Chapter Eighty: The Fragrance of Tea Envelops the Cups, Fostering Fighting Spirit
Mu Fei carefully picked up the cup of hot tea that had been poured on the table, took a deep breath, and then looked up at Yang Xiao solemnly, "General Lingyu."
"Yes," Yang Xiao responded subconsciously, then looked up at him with interest. "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so serious?"
Mu Fei nodded and squeezed his teacup. “Since the General started training the Eagle Cavalry, he has been personally involved in everything and has always taken care of us. He has taught us martial arts and military strategy. I am much younger than all of you, and the General has been especially kind to me.”
As Mu Fei spoke, the hall gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at Mu Fei, who was holding tea, and Yang Xiao, who was standing to the side, with hope and emotion.
"To the other brothers, the general is a good general who cares for his subordinates and does not lose his dignity, but to me, the general is more like... my mentor."
Mu Fei looked up at Yang Xiao sincerely, “In the three years I’ve been in the military camp, I’ve learned more than I did in the previous twelve years. In the three years I’ve followed the general, I’ve also transformed from an unknown soldier who only knew how to cook into a qualified soldier.”
He closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. "I know I still have many shortcomings, but I sincerely wish to become your apprentice. I wonder if you would grant my request?"
All eyes immediately shifted from Mu Fei to Yang Xiao. Yang Xiao stared blankly into Mu Fei's slightly immature yet incredibly sincere eyes for a long while. She looked at Qi Kun with disbelief and exhilaration, "I haven't even finished my apprenticeship, and I'm already going to have a disciple?"
Seeing this, Qi Kun couldn't help but chuckle, "Look at you, so pathetic."
"You mentioned this to me when you were in Nanyang. I thought you were joking at the time, but I didn't expect you to have been preparing for it for so long." Yang Xiao stepped forward, sighed with emotion, and looked at Mu Fei solemnly. "Since you are willing to learn from me, I will definitely teach you everything I know without holding anything back."
"So, you agree?" Mu Fei was overjoyed at the sight. He stepped forward with the hot tea in his hand and knelt down before Yang Xiao. "Disciple Mu Fei offers tea to Master."
Yang Xiao's eyes reddened slightly. She took the teacup, bent down and scooped Mu Fei up. "Why do this? Get up quickly."
Mu Fei stood up, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. He bowed to Yang Xiao and said, "Please have some tea, Master."
The lid of the cup gently scraped against the rim of the bowl, making a soft, clear sound. The fragrance of locust blossoms wafted over, and the warm steam misted Yang Xiao's eyes. She pursed her lips and smiled faintly, then closed her eyes again, raising her hand to let the fragrant aroma flow into her mouth, warming her heart and soul.
Seeing this, Cen Xun smiled and nodded at Yang Xiao, "It seems that from this moment on, our Lingyu is also a master."
"Hey, Lingyu," Zhongli Shuo teased, tilting his head, "I was the one who picked Mu Fei for you to join the Eagle Team. Now that he has lived up to expectations and become your apprentice, shouldn't you thank me?"
Yang Xiao put down her teacup, looked up and smiled at Zhong Lishuo, "Good, good, thank you General Yude for your discerning eye in assigning Mu Fei to my command."
Zhong Lishuo seemed to think Yang Xiao was going to tease him too, and just as he raised his hand to retort, he came back to his senses and paused, "Hey? Why aren't you arguing with me today?"
“No one would willingly let themselves be criticized,” Yang Xiao shook her head with a smile, then looked up at Mu Fei and solemnly pressed his shoulder, “From now on, the two of us will be like my master and I,” she said, turning back to smile at Qi Kun, “The so-called master and disciple is just a title, not a matter of seniority, okay?”
Mu Fei laughed heartily and nodded vigorously, "I will listen to Master."
Bai Ming leaned against the table, watching this heartwarming scene, and couldn't help but sigh softly, "I have to say, time really flies."
"Hmm?" Yang Xiao turned to look at Bai Ming with interest upon hearing this. "What do you mean by that?"
Bai Ming stepped forward and naturally put his arm around Yang Xiao's back, then smiled at Mu Fei, "On New Year's Eve, we were still Mu Fei's apprentices. Now, half a year has passed, and Mu Fei has become your apprentice."
Yang Xiao waved her hand with a smile, "Don't mention it. If the two of us were to learn cooking from Mu Fei, we'd probably never graduate in this lifetime." She nodded at Mu Fei, "But we've made a promise, I'll try again next year during the Spring Festival. I refuse to believe I can't cook wontons."
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. Qi Kun was still explaining to the unsuspecting Xue Chang, gesturing towards the bowl of soup.
Zhong Li'an looked at the people in front of him with emotion and said with a smile, "Today we have fulfilled our two-year promise of picking locust flowers, and Mr. Xue has come from afar to join us. We also happen to meet Mu Fei, who has become our Lingyu's disciple." He held up his cup and sighed with a smile, "With such three good things happening, we should celebrate with such a sumptuous meal today."
"What you say is absolutely right, my lord." Qi Kun nodded in agreement, then looked up at Mu Fei with a smile. "By the way, Mu Fei, you just said that you wanted to become Ling Yu's disciple when you were in Nanyang. Why did you wait until today to say it?"
Mu Fei turned to look at him, and scratched his head with a smile. "The general is usually busy with official duties and battles, and has no time to rest, so I kept putting it off until today. Ah, no," he suddenly sat up straight as if he had thought of something, "I should change my address, Master."
"The way you address someone isn't that important, as long as it's easy to say," Yang Xiao smiled and shook her head, picking up the tea Mu Fei had just handed her. "As for your sincerity," she raised her cup, "it's all in this cup of tea."
Seeing this, everyone laughed again. The usually serious and formal meeting hall was now filled with a lively atmosphere. The sunlight from the window, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, slowly fell on the table and reflected on everyone's smiling faces.
Zhong Li'an took a sip of the warm locust flower tea, then looked at everyone with a smile in his eyes, "If we set out in early August, we won't have a chance to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. How about we celebrate a grand Qixi Festival to send you all off?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Kun smiled and nodded, "I think it's a good idea." He looked back at Yang Xiaobaiming, then at Cen Xun and Zhong Lishuo, "It just so happens that we have several couples in love, so it's not inappropriate for us to celebrate Qixi Festival in the army."
"I think it's a good idea!" Zhongli Shuo suddenly became excited, startling everyone. He excitedly grasped Cen Xun's hand, then looked at Xue Chang, "After Qixi Festival, we'll join forces with Jiangnan, and then fight Xiao Yan. Wouldn't that be... just like what Old Master Cen was talking about..."
Seeing his excited expression, Cen Xun couldn't help but smile and squeeze his hand. "It's our wedding day."
Xue Chang smiled and nodded at Zhong Lishuo, "Not only you, but also Old Master Cen is looking forward to seeing you. When that time comes, you must return victorious and go to see him safely."
"Okay." Zhongli Shuo looked at Xue Chang with emotion, nodded heavily, then shook Cen Xun's hand and said solemnly, "Wait for me."
Cen Xun smiled and nodded, then reached out and ruffled Zhong Lishuo's hair, meeting his sincere gaze. "Let's wait together."
Everyone looked at the two of them with smiles and sentiments. Qi Kun put down his teacup and turned his head slightly to Zhong Li'an, "My lord, have you decided how to spend Qixi Festival?"
Zhong Li'an twirled the chopsticks in his hand, gazing at the swaying locust blossoms outside the window, and pondered for a long time with a smile. "Since we are in a chaotic military camp, then let's have a martial arts contest."
-
As the summer breeze began to blow, news of Xiao Yan's defeat at the hands of Zhong Li'an had already spread throughout the country, and the contest between the two had officially begun.
The alliance between Jiangnan and the Central Plains has been quietly preparing for war and gathering strength, while the two prefectures of Si and Bing are also eager to make a move, intending to completely recover Yingchuan.
Before this tough battle begins, there is a grand feast in the Central Plains before the storm.
Time flies, and July is here in the blink of an eye. The lotus leaves sway in the breeze, the osmanthus blossoms fill the air with fragrance, and the refined atmosphere that is usually far from the drill ground is slowly carried by the fragrance of flowers.
And this day is the Qixi Festival.
Zhong Li'an had already prepared the gifts for this competition, putting them in boxes and helping the soldiers place them on the table.
The war drums thundered, and the bouquets, entwined on the trellis, trembled gently with the rhythm of the drums. Zhong Li'an, a look of delight on his face, placed the last gift box on the table and looked up at the people before him with a smile.
"I didn't expect this, my lord," Yang Xiao said with a smile, putting her hand on Bai Ming's shoulder and looking up at Zhong Li'an. "You actually prepared gifts for us?"
Zhong Li'an smiled and nodded at her, "Of course, you'll find out what it is when the competition starts in a bit."
Yang Xiao glanced at Zhong Li'an with a playful smile, "Look at you, keeping me in suspense again."
Zhong Lishuo, who was standing to the side, waved his hand and smiled at Yang Xiao, "After all these years, you still haven't gotten used to it?"
Everyone burst into laughter. Cen Xun leaned over to look at the table, then looked up at Zhong Li'an and asked, "So, what are the competition items? Let's not keep you in suspense any longer?"
“Okay,” Zhong Li’an nodded with a smile, “Since it’s Qixi Festival, you should all participate.”
Qi Kun rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment. "Let me think," he said, "how can a martial arts contest be complete without an archery competition?" He turned to Zhong Li'an with a smile. "Although we're using the name of Qixi Festival, this competition doesn't necessarily require pairs to participate. How about we mobilize the entire army?"
Zhong Li'an nodded approvingly to Qi Kun, "A conversation on Qixi Festival is an elegant affair. It would be even better if they could exchange poems after the competition."
“Great, I agree,” Cen Xun nodded with a smile, then leaned on Yang Xiao’s shoulder. “Looks like I’m in for a treat this time.”
Yang Xiao patted her back with a smile, "It's more than just a feast for the eyes. After the competition, we'll personally take you to try it out. Isn't that more interesting than just standing on the sidelines watching?"
“That’s right,” Zhong Lishuo chimed in, “When the time comes, I’ll let you experience what archery on horseback is all about.” He nodded and smiled at Cen Xun, then casually tossed his head at Yang Xiao, “Last time, the darts contest was a mistake. This time, I’m sure I’ll win.”
Yang Xiao and Bai Ming exchanged a light laugh and said, "Let's see who comes out on top."
“Then we’ll wait and see,” Zhong Li’an said with a smile, raising his hand to the soldiers beside him. “Sound the gong! The competition begins!”
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