As Xie Lanzhi got into the carriage, she didn't forget to remind Xie Ji: "We still need your security around Yu Palace tonight, so remember to drink less."
Xie Ji said, "Marshal, please enjoy yourself."
Xie Lanzhi nodded and entered the carriage. The carriage quickly drove onto the main road, heading towards Yu Palace.
Xie Shangguang kept glancing at Xie Ying from behind. After Xie Lanzhi left, Xie Ying immediately revealed her true nature, raising her fist at Xie Shangguang: "Silly boy, what are you doing here?"
"I am the Marshal's personal guard, of course I have to come." Xie Shangguang looked her up and down, then said with great disdain, "You should not cause trouble for the Marshal."
Then I thought of Yelü Qiqi from the Northern Regions; when he got wild, he seemed just as unpredictable.
He had no choice but to put on a serious face and say, "There's one person you absolutely must not mess with. You have to avoid her, understand?"
Xie Ying wasn't stupid. She nodded and said, "If you can catch the marshal's eye, why can't I? I'll try my best to perform well before I get in."
Xie Shangguang was speechless: "I think you don't understand. Anyway, just don't cause trouble for the marshal."
He finished speaking and jogged off. Xie Ying followed behind him.
After the carriage entered the Yu Palace, although it was not decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, it was still very lively. It was a tradition for the Hu people to be good at singing and dancing. Now, with the addition of sword dance and pipa playing from the Central Plains, it had a unique exotic flavor.
Xie Lanzhi alighted from the carriage, where Yelü Lili was already waiting in the front courtyard of the main hall. Even through the towering Yunlu steps, he still waved to Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi responded that he had also climbed the ladder to success.
When he took his seat, he was positioned directly alongside Yelü Lili's throne on the right, making them equals.
Dishes were served continuously at the table. Before long, the mare's milk wine and roasted mutton that the foreigners had been talking about were brought to the table. Xie Lanzhi first raised a glass of wine to toast Li Li.
"Brother Li Li, congratulations on your marriage! May you and your wife be forever united in heart!"
"Congratulations to you, congratulations to you." Yelü Lili drank it all in one gulp. He poured the rim of the cup down to show that he had finished it all.
Xie Lanzhi smiled back, and drank it all in one gulp, just like her.
However, a burning sensation followed her throat, and Xie Lanzhi realized that it was probably just a milky-white, high-proof liquor. She recalled that Tianjing prohibited grain-based liquors, allowing only rice wine, precisely to prevent food waste during famines. It wasn't that Tianjing's brewing techniques were poor, but rather that conditions didn't permit it.
However, the Northern Regions did not have such concerns. It seems that the grain brought by the Red River Trading City has made the Northern Regions no longer hesitant to use grain.
"Does the mare's milk wine from the Northern Region suit the Marshal's taste?" Yelü Lili stared at the wine cup, then suddenly chuckled, "I find it a bit too spicy. The rice wine from the Central Plains suits me better."
There's a hidden meaning in his words.
Xie Lanzhi played along with him without showing any emotion: "Your Highness should not underestimate yourself. Although the first sip of this mare's milk wine is spicy, you will surely never forget its unique taste after drinking it for a while."
Yelü Lili seemed dissatisfied with this answer, and continued, "Some people like to drink, while others suffer."
"That depends on what the person drinking thinks," Xie Lanzhi said. "Your Highness, today is your joyous day. Let's not talk about official business. We should enjoy the wine and be merry while we can."
Yelü Lili gave her a deep look, and as he picked up the wine pot, he seemed to have taken her words to heart. A slight smile of joy appeared on his handsome face: "Marshal, from now on, I am also your brother-in-law."
"We're in-laws, let's have a drink!" Xie Lanzhi had a palace servant pour her some wine, and she raised her cup and drank it all in one gulp.
The two masters were thoroughly enjoying themselves at the front table, and the people below were also happy, occasionally coming out to join in the dancing. It must be said that the Hu people were skilled in singing and dancing, and the lively atmosphere attracted the attention of the generals who had accompanied Xie Lanzhi, as well as several accompanying civil officials. Their eyes were constantly drawn to the dancing girls, and the Central Plains civil officials even wrote poems to add to the merriment.
Not to be outdone, the northern nomadic peoples also played their tunes, showcasing their talents and abilities.
The subordinates began to secretly compete with each other.
The two people in the seats of honor, however, treated it as a performance and showed no intention of competing. On the contrary, they were all enjoying themselves immensely.
Xie Lanzhi would occasionally mention Si Xitong: "My husband is always at his desk reviewing official documents. He's never free for a moment."
Yelü Lili was in high spirits. He mentioned that when the late emperor was alive, he had met the Si Xitong siblings on his mission to Tianjing.
"At that time, I thought she was a prince and didn't recognize her at first."
“The siblings do look very alike,” Xie Lanzhi said.
Yelü Lili said, "Regarding the matter of the late emperor entrusting me with his belongings, I hope the marshal will not hold a grudge against the princess. It is only because the late emperor had no one else to entrust with these matters that he felt I could do it on his behalf."
Xie Lanzhi was puzzled as to why he brought this up, but she just smiled and said, "It seems today is the day you can help me resolve my inner conflict."
She was unhappy for a time, but after discovering the gold, she suddenly began to understand her father-in-law's good intentions.
Yelü Lili: "Today is also the day I must resolve my inner conflict. I will treat Princess Yongning well."
Xie Lanzhi's eyes flashed and she suddenly asked, "Did you secretly meet the bride?"
Yelü Lili paused for a moment, then nodded: "They look very alike."
"So does this make you feel a little more at ease?" Xie Lanzhi asked in a flat tone, making it impossible to sense any emotion from her.
Si Caifeng was destined to be a victim of a marriage alliance between the North and South, something Xie Lanzhi had known for a long time and was mentally prepared for. But what the groom suddenly said today left her wondering what his true intentions were. Was he using his drunkenness to vent his frustrations, or did he genuinely want to explain that the dowry matter had nothing to do with Xiao Fenghuang?
Yelü Lili replied, "Is it not allowed? Whatever kind of feelings they are, as long as they can maintain the alliance between the North and the South, what does it matter if it's Shangdu? Does the Marshal love others so much that he has to meddle in other people's family affairs?"
Under the bright lights of Yu Palace, Yelü Lili, his face reeking of alcohol, looked at Xie Lanzhi as if confirming something.
Xie Lanzhi laughed, a defiant laugh: "Hahaha, we're all married people, regardless of the time, I understand your feelings. What's mine will always be mine."
"I don't care about anyone but her."
"I'm glad to hear you say that." Yelü Lili put down his wine cup. This time, he didn't touch a single drop of wine. Just like he had implied at the beginning, after the abundance of food, the pleasure-seeking nobles could still brew fine wine despite the food shortages of the lower classes. Their exploitative faces were truly disgusting.
The Crown Prince Yelü she came into contact with seemed to be different from the traditional nobles.
On one hand, she suspected that Yelü Lili had tampered with Si Caifeng on the ship, and on the other hand, she doubted Yelü Lili's devotion to Xiao Fenghuang. If it weren't for the wine that opened up the floodgates between the two, she might not have known that Yelü Lili was so suspicious in matters of the heart, and that he even regarded the woman who resembled his beloved as a substitute for his love.
Xie Lanzhi lowered her eyes slightly: Fortunately, Little Phoenix is not with you.
At this moment, she was absolutely certain that this male supporting character's storyline had come to an end. Furthermore, on their wedding night, the male supporting character's cowardly yet steadfast devotion to love was revealed. Therefore, Yelü Lili was destined to remain only a male supporting character.
You'll never be the main character!
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 18:58:29 on December 29, 2021 and 19:02:30 on December 30, 2021!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Bababalu (10 bottles); Xinxin and Unknown Bald Master (2 bottles each);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 110 Ambush Camp Longevity Cake
Xie Lanzhi watched as Yelü Lili was helped to his bedchamber. She planned to return to the Guobin Mansion and then inspect the 50,000-strong army headquarters the next day to see for herself the border area near the Xiongnu.
Just as she was about to leave, an elderly barbarian came over and said, "Marshal, please wait."
"His Highness the Crown Prince instructed us before he got drunk to take you to a place that is the most worthwhile place for us to visit."
The most worthwhile places to visit?
Was this before Li Li passed out drunk? Xie Lanzhi said, "Alright, this general was just worried about having nowhere to go."
"Lead the way."
The eldest brother seemed very happy. He immediately called two guards from the Northern Region to follow him and lead the way. Xie Lanzhi walked behind, and soon two little tails were sneaking around a hundred meters away.
The streets of the Northern Region are rather deserted, and since there's no tradition of bustling markets at night, there are naturally few lanterns. People in the Northern Region rarely afford candles; they mostly use firewood and dung to light oil in a pot. Simple and crude.
Xie Shangguang would occasionally hide in a dark corner, then step on the foot of the person next to him, and get a hard blow to the head.
He clutched his head in pain and said, "That damned dog Ying hit so hard, I might not take you with me!"
"Do you know where the Marshal is going? I saw him deliberately kick pebbles a few times while he was walking just now," Xie Ying said. "Is he trying to send some kind of signal?"
Xie Shangguang: ?
"How could that be? I think you've never been with the Marshal. You don't know what she likes to do when she's bored!" Xie Shangguang immediately straightened his back. Even though it was late at night and no one was watching, he still looked proud: "When the Marshal is bored, she's like a hyperactive child."
Achoo! Xie Lanzhi sneezed, and the eldest guard in front of her immediately stopped and asked with great concern, "Marshal, have you caught a cold?"
"It's alright. Continue leading the way." She was curious to see where they were taking her, and this chief was a bit different from the chief who had received her before. He was approachable, and the two guards beside him seemed worried he might fall, protecting him as if they were afraid a grandson would fall. The concern in their eyes was like that of a grandson looking at his grandfather.
"Northern Domain Great Barbarian" simply means town lord. A "Ban" (番) houses over a million people, and the lords of towns and villages are all called "Ban," though they are distinguished by large, medium, and small Bans, making it very simple and easy to understand.
The eldest brother led the way, turning several times through wide roads and tall buildings, until they reached an increasingly remote area, at which point the eldest brother started to talk more.
"Marshal, this place is located in a rather remote area because we did not want to disturb the people. Please forgive us."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is also helpless. He is a good lord, and everyone is devoted to him, but... but there are some things he can't do."
The eldest brother's tone became increasingly helpless and powerless towards the end, filled with regret.
As you walk, the path gradually transitions from a stone-paved road to a field path, and then to a narrow trail barely wide enough for one person. Below, weeds grow wildly, seemingly indicating a field, but as you walk, the grass grows up to your waist.
Xie Lanzhi wondered what kind of entertainment program could be in such a remote place.
The two little devils behind them seemed to have changed course and were walking around them.
She raised an eyebrow, thinking that Shang Guang wouldn't wander around randomly, he would only stay around her. Now he had actually gone around to the front, could it be that Xie Guang's family was in charge?
She quickened her pace without making a sound. The eldest brother in front of her was already panting after walking a short distance. Fearing that they would waste time, one of the two guards simply carried the eldest brother on his back.
After walking for a while, Xie Lanzhi felt the path under her feet begin to widen until she stepped on stone slabs again.
This was a grassy area, surrounded by lush, shady grasses, with a flat area in the center. The grass, about ten feet tall, was neatly trimmed, and five tents were pitched there. Inside, candlelight shone brightly, and wisps of white steam occasionally rose from one corner of the tent. It looked like a sauna, with something steaming and constantly emitting white vapor. But why would a sauna be set up in such a remote place?
Combined with the eldest brother's intentional remarks on the way.
Even a string of words spoken in a Xie-accented Central Plains dialect came from inside the tent: "You fucking cut back on your smoke, I don't even have enough!"
Just one bite, one bite.
Xie Lanzhi's eyes turned cold.
Xie Shangguang was so nervous he was in his throat. This was the first time he had dared to do something beyond the Marshal's authority.
Xie Ying walked to the middle of the tent and disappeared.
Xie Shangguang was anxious to find her and finally found Xie Ying in the middle tent.
The tent was piled with firewood and straw, and there were several sandalwood boxes stacked on top of it, which were probably supplies.
Xie Ying sniffed the air, then lay down on the ground and sniffed her way up until she smelled Xie Shangguang. Xie Shangguang was so startled that he covered his chest and asked, "What...what are you doing?"
"We are relatives."
"My grandma is your dad's aunt!!"
Xie Ying looked disgusted: "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't you smell something strange?!"
"It smells like dog." Xie Shangguang nodded.