Legend of the Female General

Chapter 192: Returning to the Capital

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the room fell silent. Even Lin Shuanghe, who had always been idle and indifferent to state affairs, wore a puzzled expression upon hearing this.

After all, it sounded like child’s play—the enemy nation had led troops to invade, suffered a defeat, yet their own emperor was still considering their interests at every turn.

“Currently in the court, the Crown Prince, Xu Xiang, and the faction of civil officials mostly advocate for peace, while the military officials have yet to voice their stance.” Yang Mingzhi looked at Xiao Jue. “I wanted to ask you all, what would you do?”

“What’s there to say?” Yan He replied. “We’re not cowards. If someone slaps us, are we supposed to offer the other cheek? I’ll drive the Wutuo People back to their homeland and make sure they never dare set foot in Great Wei again!”

“Then I’m relieved,” Yang Mingzhi said gravely. “But… I wonder if your words can change His Majesty’s mind.”

After discussing some recent unusual movements of the Wutuo People, everyone rose to leave. Because of the news Yang Mingzhi had brought, Xiao Jue and the others no longer planned to stay in Jinling for another two days. Since the Wutuo envoys were already on their way to Shuojing, they had to hasten their return to the capital to meet the emperor. Currently, Shuojing was mostly filled with Xu Xiang’s people, and even those who weren’t were suppressed and dared not speak out. If they truly agreed to Wutuo’s peace proposal, or even allowed the establishment of a market in Great Wei, it would bring nothing but harm to the people of Great Wei.

After regrouping the troops, everyone had lunch and prepared to set off. Xiao Jue and Yan He rode on horseback at the front with the soldiers, while He Yan and Lin Shuanghe shared a carriage. Chu Zhao and Ying Xiang’s carriage followed at the rear.

Between the two riders side by side, Xiao Jue spoke up, “After Virtuous Prosperity Academy, have you ever seen He Rufei?”

Yan He was taken aback before replying, “I’m not close to him. I’ve only seen him a few times after he was appointed as a general, and even then, only from a distance. But since his appointment, aside from the Battle of Huayuan, have you ever seen him lead troops? It seems to me he’s grown too comfortable over the years, which is why he performed so poorly in the Battle of Huayuan. Why do you ask? Want to catch up with him?”

Xiao Jue ignored his question and continued, “Did the He Rufei you saw afterward differ from the past?”

“Differ?” Yan He frowned. “How would I know? I haven’t been following him around. But he has grown taller over the years, a bit more than before. He also seems to have become more eloquent and charming. Before I went to Lingjun, I heard the He family intended to arrange a marriage for him. Xiao Huaijin,” he glanced at his companion beside him, “if He Rufei marries before you… you wouldn’t lose to even He Rufei, would you?”

Xiao Jue ignored him and urged his horse forward.

Inside the carriage, He Yan was unaware of the conversation that had just taken place between Xiao Jue and Yan He. The closer they got to Shuojing, the heavier her heart grew. Lin Shuanghe noticed this and sat opposite her, asking, “Sister He, what’s going on? Ever since I saw you in Rundu, something seemed off, as if you were troubled by something. These past few days, you’ve hardly spoken at all. Are you facing some difficulty? If you’re in trouble, just tell me, and I’ll help you think of a solution.”

He Yan let out a bitter laugh.She was just thinking about how to expose He Rufei once they returned to Shuojing. Now that she had become Wu Anlang, her status made it easier to approach the He and Xu families compared to when she was merely the daughter of a military officer. However, the position of "Wu Anlang" itself came with many restrictions. Moreover, the trusted confidants who could prove the true and false He Rufei had been silenced by He Rufei himself. In terms of witnesses, it was truly difficult; she could only start from elsewhere. And the ones guarding this shared secret were the Xu family.

If she could start with the Xu family, they might expose the He family to protect themselves... They would become disorganized. An alliance formed for the sake of profit was never very stable to begin with.

He Yan was lost in thought when Lin Shuanghe suddenly waved a hand in front of her: "Sister He?"

He Yan looked at him and said, "I was thinking about what to do after returning to the capital." She counted on her fingers, "Brother Lin knows that I escaped from Shuojing City and got involved in a lawsuit. All the neighbors know I'm a woman, so it's not yet time for me to return openly. I'm afraid I can only meet my father and brother in secret." She pondered for a moment, "When His Majesty granted the title last time, I kept some silver. It's enough to rent a small house, but I can't show my face. If Brother Lin has wide connections, could you handle this for me? I'll pay you every penny, of course."

After hearing her words, Lin Shuanghe slapped his thigh, "I thought it was some trouble. It's a small matter, leave it to me." He lifted the carriage curtain and shouted, "Huai Jin, Huai Jin!"

Xiao Jue paused, slowed his pace, and rode his horse back to the carriage, asking, "What is it?"

Lin Shuanghe flashed him a smile, "I just promised Brother He that I'd rent a house for him in the city once we return to Shuojing. But as you know, renting a house isn't something that can be done overnight. Before finding a suitable place, could Brother He stay at your residence? Your Xiao family's courtyard is large and spacious, surely it wouldn't be difficult to spare a room for Brother He?"

He Yan never expected Lin Shuanghe to say such a thing and hurriedly said, "Brother Lin, that's not what you said earlier. Commander, it's fine, I can just find an inn outside..."

"Staying at an inn wastes too much silver," Lin Shuanghe said. "You're still young, how can you be so extravagant and not understand the benefits of frugality? Listen to me, just stay at Huai Jin's place. Huai Jin, give us a definite answer, is it okay or not?"

Xiao Jue glanced at He Yan, who stiffened, and saw him nod very lightly, "Fine."

He Yan: "..."

After saying this, Xiao Jue rode his horse forward again. Lin Shuanghe lowered the carriage curtain and looked at He Yan triumphantly: "See, isn't this the best of both worlds now?"

He Yan leaned weakly against the carriage, thinking to herself that this was truly a cursed fate. Not only had she failed to keep her distance, but they were getting closer and closer—now she was even going to live at Xiao Jue's house.

Although living at Xiao Jue's residence did have its advantages. Being by Xiao Jue's side on various occasions might increase her chances of encountering Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, and she might even discover some useful clues.

Suppressing the almost imperceptible lightness in her heart, she coughed lightly and silently told herself that this must be the case.

...

In Shuojing City, at the Xu family mansion in the capital, a servant guarded the door outside the study while people were talking inside.Two men sat before a small table, one dressed in a simple blue robe, scholarly and refined, while the other was also a handsome gentleman, though his brows and eyes carried an air of restrained depth. They were both contemplating the chessboard before them, where black and white pieces lay scattered in a seemingly chaotic arrangement.

One of them was the eldest son of the Xu family, the current Hanlin Academician Xu Zhiheng, while the other was He Rufei, who had recently returned to the capital after narrowly defeating the Wutuo People in the Battle of Huayuan.

"Second Young Master Xiao is about to return to the capital," Xu Zhiheng said, placing a piece on the board. "Once Guide Central General and Second Young Master Xiao return, they will surely advise His Majesty to drive the Wutuo People out of Great Wei."

He Rufei remained silent, his gaze fixed on the chessboard.

"Brother He is still thinking about the Huayuan incident?" Xu Zhiheng smiled faintly. "All those who knew are no longer in this world. Brother He can rest assured—no one will ever learn of this secret. Even if someone did, they would have no evidence to overturn the situation."

He Rufei glanced at him. "Young Master Xu seems overly confident. Do not forget that during our studies at Virtuous Prosperity Academy, Xiao Huaijin, Yan Nanguang, and even Lin Shuanghe all met He Rufei."

"So what?" Xu Zhiheng replied dismissively. "The young He Rufei was never particularly close to his classmates. If he had been, his identity would not have remained hidden for so many years. I think Brother He is worrying too much. Even if Xiao Huaijin and Yan Nanguang return to Shuojing, you will not have much interaction with them."

He Rufei placed a piece on the board. "I hope so."

Suddenly, he recalled the nightmare from the previous night. In the dream, he was leading troops into battle on the Huayuan battlefield when, from behind, a sword pierced through. Unable to dodge in time, it struck his chest. As he fell, he saw someone approach and kneel beside him.

It was a young man wearing a mask and armor. Slowly, he reached up and removed the mask, revealing a familiar, handsome, and spirited face. He Yan smiled at him and whispered softly, "Elder Brother—"

He Rufei jolted awake, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

It had been over a year since He Yan’s death, and her name had gradually faded from memory—or perhaps it had never truly been remembered by the world. Life had been peaceful for so long, yet at this critical moment, she appeared in his dreams, robbing him of sleep.

"Your concubine..." he began.

Xu Zhiheng’s expression turned cold. "She is dead."

He Yan had died at the hands of He Wanru. A month after He Yan’s death, Xu Zhiheng had found a pretext to have He Wanru executed. Her body was dragged to a mass burial ground, likely devoured by wolves and wild dogs long ago. If, by any chance, something were to be uncovered in the future, all blame could be shifted onto He Wanru. All the thugs, servants, and maids involved that day had been dealt with, and the entire Xu household, inside and out, had been replaced.

Since He Yan had been a general in life, having so many servants accompany her in death could be considered a fitting tribute to their marital bond.

"Good," He Rufei said coldly. "Make sure there are no mistakes."While they were speaking, someone knocked on the study door. Xu Zhiheng rose to open it, and a young woman entered. She too was in the prime of her youth, and upon closer inspection, her features bore some resemblance to He Yan's. However, she lacked the heroic and resolute aura forged by a female general on the battlefield, instead exuding a delicate sweetness, like the tender spring blossoms of Shuojing City. Her every gesture and movement reflected the well-bred, gentle charm of someone raised in comfort.

This was Xu Zhiheng's newly wedded wife, the current Madam Xu, He Xinying. She was also the legitimate second daughter of He Yuansheng, the cousin of He Rufei, and the biological younger sister of He Yan.

"Brother, husband, while you were talking inside, I had the kitchen prepare some snacks," He Xinying said with a smile, placing several plates of pastries on the small table. "You can have something to eat if you get tired from talking."

"You've worked hard," Xu Zhiheng said gently, pulling her to sit beside him. "You should sit down too."

He Xinying obediently took a seat next to Xu Zhiheng and looked at He Rufei with a smile. "Brother, it's been a while since you last visited the Xu residence. Are Father and Mother in good health?"

He Rufei gave a slight nod. "They are well. There's no need for you to worry."

He Xinying then fell silent, unsure of what else to say. In truth, she had never been particularly close to this cousin. Even from a young age, He Rufei had an exceptionally solitary temperament and often wore a mask. The He family knew he wore it to conceal his unattractive appearance. As a child, He Xinying would see He Rufei hiding alone at the edge of the grand He family banquets and felt a pang of pity for him. However, whenever she tried to approach him, He Rufei would avoid her as if she were a plague. After a few attempts, He Xinying gradually lost interest in reaching out.

Later, He Rufei secretly left the He family to join the army and actually managed to earn military merit. This elevated the status of all the unmarried young ladies in the He family, including her own legitimate elder sister, the famously sickly daughter of the second branch of the He family.

By the time He Yan returned to the He family, He Xinying was already grown. Moreover, thanks to He Rufei's influence, the He family had arranged an excellent marriage for He Yan. Xu Zhiheng, the eldest son of the Xu family, was already a Hanlin academician at a young age, handsome and refined in appearance. He Xinying had once felt envious of this sister. Despite her poor health and years away from the capital, where the noble ladies of the city hardly knew of her existence, she returned only to become Madam Xu. What incredible fortune.

However, this envy vanished after He Yan's death. He Xinying felt sorrow for her sister. Even though she had little emotional connection with her, blood was still thicker than water. To have just secured such a good marriage, on the cusp of enjoying a life of comfort, only to be cut short by fate—it was truly tragic.

Strangely, after He Yan's death, the He and Xu families held a grand funeral for her. The entire Shuojing knew how much the He family valued this prematurely deceased legitimate daughter of the second branch. Yet only He Xinying understood that within the He family, aside from her own mother, everyone—including her own father—did not seem as grief-stricken as others believed.

Once the funeral was over, apart from occasionally wiping away a few tears when He Yan was mentioned in public, the family rarely spoke of her in daily life. It was as if the legitimate eldest daughter of the second branch had never existed.

He Xinying always felt something was amiss, but before she could figure out why her family was so indifferent toward her sister, He Yuansheng took charge and arranged her marriage to Xu Zhiheng, intending for her to become his second wife.Even as a widower, Xu Zhiheng was still considered a prime candidate for a husband in the eyes of many in Shuojing. Especially after He Yan's death, the deep affection he displayed made him all the more admired by many young ladies. Although He Xinying also knew that Xu Zhiheng was outstanding, she was extremely unwilling to marry into the Xu family. Sisters sharing the same husband was not uncommon in Shuojing, but it was usually the legitimate daughter who became the principal wife, while the illegitimate daughter served as a concubine, supporting each other. Where had it ever happened that two legitimate daughters married the same man one after the other? The daughters of the He family were not so desperate that they couldn’t find husbands. She was young and beautiful, with a good family background—wouldn’t it be better to find a suitable young master to be the principal wife than to become Madam Xu?

But on this matter, He Yuanliang, who had always doted on her, was surprisingly firm. And her mother, Lady He the Second, though she wanted to fight for her, was powerless—in the He family, women’s words never carried much weight.

Thus, He Xinying reluctantly married into the Xu family.

After marrying into the Xu family, He Xinying discovered that Xu Zhiheng was even more considerate and gentle than she had imagined. It was easy to fall for a handsome and outstanding husband who took care of her in every way. Moreover, Xu Zhiheng was indeed very charming to women. The occasional regret and longing he showed for his deceased wife only made people think that he was a man of deep affection and loyalty, worthy of entrusting one’s life to.

After He Xinying married into the Xu family, her cousin He Rufei would visit her from time to time. He Xinying felt somewhat flattered. She was now the best-married among all the young ladies of the He family, enjoying all the blessings that He Yan had never had the chance to enjoy.

Only sometimes did it feel unreal.

"By the way, brother, husband," He Xinying spoke up, "in previous years, I would always go to the temple with my mother in autumn to burn incense and pray for blessings. Although I’m no longer at home this year, I still want to go with her."

Xu Zhiheng smiled and said, "Of course, if I’m free that day, I’ll accompany you."

He Xinying replied happily, "That would be wonderful."

After sitting for a while longer, she stood up and left the room, leaving Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei to talk inside. Once outside, her personal maid Xiao Liu asked, "Madam, are you returning to the courtyard?"

He Xinying shook her head. "Let’s take a walk."

In the courtyard, the summer pond was lush with greenery, its water as calm as a mirror. The ponds in the He family were always filled with lotus flowers, and at this time of year, their subtle fragrance drifted in the air. But in the Xu family’s pond, there were no lotus flowers, not even a rockery.

Xu Zhiheng was a man of refined taste, yet this pond seemed like a stagnant pool of dead water. The longer one looked at it, the more it resembled a bottomless abyss, ready to pull people down at any moment. Her sister He Yan had drowned here after slipping and falling. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because of their blood ties, whenever she walked past this place, she always felt the wind was especially cold, and the water particularly icy, making her uncomfortable.

He Xinying averted her gaze.

Her maid Xiao Liu asked her, "Madam, why didn’t you stay longer in the room earlier? The longer you stay... the better the Xu family will treat you."

He Xinying also understood that the Xu family’s elders were so lenient with her as a daughter-in-law, largely because of He Rufei’s influence. The closer her relationship with this "Flying Goose General" brother, the less the Xu family dared to treat her poorly.He Xinying shook her head, smiling self-mockingly. "Elder Brother wasn't here to see me in the first place. It makes no difference how long I stay inside."

If anyone who knew He Yan were present, they would notice that the insight and clarity in the eyes of this delicate, sweet face bore a striking resemblance to the former "Madam Xu."

It was nothing more than self-deception.

...

In less than a month, traveling from Jinling to Shuojing with intermittent rests and hurried stretches, they finally arrived at the city gates just before the start of autumn.

At the gates of Shuojing City, guards who had received the news had already flung the gates wide open. As the troops entered the city, the commoners lining the streets pointed and whispered at the procession.

He Yan and Lin Shuanghe hid inside the carriage, avoiding the scrutiny. Lin Shuanghe, itching with curiosity, said to He Yan, "Had I known it would be this impressive, I should have asked Huaijin for a horse. Riding on horseback, the young ladies would have gotten a clearer view of my face."

"...Even if you weren't on horseback, Brother Lin, the young ladies of Shuojing City are already quite familiar with your face," He Yan reassured him.

"That's true," Lin Shuanghe replied, pondering her words for a moment before letting go of his concerns.

He Yan herself had little interest in attracting attention. Back when she returned to the capital with the victorious Pacify Yue Army, it had been just as lively as today. However, at that time, she wore a mask, feeling extremely uneasy and fearing that someone might discover the truth. After returning to the He family, the real "He Rufei" took over all the subsequent glory and burdens on her behalf the very next day.

She had never faced everything that came with being the "Flying Goose General" with her own face.

With a creak, the carriage came to a halt. Yan He's voice came from outside: "How much longer are you two going to sit in there? We're almost at the palace gates."

He Yan was taken aback and stepped out of the carriage with Lin Shuanghe.

Chu Zhao had parted ways with their carriage shortly after entering the city, sending only a servant to inform them. He Yan didn't mind; they were never on the same path to begin with, so it was only natural to go their separate ways. It wasn't as if she could move into Xiao Manor and have Chu Zhao follow suit, could she?

"Commander, are we going to..." He Yan asked.

"I need to enter the palace," Xiao Jue glanced at her. "Wait in the carriage for now."

"Wait," Yan He looked at him suspiciously. "Why aren't you taking this kid with you? Entering the palace means an audience with His Majesty. This is the perfect opportunity to let His Majesty get to know him properly. It would greatly benefit his future career. As his superior, you should seize every chance to promote your subordinates. Or are you afraid that this He fellow might outshine you someday, so you're deliberately holding him back?"

He Yan truly admired Yan He's ability to always land on the most trivial possibility, no matter how many options there were.

"Now is not the time," Xiao Jue couldn't be bothered to explain to Yan He. He turned to He Yan and, with rare patience, asked her, "Will you be alright here alone?"

He Yan smiled. "What could possibly happen to me? Commander, go ahead with peace of mind. I'll just take a nap in the carriage."

Lin Shuanghe caught on and poked his head out. "Huaijin, are you saying I have to enter the palace too?"

Xiao Jue gave him a cold look.

Lin Shuanghe cleared his throat. "May I ask if I could... not go?""No." Xiao Jue sneered coldly, "Although I wrote to invite you to Liang Province, you left without telling anyone in the Lin family. Imperial Physician Lin has sent a pile of urgent letters to my camp looking for you. Would you like to see them now?"

Lin Shuanghe gave an awkward smile. "I was just... thinking that since you sought me out, the situation must be critical. When people are in a hurry, their minds don’t work well. I forgot, yes, I forgot to tell my family."

Yan He stood with his arms crossed, watching from the sidelines, and couldn’t resist stirring up trouble as he coolly remarked, "Aren’t you his friend? Taking the blame for him won’t kill you."

Lin Shuanghe was deeply moved. "Brother Nanguang, after all these years of knowing you, I’ve finally heard something decent come out of your mouth."

"Shut up." Xiao Jue frowned slightly, impatient, and Lin Shuanghe immediately fell silent. After he got down from the carriage, Xiao Jue was about to leave with the others when he suddenly remembered something and walked back to the carriage.

He Yan lifted the carriage curtain to look at him.

"Stay here and don't wander off. There are many eyes and complications near the palace," Xiao Jue reminded her, pausing briefly before his tone softened slightly. "Wait for me to come out of the palace, and I'll take you home."

(End of Chapter)