Legend of the Female General

Chapter 195: Teasing

After finally managing to placate He Yunsheng, He Yan finally tucked the two banknotes into his hand and carefully instructed him not to tell anyone except He Sui about having seen her.

He Yunsheng impatiently replied, "I know that, but you..." He looked at He Yan, "You won't disappear again, will you?"

That day on the boat, when Fan Cheng encountered trouble and He Yan disguised herself as an assassin to leave, she had also said to He Yunsheng: We will definitely meet again. But soon after, she enlisted in the army.

He Yan sighed inwardly, thinking this child was almost traumatized by her tricks. She stood on tiptoe to pat He Yunsheng's head, but he dodged to the side, avoiding her touch. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, I now hold an official position and am stationed in Shuojing. Don't be anxious; I'll come to see you again in a few days. Just focus on your studies. As my younger brother, you can't end up less accomplished than your older sister, can you?"

He Yunsheng's expression darkened. "How could that be?"

He thought He Yan would tease him a bit more, but instead, the girl disguised as a young man smiled warmly at him and said gently, "I know, our Yunsheng is the most capable."

He Yunsheng's face flushed slightly, and he muttered quietly, "As if I needed you to tell me."

After escorting He Yunsheng back to the alley they had come from, He Yan pulled down the brim of her hat and turned to leave. It never hurt to be cautious.

After parting ways, He Yan walked along the street, thinking about what had just happened with He Yunsheng. Even after all that, Fan Cheng was still causing trouble for He Sui. Although things had quieted down for a while, who knew if he would resort to his old tricks again in the future? While her official position could put pressure on the Fan family, the former Miss He had frequently caused scenes at the Fan residence, and the Fan family would recognize her face. Exposing herself rashly would be unwise.

She needed to plan carefully. Still, it was comforting to see that He Yunsheng had truly grown up. At this thought, He Yan smiled. The young man now had the bearing of a responsible man. When faced with ridicule and mockery from others, he no longer reacted with immediate anger and violence as he once had. He had learned patience—a growth that was both heartwarming and poignant.

Lost in thought, she unknowingly arrived at the Xiao residence. It was already afternoon, and the servant at the gate smiled and greeted her as "Young Master He," stepping aside to let her in. He Yan felt a warmth in her heart; the Xiao family treated her with kindness.

Once inside, she made her way toward the courtyard. She wasn't sure if Xiao Jue had returned yet, but if he had, she wanted to discuss future plans with him. However, as she walked along the corridor, she encountered Bai Rongwei, who was instructing the servants.

He Yan had a favorable impression of this eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. She was gentle, considerate, and skilled at putting others at ease. Seeing He Yan, Bai Rongwei paused in surprise before smiling and saying, "Young Master He."

He Yan nodded to her. "Madam."

"Huai Jin hasn't returned yet," Bai Rongwei said to He Yan. "Have you eaten, Young Master He? If not, what would you like? I can have the kitchen prepare something and send it to your room."

"No need to trouble yourself," He Yan quickly replied. "I've already eaten outside."She had just taken the earlier reward silver and treated He Yunsheng to some pastries at a teahouse. Though not as exquisite as those from a fine restaurant, they were still quite good. He Yunsheng rarely ate out, so at first, he was a bit reserved, but soon he was eating happily.

Bai Rongwei smiled and said, "In that case, let's wait until later to prepare it." She looked at He Yan. "Young Master He is the first friend Huaijin has ever brought home. It seems you took good care of him in Liang Province."

"No, no, it was the Commander who took care of me," He Yan replied bashfully.

"Huaijin rarely opens up to others. Since he treats you this way, it must be because Young Master He is worthy of genuine friendship," Bai Rongwei remarked with a sigh. "He usually doesn't like to show his true self. If there are any shortcomings in his behavior, please be patient with him. This child has a good heart, but he always insists on acting aloof and indifferent."

"The Commander is a good person," He Yan smiled. "Everyone knows that."

Seeing that she didn't seem to be just saying it out of politeness, Bai Rongwei relaxed. "That's good. He's always been alone, without a woman by his side who truly understands and cares for him..." At this point, Bai Rongwei seemed to remember something and asked He Yan, "By the way, Young Master He, since you're close to Huaijin, do you know why he and Miss Shen are at odds?"

"Miss Shen?" He Yan asked. "Shen Muxue?"

Bai Rongwei nodded.

"What happened between them?"

"Miss Shen didn't return to the capital with you this time. I heard it was because Huaijin was in a hurry to get to Rundu and didn't want Miss Shen to endure the hardships of travel. However... Miss Shen has already returned to the capital, but the two of them haven't met. In the past, Miss Shen would have visited the mansion."

Seeing that He Yan was listening intently, Bai Rongwei explained, "Young Master He may already know about the relationship between the Shen family and our mansion. Back when my father was in trouble, only Uncle Shen in the court was willing to speak up for the Xiao family. Miss Shen has liked Huaijin since childhood. True feelings are revealed in times of hardship. Even though Huaijin used to treat Miss Shen coldly, out of respect for Uncle Shen, he had to look after her to some extent. Later, Miss Shen secretly followed Huaijin to the battlefield without her father's knowledge. At that time, it was chaotic, and sending her back wasn't safe, so Miss Shen stayed on the battlefield, learned medicine, and has been helping Huaijin ever since."

"Uncle Shen had no choice but to ask Huaijin to take care of his daughter. Huaijin owed Uncle Shen a favor, so he protected Miss Shen's safety on the battlefield."

He Yan already knew that Shen Muxue had followed Xiao Jue to the battlefield, but she hadn't known the details. Hearing Bai Rongwei recount the whole story, a faint sense of bitterness welled up in her heart. Shen Muxue's actions were incredibly brave and heartfelt. Just as Liang Ping and the others had said on the Martial Arts Field that day, any man would be moved and feel pity for her.

She heard her own voice, soft and hiding all emotion, ask, "Madam, do you want the two of them to be together?""How could that be?" Bai Rongwei was taken aback, then laughed softly. "Earlier, Rupi and I also had this idea, but later we saw that Huaijin truly had no interest in Miss Shen, so we gave up. Young Master He, you are close to Huaijin, so you should understand. Given Huaijin's temperament, no one can force him to do anything, let alone marry. Since he has no interest, we naturally cannot force him. Otherwise, we would not only harm Huaijin but also the young lady."

Upon hearing this, He Yan felt somewhat puzzled and only asked Bai Rongwei, "Madam, I don't quite understand your meaning."

"Even if they cannot become husband and wife, they can still be friends. Miss Shen refuses to visit, which shows that the two of them must have had a disagreement over something. But Huaijin is not a petty person, and Miss Shen is not an unreasonable young lady. After thinking it over, there is only one possibility..." She looked at He Yan, her eyes sparkling, and her usually gentle expression carried a hint of anticipation.

He Yan looked at her, bewildered.

"Does Huaijin have a girl he likes?"

He Yan: "Huh?"

Bai Rongwei continued on her own, "If Huaijin has a girl he likes, then everything makes sense. Only this could truly hurt Miss Shen's feelings, making her unwilling to even visit. Young Master He, have you seen Huaijin with someone he cares for?"

He Yan: "...Not really."

"How could there not be?" Bai Rongwei was slightly disappointed but quickly pressed on, "Then in Liangzhou Guard, is there any young lady who is close to Huaijin?"

"In Liangzhou Guard, aside from Miss Shen, there are no other young ladies..." He Yan stopped abruptly. In truth, there was a young lady in Liangzhou Guard who was close to Xiao Jue—wasn't it her?

But Xiao Jue liking her, and even having a disagreement with Shen Muxue because of her... this sounded utterly unbelievable.

Bai Rongwei sighed, "Is that so... it's truly worrisome."

Seeing He Yan looking at her, Bai Rongwei smiled bitterly, "At Huaijin's age, he should have married long ago. But forget marriage, he doesn't even have a girl he likes. Rupi and I are both quite worried. Among his classmates from Virtuous Prosperity Academy, even those who haven't married yet have already been betrothed. Although Young Master Lin hasn't been betrothed either, given how well he interacts with young ladies, it shouldn't be difficult for him to marry when the time comes. But Huaijin..."

He Yan couldn't help but speak up for Xiao Jue, "If the Commander wants to marry, it wouldn't be difficult either."

Bai Rongwei glanced at her and smiled, "Indeed, it's not difficult. Others are marrying off their daughters, with matchmakers wearing out their thresholds. In our family, we want to find a wife, and matchmakers have filled the courtyard with gifts. But what use is that? No matter how many young ladies like him or how excellent they are, he pays them no mind. If it weren't for the banquets we host at the residence whenever he returns to the capital, he would probably just brush them off."

He Yan: "..." She didn't know what to say, so she forced a smile.

"Speaking of which, it's almost time for another banquet," Bai Rongwei looked at He Yan and smiled. "Young Master He, you should join us then. I hear you are a few years younger than Huaijin, accomplished at a young age, and quite handsome. If you happen to like a young lady at the banquet... it could lead to a wonderful match."

She was wholeheartedly thinking of He Yan, who was nearly moved to tears. She thought to herself, why did she have to endure such heartache in Liangzhou Guard, and now back in Shuojing, she still couldn't escape it? What, was her heart forged through countless trials and unafraid of fire?Forcing a smile, He Yan said, "We'll talk about it then... I've been quite busy these past few days."

Bai Rongwei nodded. "Young Master He, please attend to your own affairs. Don’t take it to heart—I was just speaking casually."

He Yan, fearing that if she continued talking with Bai Rongwei, the latter might say something even more piercing, quickly made an excuse about needing to return to her courtyard. After hastily bidding farewell, she hurried back to her room.

Once inside, she closed the door and slumped into a chair by the table. Staring out the window at the flowers and plants in the courtyard, she slammed a fist on the table, feigning anger. "How outrageous!"

If anyone else came to ask her to observe Xiao Jue’s romantic affairs with other women, she might as well tell the world she was a cut-sleeve with improper intentions toward Xiao Jue. Let’s see if they’d still ask her to play matchmaker.

...

Meanwhile, in an elegant room at a tavern somewhere in Shuojing, someone was seated.

Fei Nu and Chi Wu stood guard at the door. Before long, someone entered from outside.

It was a woman dressed in guard attire, around thirty years old and quite beautiful. However, her long hair was tied into a high bun, and her sharp, cold eyes made her seem unapproachable. She strode into the room, ignoring Chi Wu and Fei Nu, and bowed to Xiao Jue. "Young Master."

"Luan Ying," Xiao Jue looked at her. "Any news about He Rufei?"

The woman named Luan Ying replied respectfully, "I previously sent a letter with Chi Wu detailing He Rufei’s activities. In recent days, I’ve made a new discovery: since being appointed as a general, He Rufei has never left Shuojing except for the recent Battle of Huayuan. Moreover, the officials he associates with in court are mostly civil officials."

"Civil officials," Xiao Jue tapped the teacup in front of him with a bent finger and said calmly, "Does he have any close relationships with women?"

Luan Ying was momentarily taken aback before answering, "None. He Rufei is now of marriageable age, and I’ve heard that Madam He is searching for a suitable wife for him. However, He Rufei himself seems indifferent to women. Aside from his cousin from the second branch, he rarely interacts with women."

"Cousin from the second branch?"

"He Yuanliang’s legitimate second daughter, now the newlywed wife of Xu Zhiheng, the Hanlin Academician—He Xinying," Luan Ying replied.

Xiao Jue lowered his gaze, staring at the teacup. After a long pause, he asked, "What was He Rufei’s relationship with the previous Madam Xu?"

"The previous Madam Xu?" Luan Ying was momentarily confused before replying, "It seems they were also on good terms. The previous Madam Xu was in poor health and spent her time recuperating at a manor before her marriage. Although there’s no evidence of a particularly close relationship, after her death, He Rufei personally oversaw her funeral, which lasted three days and three nights. It shows deep sibling affection."

Xiao Jue gave a faint, sardonic smile. "Not necessarily." If it were truly deep sibling affection, He Rufei should have prevented He Xinying from marrying Xu Zhiheng as a replacement wife. For his late sister, this would hardly be a comforting matter—it would be an insult.

But by now, nothing He Rufei did would surprise him, because the current Flying Goose General was not "He Rufei" at all.

The real He Rufei might have died before being appointed as a general, or perhaps he was still alive. However, the He family would never allow a woman to claim the wealth and glory prepared for "He Rufei," which is why the current "He Rufei" had emerged.But what he couldn't understand was that in this matter, He Rufei became the beneficiary, the He family became a community of interests, but what about that woman "He Rufei"? What made her willingly wear a mask and fight for achievements under He Rufei's name? Was it admiration for He Rufei? That was possible, but even if it was admiration, the duration of her persistence was too long.

The real "He Rufei" was foolishly stubborn and determined, but the current "He Rufei" was a clever person who could have all the original trusted aides "die in battle" to prevent leaks. It was easy to imagine that once the hare was caught, the hound was cooked—the original "He Rufei" was likely in grave danger.

"Spread the word," Xiao Jue said. "In the Battle of Huayuan, He Rufei's ability to subdue the enemy retreated a thousand miles overnight, completely different from before."

"After that, you must closely monitor He Rufei. Whomever he meets, whatever he does, don't miss a single detail."

Luan Ying replied, "Yes."

Xiao Jue picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then looked at her. "What about the other matter? How is your investigation going?"

Luan Ying's expression turned serious. "I was just about to report this to you, Young Master. It seems that soldiers who survived the Battle of Ming River have been discovered on an estate outside the city. However, they are hiding very tightly, and Xu Xiang's people are also searching for them. We found one earlier, but he didn't trust us and threw himself into a well before we could meet him."

Xiao Jue paused as he held his tea, set down the cup, and lowered his gaze. "Continue searching for the remaining people, but be careful not to be discovered by Xu Jingfu's men. Once you find them, inform me immediately." He turned his head, his expression calm. "I will go see them myself."

...

Night had deepened.

The sound of a door opening came from next door. He Yan, sitting at the table, paused for a moment, stood up, and pulled open her door. Sure enough, she saw Xiao Jue walking into the room next door. She called out, "Commander," and hurried over.

Xiao Jue looked down at her and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

He Yan blurted out, "I was waiting for you."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow slightly. "I'm not Yan He." With that, he walked in unhurriedly.

He Yan followed him like a tail, only realizing the meaning of his words after a few steps. Her face flushed instantly.

Chi Wu and Fei Nu did not follow them inside. He Yan helped him close the door. Xiao Jue was not accustomed to being attended to, and there were no servants or maids in the room. He leaned against the wall, casually poured two cups of tea, and handed one to He Yan.

"Thank you," He Yan said, taking the tea but not intending to drink it. Holding the cup, she asked, "Commander, I came to ask you something. When will you take me to the palace?"

Xiao Jue unfastened the top two buttons of his brocade robe and spoke casually, "Why are you thinking about going to the palace?"

"We won battles in Rundu, Jiyang, and earlier in Liangzhou Guard. The Emperor is sure to reward us in person, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the rewards will only increase. After all, I've followed you for so long. When does His Majesty plan to bestow honors at the banquet? I want to buy a few outfits and dress up in advance." He Yan spoke with conviction.

Xiao Jue stared at her for a moment, then curled his lips into a smile. "To achieve merit and glory?"If he hadn't mentioned it, He Yan would have nearly forgotten she had said those words before. But now that he was using them to tease her, she didn't feel much about it. With a thick skin, she nodded, "Exactly, it's already half-built. Commander, please help me add a little more. If I get promoted to a high-ranking official, I can support you in court in the future."

Xiao Jue chuckled, "Nonsense."

He Yan felt somewhat anxious. She was eager to enter the palace because only then could she meet Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei first. According to past practices, after generals returned victorious to the capital, the palace would inevitably hold a banquet, with all officials attending—the perfect opportunity for her to appear. Although she could also stake out the Xu and He residences now, the effect wouldn't be as good as the other method.

Moreover, once she entered the palace, it would also be the best opportunity to draw a clear line between herself and Xiao Jue.

Thinking of this, He Yan couldn't help but feel a little sad. Recalling Bai Rongwei's words from earlier in the day, she felt even more disheartened.

Xiao Jue was naturally perceptive. He Yan's sudden low spirits caught his eye, and he paused before asking, "What's wrong?"

He Yan looked up and changed the subject, "Commander, did you have a fight with Miss Shen?"

Xiao Jue was taken aback and averted his gaze, "Why do you ask?"

"Today, I ran into Madam Xiao in the mansion. She asked me if I knew the reason for your argument with Miss Shen." He Yan's voice was strained. "When I left Liang Province for Rundu, you two were still fine. But when I saw you later in Rundu, Miss Shen didn't come along. Brother Lin said it was because he didn't want Miss Shen to endure the hardships of travel... But now it seems, did you not travel together because of an argument?"

"It wasn't an argument," Xiao Jue interrupted her. "It was unnecessary."

He Yan: "What do you mean... unnecessary?"

Xiao Jue lowered his head, staring into her eyes. The emotions swirling in his gaze were something she couldn't understand. His voice remained calm, steady as if nothing had happened. "She's not anyone to me. Why would I bring her along?"

He Yan blinked.

This atmosphere, this posture, this tone—it was truly easy to misunderstand. How could an ordinary young girl withstand this? Even someone like her, who had lived two lifetimes, felt her heart flutter. She took several deep breaths inwardly before calming down.

"You can't say it like that. Miss Shen has always been by your side. You two are friends, after all. If there really is any misunderstanding, it's better to clear it up..."

"You came to my room just to say this?" Xiao Jue spoke calmly.

"Ah, not exactly." He Yan looked at him. "I just wanted to say, if His Majesty holds a banquet before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Commander, you must bring me along." Her gaze was filled with undisguised urgency. "I've never seen His Majesty before. If I can meet him once, I can show off in front of my younger brother the next time I see him."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, "You went to see He Yun Sheng today?"

"Yes," He Yan admitted without hiding it. "I've been away from home for a long time, and my family was worried sick. Now that I'm back in Shuojing, I should let them know I'm safe."

Xiao Jue looked at her, his gaze meaningful. "Did you tell them you're staying in my mansion?"He Yan was startled and immediately denied it, "No, no! I would never do anything that tarnishes the Commander's reputation. I only said I was staying at a friend's house, without mentioning who. I doubt they could guess I'm staying at Xiao Manor."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jue nodded, though it was unclear what he meant. "Actually, it wouldn’t matter if you had said it," he remarked, glancing at the stunned He Yan. "You are my 'capable subordinate,' and the nature of our relationship will inevitably become known to them in the future."

He Yan: "..."

What was going on with Xiao Jue lately? Such a proper and upright superior-subordinate relationship was being described by him as if it were some illicit affair between a man and a woman. It made one’s heart race and cheeks flush with embarrassment.

He Yan cleared her throat twice. "Anyway... just remember to bring me along to the palace banquet, Commander. If you take me, I’ll definitely repay you in the future."

Xiao Jue looked her up and down lazily. "How will you repay me?"

He Yan: "...I haven’t thought of it yet."

He sneered, turning to put away the teapot scattered on the table, and casually said, "Fine, at the next palace banquet, Miss He Yan can come with me."

He Yan's heart leaped with joy, her eyes curving into a smile. "Thank you!"

Player Xiao is in the midst of a wild flirtation spree.

(End of Chapter)