The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 33 Part 1

Lin Aoxue heard the thief mention that there was a golden key inside the embroidered pouch. Instantly alert, she grabbed the pouch, feeling both incredulous and quick to reassure herself not to overthink it. The matter was still uncertain, and she hadn’t seen the golden key herself. Just because there was a golden key inside didn’t necessarily mean it was related to the one Sui Liang had given her.

Still, she couldn’t help but raise her voice as she interrogated the thief, demanding to know which pawnshop the golden key had been taken to. The thief, terrified and trembling, didn’t dare to hide anything and quickly responded, “Fulai Pawnshop on West Street!”

Hearing the exact location, Lin Aoxue feared any delay might lead to complications. She let out a cold snort, kicked the thief harshly once more, and then strode away.

The thief, having narrowly escaped disaster, watched as Lin Aoxue disappeared within moments. He felt as if he’d encountered a ghost today. Stumbling and scrambling, he hurried home, silently vowing to never steal again. Instead, he would find a slow but stable way to make a living.

With the embroidered pouch in her hands, Lin Aoxue rushed toward Fulai Pawnshop on West Street. Her heart pounded like a drum, a nameless fear creeping up on her. She repeatedly comforted herself, convincing herself that this must be a coincidence. Yet, she couldn’t suppress the chaotic thoughts pulling her toward a different, more troubling possibility.

Yun Yan, what exactly is your identity?

If the pawned golden key was truly connected to the one in her possession, then what role did Yun Yan play in all of this?

Her mind was in turmoil, unable to think clearly. She could only quicken her pace toward Fulai Pawnshop. As long as she could redeem the golden key and take a look at it, she would know whether the two were related or not.

Though the night had fallen, the streets remained lively, and Fulai Pawnshop was still open. Lin Aoxue burst into the shop, startling the shopkeeper.

“This esteemed customer, you—”

Before the shopkeeper could finish, Lin Aoxue had already walked straight up to the counter and demanded sharply, “About half an hour ago, did someone pawn a golden key here?” She got straight to the point.

The shopkeeper, intimidated by her imposing presence, almost forgot to think. Fortunately, as soon as she mentioned a golden key, his memory clicked. He did recall such an item and nodded, saying, “Yes, yes! About half an hour ago, someone indeed pawned a golden key.”

A sharp light flashed in Lin Aoxue’s eyes. She pressed her hand against the counter and urged, “Let me see it!” She had thought this would be an easy request, but unexpectedly, the shopkeeper hesitated, looking troubled. Lin Aoxue frowned and snapped, “Is there a problem?”

The shopkeeper shuddered, instinctively feeling that Lin Aoxue was a force to be reckoned with. He hurriedly explained, “Honored customer, just about the time of a half-incense stick before you arrived, the golden key was already redeemed!”

“What?!” Lin Aoxue was furious. She slammed her palm on the counter, making the shopkeeper almost collapse in fear. Realizing her reaction was too intense, she restrained some of her anger and urgently asked, “Who redeemed it? Do you remember what they looked like?”

The shopkeeper hesitated. By principle, he wasn’t supposed to disclose customer information. But seeing Lin Aoxue’s aura, he feared she might smash his pawnshop if he refused. He swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and reluctantly answered, “It was a male customer… wearing a bamboo hat. I didn’t see his face.”

Lin Aoxue’s expression darkened. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to get any more information from him. Suppressing her frustration, she forced herself to remain patient, apologized, then turned and left.

Only when Lin Aoxue was completely gone did the shopkeeper finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Leaving Fulai Pawnshop, Lin Aoxue walked back, her mind a chaotic mess. Countless speculations flooded her thoughts, but she forcibly pushed them away with explanations—some weak, some reasonable.

Taking a deep breath, her steps unconsciously quickened, and before she knew it, she was near the inn. She pulled out the embroidered pouch she had taken back from the thief, holding it in her hands. The delicate plum blossom embroidery came into view, and suddenly, she let out a breath.

Although she hadn’t retrieved the golden key, at least she could still believe in Yun Yan—openly and without doubt. No matter what, without solid evidence, she had no reason to be suspicious.

Lin Aoxue held the embroidered pouch in her hand, unsure of how to handle the situation. If she were to return the pouch to Yun Yan as if nothing had happened, Yun Yan would most likely suspect her when discovering the missing contents, which could cause a rift between them.

After hesitating for a long time, Lin Aoxue let out a helpless sigh and tucked the pouch back into her clothing, deciding to keep the matter hidden for now.

Yun Yan had never asked her to retrieve the lost pouch from the thief; she had taken it upon herself to search for it, inadvertently uncovering a hidden secret. However, since the golden key had not fallen into her hands, she could still afford to stand by and observe.

***

The day after the Lantern Festival, Yun Yan seemed to be busy with other matters and was nowhere to be seen. Lin Aoxue even went to Yanyu Tower but did not find her there. This only deepened her doubts—was Yun Yan’s busyness somehow related to the missing golden key?

The army showed no signs of mobilizing. Lin Aoxue, not being part of the court, had no insight into the emperor’s plans. Meanwhile, Guo Wencheng remained at the Guo family’s old residence and rarely interacted with Lin Aoxue. Over time, she found herself with little to do.

Having already deciphered the hidden meaning of the poem Sui Liang had given her, she had visited Golden Sparrow Tower once after the Lantern Festival. She climbed to the top floor to investigate but found nothing remarkable, so she simply left.

Since then, she spent her days either reading to pass the time or practicing with her sword in the inn’s courtyard, leading a surprisingly idle life.

She had assumed this period of leisure would last until the Third Prince led the army’s departure, at which point she would return to the northern border. However, unexpectedly, Beichen He’s attendants suddenly visited again, summoning Lin Aoxue to the Prince of the First Rank’s residence.

This time, unlike before, the one sent to fetch her was not a shadow guard from the prince’s estate but a proper palace retainer. The man openly arrived at the inn, escorted Lin Aoxue, and led her to Beichen He.

Upon meeting him, Lin Aoxue respectfully saluted. She did not ask about Sui Liang and the others’ fate—Sui Liang had given her an opportunity to secure Beichen He’s trust, and she wasn’t foolish enough to risk breaking that trust by bringing it up.

As always, Beichen He wore a faint smile, appearing refined and approachable. His gaze briefly swept over Lin Aoxue’s arm before he asked with a smile, “Qianhu Lin, how is your injury from last time?”

Lin Aoxue’s expression remained unchanged. She lowered her eyes slightly and answered respectfully, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My injury has mostly healed.”

Hearing this, Beichen He smiled even more and nodded. “That’s good. I summoned you today because there’s something I’d like to consult you on.”

Lin Aoxue looked up at him in slight confusion. However, inwardly, she sneered—this old fox had undoubtedly already planned everything out and merely called her here to inform her. Still, she didn’t let her thoughts show and instead feigned ignorance, asking, “What does Your Highness require?”

Beichen He sat at his desk, flipping through a document as he spoke leisurely, “His Majesty intends to hold a spring hunting event in the coming days. I would like to invite you to participate and compete on my behalf. What do you think?”

Lin Aoxue understood immediately—Beichen He had already placed her in his camp, treating her as a chess piece under his control. Since she was new to the capital and held a relatively minor position, she wouldn’t attract too much attention from the emperor, making her an ideal operative. Beichen He likely wouldn’t entrust her with anything too sensitive yet; instead, he would test her loyalty and capability step by step.

In this game, every move had to be made cautiously—one misstep could lead to disaster.

Lin Aoxue understood this well, so when Beichen He extended his invitation, she had already made her decision.

She bowed respectfully, maintaining a submissive and compliant demeanor, showing no resistance to his arrangements but instead offering complete obedience.

“I will follow Your Highness’ orders.”

Beichen He was pleased with her attitude, smiling in satisfaction. He then dismissed her, stating that she would be summoned again on the day of the spring hunt. Lin Aoxue bowed and withdrew. After leaving the prince’s residence, she made another trip to Yanyu Tower, only to be informed that Yun Yan was still not there.

Without showing any emotion, Lin Aoxue thanked the servant and returned to the inn to continue her idle routine.

***

The day of the spring hunt arrived sooner than Lin Aoxue had expected. Just three days after she left the prince’s residence, Beichen He sent for her again. When Lin Aoxue arrived at the Prince of the First Rank’s estate, she found that Beichen He had already prepared horses and carriages, with a whole team assembled outside the estate, ready to depart.

The emperor had arranged for the hunt to take place in the imperial hunting grounds on Míngtíng Mountain. The location wasn’t far from the capital—traveling lightly, they would reach it in about half a day.

Beichen He had specially prepared a fine horse for Lin Aoxue. To her surprise, Beichen Ling was also participating in the hunt. Seeing Beichen Ling riding alone instead of sitting in a carriage, Lin Aoxue couldn’t help but wonder—this young lady, who couldn’t even pull a bowstring, was probably only there to make an appearance.

The convoy set off, traveling at a steady pace toward Míngtíng Mountain. Lin Aoxue rode behind the group, keeping a measured distance. Since the Lantern Festival had passed, the weather had started to warm. The snow was gradually melting, and as winter receded, hungry wild animals emerged from their dens to search for food.

Although spring had already begun, this was not actually an ideal time for a spring hunt. Lin Aoxue speculated that the emperor insisted on holding the hunt before the Third Prince set out on his military campaign because he wanted to give the prince an opportunity to stand out and build his reputation.

As dusk approached, the convoy from the Prince of the First Rank’s residence arrived at Míngtíng Mountain. Imperial guards had already been waiting at the foot of the mountain. When the convoy approached, the guards conducted a routine inspection. Recognizing the Prince of the First Rank’s carriage, they only gave it a cursory check before letting it pass.

The emperor himself was set to arrive the following day, but many military officials had already gathered on the mountain. When the Prince of the First Rank arrived, a number of court officials came to pay their respects. Lin Aoxue observed this scene but remained indifferent throughout.

That evening, the Prince of the First Rank and his entourage stayed at the temporary palace outside the hunting grounds on Míngtíng Mountain. Although Lin Aoxue held a lowly position, she was able to enter the palace thanks to Beichen He’s influence. Like the prince’s attendants, she was assigned her own guest room.

After returning her horse to the stable, Lin Aoxue was making her way back to her room when she encountered Beichen Ling in the corridor. As Beichen Ling approached, Lin Aoxue halted, maintaining an expressionless face as she respectfully greeted her.

Beichen Ling stopped as well, observing her closely. Lin Aoxue seemed different from what Beichen Ling had initially thought. At first, she had assumed that Lin Aoxue was like any other opportunistic official, currying favor with her father for personal gain.

However, over time, Beichen Ling noticed that Lin Aoxue’s behavior differed significantly from her initial impression.

She still vividly remembered what had happened on New Year’s Day. If Lin Aoxue were truly a sycophant who only pursued personal gain, she wouldn’t have displayed such obvious indifference that day, let alone openly slighted her in Yun Yan’s presence.

But if Lin Aoxue had done it to earn Yun Yan’s favor, that would be even more absurd. Yun Yan was merely a musician from Yanyu Tower, while Beichen Ling was a noble of the Prince of the First Rank’s household—their statuses were worlds apart. Lin Aoxue was clearly not foolish enough to offend the Prince of the First Rank for someone like Yun Yan.

Although Lin Aoxue’s face remained unreadable, Beichen Ling, who was highly perceptive, could sense the faint trace of disdain she harbored toward her.

Lin Aoxue always kept her distance, and whenever possible, she avoided crossing paths with Beichen Ling altogether. It was likely an instinctive reaction to prevent another confrontation. Most people wouldn’t have noticed such subtle behavior, but it didn’t escape Beichen Ling’s keen eyes.

Beichen Ling had always been a quiet and introspective person—sensitive, observant, and accustomed to solitude. She often became lost in thought, which made her even more aware of the emotions and nuances around her.

Now, standing in front of her, Lin Aoxue remained polite yet detached, without a hint of fear or submission. Her composed demeanor was flawless, prompting Beichen Ling to narrow her eyes slightly.

“Lin Aoxue,” Beichen Ling spoke softly. 

Lin Aoxue lifted her head, her gaze deep and steady as she met Beichen Ling’s eyes. There was no brilliance in those dark pupils—only a heavy darkness, like an unfathomable abyss.

“The Prince of the First Rank trusts you. But this princess doesn’t.”

Beichen Ling had harbored suspicions ever since she returned from the western market.

Lin Aoxue frowned slightly, intrigued by the deeper meaning behind Beichen Ling’s words. She referred to Beichen He as “the Prince of the First Rank,” a title more befitting an official than a daughter addressing her father. Their relationship seemed oddly distant.

Why was that?

Moreover, after their confrontation on New Year’s Day, Lin Aoxue had undoubtedly offended Beichen Ling. Nearly a month had passed, yet Beichen He remained indifferent, as if nothing had happened. Could it be that Beichen Ling had never even mentioned the incident to him?

Just what kind of game were these two playing?

Lin Aoxue couldn’t find an appropriate response to Beichen Ling’s cold words. She remained expressionless, her gaze calm and unshaken, neither explaining herself nor appearing unsettled by Beichen Ling’s attitude.

The silence between them stretched, heightening the tension. Both understood that this was neither the right place nor time for a confrontation.

Beichen Ling’s expression remained frosty as she walked past Lin Aoxue. Lin Aoxue did not turn to watch her leave. Instead, she straightened her back, closed her eyes briefly, then unclenched and re-clenched her fists. When she opened her eyes again, she had already suppressed the brief flicker of emotion within her. Without looking back, she stepped forward in the opposite direction, increasing the distance between them.

***

By noon the next day, the emperor arrived at Míngtíng Mountain, accompanied by several of his grown sons—including the Third Prince.

The Prince of the First Rank led the court officials in greeting the emperor. With a casual wave of his hand, the emperor exchanged a few pleasantries before stating that, as long as it didn’t rain, the spring hunt would officially begin the following day.

That night passed peacefully. The next day, the weather was clear and bright, and all the military officials participating in the hunt had arrived. Lin Aoxue had received an invitation from the Prince of the First Rank to join the hunt, so she naturally stood among his entourage.

Guo Wencheng, who had not paid his respects to the Prince of the First Rank the previous day, was unaware that Lin Aoxue had also come to the hunting grounds. When he spotted her standing beside the Prince of the First Rank, his brows furrowed, and his expression grew serious.

As a military officer stationed at the border, Guo Wencheng naturally supported Beichen Long. He preferred to stay out of court politics, but seeing that Beichen Long intended to cultivate Lin Aoxue while she, after arriving in the capital, had gotten entangled with the Prince of the First Rank, left him both puzzled and disappointed.

In his view, Lin Aoxue was still too young. She came from an ordinary commoner’s family and had spent three years surviving as a beggar. She lacked a deep understanding of political struggles and likely harbored an instinctive reverence for nobility. It was only natural that she would gravitate toward the powerful.

However, Guo Wencheng couldn’t simply let her continue down this path. If she remained entangled in political games, she might end up ruining her own potential. Thus, he silently resolved to find an opportunity to speak with Lin Aoxue after the hunt—to give her a word of caution.

The emperor personally presided over the spring hunt and set the rules: within three hours, hunting small animals like rabbits and badgers would earn three points each, while deer and wild boars would be worth ten points. At the end of the allotted time, participants would be ranked according to their scores. The first-place winner would be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a fine bow, the second and third places would receive five hundred taels each, and the fourth and fifth places would be given one hundred taels each.