Legend of the Female General

Chapter 88: Unlikely Travel Companions

Cheng Lisu could hardly believe his ears when He Yan suddenly agreed. It wasn’t until she repeated her promise several times and even swore an oath that he finally accepted she was truly willing to help him.

He poured a cup of tea for He Yan and presented it with both hands, his voice brimming with gratitude. "Elder Brother, you’ve truly saved my life! If there’s ever anything you need in the future—whether it’s scaling mountains of blades or braving seas of fire—I’ll do it without hesitation!"

Before He Yan could respond, he hurriedly added, "I know your greatest wish is to join the Nine Banners Battalion and make your mark. Don’t worry—once this matter is settled, I’ll sing your praises to my uncle every single day. Even if it means copying texts day and night, I’ll make sure you get your chance!"

"...What I meant to say," He Yan interrupted the boy’s excited rambling, "is that while I’ve agreed to attend the banquet in your place, you still need to convince your uncle."

Would Xiao Jue really agree so easily? After all, the whole idea sounded rather absurd.

"Don’t worry about that!" Cheng Lisu beamed as he leaned closer. "I already spoke to my uncle about it. He gave his permission before I even came to you."

"Xiao Jue agreed?" He Yan was stunned.

"Perhaps he feels guilty for not letting you into the Nine Banners Battalion before," Cheng Lisu said earnestly. "This might be his way of giving you a chance to prove yourself. So you see—everything’s aligned perfectly. The heavens themselves must have arranged for you to take my place!"

He Yan ignored the boy’s wild claims, her mind preoccupied with disbelief. Xiao Jue agreeing so readily? That didn’t sound like him at all. Was this another one of his traps?

Seeing her silence, Cheng Lisu grew anxious again. "Elder Brother… you’re not backing out, are you?"

"No," He Yan sighed. "I was just thinking about how to impersonate you. After all, we’re not exactly alike."

"Relax, Yuan Baozhen has never seen my face—he won’t see through you. Still, I should brief you on a few things to avoid suspicion. My favorite dish is Tricholoma Mushroom Fatty Chicken, but I can’t stand plain rice porridge. I dislike having attendants follow me around, and eating peanuts gives me rashes. I bathe every day, change clothes frequently, and always use scented incense..."

As he listed off these details, He Yan couldn’t help but shake her head at the indulgent lifestyle of a pampered young master.

Cheng Lisu prattled on for what felt like an incense stick’s worth of time before finally pausing, his throat parched. He gulped down some tea to revive himself.

"Elder Brother, did you remember everything I just said?"

He Yan: "...I did." She added, "If there’s anything else, say it now."

"Let me think." Cheng Lisu studied He Yan from his seat. She was about his age, and among the new recruits in Liang Province, her looks were already quite striking. There was no trace of clumsiness or bulkiness—if anything, she appeared slender and delicate. But that actually worked in their favor. If dressed as a young nobleman…

"Ah! I almost forgot the most important thing!" He smacked his forehead. "You can’t go to the banquet dressed like this. I’m the young master of the Right Vice Director’s household—how could I show up looking so shabby? Wait here!"

With that, he dashed into the inner room, rummaging around noisily. Before long, he emerged carrying a bundle."These are some clothes I picked out for you to wear. We're about the same size, so they should fit. Even if it's all pretend, Big Brother, you should still look good. My only redeeming quality is my good looks—if even that gets overshadowed, wouldn’t I be utterly worthless?"

He could actually describe being a "pretty but useless ornament" so elegantly and unapologetically—He Yan was truly impressed.

He then turned to a drawer, took out a small box, and handed it to He Yan, saying, "Here are some hairpins, fans, jade pendants, and such. If we're putting on a show, we might as well go all out. These can't be missing."

He Yan remarked, "You’ve really thought of everything."

Cheng Lisu scratched his head sheepishly. "You flatter me, you flatter me."

After packing away the bundle and the box, He Yan asked again, "Are you sure you’ve already spoken to your uncle about this? You’re not lying to me, are you?"

"No, no," Cheng Lisu assured her. "Come here tomorrow morning at the hour of Chen, and we’ll probably set off then."

"So soon?" He Yan was startled.

"It was supposed to be in a few days, but Yuan Baozhen hasn’t arrived in Liang Province yet. Uncle wants to go into the city early to find a craftsman to repair his Wanxiang Qin, so we’re leaving ahead of schedule."

He Yan thought of the qin she had crushed and fell silent.

Cheng Lisu patted her shoulder. "Big Brother He, everything depends on you this time. Thank you!"

...

He Yan returned to the recruits' shared quarters with a bulging bundle. Surprisingly, Wang Ba and the others were still there, munching on the mooncakes she had brought back from Cheng Lisu the night before. Seeing her return with more items, Wang Ba sneered, "Oh, back for more handouts?"

"Young Master Cheng gave you more food?" Xiao Mai stared at the bundle in He Yan’s hands, practically drooling. "Such a big package—what delicious treats are inside?"

He Yan plopped the bundle heavily onto the table. The loosely tied wrapping came undone, revealing its contents—not the expected food, but clothes and accessories.

This was unexpected. After a long pause, Hong Shan hesitantly asked, "A-He, why is Young Master Cheng giving you clothes? We can’t wear civilian clothes in the barracks."

"I’m going into the city tomorrow with Commander Xiao for some business," He Yan explained. "He probably didn’t want me looking too shabby and embarrassing the commander, so Young Master Cheng gave me these to spruce up my appearance."

"You and Commander Xiao?" Huang Xiong eyed her. "That’s a good thing. Why don’t you look happier?"

Had last night’s incident not happened, He Yan would indeed have been thrilled—being near Xiao Jue meant gathering valuable information. But after what occurred, Xiao Jue likely disliked her even more. Who knew what might set off the young master’s temper this time?

She had no choice but to brace herself and proceed.

"I’m just so happy I don’t know how to react," she replied.

The others bombarded her with more questions, but she eventually managed to shoo them all away. That night, as she lay in bed, her mind was still preoccupied with the matter.

The reason she had agreed to help Cheng Lisu attend that ridiculous banquet wasn’t out of brotherly affection or some chivalrous sense of justice—it was simply because she had heard Yuan Baozhen’s name.Yuan Baozhen was someone He Yan had met before. When she was awarded the title of Flying Goose General and He Rufei accepted the honors on her behalf, she had encountered this man once at the He residence after resuming her female identity. At the time, Yuan Baozhen stood alongside He Yuansheng and his son, and He Yan had even exchanged greetings with him.

Judging by the familiar tone He Rufei used when speaking to him, they seemed quite close. Back then, He Yan had thought that since He Rufei had just "received the honors," he wouldn’t have had much time to bond with colleagues in the Shuo capital’s court. Yet, he had already formed such a close friendship so quickly.

Now, this friend of He Rufei’s had arrived in Liang Province, coincidentally with a slight connection to "Cheng Lisu." If she could use this opportunity to get closer and gather information about He Rufei, it might prove beneficial for her future path. To rise above others and reach a position where her words carried weight, she needed to establish military achievements. However, Liang Province was thousands of miles from the capital and too far from the He family, making it difficult for news to reach her.

Yuan Baozhen’s arrival in Liang Province was like a pillow delivered just as one was about to sleep. The only question was Xiao Jue’s intentions—why had he agreed to Cheng Lisu’s outlandish request? He Yan found Xiao Jue increasingly inscrutable. She had thought he would assign her to the vanguard, but he chose Lei Hou instead. She had assumed he would refuse her impersonation of Cheng Lisu, yet he had agreed.

Beside her, Hong Shan’s snores rumbled. He Yan turned over and closed her eyes. Well, if she couldn’t figure it out by thinking, she might as well follow along. With days and nights spent together on this journey, there would be plenty of time to decipher Xiao Jue’s motives. Whatever challenges came her way, she would face them head-on. After all, was there anything He Yan truly feared?

……

Unlike He Yan’s carefree attitude, Shen Han in the Liangzhou Garrison’s quarters wore an expression of astonishment, which soon turned to anxiety.

"Commander Xiao, how could you take He Yan into the city? His identity is still unclear. If he stays by your side and makes a move against you—"

"I’m hardly threatened by him," Xiao Jue replied.

"But—"

The candle flame in the silver lamp flickered in the wind, nearly extinguishing. He adjusted the wick, and the room brightened again.

"If he’s one of Xu Jingfu’s men, accompanying me to the banquet might reveal his true colors. Leaving him at the garrison could be dangerous—if he acts, you might not be able to handle him. It’s safer to keep him close to me."

"Besides," he added with a faint smile, "He Yan prides himself on his skills. This banquet is the perfect opportunity to use him as a battering ram."

A chill ran down Shen Han’s spine. Xiao Jue intended to use He Yan as a sacrificial pawn.

Commander Xiao remained as ruthless as ever, showing no regard for past ties. Shen Han couldn’t fathom how He Yan had provoked Xiao Jue’s wrath to this extent. At this thought, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for He Yan.

Xiao Jue continued, "After I leave tomorrow, ensure Cheng Lisu is protected and doesn’t wander off. You’ll be in charge of the garrison’s affairs for the time being."

Shen Han set aside his musings and replied, "Understood!"

……

Early the next morning, when Xiao Mai woke up, he found the bed beside him empty.

Rubbing his eyes, he noted it was still early—the others in the room hadn’t stirred yet. He Yan’s bed was neatly made, the occupant already gone. Xiao Mai wondered if He Yan had already left. But hadn’t he said yesterday they wouldn’t depart until the hour of Chen? It wasn’t time yet.After a while, everyone gradually woke up and realized He Yan was missing. Hong Shan said, "Did that kid leave already? Without even saying goodbye?"

"Maybe he left quietly to avoid waking us?" Xiao Mai tentatively suggested.

"Who knows? Shitou, have you seen him?" Hong Shan asked.

Shitou also shook his head. "No."

The group exchanged puzzled glances. Though confused, they couldn't just wait around for He Yan since they still had morning drills. They got up to wash their faces.

Xiao Mai, already dressed and ready, rushed out first to grab some warm flatbread. As Shitou and Hong Shan were still washing up, they suddenly heard Xiao Mai shouting outside, "Brother, Shan-ge—"

"What now?" Hong Shan wiped water from his face. "We're still washing up."

"Come out and see!" Xiao Mai's voice was brimming with excitement.

Hong Shan gave Shitou a puzzled look, who shrugged in response. Shaking water off his hands, Hong Shan stepped outside, muttering, "Xiao Mai, can you not—"

His words cut off abruptly.

He Yan stood facing him, smiling. "Shan-ge, how do I look?"

Hong Shan's mouth fell open, momentarily speechless. The other recruits began emerging from the house and, upon seeing He Yan, immediately crowded around, chattering excitedly.

"Handsome! So handsome, He Yan! You look like a young master from a wealthy family in the capital!"

"Not just wealthy—I'd say you look like you stepped right out of the imperial palace!"

"Oh, shut up! Like you've ever seen someone from the palace."

"I haven't, but in my imagination, this is exactly how they'd look!"

"These clothes must be expensive. He Yan, can I try them on too?"

"Pah! You'd ruin them! Get lost!"

He Yan stood surrounded, letting them admire him. Hong Shan and the others watched from a distance. Xiao Mai's eyes sparkled as he said, "Brother He looks amazing!"

"No wonder they say clothes make the man and saddles make the horse. Normally unremarkable, but with fine clothes and a hairpin, he looks completely different from us," Hong Shan mused, stroking his chin. He turned to Shitou. "Right?"

Shitou nodded. "Right."

After letting them look their fill, He Yan adjusted the bag on his shoulder and smiled. "I wanted to show you all before I left. Since my brothers say I look good, I can leave with confidence, knowing I won't disgrace Liang Province's reputation." She waved. "I'm off now!"

The group waved back.

As she bid farewell, Cheng Li Su had also left early that morning.

Shen Han was in the courtyard speaking with Xiao Jue while Green Ears nibbled hay nearby. Cheng Li Su had spent hours the previous night selecting a fine red horse from the stables, finding it both adorable and spirited—a perfect match for himself.

"You're not even going. Why pick a horse?" Xiao Jue remarked indifferently.

"Though I'm not going, my brother is representing me. I can't have people saying, 'That young master from the Right Secretary's household may be skilled, but he's no looker.' Play to your strengths, they say, and this is my only one—so I must flaunt it."

Xiao Jue scoffed. "Too bad. Given your brother's looks, he won't be doing you any favors.""Uncle, you're not being fair," Cheng Lisu said earnestly. "I've looked carefully, and my elder brother isn't bad-looking at all. Though he can't compare to you or me, among the recruits in Liang Province's garrison, he stands out exceptionally well."

Shen Han listened to this idle chatter between uncle and nephew, momentarily speechless. Just then, he spotted someone approaching ahead and called out, "He Yan is here!"

The two speakers turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes lighting up at the sight.

On this autumn morning, the air was crisp and refreshing, with a cool breeze that invigorated the spirit. The sun had yet to fully rise, only peeking slightly above the horizon, casting a golden ray upon the youth that made her stand out remarkably.

The young man wore a dark red brocade robe with cicada patterns, cinched at the waist with a belt. Normally appearing too thin and frail, now dressed in Cheng Lisu's clothes, all traces of that delicacy vanished, leaving only an air of effortless grace. With naturally refined features, her hair tied up with a carved wooden hairpin, she looked both refreshingly spirited and composed. Her leisurely stride as she carried her bundle bore no resemblance to the sweat-drenched recruits on the Martial Arts Field, instead resembling nothing less than an elegant young scholar from the capital's academies—every gesture and smile brimming with poetic charm.

As the youth approached the group, she snapped open a folding fan with a crisp sound. The fan fluttered gracefully, but her smile outshone even the landscape painting upon it. Lowering her voice deliberately, she said, "My apologies for being late."

Cheng Lisu stared wide-eyed, finally snapping out of his daze after a long moment. Circling He Yan excitedly, he exclaimed joyfully, "Elder brother, I never imagined you could be such a handsome gentleman! Liang Province's garrison has truly buried your elegance! Looking at you now, you're almost catching up to me!"

He Yan felt inwardly pleased but maintained outward modesty. "You flatter me too much," she demurred.

She had risen early to change by the riverside when no one was around. Most of Cheng Lisu's clothes were yellow—the youth adored such bright colors—but He Yan found them somewhat frivolous. After much searching, she'd finally settled on this more subdued hue and selected a relatively plain hairpin from the box. She'd studied her reflection in the river's surface for a long while and even showed herself to Hong Shan and the others to avoid any mishaps.

The Liang Province recruits had unanimously approved, so she assumed the effect must be decent. In her past life when disguised as male, she'd been forced to wear a mask. Now that she could openly present herself as this young master, an unfamiliar nervousness arose within her.

Nearby, Shen Han drew a sharp breath as he observed He Yan. He'd previously wondered how this mere youth could have caught Commander Xiao's eye, even accounting for their past connection. After all, countless stunning beauties admired Xiao Jue. But seeing He Yan like this, he began to understand slightly. Such striking beauty was uncommon among men, and coupled with the youth's exceptional skills and agreeable temperament... were it not for the suspicious circumstances of her identity, standing beside Commander Xiao wouldn't seem particularly strange at all.

As Cheng Lisu continued chattering away, He Yan glanced toward Xiao Jue. The commander stood motionless, his gaze sweeping over her calmly without a trace of admiration. Feeling mischievous, she approached him.

"Commander," she said, the half-opened fan covering her face as she laughed softly, perfectly mimicking a rogue teasing a virtuous maiden. "What do you think of me like this?"The young man gazed at her indifferently, then after a moment, slightly bent down until his lips were nearly at her ear. His voice, deeper and huskier than most youths' even in his younger days, now carried a lazy magnetism with age.

"You actually..."

She could almost feel the warmth of his breath against her ear. He Yan inexplicably felt her face grow warm, thinking that not everyone could withstand hearing such praise from someone with this face and tone.

"...are shorter than Cheng Li Su," he finished the second half of his sentence.

He Yan: "..."

He Yan took two steps back, staring at him in disbelief. Shouldn't normal people say things like "You're actually so striking" or "You're actually so dazzling"?

Shorter than Cheng Li Su?

As if his words weren't cutting enough, the jade-like handsome young man looked at her, lips curling in a mocking smile. "Also, your belt is tied backward."

He brushed past her and walked ahead. He Yan looked down—Cheng Li Su's clothes were intricately styled, unlike anything she had worn before, and she hadn't known how to tie the belt properly. Now that he pointed it out, she fumbled to undo it. Only then did Cheng Li Su notice and hurried over to help. "Ah, I forgot to tell you—my belt is different from others'. You have to tie it like this..."

He Yan watched Xiao Jue's retreating figure and gritted her teeth.

Xiao Jue definitely hadn't made her Cheng Li Su's substitute out of guilt over the flag competition. He Yan strongly suspected he kept her around solely to humiliate and torment her at his convenience.

They were truly natural-born enemies.

...

From Liangzhou Garrison to the city, riding nonstop took about three hours. They set out in the morning and arrived in the afternoon. Besides He Yan and Xiao Jue, a guard named Fei Nu also accompanied them.

Perhaps because she wasn't the real Cheng Li Su, they even skipped the carriage. They rode the entire way without stopping to eat, finally reaching the city by midday.

The last time He Yan had come to Liangzhou City was when she first arrived with the new recruits from Shuojing, though they hadn't lingered in the city and had gone straight to the garrison at the foot of White Moon Mountain. Now, dressed in the clothes of an ordinary young master, she wandered through the bustling streets. Unlike Shuojing, Liangzhou had its own unique charm.

Located in the eastern region, the city had distinct seasons. Though not as prosperous as the capital, it was still lively. Pedestrians hurried past, and now that they were in the city, they no longer needed to ride so quickly. He Yan looked around as they went, feeling like she couldn't take in enough.

But Xiao Jue hadn't come to the city for leisure. The group stopped at an inn—one that appeared to be among the most luxurious in Liangzhou City, with three floors and an extravagantly decorated exterior. At the entrance, Xiao Jue dismounted, and a stablehand took their horses to the stables. They then entered the main hall together.

Truth be told, in both her past and present lives, though He Yan had been the esteemed young master of the He family, she had never stayed at particularly expensive inns. Xiao Jue, however, seemed just as extravagant as his nephew, even insisting on such lavish accommodations for a mere rest stop. As He Yan was thinking this, she heard Xiao Jue say to the innkeeper, "Two rooms."

"Two?" He Yan blurted out in surprise. "So Fei Nu and I share one?"

After finally leaving the barracks, couldn't she have her own room? Cheng Li Su had even reminded her to bathe daily—how was she supposed to do that with Fei Nu around?

"Or what?" Xiao Jue stared at her, raising an eyebrow. "Would you prefer to share with me?""No, no, no," He Yan said, "I'd rather share a room with Fei Nu." What a joke—she wasn't so lacking in self-awareness as to think the pristine Second Young Master Xiao could possibly share quarters with someone as rough as her. Inwardly, He Yan scoffed. The Second Young Master Xiao ought to room with the temple bodhisattvas—just place an incense burner and offerings before him, and he'd be fit for worship.

Xiao Jue ignored her.

The innkeeper accepted the silver and had the rooms prepared. Since none of the three had eaten since morning, they decided to have lunch in the inn's dining area before heading upstairs.

Recognizing that Xiao Jue must be someone of wealth or high status, the innkeeper eagerly stood by their table and said, "Our signature dishes here include Mung Bean Chess Noodles, Five-Flavor Steamed Gluten, Spicy Tripe Strips, Sesame Rolls, Eight-Treasure Wild Duck, Shredded Chicken with Cucumber, Five-Spice Young Pigeon... What would you like to order?"

Before Xiao Jue could speak, He Yan loudly asked, "Innkeeper, do you have Tricholoma Mushroom Fatty Chicken?"

"Yes, yes, we do!" the innkeeper hurriedly replied.

Xiao Jue turned his head and looked at her calmly. He Yan blinked her eyes and said, "What's the matter, Uncle? You know it's my favorite dish!"

Fei Nu: "..."

The act had to be thorough—this was what Cheng Li Su had told her. Now that they had entered Liang Province, she was no longer He Yan; she was Cheng Li Su, the nephew of the Second Young Master Xiao. Was it wrong for a nephew to order his favorite dish?

Absolutely not!

Xiao Jue withdrew his gaze and said, "Bring him a plate of Tricholoma Mushroom Fatty Chicken."

He was being so agreeable? He Yan's heart skipped a beat. Perhaps they might run into someone familiar here? In front of outsiders, Xiao Jue wouldn't outright deny her. Emboldened, He Yan thought of the days she had spent eating dry rations at the barracks, with barely any meat. Now that she had this chance and Xiao Jue clearly wasn't short on money, wouldn't it be a shame not to take full advantage of this fat sheep?

"Uncle!" He Yan called out sweetly, grinning. "I also want Spicy Tripe Strips, Sesame Rolls, Eight-Treasure Wild Duck, Shredded Chicken with Cucumber, Five-Flavor Steamed Gluten, Five-Spice Young Pigeon... and that Mung Bean Chess Noodles! I want them all!"

Fei Nu's lips twitched as if he wanted to say something but held back. It had been a long time since he'd seen someone so fearless of death.

The innkeeper was first astonished, then overjoyed, looking at He Yan as if she were a god of wealth. He said to Xiao Jue, "This young master has excellent taste and great trust in our inn's dishes!"

"My apologies," Xiao Jue chuckled lightly, his movements elegant but his tone laced with biting sarcasm. "My nephew has seen little of the world. Pardon his lack of manners."

He Yan: "..."

"One of each, then."

The Second Young Master Xiao spared no expense, and the innkeeper, delighted, hurried off to the kitchen to place the order.

He Yan had only meant to tease him, thinking she might get to try a few dishes at most. To her surprise, Xiao Jue complied without hesitation, ordering every single one. Was Cheng Li Su usually this spoiled in front of his uncle? It seemed he could get whatever he wanted—He Yan was almost jealous.

She leaned closer to Xiao Jue and cautiously asked, "Commander, why are you being so accommodating?"

"Why?" Xiao Jue replied coolly. "As an uncle, of course I can't let my nephew go hungry."

The way he said "uncle" carried a weight of implication. He Yan pondered it, sensing something off. After all, she and Xiao Jue were peers—former classmates, later fellow generals, even equals in reputation. Yet in this life, she had first become his subordinate, calling him "Commander." Now she was reduced to being his nephew, a whole generation lower.

Xiao Jue was taking far too much advantage of this!

She fell silent, deciding not to address him again. Who would have thought that trying to tease Xiao Jue would backfire on her? Truly, she had been outplayed.The dishes from the shopkeeper arrived surprisingly fast, and before long, the entire table was filled with a lavish spread. Such extravagance drew curious glances from the surrounding patrons.

He Yan felt slightly embarrassed and said, "Commander, you're being too generous."

"If it's what you wanted to eat, then of course we should have it," Xiao Jue replied leisurely. "But I've taught you before—frugality leads to prosperity, while indulgence brings ruin. Don’t waste anything."

He Yan sensed something amiss and was about to speak when the man added, "If you leave even a single grain of rice, you won’t eat tomorrow."

He Yan: "..."

Uncle's daily routine of teasing his wife.

(End of chapter)