After the Foolish Beauty Wore Women's Clothes and Married the Brutal General - Chapter 15.2

Chapter 15.2

However, upon hearing this, Nan Jianxue’s brow furrowed: “What’s so good about that? I can see them from the mansion.”

Liang Qifeng smiled: “The stars you see here are different from the ones you see on the mountain.” He added when he saw Nan Jianxue remained unmoved, “I’ll also take you to a secret base.”

Nan Jianxue’s head moved slightly. Liang Qifeng continued: “It’s a place A-Yuan and I found while hunting on the mountain before.”

Nan Jianxue finally came out of the quilt, reached out to take a piece of fruit, put it in her mouth, and said indistinctly: “Then let’s go.”

Seeing her come out, Qingqian smiled and hurriedly said: “Then I’ll go get clothes for the Princess. It’s cool at night and the wind on the mountain is strong; don’t catch a cold.” She then looked at Liang Qifeng, “The Princess needs to take her medicine every four hours; General, please remember to bring the Princess back in time.”

Still feeling uneasy, she went to get the medicine, poured some into a small bottle, and handed it to Liang Qifeng: “The Imperial Physician said this will make the Princess feel better, but she still needs the medicine to suppress the poison.”

Liang Qifeng found her nervous state amusing: “If you’re so worried, why let her go out?”

Qingqian pouted: “You don’t understand. If we don’t let the Princess go, she’ll probably throw an even bigger tantrum.”

Liang Qifeng looked at the person eating fruit on the bed and commented: “She’s just been spoiled.”

Nan Jianxue glared at him: “Mother, Imperial Brother, and Imperial Sister are happy to spoil me. What’s it to you?”

Liang Qifeng laughed, had Qingqian change her clothes, and carefully wrapped her in a cloak before leading her out. Seeing him heading for the carriage, Nan Jianxue was a bit surprised: “A carriage won’t be easy to take up the mountain, right?”

“It’s Lingze Mountain,” Liang Qifeng explained. Lingze Mountain was the royal hunting ground; every autumn, the Emperor would take people hunting, so naturally, there were roads.

But Liang Qifeng didn’t go there directly. Instead, he returned to the General’s Mansion. This was Nan Jianxue’s second time here. Perhaps because the owner wasn’t there, the residence felt oddly quiet.

“Wait in the carriage.” After instructing the guards to watch over Nan Jianxue, Liang Qifeng entered the mansion.

Nan Jianxue wondered what he wanted to do. After a while, he saw him leading a horse out from the other side. The horse was entirely black, well-fed and strong, and very tall—it looked like it wasn’t to be trifled with, but it was very handsome.

Nan Jianxue was instantly captivated and couldn’t help but say “Wow.” He hurriedly got out of the carriage and trotted over, stopping a distance from Liang Qifeng to look curiously at the horse: “Is this yours?”

“Mm. His name is Xiao Hei (Little Black),” Liang Qifeng said.

Nan Jianxue: ? His brow furrowed as he commented: “You’re terrible at naming.”

Liang Qifeng raised an eyebrow: “Should I call him A-Mo then?”

“A-Mo is better than Xiao Hei.” Nan Jianxue paused and glanced at Xiao Hei. Seeing the horse looking at her with sharp eyes, she suddenly felt that the name A-Mo was perhaps a bit unsuitable. She thought for a bit: “At least give him a cooler name, like… Black Wind or something.”

After saying it, she remembered it overlapped with Liang Qifeng’s name and felt a bit guilty, but her voice remained defiant: “That way everyone knows he’s your horse.”

Liang Qifeng laughed, patted Xiao Hei’s head, and said: “From now on, your name is Hei Xue (Black Snow).”

Nan Jianxue: ? “You’re not allowed!” He wanted to go over and give Liang Qifeng two punches but was a bit afraid of Xiao Hei and didn’t dare. He could only say: “Come here!”

Liang Qifeng led Xiao Hei closer. Nan Jianxue was startled and hurriedly dodged to the side, whispering: “I told you to come over by yourself.”

“Don’t worry, Xiao Hei is very well-behaved,” Liang Qifeng said. “He’s much smarter than you.”

Hearing this, Nan Jianxue’s eyebrows shot up. He went over and gave Liang Qifeng a punch. Xiao Hei immediately moved his head closer. Nan Jianxue was startled and hurriedly hid behind Liang Qifeng: “What are you doing? Are you going to avenge him?”

Liang Qifeng reached out to stroke Xiao Hei and said: “He wants you to pet him. He likes girls very much.”

Nan Jianxue: ? Then your horse doesn’t seem very smart either. After hesitating, Nan Jianxue reached out and stroked Xiao Hei with complex emotions. Xiao Hei took the opportunity to sniff him. Not knowing what he smelled, the horse suddenly turned its head away and refused to be petted.

Nan Jianxue: ?! He looked at Liang Qifeng guiltily and said: “He doesn’t like girls all that much! You’re an unqualified owner!”

“Maybe it’s just that you’re not to his liking.” Liang Qifeng looked at Nan Jianxue. “Look at you do you look like a Princess at all?”

Nan Jianxue protested: “Do you know how many families have their daughters learn from me!”

Liang Qifeng actually believed that. Last time at the flower-viewing banquet, he saw that Nan Jianxue indeed carried herself very well in public well-educated, modest, and dignified. Although she was a bit cool and distant, it didn’t make people feel uncomfortable; instead, it felt as if she was meant to be that way.

Not to mention the Empress had hired famous teachers to teach her since childhood; it was understandable that she was a role model for the noble ladies of the capital. It was just that in front of him, she had no Princess-like manner at all, so he often forgot about it.

“Yes, yes, I’ve climbed high. Being able to marry you is the blessing of eight lifetimes.” Liang Qifeng spoke with a smile. “Can you get on the horse yourself?”

Hearing him dismiss him, Nan Jianxue hit him again and said: “Watch him!”

After speaking, he cautiously took two steps forward to Xiao Hei. Seeing the horse had no reaction, he nimbly flipped onto the horse.

“I can do something this small.” Nan Jianxue said proudly. “When I was in the palace, Mother even had a teacher teach my sister and me archery.”

Liang Qifeng looked at her hand. He had touched Nan Jianxue’s hands—fair and delicate, they didn’t look like they had practiced with bows and arrows at all.

Nan Jianxue also realized: “I just haven’t picked it up for a long time.”

Liang Qifeng gave her a deep look: “Even if you pick it up, you probably wouldn’t hit the target, right?”

Nan Jianxue was anxious: “Nonsense! I’ve hit it before!” After speaking, he fell silent, glared at Liang Qifeng, and turned his head away. He truly had no talent for martial arts. To enable them to protect themselves, the Empress had teachers teach them archery and horse riding, as well as martial arts.

Among the five, Nan Jianfei had the best skills, and the other three weren’t bad. Only Nan Jianxue’s martial arts remained at the most rudimentary level of fists and kicks, he could only draw light bows, and he always missed. Later, the Empress likely saw he really had no talent and didn’t expect him to achieve anything, treating it as just a way to strengthen his body.

“It’s not something to be ashamed of.” Liang Qifeng also flipped onto the horse and laughed softly. “You don’t need those things anyway.”

Nan Jianxue snorted: “Of course. Imperial Brother sent so many people to protect me; what am I afraid of?”

“I mean…” Liang Qifeng’s voice trailed off. He suddenly laughed softly, squeezed the horse’s flanks, and Xiao Hei began to trot. Nan Jianxue immediately reached out to hold the horse’s neck and said: “Don’t run too fast! What if I fall?”

“If we don’t run fast, why not take the carriage?” Liang Qifeng said, but didn’t increase the speed, letting Xiao Hei trot slowly.

Nan Jianxue only thought he was teasing him and said crossly: “You’re really boring.”

But after they left the city, Liang Qifeng suddenly said: “Lean against me.”

Nan Jianxue was startled. Before he could ask anything, Xiao Hei broke into a gallop. It ran extremely fast—so fast that Nan Jianxue felt the wind become a large hand, forcefully pressing him into Liang Qifeng’s chest. He could only obediently lean into Liang Qifeng’s arms and shout: “Slow down!!”

Liang Qifeng ignored him and headed for Lingze Mountain. In the past, Nan Jianxue would come here in a carriage following the palace procession, which took about two to four hours. But with Liang Qifeng galloping, they arrived in less than an hour. By the time Xiao Hei stopped, Nan Jianxue felt he was about to freeze into a stone statue. He touched his head to make sure his hair wasn’t messy, then turned to glare at Liang Qifeng: “Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?!”

“If we’re slow, you might miss your medicine.” Liang Qifeng got off Xiao Hei. “Can you get down yourself?”

“Nonsense!” Nan Jianxue said, flipping off the horse as well. Upon landing, his footing was unsteady and he swayed. Liang Qifeng hurriedly reached out to support him, wanting to say something, but Nan Jianxue had already pulled his hand back, not letting him even touch his sleeve. So he shut up and asked: “Have you been here before?”

Nan Jianxue looked around—it was all trees. There were many such places on the mountain and he couldn’t tell where they were, so he honestly shook his head: “I don’t know, but probably not. When Father was here, he didn’t like me running around. Imperial Brother agreed, but he feared the mountain was dangerous and always sent a team of guards to follow me, reminding me not to get close to this or that. It was annoying; after one trip, I didn’t want to go anymore.”

Liang Qifeng understood and took his hand to walk in a certain direction. Trees were everywhere and it was very dark. Nan Jianxue couldn’t tell the direction and couldn’t see clearly underfoot, so he walked very cautiously and slowly. After being held back twice, Liang Qifeng simply picked the person up.

Nan Jianxue was startled: “What are you doing?”

“You’re too slow.” Liang Qifeng carried him forward.

Nan Jianxue frowned: “You really don’t care about your sweetheart at all now.”

Liang Qifeng laughed, not knowing what he was laughing at, and only said: “Once is strange, twice is familiar.”

Nan Jianxue: ? That’s not how the saying is used. But if he said anything, Liang Qifeng might put him down it was more comfortable being carried. So he said nothing.

After walking a short distance, Liang Qifeng stopped. “There’s a cliff ahead; be careful not to fall.” He placed him on the ground and led him forward a few steps. The view, previously blocked by trees, instantly opened up.

A bright moon hung high, silver moonlight falling and scattering into a huge lake like a sparkling gem. They stood on the cliff by the lake. Above was the full moon, below was the beautiful lake, and the air was filled with moist greenery. Even the wind by their ears seemed to have changed.

Nan Jianxue’s eyes widened and he said “Wow”: “There’s a place like this here?”

“The mountain naturally has good scenery.” Liang Qifeng pointed at the horizon. “The stars.”

So Nan Jianxue looked over. The sky was more open and brilliant than what she saw from the mansion. Perhaps because they were standing high, she felt as if the stars were within reach. It was indeed different.

“I’ve seen them from high places before.” Nan Jianxue said. “Zhaoxing Tower in the capital is built very high. I’ve been up there a few times and thought it was very beautiful then.”

But that beauty and this beauty were different. Liang Qifeng smiled: “Which do you prefer?”

Nan Jianxue thought and said: “I like both.” Zhaoxing Tower showed not just the stars but also the prosperity of the capital; what she saw on the mountain was purer and more magnificent. He liked both regardless.

“The stars at the border are also different from here.” Liang Qifeng said. “You can go see them if you have the chance.”

Nan Jianxue looked up at him: “Do you like looking at the stars?”

“It’s alright.” Liang Qifeng smiled. “Perhaps… it’s a bit of romantic sentiment left over from before?”

Nan Jianxue laughed: “But Grandmother said you only liked dancing with swords and spears before.”

“So it’s only a little bit.” Liang Qifeng said. “I can’t recite poems, let alone write them. I can only say ‘Wow’ like you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense; I still know some.” Nan Jianxue recited a few poems. They were fitting, but perhaps because his tone was a bit rushed, they didn’t sound like they came from the heart, but rather like he was doing homework.

Liang Qifeng laughed lowly: “I know you know them.” Hearing him laugh, Nan Jianxue knew he was dismissing him and hit him. But Liang Qifeng kept laughing, so Nan Jianxue ignored him and turned back to look at the stars.

As he watched, his mouth didn’t stay still. He asked Liang Qifeng: “Will you bring your sweetheart here in the future?”

Liang Qifeng’s smile faded slightly as he said: “You care about him more than I do.”

Nan Jianxue gave him a strange look. Liang Qifeng said: “You mention him much more often than I do.”

“That’s because you almost never mention him.” Nan Jianxue said. “I see others with sweethearts; they’re always thinking of them, mentioning them when they speak, thinking of them when they act, and constantly planning how to be with them. No one is like you not speaking, acting, or thinking about them.”

Liang Qifeng smiled: “Then perhaps I don’t like him that much.”

Nan Jianxue was even more puzzled: “Then why do you stay chaste for him?”

“Because I haven’t met someone I like more?” Liang Qifeng thought about it, his gaze unconsciously landing on Nan Jianxue. “Perhaps he means more to me in significance than in affection.”

A glimpse in his youth, his first love, so he kept him in mind for many years. But to say it was deep love that wasn’t the case. It was only because he was the first and only person he had ever felt for. If he had found him back then, perhaps something really would have happened between them, leaving a deep mark on his life for better or worse.

But since he couldn’t find him, he just kept him in his memories like a painting hanging on the wall seen and remembered often, thought beautiful every time, yet leaving no persistence; it could be taken down at any time.

He didn’t mind if he married someone else, or even if they never met in this life. He just habitually placed him in that spot in his heart that should be filled with affection. For so many years, that was what he told others when asked. That’s why Liang Qifeng told Nan Jianxue it was an extremely superficial feeling.

A feeling that didn’t even border on love.

“So you still want to find someone you like more.” Nan Jianxue asked, “What kind of person do you want to find?”

Liang Qifeng didn’t answer but asked back: “What kind of person do you think I would like?”

Nan Jianxue furrowed his brow and thought for a moment. “In stories, people like you all like delicate women. Ideally of low birth, obedient to you, and who would gently call you ‘General husband’.”

Liang Qifeng’s eyelid twitched: “And conveniently I also have a willful and arrogant Princess wife who torments her daily, yet she endures it silently, only wishing for my happiness. I feel bad for her, so I propose to raise her to the status of an equal wife and advise you to be generous.”

Nan Jianxue was stunned: “How do you know?”

“I happened to see a few stories on your bookshelf.” Liang Qifeng said. “They were all stories of generals and princesses.”

Nan Jianxue’s expression stiffened: “Those were specifically found by Qingqian before the wedding; it’s not like I had any ideas.”

Liang Qifeng smiled: “Fortunately, you don’t seem like the type to torment people.” He paused and asked again, “If I were really as the stories said and insisted on marrying a woman as an equal wife, what would you do?”

Nan Jianxue snorted: “You wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Liang Qifeng said: “If.”

Nan Jianxue said: “If that’s the case, I’ll go to the black market to buy medicine and turn you into a eunuch.”

Liang Qifeng raised an eyebrow: “And then?”

“And then have Imperial Brother grant us a divorce.” Nan Jianxue said. “I am a Princess of the Great Lie; I won’t take that from you.”

Liang Qifeng laughed and said softly: “You should have killed me with a sword instead.”

Nan Jianxue was silent for a moment and said honestly: “I wouldn’t dare.”

Liang Qifeng laughed again and was then hit by Nan Jianxue.

After the hit, Nan Jianxue said: “Are you asking this because you have another sweetheart?”

Liang Qifeng didn’t answer but asked him: “Why do you think so?”

“Otherwise, why would you assume these things for no reason?” Nan Jianxue said. “Either you’re intentionally making me unhappy, or you’re testing my thoughts.”

Liang Qifeng fell silent. Nan Jianxue thought he didn’t want to say and didn’t force him, only saying: “If you really have someone you like, just tell me. There’s no need to play these boring tricks; we don’t need to end up like that.”

“We.” Liang Qifeng looked at him. “What are ‘we’ like?”

Nan Jianxue thought and said: “Like friends.”

Liang Qifeng’s lips curved slightly but quickly faded. He reached out to stroke Nan Jianxue’s hair and said softly: “I don’t know either. When I figure it out, I’ll tell you.”

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