Legend of the Female General

Chapter 211: Nanny Qin

For the next two days, He Yan kept waiting for news from the Xu Family's Fu Wang. Unfortunately, perhaps because Xu Zhiheng was also investigating Nanny Qin's whereabouts, Fu Wang's search did not go smoothly. At the same time, on the very night He Yan and Xiao Jue met with Madam Fan, someone indeed infiltrated the prison, intending to silence her.

Thanks to Xiao Jue's warning, Magistrate Liu had increased the number of guards in the prison beforehand. The assassin did not succeed, but the jailers failed to capture the masked intruder, who managed to escape. Despite this, Madam Fan remained in a state of delirium. Magistrate Liu dared not easily resort to torture, and the investigation into the Fan family and those connected to the maid who had taken her own life was still ongoing, leaving the case at a standstill.

When He Yan was attacked in the street alley, after the city guards arrived, many commoners gathered to watch, emboldened by curiosity. He Yan revealed her identity, making it impossible to keep the incident under wraps. By the next day, the entire Shuojing knew that Xiao Jue's fiancée, the Marquis of Wu'an personally bestowed by the emperor, had been attacked in broad daylight. Fortunately, her martial skills were sufficient to evade the danger. For a time, the residents of Shuojing City ventured out less at night, fearing they might encounter the lurking bandits.

Before everything was clarified, the people in the capital could only assume it was the work of "bandits."

In the Crown Prince's residence, beautiful maids played the qin and danced.

Crown Prince Guang Yan's indulgence in pleasures was nothing new. Though the Crown Princess was furious, she was powerless to stop it. Instead, she poured all her energy into herself, hoping to give birth to the eldest legitimate grandson as soon as possible, thereby solidifying the Crown Prince's position. Unfortunately, the Crown Princess's womb was uncooperative, and she had shown no signs of pregnancy since entering the Crown Prince's residence. Guang Yan's dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess grew, and he became increasingly unrestrained. By now, no one in the entire residence could rein him in.

Today, the Crown Prince hosted a banquet, inviting Xu Xiang, with Chu Zhao also in attendance.

"Since His Majesty bestowed the marriage, I have yet to congratulate Zi Lan," the Crown Prince said to Chu Zhao with a smile. "This time, Zi Lan has achieved his wish, becoming even closer to Xu Xiang through marriage. It is a great joy. Congratulations." With that, he raised his wine cup toward Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao hurriedly picked up his own cup, repeatedly expressing his humility, and drank the wine together with the Crown Prince.

"Now that Xiao Huaijin has returned to Shuojing," Guang Yan sighed, "the envoys from the Wutu Kingdom will soon arrive in the capital. Xiao Huaijin will undoubtedly do everything in his power to obstruct the establishment of a Trade Market in Great Wei. However, most of the court officials are on our side, so I am not worried." He paused, a flicker of ruthlessness in his eyes. "What concerns me is the Fourth Prince. If Xiao Huaijin were to ally with him..."

Although Guang Shuo's connections in the court were not as extensive as Guang Yan's, and Consort Lan's family was not as powerful as Empress Zhang's, he possessed a natural advantage they lacked—the favor of Emperor Wenxuan.

Emperor Wenxuan favored Guang Shuo, and several stubborn, old-fashioned officials in the court secretly supported the Fourth Prince, Guang Shuo.

"The Fourth Prince is mediocre and unambitious. Your Highness need not worry," Xu Xiang said with a smile.

"That boy is indeed useless, but..." the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, "he always seems to be an eyesore."Although it was never openly stated in the court, everyone knew in their hearts that his abilities and character fell short compared to Guang Shuo. Even his own people thought so, including the old fox before him now... The Crown Prince's gaze swept over Xu Xiang, and his mind drifted to another interesting matter.

"Zi Lan," the Crown Prince suddenly turned to Chu Zhao, "I heard you have a maid by your side, both beautiful and clever. Is this true?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhao felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head, chilling him to the bone. Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he respectfully replied, "It is indeed true."

"With such a beauty, why have I never seen you bring her along?" the Crown Prince asked with a smile, though there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes.

Why? Of course, it was because if she were brought along and seen by the Crown Prince, Ying Xiang would no longer be able to stay in the Chu household. Given Crown Prince Guang Yan's temperament, whenever he encountered a beautiful woman, he would always seize her for his own residence. Ying Xiang's beauty would only bring her misfortune.

"This maid is not particularly dexterous, and because of her excessive beauty, it is inconvenient to keep her by my side. I have always kept her in the residence, doing menial tasks like cleaning."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince burst into laughter. "Zi Lan, you are truly wasting a treasure. With such a temperament that lacks appreciation for beauty, you must change it when you marry Pingting in the future. Otherwise, Xu Xiang will be displeased."

Xu Jingfu simply sat to the side, sipping tea with a smile, as if he had not heard the veiled meaning in the Crown Prince's words.

Chu Zhao displayed a somewhat flustered expression.

"Since keeping her in your residence is also a waste, why not gift her to me?" the Crown Prince said casually. "I happen to lack such a clever maid by my side. The Eastern Palace can certainly afford to feed one more person. What do you think?"

Chu Zhao was taken aback and looked up at Guang Yan.

The sound of the zither in the hall had ceased at some point, and the dancing maids had quietly withdrawn. In the ensuing silence, the air grew thick and stagnant, like congealed blood, carrying a suffocating sense of nausea.

The young man appeared rather handsome, but perhaps due to excessive indulgence, dark circles were evident under his eyes. When he looked at others, there was always a hint of malice and restlessness. Even with a smile on his lips, his gaze held a condescending disdain.

It was a contempt from the depths of his heart, the scorn of a superior looking down upon an ant.

"What is it?" the Crown Prince joked. "Could it be that Zi Lan is reluctant to part with her?"

Xu Jingfu merely stared at the teacup before him, remaining silent.

Chu Zhao rose and walked to the Crown Prince, bowing deeply. "How would I dare? For Ying Xiang to be chosen by Your Highness to serve at your side is her good fortune. However, this maid is clumsy and may offend Your Highness. Since Your Highness has taken a liking to her, I will send someone to deliver Ying Xiang as soon as I return to my residence."

His respectful attitude clearly pleased the Crown Prince. After letting Chu Zhao kneel for a while, the Crown Prince stood up and helped him to his feet, smiling with satisfaction. "There is no need for such formalities. You are someone close to me. Once she is delivered to the residence, I will take good care of her."

Chu Zhao expressed his loyalty once more, delighting the Crown Prince, before returning to his seat.

At the long table laden with fine wine and delicacies, he picked up his chopsticks and feasted, his demeanor as composed as ever, seemingly unaffected by the matter. Only when he set down his cup and utensils did his gaze fall upon Xu Jingfu beside him.The old man's face was kind and affectionate, with a touch of openness, smiling as he looked over, just like the gentle smile of his mentor when he once knelt at the hem of his robe.

Chu Zhao also returned a smile to Xu Jingfu, raising his cup in a toast. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see that his other hand, hidden beneath the table, had fingertips digging into his palm, leaving a shallow but distinct trail of blood.

...

By the time he returned to the Chu residence, it was already very late.

As soon as he stepped through the estate gate, the smile on Chu Zhao's face vanished completely. He was accustomed to maintaining a gentle and refined demeanor, even in front of the Chu family's servants. Today, however, it seemed unbearable. The moment he entered the estate, his expression turned so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it, and the servants dared not approach.

Everyone in the Chu family knew that this Fourth Young Master was extraordinary. When he was first brought back to the estate, everyone assumed he wouldn't live long—a bastard child born to a woman from a brothel, seemingly impossible for Madam Chu to tolerate. Before Chu Zhao met Xu Jingfu in his youth, he endured a difficult period. Although Chu Linfeng protected him, Chu Linfeng was not a father who paid much attention to his sons. In corners unseen by Chu Linfeng, Chu Zhao was often bullied and beaten.

But this child was remarkably patient, enduring until fortune finally smiled upon him. Prime Minister Xu Jingfu selected him, and soon he became Xu Xiang's prized disciple.

From then on, Chu Zhao rose steadily. Gradually, Madam Chu could no longer touch him, and Chu Linfeng became obedient to this son. Yet, Chu Zhao never let this change his temperament. He remained gentle and considerate toward the Chu family's servants from beginning to end. Over time, many of Madam Chu's people secretly defected to Chu Zhao.

A more promising, kinder, and more considerate master—even a fool would know how to choose.

But today, Chu Zhao's upbringing and good temper seemed to have reached their limit.

As soon as he entered his courtyard, he saw the familiar lantern swaying at the entrance from afar. Chu Zhao walked in, and Ying Xiang came forward to greet him: "Fourth Young Master."

He entered the room without a word.

Perhaps his expression today was too unusual. Ying Xiang paused for a moment, then followed him inside, standing beside Chu Zhao and asking softly, "Fourth Young Master, has something happened?"

Chu Zhao looked up at the woman before him.

Ying Xiang was exceptionally beautiful, graceful and picturesque. Standing there, her delicate face was more radiant than a flower. With such looks, she would have been fit even for the palace. In the Chu family, if it weren't for the fact that she was his maid and thus inconvenient to touch, Chu Linfeng would likely have taken Ying Xiang as his twentieth concubine long ago.

It was hard to imagine how Ying Xiang's parents, who were ordinary in appearance, could have given birth to such a stunningly beautiful face.

The first time Chu Zhao saw Ying Xiang was in front of a brothel. Ying Xiang's father, a gambler, was gripping her wrist, bargaining with the brothel madam over whether his daughter could fetch a higher price. Ying Xiang's mother, a pregnant woman, stood silently to the side, weeping without daring to say a word.At that time, Chu Zhao was only nine years old and had just begun following Xu Jingfu for a short while. Madam Chu no longer dared to bully him openly. Ying Xiang appeared to be about the same age as him, dressed in tattered clothes, yet her skin was fair. Even without adornment, one could tell from her features that she was a beauty in the making. Her expression remained calm throughout—neither crying nor making a fuss—as she stood in place. When Chu Zhao paused across the street to look at her, the girl lifted her head and glanced at him.

Though her face showed no expression, it seemed as if one could glimpse profound sorrow and despair through her eyes. It was as if she had surrendered helplessly to a fate she already understood, powerless to resist.

In that instant, Chu Zhao thought of Ye Runmei.

He ordered his servant to buy Ying Xiang with two portions of silver. Upon returning, he told Chu Linfeng that he needed a personal maid. Chu Linfeng, assuming his son had ulterior motives, was not angered by such behavior—in fact, he admired it, given his own flirtatious nature. From then on, Ying Xiang remained by Chu Zhao’s side.

Over the years, Ying Xiang spoke little. Contrary to her delicate and striking appearance was her quiet, obedient nature. She also grew increasingly beautiful. Chu Zhao understood all too well that beauty could invite disaster, and the days he could protect Ying Xiang were limited.

Perhaps the pity in his eyes was sensed by Ying Xiang. She paused for a moment, then pursed her lips and asked, “Fourth Young Master, does this matter concern this servant?”

“Today, I went to the Crown Prince’s residence,” Chu Zhao said. “The Crown Prince knows about you.”

The room fell silent for a while.

After a moment, Ying Xiang replied calmly, “This servant understands.”

Her response was submissive and gentle, much like the moment outside the brothel when she was about to be sold by her own father. She accepted her fate naturally, as if she had long anticipated it.

Chu Zhao moved his lips and finally uttered two words, “I’m sorry.”

Ying Xiang, however, smiled. She walked to the table and poured tea for Chu Zhao as usual. The tea had been kept warm on the stove so that Chu Zhao could drink it hot upon his return—on such a cold day, something warm was needed to soothe the stomach. She handed the teacup to Chu Zhao and spoke softly, “Having served Fourth Young Master for so long, this servant is already content. In the days to come, when this servant is no longer here, please remember to take care of yourself.”

Chu Zhao took the tea and remained silent.

Ying Xiang knelt down.

“For so many years, I have been indebted to your care, Young Master. I have no way to repay you. Before I leave, let me kowtow to you.” She gently kowtowed three times to Chu Zhao, each bow feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds.

After the final kowtow, she remained bowed for a long time, not rising.

Chu Zhao did not stop her. After a long while, Ying Xiang stood up again. She bowed to Chu Zhao and said, “Then, this servant will return to her room to pack her belongings. Please take care, Young Master.”

With that, she turned to leave.

“Ying Xiang,” Chu Zhao called her name.

Ying Xiang stopped and looked back. A glimmer of hope suddenly flickered in her eyes—subtle yet brighter than the stars in the night sky.

Chu Zhao avoided her gaze, as if unable to bear looking any longer. After a moment of silence, he uttered two words.

“Take care.”

…

He Yan knew nothing of these matters within the Chu family.

During these days, all her attention was focused on the Xu family. Money can make the devil turn the millstone. Driven by silver, Fuwang managed to find Nanny Qin’s whereabouts a few days earlier than the eight or nine days he had previously mentioned.When He Yan received the message and went to the teahouse near the Xu residence, Fuwang approached with a beaming smile, as if he had accomplished something to be proud of and couldn’t wait to claim his reward.

Seeing him like this, He Yan knew there must be significant progress and felt a surge of joy. She asked, “Have you found a lead?”

“Young master,” Fuwang was quite the smooth talker. Instead of getting straight to the point, he first recounted the hardships and dangers he had endured over the past few days before saying, “I risked my life to carry out this task for you. You must show some appreciation.”

He Yan smiled and placed the last silver coin from her sleeve onto the table. By now, she was utterly penniless. But in front of Fuwang, she still had to put on a show.

“You’ve done this for me, and I certainly won’t shortchange you. This silver is just a small token. If you can handle more tasks for me in the future, you’ll have more money than you can spend.”

Upon hearing this, Fuwang’s eyes lit up, and he felt reassured. His biggest fear was that after this job, the mysterious figure would vanish. Since the money came so easily, he naturally wanted to establish a long-term arrangement. The implication that there were more tasks to come pleased him greatly.

“As for Nanny Qin’s whereabouts, I’ve already found out for you, young master. Nanny Qin has a lover who used to live in Niujiazhuang outside the city. However, I also learned that after Nanny Qin fled to find him, they no longer live in Niujiazhuang. This lover’s surname is Niu, and he was originally a blacksmith. Niu the Blacksmith has a relative who lives in a remote mountain about ten miles from Niujiazhuang. The mountain is vast, so finding someone there isn’t easy. But since they live in the mountains, they still need to trade for food, cloth, and oil. On the tenth of every month, Niu the Blacksmith goes down the mountain to the nearby market to buy supplies. He also takes on odd jobs, and on the day he goes to buy food, he sells the ironware he forges at a blacksmith shop called ‘Changmao Ironworks.’”

“If you want to find Nanny Qin, young master, you can start by going to that ‘Changmao Ironworks.’ Wait until the tenth of the month when Niu the Blacksmith comes down the mountain, and you’ll be able to find him. Only Niu the Blacksmith knows where Nanny Qin is.” Fuwang gave a sly smile. “As for how to make him talk, that’s up to you, young master.”

“Is this information reliable?” He Yan asked.

“Absolutely true. How would I dare deceive you, young master?” Fuwang hurriedly replied. “But right now, the master is also investigating Nanny Qin’s whereabouts. I went through many channels to uncover this, and it’s possible the master might find out as well. If you’re in a hurry, young master, it’s best to go to that ironworks quickly. If the master gets there first…”

He wasn’t genuinely concerned for the mysterious figure before him; he was simply afraid that if this person failed to find Nanny Qin, they would disappear, and he would lose such an easy source of silver to spend.

He Yan also felt a surge of excitement. When she first came to the Xu residence, she had only hoped to find evidence and never expected to locate a living witness. Now, Fuwang had uncovered such detailed information—it was an unexpected stroke of luck.

“You’ve done very well with this.”Pleased with the praise, Fuwang was overjoyed, as if seeing a steady stream of silver coins flowing toward him. Without thinking, he said, "It's my honor to serve you, young master. If there's anything else you need, just give the order. I may not be good at much, but I'm quick on my feet. It would be wonderful if I could be of help to you."

If he hadn't said that, He Yan might not have thought of another matter. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you know if there's anything unusual about the current Madam Xu in your household lately?"

"Madam Xu?" Fuwang was taken aback, feeling even more that the person before him was unfathomable. Earlier, he had mentioned that Concubine He was his former lover—could it be that this Madam Xu also had some unclear connection with him? If so, wouldn't his master, Xu Zhiheng, be wearing a green hat? For a moment, Fuwang felt deeply sympathetic toward Xu Zhiheng.

He Yan had no idea that the servant boy's thoughts had already wandered far off track. She simply asked, "You don't know about Madam Xu's situation?"

"I'm just a gatekeeper," Fuwang replied with a smile. "Madam Xu's courtyard is mostly attended by maids and elderly women—there are very few male servants. If you really want to find out, I can run some errands for you, but..."

"But what?" He Yan asked.

Not long after encountering Lady He the Second and He Xinying at Jade Splendor Temple that day, she had been attacked by assassins. After much thought, He Yan felt it was all connected to He Rufei. Although He Xinying knew nothing, given He Rufei's cautious nature, he might not let her off. Even though she hadn't spent much time with this younger sister, He Yan didn't want anything to happen to her.

"But these past few days, Madam Xu seems to have been feeling weary and hasn't gone out much. When Madam Xu went out, she didn't take her along," Fuwang said.

He Yan's heart tightened.

It wouldn't have been unusual for Madam Xu to go out without He Xinying, but the fact that it happened after her visit to Jade Splendor Temple... It was impossible not to suspect that He Xinying had been placed under house arrest by the Xu family.

"Fuwang," He Yan looked at the person before her, "I have another favor to ask of you. Keep an eye on Madam Xu. If anything happens to her or if there's any problem, please go to the teahouse and find the pockmarked attendant to inform me."

Though puzzled, Fuwang nodded. "Alright."

With the matter settled, the two parted ways. He Yan left first, followed by Fuwang. As Fuwang walked away, he didn't notice a figure hiding behind a pillar in front of a silk shop across the street. Only after his figure disappeared did the person step out.

It was a woman dressed in black.

...

At night, the door to the Xiao family study opened, and someone entered from outside.

Xiao Jue hung his sword back on the wall, removed his outer robe, and had just turned around when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

It was Luan Ying, dressed in black.

Xiao Jue didn't look at her. He walked to the desk, where a stack of letters was piled up, and casually picked up a few to skim through.

Luan Ying said, "The matter you asked me to investigate, young master, has made some progress."

The young man was pulling out a letter but didn't look up upon hearing this. "And?"

Luan Ying hesitated.

Xiao Jue paused his movements and glanced at her.

That single glance made Luan Ying resolve herself. She lowered her voice and said, "I kept watch outside the Xu residence for three days. Today, I saw Miss He."

The room fell so quiet that one could hear a pin drop."Miss He sat with the gatekeeper of the Xu family in a nearby teahouse for half an hour before leaving. I asked the teahouse staff, and they had met several times before this."

Xiao Jue tossed the letter in his hand onto the table, sat down in the chair, and looked at her calmly. "What did you find out?"

"That gatekeeper is named Fuwang. Recently, he has come into a lot of money and is looking for someone in the Xu family called Nanny Qin. Nanny Qin was once the wet nurse of Xu Zhiheng's favored concubine, He Wanru. But after He Wanru died of illness, Nanny Qin disappeared."

"I suspect Miss He gave Fuwang a sum of money to inquire about Nanny Qin's whereabouts. What's strange is that Xu Zhiheng, the eldest master of the Xu family, is also searching everywhere for Nanny Qin."

After finishing her report, Luan Ying dared not look at Xiao Jue's expression. The fact that He Yan was secretly entangled with the Xu family was certainly not good news for Xiao Jue. A woman harboring many secrets always invites suspicion.

"This person called Nanny Qin seems quite important." The young man toyed with the paperweight in his hand, his expression unclear in the flickering shadows of the oil lamp.

"Have you found Nanny Qin's whereabouts?"

Luan Ying nodded. "We have."

No more updates for tonight?

(End of Chapter)