Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Mother and Daughter

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The incense at Yuhua Temple was flourishing, and many carriages have already stopped at the temple gate.

He Yan and Xiao Jue got off the carriage, and Fei Nu drove the carriage to wait on the side. Neither of them brought personal maids or servants, and both attracted attention with their striking appearances. Those who didn’t know them just looked, while those who recognized the official family guessed He Yan’s identity after seeing Xiao Jue. However, they dared not discuss anything in front of them and just kept their distance.

The ceremony for worshiping Buddha is simple. Ordinary families donate some oil, rice, and grains, while wealthier households contribute silver. The Xiao family had no shortage of silver, and Fei Nu had already prepared it. After receiving the incense from the monks, one must kneel and worship in the temple.

However, Xiao Jue did not go inside.

He Yan asked him why he didn’t enter, and he simply replied, “I don’t believe in Buddha.”

He Yan: “…”

They had already arrived at the mountain gate, and stating that you don’t believe in Buddha on someone else’s territory was truly arrogant and unrestrained. However, beliefs were personal, and He Yan couldn’t force Xiao Jue to worship Buddha. She let Xiao Jue stay outside and entered the hall alone.

Kneeling on the mat, He Yan saw the Buddha statue she had fabricated for the newly wealthy merchant. The compassionate Buddha seemed to look down on all beings. She devoutly kowtowed, silently praying not for anything else but for those who were harmed by He Rufei to have an early reincarnation, a peaceful and healthy next life free from calamities.

After completing the worship with incense and offering a perpetual lamp, He Yan left the hall. Xiao Jue was waiting for her at the entrance. Seeing her come out, he casually asked, “What wish did you make?”

“I hope there will be no more wars in the world,” He Yan joined her hands and pretended to speak earnestly. “I hope for an era of peace, where both you and I can live more comfortably.”

This statement was not false. The Wutuo people’s matter had not been completely resolved, and the debate about whether to go to war or seek peace still raged in the court. Even now, there was no clear result.

After making their donations and worshiping Buddha, they could also have a vegetarian meal in the temple. Yuhua Temple’s vegetarian meals were renowned, but He Yan had been blind and distressed during her last visit. She had forgotten the taste of the exquisite mountain delicacies. Now that she thought about it, she looked forward to it.

To reach the guesthouse for the vegetarian meal, one had to pass by an ancient tree behind Yuhua Temple. When passing by the ancient tree, one could see a gigantic old tree rooted next to the mountain temple. The branches were vast like clouds, originally lush green, but covered in layers of red. As they approached, it became apparent that the red layers were strips of red silk, each with writing on it, presumably the wishes of the writers. It was said that hanging one’s wishes on the ancient tree would make them come true.

He Yan thought about the red silk she had once hung here and couldn’t help but stop.

“This ancient tree is very spiritual,” she said to Xiao Jue.

“Are you going to make up another story?” Xiao Jue said languidly.

“No, it’s really spiritual,” He Yan smiled. She thought that in her previous life, she had hung a wish here, hoping to see the moon again. When she wrote these words on the red silk, she felt like a dreamer talking nonsense. Forget about the moon; even the ability to see the light again with her eyes seemed unbelievable.

However, during this seemingly impossible time, even after her death, she was reborn, and she truly saw the “moon” again.

“When I have more silver in the future,” He Yan said, “I will buy a lot of fertilizer and specifically water this ancient tree to show my gratitude and sincerity.”

Xiao Jue choked, “Your sincerity is indeed unique.”

The guesthouse of Yuhua Temple was a bit further ahead, in front of the courtyard where the monks lived. People who donated less shared a meal in one place, while those who donated more had dedicated courtyards, with one room for each household. 

Although this differentiated treatment seemed a bit speechless, having fewer people was also a good thing. He Yan didn’t want to be secretly observed while eating a vegetarian meal. Nowadays, with the edict from Emperor Wenxuan and appearing alongside Xiao Jue in front of the world, she needed tremendous courage. Even though she had been a prominent figure in the past, at least there was a mask to cover her face. Now, without any concealment, under the bright sun, she seemed like a rare white peacock transported from a foreign country, attracting everyone’s curious gaze.

Seated in the guesthouse, it didn’t take long for a monk in green robes to bring many plates of vegetarian dishes. Indeed, the spread was quite rich, featuring steamed white jade Buddha’s hand, sweet and sour bitter melon, steamed winter melon with wild mountain peppers, purple sweet potato cakes, immortal tofu, and more. The mountain was colder than the valley, and after a morning trek, He Yan was already hungry. Now, with these warm vegetarian dishes in front of her, He Yan couldn’t help but feel her appetite open up. Handing a pair of chopsticks to Xiao Jue, she said, “The donation for the incense was well spent… Commander, if you’re not full, would you like another portion?”

Xiao Jue: “…”

He replied, “As you wish.”

Without hesitation, He Yan started enjoying her meal enthusiastically. In contrast, Xiao Jue ate with refined elegance. They hadn’t been eating for long when the door of the guesthouse was knocked, and two people were led in by the monks.

For wealthy individuals like them, the dining guesthouse was small and exquisite, usually enough for one household. However, with the good weather and the Mid-Autumn Festival, there were many worshippers at Yuhua Temple today. Perhaps there was an accommodation issue, so they had to share the space with Xiao Jue’s party.

Xiao Jue furrowed his brows slightly and was about to speak when He Yan said, “It’s fine, let them come in. I eat quickly, and it won’t be a bother.”

Just as she was gaining a bit of fame in Shuojing City, and before she had officially clashed with He Rufei, she didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to accuse her of being domineering.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Jue remained silent.

The two people brought in by the monks were both women. One was older, and the other was younger. He Yan had only glanced briefly, but when she saw the face of the older woman, her heart skipped a beat. Unable to control her reaction, the chopsticks slipped from her hand.

He Yan quickly bent down to pick them up, concealing the shock on her face.

The commotion drew the attention of the two newcomers. They stopped in their tracks and looked at He Yan. He Yan had just picked up her chopsticks when a monk came over and said, “Please wait, kind donor. Let me fetch a clean pair for you.”

Before He Yan could say anything, the young woman had already looked past He Yan and seen Xiao Jue. She blurted out, “General Fengyun!”

He Yan instinctively looked at Xiao Jue, who frowned slightly, seemingly displeased.

He Xinying was very surprised. She didn’t expect to see Xiao Jue here during this trip up the mountain. Speaking of which, she had only seen Xiao Jue once. It was when she was out shopping with a friend and saw a group of people riding horses through the street. The pedestrians and carriages on the roadside gave way, and at the forefront was a man with a handsome and extraordinary appearance. Her friend informed her at that time: that was General Fengyun of Great Wei.

Perhaps because this man had an outstanding appearance, he left a strong impression on her and overlapped with the shadow in her memory when she saw Xiao Jue.

However, everyone knew that Commander Xiao had a bit of a temper. For a moment, He Xinying hesitated, supporting Second Madam He, not sure whether to advance or retreat. She was afraid that a careless move might offend this ruthless and sharp-faced Commander.

Second Madam He, on the other hand, paid no attention to such concerns. She simply pulled He Xinying inside and sat down at the table next to He Yan’s party.

Curious, He Xinying glanced at Xiao Jue. Commander Xiao had quite a few rumors surrounding him, but one persistent rumor was that he kept his distance from women. However, this rumor was shattered a few days ago at the victory banquet. The Emperor personally bestowed marriage upon him and a woman. Xiao Jue, in front of the civil and military officials, defended and showed deep affection for the woman, causing a sensation among the people of Shuojing. Overnight, how many young girls’ dreams were shattered?

On the day Xu Zhiheng returned from the celebration banquet, he was not in a good mood and didn’t share these things with He Xinying. Therefore, the news spread to the entire household only the next day when the maidservants went to the street for purchases. Ironically, Xiao Jue’s fiancée, the newly appointed Marquis Wuan, was also named He Yan, just like her deceased sister.

In the presence of Xiao Jue, He Xinying observed the woman beside him. The woman was also young and beautiful, with a spirited and dignified air between her eyebrows. He Xinying speculated in her heart that the reason why Commander Xiao, who usually showed no interest in women, was so close to her was probably because she was not the Madam of the Xiao family but rather his unmarried fiancée, Wuan Marquis, He Yan.

While He Xinying was assessing herself, He Yan kept her head down, pretending to eat seriously, but her mind was in turmoil. Several times, she couldn’t help but look at the person directly in front of her—Second Madam He, her biological mother.

She was her biological mother.

He Yan didn’t have a deep impression of Second Madam He. Compared to He Yuanliang, Second Madam He rarely left the house. Except for special occasions, she stayed in her own courtyard. Perhaps out of softness, Madam He didn’t cause any trouble, and He Yan could often see He Yuanliang. However, the opportunities to see Second Madam He were extremely rare. Since He Yan learned about her true identity, she often wanted to see what kind of person her birth mother was. She vaguely felt that she was a calm and gentle woman who sometimes seemed a bit reserved.

He Yuanliang always had a smiling face, very likable to women. There were several concubines in the second household, and illegitimate sons and daughters were born. If one talked about favoritism, Second Madam He was not the person who He Yuanliang favored the most, but he had not neglected her either. At least, before He Yan joined the military in her previous life, Second Madam He lived well in the mansion.

During a family banquet one year, He Yan sat at the same table with Second Madam He. At that time, she was still young, just ten years old, sitting across from Second Madam He. Perhaps out of curiosity, she looked at Second Madam He several times, and in subsequent family banquets, He Yan and Second Madam He did not sit at the same table.

She never expected to meet her birth mother here, without any warning. Despite her hatred and lack of emotions towards the He family, He Yan’s feelings when facing Second Madam He were not as indifferent as they appeared on the surface.

He Xinying cautiously pulled Second Madam He and whispered, “The person across is General Fenyun, Commander Xiao. The woman beside him is most likely Wuan Marquis, whom His Majesty granted in marriage a few days ago, Miss He Yan.”

At these words, Madam He’s chopstick movement paused, and she looked across the table.

Now that the news of Xiao Huaijin’s marriage had spread throughout Shuojing, from high-ranking officials to common people, even beggars on the street knew about his fiancée, He Yan. Madam He could not have not heard about it. Hearing the name and surname of someone with the same name and surname as her deceased daughter was somewhat surprising.

On the other side, Xiao Jue noticed He Yan’s sudden silence and asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Before they arrived, she had been chattering non-stop, but now that they were here, she fell silent. Whether recognized or not, He Yan was not the type to act based on others’ expressions.

Afraid of revealing anything to Xiao Jue, He Yan smiled and casually found a topic, saying, “Commander, the black jade you gave me earlier has been with me all this time. Is that really okay?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I just feel that it’s too precious.” He Yan took a bite of a sweet potato cake, eyes fixed on the table rather than the two people in the room. “But your parents really know how to name you. Jue means double jade. Empress Dowager gifted you bicolored jade, which is very fitting.”

Xiao Jue smiled, “Your name is not bad either.”

He Yan thought for a moment, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing, lowering her head to eat.

Second Madam He stared fixedly at He Yan’s actions. He Yan had a sweet tooth and always started with the sweet dishes when eating. Although it wasn’t the most refined and reserved behavior, she excelled in being extremely frugal, not wasting a single grain of rice. If she encountered a dish she didn’t like, she wouldn’t discard it; instead, she hesitated for a moment, as if gathering courage, then swiftly finished it all in one go, never touching that plate again.

As Second Madam He continued to watch, her expression gradually changed. Her initially vacant and numb gaze began to show increasing excitement, as if she was on the verge of tears.

Xiao Jue, with his back turned to Second Madam He and He Yan, did not see Second Madam He’s peculiar behavior. He Yan noticed but pretended not to, changing the subject and talking to Xiao Jue.

He Xinying asked softly, “Mother, why aren’t you eating?”

The young lady seemed to sense something and turned to look. Second Madam He quickly lowered her head, picked up her chopsticks, and randomly took a bite of rice, ensuring no one saw the tear that fell into her bowl.

During this meal, except for Xiao Jue and He Xinying, both Second Madam He and He Yan ate with hidden thoughts. He Yan and Xiao Jue had arrived earlier and finished their meal quickly. After finishing her food, He Yan put down her chopsticks, and since Xiao Jue had already eaten, he said, “Let’s go.”

He Yan nodded, and the two of them walked out together.

After walking for a short while, suddenly, a voice from behind said, “….Miss, please wait!”

He Yan turned around and saw Second Madam He hurrying toward her, lifting her skirt. He Xinying also looked surprised, seemingly unprepared for her mother’s unexpected actions. Second Madam He, not in good health, gasped after running a few steps. Among the official wives, her behavior was somewhat impolite. However, Second Madam He did not mind and continued walking towards them.

Xiao Jue frowned, “Who is it?”

“I am… the Second Lady of the He family in the capital.” Second Madam He glanced at Xiao Jue. The cold expression of the young man made her a little timid, but she still stared directly at He Yan, unable to bear to look away.

He Yan nodded and smiled slightly, “Second Madam He.”

“Sorry, sorry.” He Xinying also caught up and pulled Second Madam He’s sleeve, looking a bit reproachful. He Yan had just left, and they hadn’t finished their meal yet. He Xinying wanted to talk to Second Madam He about these two people, but unexpectedly, Second Madam He suddenly stood up decisively and chased after them.

Everything happened too quickly for her to stop. But He Xinying knew that there was no need to provoke the Right Commander of the Army. In the official families of Shuojing City, everyone knew that Xiao Huaijin was not someone to be trifled with. If it escalated, it would only bring trouble to the He family.

“Madam, is there something you need?” He Yan asked politely.

Second Madam He looked at her, as if she was also looking at another person through her. Her voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing the young lady in front of her, as if coaxing her three-year-old daughter, “You… are you He Yan?”

He Yan looked at the woman in front of her.

The Second Madam He in her memory was still very young. Unlike the strict and severe demeanor of the elder Second Madam He, Second Madam He had a gentle and pleasant face, clearly someone with a good temperament. She had even seen her younger sister, He Xinying, accidentally break a valuable vase, and instead of getting angry, Second Madam He had embraced He Xinying to check if her hands were cut by the shards.

He Yan was envious at that time, feeling that her biological mother was indeed better than “mother.”

Later, when she returned to the mansion after fighting and resumed being “He Yan,” Second Madam He also visited a few times. However, the years they missed with each other were too many. Even sitting in the same room felt awkward and distant. On the day of her wedding, Second Madam He came to see her off. While helping He Yan put on her bridal veil, she said something.

She held He Yan’s hand and slowly said, “Ah He, take good care of yourself in the future.”

That sentence made He Yan’s eyes moist under the veil.

Unfortunately, even the simple wish of “taking good care” was not fulfilled. Even when she went blind in the Xu family, Second Madam He did not visit once, citing “illness” as the reason.

The woman in front of her had aged a lot, no longer the youthful appearance from He Yan’s memory. He Yan could even see traces of gray hair between her temples.

She had aged.

He Xinying glanced at Xiao Jue, feeling nervous, and quickly explained to He Yan, “I’m sorry, Miss He, it’s because your name is the same as my sister’s, so my mother…”

She didn’t know how to continue. If she mentioned that He Yan shared the same name and surname with a deceased person, who knew if the noble lady would find it inauspicious and feel displeased.

Second Madam He looked at He Yan, tremblingly asking, “Miss He… why are you called He Yan?”

This question seemed to come out of nowhere. He Yan stared at her, and after a moment, she smiled casually, answering in a relaxed tone, “Who knows? Ordinary girls don’t choose the name ‘Yan.’ Perhaps my parents knew from the moment I was born that I would inevitably go to the battlefield to protect the people, so in that case, this name is quite different from ordinary people.”

Her words carried a self-deprecating tone.

“Clear rivers and peaceful seas,” sounded naturally like an era of prosperity and tranquility, but when she went to the battlefield, her relatives with blood ties not only didn’t care for her, but also sought to exploit her final value. It was truly disheartening. He Yan had thought that her desire for family affection had faded when she was very young. Without hope, disappointment wouldn’t be too overwhelming. Now, in another He family, she received the warmth she had never experienced before. When she met Second Madam He again, the resentment and grievances deliberately buried deep inside her heart all surfaced.

After finishing her words, He Xinying hadn’t felt anything, but Second Madam He’s expression changed suddenly. The color drained from her face, almost crumbling.

He Yan nodded at them. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll leave.” She lightly tugged at Xiao Jue’s sleeve and continued walking forward.

When He Xinying saw the two of them walk far enough, she whispered complaints, “Mother, what’s wrong with you? You suddenly rushed out, scared me. Commander Xiao is not someone you don’t know. Fortunately, they didn’t take offense just now. If they got angry, big brother and husband might not be able to handle it… Mother, Mother?!”

He Xinying suddenly stopped speaking because she saw tears welling up in the woman’s eyes. Tears rolled down her eyes, like the cold dew of late night, carrying a sense of broken sorrow.

He Xinying knew that Second Madam He was thinking of her deceased elder sister. After He Yan’s death, her mother’s health had been poor. The doctor always said that she just needed some rest, but He Xinying also knew that it was a heart ailment. Her mother always mourned her elder sister’s death, causing this condition.

However, there were still things she didn’t understand. She had always thought that her mother had a distant and indifferent attitude toward her elder sister. Perhaps because He Yan had always been recuperating in the countryside and didn’t get close to her mother in the mansion, over time, it became difficult to develop the same feelings as she had with He Xinying. Yet, now, seeing her mother so sorrowful after He Yan’s death, He Xinying understood that her mother was not as emotionless as she appeared.

But if that’s the case, why did her mother treat her elder sister with such indifference and neglect in the beginning?

And her father, He Yuanliang, was good to everyone, always smiling and amiable. However, when it came to He Yan’s death, he didn’t show the same level of sadness.

In short, in the He family, He Yan seemed to be a subtle presence, and her death revealed the strangeness hidden beneath seemingly ordinary things. She was full of questions, but there was no one to answer them.

No one would answer her.

He Xinying held Second Madam He’s hand and didn’t say anything. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears, whispering, “Mother, let’s go back.”

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