Legend of the Female General

Chapter 249: Exclusive Favor

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the table where the red candle had burned down to nothing, leaving only a small pool of crimson wax resembling a blooming flower.

A hand emerged from behind the bed curtains.

He Yan rubbed her eyes and sat up, supporting her waist.

It had been a bewildering night... and also... a night of fierce battle. If she tried to recall... well, perhaps it was better not to.

She thought to herself that the phrase "do as you please" she had uttered earlier had unexpectedly ended up being applied to herself. Had she received any reward? No, it seemed the biggest winner was clearly Xiao Jue.

He Yan turned to look beside her, only to find the space empty. She was taken aback for a moment before glancing outside. It was probably already late. After bathing last night, she had been utterly exhausted and had fallen asleep immediately. Judging by the sunlight, it was likely not early.

Just as she was thinking this, the door opened and someone walked in. He Yan looked up to see Xiao Jue entering, followed by Bai Guo carrying a food basket. Once inside, Bai Guo began placing bowls and plates from the basket onto the table, one by one.

"Awake?" Xiao Jue asked as he approached, seeing that she had already sat up.

He Yan coughed lightly and nodded.

"After you freshen up, you can eat," he said, pausing briefly before hesitantly adding, "Are you... alright?"

He Yan's face flushed, and she instinctively glanced at Bai Guo. The young maid had already set out the food and scurried away. She turned her gaze back to the man before her, who looked as refreshed and energetic as if he had absorbed vitality overnight, showing no signs of discomfort. Gritting her teeth, she replied, "I'm perfectly fine. Commander Xiao's skills have reached great heights, with few rivals. I've truly experienced it now."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Jue's mouth as he leisurely remarked, "General He is also quite impressive. Last night, you even boldly declared that we would battle another eight hundred rounds another day..."

He Yan: "?"

What kind of outrageous words were these? When had she ever said such a thing?

He Yan hurriedly covered his mouth. "Wait! Don't talk nonsense."

"General He," he leaned in slightly, his dark eyes glinting with amusement, "are you already denying what you said just last night?"

The proximity made her heart flutter nervously. He Yan threw off the covers, slipped on her shoes, and dashed away, mumbling, "...I'm going to freshen up! Where's Qingmei? Qingmei—"

Qingmei was called in. After He Yan had rinsed her mouth and washed her face, Qingmei came to help her style her hair. As she worked, she said, "Miss... oh, I should call you Young Madam now. Young Madam, the young master treats you so well."

He Yan absentmindedly replied, "Oh."

"He got up early this morning," Qingmei continued. "He went to the kitchen to have food prepared for you. I wanted to wake you, but the young master wouldn't allow it. He said to let you sleep a little longer."

He Yan nodded, then looked up to see Qingmei grinning from ear to ear. Puzzled, she asked, "Why are you so happy?"

"Of course I'm happy that the Second Young Master treats you so well," Qingmei replied, as if she had stumbled upon a fortune. "I'll tell the master and the young master later so they can rest assured!"

He Yan: "..."

After she had freshened up and changed into a new begonia-red narrow-sleeved gown, Qingmei styled her hair. The hairstyle suited her well—the married woman's updo didn't make her look old but instead gave her a clean and fresh appearance.

He Yan reattached the snake-patterned Black Jade that Xiao Jue had given her to her waistband and headed toward the small hall.At the table, the breakfast Bai Guo had delivered was already laid out in abundance. Neither of them liked having servants attend to them while eating, so Qingmei had withdrawn. He Yan sat at the table, handing Xiao Jue a pair of chopsticks, and sighed, "Xiao Jue, your family's breakfast is a bit excessively lavish."

And it was all her favorite dishes, though she wasn’t particularly picky to begin with.

Xiao Jue curled his lips slightly. "So easily won over by a single meal?"

"You just don’t understand," He Yan declared earnestly. "We ordinary folks don’t care for empty formalities. Marrying a man is about clothing and food—what you eat matters a lot."

He chuckled. "You’re easy to please."

He Yan picked up a plum blossom bun, eating as she smiled at him. Suddenly, she remembered something, her expression shifting. "Oh no, aren’t we supposed to serve tea to your elder brother and sister-in-law this morning?"

Originally, this was a ritual for a new bride to serve tea to her parents-in-law, but since Xiao Zhongwu and his wife were no longer alive, it was customary to serve tea to Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei instead.

"It’s fine," he replied. "I’ve already spoken to them. We’ll go after we finish eating."

"Huh?" He Yan looked at him. "Isn’t that against the rules?"

"What rules?" he said casually. "The Xiao family has no strict rules. Feel free to do as you like."

He Yan was taken aback. Not to mention her time in the "He family" before, even after marrying into the Xu family, before she lost her sight, she had to observe morning and evening rituals without fail. Since her time as a woman was short and she later spent years in the military, she wasn’t very familiar with many rules and often made a fool of herself. Back then, the mere thought of "rules" gave her a headache and filled her with annoyance.

But now, someone was telling her, "Feel free to do as you like."

She stole a glance at the man across from her. Xiao Jue noticed her gaze and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Xiao Jue," He Yan said seriously, "in Shuojing City, a husband like you must be the first of your kind—truly thorough and considerate in every way."

Xiao Jue’s lips curved upward as he spoke in a flat tone, "Of course. After all, your husband fell in love with you at first sight during the Lantern Festival, proposed to you the very next day, and swore he’d marry no one but you. If you refused to marry him, he’d throw himself into the river."

He Yan: "...Huh?"

He continued nonchalantly, "Our General He is not only a master at commanding troops but also unparalleled in the art of taming her husband."

He Yan found this familiar and realized it was the nonsense she had spouted to Ling Xiu and the other girls back in Jiyang. She hadn’t expected Xiao Jue to remember it?

She had spoken recklessly back then, never imagining that Xiao Jue would actually become her husband. Hearing it now, though, it sounded rather shameless.

He Yan picked up a cup of sweet porridge and took a sip, pretending to be casual as she changed the subject. "So... does the Xiao family really have no rules? Can we do whatever we want?"

Xiao Jue glanced at her. "Adultery is not allowed, nor is meeting men at night."

He Yan: "..."

She pressed on, undeterred. "What happens if you break those two rules?"

Xiao Jue narrowed his eyes slightly and replied calmly, "Break your legs and lock you up."

He Yan: "..."

After a moment, she said, "Xiao Jue, you’re so harsh."

He looked at her, a warning in his eyes. "Indeed."

...

After breakfast, He Yan and Xiao Jue went to serve tea.Having previously stayed at Xiao Manor for a while, He Yan was not unfamiliar with Xiao Jing and his wife. After drinking tea, Bai Rongwei took out a small box and handed it to He Yan, smiling as she said, "This was prepared by his elder brother and me back when Huaijin was still unmarried. Today, we can finally give it away."

He Yan thanked her with a smile.

Bai Rongwei looked at the two of them, her heart growing more delighted the longer she gazed. Ever since Xiao Jue was betrothed by Emperor Wenxuan, whenever there were gatherings of women, Bai Rongwei would hear many whispering behind her back, saying, "How could the fine Second Young Master Xiao end up with a crude martial woman?" Hearing this repeatedly, Bai Rongwei grew displeased, and later, whenever she received invitations, she would decline, claiming poor health. Now, seeing the two of them together, they looked like a perfect pair. Besides, who said women had to be gentle and refined? She found He Yan lively and spirited, and in recent days, Xiao Jue’s expressions had become much more animated as well.

She chatted with He Yan for a while longer until Xiao Jing reminded her it was time to rest. Since Bai Rongwei became pregnant, Xiao Jing had been extra cautious, never daring to be careless.

He Yan, holding the box, walked out with Xiao Jue toward their courtyard. Halfway there, she couldn’t resist cracking the box open slightly to peek inside. Inside were three white jade hair combs, arranged from large to small, delicate and translucent.

"Tying the knot..." she murmured in surprise.

Xiao Jue glanced at her. "Don’t you like them?"

"No," He Yan replied, closing the box and hugging it to her chest. "I like them very much."

This was far more precious than any gold, jade, or gemstones.

Due to the wedding, Emperor Wenxuan had granted Xiao Jue two days off, allowing him to stay at the manor for an extra day. Today, there was nothing else to attend to. As He Yan and Xiao Jue reached the entrance of their courtyard, they saw Qingmei and Bai Guo squatting on the ground, surrounded by a small mountain of congratulatory gifts tied with red ribbons.

"Young Madam is here?" Bai Guo stood up with a smile. "We were just sorting through the gifts received yesterday. Would you like to take a look, Young Madam?"

Seeing the gifts piled up to nearly half the courtyard, He Yan couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment. She turned to Xiao Jue and asked, "Didn’t they say you were aloof and unpopular in Shuojing City? How come there are so many gifts? How many people actually came yesterday?"

Xiao Jue remained silent, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Let me see what treasures we have," He Yan said, walking over to Qingmei’s side. Back when she was pretending to be "He Rufei," she had received many rewards from the emperor, but they were hardly warmed before being taken to the He family’s treasury. Later, as the "Eldest Miss He," her family was so poor they could barely make ends meet. The joy of sitting atop a mountain of riches like this was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Qingmei was equally excited, likely seeing so many treasures for the first time. She eagerly shared her discoveries with He Yan.

"Young Madam, look at this! This flowerpot is made of glass!"

"This ginseng looks incredibly expensive!"

"And this vase—I’ve never seen one like it before. Are these gemstones real?"

The little maid chattered nonstop. He Yan rummaged through the gifts alongside her and, to her surprise, stumbled upon something sent by an acquaintance.It was a gift from Mu Hongjin and Cui Yuezhi of Jiyang City—a complete set of pearl headwear. Jiyang, being near water, was abundant in pearls. Each pearl was plump, lustrous, and dazzling. As soon as the box was opened, it nearly blinded the eyes. Cui Yuezhi was wealthy and extravagant, while Mu Hongjin was both domineering and generous. Such a lavish gift truly suited their style. Even He Yan thought that in her lifetime, she would likely never wear this set of headwear out in public. Wearing it would be like openly carrying banknotes on her head—an invitation for robbers. It was simply too ostentatious.

She continued rummaging and pulled out a small jar of wine, a gift from Hua Youxian and Cailian of Jinling City. It was the Bifang wine they had once tasted. However, this jar of Bifang wine was a vintage brew, aged for seven years. If not for Xiao Jue and He Yan’s grand wedding, Hua Youxian would have been reluctant to part with it.

He Yan placed the small jar of Bifang wine beside her and heard Qingmei exclaim, "Young Mistress, look at this!"

He Yan turned to look and was momentarily stunned.

It was an exceptionally long embroidery, half a person’s height, depicting a pair of mandarin ducks beneath twin lotus flowers. The needlework was exceptionally even, and the colors were vibrant and splendid. Completing such an embroidery was no easy task—even with many embroiderers working day and night, it would likely take over a month to finish.

Beside the embroidery scroll was a letter. He Yan opened it and read that the embroidery had been sent from Rundu. The twin lotus and mandarin duck embroidery was crafted by the women who had been rescued by He Yan from Li Kuang’s clutches. Rundu had just experienced war, and the city was in a state of desolation. Zhao Shiming, the magistrate of Rundu, had procured silk threads and asked the women to embroider it as a wedding gift for Xiao Jue and He Yan.

It seemed those women were doing well.

He Yan was happy for them. She put away the letter and instructed Qingmei to move the items she had specifically selected to her room. Then, she stood up and walked over to Xiao Jue.

As she approached, Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you satisfied?"

He Yan shook her head.

"What’s not to your liking?"

"Commander Xiao, everyone has sent gifts. Why haven’t you given me one?" He Yan teased deliberately.

She had meant it as a casual joke, but to her surprise, Xiao Jue replied unhurriedly, "How do you know I haven’t prepared a gift?"

He Yan was taken aback and asked tentatively, "You actually prepared a gift?"

Xiao Jue crossed his arms and looked at her.

He Yan was stunned. "Didn’t you already give betrothal gifts? And you even gave me your family heirloom, the Black Jade. Isn’t that enough? What else are you planning to give?"

She felt a bit panicked. Could it be that in her lifetime, the title of "beauty who brings calamity" would truly be stuck to her head, impossible to remove? Heaven and earth, she had done nothing!

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Jue curled his lips slightly and walked toward the other side. He Yan hurriedly followed. "Xiao Jue, what exactly are you giving me?"

As she walked, something suddenly blocked her path. He Yan looked down and saw a yellow dog biting the floral bead on her shoe.

"Er Mao?"

After sneaking into the He residence that night, He Yan had temporarily entrusted the escaped Er Mao to Xiao Jue. Unexpectedly, after staying in the Xiao household for just a short while, Er Mao had already grown rounder. A tuft of fur on its head had been tied into a small bun with a red string, making it look particularly festive. It was almost unrecognizable compared to before—like a completely different dog.Ermao, seeing He Yan looking down at him, excitedly barked at her twice, though no sound came out. He then rolled around in the courtyard and began chasing his tail in circles.

He Yan was speechless for a moment. This dog truly didn’t see itself as an outsider, adapting so quickly and clearly living quite contentedly here. It seemed it wouldn’t be long before it could rival that pig named "Tangyuan."

"The new residence for your father and younger brother has been found," Xiao Jue’s voice came from beside her.

He Yan turned around. "Didn’t Lin Shuanghe say it would take a few more days?"

"He’s too busy to spare time for your affairs," Xiao Jue said calmly. "I’ve already sent people to help with the move. They should be able to settle in within the next couple of days."

"Ah? So soon? Where is it located?"

"Just a street away from the Xiao residence."

He Yan grabbed his sleeve. "Wait, did you say just a street away from the Xiao residence?"

Xiao Jue lowered his gaze to look at her. "Do you dislike it?"

"It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just..." He Yan’s mind was momentarily in disarray.

"Being close to the Xiao residence means you can return home anytime in the future, and it’ll be convenient for your father and Yunsheng to visit you," Xiao Jue frowned. "You don’t seem pleased."

He Yan stared at him, momentarily silent.

A married woman frequently returning to her maiden home would invite gossip if word got out. In her previous life, after marrying into the Xu family, from the wedding until her drowning, she had only returned home once—during the customary visit after marriage. Of course, in that life, she had no reason to return anyway.

But He Yan truly hadn’t expected Xiao Jue to buy a house right across from the Xiao residence. If this action were to become known, she wondered how outsiders would judge him. Gossipy busybodies would likely place all the blame on He Yan, branding her as the unruly, unconventional bride who disregarded propriety. Yet, surprisingly, He Yan wasn’t the least bit angry.

In fact, she was even delighted.

"If you don’t like it..."

"I love it!" she said brightly.

"Your expression doesn’t seem to reflect that," Xiao Jue looked at her skeptically.

He Yan, still holding his sleeve, smoothly wrapped her arm around his. "Xiao Jue, I’m so touched."

"You’ve taken such good care of my father, my younger brother, and even my dog. Could it be that the heavens saw how miserable my previous life was and sent you to me in this one?"

Xiao Jue was silent for a long moment before saying, "So taking care of your dog is what moves you?"

"It’s not just that," He Yan watched Ermao frolicking in the courtyard, her heart filled with emotion. "But I truly never imagined in my wildest dreams that you could be so accommodating."

The rumors of the world are often unreliable. The so-called aloofness and ruthlessness were all just hearsay. In her previous life, she had cautiously played the role of a wife, constantly reminded by others to be filial as a daughter, virtuous as a wife, and nurturing as a mother. She was told to be serene, chaste, orderly, and modest in conduct, to act with propriety in every movement, to be gentle, obedient, free of jealousy, tolerant, respectful, and wise... She didn’t know who first imposed these shackles on women, but these standards of feminine virtue seemed to have been passed down for centuries, to the point where everyone accepted them as natural.

Everyone was like this.But Xiao Jue had broken these shackles from the very beginning. She never knew that being someone's wife could be like this—free, unrestrained, and exhilarating.

Xiao Jue stood tall and straight. Hearing her words, he gently lowered the hand she had placed on his arm, then covered it with his own palm.

The moment their fingers intertwined, it felt like a tiny snowflake had landed on her heart, swiftly passing by and leaving behind a faint, fleeting itch.

“No need to be moved,” he said calmly. “After all, when you’re unhappy, your husband will use all his skills to make you happy.”

He Yan: “…”

“My eyes can’t hold anyone else—I only dote on you.”

He Yan: “…”

Now she was certain: Xiao Jue truly was the top student of Virtuous Prosperity Academy. She had only said it once in Jiyang, and she herself had forgotten, yet Xiao Jue remembered every word without missing a single one.

She clasped his hand in return, as if wanting to hold it like this forever, and replied with a smile, “Well, there’s no helping it. Even the most steadfast woman can’t resist a persistent suitor.”

Dudu: I’m super fierce.JPG

(End of Chapter)