At the Dawu Pass military camp, the soldiers, who were eating large chunks of meat and drinking large bowls of wine, found it strange that their general had not touched a drop of alcohol that night. When someone boldly stepped forward to offer a toast, the general drank tea instead of wine.
"What's wrong with the general these past few days? Is he homesick because of the New Year?"
"It doesn't seem like it. The general spends every year in the military camp, but I've never seen him like this before."
"Shh, keep your voice down. Let's not speculate. Everyone has their worries."
Some soldiers discussed it quietly, while others offered quiet advice.
Peng Xian walked by and overheard something. He looked up and quickly found his good brother. He strode over to him.
"What's wrong with you? Have you encountered something difficult to solve? Or do you know that Wu and his gang have colluded to do something outrageous?" Peng Xian asked in a low voice when he got closer.
Ever since attending the banquet at Prefect Wu's residence that day, this man had been in a bad mood. He had a gloomy face all day long.
"You drink with them, I'll go on patrol." After saying that, Lin Ansheng shoved the teapot and teacups in his hand into Peng Xian's hands, turned around and gave a whistle, and his mount came galloping over at the sound.
Lin Ansheng mounted his horse and headed towards the outpost.
Helpless, Peng Xian summoned several of his men who did not drink alcohol and rode over with them.
Even though the other country was very peaceful and showed no signs of invasion, Lin Ansheng kept reminding everyone not to be complacent and negligent in their precautions just because the other side seemed peaceful.
On holidays and festivals, like today, the generals in the army responsible for patrols and guards are not allowed to drink alcohol. The soldiers who are to relieve the officers in the middle of the night are also not allowed to drink alcohol.
However, when they were free from their duties the next day, they were still treated to food and drinks.
After noticing that his good brother was in a bad mood, Peng Xian privately asked the other generals who had gone to the banquet at Wu’s mansion with his good brother General Lin if anything unpleasant or bad had happened at Wu’s mansion that day.
The answers they received were all the same: no, and that General Lin had left the banquet early that evening.
Peng Xian analyzed that since he left early, why did he know that General Lin Ansheng returned in the early hours of the next day?
Could it be that something happened outside the Wu residence after they left early that night?
Peng Xian was certain that his good brother was in trouble, but he wouldn't say what it was, and the information he had found was limited.
As Lin Ansheng rode away, the cold wind made him even calmer.
He arranged for people to investigate the plot he had been plotted against at the Wu residence on the eve of the Lunar New Year the very next day. He was quite certain that Prefect Wu and his daughter, as well as his advisor and the stewards in the residence, were all involved in what happened that night.
Ha! How dare they use such methods on him? They're just asking for death.
Lin Ansheng didn't openly storm the Wu residence to teach them a lesson; that would be too easy on them!
At the same time, Lin Ansheng also hoped that the fact that she was plotted against that night would not become common knowledge.
Although he left the Wu residence that night with the last shred of his reason.
However, what happened after he left the Wu residence was still beyond his control.
For the young man who had become famous overnight, what happened that night was an utter disgrace, a disgrace beyond measure.
The reason why Prefect Wu used such despicable means against me was because of my status as a general, and he wanted to help me make money in this border region.
Fine then, let's make sure he can't even stay in his current position as a fifth-rank prefect.
The best punishment for him would be to make everything he has schemed and plotted to become nothing!
As for Prefect Wu's daughter, Yao Niangzi? Lin Ansheng was too lazy to do anything to her alone. Once her father lost his official hat and was caught embezzling money due to his corrupt practices, he would not only have his property confiscated but also face imprisonment.
At that time, the daughter of a convicted official will undoubtedly face dire consequences.
In fact, Lin Ansheng was also aware that his bad mood these past few days was not because of Prefect Wu and his daughter. He had heard about the shady dealings that Prefect Wu had done with other garrison officials during his years at the border.
It is not difficult to find evidence of Prefect Wu's corruption and abuse of power.
The only thing troubling Lin Ansheng right now is how to face that Miss Hong.
Should I go and thank them, or apologize?
The key question is whether the extent of his disrespectful behavior towards her has reached the point where he needs to propose to her and take responsibility for her.
As a military general, it wasn't inappropriate for him to marry a woman with her personality.
Peng Xian said he would invite her and the children to the military camp for New Year's Eve. He was also thinking that he would find an opportunity to talk to her after they arrived.
As it turned out, they didn't agree to come over and booked the restaurant themselves.
Lin Ansheng remembered that she had said she would leave after the New Year. Maybe she should just pretend to be confused and endure it for a few more days. Once she left, all the problems would be gone!
They say people from the martial arts world don't care about trifles! Maybe she didn't even take that night to heart.
Even if I did something rude to her, didn't she soak herself in the bathtub with cold water for several hours? Any anger she felt must have been relieved!
Before we knew it, it was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and many shops on the street had opened for business.
Hong Xiaoduo also took the seven children for a stroll on the street, thinking about buying some things they might need on the way.
There are indeed some good things in this area where the two countries meet.
They bought the tent they wanted, which could accommodate five boys and their master, as well as the small ceramic stove and tea set they wanted to use for brewing tea together.
She planned to buy the cakes and pastries the evening before she left, and also wanted to buy some cooked beans for the donkey and horse.
Watching the seven children take a few steps and then instinctively touch their purses at their waists to see if they were still there, and seeing their conflicted expressions as they encountered interesting little gadgets, wanting them but still hesitating to buy them despite touching their purses, Hong Xiaoduo found it amusing.
She didn't mention that she had paid for it for them; instead, she pretended not to see it.
As I walked, I saw a group of people gathered ahead.
"Mother, is that the acrobatic performance?" Yao Guang asked excitedly, looking at the crowd gathered around.
Hong Xiaoduo had no idea, so she took her hand and squeezed in.
People squeezed to the very back before realizing it wasn't a circus act at all. A young woman with a white cloth tied around her waist and white flowers in her hair was kneeling, and in front of her lay a person covered with a straw mat.
"What bad luck to see this during the New Year," someone complained as they turned and left.
Some people expressed their sympathy, saying, "This young woman is so pitiful; she has to sell herself to bury her father during the Lunar New Year."
Hong Xiaoduo heard it clearly and quickly pulled Yao Guang behind her.
Just as she was wondering whether to help the girl and how much silver to give her, she saw several more people squeeze into the crowd. The one leading them was someone she recognized—the young master she had met at the deserted inn before…
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