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◎The Zhang family's ancestral precept states that no more than nine cups and three bowls of alcohol should be consumed.◎

On September 12, Duke Dingguo Deng Chong, Marquis Weiyuan Meng Ji, and Deputy General of Liangzhou Hou Wanzhong returned after pursuing the fleeing Western Hu. They were accompanied by Lieutenant General Qi Chang, who was ordered to lead 3,000 cavalry from Shuozhou to block the retreating Western Hu. Only then did the generals who had stayed with Emperor Xingwu truly understand the emperor's overall deployment of the expedition against the Hu.

The two armies attacked from the front and back, killing more than 40,000 Hu soldiers again and capturing the left general Bormu alive. The right general, unwilling to be captured, committed suicide with his sword.

Since Emperor Xingwu founded the country, the Western Hu claimed to have 300,000 elite cavalrymen, and had been invading the northwestern border for nine consecutive years. Now, they had lost more than 180,000 in one battle, which was a serious blow to their vitality.

The soldiers returned victoriously, and Emperor Xingwu rewarded the three armies in the Wuwei camp. That evening, he held a banquet at the general's residence to welcome the generals.

Qingyang likes to have this kind of celebratory banquet the most because he can see the style of the meritorious generals with his own eyes and hear about their heroic deeds on the battlefield.

When going to the battlefield to comfort the soldiers who fought bravely, they had to wear armor. When coming to a banquet, Qingyang had to dress up as a little princess. Facing the surprised gazes of the generals from Liangzhou, Qingyang sat down with her third brother with a normal expression. She still sat on the outside of Weiyuan Hou Mengji.

The famous generals sat in the front seats, while Prince Qin Liang, the prince consort of Yong, and Fu Kui, the son-in-law of the emperor, had to sit in the back and could only rank in front of the young generals.

From Qingyang's position, he could see his cousin Qin Liang diagonally across from him. Next to Qin Liang was Deng Chong's eldest son Deng Kun, followed by Zhang Su's second brother Zhang Heng. There were two people between Zhang Su, who was only fifteen years old, and Zhang Heng.

"Your Majesty, this battle was truly exhilarating. I've always heard people say that the Hu cavalry were brave and difficult to deal with, but this time, it seems they are just so-so, not as fantastic as people say." Deng Chong took a sip of wine and said proudly.

Emperor Xingwu said: "The Hu cavalry are indeed brave and formidable, but the most difficult thing to deal with is that they come and go without a trace. If the imperial court does not send troops, they will only be harassed by them. Even if they do, they may penetrate thousands of miles into the grasslands and still not find any trace of the Hu people. This time, we can lure them into the pass, which is a rare opportunity. However, after being tricked once, the Hu people will become more clever in the future, so we still cannot underestimate them."

Deng Chong: "Anyway, I'm not afraid of them. As long as the emperor gives the order, I will lead my troops to kill them!"

Emperor Xingwu smiled. The purpose of his attack on the Hu this time was to make the Western Hu submit and pay tribute. As long as the Western Hu were willing to surrender, he had no intention of fighting with them again. The people in the Central Plains had only enjoyed peace for nine years, and the national treasury was unable to support a long-term war.

While drinking and chatting, someone mentioned Yuan Zhaoxiong.

Deng Chong scoffed, "After nine years of being a local tyrant in Liang Province, he really thinks he's the emperor. He even dares to rebel. If it weren't for the emperor's determination to fight against the barbarians, I could have led the troops alone and killed him this time... But then again, he did make some contributions to the emperor's fight against the barbarians this time. Without the blood of his family, the battlefield outside Luhe Town might not have been so convincing."

Qingyang suddenly lost his appetite. He turned his head to look at his third brother and saw him staring blankly in the direction of Deng Chong. Then his face suddenly changed and he ran out, covering his mouth.

Qingyang didn't move and went to see his second brother again.

Qin Bing grabbed the wine bowl and drank it with his head tilted back. Because he raised the bowl too high, the wine flowed onto his face and then trickled down from the corners of his eyes and forehead.

Deng Chong was still laughing at the fact that the third prince was not as useful as the little princess.

Emperor Xingwu stopped him and said, "Although Yuan Zhaoxiong made mistakes in his later years, he is still one of our founding generals. His later sins do not outweigh his earlier achievements. Please respect him."

Deng Chong then shut up.

The banquet continued, but Qin Ren had not returned yet. Just when Qingyang was considering leaving early to check on his third brother, he suddenly heard a loud crash.

Qingyang frowned and looked over to see Deng Kun clutching the wine jar he had smashed on the table. He leaned toward Zhang Heng and said unhappily, "I offered you a toast with all my heart, but you refused to drink. Zhang Heng, are you being disrespectful to me?"

Zhang Heng sat upright and explained calmly, "The Zhang family's ancestral precept states that unless the emperor grants wine or it's a wedding banquet, no Zhang family member may drink more than nine cups and three bowls of wine at any banquet. The prince has already urged me to drink three bowls, so I'm sorry I can't serve the rest."

Deng Kun: "What a bullshit ancestral precept, you..."

Emperor Xingwu: "Deng Kun!"

Deng Kun was startled and immediately left his seat, bowing to the host from a distance: "I am here."

Emperor Xingwu said: "I'm hosting this banquet to celebrate your success, not to watch you act like a spoiled brat. If you dare to act like a drunk again, get out."

Deng Kun's face flushed red, and he knelt down and said, "I am guilty. I will never do it again."

Emperor Xingwu waved his hand in disdain.

Deng Kun sat back down with an embarrassed look on his face, not looking at Zhang Heng again. However, Deng Chong stretched his neck and glanced at the younger generation several times.

"Father, I'm going to see my third brother." Qingyang said as he left the table.

Emperor Xingwu nodded.

Qingyang found his third brother lying on the couch with a pale face in the east wing of the backyard. Fuan had just brought out a basin of water.

Seeing his sister calm, Qin Ren asked, "Did you know this a long time ago? Yes, you vomited the morning we broke camp."

Qingyang: "It's all in the past, don't think about it."

Qin Ren placed a hand on his forehead and sighed deeply, "It's all because of Yuan Zhaoxiong. I hope Yuan Chongli and the others will be reborn into a good family in their next life and not have to meet a father like this again."

Qingyang found that her third brother seemed to have calmed himself down and did not need her to persuade him anymore.

The next morning, the little princess packed up and walked out of the room, only to find that the door to the east wing opposite was still tightly closed. The eunuchs accompanying the two princes, Changji and Fuan, were standing side by side under the eaves, their heads put together and chatting.

Qingyang heard the noise last night. The second brother came back to his room drunk at the first watch. He must have slept more since he was so drunk. As for the third brother, he was sleepy no matter whether he was drunk or not.

Qingyang went to the front to find his father.

Qin Hong was already here. Seeing his sister, he smiled and said, "Father just said that my sister must be the second one to come."

Qingyang first observed her elder brother's complexion and said with interest, "Brother, you didn't drink much last night, did you?" She admired the generals, but she didn't like the way a group of generals forced each other to drink.

Qin Hong: "I can't drink much, so I don't dare to drink too much."

Because he is the crown prince, other ministers and generals will not force him to drink except for Wang Shu and Deng Chong. Last night, my second brother was sitting next to him, and every time Deng Chong toasted him, my second brother would impatiently drink for him.

Qingyang stood behind his father, leaned on his shoulder and said, "Father, the war is over and the city is peaceful now. I want to go out for a walk."

This is Wuwei, more than 2,000 miles away from the capital. She may only visit this place once in her life. Qingyang wants to experience the local customs and culture before returning to the capital.

Emperor Xingwu said: "Okay, ask your third brother and Zhang Su to accompany you, and then ask Fan Zhong for sixteen guards. Just wander around the city, don't leave."

The little princess was so happy that she wanted to call her third brother to get up.

Emperor Xingwu: "Why are you in such a hurry? Have breakfast first."

Qingyang: "No, I'm going to try the breakfast stalls here!"

.

When the sleepy Qin Ren listlessly followed his sister out of the general's mansion where the emperor was temporarily staying, Zhang Su, who had received the news, was already waiting outside the door, along with sixteen plain-clothed guards selected by Fan Zhong.

Today Zhang Su wore a pine green coarse cloth robe. It is said that clothes make the man, but this coarse cloth made him look like jade. Even though his face was slightly tanned after more than a month of marching, Qingyang was still dazzled when he saw him when he first went out.

"Your humble servant greets the two Your Highnesses."

Zhang Su saluted with his guards.

Qingyang asked everyone to excuse themselves and asked Zhang Su, "How is your injury? If you are unable to move, you should go back and rest. With so many guards here, you don't need to worry."

Qin Ren yawned loudly and said, "Yes, it's important for you to recover from your injury. Don't force yourself."

Zhang Su: "It's almost done. Actually, I also want to take this opportunity to go out for a walk with Your Highnesses."

Qingyang: "Okay, if you hurt the wound accidentally, you have to tell us."

Zhang Su nodded.

The walls of Wuwei City are strong, but the city is not as big as the capital. The two streets in front of the general's mansion are the main streets full of shops, so the three people from Qingyang walked directly there. Eight plain-clothed guards led the way in front, and eight followed behind at a distance.

The war with the Western Hu did not affect the people and merchants in the city, especially since the city gates were reopened from the tenth day of the first lunar month. The people were overjoyed to know that the court had won a victory, and the sounds of street vendors were filled with joy.

In front was a steamed bun stall. The stall owner lifted the lid of the steamer, revealing a full tray of seven or eight white buns each as big as a fist.

Qin Ren was no longer sleepy, his stomach growling, and he said to his sister, "That's it. I want two meat buns."

Qingyang took off the purse from her waist and asked her third brother to buy the food himself. She didn't want to eat the buns that could be eaten in the capital.

"Do you want it?" she asked Zhang Su.

Zhang Su: "Thank you... Miss, I already ate before I left."

His second brother lived in the military camp, and he lived with the emperor in the general's residence. Because the emperor or the two princes might summon them at any time, Zhang Su got up early and ate early.

Qingyang waited for his third brother with him.

Qin Ren spent ten cents to buy two big meat buns, holding them in one hand and returning the purse to his sister with the other.

After hearing the stall owner's quote, Qingyang asked Zhang Su, "How much do steamed buns cost in Beijing?"

Zhang Su: "A meat bun costs four cents, and it's smaller than this one."

Qin Ren, whose lips were burned, gasped and asked, "Why is it more expensive here than in Beijing?"

Zhang Su, who had been a tutor in the palace at a young age and had little experience traveling among the common people, was momentarily stumped. Qingyang looked at the merchants passing by and understood, "The people of the capital are wealthier than those outside the province. Many of them can afford these white breads at home. The vendors are charging too much, so the people probably won't buy them. Wuwei is an important border town with many merchants. They have plenty of money to spend. They haven't been able to eat well in the smaller towns they've passed through before, so they're sure to want to eat well in Wuwei. That's why the vendors are raising the prices."

Qin Ren just nodded in agreement, and Zhang Su glanced at the clever little princess.

After passing two ordinary stalls, Qingyang stopped in front of an old lady's stall. The old lady was selling a kind of food that was a baked pancake with an open middle and bacon rolled in it.

"Oh, little girl, why do you look like a fairy? Do you want to try the old woman's meat clamp? Our bacon is delicious. If you don't believe me, try it."

The old woman enthusiastically picked up a piece of bacon with her chopsticks and handed it over.

Qingyang observed the old woman's hands and chopsticks inconspicuously. Her hands were wrinkled but clean, and the chopsticks looked very new.

Qingyang then opened his mouth.

It has a strange taste, but tastes delicious.

Qingyang asked for two, and the old lady wrapped them up skillfully. Each one cost ten cents. Qingyang directly gave the old lady a piece of change, which made the old lady very happy.

After walking a few steps away, Qin Ren whispered, "Since my sister is so generous, doesn't it seem like I was stingy just now?"

Qingyang: "First, this is my money, you can't be generous with my money. Second, the lady praised me, did the old man selling buns praise you?"

Qin Ren: “…”

Qingyang handed the extra meat clip to Zhang Su: "Try it. I can't let you accompany me for nothing."

With such a tall stature, he definitely won’t be able to fill up even if he eats one more pancake.

Zhang Su: "...Thank you, Miss."

So, two tall young men protected a little girl and started walking and eating.

【Author’s words】

Finished writing, 100 red envelopes, see you tonight~