Chapter Forty-Eight: A Grand Feast, Amidst Lingering Affection
As the last rays of sunset swept across the sky, red cloth curtains hung everywhere on the ground. Under the dim lamplight, soldiers laughed and joked as they shared the turbid wine in the jars. Their laughter mingled with the clinking of cups and bowls, and the clear sound of wine being spilled, all of which echoed through the night.
"Come on, brothers!" Zhong Lishuo said, holding a wine bowl in one hand and putting his other arm around Bai Ming's shoulder. "Today we've returned victorious, having taught Xiao Yan and his gang a lesson. Tonight, let's drink to our hearts' content! We won't leave until we're drunk!"
"Good! Let's drink until we drop!" The soldiers in front of them all raised their wine bowls and laughed as they echoed, "The generals have made great contributions today, and we should share in their joy."
Bai Ming, holding a glass of wine, smiled at the soldiers. "How could we have won so easily by ourselves? Everyone here has made a great contribution." He raised his glass to everyone. "There's no alcohol ban today, so drink and have fun."
"Come on! Zhao Qing and I will toast you all!" Zhong Lishuo put his arm around Bai Ming's shoulder and leaned down to clink glasses with the soldiers.
Everyone burst into laughter upon seeing this, and the wine bowls clattered together, creating splashes of wine.
Yang Xiao tied the last red curtain, jumped off the small table, and bumped into Zhang Ping, who was carrying a jar of wine.
"Hey, General Lingyu," Zhang Ping greeted Yang Xiao as soon as he saw her, putting down his wine jar. "Don't bother hanging it up, I'll do this."
"It's rare to see you not sleepy. Why can't you keep your eyes open when you're practicing martial arts?" Yang Xiao smiled and pointed at Zhang Ping. "I've already finished this work, and you're only just coming over." She patted Zhang Ping's shoulder. "Tonight, you're in charge of making sure our Eagle Team eats well and has fun. I won't be coming to see you guys."
“Good, General, you too,” Zhang Ping said with a beaming smile as he picked up the jar of wine. “Then I’ll go and serve the wine to the brothers.”
Yang Xiao smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, go ahead." After saying that, she turned around and looked at the brightly lit hall, then skipped and jumped inside.
But then they saw Cen Xun sitting at a small table behind the wall, holding a wine pot, pouring himself a drink with great interest.
"Tongxi," she said, walking around the table and gently patting Cen Xun's shoulder before turning to sit beside her. "Why are you drinking alone? Where's Yude?"
Cen Xun put down his wine cup, looked up at her, and said, "I was about to ask you that too. How come you have time to come here now?"
Yang Xiao smiled as she looked into Cen Xun's eyes, which were reflected in the lamplight. "Hmm? Why don't I have time?"
"As soon as Yude arrived, he called Zhaoqing away. I wonder what he was planning. I thought he would call you away too." Cen Xun smiled, picked up the wine on the table, and took a sip. "How about having a drink with me?"
"Yude called Zhaoqing away?" Yang Xiao frowned and looked at Cen Xun. "What happened?"
"Nothing's wrong," Cen Xun said with a smile, waving his hand. "Don't worry, given their personalities, would they not call you if it were something important?"
Yang Xiao smiled and shook her head, picked up the wine glass and looked at the clear, jade-like liquid inside. She frowned slightly and put it back in its place.
Cen Xun put down her wine glass, patted Yang Xiao's knee, and looked up at the gradually rounding moon on the horizon. "Tonight is a fine night, and it just so happens to coincide with our triumphant return, plus the end of the year is approaching..." She turned back and smiled at Yang Xiao, "On such a coincidental day, why don't you go and confess your feelings?"
“I…” Yang Xiao paused, her gaze involuntarily turning towards the door, then she sighed softly, “Tonight? Isn’t that too hasty?”
Cen Xun smiled and downed the wine in her glass in one gulp. "Hesitation and indecisiveness," she said, turning to look at Yang Xiao, "can lead to trouble."
The lamplight reflected in her eyes, and the scenes from before flashed before her eyes. Yang Xiao's heart began to race. She closed her eyes and once again asked the question that had long been a certainty in her heart.
—Is Bai Ming the only one for you in this life?
An affirmative answer welled up within her, clamoring excitedly in her ears. Her inner voice instantly transformed into classical music, and like a general facing battle, she abruptly opened her eyes.
"Phew..." Yang Xiao looked at the wine in her glass and let out a long breath. "Fine, I'll just go for it." She looked up at Cen Xun solemnly. "I'll drink to embolden myself, won't I? After I drink a few glasses, I'll go and tell him everything."
"Hey, Lingyu," Cen Xun saw how serious she was and quickly reached out to stop Yang Xiao's arm, "It's your first time drinking, drink slowly, don't..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yang Xiao slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and suddenly tilted her head back, downing the entire glass of wine in one gulp.
A pungent, spicy smell exploded in her mouth, the sudden stimulation making it impossible for her to open her eyes. The burning, astringent sensation rushed down her throat and into her lungs, causing her to cough repeatedly.
"Hey," Cen Xun stood up to help Yang Xiao when she saw this. She shook her head with a helpless smile and patted Yang Xiao's back to help her catch her breath. "I told you to slow down. Are you alright? Do you want some hot water to help you catch your breath?"
Yang Xiao was still coughing with her head down. She shook her head, holding Cen Xun's arm, "No need, no need." She let out a long sigh, barely stopping her cough. She looked up at the light hanging above her head, and her eyes became blurry.
She raised her hand to wipe her slightly moist eyes, and involuntarily staggered back two steps, her face flushed, whether from choking or from the spread of intoxication, it was hard to tell.
"Lingyu," Cen Xun frowned worriedly when he saw that something was wrong, "Sit down quickly, or you'll fall. Listen to me."
“Tongxi, let me tell you,” Yang Xiao said, ignoring Cen Xun’s words, she turned around, took Cen Xun’s hand, and put her arm around her shoulder. “I’m going to talk to him tonight and make things clear, just like…” She seemed to remember something and chuckled, “just like Yu De back then, who was both made and destroyed by one sword.”
As they were talking, a light flickered outside the door, and the two stepped into the tent.
Amidst the laughter and commotion, Zhong Lishuo was egging someone on from the side. Bai Ming seemed to sense something as well, let out a soft sigh, and solemnly looked up in their direction.
"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore," Yang Xiao said with a smile, letting go of Cen Xun's arm, then involuntarily took two steps back. "I'm leaving."
"Why……"
Before Cen Xun could raise his hand to stop her, Yang Xiao walked towards Bai Ming without turning her head.
Bai Ming was stunned by the sight; he had never seen Yang Xiao like this before. He watched as Yang Xiao staggered toward him, then suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly ran forward to greet her.
Unexpectedly, Yang Xiao walked straight diagonally toward the table to the side. Before Bai Ming could even reach out, there was a "thud" as her calf slammed solidly onto the table.
Yang Xiao winced in pain and lost her balance. Fortunately, Bai Ming reacted quickly and caught her in his arms, supporting her gently. "Lingyu, are you alright?" He stopped and looked at Yang Xiao with concern. "What happened? Did you drink so much?"
Yang Xiao gently shook her head, which felt like it was filled with paste, and, holding Bai Ming's arms, stared at him for a long time before finally recognizing him.
She seemed to perk up instantly, raising her hand to support Bai Ming's shoulder, but due to her unsteady center of gravity, she tripped and made Bai Ming stumble back several steps.
Cen Xun also rushed over in a few steps, and when he saw that Bai Ming had already helped Yang Xiao up, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhong Lishuo had never seen anything like it before. He looked at Cen Xun, then pointed at Yang Xiao incredulously, "Just how much did she drink?"
Cen Xun glanced at Yang Xiao, then turned to meet Zhong Lishuo's probing gaze, raising his hand to make a "one" gesture.
"Her first time drinking alcohol..." Zhong Lishuo incredulously gestured "one," "She drank a whole jar?"
“What do you mean, a jar?” Cen Xun shook his head with a helpless smile. “A cup.”
"Bai Ming!" Yang Xiao called out, tugging at Bai Ming's sleeve and frowning, though her words were slightly mumbled. She lowered her eyes and looked up at Bai Ming reproachfully.
Bai Ming quickly steadied her and nodded in agreement, "I'm here, go ahead."
“Tell me the truth,” she pointed at Bai Ming’s shoulder, “do you have someone you like?”
Bai Ming's heart skipped a beat. Looking at Yang Xiao's increasingly red cheeks, his mind went blank, and his hands supporting her unconsciously went limp.
His fingertips trembled slightly as he gazed intently and excitedly at Yang Xiao's eyes, which were filled with intoxication yet also held a touch of stubbornness.
"Ah Xiao, you..."
Yang Xiao stared at Bai Ming, blinked her sore eyes, and when he didn't answer, the anger in her eyes deepened. "Does not speaking mean you agree? You really do have someone you like, right?"
Disappointment and resentment immediately welled up in her eyes. Before Bai Ming could even offer any explanation, she angrily snorted and frowned at him, asking, "What does she look like? Is she pretty? Can she fight? Is she strategic? Can she deploy troops? Can she beat me? Hmm?"
She tugged at Bai Ming's sleeve, looking slightly aggrieved, and staggered due to her drunkenness, barely managing to stay upright with Bai Ming's help. Even so, she didn't give Bai Ming any room to argue; she gently shook her head, as if refuting her previous statement.
"No... You're such a capable general, how could you possibly like someone so similar to you..." She pondered for a while, then looked up at the bewildered Bai Ming, "You must like a gentle, refined, and understanding young lady from a noble family, right? Someone who can sing and dance, speaks eloquently, and whose every gesture is graceful and elegant..."
“That’s true,” Yang Xiao gritted her teeth with a self-deprecating smile, “Who wouldn’t like a woman like that?”
"Ah Xiao, you..." Bai Ming was at a loss for words. He looked down at Yang Xiao and coaxed her gently, "Let me say a few words first, okay?"
Yang Xiao looked up at Bai Ming, only to be instantly lost in an endless sea of emotions. Bai Ming's clear and affectionate gaze, as vast as the ocean, rippled through her heart, and the blush beneath his eyes also captivated her.
She stood there, momentarily at a loss. After a long while, she suddenly remembered her resentment and unwillingness. She let out a soft "humph" and slammed her head against Bai Ming's chest.
Bai Ming suddenly became extremely nervous. He hurriedly adjusted his rapid breathing, and his hand, which was gently wrapped around Yang Xiao's back, trembled slightly.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with emotion and pity, and looked at Yang Xiao, who was nestled in his arms. He couldn't help but close his eyes and take a deep breath.
A relaxed smile appeared on his lips. He carefully nuzzled Yang Xiao's head with his chin and gently patted her back, but dared not move his hand even slightly.
“What you said is true, A-Xiao,” Bai Ming’s affectionate eyes were full of smiles, “I do have someone I love. She is very beautiful, highly skilled in martial arts, shrewd in strategy, knowledgeable in military tactics, and first-rate in troop deployment. Although she is my classmate, she is very different from me. Without her, I would not be who I am today.”
Bai Ming gently coaxed her, glancing down at Yang Xiao, who was nestled in his arms, breathing evenly. A slight itch rose in his heart. "I've never liked any young ladies from noble families who can sing and dance. However, if she has a peaceful and smooth life, she should be considered a daughter of a military family, right?"
He raised his hand and gently twirled a strand of Yang Xiao's hair. "Ah Xiao, the one I love... is you."
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