Legend of the Female General

Chapter 182: Leaving the City

Returning to her room, He Yan lay on the bed, tossing and turning restlessly.

The window was open, letting in a faint breeze that kept her unusually alert. Her earlier conversation with Xiao Jue seemed to still echo in her ears.

So, on the night she left the He family to join the army, Xiao Jue had actually come to meet her as promised. It was just that fate had played its tricks, causing them to miss each other. Once they missed that chance, there was no opportunity again. Just as He Yan of the past never knew that the one who had secretly guided her swordsmanship was Xiao Jue, the present Xiao Jue could never know that the person he had once helped in secret had now become someone else.

The more she tried to conceal her identity, the more she longed to thank him as a former classmate. It turned out that in both her past and present lives, Xiao Jue and she had shared so many strange connections, but their fate was fleeting, and now, of all times...

He Yan sat up, thought for a moment, and then resolutely rose from the bed. She walked to the desk, lit the oil lamp with a fire striker. Zhao Shiming was a scholar, and his room was filled with writing tools. She ground the ink, found some paper, sat down at the desk, and slowly began to write.

...

All matters in Rundu were settled within three days. It was time for Xiao Jue and his party to leave.

Before departing, He Yan sought out Zhao Shiming.

After the incident with Qiluo, He Yan had not spoken another word to Li Kuang. Every time she saw him, she would think of that sweet girl with dimples when she smiled. Li Kuang likely felt the same, for whenever he encountered He Yan, he would avoid her gaze.

Thus, there were some matters she did not intend to bring up with Li Kuang.

Zhao Shiming was sitting in his room reviewing official documents. During the days when Rundu was besieged by the Wutuo People, the city’s merchants had ceased trading, and everything had fallen into chaos. Now that the Wutuo People had been defeated and Rundu had returned to peace, it would take time to restore the tranquility of the past.

"Lord Zhao," He Yan called as she entered the room.

Zhao Shiming looked up from the documents, and upon seeing He Yan, he was momentarily taken aback before standing up with a warm smile. "Little He Lady, what brings you here today to visit?"

Zhao Shiming liked He Yan very much. As a scholar, he had little in common with rough and uncouth men like Li Kuang. Xiao Jue and Yan He, one cold and aloof, the other arrogant, made him feel apprehensive just by looking at them. He Yan, however, was different. This young man was clever, brave, kind, loyal, and had a refined and handsome appearance that made him instantly likable. If not for his granddaughter being too young, Zhao Shiming would have wanted to recruit He Yan as his grandson-in-law.

He Yan smiled and said, "Lord Zhao, you are too kind. I came to bid you farewell. Tomorrow, I will be returning to Shuojing with the Governor. During my time in Rundu, I am grateful for your care."

Zhao Shiming grew even fonder of the young man. Look at him, even taking the time to bid him farewell personally. He was truly courteous. With a smile, he replied, "Little He Lady, please don’t say that. You are the savior of Rundu. During your stay here, we had little to offer, and instead, you suffered many grievances. If you ever return to Rundu in the future, I will make sure to treat you properly. I hope you will forgive any shortcomings during this visit."

He Yan gently stopped Zhao Shiming from bowing and said, "I dare not accept such courtesy, elder."He actually addressed me as a junior? Zhao Shiming was taken aback, still processing this, when he saw the young man before him looking at him with a serious expression: "Actually, I came today because there's another matter I'd like to ask for your help with, Lord Zhao."

This expression was not unfamiliar to Zhao Shiming. When He Yan had previously asked his men to deliver a message to Yan He, she had worn the same look. Was she seeking his help again? Zhao Shiming felt quite pleased with himself. The fact that He Yan had come to him instead of Li Kuang showed that she considered him one of her own. The matters Wu Anlang sought help with were usually simple tasks, and he felt honored to be of assistance. Thinking this, Zhao Shiming smiled and said, "Little He Lady, please speak freely. I, Zhao, will do everything in my power."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Shiming saw the person before him lift the hem of her robe and kneel before him.

"You..." he was startled.

"Then, thank you, Lord Zhao."

...

The servants outside had no idea what was being discussed inside. A moment later, after He Yan walked out, a servant entered to serve tea and saw Zhao Shiming slumped at the table, looking dazed and unfocused.

"Master?" the servant called out.

Only then did Zhao Shiming snap back to reality, swallowing hard as he said, "It's nothing, nothing."

He tightened his grip on the letter in his hand.

Meanwhile, He Yan walked out the door and let out a deep sigh. She wasn't sure whether her decision was right or wrong, but at the moment, it seemed the best way to keep Xiao Jue out of it.

A person approached her, as delicate and beautiful as a flower—it was Ying Xiang. Seeing He Yan, Ying Xiang gave a slight bow: "Lady He."

Nowadays, she no longer called He Yan "Young Master He," but "Lady He."

"Miss Ying Xiang," He Yan replied, noticing the clothing-like items in her hands and giving them a second glance.

Ying Xiang noticed her gaze and smiled, saying, "Fourth Young Master asked me to pack these. We depart for Shuojing tomorrow. The sun in Rundu is quite good—the clothes dried quickly."

"Returning to Shuojing?" He Yan frowned slightly. "You're also leaving tomorrow?"

Chu Zhao had originally been on his way back to Shuojing when he was trapped in the city due to the Wutuo People's siege. Now that the Wutuo People had left, it was only natural for him to depart. She just hadn't expected him to be traveling on the same day as Xiao Jue.

"Yes," Ying Xiang replied with a smile. "Fourth Young Master will be traveling with everyone. Commander Xiao is aware of this as well. There may be other Wutuo People along the way, so traveling together offers mutual support."

Xiao Jue was hardly the type to want to support Chu Zhao, but since he already knew about it, there was little she could say. When Li Kuang had wanted to kill the captive women, Chu Zhao had spoken up on their behalf. Regardless of his motives, on the surface, He Yan owed him thanks.

"Please convey my gratitude to Fourth Young Master for standing up for the captive women in front of Commander Li that day," He Yan said.

Ying Xiang's eyes curved into a smile. "Of course, Lady He."

After He Yan left, Ying Xiang carried the clothes back to the room. Chu Zhao was standing by the window. Ying Xiang packed the clothes into a bundle, her movements swift—in no time, everything was neatly arranged.

"Fourth Young Master," Ying Xiang approached Chu Zhao and said softly, "Just now, on the way, I ran into Lady He. She asked me to convey her thanks for the day you spoke up for the captive women in front of Commander Li."Chu Zhao smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

After a moment of silence, Ying Xiang finally spoke, "Fourth Young Master shouldn't have done that."

Chu Zhao: "Oh?"

"There might be the Prime Minister's people in the city. The Prime Minister would be displeased to see Fourth Young Master act like that..."

Xu Jingfu was a man who detested others acting on their own initiative. Since the Rundu matter had nothing to do with him, Chu Zhao not only spoke up but also invoked Xu Jingfu's name. Once Xu Jingfu found out, he would inevitably feel displeased with Chu Zhao.

"What's done is done, no need to worry," Chu Zhao smiled faintly. "As for the Prime Minister, I will explain it myself."

"Why did Young Master do that?" Ying Xiang asked softly. "Even if Young Master hadn't intervened, with Miss He's abilities, no one could have troubled her."

Chu Zhao did not answer, merely gazing at the vast sky outside the window.

Why?

Perhaps it was because the way she stood in front of those women reminded him of when he was young in the brothel, when someone bullied him and Ye Runmei stood in front of him. In his life, there were few moments when he was protected—aside from Ye Runmei, only He Yan had done so.

She protected those women just as she had protected him in Jiyang. One person protecting another, without selfish motives, without blood ties, and without any intimate relationship, simply because she believed it was the right thing to do.

Bold and enviable, upright and admirable, like a beam of light that even those who approached couldn't help but be illuminated. So, in that moment, he stepped forward, thinking he too could be a righteous and brave hero.

Only...

He was not the light after all, merely a shadow.

...

The day to leave Rundu arrived.

Li Kuang and Zhao Shiming came out of the city to see them off. The Southern Garrison Troops and Liangzhou Guard soldiers did not follow Xiao Jue on his journey. They were rushing back to the capital, taking only Yan He's troops with them.

The city was desolate. Though sunlight shone, it seemed veiled in a faint gray hue. He Yan felt a pang of nostalgia. The last time she left Rundu, she was still "Deputy General He," chatting and laughing with Li Kuang. Now, as she departed again, neither of them was the same as before.

Time passed swiftly, and the grapevines in Rundu had long since sprouted new growth. The group stood at the city gate, and He Yan was about to mount her horse when suddenly, a voice called from behind: "Little He Lady!"

He Yan turned to look.

She saw that many commoners had gathered at the gate of Rundu, though they dared not approach, standing silently on either side of the street, watching them. From the end of the crowd emerged a group of women. The one who had called out to her was the woman at the front.

They wore neat clothes, their faces still bearing unhealed scars. They were the captives He Yan had rescued from the Wutuo People during the night raid on the enemy camp, the very women she had protected from Li Kuang's sword. He Yan still remembered the woman who had spoken—the one who, with tears in her eyes, had pleaded with her not to clash with Li Kuang and had willingly sacrificed herself.

Later, He Yan learned from Zhao Shiming that this woman had originally lived on a manor outside the city. After the Wutuo People arrived, they killed her husband and son, leaving her as the sole survivor of her family. She already believed she had been defiled by the Wutuo People, feared the judgmental gazes of others, and, with her family gone, had long harbored thoughts of ending her life. Thus, when Li Kuang came to her, she was the quickest to accept.That day, if He Yan had not stepped forward, if Xiao Jue had not arrived in time, perhaps these women would have already died under Li Kuang's sword.

Li Kuang's expression was somewhat uneasy. Many things, in the heat of the moment, do not seem out of place, but once the situation has passed and one looks back, one realizes just how mad one had been.

The women walked up to He Yan and knelt down one after another, silently kowtowing to her several times.

He Yan was stunned. "You..."

"Thank you, Little He Lady," they said.

The women's spirits were much better than they had been a few days earlier. Perhaps it was the food Yan He had brought that allowed them to eat their fill, or perhaps it was the words He Yan had spoken that day that gave them the courage to live on.

Zhao Shiming walked up to He Yan and said in a low voice, "Little He Lady, those women who still have families have already returned home. Those with nowhere to go have now been settled together by the authorities. They will work, farm, and weave. In the future... the situation you were worried about will not occur."

He solemnly assured He Yan, "I, Zhao, will take good care of them."

He Yan felt somewhat relieved and bowed to Zhao Shiming. "Thank you, Lord Zhao."

Zhao Shiming stroked his beard and smiled. "It is only right. Since they are people of Rundu, as the magistrate of Rundu, it is my duty to settle them properly."

He Yan also smiled. Many things in the world always improve bit by bit. As long as someone takes action, change will eventually happen, no matter how small that change may be.

She helped the woman at the front to her feet and said softly, "Let them rise as well. Live well from now on. Remember, your lives were saved by me. No matter when, do not lightly give up your own lives."

The woman nodded.

Yan He stood beneath the city gate, arms crossed, and said, "Why does this He fellow seem to have won more favor with the people than you?" He glanced sideways at Xiao Jue. "Isn't he your subordinate? How come you're not as good as him?"

Lin Shuanghe smiled cheerfully. "Brother He is gentle and kind, so of course everyone likes him. There aren't many people in the world who can think of others, and even fewer who would draw their swords for the safety of others."

Yan He greatly disliked Lin Shuanghe's idle manner and scoffed, "And what's with this 'Brother He'? Is everything in your Liangzhou Guard so disorderly?"

"Disorderly?" Lin Shuanghe nodded. "There's even more disorderly stuff, you just don't know about it."

Ying Xiang stood beside Chu Zhao, quietly watching the girl bid farewell to the women she had saved and board the carriage. Although the commoners of Rundu City, along with the city soldiers, said nothing, their eyes followed He Yan, filled with gratitude.

She truly was a likable girl, whether in Jiyang or in Rundu.

"Let's go," Chu Zhao said, turning and boarding his own carriage.

The city gates opened, and the troops set out. Sunlight shone far ahead at the end of the long road, like a bright path leading to the future.

...

From Rundu to Jinling took ten days, and after passing Jinling, they headed straight for Shuojing.

In the woods, the traveling troops took a temporary rest. Lin Shuanghe was watching He Yan roast bird eggs. He was a pampered young master who had never done a day's work in his life and naturally could not handle such rough tasks. Although Yan He could also do it, after seeing the fish he had roasted earlier—charred black and nearly inedible—He Yan had simply taken over.Xiao Jue was speaking with Chi Wu on the other side, while He Yan sat with Lin Shuanghe. Watching her skilled movements, Lin Shuanghe sighed, "Brother He, you truly excel in all things—graceful in the hall, capable in the kitchen, able to scale walls, and strong enough to defeat ruffians. I've met so many—" he lowered his voice, "women, but none compare to you, truly. Sister, even when you reach Shuojing, you'll still be number one in my heart."

He Yan tossed a roasted bird egg into his lap. "...You flatter me."

Lin Shuanghe fumbled to peel the shell while asking her, "Once we reach Shuojing, what do you plan to do? Liang Province has nothing, but Shuojing is bustling. If you have free time, I’ll take you to the markets every day."

At a time like this, this person was still thinking about fun. He Yan fell silent for a moment, then recalled another matter. She asked Lin Shuanghe, "By the way, why didn’t Physician Shen come with you to Rundu this time? She... should also be returning to Shuojing, right?"

When He Yan left Liangzhou Guard, she had sealed Shen Muxue’s acupoints. Although it was to protect her, she wasn’t sure what had happened to Shen Muxue afterward. This time, when Xiao Jue and Yan He came, Lin Shuanghe was with them, but Shen Muxue was nowhere to be seen. However, since Xiao Jue was returning to Shuojing, there was no reason for Shen Muxue to stay alone in Liangzhou Guard.

"Physician Shen?" Lin Shuanghe replied matter-of-factly. "She’s a woman. When Huaijin and I rushed to Rundu, we traveled day and night without rest. How could she endure that? Bringing her along would only slow us down. So, we decided not to bring her. As for physicians, I alone am enough. Huaijin had Shen Han and the others bring Physician Shen along later."

He Yan nodded. The next moment, Lin Shuanghe suddenly leaned in, teasing her with a mischievous look. "Why are you asking about Physician Shen specifically? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous? Of what?" He Yan was so startled she nearly jabbed him in the head with a tree branch. Instead, she straightened up and calmly replied, "Before I left, I sealed her acupoints. I just feel guilty about it."

"Is that really all?" Lin Shuanghe deliberately drew out his words. "If that’s the case, then all of Huaijin’s thoughtful efforts would have been in vain..."

He Yan: "What thoughtful efforts?"

Lin Shuanghe stuffed a bird egg into his mouth and said leisurely, "Even if I told you, you wouldn’t care. Better not to say."

He Yan was so agitated she wished she could grab Lin Shuanghe’s head and shake it vigorously to see what would come out. However, Lin Shuanghe was cunning when it came to matters between men and women, and he was close to Xiao Jue. If he got any definite information and passed it on to Xiao Jue, it would be awkward, and they might not even remain friends.

She had no choice but to sit primly. Even though she was seething inside, she maintained a calm and indifferent expression. "Then I truly don’t care. You’d better not say anything."

Watching her feigned composure, Lin Shuanghe struggled to hold back his laughter, thinking to himself, Let’s see how long you can keep this up.

Ah, young people... truly, young people!

...

Far away in Liang Province, the guard station was bustling with activity.

Liang Ping was helping check the rooms for any overlooked items. Soon, they would set off for Shuojing. Some troops would remain in Liangzhou Guard, while others would head to the capital. Shen Han was leaving with them, while Liang Ping, Ma Damei, and the other instructors had to stay in Liangzhou Guard.

Naturally, Shen Muxue was also leaving.Several days earlier, when Xiao Jue and Lin Shuanghe were preparing to depart for Rundu, Shen Muxue had expressed her desire to accompany them. However, Xiao Jue had refused outright without giving any reason. Seeing Shen Muxue’s displeased expression, Lin Shuanghe, standing nearby, tried to smooth things over with a smile. “Miss Shen, the situation in Rundu is critical. Huai Jin and I will be traveling day and night, enduring hardships along the way. How could a young lady like you keep up with us? If you were to get hurt, even if you didn’t mind, I would feel terrible.”

“Besides, Drillmaster Shen and the others will set off in a few days. When the time comes, you can return together. Drillmaster Shen will take good care of you. The troops move slowly, and with so many people, your safety will be assured. Huai Jin and I will also feel more at ease. Isn’t that right?”

Shen Muxue said nothing. Taking her silence as agreement, Lin Shuanghe turned to leave with a smile. As she watched his retreating figure, Shen Muxue asked, “Young Master Lin, is Second Young Master Xiao going to Rundu for He Yan’s sake?”

Lin Shuanghe paused and looked at her, his expression genuinely puzzled. “Why would you think that?”

Shen Muxue pursed her lips and remained silent. She knew it sounded absurd—Xiao Jue was not the kind of person to change his plans lightly for someone else. But… she couldn’t shake off her unease.

The sound from outside interrupted her thoughts. Liang Ping was calling her, “Miss Shen, is there anything else to load onto the carriage?”

Shen Muxue snapped back to reality and responded as she stepped outside. Liang Ping stood under the scorching sun, his face flushed and drenched in sweat, struggling to carry a stack of boxes toward the carriage. Xiao Jue had left in a hurry, leaving his belongings unpacked. Before departing, he had instructed Shen Han to take everything from his room back to Shuojing.

Fortunately, Xiao Jue didn’t own much—just some books and clothes, and little else.

Seeing Liang Ping swaying unsteadily, Shen Muxue stepped forward. “Let me help you.”

Liang Ping’s face flushed even redder. “No need, no need. The head drillmaster told me these are the commander’s belongings and asked me to handle them personally. How could I trouble you, Miss Shen?”

He thought to himself how kind and unassuming Miss Shen was. Despite being a young lady from a prominent family, she didn’t look down on soldiers like them.

Unaware of Liang Ping’s thoughts, Shen Muxue, hearing that these were Xiao Jue’s belongings, insisted, “Carrying so many at once, you might drop them. It’s fine, let me help.”

With that, she picked up the topmost box. It wasn’t large, and she walked alongside Liang Ping.

Liang Ping had no time to stop her. Seeing that Shen Muxue didn’t seem to struggle with the weight, he relaxed slightly and smiled. “Thank you, Miss Shen.”

The two of them reached the carriage. Liang Ping asked Shen Muxue to board first while he went back for another load. The heat outside was intense, so Shen Muxue nodded and agreed. Sitting quietly with the box in her arms, she watched the soldiers bustling in the distance before her gaze settled on the box she held.

The box looked ordinary, and she wondered what was inside. Xiao Jue had brought very little with him, so if he wanted Shen Han to take it back to Shuojing, it must be important. However, as she lifted the box and weighed it in her hands, it felt far too light, almost as if it were empty. Could it really be empty?A rare curiosity stirred within her. It likely wasn't Xiao Jue's official documents or letters—he always carried those with him. Opening it... probably wouldn't cause any trouble, right?

Shen Muxue's fingers rested on the box as she glanced outside the carriage. The soldiers were all far away; no one could see what she was doing.

With a soft click, the box opened.

Inside were some brushes, inkstones, paperweights, and similar small items. Just ordinary things, she thought, about to close it when her gaze suddenly froze. After a long moment, she reached in and pulled out two objects.

One was a dough figurine, the dough already dried out, its color dull and gray, shaped like a woman—charming in her smile, vivid in expression. The other was a wooden carving, depicting a scene of warships capsizing amid fierce flames, with a general standing at the prow, heroic and dashing, looking strangely familiar.

That was a female general.

(End of Chapter)