Legend of the Female General

Chapter 94: A Banquet with Ulterior Motions

The Sun residence was located in the center of Liang Province's western district, not far from the marketplace yet sufficiently quiet. The surrounding mansions were all grand and splendid. Since Xiao Jue disliked carriages, the two of them rode on horseback instead. Fei Nu did not accompany them, and his whereabouts were unknown. He neither guarded Miss Song like Chi Wu nor attended the banquet with Xiao Jue. He Yan guessed he was probably running errands for Xiao Jue.

Without Fei Nu, only He Yan and Xiao Jue remained as traveling companions. Though Fei Nu was usually taciturn, He Yan could at least exchange a few words with him. Being alone with Xiao Jue inexplicably made her nervous. Fortunately, since they were riding, there was no need for conversation. After roughly the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, they arrived at the entrance of the Sun residence.

The servant at the gate, having presumably been informed by Sun Xiangfu in advance, warmly greeted them. "You must be Commander Xiao, and this is Young Master Cheng? The master is already waiting in the main hall." He took the reins of their horses and instructed a maid, "Yingyue, escort Commander Xiao and Young Master Cheng inside."

The maid named Yingyue was exceptionally beautiful. Though it was already September, and the autumn night carried a chill, she wore only a thin gauze dress—so sheer it was barely there. He Yan nearly couldn't stop herself from draping an outer robe over the girl. The men in the barracks often said that those who went shirtless in their youth would inevitably suffer from leg and back pain in old age. Why put oneself through that?

Yingyue spoke in a voice as melodious as a nightingale's. "Commander, please follow me." As she spoke, her tender, affectionate gaze lingered on Xiao Jue, her eyes brimming with emotion.

Even a fool could tell the maid had taken a liking to Xiao Jue. Well, there weren’t many girls like Song Taotao in this world—most were ordinary folk, easily swayed by appearances. Xiao Jue’s face was undeniably striking, and countless women had fallen for him. He Yan should have expected this.

But no matter how much the flower yearned, the heart of the man remained cold as iron. Xiao Jue didn’t even glance at the maid. Instead, he turned his head slightly to look at He Yan and said coldly, "What are you staring at?"

"Ah?" He Yan snapped out of her thoughts and hurried to catch up as he strode ahead. This man really was something—ignoring a lovely maiden just to pick on her?

The two followed the maid through the gates of the Sun residence.

The Sun residence was extravagantly decorated.

He Yan had seen the mansions of capital officials before, and they were nothing special. Though the He family couldn’t compare to the Xiao family, they were still a well-known official household in the capital. Yet the Sun residence was on par with the He family’s estate. But this wasn’t the capital—it was Liang Province, and Sun Xiangfu wasn’t a capital official but merely a county magistrate.

"Three years as a clean magistrate, a hundred thousand taels of silver." The saying held true. He Yan marveled at the rockeries, potted plants, and glazed jade tiles. How could a magistrate’s salary afford such luxuries? Sun Xiangfu must have extorted countless riches from the people. Then again, judging by Sun Ling’s behavior, the Sun father and son had undoubtedly played the role of local tyrants in Liang Province, practically acting as half-emperors.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t realize her own expression was being observed by the man beside her.

Xiao Jue’s gaze flickered slightly.The young man wore Cheng Lisu's clothes but lacked Cheng Lisu's lively innocence. Though fine feathers make fine birds, a low-ranking recruit pretending to be a young master from a wealthy family would inevitably reveal flaws. Past deeds and encounters leave indelible marks on a person, becoming unmistakable traces.

Each person's traces are distinct.

He Yan's eyes held reflection and contemplation, but not a trace of timidity or nervousness. Such composure during a first-time venture to such a place would be hard to explain.

Just then, Yingyue stopped and announced to those inside, "Master, Commander Xiao and Young Master Cheng have arrived."

Immediately, Sun Xiangfu's exaggerated voice rang out from within: "Commander Xiao is here! This humble official feared you and the young master might not come. It’s wonderful that you’re here, truly wonderful!"

He Yan glanced up. The man’s fawning demeanor bore no resemblance to the imposing air he had displayed during their first meeting at the inn days ago. To grovel like this as an official—how laughable.

Before Xiao Jue could respond, Sun Xiangfu stepped aside, revealing the man behind him, and said with a smile, "Minister Yuan has also arrived."

So this was Yuan Baozhen? He Yan studied him. A clean-shaven, middle-aged man smiled amiably at them, instantly overlapping with the image in He Yan’s memory.

The first time she had seen Yuan Baozhen was outside the He family study. By then, He Rufei had already claimed the merits, removed his mask, and truly become the "Flying Goose General." Meanwhile, she, as the second branch’s young lady, was preparing to marry into the Xu family. At the time, she had been startled to see this man, surprised that He Rufei had already befriended someone in court so quickly.

Later, she had asked He Rufei who the man was, and He Rufei had replied, "That’s Yuan Baozhen, the current Censor."

"Are you two working on something together?" He Yan had asked casually.

He Rufei had looked at her with a strange smile and said, "What you should be doing now is embroidering your wedding dress, not meddling in these matters. He Yan," he leaned closer, his tone inscrutable, "remember—you are now the second branch’s young lady. You are a woman."

He Yan had brushed it off. She couldn’t embroider, and the wedding dress wasn’t her task anyway. But she understood the implication—He Rufei was warning her to sever all ties with the Flying Goose General.

Was he afraid the truth would be exposed? A cold laugh rose in He Yan’s heart. How absurd that she hadn’t recognized the murderous intent laced in He Rufei’s words back then.

Now, suddenly face-to-face with her cousin’s old friend, how could she obtain the information she needed?

Before she could think it through, Yuan Baozhen stepped forward, first cupping his hands in salute to Xiao Jue. "Commander." Then he turned to He Yan. "This must be Young Master Cheng?"

He Yan stared at him, feigning surprise with a smile. "Minister Yuan."

"I’ve long heard of Young Master Cheng’s heroic bearing and extraordinary presence. Seeing you today, the rumors do not disappoint," Yuan Baozhen said cheerfully. "Truly, heroes emerge from the young!"

He Yan: "..."

Wasn’t Cheng Lisu famously known as the "useless young master" of the capital? How could this man say such things with a straight face? Ah, she understood—to serve as an official in Great Wei, the first skill one must master is the art of "telling people what they want to hear."

He Yan could only reply, "You flatter me, truly. This humble one is undeserving."The two of them exchanged polite conversation here, while Sun Xiangfu rubbed his hands together and spoke awkwardly, "Commander, this humble official has an unreasonable request."

Xiao Jue: "What is it?"

"My son recently had the audacity to offend you and the young master," Sun Xiangfu appeared extremely uneasy. "Although I have reprimanded him, the boy feels deeply remorseful and wishes to personally apologize to you and the young master. I thought, since he has realized his mistake, I would swallow my pride and beg you, Commander, to give this unfilial son a chance to apologize."

"To err is human," Yuan Baozhen chimed in with a smile. "Moreover, this was merely a misunderstanding. Clearing it up should suffice. The Commander won’t hold a grudge. Quickly summon Young Master Sun to clarify matters with Commander Xiao."

"Really?" Sun Xiangfu excitedly instructed the servant, "Go call the young master at once!"

He Yan watched as the two of them played their parts without even consulting Xiao Jue, realizing they must have planned this beforehand. This Yuan Baozhen was clearly cut from the same cloth as Sun Xiangfu. Then again, anyone who could get along with He Rufei couldn’t possibly be a decent person.

Sun Ling seemed to have been waiting right outside the hall, for he entered with a maid shortly after the words were spoken. The moment he stepped in, he fell to his knees with a loud thud before Xiao Jue, startling He Yan so much she nearly bit her tongue.

This was the same person who had been swaggering and acting high and mighty just days ago. Now, he looked haggard, as if he had suffered a serious illness. Dressed in plain clothes, he performed a deep bow and spoke weakly, "I was ignorant before and quarreled with Young Master Cheng. Now I’ve realized my mistake and beg for your forgiveness, Commander and Young Master Cheng, for my youthful recklessness. I swear to reform and never repeat such behavior."

Was "youthful recklessness" even the right term here? He didn’t look that young. He Yan didn’t believe for a second that he could truly reform in just a few days. She glanced at Xiao Jue, whose expression remained indifferent—neither agreeing nor refusing—leaving the atmosphere awkwardly frozen.

He Yan decided to step in and smooth things over. Since they were all putting on a show, it would be awkward if the performance didn’t continue. Smiling, she stared at the top of Sun Ling’s head and said, "There’s no need for such words. It was just a misunderstanding that day, Young Master Sun. You needn’t dwell on it. Just be careful not to misidentify people in the future. This time, you happened to run into my uncle and me, but if it had been someone more ruthless, no amount of apologies would have helped."

As soon as she spoke, Sun Xiangfu sighed in relief and immediately scolded Sun Ling, "Hurry up and thank Young Master Cheng! He’s younger than you but far more accomplished!" Having nothing else to praise, he lamely added, "Learn more from Young Master Cheng in the future!"

Sun Ling then showered He Yan with flattery, making her feel sick to her stomach. She truly disliked such empty words—could anyone actually be fooled by this act?

Once the performance of "The Magistrate’s Son Seeking Forgiveness" concluded, Sun Ling returned to his room. According to his father, after returning home last time, Sun Ling had been punished with family discipline and fell seriously ill, unable to leave his bed. Today, he had dragged himself here to apologize to Xiao Jue. Now that the apology was done, he had to return to bed and rest.

He Yan smiled and said, "Then Young Master Sun should hurry back and take care of your health."This was likely to prevent any unexpected incidents during the banquet, as his son clearly had a knack for stirring up trouble.

After Sun Ling left, Sun Xiangfu said, "Commander Xiao, please take a seat. Young Master Cheng, you as well. When it grows darker, there will be song and dance performances in the residence, and we shall all enjoy them together at the banquet."

He Yan sat down beside Xiao Jue. From then on, it was mostly Sun Xiangfu doing the talking—nothing particularly noteworthy, just asking whether He Yan and Xiao Jue were accustomed to living in Liang Province, how the weather had been lately... all trivial pleasantries.

He Yan's thoughts, however, remained fixed on Yuan Baozhen.

Yuan Baozhen and He Rufei could be considered friends, right? At the very least, she had seen Yuan Baozhen visiting the He family more than once. Moreover, his interactions with He Yuansheng and his son didn’t seem like mere acquaintanceship. So, did He Rufei know about Yuan Baozhen’s trip to Liang Province? He must have. If they were close friends, there might have even been a farewell gathering before his departure. In that case, Yuan Baozhen would surely be aware of the recent situation in the He family and He Rufei’s plans for the coming days.

But how could Yuan Baozhen possibly share so much with her, this supposed "Cheng Lisu"?

Lost in thought, He Yan forgot to conceal her gaze. Yuan Baozhen was no ordinary man either—with just a sidelong glance, he noticed her staring at him. Yet he said nothing, still smiling as he listened to Sun Xiangfu, occasionally chiming in, appearing entirely unremarkable at first glance.

After a while, when night had fully fallen, Sun Xiangfu stood up and said with a smile, "I believe it’s about time. Let us proceed to the main hall for the banquet."

Naturally, no one objected. Sun Xiangfu led the way, with He Yan and Xiao Jue following behind, and Yuan Baozhen to her right. Still preoccupied with thoughts of He Rufei, He Yan couldn’t help but let her eyes drift back to Yuan Baozhen.

Lost in her musings, she was suddenly startled when Yuan Baozhen abruptly turned his head toward her. A seasoned official with deep cunning, his smile vanished, replaced by piercing, intimidating eyes that caught her off guard—she had been caught red-handed.

He Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Realizing she’d been discovered, she barely had time to react when she felt a gentle tug on her arm. The next moment, someone stepped in front of her.

Xiao Jue’s cool voice reached her ears: "Watch where you’re going."

Surprised, she looked up. Xiao Jue was taller than her, and now, Yuan Baozhen’s menacing gaze was completely blocked from view. Xiao Jue met the other man’s eyes and curved his lips slightly. "Why does Minister Yuan keep staring at my nephew?"

Yuan Baozhen paused, then laughed. "Not at all, Commander must be mistaken." He turned away, no longer looking at He Yan, as if the entire incident had been nothing more than an insignificant joke.

Xiao Jue continued walking forward. He Yan hesitated for a moment before following. A strange feeling stirred in her heart. That phrase—"my nephew"—though referring to Cheng Lisu, had been meant to shield her. It had been a long time since she’d felt the comfort of having someone to protect her.

Perhaps she had never experienced it at all.

By the time they reached the main hall, the banquet had already been prepared, with low tables arranged throughout the room. He Yan sat down beside Xiao Jue. The open space in the center of the hall was likely reserved for the upcoming song and dance performances. He Yan didn’t quite understand why such banquets always required beautiful women to perform. Truly refined families would never stoop to such frivolities.But Sun Xiangfu was not truly from a distinguished family.

Looking at the dishes on the table, He Yan couldn't help but marvel—Dragon and Phoenix Delight, Buddha's Hand Rolls, Phoenix Tail Shark Fin, and Dried Sea Cucumber with Fortune. Even the banquets hosted by third-rank officials' families in the capital were no more extravagant than this. It seemed the Sun family lived quite comfortably.

She turned her head to glance at Xiao Jue. It had to be said that while Xiao Jue usually wore a cold expression, finding fault with everything, the moment he sat lazily at a banquet, his usual indifference faded, revealing an innate air of leisure. He Yan suddenly recalled that this man was, after all, a genuine young master of the capital. In his youth, he had attended wine gatherings one day and lavish feasts the next, embodying the full demeanor of a noble scion. Here, at the banquet, traces of the young master of the Xiao family from his youth emerged once more.

"What are you looking at me for?" Young Master Xiao's lips curled slightly, his voice low as it reached He Yan's ears. "Careful not to give yourself away."

He Yan coughed lightly. "I was momentarily distracted by my uncle's striking presence."

She had always been good at flattery, effortlessly spouting nonsensical words. Xiao Jue couldn't be bothered to respond. Just then, Yuan Baozhen spoke up, saying, "Commander Xiao and Young Master Cheng seem to share an exceptionally close bond."

"Of course. We're family," Xiao Jue replied indifferently.

Yuan Baozhen had only been looking for a conversation starter and naturally didn't mind Xiao Jue's attitude. Picking up a wine cup from the table, he smiled and said, "I've always wondered—Liang Province is a harsh and bitter land. Commander Xiao had it much better in the capital. Why, then, did you choose to station yourself in Liang Province?"

He Yan's heart stirred at these words. She, too, was curious about this. Xiao Jue was now the Right Army Commander, with the entire Southern Garrison Troops under his command. There was no need for him to personally lead a group of new recruits here. Back then, He Yan had assumed he had been demoted, but seeing how arrogantly he carried himself before Sun Xiangfu, that didn't seem to be the case.

Xiao Jue glanced at Yuan Baozhen but didn't answer his question. Instead, he smiled and countered, "What does Censor Yuan think is the reason?"

This man really knew how to deflect.

Yuan Baozhen was no pushover either. His smile didn't waver in the slightest as he immediately employed the skill every official mastered—speaking in riddles. "I imagine the Commander must have been concerned that new recruits would be difficult to train, and that other generals might not handle them as well. The Commander has never shied away from hardship, so you volunteered to station yourself in Liang Province."

After a long pause, Xiao Jue finally said, "Is that so?" He asked nonchalantly, "So Censor Yuan believes my coming to Liang Province is a good thing?"

"Of course."

Xiao Jue shot him a glance and replied with a cold smile, "I thought Censor Yuan had something else in mind."

"Oh?" Yuan Baozhen smiled. "What does Commander Xiao mean by that?"

"When the branches grow too large, they break; when the tail grows too big, it becomes unwieldy," he said meaningfully. "Isn't that why you personally made the trip to Liang Province, Lord Yuan?"

The atmosphere instantly froze. Sun Xiangfu didn't dare utter a word, keeping his head down like a cowed dog. Even Yuan Baozhen's smile nearly faltered. He Yan turned to look at Xiao Jue, silently cheering him on in her heart.

All this back-and-forth flattery was utterly meaningless. Nothing but empty words—by the time the banquet ended, nothing of substance would have been achieved. But look at how formidable Young Master Xiao was! With just one sentence, he left others speechless.

The hidden schemes at this banquet should have been laid bare on the table long ago!Yuan Baozhen paused for a moment before smiling. "Commander Xiao, you do have a sense of humor. My visit to Liang Province is merely an official inspection."

Xiao Jue offered no response.

"How are the new recruits at the Commander's garrison faring in their drills?" Yuan Baozhen pressed on. "Have you already forged a strong army?"

Xiao Jue regarded him with an ambiguous smile. "Is that also part of Inspector Yuan's inspection duties?"

Though Yuan Baozhen had heard of Xiao Jue's reputation and encountered him before, this was the first time they had sat down for a proper conversation. It was also his first real taste of the young general's unyielding arrogance. No wonder he had killed Zhao Nuo back then—no one could sway him. Just sitting here talking to this young master was mentally and physically exhausting.

His usual practiced smile faltered for the first time. "I was merely expressing concern."

"Perhaps Inspector Yuan's concerns extend beyond Liang Province's new recruits," Xiao Jue drawled. "Why not show some concern for the Southern Garrison Troops and the Nine Banners Battalion as well?"

Yuan Baozhen had no reply to that.

Sun Xiangfu glanced nervously between the two men, both of whom were figures he couldn't afford to offend. Yet he couldn't let the banquet devolve into such thinly veiled hostility. Tentatively, he interjected, "Gentlemen, you must be tired from all this talking. Why not take a break and enjoy some music and dance? Have some food—this wine is freshly brewed Grape Spring. Everyone, please try it." He then instructed the maids beside him, "Quickly, summon Yingyue."

Before long, several beautiful young women entered the hall. Leading them was the same maid who had escorted He Yan and the others earlier. Now, she had changed into a red dress embroidered with plum blossoms, her long sleeves flowing gracefully. Her makeup had been redone—where she had been merely delicate and pretty before, she now radiated dazzling beauty. Yet, as before, her gaze lingered tenderly on Xiao Jue.

Among all the people seated here—He Yan aside—Yuan Baozhen was at least an official. Why was this girl fixated solely on Xiao Jue? Her intentions were far too obvious. He Yan mused silently, glancing at Xiao Jue, only to find his gaze as cold as ice, utterly unmoved.

He Yan couldn't help but think that Xiao Jue looked at Fei Nu with more warmth than he did at this girl. Did Xiao Jue have some sort of issue—like an aversion to women, perhaps?

As she pondered this, Yingyue and the other maids gracefully curtsied and said, "We humbly offer our meager talents."

The zither player began a rendition of "Everlasting Longing," a sentimental melody. Paired with the stunning dancers, it should have been a breathtaking scene. But He Yan was a woman, Xiao Jue had no interest in music or dance, and Yuan Baozhen's thoughts had already wandered elsewhere after Xiao Jue's earlier remarks. The only one truly enjoying himself was likely Sun Xiangfu himself.

Sun Xiangfu clearly doted on this particular dancer, but Yingyue seemed to be a judge of appearances. Her long sleeves fluttered repeatedly in Xiao Jue's direction, and her flirtatious glances—enough to melt one's bones—were directed solely at the Second Young Master Xiao.

Bored out of her mind, He Yan even counted: Yingyue had tossed five flirtatious glances at Sun Xiangfu, three at Yuan Baozhen, and a whopping seventeen at Xiao Jue. Not a single one had been aimed at her.

She was dead last. What gave this girl the right to look down on her?

Attending a banquet was one thing, but having her confidence crushed like this was another. He Yan sighed inwardly. Maybe it wasn't entirely Yingyue's fault—perhaps her outfit today was to blame. The color made her look darker.She picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of pastry. This was Sun Xiangfu's family banquet, and he probably didn't have the guts to poison the food here. He Yan tasted it and found it quite delicious.

As the song ended, Yingyue's forehead glistened with sweat, her flushed cheeks adding to her delicate charm as she bowed gracefully to the audience.

"Bravo, bravo, bravo!" Only Sun Xiangfu was genuinely engrossed in the dance, clapping enthusiastically. "Marvelous, truly marvelous! What do you all think?"

Xiao Jue naturally remained silent, while Yuan Baozhen merely smiled. He Yan chimed in, "Indeed, a peerless beauty, unmatched in grace and allure!"

"Young Master also approves?" Sun Xiangfu's face lit up as if he had found a kindred spirit. "How about presenting Yingyue to Young Master Cheng then?"

This was going too far. He Yan stiffened and waved his hands dismissively. "No, no, I already have a fiancée. That wouldn't be appropriate."

"Ah." Sun Xiangfu immediately looked crestfallen. "What a pity."

Since when did officials start casually gifting beauties to each other at banquets? Was this some kind of sickness? Just as He Yan was baffled by the absurdity, Sun Xiangfu laughed again and said, "Yingyue, go attend to Commander Xiao."

He Yan: "..."

She suspected that Wanhua Pavilion might actually be owned by this Magistrate Sun. Otherwise, why did his tone and demeanor so closely resemble that of a brothel madam? Even if he were one, shouldn't he have some sense of discretion? Couldn't ordinary people see that every inch of Xiao Jue's body radiated refusal?

Some people are blind in the eyes but clear in the heart. Others can still see, yet they are truly blind.

Fortunately, Yingyue knew her place and didn't attempt anything foolish like touching or leaning in. She simply stood beside Xiao Jue, serving him dishes.

A maid was also serving He Yan. She glanced up and noticed that Yuan Baozhen, seated diagonally across from her, had a guard-like figure standing behind him instead of a maid.

How odd. Was he the one who disliked women?

He Yan studied the guard behind Yuan Baozhen. At first, it was just a casual glance, but the moment she did, her blood seemed to freeze, and her entire body stiffened on the spot.

The guard wasn't particularly tall or imposing—in fact, among guards, he was rather short and slight. His features were utterly unremarkable, and he blended so seamlessly into the shadows behind Yuan Baozhen that it was easy to overlook his presence. He hadn't made a sound the entire time, and He Yan hadn't noticed him since first meeting Yuan Baozhen. But now, seeing him, she felt as if struck by lightning.

In an instant, the banquet table, the wine, the dishes—all of it vanished. The scene before her blurred as her memories rewound rapidly to that day. She was sitting in the Xu residence when her personal maid brought her a bowl of medicinal soup, explaining that the kitchen had specially brewed it to nourish her body, hoping she would soon conceive a child to continue the Xu family line.

The scenery was lovely, the sunlight bright. As she sat at the table, gazing out the window, she saw a servant pass by. The maid smiled and explained that the medicinal ingredients for the soup had been delivered by this very servant.

He was He Rufei's servant, a member of the He family.

At the time, He Yan was still newly married. Though she occasionally felt a pang of sadness because of Xu Zhiheng, she hadn't dwelled on it and still held a trace of warmth for the He family. Never could she have imagined that the "nourishing" ingredients delivered by this servant would cost her her eyes.

That was the last time she saw sunlight in her past life. The next day, she fell into a high fever, and soon after, she lost her sight.

It had been just a fleeting glimpse, but she had seared his face into her memory, replaying it over and over. Now, even though he was dressed as a guard and standing behind Yuan Baozhen, she recognized him at once."Let us share a drink," Sun Xiangfu said with a smile, raising his cup.

The clear wine poured into the white jade cup. As she watched the man beside her lift the cup to his lips, countless memories from the past flashed before her eyes. Overwhelmed by terror, He Yan felt as though the same tragedy was about to unfold again. In a surge of panic and fury, she struck the cup from Xiao Jue's hand with a swift slap.

"Don't drink it!"

(End of Chapter)