Legend of the Female General

Chapter 247: The Wedding (Part 1)

The days from New Year’s Day to the tenth seemed to pass both slowly and quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the day of He Yan’s wedding.

Early in the morning, Xia Chengxiu arrived by carriage.

The He family had very few relatives in Shuojing, and over the years, after Madam He passed away, they had long lost contact with them. Worried that there would be no womenfolk to help, Xiao Jue had spoken to Yan He and asked Xia Chengxiu to come assist. Yan He, of course, was extremely unwilling, but Xia Chengxiu was easygoing and arrived early.

As she combed He Yan’s hair, she smiled and said, “Miss He, don’t worry. Today, we’ll make you the most beautiful bride in all of Shuojing City.”

He Yan laughed. “Whether I’m beautiful or not isn’t really that important.”

“That’s true,” Xia Chengxiu set down the comb. “As long as Commander Xiao thinks it’s good, that’s all that matters.”

He Yan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of embarrassment.

Qingmei walked over carrying a box. “Miss, let’s put on the wedding dress first.”

The dress had been delivered by the Xiao family the evening before. It was already quite late then, so He Yan had only tried it on briefly to confirm it fit. Now, as the box was opened, Xia Chengxiu gasped in surprise.

He Yan asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

“This embroidery…” Xia Chengxiu gently traced the patterns on the fabric. “It looks like the lost Wuzhuang embroidery of Great Wei.”

“What is Wuzhuang embroidery?” Qingmei also looked puzzled.

“It was a cloth shop famous for its embroidery skills in the past, but it later disappeared. Back then, the daughter of the shop owner, Lady Ruxing, had embroidery skills so exquisite that even the noblewomen in the palace rarely obtained a piece of fabric from her.” Xia Chengxiu smiled. “Commander Xiao must have found an embroiderer from somewhere to make this wedding dress. It shows how thoughtful he is.”

He Yan was momentarily stunned. She lifted the wedding dress from the box, and Qingmei helped her put it on.

The wedding dress consisted of an upper garment and a skirt. Beneath the embroidered red jacket with dragon and phoenix motifs, the skirt’s hem was wide and flowing, its edges adorned with dense cloud patterns stitched in gold-red thread, creating an elegant and graceful appearance. The cloud cape draped from her shoulders to the front, hanging with a gold and jade pendant.

Putting on the dress was no easy task, requiring the help of both Xia Chengxiu and Qingmei. It took quite some time before it was properly arranged. At this point, He Yan’s hair was still undone. Qingmei playfully took out the phoenix crown from the box and pretended to place it on He Yan’s head. “Miss, take a look at this first!”

He Yan looked at herself in the mirror. Unlike the phoenix crowns worn by other noblewomen, which were often made of gold and jade and adorned with jadeite and gemstones, this one appeared exceptionally delicate, seemingly crafted from silk as thin as a cicada’s wing. It was studded with tiny red gemstones and pearls, and when worn, it seemed to envelop her head in a layer of rosy clouds. The crystal beads hanging by her ears accentuated her face, making it appear exceptionally fair and beautiful.

“Miss, you look so beautiful…” Qingmei stared in awe. Having grown up by He Yan’s side, she knew He Yan was pretty, but now it was as if the dust had been brushed off a gemstone, revealing a breathtaking brilliance that was impossible to look away from.

“Commander Xiao has a good eye for wedding dresses,” Xia Chengxiu also paused for a moment before smiling. “Among all the brides who have married in Shuojing City over the years, none could compare to the wedding dress Miss He is wearing.”

He Yan also thought the wedding dress was beautiful. Unfortunately, she had little talent for poetry and couldn’t come up with any elegant words of praise, so she could only silently admire it in her heart.Back when she married into the He family, the wedding dress was also expensive and fit well, but when she wore it, He Yan felt somewhat uncomfortable. Later, when she thought about it, that wedding dress was particularly charming and delicate, completely different from her own temperament. But the one in the mirror now, from head to toe, felt perfectly fitting and comfortable.

"First, sit down," Xia Chengxiu took the phoenix crown away, "I'll do your hair first. After it's done, we'll put on the phoenix crown. It should look even better then."

He Yan was pressed into the chair by Xia Chengxiu, watching as she combed her hair.

Qingmei stood to the side holding a small box of jewelry, occasionally handing Xia Chengxiu hairpins and ornaments. Suddenly, she felt a bit sad, "From now on, the young lady will have to wear her hair up. Time really flies."

After getting married, He Yan would naturally have to wear her hair in a married woman's style, but back when she was in this small courtyard, He Yan was still a child. Qingmei still remembered the first time she saw her young lady—back then, He Sui had brought Qingmei to the He family, and Qingmei saw a little girl with messy hair standing at the door, glaring fiercely at her, demanding that He Sui send her away. Qingmei suppressed her fear and timidly stepped forward, saying, "Young lady, please don't send me away. I know how to do hair."

And she had been doing it ever since, all these years.

The woman's long hair in the mirror was combed as smooth as silk, then deftly gathered up in Xia Chengxiu's hands. Hairpins were inserted one by one, followed by silk flowers, agate ornaments, silver hairpins...

Xia Chengxiu did her hair with great care, as if adorning a flower about to bloom, wishing she could use all that was beautiful and good on her.

The woman in the mirror gradually became clearer, from wearing no makeup to being fully adorned.

He Yan stared blankly at the person in the bronze mirror. She had never known that a woman could look so beautiful on her wedding day.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door outside. Qingmei went to open it and, upon seeing the person outside, asked in confusion, "You..."

"Young Lady He?" He Yan was stunned, then stood up.

He Xinying stepped out from behind the door, seeming a bit nervous. She first looked at He Yan, momentarily dazed, until Xia Chengxiu gently asked, "Young lady?" Only then did she snap back to reality.

"I heard that Young Lady He is getting married today and wanted to come see," He Xinying bit her lip, taking out a palm-sized box from behind her back. "This is my wedding gift... After what happened to my family, there isn’t much left. These are the earrings my mother gave me when I got married. I heard they were left to her by my grandmother."

"I don’t have anything valuable, only this..." He Xinying paused, lowering her head. "If Young Lady He dislikes it..."

The next moment, the box was taken from her. He Yan smiled at her, "That’s perfect. Today, for my wedding, none of the earrings I have seem to look very good." She opened the box, revealing a pair of amber phoenix-shaped earrings with pearls in their beaks, and took them out. "These earrings look just right and match my wedding dress perfectly."

"Xinying," she said affectionately, "help me put them on."

He Xinying was taken aback, asking uncertainly, "Me...?"

"Yes," He Yan took her hand and placed the earrings in her palm. "Help me put them on, so you can share in the joy too."Though it was winter, the hand holding hers carried a warm, gentle heat. In that instant, He Xinying felt a deep ache in her heart. Coming here today had required every ounce of her courage. Now the daughter and wife of disgraced officials, she faced scornful gazes wherever she went. She had truly feared that He Yan would look down on her. It had taken great effort to explain herself to Lady Wei, and even after arriving at the door, she had hesitated for a long time, too afraid to enter. Yet now, the way He Yan looked at her was as if she were no different from anyone else.

He Xinying steadied herself, carefully picked up the earrings, and fastened them onto He Yan’s ears. Then, she took two steps back, studying the person before her, and murmured, "Miss He, you look truly beautiful."

A sudden pang of sorrow welled up in her eyes as she recalled the day of her own wedding. Back then, she too had been filled with nervousness and anxiety, along with a touch of anticipation and shyness. Lady He the Second had placed earrings on her ears just as she had done for He Yan now. At that time, He Xinying had believed she was about to embark on a new, happy life, only to later discover that marriage was nothing but a wretched affair.

The bride before her was so lovely, He Xinying thought. How she envied He Yan.

He Yan’s gaze lingered on He Xinying’s momentarily vacant expression. After a pause, she suddenly stepped forward, disregarding her elaborate gown and intricate hairstyle, and gently embraced He Xinying.

He Xinying was taken aback. "Miss He…"

"You will be just as beautiful in the future."

The warmth before her felt so real, as if she had suddenly found a place to lean on. Yet she could only lower her head in fluster, murmuring uncertainly, "No… I will never have better days again."

One misfortune after another had struck her family, and the sudden shift in her status had transformed the once proud and willful young lady into someone timid and insecure in such a short time. A pang of sorrow struck He Yan’s heart, and she tightened her embrace slightly. Softly, she said, "Don’t forget, you are the Flying Goose General’s sister." After a pause, she added, "And also my sister."

He Xinying’s heart trembled.

The bride had already released her, standing in place and looking at her with sincere warmth and closeness. "The first time I saw you was at Jade Splendor Temple, Xinying. You may not know, but Jade Splendor Temple is truly miraculous."

"The Buddha blesses the devout with their heart’s desires," she said. "So, you will surely grow better and better."

He Xinying stood dazed for a moment before slowly breaking into a smile and looking at He Yan. "Alright."

"Since you’re here," He Yan said, pulling her aside, "why not lend a hand? There are so few women in our family, and Chengxiu alone can’t manage everything. Xinying, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you for a while."

He Xinying hurriedly waved her hands. "No trouble at all."

"Oh, right," the bride added, as if remembering something, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. "From now on, you can call me ‘sister.’"

…

"Is it finally done yet?" He Yun Sheng paced back and forth outside, growing anxious.

"What’s the rush?" He Sui scolded him. "Your sister is inside getting dressed and made up—of course it takes time." Despite his words, his own eyes were filled with impatience, and he had crumpled the hem of his newly made robe until it was wrinkled.He Yun Sheng and He Sui had also changed into new clothes. He Yun Sheng had grown quite a bit taller, and with the new attire, he looked like a handsome young man. He Sui, however, had been a martial artist all his life and rarely took the time to dress up. Thinking back, the last time he had dressed so formally seemed to be when he got married. Time had flown by, and now it was his own daughter’s turn to marry.

Just as he was lost in thought, the door inside creaked open. Xia Chengxiu and He Xinying walked out, followed by Qingmei. Xia Chengxiu smiled and said, "Master He, Miss He is all dressed up. You can go in and talk to her now."

"Ah... yes! Thank you, Miss Xia." Upon hearing this, He Sui eagerly stood up and walked toward the door, with He Yun Sheng following closely behind. Qingmei covered her mouth with a smile and gently closed the door behind them.

He Yan turned around and saw He Yun Sheng and He Sui standing before her, staring blankly without a word.

"What’s wrong?" she asked cautiously, taking a small step forward. Afraid of dislodging the hairpins and ornaments on her head, she could only tilt her head slightly. "Does it not look good?"

"No, no, no... it looks beautiful!" He Sui snapped out of his daze. "Yan Yan looks absolutely stunning!" As he spoke, his voice suddenly choked up. "You look so much like your mother..."

Ever since she woke up, He Yan knew that He Sui had shared an exceptionally close bond with his late wife. Because the eldest Miss He resembled her mother so much, he had doted on her since childhood. Seeing her now, He Sui was likely reminded of his wife. He Yan quietly moved closer to him and gently patted his shoulder in comfort.

"Father," He Yun Sheng rolled his eyes, "crying on such a joyous day—aren’t you afraid of bringing bad luck? Besides, how could He Yan compare to my mother’s beauty? You’re exaggerating."

His words pulled He Sui out of his sorrow. He Sui scolded him, "Is that any way to talk?"

"It’s the truth."

"Go on, get out of here." He Sui shooed him aside and pulled out a thick stack of papers from his sleeve. "These are some land deeds and fields, Yan Yan. Take them."

He Yan was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I’ve seen the dowry gifts from the Xiao family," He Sui explained. "Our family can’t compare to the Xiao family, but with our circumstances, your dowry won’t be an embarrassment. This isn’t listed in the dowry registry. Keep it hidden and don’t tell Huaijin. If you ever find yourself short on money or in need of funds in the future, use this..."

"Wait, Father," He Yan interrupted, "our family’s finances were nearly drained just by the dowry gifts. Where did these land deeds come from?"

A hint of pride appeared on He Sui’s face. "When I married your mother, I was a live-in son-in-law, so there was no dowry. But your maternal grandparents loved your mother dearly and gave her a generous dowry. After your mother passed away, I never touched a single penny of it all these years. I thought that when you got married, part of it could be shown to others to prove that our He family has wealth and wouldn’t be looked down upon by your husband’s family. The other part..." He pressed the land deeds into He Yan’s hands. "You keep it for yourself. You’re not marrying a live-in son-in-law—you’re going to live in someone else’s household. There will definitely be times when you need money. Don’t ask Huaijin for it—I’ll provide for you. With money in hand, you’ll stand much taller."He Yan had never imagined that He Sui, who seemed so rough and careless, could be so thoughtful. She found it both amusing and exasperating as she pushed the land deed back into his hands. "Father, I don't need these. I have my own salary, so I'll never be short of money. Yun Sheng is at an age where he needs funds—keep these for him."

"I don't want them," He Yun Sheng refused before He Sui could speak. "What kind of man would think only of the family's money? If I want something, I'll earn it myself. Keep what Mother left for you."

"I—"

He Sui slapped the land deed onto the table, unusually firm with He Yan. "No, this time you must listen to me. Yan Yan, take it! If you don't, I won't let you leave this house."

He Yan: "..."

"Alright, I'll keep it," she said, thinking to herself, Fine, I'll just find a way to return it the next time we meet.

He Sui looked at He Yan, sighing with emotion. "When your mother passed away, she was most worried about you two. I swore by her bedside that I would never remarry and would raise you both well. Yan Yan, now that you've found a good match, half the weight in my heart is lifted." He reached out, wanting to pat her head but afraid of messing up her hair. In the end, he only touched it lightly before withdrawing his hand. "You're very different from your mother. I used to think you were spoiled and willful, afraid you'd suffer. But now I see you're strong and decisive. Even if you weren't marrying Xiao Huaijin but someone else, you'd still live a good life."

"I'm proud of you."

He Yan gazed at the man before her. In her past life, the word "father" had only brought her exploitation and disappointment. Now, as if to make up for it, heaven had sent her the best father in the world. Only then did she realize that a father's presence could be so gentle and strong, loving his children silently and steadfastly.

"Father," she said, holding his calloused hands with a smile. "Thank you. I'm proud of you too."

From outside, Qingmei's voice called in: "Miss, the wedding procession is almost here. Master, if you're done talking, please come out quickly so we don't miss the auspicious hour."

He Sui reluctantly let go of her hands, gave He Yan one last look, as if he had a thousand things to say but could only manage: "Yan Yan, I'll go out first."

He Yan nodded.

Qingmei entered, asking He Yun Sheng to wait by the door. She straightened He Yan's dress, then carefully placed the bridal veil over her head. Holding He Yan's hand as they walked toward the door, she whispered, "Miss, don't be nervous, don't be nervous at all."

Yet her own voice trembled slightly.

He Yan almost laughed. She was getting married, not walking into a fire. Why was everyone in the He family acting as if it were a life-or-death farewell?

When they reached the door, Qingmei announced, "Young Master, Miss is here."

According to tradition, the bride was to be carried to the bridal sedan by her brother. He Yun Sheng crouched down, his voice tense. "Climb on."

He Yan climbed onto his back.

The young man looked tall and slender, but his back was broad and warm. He Yan wrapped her arms around his neck and, taking advantage of the moment when no one else could hear, whispered, "Yun Sheng, did you eat breakfast this morning?""Shut up," He Yun Sheng, who had been somewhat nervous, now found all his melancholy gone thanks to her interruption, and simply said, "I told you not to eat so much, you're heavy as a rock."

"Am I heavy?" He Yan frowned slightly. "If you can't even carry me, how will you carry the girl you love in the future?"

"If she weighs as much as you, she won't become 'the one I love,'" He Yun Sheng gritted his teeth.

He Yan: "When I was at Liangzhou Guard, I could lift two stones as heavy as myself at once. Little brother," she kindly reminded him, "you need to exercise more."

"Can you just stop talking?"

He Yan let out an "oh" and indeed fell silent.

The path from the doorway to the bridal sedan wasn't long, but He Yun Sheng walked very slowly. After He Yan truly stopped speaking, he grew quiet himself. After a moment, he said, "He Yan."

"What?"

"When you get to the Xiao family, eat whatever you want."

"Didn't you tell me to eat less?"

"If you really want to eat, then eat," He Yun Sheng frowned deeply. "If you're like this at home, you shouldn't have to hold back at someone else's house. Just treat the Xiao family as your own home, don't let yourself suffer. If anyone bullies you, tell me. Even if I have to tear down the Xiao family's gate, I'll stand up for you."

He Yan leaned on his back, and no one could see her face beneath the bridal veil, where she was grinning uncontrollably. "Thanks, but I doubt anyone would dare bully your sister. If someone really does bully me, I'll handle it myself. As for you," she lectured He Yun Sheng, "after I leave, don't always argue with Dad. He's getting old—why keep fighting with him? Give in to the elderly more. And as for yourself, be more generous at the academy. Your sister is, after all, an official of the court, and your brother-in-law is a renowned general of Great Wei. We may not be extravagant, but you can occasionally act like a spoiled young master..."

Seeing her words drift further and further off track, He Yun Sheng was left speechless. After a moment, he said, "We're here."

The bridal sedan was right before them. He Yan got down from He Yun Sheng's back and was helped into the sedan by Qingmei and Xia Chengxiu.

The wedding procession had already arrived. She could hear the chatter of the common folk all around, and some voices reached He Yan's ears.

"Ah, is that Commander Xiao? Commander Xiao is here!"

"He's here, he's here! Oh, he's so handsome! So noble too. What kind of luck did that He family girl have to stumble upon such a good marriage?"

"To be fair, our Little Flower isn't bad-looking either. Are they still taking people? Even if it's just as a concubine, it wouldn't be bad—the children would be beautiful too."

"Pah, you're dreaming. If they really were taking people, it wouldn't be your family's turn first. My Little Leaf is still waiting to be married!"

Inside the bridal sedan, He Yan listened to the chatter, her heart itching with curiosity. She longed to lift the sedan curtain and see for herself what the groom, who had already caught the attention of the neighbors, looked like. Come to think of it, she had never seen Xiao Jue dressed in red before. She wondered if he would be as graceful as the moon, flawless as fine jade...

She could faintly hear Xiao Jue bowing and bidding farewell to He Sui, likely presenting the betrothal gifts and sending off the geese. Then, the bridal sedan swayed gently as it began to move forward.

The procession had begun.Amidst the sound of the bridal sedan being lifted, the joyful cheers of children erupted instantly. General Feng Yun of Shuojing City was taking a wife—though not quite emptying the streets of all spectators, both sides were packed with onlookers. The Xiao family’s wedding procession was generous, casually scattering wedding coins as they went. Children laughed and scrambled for them, then shared the wedding sweets with newly arrived friends.

Shen Han, Liang Ping, and their group had just reached the bridge when the distant sounds of gongs and drums reached their ears. The instructors of the Liangzhou Guard, along with Wang Ba and his companions, had been granted rare leave to personally attend Xiao Jue and He Yan’s wedding banquet today. Now, they were following the wedding procession toward Xiao Manor.

"I really want to see what Brother He looks like in wedding robes," Xiao Mai murmured, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the approaching sedan.

"Still calling him Brother He?" Hong Shan asked.

"I can't change it now," Xiao Mai scratched his head.

Wang Ba snorted, "I can't imagine what she'd look like in wedding attire anyway. She's just a female bandit at heart."

"Not at all," Jiang Jiao laughed. "Brother He's beauty is truly one of a kind."

"We're almost there," Huang Xiong chimed in with a smile. "Should we go grab some wedding coins? For good luck?"

"Uncle, you're too old for that," Xiao Mai couldn't help but say. "What use is good luck for you? Better let my brother go." He nudged Shitou. "Big brother, you go get them."

Shitou was watching intently and didn't respond.

As they joked, more children following the wedding procession ran over. The Xiao family's wedding coins were generous, and poorer children from Shuojing City followed the procession from start to finish, scrambling for them excitedly.

At that moment, a man walking ahead threw another handful of wedding coins. The copper coins tied with wedding cords bounced toward the bridal sedan, rolling off the bridge. A thin, small boy bent down to pick up coins near people's feet, but he was too frail. Suddenly pushed lightly, he stumbled backward. They were right at the edge of the bridge, where the railing was low. A scream rose from the crowd as the child tumbled over the side toward the water below.

"Ah—" the boy cried out in terror.

The next moment, someone flew out from the bridal sedan, robes like red mist, and with one hand caught the falling boy, pulling him into her arms. She stepped onto the bridge railing and landed gracefully on the ground.

The bridal veil had floated to the ground the moment she leaped out, revealing the bride's face beneath the phoenix crown. Dark hair framed her temples, amber earrings trembling slightly. Her red gown was embroidered with phoenixes, splendid and radiant. Her gaze was clear, like the purest stream in Shuojing City, carrying a hint of confusion and realization. Unlike those delicate, shy brides, she was like morning glow upon snow, radiant and captivating.

For a moment, silence fell over the bridge and below, whether shocked by the sudden incident or stunned by the bride's beauty now unveiled.

"Oh," someone's voice broke the silence, "the bridal veil has fallen! How terrible—this is unlucky!"

He Yan released the boy, who, realizing he had caused trouble, scampered away. She stood there, momentarily at a loss. Inside the sedan, hearing someone in danger, she had acted without thinking, forgetting she was in the middle of a wedding procession.

Was this really unlucky?

He Yan felt uneasy.

Someone walked toward her, stopping before the bridal veil on the ground. He bent down and picked it up.

He Yan looked up at him.

It was the first time she had seen someone wear the color of blazing fire with such restraint, yet so fittingly. The bright red ceremonial robes set off the young man like jade and gold. With each step he took, his elegance was striking.

The handsome youth of years past, atop a golden saddle and white horse, had matured through flowing time into a figure of spirited grace. Amidst splendid attire, his demeanor was cool, his jade ornaments chiming softly.

Step by step, he approached until he stood before the woman in phoenix crown and cloud cape.

He Yan gazed at him, seeing a clear reflection of herself in his autumn-water eyes.

"Young master..." a matron nearby gathered her courage to speak. "The wedding veil has fallen to the ground... it's unlucky..."

"So what?" he replied softly.

Then, he gently, tenderly, placed the bridal veil he had picked up back over the bride's phoenix crown.He Yan's vision was once again obscured, but in that moment, even in the darkness, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

She heard Xiao Jue's voice.

"It's alright."

(End of Chapter)