This general's mansion was somewhat beyond Fu Xiaoguan's expectations.

It was quite simple and did not have the majestic and awe-inspiring feeling that Fu Xiaoguan had imagined.

Its walls are low, without a tall gate lintel, and there are no stone lions riding horses at the gate. There are only two soldiers wearing armor and carrying machetes on their waists standing there.

As Dou Tao entered the general's mansion, there was no front garden. There was a row of simple houses on the right side of the bluestone road, and two shiny black horses were tied on the left side.

Walking through the Moon Gate, you will arrive at the courtyard of the general's mansion. There are two-story buildings on each side, but no rockery or pavilions.

After passing through the courtyard, one arrived at the backyard—it was extremely empty, with only a long sword placed on the weapon racks on either side. So this wasn't a back garden, but a martial arts training ground. Only in one corner of the yard was a thriving peach tree.

The peach blossoms have already bloomed, adding a touch of beautiful color to this bleak courtyard.

Just as Fu Xiaoguan and the other two were looking around, two people walked out of a small building next to them.

The man in front was wearing a plain linen robe and had a tall and sturdy build. On his slightly square face, two straight eyebrows were like raised swords, and the eyes under his eyebrows were intimidating without being angry - this man was a handsome man!

The woman who was one step behind him was wearing a cotton-padded jacket with delicate floral patterns, and her hair was casually tied up in a bun, with a boxwood hairpin casually pinned in it.

Her face is very ordinary, and her eyebrows and eyes are also ordinary, as if they were born randomly on her face, just in the right place, but without any embellishment.

She had bangs that reached her eyebrows, but Fu Xiaoguan could still see a black scar on her left forehead that extended from the end of her eyebrow to her ear.

She is General Peng’s daughter, Peng Yuyan!

Then, he must be the general of the southern border army, Yu Chunqiu!

Yu Chunqiu hurriedly took two steps forward, his eyes swept across Fu Xiaoguan's face and fell on Yu Wenjun.

He clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, Yu Chunqiu, respectfully welcomes Her Royal Highness the Ninth Princess!"

Yu Wenjun suddenly smiled and asked, "Since you knew I was coming, why didn't you come to the post station to see me?"

This was an accusation, and the matter could be minor or serious. Yu Chunqiu quickly replied, "Your Highness, I am a military officer and cannot leave the barracks easily... Besides, I have a selfish motive. I understand Your Highness must be tired from the journey, so I would like to invite You to come to my place for a good meal."

"Haha, that's fine... Bro, I'm just saying it casually, don't take it to heart. Is this my sister-in-law?"

With a word "Brother", the routine courtesy ended and it became an ordinary family matter.

Yu Chunqiu stretched out his hand and pulled Peng Yuyan forward, "She is your sister-in-law."

This time it was Yu Wenjun's turn to bow, "Hello, sister-in-law!"

"Hello, Your Highness. You must be tired. Don't talk outside. Come in. My sister-in-law has made this dish herself. You must eat more later."

The atmosphere became relaxed, the drizzle seemed to have a more tranquil feel, and even the plum blossoms in the corner seemed to have bloomed three or two more.

Fu Xiaoguan and the other two sat down at the tea table. Yu Chunqiu made tea and greeted His Majesty and Queen Shang with Yu Wenjun. Then he poured tea and subtly turned the topic to Fu Xiaoguan.

He handed over a cup of tea and said slowly, "Master Fu's name is now truly famous throughout the world!"

"General, you are so kind."

Yu Chunqiu shook his head. "That's not an exaggeration. To be honest, my wife is actually quite fond of 'A Dream in the Red Chamber.' So, when she heard you were leading the diplomatic mission to the Wu Dynasty, she repeatedly told me she wanted to invite the Ninth Princess to visit her, and also invite Master Fu. She wanted to see what a young man who could write such a book and such poems was like... After dinner, I'm afraid she'll have a good chat with you."

Fu Xiaoguan laughed heartily, "Madam Yu is a woman who is as capable as any man. I have heard of her since I was far away in the capital. It is my great honor to meet her today."

Afterwards, Yu Chunqiu chatted with Dong Shulan for a few more words, but they were talking about Dong Kangping. He didn't make any jokes, just talked casually.

Soon, Peng Yuyan came out wearing a floral apron, smiling, "Dinner is ready, everyone please come in."

Five people sat around an octagonal table with eight dishes and a soup on it.

It looked very beautiful and smelled very fragrant, which immediately aroused the appetite of Fu Xiaoguan and others.

They had not been particular about the food they had eaten along the way, so now that they suddenly had such a table full of delicious food, they naturally felt their mouths watered.

"I believe you must have eaten a lot of delicious food in the prosperous city of Shangjing. We don't have as many ingredients here, but we also have our own unique characteristics."

Peng Yuyan looked at Yu Wenyun and continued, "For example, these mushrooms, I picked them from Mount Qi. And these bamboo shoots, for example, are different from those grown elsewhere. They're from the arrow bamboo species, which sprout in spring. Once they're over a foot long, they need to be dug up, otherwise they'll become stale. Try some of them. Oh, and this musk deer meat, I just went hunting this morning."

This is pure natural and pollution-free green food!

In the previous life, this thing would be a high-end product.

Fu Xiaoguan was not polite and said with a smile: "Then I will start eating!"

Peng Yuyan glanced at Fu Xiaoguan, who indeed picked up a piece of matsutake mushroom with his chopsticks and placed it in Yu Wenyun's bowl. He then picked up another piece with his chopsticks and placed it in Dong Shulan's bowl, saying with a smile, "You two, don't be polite when you're at the General's place. If it's your turn, treat it like you're at home. That's how you enjoy your meal and how you honor Madam Yu's cooking and the precious ingredients she foraged for!"

Peng Yuyan smiled. She was a martial artist and didn't like the literary style of scholars. Fu Xiaoguan's casual demeanor was just what she wanted.

In addition, Fu Xiaoguan's action of picking up food for the two women showed his relationship with the two women. He thought that this boy was indeed a smart person, no wonder he could win the favor of His Majesty and the Queen.

"Yes, yes, I'm right. We should all treat each other like we're at home!"

The atmosphere became increasingly relaxed. Yu Chunqiu took out a glass of Xishan Tianchun and drank with Fu Xiaoguan while complaining, "You invented this stuff, but it's not even sold in the entire Jiangnan East Road... Can't you set up a winery in each road? I even asked someone to buy it from you in Linjiang just to drink this wine!"

Fu Xiaoguan slapped his forehead and said, "General, I actually prepared a few boxes of this wine for you before you left, but Yan Beixi Yan Zai said that drinking is forbidden in the army and insisted on stopping us... This old man, I now suspect that he took it without permission!"

Throwing the black pot at Yan Beixi, he added, "I'll write a letter to my father and ask him to send some to the general!"

Yu Chunqiu cursed Yan Beixi in his heart, but smiled, "Seriously?"