Legend of the Female General

Chapter 208: Probing

Late at night, when all the servants had retired, the main hall of the He residence remained brightly lit.

Lady He the Second stood in the center of the room, flanked by her maid Cui’er, who had accompanied her up the mountain that day. He Yuanliang and He Yuansheng sat on either side with their wives, while He Rufei occupied a chair nearby, his gaze sweeping heavily over Lady He the Second, lost in thought.

After a long silence, He Rufei finally spoke, “Aunt, what exactly did you say to Xiao Huaijin at Jade Splendor Temple today? Now that Xiao Huaijin has returned to the capital, the situation here has been thrown into disarray once again. At a time like this, every step is crucial. That Xiao family… they are not on the same side as our He family.”

“I said nothing,” Lady He the Second replied softly, her expression calm. “I merely took a look at his fiancée.”

Xiao Jue’s fiancée was He Yan—a name the entire He family was unwilling to mention, as it always reminded them of unpleasant events from the past.

He Rufei chuckled, “What are you doing, Aunt? Cousin has already passed away. Even if they share the same name, surely you don’t believe this He Yan is your deceased daughter, do you?”

“I’ve told you before,” He Yuanliang interjected, his usual smile gone, replaced by an ugly expression, “do not mention He Yan again. He Yan is dead. It’s all in the past. Are you trying to get our entire family killed?”

Cui’er knelt on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. She had long been bribed by Lady He the First. Even on ordinary days, whether going out or staying within the residence, every move Lady He the Second made had to be reported to Lady He the First. This trip to the mountain was no exception. Unable to join Lady He the Second for the vegetarian meal, she had only seen her speaking with Xiao Jue from a distance. Upon returning to the residence, she eagerly reported the matter to Lady He the First, hoping for a reward.

But now, Cui’er regretted it. The He family had not hidden these secrets from her… not out of trust, but because a dead person, even if they knew secrets, was of no use.

She would never have the chance to reveal them.

“She is already dead,” Lady He the Second stared at him, a flicker of anger emerging in her previously dull eyes. “She cannot harm the He family. It was the He family who harmed her!”

“What do you mean by that?” Lady He the First’s expression turned cold, her tone filled with displeasure. “Are you blaming us now? You knew about the decision back then. Besides, it was for the sake of the entire He family!”

“What do you mean, ‘for the sake of the entire He family’?” Lady He the Second sneered. “Did I have any choice when the decision was made? She did not die for the sake of the entire He family. She died for your greed. You killed my daughter, yet you show no remorse or regret. She is already dead. I just wanted to see my daughter again. Even if it’s someone with the same name, even if I know it’s impossible, I wanted to see my daughter!”

By the end, her words had become hysterical.

“Second Brother,” He Yuansheng frowned slightly, “is this how you usually discipline your wife?”

He Yuanliang replied angrily, “She’s nothing but a madwoman! I’ve long said that keeping her around is a disaster!”"Just kill me," Lady He the Second let out a bitter laugh, her eyes filled with desperate madness. "Kill me, and you won't have to fear your secrets being exposed. Kill me, and I can reunite with my daughter in the underworld. I want to watch from the heavens—how long can the stolen glory and wealth of those who stole another's fate last? Even as a ghost, I will curse you day and night in the underworld. May all you seek come to nothing, and may none of you meet a good end!"

These words sounded particularly eerie in the night. He Yuanliang angrily exclaimed, "Mad, she's gone mad!"

He Rufei’s gaze was icy as he spoke calmly, "Second Aunt, don’t say such things. Even if you go to the underworld, your niece may not wish to reunite with you—after all, you were also one of those who pushed her onto that path. You have no right to call yourself her mother. Even in the underworld, she will resent you."

Lady He the Second was stunned by his words. Moments later, tears welled in her eyes, and she let out a pained sob.

"Second Aunt, don’t keep talking about life and death. Have you forgotten how heartbroken Second Sister would be if you died?"

Lady He the Second’s crying abruptly stopped. "...Xinying, Xinying knows nothing about this!"

"Of course I know Second Sister knows nothing," He Rufei replied with an indifferent smile. "Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lived to this day and married Xu Zhiheng."

"If Second Aunt is unwilling to speak, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you’ve said, I’ll visit the Xu family tomorrow, and Second Sister will tell me everything." He Rufei toyed with the thumb ring on his hand. "But Second Aunt, you must understand—He Yan is dead, but she is not your only daughter. If you wish to harm your other daughter, you may do as you please."

"I won’t... I won’t tell anyone," Lady He the Second knelt with a thud and crawled toward He Rufei. "Please don’t hurt Xinying. She knows nothing!"

He Rufei helped her up, smiling as he spoke. "Xinying is so obedient and sensible. Why would I harm her? Second Aunt need not worry. However, I see that your illness has worsened, making it unsuitable for you to go out. From now on, we’ll announce that you are gravely ill and confined to bed, and we’ll call a physician to treat you." His expression seemed almost pitying. "Second Aunt, focus on recovering. Once some time has passed and these matters are behind us, everything will be fine."

"Guards—" he called to the soldiers outside, "escort Second Lady back to her courtyard. From today onward, she is to rest quietly and receive no visitors."

Lady He the Second was dragged out of the hall. Her confrontation with He Rufei had drained all her strength. No one else in the room spoke. After Lady He the Second left, He Yuansheng frowned and said, "Is this truly wise? I can’t help but feel that keeping her alive will only lead to trouble sooner or later."

He Rufei glanced at He Yuansheng, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. This man had no talent for officialdom and had only secured a position through He Yuansheng’s connections. Yet, despite this, his inherent cowardice and selfishness remained unchanged. When it came to his wife and daughters, he would not hesitate to harm them if his interests were threatened, yet he refused to be the one to make the final decision. In comparison, He Yuansheng was far more decisive.

"Second Uncle need not worry," He Rufei said with a faint smile. "With Xinying here, Second Aunt will know her limits. Besides, if anything were to happen to Second Aunt now, it would only raise more suspicion. At this critical juncture, the He family must proceed with caution."“Rufei,” Lady He the First asked anxiously, “what should we do now? If Xiao Huaijin truly knows something, won’t all our efforts go to waste?”

When He Yan was still alive, He Rufei would discuss major and minor family matters with He Yuansheng and his wife. But after He Yan’s death, the entire He family had come to follow He Rufei’s arrangements. In the eyes of the He family, the greatest danger had vanished completely with He Yan’s passing. What awaited the He family in the future was nothing but endless wealth and honor. However, with Xiao Huaijin now entering the picture, the situation had changed. That sense of security now seemed full of holes and could not be entirely relied upon.

“I will visit the Xu family tomorrow,” He Rufei narrowed his eyes. “Aunt has kept the secret all these years, and with Second Sister by her side, even if she speaks to Xiao Huaijin, she likely won’t reveal too much. In comparison, I’m more worried about Xu Zhiheng.”

“Xu Zhiheng?” He Yuansheng asked. “What about him?”

“A petty, useless coward, utterly incompetent,” He Rufei spoke of Xu Zhiheng with great disdain. This man always talked big, but at the first sign of trouble, he would cower in fear. That day at the palace banquet, merely seeing someone with the same name had nearly caused him to slip up. He didn’t even consider that a dead person could not possibly come back to life—clearly, someone was behind it, aiming to make them panic.

While He Rufei could remain calm, Xu Zhiheng might not. If Xu Zhiheng couldn’t withstand intimidation and made a foolish mistake, his own downfall would be a minor matter. But given his nature, he would undoubtedly spill all the secrets he knew, dragging the entire He family into it.

If not for the fear of alerting others by acting now, He Rufei would rather silence Xu Zhiheng than Lady He the Second. Because, to some extent, Xu Zhiheng knew just as many secrets as Lady He the Second.

Even if only to reassure the others, he needed to see Xu Zhiheng as soon as possible.

“That’s it, then,” He Rufei stood up, rubbing his temples. There had been too many sudden developments lately, and he was not unaffected. As he walked past the maid named Cuier, he seemed to sense something and looked down. The girl was kneeling low, trembling, her pale neck exposed, looking particularly fragile.

“What about this maid?” He Yuanliang asked.

He Rufei glanced at Cuier with pity, then stepped past her expressionlessly and said, “Kill her.”

A woman’s scream echoed in the room.

…

The next day, He Yan went to the Xu family.

Coincidentally, when she arrived, she saw a He family carriage stop in front of the Xu residence, and He Rufei stepped down from it. The Xu family servants welcomed him inside familiarly. He Yan stood in the corner across the street, most of her body hidden in the shadows, her eyes lowered to conceal the mockery in them.

To outsiders, He Rufei was likely visiting his sister. Only He Yan knew that, having just seen He Xinying at Jade Splendor Temple the day before, He Rufei’s hurried visit today was less about seeing someone and more about questioning them. She also understood one thing: there were spies around Lady He the Second, and she was likely no longer free. It seemed her appearance had unsettled He Rufei somewhat.

There was no point in staying here. She turned and walked toward the teahouse where she had arranged to meet Fuwang.In the He household, Xu Zhiheng saw He Rufei and, as if spotting a savior, pulled him into the study, closing the door behind them. Turning around, he eagerly asked, "Well? Have you found out anything about that woman named He Yan? What is her background, and why has she come?"

He Rufei looked at him with disdain. "It’s only been a few days, and you’re already so frightened you don’t dare leave your home?"

"You don’t understand… you don’t understand…" Xu Zhiheng rubbed his temples in frustration. "You weren’t there to speak with the Marquis of Wu'an that day. Her demeanor and movements were exactly like He Yan’s, and her gaze… I feel it’s not so simple. Even if the dead cannot return to life, she must know something. She’s here for us!"

He Rufei sat down leisurely in a chair in the room. "Even if she is here for us, it’s not without a solution."

"What do you mean?" Xu Zhiheng asked.

"Aren’t you suspicious about whether she is truly He Yan or not?" He Rufei replied. "Then kill her again. Whether she’s real or not, as long as she’s dead, it’s over."

"How is that possible?" Xu Zhiheng was horrified. "She is now Xiao Huaijin’s fiancée. How dare we touch someone under Xiao Huaijin’s protection?"

Xu Zhiheng had not yet connected with Xu Xiang, so for the Xu family, it was naturally best to avoid conflict with Xiao Jue if possible. He Rufei couldn’t tell Xu Zhiheng that Xiao Jue had already set his sights on the He family because of Xu Xiang. Otherwise, a coward like Xu Zhiheng might even betray them to Xiao Jue in hopes of securing a way out.

He Rufei said, "My people have investigated. That He family in Shuojing once had a feud with another family. Although the matter is settled, and no one would dare bring it up now because of Xiao Huaijin, the other family lost a son. They may still harbor resentment. I suspect the death of the young master of the Fan family is somewhat related to He Yan. If someone were to kill He Yan…" He smiled faintly. "The Fan family seeking revenge would be a perfectly natural reason."

Xu Zhiheng was somewhat swayed but still had reservations. "Even if you do this, Xiao Huaijin might still find out… He is General Feng Yun, after all."

"I am also the Flying Goose General!" He Rufei suddenly snapped.

Xu Zhiheng was startled. The man before him had a gaze so dark it seemed unnatural, as if his words had struck a nerve. He quickly realized his mistake. "I didn’t mean it that way…"

"Forget it," He Rufei waved impatiently. "I will arrange this matter. You just need to know about it. In the meantime, don’t do anything foolish to cause trouble for me. I didn’t come here today just for you. Where is Xinying?"

"Why are you looking for my wife?"

"Yesterday, she and her mother went to the mountains to pray at the temple. On the way, they encountered Xiao Huaijin and He Yan. I don’t know what was said." He Rufei explained.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiheng immediately grew tense. "I’ll fetch her right away!"

He Xinying was in the courtyard, drying books in the sun. When she learned that He Rufei had come and was asking for her, her first reaction was not joy but nervousness.

Xiao Liu asked her, "Madam, why do you look so pale?"

He Xinying took a mirror to look at herself and saw that her lips had turned white. She asked Xiao Liu to fetch some lip rouge and applied it vigorously. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and walked toward Xu Zhiheng’s study.

Upon entering the study, He Xinying called out, "Husband, Elder Brother."Xu Zhiheng quickly motioned for her to sit down.

"Elder Brother passed by the residence today and thought to drop by to see you," Xu Zhiheng said with a smile. "He is very concerned about you."

He Xinying obediently expressed her thanks.

"I heard you went with Second Aunt to Jade Splendor Temple yesterday to pray," He Rufei said, turning his gaze to He Xinying with a gentle smile. "Second Aunt has been unwell lately, so praying might do her some good."

He Xinying nodded. "Yes, I noticed Mother’s complexion wasn’t good, and I’ve been quite worried."

"Father has already invited a renowned physician to the residence to help Second Aunt recuperate, so you needn’t worry too much," He Rufei reassured her. Then, his tone shifted as if casually, he asked, "I heard the two of you also encountered General Feng Yun and his fiancée at the temple yesterday?"

He Xinying’s heart tightened, but she showed no sign of it on her face, instead feigning surprise. "I didn’t expect Elder Brother to have heard about that! Mother and I found it quite strange when we saw them. Who would have thought someone as aloof as General Feng Yun would also believe in Buddhism?"

"Believing in Buddhism has nothing to do with that," He Rufei said, taking a sip of tea from his cup with a smile. "What did you talk about?"

He didn’t ask, "Did you speak with them?" but rather, "What did you talk about?" It seemed their every move at the temple was already known. He Xinying grew even more nervous, unsure what had happened to her mother after she returned to the He family last night. Judging by He Rufei’s demeanor, it appeared he knew everything.

But He Xinying wasn’t entirely foolish either. Hearing this, she sighed, adopting a somewhat sorrowful expression. "Elder Brother knows that since Sister’s passing, although Mother doesn’t speak of it openly, she is deeply saddened inside. When she heard that Commander Xiao’s fiancée shares the same name as Sister, she wanted to see for herself."

"Mother only asked one question: ‘Are you He Yan?’ Afraid of offending Commander Xiao, I didn’t let her finish. Instead, I apologized to Commander Xiao and Miss He and quickly pulled her away."

Hearing this, He Rufei sighed as well, though the scrutinizing look in his eyes still sent chills down He Xinying’s spine. He stared at her and suddenly asked, "So, is the Marquis of Wu’an really so similar to your sister?"

Xu Zhiheng turned his gaze to He Xinying, whose palms were gradually growing damp with sweat.

She was stunned for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Elder Brother, how could you say such things? In broad daylight, can we please not talk about such frightening matters? Although I didn’t interact much with Sister, from what I saw, the Marquis of Wu’an bears no resemblance to her at all. Sister was proper and reserved, while the Marquis of Wu’an is lively and spirited. When she spoke with Commander Xiao, she showed no fear at all. If it were Sister, she would never have acted that way."

He Rufei stared at her, as if trying to discern whether she was telling the truth. Just as He Xinying felt her smile beginning to stiffen, He Rufei finally looked away and said, "That’s true."

The oppressive pressure suddenly lifted, and He Xinying breathed a sigh of relief.

"I have other matters to attend to. Now that I’ve seen you, I should be going," He Rufei said, standing up. As if remembering something, he turned back to He Xinying and added, "These days, it’s not very safe outside. It’s best if you stay in the residence and avoid going out unnecessarily."

He Xinying quickly replied, "I understand."

He Rufei left, and Xu Zhiheng said, "I’ll see Elder Brother out," following him out of the study.He Xinying sat alone in her room. After a long while, she slowly raised a hand to her chest. For a moment just now, she felt as if her heart had nearly stopped beating. Although Xu Zhiheng said He Rufei was merely "passing by," He Xinying knew very well in her heart that he had come for her—for what had happened yesterday. However, compared to Xiao Huaijin, He Rufei’s focus seemed to fall more heavily on He Yan.

Why?

She dared not dwell on it further, yet she couldn’t help but speculate. He Rufei’s final words had seemed like concerned advice, but He Xinying’s intuition told her that leaving the estate in the future would likely not be an easy matter.

Was she to remain isolated within these walls forever? Unconsciously, He Xinying shivered. If her own situation was already like this, she imagined her mother’s circumstances would be even worse.

What should she do?

…

Meanwhile, just as He Yan finished her second cup of tea, Fuwang arrived.

As soon as he entered, he hurried straight toward He Yan’s room, exclaiming, "Young master, I’ve finally managed to catch you!" Fuwang had grown wiser—he couldn’t come here every day, or the Xu family would grow suspicious. Yet if he didn’t come, he feared missing He Yan. So, he had paid a small sum to a teahouse attendant to keep watch. If He Yan ever arrived, the attendant would notify Fuwang at the Xu family’s gate, allowing him to come as quickly as possible.

"I wanted to come as soon as I knew you were here, but today there was an important guest at the estate. I didn’t dare leave my post without permission, so I had to wait until the guest left before sneaking over."

He Yan knew he was referring to He Rufei but didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled and asked, "Since you’re in such a hurry to see me, it seems there’s progress regarding Nanny Qin’s matter."

Fuwang cursed inwardly. This young master truly had no sense of courtesy—jumping straight to business without even a greeting was far too impersonal. But though he thought this, he dared not voice it aloud. Fuwang grinned and said, "There’s good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first, young master?"

"The good news."

"The good news is, Nanny Qin really isn’t dead. I’ve been diligently searching for her whereabouts these past few days, and I’ve indeed found a clue. Although it’s not certain we can locate her, what is certain is that Nanny Qin is still alive. Most likely, she’s at her lover’s place outside the city. But that lover is quite cunning—often hard to find, moving to a new spot every few days. If you trust me, give me another eight or nine days, and I’ll definitely uncover Nanny Qin’s whereabouts."

"Eight or nine days?" He Yan spoke slowly. "That’s a bit long."

"No, no," Fuwang said with a pained expression. "I have to make arrangements and run around everywhere. This matter is of great importance. Even if you trust me, I don’t trust others. I’m afraid of messing things up by accident, so I can’t just handle it carelessly."

He Yan smiled, took a silver ingot from her sleeve, and placed it on the table.

Fuwang immediately beamed, tucking the silver into his robe. With a serious expression, he declared, "If you need it, young master, I’ll brave any danger to get this done for you as quickly as possible."

He Yan had no patience for his smooth talk and simply asked, "What’s the bad news?"Fuwang was taken aback for a moment. He glanced around as if afraid of being overheard, then leaned in closer and whispered, "The bad news is, there are still people in the Xu residence investigating Nanny Qin's whereabouts?"

He Yan's fingers twitched slightly. "Xu Zhiheng?"

Fuwang's eyes widened. "How did you know?" he said anxiously. "Yes, it's Master Xu. While I was making inquiries these past few days, I discovered that Master Xu is also having people look into Nanny Qin's whereabouts. But precisely because of this, I was able to ride on their coattails and investigate smoothly without being noticed."

"Young master, if you truly wish to find Nanny Qin, you must see her before Master Xu does."

(End of Chapter)