Legend of the Female General – CH 144

Chapter 144. Sole Favor.

In Liu Buwang’s eighteen years of life, aside from his junior sister, he had never interacted with women. Even his junior sister was gentle and proper—he had never encountered such a fierce and peculiar character. His senior brothers said he was pure-hearted and honest, and it was true. Though he carried himself with great dignity, he repeatedly found himself helpless against Mu Hongjin.

Unable to shake her off, he had no choice but to wait until his business in the mountains was done, then take her to Qiyun Mountain and let Master Yunji decide how to handle her.

Suddenly having a warm, fragrant, and delicate young woman by his side made Liu Buwang extremely uncomfortable. But soon, this discomfort was overshadowed by anger. Mu Hongjin was nothing like what she had claimed: “I do not eat much, and I will not cost you much money. If you take me with you, I will not be a burden.”

It was true that Mu Hongjin did not eat much, but she spent a great deal of money. She was simply too picky—she insisted on dining at the finest restaurants, wearing beautiful clothes, and staying only in comfortable inns. Fortunately, she had her own money, and plenty of it, so she could easily afford her expenses. Not only that, she generously shared with him: “Young hero, the roast duck at Wufang Tower is truly delicious. Try some!”

Liu Buwang frowned at her. “You said you were kidnapped. How do you have so much money on you? Surely the kidnappers would not have been kind enough to leave your belongings untouched!”

Mu Hongjin was taken aback and said apologetically, “You caught me. Alright, I was not actually kidnapped and brought here. I…” She leaned closer to Liu Buwang and whispered in his ear, “I ran away from an arranged marriage.”

Liu Buwang looked at her in surprise.

“It’s true! I am not lying. My father wanted to marry me off to a wretched old man, even older than him. Look at me—so young and beautiful. How could I throw myself into the lion’s den? I heard that man is a pervert. He married three wives before, and they all died from his torment. I had no choice,” she pretended to cry, covering her face with her sleeve. “I just did not want to die so miserably.”

Liu Buwang was half-convinced and half-doubtful. “Nonsense. If you have so much money on you, your family must be well-off. Why would your father marry you to such a person?”

“That man’s family is even more powerful than ours!” Mu Hongjin said pitifully. “Do you not know that a higher authority can crush people? He took a fancy to me and demanded I become his wife. My father had no choice. But I refused. I fled overnight. If they catch me, I am dead. So, young hero, you must not abandon me.”

Liu Buwang retorted irritably, “I am not your husband.” Her words made it sound as if he had taken advantage of her and then abandoned her. They were merely strangers who happened to cross paths. If her family really found her and wanted to take her away, what reason would he have to stop them?

“That will not do,” Mu Hongjin grabbed his hand. “You saved me, so you should take responsibility for me to the end. If you abandon me halfway, I will die sooner or later. I might as well die right now. Here,” she snatched the long sword from Liu Buwang’s waist, placed it on the table, and glared at him fiercely. “I’d rather die by your sword than be tortured to death by that scoundrel. Young hero, kill me!”

People were coming and going around them, and some pointed and whispered when they saw the scene. Liu Buwang’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he angrily said, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“If you do not promise to protect me forever, I will just keep doing this.”

The young man felt utterly overwhelmed—how could there be such an unreasonable woman in the world? Yet she had already said everything, leaving him with no strength to argue.

After a moment, he gave in, gritting his teeth and saying, “I promise you.”

Fine, this training journey down the mountain would only last a little over a month. After that, he would take her back to Qiyun Mountain, and Master Yunji would surely have a way. By then, no matter how arrogant this woman was, they would never meet again.

Upon hearing this, Mu Hongjin immediately brightened up, then suddenly leaned closer to him, gazing at his face as she said, “Actually, there’s another way. If I get married now, that wretched old man will not be able to do anything to me. I see you, young master, are handsome and graceful, and your swordsmanship is unparalleled, even surpassing that man. Why not marry me? Then everyone will be happy?”

The young girl smiled sweetly, her eyes as clear as mountain spring water, reflecting his figure vividly. The young man in white was startled, jumping up as if bitten by a snake, and scolded, “Who wants to be happy with you!”

“Oh,” Mu Hongjin spread her hands regretfully, “that’s truly a pity.”

That was truly a pity.

Suddenly, a “twang” sounded beside his hand. He snapped back to reality, realizing his fingertips had accidentally brushed against the strings of the qin on the table, shattering his memories into pieces.

He was lost in thought for a moment, as if the girl’s clear, sly voice from back then echoed in his mind, calling him “young master” over and over, making him feel impatient and flustered.

After a while, Liu Buwang lowered his head and smiled faintly.

All in the past, beyond reach. It only added to the sorrow.

…

Because of encountering Mu Hongjin at the Prince’s residence during the day, He Yan was also preoccupied. That night, she did not sleep well, tossing and turning for most of the night before finally falling asleep. Fortunately, she did not disturb Xiao Jue.

Having slept late, she woke up later the next day. When she awoke, she did not see Xiao Jue. Hong Qiao smiled and said, “The young master went out early in the morning and told me not to wake you, madam.”

He Yan let out an “oh” and asked Hong Qiao, “Did he say where he was going?”

Hong Qiao shook her head.

He Yan then got up to wash and dress, had her meal, and walked into the courtyard, where she saw Liu Buwang brewing tea and Lin Shuanghe sitting nearby, full of admiration.

“Master,” He Yan called out as she approached.

“A-He,” Liu Buwang smiled, “would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you,” He Yan waved her hands repeatedly. Liu Buwang’s tea-brewing skills might look impressive, but the tea he made was always as bitter as medicine. Although she was not afraid of bitterness, she was not one to seek it out either. She immediately said, “I will go for a walk. You two carry on.”

He Yan smiled awkwardly and walked away.

In Jiyang, if there was nothing to do, the days were actually quite boring. In the past, on such a fine morning with good weather, she would have practiced martial arts to strengthen her body. Unfortunately, now she was wearing women’s clothing, which made it inconvenient to do such things, and she was afraid of exposing herself. After some thought, she reluctantly gave up.

Just as she was feeling regretful, Cui Jiao hurried over and said, “Madam, we have a guest!”

“A guest has arrived, so what?” He Yan was puzzled. “What does that have to do with me?”

She was not the master of the Cui residence—she was a guest herself. Even if a guest had arrived, it was not He Yan’s place to go and greet them.

“No,” Cui Jiao carefully observed her expression, “this guest is someone you know—Young Lady Ling Xiu, the daughter of the former Registrar Ling from the Records Office. She came to the mansion today, saying she specifically came to visit you for casual conversation.”

He Yan was puzzled. Ling Xiu? Was she that close to Ling Xiu? They had barely exchanged a few words; their relationship was not intimate enough for casual visits, was it?

“Madam, would you like to go and see her?”

He Yan sighed. Since the person had already come to her home, how could she refuse to meet her? Fine, she would go and see what they were really up to.

In the small garden, several young women sat together, all dressed in splendid attire, charming and vibrant, outshining even the spring scenery in the garden. They chattered and laughed, their voices as melodious as orioles emerging from a valley. Just looking at them was indeed a delightful sight.

Concubine Wei stood in the corridor, angrily twisting her handkerchief. “These people are truly outrageous, bullying our Yuyan right at our doorstep!”

The second concubine was painting her nails with bright red polish, which made her fingers look exceptionally slender and fair. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Who would not be drawn to Young Master Qiao’s handsome looks? How many years has it been since Jiyang produced such a figure? And his age is just right. If I were ten years younger, I’d try my luck too.”

“Try your luck, my foot!” Concubine Wei blurted out in frustration. “Be careful, or I will tell the master!”

“Good sister, I was just joking. Why take it so seriously?” Second Concubine chuckled, holding her freshly painted nails up to the sunlight for a closer look. “With so many wolves chasing after one piece of meat, I’d find it too troublesome to bother with.”

“Poor Lady Yuyan,” Third Concubine, who was prone to melancholy, sighed with a handkerchief pressed to her chest, her brows furrowed in sympathy. “She’s only just arrived in Jiyang and already has so many people eyeing her. If she stays here long-term, how could her life be easy? Though she’s young and beautiful now, if other women keep flaunting themselves in front of Young Master Qiao every day, how long can he hold out? A man’s sincerity changes too easily, unable to withstand a few sweet words from a temptress.”

“Who are you calling a temptress?” Second Concubine shot her a sidelong glance. “Would you dare say that in front of the master?”

Third Concubine pretended not to hear her, wiping the tears from the corner of her eye.

Fourth Concubine, the youngest and originally a street performer, always laughed carelessly. Munching on melon seeds, she asked, “Well, it depends on whether Young Master Qiao truly loves his wife. I quite like Lady Yuyan. She does not have the airs of a young lady from a wealthy family. Last time, she even helped my maid carry a water bucket. It is the first time I’ve seen a mistress helping a servant with chores. How wonderful!”

“That’s just awful,” Third Concubine exclaimed dramatically. “Men all prefer gentle, delicate girls. Carrying water buckets… It only makes others look down on her, thinking she’s naturally unworthy of careful treatment.”

Fourth Concubine was displeased. With a “pah,” she spat out a melon seed shell. “What do you mean, ‘look down on her’? When I performed on the streets, I could carry five water jars at once, and the master still adored me. What’s this about ‘gentle and delicate’? Someone like you, who complains of headaches and fevers every few days—that’s what the master finds tiresome to deal with!”

“Enough, all of you stop arguing,” Concubine Wei scolded, her head aching from their bickering. “We are talking about Lady Yuyan right now!”

“Anyway, she’s quite pitiful,” Third Concubine muttered. “You will see, Young Lady Ling is no easy mark, and the other young ladies are not so easily dealt with either. Young Master Qiao may be handsome, but he’s terribly cold toward others. From what I can tell, he does not seem very attentive to Lady Yuyan either. Sooner or later, something will happen.”

“Third Sister,” Second Aunt glanced at Third Concubine. “Do you know why, among the four of us, you are the least favored? It is truly because you lack discernment.”

Third Concubine glared at her, tears welling up in her eyes, looking as if she were about to cry again.

“That Young Master Qiao, his temperament is indeed cold, and he does not seem very attentive to Madam Qiao either. I do not know the reason—perhaps there was no affection before marriage? However, judging by his behavior these past few days, it is clear he has some fondness for Madam Qiao. Ordinary people’s affection is nothing special, but the affection of someone like him is truly remarkable.”

“There is a kind of person who, once they set their heart on someone, sees only that one person.” Second Concubine raised a finger, smiling like a vixen imparting wisdom. “No matter how many other women there are, no matter how beautiful, in his eyes, they are all meaningless.

Qiao Huanqing is that kind of person.”

At these words, the group fell silent for a moment. Such a man was likely the aspiration of many women, leaving them momentarily speechless.

After a long pause, Concubine Wei finally spoke up, asking, “So you mean we do not need to intervene?”

“Intervene in what?” Second Concubine smiled indifferently. “That Qiao Huanqing is fiercely protective of his own. How about we make a bet? I suspect that before Wen Yuyan even faces any trouble, her husband will step forward to defend her.”

…

When He Yan arrived at the small garden, she was greeted by a wave of fragrant air that nearly overwhelmed her.

She could not understand why the women of Jiyang were so fond of wearing sachets, especially ones with such strong scents. One person was tolerable, but many crowded together felt like a cloud of powder and perfume.

For a moment, He Yan deeply missed the subtle, light fragrance of moon orchid that always lingered around Xiao Jue—so faint, so delicate, just perfect.

“Madam Qiao is here.” Ling Xiu stood up, smiling at her.

Among these young ladies, He Yan only recognized Ling Xiu and Yan Min’er. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I heard Young Lady Ling came specifically to see me?”

“No need to be so formal,” Ling Xiu replied with a smile. “It’s just that the weather is nice today, and we had nothing to do, so a few sisters gathered to chat. Since Madam Qiao is here now, we thought it would be nice to include you. I hope you do not mind the intrusion?”

“Not at all.” He Yan smiled, though inwardly she scoffed. Even if she was not particularly sensitive to the dynamics between women, she could tell these people had ulterior motives. They were not here to see her—they were clearly here to see Xiao Jue.

Sure enough, Ling Xiu’s next question was, “Why is Young Master Qiao not here?”

“My husband left early in the morning,” He Yan replied with a pleasant smile. “He may not return until late at night.”

Why should they get to see him just because they wanted to? After all, he was the Right Army Commander of Great Wei—not someone to be casually observed like a spectacle. If she did not want them to see him, then they would not.

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiu and the other young ladies behind her immediately showed disappointment on their faces.

He Yan smiled and said, “Young Lady Ling came specifically to see me, did she not? Surely you were not joking?”

“How could that be?” Ling Xiu snapped back to attention, warmly taking He Yan’s hand and leading her to sit at the stone table in the courtyard. “Please, have a seat. My father and Lord Cui are very close friends. In the past, I often came to the Cui residence to play, but I never had a sister to keep me company, which made it rather lonely. Now that Madam Qiao is here, it is wonderful. In the future, when I visit the Cui residence again, I will not have to worry about finding someone to talk to.”

He Yan thought to herself, “This is not about finding a sister—it’s clearly about seeing a handsome man.” Xiao Jue should come and see what it really means to deceive people with a straight face.

He Yan sat down at the stone table. To be honest, she did not really know these people and had no idea what to say. She simply picked up some fruit to eat, planning to sit there like a decoration and just listen to them talk.

Unfortunately, since the other party had come for Xiao Jue, and Xiao Jue was not there, this “Madam Qiao” could not escape unscathed. As they chatted, the conversation inevitably turned to He Yan.

“I heard that Madam Qiao is a renowned talented woman from Huzhou. I genuinely wanted to hear Madam Qiao play the qin earlier, but unfortunately, Young Master Qiao stopped me. Thinking back on it now, I still feel regretful,” Ling Xiu said with a smile.

He Yan replied with a smile, “What’s there to regret? My husband also played a piece.”

“But Young Master Qiao said his qin skills are not even one-tenth of yours,” Ling Xiu stared into He Yan’s eyes. “It’s truly hard to imagine.”

Yes, truly hard to imagine, He Yan thought to herself. Xiao Jue’s lie was just too exaggerated. Hearing it from someone else’s mouth now made her blush with embarrassment.

“My husband praised me a bit too much,” He Yan poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, “My qin skills are about the same as his. Hearing his performance is essentially the same as hearing mine.”

“How can that be?” Ling Xiu clearly had no intention of letting her off so easily. “Here in Jiyang, we admire talented people the most. Since you possess such extraordinary talent, you should not hide it away. The weather is lovely today—why do we not hold a poetry gathering here? It would be fun, and it would also give us a chance to appreciate your talent.”

Here it comes, He Yan thought, growing increasingly annoyed. Why did Ling Xiu keep pushing her to play the qin or compose poetry? If she said she could not compose poetry, would she be asked to play Weiqi or write calligraphy? He Yan wondered, “Even if this young lady is captivated by Xiao Jue’s appearance and admires him, should she not direct her efforts toward him?” For example, she could showcase her own talents in front of Xiao Jue. Why come and trouble me instead? Did she think that whoever manages to challenge me would win Xiao Jue’s favor?

Once was fine, but if it kept happening, He Yan did not want to patiently play along with their games anymore. She simply smiled and said, “I do not feel like composing poetry today, nor do I want to play Weiqi or write calligraphy. And I absolutely will not play the qin.”

She left no room for negotiation, directly refusing Ling Xiu.

Even with Ling Xiu’s clever and tactful nature, she had not expected He Yan to respond like this. After a moment, Yan Min’er, who had remained silent until now, snorted and sneered, “They say women from the Central Plains are gentle and polite, but Madam Qiao’s manner of speaking and conduct seems more like us girls from Jiyang—straightforward and bold.”

“I am just adapting to local customs,” He Yan replied with an unflappable smile.

“Madam Qiao, do you look down on us?” Ling Xiu lowered her head and asked uneasily.

“It’s not that I look down on you,” He Yan spoke with confusion, “I just do not feel like it today. Was it not said that Young Lady Ling is a talented lady? How can she not even understand a simple sentence? Are my words that difficult to comprehend?”

If it were a man causing trouble here today, He Yan would have long since challenged him to a fight. But with women, it would not be proper to act so ungentlemanly. After much thought, she decided it would be better to earn a reputation as a fierce and intimidating woman, so these young ladies would understand she was not to be trifled with. Once frightened, they would naturally stop coming to her door with their schemes involving “music, Weiqi, calligraphy, and painting.”

Ling Xiu stared at her blankly, saying nothing. The other young ladies nearby, seeing this, all showed dissatisfaction toward He Yan. It seemed Ling Xiu held considerable prestige among them, and when she was wronged, each of them felt compelled to stand up for her.

A girl with a slightly louder voice said, “Madam Qiao refuses this and refuses that. Could it be that she simply does not know how? Perhaps the so-called reputation of a talented lady is undeserved, which is why she always makes excuses like this.”

“How could that be?” another woman chimed in, as if deliberately playing along, feigning surprise. “Young Master Qiao is no ordinary man. He plays the qin so beautifully, clearly a man of refined tastes. He was already immensely wealthy before, and now he has been recognized by his ancestors. Sooner or later, he will be a man of status in Jiyang. I heard Madam Qiao comes from an ordinary family. If she has no special talents, what could Young Master Qiao possibly see in her?”

Yan Min’er smiled insincerely and said, “Her beauty, of course. Come to think of it, Madam Qiao has skin as fair as jade and a face as lovely as flowers.”

She emphasized the words “skin as fair as jade.”

He Yan: “…”

Was it not Xiao Jue who said she was dark-skinned? How could that be blamed on her? What kind of logic was that?

“With a face as lovely as flowers—there are plenty of beautiful girls in Jiyang. Is A-Xiu not beautiful? She comes from a good family, has a gentle temperament, and is exceptionally talented. In that case, A-Xiu is the one who truly matches Young Master Qiao.”

“Do not talk nonsense,” Ling Xiu said, her eyes reddening.

He Yan had finally experienced firsthand just how bold and direct the young ladies of Jiyang could be. But what were they implying? Ling Xiu was, after all, a respectable young woman, and Xiao Jue was now a “married man.” Did they expect her to become his concubine? Or for He Yan to step aside and make way for Ling Xiu? Were they out of their minds?

“We are not wrong,” the girl with the loudest voice laughed. “If Madam Qiao continues like this, sooner or later, she will lose her husband’s favor. Do not blame us for speaking harshly, Madam Qiao. We only say this because we consider you one of us. Do not take it the wrong way.”

Well, if straightforward methods did not work, they were now trying to sow discord between her and Xiao Jue?

Having spent enough time with Xiao Jue, He Yan had picked up a thing or two from his skill of insulting without using foul language and infuriating others without consequence. Without hesitation, she shook her head, smiling sweetly. “No offense taken, no offense taken. I know you, sisters, mean well. But you are worrying too much.”

“My husband treats me extremely well. Even if I did not know these arts of music, Weiqi, calligraphy, and painting, he would not blame me in the slightest. I have a bad temper and often get angry and ignore people, but my husband always patiently coaxes me. He cooks noodles for me, takes me to buy dough figurines, and remembers every casual word I say. He even remembers my monthly cycles better than I do.”

He Yan glanced at Ling Xiu, noticing her expression had already darkened. Feeling pleased, she intensified her exaggerated claims, “What’s so difficult about learning music, Weiqi, calligraphy, and painting? When I am unhappy, my husband uses his own skills to cheer me up. What you’ve seen is just the tip of the iceberg—there’s so much more you have not witnessed.”

Outside the courtyard, Xiao Jue had not yet reached the garden when he heard He Yan’s feigned, exaggerated sigh from around the corner, speaking in a tone so sickeningly sweet it was nauseating.

“Ah, such an outstanding and extraordinary man, yet he favors only me, unable to tolerate anyone else in his eyes. What can I do about it?”