Rebirth of a Star General (Legend of the Female General)

Chapter 18: First Encounter

Everyone said that the Flying Phoenix General and General Fengyun were like water and fire, constantly clashing and competing with each other. But He Yan always felt that it wasn’t that exaggerated.

At most, they were just two youths who joined the army and achieved great military merits. Both of them were also bestowed with noble titles at a young age, making people naturally compare them. The rest of the rumors were just hearsay, embellished and spread around, becoming distant from the truth and causing people to laugh and mock.

At least in the heart of fourteen-year-old He Yan, she had no hostility towards the young master of the Xiao family.

By that time, she had been disguising herself as a boy for many years, going by the name “He Rufei” effortlessly. The only problem was that at her age, boys should have been attending academies to study with their teachers.

Boys and girls were different. Girls could invite teachers to teach at their homes, but boys didn’t have that option. The He family had always invited teachers to teach at home, but as they grew older, it didn’t sound right when word got out. After all, the He family cared about their reputation.

So, they procrastinated and hesitated until finally, when He Yan was fourteen years old, they sent her to Xianchang Academy.

Xianchang Academy was the most famous academy in the capital, founded by the current emperor’s former Grand Tutor when he was still a crown prince. The academy covered the six arts, and its teachers were all prominent figures in the court. Those who came here to study were the most prestigious of the prestigious.

Although the He family had a noble title, they were still a step behind those families in Xianchang Academy. However, He Yuanliang unexpectedly had a stroke of luck when he encountered an altercation at a restaurant. He intervened and said a few words, and the person he helped turned out to be a teacher’s assistant from Xianchang Academy. He mentioned that the academy was currently recruiting new students for the spring, and he remembered that the He family seemed to have a legitimate son. Why not send him to Xianchang Academy to study?

He Yuanliang hesitated for a long time and discussed the matter with He Yuansheng. He Yuansheng had always pursued fame and fortune and thought it was a feasible plan. Sending He Yan to Xianchang Academy might allow her to make connections with many other distinguished children. Being on good terms with them would only benefit the He family and cause no harm. And if one day the real He Rufei returned, having the title of “Xianchang Academy Student” would be an additional advantage.

When He Yan heard about this, she was very happy.

She dressed like a man, but in the He family, she had to follow the rules of a woman. She cannot play cuju, cannot show her face openly, and even in practicing martial arts, she has to secretly learn without her family knowing. However, if she acts like a woman, she still feels inadequate as the other girls in the He family study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she, “He Rufei,” cannot join them.

It’s as if she cannot do anything.

But going to Xianchang Academy was different. She has heard that many talented and learned individuals gather there, and they are all very capable people. There are also many peers of her age. If she goes there, she can not only learn various skills but also make many friends.

This was a benefit that girls couldn’t enjoy. She suddenly felt fortunate that she had taken He Rufei’s identity.

He Yuanliang’s wife, her nominal mother but actual eldest aunt, handed her the carefully crafted mask, with a worried expression, “Be careful and make sure no one discovers your true identity.”