Legend of the Female General

Chapter 193: Going Home

Xiao Jue and the other two followed the guiding servant into the palace.

He Yan sat alone in the carriage. Hearing his words, "taking you home," she knew full well that Xiao Jue had only said it casually, yet the listener felt dizzy and lightheaded, burying her face in her palms, somewhat elated.

She didn’t know what "home" meant. In her past life, the He family was home, yet it had never given her affection or warmth. The Xu family was also home, yet they had pushed her into the icy pond with their own hands. In this life, the other "He family" had finally given her some attachment and warmth in the world, but before matters were resolved, she couldn’t rashly meet with them.

Thinking of this, He Yan’s earlier joy gradually settled.

She had to find a way to return first and see Yun Sheng and He Sui. She had been gone for over a year, and she imagined He Sui and He Yun Sheng were deeply worried. Back in Liangzhou Guard, ever since her identity was discovered, He Yan had secretly slipped money to Fei Nu, begging him to find a way for someone in Shuojing to send a message to He Sui to reassure him. But after going to Jiyang, when the Wutuo conflict broke out, she forgot about it and hadn’t sent word to He Sui and the others for a while. They must have been terribly worried.

She also had to find a way to visit the Xu family.

Starting with He Rufei was still somewhat difficult. She had to begin with the Xu family. He Yan had been murdered, but from start to finish, Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei had never directly shown their faces—she had died at the hands of He Wanru. Given Xu Zhiheng’s temperament, he would surely kill He Wanru to silence her, and perhaps everyone present that day would not escape death. But were there no clever people in the Xu family? Just as Chai Anxi had survived the Battle of Ming River, there might be fish that slipped through the net in the Xu family’s courtyard.

That was her opportunity.

She had to first prove that Madam Xu’s death was suspicious, then gradually peel back the layers to reveal the He family’s greatest and most sinister secret.

He Yan carefully considered her plans after returning to Shuojing, and before she knew it, the sky gradually darkened. When the lanterns in front of the palace gate lit up, she saw familiar figures walking out.

Only Xiao Jue and Yan He came out, with no sign of Lin Shuanghe. He Yan asked curiously, "Where is Brother Lin?"

"Imperial Physician Lin is in the palace. He won’t be leaving for now," Xiao Jue replied, then looked at Yan He.

"Don’t look at me. I’m heading back to my residence now," Yan He called for a servant to bring his horse. "Chengxiu is waiting for me at home," he seemed particularly proud that someone was waiting for him. "You’re all alone, so of course you don’t care about such things." With that, he mounted his horse, said "I’m off," and rode away.

To be honest, He Yan had always thought Yan He was stubborn and arrogant, like a fighting cock every day, constantly comparing himself to any outstanding talent. His life seemed too exhausting. But now, seeing him leave with a beaming smile, she actually felt a twinge of envy.

Perhaps having someone waiting at home after a long journey was truly a joyous thing.

She stared blankly at Yan He’s departing figure when Xiao Jue’s voice suddenly sounded beside her ear: "Aren’t you getting in?"

He Yan hurriedly retreated into the carriage.Fei Nu and Chi Wu were driving the carriage outside, while He Yan and Xiao Jue sat inside. The journey from Rundu to Shuojing was lively and bustling. Yan Nanguang, Lin Shuanghe, Xiao Jue, and He Yan were all former classmates, and together they could easily form a table for a game of leaf cards. Amidst the usual noise and chatter, it hadn’t felt particularly noticeable, but now that everyone else had dispersed, leaving only her and Xiao Jue inside the carriage, the atmosphere grew quiet, making her feel somewhat uneasy.

“Why are you so nervous?” Xiao Jue leaned against the carriage wall, asking casually.

He Yan nearly choked on her own saliva. After hesitating for a moment, she managed to squeeze out a sentence, “I’ve never been to your home before. It feels a bit awkward to show up empty-handed for the first visit.” As she spoke, she genuinely remembered this matter and asked Xiao Jue, “Commander, why don’t we stop by a shop along the way and buy some pastries or fabric as gifts for your family?”

Xiao Jue stared into her eyes and curled the corner of his mouth slightly. “Are you going there to propose marriage? Bringing gifts for a first visit?”

“Isn’t it necessary?” He Yan asked. “I’ve never visited anyone’s home before, so I don’t know what to do when visiting for the first time.”

Back when she was pretending to be “He Rufei,” the He family was afraid she would expose herself, so they didn’t even let her make friends, let alone visit others’ homes. In this life as He Yan, before she could even experience how ordinary people socialized with friends, she had already joined the military camp.

Her earnestness left Xiao Jue momentarily speechless. He pushed her head aside as she leaned closer. “It’s not necessary. Just act naturally.”

“Commander, don’t you have your elder brother and sister-in-law at home?” He Yan recalled what Lin Shuanghe had mentioned earlier and said, “They say your elder brother is the number one dream lover for women in Great Wei. Is that really true? It’s said that he treats people with great gentleness, never mistreats servants, and is as refined and gentle as jade. Is that true?”

Xiao Jue replied calmly, “Do you want to become my sister-in-law?”

“How could that be?” He Yan immediately denied it, thinking to herself that she wasn’t like Song Taotao and had no interest in gaining a brother-in-law like Xiao Jue. “I’m just curious. And what about your sister-in-law? Is she easy to get along with?” He Yan hesitated for a moment. “Men are easier to deal with, but I really don’t know how to interact with women. What does she like or dislike? Is she lively or reserved? How should I talk to her to win her favor?”

Xiao Jue restrained himself and finally replied calmly, “If you win her favor, my elder brother might not be too happy.”

He Yan let out an “oh” and sat back in her seat, seemingly still pondering the matter. Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow slightly. He Yan seemed to have a great deal of interest in “visiting someone’s home.” Her excitement and nervousness were like that of a naive child receiving an invitation to a friend’s house for the first time—both unsure and afraid of making mistakes, yet also secretly happy and expectant at having been acknowledged.

He Sui had only one son and one daughter. Compared to his son, his daughter, who bore a striking resemblance to his late wife, was clearly more favored by this captain. According to the news Luan Ying had gathered, He Yan used to be arrogant and willful, sometimes a bit vain. Although this might have been the fox’s disguise, the neighbors around the He family indicated that He Yan did have some girlfriends, even if their relationships weren’t particularly close.

But why did she still show such an expression?Xiao Jue could perceive the emotions and conflicts deep within He Yan's heart, but he could not discern the cause behind them. Around He Yan, there always seemed to be a thick fog, making many of her actions inexplicable. Yet, the more mysterious she was, the more she drew others closer. Otherwise... being alone in such a fog would inevitably make one feel concerned, finding her particularly pitiable.

Lost in thought, the carriage came to a stop at the entrance of Xiao Manor. Fei Nu and Chi Wu dismounted from their horses. Before Xiao Jue and He Yan could step out, they heard an excited voice from outside: "Madam, Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master has returned—"

Immediately after, a clamor arose from within the manor, as if someone was approaching. Just as He Yan followed Xiao Jue out of the carriage, the gates of the Xiao family swung open, and several people emerged from inside. At the forefront were a young couple.

The man wore a round-collared brocade robe in the color of azure and jade, truly embodying an elegant and refined demeanor, with a grace like rosy clouds and moonlight. Beside him stood a woman of delicate beauty, her eyes and brows captivating, her snow-white skirt outlining a slender figure, resembling a blossoming white pear tree, with jade-like branches and flower-like features. This was Xiao Jue's elder brother, Xiao Jing, and his wife, Bai Rongwei. He Yan had heard of this couple before, but seeing them in person was far more impressive than any description. Standing together, they were an utterly pleasing sight.

The Xiao family truly produced beauties, one after another, each blessed with such striking looks. He Yan thought to herself that stepping into this manor, she might very well be dragging down the family's collective appearance.

"Huaijin, you've finally returned," Bai Rongwei said with a smile. "Your elder brother has been talking about you every day for the past month. Today, as soon as he finished his official duties, he waited at home, worried you might not make it back to Shuojing tonight. It's fortunate you arrived just in time."

Xiao Jing also smiled, revealing a pair of small canine teeth that added a touch of charm to his gentle, scholarly demeanor. "It's good you're back. Rongwei personally prepared a meal, and it's still warm, waiting just for you. Fei Nu and Chi Wu, you should join us as well. You've taken care of Huaijin along the journey and must be tired."

Fei Nu and Chi Wu hurriedly declined the honor.

Xiao Jue glanced back at He Yan, who stood three steps away, respectful and polite. He said, "Come here."

He Yan complied and stepped forward.

Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei exchanged puzzled looks. They had clearly seen this young gentleman descend from the carriage alongside Xiao Jue. If he were a subordinate, he would likely have ridden outside with Fei Nu and Chi Wu. Moreover, Xiao Jue was not one to enjoy close contact with others, so sharing a carriage already indicated a certain level of familiarity.

Xiao Jing asked, "Huaijin, who is this young gentleman...?"

"My friend, He Yan," Xiao Jue replied.

He Yan bowed and said, "Eldest Young Master Xiao, Madam." After speaking, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Xiao Jue. She had assumed he would introduce her as a subordinate, never expecting him to directly label her as a friend. This left both Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei somewhat taken aback.

Bai Rongwei quickly regained her composure and smiled. "So this is Huaijin's friend. How rare! Over all these years, aside from Young Master Lin, we've never seen Huaijin bring a friend to the manor. Is Young Master He a new friend Huaijin met at the Liangzhou Guard?"

Before He Yan could respond, Xiao Jue interjected, "Sister-in-law, let's talk inside."

"...Alright," Bai Rongwei replied with a smile, casting a confused glance at Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing returned her look with an equally bewildered expression.Xiao Jue not only brought a friend back to the mansion but also seemed to show considerable protectiveness toward this friend. Both husband and wife grew curious about He Yan's identity—could he be some kind of royal relative, treated with such importance? But was there such a person in Shuojing City? Besides, Xiao Jue wasn’t the type to be particularly courteous to royalty anyway.

It was puzzling.

The group arrived at the Xiao family’s main hall. He Yan and Xiao Jue went to wash their hands first. The hall was brightly lit by lamps, and the aroma of food filled the room. The long table was laden with various dishes. He Yan and Xiao Jue took their seats at the table, while Fei Nu and Chi Wu were called by Bai Rongwei to bring two stools and sit to the side.

He Yan felt a stir in her heart. Just as the rumors outside suggested, the eldest young master of the Xiao family treated his subordinates exceptionally well. If this had been the He family of the past, Madam He would have long since scolded them for being unruly.

The dishes were all home-style fare, not extravagant but delicate and delicious. He Yan felt inexplicably nervous. Picking up her chopsticks, she followed Xiao Jue’s lead, eating small, careful bites.

The Xiao family had no rule about "no talking during meals or after bedtime." In fact, even the gentle and dignified Xiao Jing seemed to turn into a chatterbox at the dinner table, eagerly asking Xiao Jue about his experiences over the past year.

"You didn’t tell us about what happened in Jiyang earlier," Bai Rongwei said with a smile. "It wasn’t until news reached Shuojing that we learned how dangerous the situation was. I know you were afraid of worrying Rupi, but in the future, don’t shoulder such things alone. When Rupi found out, if I hadn’t stopped him, I was afraid he’d go to Liang Province to find you himself."

Xiao Jing cleared his throat lightly. "I was just concerned about Huaijin, but..." His gaze fell on He Yan. "I heard that in Jiyang, there was a subordinate who also distinguished himself alongside you and received praise from His Majesty. Could it be this young gentleman?"

"That would be me," He Yan replied shyly. "It was only thanks to the Commander’s favor. In truth, I didn’t do much."

Xiao Jue said coolly, "It was Chu Zilan who favored you, not me."

He Yan: "..."

At a time like this, was it really necessary to be so blunt?

Xiao Jing seemed to sense something and shook his head with a smile. "Young Master He, Huaijin isn’t good with words. Please don’t take offense. But this is the first time he’s brought a friend to the mansion as a guest, which shows he genuinely wants to befriend you."

"I..." He Yan stammered, about to speak.

"She’s not here as a guest," Xiao Jue interrupted her. "She’s going to stay here for a while."

Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were taken aback.

"To be honest with both of you, I’ve already asked someone to look for a suitable residence in Shuojing City, but it might take some time to find one. The Commander kindly agreed to let me stay at the mansion for a few days. Once the residence is settled, I’ll move out immediately," He Yan said apologetically. "I’m afraid I’ll be troubling the eldest young master and Madam for these few days."

Bai Rongwei smiled warmly. "Young Master He, there’s no need to be so polite. Since you’re Huaijin’s friend, you’re our friend too. Finding a residence in the city truly isn’t easy. Please treat this place as your own home, stay as long as you like, and make yourself comfortable."He Yan gratefully accepted. She thought to herself, the Xiao family really knew how to pick wives. Among the young madams of prominent families, Bai Rongwei’s temperament was truly the best. It seemed only someone with such a disposition would stand perfectly matched beside Xiao Jing. It was said that Bai Rongwei had been a concubine-born daughter in her family. When Xiao Jing’s engagement was announced, all of Shuojing had whispered that Bai Rongwei’s status was unworthy of Xiao Jing. But from what He Yan saw now, Xiao Jing indeed had excellent taste.

“Eat,” Xiao Jue said, placing the folded milk skin in front of her.

He Yan quickly lowered her head to eat.

Judging by appearance alone, one would never guess Xiao Jing was a chatterbox. Throughout the entire meal, it was Xiao Jing alone who kept chattering away, asking this and that, even inquiring about how many quilts Xiao Jue used during winter at Liangzhou Guard. If Bai Rongwei hadn’t tugged at him, he could have gone on even longer.

Was this perhaps the feeling of “family”? He Yan watched them, a flicker of envy welling up in her heart.

After the meal, Bai Rongwei stood up and said, “We’ve instructed the servants to clean Huaijin’s room every day. We’ve already had hot water prepared earlier. After Huaijin freshens up, rest early tonight. You’ve had a tiring journey, so recuperate your energy first. We can discuss anything else tomorrow after you’ve slept enough.” She then turned to He Yan. “There are empty rooms and courtyards in the residence. I had the servants tidy one up halfway through the meal. Aside from two maidservants, there’s no one else in the courtyard. Young Master He can stay there with peace of mind.”

Upon hearing this, He Yan felt Bai Rongwei was incredibly considerate and was about to express her thanks when Xiao Jue spoke up. “No need.”

Everyone looked at him.

“There’s an empty room in my courtyard. She’ll stay there,” Xiao Jue said.

“Cough, cough, cough—” Chi Wu, walking behind them, began coughing.

Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing hadn’t considered anything else, only feeling somewhat surprised. However, Xiao Jing soon smiled and said, “Since that’s the case, it’s fine. Living in the same courtyard will make it more convenient for you to discuss matters.”

Chi Wu’s face showed a look of despair.

With Xiao Jue having decided the matter, He Yan naturally had no reason to object. After Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing left, she followed closely behind Xiao Jue to his courtyard. On the way, she quietly asked, “Commander, why do I have to stay in your courtyard?”

They were neither at Liangzhou Guard nor in Jiyang now. With so many rooms available, shouldn’t men and women… still observe some boundaries?

Xiao Jue glanced at her. “Do you want your identity exposed?”

He Yan was taken aback.

“There are no other servants in my courtyard.”

He Yan understood then, thinking it made sense. If she stayed in another courtyard, there might be occasional oversights that could reveal her secret. If discovered by the Xiao family’s maidservants… it wouldn’t be a good thing. Staying in Xiao Jue’s courtyard offered peace and quiet.

Xiao Jue’s courtyard was located in the very center of the estate, spacious and bright. It wasn’t as elegantly simple as Yang Mingzhi’s residence, nor as extravagantly luxurious as Cui Yuezhi’s mansion. Perhaps because no one had lived there for a long time, it felt somewhat empty and desolate. Although it was spotlessly clean, stepping inside, even in summer, didn’t bring a sense of heat; instead, there was a slight chill.

Passing through the flower wall led to the main room. Beside the main room stood a pomegranate tree, already bearing tiny fruits that dangled from the tips of the branches. Like half-fist-sized lanterns swaying gently, they looked utterly charming."Is this the courtyard where you live?" He Yan turned to look at him. "Commander, did you live here when you were a child?"

She stood under the tree, a fruit hanging just above her head like a string of gourds. Xiao Jue found it amusing and replied, "No, I didn’t live in the mansion when I was young. I moved here only after I turned over ten."

Xiao Jue had originally lived in the mountains, something He Yan had vaguely heard about. It was said that Xiao Zhongwu had hired renowned scholars and masters to teach him both literature and martial arts on the mountain. Thinking about it this way, Xiao Jue was even more pitiable than her. Although she couldn’t call her biological parents "father" and "mother," at least they lived in the same mansion, seeing each other frequently. Xiao Jue, as a child, lived alone in the mountains, and Xiao Zhongwu couldn’t visit him all the time. It must have been lonely and pitiful.

He Yan wanted to cheer him up a little. She turned and pointed at the lowest pomegranate, asking, "Will this be edible in a few more days? Have you ever eaten the pomegranates from this tree? Are they sweet?"

"Are you only thinking about eating?" Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. "They’re very sour."

"You must be lying to me," He Yan said dismissively. "If they were sour, you would have chopped down this tree long ago. Why would you keep it for so long?"

Xiao Jue chuckled. "Not everyone plants trees for the sake of eating."

"If you don’t plant a tree for eating, what’s the difference between planting a tree and planting grass?" He Yan looked up, gazing at the highest pomegranate on the tree. This one was likely the largest on the entire tree. Its plump, reddish skin was faintly visible. He Yan reached out to grab it, but the branch was too high. She jumped to pick it but still couldn’t reach it.

The next moment, someone stood behind her, reached out, and pulled down the branch with the pomegranate, bringing it within her reach.

A distinct warmth came from behind, warm and comforting. He Yan stiffened all over and instinctively turned around, nearly twisting her ankle. Xiao Jue grabbed her arm and steadied her. He lowered his gaze and asked, "Can’t you even walk properly?"

He Yan coughed loudly twice. "I just… lost my balance."

"Not picking it anymore?" Xiao Jue gestured to the branch he was holding.

"N-no, I’m not picking it," He Yan defended herself. "I didn’t want to pick it anyway. It’s not ripe yet. I’ll pick it when it’s fully ripe. It’ll be sweeter then."

She had no idea what nonsense she was spouting, only feeling nervous all over under the gaze of those clear, autumn-water-like eyes. To cover it up, He Yan immediately turned away and said loudly, "Which room am I staying in? I want to freshen up first."

Xiao Jue pointed to a room, and He Yan hurried toward it as if a ghost were chasing her. Soon after, the entire courtyard heard a loud "bang"—her door had been shut.

Xiao Jue: "…"

He stood where he was, his gaze fixed on He Yan’s door. After a moment, he looked at the pomegranate tree in front of him, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips.

In the distance, Chi Wu and Fei Nu huddled at the courtyard entrance, unsure whether to enter or not. The only relief was that whenever Xiao Jue returned to the mansion, all the servants and attendants in the courtyard were dismissed, so no one else witnessed this awkward and bewildering scene.

Chi Wu stammered, "They… they…"

"Don’t speak," Fei Nu cut him off."How could he not say anything!" Chi Wu lowered his voice, unable to hide the anger and grief on his face. "It was one thing back in Jiyang and Liangzhou Guard, but now we've already returned to Shuojing... and he's still being so brazen... has that surnamed He gone mad?"

Fei Nu hesitated, words caught in his throat.

"I know back in Jiyang, when he dressed as a woman, he could almost pass for the real thing, but after all, he isn't truly a woman. Right now, the eldest young master and the young mistress don't know about this yet. What will happen if they find out?"

Fei Nu tried to comfort his anxious companion. "You're overcomplicating this matter; it's actually not as serious as you think."

"What do you know!" Chi Wu said. "The young master previously ordered us to investigate that surnamed He's affairs every other day, which shows that his background isn't clean. Otherwise, why would it come to this? If he were honest and innocent, I could accept it..." At this point, Chi Wu's voice actually choked up a little. "If he's approaching the young master with ulterior motives, given how much the young master cares for him right now... I'm afraid he's even more concerned than that Hanlin scholar from the Xu family was when his wife died!"

Fei Nu was caught between laughter and tears, but this reminded him of another matter. He lowered his voice and said, "Speaking of which, the young master has returned to the capital, so Luan Ying and the others should be back soon. Once Luan Ying returns, we’ll have plenty to keep us busy."

Chi Wu: Subway, old man, phone.JPG

(End of Chapter)