Legend of the Female General

Chapter 267 Epilogue (Side Story Updated on Sunday)

The war between Great Wei and Wutuo ended in victory.

After Wutuo’s defeat, the King of Wutuo personally wrote a letter of surrender, sending his prince and envoys to plead for mercy. He pledged that for the next hundred years, Wutuo would never initiate military action against Great Wei, would form an alliance with Great Wei, and become a vassal state. The prince was left in Great Wei as a hostage to demonstrate submission.

Emperor Zhaokang was overjoyed and rewarded all the soldiers who had fought on the battlefield. Among them, He Yan, the Marquis of Wu’an, was appointed as a general, promoted to the third rank, and granted the title “Guiyue.” From then on, she became the first legitimate female general in the history of Great Wei.

In the courtyard, He Sui stared at the pile of congratulatory gifts in front of the door and sighed, “The cloth and grain can be stored for a while, but what about these fruits? There aren’t many people in the family, and I’m afraid they’ll spoil before we can finish them.”

He Yun Sheng glanced over and said, “Send them to Brother-in-law’s house. There are more people there. But, Dad, worrying about whether we can finish them is practically an insult to He Yan’s appetite.”

“How can you talk about your sister like that!” He Sui slapped him aside. “Go bring the soup from the kitchen to Yan Yan!”

He Yun Sheng rolled his eyes and resignedly headed to the kitchen.

He Yan was sitting in the room reviewing He Yun Sheng’s recent homework, with Xiao Jue seated beside her. She was currently having great difficulty walking, as the injury to her leg would take time to heal. Yet, she was not one to sit still, and every day, Bai Rongwei and He Sui would lecture her a hundred times.

Just as she was sitting there, He Yun Sheng walked in from outside, holding a porcelain bowl. He placed it in front of He Yan and said grumpily, “Dad personally stewed this bone soup for you. Drink up.”

“Bone soup again?” He Yan’s face fell at the words. She wasn’t usually picky, but she couldn’t stand having bone soup three times a day. Staring at the bowl larger than her face, she felt her stomach churn with grease.

“Didn’t you injure your leg? Dad says you should eat what you need to heal. So, heal properly.” He paused, then couldn’t help but lecture her, “They say it takes a hundred days to heal from a bone injury. Since your leg is hurt, why don’t you just stay home and rest instead of running around? The Emperor has already granted you leave. Why don’t you take care of yourself…”

He rambled on and on, sounding more like a father than He Sui. He Yan couldn’t take it anymore and cast a pleading look at Xiao Jue. But this man, clearly seeing her distress, simply sat there, sipping tea calmly.

After He Yun Sheng finished, he turned to Xiao Jue and asked, “Brother-in-law, don’t you think I’m right?”

Xiao Jue replied leisurely, “Quite right.”

“See, He Yan,” He Yun Sheng, emboldened by the support, grew even more confident. “Be a little more sensible!”

“I…”

“Enough said. I’m going to feed Xiangxiang.” Having vented his frustrations, He Yun Sheng felt much better. He tossed out one last remark, “Finish the soup. Dad made it himself. Not a single drop should be left,” before walking out.

Once he was gone, He Yan glared at the bowl of soup in front of her and finally turned to Xiao Jue. “Xiao Jue…”

“No.” His reply was merciless.

He Yan looked at him, feeling a headache coming on. “Commander Xiao, you’re using your position for personal revenge. How long has it been? Are you still angry?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m not angry.”

As she stared at him, He Yan suddenly remembered the last time she had seen Xiao Jue angry—it was back in the military tent in Ji County.That was the day she led two thousand soldiers in a feigned surrender. Someone in the Yan family army couldn't withstand the provocation of the Wutuo People, acted impulsively, and caused the plan to change abruptly. Inside the city, she seized a Wutuo blade and fought them. The troops outside the city couldn't get in—someone had to open the gates. She, Jiang Jiao, and Wang Ba fought their way toward the city gate tower.

A soldier never fights alone. When outnumbered, they fall at a disadvantage. Running toward the gate tower meant becoming a target.

He Yan was also injured.

Her leg was slashed by a Wutuo blade, the wound so deep the bone was visible. With every step, the wound tore at her muscles and tendons, a pain that pierced to the core. Wang Ba and Jiang Jiao feared she wouldn't last long, but she endured.

The gates finally opened, and the troops waiting outside entered the city. They won the battle.

When He Yan dismounted, her right leg had gone numb. The prolonged movement had soaked her trousers in blood, the fabric sticking to her flesh. When it was peeled away, it tore off skin and muscle, a sight that made one's scalp crawl.

Lin Shuanghe paled the moment he saw He Yan's wound. He had her helped into the tent. By then, He Yan had lost too much blood. As soon as she collapsed onto the bed, she was overwhelmed by exhaustion, barely able to keep her eyes open. In her dazed state, only one thought lingered: It's over, it's over. I didn't make it back alive. I broke my promise. Xiao Jue is going to be angry again.

She wasn't really afraid of Xiao Jue's anger, because although he was a bit quicker to anger than she was, he was still easy to placate.

But she was afraid of him truly being angry, because deep down, He Yan knew he had never truly been angry with her in the past.

Lin Shuanghe worked tirelessly in her tent for a full day and night. When He Yan awoke, the lamp in the tent flickered softly. Someone was sitting on the floor beside the bed, dozing off. As soon as He Yan stirred, he woke.

"Hey, Brother Lin," He Yan forced a smile, her voice hoarse, "a friend's wife is off-limits. Did you spend the night here with me?"

She still had the energy to joke. Lin Shuanghe just looked at her, his expression grave. "He Yan, you must rest."

Lin Shuanghe's efforts to save her had been perilous; her life had been preserved with great difficulty. Though she survived, if she didn't rest properly and continued to leap around as before, she might lose her leg for good.

He Yan, pale-faced, smiled at him. "That won't do. The battle isn't over yet."

Just as Yan He, on his deathbed, knew that intense activity would accelerate the spread of the poison and hasten his end, yet still fought on despite his injuries, He Yan was the same. They were at the most critical moment. If they didn't seize the opportunity and allowed the Wutuo People a chance to counterattack, it would spell trouble.

"Wrap it tightly for me," He Yan said. "Try not to let it affect my performance on the battlefield."

"Aren't you afraid your right leg might..."

"At worst, I'll just be lame," He Yan laughed. "Besides, there's still a chance it'll be fine."

She struggled to get up, making arrangements for the upcoming battles without pause.

Lin Shuanghe once believed He Yan's leg was truly beyond saving.

But He Yan was, after all, a little luckier than Yan He.On the journey back from Ji County to Shuojing, Lin Shuanghe applied all his lifelong learning to He Yan. At first, He Yan’s condition was truly dire—so dire that when Lin Shuanghe wrote letters, he didn’t know how to begin. Later, when He Yan improved slightly, he fully disclosed her condition in his replies. Yet, by sheer misfortune, the courier station made an error, causing Xiao Jue to worry for many days.

But this leg injury now required careful recuperation.

He Yan looked at him. "You’re really not angry?"

Xiao Jue focused intently on the tea before him.

Suddenly, she clutched her chest. "Ah, my leg…"

In an instant, he turned to look at her. Seeing her feigning distress, he paused, then scoffed, "You injured your leg. Why are you clutching your chest?"

"My leg hurts, but my heart aches," He Yan lamented, gazing at him mournfully. "I’m already wounded enough, and you’re so cold…"

Even though he knew the lies from the person before him flowed as freely as lines in a play, he sighed and finally walked over to sit before her. "Does it hurt badly?"

He Yan replied earnestly, "Yes, but if you say a few words of concern and comfort, it might not hurt anymore."

Xiao Jue: "…"

He was both angered and amused.

Seeing him smile, He Yan propped her chin on her hand, watching him, and tugged at his sleeve. "Alright, Commander Xiao, don’t be angry. Next time, I’ll take good care of myself and not treat my life as a joke. It was my fault for making you worry so long this time. Who knew the courier station could make such a mistake?"

It made her bear the blame unfairly.

Xiao Jue’s gaze lingered on her. Her face was all smiles, showing no trace of despondency. Yet, she had no idea of the fear he had felt when he couldn’t find her.

He wasn’t angry—more than anything, it was likely the helplessness of being unable to assist when the other was in danger.

But he also understood that if it happened again, He Yan would still make the same choice, just as he would.

Yet, she was still here, able to laugh and play before him. That alone was heaven’s grace, and it was enough.

After a moment, he looked at He Yan and curved his lips. "Alright."

He Yan was overjoyed. "That’s more like it! I—"

"But I won’t help you finish this bowl of soup."

"…"

He Yan: "Xiao Jue, you’re really petty."

…

Two more days passed, and He Yan went with Xiao Jue to visit Xia Chengxiu.

He Yan had expected to see a sorrowful, despondent young woman, but to her surprise, Xia Chengxiu seemed to be doing quite well.

When He Yan saw her, she was shaking a small red-lacquered drum, amusing the infant in a bamboo basket. The baby’s eyes followed the drum as it moved, and it babbled incoherently. Xia Chengxiu was laughing at its antics.

He Yan called out, "Miss Chengxiu." Only then did Xia Chengxiu notice her. After a moment of surprise, she said, "Miss He."

Xia Chengxiu had grown much thinner, making her clothes appear overly loose. However, her complexion looked good, perhaps because she had become a mother, making her seem even gentler. He Yan had originally wondered how to comfort her to ease her heart, but now, seeing her, she realized the words she had prepared seemed unnecessary.

"Miss Chengxiu, how have you been these days?" After thinking for a long while, He Yan finally asked only this.

"I’ve been alright," Xia Chengxiu replied with a smile. "With Mu Xia by my side, the days haven’t been too hard to bear."Hearing this, He Yan felt a pang of sorrow. Xia Chengxiu looked at her and smiled instead. "Miss He, there's no need to feel sad for me. When I first learned of Yan He's news, I found it hard to accept. I even thought about following him in death. But now that I have Mu Xia, some of my old obsessions have gradually faded away."

"When I married Yan He back then, I knew this day might come. I just didn't expect it to arrive so soon." She lowered her head with a faint smile. "But since I made that choice, there's nothing more to say. Yan He is gone, but those of us who remain must live well." She looked at Mu Xia in the basket. "I think heaven hasn't been too cruel to me—at least I still have Mu Xia."

She had always lived with clarity, and there were things she understood without He Yan having to say them. Yet, He Yan thought, sometimes excessive wisdom and understanding might make one's heart ache even more.

She spoke with Xia Chengxiu a while longer before rising to take her leave.

After that, He Yan went to Hong Shan's home.

Unlike Shitou and Huang Xiong, Hong Shan had a younger brother and an elderly mother at home. Hong Shan's mother wept day and night. He Yan helped find a school for Hong Shan's younger brother to attend and provided support for his mother's household expenses. As Xia Chengxiu had said, the dead were gone, but those left behind still had to live on.

All she could do for Hong Shan was to take care of his family in his stead.

...

In winter, by the riverside, a tavern's flag bearing the character for "wine" fluttered in the wind. A burly man carrying a large blade walked up to the woman selling wine and asked gruffly, "Do you have apricot blossom wine?"

The woman looked up and saw the rough-looking man with a scar on his face, exuding an air of banditry. She felt a moment of fear and whispered, "I'm sorry, sir. We don't have apricot blossom wine in winter, only yellow wine."

She thought this fierce-looking man would surely be angry, but he simply said, "Bring three bowls of yellow wine." He placed the payment on the table and walked inside.

The woman was taken aback for a moment before hurriedly rising to fetch wine from the jar with a wooden ladle.

Wang Ba gazed at the small tavern, his expression somber.

Before coming here, he had visited the bandit stronghold, handing over the reward money he had earned on this journey to his brothers. He told them never to engage in robbery again, noting that the stronghold was now doing well with farming and fish farming. The life of living by the blade was something they should never touch again.

When they went to Nine Rivers, Huang Xiong had once mentioned this riverside tavern, praising its apricot blossom wine as exceptionally clear, sweet, and fragrant. He had promised to treat Wang Ba to a drink here after the war was over. Wang Ba had gladly agreed, but now, he was the only one here to drink.

Time passed swiftly, leaving no trace, yet traces were everywhere. He was no longer as fierce and combative as he had been when he first joined the army. The children in the stronghold said he had become much gentler now.

He didn't know how it had happened, but it felt good this way.

For them, being able to return alive was already a blessing from heaven.

The three bowls of wine were soon brought over. The homemade yellow wine looked murky, carrying a simple, spicy aroma. He tilted his head back and downed the entire bowl in front of him. From his throat to his abdomen, a burning heat immediately spread.

"Old friend," he wiped his mouth, exhaling the scent of wine, though it was unclear whom he was addressing, "the wine is good."

No one answered him.A moment later, he picked up the remaining two bowls of wine and walked to the window. Outside, a slender willow swayed in the wind. In winter, its branches were bare, but before long, spring would arrive, and new green would sprout here once more.

He turned his hand and poured the two bowls of wine into the soil before the willow tree, watching as the liquid slowly seeped into the earth.

He gazed silently for a long while before murmuring softly, "Please have a taste too."

...

In the noodle shop in the eastern part of the city, the busy young girl had changed into a light blue padded jacket and skirt, trimmed with a circle of soft rabbit fur along the edges. In her hair, she wore a matching velvet flower, which made her already delicate face appear even more charming.

The colder the winter grew, the better the noodle shop's business became. On frosty mornings, a steaming bowl of plain noodles could warm one's heart and bring comfort.

Sun Xiaolan was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath. Only after serving the last bowl of noodles could she finally take a brief rest. As she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd.

It was a somewhat dark and handsome young man passing by on the street. Sun Xiaolan found him familiar and couldn't help but take a closer look. Soon, she remembered that she had seen him once at the beginning of spring this year, accompanied by a quiet and handsome youth. After they left, a pot of mountain peach blossoms remained on the table.

A sudden surge of joy welled up in the young girl's heart, and she was about to call out to him when someone behind her said, "Miss, another bowl of plain noodles here—"

Sun Xiaolan responded, but when she looked up again, the figure had already vanished into the bustling crowd.

Where had he gone?

The urging from behind left her no time to dwell on it. She thought to herself, Never mind. Since these two young men are in Shuojing, there will surely be another chance to meet them. Perhaps in a few days, they'll come to this noodle shop again.

At this thought, her heart lifted with happiness once more. Amid the clamor of voices, only the pot of mountain peach blossoms placed before the wooden counter of the noodle shop stood lonely and desolate in the winter chill. Yet, the vibrant colors painted on the flowerpot seemed to evoke the brilliance of spring.

...

Snow weighed heavily on the eaves.

By the time He Yan emerged from the Military Affairs Office, the sky had already darkened.

Although her leg was injured and Emperor Zhaokang had temporarily granted her sick leave, after the battle at Ji County in Nine Rivers, the subsequent military affairs were overwhelming. She still had to go to the Military Affairs Office to discuss matters and assist her colleagues. Qingmei was unavailable, so Chi Wu had escorted her during the day. However, she had stayed longer than usual today, and by the time she left, it was already this late.

He Yan was the only one left in the Military Affairs Office. Leaning on her crutch, she stepped outside, thinking of finding someone to hire a carriage, when she spotted a figure standing on the steps. Dressed in a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with dark ink patterns, he stood in the snow, as if illuminating the snowy ground.

"Xiao Jue!" He Yan waved to him.

He smiled and walked toward her.

"How do you have time today?" He Yan asked as he approached. If she was busy at the Military Affairs Office, Xiao Jue was even busier than her.

"I knew you hadn't returned yet, so I came to pick you up," he replied.

He Yan quickly linked her arm with his, holding her crutch with one hand and hopping forward on one leg.

She didn't think much of it herself. Her leg injury had actually improved significantly, but Lin Shuanghe must have exaggerated something to Xiao Jue... In any case, He Yan often felt as though she were living the life of an invalid these days.

After taking a few steps, Xiao Jue suddenly stopped. He Yan asked, "What's wrong?"His gaze fell on He Yan's crutch. After a moment's thought, he walked up to her, crouched slightly, and said, "Get on."

"You... you're going to carry me?" He Yan asked.

"Hurry up."

"This isn't appropriate," He Yan hesitated. "This is the military affairs office. I come here to work every day. If someone sees this, it'll ruin my reputation. Everyone knows how brave and invincible I was in Nine Rivers. If they look back and think, 'Oh my, she can't even walk without being carried,' wouldn't that be embarrassing..."

"Are you getting on or not?"

He Yan said, "Yes, yes, yes!"

She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Xiao Jue's neck as he effortlessly lifted her onto his back.

Xiao Jue continued walking out with her on his back. He Yan leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Even if we ignore my reputation, what about yours? Won't people say, 'The Great Wei's Jade-Faced Commander, the Living King of Hell, looks so imposing, but oh, he's actually henpecked at home...'"

"Miss He," Xiao Jue's voice was calm, "when you don't want to speak, you don't have to."

He Yan said, "So you admit you're henpecked?"

At times like these, Xiao Jue usually couldn't be bothered to respond.

The night wind blew in gusts, and the road was cold and quiet. Yet his back was warm and broad, as if it could carry the weight of the entire future.

He Yan thought to herself, Xiao Jue really was more capable than He Yun Sheng. If He Yun Sheng had to carry her this far, he would have started complaining long ago and probably would have complained about her weight too.

"Commander Xiao," He Yan's voice was soft, her warm breath brushing against his neck with a ticklish sensation, "is this the first time you've carried a girl?"

Xiao Jue's voice was cold. "Are you a girl?"

No one could see the slight curve of his lips or the tender, indulgent affection in his eyes, soft as water.

"Am I not a girl?" He Yan asked, puzzled. "Then do you like men?"

Xiao Jue fell silent.

Perhaps after spending so much time with him, He Yan's ability to provoke had grown steadily. Sometimes, even Xiao Jue couldn't argue with her—or perhaps he simply couldn't be bothered to.

Having won this round, she felt quite pleased with herself.

The night was still, the snow and the moon sharing the same silvery glow. On one side, all was quiet; on the other, the streets connected to the night market, where lanterns flickered in the distance.

They walked away from the bustle. Along the way, the dim lanterns hanging under the eaves illuminated the snowy ground. Plum trees planted in someone's backyard bloomed, their delicate branches stretching timidly through the fence, trembling with fragile beauty.

Though the wind and snow were unpredictable, her heart was at peace. On the way home, the night was beautiful.

Lying on Xiao Jue's back, she gazed at the moon in the sky and called out, "Xiao Jue."

He hummed in response, and He Yan said, "Do you think the moon ten, twenty, or fifty years from now will be any different from how it is now?"

Xiao Jue paused.

"I don't know," he replied after a while.

"I want to see how the moon decades from now differs from the one today."

Xiao Jue looked up. The cool moon arched like an eyebrow, and pear blossoms dotted the snow. The voice of the person on his back was gentle and calm, and her presence there felt reassuring.

"I want to know too," he said softly, his gaze softening like rippling autumn water. "So... let's watch it together."

Together... watch the moon ten, twenty, fifty years from now.

He Yan's lips slowly curved into a smile.

What would the future be like?Perhaps the streets will look different in ten years, perhaps the snow and wind will be colder in twenty years, perhaps in fifty years both she and Xiao Jue will have hair as white as snow.

But the moon may not be much different from tonight.

Even if it is different, it doesn’t matter.

Ten, twenty, fifty years from now—mountains and rivers will stretch far, the world will change, old friends may fade—she cannot know what lies ahead, but she knows this…

She will always love the moon.

A snowflake landed on the hair of the person before her, and He Yan gently brushed it away.

It felt so ordinary, yet the moonlight was bright and the breeze gentle tonight, making it exceptionally beautiful.

"Let's go home," she urged with a smile.

"Alright."

End of Main Story

The main story of Female General Star ends here. There will be about three extra chapters. As the end of the year is quite busy, the extras will be updated next Sunday.

This book is different from my previous works, as it contains almost no inner-house conflicts or political intrigue. It’s more of a story about the female lead’s growth—though her growth isn’t about professional skills but rather about healing the personality flaws brought by her family of origin (or so to speak).

Apart from her talent for warfare, Yan Yan is just an ordinary girl. She appears bold and decisive, but deep down, she harbors a people-pleasing personality. Fortunately, she is gradually healed by the abundance of "favoritism" she receives later on.

As for Xiao Jue, I’ve noticed many friends confuse "wolf-like" with "wolf-dog-like," thinking he isn’t as flirtatious. In fact, his wolf-like nature lies in his calmness, loyalty, sense of order, and untamable spirit. It has nothing to do with being flirtatious—he’s not a little wolf-dog (facepalm). His values are already quite close to those of modern people, which is why he is inevitably drawn to He Yan.

If He Yan’s charm lies in her purity and determination, then Xiao Jue’s preciousness lies in his gentleness and respect.

In any case, the moonlight is shining on Yan Yan as she heads home. Thank you all for another year of companionship. I wish everyone good health and all the best in the new year!

See you in the extras!

(End of Chapter)