Chapter 88 Snatch Her Away

Chapter 88: Taking Her Away

"General Liu?"

Jiang Wanrou’s eyes widened in puzzlement. "Was this sent to the wrong person? We've never met before."

The maid lowered her voice. "General Liu delivered it personally. She's waiting outside the residence."

Liu Yuenu, a female general renowned in Weicheng and admired by many women—including this maid—was famed for her valor.

The maid asked, "Shall I invite General Liu inside?"

Jiang Wanrou lowered her gaze, her delicate, porcelain-like hands lifting the ceramic bowl. She opened the lid, and a rich, sweet aroma wafted into the air—identical to the scent she had noticed earlier at the syrup shop.

It was perfectly warm.

Jiang Wanrou asked, "Did General Liu say she wished to see me?"

The maid shook her head. "No."

Liu Yuenu had only instructed that the bowl of syrup be delivered to the Princess Consort, with no further explanation.

Jiang Wanrou set the syrup down and chuckled softly. "You’re quick to act, aren’t you?"

Judging by Lu Qingling’s attitude toward General Liu, she likely had no idea about this. The maid, without informing her mistress, had presented an edible item and even encouraged the meeting. Had this happened in the Duke’s estate or the Prince’s residence, Jiang Wanrou would never tolerate such insolence from a servant.

Realizing Jiang Wanrou was displeased, the maid hastily knelt and begged for mercy. "I know I was wrong. Please forgive me, Princess Consort."

Though her voice was gentle, the maid felt an inexplicable pressure—more intense than anything she had faced from Lu Qingling.

Jiang Wanrou had always been kind to others, but after spending so much time with Lu Feng, she had unconsciously absorbed some of his mannerisms.

The maid stammered, trembling. "This servant... displeased the Princess Consort. That is my mistake."

Jiang Wanrou smiled faintly, wasting no further words. She called out, "Jintao."

This was not the Prince of Qi’s residence. While Lu Qingling might not care, Jiang Wanrou did not wish to overstep her bounds by disciplining the general’s household staff. If this maid was incompetent, she could simply be replaced.

Jintao acted swiftly, escorting the maid personally to Lu Qingling and explaining the situation. Left alone, Jiang Wanrou stared at the steaming syrup, deep in contemplation.

She wasn’t fond of sweets. No matter who had sent it, she wouldn’t drink it. But what was General Liu’s intention?

Was it flattery? Unlikely. Over the years, Jiang Wanrou had received countless gifts—rare treasures, exotic luxuries—all manner of offerings. A simple bowl of syrup would seem ridiculous compared to her usual gifts.

Yet, she had lingered at the syrup shop earlier, and no sooner had she returned than this arrived—perfectly warmed, as if meant to delight her. It was... considerate.

But General Liu had said nothing, not even requesting an audience.

The absurdity dawned on Jiang Wanrou. She turned to Jintao, who had just returned, and said, "Go see if she’s still there. If you find General Liu, tell her... Thank her for her kindness, but I must decline—I avoid sweets."

It was a polite refusal.

Under normal circumstances, Jiang Wanrou might have been curious, even eager to meet such a remarkable woman. But with the war intensifying, General Liu was a heroine on the battlefield—and then there were those rumors... Though Jiang Wanrou doubted them, if word reached Lu Feng’s ears... She didn’t want unwanted rumors.

Jiang Wanrou’s interest faded as quickly as it had come. With Lunar New Year approaching, the general’s residence was adorned with lanterns and red banners, alive with festive spirit. Helping Lu Qingling, Jiang Wanrou remained indoors, her days passing quietly. Soon, she forgot about the strange encounter with the mysterious General Liu.

Meeting Liu Yuenu in person was entirely unexpected.

On New Year's Eve, the sisters-in-law had prepared a grand feast, only to receive word at the last moment that Ling Xiao and Lu Feng couldn’t make it back. The two women stared at each other blankly, their appetite for the fine feast vanishing instantly.

“It’s alright. By the end of next month, when we deliver supplies to the front lines, we’ll surely see them,” Lu Qingling managed an awkward smile. She was more accustomed to such disappointments than Jiang Wanrou and could still offer some comfort. As the elder sister-in-law, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t very well let her younger sister-in-law console her, so she pretended nothing was wrong. The three of them—Jiang Wanrou, Lu Qingling, and Xiao Yuner—sat around the table and picked at a tasteless New Year's Eve feast.

By the time she returned to her courtyard, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t suppress her gloom. Lu Qingling fared better—without Ling Xiao, she still had her son and daughter for company. But Jiang Wanrou, in this strange, freezing frontier town, was utterly alone. She only had Lu Feng.

Last time, he had promised her, his large hand stroking her hair as he said, “Once the fighting eases, I’ll return to Weicheng to see you.”

“On New Year’s Eve, I won’t let you sleep alone.”

Lu Feng never broke his promises. She had been so full of hope, only for him to suddenly announce he wouldn’t return. Though she knew the battlefield was unpredictable and even Lu Feng couldn’t control everything, she still felt a wordless sense of grievance.

Jintao had some maids bring in hot water for her bath. In her low spirits, Jiang Wanrou suddenly asked, “Where’s Snowball?”

The little rabbit Lu Feng had caught for her could fit in her palm when she first got it. Now, it was so plump she needed both arms to carry it.

The usually composed Jintao froze for a moment. “I’ll go look for it.”

Jiang Wanrou disliked confining Snowball in a cage. The rabbit was unafraid of people and often hopped freely around the courtyard. Jintao realized she hadn’t seen the white puffball all afternoon.

The courtyard was vast, and Snowball usually found a cozy spot to nestle in, coming out only to eat. No one would dare cook the princess consort's pet rabbit, so Jiang Wanrou never worried. But tonight was New Year’s Eve. She was alone, without Lu Feng—couldn’t she at least have her rabbit for company?

Late into the night, everyone in the courtyard was out with lanterns, searching inside and out for the rabbit. Just as they were about to give up, a maid rushed in and reported, “Your Highness, General Liu is here to see you.”

“She says she’s caught a rabbit outside the estate. What should we do…?”

Reluctantly, Jiang Wanrou threw on a cloak and went to the general's front hall to meet the guest. The night was deep, the surroundings utterly silent. There, she finally met the legendary female general.

She looked nothing like Jiang Wanrou had pictured.

Rumors spoke of General Liu’s unparalleled bravery, and in Jiang Wanrou’s mind, she had pictured someone as stout and rough as the serving women—someone with the strength to fight on the battlefield.

Instead, she was tall and graceful, with sharp phoenix eyes, a high nose bridge, and lips thin as a blade's edge. Perhaps due to foreign ancestry, her features were strikingly deep-set, her eyes sharp as daggers. Upon closer inspection, her pupils were a mesmerizing mix of dark blue and ink-black, lovelier than the night heavens.

She strode toward Jiang Wanrou with long, confident steps, her heavy boots clacking sharply. Jiang Wanrou instinctively took a step back.

Liu Yuenu suddenly halted.

“Your rabbit.”

She glanced at the plump rabbit in her grasp. Snowball’s ears were clutched in her grip, its short legs flailing pitifully.

“Gen… General Liu.”

Jiang Wanrou steadied herself. “Put Snowball down.”

No wonder Lu Qingling had warned her against interacting with General Liu. Though the woman had the appearance of a lady, there wasn’t a trace of feminine gentleness in her demeanor. Her strides were long and purposeful, her back straight, her gaze calm and unfathomable. Unlike most women, she didn’t adorn her hair with pins, nor did she bind it in a man’s jade crown. Instead, she tied her dark locks back with a simple cord, her hair falling straight like a stallion's tail—radiating martial vigor.

Despite both being women, Jiang Wanrou felt strangely like she was alone with a man in a room.

Fortunately, though Liu Yuenu looked intimidating, she was surprisingly easy to talk to. She stopped where she was and, as Jiang Wanrou requested, set Snowball down.

With a swift “whoosh,” Snowball dashed to Jiang Wanrou’s feet. She gathered it into her arms, soothingly stroking its soft fur.

She held the rabbit in her arms, while Liu Yuenu stared unabashedly at her with such an audacious gaze that Jiang Wanrou couldn't ignore it.

Could she truly be as the rumors said, attracted to women?

Jiang Wanrou still found it hard to believe—partly because the gossip was absurd, and partly because the way the other woman looked at her... well, there was an intensity to it.

It wasn't the lecherous stare of someone lusting after beauty, nor the burning possessiveness of Lu Feng, nor Pei Zhang's suppressed desire. Her eyes were calm and earnest.

Jiang Wanrou instinctively clutched tighter to Snowball, and Liu Yuenu appeared to notice her discomfort, saying, "I won't hurt you."

She scowled in frustration, explaining haltingly, "I didn’t know you don’t eat sweets."

Jiang Wanrou recalled that bizarrely sweet soup and now this rabbit—could it really be coincidence that General Liu happened to catch it?

Liu Yuenu was completely unfazed. "I've been standing guard outside your manor. Today, I saw it run out."

Snowball escaping the manor was an accident, but being caught by Liu Yuenu was no coincidence.

Jiang Wanrou's confusion deepened. "Why were you watching over me?"

Liu Yuenu replied as if stating the obvious, "To protect you."

Jiang Wanrou's heart lurched as she eyed her suspiciously. "We're not related or acquainted. Why would you—"

A general who could fight on the battlefield, standing guard outside the manor, claiming to protect her—at least Liu Yuenu was a woman, or else Jiang Wanrou would have ten tongues and still not convince anyone.

"Someone has been keeping you under surveillance. I was afraid you might be in danger."

Jiang Wanrou had been perfectly safe in the manor, never encountering any danger. If anything, this strange General Liu was the suspicious one. She asked warily, "Why would you protect me? Was it the prince's order?"

Liu Yuenu smiled faintly, her usually stern features softening slightly.

"I wanted to protect you."

She spoke slowly, "My name isn’t Liu Yuenu. Liu is my mother’s surname, and Yuenu was my elder sister’s name."

Her gaze was gentle as she looked at Jiang Wanrou. "You remind me of my sister."

She had collected many women—some with eyes like her sister’s, some with her nose, others with her lips. Looks-wise, they weren't even close.

But her voice was just as gentle as her sister’s.

She said, "Don’t judge others by rumors."

She murmured, "This General Liu is truly an extraordinary woman."

Liu Yuenu shadowed the carriage at a distance. She had never seen Jiang Wanrou’s face, but hearing her voice alone almost made her weep.

Her sister had told her to forget her and live well. But how could she forget? The sister who sang lullabies to her every night, who gave her the last scrap of food when they were starving, who shielded her from whips and fists with her fragile frame, who held her and wept as she lay dying.

Her beloved sister had died in her arms—how could she ever forget?

She shadowed the carriage, calculating the possibility of spiriting Jiang Wanrou away. She could close her eyes and listen to her speak every day, sing to her, as if her sister were still by her side.

From the shadows, she watched with detached calculation, sharp enough to notice another presence watching Jiang Wanrou. She glanced over, but the figure vanished swiftly.

A formidable foe.

Liu Yuenu understood now—if she wanted to reclaim her "sister," she would have to contend not only with that troublesome prince of Great Qi but also with hidden adversaries.

Never mind, the muddier the water, the better—it’s easiest to fish in troubled waters.

...

Liu Yuenu veiled the ambition in her gaze. Aside from wanting to abduct Jiang Wanrou, she was utterly forthright. Jiang Wanrou’s tense posture gradually relaxed, and she let her guard down.

She even felt a twinge of pity for General Liu.

Only eighteen years old—still just a young girl.

She said softly, "It’s nothing difficult. When you have time, you can come talk to me, and I’ll sing for you."

Aunt Li was skilled in song and dance, and Jiang Wanrou also had a fine voice. But like dancing, such talents were considered lowly. Jiang Wanrou had a beautiful voice but no chance to use it.

Liu Yuenu’s eyes lit up, and her cold face showed a hint of anticipation. "Really? Sister Rou, you’re so kind!"

She didn’t want to call her "Princess Consort"—the prince of Great Qi was too deranged, and Sister Rou was in danger by his side. Remembering Lu Feng’s demeanor on the battlefield, Liu Yuenu secretly resolved to rescue Sister Rou from her suffering.

Jiang Wanrou smiled. Tonight was a lonely New Year’s Eve, but by chance, she had befriended a general’s younger sister. She put Snowball down and wanted to pat Liu Yuenu’s head, but the latter was too tall—she had to rise on her toes.

Fortunately, Liu Yuenu noticed her intention and lowered her neck, sparing them both awkwardness.

She said sheepishly, "Sister Rou, my father was Turkic. Folks there... all grow tall."

Jiang Wanrou knew her mother had been taken by the Turkic people, so she didn’t mind her Turkic heritage. Instead, she asked, "So before coming to Great Qi, you lived among the Turkic people all along?"

Liu Yuenu nodded. "Mm."

Jiang Wanrou asked curiously, "What was your original name?"

Since "Yuenu" was her elder sister’s name, she couldn’t have been nameless before. And where had she learned all her skills?

Liu Yuenu gave a name without hesitation. Her pronunciation was strange, and the Turkic name was long—Jiang Wanrou didn’t understand. Lu Feng had once mentioned a few Turkic names, and she felt they all sounded similar.

Liu Yuenu repeated it, but seeing Jiang Wanrou still confused, she said, "Don’t bother remembering. Just call me Liu Yuenu."

She had no attachment to the Turkic people—otherwise, she wouldn’t have cut down foes so ruthlessly on the battlefield, not even sparing one Turkic head. Even Ling Xiao had never doubted her identity.

Jiang Wanrou also smiled and said gently, "Alright, Yuenu."

Liu Yuenu suddenly fell silent and looked at Jiang Wanrou. "Can you call me... A’mei?" *(Footnote: A’mei is an affectionate term meaning “younger sister.”)*

Jiang Wanrou gained a "A’mei." The next day, Lu Qingling only found out and cursed Liu Yuenu, calling her a weasel bowing to a hen—with ulterior motives!

***

Jiang Wanrou soothed her, "That girl seems genuine to me. Don’t worry, I know my limits."

She wasn’t someone easily fooled. From the results, Liu Yuenu was a renowned general with illustrious military achievements. Her initiative to befriend her would benefit both Jiang Wanrou and Lu Feng.

It was only the beginning—time would reveal one’s true heart. If she truly had ill intentions, Jiang Wanrou could always distance herself later.

Jiang Wanrou didn’t see Liu Yuenu as a threat, but her warning made her cautious. She had said: Someone was secretly watching her.

Though Liu Yuenu vowed to protect her, Jiang Wanrou didn’t dare bet everything on her. Whether true or not, she immediately wrote to Lu Feng, asking him to send more guards to the general’s residence.

This time, without his reminder, Jiang Wanrou kept to herself indoors. Aside from Liu Yuenu visiting every few days, her life was quiet as still water. It was said the frontlines had won another battle, and Lu Feng was too busy with military affairs to reply to her letters.

A month passed like this. As the month’s end approached, everyone was again busy preparing supplies—this time even more than before. Jiang Wanrou swelled with pride, and with the joy of soon seeing Lu Feng, she walked with a lighter step.

She never expected an accident could happen right here in the general's mansion.

The ladies bustled about, making the vast general's residence overwhelmingly loud. She stepped out from the crowd for some fresh air when a maid hurried over, "Princess Consort, the lady of the house wants to see you."

Jiang Wanrou didn't suspect anything and followed for a few steps before suddenly stopping, "Wait, you're not—"

A rush of chilling perfume washed over her, sending her spiraling into darkness.

...

She had no idea how much time had passed. Her head throbbed painfully, and in her dazed state, she heard the voice of an unfamiliar man:

"You like this woman, don't you? Now she's all yours."

A long silence followed, then the sound of a door opening. Footsteps drew closer, stopping by her bedside.