Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Chu Zhao’s Past

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When He Yan returned to the room, the lamp inside was still lit. Two maids were lying on a side couch in the outer room, playing with a flower rope. When they saw He Yan, they quickly got up and said, “Madam.” 

He Yan whispered, “It’s alright, go to sleep. I’m going into the room to rest. Has the young master gone to bed?” 

Cui Jiao shook her head, “The young master has been reading all along.” 

He Yan nodded, “I see. You should rest soon too.” 

She pushed the door open and entered the inner room. There, Xiao Jue was sitting at the table, reading a long scroll. He was only wearing an inner garment, and the loose white cloth hung from his shoulders, revealing his jade-like skin, delicate collarbones, and a brilliant moon-like complexion. 

He Yan closed the door and walked towards him, asking, “Commander?” 

Xiao Jue glanced at her faintly and didn’t say a word. 

“I thought you were asleep,” He Yan said as she unfastened the whip from her waist and casually hung it on the wall. The tassel on the whip swayed like a rosy light with her movement, and a red garnet pomegranate was particularly eye-catching. Xiao Jue’s gaze fell on the tassel. 

Seeing him looking, He Yan took the whip down and handed it to Xiao Jue, saying, “How is it, Commander? Does it look good? This was a gift from Fourth Young Master Chu.” 

“Chu Zilan is indeed generous,” Xiao Jue replied, his tone calm. “Such a valuable item, he didn’t think it was a waste to give it to you.” 

“Valuable?” He Yan was surprised. “Fourth Young Master Chu said the pomegranate was fake jade and not worth much. I only accepted it after he told me that.” 

“Oh,” he raised an eyebrow and scoffed, “then he’s considerate.” 

“Is it really that valuable?” He Yan felt a bit uneasy. “In that case, I should return it to him tomorrow. It’s better to be clear about money matters, in case there are any problems in the future.” 

Xiao Jue said, “Keep it. Don’t you really like him?” 

“Like him?” He Yan was shocked. She didn’t even know herself! 

“I originally didn’t want to meddle in your affairs, but I have to remind you,” the young man’s brows and eyes looked extraordinarily handsome under the lamplight, his dark eyes carried a hint of chilling indifference. “Chu Zilan is favored by Xu Jingfu and is his designated son-in-law. If you don’t want to die, keep your distance from him.” 

Xu Pingting was the apple of Xu Jingfu’s eye and seemed to like Chu Zilan. Lin Shuanghe had also mentioned this to her, but what did it have to do with her? Not to mention whether she liked Chu Zhao or not, someone as polite and courteous as Chu Zhao would never be interested in a woman who sat cross-legged on the bed and practiced martial arts. 

Xiao Jue was really meddling. 

“Commander, I think you’re too concerned about Fourth Young Master Chu, to the point where you’re prejudiced against me,” she squeezed in beside Xiao Jue and bent down to look at the scroll he was holding. “It’s late, what are you reading?” 

Xiao Jue ignored her, so He Yan stood behind him and stretched her neck to look. After a while, she asked, “It’s a military defense diagram, right? How about it, do you see any issues?” 

“Your tone,” Xiao Jue calmly spoke, “makes it sound like you are the commander.”

He Yan immediately withdrew the hand resting on his shoulder, fetched a stool, and sat next to him, saying, “I’m just too concerned. Princess Mengji has been overseeing the relocation of the people in Jiyang City these past few days. It won’t be long before the Wutuo people learn about it. Once they receive the news, they will quickly mobilize their forces. But there are very few soldiers in Jiyang City, and the Wutuo people won’t bring anything less than a hundred thousand troops to attack the city.” 

Twenty thousand against a hundred thousand, and these twenty thousand soldiers hadn’t seen battle in many years. No matter how you looked at it, the situation was far from reassuring. 

“You were a female general in your past life, right?” Xiao Jue reclined in his chair and lifted the corners of his mouth slightly. “So, tell me, what should we do?” 

He Yan was momentarily taken aback. What’s going on? She was speaking the truth, but it was being treated as a lie. 

“In the military defense diagram, they are coming from the water,” He Yan explained, “so the only option is… a water attack.” 

As she spoke, she carefully raised her eyes to look at Xiao Jue’s expression. The young man’s demeanor remained as calm as ever, the sword hanging on the wall glinted like crystal, icy and cold. 

It was strange. She and Xiao Jue had a peculiar connection to water, one had died in the water in their past life, harboring deep-seated fears, and the other’s first battle had been a naval one. Despite the traumatic experiences, they couldn’t avoid another water-related situation in Jiyang City. 

He Yan suspected that she and Xiao Jue might have some kind of karmic bond with water. 

“Tomorrow morning, I’m going to the training ground to practice with the troops,” Xiao Jue said. “You should come too.” 

“Me?” He Yan hesitated for a moment. “I really want to go, but will Princess Mengji be unhappy about it?” 

Officially, Xiao Jue was the Right Army Commander of Great Wei, and no one was better at training and preparing for war than him. But He Yan was just one of his subordinates. 

“Don’t worry about her,” Xiao Jue said. “You’re coming with me.” 

… 

It was late at night. 

The man sat in the room, gazing at the flower basket on the table. 

Under the warm lamplight, the sugar sculpture appeared bright red and crystal clear, and the flowers in the basket were lush and flourishing. In front of the flower basket were two characters: “Zi Lan.” Graceful and beautiful. 

It seemed like a voice filled with laughter echoed in his ears. 

“Zhao means ‘bright,’ and Zilan means ‘fragrant orchid. The person who gave you this name must really love you and hopes that you will have a pure character and a bright future, hence choosing such an elegant name.” 

The person who gave him this name must really love him? 

Chu Zhao had never thought so. 

His mother’s name was Ye Runmei. She was the daughter of a small official in Qin County and was exceptionally beautiful, comparable to a celestial being. His memories confirmed this. She was an impeccable woman, beautiful, charming, and somewhat pitiful, with an innocent and lofty demeanor. 

Such a beautiful woman was unforgettable at first sight. Many young men in Qin County hoped to marry Ye Runmei, but she fell in love with Chu Linfeng, who was visiting Qin County for official business. 

Chu Linfeng was also a rare handsome man, even in Shuojing. In addition to his generous nature, after so many years in the courtesan world, he knew how to win people’s favor. Soon, Ye Runmei’s heart secretly went to this charismatic young man. 

Not only did her heart go to him, but they also spent many passionate nights together. 

But only three months later, Chu Linfeng had to leave Qin County and return to Shuojing. Before departing, he told Ye Runmei that he would come back to marry her. At that time, Ye Runmei was deeply immersed in the beautiful dream of her beloved returning to marry her and didn’t realize that, apart from knowing Chu Linfeng’s name and that he lived in Shuojing, she knew nothing about him. 

Chu Linfeng left, and there was no news of him ever since.

Shortly after his departure, Ye Runmei discovered that she was pregnant. 

She felt anxious and fearful, not daring to confide in anyone. However, as her belly continued to grow day by day, she could no longer hide her condition. Lord Ye was furious and demanded to know who the child’s father was. Ye Runmei didn’t know the man’s true identity and could not provide any clear answers, so she could only cry incessantly. 

In the end, Lord Ye had no choice but to summon a doctor to abort Ye Runmei’s unborn child. His plan was to wait a year or so, marry Ye Runmei off, and bury this secret for the rest of their lives, never to be spoken of again. 

Upon learning of her father’s intentions, Ye Runmei escaped in the dead of night. 

She was determined not to abort the child. She wasn’t sure if it was out of lingering affection for Chu Linfeng or some other reason, but she chose to flee. 

Ye Runmei decided to go to Shuojing to find Chu Linfeng. 

A pregnant woman embarking on such a long journey was no easy task. However, her striking beauty caught the eye of a merchant who offered to help her and agreed to accompany her on the journey to Shuojing. 

Before they reached Shuojing, Ye Runmei gave birth to a child. Chu Zhao was born at that moment. Following Chu Zhao’s birth, the tragic days for Ye Runmei had just begun. 

The merchant was not a benevolent person; he was captivated by Ye Runmei’s beauty and wanted her to become his concubine. Ye Runmei resisted fiercely and even scratched the merchant. Enraged, the merchant sold Ye Runmei to a brothel for ten taels of silver. 

Chu Zhao was also included in the transaction. The madam of the brothel believed that since Ye Runmei had given birth to such a remarkable child, her son must also be exceptional. If he grew up to be handsome, it could bring them additional income. If not, he could still serve as a servant. 

Ye Runmei and Chu Zhao both moved into the brothel. 

A woman who had been pampered for the first ten years of her life and knew nothing of the harsh realities of the world found herself in the brothel, encountering various cruel and malicious individuals. It was as if all the troubles she had never faced before had come back to haunt her. Ye Runmei’s once peaceful and pampered life turned into a living nightmare. Years of torment changed her temperament drastically. She became easily angered and irritable. In front of clients, she dared not act out, but when it came to Chu Zhao, she vented all her inner frustrations without restraint. She often physically abused Chu Zhao, and if it weren’t for the protection of the other women in the brothel, Chu Zhao believed he might not survive until the day he could see Chu Linfeng. 

Chu Zhao didn’t understand what Ye Runmei felt for him. If she didn’t love him, why did she leave home alone, travel far away, and endure so much hardship to protect their flesh and blood? But if she loved him, why did she repeatedly utter hurtful words, filled with resentment, and cast hateful glances at him? 

She always used a bamboo stick to beat him while saying, “I hate you! If it weren’t for you, if it weren’t for you, my life wouldn’t have turned out like this! Why did you have to appear? Why don’t you just die!” 

After these venomous curses, she would look at the wounds on Chu Zhao’s body and then hug him, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry, my child, I’m sorry. Ah Zhao, Zi Lan, don’t blame your mother. Your mother loves you…” 

At such a young age, Chu Zhao was perplexed. He didn’t understand whether there was love or not. He only saw the weeping woman and felt a slight sense of disgust. 

He hoped this life would end soon. He hoped to grow up quickly and escape this filthy and despairing place. 

He wasn’t the only one with such thoughts; Ye Runmei was also seeking an opportunity. 

She never gave up on finding Chu Linfeng. While she cursed Chu Linfeng’s heartlessness, she also harbored hope for him. She always looked at Chu Zhao as if he represented all her hopes. Perhaps when she kept Chu Zhao all those years ago, it was with the intention of one day standing in front of Chu Linfeng, telling him openly, “This is your son,” and sharing all the hardships she had endured over the years. Chu Linfeng would feel sorry for her and, as he once promised, marry her and make up for the years of indebtedness to both of them. 

That’s how Ye Runmei thought, and that’s why she always warmly received every guest who came from Shuojing. She was extraordinarily beautiful and quickly became the top courtesan in the brothel. Although she wasn’t in Shuojing, there were always people from Shuojing among the visiting merchants. One day, she actually met someone who knew Chu Linfeng. 

The person was a friend of Chu Linfeng. Initially, when Ye Runmei told him about the bitter experiences of the past, he thought it was just for amusement and occasionally offered some words of comfort. But when he heard that the person she was talking about was Chu Linfeng, who was known for his good looks and was from Shuojing, his expression gradually changed. 

People who knew Chu Linfeng knew that he frequented the company of beautiful women and had a particular fondness for them. It was possible for him to become involved with women from ordinary families during his travels. However, not disclosing the truth was rather unfair. At the very least, he should have revealed the real situation, so that people could move on and not keep waiting for many years, which would turn into a cruel fate. 

“My poor child… I don’t even know if he’ll have a chance to meet his father in this lifetime,” Ye Runmei sobbed, covering her face. 

“You have a child as well?” the friend was surprised and asked, “Can I meet him?” 

Ye Runmei then had Chu Zhao come out. 

Chu Zhao’s nose and mouth resembled Ye Runmei, but his eyes and eyebrows were a spitting image of Chu Linfeng, gentle and affectionate. When he looked at people, he always seemed to have a hint of a warm smile. If someone said he was Chu Linfeng’s son, no one would doubt it. 

The friend got up, said a few perfunctory words, and hastily left. 

Ye Runmei was extremely disappointed. 

When the friend returned to Shuojing, his first action was to visit Chu Linfeng at the Shi Jinbo’s residence and inquire if he had a romantic encounter with a beautiful woman in Qin County many years ago. Chu Linfeng thought for a while and vaguely recalled a particularly attractive woman, but she seemed a bit gullible and believed whatever he said. 

“That woman has ended up in a brothel now,” the friend said. “She also gave birth to a son for you, and I’ve seen the child. He bears a striking resemblance to you, and he’s incredibly handsome!” 

This was beyond Chu Linfeng’s expectations. 

Madam Chu was plain and unremarkable, and she never cared about his romantic affairs outside. As a result, he freely pursued his desires and took nineteen concubines into his home, all of whom were exceptionally beautiful. The only condition his wife set was that he could take concubines, but children had to be born from her womb. Madam Chu had given birth to three children, and Chu Linfeng didn’t have a particular interest in having many sons. However, he was disappointed that his three sons didn’t inherit his good looks; they were rather plain. He knew that his colleagues and friends often made fun of him behind his back for his love of beauty but having sons who were unremarkable. 

Now, someone was telling him that he had a son who had been left outside, and he was exceptionally good-looking, bearing a strong resemblance to him? This was like a stroke of luck for him. He immediately wanted this child to acknowledge his heritage. That way, if anyone ever said he couldn’t have good-looking sons, he could prove them wrong. 

However, Chu Linfeng had respected his wife for many years, and although she appeared dignified, she was not to be trifled with. Otherwise, the concubines in the Chu household wouldn’t all be without sons. Chu Linfeng had no choice but to go and ask his mother for help. 

Although Old Madam Chu didn’t care much for the illegitimate child, he was still a member of the Chu family, and being left outside was not good, especially in a place like a brothel. So she personally went to see Madam Chu. After a lengthy conversation in the room, when Old Madam Chu left the house, she instructed someone to go to the brothel in Dazhou and bring the illegitimate child back. 

Just the illegitimate child, they did not mention Ye Runmei.

Shi Jinbo was a prominent figure in the capital city, while not exactly omnipotent, he was highly influential among the elite. When the letter from Shuojing arrived in Dazhou, Ye Runmei could hardly believe her eyes. 

She knew that Chu Linfeng was not an ordinary man. His lavish generosity and distinctive appearance set him apart from the local men in Qin County. He likely came from a prestigious background. However, she never imagined that he would be none other than the current Shi Jinbo, someone she had never dared to even think about in her entire life. 

It felt as if years of enduring and planning had finally led to this moment, and she was now reaping the sweet fruit of her efforts. She hugged Chu Zhao, tears of joy streaming down her face. “Zilan, your father has come to take us home… we can finally go back…” 

Chu Zhao, with a demeanor far beyond his years, remained calm as the woman’s tears fell on his neck. 

Go back home? Who could be sure that it wasn’t jumping from one fire pit to another? 

After all, in these years, he had seen nothing but greedy and wicked men in the brothel, and the women were all foolish and weak. There was no significant difference. 

But Ye Runmei didn’t share his pessimism. She had spent all her savings to buy beautiful clothes and jewelry, dressing Chu Zhao like a young master from a wealthy family, and herself in a seductive manner. She looked in the mirror and saw that she was still beautiful, though her skin was no longer as silky as it was in her youth. Her eyes, once innocent, now lacked the same youthful exuberance. 

She shed tears, retaining her beauty while the years passed, but her youthful innocence had faded. 

And the husband who had promised to marry her had not yet arrived. 

Ye Runmei thought that Chu Linfeng, as Shi Jinbo, would probably not marry her, but perhaps she could become a concubine. Her son would still be Shi Jinbo’s son. She had suffered too much in the brothel over the years. Being an official’s concubine would be more dignified than being a courtesan. 

She wanted to make herself exceptionally charming, meet Chu Linfeng, and tell him about the hardships she had endured for him over the years. She wanted to make it clear that she loved him with all her heart. Ye Runmei believed that when a man heard a beautiful woman confess her deep love for him, he would undoubtedly feel proud, and this pride would make him cherish and pamper that beautiful woman even more, to demonstrate his heroic affection. 

She wouldn’t miss this opportunity; she wanted to regain Chu Linfeng’s affection, even if it was as a concubine. She aimed to be the most attractive among his concubines. 

However, Ye Runmei did not expect that Chu Linfeng didn’t come himself. 

Instead, two old maidservants and several other servants arrived. They looked down on Ye Runmei with undisguised contempt, as if merely looking at her would soil their eyes. 

The leading old maidservant inquired, “Where is Young Master Chu?” 

Ye Runmei felt humiliated, and while she wanted to get angry, she ultimately forced a humble smile. “He’s… changing clothes in the next room.” She had instructed Chu Zhao in advance to put on the jade hairpin, making him appear charming and adorable. 

“Perfect,” the maidservant replied with a sly smile. 

A hint of unease crossed Ye Runmei’s mind, and she asked, “What do you want?”

A maidservant approached and pulled her hand back, while another servant covered her mouth with a cloth. Ye Runmei’s eyes widened, realizing what they intended to do. She struggled desperately, both shocked and enraged. “How dare you… how dare you! Do you not fear that Lord Chu will find out? Lord Chu will kill you!” 

The old maidservant gave her a cold, icy smile and said, “In such a significant matter, without the master’s permission, how could we dare to make a decision? Lady Mei—” she used Ye Runmei’s name from the brothel, “do you think we would shelter a prostitute who has served countless men in a brothel here in the Shi Jinbo’s mansion? Are you trying to make a mockery of our lord, or your own son?” 

Ye Runmei continued to struggle, but her fragile and delicate physique made her no match for them, and she gradually lost her strength. 

“Removing the mother and keeping the son; it’s already a favor to you.” 

Ye Runmei’s legs gradually grew powerless, and she fell to the ground, her eyes wide open. 

She had waited for her husband all her life, thinking that she had finally overcome her hardships, only to meet her own death. 

Chu Zhao had finished fastening the hairpin on his head. He walked with measured steps to his mother’s room, intending to knock on the door. However, he hesitated and instead pushed the door slightly ajar to catch a glimpse of the “father.” 

That’s when he saw two old maidservants carrying Ye Runmei as if she were a dead pig. They hung a white silk cloth from the rafters and put Ye Runmei’s head through it. Her face was directed towards the door, and their eyes met. 

Draped in pearls and jade, her beauty still evident, but she was now gone, her eyes never to close again. 

Chu Zhao stumbled for a moment, covering his mouth to prevent himself from screaming. 

The people in the room were still talking. 

“She’s beautiful, but how can she be so foolish, thinking she can enter the mansion? Doesn’t she realize no noble family would accept a courtesan who has served countless men in a brothel?” 

“After all, she came from a humble background and doesn’t understand what ‘removing the mother and keeping the child’ means. If she had stayed in Qin County, she might have at least saved her life.” 

“Tsk, it’s all because of greed.” 

Chu Zhao slowly backed away, and when he was far enough from the door, he turned and ran as fast as he could. He entered a random house, closed the door tightly, and bit his lip to prevent any sound from escaping. It seemed like a woman’s voice whispered in his ear with rare tenderness. 

“Magnificent coloured clothes as beautiful as a flower, radiant and not yet withering. From now on, you shall be called Ah Zhao, and one day, Ah Zhao shall dress as splendidly as a deity, in beautiful attire, radiantly brilliant.” 

“And a name for you, Zilan, like an orchid in its fragrant elegance. Mother used to love orchids the most.” 

He responded in a naive, pleasing manner, “In the future, Ah Zhao will buy many, many orchids for mother.” 

The woman’s laughter gradually faded, and his gaze fell on the flower basket before him. 

The fire in the stove emitted a faint warmth, and Chu Zhao paused for a moment before throwing the flower basket onto the flames. The flames licked at the basket, and in a short time, the syrup started to flow, producing a burnt, sweet aroma. 

He walked away expressionless.

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