My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

***This scene happened on the night after General Jiang returned from apprehending the fugitives.***

It was a cloudy night, murky with thick dark, heavy clouds swirling by. It was unknown how hard the rain would fall on the later part of the night. Fortunately, General Jiang had finished reporting to the Emperor. His slender and muscular build was clad in a black brocade robe with intricate, gold embellishment, hem flowing briskly like wind, mellowing the bloodthirst emanated from his body and curbing his rigid temperament.

General Jiang had always hated to wear such complicated and gorgeous robes, even though Fu Jia, the head servant of his residence, kept on gushing how handsome he was when he dressed up.

Come on, he's a soldier. What kind of soldier would care about what they wore? Before you could flick your sleeve to brush the draggy cloth away, your head would have been cut by the enemy's blade.

Thus, as soon as he arrived home, he directly discarded the outer layer of his garment, leaving only a thin, comfortable black inner garment.

The residence looked livelier than usual and Fu Jia came out to greet him hastily, sweat dotting the elderly man's face.. 

General Jiang raised a brow. "Is there some kind of festival here?"

One couldn't blame General Jiang for his ignorance. Half of his life was slaved away on the battlefield. He could count the number of times he returned home. It was only for the New Year, QingMing Festival and the Emperor's Grand Birthday.

"Aiyah, Master." Fu Jia dabbed his forehead with the handkerchief and grimaced. "This old servant apologies."

"What's wrong?"

"The witch—no, the child you brought home, she…she disappeared."

If not for Fu Jia reminding him, he wouldn't have recalled there was such a person here. "Disappear?" Amused with Fu Jia's choice of words, he retorted. "How can such a big person disappear all of a sudden?"

"That's the problem." Fu Jia said. "None of the guards saw her coming out of her room and we searched high and low, almost overturning the entire residence, but still can't find her. What should we do if she…escapes?"

General Jiang gave an offhanded reply, "Then let her be ah."

Fu Jia lifted his head in surprise. "Master?!"

"Why are you so shocked?" General Jiang was amused. "I rescued her on a whim. Taking her back was also an impulse. If she wants to go, then let her go. Of course, she doesn't have to stay here. She's a free person, she can go wherever she wants to."

Fu Jia was exasperated by how casual he was. "Master…"

"Alright, I know what you're thinking about." Jiang Jinyan cut him off. "The Emperor has also addressed the matter to me. I know what I am doing."

When he put it like that, Fu Jia was left with no choice but to comply. He summoned the searching guards and called it a day. The liveliness slowly dispersed and candles blew off one by one, leaving the General Residence in utter desolateness like usual.

General Jiang took a slow hot bath and tied the sash of his belt loosely, the front robe was slightly open, showing the expanse of healthy, honey skin marred with numerous scars and fresh injuries, still damp with vapor with warm mist floating up. Coupled with his long, jet black hair which was slightly wet on its tip, it added a tinge of wild charm to his temperament.

He was used to being on guard when the night came and it wasn't often for him to be free. Somehow, he just couldn't get used to it. After thinking for a while, he thought that he should go to the study to view the record of household expenses on days he was away. Not that he didn't trust Fu Jia, but looking at those dense numbers might incite his drowsiness.

His footsteps made no sound as he walked briskly across the dark pathway. The black clothes merged into the darkness and if one didn't look closer, then one wouldn't have realized that someone was there. Only the falling leaves could prove his trail, as his fingers were itching to pluck those swaying greenish off.

General Jiang suddenly halted in front of one of the silent, dark rooms.

If he wasn't wrong, then this was that little girl—Shi Nian's room.

With the attitude of the master of the residence, Jiang Jinyan pushed the door open. It creaked slightly under his fingers and the moonlight shone on his long silhouette as he stepped into the room. 

This used to be one of the empty rooms in the residence. The house itself was too large compared to the number of servants in it. So, it was very convenient for someone to move in.

Jiang Jinyan looked around and nodded in satisfaction. Fu Jia had done his job properly. There was a pot of tea on the table—albeit it had gone cold. Warm bedding and also, sufficient candles in the room. 

As the head servant had said, the room was too desolate, no hint of a person could be seen. The bedding was soft and smooth without any creases, evidence that the occupant hadn't even sat there.

However…

He halted in his tracks and lightened his presence. His breathing almost stopped as he strained his ears to listen. There was a faint sound of breathing—not his. Very soft and faint. If he wasn't a soldier trained in countless battlefields, then he might have as well overlooked it.

Jiang Jinyan made his way through the partition screen to the changing area. He knew that it was inappropriate to barge into a young maiden's private area in the middle of the night. But at this moment, he couldn't care less.

His guards ought to have high morals so as to skip this part of the area, but he wouldn't.

As he expected, as he opened the closet, there she was—huddling in the corner, almost smothered by the fabrics and numerous garments. She was so small that the space was more than enough to cover her up.

General Jiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He reached out a hand, but before he could wake the culprit up, the girl's eyes suddenly snapped wide open. The sleep within them hadn't dissipated yet, but because she had sensed the presence of an unfamiliar person close by, her instinctive reflex jolted her awake.

Jiang Jinyan was stunned by the rich hostility and wariness in her eyes. Right now, she looked just like how his soldier was when they were only a step from a hard earned victory where the slightest mistake would turn everything over—stake it with their lives, and pave the way with their blood.

When Shi Nian's sight gradually focused and she took in her surroundings as well as the person in front of her, the animosity faded, replaced with a careful look he had always seen on her.

Jiang Jinyan decided to break the silence. "Why are you sleeping there?" He pulled the girl out, mirth in his eyes. "Did you know how hard everyone has been looking for you?"

Shi Nian blinked, surprised. Pursing her lips, she bent her waist deeply in apology.

Jiang Jinyan stopped her before she could do that, sighing helplessly. "I know you aren't accustomed to the change in environment yet, but don't worry, there's no one who can hurt you here."

Amidst the dark, Shi Nian's golden eyes shone brilliantly, like the incandescent magma bubbling atop of the volcanic mountain. Then, she nodded, albeit Jiang Jinyan wasn't sure whether she really understood what he meant.

"Hmm?" He narrowed his eyes, thumb grazing the corner of her eyes. "Did you just cry?"

Shi Nian recoiled back in shock, eyes widened as she stared at him, flabbergasted. Jiang Jinyan's eyes were trained to see in the dark, thus he could see the spreading redness across her cheek.

He thought that it was funny how she acted like a little wary and timid animal. But then, what was her age again? Twelve? Thirteen? After witnessing the tragic death of her family, it wasn't uncommon for her to act like this.

He even felt that she was too calm. Too silent and taciturn.

"Are you hungry?" He changed the topic. "Have you eaten supper?"

Shi Nian shook her head, then nodded.

"How are your wounds? Open your mouth, let me see your tongue." Jiang Jinyan was amused to see her back away with every step he took, thus he stride forward nonchalantly, spooking the girl so much that she tripped over her foot and fell down directly on the bed.

Shi Nian widened her eyes, the man's expressionless face reflected in her eyes.

She scrambled to the side and grabbed a set of brush and paper, scrawling frantically. [Inappropriate!]

"What's inappropriate?" Jiang Jinyan almost couldn't maintain his expression.

Shi Nian huffed in anger. Her cheeks flushed red. She was a girl and he was a mature man! Why would he want to see her mouth?! She clenched her fists yet helpless to do anything against the General. This man was—no doubt—the most powerful person in the whole nation. She couldn't win even if she could duplicate herself into ten.

Jiang Jinyan stared at her for a few seconds until he finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into a fit of chuckles. The smile made his eyes crinkled with smiles, dissipating the grim and dangerous aura he exuded. If not for the glaring scar on his face, then he would become one of the most attractive men in history without any effort.

"What are you thinking of?" He patted her head and seemingly not satisfied, proceeded to mess it up as he pleased. "You're just a kid, afterall."

Shi Nian brushed his hand away, peeved.

"Come on." Without any warning, Jiang Jinyan hoisted her up, eliciting a short yelp from her lips. He easily hauled the thick bedding off and wrapped it around her like a dumpling. "Sleep. You haven't slept for days, right?"

Shi Nian grabbed the warm thick quilt around her as if it could protect her from the General's claws. Her eyes stared at his every move in full alert.

Jiang Jinyan didn't do anything but took out a random book from the shelf Fu Jia had prepared for the girl and sat on the chair, casually flipping it through. For a while, there wasn't any sound except for the turning page and soft rustle of the trees outside.

Some time passed and rain started to fall in a soft drizzle, before turning harder and gradually transforming into a downpour. The temperature dropped in an instant as the sharp scent of grass and cold air wafted into his nose.

Jiang Jinyan silently closed the book and stole a glance to see the girl sleeping soundly, still with her hand tightly grabbing the quilt around her. A smile made its way to his face without him knowing and he approached her silently, helping her to loosen the thick blanket lest she suffocated deep into the night.

The girl's sleeping face was very peaceful, quiet and soft. Long, thick eyelashes curled, framing her eyes. There were still traces of bruise on her face, yellow and purple. And she looked too skinny for her own good.

Must feed her more delicious food, Jiang Jinyan noted.

That was how Shi Nian passed through her first night in the General's Residence.

Unexpectedly, she slept very soundly—even in the presence of the most feared General in the nation.

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A/N: A bonus chappie to close volume 2 hehehe Jiang Jinyan is such a tease >< and it would be quite long until Shi Nian gradually opened her heart to him until she could depend, trust and admire him from the bottom of her heart.

Jiang Jinyan's "You're just a kid" sentence will come back to bite him one day fufufu and Shi Nian is already fifteen by that time, the age where ancient China people consider a young adult, but because she's too skinny and short, Jiang Jinyan thought she's only twelve kekekek 

See you tomorrow on Volume 3!