New Year's Eve drunkenness
On New Year's Eve, as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, the longing for home is ingrained in our very being. Every year on this day, a bonfire banquet is held in the military camp to entertain the hardworking soldiers on the frontier. The imperial court grants them special permission to drink a small amount of alcohol and make merry, thus alleviating their homesickness.
Early in the morning, everyone got up and busied themselves preparing for the lunch and dinner banquets. They were busy and laughing, but never mentioned their hometown thousands of miles away.
When the carriage arrived, the sun was high in the sky. They encountered a small group returning with pheasants and rabbits. Their faces were flushed red from the cold mountain wind, but no one cared as they waved to Jiang Yanhui, holding up their prey.
"Little rascals, what did you catch?" Jiang Yan shouted. They came running over excitedly, showing off their catch like treasures.
One said his pheasant was bigger than her rabbit, while she said the rabbit was fatter than the pheasant. They argued back and forth, and eventually couldn't help but laugh.
Lang Rong patted the leading soldier on the shoulder and laughed, "You guys all have noses like dogs; you can even make the creatures hiding in the caves in the snow come out."
The boy, a little embarrassed, scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile.
Most of the soldiers without official rank or position were around sixteen or seventeen years old and still growing. The meat provided by the military camp was not enough for them, so a few greedy ones would get together and go hunting for wild game on a nearby hilltop.
Aside from the preparation period, most people turn a blind eye to these harmless behaviors. These kids are going to the front lines and won't be able to go back unless they die or are crippled. Looking at their innocent and cheerful smiling faces, it's hard to bring yourself to scold them.
Jiang Yanhui wasn't going to be a judge, so she waved her hand and said, "Alright, soak your hands and feet when you get back, so you don't get frostbite."
They all responded in unison, then quickly grabbed their prey and ran towards the kitchen.
Inside the central command tent, Dou Yao sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, carefully wiping the blade by the light of an oil lamp. The gleaming blade reflected the sharp, weathered eyes of his eyes.
Then, a smile appeared in his eyes as he looked at the two people who had entered through the curtain. He then turned and put the knife back on the knife rack.
"You've finally decided to come back?"
Jiang Yan bowed with clasped hands, and as if returning home, naturally took off her cloak and sat down by the charcoal brazier to warm herself.
Completely changing his listless demeanor from the journey, he raised his eyebrows and said, "I came back specifically to accompany you, so you'd better remember this favor."
Lang Rong shook his head helplessly.
Dou Yao had no intention of paying any attention to the unreliable Jiang Yan Hui, and went straight to asking Lang Rong, "How did you get here?"
Lang Rong, who was called out, clasped his hands respectfully and replied, "It's too cold outside to ride a horse, so I came by carriage."
Dou Yao nodded in agreement, picked up the bubbling copper kettle on the stove, poured a cup of hot tea, and said, "While a general's ability to lead troops into battle is certainly important, taking good care of one's own health is also a way to put the minds of those below at ease."
Lang Rong quickly glanced at Jiang Yan Hui, who was warming herself by the fire as if no one else was around. He wasn't sure if Jiang Yan Hui had realized that Dou Yao was calling on her. She even eyed the tea that Dou Yao had just poured and reached out to grab it, only to have her hand slapped by Dou Yao.
"Pour it yourself if you want to drink it."
He lost his composure in an instant; he simply couldn't do anything with this niece.
It was because her features resembled her deceased younger brother so much that whenever she looked into those eyes, she couldn't muster any anger at all.
Dou Yao, wanting to avoid the trouble, shooed the man away, saying, "Go away, go away. If you have nothing else to do, don't linger in my tent. If you have any energy, go and instruct your men on their training."
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yan nimbly bypassed Dou Yao's arm, grabbed the lukewarm tea from the table, and gulped it down in one go.
Not content with stirring up trouble, he grinned and said, "Delicious!"
Lang Rong suddenly turned his back to her, covering his mouth and his shoulders trembling.
Jiang Yan was truly the only one in the entire camp who dared to act so shamelessly and playfully towards Dou Yao without fear of punishment.
Thanks to Jiang Yanhui, the innocent Lang Rong was also packed up and kicked out of the tent, the two of them standing dejectedly in the wind, bewildered.
The passing soldiers were used to it; they greeted them and went about their business.
"Aren't you going to the martial arts training ground?" Lang Rong asked, pulling Jiang Yanhui back as she was about to leave.
Jiang Yan tried to pull her hand away but couldn't. Lang Rong was stronger than others, but she suspected that he had developed this strength from being chased up trees by General Lang many times when she was a child.
"It's New Year's Eve today, even the rats aren't stealing grain and are resting. Who are you planning to catch to train at the martial arts field?" Jiang Yanhui looked at Lang Rong's indescribable expression and laughed. "You believe whatever my aunt says. No wonder she wanted to send you to live at my house."
Still not understanding what was going on, Lang Rong instinctively asked for help, "Then what do we do?"
Jiang Yanhui supported her shoulder and pointed to the direction where the smoke was rising, "See that place?"
Lang Rong nodded, "The kitchen."
"Yes, go and ask if there's anything you can help with."
"And what about you?"
Jiang Yanhui's expression was as serious as if he were deploying troops, and he said, "As a general, I naturally have my own things to do."
However, Captain Lang Rong kept quiet and obediently went towards the kitchen.
Having lured the person away, Jiang Yan turned and headed towards her own tent. Let whoever wants to stay in the freezing cold with the howling wind stay there.
Even though Jiang Yanhui only stayed in the tent for a few days at a time, her tent was kept clean by a dedicated person every day.
The furnishings inside the tent were similar to those in Dou Yao's tent, except that there was no sand table for troop deployment. Instead, there was a map with a sheepskin background stretched on a shelf, so even if there was no one inside the tent, soldiers had to be arranged to guard it in shifts.
The charcoal brazier was lit, and the air inside the tent was warm and dry. The bow hanging on the wall had its grips tied with animal fur, giving it a wild look.
The layout and furnishings are the same, but the details reveal different personalities.
Jiang Yanhui bent one leg and leaned halfway against the couch, which was thoughtfully padded with a thick and soft cotton cushion. She picked up the military book she was reading halfway through on the table and continued reading, feeling extremely comfortable and at ease.
I planned to spend the long, boring afternoon holed up in my tent.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Before he could even turn two pages, the guards outside came in to report that Deng Jiajin was requesting an audience, saying that she had important matters to discuss.
You should know that the people Jiang Yanhui least wanted to see in the entire army were Deng Jiajin and his gang.
You can't hit them, and you can't scold them—who can out-scold them?
The person is blocking the doorway. Even if I don't want to see her, I have to see her and find out what important thing she has to talk to me about.
As soon as Deng Jiajin entered the tent, she saw Jiang Yanhui sitting in a carefree and unrestrained posture, showing no intention of moving or observing etiquette.
There are many纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) in the capital with the same style of behavior as Jiang Yan Hui, but no one can compare with her abilities. Even the same actions performed by Jiang Yan Hui show more of the heroic spirit of a soldier.
Deng Jiajin withdrew her gaze, straightened her hem, and sat down nearby. The court uniform she wore when they first met had been replaced with a dark green casual dress, which complemented her calm and composed personality.
Looking down at the empty teacup, then at the stove where tea was being warmed at Jiang Yan's feet, he shook his head helplessly and said, "It is not easy to see Your Highness Jiang. I dare not slack off when I learned that you have returned, for fear that Your Highness will have left again if I arrive too late."
Jiang Yan glanced at her lazily and casually, "If you want to find me, come to my palace. Waiting for me in the military camp is no more than what Supervisor Deng shows in terms of sincerity."
They barely exchanged a few words before their sharp, veiled insults escalated into a full-blown confrontation. Their incompatible personalities meant that even just sitting in the same room, one could sense the intense tension between them.
Deng Jiajin stroked the rim of the cup, suppressing her arrogance, and rose to bow, saying, "Your Highness, I do not know what I have done to offend you so much. On behalf of myself and my subordinates, I apologize."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yanhui closed the book and looked directly at Deng Jiajin, waiting to hear what she had to say next.
"I presume that King Jiang and I share the same goal: to safeguard the integrity of the nation's territory and protect the people of Lingzhou from the harassment of the You tribe."
"Since I've come today, I wish to have a frank and open discussion with Prince Jiang. I know you are dissatisfied with His Majesty's dispatch of a military supervisor to restrain the army, but you have misunderstood His Majesty's intentions."
Seeing that Jiang Yanhui was listening patiently, Deng Jiajin continued, "You and General Dou Yao have guarded Lingzhou for ten years. During these ten years, the growth of Lingzhou's military strength has been visible to the naked eye. Many people in the court have repeatedly advised His Majesty to send a supervisor, but His Majesty has declined them all."
As public opinion in the court grew increasingly unrest, His Majesty had no choice but to send me with men to silence the discontent. This was not to impede the generals' decisions, but rather to maintain a balance of power.
The simplest words expressed the most genuine emotions. Deng Jiajin told everything and looked at Jiang Yanhui with a little nervousness.
These were the heartfelt words His Majesty had spoken privately the night before his departure, and until just now, no one but her knew them.
I only hope that we can turn hostility into friendship, ease the tension in my relationship with Jiang Yanhui, and avoid making mistakes due to prejudice in our future collaboration.
Jiang Yan sat up straight, her gaze subtly scrutinizing Deng Jiajin. Her lowered eyes made the atmosphere in the tent even more oppressive. With a hint of interrogation, she asked, "His Majesty only told you?"
Deng Jiajin said, "To avoid too many people talking, His Majesty only gave me this instruction."
Inside the tent, all was quiet except for the whooshing wind outside and the bubbling of boiling tea—a silent tug-of-war.
After a long while, Jiang Yan got up, picked up the teapot, and walked to the low table where Deng Jiajin was sitting. She tilted her wrist and poured a steaming cup of tea, the aroma of which instantly filled the air.
Deng Jiajin breathed a sigh of relief, closed her eyes, and her tense shoulders relaxed. She heard Jiang Yan reply,
"Deng Jiajin, I'll trust you this once."
—
As night fell, the sky was dotted with stars, and bonfires were lit on the ground. The lively atmosphere dispelled the chill of the night, and people greeted each other with barbecue and drinks, chatting freely about their expectations for the coming year.
The banquet tent was brightly lit and warm, as senior generals gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve. This year was a little special, as seats were reserved for Deng Jiajin and others.
Lang Rong toasted and chatted with her colleagues, but her eyes never left Jiang Yan Hui beside her. While sipping her strong liquor, she was impressed that Jiang Yan Hui didn't show any signs of anger, and she drank a couple more glasses in relief.
Unlike in Lingzhou, there was no singing and dancing in the military camp. Even someone as unconventional as Jiang Yanhui would never cross the line. Everyone discussed the war and family matters, swallowing their longing with wine.
When people are halfway through drinking and relaxed, they are most likely to speak without restraint.
Among the subordinates who accompanied Deng Jiajin to the military camp was a civil official named Yan Cong. He was furious about Jiang Yan's unreasonable behavior of turning away without even looking at him last time, and almost wanted to secretly impeach him. However, Deng Jiajin suppressed the matter and let it go.
He already harbored resentment, and seeing Jiang Yanhui's every move only made him more annoyed, especially since Jiang Yanhui would frequently return to Lingzhou instead of guarding the military camp. Yan Cong was so angry that he had nowhere to vent his anger.
After a few drinks, his resentment flared up. With a flush of alcohol on his cheeks, he glared at Jiang Yan Hui, who was listlessly sipping his drink, and slammed his hand on the table, shouting, "Lord Jiang, today I want to speak up for everyone!"
The once lively and relaxed tent fell silent instantly. Everyone looked at each other, not daring to make any big moves, but they could tell from each other's eyes that something bad was about to happen.
The moment Yan Cong opened his mouth, Lang Rong felt a chill run down his spine. He desperately tried to signal to the slightly drunk Yan Cong that he had said something and should shut up to avoid getting a beating.
He looked at Jiang Yanhui again, still worried. He saw that Jiang Yanhui had lifted her thin eyelids, and the light could not penetrate her dark pupils, making it impossible to figure out her emotions at that moment.
Her lips, moistened by the wine, were a deep red, and the corners of her lips were slightly upturned. "Tell me about it?"
Yan Cong pushed Deng Jiajin's hand away, leaned on the table, and stood up, swaying as if this action could overpower Jiang Yanhui, who was sitting down.
"Our dynasty values scholars highly, yet you have repeatedly ignored them with an arrogant attitude. Putting that aside for now, as a general, you have privately left the military camp to return to your palace for pleasure, indulging in debauchery and extravagance. How can you be a role model for your family? Lingzhou is an important border region of our dynasty; how can it be treated so lightly!"
Yan Cong became increasingly indignant as he spoke, his cheek muscles trembling and his eyes reddening.
There was a deathly silence. Even Dou Yao didn't know how to respond to this conversation in a way that would smooth things over, so he simply covered his face and leaned back.
Whatever, as long as no one dies, whatever happens, it's bound to happen sooner or later.
Jiang Yanhui grabbed the wine jar and stood up. Lang Rong's words of persuasion were choked back by a look from her. Although Lang Rong usually kept nagging behind Jiang Yanhui's back, it was only because Jiang Yanhui indulged him and didn't care. When she was really angry, Lang Rong would definitely shut up and not dare to say a word.
When Jiang Yanhui was just a step away from Yan Cong, Lang Rong resignedly closed his eyes, preparing to rush forward, grab Jiang Yanhui, and drag her away when a fight broke out.
She had witnessed the power of Jiang Yanhui's fists firsthand. A single punch could shatter a skull as easily as a joke. If it landed on a frail scholar like Yan Cong, he would have died on the spot. All those guys combined wouldn't be enough for Jiang Yanhui to take down one of them with a single punch.
Ding—
The crisp clinking of the wine jars on the table.
The anticipated fight did not occur. Jiang Yan put her arm around Yan Cong's shoulder and helped him sit down.
Lang Rong was surprised by the strange behavior; everyone present who knew Jiang Yan Hui's temperament was speechless with astonishment.
"Honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial. I understand everything you've said." Jiang Yanhui poured a large bowl full of wine from the wine jar, picked up one of the bowls and clinked them together. "I toast you."
Ultimately, Yan Cong was not an unreasonable person. With such courteous treatment, he lost his temper and foolishly picked up the bowl and drank.
Jiang Yanhui refilled the bowl, saying, "It was wrong of me to turn around and leave when I saw you last time. I must drink this apology drink."
Yan Cong, holding his bowl, his face flushed, clearly drunk, slurred, "Actually, it's nothing serious. Once we talk it out, we won't feel uncomfortable anymore."
He drank it all again.
Jiang Yanhui's smile widened as she raised her wrist to fill the cup, saying, "This bowl of wine is a wish for our harmonious coexistence in the future."
Deng Jiajin knew Yan Cong's alcohol tolerance and was afraid that he would get into trouble if he drank any more, so she reminded him, "Your Highness, Yan Cong's alcohol tolerance is not high. If he drinks any more, he may lose control."
"It's alright. There aren't many rules in the army. If you're drunk, just go back to sleep." Jiang Yanhui picked up the wine bowl that hadn't been touched, raised it to Yan Cong as a gesture, and drank it all in one gulp.
Yan Cong, holding a wine bowl, swayed as he rose, "May our dynasty prosper! May the people of Lingzhou prosper!"
He choked on his breath, his eyes glazed over, swayed twice, and then slumped down.
People around him anxiously gathered around and helped Yan Cong, who had fallen and was too drunk to speak coherently, to his feet. They looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
Jiang Yanhui laughed at Yan Cong's disheveled drunken state, and said with her hands behind her back, "Yan Cong is drunk, let's carry her away to rest."
It was only then that everyone came to their senses. Jiang Yan Hui was not ignoring Yan Cong's behavior; she had simply changed her approach to retaliating on the spot, even finding a reason that Yan Cong couldn't refuse.
Those who sided with Yan Cong gritted their teeth and cursed Jiang Yan Hui for bullying them, while those on Jiang Yan Hui's side felt a sense of relief and gratitude, marveling that their general had finally learned to handle those he disliked in a more tactful way.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become tense again, Dou Yao, who had been observing silently, spoke up to break the deadlock: "Yan Hui, tonight is New Year's Eve, go out and toast the soldiers on my behalf."
Jiang Yanhui and Deng Jiajin's eyes met briefly before she looked away. She said, "Yes, ma'am."
The atmosphere inside the tent became lively and harmonious thanks to Lang Rong's mediation. Those who wanted to hold onto the matter from earlier dared not bring it up out of consideration for Dou Yao, and sat quietly in their seats to drink.
Before he had even had two drinks, a soldier hurried past the banquet to Dou Yao's side and whispered, "General, after the Queen finished drinking with the ladies, she...she left in her carriage. Before she left, she instructed her subordinates to tell you not to keep sending...Commander Lang to her residence."
Lang Rong, who was drinking and chatting with his arm around Jiang Yan, had no idea that Jiang Yan had left alone in the military camp.
Given the increasingly cold weather in Lingzhou, without a carriage to shield us from the wind and snow, we probably won't see each other again until spring.
Dou Yao chuckled and scolded them lightly, then waved his hand to dismiss the soldiers, completely disregarding the matter.
With her, a Grand General personally appointed by the late Emperor, in command of the army, there was no need for Jiang Yanhui to waste her prime years among women.
If she doesn't get to hold her grandnephew in her lifetime, she'll probably make a scene in the capital, sit at the city gate and wail for ten or fifteen days, and ask these people what their intentions are.
A note from the author:
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Lang Rong was disheveled in the wind after the banquet...
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