The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 21

Beichen Long’s gaze suddenly sharpened. Fixing his eyes on Liu Meng, he asked, “Who?”

As soon as Liu Meng opened his mouth, Lin Aoxue’s brows furrowed. She had already guessed whose name he was about to mention. Sure enough, in the next moment, Liu Meng said, “It was Doctor Yun.” He then recounted how they had passed through Yong’an, encountered Yun Yan by chance, and received her treatment. “The medicine Doctor Yun prescribed was highly effective, which suggests her medical skills must be exceptional.”

When Liu Meng mentioned that Yun Yan had once been the top courtesan of Yanyu Tower, Beichen Long’s face darkened with cold suspicion. He thought Liu Meng was speaking nonsense, but another officer stepped forward to confirm, “For some reason, Miss Yun Yan also knows medicine and has been practicing in Yong’an Town, but her skills are undeniably remarkable.”

Beichen Long still looked doubtful. He turned to Lin Aoxue and asked, “Aoxue, you also returned from Yong’an. How skilled is this Yun Yan in medicine?”

Lin Aoxue sighed inwardly. Yun Yan had shown her great kindness and also knew her secret. She truly didn’t want Yun Yan to be dragged into military affairs. However, Beichen Ji, despite his lack of seriousness, was actually a good person—one of the few in the army whom Lin Aoxue could count as a friend.

After considering for a moment, she lowered her gaze and answered in a neutral yet honest manner, “Miss Yun’s medical skills are indeed proven, but this poison is extremely potent. Even she may not be able to cure it.”

With Lin Aoxue’s words, Beichen Long was now certain that the former courtesan of Yanyu Tower did, in fact, possess medical expertise. At this point, Beichen Ji was on the brink of death, and Beichen Long refused to give up any chance of saving him. He turned to Lin Aoxue and commanded, “Aoxue, go and find this Yun Yan!”

Lin Aoxue accepted the order. Though her wounds had yet to heal and she had just endured three days and two nights of relentless battle without rest, she still wasted no time. She immediately mounted a fast horse and, in a rush, rode out of Xingbei Pass through the eastern gate, heading toward Yong’an at full speed.

Riding tirelessly for a full day and night, Lin Aoxue finally arrived at the small courtyard where she had previously stayed. As she dismounted, a wave of dizziness struck her, making her stomach churn so violently that she nearly vomited.

She gripped the saddle tightly, steadying herself with effort. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she then led her horse to the courtyard and knocked on the door.

The one who answered was the familiar kind-faced woman. Recognizing Lin Aoxue, she spoke before Lin Aoxue could even ask, “You must be looking for Doctor Yun, aren’t you? She went up the mountain to gather herbs today. She probably won’t be back until the afternoon. Perhaps you should come by later?”

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue immediately asked several questions in succession, “Which mountain did Doctor Yun go to? When did she leave? How long has she been gone?”

The woman answered each question patiently. After thanking her with a clasped fist, Lin Aoxue swiftly mounted her horse again and hurried toward the mountain where Yun Yan had gone to gather herbs.

According to the woman, there was only one path up the mountain. Lin Aoxue followed the trail, noting the footprints left behind since the rain had fallen the previous night. Given that the tracks were still sparse, she deduced from their size that Yun Yan had indeed passed through this way.

She continued tracking the footprints, entering a dense forest where the path twisted and turned. Seeing that the terrain was unsuitable for riding further, she tied her horse to a tree at the roadside and proceeded on foot into the woods.

The quiet forest was filled only with the occasional chirping of insects and the fluttering of birds’ wings, making the vast surroundings feel even more serene and still.

Lin Aoxue followed the footprints for a short distance. Ahead, there seemed to be a lake, as the ground grew increasingly damp, and reeds sprouted densely around her. Her sharp ears caught a faint rustling sound coming from behind a thick cluster of reeds, breaking the forest’s silence and drawing her attention.

She carefully parted the reeds and peered through. A slender figure dressed in plain white entered her sight, bringing an inexplicable sense of relief to her heart.

But in the next instant, Lin Aoxue’s expression froze, her face changing drastically. She saw a jet-black snake with a sinister red tongue flickering in and out, confronting Yun Yan. The triangular head bore a dark red marking—undoubtedly a highly venomous serpent.

Lin Aoxue’s heart clenched. Yun Yan was frail, and if she were bitten, her life would be in grave danger. If Yun Yan perished, then what hope remained for saving Beichen Ji?

With this thought, Lin Aoxue instinctively stepped forward to help, but just as she moved, the scene before her left her stunned.

Yun Yan remained unshaken. With remarkable composure, she reached into the medicine pouch at her waist and retrieved a handful of medicinal powder. She then flung it toward the black snake. The powder dispersed in the wind, startling the serpent, which instinctively recoiled but still got some of the substance in its eyes.

Under Lin Aoxue’s astonished gaze, the snake suddenly convulsed, attempting to retreat. After a few violent writhes, it stopped moving altogether.

Lin Aoxue stared, dumbfounded, as Yun Yan stepped forward unhurriedly. Without the slightest change in expression, she produced a small knife, bent down, and deftly picked up the lifeless snake. In one clean motion, she extracted its gall bladder and wrapped it in a clean lotus leaf she had prepared in advance.

Once she was finished, Yun Yan finally looked up, only to find Lin Aoxue halfway out of the reeds, staring blankly at her. Slightly startled at first, Yun Yan soon curved her lips into a soft smile. “Why have you come back, Young Master?”

Moments ago, all her focus had been on the snake. Though she had made it look effortless, the situation had been risky, and any misstep could have resulted in injury. Because of this, she hadn’t noticed Lin Aoxue approaching.

Lin Aoxue’s presence here truly surprised her. Only days ago, Lin Aoxue’s unit had received military orders and departed in haste. Yet now, not only had she returned to Yong’an, but she had even ventured into this secluded mountain.

Lin Aoxue cleared her throat and succinctly explained her purpose. Yun Yan quickly understood but showed no particular urgency. As they walked out of the forest together, she teased Lin Aoxue with a playful smile, “I had thought, Young Master, that you missed me dearly, hence your hurried arrival.”

Lin Aoxue kept a stern face, refusing to entertain her jest. She looked serious and unsmiling. But having interacted with her a few times, Yun Yan had already gained some insight into her temperament. She let out a soft chuckle—despite Lin Aoxue’s intimidating expression, she could sense the nervous tension beneath it.

As they emerged from the forest, Lin Aoxue led her horse over, mounted it, and extended a hand toward Yun Yan.

Yun Yan smiled serenely and placed her delicate hand naturally into Lin Aoxue’s roughened palm.

The moment their hands touched, the softness of Yun Yan’s fingers momentarily dazed Lin Aoxue.

She wasn’t sure if it was due to sheer exhaustion or something else, but at that moment, she felt utterly drained, her head swimming with dizziness.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she tightened her grip on Yun Yan’s hand and lifted her onto the horse, settling her in front.

“Hold on tight,” Lin Aoxue murmured softly from behind.

To keep Yun Yan from falling off the horse, Lin Aoxue wrapped her arms around her from the sides and firmly grasped the reins, guiding the horse forward. Yun Yan seemed to be nestled entirely in Lin Aoxue’s embrace, yet Lin Aoxue stiffened, trying to lean her body backward as much as possible.

Her series of subtle movements did not escape Yun Yan’s sharp eyes, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Is it really necessary? I already know that you’re actually a woman, and yet you’re still keeping up these formalities between men and women?” As she spoke, she leaned back, letting herself settle securely into Lin Aoxue’s arms. Caught off guard, Lin Aoxue nearly tumbled off the horse. Yun Yan reacted quickly, grabbing Lin Aoxue’s arm and pulling it firmly around her own slender waist, securing them both so neither would fall. Only then did she playfully chide, “What are you panicking for?”

She tilted her head back, resting it against Lin Aoxue’s right shoulder. Looking up, she caught the barely concealed panic in Lin Aoxue’s expression and chuckled softly.

“You’re really amusing, you know that?”

The more Lin Aoxue awkwardly resisted closeness, the more Yun Yan wanted to tease her. She found Lin Aoxue’s reactions endlessly entertaining. Meanwhile, Lin Aoxue remained silent, her face rigid, her entire body tense. The faint scent of medicine mixed with delicate fragrance from Yun Yan’s skin drifted into her nose, making her breathing cautious and restrained. She pressed her lips together, and to her frustration, her hands, still gripping the reins, trembled slightly.

Yun Yan was too dazzling. She seemed gentle on the surface, but her actions were unrestrained and bold. Her every movement carried a natural allure. Worse yet, she had uncovered the secret Lin Aoxue had worked so hard to conceal.

Someone like Yun Yan was dangerous.

Lin Aoxue didn’t want such an unpredictable force disrupting her path. She didn’t want to get close—she even tried to create distance. But deep down, she was afraid. Afraid that Yun Yan’s sharp eyes would strip away more of her hidden truths, exposing the secrets she had buried.

Yet Yun Yan, rather than retreating, did the opposite. She was like a raging fire, burning through the iron walls Lin Aoxue had painstakingly built. The heat pressed closer and closer, scorching Lin Aoxue until she felt as though she might suffocate.

Yun Yan studied the crude mask on Lin Aoxue’s stiff face—designed to lock away any true emotion. It made her all the more curious. Beneath that cold, hard gaze, was there more to be found? Was there a softness hidden underneath?

They were both like floating duckweed in this world, their experiences entirely different, yet fundamentally the same. They had both seen the fickle nature of people, understood that most acted purely out of self-interest.

Yun Yan had been surrounded by endless schemes and betrayals. Beneath the charming smiles of those around her lurked unseen currents, tangled with hidden agendas and power struggles. Perhaps because of this, she had become especially sensitive to those rare moments of sincerity, those glimpses of genuine kindness. That was what resonated with her, stirring something deep within, drawing her closer.

Or maybe, it was simply because she had discovered Lin Aoxue’s secret. For the first time, she held the power to approach someone without them being able to escape. The ability to get close to someone freely—something she had never truly experienced before—made her reckless, made her indulge in her whims.

Gazing at Lin Aoxue’s cold expression, Yun Yan suddenly lowered her eyes, her face shifting into one of sadness. It was hard to tell if she was disappointed or genuinely hurt. In a sorrowful, almost accusatory tone, she murmured, “Why can’t we just be good sisters? Or… does Young Master Lin also look down on my background?”

Playing the pitiful act, drawing others in with retreat—this was what she excelled at. Whether it would work on Lin Aoxue, who was also a woman, she wasn’t sure.

But it was worth a try.