Legend of the Female General

Chapter 90: My Uncle

The horse galloped through the silent night. After what felt like an eternity, He Yan tightened the reins and brought the steed to a halt.

They had arrived at an empty marketplace, where all the vendors had long since gone home. The fierce-tempered young woman had been trembling uncontrollably since boarding the carriage, but now that the effects of the drug had slightly worn off, she managed to speak in a weak, barely audible voice, "Let me go."

He Yan helped her dismount and settled her down in front of a tofu shop.

In the urgency of the moment earlier, He Yan hadn’t gotten a good look at the girl’s appearance. Now, under the dim glow of a lantern hanging from the shop’s eaves, she could see that the girl was indeed beautiful—delicate, soft, fair-skinned, with refined features. Her cheeks were still slightly plump, giving her a childlike air, and she couldn’t have been much older than Cheng Li Su.

Yet this very girl had been dressed up garishly by the Wanhua Pavilion, draped in an ill-fitting gauzy outfit, her face heavily painted, shivering from the cold.

As soon as she sat down, the girl shrank back, eyeing He Yan warily. "Who are you?"

He Yan was momentarily taken aback before realizing the girl must have mistaken her for some sort of predator. She pulled down the cloth covering her face and smiled. "Don’t be afraid. I’m here to save you. I just couldn’t show my face earlier, so I covered it. Did I scare you?"

Under the moonlight, the young man’s—now revealed—delicate features and gentle voice gradually eased the girl’s wariness.

"How did you know…" She still spoke with difficulty. He Yan pulled a crumpled paper ball from her sleeve. "I found this—you threw it out. I’d heard about Wanhua Pavilion’s forced prostitution trade, so I hid in a teahouse nearby and followed the carriage that took you away."

He Yan studied the girl. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

The question seemed to strike a nerve. The girl’s eyes reddened, and she tremblingly extended her hands—her fingers were horrifically swollen, as if they had been crushed in some sort of vise.

In brothels, especially with new arrivals, even if they didn’t know the rules, the madams wouldn’t use methods that left visible marks. After all, the girls still had to entertain guests. If their bodies were covered in bruises, it would spoil the customers’ appetites and defeat the purpose. Hence, they resorted to such torturous methods instead.

He Yan’s heart ached. Any parents would be devastated to see their daughter treated like this. Softening her voice further, she asked, "Miss, where is your home? Let me take you back."

"Home?" The girl blinked at He Yan, then after a long pause, answered, "My home is in Shuo Jing…"

"Shuo Jing?" Now it was He Yan’s turn to be stunned. "You were abducted?"

"Sort of." The girl sniffled. "I… I ran away from an arranged marriage. I meant to go to Yangzhou, but I took a wrong turn and ended up in Liang Province. I only planned to stay a few days, but then Sun Ling saw me." Her voice dripped with venom. "When I get back to Shuo Jing, I’ll make them pay!" By the end, she was practically gnashing her teeth.

He Yan: "…"

This delicate-looking girl had an astonishingly bold streak. She had dared to travel alone from Shuo Jing to Liang Province? What was it with the youths of the capital these days—was running away from marriage some sort of trend? First Cheng Li Su, and now this girl.He Yan asked, "Did you come alone? Do you know anyone in Liang Province or have a place to stay?"

The young girl shook her head.

He Yan was also at a loss. Such a big person—should she take her back to the inn? Xiao Jue probably wouldn’t beat her to death, though in a few days they were supposed to attend a banquet at Magistrate Sun’s residence, and tonight she had just intercepted someone from the hands of Magistrate Sun’s son.

The girl seemed to sense He Yan’s dilemma. Struggling to sit up, she bit her lip stubbornly and said, "You… you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll hide on my own from now on. For your great kindness, once I return to Shuojing, I’ll have my parents repay you. Whatever you want—gold, silver, jewels, mansions, or beauties—it’s all yours. What’s your name? When I go back, I’ll—"

"Little girl, you can’t even protect yourself right now," He Yan rubbed her forehead. "It’s hard to say if you can even leave Liang Province, let alone think that far ahead."

"So what?" The girl avoided her gaze, her eyes red. "I won’t beg you anyway."

Young masters and ladies from Shuojing all had strong tempers. He Yan thought, resilience was good, but being too rigid wasn’t ideal. If it were Cheng Li Su here, flexible and adaptable, he’d probably avoid a lot of suffering even if thrown into the Wanhua Pavilion.

He Yan pulled her up. "Let’s go?"

"Where?"

"To my place, of course. Miss," He Yan said helplessly, "I just kidnapped you. Soon, Young Master Sun will have the whole city searching for you. At this late hour, with nowhere to go, you’ll eventually be found by Sun Ling. He’ll only torment you even worse. After working hard all night, is this the outcome I want?"

The girl still had little strength and was helped onto the horse by He Yan. Hesitantly, she said, "If you take me home, it’ll bring you trouble. The Sun family dominates Liang Province. You—"

This little girl was quite clear-headed. He Yan urged the horse forward. "Don’t worry, my family dominates the entire Great Wei."

If it really came to it, she could just drag Xiao Jue into this. The Second Young Master Xiao—wasn’t he the one who dominated the Great Wei?

He Yan asked, "I forgot to ask, what’s your name?"

"My name is… Taotao," she said.

Taotao? The name sounded familiar, as if she’d heard it somewhere before. He Yan thought hard but couldn’t recall. Given the urgency, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. She’d question Taotao in detail after taking her back to the inn and getting through the night.

…

He Yan hadn’t grown up in Liang Province and didn’t know the city’s roads well. Fortunately, she had a good sense of direction and managed to retrace her steps to the inn. Afraid that Sun Ling’s horse might draw attention, she and Taotao dismounted far from the inn. He Yan slapped the horse’s rump in the opposite direction, watching it gallop into the night.

The Second Young Master Xiao had a good eye for inns. This place wasn’t as bustling as the area around Wanhua Pavilion, much quieter instead. Late at night, there was hardly anyone around. When He Yan helped Taotao upstairs, the inn’s lobby was empty. She pushed open the door and saw that Fei Nu wasn’t there either, finally letting out a sigh of relief.The room had prepared water. He Yan said, "Wash your face first. I have some clean clothes here—you can change into them. Wearing what you have on now won’t do; you’ll catch a cold." She handed Tao Tao the stack of clothes Cheng Li Su had given her. "Pick whatever you like."

Tao Tao looked at her, her face flushing. "You go out."

Only then did He Yan remember her current identity as a man. "Alright, alright, I’ll leave. I’ll wait outside the door so you can change in peace."

After closing the door, she thought for a moment, then crept over to Xiao Jue’s room, pressing her ear against it to listen for any signs of him inside.

The lights inside were already out, and it was unclear whether Xiao Jue was asleep. He Yan whispered, "Commander? Commander?"

There was no response. She lightly knocked on the door, but still, no one answered. Straightening up, she hesitated for a second before pushing the door open.

The window was unlatched, letting in the night breeze. Under the moonlight, the bed was neatly made, showing no signs of having been slept in. Xiao Jue was long gone, and his sword, Yin Qiu, which usually rested on the table, was missing as well. The man never went anywhere without his sword—he must have left.

He Yan also noticed the familiar Wanxiang qin placed on the small table nearby. She pursed her lips, grumbling inwardly. He claims he came here to repair the qin, but he’s definitely in Liang Province City on some secret business. Fei Nu was also absent—the master and servant must have gone out to handle matters, deliberately excluding her. It was clear they didn’t trust her.

Though she had long known Xiao Jue didn’t trust her, and though it was reasonable, He Yan still felt a twinge of discomfort. After all, they were classmates and had known each other for years. Even if he went out to do something, she wouldn’t tell anyone! How petty.

She retreated from Xiao Jue’s room, carefully closing the door behind her.

On the other side, Tao Tao had finished changing and pushed the door open. Seeing He Yan, she lowered her head. "I’m done."

He Yan ushered her back inside. "Shh," she warned. "Walls have ears. Let’s talk inside."

She lit the lamp in the room. Tao Tao, now dressed in Cheng Li Su’s clothes, looked much more refined. Most of Cheng Li Su’s wardrobe consisted of bright colors, and the pale yellow robe made the young girl appear even fairer and more delicate. Her eyes were still red, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her look as docile as a little white rabbit—clearly a pampered young lady raised in luxury.

"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t say this, but your taste in clothes is truly terrible," the little rabbit spoke, instantly becoming less adorable. Tao Tao frowned, pointing at the embroidered carp on the robe. "It’s unbearably gaudy."

He Yan: "..."

This young lady—at a time like this, she still has the leisure to critique clothing? Are all noblewomen from the capital like this? He Yan mused that she hadn’t been like this in her past life. Clearing her throat, she said, "Circumstances force us to make do. Let’s set aside the matter of clothes for now."

She handed Tao Tao a box of hairpins Cheng Li Su had left behind. "First, pick one you find less gaudy and tie up your hair. Right now, dressing as a woman won’t do."

"Why?" Tao Tao asked, puzzled.

"Sun Ling will likely send people to search the city soon, looking for any girl who resembles you. We won’t be spared either."

Tao Tao tensed at this. "Then what should we do?""Don't worry, I'll find a way to send them away. It's so late—you haven't eaten yet, have you? I have some travel rations here. Tomorrow morning, I'll ask the inn to prepare something hot for you. There's also tea, though it's gone cold. Help yourself."

Tao Tao rubbed her stomach, only now realizing how hungry she was, and went to pour herself some tea from the pot. Seeing this, He Yan sighed inwardly. This girl was truly naive. Even after the incident at Wanhua Pavilion, she was still so quick to trust others. If it weren't for her, but someone with ill intentions, a little coaxing and some drugged tea would be enough to abduct the girl without any fuss.

Back when she had left the He family alone, she had at least been with the Pacify Yue Army, so it hadn't been as dangerous. This world was always harder on women.

She thought to herself that she had originally intended to keep this matter hidden from Xiao Jue, but now that neither Xiao Jue nor Fei Nu were here, it was even more troublesome. Her plan had been that if Sun Ling's men came knocking, Xiao Jue's presence would deter them from searching the room. Without him here, invoking his name would likely make others think she was lying.

All she could do was hope Xiao Jue returned soon. Never before had He Yan found herself so eagerly awaiting the return of the Second Young Master Xiao.

Tao Tao nibbled on a few pieces of dry flatbread and drank a cup of tea before declaring, "I'm done." Judging by the way she wrinkled her nose in distaste, this "I'm done" clearly wasn't because she was full, but because the food didn't suit her palate.

She sat herself in front of the dressing table and began tying up her hair. After a few moments, she turned around and announced, "Done!"

He Yan, who had just taken a sip of tea to quench her own thirst, nearly spat it out at the sight. The child's hair was a complete mess, as if she had just fled from some disaster. Unable to help herself, He Yan asked, "Is that... how you tie your hair?"

"I never had to do it myself back at the mansion—the maids always did it for me," the girl grumbled, throwing the comb aside. "I don't know how!"

He Yan: "..."

Sighing, she picked up the comb patiently and said, "No need to throw a tantrum just because you can't do it. Let me help you."

With that, she gathered Tao Tao's long hair in her hands and began combing it carefully.

Tao Tao froze. The reflection in the mirror showed a gentle and handsome young man. She couldn't help asking, "You even know how to do this?"

"You learn after trying a few times," He Yan replied with a smile.

She had spent many years as the eldest young master of the He family, but aside from a few members of the main and secondary branches, no one knew about her true identity. Because of this, her personal attendants and maids were never allowed to get too close to her. Even something as simple as tying hair could give her away. So from a very young age, He Yan had learned to do it herself.

Not just tying hair—anything that might reveal her secret, she had to handle alone. Over time, she developed a habit of doing everything herself. Though sometimes she envied those young masters and ladies who were pampered and spoiled, on second thought, in situations like today, she wouldn't just sit around crying. Relying on herself always gave her more confidence.After tying up her hair, He Yan darkened her complexion a bit more and thickened her eyebrows. She was already quite adept at disguising a woman as a man. Once the makeup was done, Taotao stared at her reflection in the mirror, stunned, and stammered, "Th-thank you... you're really skilled."

He Yan clapped her hands lightly. "Practice makes perfect. Miss Taotao, please turn around. I need to change my clothes too."

...

Tonight, Liang Province was exceptionally lively.

Someone had actually hijacked the carriage of Young Master Sun not far from Magistrate Sun's residence. The person inside the carriage was the young concubine Sun had recently taken in. Instantly, the Liang Province government office was thrown into chaos, vowing to catch the culprit at all costs.

"Young Master, Young Master, that man was clearly her lover!" The guard who had just been punched by He Yan was now kneeling on the ground, pleading his innocence. "They were in cahoots—they deliberately planned to abduct her!"

"How could she have a lover when she's not even from Liang Province?" Sun Ling kicked him. "Idiot!"

Sun Ling, now thirty years old, had achieved nothing in life and relied on his magistrate father to get by. In Liang Province, he bullied men and harassed women, committing all manner of evil deeds. He had a rat-like face with a black birthmark on his cheek, making him even more repulsive. His residence housed countless concubines, along with innumerable decent women he had violated and discarded. The people of Liang Province seethed with anger but dared not speak out, allowing him and his father to dominate the city unchecked.

But today, he had been ambushed on his way home. The woman was insignificant—what truly mattered was the humiliation. To Sun Ling, this was a blatant disregard for the Sun family's authority!

"The city gates are already sealed," another guard said. "That woman is injured, so she must still be in the city. If we search house by house, we’ll eventually find her!"

"Idiot," Sun Ling cursed again. "When have the people of Liang Province ever been so bold as to provoke the mighty? If you say that man knew it was me, Sun Ling, he was targeting yet still dared to act, then he must have a death wish. Most likely, he’s not from Liang Province."

"That woman isn’t from Liang Province either—they might be working together!" the first guard added.

"Whether they’re working together or not, anyone who dares oppose the Sun family must be prepared to pay with their life! Tell me again, what did that man look like?"

"He was wearing a mask, so I couldn’t see his face. About seven feet tall, a head shorter than me, slender build, but dressed very richly. The fabric of his clothes didn’t look ordinary either." The guard racked his brain to recall. "In short, he probably wasn’t poor."

Sun Ling pondered for a moment. "I see."

Both guards stared at him intently.

"Keep the city gates blocked with our men. The rest of you, follow me to search the inns!"

"The inns? Young Master, why?"

Sun Ling snapped, "Idiots will always be idiots! Think about it—if he’s likely not from Liang Province, he must be staying at an inn! You said he was dressed richly, so he wouldn’t stay in some shabby place. Just check the high-end inns, the ones that cost more, and you’ll find him!"

"Ah, of course!" The two guards hurriedly praised, "Young Master is brilliant, truly brilliant!"

"Hmph," Sun Ling smirked smugly, the birthmark on his cheek twisting grotesquely. His voice turned sinister. "It’s been a while since Liang Province has seen someone so fearless. I’ll find out exactly who has the audacity. And that ungrateful wench—she clearly doesn’t know what I’m capable of, daring to defy me again and again.""Leave no one unchecked!"

...

The night in the city seemed illuminated by torches. At an hour when all should have been asleep, every household was roused by the thunder of hooves as constables and city guards stormed into commoners' homes, conducting searches one after another.

By rights, this shouldn't have happened, but the Sun family's abuse of power was nothing new. Hearing that Sun Ling's concubine had been kidnapped, many secretly cursed the situation.

"Pah! What nonsense! What concubine? With that face of his, even mountains of gold wouldn't make anyone willing. He must have kidnapped some innocent girl again. How is this any different from banditry? Even bandits strike under cover of night—who would dare rob in broad daylight like this?"

"But wasn't someone actually taken? Maybe some righteous soul couldn't stand it anymore and acted."

"If it really was a righteous hero, I'd pray daily to the Bodhisattva for his safety and health—may he never be caught by that Sun scoundrel!"

"Ah, how the times have changed."

Such voices naturally didn't dare appear openly before the soldiers, only emerging in hushed tones after they passed, quickly dissolving into the night without a trace.

All the city's inns suffered tonight. Innkeepers and servants alike, along with their guests upstairs, were dragged out room by room for questioning. Those who appeared wealthy faced even more meticulous interrogation, their rooms searched so thoroughly not even a fly could escape unnoticed.

He Yan sat by the bed, the lamp already extinguished, with only a sliver of moonlight filtering through the window. It was deep into the night now, yet Xiao Jue and Fei Nu still hadn't returned. Could it be they weren't coming back? Like impoverished families who couldn't feed their children, taking their youngest to crowded streets under pretense of buying sweets, only to vanish—abandoning their own flesh and blood by the roadside.

Had Xiao Jue abandoned her? That would be too pitiful! With only this little silver on her, tomorrow's inn payment still due, meals to buy, and the journey back to Liangzhou Garrison—was this something a decent person would do? If it really came to that, she'd just sell that Wanxiang qin next door tomorrow. He Yan's thoughts wandered—were they coming back or not? If not, at least she and Taotao could each have a room tonight, no waste there.

As she mused, Taotao, sitting nearby on the daybed, whispered, "You won't run away, will you?"

"Huh?" He Yan was startled.

"They say Sun Ling holds great power in Liang Province. Everyone fears the Sun family's influence. Before... I begged many people for help. The moment they heard it involved Sun Ling, not a single one dared assist me."

Taotao's expression darkened with resentment. When she'd first been stranded at Wanhuage, she hadn't gone down without a fight. At every opportunity during her ordeal, she'd cried for help. She'd approached many—burly men who seemed strong, scholars who preached morality, wealthy merchants old enough to be her father, wandering swordsmen with blades at their backs. She'd sought out those who looked capable of saving her, yet upon hearing Sun Ling's name, they'd all slunk away with tails between their legs. Even when she promised riches or revealed her true status, none would heed her.

In the end, Taotao had given up hope herself. When she'd tossed out that note, she hadn't dared imagine tomorrow. She'd resolved that if she ever faced Sun Ling, she'd take him down with her. Who could have guessed that at the final moment, someone would come charging to her rescue?She turned her head to look at the person beside her. The young man was tilting his head, lost in thought. It was strange—someone who appeared so frail and youthful could still give her an inexplicable sense of security. Perhaps it was the gentle smile that never left his face, or perhaps it was his clear, untroubled eyes.

Tao Tao found herself inexplicably trusting this person, yet she couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry. She said, "Even a mighty dragon is no match for the local serpent..."

"You know that saying?" He Yan laughed. "Actually, I'm the local serpent too—and I'm very capable."

Tao Tao, seeing her relaxed expression, also eased up a bit. She looked at He Yan and couldn’t help but ask one final question: “The Sun family is so domineering. You’re not from Liang Province, and you don’t even know what trouble saving me might bring. No one else dared to step in—why did you save me?”

This child, so full of questions. He Yan turned her head and saw the little girl staring at her with reddened eyes, both curious and expectant. Unable to resist, she reached out and patted the girl’s head.

“Because you’re a girl,” she silently thought to herself. “And so am I.”

……

The clamor engulfed the entire inn.

The night was aglow with torchlight as the inn’s occupants were abruptly roused by the sudden arrival of officials, lined up at the entrance for questioning.

Sun Ling stood at the doorway, his gaze fixed on the last room upstairs. “What about that room? Why hasn’t the door opened?”

The innkeeper trembled as he knocked on the door. “Young master, young master?”

After a long pause, someone shuffled to open the door—a delicate-looking youth in sleepwear, rubbing his bleary eyes. “What’s going on at this hour?”

Before he could finish speaking, the soldiers barged in to search the room. Inside, a young attendant was hastily draping a robe over the youth. “Young master, don’t catch a cold.”

The soldiers rummaged through the room but found nothing and soon emerged, shaking their heads at Sun Ling.

Sun Ling studied the youth before him—young, clearly accustomed to a life of ease. His attendant was now busy helping him into his boots.

“What is the meaning of this?” He Yan frowned. “Not even a word of warning?”

“Warning?” Sun Ling sneered. “What a joke. There isn’t a place in Liang Province where Sun Ling needs to give a warning.” He scrutinized He Yan, recalling the description from his guards: around seven feet tall and slender. This youth matched it perfectly.

“What’s your name?” he demanded.

“Cheng Li Su,” He Yan replied.

With a clatter, the attendant fumbled and dropped the boot. All eyes turned to him. Sun Ling’s expression darkened. “You,” he barked. “Look up.”

He was pointing at the attendant.

He Yan sensed trouble. “What’s this about? In broad daylight, are you trying to take my people by force?”

“Your people?” Sun Ling’s gaze turned venomous. “Don’t speak too soon. You on the ground—look up now!”

The figure on the floor remained motionless, head bowed, hands trembling faintly.

Seeing this, Sun Ling’s face twisted further. He stepped forward, reaching to yank the attendant’s hair. Instantly, He Yan blocked his path, gripping his arm. “Mind your manners, young master.”

“So you’re the one who stole my concubine,” Sun Ling laughed, his birthmark twisting like a demon’s brand. “You’re dead!” He shouted, “Men! Seize them both!”

“Seize me?” He Yan chuckled. “I’d think twice if I were you. Do you know who my uncle is?”

Sun Ling scoffed. “Who’s your uncle?”

“My uncle is none other than General Feng Yun, personally appointed by His Majesty, and currently the Right Army Commander—the second son of the Xiao family. Young Master Sun, are you sure you want to arrest me?” He Yan raised an eyebrow.

Sun Ling froze, then burst into laughter, nearly in tears. He pointed at He Yan and asked his men, “Did you hear that? Who does he say his uncle is?”

The crowd erupted in mocking laughter."Brat," Sun Ling stopped laughing, glaring fiercely at He Yan. "Since your uncle is Xiao Jue, make him come out! What's so special about Xiao Jue? Today I'll make you beg for life yet find no escape, plead for death yet find no release—right in front of your uncle!"

"Is that so?"

An unfamiliar voice sounded behind him.

Sun Ling turned to see a young man as radiant as the moon approaching slowly with guards in tow, his deep voice laced with cold mockery.

"Why don't you try it then."

Yan Yan: When in trouble, just call the parental figure.

(End of chapter)