Song Boxue spoke without a change in expression, “Take them down and use torture. As long as they don’t die, it’s fine. Young General, please step inside.”
Her voice was cold and sharp, showing no mercy. For those who sought to harm her, there was no need for kindness.
Although Hua Jian was the General’s son and was respectfully called “Young General” in the army, he held no actual official rank. Thus, he was not required to perform a kneeling salutation to her.
He looked toward Jiang Fanyin, who stood beside Song Boxue. The beauty kept her head lowered in silence, making it impossible to read her expression.
Jiang Wuyi waited obediently in the court. Since Hua Jian hadn’t told him to follow, he didn’t dare speak out of turn.
“May I ask what brings the Young General here on this grand visit?”
Song Boxue arched an eyebrow slightly. This was getting interesting. She wondered whose side the male lead was actually on. Regardless of whether he was a threat now, he eventually joined the female lead’s camp in the book, so he was at least technically one of the “good guys.”
Hua Jian’s next words confirmed her suspicions.
“My father accidentally wrote the wrong details in an official document, so he ordered me here to recall Commander Jiang. I apologize for the trouble caused to Magistrate Song.”
Having said that, he looked at Jiang Fanyin again. Her face was as cold as frost, her thoughts inscrutable, yet he found himself inexplicably drawn to her, reluctant to look away.
“I wondered what the matter was to warrant a trip from the Young General. Since it is a misunderstanding, I naturally understand.”
Song Boxue’s tone was relatively mild, though her eyes cooled. Is the male lead treating me like thin air? He was staring at the female lead so hard his eyeballs looked ready to fall out.
Realizing he had lost his composure, Hua Jian quickly retracted his gaze. “Though it was a misunderstanding, it undoubtedly caused Magistrate Song trouble. I have prepared a modest meal at the ‘Building Above Buildings.’ I hope Magistrate Song will do me the honor of joining me for a few drinks.”
Song Boxue studied Hua Jian. Despite having no official rank, he was a Young General, yet he spoke with such humility. His emotional intelligence was leagues above the second male lead, truly the caliber of a protagonist.
She nodded in agreement. “I shall certainly attend.”
By unspoken pact, neither side mentioned their encounter on the road.
After seeing Hua Jian out, Song Boxue remarked pensively, “I didn’t expect Young Master Hua to be the Young General. Sister Jiang, what do you think of him?”
It seemed like a classic case of love at first sight for the male lead. She wondered what the female lead was thinking.
Jiang Fanyin stared at Song Boxue and said pointedly, “One cannot judge a person by their appearance.”
“Then, does Sister Jiang believe in love at first sight?”
“Love? Unlikely. Lusting after a pretty face is more like it,” Jiang Fanyin replied coldly, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Song Boxue.
Song Boxue felt a lump in her throat. Fine, conversation over. She really shouldn’t have let her curiosity get the better of her.
Meanwhile, at the inn.
Hua Jian’s face was grim as he commanded, “The forging of weapons is cancelled. Commander Jiang, you are to return tomorrow.”
Jiang Wuyi knelt on the ground. “But this was the Great General’s order! This subordinate, I.”
“Father has changed his mind. And what is the deal with those people being interrogated in court? A few of them looked familiar to me.”
“They are brothers from the army. This subordinate, I.” Jiang Wuyi knelt, unable to form a coherent sentence.
This Young General appeared gentle when dealing with outsiders, but as a confidant, Jiang Wuyi had seen him kill without blinking. He couldn’t be fooled.
“Tell me exactly what foolish things you’ve done since arriving in Pingchuan. Speak up!”
Hua Jian approached Jiang Wuyi, drew the man’s own saber, and inspected the blade with a frigid expression.
“Young General, forgive me! This subordinate.”
Jiang Wuyi omitted the dream he’d had, claiming only that he had coincidentally seen Jiang Fanyin in Pingchuan and wanted to rescue his “sworn sister.”
“The sworn sister you speak of—is she the ‘Master Jiang’ who follows Song Boxue in men’s clothing?”
“Yes.”
Receiving the confirmation, Hua Jian’s expression softened slightly. He sheathed the saber back into Jiang Wuyi’s scabbard. “Stand up, Commander. You came here on Father’s business and were concerned for your sister; a momentary lapse in judgment is excusable. However, those men in the dungeon cannot be allowed to remain.”
Wastrels who fail their mission and ruin everything instead, what was the use in keeping them?
“They are brothers who have faced life and death with me! This subordinate. Yes.” Jiang Wuyi backed down under Hua Jian’s gaze, not daring to plead for them further.
Hua Jian looked at Jiang Wuyi and said casually, “Commander Jiang, as Miss Jiang’s sworn brother, it is only right that you consider her lifelong happiness. If she has entrusted herself to the wrong person, it is reasonable for you to intervene. But you must be more careful in your actions. Otherwise, even if I want to back you up, I cannot be too blatant about it.”
“This subordinate understands his mistake.” Jiang Wuyi cupped his fists, moved to his core. The Young General had said he would back him up.
He felt that he wasn’t just the Great General’s confidant anymore, now even the Young General held him in high regard. He was truly different from the common soldiers.
Hua Jian nodded. “Lead the way. To the ‘Building Above Buildings.'” Time to meet that Magistrate Song again.
Near dusk, after finishing her duties at the yamen, Song Boxue returned to the rear quarters to change into light blue casual robes.
“Does Sister Jiang want to change back into women’s clothing?” Since the male lead and the second male lead knew each other, they likely knew her identity by now. There was no longer a need for the disguise.
“This is fine.” Jiang Fanyin’s expression was flat; she saw no necessity in changing.
The yamen was very close to the restaurant, barely a few minutes’ walk, so Song Boxue decided against taking the carriage.
The relatively wide streets were sparsely populated. The two guards from Weitian Prefecture followed dutifully behind them, their shadows lengthened by the setting sun.
In the private room at the “Building Above Buildings,” only Hua Jian and Jiang Wuyi were present. Song Boxue and Jiang Fanyin exchanged a look and entered, while the two guards stayed outside with Hua Jian’s servants.
“Yin’yin.” The moment Jiang Wuyi saw her, he couldn’t help but speak. He hurriedly pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing for her to sit by his side.
Hua Jian chimed in at the perfect moment, “Magistrate Song, Miss Jiang, please be seated.”
In one sentence, he acknowledged Jiang Fanyin’s true gender, signaling that he was already in the know.
Song Boxue wasn’t surprised. She sat down across from them with easy grace. There were only four chairs at the table. Jiang Wuyi had pulled one next to himself, and Hua Jian hadn’t stopped him. The three chairs were vaguely arranged in a row, facing off against Song Boxue.
Jiang Fanyin pursed her lips. After sitting down, she subconsciously leaned her body toward Song Boxue.
Hua Jian noted the movement. His gaze paused for a second before he put on a smile as warm as a spring breeze. “We won’t talk shop today. It’s quite the coincidence, really—I forgot to ask the other day, did Magistrate Song travel to Weitian Prefecture?”
The question was laced with a hint of a probe.
He had just come from the capital and set off to intercept Jiang Wuyi upon hearing he had gone to Pingchuan County. Passing through Weitian Prefecture had merely been a matter of convenience for him, but the presence of these two in that same location was quite intriguing.
Song Boxue arched an eyebrow slightly and said with a composed air, “A few days ago, an assassin’s blade injured my internal organs, and the wound refused to mend. I had heard there was a physician in Weitian Prefecture specializing in internal traumas, so I went to seek a cure. To my surprise, the medicine worked wonders. Truly, a great prefectural city is different, it is full of talented individuals.”
Hua Jian pondered this for a moment but did not press the matter further. “I hadn’t heard of such a doctor, but no matter. Come, let our first toast be to celebrate Magistrate Song’s full recovery.”
As he spoke, he raised his cup and looked toward Jiang Fanyin. “Commander Jiang and I are as close as brothers. Miss Jiang, please feel free to use tea in place of wine; there is no need for formality.”