The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 36 Part 1

Beichen Ling furrowed her brows helplessly, her expression weary. She pressed her fingers against her temples, contemplating her next move. The old subordinates of the Nation’s Protector Duke were proving incredibly difficult to deal with—each more stubborn and unyielding than the last—draining much of her energy.

Yun Yan had only just managed to establish contact with one of these former subordinates and was working on infiltrating their ranks to negotiate with the upper echelon when trouble arose on their side. Not only had Sui Liang been caught up in it, but even the second golden key had gone missing.

This matter had been a source of frustration for Beichen Ling, and for nearly half a month, she had been unable to rest properly.

However, she couldn’t think of a good solution at the moment. With a soft sigh, she shook her head and gave an order to the figure behind her.

“See if you can find an opportunity to meet with Sui Liang.”

The black-clad man knelt respectfully. Once Beichen Ling finished speaking, he gave a muffled acknowledgment, “Yes,” and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Beichen Ling suddenly spoke.

The man’s movements halted.

“Send people to investigate the past events once again—the case in the Linping Village in north Queyang, and the massacre of the Nation’s Protector Duke’s family in the capital. Both of these matters must be thoroughly reexamined. Find out if anyone survived back then.”

Her words took the black-clad man by surprise. He knew that Beichen Ling had always been preoccupied with the Nation’s Protector Duke’s extermination, having investigated the incident repeatedly over the years with no new findings. She had gradually stopped mentioning it—so why was she suddenly ordering another review of the old case?

Even more puzzling was the connection to north Queyang. What did that incident have to do with the Nation’s Protector Duke tragedy? And given that both events had occurred over a decade ago, tracing the truth now would be extremely difficult.

However, Beichen Ling’s orders were absolute. He had no right to question them—only to carry them out. So, after a brief pause, he bowed his head even lower and respectfully replied, “Yes.”

***

Lin Aoxue left Beichen Ling’s quarters, walking along the winding paths of the Prince of the First Rank’s residence. She was just about to reach the main gates when a figure suddenly stepped out from the side and raised a hand to stop her.

“Qianhu Lin, please wait.”

The same calm, rigid tone as always.

Lin Aoxue lifted her head slightly, glancing at the man clad in the prince’s attendant robes. She sighed inwardly. So much trouble today. She had just finished meeting with Beichen Ling, and now Beichen He was summoning her. She truly had no idea what schemes this father and daughter were each plotting.

She halted her steps, her gaze carrying a hint of curiosity, but the attendant remained impassive, his demeanor strictly businesslike.

“His Highness requests your presence.”

With that, Lin Aoxue turned around once more, following the stone-faced attendant toward another part of the prince’s residence. When they arrived at Beichen He’s study, the attendant led her to the door before excusing himself and leaving.

Lin Aoxue stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.

From inside, Beichen He’s deep, steady voice sounded.

“Enter.”

Lin Aoxue pushed open the door, stepped inside, and knelt on one knee in formal greeting. “Lin Aoxue pays respects to Your Highness.”

Upon seeing her, Beichen He’s face softened with a kind smile. He rose from behind his desk and personally stepped forward to help her up.

“Qianhu Lin, how is your shoulder injury now?”

Lin Aoxue’s expression remained unchanged as she respectfully lowered her gaze and answered, “Thank you for Your Highness’ concern. My shoulder injury has improved significantly. I have heard from the princess that it was Your Highness who pleaded on my behalf before His Majesty, allowing me to be spared. Your Highness’ great kindness—I will forever remember it.”

This matter was, of course, not something Beichen Ling had personally told her. Lin Aoxue had learned about it later from Yun Yan. At first, Yun Yan had little knowledge of Lin Aoxue’s imprisonment, but when the emperor flew into a rage and caused a great commotion on Mingting Mountain, Yun Yan paid closer attention and quickly grasped the situation.

Yun Yan was one of Beichen Ling’s subordinates. She speculated that since Beichen Ling intended to keep Lin Aoxue around, she might also want to draw her in. So, unlike before—when she would have hidden everything—Yun Yan selectively shared some trivial details with Lin Aoxue. This way, Lin Aoxue could handle the delicate balance between Beichen He and Beichen Ling more skillfully, instead of being led by the nose.

On the surface, Beichen He and Beichen Ling appeared to be a harmonious father and daughter, but in reality, there was an undercurrent of rivalry between them. Now that Lin Aoxue was aware of this, she naturally chose her words to align with Beichen He’s preferences.

When Lin Aoxue took the initiative to bring up the spring hunt, Beichen He’s face showed a look of guilt. He sighed helplessly and shook his head. “The Third Prince was originally entrusted with an important role, and His Majesty had high hopes for him. But fate is unpredictable. Now that his right leg is crippled, His Majesty is deeply pained, and his anger was inevitable. That is why you were implicated. At the time, His Majesty was furious and could not be reasoned with. It took me some time, but once his anger subsided, I was finally able to plead on your behalf. Do not take it to heart.”

Beichen He put on a convincing act, appearing as though he was deeply grieved and full of regret for the Third Prince’s misfortune. However, Lin Aoxue merely sneered inwardly. Beichen He was truly a masterful performer. This entire scheme was of his own making, yet he could stand here, unflinching and shameless, washing his hands of it completely, as if it had all been an unfortunate accident beyond his control.

And within his words lay a deeper implication: her imprisonment was merely the result of the emperor’s personal whims. The emperor was an unreasonable ruler who did not care for his subordinates, venting his temper by unjustly punishing meritorious officials. Meanwhile, Beichen He, the Prince of the First Rank, had been looking out for her all along, waiting for the right moment to speak up on her behalf—making him the one truly worthy of her loyalty.

No matter how much Lin Aoxue despised Beichen He’s scheming, she had no intention of foolishly exposing him. If Beichen He wanted to put on a show, then she had no choice but to play along.

After his speech, Lin Aoxue’s expression turned solemn, as if she were struggling to suppress her emotions. She shook her head and said, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. I understand. At the time, I failed to protect my master properly. The fact that His Majesty spared my life is already an act of great mercy. Your Highness has shown me immense kindness, and I am deeply grateful.”

Lin Aoxue was perceptive. In recent days, she had found herself becoming increasingly composed. Even when facing Beichen He directly, she could conceal her true emotions completely, locking away her hatred, pain, and anger deep inside a pitch-black chest within her heart—never allowing anyone to see, and certainly never letting Beichen He grow suspicious.

Beichen He sighed regretfully, his face full of guilt. “Ah, if I hadn’t invited you to join the spring hunt, you wouldn’t have been dragged into this mess and suffered such misfortune. I truly am to blame for what happened to you.”

Lin Aoxue lowered her gaze, a cold glint flickering in the depths of her eyes. She knew all too well that Beichen He was responsible for her downfall. But she also understood that he was deliberately downplaying the severity of the situation. Now was far from the right time to openly turn against him. She had endured this long, gradually gaining his trust—she couldn’t afford to let it all go to waste.

“Your Highness is too kind. I am of low status—if not for your support, I would never have had the opportunity to participate in an imperial event. The world is unpredictable, and Your Highness could not have foreseen such an accident. Please do not blame yourself. However…”

Hearing Lin Aoxue so willingly absolve him of responsibility, her tone full of gratitude, Beichen He let out a sigh of relief. But when she suddenly stopped mid-sentence, he was momentarily surprised and asked, “What is it?”

Lin Aoxue let out a long sigh, her expression dimming with disappointment as she continued, “It’s just… now that I’ve offended His Majesty, I fear that my future prospects have been severely hindered. It will be difficult for me to achieve anything significant from here on.”

The arrogance that had once surrounded Lin Aoxue had faded, replaced by a more subdued and obedient demeanor—the very image Beichen He wanted to see.

Satisfied with his handiwork, Beichen He smiled slightly. After listening to her words, he nodded and reassured her, “You need not worry that His Majesty will hold a grudge. He appreciates those who are steady and practical. As long as you continue to work hard, I will do my best to support you and help change His Majesty’s perception of you.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Aoxue’s expression became visibly excited and fervent. Ignoring Beichen He’s feigned gesture to support her, she quickly knelt on the spot, bowing her head respectfully as she said, “Lin Aoxue is deeply grateful for Your Highness’ great kindness and will never forget it for the rest of my life.”

She would never forget such great kindness—nor would she ever forget such great hatred.

Beichen He smiled kindly and bent down once again to help Lin Aoxue up. Then, shifting the conversation, he said, “Aoxue, the truth is, this prince sought you out today because there is something I would like to ask you to do.”

Even his way of addressing her had changed, and his attitude had shifted drastically from before—no longer treating her as an outsider. Lin Aoxue felt somewhat relieved. Ever since returning to the capital, she had been treading cautiously, taking every step with care. Now, at last, she had reached this point.

Gaining Beichen He’s trust was only the first step in her revenge.

“What would Your Highness have me do?” Lin Aoxue quickly suppressed her excitement, assuming a serious and attentive demeanor. 

Beichen He was pleased with her attitude and decided to reveal the real purpose of their meeting. He let out a heavy sigh and slowly began, “You see, in life, there are often unavoidable matters. Though I hold a certain status in the court, His Majesty, wary of my royal lineage, has never granted me real power. I understand this well and have come to accept it. However, some people refuse to appreciate my magnanimity. Instead, they scheme behind my back, trying to frame me and sow discord between me and His Majesty, attempting to drive a wedge between brothers.”

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue furrowed her brows, her face showing an expression of shock that soon turned into righteous indignation. As if unable to contain her anger, she raised her voice, “Outrageous!”

Beichen He’s face was grave. He waved his hand dismissively, letting out a long sigh. “Aoxue, you may not be aware, but in Fudu, there is a salt official named Wang Dongfu. He has been abusing his power, secretly selling the state’s salt for personal profit. His actions were discovered by officials at court, and he was reported in a secret memorial.”

Lin Aoxue’s face was full of astonishment. “Such a thing?! But what does Wang Dongfu’s illegal sale of salt have to do with Your Highness?” 

Beichen He gestured for Lin Aoxue to stay calm and listen. She held back her impatience and waited for him to continue. “Originally, this matter had nothing to do with me. However, for reasons unknown, the person who submitted the report maliciously claimed in the memorial that Wang Dongfu used the illicit profits from his salt sales to bribe this prince—suggesting that he sought my protection to cover up his crimes and secure his smuggling routes. Hmph, such a deep scheme!”

Once Beichen He finished speaking, Lin Aoxue feigned a look of alarm and quickly asked, “But with no solid evidence, surely His Majesty wouldn’t believe such baseless accusations?”

Beichen He let out a cold chuckle. “His Majesty is wise and would not be easily fooled by such childish tricks. However, many ministers in court are calling for a thorough investigation. Though I have a clear conscience and have done nothing wrong, I cannot stop others from scheming against me. If they were to fabricate evidence, my reputation would be utterly ruined.”

Lin Aoxue thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “That man truly deserves to die for his treachery! Does Your Highness have a plan?”

Beichen He had been waiting for Lin Aoxue to ask this very question. The corners of his lips curled slightly, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes as he said, “That is precisely why I called you here today, Aoxue. I want you to go to Fudu ahead of His Majesty’s imperial envoy. Before they arrive, you must investigate the matter and destroy any fabricated evidence that might be used against me.”

Lin Aoxue understood the situation clearly. Based on Beichen He’s description of the matter, she could already piece together most of the truth.

The salt official in Fudu had indeed been illegally selling state salt, and there was likely solid evidence that he had secretly bribed Beichen He. Beichen He spoke in a grand and righteous manner, as if others were deliberately framing him, but in reality, he simply wanted Lin Aoxue to go ahead and clean up any evidence that could implicate him.

Since the emperor already harbored suspicions about Beichen He, he could not send anyone from the Prince of the First Rank’s residence to handle this matter. If they were caught, his entire household would be implicated. Thus, he could only assign the task to someone with no direct connection to his residence—among whom Lin Aoxue was the most suitable candidate.

He made it seem as though he was an innocent victim of false accusations, hoping to gain Lin Aoxue’s sympathy and make her act impulsively on his behalf. This was his final test for her.

If Lin Aoxue went to Fudu as instructed, she would be interfering with an imperial investigation, giving Beichen He leverage over her—he would then have a means to fully control her. But if she refused out of fear of being dragged into the affair, Beichen He would simply find someone else for the job and discard her as a useless pawn.

Lin Aoxue was fully aware of the stakes, yet she had no choice but to get involved. Beichen He needed her to prove her loyalty, and she needed Beichen He’s trust—an unequal exchange.

Even though she understood everything, she had no other path to take.

“I will not fail Your Highness’ trust.”

Beichen He’s smile became even more sincere, though his eyes held a murky gleam, making it impossible to tell his true thoughts. He stepped forward, lightly patting Lin Aoxue’s uninjured shoulder as he said with a smile, “Aoxue, having you share my burdens is a great relief to me. During this time, use your injury as an excuse to avoid going out in public. Secretly make your way to Fudu and handle this matter.”

Lin Aoxue sneered inwardly. Beichen He had even planned out her cover—taking advantage of her unhealed shoulder wound to make it easier for her to slip away unnoticed.

She responded with due respect. Just as she was about to leave the study, Beichen He suddenly said, “There is a place in Fudu called Lianyun Manor. If you need any clarification regarding this matter, use the secret passphrase to contact someone there and gather information.”

Lin Aoxue thanked Beichen He and carefully memorized the secret passphrase before taking her leave from the Prince of the First Rank’s residence.

***

After leaving, she returned to her inn to pack her belongings. Considering her injuries, she brought ample medicine and bandages.

Since this was a covert mission, Lin Aoxue told no one about her destination. Once night fell, she took her luggage, quietly left the inn, disguised herself, relocated to another lodging, and then slipped out of the capital before curfew.

Not long after she departed, a carriage rolled slowly toward the city gates. The guards stopped it for inspection. When the curtain was lifted, the soldiers glanced inside, performed a brief check, and then stepped aside to let it pass.

The carriage continued smoothly down the official road—heading toward Fudu.

Fudu was not far from the capital, lying to the west. Lin Aoxue traveled swiftly, reaching her destination in just half a day. By the time she arrived, the sky had yet to brighten. She found a relatively clean spot in the woods outside the city and rested briefly. When the city gates opened in the morning, she slung her bag over her shoulder and strode inside.

Upon entering, she cautiously wandered through the streets, looping around several times to ensure no one was following her. Only then did she slip into a secluded alleyway and change into another set of clothes, altering her appearance once more.

Before leaving the capital, she had purchased several masks. Since she lacked Yun Yan’s skill in disguise and wearing only half a mask would attract attention, she decided to wear a full mask to completely conceal her identity.

In addition, Lin Aoxue donned a straw raincoat and a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, blending into the crowd as she moved through the city. Her destination—Lianyun Manor, located in the northeast of Fudu.

Lianyun Manor was a tavern. As Lin Aoxue stepped inside, a waiter enthusiastically greeted her and led her to a seat of her choice. However, when the waiter asked, “What would you like to order, honored guest?” Lin Aoxue calmly responded, “Half a pound of beef, three parts shredded, seven parts sliced. And bring me a jar of ‘Woyun Drunk’—it must be a fine aged brew!”

The waiter’s pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly broke into a cheerful smile and called out in a loud voice, “Please wait a moment, honored guest! Your order will be right up!”

Lin Aoxue waited for a while, and soon, the dishes she had ordered were brought to her. After carefully verifying that the food was not poisoned, she began eating while waiting for someone to make contact. However, even after she finished her meal, no one appeared.

She frowned. Had she recited the passphrase incorrectly?

She blinked in confusion. Beichen He had only instructed her to place this particular order at Lianyun Manor, assuring her that someone would approach her afterward. But now, what was going on?