Chapter 40: The Beauty of Adulthood

  Yang Shuang nodded and said, "Of course I know him. The reason I knew General Vache was also because the newspapers at that time had his large portrait. He is a straightforward and upright military man, brave and decisive, commanding properly, and he is a military man worthy of our respect."

  "Exactly, General Vache is too straightforward and honest, that's why he encountered difficulties this time and implicated the entire 19th Division. If he were a bit more tactful, none of this would have happened."

  Yang Shuangfeng slightly inhaled a breath of cold air and said with concentration: "What do you mean by that?"

  He took a deep breath and said harshly: "Since the 19th Division arrived at the Yasen Corridor, under the command of Tang Hu's Mansion, General Vache has been outspoken in pointing out many of Tang Hu's bad habits, even scolding him to his face. With the enemy in front of us, Tang Hu is still infatuated with singing and dancing, lingering on women's bellies every day, and various documents and military orders are even childishly let the women around him fill in at will. These things are shocking to hear, but they are all true. Tang Hu is in Yasen Corridor, but his heart is always in Niluo Divine Capital, his eyes fixed tightly on the imperial court, his concern for the throne is a thousand times more important than Yasen Corridor."

  Yang Shuangfeng let out a tired sigh.

  He picked up the teapot beside him, took a big gulp, and continued: "It's fine if Tang Que is not focused on his work, but he has to give orders to the troops and come up with all sorts of unrealistic plans that make them run around like headless flies. To show off his power, he often asks the troops to do impossible tasks and then finds excuses to replace officers. General Wache had a few confrontations with Tang Que before, so he's been on his blacklist. This time, sending reinforcements to Beining Prefecture is just an excuse for Tang Que to get rid of General Wache. The rebels have been besieging Beining Prefecture for 31 days, but Tang Que waited for 27 days before ordering General Wache to lead the troops to reinforce it, demanding that he arrive within two days or face military law. It's impossible to cover 760 miles in two days, not even for a cavalry unit."

  Yang Shuangfen couldn't help but be shocked and said blankly: "Really?"

  Ge Shu said indignantly: "This matter has a written order issued by Tang Hu's own hand as proof."

  Yang Shuangfeng said in surprise: "Did Lieutenant General Vache say nothing?"

  "Kesu Han said angrily: "What can Wache Shao say? As a military man, obeying orders is his duty, and he also knows it in his heart. Tang Hu had long wanted to eliminate dissidents, and unfortunately, he was among those to be eliminated. This order would have come sooner or later."

  Yang Xuanfen pondered for a moment, and said with half-belief and half-doubt: "Since the Tang Huo Temple has issued a written order, shouldn't the military court consider the feasibility of the order?"

  "Good, the military tribunal took into account the feasibility of orders, but that was only for General Vache personally, so he was taken to Niluo Temple for trial. However, for the people under his 19th Division, the military tribunal gave the right to dispose of them entirely to Duke Tang Hu. Naturally, Duke Tang Hu would not waste the power in his hands, and you saw many artillery officers without their right arms."

  Yang Shuang felt a lump in his chest, as if he had been pressed down by a huge boulder. He wanted to say something, but couldn't get the words out. Only Ge Shu Han's eyes were red and puffy, as if tears were about to fall, but he was forcing himself to hold them back.

  Yang Jirui let out a faint sigh and said lightly, "This kind of thing has already happened before, it's just history repeating itself. Geshu Xuewei, what brings you here?"

  His eyes turned red again, and a tear finally fell from his face. But he didn't wipe it away, only saying solemnly: "We just received news that General Wache has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the military court, stripped of political rights for life. I, Geshu Han, am powerless and can't do anything to help him. However, the artillery officers under his command are extremely indignant and want to drown their sorrows in drink. I heard that the Good Fortune Inn is the largest and most luxurious inn in Baoying Prefecture, so I'm willing to spare no expense to invite them for a good drink, as if it's my way of sending them off on their final journey."

  Yang Shuangfen nodded heavily and said bitterly: "This is what should be done, they were all once brave warriors of the empire."

  "However, I heard from the shopkeeper that Hao Yun Lai Ke Zhan has been booked by you, so I came to find you. I hope you can give us a convenience and let them satisfy their desire for drinking before entering the slave market."

  Yang Shuang said without hesitation: "No problem at all. If I don't agree, I'll be struck by thunder."

  Geso's eyes seemed to be turning something over, and he said with a sob: "General Yang, you are different from the people I imagined. I was indeed wrong to blame you before, and I hope you won't take it to heart."

  Yang Su's deep gaze fell on his eyes, and he slowly patted his shoulder, saying heavily: "Geshu Xiaowei, if you can think a little more, I will be very happy. I frankly tell you that this time when I returned to Menes, the disappointment of survival was very small, perhaps my next fate is even more tragic than that of Wache Shaojiang..." Feeling an uncontrollable surge of emotions rushing up his heart, he himself was also choked with sobs, and heavily patted Geshu Han's shoulder, then strode out of the hall.

  Behind him, Geshu Han stood still. He suddenly wiped away his tears with his sleeve and walked out in big strides.

  Yang Shuangfeng walked through the corridor and stood alone in the courtyard behind the house, lost in thought.

  In the late autumn courtyard, the leaves have withered and fallen, and no green can be seen. Only the duckweed in the pond is still emerald green. From time to time, fish swim by, leaving ripples on the water, but upon closer inspection, nothing can be seen again. The wind blows, bringing a hint of coolness, and the air is filled with dry breath. He wants to raise his hands to the sky and shout loudly to vent his inner melancholy, but all this is just a thought, and he will never be able to point at the scenery or stir up words. All he can do is stand quietly, watching the water flow silently.

  "General Yang, how did you end up here?" Suddenly, he heard a soft and clear voice of a girl. Turning his head, it was Natali, who had already put on her makeup and dressed as a woman. She held a bouquet of golden ju flowers in her hand. Under the morning sunlight and the bright ju flowers, this Gypsy girl looked exceptionally beautiful. It turned out that she hadn't gone to sleep, but instead wandered aimlessly in the courtyard. The morning sunlight fell on her golden hair, making her entire body seem almost ethereal. Previously, she had seemed beautiful and quiet, with a hint of shyness; now, she was lively with a subtle wildness.

  "My mood is not good, I'll just calm down here." Yang Suofeng said honestly and quietly, silently sighing, hearing the chaotic and heavy footsteps outside, it seemed like many people had walked in, but no one spoke, presumably those unfortunate artillery officers. Thinking of their misfortune, Yang Suofeng's heart felt heavy.

  "General Yang, don't take my divination results to heart, they're not reliable, nothing will happen to you." Natalie said cautiously. She always liked to walk on tiptoes, as if afraid of stepping on something.

  "I am indeed a lost soul." Yang Suofeng said with a bitter smile.

  "You're not." Natalie suddenly became very anxious, her eyes as if they were about to squeeze out tears.

  Yang Shuang smiled and didn't continue the discussion, but instead looked at her with great interest as she tiptoed, curiously saying: "Why do you always walk on your toes? Is this a custom of your Gypsy people? Hmm, I'll try it too, see if it feels good." As he spoke, he also tiptoed and walked a few steps, but soon felt pain in the soles of his feet and couldn't bear it anymore. He had to hang his head in shame and walk normally again.

  Natalie giggled mischievously, like a blooming flower in spring, radiant and lovely. She chuckled and said: "Not at all! We don't have such customs! I'm just afraid of stepping on little ants or bugs, so I tiptoed. Besides, when I stand on my toes, I feel taller."

  Yang Shuangfen couldn't help but smile, roughly measuring her height with her hand, and said softly: "You're almost as tall as me now, do you still feel like it's not enough?"

  "Natalie's blue eyes twinkled mischievously, 'General Yang, if I speak too bluntly, don't blame me. Actually, it's not that I'm too tall, but you're too short. Look at Miss Su, she's even a little taller than you.'"

  Yang Shuang's face did flush slightly, if he had to say what aspect of himself he was inferior about, it would undoubtedly be his appearance. However, seeing Natalie's apologetic expression, it was clear that she wasn't intentionally trying to provoke him, so he relaxed again and said lightly: "Our bodies are given by our parents, we're born with a certain look and that's just how it is, I don't want to deliberately change it either. Besides, I couldn't even if I wanted to!"

  Natalie suddenly smiled mysteriously, revealing two cute dimples, and whispered to Yang Shuofeng's ear: "General Yang, actually you like Miss Su in your heart, right?"

  Yang Shuangfeng jumped up with conditioned reflex and said repeatedly: "No, no."

  Natalie snorted and laughed again, her eyes twinkling as she said mysteriously: "Don't be shy! You're a big man, what's there to be shy about? If you like someone, just say it, if not, then Miss Su won't bother with you either."

  Yang Shuang shook his head gently and said slowly, "No, Natalie, you misunderstood. You might think I have a special feeling for Su Yun, but actually, I don't mean anything else. To be honest, there's nothing much to it. She just looks like someone, very much like a woman from my past. That woman showed me great kindness and gave me too much love, also too much hate. In the end, under her guidance and help, I walked onto a path of no return. Now that I think about it, I don't know whether I should love her or hate her, maybe it's a mix of both."

  Natalie listened quietly to his deep description, and it seemed that something was surging in her eyes. She said softly: "I didn't know... So you had a woman before..."

  Yang Shuangfen sighed with a bitter smile and shook her head, saying: "It's all in the past, alas... that was when I had just graduated..."

  "Natalie sparkled with beautiful big eyes and said: 'Which school are you studying at? The Imperial Army Academy?'"

  Yang Shuangfen felt that if she continued to speak, she would get tongue-tied again, so she shook her head and changed the subject, saying incoherently: "Biography... you write biography... is it you who writes biography... how many years have you been writing biographies?"

  Natalie skipped over, sat on the railing by the pool, comfortably kicking her own feet, counting with her fingers and tilting her head said: "It's been four years."

  Yang Shuang said with feigned surprise: "Ah, you've been writing biographies for four years? I really can't tell. How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen?"

  Natalie swung her toes, letting them fully absorb the warmth of the sun, and said casually: "Hey, General Yang, don't you think it's very impolite to directly ask a girl's age like that?"

  Yang Shuangfen smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of her head, saying: "You're not an old woman, no need to be so particular about it."

  Natalie smiled brightly, revealing her pearly white teeth, and fiddled with her slender fingers, saying nonchalantly: "So what if I do mind? It's not strange that I've been writing biographies for four years. My grandfather started following Yue Shen Zhou around to write his biography when he was twelve."

  Yang Shuangfeng was startled and exclaimed: "Ah, your grandfather also wrote a biography for Yue Shen Zhou? How come I've never heard of it?"

  Natalie stared at him with round eyes in surprise and said, "What are you making such a fuss about? My grandfather's biography was not even finished when he went missing. Since the year 1708 of Tianyuan, we have had no news of Grandfather."

  At this time, a low voice came from the outer hall, those stranded artillery officers were singing loudly, their voices were low but generous.