true. Liu Buwang's gentle indulgence toward Mu Xiaolou, the sorrow in his qin music, his refusal to go to the palace with Cui Yuezhi—all these threads seemed to point to one thing: at the very least, Liu Buwang was not entirely unrelated to the Mu family.

But what exactly was their relationship?

This question remained unanswered as Cui Yuezhi urged them to set off for the palace.

Mu Xiaolou rode in a soft sedan chair, while He Yan and the others traveled in a carriage. Cui Yuezhi personally escorted them, with guards clad in armor and carrying swords. This was likely due to what Mu Xiaolou had said earlier about being kidnapped by thieves the previous day, which made it clear that Jiyang was not as peaceful and safe as it appeared on the surface.

The palace was located along a northward line from the center of Jiyang City, covering an extremely vast area. As soon as they arrived at the palace gates, soldiers came forward to question them. Cui Yuezhi led them inside the palace, first taking Mu Xiaolou in and leaving He Yan and Xiao Jue to wait in the outer hall, telling them they would be called in later.

He Yan and Xiao Jue sat in the outer hall. Bored, He Yan asked Xiao Jue, "Commander, do you know about Princess Meng Ji?"

"Not much," Xiao Jue replied lazily. "I only know that the former Prince Meng Ji had one son and one daughter. The eldest son died before reaching eighteen, and the prince's position at the time was not very stable."Unstable in their seat, they needed to ally with other powers to consolidate their position. Though the Emperor governed with benevolence, there were always trusted advisors who could not tolerate the feudal lords dividing the realm's power, wishing all the feudal lords of Great Wei would vanish entirely.

In the end, Princess Meng Ji married the son of a high-ranking court official. With her consort being a court insider, he could monitor Jiyang at all times for any signs of rebellion. It was precisely because of this that the Prince of Meng Ji managed to retain his feudal status.

However, that court official's son—Princess Meng Ji's consort—fell ill and passed away not long after the princess gave birth to a son. Their son also suffered from the same congenital weakness as his father and died in early childhood. Thus, the current Prince of Meng Ji's residence actually only houses Princess Mu Hongjin and her granddaughter, Mu Xiaolou.

He Yan had not been particularly curious about Mu Hongjin before, but after hearing Xiao Jue's earlier remarks and learning that this person might have been an old acquaintance of Liu Buwang, she grew somewhat expectant, wanting to know who had appeared in Liu Buwang's past life. Liu Buwang treated Mu Xiaolou so well; if a man treats a young girl with such kindness, unless he is naturally gentle, it is highly likely because of the girl's relatives.

The two of them had not been seated for long when a maidservant in gauzy clothing, her hair braided into numerous plaits, approached with a smile and said, "Please follow me, the Princess wishes to see you."

He Yan and Xiao Jue rose and followed the maidservant inside.

Upon entering the prince's residence, they were astonished to find it even larger and more spacious than it appeared from the outside, truly magnificent in scale. The dominant color was a rosy sunset hue, and the railings and pillars throughout the residence were carved with myths and legends of water deities. In the rear courtyard of the residence, there was even a bronze statue depicting a bare-chested goddess riding a Kun fish, roaming the seas.

Jiyang was hot, unlike the bitter cold of Liang Province. Even in spring, the morning sun brought a touch of heat. Copper basins filled with ice were placed in the four corners of the courtyard, so it did not feel hot but pleasantly cool. As for the flowers, plants, and trees, they resembled the general impression of Jiyang City—lush, vibrant, bold, and proud...

Passing through the courtyard and walking along the corridor, the maidservant stopped before the hall and said with a smile, "Please enter."

He Yan and Xiao Jue stepped inside, feeling as if their vision had suddenly broadened.

The hall was vast, with pillars carved with water deity motifs at each corner. The ceiling was painted with colorful cloud patterns and auspicious designs, while the floor was covered with a thin, gauze-like carpet adorned with hints of gold that shimmered with light. For a moment, He Yan thought the legendary Dragon Palace must have been something like this.

It carried a mysterious beauty that seemed to grow wild and untamed.

There was a main seat in the hall, with side seats beside it, but no one was seated there at the moment. Was the Princess not present?

Just as He Yan was wondering, footsteps could be heard from behind the hall, and then someone emerged from beside the high seat at the rear.

This was a very beautiful woman.She was tall and slender, already of a certain age, yet showing no signs of a beauty fading with time. She wore a red robe, its hem embroidered with golden threads in the shape of ocean waves. Her jet-black hair was braided into a long plait, coiled atop her head and secured with a small golden crown. Her skin was exceptionally fair, her eyes strikingly dark, with a touch of red at the outer corners. Her features were vivid and profound, though her expression carried a hint of coldness. Even with a faint smile at the corners of her lips, it was a lofty, distant one—like a frost flower blooming brilliantly yet coldly on a cliff’s edge, meant to be admired from afar, never approached.

It was rare to see a woman with such an imposing presence. She was already beautiful, but her arrogance made her beauty seem almost burdensome.

Mu Hongjin walked slowly forward and took her seat on the high throne in the center, looking down at He Yan and Xiao Jue from above.

He Yan tugged lightly at Xiao Jue’s sleeve, bowed her head, and said respectfully, “Yu Yan pays her respects to Your Highness.”

For a long moment, there was no reply.

Just as He Yan thought Mu Hongjin would continue to remain silent, Mu Hongjin spoke. Her voice was also cold, yet gorgeous and unrestrained, slowly seeping into one’s heart.

“This palace did not know that the Right Army Commander had the time to spare, going so far as to disguise as someone else just to come to my Jiyang.”

(End of Chapter)