The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 26 Part 1

Yun Yan’s eyes rippled with a gentle smile, reflecting Lin Aoxue’s peaceful face in slumber. She lowered her head, pressing her forehead against Lin Aoxue’s, their noses touching. Her eyes seemed to hold a shimmering light.

“I know very well how simple-hearted you are. We agreed to be close sisters, yet I’ve developed feelings for you that I shouldn’t have.” Her voice was soft, and the sleeping Lin Aoxue did not hear a single word. “Aoxue, if I leave the military camp and still can’t calm my feelings, if my heart remains the same as it is now—then I will come back for you.”

Imagining herself leaving on her own accord only to return again, Yun Yan’s smile deepened. She took another long look at the sleeping Lin Aoxue, then turned and walked out.

***

Lin Aoxue lay unconscious in the military doctor’s tent for an entire day before finally waking up. When she sat up, she felt groggy and weak, her stomach empty. Sweat had soaked her body, leaving her feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

As she turned over to sit up, she noticed a neatly folded military uniform at the bedside—the smallest size in the camp, clearly prepared for her. This tent, provided for the military physicians, carried a faint medicinal scent.

The room was clean and tidy, containing only a single bed. Lin Aoxue glanced around and guessed that this was likely Yun Yan’s residence.

Taking the uniform, she began changing. As she unfastened her robes, she noticed that her wounds had already been redressed. Once dressed, she stepped out of the tent and took a walk around the military doctor’s camp, but she didn’t see Yun Yan.

She inquired with one of the stationed physicians, who told her that after Yun Yan had brought her here yesterday, she had bandaged her wounds and administered acupuncture to reduce her fever before heading out again.

Although they had won the battle, many soldiers had been injured. Beichen Long had ordered temporary shelters to be set up in the training grounds to treat the wounded. Yun Yan and several other military doctors had been tending to the injured there all night and had yet to return.

After thanking the physician, Lin Aoxue returned to her tent to organize her belongings, folding up her bedding and placing it neatly. Then, carrying her soiled clothes, she headed back to her own quarters.

She had been away from the camp for nearly a month, and a layer of dust had settled over her belongings. She took a damp cloth and began cleaning, but because of her injured waist, she had to be careful with her movements. After only a short while, she was already feeling fatigued.

Dropping the cloth, she sat down to rest. Since she was still recovering from her injuries, Beichen Long had granted her leave, excusing her from training until she had fully healed.

Feeling justified in her idleness, Lin Aoxue remained in her tent and picked up a book to read.

As the sky darkened outside, she lit a lamp. Suddenly, a soldier arrived, informing her that Beichen Long was hosting a victory banquet in the camp and had specifically ordered her to attend. He had first gone to the military doctor’s tent, but after learning from the on-duty physician that Lin Aoxue had already left, he had come to find her at her own quarters.

The victory banquet was being held at the training grounds. Except for those on guard duty and patrol, everyone was required to attend.

After listening to the soldier’s message, Lin Aoxue put down her book, extinguished the oil lamp on the table, and followed him out of the tent.

By the time they reached the training grounds, the place was already bustling with noise and excitement. Soldiers gathered around a raised platform, where the high-ranking officers of the camp were engaged in animated discussion about the previous day’s battle. Cheers erupted from the crowd below.

Beichen Long had ordered the kitchen staff to prepare extra meat dishes for the soldiers and had purchased several carts of alcohol from the market, allowing them to drink a little in celebration.

Lin Aoxue stood at the edge of the training grounds, taking in the scene. The rowdy atmosphere made her feel somewhat out of place, and she had no desire to join in. However, the moment she appeared, a soldier reported to Beichen Long, and soon, someone came to escort her to the central platform.

Since she was already here, it wouldn’t be appropriate to turn back now. Lin Aoxue sighed helplessly, feeling a dull ache return to her injured waist. She followed the soldier up onto the platform, where Beichen Long took her arm and introduced her to several high-ranking officers.

The seasoned veterans in the camp paid close attention to promising newcomers, and they were all familiar with Lin Aoxue. When they saw her, they did not put on airs but instead praised her for her talent and potential. Lin Aoxue had originally intended to exchange a few polite words and then excuse herself, but to her surprise, Beichen Long pulled her back, clapping her on the shoulder and loudly proclaiming her achievements in the recent battle.

He vividly recounted how Lin Aoxue had discovered the movements of the barbarian forces outside the pass, leading to their army’s decisive victory over a 50,000-strong barbarian unit. However, he made no mention of Yun Yan at all. The gathered officers marveled at Lin Aoxue’s capabilities and commended her contributions to the battle.

Lin Aoxue felt irritated and deeply unsettled. She couldn’t tell if Beichen Long had intentionally omitted Yun Yan’s role or if there was some underlying bias against her.

Just as she hesitated over whether to speak up and correct him, a county commandant on stage, who had drunk a little too much, swayed unsteadily and chuckled, saying, “Didn’t a female military doctor recently join our camp? If I recall correctly, she was once the top courtesan at Yanyu Tower. Now that we’ve returned victorious after crushing the barbarians, why not have Doctor Yun take the stage and sing us a song to celebrate?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding officers erupted into laughter and cheers, voicing their agreement. Some even made a move as if to leave the stage to go find Yun Yan.

A loud ringing noise filled Lin Aoxue’s head. The dissatisfaction that had been simmering in her heart surged uncontrollably. The clamor around her battered her already-dizzy mind, making her headache even worse.

The noise grew louder and louder. Lin Aoxue reached down beside her, grabbed a jar of wine, and suddenly stood up. Holding the jar, she strode toward the county commandant who had just spoken and raised it in a toast. “County Commandant Li, your valor in this battle was truly commendable. I offer you this drink in respect—please forgive any offense!”

The man known as County Commandant Li chuckled heartily. Though he didn’t quite understand why Lin Aoxue mentioned “offense,” he was in high spirits and didn’t care to dwell on it. He simply lifted his wine bowl, clinked it against Lin Aoxue’s jar, and took a deep swig.

The surrounding officers cheered in approval.

Lin Aoxue watched him coldly. The moment he tilted his head back to drink, she suddenly swung the heavy wine jar and, without any flourish, smashed it directly against his skull. With a loud crack, the jar shattered, sending shards and wine splattering everywhere.

Time seemed to freeze. The once-boisterous training ground fell silent in an instant. Everyone was stunned by the sudden violence, their faces filled with shock.

Not far away, Beichen Long, who had witnessed the scene, had his smile stiffen. His brows furrowed, and he stepped forward, about to demand an explanation.

County Commandant Li was momentarily dazed from the blow. Before he could even react with anger, Lin Aoxue seized him by the collar. Her cold, mask-covered eyes bore into him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. Instinctively, he trembled.

“Doctor Yun has already left Yanyu Tower. She has no obligation to entertain a bunch of drunken fools like you!”

Her dizziness was overwhelming, coming in waves that left her utterly exhausted. She had no patience left. After delivering her words in an icy tone, she shoved County Commandant Li back into his seat and staggered off the stage, heading toward the edge of the training ground. This kind of gathering was the last place she wanted to be.

The officers were too stunned to react. No one stepped forward to stop Lin Aoxue as she descended from the platform.

Still shaken, County Commandant Li remained frozen in place. Only when Lin Aoxue had already turned to leave did he finally feel a sharp, stinging pain at the back of his head. He reached back to touch it, expecting to feel dampness from the wine. But when he looked at his hand, it was covered in bright red blood.

County Commandant Li, frightened out of his wits, let out a panicked scream. The scene descended into chaos. Beichen Long, having witnessed everything, was furious. He slammed his wine bowl to the ground and berated Lin Aoxue, demanding to know what madness had possessed her before ordering the guards to detain her.

“Take him away! One month of confinement—no stepping out of the barracks! He is to reflect on his actions!”

Taking into account that Lin Aoxue was still injured, Beichen Long refrained from having her beaten with military rods. However, the gravity of the incident was too severe to overlook, and as a consequence, he also abandoned his plan to promote her to the rank of qianhu.

Lin Aoxue did not resist, nor did she offer any explanation for her actions. She allowed the guards to escort her back to her quarters.

Fearing her strength, the guards did not dare to treat her harshly. After leading her back, they even offered a few words of consolation, advising her that the grand general was simply furious at the moment and would likely release her once his anger subsided.

Lin Aoxue thanked them before collapsing onto her bed and falling into a deep sleep.

***

In the middle of the night, she felt a soft hand gently brush against her cheek, followed by the cool sensation of a damp cloth being placed on her forehead. She tried to open her eyes, but it took all her strength just to lift her eyelids a fraction.

Through the dim light, she vaguely saw a slender figure moving about the room. Though her mind was hazy, she instinctively recognized the person—it was Yun Yan.

Yun Yan stepped closer to the bedside, bringing fresh medicine with her. Carefully, she lifted Lin Aoxue’s clothing to tend to her wounds.

Lin Aoxue, utterly drained, lacked the strength to resist.

The wound on her waist had split open again from the force of throwing the wine jar. Blood seeped out, staining the white bandages red.

Yun Yan sighed helplessly. A storm of emotions churned in her heart—joy, sorrow, and guilt all at once. She was secretly pleased that Lin Aoxue had stood up for her in front of everyone, teaching that foul-mouthed county commandant a lesson on her behalf. Yet at the same time, she felt bitter and remorseful for provoking the situation in the first place, only to shrink back when it escalated.

Lin Aoxue had treated her with genuine kindness, wholehearted and without reservation. Yun Yan should have felt happy about that, but the world was never so simple. Lin Aoxue had injured County Commandant Li for her sake, and that only strengthened Yun Yan’s resolve to leave the military camp—not just for herself, but for Lin Aoxue as well.

Lin Aoxue was far too reckless. If not for Yun Yan, her achievements in this battle would have surely secured her Beichen Long’s trust and recognition, paving the way for a bright future. But because of this sudden conflict, she had not only lost Beichen Long’s favor but also missed the perfect opportunity to rise in rank.

Beichen Long would undoubtedly reevaluate Lin Aoxue’s temperament and impose restrictions on her. This would only make it harder for her to achieve her lifelong goal—leading troops into battle to avenge her family.

Yun Yan let out a long sigh. “What a fool.”

It was just as she had thought from the beginning—Lin Aoxue was a person of extremes. If she didn’t care about someone, she was distant to the point of coldness. But once she let someone into her heart, she would give everything without hesitation.

A shiver ran through Yun Yan’s heart.

Lin Aoxue’s stubborn, wholehearted devotion was like a poison—once tasted, it made people greedy, made them long for more, until they lost themselves in the process.

Emotions were such a complicated thing. Even after spending years drifting through the world of courtesans and wanderers, Yun Yan still couldn’t fully grasp them.

She carefully reapplied Lin Aoxue’s medicine, bandaged her wounds, and adjusted her clothing. When she looked up, she caught sight of Lin Aoxue turning her head slightly, her half-open eyes gazing at her. Her eyes seemed to hold a glimmer of water, misty and unreadable, making it impossible to discern the emotions hidden within.

Her head drooped, as if she might fall asleep again at any moment.

“Aoxue,” Yun Yan called her name softly.

Lin Aoxue’s lips moved slightly, and she blinked hard to show she was awake, but she lacked the strength to sit up or speak.

Yun Yan helped her sit up, letting her lean against her own chest. Then she took a bowl of rice porridge, stirred it gently, and scooped up a spoonful, bringing it to Lin Aoxue’s lips.

“You haven’t eaten anything since you returned yesterday. You need to have some food first.”

Lin Aoxue didn’t resist, nor did she have the energy to feel embarrassed. She obediently opened her mouth and took a sip of the porridge, swallowing after a couple of slow chews.

Yun Yan chuckled—Lin Aoxue was like a child when she was sick.

She continued feeding her spoonful by spoonful. Since Lin Aoxue was under house arrest, no one normally came to visit her. And now that she had angered the grand general, even fewer people would dare to check on her. Yun Yan wasn’t worried about being seen as she held Lin Aoxue and fed her.

Once Lin Aoxue had finished the entire bowl, Yun Yan set it aside and helped her lie back down. Lin Aoxue, utterly exhausted, barely had time to rest her head against the pillow before she drifted off into a deep sleep.

Yun Yan tidied up the room, gathered the clothes Lin Aoxue had left unwashed at the bedside, and then turned to leave the tent.

***

After drinking the porridge, Lin Aoxue slept soundly and deeply. When she woke up, daylight was already shining brightly outside the tent. She rubbed her still-dizzy head and was just about to get up when a soldier outside called out.

“Baihu Lin, Doctor Yun is here.”

Lin Aoxue froze for a moment, then immediately rolled out of bed. By the time she steadied herself, Yun Yan had already lifted the tent flap and walked in, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup and a meal. She placed the tray on the small table beside Lin Aoxue’s bed and said with a blank expression, “Drink the medicine first. I’ll come back later.”

With that, she turned and left without saying anything more.

Lin Aoxue was utterly confused. She had no idea why Yun Yan was suddenly acting so cold toward her. Had she accidentally offended her somehow? Or was she angry because of Lin Aoxue’s reckless attack on the county commandant, which had provoked Beichen Long?

She was still pondering these questions as she picked up the medicine bowl, and she was still thinking about them even after she put it down. No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t figure it out.

After finishing the medicine, she rinsed her mouth with fresh water and absentmindedly picked up the bowl of food. She habitually scooped a bite into her mouth, then suddenly paused.

Her gaze dropped to the meal in front of her. Something about the taste seemed different from usual.

She took another two bites. That strange feeling grew stronger. Looking more closely at the food, she finally realized—the rice was slightly burnt. 

The vegetables were slightly overcooked. 

The cured meat… had been dipped in vinegar, making the sauce sour.

It didn’t seem like something made by the camp’s cooks.

Her thoughts spun in endless loops as Lin Aoxue bit her chopsticks, frowning in deep contemplation. Without realizing it, she had finished the entire bowl of food.

As she set down the bowl and chopsticks, she suddenly recalled Yun Yan’s unnatural behavior earlier. A bold thought flashed through her mind.

Could it be that Yun Yan made this meal?

Her heart skipped a beat, and despite her usual indifferent demeanor, a silly grin spread across her face.

But soon, she forced herself to straighten up, furrowing her brows in thought. What if she was wrong? Maybe the cook had simply had an off day? Or perhaps a new kitchen hand had arrived and was still unfamiliar with the setup?

She racked her brain, trying to find reasons to rule out Yun Yan as the culprit. Yun Yan was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, not to mention her exceptional abilities in medicine and poison—surely, cooking would be no exception. Lin Aoxue reasoned with herself, trying to convince her own heart. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.

About half an hour later, Yun Yan returned, saying she needed to change Lin Aoxue’s bandages. Lin Aoxue watched her with a knowing look, and when Yun Yan’s gaze casually swept over the empty bowl and chopsticks on the table, her suspicions were confirmed.

Lin Aoxue was overjoyed. She hadn’t expected Yun Yan to express kindness in such a way, nor had she expected that Yun Yan truly couldn’t cook. Back when they promised to be close as sisters, Yun Yan had always looked out for her. And now, she was even secretly learning how to cook for her.

Having tasted that meal, Lin Aoxue instantly understood why Yun Yan had quietly avoided admitting she was the one who made it. Holding back her laughter, Lin Aoxue deliberately remarked, “Did the kitchen get a new cook? There was a lot more meat in my meal today!”

Yun Yan froze for a moment, then let out a surprised laugh. But she quickly stifled it, putting on a stern face as she scolded, “What are you? A little pup? Always so eager to eat meat? Lie down for your medicine!”

Lin Aoxue was still grinning, but as soon as she heard Yun Yan’s last sentence, her smile disappeared. Sulking, she begrudgingly lay down on the bed. Being undressed while fully awake was an entirely different experience from when she was half-conscious. The autumn wind slipped through the gaps in the tent’s entrance, making her shiver with goosebumps.

Yun Yan worked swiftly, but to Lin Aoxue, it felt like an eternity. By the time her wounds were freshly bandaged and Yun Yan had finished giving her instructions to move as little as possible, Lin Aoxue’s face was as hot as a steaming basket of buns.

Yun Yan pressed her lips together, struggling to hold back her laughter. She coaxed Lin Aoxue into lying back down, then picked up the empty bowls from earlier. Seeing that the meal had been completely finished, Yun Yan’s smile deepened. With a lighthearted mood, she lifted the tent flap and walked out.

The next day, the meal was still slightly burnt—but this time, the bowl was practically overflowing with meat.

***

During her time under house arrest, Lin Aoxue spent her days either sleeping or reading in the tent. Beichen Long never came to see her.

Yun Yan visited daily to change her bandages and, without fail, brought her meals. Lin Aoxue ate overcooked food for nearly half a month, but over time, the “cook’s” skills seemed to improve. The meals became more fragrant, flavorful, and no longer burnt. However, the portion of meat remained as generous as ever.

After a month, Lin Aoxue suspected she had gained several pounds. Under Yun Yan’s meticulous care, the knife wound on her waist healed quickly. As her house arrest neared its end, so did her recovery.