The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 58 Part 1

“In the past, I only served myself. But now, besides myself, there’s also you.”

Yun Yan’s voice was soft and melodious, carrying a firmness that came from the heart. She gazed into Lin Aoxue’s eyes, pouring out her truest emotions to the person before her.

Lin Aoxue stared at Yun Yan, momentarily stunned. Their eyes met, and in Yun Yan’s gaze, she saw a deep, warm sentiment. A surge of warmth flowed through her chest, spreading into her heart and soothing the wounds within her.

This woman possessed an extraordinary gift for healing—not only could she cure physical ailments, but she could also slowly extract the lingering pain in Lin Aoxue’s heart.

Lin Aoxue understood Yun Yan’s words. Her meaning was simple and clear—Yun Yan did not belong to any faction. She existed for herself, just like Lin Aoxue. They both had their own goals and worked tirelessly toward them. And now, Yun Yan was willing to share this secret with Lin Aoxue.

Even though she was confident that, should Lin Aoxue betray her, it would not be enough to harm her, she never once considered using such calculations against Lin Aoxue. She was simply and sincerely sharing her secret with her.

She reached out and gently covered Lin Aoxue’s eyes, then leaned in, speaking softly against her ear, “When you become a general, I will tell you all my secrets—whether it’s my origins or the purpose I have pursued all this time. Everything you wish to know, I will tell you. But now is not the time.” With that, she withdrew her hand. In Lin Aoxue’s astonished gaze, she flicked her sleeve, revealing an object. With a bright smile, she looked at Lin Aoxue and said, “Here, I have discovered the truth you’ve been hiding all this time. It’s only fair that I return the favor. Look—what do you think this is?”

Lin Aoxue’s attention was instantly captured by the exquisite object. From the moment it appeared, her gaze was locked onto it, unable to move away. She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. A shock she could not put into words clutched at her throat, swirling for a moment before finally forming into an astonished exclamation. “A golden key!”

Dangling from Yun Yan’s fingers by a red string was indeed a finely crafted golden key. Its workmanship was exquisite, and it looked almost identical to the golden key Lin Aoxue had in her possession—it was nearly impossible to tell them apart.

Lin Aoxue was stunned to see a golden key in Yun Yan’s hands. She distinctly remembered that the key had been stolen by a petty thief, sold to a pawnshop, and then retrieved by someone before she could claim it. And yet, now, it had reappeared in Yun Yan’s possession.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through Lin Aoxue’s mind like lightning, making her freeze for a moment before her eyes widened in shock. She gasped. “Ah… That black-clothed figure, the one wearing a bamboo hat who appeared in Luo Qi’s courtyard—was that your doing?! You knew what happened to Luo Qi?!”

Lin Aoxue recalled how she and Yun Yan had watched a play at Fuyun Manor, only to encounter trouble at the manor. That troublemaker had been none other than Luo Qi, a local rogue from Xingbei Pass. Afterward, Lin Aoxue, worried that Luo Qi might cause problems for Yun Yan, had secretly gone to his house, intending to deal with him quietly.

But when she got there, Luo Qi was nowhere to be found. Instead, she unexpectedly ran into a black-clad figure. At the time, Lin Aoxue had briefly considered whether this person could be the same one described by the pawnshop owner—the one who had taken the golden key. But she had dismissed the thought soon after.

Yet now, to her astonishment, that fleeting suspicion had turned out to be the truth.

Yun Yan’s smile remained unchanged as she lightly shook the golden key in her hand, chuckling. “Oh, dear, my Aoxue, you really are quite clever. That’s right—I had Luo Qi taken care of.”

At that moment, Lin Aoxue felt a sudden clarity. At the same time, she let out a breath of relief. At the very least, this incident proved that Yun Yan was not some defenseless woman. She might not know martial arts, but she had people protecting her—people skilled enough to follow her commands. That was enough to put Lin Aoxue at ease, at least a little.

She had already revealed her secrets completely, choosing to trust Yun Yan. Having made that choice, she would not hesitate or regret it. No matter what else Yun Yan might be hiding, Lin Aoxue was certain that, in her heart, they were now walking the same path.

They could support each other, stumbling forward together. No matter how treacherous the road ahead, they would face it side by side.

She narrowed her eyes and asked again, “Then… what about the incriminating evidence?”

Yun Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I had that planted as well. That uncle and nephew caused plenty of trouble in Xingbei Pass. That rogue Luo Qi even bore a grudge against you. If I had let him live, who knows what problems he might have stirred up for you in the future? You could say I was simply enacting justice. Or… do you think I was wrong to do so?”

Lin Aoxue would never think that Yun Yan had done anything wrong, but she did feel that this was too dangerous. If Beichen Long were to find out, it would undoubtedly lead to trouble.

“This is too risky. What if Beichen Long catches you?” she said.

Since Yun Yan’s forces couldn’t be brought into the open, even though she had people protecting her, if Beichen Long found an excuse to summon her alone to the military camp, it would still be extremely dangerous.

Yun Yan looked at Lin Aoxue with a bright smile. The fact that, after learning the truth, Lin Aoxue did not scold her for her ruthless methods but instead worried about her safety made Yun Yan rather happy. She tightened her grip on the golden key before tucking it back into her sleeve. Then, cupping Lin Aoxue’s face, she gently kissed her cheek and said with a smile, “Aoxue, don’t worry. Beichen Long won’t catch me over something this small. Keep this golden key safe, and under no circumstances should you let the Beichen brothers know about it, understand?”

Lin Aoxue was momentarily stunned before realizing that the most important thing in their discussion was actually the two golden keys. But she had been so shocked by the sudden truth and so concerned about Yun Yan’s safety that she had completely forgotten about them.

She obediently nodded but then seemed to think of something, her brows furrowing as a trace of doubt appeared in her eyes. Lowering her voice, she asked Yun Yan, “Yan’er, what exactly is the origin of this golden key?”

This question had weighed on Lin Aoxue’s mind since the moment she had obtained the golden key. She had been perplexed from the start, but no one had been able to provide her with an answer. Sui Liang had been captured by Beichen He, leaving him no chance to share any detailed information with her.

Lin Aoxue was isolated and had no means of gathering intelligence. She could only rely on her own speculation, inching closer to the truth bit by bit while treading carefully, lest she be discovered and draw danger upon herself.

She had no choice but to proceed cautiously, unsure of where the road ahead led or what secrets lay buried behind the golden key. But Yun Yan was different. Yun Yan knew many secrets. She maneuvered among various factions, and more importantly, she possessed a golden key identical to Lin Aoxue’s.

At this moment, only Yun Yan could provide her with an answer.

Since Lin Aoxue had asked, Yun Yan would not disappoint her. She curved her lips into a warm smile, her eyes gleaming with wisdom as she softly explained, “There are three golden keys in total. Before the downfall of the former Nation’s Protector Grand General’s household, the Nation’s Protector Duke personally entrusted them to his most trusted subordinates. Each of the three keys was given to a different person, and one of them was Sui Liang.”

Lin Aoxue was utterly shaken. This golden key had actually been entrusted by her own father! No wonder Sui Liang, upon realizing her true identity and knowing he had no way out, had handed the key over to her without hesitation.

But why had her father prepared three golden keys? And after the fall of the Nation’s Protector Grand General’s household, why had these keys suddenly become so important, coveted by various factions, fought over in the shadows?

Instead of answering Lin Aoxue’s doubts, Yun Yan’s words only raised more questions in her mind. She couldn’t understand why her father had done this. The confusion was evident in her eyes, and Yun Yan easily caught on. Before Lin Aoxue could even voice her next question, Yun Yan continued, “Grand General Ning was an extremely wise man. Naturally, he was well aware of his position and the dangers surrounding him. He knew from the start that there were people dissatisfied with him, plotting his downfall. So, he made preparations in advance.”

Yun Yan did not explicitly state what Grand General Ning had prepared, but Lin Aoxue already had a faint suspicion.

Yun Yan lifted her gaze to Lin Aoxue, her eyes gentle and clear, washing away the fear and uncertainty that had plagued Lin Aoxue’s heart. In that moment, she calmed Lin Aoxue’s restless soul.

“Aoxue, don’t be afraid. There are many people you have never seen who are secretly working to uncover the truth of the past. And even if there were no one else, you still have me. You will never be alone.”

In an instant, Yun Yan’s words shattered Lin Aoxue’s defenses. Her eyes reddened, her throat tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say or how to react. Just a moment ago, she had been trying to piece together what her father had planned. And now, with a single shift in Yun Yan’s words, she found herself on the verge of tears.

She rubbed her eyes hard, took a deep breath, and sniffled before exhaling. “I’m just so surprised. I never expected there to be such a deep secret behind all of this.”

These three golden keys were something her father had prepared to deal with an unexpected disaster. However, at some point, the plan had gone wrong. Otherwise, the Ning family would not have been completely wiped out overnight. The things that had been prepared in advance never had the chance to be used, and so the pain of that loss turned into an unshakable obsession, driving the relentless search for the truth in the years that followed.

At first, Yun Yan had not necessarily taken sides. Perhaps she was merely playing a role, just as she had done when dealing with Beichen He and Beichen Ling, gaining trust, passing information between factions, and finding a balance that ensured her continued value.

But from the moment she learned Lin Aoxue’s identity and understood the hatred Lin Aoxue carried, her stance changed. To her, Lin Aoxue was important—someone she could not bear to let go of. So, without realizing it, she became biased. She started paying close attention to the movements of the Nation’s Protector Duke’s former subordinates, and with her own personal motivations, she got involved with them—completely different from her previous objectives.

No matter what the future held, at least for now, within the scope of her abilities, she would do her best to support Lin Aoxue. Fighting alone was too exhausting. If the burden was shared between two people, each would suffer only half as much. Yun Yan was willing to be the one to help Lin Aoxue shoulder that burden.

“There’s still a lot you don’t know, but I can’t explain everything to you at once. I’ll tell you bit by bit in the future. For now, just remember what I’ve told you today, and don’t speak of it to anyone else.”

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue couldn’t help but laugh. Yun Yan was treating her like a child, repeating her instructions over and over again. Amused, she nodded in agreement. “I understand, don’t worry.” After saying this, she tilted her head slightly and asked, “Hey, I don’t really know where to keep the golden key safe while I’m in the military camp. Why don’t I give it to you for safekeeping?”

Upon hearing this, Yun Yan chuckled and shook her head. Reaching out, she tapped Lin Aoxue’s forehead lightly with her smooth, jade-like fingertip and pretended to scold her. “You really are lazy. Something this important, and you’d just hand it over so easily? It belongs to you—just keep it safe yourself. No one is going to rummage through your belongings under normal circumstances. Besides, anyone who doesn’t know its significance wouldn’t even suspect anything if they saw it. I’m not taking it for you.”

Lin Aoxue blinked, momentarily at a loss for words after being lectured by Yun Yan. She shrugged and decided not to push the matter further, nodding. “Alright, fine. I’ll keep it myself.”

As she spoke, she closed the wooden box containing the golden key, tucked it into her pack, and secured it properly.

Yun Yan glanced at the sky outside and then turned to Lin Aoxue, saying, “It’s getting late. You’ve been out for a while now—you should head back.”

Lin Aoxue nodded again, obedient like a well-behaved child. Yun Yan smiled faintly, walked over to a cabinet on the other side of the room, and retrieved several medicine pouches before handing them to Lin Aoxue.

“Take these back with you and use them to nourish your body. When I pulled you inside earlier, I already checked your pulse. Aside from the new injuries on your back that need careful tending, there aren’t any serious issues. It looks like you haven’t suffered too much hardship on the grasslands.”

Suddenly having her relatively comfortable life on the grasslands exposed, Lin Aoxue felt a little embarrassed. She wiped her forehead awkwardly, marveling at Yun Yan’s keen perception. It felt as if there was no secret in the world that could be hidden from her.

She gathered the medicine pouches along with her belongings. Just before leaving, she stepped forward and pulled Yun Yan into a tight embrace, feeling the warmth and softness in her arms. Pressing her heart close to Yun Yan’s, she mustered her courage and placed a light kiss on Yun Yan’s forehead, her tone casual yet sincere.

“Yan’er, thank you.”

Without Yun Yan, she wasn’t sure if she would have survived to return. Without Yun Yan, she didn’t know if anyone else would have given her such unwavering tenderness. Without Yun Yan, she had no idea when—or if—she would have ever uncovered the truth behind the golden keys.

Yun Yan was still holding things back—Lin Aoxue knew that. But she didn’t press her for answers. Because she also understood, and she chose to believe, that Yun Yan wasn’t deliberately hiding things from her. Rather, those secrets would bring her no benefit at all—only misfortune. And so, Yun Yan bore that burden alone, shielding Lin Aoxue from it.

Lin Aoxue kept Yun Yan’s words in mind—the goal she had set for her: to become a general. She believed that day wouldn’t be far off. The situation in the northern frontier was growing increasingly turbulent, and as long as she didn’t lose Beichen Long’s trust, she would have the opportunity to go into battle. That, in turn, would mean accumulating countless military achievements. Sooner or later, she would gain real power over the northern frontier.

She had only been at Xingbei Pass for just over a year, yet she had already risen from an ordinary soldier to the rank of duwei. In the past, she had fought solely for herself, driven forward by the hatred in her heart. But now, she had a new goal—not just revenge, but also the desire to seek justice for Yun Yan against that despicable father of hers.

To Lin Aoxue, Yun Yan’s matters had become her own. Yun Yan’s enemies were her enemies. Anything that concerned Yun Yan was something she took to heart.

She placed a soft kiss on Yun Yan’s forehead. Yun Yan walked her out of the clinic, and under Yun Yan’s smiling gaze, Lin Aoxue took two steps back before waving at her. Then, carrying a heavy pack on her back, she returned to the military camp.

Yun Yan watched Lin Aoxue’s departing figure and silently recited to herself, The golden sun scatters the clouds, the red lotus blooms in turn.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before they could return to the capital together.

It was almost time to act.

Yun Yan lifted her gaze toward the street. By now, Lin Aoxue had already disappeared around the corner, fading completely from view. Yun Yan curved her lips into a faint smile and sighed softly, chuckling.

“Fool.”

She knew that from this day on, she had completely taken up residence in Lin Aoxue’s heart.

***

Lin Aoxue returned to the military camp in high spirits, even humming a rare little tune along the way. Lu Sheng happened to be looking for her and ran into her just outside her tent. Seeing Lin Aoxue strolling toward her quarters, swaying her head slightly as she hummed, Lu Sheng was so shocked that his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Wow, Duwei! You’re in a really good mood today?”

Lin Aoxue had been promoted while she was out visiting Yun Yan at the clinic. While she was away, Beichen Long had already issued the general’s orders, so by now, the entire military camp knew that after being released by the barbarians, Lin Aoxue had been further promoted to duwei by the grand general.

Several veteran officers in the camp were displeased. After all, Lin Aoxue had been captured by the barbarians—technically, she had been a prisoner. And then, she had been ransomed back at the cost of ten carts of grain. By all logic, she shouldn’t have been the one to receive a promotion.

But the military order had been personally written by Beichen Long. Not only had it been read aloud to the entire camp, but a formal commendation had also been posted on the bulletin board for everyone to see. Even those who were dissatisfied had no choice but to accept it.

As for the high-ranking officers in the military, they were all well aware of Beichen Long’s ways. None of them dared to question his decision in the slightest.

Among everyone, the happiest person about Lin Aoxue’s promotion wasn’t Yun Yan, nor was it Lin Aoxue herself—it was Lu Sheng.

Lu Sheng had always held deep admiration for Lin Aoxue. She was his mentor, his guide, and their bond was somewhere between that of teacher and friend. Seeing Lin Aoxue rise through the ranks in the military filled him with immense joy.

When Lin Aoxue saw Lu Sheng, she was in such a good mood that a faint smile appeared on her face as she nodded. “Mm.”

Noticing how genuinely pleased she was, Lu Sheng suddenly smirked mischievously and teased, “So, are you happy because of the promotion, or because you just saw Sister-in-Law?”

Lin Aoxue froze for a moment, completely failing to react. It took her quite a while to register that Lu Sheng was referring to Yun Yan as sister-in-law.