The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 29 Part 2

As she stepped out of Yanyu Tower, her emotions were a complicated tangle. She had not expected that the melody she had overheard by chance truly belonged to Yun Yan. If she still could not see that Yun Yan had a formidable force backing her, she would be nothing short of a fool.

When Yun Yan left the northern frontier, she had told Lin Aoxue that she needed to return to the capital for the New Year. Even then, Lin Aoxue had speculated about her identity.

Among the numerous qin-playing courtesans in the north, Yun Yan had always seemed different. No other courtesan carried herself with such effortless elegance, maintaining a sense of composure despite her surroundings. Even when she disappeared from Yanyu Tower for days, no one dared to question her absence.

Now that Yun Yan had returned to the capital and was accepted into its Yanyu Tower, it was evident that she had the backing of a powerful aristocrat. If that was the case, then it made perfect sense why Yun Yan had once confided in Lin Aoxue that she had been sent to Yanyu Tower by her own biological father.

At the same time, Lin Aoxue also understood why Yun Yan was so exceptionally talented.

It became increasingly clear that the Yanyu Tower in the capital was inextricably linked to the one in the north. Lin Aoxue speculated that Yun Yan’s father, in an attempt to curry favor with a powerful figure in the capital, had offered up his own daughter, allowing her to be used at their disposal.

Such an act must have been a devastating betrayal for Yun Yan.

Even if she had, through her own efforts, gained the appreciation of her powerful patron and secured a certain level of status, her reputation had been irreparably tarnished. The person she should have been able to rely on the most had been the one to push her into the abyss. Compared to Lin Aoxue, Yun Yan’s fate was even more tragic.

Now, Lin Aoxue had a better understanding of why Yun Yan had been sent to the north in the first place. A place like a pleasure house was the perfect setting for gathering intelligence. Yun Yan had likely been placed there as a spy, stationed in the harsh and bitter northern frontier, wasting away her youth with no means of escape.

It was no wonder that beneath her seemingly calm and gentle eyes, there was always a shadow of sorrow and loneliness. Yet she never spoke of her suffering, never confided in anyone. Even Lin Aoxue had never heard a single word of resentment from her.

At first, Lin Aoxue could not understand it, but now she saw the truth. She sighed deeply in her heart, feeling both sympathy and pain. It was a sorrowful realization—one born from the shared misfortune of two people abandoned by fate.

What pained her the most was that even though Yun Yan carried such unbearable sorrow, she had still treated Lin Aoxue with boundless warmth and had, in the end, saved her.

A deep longing to see Yun Yan again surged within Lin Aoxue. The desire was almost unbearable. For the next two days, she went to Yanyu Tower daily, but each time, she failed to find Yun Yan. When she finally asked the servant at the entrance, she was told that Yun Yan had pressing matters to attend to and would likely not return before the New Year.

Lin Aoxue was deeply disappointed. With no other choice, she returned to the inn, hoping that after the holiday, she might finally get a chance to see Yun Yan.

***

Meanwhile, Guo Wencheng returned to the Guo family home, kneeling outside the entrance for two hours before finally earning his father’s forgiveness and being allowed back inside.

Although his family still had complaints about him returning to the northern frontier after the New Year, they no longer attempted to stop him. His father let out a long sigh and urged him to be cautious at the border, reminding him that safeguarding his own life was the most important thing.

Guo Wencheng agreed repeatedly, but seeing his father’s reddened eyes, he found himself unable to suppress his own emotions, his vision blurring with unshed tears.

***

The capital was brimming with festive cheer. Firecrackers popped in the streets, laughter and music filling the air. People danced and celebrated under flickering lantern lights.

After tending to matters at home, Guo Wencheng made another trip to the inn, hoping to invite Lin Aoxue to spend the New Year with his family.

Lin Aoxue was touched by the invitation, but she had already made plans. She had no choice but to decline Guo Wencheng’s offer. She did not reveal that she would be attending the Prince of the First Rank’s banquet, only stating that she already had an engagement for New Year’s Eve. Guo Wencheng did not press further, leaving her to remain at the inn.

When New Year’s Eve arrived, Lin Aoxue attended the banquet as invited. The steward was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing her, he immediately led her inside.

Beichen He, upon seeing Lin Aoxue arrive, surprisingly stood up to personally welcome her with a warm smile.

The banquet had already been set, and aside from Lin Aoxue, several high-ranking officials from the capital were also present.

To Lin Aoxue’s surprise, Beichen Ling was seated at the table alone, without a male companion at her side.

Upon seeing Lin Aoxue, Beichen Ling’s lips curved into a faint smile as she greeted her, “Qianhu Lin, I trust you have been well.”

Lin Aoxue feigned surprise, slightly opening her mouth and pausing for a moment before bowing deeply. “I did not know that the person inside the carriage that day was Your Highness. I have offended you previously and ask for your generous forgiveness.”

A trace of disappointment flickered in Beichen Ling’s eyes. She suddenly felt that Lin Aoxue was no different from the minor officials and petty clerks who tried to curry favor with the Prince of the First Rank’s household. The smile on her face faded, her expression turning indifferent, and she no longer spoke to Lin Aoxue.

Lin Aoxue also did not linger on her, and as Beichen He signaled her to take a seat, he clapped his hands to summon the theatrical troupe he had arranged in advance.

A stage had already been set up in the courtyard, and soon, the crisp sounds of musical instruments rang out. Actors dressed in colorful opera costumes began their performance. Their skills were refined, their singing smooth and melodious, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of gongs and drums. Even the servants standing on either side of the courtyard were watching, and the lively atmosphere filled the prince’s residence.

During the banquet, Beichen He engaged in casual conversation with the high-ranking officials, while Lin Aoxue remained quietly seated in the corner. Simply being invited to such an occasion was already a great honor; there was no need for Beichen He to pay her constant attention. As the play neared its end, a servant came in to report.

“Your Highness, Miss Yun Yan has arrived.”

Lin Aoxue’s expression flickered slightly, but she quickly concealed her surprise. She heard Beichen He laugh as he said, “Good, after this performance ends, have Miss Yun Yan play a few pieces. It has been quite some time since I last heard her music.”

Lin Aoxue sat in silence, pouring herself a cup of clear wine and absentmindedly twirling the cup in her hand. Beichen Ling glanced up unintentionally and caught sight of her from the corner of her eye. Seeing Lin Aoxue’s calm demeanor and disinterest in socializing with the guests, Beichen Ling found herself puzzled once more.

Before long, the performance concluded, the actors left the stage in an orderly manner, and after many days apart, Lin Aoxue finally saw Yun Yan again.

This time, Yun Yan wore a flowing red dress, her face adorned with subtle makeup. Her delicate beauty was now tinged with the elegance of a mature woman. Every movement she made was naturally enchanting, breathtaking beyond compare.

Even without any makeup, Yun Yan had always possessed an ethereal grace. Now, dressed with deliberate care, she was truly mesmerizing.

Cradling a finely crafted guqin in her arms, Yun Yan’s long skirt swept the floor as she ascended the stage gracefully. The gathered officials found themselves unconsciously holding their breath. Were it not for Beichen He’s presence maintaining order in the Prince of the First Rank’s residence, many among them might have lost their composure.

Seated in the corner, Lin Aoxue gazed toward the stage, momentarily captivated by Yun Yan’s striking transformation. In her dark pupils, Yun Yan’s red dress seemed to reflect like a vivid bloom, its radiance spreading outward, leaving Lin Aoxue momentarily dazed.

A brief moment later, Lin Aoxue withdrew her gaze, steadied herself, and lowered her eyes, not daring to look again. She took a sip of wine, silently sighing at how Yun Yan’s beauty was truly unmatched—an unparalleled grace rare in this world.

Then, the sound of the guqin filled the air, just as breathtaking as always.

One of the performers stepped forward, volunteering to accompany the melody with a sword dance. Beichen He readily agreed, and the dancer moved across the courtyard, wielding the sword in sync with the music, each movement alternating between power and grace.

The guests were enchanted, immersed in both the music and the elegant sword dance.

As the dancer stepped closer to the guests’ seats, the rhythm of the swordplay subtly shifted. Suddenly, the sword in her hand trembled, disrupting the harmony of the melody. In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward like a gust of wind, thrusting her sword straight at Beichen He!

The sudden attack left the guests in shock, unable to react in time. The guards stationed in the residence were caught off guard, and as the sword’s tip neared Beichen He’s chest, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

A flickering shadow shot forward, striking precisely at the assassin’s wrist.

The performer grimaced in pain as the sword wavered and fell from her grasp. Embedded in her wrist, piercing through the bone, was a single bamboo chopstick.

But she did not give up. With her other hand, she swiftly pulled out the hairpin from her head. Her bloodshot eyes burned with hatred as she swung it down toward Beichen He’s throat, determined to take his life.

Beichen He was unarmed and had no time to dodge. He could only watch as the sharp hairpin closed in on him.

At that moment, Lin Aoxue, having used the brief pause from the chopstick’s intervention, had already leaped into action. She grabbed Beichen He’s shoulder and pulled him back swiftly, while simultaneously reaching out to intercept the assassin’s strike.

A soft sound echoed—pfft—as the hairpin pierced straight through Lin Aoxue’s palm. Blood bloomed across her hand, but her expression remained unchanged. Instead, she used the opportunity to seize the assassin’s wrist and twisted it sharply.

A sickening crack rang out. The assassin let out a piercing scream, her wrist snapped completely.

Without hesitation, Lin Aoxue struck again, sealing the assassin’s acupoints with lightning speed. By then, the guards had finally rushed forward and subdued the would-be assassin, twisting her arms behind her back to prevent further attacks.

But before Beichen He could even give the order for an interrogation, the assassin bit down hard, crushing a hidden poison capsule in her mouth. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed lifelessly, taking the secret behind her assassination attempt to the grave.

The captain of the guards fell to his knees in panic, his voice trembling as he pleaded, “Your Highness, we failed to protect you in time. Please punish us!”

Although Beichen He had been startled, he was, after all, a man at the pinnacle of power. He quickly composed himself, suppressing his alarm, and gestured for the guards to remove the corpse before ordering a thorough investigation.

After that, he turned to look at Lin Aoxue and saw that the hairpin was still embedded in the palm of her right hand, blood streaming down. He immediately called out, “Summon a physician to tend to Qianhu Lin’s injury!”

The servants hurried to fetch a doctor, while the guests inside the hall were still shaken. 

Beichen He swept his gaze over the assembled officials, his face showing a trace of helplessness, and said, “There has been an unexpected incident in the manor today, causing you all distress and disrupting the festivities. The fault lies with me.”

With this, Beichen He effectively dismissed his guests. None of the officials dared to voice any complaints and tactfully took their leave.

***

On the courtyard’s music stage, Yun Yan had already retreated beside the qin, kneeling with her head lowered. Her downcast gaze carried an extremely complex mix of emotions—shock, panic, surprise, and even a hint of joy.

She had never imagined she would see Lin Aoxue in the capital, much less at a banquet in the Prince of the First Rank’s manor.

Beyond her initial astonishment, a surge of frustration and helplessness welled up within her. Just now, she had seen Lin Aoxue get injured.

This person was always like this—never caring for her own body. She would rather sacrifice herself to save others. It was foolish, too kind.

***

The prince’s residence had an in-house physician, and the elderly doctor arrived quickly. With skilled hands, he extracted the hairpin embedded in Lin Aoxue’s flesh, then carefully bandaged the wound. After warning her to keep the injury dry, he took his leave.

Once the physician had departed, Beichen He asked Lin Aoxue if she wished to stay at the manor for the night, given her injured hand.

Lin Aoxue smiled slightly and replied, “My injury is on my hand, not my legs. There’s no need to trouble the Prince further. However…” She trailed off, hesitating mid-sentence.

“However what?” Beichen He motioned for her to continue.

Lin Aoxue cast a sidelong glance at Yun Yan, who was still kneeling beside the qin on the stage. Her heart trembled slightly before she continued, “However, Miss Yun Yan’s song was interrupted without cause. I would like to hear her finish the piece.”

Beichen He was clearly surprised by this request. He was momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter. “I never expected young Lin-xiongdi to be a man of musical appreciation. Very well, then. Miss Yun Yan, please play the piece again.”

Yun Yan accepted the command and rose, returning to her seat before the qin. As she gently ran her fingers over the instrument, she instinctively glanced at Lin Aoxue. She saw that, though Lin Aoxue had her head slightly turned away, her gaze flickered from the corner of her eye. Their eyes met briefly in the air before Lin Aoxue swiftly averted hers, as if it had been unintentional.

Yun Yan’s lips curled into a soft, radiant smile, making her even more stunning.

The qin’s melody rang out once more. Despite the earlier disruption, Yun Yan’s performance remained flawless, captivating the hearts of all who listened.

From the moment the performer had unexpectedly tried to assassinate Beichen He and Lin Aoxue had courageously intervened, Beichen Ling had been somewhat distracted.

All the officials took their leave, leaving only Beichen Ling and a group of guards in the hall. She first inquired whether Beichen He was injured, then shifted her gaze to Lin Aoxue.

Now that she was closer, she could clearly see the sharp contours of Lin Aoxue’s side profile. There was something about this cold and rigid face that bore a striking resemblance to someone from her past.

A look of contemplation flashed through Beichen Ling’s eyes before she unexpectedly spoke to Lin Aoxue, “I wonder, Qianhu Lin, what made you enlist in the military? With your skills, if you had taken the martial examination in the capital, the title of martial champion would have surely been yours.”

Lin Aoxue was surprised that Beichen Ling had taken the initiative to speak to her. Retracting her gaze from the qin stage, she turned to face Beichen Ling.

Compared to ten years ago, the latter’s appearance had changed greatly—gone was the youthful innocence, replaced with maturity and the dignified grace of someone who had long held a position of power. She was far beyond the reach of an ordinary noblewoman.

Lin Aoxue forcibly suppressed the surge of anger and hatred in her heart, ensuring not a trace of resentment showed on her face. She saw no need to hide the truth and calmly recounted the details written in her records—how she was born in Queyang, how her village had been slaughtered by barbarians, and how she had barely escaped with her life, though her face had been burned by the fire. She then spoke of traveling to the capital in search of relatives, only to find that her distant kin had died of illness, and the rest of the family had moved away without a trace.

“I once lived as a beggar on the streets of the capital for three years. I nearly died in the western marketplace, but by chance, I encountered Master Hongming, who took me to the temple to practice under him.”

There was no point in concealing these things—Beichen He would have investigated them regardless.

At this point, Beichen Ling asked if she had honed all her martial skills during that time. Lin Aoxue replied with an expressionless “Yes.”

Hearing her response, a faint trace of disappointment surfaced in Beichen Ling’s eyes. Though she knew they were not the same person, she could not suppress her silent hope that anyone who resembled that person might be connected to them. Yet, in the end, this hope only led to repeated disappointment.

She asked nothing more and simply sat there, supporting herself against the table, gazing absentmindedly at the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

At some point, the music had stopped. Yun Yan stood and took her leave. Beichen He did not stop her, merely ordering the servants to escort her out. After Yun Yan left, Lin Aoxue did not linger in the manor either. Using the late hour as an excuse, she too withdrew from the Prince of the First Rank’s residence.

After leaving, Lin Aoxue looked around the area outside the manor, but Yun Yan was nowhere in sight. A sense of disappointment stirred within her, but she quickly shook it off and made her way toward Yanyu Tower at a brisk pace.

As she neared Yanyu Tower, she quickened her steps, practically striding over to ask a servant if Yun Yan was present.

The servant recognized her and, unlike before, did not immediately turn her away. Instead, he respectfully replied, “Miss Yun Yan went to the Prince of the First Rank’s residence today. She likely won’t return here tonight.”

Lin Aoxue had not expected this answer. Would she truly not see Yun Yan tonight?

Her disappointment deepened. Descending the steps in front of Yanyu Tower, she furrowed her brows tightly. Though her expression remained composed, the regret and sorrow in her eyes were impossible to hide.

She wandered aimlessly through the streets. It was New Year’s Eve—once midnight passed, a new year would begin. The streets were mostly deserted; families had shut their doors to gather inside for the night, and though lanterns still adorned the city, the atmosphere was eerily quiet.

The capital was not as cold as the northern frontier, but the night air was still bitterly chilly. Each breath she exhaled turned into white mist. Lin Aoxue paced back and forth along the street in front of Yanyu Tower, unwilling to stray too far. She wondered if, in her haste, she had somehow missed Yun Yan.

So she decided to wait. If she still did not see Yun Yan by midnight, then perhaps… it was simply not meant to be.

She waited for a long time. As the night deepened, darkness seemed to swallow everything. There was no end to her waiting, no resolution in sight.

Then, finally, from behind her, a soft and gentle voice called out, “The night is cold, and the dew is heavy. Young Master, instead of returning home to rest, who is it that you are waiting for?”

Lin Aoxue’s back stiffened as if frozen in place. She remained silent for a long moment before slowly turning around. Her lips were tightly pressed together, her expression solemn, but behind her back, her fingers twisted together, so tightly that they had lost color.

“I am waiting for you.”

For once, she was utterly, unreservedly honest.