The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 37 Part 2

Lin Aoxue still wore a straw hat, its brim concealing the mask on her face, making it impossible to see her true appearance. Yun Yan’s gaze carried a hint of scrutiny beneath its usual coldness.

Earlier, Lin Aoxue had worn the rain cloak and straw hat as a disguise to avoid drawing attention. That had been reasonable. But now that they were out of danger, she still kept the mask on and had yet to remove the straw hat, which struck Yun Yan as unusual.

“Yes, I got an account book, but I don’t know if it’s the one His Highness is looking for.”

Lin Aoxue never hesitated about whether to hand over the account book to Yun Yan. Though it could cause some trouble for Beichen He, it wouldn’t deal him any real damage. Moreover, if Yun Yan was one of Beichen He’s people, then this meeting wasn’t just about exchanging information—she was also monitoring Lin Aoxue’s actions.

Lin Aoxue had come to Fudu solely to complete the task Beichen He assigned her and earn his full trust. If anything went wrong now, all her previous patience and suffering would have been in vain.

Risking everything over a single account book was not her style.

Without hesitation, she took the book from her robes, suppressing the emotions surging inside her, and handed it to Yun Yan with an indifferent expression.

Yun Yan accepted the book and lit a small fire starter inside the carriage, using its light to flip through the pages. The rustling of paper blended with the rhythmic sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the ground, filling the small space.

For some reason, Lin Aoxue felt nervous. She clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth, and remained silent.

Soon, Yun Yan finished skimming through the book. She closed it but didn’t put out the fire starter. Instead, she gave Lin Aoxue a slight smile and nodded. “This is indeed the account book His Highness was searching for. You’ve worked hard today.”

Lin Aoxue shook her head and replied in a muffled voice, “Serving His Highness is an honor. It was no hardship.”

Yun Yan’s lips curled into a smile—one Lin Aoxue had never seen before, cold and unreadable. She put the account book away and made no comment on Lin Aoxue’s response. Instead, she brought the fire starter a little closer and said with a smile, “There’s no one else here in the carriage. Why not take off your straw hat?”

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue realized that keeping both the mask and the hat on inside the carriage was indeed odd. She hesitated. Would removing only the straw hat while still wearing the mask arouse Yun Yan’s suspicion? But keeping the hat on was even stranger.

Suppressing her unease, she gave a low “Mm,” then took off the hat and casually placed it at her side.

The carriage continued racing forward. Yun Yan’s gaze remained fixed on her, sharp eyes seeming to pierce through everything. The scrutiny made Lin Aoxue increasingly tense, afraid that Yun Yan would notice something. Instinctively, she clenched the hem of her robes and turned her head slightly, pretending to look out through the gap in the carriage curtains.

Yun Yan had been observing Lin Aoxue carefully. Earlier, the rain cloak had altered her figure slightly, making it harder to discern anything unusual. But now, after using the cloak as a decoy to shake off her pursuers, Lin Aoxue had returned without that outer layer of disguise. Even with the mask still on, there was something about her that seemed… strangely familiar.

She had deliberately urged Lin Aoxue to remove her straw hat, wanting to take a closer look. The moment Lin Aoxue did so, the mask on her face entered Yun Yan’s line of sight, and an overwhelming sense of familiarity struck her.

Something stirred in Yun Yan’s mind. She suddenly leaned forward slightly and said, “You seem a little uneasy. Were you injured just now? I know some medicine—shall I take a look for you?”

Lin Aoxue had been watching the carriage curtain rise and fall, the scenery outside speeding past them. But suddenly, without warning, Yun Yan leaned in close and said such a thing. Her heart clenched, and she instinctively leaned back, hastily replying, “I am not injured.”

Yun Yan had always been highly perceptive, and she did not miss the subtle movement of Lin Aoxue clutching the hem of her clothes. While surprised, her mind quickly compared Lin Aoxue’s current appearance to the figure sitting stiffly beside her. As she made the connection, an answer gradually formed in her heart—one she was almost certain of.

At this moment, as she drew closer, Lin Aoxue was clearly nervous, yet she deliberately forced herself to remain calm. Her limbs were rigid, her gaze flustered—her behavior now overlapped almost exactly with the person in Yun Yan’s memory.

Moreover, Yun Yan was certain that Lin Aoxue had recognized her long ago. In her impression, Lin Aoxue was always cold and intimidating toward strangers, exuding an aura that kept people at a distance—a deeply ingrained instinct that was not easily changed. She would never have shown such obvious tension unless she was facing someone she knew.

Over time, after interacting with Yun Yan, Lin Aoxue had gradually toned down that natural hostility. Even now, she still tensed up when Yun Yan got close, still kept a stern expression—but the suffocating killing intent that usually surrounded her was absent.

Yun Yan was sure of it. Lin Aoxue had recognized her long before this moment.

Without warning, Yun Yan lunged forward, pinning Lin Aoxue beneath her. Lin Aoxue was both shocked and furious. She instinctively tried to break free but hesitated, afraid of accidentally injuring Yun Yan. Just as she was about to use her inner strength to push her away, Yun Yan lowered her voice and whispered, “Aoxue, don’t make a sound.”

Lin Aoxue instantly froze. Her back pressed against the cushioned seat of the carriage, every hair on her body standing on end. She was like a statue under a spell—unable to move, unable to react, her only response was to clench her jaw in silence.

The shadow guard driving the carriage did not turn his head. He heard nothing out of the ordinary, his sole focus on rushing toward the capital at full speed, completely unaware of what was happening inside the carriage.

Yun Yan’s eyes softened, a gentle smile surfacing. She reached out and lightly tapped the mask on Lin Aoxue’s face. Then, leaning down until she was fully pressing against her, she whispered into Lin Aoxue’s ear, nibbling at its edge, “Well, well, Lin Aoxue. Who would have thought? The one sent on this mission turned out to be you. You almost had me fooled. Since you recognized me, why didn’t you say anything?”

Turning the tables on her, Yun Yan’s words sent a shockwave through Lin Aoxue’s heart. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Just as she was about to demand an explanation, a sudden thought flashed through her mind.

What if Yun Yan was merely pretending—trying to lure her into a confession? If she revealed any hint of disloyalty to Beichen He, she could still end up being betrayed.

The realization made Lin Aoxue suppress the urge to demand answers. Forcing herself to stay composed, she maintained her sharp expression and coldly replied, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Please show some respect.”

Pretending not to recognize Yun Yan took her by surprise, but she quickly understood the reason behind it. Lin Aoxue was clearly being cautious of her current situation, afraid that one wrong word could lead to her death.

Still leaning over her, Yun Yan whispered once more, “Aoxue, why are you risking your life for the Prince of the First Rank?”

At those words, Lin Aoxue’s pupils contracted. Reflected in her dark eyes was Yun Yan’s face—seemingly ordinary after her disguise, yet still exuding an elegant and composed air. A storm of emotions began surging within her.

Yun Yan referred to Beichen He as “Prince of the First Rank,” just as Beichen Ling did. Although she had now uncovered Lin Aoxue’s identity, she showed no surprise at all. Instead, she accepted it naturally, openly exposing Lin Aoxue’s disguise and getting straight to the point by questioning her motives.

Lin Aoxue couldn’t determine whether Yun Yan was still acting. She had no way of telling whether her words could be trusted. Fixing her gaze on Yun Yan for a brief moment, her eyes flickered before she responded, “If you’re also working for His Highness, why bother asking me why I am?”

She knew there was no way to hide her identity now that Yun Yan had discovered it. However, her true purpose and intentions—those she absolutely could not reveal. So, she chose to deflect.

Yun Yan studied her carefully for a long time, still unable to discern Lin Aoxue’s true stance toward the Prince of the First Rank.

Lin Aoxue found Yun Yan to be enigmatic and unfathomable, yet Yun Yan also considered Lin Aoxue unpredictable and difficult to read. Previously, Lin Aoxue had secretly retrieved the pouch she had lost without telling her, and now, she was covertly working for Beichen He.

Beichen Ling had mentioned before that Lin Aoxue was in Beichen He’s service, and Yun Yan could understand why. After all, Lin Aoxue was new to the capital, and the Prince of the First Rank had repeatedly attempted to recruit her. Moreover, Yun Yan herself had once advised Lin Aoxue not to defy him. Given all this, it wasn’t surprising that Lin Aoxue had chosen to work for him.

What she was truly curious about was Lin Aoxue’s level of loyalty toward Beichen He.

Hearing Lin Aoxue’s evasive response, Yun Yan leaned in closer, lowering her body. She gently lifted Lin Aoxue’s mask, revealing the cold, stern gaze beneath. Seeing Lin Aoxue instinctively avert her eyes, Yun Yan suddenly chuckled.

Lin Aoxue was still the same Lin Aoxue she knew.

“My reasons for serving His Highness are certainly not the same as yours.” Yun Yan’s voice carried a soft, knowing laughter.

Apart from the fact that she did not know Lin Aoxue was the daughter of Ning Yong, the Nation’s Protector Duke, Yun Yan understood her better than anyone. She trusted her own judgment and believed that Lin Aoxue was different from others.

Lin Aoxue fell silent. She had no way to refute those words.

Yun Yan reached out, lightly brushing aside the fine strands of hair on Lin Aoxue’s forehead. Then, without hesitation, she slipped her hand into the pocket at Lin Aoxue’s chest.

Lin Aoxue’s breath hitched, her eyes filled with alarm and panic as Yun Yan pulled out a small embroidered pouch, holding it up and gently shaking it before her.

Lin Aoxue’s breathing stopped. She was utterly flustered.

It was the pouch Yun Yan had lost on the night of the Lantern Festival.

Lin Aoxue had carried it with her all this time. Even though she knew she shouldn’t have brought it along on this mission, she had hesitated and ultimately decided to keep it with her. But she never expected Yun Yan to have noticed it.

When had she found out? Was it when Yun Yan had tended to her injury?

If so, had Yun Yan already suspected her long before this?

Lin Aoxue’s mind was in turmoil. She was at a complete loss for words, unable to come up with an explanation.

And this—this was exactly what Yun Yan had intended.

The moment Lin Aoxue became flustered, she would be more prone to making mistakes in her words, allowing Yun Yan to glimpse into her true thoughts.

However, even Yun Yan had only meant to test her. She never expected Lin Aoxue to actually carry the pouch with her. Faced with this, she felt torn between exasperation and amusement. She didn’t know whether to scold Lin Aoxue for being too naïve or to be pleased by her sincerity.

“If you went to such lengths to retrieve this in secret, why didn’t you return it to me?” Yun Yan’s eyes shimmered with a soft smile as she gazed at Lin Aoxue.

“The item inside was lost. I couldn’t find it, so I didn’t dare return it.” She needed to distance herself from the golden key and feign ignorance.

Yun Yan’s smile deepened. “Then do you know what was inside?”

“I heard from that little thief that it was a golden key. I went to the pawnshop to ask about it, but the item had already been taken,” Lin Aoxue answered truthfully, though she found the conversation odd. Why was Yun Yan suddenly bringing this up? Given her own suspicions about Yun Yan, could she really be connected to her father’s former subordinates?

Yun Yan smiled as she studied Lin Aoxue, locking eyes with her. Seeing that Lin Aoxue did not shy away from her gaze, she spoke softly. “Aoxue, if I said I was willing to exchange my secret for yours, would you be willing to be honest with me?”

At first, Yun Yan had assumed that Lin Aoxue simply felt ashamed to return the pouch because the item inside was missing. But now, staring into Lin Aoxue’s eyes from such close proximity, a different answer surfaced in her mind.

Too many coincidences were no longer coincidences.

Beichen Ling’s sudden change in attitude toward Lin Aoxue.

Beichen Ling secretly sending people to investigate the unresolved case of the Nation’s Protector Duke’s estate.

Lin Aoxue deliberate concealment of the pouch.

And, more importantly, the fresh wound that had inexplicably appeared on Lin Aoxue’s left arm the night of the Lantern Festival.

Just days before that, Beichen He had dispatched a mysterious figure to capture Sui Liang alone. According to the information Yun Yan had gathered, that person had also sustained an injury—on their left forearm.

After that incident, the second golden key, originally in Sui Liang’s possession, had vanished without a trace.

As Yun Yan pieced together all these details, a seemingly absurd yet undeniably logical answer took shape in her mind. If that was the real Lin Aoxue, then she had to admit—Lin Aoxue had hidden herself well.

She was testing the waters, trying to get closer to Lin Aoxue’s true heart. She wanted to know if Lin Aoxue was willing to exchange their most guarded secrets.

Lin Aoxue pursed her lips and fell into silence. She wanted to trust Yun Yan, but her own identity was far too sensitive. She couldn’t determine whose side Yun Yan was truly on. If she exposed herself, it would be no different from handing a blade directly into Yun Yan’s hands.

Yun Yan was composed, far more than she was. Lin Aoxue didn’t know whose secret weighed heavier, but this was a gamble she couldn’t afford to take.

She dared not risk it—dared not stake everything on a trust with no guarantee.

Lowering her head, Lin Aoxue felt a heavy tightness in her chest, a dull ache spreading through her. It was as if she was already bleeding, though no wound had been inflicted. She clenched her teeth, inhaling sharply to suppress the bitterness welling inside her, forcing back the tears threatening to surface. Then, with a cold, resolute tone that left no room for argument, she answered, “We each serve our own masters and fulfill our own duties. Just as you told me yesterday, our personal rapport has nothing to do with the positions we hold or the people we serve.”

If she couldn’t trust wholeheartedly, then from this moment on, they would keep their guard up against each other. There was no need to expect to become a special existence in the other’s heart. They would maintain their interactions with mutual reservations, and in doing so, they could remain composed and at ease.

Wasn’t that the best way?

Lin Aoxue told herself this silently. Though she couldn’t suppress the sourness rising in her heart, she believed—this was the right choice.

Yun Yan gazed into her eyes, watching as that bright, crystalline light quickly dimmed after she finished speaking. Her heart trembled, as if a needle had pierced the softest part of her soul—not an overwhelming pain, but one that was sharp and unmistakably clear.

She understood Lin Aoxue’s decision. If things were truly as she suspected, and Lin Aoxue’s identity was tied to the former Nation’s Protector Duke’s household, then it was no surprise that she was guarded, wary, and distrustful.

Lin Aoxue had buried her true feelings, extinguishing any hopes and fantasies with her own hands. She had built high walls around her heart, blocking out all prying eyes from the outside world.

Yun Yan did not press her any further. She got up from Lin Aoxue’s side, straightened her collar, and smoothly changed the subject. “His Highness sent you to retrieve the account books not only to test your loyalty but also to use them as leverage against you. If it had been someone else in your position, even a moment of hesitation just now might have meant you would never return to the capital.”

Yun Yan stepped back. Lin Aoxue felt a sense of relief, but at the same time, an inexplicable wave of disappointment rose within her.

She knew Yun Yan was reminding her of the dangers she faced while also expressing goodwill. Although Yun Yan was currently monitoring her on Beichen He’s behalf, she was different from his other subordinates—she bore no particular hostility toward Lin Aoxue.

Even so, Lin Aoxue could not respond to the underlying meaning in her words. She quickly pushed aside the complicated emotions, donned her mask once more, and shut the window to her heart that might have betrayed her true thoughts. With a cold, unwavering voice, she said, “I serve His Highness with absolute loyalty.”

Yun Yan glanced at her but offered no comment. Both of them had their own internal scales of judgment, their own choices and answers. One deliberately distanced herself, while the other remained silent yet understanding.

If Lin Aoxue existed in the light, then Yun Yan resided in the shadows.

The carriage continued to speed forward, and the shadow guard driving it remained completely unaware of what had transpired inside.

Silence settled over the carriage interior. Neither spoke again. Yun Yan turned to look out the window at the rapidly retreating fields and forests, a faint, indescribable bitterness welling up inside her.

She appeared composed and steady, but only she knew how close she had come to losing control today. She had been impatient—almost reckless—nearly exposing the carefully concealed secret buried within her heart in her attempt to probe Lin Aoxue for the truth.

And Lin Aoxue, in contrast, had proven to be even more rational than she, who had always prided herself on being calm and restrained.

Yun Yan let out a quiet sigh. She was certain now—she had fallen too deep.

For over twenty years, she had struggled in a quagmire, untouched and unmoved by anyone. But Lin Aoxue’s innate purity had drawn her in. They were alike, yet entirely different, and this contradiction made her want to get closer, no matter the cost.

Since childhood, she had never desired much. At first, she had only wished for parental love and a harmonious family. Later, realizing that was too extravagant a hope, she gradually stopped yearning for it.

In time, her only goal had been to survive amidst the ruthless clashes of power, discarding kindness if necessary, willing to die without regret.

She had come to understand that among all human connections, emotions were the most precious—unlike the hollow pleasantries of politics, they were the truest form of expression.

And now, the thing she wanted most was Lin Aoxue’s heart.

Even knowing the road ahead was treacherous, even knowing that so much was beyond her reach, she still could not help herself.

She wanted to possess it.

She wanted to take it.

She wanted to shatter the layers of armor guarding Lin Aoxue’s heart and claim the most precious thing hidden within.