Legend of the Female General – CH 229

Chapter 229. Consort Lan.

By the time they returned, the night was already deep.

As soon as Xiao Jue returned to the courtyard where he lived, a small yellow dog excitedly rushed toward him, biting the hem of his robe and refusing to let go.

He crouched down and patted the yellow dog’s head. The little dog, taking advantage of the kindness, wagged its tail vigorously at him while tugging fiercely at his sleeve, pulling backward.

Its behavior was truly identical to that of its owner.

On the night after their secret visit to the He residence, the yellow dog named Er Mao had somehow followed them out through the dug-out dog hole. Since He Yan had raised it, there was no way to abandon it. However, with He Rufei now frantically searching everywhere for the intruder from that night, He Yan feared he might investigate the He family and discover Er Mao. Thus, she entrusted the dog to Xiao Jue. No matter how bold He Rufei was, he would not dare to set foot in the Xiao residence, so Er Mao remained safely hidden.

Xiao Jue had no choice but to bring Er Mao back to the Xiao family.

The young maid named Bai Guo in the courtyard was quite fond of Er Mao. She bathed it and combed its fur until it was clean and tidy, so it no longer looked like a stray. She even tied the stray hairs around its ears into two small tufts with red strings.

Even though Er Mao was clearly a male dog.

Just as Xiao Jue was playing with the dog, a voice suddenly came from behind him: “Huaijin…when did you start keeping a dog in the residence?”

Xiao Jue stood up and turned around. Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei stood at the edge of the courtyard, looking at him with a somewhat peculiar expression.

As everyone knew, the Xiao family’s second young master was extremely particular about cleanliness and had high standards. While he could tolerate the military camp, upon returning to Shuojing, his fastidiousness became almost unbearable. The Xiao family never kept birds or sparrows, and aside from the horse, Lu’er, there were no other animals in the residence.

This little dog appeared to be an ordinary farm dog, its yellow fur mixed with a bit of black, hardly a precious breed.

Xiao Jue glanced down at Er Mao, who was silently “barking” at him.

“I am keeping it for someone.”

“Who would ask you to help raise a dog?” Xiao Jing chuckled. “That is truly asking too much.”

Bai Rongwei nudged Xiao Jing with her elbow and smiled. “In all of Shuojing City, the only one who could ask Huaijin to help raise a dog would be Young Lady He.”

Xiao Jing suddenly understood, and his gaze toward Xiao Jue now carried a hint of relief. This younger brother of his had always been overly cold and distant toward women, but it seemed he knew how to please a lady after all.

Earlier in the day, Bai Rongwei had already hosted a banquet in the residence to celebrate Xiao Jue’s birthday and knew he would be accompanying He Yan to the night market that evening. Since there were plenty of snacks at the night market, no dinner had been prepared for him.

“Elder brother and sister-in-law waited so late for me,” Xiao Jue asked. “Is there something you need?”

Xiao Jing walked closer to him, watching Er Mao playfully pouncing on the snow in the courtyard, and said with a smile, “Did you know that the Fourth Young Master Chu from the Earl of Shijin’s residence is getting married to Young Lady Xu next month?”

Xiao Jue absentmindedly hummed in acknowledgment.

“You and the Fourth Young Master Chu were both granted marriages by His Majesty,” Xiao Jing continued. “Now that his wedding date is set, your sister-in-law and I wanted to ask when you plan to set yours.”

Xiao Jue was slightly taken aback.

“Your elder brother and I have already spoken with Master He. He said that as long as Young Lady He is happy, he has no objections. However, Young Lady He is a young lady, so I could not ask her too much,” Bai Rongwei said, looking at Xiao Jue. “Since you often spend time with her, have you ever discussed this matter with her?”

The Xiao family was quite open-minded. Back when Xiao Zhongwu and Madam Xiao were still alive, Xiao Jing wanted to marry Bai Rongwei, a daughter of a concubine. Madam Xiao initially disagreed but ultimately yielded to Xiao Jing’s wishes. Now that Xiao Zhongwu and his wife were gone, Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei were even less inclined to interfere in Xiao Jue’s marriage decisions—everything was left entirely to Xiao Jue’s own will.

“I plan to marry after the New Year,” Xiao Jue said.

Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing exchanged a glance, both seeing the pleasant surprise in each other’s eyes. They had thought it would take another year or two, but they had not expected Xiao Jue to decide so quickly. This was good—it seemed Xiao Jue liked Young Lady He even more than they had imagined.

“In that case, tomorrow I will take both of your birthdates to the fortune-teller and have him choose an auspicious day for you. We will also need to discuss the arrangements with Master He. As for the betrothal gifts, do not worry—Rubi and I have long prepared them for you.” Bai Rongwei’s smile was filled with genuine joy as she took Xiao Jing’s hand and said, “I will go with Rubi to send an invitation to the fortune-teller first. Huaijin, you’ve had a long day today. Go back to your room and rest well. I will come talk to you tomorrow morning.”

Xiao Jue nodded, and Bai Rongwei, satisfied, led Xiao Jing away.

Xiao Jue watched their retreating figures until Er Mao began pawing at his boots again, snapping him out of his thoughts.

In the past, he had always felt the courtyard was empty, cold, and desolate. Now, with just one more little dog, a mute one at that, it suddenly seemed to have become lively.

He lowered his head and smiled, but did not return to his room. Instead, he turned and walked toward the ancestral hall.

In the Xiao family’s ancestral hall, the memorial tablets of Xiao Zhongwu and his wife were placed at the very front. Xiao Jue walked to the side, took incense from the niche, and lit it.

Thin wisps of smoke rose.

Xiao Jue’s face was hidden behind the smoke, his expression softened by the haze.

Whenever he returned to Shuojing, he often came to the ancestral hall—during thunderstorms, for ancestral rites…or when he was troubled.

He was not one to confide in others. In life, there were too few people one could truly confide in. Everyone had their own hardships—why share the bitterness with others? During his most difficult times, when he was criticized behind his back by scholars after the Battle of Guocheng, he would return to the estate and simply light three sticks of incense in the ancestral hall.

Once the three sticks of incense burned out, everything would return to normal.

Many of life’s flavors must be savored slowly, bit by bit, over many years. In his youth, he had seen everything and found it all dull. Deep down, he yearned for the warmth of human life, yet it seemed to elude him. What did it matter to achieve success at a young age? What did it matter to be a young master from a noble family, draped in fox furs and fine silks? Everyone saw him as the lofty moon in the sky, but in truth, the moon was just a lonely young man.

He had once had friends, but they betrayed him. He had once hoped for family, but they left him. The most carefree years of his youth lasted only a few short years, and the last bit of sweetness in his life was given to a stranger he met on the road who sought death. All these years, he had been alone, leaving nothing behind—until one day, a smiling girl barged recklessly into his life and said to him, “I like the moon, but the moon does not know.”

Never before had he been so certain of something as he was at this moment.

Xiao Jue raised his eyes and looked at the memorial tablets behind the rising smoke.

“Father, Mother,” he said calmly, as if uttering an unshakable vow, “I like someone.

I will marry her.”

…

In the He residence, in a certain courtyard, the sound of frequent coughing could be heard.

The maid sleeping in the outer room of the courtyard turned over, disturbed by the noise, and mumbled drowsily, “Second Madam He is coughing again. Go check on her.”

“I will not go,” another maid beside her replied, turning over with an impatient tone. “Even the Second Master does not care. Why should we meddle? She will be fine by daylight. Go yourself if you want.”

“It’s so cold. I am not going either.” The speaking maid pulled the blanket over her head. “Let’s just pretend we did not hear it.”

Outside, the coughing continued relentlessly. After a while, it seemed deliberately suppressed, followed by a few muffled groans.

Second Madam He struggled to prop herself up, her throat burning as if scorched by fire. The handkerchief in her hand was already soaked with large patches of blood. She gasped for breath with difficulty and, after a long moment, fumbled to light the lamp.

He Yuanliang had not visited her courtyard in a long time. To be precise, since the incident at Yuhua Temple, after she was confined to the He residence, He Yuanliang had refused to even glance her way.

This was something Second Madam He had long anticipated. Her husband was a petty man—cowardly and greedy. Now, fearing he might offend He Rufei, he hurriedly distanced himself from her, even though she was his lawful wife.

Lawful wife. Second Madam He smiled bitterly. What did it matter? He could even be ruthless to his own daughter. A lawful wife without blood ties was no different from a stranger to him.

Second Madam He stared at the flickering flame in the oil lamp.

She was the eldest legitimate daughter of her family. Back then, her father had arranged her marriage to He Yuanliang, seeing that the He family still held a place among the nobility in Shuojing City. In her original family, a daughter’s marriage was meant to pave the way for her father and brothers’ careers. Little did she expect that marrying into the He family would be no different.

Unfortunately, fate was unkind to her. She gave birth to two daughters, and so, naturally, her children became sacrifices for the He family.

Second Madam He hated He Rufei for his cruelty, hated He Yuansheng and his wife for devising the plan to swap the children, and hated He Yuanliang for his cowardice and inaction, standing by as a spectator. But most of all, she hated herself.

She hated her own powerlessness to change anything.

If she had borne a son, perhaps He Yuansheng would not have acted so arrogantly. But she hadn’t, and so she could not protect He Yan, nor could she protect He Xinying.

A knock sounded from outside.

Second Madam He said, “Come in.”

A young maid entered, her face unfamiliar.

Second Madam He asked, “Who are you?”

“This servant is Cui Luo, a cleaning maid in the courtyard,” Cui Luo replied respectfully, holding a kettle of hot water. “I fetched some hot water from outside. Please drink some, Second Madam He, so you do not cough yourself sick.” She walked to the table, picked up a teacup, poured water, and handed it to Second Madam He.

The water was warm, not scalding. Second Madam He took a sip, and the sharp pain in her throat eased slightly. She said, “Thank you.”

Cui Luo kept her head bowed and whispered, “It’s only what this servant should do. If there’s anything else Second Madam He needs help with, please do not hesitate to ask.”

“Everyone in this courtyard already acts as if I do not exist,” Second Madam He said with a bitter smile. “Why trouble you?”

“My master is Second Madam He. Naturally, I must follow your orders.” Cui Luo’s voice remained unchanged.

Second Madam He was slightly taken aback and could not help but study the maid before her more carefully.

The maids in the He household were usually strictly disciplined by He Yuansheng and his wife. While some had been lively in the past, they had now become subdued out of fear of He Rufei. The servants were always trembling and timid, but this maid stood there, neither humble nor arrogant, looking at her without reverence or overstepping, as if treating an ordinary person.

Second Madam He felt a stir in her heart and tentatively asked, “Can you really help me with anything?”

“Please feel free to give your orders, Second Madam.”

“Could you find a physician for me?”

Cui Luo remained silent for a moment before replying, “That might not be possible these days, but I can bring some medicinal pills for you first, Second Madam.”

Second Madam He suddenly understood something.

She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice, “You are not from the He residence. Who is your master?”

Cui Luo glanced at Second Madam He with surprise. Fei Nu had instructed her to infiltrate the He residence and secretly assist Second Madam He, which she had been doing. Over these days, it seemed Second Madam He held almost no status in the He household—even the maids beneath her looked down on her. Despite being so severely ill, He Yuanliang had never once come to see her on his own initiative, nor had he called for a physician. Just like tonight, if Cui Luo had not entered the room, Second Madam He would have coughed until dawn.

She had always thought this was a somewhat weak and incompetent ordinary woman, but hearing these words now, she realized the woman was actually clever and discerning.

Cui Luo remained silent.

“Is your master General Fengyun?” Second Madam He whispered.

Cui Luo was even more astonished.

Second Madam He, however, smiled. After a moment, her expression turned serious again as she said, “I know what your master intends to do. Go back and tell him that I can lend him a hand, but as the price of this transaction, he must protect my daughter, He Xinying.”

Cui Luo remained silent for a while, saying nothing. She only placed the hot water kettle on the table and said softly, “If you have any further orders, call for me again, My Lady.” With that, she closed the door and left.

Second Madam He stared at the hot tea on the table, lost in thought. After a long while, she swallowed the metallic taste in her throat and lay back down.

…

The night passed, and early the next morning, Fei Nu brought back news from the He household.

In the study, Xiao Jue frowned slightly. “A transaction?”

“That is exactly what Second Madam He said,” Fei Nu replied. When the message came back from Cui Luo, Fei Nu was also surprised, unsure whether to admire the woman’s courage or say something else.

“Second Madam He must know about the identity swap between He Rufei and the Second Young Lady and that the Second Young Lady is the true General Feihong,” Fei Nu said. “He Rufei is likely using He Xinying to threaten Second Madam He, which is why she dares not reveal the truth. With Second Madam He’s assistance, the He family’s secret should be easily uncovered.” Speaking of this, Fei Nu felt a pang of emotion. Who would have thought that General Feihong, who struck fear into the hearts of the Qiang people on the battlefield, was actually a woman? And how heartless must Second Madam He and He Yuanliang have been to let a young woman bear such an unbearably heavy fate, only to discard her like a worn-out tool after achieving success and fame?

Their Jiuqi Battalion had witnessed all kinds of cruelty on the battlefield, but upon learning the truth, they could not help but feel sorrow for the wronged General Feihong.

A renowned general, even in death, should meet a glorious end, falling on the battlefield. Not be killed by sinister schemes in an ordinary inner courtyard.

“Did Second Madam He only mention He Xinying?” Xiao Jue asked.

Fei Nu nodded. “Yes.”

Xiao Jue lowered his gaze. “I understand.”

“Young Master, then…”

“Have Cui Luo tell Second Madam He,” Xiao Jue looked out the window, “this deal, I accept.”

…

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the Wutu envoy, Maningbu, arrived in the capital.

Emperor Wenxuan received the Wutu envoy in the Golden Luan Hall. In Qinglan Palace, Consort Lan leaned against a soft couch, watching a palace maid brew tea.

Consort Lan was no longer young. Every year, new beauties entered the rear palace, yet she alone retained the Emperor’s unwavering favor. Everyone said Consort Lan was blessed with extraordinary luck—enjoying the Emperor’s affection and having a son of both virtue and talent, all while maintaining a gentle, uncompetitive nature. Not only did she have the Empress above her, but even Consort Ni, below, dared to act arrogantly toward her.

However, since Emperor Wenxuan entrusted the Fifth Prince, Guang Ji, to Consort Lan’s care, Consort Ni had become much more restrained. Though young, and despite Consort Ni repeatedly warning him that Consort Lan was not a good person, Guang Ji felt Consort Lan treated him far more gently than his own birth mother. There had never been any conflict between them.

Today was no different.

Guang Ji ran in from outside, followed closely by an elderly nursemaid who urged, “Your Highness, slow down! Be careful not to fall!”

“Mother!” Guang Ji rushed to Consort Lan’s side, smiling. “Today, the Wutu envoy entered the palace. Father is receiving them in the hall. I heard the Wutu people brought many gifts—ivory as tall as half a person, white peacocks…Mother, I want to go see!”

Consort Lan smiled, brushing snowflakes from his clothes. “Go ahead, then.”

“Are you not coming with me, Mother?” Guang Ji asked.

“I will not go,” Consort Lan replied gently. “Let Nurse Chang take you.”

The Fifth Prince, still a child, was eager to see the white peacocks. Hearing this, he said, “Alright, I will go now. After I see them, I will come back and tell you all about it!”

Nurse Chang took the Fifth Prince’s hand and led him away. Consort Lan shook her head with a smile. “Still so childlike.”

“Fifth Brother is still young,” a voice said from the doorway. “It’s normal for him to be childish.”

The palace maids behind her quickly said, “This servant greets the Fourth Prince.”

The Fourth Prince, Guang Shuo, stepped inside.

Consort Lan was delicate and graceful, and Guang Shuo, taking after his mother, was handsome and refined. Compared to Crown Prince Guang Yan, who indulged in pleasure day and night, Guang Shuo appeared much more amiable and reliable.

Seeing Guang Shuo, Consort Lan immediately brightened, pulling him to sit by the warm stove. She instructed a maid to pour hot tea for him and asked, “What brings you here today?”

“Father is meeting the Wutu envoys in the hall, and the Crown Prince is there too, so I came to see you, Mother,” Guang Shuo replied with a smile.

Consort Lan smiled faintly but said nothing.

“Mother has also heard about the Wutu envoys, right?”

Consort Lan’s expression grew serious, no longer as relaxed as when she faced Guang Ji. She sighed. “Yes, I have.”

“The fact that His Majesty is willing to meet those envoys already shows he is inclined to accept the Wutu people’s peace proposal.” Guang Shuo’s smile also faded. “That alone is troubling enough. After the battles at Jiyang and Rundu, the Wutu people dare not act rashly for now. But if Father agrees to let them establish a Trade Market in Great Wei…the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Consort Lan glanced outside. “Everyone else, withdraw. Yu Gui, close the door.”

The palace maids withdrew, and Yu Gui shut the door.

Consort Lan looked at Guang Shuo. “Have you ever spoken these words before your father?”

Guang Shuo shook his head. “No. Father never discusses such matters with me.”

Emperor Wenxuan favored the Fourth Prince because he resembled Consort Lan. Consort Lan was exceptionally talented in literature, gentle in temperament, and never contended for favor. In the depths of the palace, she was like the last piece of pure land in the Emperor’s heart, not to be tainted. Thus, even though Empress Zhang greatly disliked Consort Lan, over all these years, Consort Lan had still lived well within the palace. Because she made no mistakes, and the Emperor protected her. This trace of pity and respect for Consort Lan extended to Guang Shuo as well.

Guang Shuo was the same. No matter how much court officials urged him to contend with the Crown Prince for that position, Guang Shuo remained unmoved. When he was with Emperor Wenxuan, they mostly discussed poetry and art—matters of state and governance were the Crown Prince’s concern. If he overstepped too much, it would provoke the Emperor’s displeasure.

“Guang Shuo,” Consort Lan looked at him and suddenly asked, “Do you want to contend?”

Guang Shuo was taken aback.

“Do you want to contend for that position?” Consort Lan repeated.

As if a secret in his heart had been exposed, Guang Shuo awkwardly avoided Consort Lan’s gaze. “Your son does not dare.”

“I only ask if you want to, not if you dare.” In the eyes of the usually gentle woman, there was an unprecedented firmness and an unfamiliar chill.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Guang Shuo involuntarily spoke: “…I do.”

After a moment, he steadied himself and said, “I do. Mother Consort, the Crown Prince is utterly unfit to be the heir apparent. He only knows how to indulge in pleasure. There must be private dealings between him and the Wutu people. If there were another virtuous and capable brother in the palace, I would support him. But there is no one else now. If Guang Yan were to ascend to that position one day, no one knows what Great Wei would become in the future.

Perhaps there would no longer be a Great Wei at all.”

As the last word fell, an extreme silence filled the chamber, as if shocked by his treasonous words.

Consort Lan let out a soft sigh.

“For so many years, I have never thought of anything else. Entering the palace was not my wish, but since I am here, I must live well. I do not care about the Wutu people, nor do I care about His Majesty or even what becomes of Great Wei in the future.” She looked at Guang Shuo, reaching out to stroke his face, a gentle smile rising in her eyes. “In this palace, Guang Shuo, I care only about you.

If Guang Yan becomes Emperor, the two of us, mother and son, will have no path to survival,” her voice was soft, speaking the cruelest words. “I have lived most of my life; whether I live or die no longer matters. But you cannot, Guang Shuo.” She smiled. “You are so intelligent and gentle, and so young. How can you die at the hands of such a person? I will never allow it.”

Guang Shuo looked at the woman who had just straightened up from the soft couch. Her brows and eyes were still as elegant and dignified as before, yet with a single movement, her entire aura had transformed. Suddenly, a surge of boiling emotion welled up in his heart, like an impulse that had been pent up for a long time was about to burst forth.

“Mother Consort…”

“His Majesty’s favor, I already possess. The adoration of court officials and commoners, you already have as well. But with only these two, it is not enough. He Rufei has already been bribed and seeks to vie for this position…”

“You must win over Xiao Huaijin,” she said.