Legend of the Female General

Chapter 209: Ambush

After leaving the Xu residence, He Yan went straight back to the He family home.

He Sui and He Yun Sheng had not yet returned. He Yan rummaged through a chest under the table and pulled out a small box, inside of which were scattered a few silver ingots. Fuwang was greedy for money; without substantial benefits, he would never dare to take such a great risk to help her.

He Yan’s expression gradually grew serious.

Xu Zhiheng must have been frightened out of his wits to search for Nanny Qin’s whereabouts so quickly. She had to find the person before Xu Zhiheng did, which would inevitably require some bribery.

Looking at the pitiful few silver ingots, He Yan sighed.

Could it be that she really had to go to Letong Manor again?

…

A luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance of Shi Jinbo’s residence, and a young lady walked in, surrounded by maidservants.

The servants of the Chu family hurried out respectfully to greet her: “Miss Xu is here.”

Xu Pingting lifted her chin, lifted the hem of her skirt, and stepped through the gate of the Chu residence.

When Xu Jingfu occasionally visited the Chu family to see Chu Zilan, Xu Pingting would often accompany him. Everyone in the Chu household knew that Xu Pingting was Xu Jingfu’s beloved daughter, and they dared not show the slightest neglect.

Madam Chu also came out to greet her. Seeing Xu Pingting, she smiled and said, “Miss Xu is here. Zi Lan hasn’t returned home yet. Please have a seat in the hall and enjoy some hot tea while waiting for him.”

Xu Pingting glanced at Madam Chu and snorted in response.

Her behavior was quite rude, but Madam Chu showed no anger, still wearing a smile as she went out to instruct the maids to prepare some snacks. Watching her bustling figure, Xu Pingting curled her lips in satisfaction.

This wife of Shi Jinbo was plain-looking, which in itself was not unusual—there were plenty of unattractive women in Shuojing City. However, she had married Chu Linfeng, a handsome man. The stark contrast naturally invited gossip and ridicule. Chu Linfeng was also fond of beauty, taking concubines one after another into the household, a total of nineteen, each one stunningly beautiful. This made Madam Chu appear even more pitiable.

Yet no one dared to look down on this Madam Chu. In this household, aside from Chu Zhao, the son born to an outside woman, not a single concubine had borne Chu Linfeng a child. Xu Pingting had also heard from Xu Jingfu that Chu Zhao’s position in the household was awkward. Since she was infatuated with Chu Zhao, she naturally stood with him against his enemies. Therefore, whenever she visited the Chu family, she would also make things difficult for Madam Chu, the legitimate wife, to vent some anger on Chu Zhao’s behalf.

Today was no different.

Madam Chu had the maidservants bring tea and snacks. Chu Linfeng was not at home at the time. Madam Chu smiled and said, “It’s been a while since I last saw Miss Xu. Ever since His Majesty bestowed the marriage, and I heard that Miss Xu and our Zi Lan were to be united, I have been very happy. In Shuojing City, only Miss Xu is worthy of Zi Lan’s sincere affection.”

Who doesn’t love to hear flattering words, especially those about Chu Zilan’s love for her? Upon hearing this, Xu Pingting felt somewhat proud and said, “Of course, no other woman is worthy of Brother Zi Lan.”

Madam Chu smiled, took a sip of tea from the side, and her gaze fell on Motai, the maidservant standing behind Xu Pingting.

Xu Pingting noticed her gaze and spoke unhappily, “What are you looking at my maidservant for?”

“I was just thinking, Miss Xu’s personal maidservant is truly beautiful,” Madam Chu gently smoothed her hair and said unhurriedly, “After you and Zi Lan are married, Ying Xiang by Zi Lan’s side is also quite lovely. When you go out together, it will be like a family of beauties.”Mentioning this matter was fine, but once Ying Xiang was brought up, Xu Pingting's eyes immediately conjured up Ying Xiang's stunningly beautiful face.

Motai was indeed quite attractive, but compared to Ying Xiang, she fell far short. Not to mention Motai, even among the countless women in Shuojing City, those who could truly rival Ying Xiang were few and far between.

Come to think of it, Xu Pingting suddenly realized that these days she had seen Chu Zhao, but not Ying Xiang.

"Where is that girl now?" Xu Pingting asked.

"Zi Lan has excused her from serving, so she usually does light chores in the courtyard," Madam Chu said with a smile. "Miss Xu, you know that Zi Lan has a gentle temperament and a kind heart, always treating women with great courtesy. Since Ying Xiang grew up with him as a maid, she is indeed more special than the other servants."

Motai couldn't help but speak up, "No matter how special, she's still just a servant!"

Xu Pingting clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm, her expression extremely unpleasant.

Ying Xiang was a thorn in her heart. With such a seductress by Chu Zhao's side, how could she feel at ease? If not for Chu Zhao's protection, Ying Xiang would have died a thousand times over. Once, when she was younger, she had jokingly suggested selling Ying Xiang off. Chu Zilan, who had always been utterly compliant with Xu Pingting, ignored her for half a month for the first time.

At that moment, Xu Pingting understood that Chu Zhao intended to protect Ying Xiang. If she used the same methods she had employed against the young ladies who had shown interest in Chu Zhao, he would never forgive her for the rest of his life.

Xu Pingting did not want to create a rift between herself and Chu Zhao, nor did she want him to think of her as a malicious woman. So she endured, and this endurance lasted for many years. But back then, she and Chu Zhao were not yet engaged. Could it be that even after becoming his wife, she would still have to tolerate a vixen flaunting herself under her nose every day?

Madam Chu took in Xu Pingting's expression and sighed, "Miss Xu, you are still young and have yet to manage a household. But once you marry, life will be completely different from when you were a maiden. Look, there are a total of nineteen concubines in the Chu residence. Everyone treats me with respect, and it seems fine on the surface, but do you really think I have no grievances?"

"A woman, before marriage, can afford to be jealous and act a little spoiled—it's understandable. But if she continues to do so after marriage, others will say she is jealous, ill-mannered, and neglectful of her duties."

Xu Pingting was furious upon hearing this. "Who would dare say I'm jealous?"

"Even if they don't say it, that's what they'll think," Madam Chu said with a smile. "So, Miss Xu, if there is someone you particularly dislike, you must send them away before you marry. Otherwise, having an extra person in the household is a small matter, but damaging the marital bond is a serious one. You are both still young... it would be such a pity to hurt your feelings."

Her words were full of concern, and her smile was warm, but Xu Pingting knew perfectly well that Madam Chu was trying to sow discord. Yet what she said touched on the very thing Xu Pingting cared about most. Keeping Ying Xiang meant leaving a thorn in her heart. If this thorn was not removed, she would never be happy for the rest of her life.

"What if the person I want to get rid of is being protected by someone?" Xu Pingting asked.Chu Linfeng had taken nineteen beautiful concubines, yet whether they were clever or foolish, none could outmaneuver this plain-looking woman before her. To be honest, setting aside her identity, Xu Pingting rather admired Madam Chu. Without some skill, how could she manage such a vast household like the Chu family?

"It's quite simple," Madam Chu said. "I heard the Prime Minister was once the Crown Prince's teacher. The Crown Prince is currently in need of clever and attentive people by his side. If the Crown Prince personally asks for someone, who would dare refuse?"

Xu Pingting's eyes lit up.

She had forgotten about that. She couldn't do anything to Ying Xiang, but the Crown Prince could. Faced with the Crown Prince, could Chu Zhao possibly refuse?

For a moment, Xu Pingting felt a surge of excitement. She didn't even want to wait for Chu Zhao anymore. She stood up, glanced at Madam Chu, and showed her first smile of the day. "Thank you, Madam Chu, for enlightening me. I have matters to attend to today, so I'll visit another time." With that, she hurriedly left with her maid.

After Xu Pingting departed, the smile on Madam Chu's face faded. The old woman beside her whispered, "Madam, if the Crown Prince really asks for Ying Xiang, Fourth Young Master won't have any way to stop it."

"Chu Zilan has always known how to protect himself. No matter how much he dotes on that girl, he wouldn't ruin his future for a lowly servant. I never expected him to confront the Crown Prince anyway."

"Then you..."

Madam Chu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and after a moment, said, "If Ying Xiang is taken by the Crown Prince, it will be Xu Pingting's doing. I will naturally make sure Chu Zilan knows about it. That little bastard holds grudges. He may not show it on his face, but he's surely seething inside. I want him to clash with the Xu family."

"You know," Madam Chu sneered, "the outcome of clashing with the Xu family is death."

"I'm waiting for the day he dies."

...

He Yan knew nothing of these events in the Chu family. Since the victory banquet, she hadn't seen Chu Zhao again. Presumably, he was busy with his marriage to Xu Pingting. After all, the Xu family placed great importance on their daughter.

One evening, He Yan went to pick up He Yun Sheng from school.

In early winter in Shuojing, darkness fell early, and there were fewer people on the streets than usual. Aside from vendors selling hot soup, most preferred to stay in their warm homes.

A group of young men walked out of Helu Academy, with He Yun Sheng surrounded in the middle—a stark contrast to the last time He Yan had come.

"Yun Sheng, your future brother-in-law will be the famous General Feng Yun. You're really something!"

"How can you say Yun Sheng is something? It's his sister who's something! Can your sister do that? No way!"

He Yan listened from beside the wall and felt something was off. Why did it sound like they were insulting her?

He Yun Sheng, who had once been ignored by everyone in the academy, had now become someone everyone wanted to cozy up to—all because he had a sister who was a female marquis and a brother-in-law who was General Feng Yun. Some shameless people even insisted on visiting his home. Pah! He didn't even know them.

After finally shaking off these clingy people, He Yun Sheng walked home with his cloth bag slung over his shoulder. Suddenly, someone patted him on the back. He turned around to see He Yan, who ruffled his hair. "Walking so fast—are you racing?"

He Yun Sheng was taken aback and looked around. "Why are you here?"“I had some official business to attend to today,” He Yan said with a serious expression. “On my way home, I passed by your academy, so I thought I’d wait for you to walk back together.”

“Don’t come to the academy to look for me in the future,” He Yun Sheng muttered, walking ahead with a displeased look. “Those lunatics would go crazy if they saw you.”

He Yan chuckled, already guessing what the young man had experienced. “Alright, I know our Yun Sheng doesn’t like drawing attention. I won’t come find you next time. Oh, I suppose Father will be home soon. Qingmei is making porridge tonight—let’s buy some lamb buns to take back.”

“All you ever think about is food,” He Yun Sheng grumbled, but he obediently followed He Yan to buy the buns.

The lamb buns sold on the streets of Shuojing were thin-skinned, generously filled, and affordable. Steaming hot, they were wrapped in oiled paper bags and held close to the chest, radiating warmth. Carrying the paper bag, He Yan walked home with He Yun Sheng. Turning into a narrow alley, she took out a bun and offered it to him. “Are you hungry? Want one to tide you over?”

He Yun Sheng refused. “No. Do you want to end up looking like Tangyuan from the Wang family next door?”

Tangyuan was a pig raised by the Wang family next door—the fattest pig on the street. When it walked, all you could see was a round, white blob. Despite its enormous size, it had been given the adorable name “Tangyuan.”

He Yan looked him up and down, then took a bite herself. “So young and already so vain. I’ve told you, you’re at the age where you need to grow taller. How can you grow if you don’t eat more? You can always lose weight later. With your looks, you won’t turn out badly anyway.”

Her nonsensical rambling only annoyed He Yun Sheng. He was about to lecture her on speaking more carefully when He Yan suddenly frowned, swiftly pulling him behind her. Before he could ask what was happening, the half-eaten bun in her hand flew out, striking a shadow on the wall with perfect accuracy. The next moment, several dark figures emerged from the walls, brandishing knives as they charged toward the siblings.

“Yun Sheng, be careful!” He Yan pushed He Yun Sheng into a corner of the alley. Stunned by the sudden attack, He Yun Sheng scrambled to his feet just in time to see He Yan engaged in combat with the black-clad assailants. Their target wasn’t him. He Yun Sheng shouted, “Help! Murder!”

However, the street was sparsely populated, and at this hour of the night, there were even fewer people around. Even if someone heard, the timid wouldn’t dare approach. He hadn’t brought any weapons to school, and though he wanted to rush in bare-handed to help, he was only halfway there when a black-clad figure slashed at him, sending him tumbling to the ground.

“Yun Sheng!” He Yan grew frantic. Ducking under an oncoming blade, she drove her elbow into the attacker’s abdomen, forcing him back. Seizing the opportunity, she snatched his knife and deflected the blades of several others with a swift sideward motion.

Her swordsmanship was excellent, and while the assailants outnumbered her, their skills were mediocre. In no time, they lay defeated at her feet. He Yan refrained from taking their lives, merely kicking the last one down. He Yun Sheng hurried over, his eyes filled with panic. “He Yan!”

“No respect for your elders,” He Yan teased, trying to lighten the mood. “I told you to call me ‘sister.’”He Yun Sheng paid no heed, only grabbing He Yan's hand and looking her over. "Are you hurt? What happened just now? Why did you push me away?"

"Your small frame isn't enough to block a blade," He Yan replied. "Go get the torch from the wall. I have some questions to ask."

He Yun Sheng was still a bit nervous, and it took He Yan urging him several times before he went to retrieve the torch from the wall. He Yan took the torch, walked over to the nearest person, and crouched down. At first glance, she froze. She hadn't attacked these people's vital points, but this person had dark blood flowing from the corner of their mouth and lay motionless—clearly dead.

She then took the torch to examine the remaining few people, and they were all the same.

"What's going on?" He Yun Sheng, who had been particularly sensitive to killing ever since the incident with Fan Cheng, grew panicked seeing all these people lying on the ground without breath. "How are these bandits all dead? You clearly..."

"They had poison in their mouths. Once captured, they bit into it to commit suicide," He Yan stood up, her eyes bright under the torchlight. "They aren't bandits—they're death warriors."

"Death warriors?" He Yun Sheng was stunned. "Death warriors... why would they come to kill us... no, to kill you?"

When He Yan had pushed him away earlier, those people hadn't taken the chance to go after his life but had instead kept relentlessly attacking He Yan. But He Yan had only just returned to Shuojing after being in Liang Province, and she had no enemies. Who would go to such lengths to want her dead?

At that moment, voices and the sound of hoofbeats came from outside, accompanied by torchlight, as a large group of people holding torches rushed over. He Yan looked up and saw it was the city guards. It seemed He Yun Sheng's loud shout had alarmed the people nearby, and someone clever had gone to fetch the nearby city guards.

"What's going on?" The leading officer dismounted from his horse, and upon seeing the corpses all over the ground, his expression immediately turned grave.

He Yun Sheng, afraid they would suspect He Yan and himself, hurriedly said, "Officer, we were just walking here when these people jumped out to take our lives. My sister fought with them, and when they couldn't defeat her, they swallowed poison and killed themselves."

The young man was still somewhat nervous, but compared to the last time on the boat, he was much better—at least he could finish a complete sentence.

"Sister?" The officer looked suspiciously at He Yan. A woman, dealing with so many men, and the men couldn't defeat her? It sounded rather unbelievable.

He Yan showed no sign of panic, simply taking out her seal from her sleeve. "Marquis of Wu'an, He Yan."

Hearing this, the officer was startled, and he believed about seventy percent of what He Yun Sheng had said. Who didn't know the Marquis of Wu'an? That extraordinary woman who was ennobled for her beauty and was rumored to be the 'beloved' of the Right Army Commander—the whole of Shuojing was talking about her now.

"So it's the Marquis of Wu'an." After confirming the official seal was genuine, the officer's attitude became much more respectful, though he still looked somewhat puzzled at the corpses on the ground. "You're saying these people were lying in ambush here to attack you, wanting to take your life?"

He Yan nodded.

"Does the Marquis of Wu'an know who these people are?"

He Yan shook her head. "Since they're death warriors, they're people determined to take my life. But I have no enemies in Shuojing, so I'm also quite puzzled."

"Report it to the authorities," she said.

He Yun Sheng looked up."This matter is beyond my individual capacity to resolve. That someone would dare to ambush a court official right under the Emperor’s nose—what if it had been a defenseless commoner instead of me? Perhaps the city guard of Shuojing is understaffed, leading to such negligence." The woman, usually gentle and amiable in her dealings, now appeared stern and sharp as her smile faded. "In my opinion, this should be handed over to the authorities. What do you think, sir?"

The officer wiped cold sweat from his forehead and forced a smile. "Of course, of course."

Second watch.

(End of chapter)