Legend of the Female General – CH 106

Chapter 106. Winter Snow.

That night, having been thoroughly drenched, He Yan fetched water again upon returning to her room for another bath and changed into dry clothes. Xiao Jue’s cloak had gotten wet because of her, so He Yan went to Shen Muxue to borrow some soap, washed it clean, hung it on a rope strung between tree branches outside the door, and planned to return it once it dried.

It was a bit of a hassle, but the goodwill of the instructors at Liangzhou Garrison was not entirely in vain. When she woke the next day, He Yan felt refreshed all over, and the morning was warm and pleasant.

The hot springs could indeed heal ailments—it was not just empty talk.

She quickly got up, washed, and hurried to join the morning run. During mealtime, she saw the Vanguard Battalion training in formation drills on the martial arts field.

Lei Hou stood at the very front. The Vanguard Battalion and the ordinary recruits were already distinguished by their attire. Ordinary recruits only had two sets of martial attire—one red and one black. In spring and summer, they wore single-layered garments, while in autumn and winter, thin cotton padding was sewn into the lining. Apart from the waistband, the martial attire had no other decorations, and the tailoring was ill-fitting. Those with larger builds rolled up their sleeves, while those like Hong Shan, who were heavier, strained the fabric tightly, as if it might tear at any moment.

The members of the Vanguard Battalion, however, wore deep blue riding attire made of much finer fabric, which appeared perfectly fitted. These were the thousand outstanding individuals selected from Liangzhou Garrison, each imposing and awe-inspiring as they stood there.

Lei Hou was already tall and striking, and the riding attire seemed tailor-made for him. The instructors had mentioned the day before that he performed exceptionally well in the Vanguard Battalion. Perhaps for this reason, the instructor placed him at the front of the formation, making him look particularly majestic and eye-catching.

He Yan was lost in thought when Hong Shan suddenly walked up behind her. Seeing this, he patted her shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong? Feeling uneasy?”

“No,” He Yan replied. “I was just thinking that the Vanguard Battalion’s attire is indeed much nicer than ours.”

“It’s not just the attire,” Xiao Mai chimed in. “I heard they eat better, too. They get two extra steamed buns and meat porridge every day.”

“Enough, you talk too much,” Hong Shan interrupted Xiao Mai’s rambling. “Can you not see that Brother He is troubled?”

He Yan said, “I am not jealous of him.”

“Exactly,” Xiao Mai chimed in again, afraid He Yan might feel upset. “He was defeated by Brother He. What’s so great about him?”

He Yan smiled and was about to speak when Lei Hou seemed to notice their gaze. He turned to look, paused for a moment upon seeing He Yan, but quickly shifted his focus back to training.

“This kid is quite arrogant, huh?” Hong Shan remarked with a sigh. “Impressive.”

He Yan remained silent, continuing to stand there and watch Lei Hou train for a while until Liang Ping urged them to hurry over, at which point she finally stopped.

As the instructors had said, Lei Hou’s formation drills were indeed excellent—agile and nimble, truly worthy of being a member of the Vanguard Battalion. However, He Yan still remembered their encounter during the flag competition on Baiyue Mountain days ago. At the time, the situation was urgent, and she had sensed something unnatural but could not dwell on it. Later, she had pushed the matter to the back of her mind. Seeing Lei Hou today brought back memories of that encounter.

But she still had not figured it out.

What exactly was unnatural?

Liang Ping urged urgently, so He Yan got up to fetch a spear from the weapon rack, thinking to herself, “Forget it, since we are both in Liangzhou Garrison anyway; if I really cannot figure it out, I will just find an opportunity in a few days to spar with Lei Hou again.”

But before He Yan could face Lei Hou, she first received news that Xiao Jue was leaving.

Liangzhou Garrison had received an urgent report: recently, the common people outside Zhangtai City, a thousand li from Liangzhou, had been frequently harassed by the Wutu people. Whenever the Wutu people arrived, they would plunder money and grain, and abuse men and women. The magistrate of Zhangtai County was suffering greatly and had no choice but to seek help from Xiao Jue, requesting that he lead troops to drive away these Wutu people.

The Wutu Kingdom had long ago submitted to Great Wei and paid tribute annually during the reign of the previous emperor. However, ever since the current emperor ascended the throne, the Wutu people had grown restless. After the rebellions of the Southern Barbarians and Western Qiang were successively quelled, the Wutu people quieted down for a while. But for some reason, they had recently become even more aggressive, daring to directly harass the border people.

The Emperor was lenient and tolerant, turning a blind eye to the actions of the Wutu people. Moreover, with the peace faction led by Minister Xu in the court, other generals dared not take on this hot potato. Likely for this reason, the magistrate of Zhangtai County sought help from Xiao Jue in Liangzhou.

“Commander, when will you depart?” The instructors stood in Xiao Jue’s room. He Yan sat at the desk where Cheng Lisu usually practiced writing. The connecting door was not closed, and they did not avoid discussing this matter in front of He Yan. But there was nothing to hide about it anyway—the round trip to Zhangtai would take about a month, and Xiao Jue’s absence would inevitably be noticed.

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Liang Ping was surprised. “But the army has not had time to inform the Vanguard Battalion yet…”

“No need,” Xiao Jue said. “I do not plan to bring them.”

The instructors exchanged glances, but He Yan was not surprised to hear this. The new recruits of Liangzhou Garrison, though they had trained for over half a year, had never been on the battlefield. Traveling all the way to Zhangtai and then fighting the Wutu people there was not a wise strategy. The toll would be too great, and the Wutu people were cunning and fierce—the new recruits might not be a match for them. After careful consideration, Xiao Jue’s Southern Garrison Troops were the most suitable.

Xiao Jue had brought the new recruits to Liangzhou, so the Southern Garrison Troops were likely stationed elsewhere. With military authority in his hands, he could justifiably lead troops there. If he achieved a victory and the emperor was pleased enough to reward him, she might also benefit from it.

Thinking this, she nodded subtly, feeling that Xiao Jue’s decision was truly excellent.

After giving further instructions to the instructors on matters to pay attention to in the coming days, it was late at night before everyone finally left. Xiao Jue stood up from the desk, walked to the connecting door, and reached out to lock it, only for it to be unexpectedly blocked from behind. He Yan’s head popped out from behind the door.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

He Yan prevented him from closing the door, tilting her head to look at him. “Commander, you are leaving tomorrow?”

Xiao Jue ignored her and tried to close the door, but He Yan’s body was wedged in the doorway, making it impossible. He gave up with a flick of his hand and walked back into the room. He Yan easily stepped over the threshold and entered his room, following behind him as she spoke eagerly, “Commander, have you considered taking me with you to Zhangtai?”

“You?” Xiao Jue scoffed. “What would I take you for? Do I not have enough people dragging me down?”

In this man’s eyes, everyone except himself was probably a burden.

“That’s underestimating me too much. I can help you deal with the Wutu people.”

“Forget it,” he looked her up and down, raised an eyebrow, and said, “A mere guard managed to injure you, and you talk about fighting the Wutu people? Young Lady He, are you dreaming?”

“That was a special circumstance last time, and Ding Yi is not an ordinary person either,” He Yan defended herself, though she knew Xiao Jue had a point. Her injuries had not fully healed, and she had been cautiously training these past days, afraid of aggravating the wounds and leaving lasting effects. If she followed him to Zhangtai, she might only become a burden on the battlefield. Moreover, her expertise in military tactics could not be utilized—a single team only needed one commander.

“Alright,” He Yan said with some regret, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Xiao Jue. “Commander, from here to Zhangtai and back, it will take about a month. Add in the time to engage the Wutu people, and by the time you return, it will likely be deep winter. My wounds will have healed by then, so what should I do in the meantime? Even if I triple my daily training, if you are not here, how can I be sure you will not go back on your word?”

“Or perhaps,” she eyed Xiao Jue suspiciously, “are you actually planning to use the battle at Zhangtai as a chance to slip away? You are not planning to not return to Liangzhou Garrison, are you? Leaving me here all alone?”

Xiao Jue stopped tidying the scrolls on the table and turned around, startling He Yan, who had been looking up at him.

His gaze fell on He Yan’s face as he leaned down and said, “First, I am not as idle as you. Second, you are not my fiancée, so there’s no need to talk about leaving you here alone. Third, is it not exactly what you want for me to be gone?”

“What do you mean by ‘what I want’?” He Yan retorted. “Do not wrongfully accuse me.”

He looked at her with a half-smile, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable, and asked, “Oh? Then why are you asking so many questions? When I return, whether I will return—is it that important?”

“Of course it is important!” He Yan blurted out. “I will miss you!”

How could she not? Only by excelling in front of Xiao Jue, earning his favor and trust, could she more quickly and openly approach He Rufei with a somewhat equal footing. Such a living bodhisattva, a golden treasure—how could she not miss him?

Seemingly taken aback by her words for a moment, Xiao Jue turned his head away and scoffed, “You really have no filter.”

“Do not keep calling me a deceiver. Aside from the matter of my identity, I’ve never deceived you, Commander. What I just said was sincere. Will you not miss me even a little while we are temporarily apart?”

Xiao Jue: “Not at all.”

He Yan: “…We’ve faced life and death together, at least. You do not have to be so heartless.”

Xiao Jue asked, “Are you done? If you are done, please return to your own room. I need to lock the door.” He placed his hands on He Yan’s shoulders and pushed her toward the connecting door.

“Commander, sometimes I feel like our roles are reversed. You are so guarded against me, as if you were the woman and I might tarnish your purity.”

“You talk too much.”

He Yan was shoved so forcefully that her legs were already in her own room. Knowing he truly did not want her to stay any longer, she took advantage of her upper body still being able to move and swiftly pulled a handful of small items from her sleeve, stuffing them into Xiao Jue’s hand.

With a “bang,” the door was shut.

He Yan called out through the door, “Even though you are being so heartless, Commander, I am still a person who values loyalty. Since I have nothing to offer as a farewell gift for your trip to Zhangtai, I will give you these—take them along and enjoy them slowly on the road. I will be waiting here at the garrison for your good news.”

With that, she did not wait for a reply from the other side, climbed onto her bed, blew out the lamp, and went to sleep.

On the other side of the door, Xiao Jue looked down at his palm.

It was a handful of persimmon-frost soft candies, wrapped only in a thin layer of pastry paper. Just looking at them, they seemed sweet and fragrant.

Like Cheng Lisu, Song Taotao had been sending small gifts every so often since arriving at Liangzhou Garrison. She loved sweets herself, so she had asked Chi Wu to buy many from the city and had shared quite a few with He Yan.

He Yan thought to herself: “When Xiao Jue was young, he carried that osmanthus candy pouch with him everywhere, so his fondness for sweets was genuine.” Last time, when she bought him sugar-coated haws, he refused—probably because they were just a random purchase from a street vendor, and Second Young Master Xiao would not eat such roadside snacks. But these persimmon-frost soft candies were made by a proper chef at a reputable restaurant, at Song Taotao’s request through Chi Wu. Surely, they would meet Xiao Jue’s standards.

Surely, he would not refuse even these—that would be far too picky.

Hopefully, he’d understood the principle of returning a favor for a gift!

…

The next day, He Yan woke up and went to the martial arts field for her daily training. Around noon, during lunch, Cheng Lisu came running over.

For the past few days, to avoid running into Song Taotao, he had moved into the communal dormitory where He Yan once lived. Everyone thought he would not last long, but surprisingly, he had persisted until now. However, compared to his previous room, the current one was much simpler, making it difficult for him to maintain his dashing young gentleman appearance. His face looked thinner, and he had even forgotten to match his hair ribbon with the color of his clothes.

Panting heavily, he rushed up to He Yan, who was drinking wild vegetable soup and nearly got knocked over. He Yan asked, “What’s the hurry?”

“My uncle,” Cheng Lisu said, “Brother, my uncle has left!”

“I know.”

“You know?” Cheng Lisu was stunned, then spoke indignantly, “Then why did you not tell me? If Instructor Shen had not mentioned it today, I would not have even noticed he’s already gone!”

“He’s already left?” He Yan was also a little surprised. She had not paid attention to Xiao Jue’s side when she woke up in the morning, thinking he would leave later. She had not expected him to depart so early—probably to avoid drawing attention.

“Why did he not take Song Taotao with him when he left?” Cheng Lisu began to complain. “Who is she staying at Liangzhou Garrison to annoy?”

He Yan was at a loss for words. Logically, a lovely and charming young girl like Song Taotao should be someone young men would eagerly try to please, yet Cheng Lisu avoided her like the plague. What kind of taste did this kid have?

She asked, “What did Song Taotao do to you? She seems sensible and well-behaved to me.”

“Brother, please spare me,” Cheng Lisu said with a pained expression. “When I first learned about this arranged marriage, I wanted to sneak a peek at her. Who knew I’d run right into her? I do not know how she guessed my identity, but she gave me a good scolding right at the door.”

“What did she scold you for?”

“What else could it be? Neither literary nor martial, a useless young master with no future. That alone would not have made me so angry—after all, everyone in Shuojing knows I am incompetent. But then she said she could still marry me, but I must hang myself studying in the mansion, pass the imperial exams, enter officialdom, and strive for advancement. If I truly lacked talent, I could take the military exam route instead. In short, I had to become a diligent and hardworking person.

How could such a vicious woman exist in this world?” Cheng Lisu’s resentment overflowed as he spoke of this matter. “The girl I love must be like me—unconcerned with trivial matters, free-spirited and transcendent, sharing wine and joy together. Only then would we be kindred spirits. If I were truly with her, how would the second half of my life be any different from imprisonment? So, Big Brother, please stop speaking well of her. I am truly terrified and do not want that kind of life!”

Now, even He Yan did not know what to say to persuade him. Sometimes in relationships, love at first sight was one thing, but enduring affection over time was another. One hoped the other was determined and hardworking, while the other yearned for a carefree life like drifting clouds and wild cranes. When two people were not of the same kind but forced themselves together, even if it was hard to notice at first, time would reveal the truth.

A truth she had not understood in her entire previous lifetime, yet these two children saw it clearly.

“If you really do not like her, find a way to break off the engagement. There’s no need to nitpick every little thing about the girl. At least you can be friends,” He Yan suggested after some thought.

“Forget it,” Cheng Lisu said, waving his hand, looking unwilling to discuss it further. “We really cannot be friends. Our views do not align.”

He Yan changed the subject again, asking Cheng Lisu if he wanted to move into Xiao Jue’s room since Xiao Jue had left. Surprisingly, Cheng Lisu refused, saying only that he hoped to stay as far away from Song Taotao as possible.

As if avoiding a plague.

When the day’s training ended, He Yan returned to her room. After washing up, she stared blankly at the locked connecting door.

Although Xiao Jue usually did not speak much to her, at least she knew he was right next door, just beyond that door. Now that he was gone, she truly felt how vast the room was, with only herself in it—so very lonely. Suddenly, she missed the times when she lived in the communal bunk with Xiao Mai and the others. Back then, listening to everyone chat would at least stave off boredom.

The excessive quiet made it hard to sleep, and sleeplessness led to wandering thoughts. He Yan sat up in bed, thought for a moment, then got up, put on her shoes, and walked to the connecting door. She took out a silver wire from her sleeve.

This silver wire came from Cheng Lisu’s hairpin. The hairpin was shaped like a yellow carp, and this wire was the carp’s whisker, curled up especially adorably. The first time He Yan saw it, she touched it with too much force and accidentally pulled the whisker off. Cheng Lisu said it did not matter and told her to throw it away, but He Yan felt somewhat sorry for it. Thinking it might still be sold for a pot of tea, she kept it.

Now, she took out the curled silver wire, straightened it, and slipped it through the door crack. Pressing her ear against the connecting door, she listened carefully for any movement.

This trick was something a craftsman taught her back in the military camp. That craftsman was a locksmith. Sometimes, when wealthy families could not open locked chests passed down from ancestors or accidentally dug up, they would seek him out. He was quite famous in his hometown. Later, when the city conscripted men for the army, the locksmith hid his sons and grandsons and went himself.

He Yan still remembered the locksmith as somewhat old, missing a front tooth when he smiled, which made him look rather comical. Because He Yan was about the same age as his grandson, he took a liking to her and even taught her a trick or two about lock-picking.

The locksmith had long since died in the battle of Mo County, but He Yan still remembered the lock-picking skills. The locksmith knew how to open the “scholar”-shaped locks used by high officials and nobles and the “auspicious”-shaped locks used for weddings and celebrations, but he only taught He Yan the common “horizontal line”-shaped lock used by ordinary people. He probably harbored the thought that if he could one day return to his hometown and resume his old trade, he could still make a living with his skills. He could not teach his apprentice everything and starve himself to death. Who knew that this thought would never come to pass in the end?

He Yan tried her luck with the lock, and fortunately, the connecting door between Xiao Jue and Cheng Lisu’s rooms happened to be the “horizontal line”-shaped lock.

In just a moment, there was a soft “click” as the lock on the other side seemed to give way. He Yan gently pushed, and the door opened.

Moonlight fell on the desk by the window. The window was open, and the rustling breeze outside made the shadows of the trees sway slightly, casting patterns on the floor like aquatic plants in a pond. He Yan tiptoed inside, then stood still, wondering why she had been so bewitched into doing such a thing. For a moment, she felt a pang of regret.

If someone were hiding in the shadows at this moment, they would probably think she was a thief. She was not here to steal anything, nor was it her first time in Xiao Jue’s room. Opening this connecting door was really just because she could not sleep and was bored to death.

But since she was already here, it would be a pity to turn back now.

He Yan looked around. The Yinqiu sword that Xiao Jue usually hung on the wall was gone, but two or three books were scattered on the table. He Yan leaned in to look—they were all military strategy books. His qin was also there, tucked away in a corner, glowing with a soft, lustrous sheen under the moonlight, like a rare treasure.

Xiao Jue’s room was actually not particularly luxurious. In fact, compared to Cheng Lisu’s ornate quarters, it seemed excessively simple, even to the point of feeling somewhat desolate. But He Yan remembered that the younger Second Young Master Xiao had been quite particular during his time at the Xianchang Academy. The room he occupied alone was even more lavish than the instructors’ quarters, with carpets on the floor that felt warm even in the depths of winter.

He seemed to be somewhat sensitive to the cold, so when the weather turned chilly in winter, he would always dress in fine robes and fox furs. Yet now, this room felt cold in every corner, lacking the warmth of the past.

What had he experienced over the years to become the Right Army Commander he was today?

Lost in thought, He Yan unconsciously walked over to the desk. Her fingers brushed against something, and she looked down to see a handful of colorful little pieces scattered beside the brush holder. Picking them up and holding them up to the moonlight, she realized they were the persimmon frost soft candies she had stuffed into Xiao Jue’s hand the day before.

The candies had been left out for a long time and were no longer as soft as before. Their sweet fragrance seemed to have faded as well. He Yan counted them—not a single one was missing. He had not touched them at all and had just left them here? He had not tried one or two, nor had he taken them to Zhangtai?

Why was that?

Whether it was because he thought the candied hawthorn was too crude before, or because Second Young Master Xiao’s pride got in the way, he simply did not want them. But these soft candies were made by the pastry chef at a restaurant in the city. Though not exactly delicacies, they were certainly not crude either. She had stuffed them into Xiao Jue’s hand last night and then closed the door. No one saw whether Xiao Jue had taken them or what his reaction was. But if he truly had a sweet tooth, he definitely would not have left them here.

It was as if one could see that person casually tossing the candy onto the table, too indifferent to even spare a glance.

Was he afraid she had poisoned it? Or had Xiao Jue’s tastes changed over the years?

There was no answer to this question. Lost in thought, He Yan suddenly felt something brush against her face, bringing a faint chill and dampness, soft and fuzzy. She looked up and saw something like salt grains falling outside, drifting with the wind to the table before her.

Deep in the night, the snow was heavy. From time to time, she could hear the sound of bamboo breaking.

She took two steps forward and looked out the window. In the distance, Baiyue Mountain stood tall and majestic. The moonlight, cool and distant, fell upon the wilderness, dancing before her eyes along with the snow.

“It’s snowing,” she thought to herself.

So the winter snows of Liangzhou Garrison arrived this early.