On the other side, the banquet continued.
Banlai was entangling Ayang, making it impossible for her to chase the General.
Ayang, having drunk a few cups of wine, kept her blurred eyes on the stone archway.
She was initially worried, but then thought that the aftermath had been dealt with, and even if the General noticed something was wrong, it had nothing to do with her.
Moreover, with the General's temperament, would he bother to listen to any explanation? Perhaps, in a fit of rage, he was already 'punishing' that damned person from the Central Plains!
It's just... she got away with it!
Ayang angrily downed another cup of strong liquor, without anyone forcing her.
After she finished drinking, she instinctively glanced at the stone archway again, and the cup in her hand clattered to the ground, shattering to pieces.
This sound startled the others, who then followed Ayang's line of sight to look over.
They saw their brave and mighty Great General carefully supporting a slender figure.
A dozen rugged men, with flushed faces and blurred eyes from drinking.
They couldn't even see clearly what the slender figure looked like.
All they saw was a white figure, weak as if a breeze could blow her away.
Tsk, it must be that little princess from the Central Plains, right?
Banlai picked up a wine cup, drunkenly stood up, "It's said that the people from the Central Plains value etiquette the most. Does the Princess look down on us Bianliao people? Hic—Our General had to personally invite her!"
The other men echoed.
"Exactly! People from the Central Plains are just so pretentious!"
"General, the Great Xia Princess looks down on us. Why do you still treat her with respect?"
"I say, even Ayang here is better than the Great Xia Princess. General, why not reconsider the choice for the General's wife?"
"Those who look down on us Bianliao people aren't fit to be our General's wife!"
Usually, Yelyu Lie treated these men, who shared life and death with him, like brothers. They didn't understand etiquette or boundaries, and even when they saw the delicate figure in the General's arms, supposedly the Great Xia Princess, they openly discussed it without reservation.
They even urged their General to take a maid as his wife instead of the Great Xia Princess.
It could be said to be blatant provocation.
Yun Chunnuan had never encountered such a scene, with a dozen burly, bearded men pointing and looking down on her...
Her steps halted, suddenly hesitant to move forward.
She felt like a little lamb that had suddenly fallen into a wolf's den.
What awaited her, Yun Chunnuan didn't know.
But the unknown was the scariest thing, she firmly believed.
The strong hand at her waist suddenly tightened, as if in warning.
Yun Chunnuan glared back, only to see a pair of glass-like eyes, sparkling, as if encouraging her.
Oh, so they wanted to give her courage?
Yun Chunnuan put away her angry expression, took a deep breath, raised her sharp chin, and gradually stepped into the banquet hall.
Whether she would stay or leave in the future, since she was in someone else's body, she couldn't disgrace their reputation.
I am the Seventh Princess of the Great Xia Country.
I am the Seventh Princess of the Great Xia Country.
I am the Seventh Princess of the Great Xia Country...
Matters of importance are said three times, Yun Chunnuan repeatedly gave herself psychological support.
The banquet hall, to put it plainly, was just an open courtyard with a few tables, showcasing the straightforward and bold nature of the Bianliao people. No one found it improper, even the King's banquets were like this.
Yelyu Lie switched to holding Yun Chunnuan's hand.
The soft and boneless little hand fell into his warm palm, immediately causing Yelyu Lie's mind to wander.
The rough fingertip brushed against the delicate back of her hand, earning a sideways glance from Yun Chunnuan.
Yelyu Lie didn't get angry; he winked at her, but didn't make any further inappropriate moves.
This scene happened to fall into Ayang's eyes.
Her worries and fears instantly turned to jealousy, staring at that flawless face, Ayang tightly clenched her fists, regretting not having damaged her face out of anxiety earlier!
Vixen!
Only knows how to use her looks to seduce men!
What was even more upsetting to Ayang was what happened next.
The man she adored was leading that woman to the seat of honor.
She sat in the main seat, while the General casually added a stool beside her.
As if finding the stool too cold and hard, he ordered thick furs to be laid on it...
Ayang: "!"
A dozen rugged men: "!!!"
Watching the General's actions, everyone was dumbfounded.
Where was the Great General who just said 'to hell with those from the Central Plains'? He was treating that woman like the apple of his eye!
"General! What do you mean by this? Are you humiliating us?"
"The seat of honor should only be beneath you, General!"
"Have you heard the story of the Destructive Demoness from the Central Plains, General?"
The crowd stood up, expressing their discontent.
A person from the Central Plains, and a woman at that, sitting at their seat of honor was pure humiliation!
Yun Chunnuan didn't know a seat held such significance, and her newly built confidence wavered.
Yelyu Lie gave a light pat on her hand, indicating with his eyes not to move.
He was never one for details, nor did he care about domestic affairs, but someone dared to blatantly enter his room and harm his woman!
This made Yelyu Lie furious.
He was somewhat afraid, fearing if it happened again, without any self-protection skill, would she be killed?
Yelyu Lie's gaze passed through the crowd, landing on the woman beside Banlai.
Ayang's jealousy was caught by him, clear and vivid.
Yelyu Lie curved his lips into a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes, "What's your name?"
Ayang, who had lowered her head, quickly raised her eyes.
Since her mother was the General's wet nurse, she acted like a young lady in the General Mansion, domineering and arbitrarily punishing the General's concubine without any reprimand.
So Ayang didn't think the General would blame her for a woman from the Central Plains.
She only felt a bit sad that the General didn't remember her name.
But it's okay; now that he's noticed her, it's not too late!
"General, this servant's name is Ayang. I often played with you when I was little, and you even held me."
She shyly lowered her head, crossed her hands in front of her, and bashfully twisted the fabric at the corners.
This blatant confession, obvious to anyone with eyes, showed that Ayang was interested in the Great General, and in a romantic way.
Yet, the man Ayang most wanted to know about her feelings remained unflustered.
"Come here."
Even his tone was calm and steady.
Ayang cautiously glanced at Yelyu Lie and then at the Central Plains woman beside him, who remained indifferent to her words.
Feeling puzzled, Ayang took small steps forward.
"General..."
She barely opened her mouth before a clump of dirt-covered grass roots was thrown at her head.
"Is this, yours?"