Today marks the eightieth birthday of the esteemed Old General Gu at the manor.
Many guests arrived bearing gifts.
Numerous court officials were also in attendance from the palace.
And some older officials who were close friends with Old General Gu.
Many of these officials had retired, enjoying their days at home, drinking tea, and passing the time with leisurely activities like playing chess with friends.
At the birthday banquet, besides these guests, there was also the eldest son of the Gu family, Gu Ye Feng, who was the current驸马 (Imperial Son-in-law).
Among them were Du Chun, clad in a white robe with white hair, and Meng Qing Hua, who entered in a wheelchair, pushed by his guards.
He wore a green robe and remained as handsome as ever.
The Sixth Prince, Nangong Li, also rushed over from the palace.
After returning to the Eastern Victory Kingdom with Gu Qian Ying, he had entered the palace, assisting the young emperor as the Sixth Prince.
Now, he had also become the new Regent.
Today, he had changed out of his usual attire, donning a splendid brocade robe, and arrived discreetly with his gift.
A moment later, Duan Xi Feng, dressed in a blue robe, also arrived.
He too brought a gift.
Du Chun, Meng Qing Hua, Nangong Li, and Duan Xi Feng arrived almost one after another, their arrival times very close.
The four stood together, Meng Qing Hua in his wheelchair, alongside the other three.
The four spoke in unison, "Wishing Old General Gu a long life as enduring as the Southern Mountain..."
As the four spoke, they presented their respective gifts.
Old General Gu, seated on the high dais, warmly welcomed them with a smile.
"Excellent, excellent, it's good that you've come. Come, come, quickly take your seats."
Du Chun, Meng Qing Hua, Nangong Li, and Duan Xi Feng smiled and took their seats.
As they sat around the table, Meng Qing Hua glanced around and asked, "Why hasn't Qian Ying come out? Where did she go?"
Upon hearing this question.
Du Chun, Nangong Li, and Duan Xi Feng also looked around.
Indeed, Gu Qian Ying was nowhere to be seen.
As close friends of Gu Qian Ying, they naturally wanted to inquire about her.
Old General Gu instructed the butler to pour wine for them.
Before he could stroke his beard and speak, Gu Ye Feng walked over, carrying his eldest son, Gu Xuan.
After seating his son and handing him some delicious pastries,
Gu Ye Feng then said, "My sister and Xuan Ning are changing clothes and will be here shortly."
After giving his son pastries, he also needed to prepare a refreshing juice for him.
The juice, made from fresh fruits, tasted very good.
His son loved to drink it.
"You fellow, so biased towards your son! Look how carefully you're taking care of your son. What, did you abandon your daughter?"
Duan Xi Feng said these provocative words, but he still offered the candied fruit he had specially prepared to Gu Xuan.
Gu Xuan, this child, looked very much like Xiao Yi Hao, both being adorable.
Duan Xi Feng pinched Gu Xuan's chubby cheek.
Gu Ye Feng slapped away Duan Xi Feng's hand and retorted, "You, who have never been a father, how can you understand the joy of having both a son and a daughter? My little daughter is asleep, and her wet nurse is with her. I can't possibly wake her up, can I? Besides, what's wrong with me bringing my son here? This is my precious son, of course, I dote on him."
He picked up a few melon seeds from the plate in front of him and threw them at Duan Xi Feng.
"What? Xiao Yi Hao has been gone for two years, and you're still so sour? Duan Xi Feng, I advise you to quickly find a woman, get married, and have a child. Like me, staying with your wife and children, and you won't be so lonely. Back then, my sister invited you to stay at the manor, but you refused."
You insisted on creating your own career, opening a restaurant in the capital, and indeed... now... you, Duan Xi Feng, have become the richest man in the capital, opening one restaurant after another, almost monopolizing the city. But what good is that? You're still alone.
"When the night is deep and quiet, aren't you lonely?"
Gu Ye Feng had been saying these words for two years.
Duan Xi Feng was also his sister's brother, and as an elder brother, he naturally wished for Duan Xi Feng to find his own happiness.
And have a happy marriage.
But this fellow, ever since that woman in the Yi Jing Pavilion died, he had been like a broken string, never discussing marriage again.
Duan Xi Feng grabbed a handful of melon seeds and threw them back at Gu Ye Feng, "Gu, stop meddling with me. I am Qian Ying's brother, not your elder brother. What business is it of yours, you meddlesome fellow!"
The others nearby, Du Chun, Meng Qing Hua, and Nangong Li, watched as Duan Xi Feng and Gu Ye Feng started bickering again.
All three smiled faintly.
Du Chun picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine for Meng Qing Hua, and also for Nangong Li.
"You two have been bickering since you met. You haven't changed this habit after all these years. It seems... when we are old, you two will still be this impolite, hahaha."
Meng Qing Hua took a sip of wine, "If you ask me, Brother Duan should have stayed at the manor. Arguing with Brother Gu like this every day would be more interesting, and life would be more lively. If Qian Ying, Princess Xuan Ning, and your wives, Du Chun, all have children in a few days, this manor will likely be even livelier. By then, with Xiao Yi Hao returning from studying medicine, it will be even more exciting."
Nangong Li also drank a cup of wine and played with a fan, "If you ask me, Brother Meng is absolutely right. Brother Gu, Brother Duan, when you are surrounded by several children, you elders must not fool around like you are today. Elders should set a good example for the younger generation."
Nangong Li stroked his chin, mimicking Meng Qing Hua's pronouncements of great wisdom.
Gu Ye Feng picked up an orange and threw it at Nangong Li, "Is His Highness the Sixth Prince learning to speak like Brother Meng? Who is it that takes my daughter to catch crickets every day? Who is it that teaches my son how to chase girls? Is this the example an elder should set?"
Nangong Li caught the orange without throwing it back. Instead, he peeled it, broke off a small segment, and put it into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he gave Gu Ye Feng a look, "Tsk, you don't understand this, do you? Girls, being lively and mischievous, is always good. As for boys, teaching them skills early will help them catch up to the women they like when they grow up. This way, when your son gets married, you won't have to worry, will you? I am resolving your worries for you, do you understand?"
Gu Ye Feng chuckled twice, "So, I should thank you then?"
Nangong Li twirled his fan, proudly saying, "No need, no need. It's enough that you understand my well-intentioned efforts."
Du Chun, Meng Qing Hua, Gu Ye Feng, and Nangong Li were all sworn brothers who had faced life and death together.
When these men were together, they no longer cared about differences in status or hierarchy.
Even though Nangong Li was the current Regent, they remained as friendly as ever when they were together.
There were never any barriers between them.
Du Chun raised his hand and tapped Nangong Li on the forehead, "Alright, stop bragging. You should be more proper from now on. With your nonchalant demeanor, you don't look like an uncle at all."
Nangong Li was indignant and glared, "What's wrong with me? Did I do something wrong?"
Meng Qing Hua pushed a full wine goblet towards Nangong Li, "Yes, yes, yes, our Regent, our Sixth Prince, is not wrong. You are always right, alright?"
Nangong Li crossed his arms and said, "Exactly, I am never wrong, hmph."
Meng Qing Hua and Du Chun, along with Duan Xi Feng, shook their heads and smiled.
Gu Ye Feng shrugged, utterly speechless at Nangong Li.
"What is right and what is wrong? Who is right and who is wrong? What are you all talking about?"
Gu Qian Ying, dressed in a red robe, walked over accompanied by Lan Qing Qing, Meng Xiang Xiang, and Nangong Xuan Ning.
Nangong Xuan Ning and Meng Xiang Xiang were both pregnant.
As the four women approached, everyone except Meng Qing Hua, who was in his wheelchair, and Old General Gu, who was seated, and Du Chun and the others, stood up.
Gu Ye Feng stepped forward and took Nangong Xuan Ning's hand, pulling her into his embrace.
Du Chun also embraced Meng Xiang Xiang.
Lan Qing Qing and Gu Qian Ying walked hand in hand.
The two first approached Old General Gu and bowed to him.
Old General Gu quickly asked them to rise, "No need for formalities."
"Grandfather, this is the birthday gift your granddaughter made for you. Wishing Grandfather good health and prosperity as boundless as the Eastern Sea..."
It was a cloak that Gu Qian Ying had personally made for Old General Gu, stitch by stitch.
Elderly people are susceptible to the cold during seasonal changes.
That's why she made a warm cloak for her grandfather.
Every stitch and every thread represented her filial piety.
"My child, you are already busy enough. Why exert yourself so much? Grandfather is not without clothes."
Old General Gu felt very pained for Gu Qian Ying and greatly appreciated the gift she gave him.
He held Gu Qian Ying's hand and quickly asked her to sit down.
Gu Qian Ying sat down beside Old General Gu.
Lan Qing Qing sat with the others.
Since Gu Qian Ying returned to the Gu family in the Eastern Victory Kingdom, due to some issues at Lan Qing Qing's home, she had to take over the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall again.
Cai Xia was now married and had a child, wanting to return to her family temporarily to care for her husband and children.
As such, she had been quite busy at the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall during this period, and her son had gone to Mount Wutai these past two years, studying both medicine and martial arts.
The Feng Ling Pill had been obtained.
Her son, Xiao Yi Hao, had now had the demonic energy removed from his body, becoming an ordinary child...
"Mother, Uncle, Great-Grandfather..."