The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 22 Part 1

Listening to Yun Yan’s sorrowful voice, Lin Aoxue felt an even greater headache. Her head was spinning, and she was extremely uncomfortable, lacking the energy to worry about whether she and Yun Yan were being too close. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with a faint fragrance before replying, “Miss Yun is both talented and beautiful, as well as understanding and reasonable. It is my honor to have the fortune of knowing you.”

Yun Yan was once again amused by Lin Aoxue’s effortlessly smooth words. This person clearly didn’t mean what she was saying, yet she kept a straight face and spoke with utmost seriousness. Anyone with sharp eyes could detect the sense of distance in her words.

But Yun Yan had long since seen through Lin Aoxue’s awkward nature beneath her mask. She also understood the importance of moderation, so she chose not to provoke Lin Aoxue’s overly sensitive nerves any further. As long as Lin Aoxue said those words, even if they weren’t heartfelt, that was enough.

Not pressing further on the previous topic was a relief for Lin Aoxue. Instead, Yun Yan casually struck up a conversation, asking about the soldier who had taken the bone-healing medicine last time. This time, Lin Aoxue found it much easier to answer.

After discussing some matters regarding the military camp, Yun Yan started sharing amusing stories from Yanyu Tower, chatting as if she truly regarded Lin Aoxue as a close sister and wanted to share her life with her.

Lin Aoxue felt a strange mix of emotions—both tense and complicated, yet also intrigued and amused. It had been so long since she had casually chatted about everyday life with someone that she could no longer remember when she last did. And yet, she unconsciously enjoyed this process—talking about insignificant little things. Perhaps… it wasn’t so bad after all.

Since Yun Yan’s health was weak and Lin Aoxue herself was also exhausted, they didn’t hurry on their way back, allowing the horse to move at a slower pace than before. As they continued chatting, even the passing time seemed to lighten.

Suddenly, Yun Yan remembered something and tilted her head, asking, “Huh? By the way, how do you handle your monthly matters while staying in the military camp?”

Lin Aoxue was completely stunned by this extremely personal question. Her face flushed red, and she remained silent for a long time without answering.

Yun Yan’s eyes held a natural curiosity. To her, who was used to the lively world of Yanyu Tower, this was the most normal question in the world.

Lin Aoxue was utterly embarrassed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. Yet, beneath her shame, there was also a trace of sadness—because it had been many years since she last had to worry about such things.

After a moment of silence, she truthfully explained how, in order to focus on martial arts training, she had sought a doctor to prescribe medicine that halted her menstruation.

Originally, Yun Yan had been listening with a smile, but by the time Lin Aoxue finished recounting her experience, her expression had turned serious, her brows furrowed deeply.

She urged Lin Aoxue to stop the horse by the roadside. Under Lin Aoxue’s puzzled gaze, Yun Yan reached out and took her wrist, checking her pulse on the spot. After a moment, Yun Yan pressed her red lips together and knit her willow-like brows, sighing softly—half helpless, half resigned, as if she had already expected this outcome.

“How could you be so careless with your own body?!”

No matter what, Lin Aoxue was still a woman, and a woman’s body couldn’t be compared to a man’s.

Though stopping her menstruation might seem convenient, the harm it had done to her body was severe. Even though she had spent years strengthening herself through martial arts, her frame was still frail. On the surface, she might seem fine, but the moment she suffered an injury or caught a cold, her body would collapse like a crumbling mountain.

Her last injury hadn’t fully healed, and then she had recklessly pushed herself to the limit in a brutal battle, followed by a nonstop journey for an entire day and night. Her body was already at its breaking point—any further strain, and she would be bedridden for days.

Just as Yun Yan finished speaking, Lin Aoxue’s vision blurred. A wave of intense dizziness crashed over her, making it impossible to hold on any longer. Darkness overtook her sight, and she collapsed unconscious against Yun Yan’s back.

Yun Yan was both shocked and distressed. She let out a long sigh, murmuring to herself, “What kind of mess is this…”

Fortunately, the horse had already come to a stop, so at least she didn’t have to figure out how to rein it in—especially since she couldn’t ride. Supporting Lin Aoxue’s body, she carefully attempted to dismount. Despite her caution, Lin Aoxue still slipped off the horse and landed with a loud thud.

For once, Yun Yan was flustered. She awkwardly rubbed her forehead as Lin Aoxue lay face-down on the ground, no doubt eating a mouthful of dust. Inwardly, Yun Yan muttered, How rude of me, how rude, before jumping off the horse and helping Lin Aoxue up.

Lin Aoxue was thin and frail, her body all skin and bones, making it easy for Yun Yan to lift her. However, their current location was remote—there wasn’t a single farmhouse or tea stall in sight, which left Yun Yan in a bit of a predicament.

She tied the reins around her wrist, then hoisted Lin Aoxue onto her back and led the horse off the main road, heading toward a nearby forest. After walking about a mile or two, she found a winding stream and finally set Lin Aoxue down on a large rock by the water’s edge.

By the time she lowered Lin Aoxue, Yun Yan was drenched in sweat. She exhaled deeply before wiping her damp forehead, then sat beside Lin Aoxue to rest for a while. Looking at Lin Aoxue’s pale face, she shook her head helplessly, feeling like she had really gotten herself into trouble.

Once she had rested enough, Yun Yan got up, fetched some water from the stream, and tore a clean piece of cloth from her garment to wipe Lin Aoxue’s face. But when she reached the half-mask covering Lin Aoxue’s face, her fingers paused. After hesitating for a moment, she withdrew the damp cloth without touching it.

She rummaged through her medical kit, pulled out some silver needles, and applied acupuncture to stabilize Lin Aoxue’s condition.

For now, Lin Aoxue wasn’t in any immediate danger. Her collapse was simply due to exhaustion—days without sleep and a lack of proper nourishment had left her body severely weakened. A good rest and some food would be enough to help her recover. The acupuncture Yun Yan had just performed would at least ensure that Lin Aoxue’s body wouldn’t suddenly give out.

As for the long-term damage her body had suffered over the years, that wasn’t something that could be fixed overnight—it would require time and effort in the future.

***

It was late summer, approaching afternoon, and the forest was growing uncomfortably warm. Lin Aoxue, burdened by worries even in her sleep, was restless. Her cheeks were flushed, and her brows furrowed from time to time.

Beside her, Yun Yan opened her medicine kit and sorted through the herbs she had gathered that morning. She kept an eye on the time, knowing that once the sun set and the temperature dropped, Lin Aoxue would be at risk of catching a chill. When it cooled down a bit more, she gently patted Lin Aoxue’s cheek to wake her.

Drowsy and disoriented, Lin Aoxue furrowed her brows at the touch. She mumbled something incomprehensible in her sleep and instinctively swatted Yun Yan’s hand away before dozing off again.

Even with that fierce-looking mask on, her sleepy, dazed expression was undeniably adorable. Yun Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Although she didn’t want to wake Lin Aoxue so soon, letting her sleep any longer would only worsen things. Not only would her body suffer from the increasingly cold night air, but Beichen Ji, waiting at Xingbei Pass, couldn’t afford any more delays either.

Yun Yan reached out and pinched Lin Aoxue’s nose.

A few moments later, deprived of air, Lin Aoxue was forced awake. Her eyes snapped open, blazing with fury, instantly dispelling any trace of the softness and laziness from sleep.

Lin Aoxue had once again reverted to her fierce and intimidating self.

Yun Yan sighed inwardly, feeling a tinge of helplessness. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get another chance to see Lin Aoxue’s peaceful expression from just moments ago while she slept.

Having been woken up so abruptly, Lin Aoxue first glared in irritation. But the moment she saw Yun Yan, she froze, then quickly recalled everything that had happened before she lost consciousness. Alarmed, she sat up hastily and looked around.

The sky had darkened, and they were no longer on the main road. Not far away, the horse stood leisurely, swishing its tail as it grazed.

Lin Aoxue’s expression stiffened slightly. Awkwardly straightening her back, she asked in a rigid and cautious tone, “How did I suddenly… How long was I asleep?”

Yun Yan struggled to hold back her laughter. Lin Aoxue rarely looked this flustered and frustrated. With a smirk, she replied, “You were unconscious for an entire day. No matter how I called, you wouldn’t wake up.”

Lin Aoxue’s expression immediately changed upon hearing that. Looking utterly dismayed, she sprang to her feet, grabbed Yun Yan, and prepared to set off again. However, she had stood up too quickly. A wave of dizziness struck her, causing her steps to falter—she stumbled forward and nearly fell.

Yun Yan gasped in surprise and quickly stepped forward to catch her. Half-scolding, half-worried, she exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

Lin Aoxue pressed a hand to her forehead, struggling to steady herself. Her face was pale, her expression grim, and her brows knitted tightly in frustration. With urgency, she replied, “We can’t afford to delay any longer!”

Seeing how weak Lin Aoxue was, Yun Yan took advantage of the moment and forcibly pulled her back down to sit. Then, she rummaged through her medicine kit, took out a few wild fruits she had picked that morning, and shoved them into Lin Aoxue’s hands. With an unusually stern expression, she glared and said, “Do you just enjoy pushing yourself like this? It’s bad enough that you haven’t eaten in days, but now, even after passing out, you still want to push through? What next? Collapse a few more times on the road and waste another two or three days? At this rate, you might as well not go at all! By the time you get there, whatever you’re rushing for will already be long over!”

Lin Aoxue was so stunned by Yun Yan’s sudden outburst that she blinked several times, momentarily at a loss for words.

Holding the fruit in her hands, she wanted to argue back but had no idea how to refute Yun Yan’s words. After thinking it through, she realized Yun Yan actually had a point. In the end, her face flushed red in frustration. Without saying anything, she took a big bite out of the fruit, chewing aggressively as if she were venting her anger.

Yun Yan sat down beside her, glanced at her thoughtfully, then tilted her head slightly as a question popped into her mind. Not one to beat around the bush, she asked directly, “Do you have feelings for Young Master Ji?”

Lin Aoxue had gone to Yanyu Tower several times before, always accompanied by Beichen Ji. Their relationship seemed quite close, and back in Yong’an, Beichen Ji often stuck by Lin Aoxue’s side. The two were practically inseparable. Yun Yan had already figured out that Lin Aoxue was a woman, and now, seeing how desperate she was over Beichen Ji’s situation, it was hard not to entertain certain thoughts.

The moment Yun Yan spoke, Lin Aoxue choked on the fruit she had just swallowed. She coughed violently, struggling for breath, and only after several painful seconds did she manage to clear her throat. Gasping for air, she widened her eyes in horror and snapped, “Miss Yun, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“Call me Yun Yan, or Yan’er.” Ignoring her protest, Yun Yan raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I just always see you with him.”

Lin Aoxue’s expression twisted with frustration. After a moment of helpless silence, she raised her hands in surrender and explained in exasperation, “The general assigned me as his personal guard. I’m responsible for ensuring his safety, as well as supervising his studies and martial training. That’s why we’re often together. Other than that, I have no other reason to be around him.” At this point, she continued, “Besides, my lifelong wish has been to defend the border and avenge my parents. I have no time or interest in indulging in romantic matters.”

Yun Yan rested her chin on her hands, noticing a fleeting sadness and loneliness in Lin Aoxue’s eyes. It vanished almost as soon as it appeared, leaving no trace before she could probe further.

This person must be incredibly lonely.

Yun Yan felt a pang of sympathy for Lin Aoxue, saddened by her circumstances. Though Lin Aoxue was just a young woman, she had to suppress her emotions and tread carefully in life, showing hostility and resistance toward everything around her. Living like this drained her patience and dimmed any hopes she had for the future. Aside from hatred, she had nothing left. She didn’t care if there was someone to accompany her in the days ahead, nor did she concern herself with whether her painful existence would ever see an end.

Suddenly, Yun Yan wanted to spend more time with this person. Not out of curiosity, not for amusement or any ulterior motive—just purely to be someone Lin Aoxue could trust, to give her a moment to breathe.

And perhaps, in doing so, she was also sympathizing with herself.

“Aoxue,” she called softly, speaking only her name.

Lin Aoxue snapped out of her thoughts at Yun Yan’s voice, but for some reason, she shivered involuntarily. Something felt off. She looked at Yun Yan in confusion, waiting for an explanation.

Instead, Yun Yan curved her lips into a smile and teased, “You keep saying you’re in a hurry, yet you’re eating so slowly. Are you really in a rush or not?”

Lin Aoxue’s expression twitched. Maybe she really was unwell—she had been losing focus all day, nearly forgetting her most important task yet again. The moment Yun Yan reminded her, her face darkened. She quickly wolfed down the rest of the fruit and got up to fetch the horse.

As they set off again, the formation remained the same—Yun Yan in front, Lin Aoxue behind. However, this time, Lin Aoxue seemed far less tense. With Yun Yan leaning against her, she didn’t protest. Though her demeanor was still stiff and the air around her heavy, at least she wasn’t making a fool of herself like she had that morning.

To reach Xingbei Pass as quickly as possible, Lin Aoxue urged the horse to go faster. But to keep Yun Yan from getting thrown off by the rough ride, she had no choice but to tighten her hold around her waist, practically enclosing Yun Yan entirely in her embrace.

Knowing that Yun Yan wasn’t as resilient as she was, Lin Aoxue slowed their pace a few times to check if she could endure the ride. Yun Yan was reasonable and not one to act delicate, so she didn’t make things difficult for Lin Aoxue. After riding together on a fast horse for days, they finally arrived at Xingbei Pass at dawn on the third day.

Beichen Long was already in a state of utter distress. During the days Lin Aoxue had been absent, the entire military camp had been blanketed in tension. Everyone was cautious, barely daring to breathe as they carried out their tasks, afraid that one misstep would set off the grand general’s fury.

Although the military doctor had already declared that Beichen Ji was beyond saving, Beichen Long refused to give up. He had spent a fortune summoning highly esteemed physicians from Yiping and Poyan to treat Beichen Ji. These doctors had arrived with confidence, but after examining Beichen Ji’s poisoned wounds, they fell silent.

Not one of them could offer a definitive cure.

With each new wave of hope followed by crushing disappointment, Beichen Long rapidly deteriorated. He grew alarmingly thin, and nearly half his hair had turned white.

The guards at the city gate spotted Lin Aoxue and Yun Yan approaching from a distance. Knowing Lin Aoxue had left Xingbei Pass to find a doctor, one of them immediately ordered a messenger to rush the news back.

But when Beichen Long received the report, he only let out a long sigh. His face was ashen as he waved a weary hand, signaling for the guards to take Lin Aoxue and Yun Yan to see Beichen Ji.

He was already disheartened. So many doctors had failed to save Beichen Ji—what difference could a young female doctor make? So even when he heard that Lin Aoxue had brought Yun Yan back from Yong’an, Beichen Long had no interest in meeting them. Over the past few days, he had endured too much disappointment and had gradually sunk into despair.

In his mind, Beichen Ji’s fate was already sealed. All he could do was prolong his life for a few more days, nothing more.

***

When Lin Aoxue learned of Beichen Long’s attitude from the guards, she couldn’t help but feel helpless as well. But Yun Yan was no deity—she was merely a woman with some medical knowledge. Whether she could ultimately save Beichen Ji was something Lin Aoxue wasn’t sure of either.

She led Yun Yan to the tent where Beichen Ji was being kept, following the soldiers assigned to guard him. Several guards stood outside the tent, and they demanded Lin Aoxue present her identification tag. Only after verifying her identity did they allow her to lift the curtain and enter with Yun Yan.

Inside, Beichen Ji lay on the bed, covered with a thin blanket. His face was ashen, his complexion sickly yellow, and his lips tinged with blue. He looked as though he was barely clinging to life.

Lin Aoxue hadn’t expected Beichen Ji’s condition to be this dire. Her heart clenched. Seeing him like this, she doubted that Yun Yan could do anything to save him. Suddenly, she began to worry—if Yun Yan failed, would Beichen Long take out his grief and fury on the doctors who couldn’t save his son?

She still vividly remembered the moment Beichen Long had learned of Beichen Ji’s poisoning—how he had struck the military doctor across the face in a fit of rage. If Yun Yan failed, could she withstand such a blow?

Lin Aoxue furrowed her brows, hesitating. Had she been reckless in bringing Yun Yan here? Was this the right decision or a terrible mistake?

But before she could come to a conclusion, Yun Yan had already strode forward. She stood by the bedside, her gaze serious as she studied Beichen Ji’s face for a long while. Then she gently took his arm and checked his pulse.

Lin Aoxue stood quietly beside her. When Yun Yan finally withdrew her hand, having finished her diagnosis, Lin Aoxue carefully asked, “How is he?”

“We arrived too late.” Yun Yan shook her head first. The sight of that simple gesture made Lin Aoxue’s heart sink. Then, when Yun Yan finally spoke, her opening words only deepened her panic. “The poison has already spread to his vital organs. Even if I do everything in my power, I only have a fifty percent chance of saving him.”

Lin Aoxue had braced herself for the worst, expecting Yun Yan to confirm that there was no hope. But instead, she was given an entirely unexpected answer—fifty percent chance of survival.

Beichen Ji’s poisoning had long been declared a lost cause by the military doctors. Yet now, in Yun Yan’s hands, there was suddenly a fifty percent chance.

For a moment, Lin Aoxue didn’t know whether to feel relieved or shocked. Her emotions tangled in a complex mix of disbelief and hope.

The soldier who had followed them into the tent was momentarily stunned. Then, as the realization hit him, his face twisted in shock. Without waiting for Yun Yan to say anything further, he bolted out of the tent like a gust of wind, racing to inform Beichen Long as fast as he could.