Yelyu Lie picked up another jar of wine and heartily flipped open the lid.
He turned to the young girl beside him and said, "It's the duty of the general to be punished for his soldiers' mistakes. Please, Princess, don't take her words to heart!"
After saying this, Yelyu Lie drank the strong wine in one go.
The dozen or so rough men below him, currently feeling a bit frightened, each picked up a large bowl and apologized to Yun Chunnuan.
War, it's the most terrifying thing.
Although they particularly despise the people of the Central Plains, no one wishes to fight bloody battles and fear every day on the battlefield.
This conflict was finally paused due to the alliance between the two countries. If the flames of war were rekindled because of a sentence just uttered by Ayang, it would be the common people who suffer.
Moreover, winter has come, and Bianliao's toughest days are approaching.
Lack of resources, insufficient supplies, even the general cannot guarantee victory over Great Xia.
Reckless, presumptuous.
At this moment, the soldiers' apologies were sincere.
"Princess, we're just rough people, don't mind us, huh! This bowl of wine is my apology to you!"
"Princess, please don't blame the General! It was us who misunderstood the etiquette, causing a scene! To your health, to your health!"
Yun Chunnuan stared blankly at the dozen men, all raising their cups to her, creating quite a spectacle.
Unable to help herself, she looked at the man beside her. Although she could only see the bottom of a wine jar, she couldn't see his expression at this moment.
But in her heart, a warm current surged.
She, though not a real Great Xia princess, was like the princess, in a foreign land.
That feeling of isolation, not fitting in with the world, no one understood it better than her.
Yet here was someone, unequivocally protecting her, even willing to cause a stir to win dignity for her, making her feel warm.
Thinking of the words the man had said on the way here...
It meant that even if that girl hadn't uttered nonsense like 'slaughter all the people of the Central Plains,' he would still hold onto other faults, determined to support her.
If only he wasn't a philanderer with so many women.
It's a pity, that's her unwelcome surprise, destined to remain separated!
Yun Chunnuan picked up a jar of wine too, pouring some into the large bowl on the table.
Though she had no intention of staying, she wouldn't neglect the courtesy due to these soldiers.
Yun Chunnuan picked up the large bowl to drink, but was caught by Yelyu Lie just as he put down his jar, quickly gripping her wrist.
"This is strong wine, can you handle it?"
"Just a little sip, a gesture."
Seeing the brothers' expectant looks, Yelyu Lie whispered, "Just a little sip."
"Uh-huh."
Yun Chunnuan sweetly smiled, taking a big gulp, almost half the bowl was gone!
The men below shouted.
"Great! The Princess has guts!"
"Bold! No wonder she's our General's woman!"
"Central Plains women aren't as fussy as imagined, hahaha!"
Yun Chunnuan's big sip brought about a round of cheers.
However...
She choked, never thinking the wine would be so spicy!
As it rolled down her throat, her stomach felt like it was burning with fire.
She held onto the feeling, not letting it out.
Yelyu Lie quickly noticed her discomfort, promptly handing her a cut-up apple.
"Thank you," Yun Chunnuan softly thanked and, taking the apple herself, didn't let him feed her.
This subtle gesture made Yelyu Lie a bit upset.
He didn't understand why his little wife always rejected him?
But now wasn't the time to let it show. Instead, he asked with a stern face, "How should we deal with that criminal?"
Just now, Yelyu Lie had already said, legally she should be executed.
He kept signaling the Little Princess with his eyes, hoping she understood his meaning.
Yun Chunnuan blinked, starting to feel dizzy.
The original host, clearly hadn't had wine before, and just one sip made her body feel very unwell.
She hiccupped, recalling the Barbarian General's words, her tongue became somewhat thick, "No need for execution, no need, um... um... just let her marry! Leave the General Mansion, leave! Hiccup—"
Strong wine, it goes straight to the head!
Saying this, Yun Chunnuan didn't even remember what she said, only that he'd mentioned when he acted severely, she should win hearts and drive the woman out of the General Mansion, that's all.
Probably, something like this?
Yun Chunnuan couldn't remember clearly.
She swayed, and before she knew it, she was soaring into the air, almost as if flying.
In her ears, she occasionally heard the cries of a woman...
"Ugh, so noisy."
She waved her hand casually, and there was a crisp 'slash' sound.
The whole world quieted down.
More than a dozen men: "..."
Holding their large bowls, their jaws collectively dropped in surprise.
If their eyes aren't deceiving them, did that Little Princess of the Great Xia Country just slap the General across the face? And so loudly!
Oh my! Lions removing the fur from the tiger's mouth!
The General... wouldn't just waste this delicate Little Princess, would he?
Yelyu Lie: "..."
He never knew anyone could get so drunk so quickly after just one sip!
If not for her usual disdain towards him, shying away from even a touch, now she seemed like a little kitten, obediently nestling into his embrace, Yelyu Lie might have suspected that slap was intentional.
If he had known, he would have stopped her!
"Cough!" Yelyu Lie lightly coughed, "How can there still be mosquitoes on such a cold day? The Princess is truly considerate."
All the men raised their heads, searching for mosquitoes.
It's winter now, Bianliao's weather is inherently cold, how could there be any mosquitoes?
Yelyu Lie didn't care about those fools, after salvaging some dignity, he quickly carried the soft little lady out of the banquet hall.
No matter how the woman behind cried out her heart, he didn't cast a single glance.
His eyes tolerated no sand.
Leaving such a calamity beside him, Yelyu Lie didn't feel at ease.
But that troublemaker was the wet nurse's only daughter.
There's an old saying in the Central Plains, consider the monk's face for the Buddha's sake. Had her poisoning harmed someone else, the matter might have just been raised high, put down gently, and forgotten.
But when it came to the precious Little Princess nestled in his arms, he was angry!
She was so delicate, what if that Fragrance-seeking Grass poisoned her into a fool, then what?
It's said that smelling too much leads to idiocy!
Look at her, one sip and she's this drunk, it could very well be that filthy thing causing it!
Yelyu Lie thought about it, feeling somewhat indignant, thinking only driving her out of the mansion was too lenient...
"Boohoo, I want to go home! Mom, Dad, Nuannuan misses you so much! Boohoo!"
Yelyu Lie was pondering whether to find a bald, pot-bellied husband for Ayang when the soft little girl in his arms suddenly started mumbling.
She said she wanted to go home and missed someone called 'Ban Na'?
Home, as far as Yelyu Lie was concerned, meant the Central Plains, meant Great Xia.
His heart skipped a beat, suddenly recalling some bad rumors about the Little Princess in the Great Xia Country.
Extravagant and promiscuous, leading a wanton life, the Princess Mansion filled with countless paramours...