Legend of the Female General

Chapter 96: Probing

At night, a row of soldiers stood guard at the entrance of the Sun residence. Using military personnel to guard one's private home was inherently unreasonable, but Sun Xiangfu, now as jumpy as a startled bird, could no longer afford to care. Every servant in the household had been thoroughly interrogated, though no suspicious leads had been uncovered yet.

The Right Army Commander Xiao Jue and the Censor Yuan Baozhen were both staying in the residence. The undercurrents beneath their seemingly calm exteriors had not escaped Sun Xiangfu's notice. Sitting in his room, he sighed heavily. Sun Ling, who had already learned the full story from the servants, asked, "Father, why are you still troubled by this?"

Sun Xiangfu's anger flared. "If you hadn’t meddled and brought those women into the house, none of this would have happened!"

"Father, I brought them back for my own use, not for you to entertain guests with," Sun Ling retorted, rolling his eyes. "Now that trouble has arisen, how can you blame me? Those women were useless anyway—if they were going to assassinate someone, they should have succeeded in one strike. Instead, they just threw their lives away. Who knows who benefited from that?"

Before he could finish, Sun Xiangfu lunged forward and clamped a hand over his mouth, glancing around nervously. "Are you trying to get yourself killed, saying such things?" he hissed.

"I’m not wrong," Sun Ling whispered, leaning closer. "Father, don’t you dislike that Xiao Jue too?"

Sun Xiangfu remained silent. This wasn’t about whether he liked Xiao Jue or not—it was more about whether Xiao Jue liked him.

"I’ve heard there’s tension between Commander Xiao and Lord Yuan. While they’re at odds, you can just sit back and watch them fight. Lord Yuan seems decent, quite amiable. Why not secretly lend him a hand? The enemy of your enemy is your friend," Sun Ling suggested. "If things really go south, you’d have eliminated Xiao Jue and gained Lord Yuan’s favor. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?"

Pleased with his own reasoning, Sun Ling was caught off guard when Sun Xiangfu smacked him on the head. "Do you think it’s that simple?" Sun Xiangfu scolded. "You didn’t see it today, but Xiao Jue is..." He trailed off, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes. "Not someone to be trifled with."

...

Inside another room, the dim lamplight cast long shadows. Yuan Baozhen sat at the table, his expression dark and unreadable. Behind him stood his plain-faced guard, whose eyes also gleamed with unease.

"Xiao Jue suspects me," Yuan Baozhen said after a long pause. "Today’s plan failed. I doubt we’ll get another chance."

"How could he suspect you?" asked the guard, a man named Ding Yi.

"I don’t know." The memory of what had happened earlier in Sun Xiangfu’s study made Yuan Baozhen seethe. Xiao Jue’s suspicion had been brazen, his tone arrogant and domineering. Yuan Baozhen hadn’t known how to respond. He had just arrived in Liang Province and had never crossed paths with Xiao Jue before—there was no reason for Xiao Jue to suspect him.

"And how did Cheng Li Su go blind?" Yuan Baozhen frowned. "Was that part of the plan?"

Ding Yi shook his head. "I never heard of it."

Suspicion was useless now. All the assassins were dead, leaving no one to answer their questions.

"That Cheng Li Su is strange," Ding Yi remarked. "If he hadn’t intervened today, Xiao Jue might have already drunk the poisoned wine."His reminder made Yuan Baozhen recall again. At tonight’s banquet, when Xiao Jue raised his wine cup, Cheng Lisu’s sudden and loud shout of “Don’t drink!” had forced the assassins to act prematurely. If not for his interference… they wouldn’t be in such a dilemma now.

“How did he know the wine was poisoned…” Yuan Baozhen murmured. After a moment, he rubbed the base of the oil lamp on the table and said, “Since Xiao Jue and his people are now in our residence, this is our opportunity. Tomorrow, I’ll test Cheng Lisu. If that young man is truly blind, perhaps we can use him to restrain Xiao Jue—an indirect approach to achieve our goal.”

……

He Yan was unaware of the undercurrents swirling in these unseen places. At the moment, she was sitting in her room, arguing vehemently with Fei Nu.

After her eyesight failed, Xiao Jue had summoned Fei Nu to guard outside He Yan’s door. After all, the Sun residence had already been infiltrated by assassins—who knew if there might be more hidden among the maids and servants? Leaving He Yan alone was unsafe, and with Fei Nu standing guard, she would be much more secure.

“Brother Fei Nu, please go outside. I can manage on my own,” He Yan said, exasperated.

“You can’t see,” Fei Nu replied rigidly. “The young master ordered me to guard you.”

“Then guard the door! But acting as my personal maid is really unnecessary,” He Yan insisted earnestly. “Can’t you just step outside?”

“I cannot disobey orders.”

“Why are you just like your master? Can’t you be a little more reasonable?”

Xiao Jue had just arrived at the door when he heard these words. He paused, then stood at the threshold and asked, “What’s going on?”

Fei Nu replied, “Young Master—”

Before he could finish, He Yan turned toward the door. Her eyes were still covered with a cloth strip, and she clutched what might have been clothes or something else in her hands. “Is that Uncle? Brother Fei Nu has gone mad—he wants to help me bathe!”

Fei Nu’s lips twitched, as if he found her offended expression somewhat speechless. He explained, “He can’t see. I was afraid—”

“Uncle! You know I have a fiancée! My body is pure and untouched—how can it be seen by others?” The young man’s voice was bright and lively, the previous gloom and panic completely gone, replaced by his usual unreasonable demeanor. “If my marriage falls apart because of you, Brother Fei Nu, can you afford to compensate me with a fiancée?” She muttered under her breath, “You don’t even have one yourself.”

Fei Nu: “…”

Xiao Jue glanced at her and mocked, “Are you sure you won’t drown?”

The bathing tub was placed behind a folding screen in the middle of the room. The water wasn’t deep, but whether it was due to the Sun residence’s luxurious lifestyle, the surface was strewn with flower petals. He Yan had never indulged in such an exquisite floral bath even as a woman, yet here she was, enjoying one as a man.

“Uncle, have you forgotten? Back in Liang Province, I could shoot sparrows out of the sky blindfolded—how could I drown?” He Yan said. “Don’t worry. Besides, if I really do go blind, I can’t have people doing everything for me forever. Maybe you’d be fine with that, Uncle, but I’d rather not.”Fei Nu was also left speechless. He had seen many brothers in the Nine Banners Battalion, some missing arms or legs. Though they could still laugh and carry on with their lives, they would inevitably go through a period of despondency. He Yan was the fastest he had ever seen to shake off such emotions. If not for the cloth strip covering her eyes, one might even doubt whether she was truly blind.

Seeing her in such high spirits, Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered to engage with her and simply said to Fei Nu, “Let’s go.”

Fei Nu followed Xiao Jue out, and the door closed behind them. Only then did He Yan let out a sigh of relief.

She didn’t remove the cloth strip but took off her clothes and stepped into the bathtub, submerging her entire body in the water. If anyone had been present, they would have been astonished—her movements were no different from those of a sighted person, without the slightest hesitation, as if she could see perfectly.

The water temperature was just right. She had always bathed in the river near the garrison, where the water was icy cold, far less comfortable than this. Yet, despite the comfort, she dared not linger too long. Steam rose, blurring her reflection, and the smile on He Yan’s face gradually faded.

She had thought they were merely attending a banquet here, never expecting to stay for several more days. With her blindness and the increased number of attendants around, she had to be even more cautious to avoid her identity as a woman being exposed.

She still remembered the last gesture Ding Yi made at the banquet—a subtle curling of his fingers. If she hadn’t been watching him closely, she might have missed it. But precisely because she recognized Ding Yi, she knew the servant who had rushed toward Xiao Jue at the end was arranged by him. This made the situation all the more peculiar.

Ding Yi had once been He Rufei’s servant, and Yuan Baozhen was also He Rufei’s friend. If Ding Yi had conspired with the assassin at the banquet to kill Xiao Jue, it might, in some way, reflect He Rufei’s intentions. But why would He Rufei want Xiao Jue dead?

In her past life, when she had posed as “He Rufei,” she and Xiao Jue had kept to their own paths without conflict. They had even been classmates at Xianchang Academy and could be considered somewhat friendly. Now that He Rufei had resumed his true identity, with no past grudges against Xiao Jue, why would he resort to such ruthless means to take Xiao Jue’s life?

Perhaps she should seek out Yuan Baozhen for a conversation.

...

That night, He Yan shared a room with Xiao Jue and Fei Nu.

Fearing there might still be assassins in the Sun residence, they decided not to separate. However, the Sun estate had many courtyards, and this room was divided into an inner and outer chamber. Naturally, the inner chamber was reserved for the esteemed Second Young Master Xiao, while Fei Nu and He Yan each took a side of the outer chamber’s daybed. He Yan felt this sleeping arrangement made it seem as though they were guarding Xiao Jue in some ritual. Considering she had even been injured for his sake, it was rather unfair that she didn’t even get a spot in the inner chamber. The thought made her feel undervalued.

But she didn’t dwell on it for long before falling asleep. Surprisingly, she slept soundly through the night. The next morning, He Yan was awakened by Fei Nu.

She sat up, her world still pitch black, and instinctively asked, “What time is it?”

“Chen hour,” Fei Nu replied.

“Oh.” He Yan reached up to touch the cloth strip over her eyes, this time untying it directly.

For someone who could see, the transition from darkness to light would require squinting to adjust. Yet He Yan simply opened her eyes, showing no sign of discomfort. Fei Nu’s heart sank as he asked, “Can you see?”

He Yan shook her head blankly.

Silence fell between them."Perhaps... it'll get better in a few more days," Fei Nu offered awkwardly. It wasn’t that he particularly sympathized with He Yan, but he had heard that during last night’s banquet, He Yan not only warned Xiao Jue but also helped him deal with the assassins. One thing was one thing. Though this youth’s identity was suspicious, so far, he hadn’t harmed Xiao Jue.

"Is my uncle not here?" He Yan asked.

"Young Master has gone out."

He Yan nodded again, then after a moment’s thought, tied the cloth strip back over his eyes.

Fei Nu was surprised. "Why are you wearing that again?" The herbal medicine had already been used for a day and was no longer effective. Today, He Yan hadn’t complained of eye pain, so the cloth strip served no purpose—wearing it would only cause discomfort.

"It’s better to keep it on, to remind others that I can’t see," He Yan smiled. "People tend to be more forgiving toward a blind person. If I can’t avoid others, at least they can avoid me, right?"

Covering his eyes with the cloth strip made him appear far more convincingly blind than without it. Fei Nu’s heart jolted, as if something had flashed through his mind too quickly to grasp. After a moment, he said nothing further, only suggesting, "Let’s go eat first."

He Yan nodded.

With Xiao Jue absent, Fei Nu and He Yan washed up and sat in the room to eat. The food had been bought earlier by Fei Nu. He Yan refused his help, eating slowly but steadily, managing not to spill any soup. The maids summoned by Sun Xiangfu had all been dismissed—after Xiao Jue’s experience, He Yan didn’t dare trust any of them.

Just after finishing the meal, Fei Nu had someone clear the leftovers from the table. He Yan had barely been sitting alone for a moment when footsteps sounded. They were light—so light that without her exceptional hearing, an ordinary person might not have noticed. There were two people, not one.

Xiao Jue wouldn’t approach like this, and Fei Nu had just left. He Yan already had an idea of who it might be, but she showed no sign of it, sitting quietly as if lost in thought.

The footsteps stopped before her, as though the person was studying her carefully. He Yan, with the cloth strip over her eyes, remained motionless.

After a while, seemingly finding no flaws, the visitor suddenly spoke: "Young Master Cheng."

"Ah!" He Yan startled, nearly falling off the chair. She scrambled to her feet, her foot knocking against the table leg, and cried out in pain. Someone reached out to steady her, asking, "Are you alright?"

He Yan flailed her hands blindly, grasping at the air. "Who’s there?"

She caught hold of someone’s sleeve, and the person replied soothingly, "It’s Yuan Baozhen, no need to fear. I’m not a threat."

Only then did He Yan relax, exhaling shakily. "Oh, it’s Censor Yuan! I thought the assassins had returned—you scared me half to death! Why didn’t you announce yourself?"

"My apologies, my apologies. I didn’t mean to frighten you," Yuan Baozhen chuckled. "I heard about your condition and came to see how you were doing."

Though his tone was full of concern and sympathy, his face betrayed no warmth. His gaze bore into He Yan’s expression, as if trying to discern whether her blindness was real or feigned. But with the cloth strip covering her eyes, nothing could be seen.

Without seeing a person’s eyes, it was nearly impossible to detect deception from their expression alone.He leaned in extremely close, something an ordinary person might not notice, but He Yan could clearly sense it. The person she was holding onto was Ding Yi. Yuan Baozhen, being cowardly and afraid of death, wouldn’t step forward directly for fear of mishaps. Yet his gaze clung like a stubborn parasite, impossible to ignore.

Even so, He Yan showed no sign of it. She feigned a mix of distress and the careless bravado typical of a young man, saying, “Yeah, I can’t see now, but Uncle said he’d find a miracle doctor to cure me, so it’s probably just temporary.”

Her words, innocent as they were, almost convinced others that she truly couldn’t see. The mention of a “miracle doctor” carried a tone of empty reassurance, the kind used to placate a child.

Yuan Baozhen sat down on a nearby chair, shaking his head with a sigh. “I never expected this trip would leave the young master injured. Thankfully, it wasn’t life-threatening, and Commander Xiao is unharmed.” As if recalling something, he turned to He Yan with a puzzled expression. “But young master, during last night’s banquet, how did you know there was an assassin and stop the Commander from drinking that wine?”

No one knew whether the wine had been poisoned, so Yuan Baozhen cleverly avoided mentioning it, focusing only on the assassination attempt. He Yan sneered inwardly—this was a test. She tilted her head as if unsure where Yuan Baozhen was, hesitating before replying, “I didn’t know there was an assassin. I just saw a bug fly into Uncle’s cup.”

This answer caught both Ding Yi and Yuan Baozhen off guard. They froze momentarily before Yuan Baozhen asked, “A bug?”

“Yeah, you might not know this, but my uncle is a cleanliness freak,” He Yan sighed. “If his clothes get dusty, he changes immediately. If his shoes get muddy, he’ll never wear them again. If there’s a bug in his cup, who knows how furious he’d be if he drank it? I just wanted to warn him not to drink it and get a new cup. Who’d have thought there’d be an assassin? It scared me too—how could anyone have guessed?”

That was the reason? Yuan Baozhen was torn between belief and doubt. Cheng Lisu’s desperate, urgent shout had sounded genuinely panicked. Was it really just that? But if not, how could this clueless young master have foreseen the wine being tampered with?

Perhaps it was just a coincidence? Yuan Baozhen couldn’t quite describe his feelings. Who could’ve predicted that a well-laid plan would be ruined by such a trivial thing? Half annoyed and half suspicious, he glanced at Cheng Lisu again, finding the young man increasingly irritating.

But “Cheng Lisu” seemed oblivious to his dislike. Instead, as if delighted by Yuan Baozhen’s visit, he smiled and asked, “Uncle mentioned you came from Shuo Jing, Censor Yuan?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, do you know the Flying Goose General, He Rufei?” she asked.

The room fell silent at her words. Ding Yi, standing close to He Yan, rested his hand on the hilt of his blade. In an instant, a murderous aura filled the air.

The young man remained oblivious, his face still smiling as he turned toward Yuan Baozhen, awaiting his answer.

After a pause, Yuan Baozhen stared at He Yan’s face and asked, “Why does the young master suddenly ask about the Flying Goose General?”“Isn’t it said that the Flying Goose General and my uncle were bitter rivals, with skills and achievements on par? I’ve never met the Flying Goose General, so I don’t know how skilled he is or what he looks like. Since Censor Yuan came from Shuojing and served in the same court, perhaps you’ve seen him. I heard he used to wear a mask but has taken it off now. So, how does he look? Is he handsome?”

The “Cheng Li Su” before him spoke cheerfully, unaware that the guard beside him had nearly drawn his blade moments ago. His question was as mischievous as those of playful youths in the capital, and Yuan Baozhen relaxed slightly. For a moment, he had thought the boy had discovered something and nearly considered silencing him.

“I’ve seen him. He’s… quite handsome, though likely not as much as Commander Xiao,” Yuan Baozhen replied with a smile.

“Not as good-looking as my uncle?” He Yan was immediately disappointed but quickly added, “Then, Censor Yuan, are you close with the Flying Goose General? If so, could you introduce me to him when I return to Shuojing? I’ve heard so much about him and would love to see what kind of person he is.” She lowered her voice, “But please don’t let my uncle know—I’m afraid he’ll make me copy books as punishment.”

“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, young master,” Yuan Baozhen shook his head. “I only know the Flying Goose General in passing; we’re not close. If you want an introduction, it would be better to ask Commander Xiao.”

He Yan muttered under her breath, “How would I dare ask him for that?”

As she spoke, Yuan Baozhen studied her and suddenly remarked, “I came today worried you might be distressed about your eyes, but it seems my concern was unnecessary. You don’t appear too upset.”

He Yan feigned surprise, “Why would you say that, Censor Yuan? I cried for two full hours last night! If my uncle hadn’t threatened to throw me out if I didn’t stop, you wouldn’t even see me here now. Besides, I’ve thought it through—who am I? I’m the young master of the Right Vice Director’s household. Even if I’m useless at everything, my uncle is the Right Army Commander. As long as he’s here, my eyes won’t stay blind forever. If he says a miracle doctor can cure me, then a miracle doctor will surely appear!”

Her words brimmed with admiration and trust for Xiao Jue, leaving Yuan Baozhen momentarily speechless. He Yan’s responses were flawless, leaving no openings, yet… he still felt uneasy.

“You’re right, young master. Commander Xiao is capable of anything—he’ll surely find a way. It seems I underestimated you,” he said with a smile, standing up. “In that case, I should take my leave. You’re unwell now and should rest in bed.” He glanced around, “Why are there no servants in this room?”

“I sent them all away,” He Yan laughed. “After what happened last night, I don’t dare use the servants in this mansion anymore. Do you, Censor Yuan? You’re quite bold.”

Yuan Baozhen chuckled, “But you can’t see now—don’t you need someone to attend to you?”

“Fei Nu will take care of me, and I can manage on my own,” she replied cheerfully. “Don’t worry, Censor Yuan, I’ll be fine.”

Yuan Baozhen smiled, “You’re clever, young master. I’ll take my leave then.” With that, he turned to leave. But once outside the door, he paused and turned back, standing motionless at the threshold.

Inside the room, Ding Yi hadn’t moved an inch.When the two of them entered, it was Yuan Baozhen who had been doing all the talking, while Ding Yi remained silent. He Yan could easily have assumed there was only one person in the room.

Yuan Baozhen stood by the door and gave Ding Yi a meaningful glance.

He Yan rose unsteadily to her feet and began making her way slowly into the room. Ding Yi stood right in front of her, and she could sense his presence. Hidden in her sleeve was an emei dagger, confiscated from Yingyue the night before. She had already decided—if Ding Yi made a move, she would evade him and drive the dagger straight into his heart.

The young man’s eyes were covered with a cloth, and he made no move to remove it. She leaned against the wall for support, inching forward step by step. Perhaps those inside feared she might stumble over obstacles in her path, for they had cleared away chairs and other furnishings, leaving nothing between the table and the bed. As long as she followed the wall, she would make it through without trouble.

He Yan did just that.

As she neared the bed, Ding Yi bent down and placed a small stool in front of her.

The young man remained oblivious as he took a step forward. With a loud "clang," his foot caught on something, sending him tumbling headfirst. His fall was terribly unlucky—he hit the bed frame, letting out a startled cry as a lump immediately swelled on his forehead. He sprawled on the ground, half his body splayed out, his hands scraped raw, and for a long moment, he couldn't get up.

Ding Yi shook his head at Yuan Baozhen.

Seeing this, Yuan Baozhen turned and walked out, with Ding Yi following quietly behind.

The room was left with only He Yan inside.

Clutching her head, He Yan groaned dramatically in pain. Unseen by anyone, a cold smirk curled at the corners of her lips.

Yan Yan: What a shame she didn't win an Oscar...

(End of Chapter)