Xuanwu stood by the door like a guardian spirit.
His figure wasn't tall; at least, in the north, he was considered short, but for the south, he was already taller than their average height.
Xuan Niao and Yuan Gang glanced at him, both shaking their heads.
"I heard the military section of the Glory Hall was arguing today?" Xuan Niao asked curiously. This wasn't something she should be asking, and some things weren't for her to know. But Yuan Gang had no reservations and nodded, "It's about Commander Lin wanting to promote some generals to the forefront, and this move will touch the interests of those generals. Once their interests are affected, you know they definitely won't agree. But this matter has already been submitted."
"Promote a batch of generals to the forefront... For a general to become a famous general, a catalyst is needed. If a batch needs promotion, it will inevitably involve decrypting archives. Once these archives are decrypted, they will directly jump into the ranks of famous generals. Will the military be prepared to deal with the ensuing turmoil?"
Yuan Gang remained silent. This was all he could say, and Xuan Niao didn't ask further.
Some things could be spoken of, but subordinates should never ask proactively. He also needed to know what could be said and what couldn't be said; these were things he had to figure out himself.
"What do you want to eat?" Yuan Gang asked.
"I'll just have a bowl of noodles. That silly kid, I'm really impressed."
Yuan Gang laughed heartily, "Love, it truly is an unfathomable thing. The boss is like that, and so is Little Xuanwu."
He finished speaking and chuckled to himself. He didn't know what else to say. This love, it caused so much trouble. He, for one, had no intention of getting married. He would stay in the military, waiting for the boss to return, paving the way for the boss.
He understood one principle.
Someone like the boss would absolutely not remain unknown in civilian life. Sooner or later, the boss would return, and perhaps even create unprecedented history.
He had that much faith in the boss!
"The boss shouldn't be long before he returns. Let's eat quickly."
...
Around 7:30, Ye Longlin and Mu Hanqi finally returned. Their pace was slow. Mu Hanqi linked her arm through Ye Longlin's, enjoying the tranquility, their relaxed demeanor quite pleasant.
A smile appeared on Ye Longlin's lips, quiet and serene. With the person he loved most by his side, it felt as if no problem was insurmountable.
"This year, will you come home with me for New Year?"
Mu Hanqi nodded obediently, "Yes, yes! Go home as your fiancée? Hehe, Aunt Zhao will surely be happy when she sees me."
He truly had no other family.
Only Aunt Zhao was his family.
Aunt Zhao probably guessed it long ago but never pointed it out.
As they spoke, they reached the entrance. The moment they arrived, they saw Xuanwu standing like a guardian spirit.
"Boss!"
Upon seeing Ye Longlin, Xuanwu appeared very excited. He saluted, then looked at Mu Hanqi.
"Greetings, Sister-in-law."
Sister-in-law was indeed very beautiful, as if she had stepped out of a painting.
Mu Hanqi nodded in acknowledgement, "Mm, hello. You two sit first, I'll go make some tea."
Xuanwu stood obediently to the side, "Thank you, Sister-in-law. I appreciate it."
These few words, "Sister-in-law," truly warmed Mu Hanqi's heart. A smile appeared on her face, making her a little shy.
"Sit down, sit down."
Ye Longlin sat down and, seeing Xuanwu standing there so stiffly, couldn't help but smile helplessly, "I've already retired. Sit down if you want. Why did you come alone?"
Xuanwu smiled awkwardly, "General Yuan and my sister went out to eat. I couldn't eat, so I waited here."
Just then, Mu Hanqi walked over with a cup of tea. After handing Ye Longlin a thermos, she returned to the room, not listening to their conversation.
Ye Longlin rubbed his chin. It seemed Xuanwu had something on his mind.
He didn't ask Xuanwu why he was back now or what the situation was. He just smiled and remained silent.
His four great generals were Yuan Gang, Qinglong, Xuan Niao, and Xuanwu.
Qinglong was the oldest, more like a patriarch. He wasn't good with words but was attentive to details.
Yuan Gang was someone who didn't want to manage things but possessed the talent for management; otherwise, he wouldn't have handed over the Dragon Pavilion to him.
Xuan Niao was more like a pure warrior, capable of leading troops to some extent, but destined not to reach the top.
Xuanwu was the youngest, a bit socially anxious, and tended to get stuck on things. However, any task assigned to him would be completed meticulously. Sometimes he was too stubborn and rigid.
Xuanwu was also the one who gave him the least trouble, but when this kid had something on his mind, it was like now – he wanted to say it but felt too embarrassed, wanted to speak but didn't know how, causing him great distress.
Ye Longlin found it amusing. He tossed him a cigarette and lit one himself, then said with a half-joking tone, "Just say whatever you want to say. Otherwise, when they come back, you won't be able to speak."
Xuanwu lit his cigarette, gritted his teeth, and said, sitting down, "Boss, I want to crash the wedding!"
Ye Longlin's hand trembled, and the water in the thermos spilled out. His expression twitched. Silently, he swept the seven or eight goji berries scattered on the table into the trash can, his face maintaining a calm demeanor.
Xuanwu's face also twitched.
The atmosphere became instantly awkward. Ye Longlin closed the thermos lid, set it aside, lit his cigarette, and then asked, "What's the situation?"
"Ye Wanqing of the Ye family is my childhood sweetheart. We've been together for three years. I originally planned to return at the end of this year to propose, but before I could return, my sister told me that Ye Wanqing had been betrothed to the Li family by the Ye family's main lineage. I'm very unhappy. That's my woman. I want to crash the wedding and get Ye Wanqing back. She can only be mine!"
Xuanwu closed his eyes, his face showing a fierce expression, and within that fierceness, there was also a blush, making him look quite peculiar.
Ye Longlin couldn't help but find it amusing. Why would someone get fierce when crashing a wedding? Was he planning a mutual destruction?
"Don't be embarrassed. What's there to be embarrassed about? It's for the person you love, it's normal. By the way, does your sister know about this?"
Xuanwu nodded, "She knows."
"Since she knows, then there's nothing more to say. Just go then. Their wedding is in five days. You should also prepare for these five days, prepare what to say, prepare clothes. I'll take you to crash the wedding then."
Xuanwu was anxious, "Boss, don't wait five days! What if something happens by then? I... I... I want to go now."
Mu Hanqi, who was getting water, happened to overhear their conversation. It seemed like a topic she could participate in. Therefore, after getting the water, she walked towards them.
"You're so stupid, are you an idiot? Let me tell you, how can a woman be completely devoted to you?"
"It's in this moment of despair that you descend from heaven like a deity, rescuing her from her predicament. Be strong and domineering. This way, you'll not only gain some admiration in a woman's heart but also her infatuation. Only this infatuation can allow you to freely navigate the sea of love... Hiss, hiss, hiss... Ow, ow, ow, let go!"
"Mu Hanqi!! I'm telling you!! Let go quickly!"
Xuanwu listened to Ye Longlin's words as if they were scripture, his expression as if he wanted to revere them as the holy text. But then, Sister-in-law arrived...
Xuanwu: "..."
Boss, you probably haven't even tested what you're saying yourself, have you?
He absolutely refused to believe the boss was henpecked, but reality was laid out before him, and he had no choice but to believe it.
Mu Hanqi was pinching Ye Longlin's ear, her little face stern, looking unapproachable. Xuanwu also shrank his neck.
"Don't listen to your brother talking nonsense. Although there's a sliver of truth in what he said, for girls, if they like you, it doesn't matter if you have a car or a house, or what status you have. They just like you as a person, that's all.
Perhaps there are some gold-diggers, some Westernized youths, and some toxic relationship advice circulating now, but truly rational people won't believe these things. You have to make your own life decisions. In Daxia, with 1.4 billion people, can you find two identical families? No, because everyone's personality is different.
So, for girls, as long as you can stand before them, it's enough."
Mu Hanqi was a girl, and women understood women best. After all, she was an experienced person and naturally had plenty of experience.
Just then, Yuan Gang and Xuan Niao walked in, carrying five or six takeout boxes and a bottle of wine.
"Boss, you can't refuse this time. It's evening now."
Yuan Gang placed the items on the table and chuckled, clearly wanting to drink.
Ye Longlin rolled his eyes and turned to Mu Hanqi, "Can you get some plates?"
Mu Hanqi turned and went into the kitchen, bringing out the plates. Soon, pig's head meat, pig's ears, and other dishes were all laid out.
"If you want to listen, listen carefully to Sister-in-law. Don't tell me again that you dare not or feel embarrassed. If I hear that again, I'll teach you a lesson!" Xuan Niao said to Xuanwu, waving her fist. Her stern expression was indeed intimidating.
"I'll stir-fry a couple of dishes for you all."
Although they had already eaten, this was unimportant.
Mu Hanqi, being sensible, went into the kitchen and made Jingjiang Rousi and a Ball Soup.
These ingredients were originally prepared for tonight's meal, but they had eaten out, so the ingredients were still in the refrigerator.
The group was harmonious, at least appearing very peaceful for now.
Not long after they started drinking, Lin Langsheng arrived with two more bottles of wine and joined the table.
Not only Lin Langsheng, but Qin Hanlie also came. The wine kept increasing, and so did the accompanying dishes.
Mu Hanqi, looking at so many people and so much alcohol, helplessly went to make hangover soup.
"Tonight, no one is allowed to use martial energy to expel alcohol. We must drink until we drop tonight!"