Legend of the Female General

Chapter 230: Auspicious Day

In the Golden Luan Hall, the Wutuo envoy Maningbu stood respectfully to one side, waiting as his attendants continuously presented gifts to the Emperor of Great Wei.

A gold-crafted pomegranate tree, a pair of white peacocks, two elephant tusks, fist-sized glowing stones... Emperor Wenxuan watched with keen interest, his expression one of great satisfaction.

"These are tokens of sincerity from the Wutuo people toward Your Majesty," Maningbu said respectfully, bowing deeply to Emperor Wenxuan.

Emperor Wenxuan felt immensely pleased.

Back when the late emperor had several sons, he was the most mediocre in talent. Yet because he was the eldest legitimate son and the Crown Prince, the late emperor passed the throne to him. After ascending to the throne, Emperor Wenxuan indeed proved to be as unremarkable in governance as he had been in his youth. If not for Xu Jingfu's support back then, he might not have even been able to hold onto the throne.

Over the years, he had gone from being ambitious at the start, to reluctantly admitting he was an ordinary man, and eventually coming to genuinely feel that this was not so bad after all. From the moment he took the throne until now, he had finally accomplished something splendid—enhancing the prestige of Great Wei. This was a merit worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.

"Your Wutu Kingdom previously seized the opportunity to invade Great Wei's territory. How can such meager compensation suffice?" Emperor Wenxuan said sternly.

Maningbu lowered his head in trepidation. "Your Majesty, it was all a misunderstanding. The Wutu Kingdom is weak in strength—how could we dare compare ourselves to Great Wei? Even if you gave us a hundred times the courage, we would never dare commit acts of invasion. However, dwelling on past events now serves no purpose. In addition to these gifts, our king has also instructed me to present another form of compensation to Your Majesty." He looked at Emperor Wenxuan. "That is, to permit Wutu merchants to establish trade markets within Great Wei's borders."

Emperor Wenxuan frowned. "Establishing trade markets within Great Wei clearly benefits you. How can that be considered compensation? What cunning Wutuo people!"

The Crown Prince, standing nearby, said, "Father, perhaps we should hear what he has to say."

Maningbu knelt down. "Your Majesty, the people of Wutu have absolutely no intention of invading Great Wei. Establishing trade markets would also bring countless benefits and no harm to Great Wei. Does Your Majesty recall the historical records of the wise ruler of the previous dynasty, who sent envoys to the Western Moon Kingdom to establish trade markets? From them, we learned horse-breeding techniques, and later our warhorses became renowned and our cavalry valiant." He paused. "The people of Wutu are impoverished. If we can establish trade markets in Great Wei and exchange goods with your nation, the Wutu people will no longer have to live in hunger as before. Moreover, from the annual profits of the trade markets, Wutu is willing to offer fifty percent to Your Majesty."

If the earlier flattery had merely pleased Emperor Wenxuan without truly swaying him, Maningbu's final words struck right at the heart of the emperor's concerns.

It was well known that the national treasury had been depleted in recent years. The battles at Huayuan and Rundu had consumed a great deal of silver. Maintaining an army was extremely costly. The reason Emperor Wenxuan was willing to accept Wutu's peace offering was not only because he disliked war but also because his coffers were nearly empty.

Fighting a war would require an unknown length of time to recover. Besides, without sufficient funds, how could they wage war? Now, by establishing trade markets, he could receive fifty percent of the profits annually. Great Wei was vast, and there were many Wutu merchants... It sounded like a profitable deal.

Emperor Wenxuan instinctively glanced at Xu Jingfu beside him.Xu Jingfu was someone he still trusted. If it hadn't been for Xu Jingfu's support back then, he wouldn't have been able to sit so securely in this position for so many years.

Xu Jingfu merely stood to the side with a faint smile, saying nothing. Emperor Wenxuan immediately understood and said, "Regarding the matter of seeking peace, I can accept it. However, establishing a Trade Market is a significant affair. As the Son of Heaven of Great Wei, I cannot respond to you casually. I will give you an answer after I have carefully considered it."

Maningbu was not disappointed. Hearing this, he gratefully knelt down and said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's benevolence."

The Wutuo envoys behind him also knelt, loudly proclaiming, "Long live the emperor!" Emperor Wenxuan was in an excellent mood, but the Crown Prince standing to the side looked somewhat displeased. He glanced at Xu Jingfu, his eyes dark and difficult to conceal.

After the Wutuo envoys left, only Xu Jingfu and the emperor remained in the hall. The attendant beside him supported Emperor Wenxuan as they walked toward the rear hall. Emperor Wenxuan asked, "What does the Prime Minister think about establishing a Trade Market in Great Wei?"

"Although Maningbu proposed offering fifty percent of the profits to Your Majesty, this old minister believes we should not rush to a conclusion," Xu Jingfu said. "Currently, in our confrontations with the Wutu Kingdom, Great Wei holds the upper hand. We must not let the Wutuo People lead us by the nose. Moreover, while they claim fifty percent now, the Wutuo People are cunning. When the time comes, if they conceal their profits, it would be difficult for Your Majesty to verify each one. Therefore, now is not yet the time."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenxuan also felt that Xu Jingfu made a valid point. He nodded and sighed, "Prime Minister Xu, nowadays, you are the only one by my side who can share my burdens."

"I trust you."

Xu Jingfu smiled faintly. "Sharing Your Majesty's burdens is the duty of a subject. This old minister is willing to do so, even if it means sacrificing everything for Your Majesty."

...

As soon as the Crown Prince returned to his residence, he angrily kicked over the table in front of him. The maids and servants around him were startled and immediately knelt down, not daring to approach. Only a woman in red emerged from inside. Ignoring the Crown Prince's fury, she walked to his side and gently asked, "Why is Your Highness in such a temper as soon as you return? Did you encounter someone unpleasant outside?"

Guang Yan looked at the beauty beside him. In the entire residence, while everyone feared and dreaded him, only this woman was unafraid, approaching him as usual. Yet this fearlessness was not displeasing; instead, it felt as though she genuinely cared for him.

"I did encounter someone unpleasant," the Crown Prince said, wrapping an arm around Ying Xiang as they walked into the hall. "That old fool, Prime Minister Xu, dares to ruin my plans!"

He sat down by the couch, casually picked up a wine pot, poured a cup, and drank it to calm his anger. Ying Xiang nestled in his arms and laughed softly. "Why is it Prime Minister Xu again? Lately, just from what this servant has heard, Prime Minister Xu has already displeased Your Highness for several days."

"You're right," Guang Yan snorted. "That old fool now relies on his seniority to meddle even in my affairs. I suspect it won't be long before he tries to manage my inner courtyard as well. I think Heaven must find him too meddlesome, which is why he has no descendants in this lifetime!"

These malicious words made Ying Xiang giggle. She extended her slender, jade-like hand, took the wine cup from the Crown Prince, and took a sip, coquettishly laughing, "Naturally, someone like Your Highness will surely have many children and great blessings in the future.""You're hinting at something, aren't you?" Guang Yan pinched her cheek. The beauty playfully dodged, unknowingly transforming the anger in his heart into desire. Just as he was about to pull her over for a kiss, someone outside announced, "Your Highness, someone requests an audience."

"Who is it?" Guang Yan, his mood spoiled, spoke with evident impatience.

"Mr. Maningbu, the envoy from Wutuo."

The Crown Prince was taken aback, then set down his wine cup, frowning as he waved his hand. "Let him in."

Ying Xiang also stood up, straightened her dress, and took her place by the Crown Prince's side.

Maningbu entered.

He had the typical appearance of a Wutuo person—short and sturdy, looking honest and amiable. However, when his eyes shifted, he seemed somewhat cunning and sly. He walked up to the Crown Prince with a smile and bowed. "Your Highness, we meet again."

Seeing Maningbu, the Crown Prince felt a flicker of the earlier irritation from the hall resurface. "Sit," he said simply.

Maningbu sat down opposite the Crown Prince.

"Regarding the matter of establishing the Trade Market, you've seen it for yourself," Guang Yan said. "It's not that I'm unwilling to help you—I've done my utmost."

Maningbu remained smiling, showing no trace of annoyance. "Your Highness and our king had already agreed: help the Wutu Kingdom establish a Trade Market in Great Wei, and the Wutu Kingdom will naturally assist Your Highness in obtaining everything you desire. Unless..." he spoke unhurriedly, "Your Highness has already given up on that position?"

"Nonsense!" Guang Yan snapped angrily. "What do you know?"

"Currently, within Great Wei's court, there are quite a few who secretly support the Fourth Prince. The Crown Prince has long-standing grievances with General Feng Yun, and the Great Wei Emperor favors the Fourth Prince... From any perspective, Your Highness is at a disadvantage."

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Although he held the position of Crown Prince, as long as Emperor Wenxuan had not issued the edict of succession, his position remained unstable. He had finally managed to drive Xiao Huaijin out of Shuojing, only for the Battle of Jiyang to unexpectedly restore his reputation.

How could he bear to let that weakling Guang Shuo ascend the throne?

"It's not His Highness's fault," Ying Xiang muttered. "It's clearly Xu Xiang who's obstructing things. Our Crown Prince is very willing to help the Wutu Kingdom establish a Trade Market in Great Wei."

Maningbu couldn't help but glance at the speaker. Seeing the maid's breathtaking beauty, he was momentarily stunned.

However, he quickly regained his composure. "Xu Xiang? Xu Xiang has been obstructing frequently lately. It was because of him that information was leaked during the Battle of Jiyang. Your Highness," Maningbu smiled, "are you truly certain that Xu Xiang is on your side?"

"What do you mean?" Guang Yan asked warily.

"Nothing much," Maningbu replied with a smile. "I merely believe that Xu Xiang is a clever man. After all, Xiao Zhongwu died at his hands. Since he is clever, he would never reveal his true cards. Why does Your Highness believe that Xu Xiang's apparent support is genuine?"

"Don't try to sow discord between me and Xu Xiang!" Guang Yan sneered. "You cunning Wutuo people—do you think I'd fall for your tricks?""Your Highness may not believe it, but that's fine." Maningbu smiled. "However, I must add one more thing. If Your Highness is merely reluctant to part with the connections and influence of Minister Xu, rather than being overly attached to the man himself, there is no need to be so troubled. Because..." Maningbu lowered his voice, "In Shuojing of Great Wei, Xu Jingfu is not the only one who can assist Your Highness. Just as Xiao Zhongwu could be replaced by Xiao Huaijin, Xu Jingfu can certainly be replaced by someone younger. The same methods and connections—young fledglings are easier to train than grown venomous snakes, are they not?"

Guang Yan gazed at him thoughtfully, but Maningbu burst into hearty laughter and stood up. "Your Highness need not give me an answer too quickly. Wait a few days, until His Majesty hosts a banquet for the Wutuo envoys, and then reply to me." He instructed his attendant behind him, "I shall take my leave now. In a few days, I look forward to hearing good news from Your Highness."

Maningbu departed.

Once again, only Ying Xiang and Guang Yan remained in the hall.

Guang Yan’s expression was unsettled as he pondered Maningbu’s words. Though he had righteously declared he would not be swayed by the other’s rhetoric, deep down, a sliver of doubt had taken root.

Minister Xu was a clever man. Lately, he had frequently opposed Guang Yan on matters concerning the Wutuo People, fully aware that if Guang Yan did not comply with the Wutuo demands, he might lose everything. Yet, he persisted, disregarding his own position. Guang Yan had initially thought the minister was growing increasingly unreliable with age, but now... he was no longer certain.

Could it be that Minister Xu had been bought off by Guang Shuo long ago?

...

Meanwhile, the He household had been bustling with activity these past few days.

Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing had paid another visit a few days prior to discuss He Yan and Xiao Jue’s marriage. As everyone knew, during the victory celebration banquet, His Majesty had decreed marriages for Chu Zhao and Xu Pingting, as well as for He Yan and Xiao Jue. Chu Zhao and Xu Pingting were set to marry next month. As for Xiao Jue and He Yan’s wedding date, after consulting a renowned fortune-teller, Bai Rongwei had settled on two auspicious days: the seventh day of the Lunar New Year and the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, both considered highly favorable for weddings.

He Yan was not at home. Though her official position held little real authority, she still had daily duties to attend to, albeit mostly trivial tasks. Upon hearing Bai Rongwei’s words, He Yun Sheng immediately frowned and said, "That leaves only a little over a month for preparations. Isn’t that too rushed?"

He Sui had initially been quite pleased, but after hearing He Yun Sheng’s concern, he too began to feel it might be somewhat inappropriate.

"Young Master He need not worry," Bai Rongwei reassured with a smile. "Huaijin’s marriage preparations have actually been underway for two or three years now. It’s just that Huaijin never took a liking to any young lady before, so everything was put on hold. Now that His Majesty has decreed the marriage and Huaijin is very fond of Miss He, there’s no reason to delay any further. The betrothal gift list will be delivered by our household tomorrow."

"Two or three years ago?" He Yun Sheng remained skeptical. "How could you have prepared the betrothal gifts when you didn’t even know who Commander Xiao favored?"

This time, it was Xiao Jing who spoke up earnestly. "In the Xiao family, marriage is not about status or background. Whomever Huaijin favors is undoubtedly the best match. Therefore, the betrothal gifts will certainly not be lacking."“Yun Sheng speaks without thinking, please do not take offense, Young Master Xiao.” He Sui shot a glare at He Yun Sheng. “We are not concerned about the amount of the betrothal gifts. Yan Yan is my daughter. Her mother passed away early, and I raised her myself. Although our family is not wealthy, Yan Yan has been cherished and well cared for since childhood. Other matters do not concern me, but…” He turned to Bai Rongwei, his usually easygoing and honest face now serious and solemn. “The person my daughter marries must cherish and love her, just as I have. Betrothal gifts are for others to see. Yun Sheng and I do not need much money in our daily lives—I do not care about that. What I care about is the life Yan Yan will lead after entering the Xiao family.”

He smiled. “I am a rough man, not skilled with words. I know the Xiao family holds an extraordinary position in Great Wei, and our family is marrying above our station. However… not to boast, but across all of Great Wei, my daughter is one of a kind. I just want to know…” His tone grew unusually sharp. “After Yan Yan enters the household, will Commander Xiao take concubines or other women? If he will, I do not mind waiting another year or two to marry off my daughter. If he will not, then whether it is the seventh or the tenth day of the month, I have no objections.”

He Yun Sheng stared at his father in surprise.

He had always looked down on He Sui’s accommodating attitude toward the Xiao family, feeling it seemed as though they were eagerly trying to climb up to them. Even though it was an imperial decree, He Yan was a young woman and ought to maintain some dignity. If they let others think the He family was easy to manipulate, wouldn’t they end up taking advantage of He Yan in the future? Not only among these noble families, but even in the ordinary alleys where they lived, rumors of husbands and families bullying newlywed wives were heard from time to time.

He had thought He Sui would follow Madam Xiao’s lead and quickly agree to He Yan’s marriage with Xiao Jue, but he never expected He Sui’s question to be so pointed.

Their family was poor. When He Sui married, even after his wife passed away, he never considered remarrying or taking concubines—this was natural. He Yun Sheng never saw anything wrong with it, but it was common among poor families. Supporting an extra person was not an easy task. However, noble households were different. Since He Yun Sheng started attending the academy, many of his well-off classmates had several concubines in their households.

If this was the case for wealthy families, it was even more so for noble sons.

He Yun Sheng had not ignored this possibility, but whenever he thought about it, he deliberately avoided it. The imperial decree could not be changed, and it was simply the way of the world—wealthy and powerful families often had multiple wives and concubines. If they did not, the main wife would be criticized behind her back for being jealous.

But now, He Sui did not hold back at all and spoke directly. Moreover, his words carried a hint of threat—if Xiao Jue dared to take concubines, he would not marry his daughter to him. So what if it was an imperial decree? To put it bluntly, the Emperor was no longer young, while He Yan was in the prime of her youth. At worst, they could wait a few years until the Emperor passed away—who would care about the decree then?

A new ruler brings new ministers. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? Rules were rules when there was no choice, but when there was a choice, they were nothing but empty words!

Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing exchanged a glance. After a moment, Bai Rongwei chuckled and said, “Master He, you jest. The Xiao family has never had a tradition of taking concubines.”"When my parents-in-law were alive, there were no concubines in the household. I have been married to Rubi for many years, and there has never been anyone else between us. Huaijin should naturally follow the same principle."

Xiao Jing also said, "Master He, your words may underestimate Huaijin too much. Precisely because Miss He is a woman unique in all of Great Wei, Huaijin has fallen so deeply in love with her. As his elder brother, I know Huaijin's temperament very well. Once he sets his mind on something, he will never glance at anything else. I dare to swear on the entire Xiao family that in this lifetime, apart from Miss He, Huaijin will have no other woman. If Master He does not trust me, you can ask Huaijin directly once more. However," he said with a smile, "vows like these—even if spoken a thousand times—can still be broken by those who do not keep their promises. Those who truly value their word do not need to speak it; they will keep it in their hearts."

He Yun Sheng looked at Xiao Jing and thought to himself, just as he defended He Yan, this Xiao Rubi also seemed particularly protective of Xiao Huaijin. The bond between the two brothers was so strong; their family upbringing must be quite decent.

The two young masters of the Xiao family—one gentle as the spring breeze, the other serene as autumn waters—were both outstanding among men. Their words were certain to be matched by their actions.

He Sui laughed heartily, "No need, I trust the elder young master, and I trust Commander Xiao. Whether it's the seventh or the tenth, I have no objections!"

Bai Rongwei also smiled, "That's wonderful. Starting today, I will begin writing the invitations to avoid missing the auspicious timing."

After discussing the wedding arrangements with He Sui for a while longer, Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing rose to leave. Once the two of them had gone, He Yun Sheng turned to He Sui and asked, "Father, regarding what the elder young master said just now—that Commander Xiao will never take a concubine in the future—how much of that do you believe is credible?"

He Sui replied, "About fifty percent."

"What?" He Yun Sheng nearly jumped up. "Didn't you just say you trusted the two brothers? You sounded so certain, and I actually believed you!"

"I didn't grow up with them. I've only heard about families like theirs. How would I know if what they say is true or false? 'Distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's heart.' I've only met them a few times. Do you think your old man can read minds?" He Sui scolded.

"Then you..."

"I just wanted a guarantee from them, to let the Xiao family know that even though our family is poor and not of official rank, we are not to be bullied. If Yan Yan suffers any grievances in their household, I will fight with my life to make sure they don't have it easy."

"Come on," He Yun Sheng scoffed, "Even if both of us fought with our lives, we might not even be able to touch a single finger of theirs."

He Sui slapped him on the head, "Why do you always boost others' morale and dampen our own? When will you learn from your sister?"

"Learn what? Learn how she beams with joy whenever she sees Commander Xiao?" He Yun Sheng sneered. "Besides, if Commander Xiao really does take a concubine in the future, we might be jumping around in anxiety here, while that clueless He Yan might not even care and foolishly help others count their money."

"She won't."

"What?"

He Sui lowered his head and smiled, "Yan Yan won't.""This child may seem quite spoiled, but she's not bad-hearted—just a bit stubborn at times. Xiao Rubi said his younger brother, once he sets his mind on something, won't even glance at anything else. Yan Yan is no different," he reminisced fondly. "When I took her to the market as a child to pick out a dress, she would fixate on the prettiest one and insist on having that exact one. Even if I offered her more expensive or better ones, she wouldn't take them."

"I only said those things to scare the Xiao family a little. If Yan Yan truly wants to marry, I won't stop her. I can see she likes Xiao Huaijin—the way she looks at him is just like how your mother used to look at me."

He Yun Sheng was initially moved by He Sui's words, but upon hearing the last sentence, his touched expression vanished. He grimaced and said, "Let's not talk about that anymore. And don't make it sound like He Yan is so stubborn. Before, wasn't she head over heels for that Fan guy? Now, she never even mentions him anymore."

There was one more thing He Yun Sheng didn't dare say: when Fan Cheng died, He Yan had been as calm as if a roadside ant had died, not shedding a single tear.

He Sui: "How could it be the same? That Fan guy wasn't even human."

He Yun Sheng: "..."

(End of Chapter)