After the Foolish Beauty Wore Women's Clothes and Married the Brutal General - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Why Did He Have to Fall for Their Princess?

Having been scolded out of nowhere, Nan Jianxue’s eyebrows immediately shot up: “Who are you talking about?”

“You,” Liang Qifeng said. “Go look in a mirror.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Nan Jianxue hit him.

Only after the strike did Nan Jianxue speak: “Don’t worry, once the poison is cleared, I’ll help you ask if there are any other relatives. I’ll definitely find your person for you.”

Liang Qifeng was truly about to be laughed into a rage by this little idiot: “I met that person in the palace. How could a member of the Jiang family possibly appear there?”

“Maybe they were summoned to the palace by Imperial Father?” After saying it, Nan Jianxue felt this explanation wasn’t very reliable. After thinking for a moment, he changed his tune, “Maybe someone from the family married into a noble household or the royal family, and they followed them into the palace to pay respects, and you just happened to run into them.”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

“But if that’s the case, it means your beloved is already married,” Nan Jianxue added. “Better not to have that.”

Liang Qifeng lost his temper entirely. He said, “She is absolutely not your relative.”

Nan Jianxue: ?

Liang Qifeng didn’t explain further, only repeating once more: “Go look in the mirror. I’m going to the palace.”

With that, he left in a great hurry.

It was the first time Nan Jianxue had seen him so rushed. After some thought, he obediently went to the mirror to look, carefully recalling his uncle’s face.

A terrifying thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Could Liang Qifeng… be in love with his uncle?!

When Qingqian returned, she saw Nan Jianxue sitting before the mirror with a strange expression. She asked, “Princess, what’s wrong?”

Nan Jianxue looked at Qingqian with a heavy frown and a somber tone: “I suspect Liang Qifeng wants to be my aunt!”

Qingqian: ?

She had only stepped out for a moment; how had the world turned upside down upon her return?

She asked Nan Jianxue in confusion: “Did you read another one of those strange stories?”

Nan Jianxue: ?

“What are you saying?” Nan Jianxue frowned at her, then hesitated. “Go fetch the portrait I painted for Liang Qifeng earlier.”

Qingqian acknowledged the order, brought the painting, and spread it out before Nan Jianxue.

Nan Jianxue pointed at the person in the drawing and said, “Don’t you think this looks a lot like someone?”

Qingqian took another look. Thinking of the person she saw in the hall just now, the Princess’s male cousin did seem to resemble the person in the drawing.

She said hesitantly, “There is some resemblance.”

“Right?” Nan Jianxue said. “This might be my uncle.”

Qingqian: ?

She was struck speechless by Nan Jianxue’s words. It took a while for her to recover before she hurriedly said, “How is that possible! The ages don’t match up at all.”

“That was years ago. Maybe back then, Uncle looked more… delicate,” Nan Jianxue said. “Could Liang Qifeng have seen wrongly?”

Qingqian shook her head: “It would be more reasonable to say it was your cousin.”

“He said it wasn’t.” Nan Jianxue repeated his conversation with Liang Qifeng, finally analyzing with a frown, “Looking at it this way, isn’t it very likely? Otherwise, he’s never met the other members of the Jiang family, so why would he be so certain it’s not them?”

Qingqian was silent for a moment. “But the General told you to look in the mirror.”

“I heard him,” Nan Jianxue grumbled. “He actually scolded me!”

Qingqian: “…”

She pointed at the portrait on the table and said, “This person looks like your uncle and your cousin, but the person they look most like is you!”

Nan Jianxue was dazed.

“I thought it looked familiar before, but I couldn’t put my finger on it,” Qingqian said. “Thinking about it now, isn’t the person in this drawing the Princess?”

She had simply never seen Nan Jianxue in men’s clothing before, so while it looked familiar at the time, she couldn’t connect the drawing to the person. But seeing the Jiang family today, she understood instantly.

“Didn’t the General say it? He told you to look in the mirror,” Qingqian said. “The one in the mirror is yourself!”

Nan Jianxue frowned. “But I’m a woman.”

Qingqian: “…”

She looked at Nan Jianxue with a complex expression: “The General also said his beloved might be a woman disguised as a man.”

“But I’m not!” Nan Jianxue said. “He even said himself he wasn’t sure.”

Qingqian shook her head, suddenly feeling that the General was truly pitiable. Why did he have to fall for their Princess?

She asked, “Has the Princess ever worn men’s clothing before…?”

“No!” Before Qingqian could finish, Nan Jianxue denied it immediately.

Qingqian understood at once: “It seems you have.”

“Just once, and not for long,” Nan Jianxue frowned, explaining, “And I don’t remember meeting him!”

Qingqian felt even more sympathy for Liang Qifeng. He had yearned for her for so long, finally found her, and made it clear only for her Princess not to remember.

“Why don’t you try a little harder to think?” Qingqian tried to prompt him. “This is such an important matter.”

After she spoke, Nan Jianxue crossed his arms and went back into deep thought. But seeing his expression, Qingqian knew he truly had no impression. She could only ask: “How much do you remember about what happened back then?”

“Not much,” Nan Jianxue said honestly. “That time, Imperial Mother had new clothes made for us. But Royal Brother didn’t like the color of his set; he said it wasn’t dignified enough. Imperial Mother tried to persuade him for a long time, but he refused to wear it, so she had to give up regretfully.”

Qingqian thought back as well and nodded, “I seem to recall such a thing.”

“Later, Imperial Mother gave those clothes to me, saying it was a color I liked,” Nan Jianxue said. “Those clothes were made for Royal Brother, so naturally, the fabric and craftsmanship were top-tier. I did like them, and I was… a bit curious.”

He was young then; when he saw something he liked, he couldn’t move. Plus, having been a girl for so long, he was a bit curious about what it felt like to be a boy.

“So I secretly changed into those clothes and went out,” Nan Jianxue said. “Afraid of being caught, I didn’t dare wear them for long. I went out to play for a bit and then went back.”

“Did you go to the Imperial Garden?” Qingqian asked.

“I did,” Nan Jianxue said. “I had to go feed A-Mo every day.”

Qingqian didn’t ask further, only looking at him with a “See?” kind of gaze.

Nan Jianxue found the look baffling: “If I really had been discovered, I would have been in a state of constant fear. How could I possibly forget?”

Qingqian was almost convinced. But on second thought, her Princess had always been big-hearted; some things… were truly hard to say.

“And he said his beloved scolded him back then,” Nan Jianxue remembered. “I was sneaking out; I definitely wouldn’t have been that arrogant.”

Qingqian stopped talking, silently shedding a tear of sympathy for Liang Qifeng in her heart.

How should she put it? The more she heard, the more it sounded like him. But seeing her Princess’s confident and proud look… she had truly done her best.

Meanwhile, Liang Qifeng had entered the Zichen Palace.

Seeing him, Nan Zhanyuan frowned: “You aren’t at the mansion accompanying Anle. What are you doing here?”

Liang Qifeng’s face was dark as he said, “I’m here because of her. I have something to ask you.”

Nan Zhanyuan dismissed the attendants. Only when the two of them were alone did his tense face crack into a slight smile: “Did you get the antidote?”

Liang Qifeng shook his head and asked directly: “Did you know all along that Nan Jianxue was my beloved?”

Nan Zhanyuan was stunned for a moment.

Liang Qifeng frowned and took two steps closer: “Have you found it funny these past few years, watching me search for a man?”

Nan Zhanyuan raised an eyebrow.

“Control yourself,” Nan Zhanyuan smiled. “It’s a bit scary.”

Only then did Liang Qifeng close his eyes to suppress his emotions. He said, “You’d better give me a reasonable explanation.”

He didn’t truly blame Nan Zhanyuan, but having been fooled for so many years, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t angry. They had been brothers for so many years; was there anything Nan Zhanyuan couldn’t tell him?

“I didn’t know right away either,” Nan Zhanyuan laughed. “After the artist finished the portrait, I did see a resemblance to Anle. But I didn’t think it was her at the time; instead, I went to investigate the maternal family of Consort Jing.”

Liang Qifeng nodded. “I saw them today.”

Nan Zhanyuan frowned: “Who did you see?”

“The Jiang family.” Liang Qifeng gave Nan Zhanyuan a general account of the Jiang family’s visit.

After hearing it, Nan Zhanyuan’s expression turned somewhat strange: “How could they… why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Liang Qifeng looked at him with an “Are you serious?” expression: “I can handle it.”

Nan Zhanyuan had no choice but to continue explaining: “There are indeed a few members of the Jiang family who resemble the portrait, but none of them had ever entered the palace. I only thought it was a coincidence at the time. It wasn’t until later… an accident… that I began to suspect A-Xue.”

“When was this?” Liang Qifeng asked.

“I forgot,” Nan Zhanyuan said.

Liang Qifeng looked at him, knowing he hadn’t forgotten, but simply didn’t want to say. He didn’t pursue it, only asking: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because of Anle.” Nan Zhanyuan paused. “If you had known it was her back then, what would you have done?”

Liang Qifeng said without hesitation: “Become engaged to her.”

“But Imperial Father was still alive then.” Nan Zhanyuan’s gaze fell on him. “As you know, A-Xue did not like Imperial Father.”

Liang Qifeng nodded. Nan Jianxue had told him this.

“At that time, she hadn’t yet reached the age of hair-pinning (fifteen), but many princes and high officials were already seeking her hand in marriage,” Nan Zhanyuan explained. “Anping and Anyang were born of the Empress, so their marriages were naturally handled with extreme caution. But Anle was different; she wasn’t born of the Empress, yet was raised by her. If someone married her… Imperial Father also had many ideas.”

“Then being engaged to me would have been the most appropriate,” Liang Qifeng said. “I was already part of the Crown Prince’s camp. Once engaged, no one else would have dared seek her hand.”

Nan Zhanyuan let out a soft sigh: “But A-Xue was unwilling. At that time, Imperial Father had mentioned engagement to her many times. A-Xue was extremely resistant; she would cry as soon as it was mentioned, telling Imperial Mother she didn’t want to marry a man she didn’t love. Imperial Mother felt for her and blocked it many times.

In that situation, was I supposed to tell her, ‘I have a friend who has always loved you; even though you don’t know him and don’t like him, you two can get engaged and try to get along’? Besides, you didn’t exactly have a steady temperament back then. If you had rashly gone to Imperial Father to ask for her hand, I’m afraid A-Xue would have hated you.”

Liang Qifeng was silent for a moment. “And yet you still betrothed her to me.”

“Because she has grown up, and you are no longer as impulsive as you were back then,” Nan Zhanyuan smiled. “If you still had the same temperament as back then, I’m afraid you would have already confronted her and scared her. She might even have come looking for me with a knife.”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

He thought about his temperament at that time and suddenly felt Nan Zhanyuan was right. Back then, he was full of passion regarding his beloved; he would act immediately at the slightest hint of news. He didn’t consider things thoroughly and was even a bit reckless. If he had known the situation, there was no telling what he might have done.

Thinking of this, he felt another headache coming on. “Has she… has she ever told you what kind of person she likes?”

“No,” Nan Zhanyuan said. “Though I am her brother, I am still a man. Why would she tell me that? If you want to know, you’d be better off visiting Anping or asking her close friends.”

Liang Qifeng nodded, thought for a moment, then looked at Nan Zhanyuan: “Did you have a selfish motive for betrothing her to me?”

Nan Zhanyuan didn’t answer directly, only saying, “We’ve known each other for many years; do you still ask me such a question?”

Liang Qifeng bowed to him and left.

Only then did Fulu, who was waiting outside, enter and change the tea by Nan Zhanyuan’s hand. Nan Zhanyuan took a sip and sighed softly.

Seeing this, Fulu asked, “Your Majesty, are the General and the Princess at odds?”

“No,” Nan Zhanyuan smiled. “Although Qifeng’s temper isn’t great, he wouldn’t hold a grudge against a young girl like Anle.”

Fulu smiled at that. “But the General’s tongue isn’t very articulate. Even Your Majesty is sometimes angered by him, let alone the Princess.”

“Anle may be delicate, but she isn’t easily pushed around. If Qifeng truly angers her, she’ll likely make sure he doesn’t have a peaceful day,” Nan Zhanyuan said, shaking his head. “I’m just reflecting—one really shouldn’t lie. One lie requires a thousand more to cover it up.”

Fulu didn’t know the inside details, but he knew he was talking about Liang Qifeng. He hesitated and said, “Your Majesty once said that you and General Liang have known each other for many years and understand each other’s tempers perfectly. Lying is useless.”

“That’s provided Anle doesn’t get involved,” Nan Zhanyuan said. “When he goes back and thinks carefully, he’ll realize the words I just said were nothing but lies.”

Fulu lowered his head and didn’t respond.

Nan Zhanyuan tapped his fingers on the table and smiled: “But Anle won’t give him that time. Even if she did, he wouldn’t come to ask. He must know Anle’s thoughts, and my schemes regarding her.”

Fulu was startled and said hurriedly, “Your Majesty has always loved the Princess. How could you scheme against her?”

Nan Zhanyuan glanced at him and smiled. He didn’t mention it again, instead asking, “Is that Green Waist Zither still here?”

“It is,” Fulu said.

“Send it to Anle,” Nan Zhanyuan said. “She can’t come to the Mid-Autumn banquet this time; she’s likely bored to death.”

Fulu’s face fell upon hearing this: “But… Princess Anping also has her eye on that zither. Two days ago she said a newcomer had joined her courtyard who plays beautifully and wanted to take it back for them to play a piece.”

“Then tell her it’s been given to Anle,” Nan Zhanyuan said. “Pick another one to send her. She doesn’t even like such things; she’s just putting on an air of culture for a man.”

Fulu acknowledged the order and went personally with his men.

When Nan Jianxue received the zither, he was still confused: “Why is Royal Brother suddenly sending me this?”

“I don’t know. Eunuch Shunxi delivered it, and he never says much,” Qingqian replied. “Anyway, it’s for the Princess. Does the Princess not like it?”

“I like it.” Nan Jianxue smiled and plucked the strings twice. Satisfied with the tone, he casually played a piece. It was light and cheerful, like the sound of a bird hopping and chirping on a tree branch.

Liang Qifeng returned just in time to hear the tail end of it and quickened his pace. By the time he reached the courtyard, Nan Jianxue had just finished. Qingqian clapped enthusiastically: “The Princess is playing better and better!”

Nan Jianxue was happy and said, “Then I’ll play another. Do you want… Liang Qifeng? You’re back.”

Seeing him, Nan Jianxue greeted him and looked at his hand: “What’s this?”

Liang Qifeng didn’t answer. He placed the item on the table and said, “For you.”

It was a box with the mark of Jinyin Xuan, a famous jewelry shop in the capital. She opened it and saw a set of head ornaments inside. But because Liang Qifeng had carried it carelessly, the items were a bit messy.

“Why give me this?” Nan Jianxue was puzzled.

Liang Qifeng also felt the gift was a bit abrupt. He coughed and said, “I was just passing by and heard that this set is very popular in the capital, so I thought… I’d buy it for you.”

“It is very popular.” Nan Jianxue still didn’t understand, but she accepted it nonetheless. “Thanks.”

Listening to her tone, Liang Qifeng felt she wasn’t particularly happy. He asked, “You don’t like it?”

“It’s… alright,” Nan Jianxue hesitated with a frown. “What’s wrong with you suddenly? You’ve been acting strange since you came back from the palace. Did you have a fight with Royal Brother and want me to be a peacemaker?”

Liang Qifeng: “…No.”

Seeing Nan Jianxue’s thoughts drifting further and further off course, Qingqian couldn’t stand it anymore. She explained hurriedly, “The General just wants to make the Princess happy.”

Liang Qifeng’s face stiffened, but he nodded.

“That sounds even scarier,” Nan Jianxue said. “You aren’t trying to use this to blackmail me into doing something, are you?”

“I’m not.” Liang Qifeng was almost angered into laughter by her brain. “I just saw it, wanted to buy it for you, and wanted you to be happy. Do you understand?”

Nan Jianxue gave an “Oh” as if he half-understood, and thanked him again.

Liang Qifeng frowned: “You don’t like it.”

“I like it,” Nan Jianxue said. “This set of ornaments is indeed very beautiful.”

Her tone was a bit happier than before, but he truly couldn’t feel much genuine liking.

“The Princess already has this set,” Qingqian explained helplessly. “Any new items from the shops in the capital are usually sent to the mansion. The reason this set became popular… is because the Princess wore it last month.”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

Realizing he had been foolish, Liang Qifeng shook his head with a laugh. He sat down opposite Nan Jianxue, his gaze scanning her face, carefully comparing it with the face in his memory.

Compared to back then, Nan Jianxue had grown more refined. Her features were tighter, and the baby fat on her cheeks had receded. Though still a bit fleshy, it couldn’t hide her excellent bone structure. The bridge of her nose was higher, and her eyes weren’t as large or round as before. She didn’t look as “cute” as she had then, but she had gained a bit more feminine charm.

Previously, he had always assumed his beloved was a man, so he hadn’t thought much of it. Now looking at Nan Jianxue, he suddenly suspected he was blind not to have seen the resemblance between the two faces.

Nan Jianxue was unnerved by the gaze. He frowned and said, “What? Thinking of someone else while looking at me?”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

“Did you not look in the mirror when I told you to?” Liang Qifeng asked.

“I did,” Nan Jianxue said. “Qingqian said the one you love is me! Isn’t that funny? If it were really me, how could I not know!”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

He suddenly thought of Ji Zheyan. Back then, he thought Ji Zheyan was hilarious for loving someone for so long without them knowing, even trying to set him up with others. Now, not even that long after, the boomerang had hit him in the head.

“Why is it impossible?” Liang Qifeng said. “You… haven’t you worn men’s clothing before?”

“I have, but I really don’t remember seeing you,” Nan Jianxue said. “I only played with A-Mo for a bit and didn’t run into anyone.”

Liang Qifeng: “…Did you not run into anyone, or do you not remember?”

Nan Jianxue: “…I really don’t remember such a thing happening.”

Liang Qifeng suddenly felt a sense of despair as if there were no witnesses. This person…

But thinking of Nan Jianxue’s personality, he felt it wasn’t impossible. Although they hadn’t spent much time together, he could see that Nan Jianxue was spoiled by the Empress Dowager and his siblings into being big-hearted and muddle-headed. He simply wouldn’t keep unimportant matters in his heart.

To the Nan Jianxue of that time, he truly wasn’t someone worth remembering. He couldn’t even compare to that cat. So Nan Jianxue remembered sneaking out to play, remembered feeding the cat, but simply didn’t remember him.

Liang Qifeng couldn’t quite say what he was feeling, but it was definitely uncomfortable. Nan Jianxue actually didn’t remember him. How could Nan Jianxue not remember him?

“Think now!” Liang Qifeng said. “You have to remember, no matter what!”

Nan Jianxue: ?

“I’ve never seen anyone as unreasonable as you,” Nan Jianxue was shocked by him. “Think about what? Something that didn’t happen!”

Liang Qifeng was so angry his teeth ached. He even thought back to whether they had run into anyone else that day, or if someone was with him or Nan Jianxue. But there was no one. The only witnesses were the plants in the Imperial Garden and that cat. To make matters worse, after all these years, that cat was likely long gone!

Nan Jianxue saw the look on his face and shook his head in his heart. After a thought, he offered his analysis: “Look, is it possible that the one you saw was actually my uncle?”

Liang Qifeng: ?

Liang Qifeng was truly about to die of anger.

“Absolutely impossible.” Liang Qifeng stared at her, enunciating every word, “Nan Jianxue, I am not a fool.”

“That’s hard to say,” Nan Jianxue said. “You’ve loved her for so many years and yet you couldn’t even get the person’s gender right.”

Liang Qifeng: “…”

At the mention of this, Liang Qifeng’s expression grew even worse. Thinking of the time he spent searching for her, and the way he had confidently told Nan Jianxue that he liked men, he was already starting to regret not punching Nan Zhanyuan earlier. If he had told him sooner, he wouldn’t have made such a huge blunder!

Nan Jianxue saw that his fists were clenched and hurriedly backed away a bit, fearing Liang Qifeng might go crazy with rage and hit someone.

“How about I play a piece for you?” Nan Jianxue suggested. “Listening to music will put you in a better mood. What do you want to hear?”

Liang Qifeng didn’t answer, but his gaze was reproachful, staring at Nan Jianxue until he felt uneasy.

“Then I’ll just play whatever.” Nan Jianxue moved the zither a bit closer to himself. After a thought, his fingers plucked the strings.

The music was solemn and clear. It sounded a bit familiar. Liang Qifeng followed the music and thought back carefully, finally remembering where he had heard it.

This was the damn Puan Incantation.

Back when he accompanied his grandmother up the mountain to worship, a master at the temple said his temperament was as fierce as fire and told him he needed to be calm and peaceful, then played this for him. At the time, he was burdened with many affairs, and his heart truly felt much more comfortable after hearing it.

But hearing it now, he only wanted to crack open the head of the person playing to see what was inside.

But Nan Jianxue didn’t understand him. After finishing the piece, he looked at Liang Qifeng with full confidence: “How was it? After hearing that, don’t you feel Aya!”

Before he could finish his sentence, he felt the world spin. When his vision settled, he had been moved onto Liang Qifeng’s lap.

“Nan Jianxue.” Liang Qifeng’s voice was by his ear, low and a bit muffled, as if spoken through grit teeth. “You’d better remember soon. I’m only giving you a little time.”

Nan Jianxue wanted to say something, but felt the back of his neck being pinched. It wasn’t light, but it wasn’t painful. It wasn’t heavy, but its presence was very strong. It gave a warning pinch, much like the way he handled a cat.

Nan Jianxue’s mind went blank for a moment. But soon, he stood up from Liang Qifeng’s embrace and glared at him in anger. He wanted to scold him, but his mind couldn’t come up with any words for a while. After holding it in for several breaths, he finally spat out three words: “You scoundrel!”

Liang Qifeng, however, smiled at that.

He said, “Indeed.”