The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 31 Part 2

Lin Aoxue was confused but didn’t let her guard down. She immediately moved to subdue him.

However, at that moment, the man suddenly lifted his head and, with a hoarse voice, murmured uncertainly, “Xue’er?”

There was something uncertain in his tone, yet Lin Aoxue felt an invisible force stopping her blade in midair, preventing her from striking.

The cloth wrapping on the man’s face loosened, revealing a rugged and resolute face. Seeing Lin Aoxue frozen in place, he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her arm, exposing an old, two-inch-long scar on her forearm.

“There’s no mistake—you’re Xue’er! You’re alive after all!” His voice trembled with emotion, and his eyes gleamed with overwhelming excitement.

Lin Aoxue yanked her hand back and took two steps away. She dared not speak, unsure of what to do. The situation had completely deviated from her expectations, throwing her into momentary uncertainty.

She recognized this man as Sui Liang, a former subordinate of her father’s—an exceptionally skilled martial artist who had taught her as a child. The scar on her left arm was from when she was fifteen. At the time, overestimating her abilities, she had attempted to act as a righteous warrior, only to be injured in a fight.

The only people who knew about that incident were her parents and the man who had saved her and bandaged her wound—Sui Liang himself.

Lin Aoxue had never imagined that she would encounter one of her father’s old subordinates here, nor that the Prince of the First Rank’s assassination attempt on Beichen He was connected to them. And most shockingly, Sui Liang had recognized her.

Reality had forced Lin Aoxue into an incredibly difficult position. She had no idea how to handle the current situation.

If she let Sui Liang escape, she would certainly lose Beichen He’s trust. But if she fought with all her might to capture him, how could she live with her conscience? How could she face her deceased parents?

As she stood in silent turmoil, Sui Liang had already confirmed her identity. His bloodshot eyes glistened with tears. He wanted to say something, but before he could, a sudden scream from behind startled him.

The masked operatives working under Beichen He had successfully captured the fleeing performer. Now that they were free, they could aid Lin Aoxue.

Time was running out. Sui Liang could have, and should have, used this moment to escape. But instead, after casting one last deep look at Lin Aoxue, he suddenly attacked.

His expression was intense, his strike forceful. Lin Aoxue furrowed her brows and instinctively countered, though she did not use a lethal move. Her dagger flicked forward, intending only to deflect his attack.

However, just as she was about to parry, Sui Liang abruptly withdrew his strike. In the next instant, to Lin Aoxue’s utter shock, he lunged forward and impaled himself onto her blade.

The sheer impact of the moment stunned Lin Aoxue. The dagger plunged into Sui Liang’s chest without resistance. Her hand trembled, warm blood splattering onto her fingers.

Staring at him in horror, she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper, “Uncle Liang…”

Sui Liang heard Lin Aoxue’s voice and let out a soft laugh. But as soon as he laughed, hot blood slid down from the corner of his mouth. He sighed as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Then, with great difficulty, he raised his hand and made a light cut on the wound on Lin Aoxue’s left forearm, using a fresh injury to cover the old scar.

The dagger in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter. The masked men were still closing in quickly. Sui Liang leaned in close to Lin Aoxue, whispering something in her ear. Then, as if possessed, he suddenly shoved her forcefully.

The blade that had pierced his chest was pulled out, white going in and red coming out, and the blood-stained dagger slipped away. Staggering backward, he was struck from behind by one of the masked men who had caught up, receiving a full-force slash to his back.

Lin Aoxue’s pupils contracted. She clenched her fists instinctively, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. In her shocked yet forcibly restrained gaze, Sui Liang curved his lips into an almost imperceptible smile. Then, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground like a discarded sack.

“Not bad,” one of the masked men praised Lin Aoxue before crouching down to pick up Sui Liang. He wasn’t completely dead—only gravely injured. If they brought him back to the Prince of the First Rank’s manor in time, they might still be able to interrogate him.

Lin Aoxue fought hard to suppress the rage surging within her. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned stark white. The wound in her right palm split open once again, but she had no energy to care.

She longed to break free and kill these two masked men on the spot, to save Sui Liang. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t even close her eyes to escape reality or reveal the slightest hesitation or panic. She had to keep her expression cold, acting as normal as possible to conceal her vulnerability, pain, and struggle.

From the moment Sui Liang discovered Lin Aoxue’s identity, he understood her intentions and made his choice in front of her. And Lin Aoxue could only do her best to fulfill his expectations. He had believed, from beginning to end, that Lin Aoxue would never disappoint him.

The masked men dragged the unconscious Sui Liang away, along with another person who had been hiding in the house, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Lin Aoxue’s heart twisted in pain so severe it was almost unbearable, but she forced herself to remain calm. She could not afford to reveal any flaws in front of the Prince of the First Rank.

This act—she had to see it through.

She followed the masked men as they brought Sui Liang and the rescued performer back to the Prince of the First Rank’s manor. After ordering the shadow guards to take the prisoners away for interrogation, Beichen He asked about the events of the day. The masked men recounted everything truthfully, and when they mentioned how Lin Aoxue had acted decisively, severely wounding Sui Liang and ensuring the mission’s success, Beichen He’s smile deepened noticeably.

Pleased, he patted Lin Aoxue’s shoulder, then glanced at her injured left arm and said with a smile, “Have the physician take a look at your arm later. Rest well for the next few days.”

Once Beichen He finished speaking, Lin Aoxue respectfully bowed and took her leave. She climbed over the wall and exited the manor, returning to the inn.

As for what would happen to Sui Liang and the theatre troupe, Lin Aoxue could no longer intervene. They had been taken to the Prince of the First Rank’s manor—rescue was impossible. Sui Liang, knowing that Lin Aoxue couldn’t save him, had chosen such an extreme method to conceal her identity, severing any connection between her and them, and helping her gain Beichen He’s complete trust.

***

Lin Aoxue forced herself to remain composed as she returned to the inn. She acted as usual, instructing the innkeeper to prepare a meal and ordering an extra jug of wine to be delivered to her room later.

Once inside her room, she locked the door behind her. Only then did exhaustion finally show in her eyes. She slid weakly down the wooden door, collapsing onto the floor. Covering her face with both hands, she let her tears flow freely, mingling with the bloodstains on her palms.

She didn’t know how things had come to this.

For over ten years, she had struggled, endured humiliation, and fought to survive, all for the chance to one day clear her father’s name.

She had always believed she was alone—that she had no one to rely on, no one to trust. So she carried all the burdens on her own, determined to seize military power. She had trained tirelessly in the bitter cold of the borderlands, earning Beichen Long’s trust, climbing her way up little by little.

Now that she had returned to the capital, she had adapted to the circumstances, aligning herself with Beichen He. She understood her position clearly and accepted his offer, even though every step she took was fraught with danger. A single mistake could lead to eternal ruin. But she had no choice—she lacked power and had to endure in silence.

What she hadn’t expected was that somewhere, in a corner unknown to her, there were people resisting Beichen He—people fighting for her deceased parents. They didn’t doubt her motives. Instead, they offered their unwavering loyalty, their lives, and their blood to help her.

She felt as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing on her heart, making it impossible to breathe. Even the simple act of drawing breath sent pain piercing through her bones.

It took her a long time to calm down. When she finally did, a sharp knock sounded at the door. She rose to her feet, composed her expression, and wiped away her tears.

The innkeeper delivered her meal. Lin Aoxue took out the medicine Yun Yan had given her, lifted her injured arm, and took a swig from the wine jug. Then, she sprayed the alcohol directly onto her wound. A sharp, searing pain shot through her, reaching deep into her soul. Her face turned pale as paper, making her look utterly haggard. She took a deep breath, cleaned the blood from her wound, applied the medicine quickly, and roughly bandaged it.

She glanced at the food but didn’t touch it. Instead, she dumped it all out. After a night of exhaustion, both physically and mentally, she was in no mood to eat.

She changed out of her bloodstained clothes. But as she removed her outer garments, an unfamiliar object slipped from her waist and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Lin Aoxue froze, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes. She bent down to pick up the small metal object, realizing it was a finely crafted golden key. Aside from its delicate workmanship, it had a simple design, with no inscriptions or distinguishing marks.

Frowning, Lin Aoxue recalled Sui Liang’s final whisper before he had pushed her away.

“The golden sun scatters the clouds, the red lotus blooms in turn.”

That key must have been slipped into her waistband at that very moment—when Sui Liang had forcefully pushed her away.

Previously, Lin Aoxue had puzzled over the hidden meaning behind that cryptic phrase, unable to grasp its significance. But now, upon seeing this golden key, a thought naturally emerged in her mind.

The phrase most likely hinted at a location, and that location must have something to do with this golden key.

Lin Aoxue took a deep breath and quickly stowed away the key. She deliberated on where to hide such an important item so that no one would discover it.

The capital was too dangerous. If she couldn’t find an opportunity to investigate before returning to the northern frontier, she would have no choice but to take it with her and wait for the right moment in the future.

Afterward, Lin Aoxue washed her bloodstained clothes. In the following days, she went nowhere, staying in the inn to recover from her injuries and regain her composure.

The revelation that her father’s former subordinates had attempted to assassinate Beichen He had dealt her a heavy blow, leaving her emotions in turmoil. She feared that if she went outside, she might lose control of her surging hatred and do something reckless. So, she chose to remain in the inn, focusing on steadying herself.

***

Several days later, while reading in her room, a sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Lin Aoxue went to open it, only to be surprised by the visitor—Yun Yan.

She froze for a moment, unable to react. It wasn’t until Yun Yan smiled at her and playfully tilted her head that she spoke, “It’s only been a few days since we last met, and already, Young Master Lin doesn’t recognize me?”

Lin Aoxue opened her mouth in astonishment. “Yan’er, why are you here?”

Lin Aoxue had previously suspected that Yun Yan might be gathering intelligence for someone. Therefore, it wasn’t too surprising that Yun Yan knew her whereabouts. However, since arriving in the capital, Yun Yan had never sought her out before. That was what truly puzzled her.

“Young Master, it’s been over ten days since we parted on New Year’s Day, and you haven’t come to see me. Have you forgotten about me?”

Instead of answering Lin Aoxue’s question, Yun Yan pouted with a sorrowful expression, looking as if she was about to cry. Her pitiful act startled Lin Aoxue into flustered explanations.

“No, it’s just… just that I’ve been busy lately…”

Seeing Lin Aoxue so rattled, Yun Yan laughed even more cheerfully. This person was still as easy to tease as ever. She tugged at Lin Aoxue’s sleeve and grinned. “Why are you so nervous?”

For the past few days, Lin Aoxue had confined herself to her room, having her meals delivered by the innkeeper. The first few nights, she was plagued by dreams—haunting scenes of the massacre at the grand general’s manor thirteen years ago, or the moment when Sui Liang had thrown himself onto her blade. The nightmares left her mentally and physically exhausted.

It was only in the last two days that she had begun to feel slightly better. She could read to calm herself, and with the Prince of the First Rank’s residence no longer summoning her, she had the time to adjust her emotions.

She hadn’t gone to see Yun Yan because she was afraid that her negativity would affect her, revealing things she didn’t want known.

But she hadn’t realized that more than ten days had already passed.

Flustered, Lin Aoxue quickly invited Yun Yan inside. 

Yun Yan glanced around the small room in the inn, finding it far too shabby. Noticing the thin, stiff blanket on the bed, she frowned with concern. “Why is it so miserable in here?”

Seeing Yun Yan touch her bedding with worry, Lin Aoxue scratched her head and explained, “I… I haven’t been out these past few days, so I didn’t have the innkeeper clean up.”

Before she could finish speaking, Yun Yan looked up at her with a curious gaze. “But just now, you said you were busy these past few days?”

Caught off guard by the question, Lin Aoxue nearly bit her own tongue. She averted her eyes and muttered, “Um… I was busy reading.”

“Oh, really?” Yun Yan chuckled, then walked over to the table. She picked up the book Lin Aoxue had just set down, glanced at the cover, and read aloud in a perfectly enunciated tone, “Little Notes on Finding Flowers?”

(T/N: Flowers can mean women in literacy. For example, the saying “flower thief” often leads to scum men who harass women)

Lin Aoxue was utterly embarrassed. This book was one of the random ones she had asked the innkeeper’s assistant to buy for her. Earlier that day, feeling idle, she had casually flipped through a couple of pages without paying much attention. She hadn’t even noticed what the book was about—only to now be caught red-handed by Yun Yan.

Yun Yan clicked her tongue disapprovingly. Though she didn’t open the book, the title alone was enough to tell her that its contents were far from proper. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe it was merely a collection of notes on flower appreciation. Setting the book down, she glanced at Lin Aoxue with a meaningful look. 

Lin Aoxue let out a long sigh and said helplessly, “I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”

Seeing the troubled expression on her face, Yun Yan spoke gently, “Would you like to talk about it?”

She knew well that Lin Aoxue wasn’t the type to read such books. The way she had been so absentminded today only confirmed that something was weighing heavily on her mind, causing her to lose focus.

Lin Aoxue exhaled and gestured for Yun Yan to sit at the table. She then poured a cup of tea and handed it to her, letting her warm her hands before speaking.

“I once told you that after my family’s downfall, I came to the capital to seek out relatives. But that relative of mine fell ill and passed away, and the rest of the family’s whereabouts became unknown. A few days ago, I ran into someone who recognized me. We had a couple of drinks, and he told me that one of my relatives’ descendants is still alive—but they haven’t been seen in a long time, and no one knows where they are.”

Hearing this, Yun Yan looked up and asked, “So, you’re debating whether to search for them?”

Lin Aoxue remained silent. If the matter were as simple as Yun Yan made it sound, she wouldn’t be so troubled.

“Mm… But I won’t be staying in the capital for long. Even if I find them, it won’t change much.” She spoke in a low, brooding tone.

Yun Yan gazed at her, then chuckled softly. “But it’s on your mind. If you don’t go and see for yourself, how will you ever be at ease?”

Lin Aoxue took a sip of tea and asked, “So you think I should go find them?”

Yun Yan smiled. “Why not?”

Lin Aoxue steadied herself, and suddenly, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled and said, “You’re right, Yan’er. Before I leave, I’ll set aside some time to look for them and see if I can find anything.”

Seeing that Lin Aoxue had come to a decision, Yun Yan propped her chin on her hand and looked at her with a smile. “Aoxue, do you know what day tomorrow is?”

Lin Aoxue blinked, thinking for a moment before realization struck her. “Oh! It’s the Lantern Festival!”

She had been cooped up in her room for so many days that she had lost track of time. Without noticing, the Lantern Festival had already arrived.

Yun Yan’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she intertwined her slender, jade-like fingers and said with a teasing smile, “So, does our Young Master Lin have any free time tomorrow to accompany this humble lady in admiring the lanterns in the city?”

A smile bloomed on Lin Aoxue’s face. Having just resolved some of her worries, her mood had lightened considerably. Since Yun Yan had taken the initiative to invite her, she didn’t bother with her usual restraint. Instead, she responded with an easy, openhearted laugh, “It’s a rare festive occasion, and with such a beautiful lady inviting me, how could I possibly be busy?”

Yun Yan raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “Oh? It seems that book wasn’t read in vain after all.”

Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward the Little Notes on Finding Flowers book beside Lin Aoxue’s hand. In an instant, the confidence Lin Aoxue had just built up shattered, and her face flushed a deep red.