preoccupied with Cheng Feiyi

Cui Yi mentioned, "He bought a large number of privately made arrows from Xuanzhou. Ye Jia tested him, and he didn't refuse. Otherwise, Xie Xiao wouldn't have dared produce so many, risking death if discovered by the emperor."

"So, we leave it hanging?" Chi Ying initially feared Cui Xiang might become another Xie Yong, but relaxed over time seeing his isolation. "Huai You is stubborn, refusing to believe us and getting lost alone. Once he sets his mind, he rarely changes. As long as Zhong Lüping isn't married, he won't give up, either tormenting himself or others."

Understanding his brother's character better, Cui Yi agreed, "He appears submissive but is very stubborn. The best solution is to arrange Zhong Lüping's marriage quickly, ending all hopes. But right now, we lack suitable candidates."

They considered options. Yang Qiong was preoccupied with Cheng Feiyi in Chang Yao, and Cao Qian was about to marry. No one was available.

Frustrated, Cui Yi waved dismissively, "Forget it for now. On August 16th, Cao Qian's wedding, officers above captain rank are invited. Zhong Lüping can choose someone herself. If she likes anyone, I'll promote them accordingly."

Chi Ying happily listed preparations: fabrics, grains, pelts, silver, renovating Cao Qian's residence, adding a wardrobe.

Cui Yi approved, "Post-war, excessive spending is inappropriate. This is perfect... Oh, add something festive. I saw a red coral at Xie Xiao's mansion, perfect for the occasion. Originally for you, but give it to Cao Qian!"

Chi Ying agreed, "Red coral symbolizes joy and luck. Perfect for the occasion."

Cui Yi sighed, "If you're happy, I'm content."

On August 16th, a prosperous day, Cao Qian's wedding in Xuanzhou was celebrated grandly.

Cao Qian, a close confidant of Cui Yi, highly respected in the military, had earned the people's love through his deeds. Early that morning, crowds gathered to congratulate him. Dressed in red, he rode to fetch his bride.

His wife's family, wealthy merchants, provided lavish dowries. Along the route, servants distributed sweets, and the procession was cheered by locals bearing gifts.

At the ceremony, lacking parents, Cui Yi and Chi Ying stood in for them. Cao Qian, radiant with joy, performed the rituals with his bride.

Baili Zan, in ceremonial attire, officiated, "First bow!"

The small hall packed with friends, Miao Qiong and Shan Jian unable to attend, sent their congratulations.

Unexpectedly, Xu Cheng arrived. Surprised but understanding, Chi Ying greeted him warmly, "How is Elder Xu?"

"Thanks to Your Highness, Father is much better," Xu Cheng replied, joining Cao Qian for drinks.

Chi Ying, feeling tired, excused herself, instructing Xia Qiu to fetch herbs for Xu Cheng's father. Returning to the palace, she summoned Zhong Lüping.

"Cousin, why are you back so early?" Zhong Lüping asked, taking over the fan.

Chi Ying explained, "Xu Cheng came unexpectedly. His father, former governor of Yanzhou, needs these medicines. Please deliver them."

Zhong Lüping offered, "With the wedding outside, it's noisy here. Rest, I'll deliver them."

Chi Ying whispered, "Xu Cheng may not be as handsome as General Yang, but he's a valiant soldier. Go see if you like him. I'll help you if you do."

Blushing, Zhong Lüping left, promising to return soon.

Back in the room, Xia Qiu inquired, "What if Zhong Lüping doesn't like Xu Cheng or vice versa?"

Chi Ying replied, "Let fate decide. If they connect, wonderful. If not, it's not meant to be."

Xia Qiu massaged her legs, "If Zhong Lüping marries Xu Cheng, it stabilizes the Zhong family and ends Cui Xiang's hopes. Plus, her qualities match Xu Cheng perfectly."

Chi Ying laughed, "You've learned well. I won't abandon you."

Xia Qiu teased, "Never, I'll stay by your side forever."

Chi Ying smiled, "Good, I need you."

In Cao Qian's courtyard, a large group of people were drunk and slumped in various directions, some even snoring away in the corners.

Xu Cheng and Cui Yi held Cao Qian down and poured alcohol into him until he was completely drunk. With the help of his soldiers, they went to sober up before heading to the bridal chamber. When Xu Cheng returned from the toilet, he couldn't find Cao Qian and laughed, "Zhonghang has a poor tolerance for alcohol; he's already drunk after less than half a catty."

He lifted his robe and sat on a bench. Cui Yi, with bloodshot eyes, said while squinting, "Yuanke, I'm really glad you could come, truly glad."

Xu Cheng, also quite drunk, felt his drunkenness dissipate upon hearing this and tried to stand, "I... will take a walk over there."

"Hey! Sit down!" Cui Yi pressed his palm on Xu Cheng's shoulder, forcing him back into his seat, "Sit, sit. You rarely come, and I have much to say to you."

Xu Cheng was sweating profusely, knowing what Cui Yi wanted to talk about but unable to agree or escape. He remained stiffly seated, "Your Highness, you are drunk. Please go back and rest early."

Cui Yi picked up the wine pot and refilled his cup, "Come, come, have another couple of cups."

Xu Cheng helplessly picked up the cup, "Then... I shall follow your lead. Your Highness, please drink at your leisure." After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the entire cup in one go.

Cui Yi cheered loudly, "Good! Refreshing! Another!"

After three consecutive drinks, plus the previous ones, Xu Cheng started feeling dizzy and leaned on the table, panting heavily, "No... no more drinking..."

"Yuanke, I know I owe your father and you. General Xu had to guard Yan Prefecture for twenty years because of me," Cui Yi draped an arm around Xu Cheng's back and said with red eyes, "Twenty years... how many twenties does life have? He resents the late emperor and dislikes me, all of which I understand."

Xu Cheng's mind buzzed, his tongue thick as he spoke, "My father... dares not resent the late emperor... nor dare he resent Your Highness..."

Cui Yi shook his shoulder forcefully, "There are no outsiders here, just family."

Xu Cheng panted, "Your Highness, the late emperor... ordered that the Xu family... would never be employed again. Your Highness..."

Cui Yi shook his head indifferently, "What past people said or did isn't necessarily right. The late emperor made my elder brother the crown prince, so what? If I want to take his crown, can the late emperor climb out of his imperial tomb and spank my hand?"

Xu Cheng's eyelids drooped, almost sticking together, his voice weak, "My father once said, serving the emperor is like... like taming a tiger. He truly doesn't wish... for me... to get involved... in these conflicts..."

Cui Yi seemed not to understand, patting Xu Cheng's back hard, nearly making him vomit blood.

"You tell me! What do you want? Just say it!" Under the influence of alcohol, Cui Yi's speech became illogical, "Titles, fiefs, gold, beauties... just name it!"

Xu Cheng's stomach churned violently, and he turned aside to vomit.

At this moment, Zhong Lüping arrived. In a yard full of drunk men sprawled everywhere, she was the only lady, dressed in a water-green dress, carrying a box filled with medicinal herbs. She gracefully stepped over obstacles, looking like a fairy descending.

"Your Highness? How can Your Highness be so drunk?" Zhong Lüping exclaimed, "Someone, please help His Highness back to rest..." Turning her head, she realized no one was sober and couldn't help laughing bitterly.

Cui Yi waved his hand, indicating it wasn't serious, "I'm fine. Why are you here? Did your sister send you?"

Zhong Lüping smiled beautifully, "My sister knew Your Highness would be happy tonight, insisting on getting drunk. I came to deliver medicine."

After vomiting, Xu Cheng saw stars and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, straightening up to look for water to rinse his mouth. Turning around, he saw Zhong Lüping.

One was a burly, drunk general, utterly disheveled.

The other was a graceful, ethereal young lady, as beautiful as a celestial being.

They looked at each other.

Cui Yi, still somewhat sober, saw this scene and suddenly got an idea, grabbing Zhong Lüping's wrist and pulling her forward, "This is my younger sister, fifteen years old, unmarried..."

Xu Cheng almost fell to the ground in shock, hurriedly waving his hands, "Your Highness, don't joke! My father arranged my marriage when I was nine, and the girl will marry me in a few years when she turns fifteen."

Cui Yi: "..."

Zhong Lüping: "..."

Another one taken! Zhong Lüping didn't know whether to laugh or cry, quickly changing the subject, "Your Highness is drunk, talking nonsense. General Xu, please don't take it seriously. This is the medicine Lady sent for Old General Xu's health. Please accept it."

Xu Cheng thanked gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness and Lady." Reaching out to take it, he realized his hands weren't clean and quickly wiped them on his robe before accepting it solemnly.

Zhong Lüping looked around and found no one awake, so she said to him, "It seems the party is over. Can you watch over His Highness for a bit while I call someone to take him back?"

After vomiting, Xu Cheng's head cleared a bit, so he nodded. Zhong Lüping hurried off and soon returned with four or five soldiers who carried the now sleeping Cui Yi back to the palace.

"Where will you stay tonight, General? Where is your attendant?" Zhong Lüping asked.

Xu Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling alcohol breath, "I brought a servant, but he must be drunk too. I'll find a guesthouse in town for the night and leave tomorrow morning."

Zhong Lüping, not the hostess, couldn't keep him, nodding in agreement. At that moment, Xiao Qiu arrived.

Xiao Qiu bowed to both of them, "General Xu, Lady has prepared a guest room. Please stay at the palace tonight."

Xu Cheng thought it was a good idea and bowed back, "Then I'll trouble you. Please thank Lady for me." Xiao Qiu agreed and left, leaving Xu Cheng and Zhong Lüping alone on the street.

Perhaps due to Cui Yi's earlier words, Xu Cheng felt awkward now that they were alone. He tried to make small talk, "Miss, may I ask your surname? I remember the eldest princess left by the late emperor is only thirteen this year."

Zhong Lüping explained her relationship with Cui Yi, and Xu Cheng nodded, "Miss Zhong, coming to such a distant place alone... enduring hardships, how could General Zhong bear to let you?"

"My stubbornness insisted on coming. Father initially disagreed but eventually gave in," Zhong Lüping smiled faintly, her expression slightly melancholic, "Since childhood, my parents never restricted me. Whatever I wanted to do or wherever I wanted to go, I could decide myself. Coming here with His Highness and my sister is the same."

Xu Cheng was silent for a moment, then said, "But as parents, they always hope their children live peaceful lives. Otherwise, they won't have peace in their old age, which is the children's unfilial behavior."

Zhong Lüping smiled gently, "Children have their own fortunes. It can't be generalized. A person lives a lifetime, living for filial piety while parents are alive, compromising for a spouse after marriage, planning for children later. Decades are long, but not a moment is lived for oneself. What's the point?"

Xu Cheng frowned, muttering, "As they say, circumstances force one's actions..."

Zhong Lüping replied, "Though fate is predetermined, how one lives is up to oneself. Does facing inevitable death mean one shouldn't care about happiness?"

Xu Cheng fell silent, walking forward with heavy steps. Zhong Lüping followed quietly, maintaining a distance of two or three steps, returning to the palace together.

At the palace's central courtyard, Xu Cheng stopped Zhong Lüping, "I have a question lingering in my heart, unanswered for years. Can Miss help me?"

"Please speak."

"There are two paths ahead: one I choose myself, the other chosen by my parents. Choosing the latter ensures peace but a mediocre life. Choosing the former might bring glory but also thorny paths, countless dangers, possibly even death. How should I decide?"

Zhong Lüping lowered her head, thinking for a moment, "General, deep down, you already have the answer, don't you?"

Xu Cheng remained silent. Zhong Lüping added, "If you don't want your parents to worry, prove through actions that your choice is correct—besides, nothing lasts forever, and true peace is rare in this world."

"It's late. I must bid farewell."

The next morning, Xu Cheng thanked Lady for the medicine and had breakfast before returning home with his servant.

Lady sighed at Xu Cheng's engagement, consoling Zhong Lüping without further mention.

Unexpectedly, a month later, things took a turn. In late September during the busy farming season, Xu Cheng returned.

Cui Yi was reading reports from various regions in the prefectural office, frustrated by the aftermath of war—population decline and land reduction. Hearing the city gate guards report Xu Cheng's arrival, he leaped up joyfully, overturning the desk and rushing out to greet him.

Xu Cheng, in military uniform, led his horse into the city. Seeing Cui Yi running towards him, he hurried forward and knelt on one knee, "Commander Xu Cheng, leading 3,000 civilian soldiers from Bin County, reporting for duty!"

Cui Yi happily helped him up, "You're here! You're here!"

Xu Cheng's arrival undoubtedly added to Wu Wang's chances of victory. The Xu family guarded Huben Pass for twenty years, and Xu Cheng grew up in Yan Prefecture, familiar with its terrain and climate, experienced in fighting northern cavalry. With him stationed in Yan, Cui Yi could focus on advancing into Central China to fight Cui Jie.

However, Xu Cheng brought his fiancée, Nian Shi, eight years younger, with a round face, resembling a child. Standing beside Xu Cheng, they looked like father and daughter from behind.

Cui Yi sympathetically looked at his sister—now even Yuanke has a fiancée. There are no suitable generals in Yan's camp for you.

Nian Jiaojiao, twelve years old, was lively and unafraid of strangers, calling Lady "Princess Sister-in-law," endearing herself to everyone. Lady and Zhong Lüping liked her, and though Xu Cheng had a fiancée, it wasn't appropriate for them to live together. Lady arranged for Nian Jiaojiao to stay at the palace.

With a child in the palace, Little Cuixian had a playmate and clung less to her mother, allowing Lady to focus on her pregnancy.

Under Bai Lizan's coordination, grain from Xuanzhou and Jiangzhou was transported north, solving Yan's winter food shortage.

On New Year's Eve, Cui Yi raised his wine glass, "Everyone has worked hard this year. I toast to you all. Second Uncle is in Jiangzhou, Gongqi and Shan Shifu in Xuanzhou, unable to celebrate with us tonight. But I believe within three years, we will gather and celebrate together."

A large group of people sitting around the table toasted, praying for prosperity in the coming year.