The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 22 Part 2

Inside his own tent, Beichen Long sat motionless, staring blankly at the bamboo slips and military reports on his desk. His eyes were vacant.

He didn’t dare stay in Beichen Ji’s tent. He feared that if he were there when the inevitable news arrived, he would completely break down.

When the soldier suddenly barged in, flustered and in a rush, breaking protocol by failing to request an announcement beforehand, Beichen Long would have normally exploded in fury and reprimanded him on the spot.

But today, he didn’t even have the strength to be angry. It was as if he had already anticipated the words that were about to be spoken. He had already resigned himself to the impending grief.

Leaning back weakly against his chair, he let out a weary sigh and said, “Speak. What is it?”

He knew he couldn’t afford to sink too deep into despair—there were still countless military affairs to handle. The entire army rested in his hands. The barbarian forces had only recently retreated, and there was no telling when they might strike again. If he allowed himself to be overwhelmed by grief and lost his rationality, Xingbei Pass could very well be lost because of him.

But reason was one thing; emotions were another.

Beichen Long was filled with deep regret. Why had he ever allowed Beichen Ji to join the military? Even if his son spent his whole life as an idler, indulging in food and drink without any ambition, he could have provided for him. But once one stepped onto the battlefield, disaster was unpredictable and inescapable. Clutching his head tightly, he felt as though it was about to split apart from the pain.

No matter how many times—thousands, even tens of thousands—he told himself to stay calm, even believing that he had prepared himself for this moment, now that it was here, he was still gripped by fear and panic. His hands clenched involuntarily, his nails digging deep into his palms without him even noticing.

Just then, the soldier suddenly dropped to his knees, his voice filled with excitement as he reported, “General! Doctor Yun says the young master can be saved! She has a fifty percent chance of saving him!”

Beichen Long’s shoulders trembled, his face filled with disbelief. It took him a long moment before he suddenly sprang to his feet, seizing the soldier’s shoulders with such force that his joints let out a cracking sound. “What did you say?” He thought he must have misheard.

The soldier winced in pain, his face twisting from the pressure, but he knew that conveying the message was far more important. Enduring the pain, he repeated firmly, “General, Doctor Yun says she has a fifty percent chance of saving the young master!”

“Doctor Yun…” Beichen Long muttered the name under his breath. His brows furrowed as he immediately asked, “Which Doctor Yun?” He could hardly believe it.

“The one that Platoon Leader Lin brought back from Yong’an—the former courtesan of Yanyu Tower.”

At those words, Beichen Long abruptly released the soldier. He felt as if he were in a dream. Unable to believe it, he shook his head vigorously before suddenly slapping himself across the face.

A sharp smack echoed through the tent, startling the soldier into holding his breath, not daring to speak. Beichen Long’s eyes were bloodshot, but he ignored the stunned soldier and swiftly turned on his heel, lifting the tent flap as he rushed toward Beichen Ji’s quarters.

By the time he arrived, Yun Yan had already finished taking Beichen Ji’s pulse. A guard was holding the prescription she had written, preparing to fetch the necessary herbs for decoction. Meanwhile, inside the tent, Yun Yan was administering acupuncture. Her hands moved swiftly and skillfully, and in no time, over a hundred silver needles had been inserted into Beichen Ji’s body.

The sight startled Beichen Long, but before he could react, Lin Aoxue quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him from disturbing Yun Yan. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Beichen Long forced himself to remain patient and waited at the side.

During this time, word spread like wildfire throughout the camp that Yun Yan had a fifty percent chance of saving Beichen Ji. Before long, the remaining military doctors gathered outside the tent. Though they were both shocked and curious, none dared to step inside or disrupt Yun Yan’s work, especially with Beichen Long present.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Yun Yan deftly removed all the silver needles from Beichen Ji’s body. His previously dark and ashen complexion had faded to a sickly pale, but compared to before, he looked significantly better.

When Beichen Long looked again, he could clearly see the change in Beichen Ji’s condition. Overjoyed, he didn’t care about the people around him and took a step forward, standing directly in front of Yun Yan as he asked, “Are you truly confident that you can save my son?”

Yun Yan carefully put away her silver needles. She furrowed her brows slightly and took a step back, putting some distance between them before lowering her gaze. She answered neither submissively nor arrogantly, “I only have a fifty percent chance.”

Even this was an unexpected blessing. The tension that had been stretching Beichen Long’s heart for days finally loosened slightly. A faint trace of joy appeared on his face as he hurriedly said, “Do your utmost. If you need any medicinal ingredients, just say the word, and I will have them prepared.”

Yun Yan did not lift her head. She bowed to Beichen Long and replied, “I appreciate your concern, General. I will give it my all.”

Beichen Long nodded in satisfaction and proceeded to ask a few more questions about Beichen Ji’s condition. Yun Yan explained, “Earlier, a skilled physician administered medicine that successfully delayed the poisoning. Just now, I performed acupuncture to suppress the toxins in the young master’s body. However, his vitality is weak, and he requires rest. I can only administer another round of acupuncture in two hours.”

Hearing that Beichen Ji needed rest, Beichen Long immediately dismissed everyone from the tent. As he was leaving, he patted Lin Aoxue on the shoulder. Though he said nothing, Lin Aoxue could feel the overwhelming relief and gratitude he held.

Upon exiting Beichen Ji’s tent, Beichen Long issued an order: Yun Yan was to be given full authority over Beichen Ji’s treatment. Lin Aoxue was also relieved of her other duties under the pretense of allowing her to rest, but in reality, she was assigned to assist and take care of Yun Yan.

The military doctors waiting outside were displeased by this decision, but none dared to voice their objections. However, some of them believed Yun Yan was nothing more than a charlatan. They doubted that she could truly cure Beichen Ji. To them, what skill could a mere woman possibly possess? Especially one who had been the famed courtesan of Yanyu Tower—wasn’t she just using her charms rather than real medical expertise?

As a result, they didn’t leave the camp, choosing instead to wait and see Yun Yan make a fool of herself.

Yun Yan had heard the rumors but paid them no mind, focusing solely on her duty. Lin Aoxue, however, had caught wind of some of the gossip. Once, when she went to the military doctors’ camp to fetch medicine, she happened upon two guards preparing medicinal decoctions while discussing Yun Yan.

She found their behavior despicable. Not only were they gossiping behind someone’s back, but their words were also vulgar and malicious. They mocked Yun Yan’s past as a courtesan, turning it into a crude joke. Compared to the usual doubts and suspicions, these remarks were far more vicious.

To them, it didn’t matter how many people Yun Yan saved or how skilled she was as a doctor. The only thing they cared about was her appearance and figure.

Such vile talk was simply too repugnant. Even if Yun Yan herself didn’t care, Lin Aoxue found it unacceptable.

In a fit of rage, she kicked both guards to the ground. They were so terrified after being caught by Lin Aoxue that they trembled with fear. She ordered them to slap themselves as punishment and gave them a harsh warning before finally taking the medicine and leaving.

After word of Lin Aoxue standing up for Yun Yan spread among the soldiers, the gossip in the camp noticeably died down. No one dared to discuss Yun Yan behind her back anymore—after all, Lin Aoxue was highly favored by Beichen Long, and no one wanted to risk offending her.

***

Under Yun Yan’s care, Beichen Ji’s condition gradually improved. Though he had yet to regain consciousness, his health was steadily recovering. Several days later, the once deathly pale complexion of his face had begun to show signs of color.

Beichen Long finally regained his composure and was able to focus on military affairs once more. He also made a promise to Yun Yan—if Beichen Ji ultimately woke up, he would reward her handsomely.

At some point, the prescription Yun Yan had written for Beichen Ji spread throughout the camp. The military doctors, who had initially harbored resentment and dissatisfaction, suddenly fell silent after seeing the prescription. Instead of complaining further, they shut themselves in the medical camp, diligently studying the formula Yun Yan had devised.

Lin Aoxue firmly believed that Beichen Ji would survive. She suspected that when Yun Yan initially claimed she had only a fifty percent chance of success, she had merely been giving the most conservative estimate, accounting for any potential complications. In reality, her confidence was likely far greater than just fifty percent.

While Lin Aoxue felt relieved that Yun Yan could save Beichen Ji, she also grew increasingly puzzled. There was no doubt that Yun Yan’s medical skills far surpassed those of the so-called highly experienced doctors in the camp. But how did she become so proficient?

From Lin Aoxue’s observation, Yun Yan was at most in her early twenties. How could someone so young be so remarkably skilled? It was incomprehensible. She even wondered if, in addition to medicine and music, Yun Yan was also well-versed in painting and calligraphy.

How could someone like her have come from a brothel? And why had Yun Yan’s father sent her to such a place in the first place?

There were too many mysteries surrounding Yun Yan, and Lin Aoxue could not make sense of them. The more time she spent with her, the more questions she had. To her, the famed courtesan of Yanyu Tower was becoming increasingly enigmatic.

Several times, Lin Aoxue was tempted to ask Yun Yan outright why she had remained at Yanyu Tower. But whenever she saw the gentle yet profound smile on Yun Yan’s face, she found herself unable to pry into her private affairs.

She realized she had no right to ask. Everyone had their own secrets—Yun Yan did, and so did she.

As long as their objectives did not clash, they could coexist peacefully.

Perhaps she was simply overthinking things, and what seemed complicated might not actually be as unspeakable as she imagined.

***

A few days later, Beichen Ji finally woke up under Yun Yan’s dedicated care. When Beichen Long received word that his son had recovered from the poisoning and regained consciousness, he trembled with excitement.

Without hesitation, he put aside the military reports in his hands and rushed to Beichen Ji’s tent. Inside, Beichen Ji was weakly propped up against the head of the bed, drinking medicinal soup under the care of the logistics soldiers.

Yun Yan was tidying up her silver needles, while Beichen Ji’s gaze remained fixed on her. Upon learning that it was Yun Yan who had saved his life, his feelings toward her changed—his gratitude was no longer simple appreciation. His eyes now held undisguised admiration and infatuation. He was so captivated that he didn’t even notice when Beichen Long entered the tent.

Beichen Long cleared his throat. Yun Yan took the cue and bowed before excusing herself. Only then did Beichen Ji shift his gaze away from her. Pushing himself up with his arms, he sat up straighter and called out, “Dad.”

Beichen Long had originally intended to reprimand him, to make him understand how reckless and foolish it had been to disobey orders and charge up the city walls on his own. But seeing his son so frail, looking as though he might collapse again at any moment, he swallowed his words.

With a weary sigh, he stepped forward and placed his hands on Beichen Ji’s thin shoulders, steadying him before saying, “You’ve just woken up. You shouldn’t be getting up.”

Beichen Ji obeyed and sat back properly. Having barely survived such an ordeal, he seemed more reserved than before, as if he had matured. Beichen Long waved the soldiers away, then sat by his son’s bedside and briefly inquired about his condition. Beichen Ji answered each question one by one, gradually easing the weight in Beichen Long’s heart.

Once Beichen Long had finished asking, Beichen Ji bit his lip, as if summoning great determination, before finally speaking up, “Dad, I heard that it was Doctor Yun who cured my poisoning.” He referred to her as “Doctor Yun” rather than “Miss Yun Yan.”

Beichen Long nodded. He was deeply grateful for Yun Yan saving Beichen Ji and said, “Indeed, her medical skills are exceptional. Even those so-called highly skilled veteran doctors have no choice but to acknowledge her abilities.”

Seeing that Beichen Long also admired Yun Yan’s medical expertise, Beichen Ji seized the opportunity and continued, “Dad, every time a battle breaks out at Xingbei Pass, countless soldiers are wounded. A doctor with such remarkable skills is a rare and invaluable asset to our military camp.”

His intentions were crystal clear—he wanted Yun Yan to stay in the camp. However, after hearing this, Beichen Long frowned, hesitating. “That may be true, but Doctor Yun is also the top courtesan of Yanyu Tower.”

Yanyu Tower was backed by a powerful and mysterious force from the capital. Although in the eyes of the people at Xingbei Pass it was still considered a brothel, no one dared to provoke or offend it due to the influence behind it.

Moreover, Yanyu Tower clearly valued Yun Yan highly. Even if Beichen Long appreciated her talent and wished to keep her in the military camp, there was no guarantee that Yanyu Tower’s management would agree to such an arrangement.

Beichen Ji was aware of these complexities. Seeing the hesitation on Beichen Long’s face, though mixed with a trace of regret, he pressed on, “Why not ask Doctor Yun herself? If she is willing to serve the army, Dad, you could later send a trusted envoy to negotiate with Yanyu Tower. If this works out, it might even foster a cooperative relationship with Yanyu Tower, which would be a great advantage for our military.”

Beichen Ji’s words took Beichen Long by surprise. In the past, Beichen Ji had never shown interest in military affairs. Even when Beichen Long tried to involve him, he had always been reluctant. Yet now, he was actively concerned about this matter.

He had even come up with the idea of forming an alliance with Yanyu Tower.

With the recent battle just concluded, there were still many injured soldiers in the camp besides Beichen Ji. A highly skilled doctor would indeed be of immense value.

Beichen Long couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. Though Beichen Ji’s motivations might not be entirely aligned with military priorities, his reasoning was not without merit. However, Beichen Long remained wary of Yanyu Tower’s influence. Seeing how invested Beichen Ji was in Yun Yan, he felt the need to warn him, “Attempting to collaborate with Yanyu Tower is not out of the question. But if you want to keep Doctor Yun in the military camp, you must agree to one condition.”

Hearing that Beichen Long had agreed to his proposal, Beichen Ji was instantly delighted. He didn’t care whether there were additional conditions and immediately responded, “Whatever condition it is, Dad, just say it—I’ll definitely abide by it!”

Seeing Beichen Ji getting carried away, Beichen Long snorted and said, “If Doctor Yun agrees to serve in our army, you are not to disturb her. You are forbidden from seeking her out for anything unrelated to military affairs.”

“Ah…”

Beichen Ji hadn’t expected Beichen Long to impose such a condition, and his excitement immediately deflated like a withered eggplant.

But then he reconsidered. As long as Yun Yan remained in the military camp, he would have plenty of opportunities to interact with her. He could slowly win her favor and build a connection between them. At least it was better than sneaking off to Yanyu Tower under Beichen Long’s watchful eye.

Thinking of it that way, agreeing to Beichen Long’s condition didn’t seem like much of a loss. After all, would Beichen Long really control every chance encounter he had with Yun Yan in the camp?

Adjusting his mindset, Beichen Ji told himself that there was no rush. He could use his poisoning as an excuse—he would have plenty of chances to get close to Yun Yan over the next few days. With this thought, he felt much more at ease. Under Beichen Long’s stern gaze, Beichen Ji nodded vigorously, like a pecking chick, in agreement.

***

Since Yun Yan had saved Beichen Ji’s life, Beichen Long ordered that she be rewarded. He also privately summoned her to ask if she was willing to stay in the military camp and serve the northern frontier.

As for what exactly Yun Yan and Beichen Long discussed, very few in the camp knew. Even Field Marshal Yang Jin remained largely unaware.

The next day, Beichen Long sent Yang Jin to Yanyu Tower to redeem Yun Yan’s freedom. She officially became a military doctor and moved into the medical barracks.

Beichen Ji was delighted for days, using his lingering weakness from the poisoning as an excuse to constantly seek Yun Yan’s care and attention.

With Beichen Ji’s condition improving, Beichen Long was finally able to put his worries to rest. The barbarian army had not launched another attack, allowing the camp a brief period of respite.

However, the previous battle had left many soldiers wounded. As soon as Yun Yan arrived at the camp, she was overwhelmed with work. Being the only female doctor in the military, the entrance to the medical barracks was practically worn down by the steady stream of injured soldiers seeking her care.

During this downtime, Beichen Long took the opportunity to reward the soldiers based on their merits.

Although Lin Aoxue’s unit had suffered a defeat under Fu Yong, their timely reinforcement in the later stages of the battle had redeemed them. Moreover, Lin Aoxue had been the one to find Yun Yan, ultimately saving Beichen Ji’s life.

With Beichen Long’s command, Liu Meng was promoted to county commandant, replacing Fu Yong’s position, while Lin Aoxue was promoted to baihu.

The other soldiers also received their respective rewards.

After her promotion to baihu, Lin Aoxue was permitted to participate in military drills. She threw herself into her training, and apart from a few visits to the medical barracks to change her bandages, she saw Yun Yan less and less after her wounds healed.

Even though they were in the same camp, their encounters became fewer and farther between.

Meanwhile, Beichen Ji was actively finding ways to meet with Yun Yan alone, no longer dragging Lin Aoxue along as before.

Fully immersed in military training, Lin Aoxue barely noticed how quickly time had passed. Before she knew it, more than a month had gone by.