Old Man Sun had no patience to listen to the sweet, honeyed drivel the couple was whispering. He simply hugged the wine jar and scurried away.
But he wasn’t about to let the General off so easily. He yelled at the top of his lungs, hopping and shouting:
“Everyone, look! The General’s wife is drunk, clinging to the General and asking for a kiss!”
Whoosh!
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.
The soldiers raised their wine bowls, howling and hollering towards the high platform where Jiang Xingyan stood: “Woo-hoo! The General is mighty!”
“Give her a kiss, General!”
“Why not have the wedding night right here in the barracks!”
Crash!
The wine cup in Yun Chunfeng’s hand shattered into eight pieces.
Shattered too was Xin Zhui’s wine bowl.
At that moment, their inner voices achieved a rare harmony: No! I don’t agree!
The only difference was that Xin Zhui, thoroughly drunk, actually shouted it out loud.
“I don’t agree! What gives you the right—”
Old Man Sun immediately clamped a hand over his mouth. “Quiet!
The General and his wife are a perfect match, talented man and beautiful woman, destined for each other.
Who are you to disagree?
I’m warning you, don’t go getting any improper ideas!
Otherwise, when the General tans your hide again, I won’t help you apply the medicine, you hear me!”
“You don’t know a damn thing! Actually, the General is—”
Xin Zhui abruptly sobered up a fraction, barely stopping himself mid-sentence. Bitter words stuck in his throat, he could only drown his sorrows in drink.
“Tch, I think you’ve just had too many good days, spoiled rotten!”
Old Man Sun rapped Xin Zhui sharply on the head, then turned to play drinking games with others.
Jiang Xingyan glanced over and noticed Yun Chunfeng’s slender finger was cut by a shard of porcelain, a bead of crimson blood welling up, possessing a strangely alluring quality.
She quickly shook her head, banishing the inappropriate thoughts from her mind.
She wanted to call someone to carry Huo Ci back to the tent.
The four maids, Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong, were definitely out of the question—they couldn’t lift a dead-drunk person.
Xin Zhui knew the secret, and after the afternoon’s awkwardness, he was certainly not an option either.
After much thought, only she herself was suitable.
And served her right!
If only she had swallowed her pride and sent him away back then, wouldn’t all this trouble have been avoided?
With a stern expression, Jiang Xingyan scooped Huo Ci up into a horizontal carry.
“Whoa! The General is strong!”
“Our General truly has the strength!”
The soldiers cheered and whistled, the excitement rivaling their wedding day.
“Anyone else who stirs up trouble won’t be allowed to go home on leave tomorrow!”
The soldiers fell silent for a moment.
What? They could go home?
Sniff… The General is so good.
Instantly, everyone abandoned their thoughts of watching the spectacle and clung to each other, weeping openly.
They could finally go home!
Many who had answered the call to join the Huo Army were orphans with no parents, or sons seeking revenge after their parents were killed by the Northern Luo dogs.
But some still had families, some even had wives and children.
Originally, they could only return home once a year during the New Year. Why had the General suddenly grown merciful, permitting them to go home now?
Hadn’t the General said: “Home makes a man soft; better to return seldom.”
And that after destroying Northern Luo, there would be plenty of time to enjoy with their families.
Right now, it felt like a dream.
And Jiang Xingyan was about to make that dream even more unreal.
“Those with elderly parents or young children at home, if willing to relocate, bring them all to the military camp!
The camp is vast enough; we can always allocate space for them to live.
From then on, you can go home every day!”
Some soldiers wept even louder.
“General! How are those of us without families supposed to bear this?!”
Jiang Xingyan simply hoisted Huo Ci over her shoulder and waved a grand, majestic hand. “Tomorrow, this General will invite all the matchmakers and marriage brokers from the entire capital to come introduce you to young ladies!”
The soldiers’ attention was completely diverted. They laughed and cried, shouted and clamored, all fueled by wine, each lost in their own chatter.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Xingyan carried Huo Ci back to the command tent.
She had just laid him on the bed and was about to get up to check on Yun Chunfeng’s injured hand.
Suddenly, a hand caught the belt hook at her waist and yanked hard.
Caught off guard, she lost her balance and tumbled towards the bed.
Fortunately, her palms caught her in time, leaving her almost nose-to-nose with Huo Ci on the bed.
His eyes were glazed with intoxication. His hands moved up unconsciously, cradling Jiang Xingyan’s face. Using the leverage, he lifted himself slightly, his lips moving in for a kiss.
“A’yan, give me.”
Jiang Xingyan could clearly feel that Huo Ci’s body was already reacting.
But… she was facing her own body!
She freed one hand and pressed Huo Ci back down onto the bed.
“Behave! Or I’ll tie you up!”
Huo Ci’s lips quivered, tears spilling over.
“A’yan, is it too late?”
A faint tremor passed through Jiang Xingyan’s heart.
For a moment, she seemed to feel the profound regret and sorrow tearing through Huo Ci.
Was this person… putting on a pitiful act?
“Huo Ci, stop pretending.”
Hearing this, the person before her showed no reaction. Tears continued to stream down from the corners of his eyes.
Jiang Xingyan reached out and pried his eyelids open.
Hmm. Gaze unfocused, completely unaware. Not pretending.
She casually tucked the quilt around him and answered, “Mm. It’s too late.”
Just as she was about to leave, her wrist was suddenly seized in a tight grip.
“I won’t!”
The previously dead-drunk Huo Ci suddenly widened his eyes, misty with tears. Like a petulant child throwing a tantrum, he wrapped himself around Jiang Xingyan’s arm.
“You—you—you let go of me!”
Huo Ci held on tightly, impossible to shake off.
Jiang Xingyan was speechless: Do all drunkards have this much strength?
An inexplicable irritation rose within her. With a forceful heave, she lifted Huo Ci until most of his body was dangling in mid-air.
“Let go!”
“Oh.”
Thud!
Watching her own body crash heavily back onto the bed looked painful.
A surge of nameless anger flared in Jiang Xingyan. She grabbed Huo Ci by the collar and hauled him up.
“Damn it, can’t you take better care of my body?”
Unexpectedly, Huo Ci suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around Jiang Xingyan’s neck.
His thin lips followed close behind.
“A’yan, give me.”