Legend of the Female General

Chapter 199: My Heart Adores You

Night enveloped the wilderness.

Inside the thatched hut, someone huddled in a corner, lips moving silently, muttering words unknown.

"Young Master, we've found them. Xu Jingfu's men are hunting them down. These two brothers are now somewhat delirious. We may need to bring them back to the city for Physician Lin to examine," Luan Ying whispered as she stood beside Xiao Jue.

These were the survivors from the Battle of Ming River.

In that battle, the troops led by Xiao Zhongwu were almost completely annihilated. Among his trusted aides and deputies, aside from Chai Anxi, none survived. Over the years, the surviving soldiers had also died one after another—whether their deaths were suspicious or not, no one cared anymore. Five years had passed since the Battle of Ming River. Perhaps in this world, aside from Xiao Zhongwu's son, no one cared about the deceased General Guangwu or the sinister conspiracy hidden within that infamous defeat.

"Is there no other way?" Xiao Jue frowned. "In this state, I doubt they can hold on until we return to the city."

"We left in a hurry and only brought trauma medicine, nothing to calm the mind or soothe the spirit," Luan Ying shook her head. "Xu Jingfu's men pursued them for seven days and nights. They haven't slept or rested, which is why they can't hold on."

A war of attrition was indeed draining, especially one as relentless as this. After a moment's thought, Xiao Jue untied a sachet from his waist—the one He Yan had given him earlier, made by Bai Rongwei. He pinched the pouch, loosened the string, and inside was a tiny talisman for peace and some medicinal herbs. According to He Yan, these herbs were meant to calm the mind.

Xiao Jue poured out the herbs and handed them to Luan Ying. "Take these for them to smell. We won't travel tonight. Find another place and let them rest for the evening."

Luan Ying complied.

After investigating Xu Jingfu and the case of Ming River for so long, finally finding two living witnesses was no small feat. But it also showed that Xiao Jue's abilities had gradually grown to a point where he could contend with Xu Jingfu. This time, for instance, he had succeeded in snatching these men away.

They couldn't stay here long and needed to relocate. They found a household outside the city and settled there with the delirious brothers.

Chi Wu and Fei Nu guarded the door to the brothers' room, preventing any nighttime mishaps. Luan Ying went out to gather information. Nights in the outskirts were always particularly desolate, especially in autumn, with scarcely a trace of human activity for miles around. Yet the moon shone white and bright, casting its light over the empty wilderness like flowing silver, evoking an inexplicable sense of desolation.

He didn't particularly like the Mid-Autumn Festival. For him, it always brought back unpleasant memories. The fuller the moon, the lonelier one felt. Every year around this time, he found it difficult to sleep. In previous years, stationed at the military camp, he could bury himself in official documents until midnight. But now, back in Shuojing, there was truly nothing he could do here.

Xiao Jue lowered his gaze to the sachet in his hand. The herbs inside had been emptied, leaving only a flat layer and the small peace talisman. After a moment's thought, he opened the sachet, intending to tuck the talisman back inside.

Though embroidered by a maid of the Xiao household, the silk fabric and patterns were personally chosen by Bai Rongwei. Bai Rongwei was always particularly meticulous about such matters, crafting the sachet with exquisite care. His fingers brushed over the silk, cool as moonlight.Xiao Jue's gaze paused slightly. In the next moment, his fingertip brushed over the inner part of the sachet, touching a rough, raised bump. This bump stood out starkly against the smooth satin surface. He lowered his eyes and turned the sachet inside out.

The inner side appeared before Xiao Jue.

The sachet was embroidered with two layers—a double-layer embroidery. The inner strip of cloth was plain black, without any pattern. However, on this inner fabric, there was now a crooked, bright yellow, curved corner, impossible to discern what it was meant to be. It was clear that the person who embroidered it had skills that left much to be desired—the thread ends weren’t even trimmed neatly.

To put it simply, the black serpent on the outside of the sachet and this yellow corner on the inside hardly seemed like they belonged to the same piece of work.

What was this? Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. Bai Rongwei’s embroidery skills were far better than this. If the maids in the Xiao household produced work of this quality, it would be rather embarrassing to mention. This sachet had been given to him by He Yan. In the entire Xiao household, aside from Miss He, there was likely no one else whose embroidery could turn out like this.

He turned the sachet over and over in his hands, trying to find traces of anything else He Yan might have embroidered. But there was nothing—aside from this yellow corner, she hadn’t embroidered anything else.

Xiao Jue’s lips twitched.

Was she using his sachet to practice? And doing it so sneakily, so quietly? If he hadn’t opened the sachet to retrieve the herbs inside, he might never have discovered its secret. But what was the point of doing this? If she really wanted to practice, she could have taken a plain handkerchief and embroidered to her heart’s content. Hiding it like this felt like there was some deeper meaning he couldn’t grasp.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the wilderness. A boy of about twelve or thirteen walked up to him and grinned, saying, "Young Master!"

This child was Luan Ying’s son, named Bai Xian. Handsome in appearance, he bore a striking resemblance to Luan Ying, though his youth and slightly chubby cheeks gave him an air of innocence and charm. Unlike Luan Ying’s frosty temperament, Bai Xian was as lively and cheerful as any boy his age, even a bit of a chatterbox.

He adored Xiao Jue. No matter how many times Luan Ying warned him to mind his manners and not be presumptuous, Bai Xian never remembered. Xiao Jue didn’t mind, so whenever Luan Ying wasn’t around, Bai Xian would seize any opportunity to stick close to him.

Bai Xian immediately noticed the sachet in Xiao Jue’s hand. His eyes were sharp—even in the dim light, he could clearly see the embroidery on the inner fabric. He blurted out, "Huh? This moon is embroidered so beautifully!"

"...Moon?" Xiao Jue was taken aback.

Bai Xian replied with confidence, "Young Master, look—it’s yellow, curved, it’s definitely a moon!" He leaned in closer, standing on tiptoe to examine the embroidery in Xiao Jue’s hand, clicking his tongue in admiration. "This black fabric is like the night sky, and this moon embroidered on it represents the moon in the darkness—it symbolizes you, Young Master! You’re the moon in the night, dazzling and radiant!" The boy grew more excited as he spoke and whispered mysteriously, "Young Master, was this given to you by a young lady?"

Xiao Jue: "..."

Feeling slightly awkward, he withdrew the sachet. "No."

"How could it not be?" Bai Xian was puzzled. "If it wasn’t a young lady, how could a man embroider something so exquisitely beautiful?"Xiao Jue once suspected that perhaps Bai Xian was He Yan's real younger brother, for their standards of "beauty" were remarkably similar.

Bai Xian was about to ask more when a voice suddenly exploded behind him, "Bai Xian!"

Startled, Bai Xian darted behind Xiao Jue, "Mother... I just came out to use the latrine and happened to see the young master."

Luan Ying grabbed him by the ear and pulled him out from behind Xiao Jue, "How many times have I told you not to disturb the young master? Why won't you listen? Young master, I apologize. I'll take this child back right away!"

Luan Ying hauled Bai Xian away, and the wilderness was left with only Xiao Jue once more.

Moonlight spilled over the dark fields, the earth tinged with frost, like the snow along the banks of the Liangzhou Guard's river, flooding into a morning of pure cold.

The heartless moon, the sentimental dream of return—he curled the corner of his lips and turned to leave. Suddenly, his steps halted, as if remembering something, and he abruptly lifted his gaze.

In his memory, amidst the lively, laughing crowd, on the high platform, a girl's face was hidden behind a mask, speaking idle words in a desultory manner.

"One last secret," she stood on tiptoe, leaning close to his chin, her voice soft, "I like the moon."

"The moon doesn't know."

...

The day to enter the palace soon arrived.

Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were also to enter the palace together. When they learned that He Yan would not be accompanying them but would instead go with Lin Shuanghe, they were somewhat surprised. However, being considerate of others' feelings, they did not ask further. They waited until Lin Shuanghe's carriage arrived, saw He Yan onto it, and instructed her to meet them inside the palace.

Lin Shuanghe sat inside the carriage, fanning himself, and said, "Huai Jin is probably worried that you wouldn't get along with Ru Bi and the others. We're all old friends, so it's more comfortable this way." He then sized up He Yan and sighed, "It's Huai Jin's loss that he couldn't make it back today. Our Sister He looks dashingly heroic even in such lavish men's attire. If you enter the palace with me today, no one among the civil and military officials will outshine the two of us."

He Yan was preoccupied with other matters and responded perfunctorily. Seeing this, Lin Shuanghe assumed she was nervous about entering the palace for the first time and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Sister He. I'm here for you. I know the palace well—you can strut around as you please. As long as you don't kill or set fires, my grandfather can handle anything."

He seemed all too accustomed to dragging his father and grandfather into trouble and now included He Yan in his schemes.

The carriage sped along, and after what felt like a long time, it finally reached the palace gates. The guards at the entrance were already very familiar with Lin Shuanghe's carriage. Lin Shuanghe and He Yan alighted and followed the palace attendants guiding them inside.

This was He Yan's first time entering the palace.

If this were her previous life, she would have been nervous, for she would be meeting the emperor and receiving rewards. But having died once, she knew that so-called prospects and wealth were as fleeting as clouds. She was not entering the palace for the future now but to settle a score from her past life.

They wound through the palace's corridors and gardens, passing the front hall. The monarch's banquet this time was merely to celebrate achievements. Those in attendance were all prominent figures in the court, and even someone like Lin Shuanghe could slip in thanks to his connections with Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu.In the front hall, many people had already gathered. He Yan looked around but did not see Xiao Jing and his wife. Lin Shuanghe whispered, "We took the shortcut, while Rubi likely took the main road, so he might arrive later. Don’t worry, Brother He, I’ll stay with you. When people come to greet us, I’ll introduce your name so you can get to know some of them."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone called out, "Lin Shuanghe!"

However, this person was not here to meet He Yan, because it was Yan He. Yan He was wearing his official robe, and standing beside him was a gentle and elegant woman. Though not strikingly beautiful, her appearance was pleasant and enduring. She bowed slightly to Lin Shuanghe, "Young Master Lin."

This was Yan He’s wife, Xia Chengxiu.

Yan He was known for his capricious nature. In full view of everyone, he wrapped an arm around Xia Chengxiu’s shoulder and gestured toward He Yan with his chin. "Chengxiu, this is the friend I told you about—the one who, like me, despises He Rufei. But now he’s Xiao Huaijin’s man," he said, turning to He Yan. "Would you like to work for me instead?"

Before He Yan could respond, Lin Shuanghe waved his hand with righteous indignation. "No way! Matters like this require unwavering loyalty. How can you switch sides halfway?"

Yan He was baffled. "Does this also require unwavering loyalty?"

"Are you the kind of person who’s fickle and disloyal at heart?" Lin Shuanghe looked at Xia Chengxiu. "Madam, I worry for you."

Xia Chengxiu: "..."

Yan He was furious. "Lin Shuanghe, shut up! How can you sow discord like this?"

Lin Shuanghe replied, "Now you understand."

Yan He grumbled as he led Xia Chengxiu away, and only then did Lin Shuanghe breathe a sigh of relief. He turned to ask He Yan something but noticed her staring intently in one direction. Following her gaze, Lin Shuanghe saw a group of people conversing not far away. At the center stood a young man in a long robe, refined and handsome—a familiar face. This was Xu Zhiheng, a Hanlin academician.

Lin Shuanghe was puzzled. He Yan’s intense stare might lead others to think she had taken a liking to Xu Zhiheng. However, Xu Zhiheng was already married, and in terms of refined elegance, Chu Zhao was no less impressive. In fact, compared to Chu Zhao, Xu Zhiheng fell far short.

Could it be that she was seeking a substitute for her unrequited feelings toward Chu Zhao? Lin Shuanghe’s thoughts were a jumbled mess.

On the other side, Xu Zhiheng seemed to have noticed someone watching him. He followed the gaze and saw He Yan, a stranger he had never met before, but he recognized Lin Shuanghe. Lin Shuanghe held no official position, but Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu were adept at navigating court politics. Most officials in the court were on good terms with the Lin family, or at least avoided making enemies with them. Seeing Lin Shuanghe also looking his way, Xu Zhiheng was momentarily surprised. He then excused himself from his colleagues and walked over to Lin Shuanghe.

"Brother Lin," he said, stopping in front of Lin Shuanghe, his voice gentle. "It’s been a while."

Lin Shuanghe knew Xu Zhiheng, but only in passing. Nevertheless, he was quick-witted and responded smoothly, "Indeed. I’ve been to Liang Province for a while, but Shuojing is still the best. By the way, this is a friend I met in Liang Province."

He Yan looked up at Xu Zhiheng.It had been over two years, nearly three, since she last "saw" Xu Zhiheng. In her memory, Xu Zhiheng was a gentle, considerate man—at the very least, his handsome appearance was entirely convincing. But now, perhaps due to the influence of his inner nature, his face seemed much sharper and more unkind.

He had grown much thinner. The official robe, already loose-fitting, made him appear even more stooped. His excessive thinness added an aged look to his face, and even the forced smile he wore seemed stiff and unnatural.

Xu Zhiheng was also sizing up the person before him.

This was a youth of delicate features, with a spirited look in his eyes and brows. A red round-collared robe accentuated his rosy lips and fair complexion, while a black belt cinched his slender waist, outlining an exceptionally graceful figure. Most captivating were his eyes—gentle in shape, yet sharp in gaze. From a distance, this youth had been staring intently at him. Though it was their first meeting, the look in his eyes seemed to carry a mix of emotions—cold, somber, as if seeing through all his pretenses, sending an involuntary chill down one’s spine.

Unsettled by such a gaze, Xu Zhiheng turned to Lin Shuanghe. "And this is…"

"Lord Xu, don’t let this young man’s age fool you. He has already been personally appointed by His Majesty as Wu Anlang. His name is He Yan. He will be our colleague from now on."

Xu Zhiheng had been listening with a faint smile, but upon hearing the name, his expression instantly darkened. "What did you say… his name is?"

"Lord Xu," He Yan said with a cheerful smile, "my name is He Yan—'He' as in the grain, 'Yan' as in peace and prosperity."

Xu Zhiheng’s face paled dramatically.

The youth before him wore a slight, seemingly friendly and innocent smile, but a closer look at his eyes revealed no trace of warmth. They were like a pool of icy water, dragging one back to that afternoon when a young woman struggled and sank into an unfathomable abyss, the suffocating pressure tightening around his throat.

His throat felt dry, and he found himself unable to utter a complete sentence.

Fortunately, someone called out Lin Shuanghe’s name—it was Lin Qingtan. Lin Shuanghe tugged He Yan away, saying, "Brother He, that’s my grandfather. Let me introduce you."

The person before him was gone.

Xu Zhiheng almost wondered if the name he had just heard was a dream, a result of his recent unease. But when he looked up, he saw the youth standing beside Lin Shuanghe in the distance, speaking with Lin Qingtan—a reminder that this was real.

There truly was a person named "He Yan" standing before him.

Cold sweat dripped down Xu Zhiheng’s back. A colleague noticed his distress and asked with concern, "Lord Xu, what’s wrong? You look so pale. Are you unwell?"

Xu Zhiheng forced a smile and waved a hand. "It’s nothing." He turned and walked toward an empty corner, not daring to let anyone see his terror.

Clenching his fingers, he tried desperately to convince himself. So what if his name was He Yan? There were many people with the same name in the world. "Madam Xu" was dead—he had personally watched her sealed in the coffin. This He Yan was a man, and judging by his age, he couldn’t possibly be the same person.

But…

But…

But the way that youth named He Yan had stared at him still sent chills down Xu Zhiheng’s spine whenever he recalled it.Coldness, hatred, mockery, and in an instant, a knowing smile that saw through everything.

And he had to say those words.

The first time he saw He Yan, or rather, the first time he saw He Yan under her real name, the girl was wearing a dress and said somewhat awkwardly, "My surname is He, given name Yan—He as in seedlings, Yan as in peace and prosperity."

Xu Zhiheng closed his eyes.

How could such a coincidence happen?

And how could such a coincidence happen right before his eyes? This was truly...

His restlessness was fully noticed by He Yan not far away, who inwardly sneered.

Wang Ba often said that walking in the dark for too long would inevitably lead to encountering ghosts. She had initially thought he was too timid, but now it seemed there was some truth to it. Just like Sun Ling and his son in Liang Province City, whose evil deeds were too numerous to record, and the countless women who died at their hands—they too feared vengeful spirits, filling their courtyard with Buddha statues and talismans.

Lin Shuanghe was well-liked, and wherever he went, he couldn’t avoid exchanging pleasantries with others. He Yan stayed by his side, matching the positions and faces of these people.

In any situation, do what is appropriate. When the battlefield shifted to the court, a general never fought unprepared.

At that moment, someone loudly announced, "The Flying Goose General is here, the Flying Goose General is here!"

The officials present quieted down slightly, turning their gazes toward the outer gate. It had to be said that the two great generals of Great Wei, Flying Swan and Feng Yun, were always the center of attention no matter the occasion. Since Xiao Jue couldn’t attend today, the one drawing all eyes became He Rufei alone.

Standing nearby, Yan He snorted disdainfully and said, "He’s not the emperor, does he need to put on such a grand show?"

Xia Chengxiu tugged at his sleeve, and Yan He didn’t continue.

He Yan also turned her head with the others to look toward the outer gate.

Led by palace attendants, a man walked in. He wore the official robes of a military officer, was fairly handsome, and carried the unique vigor and ruggedness of a military man. When someone greeted him, he nodded in response, appearing amiable and friendly while maintaining just the right amount of distance.

This slight distance made him, the "Flying Goose General," seem even more mysterious.

"Tsk," He Yan heard Lin Shuanghe beside her say. "This kid was quite cute when he was little. How did he become so unpleasant as he grew up? What’s the difference between him and those old-timers who’ve been in the officialdom for years?" He added in a low voice, "The officialdom is a big dye vat... Good thing I’m not an official."

This was the first time He Yan had seen He Rufei interacting with his colleagues in the court. Under the name of the Flying Goose General, he lived as comfortably as a fish in water, without any burden, as if he had been the Flying Goose General from the very beginning.

He Yan felt disgusted.

Perhaps her gaze was too focused, as He Rufei seemed to sense it and looked toward her. The moment their eyes met, He Yan promptly turned her head to speak with Lin Shuanghe. Thus, He Rufei only saw an unfamiliar young man standing beside Lin Shuanghe. Perhaps it was his imagination? He Rufei paid it no mind and went to sit with his close colleagues.The colleagues he befriended were naturally those he met after removing his mask. In the past, he had no connection with them, and as for Xu Zhiheng, in front of outsiders, they were not particularly close. Everyone knew that He Rufei and He Xinying shared a deep bond as siblings, but when it came to this brother-in-law, their relationship could only be described as one of mutual respect between gentlemen. After all, one was a civil official and the other a military officer; even if they wished to be closer, there was little common ground for conversation.

He Yan, however, knew otherwise.

It was merely the guilty conscience of those who feared being exposed, deliberately keeping their distance. It seemed they were terrified of that matter being discovered. The more they feared, the more confident He Yan became.

Lin Shuanghe said, "Let's sit down first as well."

Male and female guests were seated separately, though at such a palace banquet, very few women attended. Aside from the ladies favored by the Empress Dowager, who brought their own daughters, there were no others.

After some time had passed, a eunuch announced from outside that Emperor Wenxuan had arrived.

These past two days, the Double Eleven sales have left me utterly exhausted—calculating, buying, refunding, even dreaming that Li Shaohong was tutoring me in math...

(End of Chapter)