Legend of the Female General

Chapter 98: Another Test

"Uncle? Is that you?" He Yan wore an expression of surprise, flailing her hands blindly like someone groping in the dark. "Where are you?"

Xiao Jue watched her performance with a cold gaze, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Aren't you the one who can shoot blindfolded and discern shapes by sound? What, can't you tell where I am?"

He Yan's movements froze. After a pause, she chuckled awkwardly. "I was just worried you might feel awkward. Uncle, were you bathing?"

The young man stared blankly ahead, unblinking. Even though Xiao Jue had already draped his clothes over himself, he still felt uneasy under that gaze.

"Where were you just now?" he asked.

"The latrine. Brother Fei Nu went out, and I didn’t trust the servants here, so I felt my way out to relieve myself. Uncle, why did you come back so early today?" He Yan asked. "Has Brother Fei Nu not returned yet?"

Xiao Jue turned slightly, fastening his outer robe. "Don’t wander around here."

He Yan studied him, recalling the conversation she had overheard between Yuan Baozhen and his servant. "Uncle, have you been investigating the assassin from the banquet these past few days? Found anything?"

Xiao Jue glanced at her. "What are you trying to say?"

"I mean… isn’t it possible that the people in this very residence are the ones who tried to harm you? Think about it—Magistrate Sun claims he knew nothing, but the incident happened in his own home. How could he be completely unaware? That doesn’t make sense. And then there’s Censor Yuan," He Yan racked her brain for hints. "I think he’s acting strangely too..."

"Oh? What’s strange about him?" Xiao Jue asked.

He Yan hesitated. She couldn’t very well say, I pried open their roof tiles and eavesdropped on their conversation, and by the way, his bodyguard was the one who blinded me in my past life. Instead, she replied, "Censor Yuan came to see me once before and asked me some odd questions. If you want my opinion, my gut tells me something’s off. Uncle, you should be more wary of them."

The young man groped for a chair and sat down, his tone unusually serious. Xiao Jue’s eyes flickered with surprise. Slowly, he countered, "You want me to be wary of Yuan Baozhen?"

"Exactly. Think about it—if they really did try to harm you and failed once, they’ll definitely try again. You’re usually not in the residence, so there’s no need to worry… Wait, no. If you’re never here, why are you even staying in this place?" He Yan suddenly realized something.

If he insisted on staying at the Sun residence but went out every day, wasn’t that contradictory?

"You should focus more on your eyes than these matters," Xiao Jue said coolly. "Are you really blind?"

He Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Playing dumb, she retorted, "Of course! What good would pretending to be blind do me?"

Her words were firm, and when Xiao Jue observed her again, every one of her actions seemed indistinguishable from a genuine blind person. If she were faking it, she was frighteningly skilled. But this person was a habitual liar—otherwise, she wouldn’t have fooled even Fei Nu.

Seeing Xiao Jue fall silent, He Yan worried he might press further. She quickly laughed it off. "Uncle, weren’t you bathing earlier? Did I interrupt you? Do you need to continue? Go ahead—I’ll stand guard outside. I promise I won’t come in, and I’ll make sure no one else does either." With that, she fumbled for the door, pushed it open, and sat down on the steps outside, guarding the entrance like a door god.

Xiao Jue: "..."He Yan didn't bother listening to the commotion inside the room anymore. She had no idea whether Young Master Xiao still had the mood to continue his bath, but her own thoughts were certainly in disarray. Too much had happened today—she didn't even know which matter to ponder first. The schemes of He Rufei and Xu Xiang, Yuan Baozhen and Ding Yi—all these messy affairs jumbled together, yet the image that lingered in her mind was Xiao Jue bathing.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk—" He Yan cursed under her breath, thinking that even someone with perfect vision would go blind after witnessing such a scene. Though she was a woman, upon reflection, she couldn't tell who had taken advantage of whom.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other!

...

Early the next morning, Xiao Jue had disappeared again. Fei Nu brought her a meal once before vanishing as well. This master-servant pair—who knew what they were up to every day? Sitting on the bed, He Yan contemplated whether she should sneak out today to tail Yuan Baozhen and his guards. But considering last night's events, Yuan Baozhen would surely be keeping a close watch on the rooftops. The Sun residence's roof was already fragile—it really couldn't withstand repeated climbing.

Before He Yan could reach a decision, Ding Yi came knocking at her door. Standing outside, he spoke respectfully, "Young Master Cheng?"

He Yan looked up as Ding Yi continued politely, "Minister Yuan invites you for tea."

"What kind of tea?" He Yan asked casually. "I'm quite particular about tea."

"Any kind you prefer," Ding Yi replied with a smile. "If Young Master Cheng is unwilling—"

"Willing, willing," He Yan said, supporting herself against the bed as she stood up. "I've been terribly bored here alone. It's rare for Minister Yuan to remember me and offer some company—how could I refuse such kindness? Lead the way." She still had the cloth strip tied over her eyes. "Please fetch my bamboo cane for me."

When Fei Nu had returned last night, he'd brought He Yan a bamboo cane—not too tall, not too short, just the right height for her to walk with. Though the man seemed taciturn, he was actually quite considerate. After all, with everyone in the Sun household untrustworthy and unreliable, getting around by herself was truly inconvenient. The cane made things much easier and, to others, made her appear more "convincingly" blind.

Ding Yi said, "Of course." Glancing around, he spotted a bamboo cane leaning against a table nearby. He walked over, picked it up, and approached He Yan, extending it toward her. "Young Master Cheng, here you go."

He Yan reached out unsteadily. Just as her fingers were about to touch the cane's head, Ding Yi suddenly pulled it back. He Yan lurched forward, grasping at empty air. Already unsteady on her feet, she nearly toppled over but was caught by Ding Yi. "Are you alright, Young Master Cheng?" he asked.

"I'm fine," He Yan replied, feigning lingering fear. "I almost fell." Then, with a dejected tone, she added, "Now I can't even hold things properly anymore."

"My apologies," Ding Yi said remorsefully. "I should have placed it directly in your hand. I've frightened you."

Though his words sounded contrite, his gaze remained fixed on He Yan, searching for any hint of deception. Unfortunately, with her eyes covered by the cloth strip, it was impossible to discern any changes in her expression. What he didn't know was that He Yan was silently sneering at him in her mind.The cloth strip had been altered by her the night before. It was black, with an extremely fine gap subtly sewn at the eye area—just a sliver, nothing more. Through this tiny opening, she could observe the movements of those outside, while to others, He Yan appeared to be nothing more than a blindfolded blind person.

Ding Yi’s probing and the way his gaze lingered on her face were all clearly seen by He Yan. She hadn’t expected him to still harbor suspicions about her. But why? Last night, she had escaped swiftly, and there shouldn’t have been any clues left for Ding Yi to notice. Even if it was about her warning Xiao Jue not to drink from his cup during the banquet, or the previous time Yuan Baozhen had come, the testing should have ended by now.

Why this repeated probing?

Unable to figure it out, He Yan tapped her bamboo cane and said, “Never mind, this isn’t your concern. Let’s go.”

“This subordinate should still assist you,” Ding Yi offered.

“No need,” He Yan replied. “If I’m truly blind from now on, I’ll have to get used to this sooner or later. Relying on others all the time is hardly proper. Besides, I have my cane. I’ll just walk slower, but I won’t fall behind. Just guide me from the front.”

The young man’s voice was stubborn, sounding like someone who refused to yield even in blindness. Finding no flaws, Ding Yi said, “Then please follow me, Young Master Cheng.”

He walked ahead, calling out where steps were or when to turn left or right. He Yan moved very slowly, her cane tapping the ground with a steady “thud, thud, thud,” cautious with every step. She walked deliberately, and Ding Yi was patient, guiding her all the while. But from the corner of her eye, He Yan could see his gaze fixed on her every tiny movement, still searching for any possible slip-up.

If someone were faking blindness, small habitual movements would inevitably surface while walking, and someone close enough could pick up on subtle inconsistencies. But He Yan had prepared for this. With the cloth strip covering her eyes, she could recall the days in the Xu household when she had truly been blind. She didn’t need to act—she simply had to replicate her past behavior.

The two of them, one feigning blindness and the other observing, were both wary of each other. In the end, the one pretending to be blind was more skilled, moving and stopping without revealing the slightest flaw until they reached Yuan Baozhen’s door.

Ding Yi said, “Young Master Cheng, mind the steps. We’ve arrived.”

He Yan tapped her cane, lifting her foot shakily as guided by it, and ascended the steps before following Ding Yi inside.

Yuan Baozhen’s room faced the shade, rarely touched by sunlight even on ordinary days. The moment they entered, the dimness was palpable—a lamp was even lit during the day. A small table held a teapot with a few cups and a plate of pastries. Ding Yi led her to sit before the table.

Yuan Baozhen looked up and smiled amiably at He Yan. “Young Master Cheng, how have you been these past few days?”

“Fine, fine,” He Yan replied, pointing at her eyes. “Except for this.”

“Still no improvement?”

“None.” He Yan sighed. “I wonder when the miracle doctor my uncle sought will arrive in Liang Province.”

This was a lie meant for a child, and Yuan Baozhen paid it no mind. Instead, he glanced at Ding Yi, who shook his head slightly—indicating no flaws had been detected along the way.

So, he really was blind.While he was looking at He Yan, she was also observing him. The gap in the black cloth was blurry, making it hard to see clearly, yet He Yan felt this man seemed different from the one she had seen a few days ago. His voice remained amiable, but perhaps because she couldn't see, he didn’t even bother to maintain a smile on his face. His expression carried a hint of impatience, as if something wasn’t going his way.

Indeed, since they had come specifically to harm Xiao Jue but had yet to succeed, and now they couldn’t even track Xiao Jue’s whereabouts daily, they were far from anything resembling success.

Yuan Baozhen pushed the teacup in front of him toward He Yan and slid the plate of pastries closer, smiling as he said, "Have some snacks."

He Yan clearly noticed crushed peanuts sprinkled on top of the pastries.

She remembered Cheng Lisu’s warning before leaving—that eating peanuts would cause him to break out in rashes. This was interesting. Did Yuan Baozhen know Cheng Lisu couldn’t eat peanuts? He Yan was almost certain he did. The purpose of this plate of snacks was obvious—another test for her.

If she ate the snacks and didn’t develop rashes, it would be suspicious. If she refused to eat them, that would also raise questions.

He Yan wondered what she had done to deserve Yuan Baozhen’s repeated probing.

She didn’t take the teacup or reach for the pastries. Instead, she smiled and said in a peculiar tone, "Lord Yuan, I can’t actually drink tea or eat snacks."

Yuan Baozhen’s gaze flickered. "Why not?"

"After the banquet incident, my uncle forbade me from eating or drinking anything in the residence. Everything I consume daily is brought by Fei Nu. Lord Yuan, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but my uncle is extremely strict. If I were to eat behind his back and he found out, I couldn’t bear the consequences." The young man’s tone was utterly matter-of-fact, even carrying a hint of disbelief at Yuan Baozhen’s apparent foolishness. He added, "I advise you not to eat anything from the residence either. Suppress your cravings—it’s not worth risking your life."

The boy’s swift response showed no cracks, making it hard to tell whether he was telling the truth or lying. Yuan Baozhen chuckled. "The tea and snacks here were bought outside by my attendants."

"Food from outside is even more dangerous," He Yan said gravely. "If you must, Lord Yuan, why not wait until my uncle returns? You can discuss it with him, and once he gives his approval, I’ll gladly eat these. How does that sound?"

Yuan Baozhen had no reply to that. Invite Xiao Jue over for tea? That would be exposing himself.

He Yan felt her words were flawless—after all, Cheng Lisu was known to be a timid young man terrified of his uncle!

Yuan Baozhen withdrew his hand and shook his head with a resigned smile. "If Young Master Cheng doesn’t wish to eat, then so be it." His tone was tinged with disappointment.

"No matter. Just sitting with you, Lord Yuan, is pleasant enough."

"Then there’s something I’m curious about," Yuan Baozhen said, shifting the topic as he studied the young man before him. "Since Commander Xiao cares for you so much, why has he left you alone in the residence these past few days? Only that bodyguard accompanies him, and even then, he isn’t with you constantly. If something were to happen in this residence, wouldn’t Commander Xiao worry about your safety?"

At these words, He Yan had a sudden epiphany—she finally understood why Yuan Baozhen and his servant had been fixated on her.Because it was inherently unreasonable for Xiao Jue to leave his nephew alone at the Sun residence! Xiao Jue had done this for two reasons: first, He Yan knew martial arts, and second, she wasn’t the real Cheng Li Su—she shared no blood relation with him. The cold-hearted Second Young Master Xiao naturally wouldn’t treat her with any special regard. But if it had been the real Cheng Li Su here, Xiao Jue would have gone to great lengths to ensure his safety. Not like now, where He Yan was left alone at the Sun residence, practically screaming neglect, like some disfavored concubine banished to the cold palace.

He Yan had always been clear about her position, so she didn’t feel the slightest bit wronged. But to others, it seemed off. Suddenly realizing this, she understood—this was why Yuan Baozhen and his servant had been watching her so intently, sensing something amiss.

But how could someone as sharp as Xiao Jue overlook this? He Yan refused to believe it. Back at Xianchang Academy, while she had been careless, Xiao Jue had always been meticulous. She couldn’t fathom him making such an oversight, which meant only one thing: he had done it on purpose. Xiao Jue had deliberately let her slip up, making Yuan Baozhen and his servant suspicious of her, provoking them to test her again and again.

But why? Even if Xiao Jue had doubts about her, at least for now, they were supposed to be on the same side. Unless… that bastard was using her as a decoy? While she drew Yuan Baozhen’s attention, Xiao Jue would have free rein to do whatever he needed?

The more He Yan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She wanted nothing more than to tear Xiao Jue into eight pieces. But she kept her expression perfectly innocent and chirped, “What danger could there be? My uncle already said the real danger isn’t in this residence. Staying here is perfectly safe. Lord Yuan, let me tell you—” she lowered her voice conspiratorially, “the real danger is outside.”

“Outside?” Yuan Baozhen and Ding Yi exchanged glances before asking, “What do you mean, Young Master Cheng?”

“I don’t know the details,” He Yan shrugged, feigning indifference. “I just overheard my uncle saying that. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask him directly.” She added, “I’ve noticed he’s been outside the residence these past few days—probably dealing with that ‘danger.’”

Fine. If Xiao Jue was using her as a shield, she’d kick the target right back at him and redirect Yuan Baozhen’s attention outside. Besides, her act as a clueless, spoiled young master was already convincing—Yuan Baozhen likely hadn’t caught on to anything.

“Young Master Cheng, you do love to jest,” Yuan Baozhen chuckled. “Since it’s Commander Xiao’s private matter, I won’t pry further.” He smoothly changed the subject.

But He Yan stiffened.

She saw Ding Yi approach, leaning uncomfortably close as he reached down and unfastened a small sachet from her waist.

Cheng Li Su had been a fastidious young master, with countless embroidered pouches and jade pendants. He Yan, worried about losing such expensive trinkets, had rummaged for ages before settling on a simple-looking sachet. It was only the size of two fingers, woven from wisteria vines into a tiny hollow sphere filled with fragrant herbs. Worn at the waist, it emitted a faint, elegant scent with every movement—both charming and refined.Ding Yi held the incense ball in his hand, his movements so light they were almost imperceptible. He Yan, unable to see, could only pretend to remain oblivious.

She didn’t believe Ding Yi had stolen the incense ball out of fondness for it. Sure enough, Ding Yi opened the top of the ball, removed the original medicinal herbs inside, and carefully tucked them away before replacing them with something else.

It certainly couldn’t be anything good.

Once finished, he quietly reattached the incense ball to He Yan’s waistband. From start to finish, He Yan didn’t react in the slightest.

Yuan Baozhen’s face revealed satisfaction as Ding Yi returned to his side. To an outside observer, everything appeared normal, as if nothing had happened.

He Yan continued chatting idly with Yuan Baozhen about trivial matters in Shuo Jing, though the incense ball at her waist seemed to burn faintly against her skin. In her past life, she had already suffered from the use of poison, and she suspected Ding Yi might be skilled in its application. She remembered the conversation she had overheard last night between Yuan Baozhen and his servant—they intended to use her to trip up Xiao Jue. This was likely their method.

This thing was probably poisonous, and lethally so. Wearing it would kill her, and if Xiao Jue got close enough to smell it, he would die too. Even Fei Nu wouldn’t escape. In one fell swoop, the entire family—no, the entire trio of master and servants—would perish, with the blame conveniently pinned on assassins. Perhaps when the coroner later examined the bodies and discovered she wasn’t the real Cheng Li Su, she would be branded as a villain who had disguised herself as Cheng Li Su to assassinate the Right Army Commander.

He Yan shuddered. She couldn’t let this happen.

“Lord Yuan,” she said, “I need to relieve myself. I’ll go to the latrine first.”

…

Inside the Sun residence, Xiao Jue entered.

Fei Nu followed closely behind, as if he had been waiting for him for some time.

“Young Master, Yuan Baozhen has taken He Yan away,” he reported.

Xiao Jue set his sword on the table and turned around, speaking casually, “Still probing, most likely.”

“With no way to reach you, they can only target He Yan.”

Xiao Jue gave a noncommittal smile. He Yan was the decoy he had deliberately put forward—a distraction to mislead while he moved unseen. Without two tails to watch, it was easier to act. Everyone assumed he had left the residence, but in truth, today was the only day he had truly stepped out.

He had been hiding in the shadows of the Sun residence all along. No one had noticed.

“Young Master, what if He Yan discovers your plan?”

“He’s probably already figured it out. But he’ll have to keep lying.” Xiao Jue said, “This person has been lying to Yuan Baozhen from the very first encounter. Though I don’t know why.”

He Yan handled himself well. The more flawlessly he performed, the more suspicious Yuan Baozhen would become. After all, Xiao Jue leaving his nephew at the Sun residence was already a move riddled with holes.

“Young Master is using Yuan Baozhen to test He Yan and He Yan to test Yuan Baozhen. But what if they’re actually working together?”

So far, apart from the assassination attempt during the banquet on their first night at the Sun residence, Xiao Jue had remained largely detached. He Yan and Yuan Baozhen probing each other was the perfect way to uncover their true motives—killing two birds with one stone.

“If they’re allies, then we’ll just catch them all at once,” Xiao Jue said indifferently. “This matter is nearly at its end anyway.”Fei Nu was silent for a moment before speaking as if recalling something, "Today, He Yan went to Yuan Baozhen's room. The guards by Yuan Baozhen's side switched the incense ball He Yan was wearing."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, "He didn't notice?"

"No."

"It's just an act."

"That incense ball likely contains poison, Commander. Stay away from him today."

Xiao Jue glanced out the window and suddenly said, "At this hour, He Yan should have returned. What is she still doing outside?"

No sooner had he spoken than a maid from the Sun residence came running in, panting heavily, and cried, "Something terrible has happened! Something terrible!"

Fei Nu opened the door. "What's happened?"

The maid stammered, "Young Master Cheng... Young Master Cheng has fallen in the latrine!"

(End of Chapter)