Legend of the Female General

Chapter 92: Whose Fiancée

At fourteen, He Yan entered Xianchang Academy. By fifteen, she had enlisted in the Pacify Yue Army. Her enlistment had been abrupt, unknown to anyone—even the tutors at Xianchang Academy were startled. By the time she returned to the capital, she had already earned military honors and imperial recognition, so the He family never questioned why she had joined the army.

Looking back now, had she not gained those achievements and remained an ordinary soldier, drifting through life for a few years before returning to the He family, the outcome might have been very different.

He Yan still remembered Song Taotao.

At fifteen, He Yan had attended Xianchang Academy under He Rufei’s identity. Her talents were mediocre, and as a girl, she naturally lacked the physical strength of the boys, making her incomparable to the other youths at the academy. He Yuansheng gradually noticed this, though he never reprimanded her. He Yan had assumed life would continue peacefully like this.

Until that day.

Xianchang Academy allowed students to return home for two days each month. But during the rainy season, the downpour had even knocked down the academy’s entrance plaque. The tutors dismissed the students a day early, instructing them to return after three days.

He Yan left in a hurry, unnoticed by anyone. She changed her clothes first, then went to find He Yuansheng. Every time she returned home, He Yuansheng would ask her about her life at the academy—a detached, almost surveilling kind of questioning that never made her feel warmth. Speaking with him always made her tense.

But that day, when she arrived, He Yuansheng hadn’t returned yet, and even the servants were absent from the doorway. She decided to wait in his study. There was a folding screen inside, and since she had nothing else to do, she sat down at the small table behind it to read.

She had barely settled in when someone entered.

It was He Yuanliang’s voice. He said, “Have you thought about what to do with He Yan?”

He Yan, who had been about to step out, froze at the words. Her movement to walk around the screen halted abruptly. Instead of leaving, she shrank back further.

He Yuanliang’s temperament was different from He Yuansheng’s. He Yuansheng appeared gentle but was strict in reality—later, when He Yuansheng’s wife bore other children, he treated them harshly as well. He Yuanliang, her birth father, was entirely different—always smiling, doting on his later children. Except for her.

He Yan’s feelings toward He Yuanliang were complicated. If her feelings toward He Yuansheng were the reverence one held for an adoptive father or uncle, then toward He Yuanliang, there was a trace of unconscious dependence and hope. She longed for him to treat her with the same warmth and affection he showed her younger sisters, but He Yuanliang never did. Every time he looked at her, it was with the polite detachment of an uncle—at most, offering a few words of admonishment.

After so many disappointments, He Yan stopped hoping.

But today, hearing her own name from her birth father’s lips, she didn’t even know why she was hiding.

“She’s doing well now, studying at Xianchang Academy without anyone noticing. She’s already fifteen… at the latest, we must arrange her marriage before she turns eighteen.”

Behind the screen, He Yan held her breath.Marriage? She had never considered such matters. Now that she was posing as He Rufei, a male identity, how could she possibly get engaged? If she were to become betrothed, what would happen to the real He Rufei? Who would take on the role of "He Rufei"?

She thought it was only natural—since she was a woman, she would naturally marry a man. After all, she had no inclination toward same-sex relationships. However, He Yuansheng’s next words left her utterly stunned.

"Brother, have you come across any suitable young ladies from noble families in the capital?"

Young ladies?

How could it be a young lady?

He Yan raised her head. The two men outside the screen had their backs to her, so she couldn’t see their expressions. But from their tone, they spoke with utter composure, as if their words weren’t the least bit shocking.

"Vice Director Song Ci of the Palace Domestic Service has two daughters. The elder one is already married, and the younger is now eleven," He Yuansheng said. "She’s a bit young, but by the time He Yan turns eighteen, she’ll already be of marriageable age. After another two years, they can wed."

"Song Ci’s daughter?" He Yuanliang hesitated. "Is it that little girl named Song Taotao? I remember two years ago, Song Ci turned the entire merchant community of Shuojing upside down searching for a birthday gift for her."

"Exactly," He Yuansheng stroked his beard and smiled. "Song Ci has no sons, only two daughters. Now that the elder is married, he dotes excessively on the younger. If we can form a marriage alliance with the Song family, we’ll gain their support. With that, our household will surely prosper."

He Yuanliang’s expression softened at this. "Brother makes a fair point. How about in a few days I host a banquet and invite Song Ci to our residence? We can discuss the matter of the children. At the very least, we should let him know of our intentions."

The two men spoke cheerfully, treating the marriage as nothing more than a transaction. Not that this was unusual—among noble families, women were often bargaining chips for political alliances. But to treat her as a bargaining chip was one thing; how could they disregard her true identity?

She was a woman! How could a woman marry another woman? If this marriage were to happen, wouldn’t it ruin that poor girl’s life?

Lost in these thoughts, He Yan accidentally bumped into the screen, making a noise. He Yuansheng turned sharply. "Who’s there?"

Seeing she had been discovered, He Yan stepped out. "It’s me."

"He Yan?" He Yuansheng relaxed, then frowned. "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at Xianchang Academy today?"

"The instructor dismissed us early. I came to find Father." At this, she paused and stole a glance at He Yuanliang. He wore his usual smile, his expression unchanged despite her calling He Yuansheng "Father."

It was just another disappointment. Why did she still cling to hope? He Yan lowered her head, hiding the sorrow in her eyes.

"I’m discussing matters with your uncle right now. Come find me later," He Yuansheng said. "Go see your mother first."

He Yan didn’t move.

"He Yan?" He Yuansheng frowned again.

"I overheard what you and Uncle were discussing," He Yan lifted her head, her voice calm. "Father, I’m a woman. How can I marry the Song family’s second daughter?"

The two He brothers were momentarily stunned by her words.

"This isn’t your concern," He Yuansheng finally replied after a long pause. "I will arrange everything for you.""I will not marry the Second Miss of the Song family. As a woman, sacrificing me alone is enough—there's no need to drag an innocent person into this," He Yan declared.

Now fifteen years old, she had grown slightly taller. Dressed in youthful attire with clear, forthright eyes, she stood as straight as a poplar tree, appearing almost like a stranger.

He Yuansheng roared in anger, "What do you mean by that? Are you resentful toward us? Are you blaming us for sacrificing your rights as a woman?"

He Yuanliang smiled at her and said, "He Yan, how can you speak to your elder brother like that? He only has your best interests at heart."

He Yan wondered—was this truly for her good? At Xianchang Academy, her teachers had taught her: "Compassion is the root of benevolence; shame and aversion are the roots of righteousness; deference is the root of propriety; and discernment is the root of wisdom." Yet what the He family demanded of her now was to forsake benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. How absurd!

Unflinching, He Yan raised her voice in reply, "I will never agree to an engagement with Miss Song! Not only that, I will never marry any woman in this lifetime—I refuse to ruin someone else's life!"

Both He Yuansheng and He Yuanliang were stunned.

The He family knew He Yan's temperament well. She was gentle, accommodating, even somewhat timid and meek. Within the household, she did as she was told without causing trouble. Had it not been for the accidental identity swap, she would have lived like any other mediocre noble daughter in Shuojing—quiet, obedient, and puppet-like for the rest of her days.

But what was she like now?

"He Yan, how dare you speak to me like this?" He Yuansheng was truly furious. When angered, his features turned fierce, and even the children of the main branch of the He family feared him.

He Yan met his gaze unwaveringly. "Father sent me to Xianchang Academy to learn propriety and morality, not to become a deceitful schemer for profit."

The young girl held her head high—proud, bright, and untainted. The disdain in her eyes must have stung He Yuansheng, for he flew into a humiliated rage and struck her hard across the face.

It was the first time He Yuansheng had ever hit her.

Her birth father stood by, watching silently. The only words he uttered from start to finish were, "Your elder brother only wants what's best for you."

The argument between He Yuansheng and He Yan sent shockwaves through the entire He family. As the highest authority in the household, no one dared question He Yuansheng's decisions. He Yan was confined in the ancestral hall for a full day and night, only released on the evening of the second day.

Throughout that time, not a single person came to see her—neither her adoptive parents nor her birth parents. As she gazed at the rows of ancestral tablets, large and small, only one question occupied her thoughts:

What kind of family was the He family, truly? Did she really want to stay here? If her sole purpose in this household was to serve as a replacement, binding them to undeserved gains without a shred of sincerity, then there was nothing left for her to cling to.

Even a puppet longs to break free of its strings and take control of its own life.

On the second night, she returned to her room, cold and desolate. He Yan remembered that the Pacify Yue Army was recruiting in the streets these days. Sitting on her bed, she thought: If just one person came to see her tonight, to ask if she was alright, she would stay.

But no one ever did.The distant sound of the night watch echoed as He Yan shouldered her bundle and slipped out under the cover of darkness. For years, ever since she began practicing martial arts on her own, she had done this with practiced ease. It was precisely because the He family paid her so little regard that leaving now was just as effortless.

Enough, she thought. Though she could no longer stay with the He family, she had at least saved a young girl in the capital. With her gone, how could the He family proceed with the betrothal? That girl named Song Taotao, once she came of age, might yet find a kindred spirit to spend her life with, rather than being entangled in this unspeakable scheme and sacrificed as a pawn.

The night was deep and endless, its end unseen. The girl disguised as a young man knew not what lay ahead. She glanced back at the He family’s gate, the estate swallowed by the darkness, merging seamlessly with the past. Steeling her heart, she turned away and walked forward without looking back.

Memories unfolded before her eyes, as if dust had been blown away from them, growing clearer as though they had happened just yesterday. Only He Yan knew that it was a past life she could never return to.

Back then, young and impulsive, she had been furious at the absurdity of He Yuansheng and his brother’s decision. She hadn’t seriously considered that as a woman, if she truly married the second daughter of the Song family, the secret would inevitably be exposed. How could the He family allow such a thing to happen?

Unless they had already known it would never come to pass.

He Yan stared at the sachet hanging from the bed canopy.

He Yuansheng and He Yuanliang had known all along that one day, He Rufei would return. He Yan had no way of knowing He Rufei’s condition, but she suspected He Yuansheng had already known then that He Rufei’s health was gradually improving, far from the critical state they had claimed.

Because they knew He Rufei would return eventually, and He Yan and He Rufei would each resume their rightful places, they had spoken so carelessly of the betrothal. They must have long decided that before He Rufei’s marriage, He Yan would shed her male disguise and return to being the young lady of the He family.

At the time, He Yan hadn’t realized this. She had thought she would be He Rufei forever, perhaps sacrificing her entire life for it, never imagining she might one day return to herself. But this was no blessing. Playing another’s double for too long, one could forget who they truly were.

Moreover, the day she left the He family with her bundle and joined the Pacify Yue Army, she had already disrupted their plans. The game was no longer under their control.

Who could have foreseen it?

Who could have foreseen that after living a lifetime, dying once, and awakening again, she would circle back here and meet the girl she had almost been “betrothed” to in her past life? That eleven-year-old girl had grown into a graceful young woman, and the youth who had left home with a bundle had since tasted all the flavors of life. Fate was mysterious. Without Song Taotao back then, she wouldn’t have left home, wouldn’t have joined the army, and there would have been no Flying Goose General, no He Yan as she was today.

In the darkness, He Yan smiled silently.

Fate had brought them together here, perhaps to tell her one thing.

She hadn’t been wrong. She had saved a girl.

…

The next morning, when He Yan awoke, Fei Nu was no longer in the room.She had stayed up late last night thinking and slept deeply, not even noticing when Fei Nu left. After waking up and freshening up, she stepped out, intending to knock on the neighboring door to see if Xiao Jue was there.

But as soon as she knocked, the door next to it opened, revealing Song Taotao’s head peeking out. "Are you looking for the Second Young Master Xiao?" she said. "They're downstairs having breakfast."

They didn’t even call her to eat? He Yan thought to herself. They really didn’t treat her as one of their own. "Have you eaten yet?" He Yan asked. "Let’s go down together."

Song Taotao nodded.

The young girl accompanied her downstairs, where they indeed saw Xiao Jue and Fei Nu sitting by the window with a few simple dishes laid out on the table. Whether it was because the innkeeper had been startled by Xiao Jue’s identity the night before, the breakfast was unusually elaborate and refined—so much so that He Yan almost cursed at the extravagance.

"Uncle, why didn’t you call me for breakfast?" He Yan muttered. "Fine, you didn’t call me, but why not Ms. Song either?"

"I wanted to sleep in a little longer—it’s not Second Young Master Xiao’s fault," Song Taotao quickly interjected. For some reason, she seemed a little afraid of Xiao Jue. But then again, Xiao Jue was always cold and sharp-tongued—what delicate young girl could handle that?

He Yan picked up a golden milk pastry and popped it into her mouth. The pastry was fragrant, sweet, and freshly steamed, warm and appetizing. She smiled and asked, "Uncle, what are we doing today?"

Xiao Jue looked at her with a faint smirk. "What do you want to do?"

"I—" Before He Yan could finish, Song Taotao spoke up.

"Young Master Cheng…" She already knew He Yan wasn’t Cheng Lisu, but she also realized He Yan was currently playing the role of "Cheng Lisu," so she didn’t expose her and went along with the name. "Could you accompany me out for a bit?"

At her words, the other three at the table turned to look at Song Taotao.

"I… I don’t have any clothes left. These men’s robes—I really can’t get used to them. I want to go out and buy a couple of ready-made outfits to change into, but I don’t remember the way well. Young Master Cheng, could you come with me to buy some things?" She mustered her courage and blurted it all out.

Among the three at the table, Fei Nu could go an entire night without saying a word, and Xiao Jue was clearly not the type to accompany a girl shopping. Only He Yan was both kind and gentle. "Of course!" He Yan said. "But…" She glanced at Xiao Jue. "Uncle, do we have anything planned for today?"

"Nothing," Xiao Jue replied indifferently, lowering his gaze. "Go with the Second Miss Song."

"Thank you, Second Young Master Xiao!" Song Taotao was overjoyed.

After breakfast, He Yan went out with Song Taotao. Once the two had left, Fei Nu said, "Young Master, I’ll follow them now."

"Don’t get too close," Xiao Jue instructed. "He’s with Song Taotao."

Fei Nu acknowledged the order and was about to leave when he suddenly hesitated. After a pause, he spoke again, "Young Master, about Sun Ling… are we just letting it go?"

"Who said we’re letting it go?" Xiao Jue curled his lips slightly. "Wait a little longer. It’s not time yet."

...

He Yan followed Song Taotao out of the inn.

Once away from the Second Young Master Xiao, Song Taotao visibly brightened. She leaned closer to He Yan and whispered, "Why do you call Second Young Master Xiao ‘uncle’? And why do you pretend to be Cheng Lisu?"

"That’s a long story," He Yan replied. "Young Master Cheng had some matters to attend to and couldn’t come to Liang Province for now, so I came in his place. Don’t tell anyone about this, alright?"Song Taotao said, "Of course I won't tell anyone! That useless young master must have sent you in his place because he couldn't do it himself. How dare such a person dream of becoming my husband? He might as well keep dreaming!"

The Second Miss Song's prejudice against Cheng Lisu ran deep indeed.

"Then what's your name?" Song Taotao asked.

"I can't tell you now, lest it slip out accidentally. I'll tell you after we finish our business in the city," He Yan replied with a smile.

Song Taotao pouted, clearly displeased. He Yan pointed to a clothing shop nearby, "Look, there's a dress shop. Shall we go in and pick something out?"

This diverted Song Taotao's attention, and He Yan breathed a sigh of relief. However, this relief was short-lived as a sudden realization struck her—this was bad.

When He Yan left Liang Province's garrison, Cheng Lisu had given her clothes and hair ornaments but forgot to give her any money. She didn't dare ask Xiao Jue for any either, leaving her with only a single ingot of silver she had won as a prize during a flag competition. She had treasured it, unwilling to spend it, even preferring to trade Cheng Lisu's buttons for tea rather than use it. Song Taotao, having just escaped from Wanhua Pavilion, had long been stripped of any money she carried. There was no way she had any funds left, meaning anything they bought today would have to come out of He Yan's pocket.

This was all the money she had left!

Fortunately, Liang Province wasn't like the capital, where a single dress could cost dozens or even hundreds of taels of silver. The clothing here was relatively cheap, and He Yan could still afford it. Song Taotao picked out a dress, then casually added a pair of shoes, a hairpin, and a set of earrings. He Yan had no choice but to pay—and with that payment, she was left with only a string of copper coins.

After selecting her outfit, Song Taotao changed into it right there in the shop. When she emerged, the once delicate-looking young boy had transformed into a charming young girl. She wore a cherry-red ruqun dress, her long hair tied into twin buns with matching cherry-red ribbons. Her bright eyes and pearly teeth made her look utterly adorable.

He Yan's eyes lit up at the sight. In that instant, the sting of spending her money vanished in the face of such cuteness.

"You look beautiful," she praised sincerely.

Song Taotao blushed and turned her head away, muttering, "The clothes here are so shabby—nothing compared to what the tailors in my Song household make!"

He Yan thought to herself, This is shabby? This had already cost her half a year's savings!

After bundling up her old clothes, Song Taotao stepped out of the shop. "Let's go explore somewhere else," she said.

He Yan: "...Alright."

A young girl's beauty and charm came at a price—especially one raised in luxury. He Yan could only hope Liang Province had nothing else to catch Miss Song's eye, as she was now penniless.

Perhaps the heavens heard her plea, for Song Taotao showed no further interest in shopping as they walked. Yet she remained enthusiastic about exploring the city. He Yan accompanied her tirelessly, showing no signs of boredom. Eventually, even the usually spoiled young girl grew somewhat embarrassed and asked, "You've been walking with me for so long. Aren't you bored?"

"Not at all," He Yan replied with a smile. "I wanted to explore too."

Song Taotao studied her for a long moment before declaring, "You're really a good person."He Yan was slightly surprised by her words, but the little girl had already walked ahead. After a moment's thought, she shook her head and smiled.

Towards Song Taotao, He Yan's feelings were not only those of care for a young girl but also a kind of indulgence akin to that of an elder. After all, this girl had almost become her "fiancée." Moreover, she was someone He Yan had once gone so far as to run away from home to help, and in a way, she had altered He Yan's fate. In the years that followed, Song Taotao hadn't been entangled in any of those inexplicable incidents and had grown up well.

He Yan felt fortunate. If she hadn't acted as she did back then, perhaps Song Taotao wouldn't have ended up marrying a woman, but the person she married would have been He Rufei. Would marrying into the He family truly have been a good thing? That family had no warmth, only interests, and was entirely unsuitable for a young girl like Song Taotao.

However, watching the girl skipping ahead, He Yan felt somewhat helpless. Back then, she had run away from home, effectively "escaping marriage." Now, Cheng Li Su was also escaping marriage, and Song Taotao was still escaping marriage. Was this some kind of vendetta against arranged marriages?

She needed to have a good talk with Cheng Li Su.

...

In the Sun residence of Liang Province, the atmosphere was bleak.

Sun Ling had been brought back to the Sun family the previous night, and Sun Xiangfu had urgently summoned renowned physicians to treat his injuries. Though they were only flesh wounds, they were quite severe and would require several months of careful recovery.

Young Master Sun had never suffered such a great humiliation in his life. Sun Xiangfu was also in a foul mood and had punished several servants early that morning for minor mistakes.

The servants dared not make a single misstep, and the residence was eerily quiet. Sun Ling lay in bed while his mother sat by his side, wiping her tears and cursing bitterly, "Your father is truly too much. He's just a military officer—how could he beat you like this? My poor child, who knows how long it will take for these injuries to heal..."

Sun Xiangfu had just entered when he heard these words and angrily retorted, "Foolish woman! What do you mean 'just a military officer'? Do you know he once dared to kill the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue without hesitation? The Minister of Revenue even brought the matter before the Emperor, and what happened in the end? He had to swallow his pride and accept it! If he had killed this unfilial son last night, what do you think you could have done? Nothing!"

Madam Sun was stunned by the scolding and only after a long pause did she stammer nervously, "H-he's really that formidable? Then what should we do now? Should we apologize to him?"

"Leave," Sun Xiangfu waved her away irritably. "I'll handle this. I came to ask Ling'er a few things."

With tearful eyes, Madam Sun left. Sun Xiangfu approached Sun Ling's bedside, looking at his pale face with a mix of heartache and anger. "Why did you have to provoke that devil of all people?" he said.

"I... I didn't provoke him. It was his nephew who went too far," Sun Ling replied, his anger flaring as he recounted the events of the previous night in detail. He concluded, "How was I supposed to know Cheng Li Su would suddenly attack?"

"Was that page boy really the girl you fancied?" Sun Xiangfu asked.

Sun Ling shook his head. "I don't know. I hadn't even seen her face clearly before that Xiao fellow showed up."

"If it was just a misunderstanding, that's one thing. But if it really was her, and Cheng Li Su protected her, he might hold a grudge against you," Sun Xiangfu sighed. "This is my fault. I should have told you earlier about Xiao Jue and his party arriving in the city. Then this wouldn't have escalated to such a mess."Sun Ling had never cared about political affairs, indulging only in eating, drinking, and womanizing. Thus, he was unaware that Sun Xiangfu had sent an invitation to Xiao Jue.

"Father, we've already offended them. Won't they cause trouble for us later?" Sun Ling asked uneasily.

He had been accustomed to running wild in Liang Province, relying solely on having a magistrate father. But last night, seeing Sun Xiangfu weeping and sniveling before Xiao Jue made Sun Ling realize that Xiao Jue was not someone the Sun family could afford to provoke.

"Don't worry," Sun Xiangfu said. "In a few days, Inspector Yuan will arrive. Inspector Yuan is Xu Xiang's man, and Xu Xiang has always been at odds with Xiao Jue. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage."

So the question arises: Did Yanyan give the koi a green hat, or did the koi give Yanyan a green hat?

(End of Chapter)