The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 35 Part 1

Lin Aoxue barely slept that night—not just because of the pain in her shoulder but also due to the turmoil in her thoughts and the weight on her heart. Every time she closed her eyes, a flood of chaotic emotions surged like a tidal wave, leaving her restless and unable to sleep. On top of that, the injury on her shoulder prevented her from turning onto her side. As a result, she spent almost the entire night staring blankly at the ceiling, wide awake.

Early the next morning, Yun Yan arrived with medicine in hand. Seeing Lin Aoxue’s haggard expression and lack of energy, she couldn’t help but feel concerned and asked gently, “Is your shoulder hurting too much? I can prepare some painkillers for you today.”

As she spoke, she placed the tray by the bedside. It contained medicine for dressing wounds, an internal decoction, and a bowl of rice porridge. Yun Yan moved closer to the bed to check Lin Aoxue’s injury, but the latter instinctively turned her head away, avoiding her gaze.

Yun Yan paused, her hand stopping mid-air. A flicker of confusion appeared in her eyes as she wondered about Lin Aoxue’s sudden resistance. Just as she was trying to figure out the reason, Lin Aoxue turned back again. Her expression remained mostly unchanged, yet Yun Yan couldn’t shake the subtle feeling that something was off.

Lin Aoxue lowered her gaze. To mask the momentary lapse in her composure, she pressed her lips together, a trace of hesitation appearing on her face as she murmured, “Will my arm ever heal completely?”

Looking into her eyes, Yun Yan sensed the uncertainty within them. A pang of sympathy rose in her heart, quickly overriding the brief unease from earlier. Unconsciously, she leaned closer, placing her hands gently on Lin Aoxue’s arm, her voice soft and reassuring. “I will do everything I can to help you recover.”

Lin Aoxue lifted her head and met Yun Yan’s gaze for a brief moment before looking away again. Her emotions were tangled in a complex web of contradictions. Every time she looked at Yun Yan, she couldn’t help but recall the words Yun Yan had spoken to her the day before. She didn’t want to consider the worst possibilities, yet she couldn’t suppress the heaviness and sorrow rising from deep within her.

She wanted to trust Yun Yan. After all, Yun Yan had saved her life multiple times and had even kept her most crucial secret. But Yun Yan was Beichen Ling’s person.

At this point, if Lin Aoxue still refused to acknowledge the connection between the golden key she failed to find and the one Sui Liang had given her, she would only be deceiving herself.

Between the two of them, Yun Yan was far more likely to stand on the opposing side.

Realizing this truth, Lin Aoxue felt a deep sense of despondency.

But she knew she couldn’t let these emotions show. She couldn’t let Yun Yan sense anything unusual about her. She had to compose herself as quickly as possible and bury any thoughts that might jeopardize their current amicable relationship.

She believed that Yun Yan had no ulterior motives in approaching her. However, she couldn’t be certain that she herself would remain free of ulterior motives as she moved forward.

If Yun Yan hadn’t treated her so well—hadn’t given her the warmth she had been deprived of for over a decade—then learning of Yun Yan’s ties to Beichen Ling wouldn’t have felt like such a loss. In fact, she could have used this opportunity to gain more insight into Beichen Ling and the Prince of the First Rank’s residence through Yun Yan.

But now, having experienced Yun Yan’s kindness, she found herself reluctant to let go of this warmth. Because of that, she couldn’t bring herself to exploit Yun Yan.

Now that she knew about the connection between Yun Yan and Beichen Ling, all she could do was sigh inwardly in resignation and pain. Strangely, she felt no desire whatsoever to use Yun Yan.

Yun Yan remained by her side, her gaze gentle and warm as she carefully tended to Lin Aoxue’s wound and changed the dressing. Since Lin Aoxue’s left shoulder was completely immobilized, Yun Yan, just as she had done the previous day, fed her the herbal decoction and rice porridge one spoonful at a time.

Lin Aoxue stared at Yun Yan’s face, feeling her heart sink lower and lower, as though it were falling into an abyss.

Time seemed fleeting. She had yet to figure out how to deal with her restless, conflicted emotions when she suddenly realized that the bowl of porridge was already empty. Yun Yan put the bowl away and gently reminded her to rest well. Just like last night, she didn’t say much else before turning to leave.

“Yan’er.”

Lin Aoxue suddenly spoke, stopping Yun Yan in her tracks.

Yun Yan paused and turned to look at her, her gaze as gentle as ever. Yet Lin Aoxue couldn’t help but clench her fists. No matter how well she tried to conceal it, her unusual emotions had still affected Yun Yan. Whether last night or now, Yun Yan was noticeably quieter than before.

It was because of the unease and resistance in Lin Aoxue’s heart—she had hurt Yun Yan, even if Yun Yan never showed it. Lin Aoxue knew this all too well.

This wasn’t the outcome she wanted. Even if one day, due to circumstances beyond their control, she and Yun Yan found themselves standing on opposite sides, at least for now, they shouldn’t be hurting each other.

Besides, Yun Yan had her own burdens and struggles. Lin Aoxue had known this from the very beginning—she should have been more open-minded about it.

Her thoughts surged and twisted with conflict. When Yun Yan looked at her with puzzled eyes, Lin Aoxue finally spoke. “Yan’er, I want to talk to you.”

For a brief moment, surprise flickered across Yun Yan’s face, but it quickly faded into a gentle smile. She set down the bowl in her hand, walked slowly to the bedside, pulled out a chair, and sat down, propping her chin on one hand before saying, “What do you want to talk about?” She was as calm and composed as ever, no different from usual.

Lin Aoxue took a deep breath, feeling a thin layer of sweat form on her back. She had called out to Yun Yan purely on impulse, overwhelmed by the chaotic emotions in her heart. But now that Yun Yan had genuinely sat down to listen, a sudden nervousness crept over her—she didn’t know what to say.

Yet Yun Yan wasn’t impatient. She didn’t rush or press her for an answer. She simply sat there quietly, her warm smile soothing Lin Aoxue’s restless heart.

After a long silence, Lin Aoxue finally spoke, hesitantly and after much internal struggle. “Will you return to the northern frontier in the future?” This was all she could manage to ask despite the turmoil in her heart.

Yun Yan continued to smile at her, her gaze impossibly gentle. “I always keep my word, don’t I? Besides, I’ve always preferred life in the northern frontier over the capital.”

Her voice was warm and pleasant, and Lin Aoxue’s tense heart eased slightly.

“Will the princess allow you to return?”

Lin Aoxue assumed this was all Beichen Ling’s arrangement. Since Yun Yan was under Beichen Ling’s command, she naturally had to follow orders. If Beichen Ling didn’t permit it, Yun Yan wouldn’t be able to leave the capital.

Hearing this, Yun Yan let out a soft laugh and replied gently, “If I have enough value for her to keep me in the capital, then I also have enough value for her to let me go to the northern frontier. As long as I can bring her sufficient benefits and help her achieve her goals, I have the right to do what I wish.”

Lin Aoxue had no argument against her words, yet her gaze grew even more somber.

She pressed her lips together, her heart surging with emotions too intense to voice. Yun Yan was smiling, warm and sincere, yet beneath Lin Aoxue’s carefully maintained composure, a quiet sorrow lurked.

“If one day, conflict arises between us—if my stance opposes your value—will we still be able to maintain our current relationship? Will we… still be able to remain friends?”

Lin Aoxue was feeling extremely restless. She knew she shouldn’t have said so much—disaster often stemmed from careless words, and most uncertainties arose from unintentional remarks. But she couldn’t suppress the agitation within her. It gnawed at her, tempting her to move closer, to be just a little nearer to Yun Yan.

The thought of the potential conflicts in the future, the possibility of turning against each other, and the inevitable opposition between them filled Lin Aoxue with fear and unease. She wanted to hear Yun Yan’s answer.

Yun Yan was a highly perceptive person. The fact that she had reached her current position and gained Beichen Ling’s trust was proof of her extraordinary abilities. The emotions in Lin Aoxue’s eyes when she spoke were all within Yun Yan’s grasp.

Though she didn’t know the full extent of the grievances between Lin Aoxue and the Prince of the First Rank’s residence, she could infer most of the reasons behind Lin Aoxue’s anxiety. Yun Yan guessed that the root of Lin Aoxue’s distress likely lay in the fact that she was a soldier of the northern frontier, answering to Beichen Long.

There was no doubt that Beichen Long and Beichen He, the Prince of the First Rank, were enemies. This realization had instilled fear in Lin Aoxue—fear of drifting apart from Yun Yan.

Understanding this, Yun Yan had no such concerns. On the contrary, she felt a quiet joy welling up from within her. She was genuinely happy that Lin Aoxue also cherished their rare and precious bond, and the warmth of that feeling naturally showed on her face.

She was neither flustered nor anxious. Instead, she smiled gently at Lin Aoxue and said, “Whether our relationship remains harmonious and whether we truly value each other—what does that have to do with our respective positions or the people we serve?”

Lin Aoxue was momentarily stunned. A hint of dazed confusion appeared on her face, but after a long pause, the dullness in her gaze gradually brightened. Her lips moved slightly, curving into a faint smile. There was an unspoken emotion surging in her eyes, welling up like water, on the verge of overflowing.

She stared at Yun Yan with such focus, unable to tear her gaze away even for a moment.

“Yan’er, you really are clever,” Lin Aoxue said in admiration, her smile growing more genuine.

Seeing that Lin Aoxue had finally let go of her burdensome worries, Yun Yan’s own concerns also eased. Watching Lin Aoxue smile with relief, she couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle Lin Aoxue’s hair, laughing as she said, “You didn’t rest well last night. Get some sleep now.”

Lin Aoxue obediently nodded. With Yun Yan’s help, she lay down properly. The medicine Yun Yan had applied to her wound today contained a stronger dose of painkillers, making the ache in her injured shoulder feel dull and numb rather than sharp. Now that she had finally let go of her heavy thoughts, drowsiness quickly set in, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

Yun Yan stayed by Lin Aoxue’s side, watching over her until she was completely asleep. Only then did she gently tuck the blanket around her, take the two bowls, and quietly leave the room.

***

After that conversation, Lin Aoxue’s mood noticeably improved. She continued to recuperate at Yun Yan’s residence, resting without hesitation. Only when the wound on her shoulder had fully scabbed over and no longer hindered her movements did she finally bid farewell to Yun Yan, intending to return to the inn to continue her recovery.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to stay with Yun Yan longer, but her golden key was still at the inn, and she worried that something might happen to it. She had to go back and check. Moreover, she was also concerned that Guo Wencheng might not be able to find her after descending from Míngtíng Mountain.

Thus, she took her leave from Yun Yan and returned to the inn where she had previously stayed.

As luck would have it, the very moment she arrived at the inn, she ran into Guo Wencheng at the entrance.

Her left shoulder was still wrapped in bandages, preventing her from performing a proper fist salute, so she simply raised her right arm and waved at him.

She thought it would be just a casual greeting. However, the moment Guo Wencheng saw her, his face darkened. Without a word, he strode over and threw a punch at her.

The force of the blow sent Lin Aoxue stumbling back several steps, her back colliding with the courtyard wall outside the inn. It took her considerable effort to regain her balance.

Lin Aoxue was utterly shocked. Her eyes widened as she steadied herself against the wall. The sudden punch had pulled at the wound on her left shoulder, sending a sharp, searing pain through her body. She could feel that the wound had likely reopened. Her brows instinctively furrowed, her eyes flashing with both anger and confusion as she demanded, “What are you doing?”

Guo Wencheng, however, scoffed at her question, as if he found it laughable. Raising his arm, he glared at Lin Aoxue and pointed a finger at her face, his voice filled with fury. “You have the audacity to ask me what I’m doing? Why don’t you ask yourself what you’ve been doing?”

Lin Aoxue was completely baffled by his accusation. Her eyes were filled with confusion as she looked at Guo Wencheng, unable to make sense of his words. She pressed further, “What do you mean by that?”

Guo Wencheng let out a cold laugh, his contempt unmistakable. His voice was laced with resentment as he said, “Lin Aoxue, I never expected you to be such an ungrateful person.”

His unprovoked accusation ignited a deep anger within Lin Aoxue. She straightened her posture, adjusting her injured shoulder while her expression grew solemn. She looked at Guo Wencheng with sharp, icy eyes and said in a firm voice, “General Guo, I suggest you explain yourself clearly. How dare you make such baseless accusations?”

She deliberately raised her voice when addressing him as “General Guo.”

Although Guo Wencheng outranked her, that didn’t mean she would tolerate unfounded reprimands. She didn’t believe he was the type of person to act so rudely without reason.

Guo Wencheng’s brows furrowed, as if realizing that he had acted too impulsively. He cast a cold glance at Lin Aoxue before sweeping his gaze around their surroundings. Then, in a low voice, he said, “This is not the place to talk. Let’s return to the inn. I’ll explain everything there, and then we’ll see if I’m making baseless accusations.”

His face was grim, and as soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and strode toward the inn without looking back, heading straight upstairs.

Lin Aoxue’s expression also darkened. She clenched her fists and let out a frustrated scoff—this situation was utterly absurd! She wanted nothing more than to walk away, but there was something in Guo Wencheng’s fury that hinted at a deeper reason behind his outburst. Suppressing the anger burning in her chest, she followed him into the inn.

Although Guo Wencheng had returned to his family’s old residence before, he had not yet given up the room he had rented at the inn. When he reached his room, he unlocked the door and gestured for Lin Aoxue to enter. Once she stepped inside, he shut the door with a sharp click, turned to face her, and got straight to the point.

“Why did you go to the spring hunt with the Prince of the First Rank? Do you realize that the Prince of the First Rank has always been at odds with our general?”

Lin Aoxue’s brows knitted together. Guo Wencheng’s words stirred some thoughts in her mind, but she didn’t reveal them. Instead, her expression became even more puzzled as she countered, “What does that have to do with me participating in the spring hunt? And why are you accusing me of being ungrateful?”

Seeing that Lin Aoxue not only refused to acknowledge the problem but even dared to argue back, Guo Wencheng’s anger flared. His frustration was evident as he raised his voice and berated her, “You fool! Of all the things you could have done, the last thing you should have done was get involved with the Prince of the First Rank’s household! If word spreads back to the northern frontier that you’ve been mingling with them in the capital, your future in the military will become incredibly difficult! The general thinks highly of you and has done so much for you—how can you be so reckless and disappoint him like this?”

Guo Wencheng’s words were as clear as they could be. Even a fool would have understood his point.

Lin Aoxue feigned sudden realization, though a contemplative look flickered in her eyes. If the conflict between Beichen Long and Beichen He was merely one of mutual dislike, then Guo Wencheng wouldn’t have reacted with such extreme anger.

Besides, Lin Aoxue had once saved Beichen Ling, making it impossible to completely sever ties with the Prince of the First Rank’s residence. Being invited by Beichen He to the spring hunt wasn’t entirely inappropriate.

From this, it was clear that the tension between Beichen He and Beichen Long had long escalated to the point of irreconcilability. Even the slightest disturbance could provoke wariness and countless speculations.

Lin Aoxue’s anger gradually faded. She now understood that Guo Wencheng had been acting out of concern for her, afraid that she would suffer consequences for this matter—especially upon returning to the northern frontier, where Beichen Long might target her. It was only because of his rough demeanor and excessive temper that he had accidentally hurt her in the process.

Lin Aoxue was not someone who failed to recognize good intentions. Once Guo Wencheng had finished speaking, she immediately unclenched her fists, lowered her gaze, and sincerely, respectfully apologized. “I was negligent.”

Indeed, she had not handled this matter properly. Her judgment had been clouded by hatred, and she had been too eager for quick success during this time.

This wasn’t good. She needed to regain her composure.

Seeing that Lin Aoxue had finally set aside her stubbornness and was acting as respectful and humble as before, Guo Wencheng let out a slight sigh of relief. Stepping forward, he patted her shoulder and softened his tone as he said, “I was also at fault for today’s incident. I was too impatient and spoke too harshly, but I hope you can understand my reasoning.”

Lin Aoxue glanced at Guo Wencheng’s hand resting on her left shoulder, feeling both helpless and exasperated. Her brows twitched slightly as she endured the pain and nodded, expressing her understanding of his anger. “How could General Guo be at fault for advising his subordinate? I will be more cautious in the future.”