Chapter Fifty: Gentle Waves Rise and Gentle Breeze
Just as Zhong Li'an ordered some refreshments to be laid out, he heard the slow sound of horses' hooves approaching from the doorway. He smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and looked up at the door. "Judging from that sound, could it be Lingyu?"
Bai Ming couldn't help but look towards the door, his eyes filled with smiles and warmth, and a faint blush appeared on his face.
"So early?" Cen Xun looked towards the door upon hearing the voice. "She probably came over as soon as she opened her eyes."
"Come here," Zhong Li'an said, raising his hand to stop the soldier who was about to leave the room. "Add some more charcoal to the stove. She already has a headache from just waking up from a hangover, so don't let her catch a cold."
Seeing this, Qi Kun couldn't help but chuckle and look at Zhong Li'an, "My lord, you are truly considerate."
Zhong Li'an had just smiled and shook his head when, before he could hear the scout's report, Yang Xiao lifted the curtain and rushed into the tent.
"My lord," she said breathlessly, bowing to Zhong Li'an and the others present, "I am truly sorry to be late."
Seeing Yang Xiao's flustered appearance, Zhong Li'an couldn't help but laugh. "Lingyu, sit down and rest for a while. How are you? Does your head still hurt?"
"I'm much better, thank you for your concern, my lord." Yang Xiao nodded to Zhong Li'an with a smile, sat back down, and then nodded to Zhong Li Shuo, "Speaking of which, you were really wise to recruit Mu Fei into the Eagle Team back then."
"Oh?" Zhong Lishuo couldn't help but smile as he looked at Yang Xiao. "I remember that kid... I think he got in because he cooked well, right?"
Yang Xiao smiled and nodded, holding the hot tea on the table. "Yes, with Mu Fei around, the whole army doesn't have to worry about food. It's also thanks to Master having him prepare a bowl of pear soup before he left last night." She then looked back at Qi Kun and Cen Xun. "Breakfast for today is also taken care of."
“You’re still talking,” Cen Xun said with a smile, pointing at Yang Xiao. “You were so drunk last night that I had Yu De drag Mu Fei out of the banquet to make soup for you.”
Yang Xiaogang's gesturing hands suddenly froze in mid-air. "So, I really have embarrassed myself in front of the whole army?"
Everyone laughed upon hearing this, and Zhong Lishuo waved his hand, "It's alright, I only captured Mu Fei, it's not a big problem."
Yang Xiao shook her head, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked excitedly at everyone, "By the way, how much did I drink last night? How drunk did I get?" She smiled and leaned against Cen Xun, "Am I a good drinker? Hmm?"
Laughter erupted in the hall again. Cen Xun cleared his throat, looked up at her with a smile, and raised his hand to make a "one" gesture.
"What..." Yang Xiao was stunned for a moment, "Just... one cup?"
Cen Xun nodded, suppressing a laugh. "It seems you have some self-awareness about your alcohol tolerance, unlike Yu De, who guessed a whole jar right off the bat."
Yang Xiao smiled incredulously, holding up a "one," then looked at Bai Ming for confirmation, "Zhao Qing, really just one cup?"
“Yes,” Bai Ming nodded with a smile, “just one cup.”
"I got so drunk after just one drink, I'm so incredibly embarrassing." Yang Xiao rubbed her head, both amused and exasperated, then looked up at everyone with a slightly awkward expression. "So last night... I didn't do anything too outrageous, did I?"
“This…” Cen Xun smiled and exchanged glances with the others, then looked back at Yang Xiao and tilted his head slightly toward Bai Ming, “You’ll have to ask Zhao Qing.”
The scene of Yang Xiao grabbing his collar and questioning him last night immediately flashed into Bai Ming's mind, and his cheeks instantly flushed. When he looked up, he suddenly met Yang Xiao's smiling and inquiring gaze.
Yang Xiao's hands unconsciously clasped together, and a blush crept onto her face. She glanced at Bai Ming and asked, "Did I say anything... nonsense or make you talk nonsense last night?"
Bai Ming smiled, closed his eyes, and shook his head, trying to suppress the slight tremor and joy in his heart. He looked up at Yang Xiao with a smile, pretending that nothing had happened, and said, "You were drunk last night and insisted on having a match with me. In the end, you couldn't find your own sword, so you just pulled mine out and took it."
“That’s right,” Zhong Lishuo chimed in with a laugh, “You couldn’t find your sword, so you tried to steal Zhao Qing’s. But Zhao Qing didn’t have a sword, so you came and stole mine too.”
Yang Xiao couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. She squatted down, rubbing her forehead, and looked up at everyone with a smile. "I never thought I would make such a big joke in my lifetime." She looked at Bai Ming, her eyes showing a hint of satisfaction, completely without the embarrassment and tension from before. "I really troubled you last night. I swung your sword around wildly. I hope I didn't hurt you."
"How could that be?" Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head. "On the contrary, you rushed outside to practice your swordplay last night, covered in sweat. Didn't you catch a cold?"
Yang Xiao smiled, pushed herself up on her knees, and confidently raised her head. "Don't worry, I'm in good shape, I'll be fine."
“You,” Zhong Li’an said, pouring tea while looking at Yang Xiao with interest, “the whole celebration banquet last night couldn’t compare to how you managed to knock out a cup of tea.”
"How come even you, my lord, are teasing me?" Yang Xiao looked at Zhong Li'an reproachfully, then glanced back at Qi Kun, "and even before my master."
Qi Kun looked at Yang Xiao and couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, Tong Xi's sword dance under the moon is a beautiful sight, like a butterfly fluttering in the air, while you're just dancing with your sword under the moon..."
"Alright, Master, give me some face," Yang Xiao couldn't help but laugh, and still crossed her arms with Qi Kun. "How can my drunken antics compare to Tong Xi's?"
“If you insist on a competition, you can have one,” Bai Ming said with a smile, looking at Yang Xiao. “Last night’s ‘competition’ was quite interesting.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao angrily shifted her heels and sat down next to Cen Xun. "I don't know if you're praising me or insulting me," she said, shaking her head with a smile. Then she leaned over to look at Bai Ming. "I really believe what you say."
"Among us, Zhaoqing is the least likely to criticize you," Qi Kun said with a smile, pointing at Yang Xiao. He then looked back at Zhong Li'an, sighed softly, and changed the subject. "By the way, my lord, shouldn't we tell everyone about the visit of the Nanyang envoy last night?"
Zhong Li'an put down his teacup, nodded gently, and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."
"The envoy from Nanyang?" Yang Xiao glanced sideways, pondering for a moment, then looked at Zhong Li'an with a puzzled expression. "Why do I feel like I heard that term last night?"
Zhong Li'an smiled upon hearing this, tucked his sleeves into his sleeves, and looked up at Yang Xiao, "That means even when you're drunk, you're still very attentive to important matters."
“I’ve also heard about the envoy from Nanyang visiting,” Bai Ming nodded and looked at Zhong Li’an. “We don’t usually have any dealings with Nanyang, so what’s their purpose in suddenly sending an envoy here?”
Qi Kun nodded to Bai Ming, "This is also a question that my lord and I pondered last night. Nanyang borders Sizhou and Yingchuan, and it also borders our Runan. Based on the terrain alone, we cannot immediately discern its stance."
“Zhaoqing,” Zhongli’an said, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Bai Ming, “when you received my letter and sent troops to help, what was Nanyang’s attitude?”
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming nodded and pondered for a while, "Nanyang... if I remember correctly, not only did they not help me, but they also seemed to be taking advantage of my misfortune."
“I see…” Zhong Li’an nodded slightly.
“Brother,” Zhongli Shuo looked at Zhongli An as if he had suddenly thought of something, “Do you think the governor of Nanyang has been replaced in the past two years?”
Zhong Li'an looked at Zhong Li Shuo with approving eyes, then smiled and nodded, "Your thinking is becoming more and more thorough. As far as I know, the Prefect of Nanyang has always been Jie Liang Jie Enzhao. He has been the Prefect since before Xiao Yan usurped power, and it has never changed."
Qi Kun nodded and looked at Zhong Li'an. "His envoy was trying to get close to us all last night, full of flattery and empty words. It was as if Jie Liang sent him just to chat with us."
"Trying to get closer?" Bai Ming glanced at Qi Kun. "Could it be that the Prefect of Nanyang is a sycophant who, seeing our army's growing reputation, wants to curry favor with us?"
Zhong Li'an also sighed softly, "It does seem to be trending that way at the moment, but it's a bit far-fetched. As for the specific intentions, we'll have to wait and see in the next conversation."
“Nanyang…” Zhongli Shuo leaned against the table, tapping the surface lightly, and looked up at Zhongli An. “Is there anything famous about Nanyang?”
Zhong Li'an chuckled upon hearing this, "How come you're already eyeing their interests before even forming an alliance with them?"
"Am I that kind of person, brother?" Zhongli Shuo crossed his arms and looked at Zhongli An. "I just know very little about this place and want to learn more about it."
“Nanyang is a place that, aside from other things, has some of the best jade,” Zhongli An said with a smile, looking at Zhongli Shuo. “There is a place in Nanyang called Dushan, and the jade produced there is one of the four famous jades, on par with Lantian jade from Sizhou.”
Zhongli Shuo nodded thoughtfully, “Dushan in Nanyang, one of the four famous jades.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked up at Zhongli An, “Brother, have you forgotten something?”
"Oh?" Zhong Li'an looked at him with interest. "What is it?"
Zhongli Shuo looked at Cen Xun with tender eyes, then looked at Zhongli An with delight, "It's almost the end of the year, and you still haven't sent a letter to propose marriage."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Zhong Li'an smiled and pointed at Zhong Li Shuo, then turned back to look at Cen Xun seriously. "Tongxi, honestly, are you really sure about this?"
Cen Xun looked back at Zhong Li'an and nodded solemnly, "My feelings for Yu De are also sincere, and I have no regrets."
“Good,” Zhongli An nodded approvingly, then turned to look at Zhongli Shuo, “The letter is easy to handle, but have you thought about the betrothal gift?”
Zhongli Shuo nodded vigorously, "Of course I've thought it through. Brother, you just need to send the letter. As for the betrothal gifts, I will personally hand them over to Tongxi after we form an alliance with Nanyang."
“How can that be?” Zhong Li’an shook his head with a smile. “How can we be so careless about such an important matter for both families?” He looked at the two people beside him and chuckled, “Alright, you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll take care of the preparations.”
Upon hearing this, Zhongli Shuo's face lit up with joy, and he ran to Zhongli An's side with a smile, "Thank you, brother!"
“You,” Zhongli An shook his head with a helpless smile, raising his hand to tap Zhongli Shuo’s nose, “you’re all talk.” He put his hand on Zhongli Shuo’s shoulder, smiling at everyone, and said, “The envoy from Nanyang has arranged to visit me again this afternoon. I’ll need you all to be flexible and help me assess the situation.”
Qi Kun also looked up and smiled at Zhong Li'an, "My lord, what are you saying? This is simply our duty."
“Since it’s still early, let’s have lunch first. As far as I can tell, the envoy should come over after lunch.” Zhong Li’an smiled and walked around the table, pointing at Yang Xiao. “Especially you, Lingyu, you came to the meeting without eating anything after your hangover.”
“Alright,” Yang Xiao nodded with a smile, “Thank you for your concern, my lord.” She stood up and looked at everyone, “Since we’ll be back this afternoon, why don’t we have our meal here? I’ll go find Mu Fei, my lord?” She turned to Zhong Li’an, “What do you say?”
Zhong Li'an turned his head and smiled at Yang Xiao, "Is he here? Very well, then I'll trouble you to send someone to call him."
"I'll go, no need to trouble yourself," Yang Xiao said with a smile as she walked towards the door, waving to everyone. "I'll be going now, see you later!"
“This child,” Zhong Li’an chuckled as he looked at Yang Xiao’s back, straightened his robe and sat down, then looked up at Zhong Li Shuo, “Yu De, you shouldn’t be idle either.”
Zhong Lishuo looked up at Zhong Li'an, "Hmm? I'm going to assist Mu Fei?"
“What and what,” Zhong Li’an chuckled and shook his head. “Go to the bookshelf and cut that piece of silk.”
"Silk cloth? What important person are you writing to?" Zhongli Shuo joked as he walked towards the library. "By the way, why didn't you ask your guards to take the silk cloth?"
“I’m not used to ordering around servants…” Zhongli An answered without thinking, then suddenly looked at Zhongli Shuo with a smile as if he had thought of something, “Don’t you do your own things? Then I’m not writing anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Zhong Lishuo looked at Zhong Li'an with delight, "Could it be that you are going to write a letter to Mr. Cen?" He then ran excitedly to the library, "I'll go and cut it right now."
Zhong Li'an watched his figure, chuckled and shook her head, then raised her voice slightly and called out to him, "Cut them out and put them on your desk. You can write properly when you're done tonight."
A commotion of rummaging through drawers and cabinets suddenly erupted from the library, followed by a slightly muffled shout, "Good!"
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