Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 214

Chapter 214: My Name

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He Yan went to Changmao Ironworks to look for someone early in the morning. As for the chaos that might occur after her departure, Chiwu was expected to calm down Qingmei. With her second visit, the journey was much smoother since she now knew the way. 

However, she did not anticipate that there would be visitors at home today.

When Xiao Jue arrived at the He residence, there was no one around. Qingmei was not there, Chiwu was not there, and He Yan was absent as well. The main gate of the He family was tightly closed, already dilapidated and looked like an abandoned old mansion.

Before Xiao Jing and Bai Rongwei had visited once, and after returning home, Bai Rongwei delicately suggested finding another residence for the He family. Xiao Jue refused. Although it wasn’t a difficult matter, with He Yan’s temperament, she would likely say something like “no merit, no reward.” Emperor Wenxuan was an emperor who did not care about the hardships of mortal life; he granted a marquisate but did not bestow a mansion, and even the stipend was fined for a year. However, when they were in Liangzhou, He Yan had received some rewards in the form of silver. These funds should be enough to temporarily exchange for another residence.

He Yan and the others lived on a street surrounded by ordinary households. During the day, everyone had to go out to work, so it wasn’t like the previous night when everyone came to watch. With no one at home, Xiao Jue pondered for a moment, intending to leave. Just as he turned around, he bumped into someone.

This person was surprised when he saw Xiao Jue. “General Xiao, why are you here?”

Surprisingly, it was Jiang Jiao.

Jiang Jiao wasn’t wearing the new soldiers’ uniform today; he was only in a pale blue brocade robe. For a moment, Xiao Jue didn’t recognize him. However, as soon as Jiang Jiao spoke, he silently scolded himself for being inattentive. Now that He Yan is Xiao Jue’s fiancée, it’s only natural for him to visit her. Why should he be surprised?

“Commander Xiao, are you here to see Brother He….Miss He?” Jiang Jiao tried to salvage the situation and glanced at the closed door behind Xiao Jue. “I just passed by here and asked a fruit vendor. He said this is the He family… Is there no one at home today?”

Xiao Jue shook his head and looked at him again. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I’m here to deliver a sword to Miss He.” Jiang Jiao scratched his head. “Soldiers from our camp in Shuojing have a chance to visit their families once a month. I returned home yesterday and should return to camp today. Before leaving, I wanted to give this sword to Miss He.”

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow. Jiang Jiao snapped out of his daze, realizing that he might be misunderstood by Xiao Jue. So he explained, “It’s because Miss He was attacked in Shuojing a few days ago, and the news spread throughout the Liangzhou Garrison. Our family runs a martial arts school, so I wrote a letter asking my father to find a sword for Miss He.” He gestured with the sword wrapped in cloth, seemingly embarrassed. “It’s not some precious sword, but it’s light and sharp. With this sword, even if Miss He encounters another blind assassin in the future, she won’t be unarmed.”

“A sword?” Xiao Jue frowned. “Why would you think of sending a sword?”

“Huh?” Jiang Jiao didn’t expect Xiao Jue to ask this. “Miss He’s swordsmanship is exquisite. If you’re giving a weapon, it should be a sword. Although her whip and knife skills are good, I think her swordsmanship is superior. So, I took the liberty of choosing this.”

Xiao Jue stared into his eyes. “How do you know that He Yan’s swordsmanship is exquisite?”

“It’s from when we were in Rundu before.” Jiang Jiao suddenly realized, “By the way, when Miss He used the sword, you, Commander, hadn’t arrived in Rundu yet, so you didn’t see it. At that time, I and Wang Ba, and the others all saw it. That day, Miss He led us to sneak into the enemy camp at night, and we all wore masks resembling evil spirits. Miss He wore a unique mask, which Lord Li said was identical to the one worn by Flying Phoenix General before. On that day, Miss He wore the mask, pretending to be Flying Phoenix General, and defeated the Wutuo people. At that time, she used a sword. Although I haven’t seen what Flying Phoenix General looks like when he uses a sword, I think Miss He’s swordsmanship is not inferior.”

Jiang Jiao spoke in one breath and suddenly realized that he had said too much. Although he and He Yan are friends without any romantic involvement, now that He Yan is Xiao Jue’s fiancée, it would be better to avoid suspicion. So, he cleared his throat and said, “I came today just to deliver the sword. I didn’t expect Miss He’s house to be empty. Since I’ve encountered Commander Xiao here, why not let Commander Xiao deliver the sword to Miss He?”

He handed the bundled cloth to Xiao Jue. “It’s getting late, and I have to hurry back to camp. I will have to trouble Commander Xiao. Thank you.” He arched his hand towards Xiao Jue and, carrying the bundle he brought from home, walked away.

Jiang Jiao’s figure disappeared at the end of the long street. Xiao Jue lowered his head, looked at the slender sword wrapped in cloth in his hand. The sword was light and delicate. He lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he turned and left in another direction.

…

On this day, He Yan returned empty-handed again.

The master at Changmao Ironworks informed He Yan that in the past few days, Niu Tiejiang had not shown up, and consequently, the ten iron sickles ordered last month were not delivered. The master and Niu had some friendship, and if there were no special circumstances, Niu would not have broken his commitment.

He Yan asked if the master knew where Niu Tiejiang lived, but the master shook his head, indicating that Niu lived in the desolate mountains, and the specific location was unknown to anyone. Niu, on ordinary days, did not like to disclose his family matters to others, so it was inappropriate for others to inquire too much.

The situation seemed quite clear. Niu Tiejiang and Qin Momo were most likely found by people from Xu Zhiheng’s side ahead of her.

This was indeed a frustrating matter.

Upon returning home, since she had left early today, He Yan had not been discovered by He Sui and He Yunsheng, who had not yet returned. It was only Qingmei, sitting on the doorstep, waiting for them. As soon as she saw He Yan leading the horse to the door, she stood up with joy. “Miss, you finally came back!”

“I just went out for a stroll, lost track of time, that’s all,” He Yan continued to brush it off.

“Miss He went out before dawn. May I ask which marketplace you visited?” Chiwu walked out from behind the door, speaking in an unfriendly tone. He and Qingmei had just arrived home not long ago. To be honest, Chiwu didn’t think that going out to find someone would yield any results. If He Yan wanted to hide from them with peace of mind, who could find her? But whenever he showed a hint of the idea that there was no need to go out to find someone, the little maid in front of him would immediately burst into tears. Chiwu almost suspected that Qingmei was dragging him through the streets just to play. Poor him, a big man, being led around the city by a little girl for a whole day. He wondered how the matter would spread among the guards in the Nine Banner Battalion tomorrow. What’s more frustrating was that not only did He Yan leave, but she also took a horse. Under his nose, he didn’t notice anything, and he was even mocked by Qingmei for being inept in his skills.

Who knew how He Yan managed to slip out.

However, today’s He Yan felt even more frustrated than Chiwu. Going out early and returning late, she had gained nothing. What was more heartbreaking was that the silver she had used on Fuwang was all in vain. After finally having a clue, everything was now wasted. It was truly a loss of both manpower and wealth.

She lethargically muttered a few words, then said, “I’ve been wandering all day and feel a bit tired. I’ll go back to rest.” Without waiting for Qingmei to respond, she plunged into her room.

Qingmei stood outside the door, blinked her eyes, and said to Chiwu, “Guard Chiwu, don’t sleep too soundly tonight. Pay attention to any movements in Miss’s room.”

Chiwu: “…”

Now, she didn’t even call him “Young Master Chiwu” and directly referred to him as “Guard Chiwu.” What did this mean? Was she telling him not to sleep tonight and to pay attention to any sounds in Miss He Yan’s room?

How ridiculous.

…..

At night, as the lanterns lit up, the distant market echoed with the songs of revelers.

In Shuojing City, the first snow of winter finally arrived.

Snowflakes, like salt and cotton, were carried in by the wind, fluttering down like petals. On the pomegranate tree outside the window, the ripe pomegranates hung heavily on the branches, seemingly ready to fall at the slightest touch, landing on the snow-covered soil.

In the room, a warm tea was brewing on the stove, and the snow scene outside was perfectly reflected through the windows. Someone stood by the window, gazing at the snow outside in a trance.

“I haven’t seen Flying Phoenix General wield his sword, but I think Miss He’s swordsmanship is no worse than his,” echoed Jiang Jiao’s words. He turned back, walked to the table, and picked up the sword placed on it.

The cloth wrapping the sword had already been unfolded, revealing its complete appearance. The blade was narrow, probably designed for the convenience of a woman’s grip. It was entirely black, and delicate patterns were carved on the scabbard. The sword was also lightweight.

Everyone knew about the two famous generals of Great Wei, General Fengyun with his Drinking Autumn Sword and Flying Phoenix General with his Qingling Sword, both renowned throughout the land as formidable weapons, capable of cutting through gold like mud. More precious than their swords was their swordsmanship, with razor-sharp blades reaching the pinnacle.

In his youth, he met He Rufei. He Rufei’s swordsmanship was not considered beautiful, but with guidance and advice given secretly, it improved somewhat. However, since He Rufei joined the army, he never had the chance to witness her wielding a sword. Therefore, information about He Rufei’s swordsmanship was only hearsay.

There was a thick stack of letters piled on the table. Xiao Jue casually picked them up and skimmed through them, his gaze slightly focused.

He Rufei and Madame Xu were born on the same day of the spring equinox. At the age of fourteen, He Rufei entered Xianchang Academy. At fifteen, He Rufei joined the Fuyue army. As He Rufei’s military achievements became more prominent, just before returning to the capital to receive rewards, He Family’s second daughter, He Yan, who had been recuperating at the villa, also returned to the capital.

He Rufei was rewarded and bestowed the title “Flying Phoenix General.” The engagement between Miss He and Xu Zhiheng also occurred almost simultaneously.

Miss He became Madame Xu, and three months after marrying into the Xu family, Madame Xu lost her eyesight. A year later, she accidentally drowned.

About the deceased Madame Xu, very little could be found regarding her life before her death. Besides marrying Xu Zhiheng, there was nothing noteworthy during her time in the He family. It was as if she were an inconspicuous speck of dust, rarely noticed by anyone. The only somewhat remarkable thing in her life was the enviable marriage she obtained after returning to the capital. Unfortunately, even this small piece of good fortune seemed to have exhausted her luck. Subsequently, she became blind and died, returning to nothingness like a speck of dust.

Her birth and demise, set against the backdrop of her brother He Rufei, were like a tiny pebble thrown into the vast ocean, barely causing a ripple. People, at most, sighed at the news.

A pitiful, humble, and unnoticed woman.

He picked up another letter. In this letter, unlike Madame Xu, another girl with the same name and surname was meticulously recorded, detailing all the interesting things that had happened to her since birth.

The daughter of military official He Sui in the city, He Yan, despite losing her mother at a young age and living in humble conditions, grew up under the care of her father. She was as lively as any ordinary girl growing up in an average household, fond of rouge and fine clothes, delicate and pampered. Her biggest wish was to marry into a wealthy family. If that family also had a high-ranking official, and her husband was handsome, it would be a blessing.

Her entanglement with Fan Cheng was known to the entire neighborhood. To inquire about the past of a girl who grew up on their street, going door to door to ask around was easy. It was precisely because of this that the “Miss He” in the mouths of the neighbors and the current Marquis Wuan, “He Yan,” seemed like two completely different people.

Miss He loves beauty and elegance, but He Yan often wears men’s clothing. Miss He pays attention to her appearance, while He Yan has no issue sharing a large bunk with a dozen men. Miss He is delicate and frail, getting out of breath after a few steps, while He Yan runs on schedule every day in Liangzhou, effortlessly handling heavy stone locks weighing over a hundred pounds.

Same face, completely different personalities.

She can recite “Wuzi Bingfa,” understands military formations like the back of her hand, can instantly identify weaknesses in Wutuo’s military strategies, and faces the enemy’s long blades without changing her expression. It’s impossible for there to be such a genius, and even if there were, they wouldn’t appear in Liangzhou. However, if this person isn’t a genius but a fierce general who grew up in the cunning battlefield, it seems that all those inexplicable things have reasonable explanations.

Xiao Jue fell silent, placed all the letters back in the drawer, and walked out.

His yard was spacious with many empty rooms. Xiao Jue walked towards the innermost room, where a guard stood by the door. Seeing Xiao Jue approach, the guard stepped aside.

Xiao Jue entered.

Inside the room, Qin Momo and Niu Tiejiang sat on a stool, discussing something. At the sight of Xiao Jue, Qin Momo immediately stood up, saying, “My lord.”

Now that Xu Zhiheng was investigating Qin Momo’s whereabouts, and with the two brothers brought back from outside the city residing in the other courtyard, it was troublesome for Qin Momo to stay there. Xiao Jue had them sent to his own yard. Even if Xu Zhiheng had the courage, he wouldn’t dare come to the Xiao family. With guards at the door, Qin Momo couldn’t escape either.

After Xiao Jue came in, he didn’t speak but kept his gaze on Qin Momo.

Qin Momo’s body trembled slightly, and until now, she knew nothing about this handsome young man. However, every time she saw his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a chill down her spine.

“How did Madame Xu die?” Xiao Jue asked.

Qin Momo was momentarily stunned and instinctively replied, “She was killed by Concubine He.”

“I’m asking how she died.”

Qin Momo then recovered and, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, said, “On that day, the maidservant first gave Madam a cup of tea with something in it. Madam was skilled in martial arts, quite good at it. Probably… they were afraid that Madam would escape. Later, Madam couldn’t move. The servants used sticks to beat Madam and dragged her to the edge of the pond, pushing her head down…”

As if recalling the tragic scene that day, Qin Momo shivered as she spoke, feeling a chill throughout her body.

Madame Xu’s death was too tragic. She didn’t struggle, scream, plead, or lose composure like those on the brink of death. She just stubbornly resisted her fate, clearly a blind woman who couldn’t see anything, yet her eyes seemed to have a fire, obstinately resisting. Because of this, when that body was pressed into the pond, gradually motionless and breathless, the moment she lost her breath, it was so shocking.

Qin Momo closed her eyes. “Madam died by drowning. Not an accidental drowning but being forcibly pushed into the pond and drowned alive.”

Xiao Jue’s fingertips trembled.

The memories of the past gradually surfaced. On the smoky canal, a sea of flames. The spring river still carried a chill, and the girl underwater, usually lively, became stiff. She looked distressed, her long hair scattering underwater, fragile and delicate like glass, as if she would vanish in the next moment.

People who had been burned by fire would avoid it afterward, and those who fell off a horse and got injured would refuse to mount again. The girl who died in the icy pond, whenever she thought of the cold water just before her death and the despair of the unreachable daylight, would never be able to let go.

I see.

Qin Momo didn’t know the deep meaning behind the question and continued pleading, “My lord, I truly didn’t participate! It was Concubine He who did it, or rather, it was done under Master’s orders. I just stood among those women and didn’t do anything…”

Before she could finish her words, she saw the young man in front of her had already pushed the door open and walked out.

The door closed behind him, and Xiao Jue walked a few steps forward. On this snowy night, the wind felt unusually cold, dispersing the stifling suffocation from the room.

He walked slowly along the corridor. With no moon tonight, in the dim light of a solitary lamp, the past flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern. Those familiar scenes, which had passed by in a blur, finally pierced into his heart like a sharp sword, spreading a sharp pain.

Time and space overlapped. Under the moonlight, a girl in martial attire struggled to pull a longbow, repeatedly practicing in the wilderness of Liangzhou Garrison. Slowly, the image blurred into a familiar figure, a clumsy young man with a masked face awkwardly wielding a long sword, getting beaten with a swollen face.

He sneered, “Someone works so hard, yet they are so vulnerable.”

The girl, smelling of alcohol, questioned indignantly, “Why do you prefer Lei Hou over me? In terms of appearance, martial skills, or our past relationship, I’m very disappointed!”

The young man, who once stumbled through learning “The Great Learning” at Xianchang Academy, could now effortlessly recite the entire text after getting drunk. However, he still clung to his waist awkwardly seeking the approval of a “daddy.”

She stood on the training ground, observing the new recruits below, confidently answering his own questions. When praised, she proudly claimed, “Sometimes I even feel like I was a female general in my past life.”

The highest realm of deceit is perhaps speaking the truth while hiding it beneath seemingly unintentional lies.

Youhua Fairy smiled and asked him, “Is this girl by your side the same as the one from back then?”

Is she the same girl from back then?

Is she the girl who was terrible at archery, horse back riding, sword, serious and stubborn, hardworking yet aloof?

Is she the girl who said, “The one who wields a sword should understand where the blade points, whether it faces the enemy in front or the weak behind. I will not draw my sword against the weak”?

Is she the girl who was forgotten by her classmates in the field, who, even after being beaten black and blue, refused to betray her friends by revealing their whereabouts?

Or is she the one who, behind Yuhua Temple, on the Xuelian Mountain, attempted suicide once and came back a second time, crying and scolding him, strangely pitiful but angry, Madam Xu?

He once sheltered her with an umbrella, gave her a piece of candy, and gifted her with the nonexistent moonlight. However, he didn’t know that she led such a miserable life, to the point where she couldn’t even have her true name. On moonless nights, she hid behind a mask, spending many lonely and humble years.

He saved her once but couldn’t save her the second time.

At the Water God Festival in Jiyang, under the legendary lying mask, He Yan spoke out ten secrets, ten truths, about herself with a scent of alcohol.

“I have a fate with the commander from my past life.”

“I was a female general in my previous life!”

I see, I see.

He lifted his head, and the night sky was dark. There was no frosty moon tonight, but the gentle wind felt like water, and the scenery was boundless. It was an exceptionally cold night. He deceived her only once, but she had deceived him for many years. It was only when the lies were exposed that the pain became particularly intense.

Xiao Jue walked slowly, reaching the end of the corridor, in front of the study, under the pomegranate tree by the flower wall. It seemed like a girl with a radiant smile was trying to reach for the still-green pomegranate, her silhouette gradually merging with a certain spring day many years ago.

He was in the tree, and she was under it, her face covered by a mask, revealing only a pair of bright eyes. She tried comically to grab the golden yellow loquat. The young man in a white robe gracefully landed, looking at the slender and petite girl in front of him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

That day, the spring breeze was warm, the sky clear, and the river as blue as ever. It was like the first encounter.

A voice echoed in the vast sky, open field, and by the spring water, carrying an indescribable melancholy. It scattered into the night wind, accompanied by countless fireflies deep in the forest.

“Sometimes, being someone’s substitute for too long, you can’t help but forget who you are.”

“Commander, you must remember my name.”

“I am called…”

The young man’s handsome and clear eyes gradually darkened. He lowered his gaze to the tightly held sachet in his hand, softly uttering two words.

“He Yan.”

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