The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 48 Part 2

Beichen Long’s expression turned grim as he took the stack of letters. Flipping through them briefly, his eyes widened in rage. He suddenly slammed the table and roared, “Outrageous!”

The guard immediately lowered his head in fear, while Lin Aoxue and Luo Wendong hastily bowed as well.

Beichen Long’s eyes burned with fury. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger before throwing the stack of letters in front of Luo Wendong, his voice ice-cold, “Take a look at this yourself!”

The moment Luo Qi’s residence was mentioned, an unease had already begun creeping into Luo Wendong’s heart. However, he had not thought much of it. But now, seeing Beichen Long’s furious reaction and the stack of papers tossed in front of him, panic finally set in. He felt the situation spiraling out of control, slipping beyond his grasp.

Taking a deep breath, he reached out with trembling hands and picked up the papers. After scanning just a few lines, his vision blurred, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

The documents contained records of bribes Luo Wendong had accepted over the years, along with detailed accounts of how he had sheltered Luo Qi’s crimes—his acts of violence, extortion, and abuse. It appeared to be a personal ledger, with messy handwriting that unmistakably belonged to Luo Qi.

Luo Wendong’s face turned deathly pale. He immediately flung the ledger to the ground, prostrating himself in a panic, bowing repeatedly as he desperately tried to defend himself, “General! Someone is framing me! This must be Lin Aoxue! Killing Luo Qi wasn’t enough for her—she still wants to drag me down with her! This man is utterly malicious, sir!” His mind was in complete disarray, and his words had lost all coherence.

Beichen Long sneered coldly, his sharp gaze like a dagger slicing through Luo Wendong. Narrowing his eyes, he commanded in a low voice, “We shall see whether that is true or not. Someone, go search Duwei Luo’s military quarters!”

Guards rushed off to carry out the order, leaving Luo Wendong ashen-faced, looking as if he had lost his soul.

Lin Aoxue was stunned. She glanced at Beichen Long, then at Luo Wendong’s defeated expression, finding the situation almost amusing.

Everything about today had been suspicious. Luo Qi’s death was sudden, and though Lin Aoxue did not know the exact reason, it was clear that Luo Wendong had tried to seize the opportunity to pin the blame on her. Yet, Beichen Long’s investigation had instead uncovered Luo Wendong’s own crimes—it was a case of trying to frame someone else only to expose himself instead.

Lin Aoxue maintained her composed exterior, but her mind flashed back to the black-clad figure she had seen at Luo Qi’s residence the previous night. A chilling thought crossed her mind—could it be that this stack of incriminating documents had been planted there by that mysterious figure?

If so, then it was likely that Luo Qi had also been killed by that person, or at least by an accomplice.

The whole thing seemed too coincidental. Was this all a premeditated scheme to frame Luo Wendong for Luo Qi’s death? Or was someone secretly helping her?

As soon as the thought surfaced, Lin Aoxue dismissed it. She had no connection to the black-clad figure—why would they help her? More likely, their objectives had merely aligned, and she had simply benefited from the circumstances.

Feeling reassured, Lin Aoxue quietly observed as the investigation continued to clear her of suspicion. She showed mild curiosity but made no effort to ask about the contents of the documents.

Beichen Long, noticing her composed demeanor in contrast to Luo Wendong’s frantic behavior, felt a sense of appreciation for her. Though his doubts were not entirely dispelled, he chose to wait until the search was complete. Once the soldiers returned with further evidence, Beichen Long finally spoke. 

“Duwei Luo, I never expected you to have so many disgraceful secrets in your hands!”

His voice, as powerful as a war drum, struck Luo Wendong with overwhelming force, leaving him dizzy and panicked.

The soldiers had retrieved a large amount of hidden silver from Luo Wendong’s quarters, along with additional financial records. When compared against the private ledger, the missing amounts added up precisely. Moreover, when Beichen Long sent men to investigate the banks, they confirmed that Luo Wendong had deposited money under Luo Qi’s name. When combined with the silver found in his quarters, the numbers aligned perfectly.

Beichen Long tossed the ledgers at Luo Wendong’s feet, his voice sharp as a blade, “What do you have to say for yourself now?!”

Luo Wendong’s legs trembled violently. The moment Beichen Long finished speaking, he collapsed to his knees with a loud thud. His previous rage had completely vanished, replaced by sheer terror and regret.

The evidence was undeniable. Over the years, he had conspired with Luo Qi, accepting bribes and shielding his countless crimes. He had personally silenced victims, suppressed investigations, and covered up scandals. Compared to all of that, Luo Qi’s death was but a minor detail.

Beichen Long was naturally furious. Seeing that Luo Wendong no longer tried to argue, he made his final judgment on the matter.

“Luo Qi was a scoundrel who must have made countless enemies. His death is of no consequence! You must have been jealous of Lin Aoxue’s rapid promotion, so you used Luo Qi’s death as an excuse to frame him!” With a wave of his hand, he loudly declared, “The crimes committed today are severe. However, considering your years of service in the military and the recent loss of your nephew, your past merits will offset some of your offenses. You are demoted to qianhu. You will receive fifty military strokes and are forbidden from participating in any military discussions for a month.”

At Beichen Long’s words, Luo Wendong swayed unsteadily, his face ashen. He bowed in gratitude before Beichen Long, and immediately, attendants rushed in from outside the tent, pulling him away.

Once Luo Wendong had been punished, Beichen Long turned his gaze to Lin Aoxue. His expression was somewhat stern as he said, “Aoxue, although I have punished Luo Wendong today, you are not without fault either!”

Lin Aoxue straightened her posture, then knelt on one knee and respectfully responded, “Yes, I acknowledge my mistakes.”

Beichen Long raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you know what your mistakes were?”

Lin Aoxue did not feign ignorance but spoke firmly, “I made two mistakes. First, I got into a conflict over Miss Yun Yan. Second, I acted recklessly by injuring someone and severing a finger. My actions were too impulsive.”

Beichen Long nodded in satisfaction. Although Lin Aoxue was impulsive, she was at least capable of self-reflection—something many others could not do. However, despite the slight smile in his eyes, his expression remained severe. He let out a cold snort and said, “But even though you recognize your mistakes, if you encounter another situation involving Yun Yan in the future, would you not make the same mistakes again?”

Lin Aoxue lowered her head in silence, saying nothing.

Just as Beichen Long had pointed out, even though she knew where she had erred, if something involving Yun Yan happened again, she would still make the same choice.

Beichen Long let out a long sigh. Lin Aoxue was as stubborn as an ox. He waved his hand forcefully and said, “Enough. Go receive ten strokes as punishment.”

Lin Aoxue thanked Beichen Long. Since his decision was clearly biased in her favor, she certainly would not complain. She bowed respectfully in gratitude, then left the military camp to reclaim her waist token, which she had previously pawned at a jade shop. On her way back, she stopped by the Yanxue Medical Clinic for a brief visit.

Lin Aoxue told Yun Yan about how the scoundrel Luo Qi had died unexpectedly, and how his uncle, Luo Wendong, had been demoted and punished by Beichen Long. The matter of Luo Qi was now completely settled, and he would no longer trouble Yun Yan.

Yun Yan smiled at her and asked, “Did you come today just to see me, or just to deliver this news?”

Lin Aoxue’s expression stiffened slightly. She hesitated for a few moments before replying, somewhat shyly, “Both.”

Yun Yan’s smile deepened, satisfied with the answer.

Lin Aoxue did not linger at the clinic for long, as she still had to receive her ten military strokes. She soon returned to the barracks, took her punishment, and then retired early to rest.

But just when one trouble had been resolved, another arose.

In the middle of the night, Lin Aoxue was suddenly awakened by loud commotion outside. She sat up in alarm, worried that a battle had broken out. Quickly dressing, she lifted the tent flap and glanced outside, seeing soldiers rushing in one direction with hurried expressions.

Frowning in confusion, she turned to a guard stationed outside her tent and asked, “What’s happening?”

The guard saluted her and answered, “County Commandant Lin, I do not know the full details, but I heard someone shouting ‘Assassins!’ It seems the Fifth Prince has been attacked.”

What?! Lin Aoxue’s eyes widened in shock. She glanced toward the source of the commotion, her brows furrowing as she muttered, “This is truly strange.”

With such an incident occurring, without a direct summons from Beichen Long, it was best not to leave her tent. If she got entangled in an assassination attempt on the prince, the consequences would be severe and nearly impossible to escape.

But Lin Aoxue couldn’t shake her unease. Too many strange things had been happening at Xingbei Pass lately—so many that it felt like impending disaster was looming over them.

Ever since Lin Aoxue rescued the Fifth Prince from the battlefield, he had fallen seriously ill. During his recovery, his arrogance had noticeably diminished. Once he regained his health, he had even started actively participating in military training, gradually shedding his initial brashness and displaying a newfound sense of composure.

Even Beichen Long had begun to acknowledge the prince’s potential. Aside from his naturally impatient temperament, the Fifth Prince was indeed knowledgeable, likely well-versed in military strategy from his studies. At first, he had been merely an armchair strategist, but after experiencing several battles at Xingbei Pass firsthand, he had undergone a significant transformation.

And yet, despite all this, he had now been targeted for assassination.

When it comes to motives, there were simply too many people who had a reason to assassinate the prince. Upon hearing the news, Lin Aoxue couldn’t immediately determine who was behind it. The longer she stayed in the military camp, the more she realized how deep the waters ran. Beichen Long may have held a high position, commanding hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but among his subordinates, there were few who were truly loyal.

It wasn’t that Beichen Long lacked the soldiers’ support; rather, there were too many people secretly plotting against him. The emperor and the Prince of the First Rank alone were enough to give him a massive headache.

Lin Aoxue stood outside her tent, glanced toward the chaotic commotion, then tightened the cloak around her shoulders and turned back inside to sleep.

Although Beichen He had once instructed her to keep an eye on the prince, in a situation like this, self-preservation was the wisest choice. She couldn’t afford to provoke Beichen Long’s ire. Beichen He was too far away to intervene, and if she wanted to gain control of Beichen Long’s military power, winning his trust was the most important step.

Besides, from Beichen Long’s perspective, no matter how much he disliked the prince, he had no choice but to keep him alive.

First, the emperor was already suspicious that Beichen Long harbored rebellious intentions. That was why he had sent the prince to keep an eye on him. As long as Beichen Long didn’t want to completely sever ties with the emperor, he would have to be the one most actively protecting the prince. Second, if the prince died in his territory, not only would the emperor be furious, but it would also give Beichen He the perfect opportunity to take him down completely. Beichen Long wasn’t a fool; he wouldn’t let things escalate to that point.

Lin Aoxue didn’t know how the assassination attempt was ultimately handled. She only heard the next day that there had been new developments—the prince had been attacked inside his own tent. The assassin had disguised himself as a patrolling guard and seized the opportunity to strike when the prince stepped outside for fresh air, delivering a severe wound.

Although the prince’s personal guards had arrived swiftly, they had only managed to save his life; his injuries were still extremely serious.

Beichen Long, already burdened with numerous issues, was now faced with yet another crisis. Frustrated and enraged, he immediately ordered the prince’s tent to be sealed off. He forbade any information from leaking out and stationed guards in layers around the area. Even the military doctors had to pass multiple security checks before they were allowed inside to treat the prince.

Beichen Long was on edge, pacing back and forth inside his tent, his expression dark and stormy. The assassin who had attacked the prince had been captured, but he had come prepared—once he realized he had been exposed, he bit down on a hidden poison capsule and died instantly, leaving no clues behind. There was no way to trace his identity.

The elderly military doctor who examined the prince’s injuries looked deeply troubled. When Beichen Long turned to him, the doctor suddenly knelt to the ground with a heavy thud, pressing his forehead against the floor as he trembled and said, “General, the prince’s injuries are severe… I-I dare not treat him.”

The prince had been stabbed in the chest, near the lungs. Though it wasn’t an immediately fatal blow, the blade had been coated with a potent poison. The situation was dire, and time was running out. The military doctor had managed to temporarily suppress the poison’s effects, but he wasn’t confident in fully curing it.

Everyone knew how precious the prince’s life was. The doctor had practiced medicine for many years and had seen his share of hardships. He understood that the northern frontier was about to face a catastrophe. If the prince died under his care, he would never be able to clear himself of blame. Not only would he face certain death, but even his family would likely be implicated. He couldn’t afford to take the risk.

Beichen Long was so furious he nearly exploded. His eyes widened in rage as he grabbed the military doctor by the collar and bellowed, “You’re a military doctor! If you don’t treat him, who will?! He cannot die! If you fail to save him, I’ll chop off your head myself!”

The doctor shuddered and lowered his head, replying, “General, it’s not that I refuse to treat him, but the dagger was coated with a rare poison… I truly lack the ability to neutralize it.”

“A rare poison?” Beichen Long repeated in a low voice. The military doctor nodded solemnly.

“This poison is strange—it doesn’t seem immediately lethal, but no one knows when it will take full effect. I just examined the prince, and with my level of medical skill, I fear I won’t be able to cure him.”

Beichen Long slowly released his grip on the doctor’s collar, his expression darkening.

At this point, he knew someone was setting him up. The emperor might have been foolish, but he wouldn’t use his own son’s life in a scheme against Beichen Long. That meant the emperor was unlikely to be behind it. However, the prince had been sent to the northern frontier on Beichen He’s recommendation, which at least, on the surface, suggested Beichen He had no reason to orchestrate this attack either.

The recent string of incidents in the military camp had already dealt a heavy blow to Beichen Long. If the prince truly died here, no matter who was responsible, the emperor would immediately accuse Beichen Long of treason. At that point, not only would he lose any hope of reinforcing his troops, but he himself would be labeled a traitor overnight.

Just as Beichen Long was overwhelmed with frustration, the elderly military doctor, still kneeling on the ground, suddenly spoke up. “General, I may not have the skill to save him, but there is one person who just might.”

Beichen Long pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression tense with anxiety. When he suddenly heard the military doctor’s words, he jerked his head up and pressed urgently, “Who?” 

The military doctor remained composed as he answered, “Doctor Yun from Yanxue Medical Clinic in Xingbei Market.”

Beichen Long slapped his thigh, gritting his teeth in frustration. After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, his face clouded with resignation.

It was only now, with the military doctor’s reminder, that he recalled Yun Yan’s exceptional medical skills. But just yesterday, he had reprimanded Lin Aoxue for defending Yun Yan after a dispute. Now, barely a day later, he had no choice but to ask Yun Yan to treat the prince’s poisoned wounds. If he went through with this, his pride and dignity would be utterly discarded.

However, Yun Yan’s medical skills were well known in the army. When Beichen Ji was struck by a poisoned arrow from the barbarian forces beyond the pass, not a single physician in the Northern Frontier Army had been able to help. But in Yun Yan’s hands, the treatment had been effortless—like a divine miracle. If there was any chance of saving the prince now, Yun Yan was the only one who could do it.

Beichen Long clenched his teeth hard. He despised being so inconsistent, as if he had no principles left, but at this moment, the prince’s life was far more important than his own pride. Since not a single military doctor dared to attempt treatment, he had no other choice—there was no alternative but Yun Yan.

With the situation as it was, Beichen Long didn’t hesitate for long. He summoned Lin Aoxue and instructed her, “Go to Xingbei Market and invite Doctor Yun to treat the prince.”

Among the people in the camp, Lin Aoxue was one of the few Beichen Long could still trust. She accepted the order and left the military camp, heading straight for Yanxue Medical Clinic.

When she saw Yun Yan again, she greeted her with a teasing smile, “Three days in a row at my clinic? That’s rare.” For once, Lin Aoxue didn’t react with embarrassment. Her expression remained solemn, which made Yun Yan pause in confusion. “What happened?” she asked.

Lin Aoxue didn’t hide the truth and got straight to the point. “Yan’er, the prince was assassinated. He’s in critical condition. The general has asked you to come to the camp and treat him.”

She knew very well that dragging Yun Yan into this chaotic situation was unwise. However, the circumstances left no room for hesitation—the prince’s life was too crucial. If he died, the fragile balance in the northern frontier would collapse completely, and all the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface would suddenly erupt.

She had a strong premonition that regardless of which faction was behind this assassination attempt, once news of the attack spread, the entire northern frontier would be thrown into turmoil.

That was why—the prince could not die.