Legend of the Female General

Chapter 164: A Perfect Match

He Yan still remembered that during the hunting grounds back then, they were all young men in their teens. Suddenly encountering such a stunningly beautiful young lady, it was only natural that their gazes were drawn to her. It seemed it was Lin Shuanghe who remarked, "What a beautiful girl. If I say she deserves to be called the number one beauty of Shuojing City, no one would disagree, right?"

"No objections here!"

"Who would have thought that Censor Shen, with his foul temper, would have such a breathtakingly beautiful daughter."

Censor Shen was upright and sharp-tongued, daring to speak bluntly even before Emperor Wenxuan. He was also extremely strict in his daily conduct. If anyone in the court made even the slightest mistake, he would submit one or two memorials of impeachment against them. However, the previous emperor had praised Censor Shen for embodying the noble spirit of Great Wei, and the current Empress Dowager was particularly fond of him. His position was solid and unshakable, so his colleagues in the court could only keep a respectful distance. The more his colleagues isolated Censor Shen, the more Emperor Wenxuan felt that Censor Shen was pitifully upright, a paragon of integrity among officials, and thus treated him with exceptional leniency.

With such a father, whose temper was as stubborn as a rock, his daughter was born with a beauty that was entirely different. When the term "difficult to approach" was applied to an old man, it meant he was eccentric and harsh. But when applied to a graceful young lady, it meant she was aloof and ethereal, untouched by worldly affairs.

He Yan also remembered that although Shen Muxue was a girl and quite young at the time, when the hunt ended and the game was tallied, as Xiao Jue stepped forward to receive the emperor's commendation, his cloak fell to the ground. It should have been picked up by his attendant or servant, but that fairy-like Miss Shen walked up herself, picked up the cloak, and handed it to Xiao Jue, who was still on horseback.

At that moment, all the young men were somewhat astonished. Someone remarked sourly, "It's over, it's over. We've been chattering away excitedly here, but this girl has her eyes set on Brother Huaijin."

"Why is Brother Huaijin so popular with the ladies? Couldn't he leave a little face for the rest of us?"

Lin Shuanghe sighed, fanning himself. "That's naturally because this Miss Shen is also someone who judges by appearances."

He Yan followed the gazes of the others and looked over. She saw the arrogant and dashing young man on horseback and the reserved, graceful girl standing below. In terms of appearance alone, they were enough to be called a celestial couple, a perfect match.

She silently lowered her head, looking at her empty hands that had caught no game, and sighed inwardly. Outstanding people should be with other outstanding people. All she could do, it seemed, was stand far away and watch others shine with confidence and vigor.

"Brother He?" Chu Zhao's voice pulled He Yan's thoughts back.

He Yan snapped back to reality and asked, "But if Miss Shen has traveled all the way to Liang Province, would Censor Shen agree?"

Censor Shen had only one son and one daughter. Compared to his strictness toward his eldest son, he was exceptionally doting toward his younger daughter. Shen Muxue appeared obedient and proper. Although He Yan didn't think it was an unforgivable sin for a woman to go to the military camp, in the eyes of most people, it was probably considered deviant. Moreover, as a censor, how could Censor Shen allow his daughter to act so recklessly?

"Miss Shen was determined to leave, and Censor Shen couldn't stop her. Besides," Chu Zhao smiled, "to tell the truth, when General Xiao was alive, he was on close terms with the Shen family. Censor Shen and General Xiao were originally good friends. After the Xiao family's incident, Censor Shen also helped out a great deal. Commander Xiao is young and accomplished. On one hand, Censor Shen trusts him, and on the other..." He paused. "He probably harbors some intention of forming a marriage alliance with the Xiao family."He Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively retorted, “How could that be?”

Chu Zhao looked at her, seemingly puzzled by her reaction. “Why not?”

“...The Commander usually keeps his distance from women,” He Yan said, feigning nonchalance. “His mind is only on military affairs. From what I’ve seen, he doesn’t interact much with Shen Muxue either.”

Xiao Jue was cold and aloof toward everyone, and he never showed Shen Muxue any special treatment.

“Ah He, you’re a girl,” Chu Zhao chuckled. “You don’t understand a man’s heart. If there were such an outstanding and gentle girl, saying nothing but silently accompanying him day after day, following him through battles north and south, even someone with a heart of stone would be moved. Moved turns into pity, and pity becomes affection. Since Commander Xiao hasn’t sent her away, it must be because he harbors pity for her.”

He Yan pursed her lips and said nothing, feeling that Chu Zhao’s words were rather unpleasant to hear.

“If it were you, would pity also turn into affection?” He Yan asked.

Chu Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”

“Then why wouldn’t it?”

Chu Zhao looked at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “I don’t like gentle girls.”

“I prefer lively and spirited ones.”

He Yan glanced at him but said nothing, thinking to herself that it was hard to imagine someone as mild-mannered and quiet as Chu Zhao liking lively and spirited girls.

The room was just ahead. Chu Zhao smiled and said, “I’ll leave you here. Rest early tonight. You have daily training tomorrow.”

He Yan nodded, thanked him, and entered the room.

The middle door was closed today, and she had no idea whether Xiao Jue was asleep on the other side. On any other day, He Yan might have knocked on the door or picked the lock to chat for a bit, but today she wasn’t in the mood. After washing up, she lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to what Chu Zhao had said earlier. She couldn’t help but feel unsettled.

Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue?

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but after hearing Chu Zhao’s words tonight, she realized there were things she had overlooked. Why was Shen Muxue the only female medic in Liangzhou Guard? She had once heard Shen Han call her “Miss Shen.” The instructors not only felt grateful toward Shen Muxue but even held a certain respect for her. So that was why.

The daughter of Censor Shen, the son of General Xiao—their families were equally distinguished, their appearances equally outstanding, and even their fathers were close friends.

He Yan turned over, facing the wall, and thought with a sour heart, “They really are a perfect match.”

...

The next day, it was time for daily training again.

With the experience from the first day, the second day felt much more familiar. The daily training in the Southern Garrison Troops didn’t include paired combat drills, so without any sparring, everything was peaceful. Moreover, the Southern Garrison Troops mostly practiced military formations, which He Yan was already familiar with. She kept up with every change in the formations without ever falling behind, which even surprised Tian Lang.

“What do you think?” Shen Han asked Tian Lang as he watched He Yan in the formation. “This kid isn’t bad, right?” Although He Yan was now part of the Southern Garrison Troops, she had come from Liangzhou Guard, so Shen Han was still quite concerned about her. Besides, this kid had a close relationship with Xiao Jue, and Shen Han believed he should keep an eye on her.

Tian Lang replied, “She has good potential.”Shen Han found it amusing to recall that when He Yan first arrived at Liangzhou Guard, Xiao Jue had personally concluded that his aptitude was far too poor. At the time, none of the instructors had held any high hopes for He Yan, believing he would inevitably be driven off to become a cook. Yet now, it was He Yan who had gone the furthest. Truly, who could predict the twists and turns of the battlefield?

The other instructors also gathered around. While the new recruits of Liangzhou Guard were resting, the Southern Garrison Troops had far less downtime, so they took the opportunity to see how He Yan was adapting.

"Didn't disgrace our Liangzhou Guard!" Liang Ping boasted, though he tried to sound modest. "In the future, we'll have to trouble Deputy Commander Tian to teach this lad a thing or two! Don't worry about our pride—discipline him as needed!"

Tian Lang: "..."

Ma Damei chuckled. "Deputy Commander Tian, this young man learns quickly—and this isn't just us bragging about Liangzhou Guard. If you teach him more, he'll surely surprise you often in the future."

Tian Lang was speechless. To him, He Yan was merely a new recruit with decent aptitude who happened to have earned Xiao Jue's trust. In terms of skill and talent, there were far more outstanding individuals in the Southern Garrison Troops, not to mention the Nine Banners Battalion. It was just that Liangzhou Guard was remote, and having finally produced someone like this, they treated him like a treasure—a sign of their limited perspective.

As they spoke, a woman in a pale blue dress approached from a distance. Liangzhou Guard had only one woman, and everyone greeted her: "Miss Shen."

Shen Muxue walked over.

She set down the basket in her hands and said, "I gathered some medicinal herbs and have already washed and dried them. Could the instructors have someone boil these herbs into a medicinal broth? With the transition from spring to summer, if each soldier drinks a spoonful, it can help ward off the cold."

Shen Han quickly thanked her. "We appreciate your hard work, Miss Shen." He then turned to instruct someone to take the basket away and brew the medicine immediately.

Shen Muxue was in no hurry to leave. Instead, she looked toward the soldiers training on the Martial Arts Field, her gaze settling on the slender figure among the ranks.

He Yan blended into the crowd, his stature unremarkable, yet he somehow remained impossible to overlook. Over the years, she had followed Xiao Jue to various places and met many people. Countless new recruits had come and gone, but only this one left a lasting impression. Like a nimble breeze, he stood apart from everyone around him.

That jar of hand balm... It was just an ordinary jar of balm. She rarely desired anything, and even when she expressed a wish, to Xiao Jue, it would have been a simple gesture. Yet Xiao Jue had stopped her, and not long after, she found it in He Yan's possession.

Had Xiao Jue refused her because of He Yan?

It was natural to show more care for a capable young man who might become a trusted confidant in the future. Shen Muxue understood this, but even with his trusted aides like Chi Wu and Fei Nu, while Xiao Jue trusted them, he would never go to such lengths—it was almost as if... as if he were treating a young lady. Reflecting on this, Shen Muxue felt that Xiao Jue's treatment of He Yan was excessively kind. It was Cheng Li Su's room, yet after Cheng Li Su left, He Yan had not moved out. For a new recruit to live next door to the Right Army Commander was rather unusual. Moreover, Xiao Jue did not maintain the same aloof distance with He Yan as he did with others, even tacitly allowing many of his unconventional actions.

It was this very indulgence that made Shen Muxue uneasy.Perhaps it is that women's thoughts are always particularly delicate, and their intuition exceptionally accurate. This time, after Xiao Jue and He Yan returned, Shen Muxue felt even more that something was amiss.

She did not want to leave just yet, wishing to stay a moment longer at the Martial Arts Field, so she said, "I prepared some medicine in advance; the instructors may drink it first. The medicine buckets are placed not far away. I must trouble the instructors to find a young man to accompany me to fetch them."

Shen Han said, "How could we trouble Miss Shen like this? I will accompany you." With that, he informed the others and followed Shen Muxue into the distance.

Watching Shen Muxue's departing figure, Liang Ping sighed, "Miss Shen truly has a bodhisattva's heart, and she is so beautiful. How can there be such a flawless woman in this world? If I could marry her, it would be worth dying for in this lifetime."

"You think quite beautifully," another instructor on the side mocked him upon hearing this. "How could someone like you, an ordinary mortal, dare to harbor such thoughts about Miss Shen? You must know that there are so many talented young men in the court, and she doesn't even spare them a glance. How could she possibly take a liking to a mere instructor like you?"

"What's wrong with being an instructor?" Liang Ping retorted indignantly. "Since Miss Shen is willing to lower herself to come to a harsh and bitter place like Liang Province, doesn't look down on us rough folk, and even brews medicine for everyone, it shows she is someone who doesn't despise the poor or fawn over the rich, but is noble-minded and kind-hearted. Such a person must judge others solely by their character." He muttered quietly, "My character is excellent; what if... just maybe?"

Ma Damei couldn't bear to listen any longer. "She lowered herself, but not for you."

"Exactly, Old Liang. She did it for Commander Xiao. What do you have to compare with Commander Xiao? Are you as handsome as him? As skilled in martial arts? Or in family background, talent, demeanor, or strategy—you fall short in every aspect, yet you dare to boast shamelessly here. If I were Miss Shen and heard such insolence from you, I'd have my servants come out and beat you to death with a stick, lest you tarnish her reputation."

Liang Ping: "...Are you still my brothers?"

As they were talking, a voice suddenly called out from the side: "Instructors!"

Everyone looked over. The Southern Garrison Troops were now on a break, and He Yan, spotting the instructors standing on the high platform, came over to greet them. Perhaps because she was no longer considered part of the Liangzhou Guard and her superior was now Tian Lang, her interactions with the former instructors had become more like those between friends. She leaped onto the platform, walked into the midst of the group, greeted each of them one by one, and asked with a smile, "What were you all talking about just now? It seemed so lively."

"We were saying there's a toad among us, dreaming of eating swan meat," one instructor replied with a grin.

He Yan asked curiously, "What does that mean?"

"We were talking about Physician Shen," Ma Damei explained with a smile. "We said Physician Shen is of noble status, pure in character, and beloved by all."

He Yan was taken aback, and to make matters worse, someone with no sense of self-preservation leaned in close and whispered mysteriously to her, "Brother He, do you know what background Physician Shen comes from?"If this had been before last night, He Yan might have been quite surprised. But having already learned Shen Muxue's identity from Chu Zhao, it no longer seemed strange. That person wasn't one to keep quiet either; without waiting for He Yan to speak, he said, "Physician Shen is now the young lady of the Censor's household! Someone of such noble status—if not for Commander Xiao, why would she travel thousands of miles like this? If I had such a beauty treating me this way, I would absolutely be good to her and only her for the rest of my life!"

He Yan thought to herself, had she recently been constantly clashing with the name Shen Muxue? One after another, why must they all line up to stab her in the heart?

"None of what you're saying is reliable," Liang Ping stubbornly insisted, unwilling to admit defeat. "If Commander Xiao truly liked Miss Shen, why hasn't he said anything until now? I'm a man, I understand best. If a man likes a woman, he can't possibly hide it. Those who can hide it aren't that fond. The world is vast; why should Miss Shen hang herself on one tree? She'd be better off opening her eyes and looking around—maybe fate is right beside her."

"Liang Ping, you're really sick, and seriously ill at that. I think Physician Shen should send you two doses of medicine to check your eyes. What's wrong with your brain? How can you say such shameless things?"

Amid the noisy chatter, Tian Lang quietly shifted a step to the side. He had no intention of joining this mess of recklessly discussing their superiors. If caught, he'd really be in deep trouble.

He Yan also wanted to slip away, not wanting to listen to these heart-stabbing words. But the others wouldn't let her off. One instructor patted her shoulder and said, "Brother He, why aren't you saying anything? You're one of us too. Tell us, aren't Physician Shen and Commander Xiao a match made in heaven? Isn't Old Shen overestimating himself?"

He Yan: "..."

Everyone looked at her eagerly, as if her comment was of utmost importance.

Bracing herself, He Yan forced a smile despite the overwhelming reluctance in her heart. "...Yes, Miss Shen is a renowned beauty, radiant as spring blossoms. Commander Xiao is noble and handsome, with an imposing presence. They truly are a match made in heaven."

As soon as the words left her mouth, bitterness threatened to overflow. She thought to herself, what had she done to deserve this? Listening to others stab her heart was bad enough, but now she had to stab herself too.

"What about their status? Isn't that also well-matched?"

He Yan: "...Yes, the Right Army Commander and the Censor's daughter are people from the same world. It has nothing to do with any of us."

"Brother He, you're quite trusted by the Commander now. Maybe when the Commander gets married, he'll even invite you to the ceremony. Such a congratulatory event—shouldn't you start saving up now to prepare a wedding gift?"

He Yan mentally etched the speaker's face firmly in her mind, gritting her teeth inwardly while maintaining a calm and composed expression on the outside. "Of course, for such a congratulatory event, a grand gift is a must."

Everyone burst into laughter and actually began brainstorming what He Yan should give when Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue got married. Not a single person noticed He Yan's stiff expression.

"Are you all very idle?" A cold voice sounded from behind.

Everyone turned to look. Unnoticed, Xiao Jue had arrived, followed by Shen Muxue and Shen Han carrying a medicine bucket.Knowing they had been caught red-handed gossiping about their superior's private affairs in secret, the group was so terrified they fell silent, not daring to utter a word. They still clung to a sliver of hope—Xiao Jue probably hadn’t heard much. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would have stopped them as soon as he heard. Since he spoke up only now, he must have just arrived.

Xiao Jue stepped forward. The dark blue brocade robe accentuated his jade-like complexion and moon-like grace, yet his voice was cold. Though his words were directed at everyone, his eyes were fixed on He Yan, sharp and profound as if concealing blades.

"With so much free time to gossip here, I take it your daily training is going exceptionally well?"

The instructors immediately turned into quails, not one daring to speak. Tian Lang felt greatly relieved—fortunately, he had been perceptive enough to distance himself early from this ragtag group. See? They had been caught. Instantly, he stood even straighter with pride, making himself appear uniquely upright compared to the others.

Shen Han inwardly groaned. If only he had sent Liang Ping to fetch the medicine barrels with Shen Muxue. When he and Shen Muxue returned, they had run into Xiao Jue heading toward the Martial Arts Field. The three of them arrived together, only to witness everyone asking He Yan whether Xiao Jue and Shen Muxue were a good match.

Whoever asked that question must have had ulterior motives! How could they put He Yan in such a position? Wasn’t that like stabbing someone in the heart? Before he could even identify the genius who had asked, he heard He Yan answer without hesitation.

"...Yes, Miss Shen is a renowned beauty, radiant as spring blossoms. Commander Xiao is noble and handsome, a man of exceptional character. They are truly a match made in heaven."

Shen Han could immediately feel the chilling aura emanating from the person beside him. Stealing a cautious glance at Xiao Jue, his expression was as unpleasant as if his wife had been stolen.

Shen Han inwardly beat his chest in frustration. Why was it always him stumbling upon such awkward situations? He had lived an honest and cautious life, never doing anything wrong—why was it so difficult?

He Yan looked at Xiao Jue. The young commander stared back expressionlessly, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his lips. "As a new recruit, you’re mingling with instructors. Since you have so much energy, it seems your daily training isn’t enough."

He turned to Tian Lang and said calmly, "He Yan’s daily training can be doubled."

Tian Lang: "...Yes."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow coldly. "Not going yet?"

He Yan glanced at him. "Yes." She turned and jumped off the platform, walking back into the ranks.

She could sense that Xiao Jue was displeased with her. But... wasn’t she the one who should be angrier? He Yan rejoined the ranks, picked up her spear again, and her gaze fell on the figure on the platform. Beside him stood Shen Muxue, a jade-like beauty—a perfect match made in heaven.

He Yan lowered her head.

The instructors present were punished one by one, leaving dejectedly. Before departing, they were warned: anyone in the Liangzhou Guard who dared to spout nonsense again would be packing their bags and returning home.

Tian Lang had long since slipped away under the pretext of needing to drill the troops. On the Martial Arts Field, only Shen Han and Shen Muxue remained, the former wishing he could turn himself into a piece of furniture.

Shen Muxue stood behind Xiao Jue, gazing at his tall, straight figure, a wave of indescribable bitterness welling up in her heart.

Earlier, when she and Shen Han arrived, hearing people discussing her and Xiao Jue together, aside from embarrassment and annoyance, she had actually felt joy.She enjoyed hearing these things, liked having her name linked with Xiao Jue's. It was as if only in this way could it illustrate the relationship between her and Xiao Jue, and also hint that she was a very special one to him. So when she heard He Yan say that, Shen Muxue was very pleased.

But when she looked up and saw the instant chill in Xiao Jue's eyes, she froze.

She wouldn't dare claim to understand Xiao Jue completely, but she still had a good grasp of this man's joys and sorrows. He didn't like hearing people say such things; unlike her own secret delight, Xiao Jue was even somewhat angry.

Why would someone feel angry upon hearing such a thing? There was only one reason: the person who heard it simply didn't like her.

Xiao Jue didn't like her.

Shen Muxue’s expression turned somber, and within that somberness, there was also a hint of confusion. If he didn’t like hearing it, he could have simply ignored it, but such anger was still somewhat unexpected. Xiao Jue was someone who rarely showed his emotions on his face; when it came to many things, he mostly didn’t care.

But he cared deeply this time. Why?

Shen Han: A grand CP divorce scene.

(End of Chapter)