Legend of the Female General

Chapter 185: The Wandering Flower Immortal

Hua Youxian?

He Yan was taken aback, and everyone on the boat was equally stunned upon hearing the name. The singing girl holding the pipa was also shaken, looking at Lin Shuanghe. She stared at him for a long time before hesitantly calling out, "Young Master Lin?"

It really was Hua Youxian!

He Yan hurried forward, instinctively rubbing her eyes, afraid that all of this was just a dream. Who could have known that just as Lin Shuanghe mentioned Hua Youxian, they would actually encounter her? But... why would Hua Youxian be in Jinling?

He Yan wasn’t the only one surprised. Lin Shuanghe said, "You... didn’t you get married? Didn’t you go to Yangzhou with that scholar surnamed Wang? How could you appear in Jinling? Am I dreaming?" He turned to look at the others, and their reactions confirmed that it was indeed real.

Hua Youxian, now able to clearly see everyone on the boat, was also moved. After calming herself, she said, "This humble one has separated from my husband. After all, Yangzhou is not my homeland, so I decided to return to Jinling. I’ve only been back in Jinling for half a month and never expected to meet all of you young masters here." She curved her eyes, as charming and captivating as she had been years ago. "It’s been so long, how have you all been?"

Lin Shuanghe moved his lips, finally managing to utter, "We’ve been well. But, Miss Youxian, you now..."

"I’ve returned to the Rising Cloud Pavilion," Hua Youxian replied calmly. "I grew up there, after all. In Jinling, the Rising Cloud Pavilion is like home to me." She looked at the group. "If you have nothing else to do, why not come to the Rising Cloud Pavilion later? It’s not as grand as it used to be, but... it’s still quite nice."

Lin Shuanghe turned to the others and asked, "Shall we go to the Rising Cloud Pavilion? It’s been so many years—I’d like to see it again."

This time, even Yan He, who was usually picky, remained silent. Everyone unanimously agreed.

Seeing this, Hua Youxian smiled and instructed the boatman to steer the two boats toward the shore. He Yan stared at the hazy lantern lights along the riverbank, her heart unable to settle.

In Jinling, there were beauties aplenty, and half of them resided in the Rising Cloud Pavilion. Every girl in the pavilion was given a flower name when they came of age, but Hua Youxian’s name was not a common one like peony or peony. She chose it herself, inspired by travelogues. Legend had it that the Kingdom of Kucha once presented a pillow, colored like agate. When one slept on it, the ten continents, three islands, four seas, and five lakes would all appear in their dreams. It was called the Wandering Immortal Pillow.

Hua Youxian loved reading travelogues in her youth, hoping to one day marry a true love and dreaming that her future husband would take her to see all the corners of the world. Thus, she named herself Youxian (Wandering Immortal). The madam of the Rising Cloud Pavilion also thought the name was excellent and introduced her to the outside world as the Wandering Flower Immortal—Hua Youxian.

By the age of fourteen, Hua Youxian was already renowned throughout Great Wei for her beauty. She was also exceptionally talented, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Countless noble sons were willing to spend fortunes just to earn a smile from the beauty. Naturally, she became the undisputed top courtesan of the Rising Cloud Pavilion. For the young men of Virtuous Prosperity Academy, Hua Youxian truly seemed like an immortal from the heavens. It wasn’t that courtesans were considered inferior, but for boys like them, raised under strict family rules where even stepping into a brothel would earn them a beating so severe they couldn’t get out of bed, Hua Youxian was an unattainable dream. They didn’t dare to hope for anything more than a glimpse of her legendary, peerless elegance. Just one look would satisfy them completely.Thus, the Jinling Poetry Gathering was an opportunity the young men yearned for. Each was eager to try their hand, rubbing their hands in anticipation. With Lin Shuanghe, a clever fellow full of unconventional ideas, the young men quickly arranged for their own servants and guards.

He Yan, being a woman, did not share the young men’s longing for the "dream lover" that was the Wandering Flower Immortal, but she too wanted to see what color this beauty, spoken of as once-in-a-century, truly possessed. Yet amid her anticipation, there was also some nervousness—if He Yuansheng found out, she didn’t know how long she’d be kneeling in the ancestral hall.

The young men who came out together were all either wealthy or noble, naturally not lacking in silver, but it was their first time entering a flower house, with little experience. They dressed themselves as flamboyantly as peacocks, thinking it made them appear confident. Except for Yang Mingzhi, Xiao Jue, and He Yan. Xiao Jue habitually wore a white robe and silver crown, his handsome face cold as frost; Yang Mingzhi was a modest gentleman, refined and spirited; He Yan, on the other hand, feared drawing attention. Already wearing a mask made her stand out enough—if she dressed in gold and silver like Yan He, news would surely reach the He family in Shuojing by tomorrow. Thus, she dressed most plainly, standing among the wealthy young men like a servant following along.

Though this servant wore a mask, covering her face completely.

Mother Ding of the Entering Clouds Pavilion had seen countless people and could tell at a glance that this group of young men were all novices. She also recognized their distinguished backgrounds, assuming they were young masters from wealthy families out to broaden their horizons. Her smile instantly grew more enthusiastic as she ordered the finest wine and dishes, calling for sensible and obedient girls to stand by and serve.

The young men, pampered and flattered, felt they had finally lifted their heads high, no longer children in the eyes of their fathers and elder brothers. In the heat of wine and merriment, some still remembered their purpose and asked the girls beside them, "Where is the Wandering Flower Immortal? Why haven’t we seen her? We came here just to see the Wandering Flower Immortal!"

The girl tried to evade, breathing softly into the young man’s ear, "Young master, saying that hurts Cailian’s heart. Am I not good enough? Why do you keep thinking of someone else?"

Though not stunning, she was delicate and lovely, her pitiful appearance immediately evoking sympathy. Just as the young man was about to comfort her, Lin Shuanghe unfurled his folding fan and said rather charmingly, "If all eleven of us guests were thinking of Miss Cailian, I’m afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle it."

Yan He also chimed in, "Right!" With that, he tossed a silver ingot onto the table. "We want to see the Wandering Flower Immortal!"

These young masters seemed to be of no low status, and Cailian dared not offend them. Seeing she couldn’t deceive them, she thought it over and went to fetch Mother Ding as reinforcement.

Mother Ding waved her handkerchief apologetically and said with a smile, "Young masters, I truly apologize. Recently, the Wandering Immortal has been unwell and is resting, not receiving guests. If you admire her, please come back another day. Today, the Entering Clouds Pavilion has been remiss in its hospitality. Dingxiang, go fetch our Drunken Mortal Dust wine. Today’s wine is on me, and I hope you young masters will be understanding."

Having been at the Entering Clouds Pavilion for so many years, Mother Ding had seen all sorts of characters and had more than enough skill to handle a bunch of greenhorns. With a few words, she expressed her apology and left the group with nothing more to say. After she left, the young men stared at the wine jar on the table, looking at each other. One of them said, "Is that it?""How can this be?" another person grumbled, quite displeased. "Our luck is just too bad. What does 'come back another day' mean? Once the poetry gathering ends, we have to go back. Isn’t this trip a waste?"

"Exactly, exactly! We just want to see what she looks like. She doesn’t even have to move or play the qin or dance. Otherwise, how can we brag about it to others when we go back?"

"I even prepared my silver. This is just too miserable!"

He Yan silently picked at the fried peanuts in front of her. None of this concerned her. She had no right to speak, nor did she want to. If she couldn’t see the Flower Roaming Immortal, she could still admire the roses and jasmine. After all, it wasn’t her money being spent.

But the young men were different. They had traveled all the way to Jinling not just to attend a poetry gathering—their interest in the legendary Flower Roaming Immortal ran much deeper. So, after some discussion, they came up with a terrible idea.

"The girls in the Cloud-Entry Tower all live in the attic. Why don’t we find out where the Flower Roaming Immortal stays and climb through her window to look for her?"

The rose pastry He Yan was nibbling on fell with a plop, scattering crumbs onto Xiao Jue beside her, who frowned slightly as he brushed them off.

The young man, however, seemed thrilled with the idea. "Yes, let’s do that! I don’t mean any harm. Before coming here, I bought a hairpin from the Treasure Pearl Workshop in Shuojing. I just want to give it to her and see what she looks like. I’ll knock on her window. If she dislikes me, I won’t go in. But if the immortal lady is kind-hearted, I’ll climb in and ask if she’d be willing to meet us. We came all the way from Shuojing just to see her. Wouldn’t it be a shame to leave without even trying?"

He Yan thought to herself, Indeed, lust clouds the mind. How could they even think of such a method? What’s the difference between this and those flower-snatching bandits who spy on young women? Are all men in the world like this? So infatuated with beauty that they’d throw away all sense of shame?

But she hadn’t expected that this terrible idea would gain the approval of most. The other young men chimed in one after another: "That’s a great idea! Let’s do it just like that!"

Little He Yan held back, likely because she herself was a woman and couldn’t help but remind them: "If we’re caught, people will think we’re flower-snatching bandits... And barging in uninvited—wouldn’t that ruin the Flower Roaming Immortal’s reputation?"

At that time, the young men were still pure and naive, not realizing that the girls in the Cloud-Entry Tower had little "reputation" to speak of in the first place. After tilting their heads in thought for a moment, someone said, "We’ll just knock on the window from outside and slip a note inside. If she agrees, then I’ll go in. Until then, I won’t enter her room."

He Yan: "..."

What’s the difference, really?

The young men wasted no time and immediately set out to find out which room the Flower Roaming Immortal stayed in. Though they might have been a bit foolish in matters of romance, they weren’t truly dull-witted. After all, they were children specially selected from the Virtuous Prosperity Academy to attend the poetry gathering—each clever and generous with their money. Before long, they had coaxed the information out of another girl.

The Flower Roaming Immortal lived on the top floor of the attic, in a room facing a lake with no one else around. Among these ten young men, most were quite agile—generally speaking, students at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy were well-rounded in both literary and martial arts. Someone like Yang Mingzhi, who excelled only in literature and was a complete mess in martial arts, was exceedingly rare.The leading youth rubbed his hands together, eager to give it a try. He turned to Xiao Jue and Yan He and asked, "How about you two go first?"

After all, these two were among the top in martial arts. Climbing a wall would be as easy as walking on flat ground for them.

Xiao Jue said, "I'm not going."

Yan He replied with disgust, "I'm not going either. I'm not some lecher!"

Lin Shuanghe, on the other hand, wanted to go, but unfortunately, his martial skills were truly lacking. Forget climbing through windows or scaling walls—even walking too much would leave him sore and aching. He absolutely couldn’t be the first to go. Yang Mingzhi had always been refined and courteous. Coming to Ruyun Tower was already something he had been dragged into by the others, and he certainly wouldn’t do something so improper.

As for He Yan, the young men had long since automatically overlooked him.

Seeing this situation, the youth didn’t say much more. He spat twice into his hands and silently began climbing the rope. He Yan stood on the ground, watching the disappearing dot in the night, thinking to himself: This is really pushing it.

One person climbed through the window, while a group kept watch. After all, if one person got into trouble, the entire school’s students would be implicated. No one wanted to go back and face their family’s punishment. So they watched with extra vigilance, though the security behind Ruyun Tower was surprisingly lax. It was likely they assumed no one would dare to openly abduct someone at this hour.

Just as He Yan was about to crane his neck to the breaking point, movement finally came from above. The rope shook, and before long, the youth who had gone up came back down.

His expression was excited, his face flushed red. His classmates crowded around, asking, "How was it? Did you see her?"

The boy nodded vigorously.

Their enthusiasm grew even stronger. "What was she like? Is Lady Youhua truly as stunningly beautiful as the rumors say?"

Again, he nodded vigorously.

"And... how is her health?" This one was more considerate, remembering that Lady Youhua had been unwell lately. "Is she very frail? Is it serious? Does she need a famous doctor?"

The boy puffed out his cheeks, finally forcing out a sentence after a long pause: "She... Lady Youhua, is locked in her room, under house arrest! When I passed her the note, she opened the window and asked me to come in. She even asked if I could rescue her."

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding what he meant. Lin Shuanghe closed his fan and asked doubtfully, "Are you saying Ruyun Tower is mistreating her?"

The boy nodded, then shook his head, and finally stamped his foot. "I can’t explain it clearly. Forget it, come up with me!"

Everyone was stunned.

He Yan’s heart sank. This situation was getting more and more serious.

"It’s fine," the boy said. "Lady Youhua told me that those people only go to her room twice a day. They’ve already been there today, so they won’t go again. Her door is locked, and there are guards downstairs. We can go up first to find out what’s really going on. If there’s truly a problem, we’re honorable young men—how can we stand by and do nothing?"

Boys in their teens often dreamed of one day becoming the "hero" who rescues a beauty in distress. The more beautiful the beauty, the more it highlighted the hero’s prowess. And if that beauty was a peerless beauty, even better—the hero was sure to become a legend.

He Yan instinctively refused. "This... this isn’t good, is it? How about I stay here and keep watch for you? I won’t go up."

The boys stared at him with burning eyes. "What’s not good about it? You’re weak and easily bullied. You’d probably run at the first sign of trouble. We can’t trust you! Brother Mingzhi, you’re frail. How about you keep watch instead?"Yang Mingzhi was only too happy to agree.

Xiao Jue and Yan He had initially not intended to join, but after being relentlessly pestered by their seniors, they eventually agreed. He Yan felt like she was about to vomit blood inside, yet she had no choice but to follow the others, climbing up to the attic along the rope. The window in the attic had long been opened, and the youths entered one after another. Once inside, they were immediately greeted by the delicate fragrance of a woman. The room was lit only by a dim oil lamp, and beneath it, on a rattan chair, sat a peerless beauty.

There were actually quite a few beauties in Shuojing, but the woman before them possessed a uniquely captivating allure. Her eyes were round, yet the corners were sharp, blending innocence with charm. Her skin was exceptionally fair, and her lips were startlingly crimson. Her long hair was not tied up but casually draped down her back, complementing her scarlet gauze dress with a dazzling radiance. Her appearance was, of course, beyond compare, and her gentle demeanor, graceful poise, and enchanting speech made her seem like a goddess descending to the mortal world at first glance.

The usually boisterous and unruly youths fell silent in front of this woman, their faces flushed red, eyes filled with awe and admiration.

The mask concealed He Yan's face, and she could only think to herself, "So there really are such beautiful women in the world."

"This humble one is Hua Youxian," the woman said with a smile as radiant as flowers, her voice as melodious as jade. "Greetings to all the young masters."

Hua Youxian was a few years older than the eldest among them, and having spent her time in Ruyun Tower, she showed no trace of shyness. The children, suddenly addressed, stammered and stumbled over their words, one by one shrinking like quails. Even Lin Shuanghe, who was most experienced in such matters, was momentarily at a loss for words.

It was Xiao Jue who spoke up calmly, "I heard the young lady is being held under house arrest?"

Hua Youxian looked at Xiao Jue and couldn't help but pause for a moment. The reason was simple: this youth's appearance stood out excessively among his peers. Moreover, his gaze remained calm from start to finish, unswayed by her beauty. The way he looked at her was as placid as still water—a rare occurrence that Hua Youxian found intriguing. However, she quickly replied, "That's correct."

"Who is holding you under house arrest?" Yan He, being straightforward, immediately asked, "The madam of Ruyun Tower?"

"Not at all," Hua Youxian smiled. Though she was a courtesan, she spoke to these youths with neither humility nor arrogance, striking a perfect balance—neither overly distant nor overly presumptuous. "The madam is also helpless. The one holding me under house arrest here is the cousin of the provincial governor's wife."

This twist was somewhat unexpected. Lin Shuanghe, having read countless storybooks, immediately asked, "Does that person want to force you into marriage?"

Hua Youxian looked at the young master holding a fan before her, slightly surprised, then smiled and replied, "That's correct."

For a moment, low gasps filled the room, accompanied by angry exclamations.

"How can this be? This local official is too domineering!"

"Is there no one to stop this? In broad daylight, forcibly seizing a woman! This is against the law."

"Is there any way to rescue you?"

Hua Youxian looked at these young boys and smiled. Her voice was gentle as she reassured them, "Actually, for Youxian herself, it's fine. Once I entered Ruyun Tower, I lost control over my fate and had long anticipated such a day. It's just that because of me, others have been implicated..." Her expression darkened, a shadow of worry settling between her brows.The sorrow of a beauty evokes pity. Yan He flicked his ponytail and said, "Speak freely, miss. If you have difficulties, we might be able to help you." He cleared his throat and boasted, "My family background is far more impressive than some mere provincial governor."

Though his attire was extravagantly adorned with layers of gold and silver embroidery, it was clear he came from a wealthy family. Not just him—among this group of young men, especially the one in the white robe, none seemed ordinary. Hua Youxian had grown up in the Ruyun Pavilion. Though her judgment of people wasn’t as sharp as Mother Ding’s, it was keener than most. Hearing Yan He’s words, a glimmer of hope suddenly rose in her heart. Here, a delicate woman like her naturally couldn’t contend with the authorities. Even the Ruyun Pavilion and Mother Ding had to defer to the Yingtian Prefecture. But if this young master truly had more influence than a provincial governor, perhaps there was still a chance.

Her own fate didn’t matter… what mattered was that person’s safety.

Thinking this, Hua Youxian smiled at Yan He and asked softly, "May I ask the young master’s honorable name?"

Yan He blushed under her gaze. Just as he was about to give his name, he remembered he had come to the Ruyun Pavilion without his family’s knowledge, so he said, "My surname is Yan."

"So it’s Young Master Yan," Hua Youxian said, her eyes lingering on him. "Regardless, this humble one thanks you in advance." She sighed softly. "In truth, this matter began because of me…"

As Lin Shuanghe had guessed, Hua Youxian had gained fame throughout the land at the age of fourteen in the Ruyun Pavilion. By the time she turned sixteen, suitors came in droves.

Mother Ding couldn’t bear to part with such a money tree and naturally wanted to keep Hua Youxian a little longer. Moreover, after years of calling each other mother and daughter, there was some affection between them. Mother Ding also planned to find Hua Youxian a good family to marry into when the time came. With Hua Youxian’s status, becoming a wife would invite gossip, but as a concubine in a wealthy or high-ranking household, serving diligently for a few years and bearing a son, her future would likely be comfortable.

But when Hua Youxian turned eighteen, she fell in love with someone.

This man was named Wang Sheng, not a native of Jinling but from Yangzhou. To be precise, he was the legitimate son of a wealthy Yangzhou silk merchant. He had come to Jinling on business with friends and, by chance, visited the Ruyun Pavilion. Struck by Hua Youxian’s beauty, he fell in love at first sight.

Hua Youxian’s fame attracted countless young gentlemen, and among them, Wang Sheng was hardly exceptional. Yet, emotions often arise inexplicably. Among the many dashing young men, Hua Youxian was drawn to Wang Sheng, who had the demeanor of a scholar.

To be honest, though Wang Sheng came from a merchant family, he was exceptionally talented in literature. His family hoped he would pursue an official career, but Wang Sheng found such pursuits too utilitarian. His only wish was to travel the world freely, which aligned perfectly with Hua Youxian’s childhood dreams. On their first meeting, they drank and talked joyfully, conversing deep into the night. Having traveled extensively with his family’s business since childhood, Wang Sheng had heard many strange and wondrous tales, while Hua Youxian, who had never left the Ruyun Pavilion, was naturally captivated by these stories.

A talented man and a beautiful woman, under the moonlight and among the flowers—everything fell into place.Mother Ding looked down upon Wang Sheng, thinking his family was merely in business. Marrying into a merchant household was even less desirable than becoming a concubine in an official's family. Moreover, if Hua Youxian truly followed Wang Sheng, she would inevitably have to return to Yangzhou—far away and out of reach—and they would no longer be able to see each other.

Ultimately, she did not want Hua Youxian to leave Jinling.

"My dear girl, don't let a man blind you. I've seen plenty over the years," Mother Ding advised patiently. "If you follow him to Yangzhou and suffer hardships in the future, who will you turn to? You'll be the one enduring the grievances."

Hua Youxian smiled and brushed it off.

She was determined to buy her freedom, and over the years, she had saved up quite a bit of wealth. Just as she was about to gather enough silver for her redemption, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Tong Qiushi, the younger brother of the Yingtian Prefecture governor's wife.

If this were today, Sister Hua's move would probably be considered an idol privately contacting a fan...

(End of Chapter)