Legend of the Female General

Chapter 161: Partings in Life

Two days later, Liu Buwang was laid to rest.

According to the customs of Jiyang, after a person passes away, the coffin is placed on a wooden boat for a water burial. The wooden boat is also called the "soul-bearing vessel." Because Jiyang is near water, its people believe that the Water Goddess uses boats to carry souls to the other shore.

He Yan went to bid Liu Buwang his final farewell.

Liu Buwang lay in the wooden coffin, his expression remarkably serene. It was unclear what he had thought of before his death, but a faint smile lingered at the corner of his lips. He Yan placed a handful of flowers on the wooden boat.

Her master-disciple bond with Liu Buwang had been particularly brief. It was Liu Buwang who had pulled her from the pile of corpses, teaching her swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship. His esoteric arts of strategy, combined with the military texts He Yan had studied, forever changed the course of her life.

If not for the hand Liu Buwang had extended to her back then, she would likely have perished long ago in the deserts of Mo County. Reborn into a new life and encountering Liu Buwang once more, she had thought it a gift from heaven. Yet this fate was as fleeting as a night-blooming cereus, vanishing all too quickly.

He Yan regretted not having spoken more with Liu Buwang, leaving behind many regrets. She had not yet had the chance to ask him about his past with Mu Hongjin, nor about the places he had traveled over the years. She had also missed the opportunity to confide in him her innermost thoughts and unresolved troubles. Throughout her life, her bonds with elders seemed ill-fated. Her ties to parents and relatives were painfully thin, and Liu Buwang, who had been both teacher and father figure to her, had now departed as well.

In life, regrets often outnumber moments of fulfillment.

"Your Highness." He Yan heard Cui Yuezhi speak from behind her. She turned to see Mu Hongjin approaching.

She was not wearing her usual red robes but had changed into black attire. Her long hair was braided and coiled up, adorned with a Golden Coronet. She remained as stunning and formidable as ever, yet her expression carried a trace of bewilderment. This made her appear like a lost child, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

He Yan stepped aside as Mu Hongjin walked forward, approaching the wooden boat.

The man on the boat was accompanied in burial only by a sword and a zither, which would remain with him in the wooden coffin. When he had descended the mountain, he was as elegant and transcendent as ever, and as he left the mortal world, he remained untainted by its impurities. Even in old age, the youth in white seemed to retain his youthful spirit.

Mu Hongjin stared blankly.

When Xiao Jue said Liu Buwang was gone, her initial reaction was disbelief, followed by a sense of absurdity. Then, overwhelming confusion washed over her, making it difficult to accept that this had truly happened.

But what had happened was done. Many things in life do not bend to human will. And she was no longer the naive young girl who could bury her head in a pillow and deceive herself into disbelief.

So she came.

Liu Buwang had died protecting Jiyang City. Before his death, he had set up formations on the riverbank at Hulu Zui, holding off hundreds, even thousands, alone, without telling anyone.

As always, he refused to say anything.

He was the only man she had ever loved in her life. Even if Liu Buwang had harbored feelings for another, even if they had been estranged for years, the attachment remained. His death still brought Mu Hongjin sorrow.

"Your Highness," He Yan thought for a moment and stepped forward, opening her palm. "Do you recognize this?"Mu Hongjin slowly turned her head and saw a silver bracelet lying in He Yan's hand. The bracelet was worn smooth and warm, with a faint circle of tiny daisies carved along its edge. In an instant, scenes from the past flooded her mind, and she seemed to hear an old woman’s kindly voice whispering in her ear.

"This is called the Joyful Heart Bracelet. Buy one for the one you love, and you will never part for a lifetime."

"Did you hear that, Young Master Liu? Hurry up and buy one for me!"

"She is not the one I love."

Mu Hongjin stared blankly at the bracelet before her, as if looking at a long-overdue gift. Her throat tightened, and she asked hoarsely, "How do you have this?"

"Before my master passed away, he was clutching this bracelet tightly in his hand. I thought it must have been very important to him." He Yan looked at Mu Hongjin. "Is this Your Highness’s bracelet?"

Mu Hongjin took the bracelet from He Yan’s hand and murmured, "I don’t know."

How could she know? Those playful words from years ago had long been buried deep in her memory, too painful to even recall. She had already confronted Liu Buwang face-to-face about his feelings, only to be told he did not care for her. Yet now, this bracelet clearly and unmistakably told her that Liu Buwang had once held her in his heart?

How could she dare believe it?

How could she possibly believe it?

In He Yan’s heart, a wave of helpless sorrow also rose. Liu Buwang was gone, and no one knew the truth of what had happened back then. Still, she wanted to speak up for him.

"Your Highness, I have always felt that there may have been many misunderstandings between you and my master back then," He Yan said. "But he is no longer here. If Your Highness recognizes this bracelet, please keep it for him. If you find it difficult… then return it to the wooden coffin."

"But I think," He Yan said softly, "if my master were still here, he would want you to keep it."

An unsent gift, a belated explanation, an honest confession—this was likely his greatest regret in life.

But what use was regret? Once a person died, all grievances and entanglements, whether one was willing or not, willing to let go or not, vanished like smoke.

The story ended here.

Mu Hongjin gazed at the silver bracelet in her palm. After a moment, she slowly clenched her hand and whispered, "I understand."

Seeing her intention to keep the bracelet, He Yan felt a slight sense of relief. There was so little she could do for Liu Buwang, and now, this was the only thing left.

The wooden coffin was closed, and the boat was surrounded by a colorful array of wildflowers. Liu Buwang had descended the mountain in spring, and now, he was returning to spring. The clear river gently pushed the small boat forward, farther and farther away, gradually disappearing into the emerald waves between the mountains.

"What lies beyond the other shore?" He Yan murmured softly.

But who could know? Just as when Liu Buwang descended the mountain and met Mu Hongjin, he had scoffed at the flower-selling woman’s talk of "a lifetime together."

Back then, a lifetime seemed so long. But after meeting a few people, hearing a few songs, experiencing a few encounters and partings, a lifetime had already passed.

…

After Liu Buwang’s funeral, He Yan and her companions prepared to return to Liangzhou Guard.

Cui Yuezhi came to see them off, standing at the entrance of the Cui residence as servants continuously loaded items onto the carriage.

"These are all specialties of Jiyang. Take as many as you can. You won’t find these things in Liang Province."Lin Shuanghe propped his chin with a fan and said, "There's no need to bring this roasted rabbit, is there? It's greasy and inconvenient on the carriage."

"Bring it," Cui Yuezhi insisted. "Take it for when you get hungry on the road. Zhong Fu," he called the steward over, "are the apricots ready?"

"Ready." Zhong Fu brought over a cloth bag of red apricots. "They've all been washed clean. When the Commander and the young lady get thirsty on the journey, they can have a couple. They quench thirst and taste delicious."

He Yan: "..."

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were going on a spring outing.

Such overwhelming hospitality was hard to refuse.

"Really, that's enough, Lord Cui," He Yan said with a smile. "If we pack any more, the Commander and I won't have any room to sit."

Cui Yuezhi looked at the carriage stuffed to the brim and finally relented, laughing. "Alright, then let it be. Your stay at my Cui residence was too short. If you had stayed longer, I would have taken you to see all of Jiyang City." At this point, he bowed solemnly to Xiao Jue and He Yan. "The resolution of Jiyang's crisis this time is all thanks to Commander Xiao, Miss He, and Master Liu. This great kindness and virtue, I, Cui, will never forget for the rest of my life. The people of Jiyang will also remember your grace. If there is ever a time in this life when you need me or need Jiyang City, I and the people of Jiyang will go through fire and water without hesitation."

"Miss He, if you have the chance in the future, you must come to Jiyang City to visit more often," said Cui Yuezhi's Fourth Concubine, smiling. "Next time, stay longer. We concubines will prepare delicious food for you."

Second Aunt looked at Xiao Jue and said cheerfully, "Commander Xiao too."

Aunt Wei glared at the two of them, stepped forward, took He Yan's hand, and urged, "Be careful on the road."

He Yan smiled and nodded. Just then, someone came in to report: "Lord Zhongqi, Mu Yi has brought people over, saying they've come to bid farewell to Miss He."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. He Yan asked, "Bid farewell to me?"

The people Mu Yi brought were the fifty who had planned to go with He Yan to set fire to the Wutuo warships. Among these fifty, over twenty had died in the war, but at least half had survived. Now, these remaining twenty or so, hearing that He Yan was leaving, came with Mu Yi to thank her.

"Thanks to Miss He," a young man scratched his head, "otherwise, we might not be alive now. Before Miss He leaves, the brothers wanted to come together to thank her."

Mu Yi took a wooden frame from his bosom and handed it to He Yan. "This is a gift from everyone for Miss He."

He Yan took it and looked. It was a wooden carving made from a single piece of wood, depicting a young woman in armor standing at the bow of a ship amidst a sea of fire. The woman held a long whip, her long hair tied high at the back, looking heroic, spirited, and exceptionally striking.

He Yan stared at it for a long while, then hesitantly asked, "Is this... me?"

"Yes," someone else said. "We pooled some money and hired the best craftsman in Jiyang City to carve it. But it still doesn't capture Miss He's true spirit. When Miss He used her whip to sink the Wutuo warship, it was truly thrilling to watch—far more impressive than what's carved here!"

"Exactly, this carving can't capture Miss He's grace either. It doesn't match Miss He's actual beauty!"

"Right, right! Miss He's beauty is something even immortals couldn't paint."By the end, it was all sincere praise, making He Yan blush. Well, she was certainly feeling the enthusiasm of the Jiyang men now.

Cui Yuezhi watched with a smile.

Mu Yi looked at He Yan and asked, "Must Miss He return to Liang Province?"

He Yan was taken aback for a moment before nodding in response. "I still have important matters to attend to."

"I see." A flicker of regret passed through the young man's eyes, but after a moment, he fixed his gaze on He Yan and asked earnestly, "Then will you come back to Jiyang City in the future?"

Mu Yi was naturally handsome and robust, and his sincere yet slightly bashful gaze was truly hard to resist. Even if He Yan were slow to notice, facing such a look, she understood somewhat. She felt both awkward and moved—no one could remain indifferent when faced with genuine affection.

Being liked and admired was, in itself, an honor.

"I really like Jiyang City," she said with a smile, looking at Mu Yi. "If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come back."

Mu Yi was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

"Tsk," Lin Shuanghe fanned himself and leaned close to Xiao Jue's ear. "I told you earlier, with my sister He's looks and temperament, she's bound to be well-liked. Look, so many are eyeing her covetously. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you better keep a close watch on my sister He."

Xiao Jue scoffed, as if finding it unbelievable. "What kind of taste is that?"

"Of course, it's excellent taste," Lin Shuanghe closed his fan. "You should know, gold will always shine."

As the two were speaking, someone else walked out from the mansion. This person wore a sky-blue robe, was slender and gentle in appearance—it was Chu Zhao. Beside him, Ying Xiang carried a bundle in her hand.

"Chu Fourth Young Master?" Cui Yuezhi was momentarily surprised.

Cui Yuezhi had already learned about the relationship between Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue from Mu Hongjin. These two were at odds, and their positions differed. Mu Hongjin had arranged for them to stay together, partly to maintain a balance. It must be said that the military defense map and information Chu Zhao provided had contributed greatly to defeating the Wutuo People this time. However, Cui Yuezhi, being a martial artist, had always felt a sense of mutual admiration for Xiao Jue. After fighting side by side with him, his heart had long leaned toward Xiao Jue. Thus, he maintained a polite but distant attitude toward Chu Zhao.

"Where is Chu Fourth Young Master heading?" Cui Yuezhi asked.

"I came to Jiyang this time specifically for the matter of the Wutuo People. Now that it's resolved, it's time to bid farewell to everyone." He smiled slightly. "I didn't inform Lord Cui earlier because I didn't want to trouble you. These past few days, with the cleanup of the battlefield near the canal, Lord Cui must have been overwhelmed."

"Listen to him, making himself sound so considerate while we come off as pretentious," Lin Shuanghe whispered to Xiao Jue. "He really knows how to talk."

Cui Yuezhi smiled. "Chu Fourth Young Master is too polite. You should have let me know earlier. No matter how busy I am, I would have made time to see you off. However," Cui Yuezhi glanced at Xiao Jue, "if Chu Fourth Young Master departs today, wouldn't that mean you could travel together with Commander Xiao? The journey wouldn't be too lonely then."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jue's expression turned cold, not even bothering to feign politeness.

He Yan thought to herself, Cui Yuezhi's politeness was a bit forced. Chu Zhao had probably deliberately chosen today to set off together.However, what she hadn't expected was that upon hearing this, Chu Zhao smiled and said, "Indeed, it so happens that our destination is also Liangzhou Guard."

Liangzhou Guard?

He Yan was taken aback: "Chu... Fourth Young Master, why would you go to Liangzhou Guard?"

Xiao Jue lifted his gaze, his eyes settling on him.

"I have already written to Xu Xiang about the military affairs here in Jiyang," Chu Zhao said with a smile. "Before His Majesty's decree arrives, I will remain at Liangzhou Guard. After all, I was present throughout the entire Jiyang incident."

He didn't continue, but everyone understood his meaning.

Cui Yuezhi inwardly clicked his tongue in astonishment. Had the covert struggles within the court already intensified to such a degree? No wonder the Wutuo People had seized the opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jue first let out a light scoff, then replied with a faint, mocking smile, "If Chu Fourth Young Master wishes to stay at Liangzhou Guard, that is permissible."

"However, at Liangzhou Guard, I am the one in command."

Chu Zhao faced him with a smile.

Without paying further attention to Chu Zhao, Xiao Jue turned and boarded the carriage. He Yan's gaze toward Chu Zhao also shifted—this person... seemed to be doing it on purpose.

Deliberately, to the point where he wouldn't even bother to conceal it.

She bowed to Chu Zhao and said, "Then, Brother Chu, I shall board the carriage first."

Without waiting for Chu Zhao to respond, He Yan hurriedly climbed into the carriage. With Chu Zhao provoking him like this, Second Young Master Xiao was surely displeased. At such a critical moment, it was best not to provoke the tiger. If she angered Xiao Jue and he refused to let her join the Southern Garrison Troops, this entire journey would truly have been in vain.

Her hasty boarding of the carriage caught Chu Zhao's eye. He was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head and smiled. After bidding farewell to Cui Yuezhi and the others one by one, he unhurriedly followed Ying Xiang onto his own carriage.

The carriage began moving toward the city gates.

Lin Shuanghe lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside. Jiyang City, having just experienced the Wutuo conflict, was not as lively as before. Yet the rivers, large and small, remained as they were, with boats drifting quietly upon them. It wouldn't be long, he thought, before the city returned to its former bustling and vibrant scene.

When they had arrived, it had felt like nothing more than a playful excursion, but now that they were truly leaving, a sense of melancholy arose. Lin Shuanghe sighed as he gazed out.

He Yan still held tightly to the woodcut painting given to her by Mu Yi and the others. Tracing her fingers over it, the woman depicted in the painting bore a resemblance to the female general of her past life.

Noticing her actions, Xiao Jue teased, "Aren't you afraid of bringing it back for the others at Liangzhou Guard to see now?"

Previously, she had agonized over a simple clay figurine, torn with indecision. Yet now, with such a large woodcut painting, she treasured it as if it were a priceless treasure, no longer mentioning anything about "being discovered as a woman would be the end." A woman's thoughts truly couldn't be taken seriously.

"If it really comes to it, I can say it was a gift for my fiancée. Isn't that what you taught me, Commander?" He Yan replied. "With so many people and so much goodwill, it's hard to refuse such kindness."

Though her words were modest, her eyes betrayed a sense of satisfaction and pride. Xiao Jue found it amusing, leaning back slightly as a faint smile flickered in his eyes. He remarked indifferently, "Quite popular, aren't you?"

The carriage gradually faded into the distance.

Mu Hongjin stood by the shore, where layers of green mountains now obscured the soul-bearing boat from view. The youth of the past had returned to the mountains, rivers, and seas, while she remained here, destined to sit upon the cold, high seat in the grand hall.

This was her duty.

"The Little Princess is already on her way back," the maid beside her whispered softly. "Your Highness, let us return to the manor as well."Mu Hongjin nodded, took one last look at the distant end of the long river, and turned away. Her wide sleeves and long robes exuded both majesty and beauty, while a faint glint of silver light at her wrist vanished almost instantly.

An unknown wanderer, wearing a bamboo hat and holding a bamboo staff, walked along the riverbank, singing as he went. His voice drifted with the wind, scattering over the river and gradually fading into the distance.

“The returning traveler still longs for home, but how shall I console my solitude now?… In bitter cold, I worry your clothes are too thin, riding alone on a lean horse under the waning moon… I know life must bring partings, yet I fear time slips away too swiftly. By the cold lamp, I recall our past—when shall we listen to the night rain’s mournful rustle again?”

End of Volume Four

Jiyang Arc Complete!

(End of Chapter)