Chapter 101: The Female General

Chapter 101 The Lady General

Emerging from the corridor with his head held high, Marquis Wei cast a look at A Man filled with astonishment and delight.

"Do you truly wish to become a lady general?"

He had fathered four children, yet not a single one took up martial arts—his greatest regret.

Regardless of whether his little granddaughter truly intended to learn, he was deeply moved.

A Man looked at the elderly man who had suddenly appeared and nodded shyly. "Yes."

"Excellent!" Marquis Wei laughed heartily. "Then Grandfather will teach you himself!"

"Marquis, A Man is still young. She's just playing around."

Xie Zheng quickly stepped forward to interrupt their conversation. Having served in the military for over a decade, he knew better than anyone the hardships of army life. How could a tender little girl like A Man endure such trials?

"Uncle, I'm not little! I'm almost three years old!" A Man pouted and put her hands on her hips, disliking nothing more than being called a child.

"Alright, alright, you're not little. But becoming a lady general must be discussed with your mother first—you can't decide on your own. Besides, can you wake up early in the morning to train?"

A Man, still at the age where she loved sleeping in, clammed up at her uncle's question.

Yet Marquis Wei refused to give up. Having A Man learn martial arts was not just about grooming a successor for himself—it was also a rare opportunity for grandfather and granddaughter to bond.

"If A Man can't wake up early, she can rise later. Children need plenty of sleep to grow tall. Grandfather has small horses in the military camp. I'll pick one for you—how about learning to ride first?"

"Yes! A Man wants to ride a pony!" she declared.

The old fox knows all the tricks. When it came to winning people over by catering to their interests, ten of Wei Xun couldn't match Marquis Wei.

"Good! Then I'll bring you to the barracks tomorrow!"

...

Marquis Wei didn't stay for dinner. After playing with A Man for a while, he returned to the estate.

Just as he entered the marquis's residence, he ran into Wei Xun, who had just returned from duty.

Wei Xun halted his steps and bowed in greeting. Marquis Wei lifted his chin and huffed. "Useless!"

A Man was already three years old and still hadn't been formally acknowledged by the family. What a pathetic father he was.

The more Marquis Wei looked at his third son, the more displeased he felt. "If you can't win back my daughter-in-law, don't bother coming home either!"

Wei Xun: "..."

He wanted to make amends, but A Yuan wouldn't even open the door for him.

"When will Zhang Feng return?"

As soon as Marquis Wei left, Wei Xun turned to ask Chang Yuan.

Chang Yuan scratched his head. "With luck, he should be back before the New Year."

He still didn't know what Zhang Feng had gone to Jiangnan for, but he couldn't help feeling that his position in his master's favor was under threat.

Mm.

Wei Xun nodded, then glanced at the dim-witted guard. "I don't need anyone to wait on me here. When you’ve got time, spend more of it with Chun Tao."

Fishing for details from Chun Tao might help him uncover more about A Yuan.

Wei Xun lowered his eyes, concealing his scheming thoughts.

Since he couldn’t see A Yuan, he had no choice but to squeeze intel out of this foolish guard.

Chang Yuan’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at him gratefully. "Boss, you’re too good to me!"

"Ahem!"

Even Wei Xun, who rarely showed emotion, barely stifled a grimace.

"Don’t mention it," he muttered, staring at Chang Yuan and rubbing his temples. "Boost your smarts. You should eat more brains."

He didn’t say the last part out loud—it would be too cruel for Chang Yuan.

...

Zhang Feng hurried back just before the New Year, bringing five master embroiderers with him, all top-tier artisans of Suzhou embroidery from Jiangnan.

"I originally wanted to bring Hui Gu, but she refused to leave Suzhou. Wasn’t my call."

Hui Gu was a mentor and mother figure to Mistress Xie. If she had been brought to the capital, Mistress Xie would’ve owed you one.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t swing it.

"This is already very good."

Wei Xun patted his shoulder. "Tomorrow, arrange to send these embroiderers to the General's residence. Keep this under wraps from A Yuan."

"Wait—"

Zhang Feng was stunned.

If Mistress Xie didn’t know, how could he score points with her?

Yet Wei Xun didn’t answer. He had originally wanted to please A Yuan, every gesture calculated.

But he had overlooked whether A Yuan would even like it.

His attempts at flattery came off as pushy, only driving her off.

A Yuan hated him. No matter how much he did, it was only his cross to bear.

"Get moving!"

Wei Xun's voice turned stern, and Zhang Feng had no choice but to obey. "Yes."

...

General's Residence.

A Yuan put down her needlework in surprise when she heard that five embroiderers had shown up out of nowhere at the gate. "They're really from Jiangnan?"

Very few people knew about her embroidery project—aside from Chun Tao and Granny Zhu, just Hui Gu knew.

By her calculations, her letter to Hui Gu shouldn’t have arrived yet. Who could’ve sent them?

"My lady, could it be that Chang Yuan leaked the news?"

Chun Tao winced. She knew her man well—even if she warned him not to reveal secrets, he might still be tricked into talking.

The young master was sharp as a tack; how could Chang Yuan possibly keep anything from him?

So, these embroiderers were most likely sent by Wei Xun.

Chun Tao secretly observed Lady Yi’s expression, watching as her initial surprise slowly returned to composure.

"Whoever sent them, since they're here, they can stay."

Lady Yi was no longer the docile concubine who took abuse she once was.

Since Wei Xun hadn’t owned up to it, she would pretend not to know.

What good was standing on pride when there were dozens of women seeking a way out of their failed marriages?

With these five embroiderers, her embroidery workshop could launch faster.

As the New Year approached, more people were buying new clothes, and Lady Yi also welcomed a familiar customer.

Lin Qingshuang sat across from her, her eyes darting around the room before she finally looked away, disappointed.

"I can’t believe you’re actually alive."

She hadn’t attended the Crown Princess’s banquet last time and only later heard that Young General Xie’s sister was A Yuan herself.

So the woman she had once seen Xie Yansheng supporting… must have been her too.

Lin Qingshuang was down-to-earth and straightforward, and Lady Yi had a good impression of her.

"Yes, I was lucky to survive. Are you here for a new dress, Lady Lin?"

"Anything is fine."

Lin Qingshuang seemed deflated, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress as if she could wring it into knots.

Finally, she blurted out.

"Lady Xie, how are you related to Xie Yansheng?"

"Xie Yansheng? You mean my brother?"

Xie Zheng’s courtesy name was Yan Sheng. Aside from Marquis Wei, most people only referred to him as Young General Xie.

After Lin Qingshuang saved him, she had hidden him in her estate, keeping it from her family.

So even if Xie Zheng had told her his courtesy name, she wouldn’t have recognized his identity.

"He’s your brother? How is that possible?"

Lin Qingshuang couldn’t process this. The Young General Xie of her imagination was supposed to be a dashing war hero—how could he be that ungrateful, tight-lipped jerk who left without a word?

What she didn’t say was that she had once been infatuated with Young General Xie, devouring every tale about him and could recite his battles by heart.

After rescuing Xie Yansheng, she had often needled him by comparing him unfavorably to the legendary Young General Xie.

She had even proclaimed her favorite was Young General Xie and that she despised Xie Yansheng the most.

No wonder that man had always looked at her with such an odd expression—she had made a complete fool of herself!