Legend of the Female General

Chapter 213: Spring Equinox

Nanny Qin was stunned.

This person was very young, appearing even younger than Xu Zhiheng. Yet when his gaze fell upon her, it was like a pool of icy water, chilling to the bone. She had never seen this person before and did not know his identity, but her intuition told her he was more dangerous than Xu Zhiheng.

Nanny Qin had been widowed at a young age. Though she was quite beautiful in her youth and could have remarried after her husband’s death, she was unwilling to send her son away to distant relatives. While other men might have been willing to marry her, they were not willing to raise another man’s child. Only Niu the Blacksmith was willing.

But Nanny Qin looked down on Niu the Blacksmith’s status, thinking he was too poor. Later, after entering the He residence, her life improved significantly, and she gave up the idea of remarrying. However… she still maintained an ambiguous relationship with Niu the Blacksmith. Nanny Qin had never been particularly attached to Niu the Blacksmith, but after He Wanru’s misfortune, it was Niu the Blacksmith who showed her a way out. During their shared hardships, Nanny Qin genuinely developed some affection for him. This young man struck where it hurt most, immediately threatening Niu the Blacksmith’s life, leaving Nanny Qin with little choice.

She said, “Concubine He… Concubine He made a mistake and was punished by the mistress with family discipline. She was beaten with a plank. Concubine He was frail and couldn’t endure it, so she passed away.” After speaking, she looked at the young man, observing his expression.

His expression remained indifferent, his voice calm. “I have no patience for your evasions. If you think this person’s life is not enough, I can add the lives of Wu Han and his son.”

At these words, Nanny Qin cried out involuntarily, “No!”

Wu Han was her son. This person… was threatening her with the lives of her son and grandson. He was not Xu Zhiheng. If Xu Zhiheng killed her son and grandson, he would fear that Nanny Qin might fight to the death and reveal the truth. But this stranger seemed unconcerned.

He had no weaknesses in her hands, yet he knew everything about her.

Nanny Qin collapsed to the ground, a wave of despair washing over her.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of taking your life,” he said, leaning forward slightly and staring into Nanny Qin’s eyes. His clear, watery gaze seemed to hold a sharp edge. “Xu Zhiheng’s men have been watching Wu Han and his son to force you to show yourself. But if you tell me what you know, I can protect their lives.”

Nanny Qin trembled. This offer was incredibly tempting.

For the first time in her life, she dared to be bold. “How can this servant trust you?”

The young man smiled indifferently and reached out. A man in black behind him stepped forward and handed him a bracelet. The young man held it up before Nanny Qin’s eyes.

Nanny Qin was horrified.

This bracelet was one she had commissioned when her grandson was born, and she had even asked a high monk to bless it, hoping it would protect her grandson’s health and safety. Now it was in this person’s hands… She knew she had no bargaining power left. All she could do was speak in a way that satisfied him, hoping he would spare her family and Niu the Blacksmith.

“I’ll speak… I’ll tell you everything,” Nanny Qin said sorrowfully. “Concubine He was executed by the master. The family discipline was just a pretense. The concubine was locked up in the residence, and to avoid arousing suspicion from outsiders, she was forced to take medicine every day. She passed away within a few days.”

The young man showed no surprise and only asked, “Why did Xu Zhiheng execute He Wanru?”"Because... because Concubine He committed a grave offense and had to die."

"What offense?"

Nanny Qin's hand trembled. She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and after a long pause, finally spoke, "Because... Concubine He killed Madam Xu."

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a tense silence.

Behind them, Luan Ying and Fei Nu were both inwardly shocked. Everyone in Shuojing knew that the previous Madam Xu of the Xu family had died by accidentally falling into a pond and drowning due to her blindness. Yet now, it was said that the madam had been killed by a concubine—how absurd! After all, the eldest daughter of the He family, He Rufei's sister, was of no low status. If she had died due to jealousy and rivalry with a concubine, it would be utterly ridiculous.

No wonder Xu Zhiheng had been so eager to execute He Wanru and all those who knew the truth. Otherwise, if a censor submitted a memorial accusing him of failing to manage his household properly, Xu Zhiheng would have lost his official position. But if the He family was unaware, having already lost one daughter, why would they send another? And if they did know, how could they let it pass so easily?

Xiao Jue's eyes flickered slightly. Nanny Qin's words confirmed his suspicions.

"Why did He Wanru kill Madam Xu, or rather," he rephrased, "why did Xu Zhiheng want Madam Xu dead?"

Nanny Qin was startled and quickly replied, "No, young master, Concubine He killing Madam Xu was just a matter of jealousy among women in the household. It had nothing to do with anyone else. Why would the master have any reason to kill Madam Xu? The master is gentle and kind—how could he possibly do such a thing?"

Xiao Jue looked at her coldly. "I told you, I have no patience for lies."

In the next moment, Fei Nu's sword was pressed against Niu the Blacksmith's neck.

A trickle of blood ran down his neck. No one could remain calm in a life-or-death situation, and even this usually composed man couldn't help but show a flicker of panic in his eyes. Nanny Qin turned deathly pale with fear. "Stop! Don't hurt him!"

Fei Nu's sword did not press further. Xiao Jue said, "I'll ask one more time. Why did Xu Zhiheng kill his wife?"

For Nanny Qin to still hesitate and refuse to tell the truth at this critical moment, it was clear that what she was hiding was no small secret.

Nanny Qin closed her eyes, seemingly overwhelmed with panic. The sword seemed to press deeper into Niu the Blacksmith's neck, and the bracelet engraved with scriptures gleamed brightly before her eyes... Suddenly, she cried out loudly, "I don't know... I don't know... I was too scared. I tried to stop her, told her not to do it... But she said it was the master's wish, that it was fine, and if she followed his orders, nothing would happen. I was far away, terrified. I only vaguely heard Concubine He say to Madam Xu: General He..."

Xiao Jue abruptly looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade, piercing enough to silence Nanny Qin. He asked, "What did you just say?"

Nanny Qin trembled as she replied, "Concubine He said to Madam Xu... General He..."At that time, she was terrified to death. Although there were many bloodless struggles within the mansion, Nanny Qin herself had never directly taken a life. Of course, she also wanted He Wanru to have a stable position in the Xu family, but Nanny Qin saw clearly that with He Wanru's family background, she would never become Xu Zhiheng's wife. So when He Wanru told her she wanted to kill He Yan, Nanny Qin was startled and tried hard to persuade her to abandon the idea.

But He Wanru seemed determined, unwilling to listen to a single word of advice. Nanny Qin found it strange, and finally, He Wanru revealed the truth: it was Xu Zhiheng who had ordered He Yan's life to be taken. However, as to why Xu Zhiheng wanted He Yan dead, He Wanru refused to explain, saying only that it was a secret between her and Xu Zhiheng.

Even then, Nanny Qin had already sensed something was wrong.

Unfortunately, He Wanru had been spoiled by her family since childhood. After marrying into the Xu family, Xu Zhiheng was gentle by nature, and even the main wife, He Yan, was someone who didn't manage affairs—full of ambition but lacking in brains. He Wanru didn't listen to a single word Nanny Qin said, and by the time Nanny Qin wanted to do something, it was already too late.

On the day He Yan was drowned, Nanny Qin hid among the women outside, her heart filled with horror. He Wanru's display was too grand, with so many people... it was as if they had no fear at all. She vaguely overheard the conversation between He Wanru and He Yan, which seemed like a riddle, unclear in meaning. But there was one sentence Nanny Qin remembered clearly: He Wanru called He Yan "General He."

"General He" referred to the Flying Goose General, He Rufei, He Yan's elder brother. What did this have to do with He Yan? In her panic at the time, Nanny Qin couldn't figure it out. It wasn't until later, after she fled the Xu family and wandered from place to place with Niu the Blacksmith, that she carefully pondered the matter and caught a whiff of something unusual. She seemed to have glimpsed a hint of the secret, but... it was too shocking. Once this secret was exposed to the world, the consequences would be unimaginable.

So unless absolutely necessary, Nanny Qin would never speak of this. And now, whenever she recalled the events of that day, she felt a chill run through her body.

In front of everyone that day, Madam Xu was forced by clubs into a pool of cold water and never emerged again. But the arrogant crowd present at the time, in the eyes of others, were already as good as dead. Even He Wanru hadn't expected that shortly after Xu Zhiheng took his wife's life, he would turn on her.

It was all karma, predetermined by fate.

No one spoke in the room. Nanny Qin couldn't help but glance up at the other person, her heart uneasy. This was her biggest secret, and she had no idea who this person was or why they were inquiring about these matters.

"Go on," Xiao Jue said.

Having someone speak was better than enduring silence. Nanny Qin decided to say everything. "After Madam Xu died, I anticipated that Concubine He would likely be silenced by the master. I was afraid and wanted to ask Concubine He to escape with me, but she refused. At that time, the servants in the mansion, especially those present in the concubine's courtyard that day, were forbidden from leaving. When I escaped later, I asked around and heard that all the people originally in Concubine He's courtyard in the Xu family had been replaced with new ones... They were all dead.""My lord..." Nanny Qin wiped away tears as she spoke, "This is all I know. Although I previously served Concubine He, she never told me why the master wanted to kill Madam Xu. I'm just a servant of the Xu family, I know nothing. Please, I beg you, let us go!"

Xiao Jue stood up, glanced at the two of them, and said, "You will stay here for now." He walked out the door.

The guards waiting outside followed him in. Xiao Jue walked forward—this was not the Xiao residence but a separate courtyard. Luan Ying and Fei Nu walked beside Xiao Jue, both inwardly shocked.

Xiao Jue stopped at the flower wall at the end of the courtyard. It was already late autumn; only green leaves remained on the flower wall, with no red blossoms in sight. His voice carried on the wind, sharp with cold. "Luan Ying, when are He Rufei and Madam Xu's birthdays?"

Luan Ying replied, "The Spring Equinox. On that day, Lady He the First and Lady He the Second gave birth simultaneously. He Rufei and Madam Xu were born at the same time, both on the Spring Equinox." After speaking, she exchanged a glance with Fei Nu, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.

Back in Jinling, they had already learned from Hua Youxian that the "He Rufei" of that time was a woman. Now, He Rufei's actions during the Battle of Huayuan clearly indicated that he was not the same "He Rufei" from before. Xiao Jue had long ordered Luan Ying to investigate women close to He Rufei, but now it seemed there was no need to continue. Although Nanny Qin had only mentioned "General He," those three words alone spoke volumes.

The original He Rufei—the one who studied at Virtuous Prosperity Academy, went to Ruyun Tower with the young men in Jinling, and achieved great military exploits in the Pacify Yue Army—was actually Madam Xu, He Rufei's cousin born on the same day. And now, Madam Xu was dead. No one in the world knew this secret, so He Rufei had become the true "Flying Goose General."

"Continue gathering all information about Madam Xu's life before her death," Xiao Jue said. "The relationship between Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei may not be simple. Xu Zhiheng likely knows about the identity swap between He Rufei and his cousin."

Luan Ying nodded in acknowledgment, then suddenly thought of something and hesitated before speaking. "But, young master, Miss He bribed the Xu family's gatekeeper to inquire about Nanny Qin's whereabouts, likely for this very matter. The identity swap between He Rufei and Madam Xu is a secret—how does Miss He know about it? And why is she investigating this? Both He Rufei and the Xu family are targeting Miss He. Previously, I thought their true goal was you, young master, but now it seems that may not be the case."

"What role does Miss He play in all this?"

Luan Ying was much older than Xiao Jue, having practically watched him grow up. Unlike Chi Wu and Fei Nu, she often felt less restrained around him and spoke her mind freely.

Xiao Jue remained silent. It was Fei Nu beside him who finally couldn't hold back and said, "Miss He shares the same name as Madam Xu.""That was merely a coincidence." Luan Ying continued without hesitation, "I've investigated. Miss He is indeed Miss He, her identity hasn't been replaced. Moreover, Miss He has had this name from the very beginning. There are no other possibilities. I also considered whether Madam Xu might have had a twin sister or something similar, but the ages don't match. Furthermore, the neighbors of the He family can all testify that Miss He resembles her mother."

Therefore, He Yan absolutely could not be something like a twin sister of the former Madam Xu.

"Let's end the discussion about He Yan here," Xiao Jue said. "I know what I'm doing."

Fei Nu and Luan Ying exchanged glances. Neither had expected that a single matter would lead to so many subsequent developments. Not only had they uncovered the shocking secret of He Rufei and his cousin swapping identities, but now even He Yan's behavior had become shrouded in mystery.

But since Xiao Jue had spoken, they could only follow orders.

Xiao Jue said, "Keep a close watch on these two. Don't let them escape."

The two acknowledged the command.

After Fei Nu and Luan Ying each went off to attend to their tasks, Xiao Jue finally looked up at the clear, lonely sky.

In the winter of Shuojing, only a few scattered stars dotted the black velvet expanse, like faint glimmers in the air beside a clear spring at some moment in time. Both above and below the water's surface, lanterns shone brightly and festively.

On the boat, the longevity noodles steamed hot, and sweet syrup in leaf-wrapped cups was as sweet as honey. The girl's face was hidden behind the lantern light. That night was too beautiful, the wind too cool and refreshing, making it easy to overlook how her eyes, misted by the steam, had turned slightly red.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Isn't today your birthday?"

The girl's eyes curved into crescents. "Commander, you're so good to me. Thank you."

He slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling to the reflection in the pond water beside his boots.

That day was the Water God Festival in Jiyang, the spring equinox.

...

He Yan's mood was truly poor.

Failing to find Niu the Blacksmith and trace Nanny Qin's whereabouts left her with many suspicions. If Xu Zhiheng found Nanny Qin before she did, Nanny Qin would surely be in grave danger. For He Yan, this meant losing an important witness.

She had originally intended to visit Fuwang, but now she was practically penniless. The Xu family servants were particularly greedy, and going empty-handed would likely yield no useful information. So, starting from the day after she returned from the market, everyone in the He family noticed her low spirits.

"Yan Yan, today your father passed by East Street and heard that a new kind of fragrant cream has become popular among the young ladies of Shuojing lately. I bought one for you. You can apply a little on your hands daily—it'll make you smell nice too."

He Yan replied listlessly, "Thank you, Father."

He Sui was also troubled. Originally, his daughter had been as beautiful as a flower. Although her temperament was somewhat spoiled, girls were meant to be delicate and endearing. Colleagues and friends all knew that his precious daughter was gentle and lovely. But since He Yan returned, her personality had become completely different from before. It was one thing for her to practice martial arts and chop firewood every morning, but she no longer used any of the cosmetics and powders he had bought for her in the past. She went about all day with a plain face, even choosing skirts that wouldn't hinder her work.Although this was also good, the difference was simply too great. Sometimes even He Yan herself would look in the mirror and miss the delicate young woman she used to be. Therefore, he attempted to buy small trinkets to remind He Yan that she was a woman. Although he thought He Yan was fine as she was, General Feng Yun was taking a wife, not a sworn brother. How could it be that when He Yan and Xiao Jue went out together, outsiders would say He Yan looked more like a man than Xiao Jue? What kind of situation would that be!

He Yan had no idea that her actions had troubled He Sui to such an extent. Her mind was entirely preoccupied with Nanny Qin’s matter. Although she knew it was highly unlikely that Niu the Blacksmith would appear again at Changmao Ironworks, she still held onto a sliver of hope. Two more days passed, and before dawn, while He Sui and He Yun Sheng had not yet left home, He Yan quietly rose in the dark, folded her bedding, and led Xiangxiang back to the town.

Thus, when Qingmei got up to feed the horses, she let out a startled cry just like the previous days. This time, however, she was much calmer. Instead of bursting into tears upon seeing the empty room, she walked to Chi Wu’s room and knocked politely on the door.

Chi Wu opened the door: “What is it?”

Qingmei smiled and chided him, “Young Master Chi Wu, were you sleeping too soundly? The young lady has taken Xiangxiang out again. Didn’t you notice?”

Chi Wu: “…”

A recommendation for my friend Miao Zai’s new book, "Great Mansion, Small Matters." It’s a historical novel, one-on-one romance. Sisters who enjoy this genre, feel free to bookmark it!

(End of Chapter)