Legend of the Female General

Chapter 188: Today's Grand Banquet

The entrance to Ruyun Tower was already completely surrounded.

All the guests had been driven out, and soldiers blocked the doorway tightly. The courtesans stood trembling on either side, anxiously watching the man at the forefront.

He was a man dressed in a dark green robe embroidered with gold. His attire was extremely exquisite and luxurious, yet the more splendid it appeared, the more it accentuated the plainness of his face. He was exceptionally tall and burly, with dark skin, eyes that were almost slits, and a greasy, shiny complexion. Standing there, he looked both fierce and brutish, his expression menacing.

This was the younger brother of the Provincial Governor's wife—the young master Tong Qiushi.

Tong Qiushi cursed, "Go and drag them down for me!"

The next moment, a voice rang out, "Using the word 'drag,' this young master seems rather impolite."

Tong Qiushi looked up and saw a group of people descending gracefully from upstairs. The speaker was a young man of fifteen or sixteen, elegant and poised, holding a folding fan, with a gentle and refined smile on his face—though that smile was glaringly irritating.

Walking alongside him were several other young men, all around the same age, handsome and distinguished, with an extraordinary air. Hua Youxian and Mother Ding followed behind the young men, and at first glance, it seemed as though the young men were shielding her.

"You little brats, are you the ones who took that Wang fellow? And wrecked my estate?" Tong Qiushi snarled viciously.

He had been out enjoying himself when he suddenly learned that thieves had broken into his mansion. Before he could even react in surprise, he received news that Wang Sheng from his estate had been taken away. Tong Qiushi immediately ordered someone to search for Hua Youxian's deed of indenture, which he kept in his study, and sure enough, it was gone. In that moment, he was both shocked and furious—shocked that someone dared to provoke him, and furious that a mere merchant dared to act so arrogantly.

Without another word, Tong Qiushi didn't even have time to change his clothes before rushing to Ruyun Tower with his men.

"Hey? You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want," Lin Shuanghe said with a smile, looking at him. "What evidence do you have that we did it?"

What evidence? Of course, it was because this group of people had brazenly left a message before departing, telling others to find them at Ruyun Tower. Tong Qiushi had never seen anyone so fearless.

"Whose little brat are you?" Tong Qiushi narrowed his eyes. "Acting like this, do you have a death wish? And you," he turned to Hua Youxian, "you wretch, it's your fortune that I took a liking to you. You've tested my patience time and again, and now you've colluded with outsiders to pull off such a shameless act. Today, I'm going to round you all up, throw you in prison, and make you suffer so much you'll wish you were dead. I'll show you what happens when you offend someone you shouldn't!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a young man behind Lin Shuanghe couldn't help but chuckle. Realizing everyone was looking at him, he sheepishly waved his hand. "Sorry, sorry. I just found it amusing for a moment."

Yan He said with disinterest, "Can these ruffians at least change their threats? It's always the same old lines. I'm getting tired of hearing them."

Seeing how little they regarded him, Tong Qiushi flew into a rage. "Seize them!"The officers and soldiers behind him immediately stepped forward, startling Mother Ding. At that moment, dozens of black-clad guards suddenly emerged like phantoms from all directions of the Cloud-Reaching Tower, forming a neat line in front of the young men. In silence, they drew the swords at their waists. The blades gleamed coldly, instantly filling the air with a chilling, murderous aura.

The women in the tower were frightened, letting out a collective scream. Hua Youxian also couldn’t help but clutch the hem of her skirt, staring in astonishment at the young men before her.

Yan He tilted his head, playing with the ponytail that hung down to his chest, and said, “How boring.”

No one knew where these guards had come from or when they had infiltrated the Cloud-Reaching Tower. Except for Xiao Jue, all these guards had returned from the estate under his orders. It seemed they had been hiding here all along, awaiting his command.

“H-How dare you!” Tong Qiushi was also startled. Accustomed to throwing his weight around in Jinling City, even the wealthy families of Jinling dared not defy him out of respect for his brother-in-law, the provincial governor. He never expected to bite off more than he could chew this time—not only had someone snatched a person right under his nose, but even now, with officers and soldiers at the door, they still dared to confront him head-on.

Tensions were high, and a clash seemed imminent.

Tong Qiushi took a step back. Though he was domineering and ruthless, he was essentially a useless man who could do nothing himself. He feared these guards might harm him. He shouted, “This is contempt for an imperial official! Seize them now, dead or alive!”

Yang Mingzhi stepped forward and spoke gently, “Young master, you hold no official position. Which imperial official are we showing contempt for?”

“You kidnapped my man!”

“Leaving aside whether Mr. Wang was kidnapped by us or not, he is a native of Yangzhou and not your servant. How can you claim he is ‘your man’? If anything, it seems you are the one violating the law by unlawfully imprisoning an innocent civilian.”

Yang Mingzhi was skilled in debate, and Tong Qiushi was no match for him. Cornered and unable to argue back, Tong Qiushi grew furious and shouted, “Enough talk! Kill them all!”

“Kill?” someone spoke up, his voice light and seemingly amused as he turned his head to look. “Are you sure?”

This young man was very tall, so even though he wasn’t standing at the very front, he was easy to spot. Moreover, his exceptionally handsome and dashing appearance made it impossible to ignore him. He stood lazily and said calmly, “If you say ‘kill’ first, and we act in self-defense afterward, even if we kill you, it wouldn’t count as murder.”

“Shall we see who dies first, you or us?” He looked at Tong Qiushi with a faint, mocking smile.

Under the gaze of those clear, autumn-water-like eyes, Tong Qiushi couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. He didn’t know where these people came from or who they were. He had hesitated for a moment, but when he glanced again at Hua Youxian standing among the crowd, his malicious courage surged.

No matter who they were, Jinling was his territory. How could he let a bunch of inexperienced youngsters make a fool of him? The entire city knew he intended to take Hua Youxian as his concubine. If he didn’t settle this matter today and Hua Youxian later appeared unscathed in the Cloud-Reaching Tower or eloped with Wang Sheng, wouldn’t he become the laughingstock of Jinling City?

When had Tong Qiushi ever suffered such a loss?

His face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “Kill—”

Before he could finish his words, another voice came from outside the door. “Stop! Everyone, stop!”Everyone turned to look and saw a middle-aged man in official robes striding in. At the sight of him, the women in the building, along with Mother Ding, quickly bowed and spoke respectfully, "Magistrate Liu."

This was Liu Rui, the governor of Jinling City.

As soon as Tong Qiushi saw Liu Rui, he immediately stepped forward. Though he was tall, burly, and domineering by nature, he adopted a childlike demeanor in front of Liu Rui. "Brother-in-law! You’ve finally come. These little bastards kidnapped my people, acted arrogantly, and now they even dare to attack the soldiers! Brother-in-law, they have no respect for you!"

Liu Rui angrily shouted, "Shut up!"

Tong Qiushi froze, momentarily speechless.

He Yan looked at Liu Rui. Unlike his thuggish brother-in-law, the governor of Jinling City appeared refined and scholarly, even carrying an air of righteousness. However, judging by his indulgence toward his relative, it was clear he was also a hypocrite.

Liu Rui cupped his hands toward the people in the hall and said, "My apologies. Qiu Shi is young and acts rashly. This is all a misunderstanding. Is Miss Hua Youxian unharmed?"

Hua Youxian was taken aback. Why was this usually aloof and unapproachable governor suddenly speaking to her so kindly today? Puzzled, she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Magistrate. Youxian is perfectly fine."

Tong Qiushi seethed with resentment. These people had come to wreck his establishment, yet his brother-in-law not only failed to take his side but was even being polite to that lowly woman. Meanwhile, Mother Ding, standing to the side, saw through the situation. Her gaze swept over the group of young men, and she sighed inwardly. Her daughter was truly fortunate to have encountered noble patrons.

"That’s good," Liu Rui said with a smile, turning his attention to the others. "Young gentlemen, you are not from Jinling, are you? May I ask where you come from and what brings you to Jinling?"

Liu Rui was also uneasy. Earlier that night, while he was out, someone from his residence had reported that thieves had broken into the governor’s mansion. Liu Rui was shocked—who would dare to act against the governor’s mansion? Later, a servant brought news that Hua Youxian’s contract of servitude had been stolen. Liu Rui had long been aware of Tong Qiushi’s activities, but he had always turned a blind eye, allowing Tong Qiushi to bully others under his authority.

At first, Liu Rui thought this was Wang Sheng’s men seeking revenge. He was even somewhat angry—how dare a mere merchant act so recklessly? But then a servant brought him a card, saying it had been found in the study, likely dropped by the intruder. When Liu Rui saw the card, he was stunned.

It was an invitation to the Jinling Poetry Gathering, addressed to Yan He, from the residence of the Left and Right Wing Vanguard Battalion commanders.

As the governor of Jinling, he dared not compare himself to a second-rank high official from Shuojing. Liu Rui was a clever man. The intruder had left nothing else behind except this poetry gathering invitation, clearly intending to reveal their identity. How could he dare to interfere? Before he could even warn Tong Qiushi not to act rashly, he heard that Tong Qiushi had taken soldiers to surround the Ruyun Pavilion.

Liu Rui rushed over in a panic, relieved to have stopped them before any violence broke out.

"Your Honor is truly perceptive. We are indeed not from Jinling," Yang Mingzhi replied with a polite smile. "We came from Shuojing to Jinling specifically for the Jinling Poetry Gathering."

So it really was the poetry gathering!

Liu Rui felt more assured, though he still wondered which of these young men was the son of the Vanguard Battalion commander.His mind raced with a thousand thoughts, yet none showed on his face as he merely smiled and said, "For Jinling City to have such distinguished guests as you young masters is truly an honor."

"Not necessarily, is it?" Lin Shuanghe fanned himself lightly. "Just now, this... relative of yours was shouting about killing us—truly terrifying. He even kept calling us little beasts." Lin Shuanghe pretended to ponder with distress. "In all my years, this is the first time anyone has called me that. I'll have to tell my father when I return and see if he gets angry. After all, if I'm a little beast, then he must be..."

Magistrate Liu broke into a cold sweat. He kicked Tong Qiushi beside him, forcing him to his knees, and scolded, "How rude! Apologize to the young masters at once!"

Caught off guard by the kick, Tong Qiushi seethed inwardly. Unaware of Yan He's identity and not as anxious as Liu Rui, he struggled and argued, "They kidnapped my people! Never mind Wang Sheng—they stole Hua Youxian's deed of indenture..."

"Is this the deed of indenture you're talking about?" Yan He produced a piece of paper from his sleeve. At the sight of it, Tong Qiushi exclaimed, "Yes, that's it! So it was you who stole it!"

"Young Master Tong, that's not quite right," Yan He replied. "This deed of indenture has always been in the possession of Ruyun Tower. After all, Mother Ding raised Miss Youxian for so many years. If you claim it's yours, may I ask how much silver you paid for it? Is there any record in the accounts?"

Tong Qiushi fell silent.

He was accustomed to conducting business without capital, and the same applied to women. After taking a liking to Hua Youxian, he had forced Mother Ding to hand over the deed without spending a single coin. Now, when asked about silver or account records, there was naturally no trace of any transaction.

Lin Shuanghe chuckled. "Could it be that Mother Ding simply gave Miss Youxian to you for free? Such a living person, handed over without compensation. In our Shuojing, even giving away a cat or a dog requires some token of gratitude. What, in your Jinling, can everything be given away for free? Or..." His tone shifted, his smile growing brighter. "Is this how things are usually done in the Governor's residence?"

This was an accusation of corruption and bribery! Liu Rui's expression changed drastically. Before Tong Qiushi could retort, he immediately spoke up, "This boy must have lost his mind to speak such nonsense. The deed of indenture naturally belongs to Miss Youxian. As for Miss Youxian being Tong Qiushi's person... that's absurd! Miss Youxian is a member of Ruyun Tower—everyone in Jinling City knows this. She has no connection whatsoever to our Liu family."

Tong Qiushi tried to speak again, but Liu Rui's clever attendant stepped forward and stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth.

Yang Mingzhi's expression remained gentle, as if he truly believed Liu Rui's words, and he kindly added, "So that's how it is. However, Magistrate Liu should properly educate your cousin. If he has no relation to Miss Youxian yet goes around claiming she belongs to your Liu residence, even threatening us with violence, then any misdeeds Young Master Tong commits in the future will be attributed to you, Magistrate Liu. As they say, honor and disgrace are shared. Outsiders won't distinguish between you and Young Master Tong—they'll simply count it as your fault."This was a clear warning, and Liu Rui broke out in a cold sweat. Before he could even think of a proper response, the young man with the high ponytail shot him a sidelong glance and said in an unfriendly tone, "Lady Hua Youxian is our friend. Whoever bullies her is making an enemy of us." He turned to Hua Youxian, his eyes on the beauty, but his words directed at Liu Rui and his men: "Lady Youxian, if anyone troubles you in the future, come find me at the residence of the Yan family, commander of the Shuojing Vanguard Battalion. I will stand up for you."

"And me," Lin Shuanghe added with a smile. "Although our Lin family has no military forces, we do know a few people in the palace. My grandfather often meets with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Our family can certainly offer you protection for such a small matter."

"My father is the Director of the Imperial Household Department..."

"The Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud..."

"The Minister of Revenue..."

With each name spoken by these young men, Liu Rui’s heart trembled three times. In just a moment, his clothes were soaked through with sweat, inside and out. Whether they were lying or not could easily be verified by inquiring at the Jinling Poetry Gathering. But there was no need to inquire—Liu Rui already believed them eight-tenths.

Each of them looked extraordinary, spirited, and proud. If they weren’t from high-ranking official families, they would never dare to be so arrogant. One after another, they seemed to be speaking to Hua Youxian, but in reality, they were issuing a warning. Liu Rui felt bitter inside. Who would have thought that a courtesan could have so many young masters from powerful families backing her up?

Liu Rui forced a smile and said, "Young masters, what are you saying? Lady Hua Youxian is a resident of Jinling. If anyone dares to bully her, the Yingtian Prefecture will be the first to object. There’s no need to trouble you gentlemen."

Lin Shuanghe smiled faintly. "Magistrate Liu, you must remember what you said today."

"A man’s word is his bond," Liu Rui said solemnly. "The entire Ruyun Tower can bear witness for me."

"Excellent," Yan He raised an eyebrow. "You’ve finally become somewhat agreeable."

Though angered by Yan He’s disrespectful attitude, Liu Rui dared not say more. Yang Mingzhi bowed to him and said, "Then, in the future, we ask Magistrate Liu to keep an eye on Ruyun Tower and our friend, Lady Hua Youxian."

"Of course, of course," Liu Rui replied with an ingratiating smile.

After more back-and-forth pleasantries and veiled probing, Liu Rui finally left with Tong Qiushi and his soldiers. How he would deal with Tong Qiushi once he returned to the Liu residence tonight was his own business. Inside Ruyun Tower, Cailian closed the door, and the building erupted in cheers.

The women were overjoyed. Tong Qiushi had committed countless evils in Jinling, and the women had long been seething with anger but dared not speak out. Because of Hua Youxian’s situation, everyone had been worried and fearful. Now that the matter was settled, with Liu Rui leaving in humiliation, it truly felt like a triumph.

Hua Youxian walked up to the young men, her emotions overwhelming her. Tears welled in her eyes as she suddenly knelt and kowtowed to them, saying in a trembling voice, "Young masters, your great kindness is more than I can ever repay. If there is a next life, I will gladly serve you as an ox or a horse, without hesitation."

"Please rise, Lady Youxian!" Everyone was startled and hurriedly helped her up, feeling both proud and slightly awkward. They spoke one after another, "This is what we should have done."

"A true man should draw his sword to uphold justice when he sees injustice. That’s what our teachers at the academy taught us."

"That Tong Qiushi is truly despicable, but with us here, you need not fear him in the future!"Mother Ding watched them and couldn't help but lower her head with a smile. She thought to herself that these young men were truly something—each had their own little quirks, yet none carried the arrogance typical of noble youths. Ordinary people might flatter and admire, but deep down, they often looked down on courtesans with disdain and would never openly say something like "they are our friends."

Yet these young men said it with such natural ease, without a hint of hesitation.

This Jinling poetry gathering had invited renowned scholars from across Great Wei, with talented individuals from all corners gathering here. Each had their own strengths, but this time, it was these young men from the Shuojing academies who emerged victorious.

...

The pleasure boat docked.

He Yan and the others disembarked. Hua Youxian smiled and said, "Young masters, please follow me."

So much time had passed—with Yan He and Xiao Jue at their current age, they could hardly be called "young masters" anymore. Yet Hua Youxian still used the old address, causing He Yan to feel a momentary daze, as if it were still that summer long ago when they had sailed to Jinling together, sneaked into the lively brothel, and been astonished by its enchanting allure.

Ruyun Tower was still the same Ruyun Tower, but it looked much older now. The plaque at the entrance had been rewritten, yet it lacked the liveliness of the past.

Lin Shuanghe pointed at the plaque. "This calligraphy..."

"Last year, there was a heavy rainstorm," Hua Youxian said with a smile. "It blew the plaque off the entrance, so the madam had someone write a new one. But I also think it's not as good as before."

The old plaque had been grand and imposing, while the new one was neat and elegant—but it was no longer the same as the old tower's.

As they followed the group inside, the courtesans within were taken aback to see Hua Youxian leading them in. An older woman stepped forward and asked, "Youxian, who are these..."

"Take a look and see who they are," Hua Youxian replied with a smile.

The woman looked at them curiously, and He Yan glanced back, startled to realize that this woman was actually Cailian.

She had also grown older since those days, no longer displaying the delicate charm of her youth but instead appearing cool and elegant. Cailian stared at them in confusion for a moment before suddenly exclaiming, "Are they... the young masters from back then?"

"Exactly."

Lin Shuanghe still remembered Cailian. He unfurled his fan and said with a smile, "Miss Cailian, after all these years, it seems everyone still remembers you."

Cailian was also moved. Life in Ruyun Tower was monotonous, day after day. Perhaps the most thrilling experience of their lives had been the incident where they had outsmarted Tong Qiushi. Those young masters from Shuojing, each from noble families they could hardly imagine, had not looked down on them like ordinary young men would. Instead, they had called them "friends."

Occasionally, Cailian wondered if it had all been just a dream. Now, seeing old friends again, she was too overwhelmed to speak.

"We have guests. Go and ask the kitchen to prepare a feast," Hua Youxian said with a smile. "Today, we won't leave until we're thoroughly drunk."

Cailian agreed and hurried off to instruct the kitchen.

The other courtesans nearby looked at them curiously. Lin Shuanghe glanced around but didn't see Mother Ding, so he asked, "Where is Mother Ding? Since we're old acquaintances, we should greet her too."

Hearing this, Hua Youxian's eyes dimmed. After a long pause, she said, "Mother Ding is no longer with us."Two years after Hua Youxian followed Wang Sheng to Yangzhou, Mother Ding contracted a severe cold and took to her bed. At first, it seemed like a minor illness, but it grew increasingly serious until it became clear she was nearing her end. Mother Ding had no children of her own, and in the Yunlou Pavilion, her favorite had always been Hua Youxian. Cailian wrote to Hua Youxian, who, upon hearing the news, intended to rush back to visit the ailing woman. However, by then she had already married Wang Sheng. Although the Wang family were merchants, their rules were no less strict. Not only was she forbidden from traveling all the way back to Jinling, but she was also barred from having any further connection with the Yunlou Pavilion.

Trapped in Yangzhou and unable to step outside, Hua Youxian missed the chance to see Mother Ding one last time. Mother Ding passed away with regret, but before her departure, she decided to bequeath the Yunlou Pavilion to Cailian.

Now, Cailian was the "Mama Lotus" of Ruyun Tower.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but sigh. That shrewd and sharp-tongued woman, who nonetheless had a soft heart, was now gone as well.

(End of Chapter)