The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 42 Part 2

Beichen Ji’s expression shifted rapidly. Running into Lin Aoxue was already unexpected enough, but he hadn’t anticipated that this matter would also involve Yun Yan. He cast a sidelong glance at Zhan Dong, who looked as if he had seen a ghost, and asked in confusion, “How did Zhan Dong offend Miss Yun Yan?”

Beichen Ji knew that when it came to matters concerning Yun Yan, Lin Aoxue would turn ruthless and unrelenting, never hesitating to use force.

He wasn’t someone who went back on his word. Since he had already agreed to apologize to Yun Yan, he intended to follow through. However, he had been confined to the camp by Beichen Long for the past few days and had only managed to get some free time today. He had no idea that Yun Yan had opened a medical clinic.

Lin Aoxue curled her lips into a cold smile. “Why don’t you ask your dear brother that question?”

Zhan Dong, who had been suddenly cornered into making an apology, couldn’t stand it anymore. He grabbed Beichen Ji’s shoulder abruptly, yanking him back a step, and lowered his voice in a furious whisper, “What the hell is going on?! Lin Aoxue is just a mere qianhu, and you’re actually afraid of him?”

Beichen Ji impatiently shrugged off his arm. “Enough nonsense. Just tell me what happened! How did you end up provoking Lin-laoge? Even if we all fought together, we wouldn’t be able to take him down. Are you insane?!”

Zhan Dong’s face darkened. He knew Lin Aoxue could fight, but since he himself had no martial skills, he had no concept of how strong Lin Aoxue truly was. He refused to believe Beichen Ji’s claim that even with all of them combined, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

He briefly recounted what had happened at the clinic the previous day, making sure not to exaggerate. He focused on how Lin Aoxue had met with Yun Yan alone and, upon leaving, had bumped into him. Zhan Dong knew that Beichen Ji had always been fond of the courtesan of Yanyu Tower, so he deliberately emphasized that detail, hoping to stir up Beichen Ji’s jealousy and turn him against Lin Aoxue.

However, to his shock, Beichen Ji only shot him a menacing glare before growling a harsh warning, “You’d better start thinking about how you’re going to apologize to Miss Yun Yan!”

Zhan Dong was utterly stunned. He stared at Beichen Ji, wondering if this man before him had been replaced by someone else in disguise. Furious and humiliated, he stomped his foot and shouted, “What the hell is wrong with you, Beichen Ji?! Why are you taking his side? Are we even brothers anymore?!”

Beichen Ji had already lost face today, and Lin Aoxue had once again looked down on him. He was holding in a stomach full of anger. Without another word, he kicked Zhan Dong squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. Then, with a glare, he pointed at Zhan Dong’s face and said coldly, “We’re not brothers anymore. Apologize to Lin-laoge properly, or there’s nothing left to discuss!”

Zhan Dong was dumbfounded by the kick. He sat there in a daze, looking first at Beichen Ji, then at Lin Aoxue, who remained utterly composed as if none of this concerned her.

At that moment, he suddenly realized how ridiculous he was.

From the very beginning, Lin Aoxue had never even spared him a proper glance—neither during their encounter at the clinic nor now at Fuyun Manor.

He had no leverage against Lin Aoxue at all. Even Beichen Ji respected Lin Aoxue’s martial prowess. If he really wanted to deal with Lin Aoxue, he would have to get his father involved. But if Zhan Long found out that he had gone out of his way to make trouble for Lin Aoxue out of petty jealousy, his father would no doubt be furious and give him a severe punishment.

How utterly laughable. In the end, he had only humiliated himself.

The person he had thought of as a brother had turned against him in an instant, stripping him of his dignity and leaving him cold inside.

Lin Aoxue glanced at Zhan Dong, who sat there motionless, his face ashen with defeat. She placed her wine bowl down, stood up, and left some silver coins on the table before calling for Tamu and Polo. As she passed by Beichen Ji, she said, “Let’s go. To the clinic.”

Beichen Ji quickly followed. His soldiers moved to grab Zhan Dong, who, completely shattered, did not resist as they dragged him out of Fuyun Manor.

By now, several days had passed since Yun Yan’s clinic had opened. The people who had initially flocked to the clinic hoping to see her had gradually given up after failing to catch a glimpse of her for days, and the number of visitors had dwindled.

When Lin Aoxue entered, one of the young attendants working at the clinic immediately stepped forward to greet her before hurrying off to fetch Yun Yan.

Today, Yun Yan wore a pale green dress, exuding an air of quiet elegance. Compared to her days at Yanyu Tower, she now carried herself with a detached grace, looking nothing like a woman who had once lived in a brothel.

Beichen Ji’s eyes lit up at the sight of her, but his excitement quickly dimmed.

Yun Yan approached the group and looked at Lin Aoxue in confusion. “What brings you here today, Young Master Lin?”

Lin Aoxue pulled Beichen Ji’s arm, bringing him a little closer to Yun Yan, then helped him start his sentence, “He has something to say to you.”

Yun Yan looked puzzled. What did Beichen Ji have to say, and what did it have to do with her?

Beichen Ji opened his mouth, hesitation flashing across his face. He cleared his throat, then suddenly gritted his teeth, his expression turning as if he were marching toward his doom. Finally, he spoke. “Miss Yun, I was impulsive before and offended you with my words. Lin-laoge has already disciplined me for it. I ask that you be magnanimous and not take my past offense to heart.”

Only then did Yun Yan understand—Lin Aoxue had brought Beichen Ji here to apologize.

Although Lin Aoxue was usually silent, like a closed gourd, when it came to certain things, she was always proactive in helping Yun Yan, protecting her, and providing her with shelter.

Yun Yan was perceptive. After Beichen Ji finished speaking, she smiled faintly and shook her head. “You’re very considerate, Young Master Ji. I never took that matter to heart, but I do hope that in the future, you will think carefully before you act.”

Beichen Ji nodded repeatedly. Yun Yan didn’t look at him again but instead turned her gaze to Lin Aoxue, who was deliberately keeping a cold and stiff expression. With a soft voice, she said to her, “I appreciate Young Master Lin’s concern for me.”

Lin Aoxue met her eyes. The coldness on her face eased slightly, but she quickly waved her hand. At her signal, the soldiers behind her pulled Zhan Dong forward. His shoulders slumped in resignation.

Even Beichen Ji had just apologized with such a respectful attitude. If he didn’t follow suit, he would obviously get beaten up. When Yun Yan looked at him in confusion, he bit his lip resentfully but still forced himself to say, “I was out of line with my words before and offended Miss Yun. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

Yun Yan chuckled softly and glanced at Lin Aoxue. Zhan Dong had indeed been inappropriate, but his words and actions hadn’t been excessively out of bounds. His offense wasn’t serious enough to warrant being dragged here to apologize. Lin Aoxue, however, had insisted on making him do so, leaving Yun Yan both amused and helpless.

How could she not overthink this? How could she not take it to heart?

She both enjoyed Lin Aoxue’s quiet, unwavering care and spent her days wondering how she could make this blockheaded fool finally understand.

Lowering her gaze, she smiled at Zhan Dong and nodded. “You’re making too much of it.”

With that, Lin Aoxue ordered the soldiers to release Zhan Dong and said to him, “You may leave.” Then, she turned to Beichen Ji. “You too.”

Beichen Ji was exasperated but didn’t dare challenge Lin Aoxue. He shrugged and pulled Zhan Dong along as they left the clinic.

Lin Aoxue herself didn’t stay at the clinic for long either. With Tamu and Polo still with her, she only exchanged a few words with Yun Yan, telling her she would visit again tomorrow. Then, she left with her two companions.

***

With an important mission outside the pass approaching, Lin Aoxue’s mind was preoccupied with Yun Yan. After settling matters with Beichen Ji and Zhan Dong, she still wanted to see Yun Yan once more. So, early the next morning, she took advantage of the quiet hours before the clinic became busy and arrived at Yanxue Medical Clinic.

She entered alone and saw Yun Yan sitting at the counter, reviewing the prescriptions the physicians had written for patients over the past few days.

When she saw Lin Aoxue, Yun Yan set down her papers with a smile, stepped forward naturally, and adjusted Lin Aoxue’s collar, smoothing out the creases at the neckline before teasingly saying, “You came yesterday, and now today too? Do you really have so much free time these days?”

A faint smile appeared on Lin Aoxue’s face. “Could it be that Yan’er doesn’t want to see me?”

Yun Yan shook her head and lightly chided, “You’ve changed, Aoxue. You even know how to tease me now.”

The corners of Lin Aoxue’s lips curled into a subtle smile. Perhaps because she was leaving Xingbei Pass tomorrow, heading deep into enemy territory on her mission, she felt unusually calm. Standing before Yun Yan, she wasn’t as tense as she used to be. If the mission failed, she would never have the chance to see this person again. Even if some words were never spoken aloud, she still wanted to look at her one more time before she left.

If she let her shyness keep her from looking at Yun Yan for even a few moments longer, it would be a great pity.

Although Lin Aoxue was smiling and her demeanor was quite composed, Yun Yan frowned slightly. She led Lin Aoxue into the inner hall, had her sit in a chair, and skillfully brewed a pot of tea. With practiced ease, she poured Lin Aoxue a cup before finally asking, “You’re acting strangely today. Do you have something to say? Or is there something on your mind?”

Lin Aoxue took the teacup from Yun Yan’s hands and took a small sip—the temperature was just right. She shook her head with a smile and said, “Can’t I come see you without a reason?”

Using Yun Yan’s own words against her, Lin Aoxue countered playfully. Yun Yan chuckled but became even more convinced that Lin Aoxue was hiding something from her.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly leaned in close. Before Lin Aoxue could react, Yun Yan nestled herself into her arms, directly sitting on her lap.

Lin Aoxue nearly dropped her teacup. Her fragile composure shattered instantly. In a panic, she quickly set the cup down and instinctively leaned back, trying to put some distance between them. She stammered, “Y-Yan’er, what are you doing?”

Yun Yan only smiled, wrapping her arms around Lin Aoxue’s neck and pulling her closer. Her breath, warm and soft, brushed against Lin Aoxue’s cheek, making the latter feel as if she were suffocating. “Aoxue, you’d best be honest with me. What exactly is going on?”

Lin Aoxue’s gaze flitted around the room, refusing to meet Yun Yan’s eyes. “There’s nothing. Truly, nothing’s wrong.”

But Yun Yan wasn’t fooled. She moved in even closer, their cheeks nearly touching. Lin Aoxue was utterly flustered, instinctively pushing at Yun Yan while blurting out in a panic, “Yan’er, get down! This is a pharmacy—there are a lot of people around! What if someone sees?”

Seeing Lin Aoxue so flustered, her eyes evasive, Yun Yan was certain that something serious was being kept from her. She shook her head slightly and gently pressed her forehead against Lin Aoxue’s, smiling as she asked, “I’ve already given orders—no one will come in. Besides, Aoxue, if someone did see us like this, what would you do?”

Lin Aoxue had never considered this question before. Now that Yun Yan had asked her directly, her face turned scarlet, yet she had no answer.

Yun Yan stared into Lin Aoxue’s eyes, but no matter what, the other refused to meet her gaze. So, Yun Yan simply cupped Lin Aoxue’s face and turned her head, forcing her to look straight at her.

Forced into eye contact, Lin Aoxue was overwhelmed with anxiety, her heart pounding wildly. Her mind went blank, her thoughts in disarray—she was beginning to regret coming here today.

Still holding Lin Aoxue’s face, Yun Yan smiled and asked, “Aoxue, do you see me as a close and trusted friend?”

Lin Aoxue swallowed hard and answered hesitantly, “…Yes.”

Yun Yan’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she continued, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we be honest with each other?”

Lin Aoxue’s breathing grew more labored. Completely unable to think, she was led along by Yun Yan’s words.

“…Yes.”

Yun Yan’s smile deepened, her voice gentle yet firm. “Then shouldn’t you tell me what’s going on? What’s making you so anxious?”

Lin Aoxue couldn’t help but admire Yun Yan’s keen perception—it was frighteningly sharp. She had merely let a hint of unease slip, and Yun Yan had seized on it instantly, pressing her for the truth without effort.

By comparison, Lin Aoxue’s ability to conceal her emotions seemed laughably immature. She had no answer to give, so she simply pressed her lips together tightly. The forced smile on her face gradually faded, her brows furrowing, replaced by a somber sadness.

Seeing Lin Aoxue’s expression change, Yun Yan felt her heart sink. Her own smile faded as well, but she didn’t let go of Lin Aoxue’s face. Instead, she persisted, her voice filled with concern.

“Aoxue, you know I don’t insist on knowing your secrets, nor do I expect you to share everything with me. But I worry about you. I can feel your unease, your fear, your panic. Your eyes tell me everything you’re trying to hide, yet you refuse to confide in me. That… makes me very worried.”

Yun Yan spoke at length, her rare solemnity making Lin Aoxue fall completely silent. Her brows furrowed even tighter.

She had only wanted to see Yun Yan one last time before leaving on her mission.

But after hearing Yun Yan’s words, Lin Aoxue felt a sharp ache in her heart. She let out a soft sigh, clenched her fists at her sides, then slowly released them. Finally, she raised her arms and, as if deceiving herself, gently wrapped them around Yun Yan’s waist. She no longer resisted Yun Yan’s overly intimate touch, nor did she try to push her away completely.

This small action did not escape Yun Yan’s notice, but she chose not to point it out. Instead, she continued to gaze into Lin Aoxue’s eyes, hoping to hear the truth from her. If there was even the slightest chance that Lin Aoxue would be honest with her, Yun Yan was unwilling to investigate the matter behind her back in a way that Lin Aoxue might dislike.

“Yan’er.”

Lin Aoxue finally spoke. A thin layer of mist blurred her eyes, and the moment she opened her mouth, a flood of restless longing surged forth. She had never before considered the possibility that leaving Xingbei Pass might mean never returning. Her vengeance was yet unfulfilled, and she would not allow herself to die so easily—nor would she permit distractions.

But this time, for the first time, she felt an unfamiliar unease. She was afraid, anxious, terrified. These emotions had settled deep in her heart, impossible to erase, no matter how hard she tried to hide them. They would inevitably reveal themselves through her eyes when she let her guard down.

The tangled emotions made her increasingly restless, unable to find peace.

She didn’t want Yun Yan to worry about her, but at this moment, she realized that if she remained silent, Yun Yan would only worry even more.

“I will be leaving the pass for a while,” she said softly.

Technically speaking, she shouldn’t have told Yun Yan about this. Yun Yan was no longer a military doctor in the barracks—she was an outsider now. By revealing this, Lin Aoxue was violating military orders.

But as she looked into Yun Yan’s eyes—those clear, gentle, and deeply affectionate eyes—she felt moved. Apart from the identity she could never disclose, she no longer wished to hide anything from her.

Yun Yan’s brows furrowed instantly. Her expression turned serious as she asked, “Why are you leaving all of a sudden? How long will you be gone?”

Since she had already spoken, Lin Aoxue no longer intended to conceal the truth. She sighed helplessly and answered, “A month.”

Yun Yan was visibly shocked. Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, and then, as if realizing something, she pressed her lips together anxiously, her expression filled with worry.

“Why so long? It’s dangerous beyond the pass—how can you stay out there for so long?”

She was deeply troubled. Just last year, she had traveled beyond Xingbei Pass with Lin Aoxue, staying outside for a little over ten days. Even then, the dangers were overwhelming, and Lin Aoxue had sustained serious injuries. And now, Lin Aoxue planned to leave for an even longer time? There was no way Yun Yan wouldn’t worry.

Lin Aoxue nodded helplessly. It was precisely because she feared Yun Yan’s concern that she had initially chosen to say nothing.

Yun Yan let out a weary sigh. She did not ask what mission Lin Aoxue was undertaking, nor did she suggest going with her. She understood that her current status was different—she no longer had the privileges she once did. If she recklessly insisted on accompanying her, it would only bring Lin Aoxue unnecessary trouble.

So, in this matter, there was truly nothing she could do except stay behind and wait.

“Fine, you can go,” Yun Yan finally said. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

She forced herself to appear calm, suppressing the deep worry in her heart as she spoke with a seemingly composed tone.