The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 35 Part 2

Guo Wencheng was greatly reassured by Lin Aoxue’s sensibility. He was about to say more when he suddenly froze. His eyes widened in shock as he saw blood rapidly seeping through her shoulder, staining her clothes at an alarming rate.

His expression changed drastically as he asked urgently, “What happened to your wound?”

Lin Aoxue grimaced and tentatively moved her shoulder. Since the pain wasn’t unbearable, she let out a small breath of relief and replied, “I was bitten while fighting a beast during the spring hunt.”

Guo Wencheng did not relax upon hearing this. His brows remained tightly furrowed, and his concern only deepened as he pressed, “That’s a lot of blood—how could the injury be this severe?”

He had heard about what had transpired in the siege at Mingting Mountain—that the Third Prince had been shot by an arrow and that Lin Aoxue, having failed to protect him, had been imprisoned. However, as his rank was not high, he held little sway in the emperor’s court and could do nothing to intervene. Speaking out rashly would have only implicated himself, so his understanding of the full situation was limited.

Later, he had learned that Prince of the First Rank Beichen He and his daughter, Beichen Ling, had personally pleaded for Lin Aoxue before the emperor. As a result, Lin Aoxue was released and even taken down Mingting Mountain by Beichen Ling. This was why Guo Wencheng felt she had grown too close to the Prince of the First Rank’s household, which had fueled his earlier outburst.

Some time later, the emperor lifted the lockdown on the hunting grounds, allowing officials to leave Mingting Mountain. Only then did Guo Wencheng seize the opportunity to find Lin Aoxue and speak to her about the matter.

Lin Aoxue swallowed and waved a dismissive hand. “This wound has already improved; it’s nothing serious. General Guo, you needn’t worry.”

Guo Wencheng, however, found no reassurance in her words. His expression was grim as he took in the sight of her left shoulder, now completely drenched in blood.

He hadn’t known her injury was this severe. Earlier, he had struck with full force, without holding back, and she had staggered from the blow, clearly aggravating her wound. Worse yet, without realizing it, he had just patted her shoulder twice more.

Seeing the blood on Lin Aoxue’s shoulder increasing, Guo Wencheng began to panic. Regretful and guilty, he slapped his thigh in frustration and shouted urgently, “Wait here! I’ll go find a doctor for you!”

He turned to leave as he spoke, but Lin Aoxue quickly grabbed his arm, half-amused and half-exasperated, trying to persuade him. “It’s really not a big deal. When I first came down from the mountain, the wound was much worse than it is now. General Guo, there’s no need to be so anxious.”

Guo Wencheng was doubtful, but the sight of Lin Aoxue’s entire shoulder soaked in bright red blood made his back shiver. Seeing how stubborn she was, refusing to let him fetch a doctor, he hesitated before saying, “This won’t do. At the very least, you should take off your clothes and check the wound.”

Lin Aoxue nodded, quickly turned around, and pulled open the door, walking briskly back to her own room.

Guo Wencheng, standing in place, wiped the sweat off his forehead and muttered to himself, “This kid is really stubborn. He’s injured like this, yet he still cares about formalities.”

He assumed that Lin Aoxue had chosen not to check her injury in his room out of concern for propriety.

***

Back in her own room, Lin Aoxue first locked the door to prevent anyone from barging in before removing her clothes.

The bandages on her shoulder were completely soaked through with blood. She let out a sigh and swiftly unwrapped the gauze. The moment the exposed wound—its scab torn open—came into view, she couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, despite having mentally prepared herself.

Even though the wound was much better than when she had first descended from Mingting Mountain, it still looked gruesome. With a long sigh, she took fresh gauze from her bag, quickly treated the injury, and wrapped it up again. Then, she changed into a clean set of clothes, planning to make another visit to Yun Yan’s residence.

If she let the wound heal on its own without proper treatment, who knew how long it would take? She needed Yun Yan to get her some medicine.

Before leaving, she checked the golden key she had hidden in a wooden box. Once she confirmed that it hadn’t been tampered with, she put it back in its place, opened the door, informed Guo Wencheng that she was going out to get medicine from a doctor, and then left the inn.

***

When Yun Yan saw Lin Aoxue’s wound had split open again, she was furious. Without hesitation, she gave Lin Aoxue a firm knock on the head and scolded her harshly.

“How can you be so careless? How did it end up like this again? Didn’t I tell you not to move that arm recklessly after you went back? Do you even want to recover?”

This time, Lin Aoxue was completely innocent. She furrowed her brows helplessly, putting on a pitiful expression as she cautiously defended herself. “This time, it really wasn’t my fault.”

Yun Yan narrowed her eyes at her, raising an eyebrow as she scoffed. “Oh? Then tell me, what exactly happened?”

Lin Aoxue let out a dramatic sigh before launching into an animated retelling of the events.

She recounted her encounter with Guo Wencheng at the inn and their heated argument. Though she didn’t go into too much detail, she briefly explained that Guo Wencheng had misunderstood something, got angry, impulsively punched her, and then—without thinking—patted her injured shoulder, worsening the wound.

Yun Yan found the situation utterly exasperating, but upon realizing that Lin Aoxue had at least followed her advice and had immediately come to her for treatment, she felt somewhat relieved. Deciding not to scold her any further, she carefully and attentively re-medicated and bandaged the wound.

By the time she was finished, it was nearing noon. Lin Aoxue simply stayed at Yun Yan’s residence for lunch, rested for a short while, and only then took her leave.

***

After returning to the inn, Lin Aoxue spent some time reading in her room when a sudden knock on the door interrupted her. She lifted her head—who would be looking for her at this hour?

She got up and opened the door.

Outside stood a stranger, someone she had never seen before—not Guo Wencheng, nor one of Beichen He’s attendants.

A trace of doubt flickered in her eyes as she looked at the person, but before she could ask why they had come, the stranger spoke first.

“Qianhu Lin, the princess requests your presence.”

Lin Aoxue’s lips parted slightly in surprise. She had not expected that the person seeking her out this time would be someone from Beichen Ling’s side.

However, she quickly concealed her astonishment, along with the brief flash of coldness in her eyes, masking her emotions seamlessly. With a composed expression, she nodded at the messenger.

“Please lead the way.”

Following the attendant, Lin Aoxue left the inn. Their destination was clear—it was once again the Prince of the First Rank’s residence.

This time, however, she was not going there to meet Beichen He but Beichen Ling.

The prince’s residence had not changed much. As spring arrived and the weather grew warmer, the courtyard began to flourish, with greenery sprouting throughout the gardens.

Lin Aoxue followed the attendant through familiar corridors, turning left and right. Even after thirteen years, she still remembered the way clearly.

Stepping into the courtyard, both familiar and unfamiliar, she spotted Beichen Ling under the pear blossom tree on the eastern side, engrossed in a book. It wasn’t until Lin Aoxue and the attendant’s footsteps rustled the dry grass in the yard that Beichen Ling finally looked up, her gaze meeting Lin Aoxue’s from afar.

“Qianhu Lin.”

Surprisingly, Beichen Ling was the first to speak.

“Lin Aoxue greets Your Highness.” Lin Aoxue bowed respectfully, lowering her head as she followed proper etiquette.

Beichen Ling gestured for Lin Aoxue to rise and waved for the attendant to leave. Only then did she turn her attention back to Lin Aoxue, taking the initiative to ask, “How is your shoulder injury healing?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It has improved significantly.”

Lin Aoxue’s response was proper and precise, leaving no room for personal sentiment. Beichen Ling couldn’t discern anything from her tone. Setting her book aside, she continued, “I must thank you for saving me that day. I feel deeply guilty that you suffered on my behalf.”

Lin Aoxue lowered her gaze slightly, her demeanor remaining as respectful as before. “Your Highness need not feel guilty. The situation was critical at the time, and as a person of noble status, it was my duty to ensure your safety.”

Beichen Ling’s gaze remained fixed on Lin Aoxue’s face. Seeing her remain utterly calm, neither joyful nor angry, revealing nothing of her inner thoughts, Beichen Ling unexpectedly felt a tinge of disappointment.

Lin Aoxue wore a mask on half of her face, concealing the burn scars beneath it and exposing only the other side. Her deep-set gaze hid every emotion and thought, revealing nothing.

Now fully recovered, Lin Aoxue appeared sharper than she had just a few days prior. The frail delicacy from her illness was gone, replaced by an aura of cold, unyielding intensity. If one didn’t look closely, it was easy to be misled by the pressure of her presence and overlook her naturally refined features—allowing the half-mask to leave an even stronger impression.

“Are you planning to keep speaking to me like this the entire time?” Beichen Ling asked. Her gaze was complicated as she fixated on the half of Lin Aoxue’s face that so closely resembled someone from the past.

Lin Aoxue lifted her head, her expression indifferent. “Then what does Your Highness think would be appropriate?”

Caught off guard by Lin Aoxue’s retort, the lingering melancholy in Beichen Ling’s heart instantly dissipated. She shook her head with a chuckle, uncertain whether to be angry or amused by Lin Aoxue’s lack of self-awareness. “Speaking to me in such a manner—do you believe your life is too long?”

Throughout this meeting, Beichen Ling had been referring to herself as “I” rather than “this princess,” perhaps subconsciously attempting to close the distance between them. Yet Lin Aoxue repeatedly reminded her of the clear distinction in their status.

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue knelt on one knee, forcibly suppressing the hatred surging within her heart. Keeping her voice calm, she said, “Your Highness is gracious to keep my secret, for which I am deeply grateful. However, I do not understand the attitude Your Highness speaks of. I ask for your clarification.”

Beichen Ling stared at her in silence, unable to tell whether she truly didn’t understand or was merely pretending not to.

After a long pause, Beichen Ling withdrew her gaze, hesitated briefly, and finally said, “Since I have decided to keep you, I will not make things difficult for you. There is no need for such restraint—stand up.”

Lin Aoxue obeyed, rising to her feet and lowering her head as she stood to the side.

Her silence inexplicably fueled Beichen Ling’s irritation. She knew full well that Lin Aoxue had always been this way—remaining impassive even when faced with injustice, even when the emperor’s guards had pressed her face into the ground, she hadn’t made a sound.

Yet, at this moment, Beichen Ling felt an unshakable frustration. Her brows knitted together as she coldly asked, “Are you not even curious why I called for you?”

Lin Aoxue remained unfazed. “Your Highness will speak when you wish to.”

Beichen Ling was infuriated by Lin Aoxue’s stubbornness. Lin Aoxue may have saved her life, but Beichen Ling had also saved Lin Aoxue.

If one were to count debts precisely, Lin Aoxue had saved her twice—but Beichen Ling had brought Lin Aoxue down from Mingting Mountain, sought out Yun Yan to treat her injuries, and even kept her secret as a woman. By now, they owed each other nothing.

“Lin Aoxue, I advise you to learn some tact!”

Beichen Ling slammed her hand on the table, trembling with rage—yet even she herself didn’t understand why she was so angry.

Lin Aoxue was bewildered. She even wondered if she had unknowingly offended some deity upon leaving the inn. Why was everyone lashing out at her today? A calamity out of nowhere—truly, a disaster without cause.

“I ask Your Highness to calm your anger.”

Beyond that, she had no idea what else to say—nor how to console this temperamental princess.

The moment Beichen Ling struck the table, she became aware of her own loss of composure. Furrowing her brows, she took a deep breath of the cold air, then closed her eyes in exasperation, her tone softening.

“Forget it. This princess is in a foul mood today. Just sit with me for a while.”

Lin Aoxue was still perplexed. She glanced at the stone stool beside Beichen Ling and said, “Your Highness, there is a distinction between ranks. I am fine standing.”

Beichen Ling’s eyes widened as her anger flared up once again. She couldn’t suppress the rise in her voice. “When I tell you to sit, you sit! Where do you get so many opinions from?”

Lin Aoxue’s eyelids twitched. She wanted to retort that she had already spoken very little, but in the end, she didn’t let her inner resistance show. Instead, she respectfully sat down beside Beichen Ling, placing her hands neatly on her knees and sitting with perfect posture.

Beichen Ling glanced at her again and finally found the sight more pleasing to the eye.

After making Lin Aoxue sit, she didn’t say another word. Instead, she lowered her head, flipped open her book, and continued reading, completely ignoring Lin Aoxue’s presence.

Lin Aoxue sat there for a full two hours. The sun, once directly overhead, had shifted toward the mountainside. The temperature had yet to fully warm up, and as soon as the sunlight dimmed, the air grew noticeably colder.

A gust of wind swept past. Beichen Ling felt the chill and closed her book. When she turned to look at Lin Aoxue, the latter was still sitting rigidly, her back perfectly straight, not having moved an inch in all this time.

Beichen Ling suddenly felt that she might have gone too far.

She didn’t understand why she had been acting so willful today, but Lin Aoxue’s stubbornness was truly infuriating. Even this temper of hers was just like that childhood friend of hers—so unyielding that not even eight oxen could drag her back once she had made up her mind.

Beichen Ling placed her book aside and cleared her throat. “You may leave now.”

Lin Aoxue blinked once, her expression unchanging. Then she stood, bowed respectfully, and took her leave.

Beichen Ling watched as she walked steadily toward the courtyard gate, sighing heavily in her heart. Deep inside, a voice constantly urged her to handle Lin Aoxue with more rationality.

But the moment she began to think about how Lin Aoxue resembled her old friend, it was as if every time she looked at her, the resemblance deepened. She even wondered if there was something wrong with her eyes—or perhaps something unsettled in her heart—making her lose control over herself like this.

Or maybe… it was simply that too much time had passed. That person, whom she once thought she would never forget in her lifetime, had slowly begun to fade from her memory. Even her face had become blurry.

Now, upon seeing someone so similar, Beichen Ling instinctively overlaid Lin Aoxue’s features onto the missing face in her mind, imagining—if that person had grown up, matured—would she look like this?

Beichen Ling let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh and shook her head. Feeling the wind grow even colder, she pulled her robe a little tighter, intending to return indoors.

But just then, Lin Aoxue’s voice rang out from beyond the courtyard gate. It was the first time she had taken the initiative to speak to Beichen Ling today, and the question she asked was exactly what Beichen Ling had expected.

“Forgive my boldness, Your Highness, but may I ask why you are willing to conceal my identity?”

Beichen Ling looked up toward the gate. Lin Aoxue had turned back and now stood tall within the threshold, not yet stepping outside.

She really does look alike. Perhaps when Ah Xue spoke to me like this back then, she looked just the same, Beichen Ling mused silently, then pressed her lips together in a small, knowing smile. She saw no reason to hide the truth.

“Because you look like an old friend of mine.”

Because of Lin Aoxue’s presence, she had unexpectedly regained a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in years. Although it did nothing to lessen the deep remorse and guilt buried within her, at least, at this moment, her heart felt unusually light.

This reason did not surprise Lin Aoxue, yet while it allowed her heart to relax slightly, it also twisted painfully within her.

Ever since their reunion on the streets of the capital that day, Beichen Ling’s behavior had been nothing short of strange.

And what she had witnessed today was even more baffling—completely beyond her expectations.

She realized that she could not understand Beichen Ling at all, nor could she predict what she might do next. Her thoughts were not so much deep and unfathomable as they were fleeting and ever-changing, like the wind.

Having received a clear answer, Lin Aoxue did not press further. Lowering her head, she bowed deeply to Beichen Ling once more before turning away and swiftly departing.

It wasn’t until Lin Aoxue’s figure had completely disappeared beyond the courtyard gates that the smile on Beichen Ling’s face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of melancholy and sorrow. “Ah Xue… Even though this person only resembles you, she still makes me feel guilty,” she murmured to herself, her jade-like fingers gently rubbing against the rough pages of the book in her hand, unknowingly crumpling its corner.

“Your Highness.”

A shadow dropped from the beams above, kneeling respectfully at Beichen Ling’s feet.

In the next moment, the fragile sorrow on Beichen Ling’s face vanished without a trace. When she reopened her eyes, the softness in her light-colored gaze had dissipated entirely, replaced by a piercing sharpness. Even her voice had lost its previous warmth, turning cold and detached.

“Speak. What is it?”

Still kneeling, the figure on the ground dutifully reported the findings of their investigation. “The forces behind the assassination attempt on the Prince of the First Rank on New Year’s Eve appear to be linked to the former subordinates of the late Nation’s Protector Grand General.”

Beichen Ling’s eyes darkened upon hearing this.

Nation’s Protector Grand General—Ah Xue’s father.

Many of the late general’s former subordinates had refused to serve Beichen Ling, solely because she was the legitimate daughter of the Prince of the First Rank. These men, unwilling to follow her command, acted in secrecy, and not only did their covert activities risk exposing their identities, but they also indirectly disrupted her plans—an utterly vexing predicament.