Legend of the Female General

Chapter 198: Entering the Palace

The night had deepened.

The lamps in the courtyard had already been extinguished, leaving only a single glowing lantern by the entrance, like a firefly resting on a leaf, ready to take flight at any moment.

Ying Xiang approached with the lantern in hand, saying, "Fourth Young Master."

Chu Zhao glanced up at her. "I told you there was no need to wait for me."

"This servant couldn't sleep," Ying Xiang replied softly. "I came out with the lantern to look around and happened to run into you."

Chu Zhao said nothing and entered the room. "You may leave."

Ying Xiang bowed slightly and withdrew from the room, closing the door behind her.

Chu Zhao sat at the table, pressing his fingers to his temples. Xu Jingfu's words from earlier at the Xu residence echoed in his ears once more.

"Zi Lan, I have only this one daughter. In the future, you must not mistreat Pingting. If she comes home complaining to me, even as your teacher, I won't let you off lightly."

Xu Pingting pouted. "How could Zi Lan brother ever mistreat me? But since Zi Lan brother is so handsome, there are plenty of women in Shuojing City who fancy him. Once I become Zi Lan brother's wife, if any shameless vixens dare throw themselves at him," she raised an eyebrow, her voice rising triumphantly, "I'll skin them alive!"

"A young lady, always talking about fighting and killing—what kind of behavior is that?" Xu Jingfu said this, but there was no intention of stopping Xu Pingting in his tone.

The seemingly affectionate scene between this father and daughter filled his mind, making him bend over involuntarily, a wave of nausea churning in his stomach. He retched dryly several times.

Before heading to the Xu residence today, Chu Zhao had instructed Ying Xiang to stay in the room. In fact, ever since returning to Shuojing, he had kept Ying Xiang within the Chu mansion, telling her not to go out unless absolutely necessary. Now that Xu Pingting's engagement to him was almost publicly acknowledged, Ying Xiang would be in even greater danger.

In his youth, Chu Zhao had become Xu Jingfu's student. Thanks to Xu Jingfu, Madam Chu no longer dared to openly lay hands on him as she once had. Xu Jingfu treated him well, too; for a child, he gave Chu Zhao plenty of face. Because of his status as Xu Jingfu's student, Chu Zhao gained many advantages in his social interactions. And Xu Pingting, as Xu Jingfu's daughter, was close in age to him. At first, Chu Zhao hadn't despised her so intensely.

Even in her youth, Xu Pingting was already the apple of the Xu family's eye, getting everything she wanted. Aside from being a bit spoiled, she was actually quite good to Chu Zhao. She would always trail behind him like a little tail, calling him "Zi Lan brother" over and over. Sometimes she would tell him, "Pingting will marry Zi Lan brother in the future. Zi Lan brother belongs only to Pingting."

He had taken it as childish talk, until the year he turned fourteen.

Chu Linfeng was famously handsome among Xiao Zhongwu's generation. Even without the title of Shi Jinbo, his good looks alone could win the hearts of many young women. Chu Zhao's mother, Ye Runmei, was also exceptionally beautiful. Chu Zhao inherited the best features of both his parents, and by the age of fourteen, his looks were on par with the two brothers of the Xiao family. His personality was gentle and considerate, and he knew how to take care of others, which secretly won the affection of many young ladies.Among them was a young lady surnamed Qian, whose temperament was bold and passionate. Her phoenix eyes were exceptionally enchanting, and unlike the shy, timid girls of Shuojing City, she straightforwardly expressed her feelings to Chu Zhao after meeting him just a few times. Chu Zhao, of course, refused, but the young lady refused to give up. She didn’t pester him, but she frequently sent gifts to the Chu household. Occasionally, when they encountered each other in Shuojing City and friends teased them, Miss Qian wouldn’t refute it, instead staring directly at him, leaving him utterly helpless each time.

Not long after, Miss Qian met with a tragic fate. It was said that while out on a spring outing with friends, she was attacked by bandits and died a gruesome death—her eyes were gouged out, shocking the entire capital. Miss Qian’s father was only a minor official of the seventh rank, and after reporting the incident to the authorities, the whereabouts of the murderer were never found. When Chu Zhao learned of this news, he was stunned for a long time, unable to believe that the girl who always playfully winked at him had died so silently.

Half a year after this incident, he went to the Xu residence to see Xu Jingfu. As he passed by a small hall, he overheard Xu Pingting speaking to her maid.

“She was nothing but a lowly commoner, yet she dared to compete with me! She didn’t even know her place. I gouged out her eyes—let’s see how she seduces Zi Lan in the future! If any other shameless woman dares to cling to Zi Lan in the future, I won’t be as lenient as before!”

The girl’s laughter was soft and innocent, yet it was filled with a malice that seeped into the bones. In such a casual conversation, she had utterly destroyed another girl her own age.

Chu Zhao’s heart turned cold from head to toe.

And now, he was to be bound to this woman for life, to grow old together, inseparable and affectionate—how utterly ironic.

He slowly straightened his posture. One night, while he was still at Liangzhou Guard, Lin Shuanghe, the grandson of Lin Qingtan and known as the White-robed Divine Hand, had said something to him.

“Chu Fourth Young Master, if you care for Sister He, you should stay away from her as soon as possible. Your family has a tigress, and our Sister He doesn’t want to become the second Miss Qian.”

His eyes flickered with uncertainty. Beside the brush holder lay a flat stone carved into the shape of a horse. Through this stone, he seemed to see a girl under the night sky, casually wiping the sweat from her forehead, carefully carving it with a knife, and handing it to him.

Whose voice was it, bright and spirited, as clear as a spring stream?

“Zhao means ‘brightness.’ Zi Lan means ‘fragrant grass.’ The person who gave you this name must have loved you deeply, hoping you would be noble in character and have a bright future, which is why they gave you such an elegant name.”

He had been in the darkness for many years.

But when the first ray of light appeared, even knowing it didn’t belong to him, he couldn’t help but greedily want to hold it in his palm.

…

He Yan deliberately woke up late the next morning.

After breakfast, she greeted Bai Guo and leisurely left the house. Several days had passed since her last visit to the Xu residence. She imagined that the servant named Fuwang must have been eagerly awaiting her arrival these past few days.The reward silver from His Majesty, the remainder she tucked into her sleeve. When dealing with people, money was indispensable. Although she was now a minor official, her funds were far from ample. After a few more rounds of greasing palms, she would have nothing left. He Yan pondered whether to borrow some from Lin Shuanghe and then try to multiply it at Letong Manor? But last time she won silver there, she also offended the house dealer. If she went again, she would likely be turned away at the door.

Contemplating the serious question of where to get money, He Yan had already arrived at the teahouse where she had previously met Fuwang. She first smiled and gave the attendant at the entrance a few pieces of broken silver, casually asking, "Has anyone come looking for me these past few days?"

The attendant swiftly pocketed the silver, grinning, "Yes, yes, yes! That young man who came with you last time has been here three times a day these past few days. Please have a seat; I reckon he’ll be here again soon."

He Yan smiled, "Then I’ll trouble you for a pot of tea."

With that, she walked straight to the private room where they had met last time and sat down.

Having kept Fuwang waiting for so long, He Yan had long guessed he would likely grow impatient, but she hadn’t expected him to be so restless. Still, this was good news for her—Xu Zhiheng’s methods of winning people over were truly lacking. Or perhaps he only focused on currying favor with those above, forgetting that those below also needed to be appeased.

Sure enough, less than a quarter of an hour after He Yan sat down, someone knocked on the door of the private room. He Yan said, "Come in." The door opened, and Fuwang closed it behind him before striding in.

"Young master!" Seeing He Yan, he was visibly excited. "I thought you had left Shuojing. These past few days have been truly agonizing."

He Yan gestured to him, "Sit."

Once Fuwang was seated, she spoke unhurriedly, "I’ve been occupied with important matters these days and only found time to come here today." She poured Fuwang a cup of tea, her tone gentle. "You’ve been so eager to find me—do you have news?"

"News... of course I have." Fuwang wore a troubled expression.

He Yan understood implicitly and placed a silver ingot in front of him.

"Young master is truly generous, thank you, young master." Fuwang beamed, quickly tucking the silver into his robe before speaking. "Regarding the matter you asked me to inquire about, I’ve been keeping an eye on it in the mansion. But when Concubine He had her accident, all the servants in her courtyard were gone—some left the mansion, others were sold off. In the end, not a single one remained. I pieced together bits of information from servants in other courtyards." He lowered his voice, nervously glancing around. "Actually, those servants... they all died!"

As he said this, he deliberately tried to observe He Yan’s expression, but unfortunately, the person sitting opposite was hidden beneath a veil, making it impossible to see clearly. However, judging by how calmly he continued to drink tea, he didn’t seem particularly surprised.

"Young master, do you know what it means when all the servants in a courtyard are executed?"

He Yan smiled faintly, "Silencing witnesses?"He had originally intended to keep her in suspense, but she saw through it at a glance. Fuwang felt somewhat deflated, losing the desire to tease as he had earlier. He answered honestly, "Indeed. I found out that Concubine He committed an unforgivable crime, so the so-called 'family punishment' was actually meant to kill her. The servants in her courtyard all knew the truth, so none of them were spared."

When Fuwang first learned of these things from others, even now, recalling it sent chills down his spine. Even though the servants in the courtyard had their contracts in the hands of their masters, dozens of lives—even if brought up in Shuojing City—would be considered a major incident. Moreover, the Xu family, a scholarly household, could calmly silence dozens of people without batting an eye, which was truly terrifying. It also made one wonder: what grave crime had Concubine He committed?

Adultery? That wouldn’t warrant killing all the servants in the courtyard. There were guards in the courtyard as well—surely they wouldn’t have stood by watching while Concubine He engaged in an affair? What kind of crime could involve everyone in the courtyard knowing about it, and require their deaths to keep it secret?

"Is that all?" He Yan asked.

Fuwang replied, "That’s all."

He Yan smiled. "Young man, what you’ve told me may seem like secrets, but in reality, it doesn’t help my situation. If this is all you can find, there’s no need for us to continue this transaction." She stood up. "I’ve troubled you these past few days. Thank you for your efforts."

With that, she made as if to leave without hesitation. Fuwang’s heart tightened, and he blurted out, "Sir, please wait!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it. In business, sometimes it’s not just about the transaction—it’s about who can hold their nerve. Fearing he would lose this golden goose, he spoke up to stop her, but in doing so, he exposed himself.

He Yan turned her head to look at him. "Does the young man perhaps have more information he hasn’t shared yet?"

Knowing he had already been seen through by the person across from him, Fuwang steeled himself and said, "Sir, please sit down, and I’ll tell you more."

He Yan smiled and sat back down.

"Actually, I found out that among the servants executed at that time, there might be one person who isn’t dead."

He Yan smiled. "Go on."

"That person is Concubine He’s wet nurse, Nanny Qin. Before Concubine He’s incident, her wet nurse said she was going home to visit her grandson, but she never returned to the mansion even after the allotted time. Concubine He sent someone to check, but the wet nurse’s family said she hadn’t returned. Afterward, the mansion also searched for her but never found any trace." Fuwang said, "I believe Nanny Qin might still be alive."

He Yan looked at him without speaking.

Fuwang grew uneasy. "Sir?"

"If you say no one can find Nanny Qin now," He Yan said unhurriedly, "then you might not be able to find her either. A person who has disappeared, even if alive, holds no value without any leads."

Fuwang was secretly alarmed. Could this person across from him read minds? He had indeed uncovered a trace of Nanny Qin’s whereabouts, something he had paid a hefty price for. However, in this transaction, he was the one trying to cling to the other party, while this person could walk away at any moment. If he couldn’t show full sincerity, this person might never meet with him again.Thinking of this, Fuwang steeled his heart. "I found out that this Nanny Qin has been a widow for a long time. When she was serving as a wet nurse for Concubine He, she had a lover. No one else knows about this, only a maid who heats water in the mansion knows. That lover now lives outside the city. I want to give it a try—perhaps Nanny Qin is still there."

This was more like it. He Yan felt slightly reassured, and her tone carried a hint of praise. "My judgment was indeed correct. You're truly remarkable, young man. Information that others couldn't find, you managed to uncover." She said, "Then I'll wait here for good news. If you find Nanny Qin's whereabouts, be sure not to alert anyone. Report to me discreetly." She added, "After this matter is settled, I can help you shed your slave status. At that time, you can take a large sum of silver, leave Shuojing, and live worry-free from then on."

These words stirred Fuwang's heart.

"I have important matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer," He Yan stood up. "Stay here, finish your tea and snacks before you leave."

"Wait, young master!"

Fuwang's voice came from behind. As soon as He Yan turned around, she felt someone had already approached, attempting to lift her veil. However, in the next moment, that hand was easily caught by He Yan.

Fuwang: "Ouch, ouch, ouch..."

He Yan released his hand and continued walking forward without looking back, saying only, "If you want to see my face, there's no need to rush. Once the matter is settled, I will remove the veil myself."

The door closed, leaving the private room empty and silent, as if the secret meeting had been just a dream. Only the two teacups on the table hinted that someone had indeed been there.

Fuwang plopped down at the table, took a sip of tea to calm his fear. Who exactly was this mysterious person who knew so much about the Xu family?

...

After leaving the teahouse, He Yan felt much more at ease. Beneath the veil, a smile gradually spread across her face.

She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly with Fuwang. It turned out that someone who witnessed the truth in the courtyard had indeed survived. Since Nanny Qin could anticipate that Xu Zhiheng would silence her, she must be a clever person. A clever person fleeing for their life might have some tricks up their sleeve. Xu Zhiheng had likely miscalculated everything, but he probably never expected Nanny Qin to run away. After all, her children and grandchildren were in the capital. If she fled, the Xu family would not spare her family.

But Xu Zhiheng had also overlooked one thing: when faced with death, no one is without fear. The desire to survive outweighs everything. There are people in the world who sacrifice themselves to protect their families, and there are also selfish individuals who flee for their own lives when disaster strikes. Moreover, by running away, Nanny Qin had actually made her family safer. If Xu Zhiheng harmed her children and grandchildren, Nanny Qin might retaliate by revealing the truth to the world. With her whereabouts unknown, Xu Zhiheng would be hesitant to act.

She had to find Nanny Qin before Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei did.

Today's affairs had gone smoothly, and He Yan was in high spirits, returning to the mansion earlier than usual. Before she even reached the courtyard, she heard a familiar voice. "Sister, where has that Brother He gone? Do you really not know?"

Bai Guo stood up, only reaching his waist, and looked up to answer. "The second young master forbids us from asking about Young Master He's affairs."

Lin Shuanghe closed his fan. "Your second young master is quite thoughtful."He Yan called out to him from a distance, "Brother Lin!" Lin Shuanghe turned around and, seeing it was her, his eyes immediately lit up. He quickly walked over. "I just arrived here and was wondering where you were. It's perfect timing that you're back, Brother He. I specifically came looking for you."

Since returning to Shuojing, He Yan hadn't seen him. Compared to his time at Liangzhou Guard, Lin Shuanghe was dressed much more flamboyantly now. He had probably restrained himself while in the military camp, but now that he was back in Shuojing, even the eyes of the cranes embroidered on his clothes were adorned with tiny gemstones. Fragrant sachets and jade belts—nothing was missing. His entire appearance screamed two words: wealthy.

"Brother Lin, has there been any progress on the house matter?" He Yan was still preoccupied with the task she had entrusted to him. Unexpectedly, as soon as she said this, Lin Shuanghe choked up, clearly having long forgotten about it.

He chuckled awkwardly a few times. "The house... hasn't been easy to find lately. I wanted to find one that truly suits you, Brother He, so I can't be careless. Well, I came for something else. Let's talk inside."

He Yan was speechless.

Leading Lin Shuanghe into the room and closing the door behind them, Lin Shuanghe circled the room and sighed, "Not bad! Isn't this room right next to Huaijin's? I think it's better than Liangzhou Guard. Sister He, are you living well here? If there's anything inconvenient, just tell Huaijin. Don't put up with any discomfort."

The way he spoke made it seem as though this wasn't the Xiao Manor but the Lin family home. He Yan poured him a cup of hot water. "Brother Lin, you didn't come all this way just to see how I'm living, did you?"

"Oh," Lin Shuanghe slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot the main reason." He took out an invitation from his sleeve and handed it to He Yan. "An invitation to the palace banquet, for you. Huaijin left the city and probably won't make it back in time. Before he left, he asked someone to tell me to take care of you. In three days, I'll come to the Xiao Manor gate to pick you up, and you can follow me into the palace. Since it's your first time entering the palace, it might be inconvenient without someone to guide you."

He Yan was taken aback. "The Commander left the city?"

"Yes, he left today. He was in a hurry and had someone bring me a message. Originally, he planned to take you to the palace banquet himself, but since he can't make it back in time, he asked me to do it for him."

He Yan recalled that Xiao Jue had indeed mentioned leaving the city in the past few days, but she hadn't expected it to be so sudden, without even a chance to say goodbye.

Still... he truly kept his promise. He said he would take her to the palace banquet, and he really did.

"What are you thinking about, Sister He?" Lin Shuanghe waved his hand in front of her face. "I brought a few outfits with me today. When you go to the palace, you need to dress splendidly. You don't know how those people in the palace judge others by appearances. You might be moving around the palace frequently in the future, so the first impression you make is important. I had my servants buy these—each one is made of fine fabric and quite luxurious. Pick one to wear, so you won't disgrace Huaijin's reputation."

He Yan: "...Thank you."

"Also, Sister He, I suspect that when Huaijin takes you to the palace this time, His Majesty might reward you generously. After all, you've accomplished a lot alongside him. If you're promoted or something, don't be too surprised. I'm just mentioning it—it might not happen."He went on and on about the things to pay attention to at the palace banquet until a servant came to urge him to hurry to his next engagement, and only then did he rise to take his leave. After Lin Shuanghe left, He Yan sat down in front of the mirror.

The clothes he had asked someone to bring earlier were placed on the table, brand new and neatly pressed, with exquisite embroidery. He Yan looked at herself in the mirror. In her past life, she had already resumed her identity as a woman before it was time to enter the palace. Thus, it was He Rufei who entered the palace, He Rufei who met the emperor, and He Rufei who was granted the title "Flying Swan."

Now, she was finally going to re-enter the palace as He Yan. She imagined that at this palace banquet, both Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei would be present, and perhaps she might even see He Yuanliang and He Yuansheng. Those people who had entangled with her in her past life were now reappearing before her, and in such a manner.

The girl in the mirror had already changed her face, her features bearing no resemblance to the past. Only in her eyes burned a fierce flame, as if ready to burn all evil deeds to ashes, as bright as ever.

He Yan lowered her head, lost in thought. After a long while, she slowly curved the corners of her mouth and smiled.

Three days later, it would be time for He Rufei, Xu Zhiheng, and the rest of the He family to truly understand the name "He Yan" once more. Meeting a long-dead acquaintance again—who knows if those with guilty consciences would tremble in fear upon hearing that name, unable to sleep through the night.

Perhaps it was for the best that Xiao Jue was not here.

She could act with even fewer restraints.

(End of Chapter)