Legend of the Female General

Chapter 160: Before Departure

Liu Buwang’s remains had just been brought back, and there had been no time yet to discuss burial arrangements. Someone came to inform Xiao Jue: the people sent by Princess Mu Hongjin had already found Chai Anxi.

Xiao Jue immediately set off for the palace with Lin Shuanghe.

When they arrived at the palace hall, Mu Hongjin was speaking with her subordinates. Seeing Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe, she shook her head slightly and said, “He’s not going to make it.”

The two entered the room and saw a person lying on the bed. This person had been shot in the chest with an arrow, and blood was continuously flowing from the wound. A man who looked like a doctor was pressing on the injury. Lin Shuanghe asked the man to leave, sat by the bed, felt the pulse, and shook his head at Xiao Jue. “There’s no saving him.”

After all, he was only a doctor. Competing with the King of Hell for a life also depended somewhat on luck. With injuries like these, it was impossible to save him. Lin Shuanghe took out a medicine bottle from his sleeve, poured out a pill, and fed it to Chai Anxi.

Not long after, the person on the bed struggled to open his eyes.

Lin Shuanghe stood up. “Time is short. Ask whatever you need to ask quickly. This can only keep him alive for a breath.” He patted Xiao Jue on the shoulder and went out himself.

Chai Anxi hazily raised his head. When he saw Xiao Jue’s face, his already dim eyes suddenly flickered with a faint light. He gasped, “...Second Young Master?”

Xiao Jue stared at him coldly.

“...Second Young Master,” Chai Anxi was somewhat agitated, but as soon as he spoke, a large mouthful of blood spilled from his lips. He asked, “Why are you here?”

“I came looking for you,” Xiao Jue sat down in the chair by the bed, his voice calm. “It’s been five years. Now I should be able to learn what really happened during the Battle of Ming River back then.”

Chai Anxi was stunned and remained silent for a long while.

In his youth, Xiao Jue had often seen Chai Anxi. Chai Anxi was a deputy under Xiao Zhongwu. He wasn’t the most skilled in martial arts, but his temperament was the most loyal and honest, like a black bear. His build was similar to Shen Han’s. Occasionally, when Chai Anxi was at the mansion handling matters for Xiao Zhongwu, he would see Xiao Jue and always give a simple, honest smile, calling out, “Second Young Master!”

But the Chai Anxi lying on the bed now was completely different from the one in Xiao Jue’s memory. Chai Anxi was about the same age as Xiao Zhongwu, still in his prime, yet he looked like an old man. His hair had turned mostly white, and there was a burn scar on his face. His body, whether from emaciation or something else, had shrunk drastically, almost like a child who hadn’t fully grown. And the way he looked at Xiao Jue no longer held the affection of the past, but was mixed with regret, guilt, pain, and perhaps something else.

It was a complexity that was startling.

He let out a bitter laugh. “Second Young Master, you already know, don’t you?”

Xiao Jue said nothing.

“The General was killed by someone... and that includes me.”

Xiao Jue suddenly looked up, his fingers in his sleeves clenching tightly into fists.

“You know,” Chai Anxi spoke with great difficulty, “the General had long been dissatisfied with Xu Xiang’s excessive private power, but the Emperor had always trusted Xu Xiang implicitly. The General warned the Emperor to be more vigilant against Xu Xiang’s treacherous intentions, and Xu Xiang had long harbored a deep-seated hatred for the General.”"The current Crown Prince is cruel and cowardly, no different from Xu Xiang and his faction. They have long disliked the General, and fearing the military power in his hands, they initially wanted to frame and slander him. However, the General led a spotless life, leaving no flaws to exploit. So, the Crown Prince and Xu Xiang conspired together, secretly plotting with the Southern Barbarians in the Battle of Ming River. During that battle, there were traitors within the Southern Garrison Troops. The General was attacked from both sides and... was defeated and died."

Xiao Jue looked at him, his autumn-water-like eyes flickering with mockery. "Are you referring to yourself as the traitor?"

Chai Anxi's expression twisted in pain. "I'm sorry, Second Young Master... I'm sorry. They threatened my mother. She was already seventy years old, I... I agreed. I copied the General's defense layout and gave it to them... I wasn't the only one. Among the General's trusted aides in the Southern Garrison Troops at the time, others also betrayed him. They threatened our wives, children, and elders. At the time... I was blinded, I agreed."

"Why did you go to Jiyang later?"

"Xu Xiang... how could Xu Xiang allow those who knew the truth to remain alive? Those who betrayed him back then were all silenced during the Battle of Ming River. I managed to escape. I originally wanted to return and flee with my mother, but when I got home, she had already passed away from illness... Xu Xiang's men were searching everywhere for me. I once heard the General say that Jiyang City is easy to leave but hard to enter, making it the easiest place to hide. So, I used some methods, changed my name, and hid in Jiyang."

"Second Young Master... all these years, I've actually wanted to step forward and explain what happened back then. But even in Jiyang, the news I could hear was that Xu Xiang's influence was growing stronger. Even if I spoke up, everyone from that time is dead. There's no evidence, and no one would believe me. I thought about finding you, but as soon as I left Jiyang City, word would spread, and Xu Xiang wouldn't let me live to see you. So, I could only wait. I knew that if you were still alive, you would eventually find me one day."

Tears gradually welled up in the corners of his eyes. "You came... that's wonderful... Second Young Master, you've grown up. If the General were still here, he would be very pleased to see you as you are now."

Xiao Jue watched his tears without a trace of emotion on his face, asking only, "Who killed you?"

"...I don't know." Chai Anxi spoke blankly. "As early as twenty days ago, when I was at Cuwei Pavilion, someone tried to kill me. They set a fire at night, and I escaped. The scars on my face are from that time. Afterward, I kept hiding until... until the Wutuo People came to Jiyang. I learned of your whereabouts and wanted to find you, but I was pursued and attacked on the way..."

He was no longer the strong warrior under Xiao Zhongwu's command from years ago. After all this time, his age and skills were no match for his former self. Moreover, due to that fire, old injuries plagued him, making him an easy target for ambush. Fortunately, he still had a breath left, allowing him to live to see Xiao Jue, to witness how the young boy of the past had grown, and to pour out the guilt and remorse in his heart.

"I... I have nothing left to help you with, Second Young Master. Saying all this is just to seek peace of mind. What I owe the General, the Madam, the Eldest and Second Young Masters, and our brothers... I can never repay it in this lifetime." He seemed both to cry and laugh. "When I reach the underworld, I will personally kneel before the General and atone for my sins..." His voice abruptly ceased. His eyes remained open, but the light in them was gone forever.He was dead.

Xiao Jue sat quietly, eyes lowered in silence. After a moment, he stood up and walked out of the room.

Chai Anxi was dead—the last person who knew the truth about the Battle of Singing Water was gone. He couldn’t bring a dead man back to Shuojing as a witness, and Chai Anxi had left behind nothing that could serve as evidence.

This trip had merely confirmed some things he had suspected from the very beginning.

Mu Hongjin and Lin Shuanghe were waiting for him outside. Seeing Xiao Jue emerge, Mu Hongjin said, “When the Wutuo People arrived, the situation was chaotic, and I couldn’t send anyone to look for him. After everything settled, someone tracked down Chai Anxi’s whereabouts. When my men found him, he was being pursued and was already severely injured when rescued. I had the city’s physician temporarily stop his bleeding…” She glanced at Xiao Jue’s expression and frowned slightly. “Is he dead?”

Xiao Jue replied, “Dead.”

She sighed softly, saying nothing.

After searching for so long, they had finally found him, only for him to die—just a little too late. It was truly regrettable.

Lin Shuanghe asked, “Huaijin, what do you plan to do next?”

Xiao Jue remained silent for a while before answering, “Chai Anxi is dead, and the military affairs in Jiyang have been resolved. We’ll depart for Liang Province in a few days.”

“Leaving so soon?” Mu Hongjin sounded reluctant. “You haven’t stayed here long. Why not wait until Xiao Lou returns before leaving?”

Xiao Jue said, “There are other matters to attend to.”

With that, Mu Hongjin didn’t press further. She smiled and said, “Regardless, the fact that Jiyang City was saved this time is thanks to Commander Xiao. I will submit a memorial to the Emperor, and His Majesty will surely reward you.”

“No need.” Xiao Jue turned and walked away, seemingly uninterested and somewhat impatient. Lin Shuanghe scratched his head and explained, “Huaijin is in a bad mood right now, Your Highness. Please don’t take it personally.”

Mu Hongjin shook her head. As the hero who saved Jiyang City, she was grateful to him no matter what.

“By the way,” Xiao Jue paused slightly, not turning back, his voice low, “Your Highness, are you aware that Mr. Liu is no longer with us?”

Mu Hongjin’s expression froze.

…

In the Cui residence, Chu Zhao was brewing tea over a small stove in the room.

His expression was calm and unhurried, his movements patient. Ying Xiang handed him a cloth, and he grasped the handle of the teapot, lifting it and placing it on the table.

“Chai Anxi probably won’t make it,” Ying Xiang said softly.

“To find a place like Jiyang and hold on for five years before dying—Chai Anxi was quite a talent,” Chu Zhao remarked with a faint smile.

“But, Fourth Young Master,” Ying Xiang asked, puzzled, “why not just kill him outright? Instead, you deliberately kept him alive just long enough for him to meet Commander Xiao and reveal the truth. Wouldn’t that expose the Prime Minister?”

“Even if he hadn’t spoken, Xiao Huaijin had already guessed who was behind it all,” Chu Zhao replied indifferently, a slight smile on his lips. “Hearing it from Chai Anxi only made him more certain. Watching Chai Anxi die before his eyes will only deepen his hatred for the Prime Minister. The greater the threat Xiao Huaijin poses to the Prime Minister, the more the Prime Minister will value me. After all, no one understands the art of balance better than the Prime Minister.”

“Besides, this is Jiyang. With no one around to interfere, how we handle things is entirely up to us,” he added calmly. “Whether we fan the flames or let them die down—it’s all in our hands.”Ying Xiang nodded, "This servant understands. Fourth Young Master, now that Chai Anxi is dead and we have accomplished what the Prime Minister instructed, shall we return to Shuojing?"

"No," Chu Zhao replied, "There is one matter I am quite curious about, so I have decided to go to Liangzhou Guard first."

"Liangzhou Guard?" Ying Xiang was surprised, "That is Commander Xiao's territory." Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue had always been at odds; in Liangzhou Guard, Chu Zhao would certainly gain no advantage.

"So, snatching someone right under Xiao Huaijin's nose would be quite interesting."

The tea leaves in the cup floated up and down; as he watched, he slowly began to chuckle softly.

...

The return journey was scheduled for two days later. After Liu Buwang was buried, He Yan, Xiao Jue, and the others set off back to Liangzhou Guard.

This trip to Jiyang had brought many joys, but also much sorrow and bitterness. The greatest regret was having just reunited with an old friend, only to part forever.

He Yan was unusually silent, slowly packing her belongings in the room. In truth, there were not many items to begin with. The women's clothing that Lin Shuanghe had purchased for her at Jiyang's Xiuluo Workshop could not be taken back. As a "grown man," carrying women's clothing would likely draw strange looks.

So, she left all those clothes, along with the accessories and shoes, behind, gifting them to Cui Yuezhi's four concubines. Yet, while packing and sorting, she couldn't help but feel a sense of reluctance. Perhaps it was because she had lived as a woman for so long that suddenly returning to being a man felt quite uncomfortable.

Under the pillow lay a dough figurine. Its colors were no longer as vibrant as when it was first made; they had dulled, and the dough had gradually dried, even showing signs of cracking. He Yan picked it up and examined it carefully.

This was made during the Water God Festival when Xiao Jue and she took the Firefly Boat to Falling Firefly Spring. On the water, they saw a vendor making dough figurines, who crafted one in her likeness. Her long hair was braided into small plaits at the forehead, falling down the back of her head. She wore a red skirt and black boots, smiling brightly—an unfamiliar appearance, yet her own.

She had known from the start that this item could not be taken back to Liangzhou Guard. But when it came time to leave it behind, He Yan couldn't bear to part with it. It was as if where the dough figurine existed, so did the memories. Leaving it here would mean abandoning the memories of Jiyang.

Yet, among those memories, whether bittersweet or joyful, she was unwilling to let go.

"Don’t want to take it back?" Xiao Jue sat at the table, glancing at her.

He Yan sighed, "If I take it back, I’m afraid someone in Liangzhou Guard might notice. It wouldn’t be good to give myself away."

Xiao Jue curled his lips slightly, "Aren’t you quite skilled at deception? Can’t even come up with an excuse?"

He Yan thought to herself, other matters aside, when it came to concealing her identity, from her past life to this one, she had indeed been extremely cautious. After all, a thousand-mile dike can collapse from an ant hole; one careless move could lose the whole game. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"Caution is the parent of safety," she said, yet she tightly gripped the wooden stick of the dough figurine, unwilling to let go.

Xiao Jue scoffed, "You could say you bought it for your fiancée."

He Yan was taken aback and looked at him, "That would work?"

"Aren’t you pure and chaste, preserving your virtue for your fiancée? With such devotion, it’s only natural to think of her wherever you go. Buying a commemorative dough figurine to send back—what’s wrong with that?"This reminder struck He Yan—indeed, she seemed to be someone with a "fiancée." For a moment, she found Xiao Jue’s reasoning quite sound. She picked up the dough figurine and placed it into her bundle, praising Xiao Jue, "Commander, I’ve realized now that when it comes to deception, you are the true master."

Xiao Jue set down the military ledger in his hand and looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"I was just speaking casually, don’t take it to heart," He Yan sighed. "It’s just that after staying in Jiyang for so long, I feel a bit reluctant to return to Liangzhou Guard."

Such a gentle water town, with its simple and honest people—it was only natural to grow attached after coming here. She didn’t know if she would ever have the chance to return in this lifetime, and even if she did, who knew how many years later it would be.

"Do you wish to stay?" Xiao Jue asked.

He Yan nodded, then shook her head. "No. I like it here, but there are more important things to do."

If she didn’t have the grudges from her past life and could simply live here as "He Yan," she would have been more than willing. But she still had debts of gratitude and vengeance to settle. No matter how beautiful the scenery, she couldn’t linger—she had to keep moving forward.

"You mean achieving merit and glory?" His voice carried a hint of mockery.

He Yan smiled. "You could say that. But Commander, you promised me before that as long as I accompanied you to Jiyang to handle matters, you would let me join the Southern Garrison Troops. Do you still stand by your word?"

Xiao Jue replied, "Yes."

He Yan brightened up. At least she was a little closer to her goal.

Xiao Jue lowered his gaze, concealing the depth in his eyes. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to calm. Just as he was about to speak, someone knocked on the door outside—it was Cui Jiao’s voice. "Madam."

"Come in."

Cui Jiao entered, holding a neatly folded garment. She glanced at Xiao Jue first, looking somewhat hesitant.

"What is it?" He Yan asked.

"The Chu Fourth Young Master next door… asked me to return this garment to you. He said he was deeply grateful for the protection of your dress, which allowed him to escape unscathed."

He Yan remembered—when Chu Zhao had delivered Mu Hongjin’s clothes for her, she had given him that "impervious to blades and fire, immune to water" Mermaid Silk dress to wear as armor. If he hadn’t sent Cui Jiao to return it, He Yan might have forgotten all about it.

Taking the Mermaid Silk dress, He Yan thought for a moment and placed it on the table. Back at Liangzhou Guard, she would be in her female form again, and this dress would be of no use to her. She might as well leave it for Cui Yuezhi’s concubines.

As soon as she set it down, she met Xiao Jue’s cool gaze.

The young man tilted his head to look at her and said calmly, "The clothes I bought, you gave them to Chu Zilan?"

"It wasn’t exactly you who bought them," He Yan told the truth. "Didn’t Brother Lin pay for them?"

Xiao Jue’s expression remained indifferent.

He Yan realized he was angry. Thinking about it, it made sense—he and Chu Zilan were sworn enemies, yet she had given something he had chosen to Chu Zilan. Naturally, he would be displeased.

After a moment’s thought, she took the initiative to explain, "At the time, I asked Cui Jiao to bring Princess’s clothes to me. Brother Chu was worried that a young girl like Cui Jiao might run into trouble, so he came to deliver them himself. Seeing him as a grown man with no strength to defend himself, and being by the canal where he could easily be killed by the Wutuo People with just a couple of strikes, I thought of the shop assistant at Xiuluo Workshop who said this dress was impervious to blades and fire. Since I had armor and wasn’t afraid, I gave him the dress to use as armor."The situation was too chaotic at the time, and He Yan had forgotten that the clothes were women's attire. Even if she gave them to Chu Zilan, he probably wouldn't wear them.

"Brother Chu?" Xiao Jue slowly repeated the question.

He Yan took a step back, realizing she had misspoken again. "Chu Fourth Young Master, Chu Fourth Young Master."

He sneered coldly, "It seems you and Chu Zilan are quite familiar."

"No, not too familiar," He Yan replied earnestly. "We merely crossed paths by chance and won't meet again in the future."

"Let me remind you once more," the young man said with a hint of impatience in his brow, his voice cold. "You can like anyone you want, but liking Chu Zilan is nothing short of courting death."

(End of Chapter)