Yun Shu was momentarily speechless, never having expected Zhan Tianye to be so glib.
She couldn't have imagined this just a few months ago.
"Cough, cough, cough... What do you all want to eat tonight?" Yun Changfeng didn't want to interrupt their flirtatious banter, but his three grandsons were looking at him, and he couldn't pretend not to see them.
Yun Shu withdrew her hand, her mind unable to grasp anything edible at the moment, and casually said, "Hot noodle soup, I guess."
"The same for this King," Zhan Tianye said with a straight face.
Yun Changfeng looked at the two of them and sighed inwardly. He hadn't been as thick-skinned as they were back then. When he was discovered, he was fortunate to be dark-skinned enough to hide his blushing face.
"Alright, then it's hot noodle soup, and I'll have the kitchen make a few side dishes." Yun Changfeng made the decision directly and then instructed Yu Le and A Cha outside.
At the same time.
In a lake within the capital city, many boathouses had already hoisted their lanterns high.
Boats were moored one after another under the twilight sky.
A picturesque scene.
These boats were mostly used for business, where one could dine and listen to music, enjoying the poetic and picturesque atmosphere, drinking and singing.
Old Master Han had invited Old Master Qin.
The two elderly men used to play chess frequently in the boathouses.
Old Master Qin gazed out of the boat, seeing the people on the shore, their faces indistinct but clearly young. It was like his own youthful self, full of curiosity and a desire to conquer everything.
Therefore, most of these boats now belonged to him.
"Thinking back to when we were young, aren't you?" Old Master Han mused. "Back then, we were full of youthful vigor, neither of us willing to yield to the other. Our chess games could last from day to night, and from night to day, as if we never tired. Look at us now; after just an hour or two, our eyes are almost closing from exhaustion."
Perhaps it was old age, which made people yearn more for the past, for their youth.
Old Master Qin also showed a hint of nostalgia, but still retorted stubbornly, "That's because your body can't keep up. Look at me, I have no drowsiness at all now. It's no different from when I was young; I can play until dawn!"
Old Master Han knew Old Master Qin well and chuckled upon hearing this. "Yes, your grumpy temper is just like when you were young, stubborn!"
Old Master Qin rolled his eyes and pointed to the shore not far away. "Look at those young people. Where do they have the courage we had back then? Even if we were poor, we dared to go on these boats and gamble with others."
"We were indeed poor back then," Old Master Han sighed. They had nothing back then, their families in decline, but they had ambition and rebuilt their families.
Now, time had flown, and in the blink of an eye, they were old!
He had his children and grandchildren around him, while his elder brother Qin had truly suffered these past decades. Fortunately, he now had Yun Shu, his future granddaughter-in-law, and a few great-grandchildren.
It could be considered that hardship had finally given way to happiness.
Looking back now, it all felt like a series of dreams.
Why did it feel like only yesterday?
Old Master Qin sometimes reminisced, but he did so alone in secret. He was afraid of recalling sad memories. Even when with others, if he found himself reminiscing, he would restrain himself, only recalling for a moment.
He lowered his head to look at the chessboard and then burst into laughter. "I won! I won again this time!"
Old Master Han quickly looked down. Seeing this, his face turned dark in the candlelight, full of regret. "This round doesn't count; I was distracted just now! You must have set a trap, luring me to look towards the shore. You knew I would be distracted when I looked. You are too devious!"
Old Master Qin crossed his arms and chuckled. "Who can testify that I set a trap? Clearly, you were outplayed. Brother Han, just admit defeat! Admit that you are not as skilled as I am!"
"Nonsense! I won last time! Today doesn't count; we'll continue tomorrow. I'm going back to sleep now to gather my energy for tomorrow!" Old Master Han said angrily.
The servants attending them had long grown accustomed to seeing the two elders bickering.
However, they couldn't help but smile.
It wasn't that they enjoyed watching their masters fight. It was because their masters would bicker whenever they met. Chess inherently had wins and losses, but neither was willing to accept defeat, and they would argue without admitting it.
Old Master Qin was adamant. "Why shouldn't I? I won today! Everything else is secondary; I won!"
"I don't acknowledge it. As long as I don't acknowledge it, it doesn't count!" Old Master Han was equally stubborn.
The two stubborn old men glared at each other, as if they were about to fight at any moment.
The servants nearby knew it was time for them to intervene.
"Esteemed elders, it's getting dark. We must go ashore quickly, or the night dew will be heavy, and you might catch a cold!"
"Yes, carriages are waiting for you on the shore!"
With a casual suggestion from those nearby, they stopped arguing.
They each descended the steps.
Then, with smiles, they clasped arms like brothers.
"Hmm, why is it suddenly so bright over there?" someone from the boathouse pointed to the area that had been dark just moments ago.
Suddenly, a patch of firelight appeared in the previously dark area.
It looked like many torches.
Old Master Qin and Old Master Han looked in the direction they were pointing.
The faces of the two old men changed instantly, and they cried out in unison, "Not good!"
Then, the boat they were on suddenly began to rock!
Shadowy figures climbed up from beneath the boat.
Seeing the situation, the two elders calmly commanded, "Assassins! Deal with the assassins swiftly!"
"No need to leave any alive!"
In their current predicament, leaving anyone alive meant leaving danger. They were in the middle of the lake, and it would take time for ships from the shore to reach them!
They never thought that even at their age, someone would try to assassinate them!
"Is it you they're after, or me?" Old Master Han asked.
Old Master Qin's eyes were cold, and he shook his head. "We don't know now, but we will soon! Be careful; your old bones cannot get injured!"
"Understood. You tell me to be careful, but you be careful too!" Old Master Han quickly replied.
There were weapons in the cabin.
There were also hidden guards and escorts.
They didn't need to worry for the moment.
However, Old Master Qin frowned, a trace of ominous premonition creeping into his heart.
The area that had been emitting firelight moments ago was now rapidly approaching them.
No, they were burning arrows!
"Be careful! They're shooting arrows!"
"Old Master Qin, be careful!"
...
Night had fallen.
Silence enveloped the surroundings.
Yun Shu held the hands of the three little ones, while Qiu Lu pushed Zhan Tianye. The group was strolling near the rockery in the General's Mansion.
Zhan Tianye asked Qiu Lu to stop.
Then, in front of Yun Shu and her three children, he moved his legs and stepped onto the ground.
Then, to their gasps of surprise, he steadily and slowly stood up.
"Ah! Daddy, Daddy can stand up!"
Compared to the surprise of the three little ones, Yun Shu was also astonished. "You!"
According to her calculations, it would take at least six months to a year.