Chapter 150: Bestowing Rewards

After a round of drinks, Guo Feng had not drunk much, yet he was already drunk to the point of losing consciousness. Qin Cheng fared much better; although the ancient wine was rich and mellow, it was not intoxicating enough to faze him. As the moon rose to the middle of the sky, everyone except the night-watching swordsmen had already fallen asleep.

Because Xiao Xuanwu had lost his life, Guo Feng showed no mercy to his caravan's servants and attendants, permitting them to flee for their lives as they pleased. Yet, the cargo remained untouched—when people are fleeing for their lives, very few remember their duties.

The bloodstains inside and outside the courtyard had been hastily cleaned up, sparing anyone from the shock of seeing them. Qin Qingzhi had sent Wang Er and the others to bed, forcing himself to stay awake to keep watch. Having followed Qin Cheng for a long time, Qin Qingzhi had also developed a habit of caution, fearing not the ten thousand possibilities, but the one unexpected event. Since they were on someone else's territory, they dared not let down their guard.

Stepping out of the courtyard alone, Qin Cheng exchanged a few words with Qin Qingzhi before finding a spot outside to relieve himself. When he looked up, he noticed that tonight's moonlight was no different from any other night, but this was, after all, the place where he had grown up in this lifetime. As his gaze touched the scenery, both unfamiliar and yet familiar, an indescribable and ineffable emotion surged into his heart.

Qin Cheng began to reminisce about his past life, remembering the people and events of that previous existence. In that past life, he had endured all sorts of hardships. For survival—and for better survival—he had made various efforts that led to the ruin of many families. Thinking of this, Qin Cheng could not help but marvel at the caprices of fate: his past and present lives stood on two completely opposite sides, pursuing entirely different goals while performing entirely different deeds.

Suddenly, Qin Cheng felt an inexplicable wave of loneliness.

He began to yearn for his mother—that rural woman who had always refused to forgive him for his underworld ties.

Then, there was also that graceful figure in white who had driven him into heavy encirclement and ultimately met her death.

...

"What is the General thinking about?" Bai Xinxin approached Qin Cheng, stood beside him, and asked in a soft voice.

"I am wondering if I should thank this fellow Guo Feng." Qin Cheng glanced at Bai Xinxin. In the tranquil night, her silhouette appeared even more ethereal and elegant, carrying a hint of heart-stirring allure.

"Why is that?" Bai Xinxin tilted her head, somewhat puzzled, yet perhaps anticipating a different kind of answer from Qin Cheng.

Qin Cheng first chuckled self-deprecatingly, then said, "If not for this fellow Guo Feng, I fear I would have had to wait quite a while longer to take you out of the Linxiang Pavilion. But now, all I need to do is return to Qiansang, and I can hide away my beauty in a golden house. Tell me, shouldn't I thank him?"

With that, Qin Cheng looked at Bai Xinxin playfully, resembling an ill-intentioned wolf eyeing a little lamb.

Bai Xinxin lowered her head in coy shyness. Although Qin Cheng could not clearly see her expression in the dark, he knew her face must be blushing. Thinking of this, he reached out and pinched her cheek; her skin felt as soft and smooth as a plump balloon.

"How can someone like Xinxin compare to an empress? I've heard that empresses are beauties rarely seen since ancient times. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have uttered the phrase 'hiding a beauty in a golden house' upon merely catching a single glance of the Empress back then. To think, the Empress must be very happy..." Bai Xinxin's gaze grew somewhat hazy, as if yearning for something.

"Do you envy the Empress?" Qin Cheng asked.

Bai Xinxin shook her head and replied earnestly, "What Xinxin envies is not the Empress, but the affection between the Empress and His Majesty." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Before I met the General, whenever Xinxin thought of this romantic tale, I could not help but feel melancholic. But after meeting the General, whenever I think of this romance between the Emperor and the Empress, Xinxin only feels joy."

"..." Qin Cheng smiled, momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to pull the beauty into his arms, an out-of-tune voice suddenly sounded from behind.

"Elder Brother Qin, Miss Bai, you're here! Elder brother has woken up and is calling for you!" Guo Xi Xi shouted loudly. Qin Cheng turned to look at her with a depressed expression, only to see Guo Xi Xi's cheeks puffed out—though not as if she had been eating—and her chest heaving heavily for reasons unknown.

"Really?" Qin Cheng couldn't bear to have such a fine romantic atmosphere interrupted just like that, and offered a last-ditch, desperate question.

"Of course it's true!" Guo Xi Xi said indignantly, turning around to leave right after. "Just hurry up and come over!"

Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin exchanged a smile. Bai Xinxin's look toward Qin Cheng was full of teasing and schadenfreude. Qin Cheng rubbed his nose, put on an expression of helplessness and innocence, and followed along with Bai Xinxin.

Arriving back in the courtyard, however, there was no sign of Guo Feng or Guo Dongdong. Guo Xi Xi cast a guilty glance at Qin Cheng and said with a lack of conviction, "He was right here just a moment ago, and he was even clamoring to drink another three hundred goblets with you..."

"Is that so?" Qin Cheng asked back, somewhat annoyed.

Just as Guo Xi Xi found herself in extreme awkwardness, Guo Dongdong walked out from the room. Seeing Qin Cheng and the others standing in the main hall, she opened her mouth as if to say something, but Guo Xi Xi cut her off first, "Dongdong, didn't elder brother just say he wanted to drink with Elder Brother Qin? Where did he go?"

Hearing Guo Xi Xi's words, a flash of bewilderment crossed Guo Dongdong's eyes, but she immediately smoothed her expression and replied, "After you went out, he collapsed again and wouldn't wake up no matter how much I called him. I've already dragged him to his room to sleep. General Qin, I'm sorry."

Likely sensing that Qin Cheng was slightly displeased, Guo Xi Xi immediately chimed in, "He really brings shame upon the two of us. Elder Brother Qin, how about the two of us drink a few goblets instead?"

"Forget it, the hour is late. Everyone should turn in early. I'm also tired after bustling about for several days." With that, Qin Cheng yawned, suddenly thinking of a question, and asked right away, "Are there enough rooms to sleep in?"

Guo Dongdong shook her head and answered honestly, "Not enough."

"Oh," Qin Cheng replied casually, glanced at Guo Xi Xi, then looked at Bai Xinxin, and said meaningfully in a tone guaranteed to drive Guo Xi Xi crazy, "Xinxin, surely you wouldn't bear to leave me out in the cold?"

This time, Qin Cheng clearly saw Bai Xinxin's face blush, yet she still said, "The General must be exhausted from days of travel. Xinxin will brew a cup of tea for the General to relieve his fatigue."

"Good." Qin Cheng nodded, then turned to Guo Xi Xi and asked, "Can you brew tea?"

"No... I can't," Guo Xi Xi glared at Qin Cheng, gritting her teeth.

"In that case, haha, then we'll be going." Qin Cheng embraced Bai Xinxin and walked toward the inner rooms.

As for tea leaves and tea sets—in such a large courtyard, they certainly wouldn't be lacking... and even if they were, it would be all the better.

Watching Qin Cheng triumphantly embrace Bai Xinxin and walk toward the inner courtyard, Guo Xi Xi wished she could cleave this fellow in two with a single sword, her fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds.

"Xi Xi..." Guo Dongdong looked at Guo Xi Xi with amusement, nudged her with an elbow, and teased, "Would you like me to teach you how to brew tea?"

"Ah!" Guo Xi Xi let out an angry low growl, fiercely pinching Guo Dongdong's upturned buttocks hard, and cursed viciously, "Dongdong, I curse you to never get married in this lifetime!"

"I never said I wanted to get married, but as for you, giggle..." Having drunk wine, Guo Dongdong's cold and aloof face was suffused with wave after wave of rosy blush, making her exceptionally pretty.

Guo Xi Xi glared fiercely at Guo Dongdong.

Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin had already walked up to the door and were about to push it open to enjoy the life pleasure of drunkenly reposing on a beauty's lap when, uninvited, a loud shout came from behind: "Wait!"

Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin both turned their heads and saw Guo Xi Xi running over.

Guo Xi Xi looked at Qin Cheng with righteous confidence, completely unashamed, and declared, "I may not know how to brew tea, but I know how to drink tea!"

"..." Qin Cheng nearly crashed his head directly into the door frame and died.

...

The next day, the morning sun rose high into the sky. Everyone inside and outside the "Xiao Residence" packed up their belongings early, had breakfast, and prepared to set off their separate ways.

Because Qin Cheng had sent Qin Qingzhi to present his official token at the courier station the previous night to explain the situation, no one from the station came to cause trouble for Qin Cheng and his party. In this era, having the status of the ruling class certainly made things much easier to handle.

The group emerged from the "Xiao Residence" and parted ways at the fork in the post road. Cupping their fists in farewell, Guo Feng said to Qin Cheng, "Brother Qin, we shall part ways here. Once I go to Chang'an to settle some minor matters, I will come looking for you again, and then we shall drink and make merry once more!"

"Very well, it's a deal!" Qin Cheng cupped his fists.

"Elder Brother Qin, farewell for now," Guo Dongdong and Guo Xi Xi said, cupping their fists toward Qin Cheng.

Qin Cheng first cast a natural glance at Guo Dongdong, then looked with lingering resentment at Guo Xi Xi, who wore a self-satisfied expression. Feeling quite aggrieved, he said, "We part ways here. When the two of you come to Qiansang next time, I'll have you teach my children swordsmanship..."

"You..." Guo Xi Xi was choked with anger, wishing she could fly across on horseback and punch Qin Cheng right in his detestable mouth.

Qin Cheng laughed heartily and solemnly bade the group, "Take care!"

"Take care!"

After the two groups split up, Guo Xi Xi, riding at the very rear, suddenly turned her horse around, galloped to catch up with Qin Cheng, stopped five paces away, stared at Qin Cheng viciously, and said, "Qin Cheng, you just wait for this lady. When I return, I'll show you!"

With that, she let out a huff, wheeled her horse around, and rode off without paying any mind to Guo Dongdong and the others, her retreating figure full of carefree grace.

Qin Cheng watched Guo Xi Xi ride away, chuckled, and muttered to himself, "I'm starting to find you somewhat endearing now..."

Qin Qingzhi chuckled twice nearby and said, "The General truly has wonderful romantic fortune. I knew all along that these two women couldn't escape your grasp, hehe!"

"Two women?" Qin Cheng asked in puzzlement.

"A pair of sisters, is there any doubt about that?" Qin Qingzhi said matter-of-factly. Then, realization dawned on him; he slapped his forehead and laughed, "Adding Miss Bai, of course that makes three, haha!"

"..." Qin Cheng broke out in a cold sweat of dark lines.

...

Upon returning to Qiansang, Qin Cheng sent Qin Qingzhi and the others to Linxiang Pavilion to redeem little Rong'er. Unlike Bai Xinxin, it was much easier to get a little maid out. As for himself, he brought Bai Xinxin to find Qin Yue. Since Bai Xinxin no longer needed to return to Linxiang Pavilion and temporarily lacked a suitable residence, rather than letting her stay at an inn, it was far better for her to stay with Qin Yue for the time being. In a couple of days, after furnishing his own little nest, the "Sky Wolf Residence" and hiring servants, he would then bring Bai Xinxin over.

When they arrived at Qin Yue's small residence, it happened to be mealtime. The servant opened the door, saw Qin Cheng, and immediately turned back to shout into the courtyard, "General Qin has returned!"

As Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin stepped through the gates, they heard a series of clattering noises from inside, as if bowls and dishes had fallen to the ground. Qin Cheng could not help but wonder: could it be that his elder sister was so excited upon learning that he had won another great victory and returned?

Walking from the courtyard toward the main hall, he happened to see a figure looking utterly disheveled while picking up bowls that had fallen beneath the table—a figure exceedingly familiar. Meanwhile, Qin Yue stood nearby with a blushing face and extreme embarrassment. Seeing Qin Cheng, her smile was extremely unnatural as she said, "Eldest, you're back."

Recognizing the figure, Qin Cheng suppressed his laughter, greeted Qin Yue first, and then took two strides forward to plant a kick straight onto the fellow's backside, laughing mockingly, "Le Dalang, what on earth are you doing here?"

Le Yi rose in embarrassment, smiled ingratiatingly at Qin Cheng, yet didn't know what to say. Seeing Le Yi's discomfiture, Qin Yue hurriedly explained, "Young Master Le didn't find you in the military camp, so he assumed you were here and came looking for you. He waited for you for a long time without seeing you return, and since it happened to be mealtime, he stayed to eat together. For no good reason, why did you go and kick him?

"Miss Bai, you've come too? Come in and sit down. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"We just arrived and haven't eaten," Bai Xinxin replied graciously.

"Xiao Ya, set out more bowls and chopsticks!" Qin Yue called out loudly to the servant, then invited Bai Xinxin, "Come, sit down."

Le Yi cast a resentful yet helpless glance at Qin Cheng. With Qin Yue providing cover, he made a motion as if to kick Qin Cheng back, which Qin Cheng easily dodged.

As everyone took their seats, Le Yi finally asked Qin Cheng, "Where have you been these past few days? I asked the General, and he only knew that you had urgent personal matters to attend to."

"It was nothing major, just meeting some friends from the pugilistic world," Qin Cheng said casually. Seeing the skeptical looks on Qin Yue and Le Yi's faces, he had no choice but to continue, "I also saw Xiao Linglong, but it's all fine now."

"Linglong?" Qin Yue asked suspiciously, her expression turning somewhat displeased. "Why on earth did you go see her? What is there to see about a woman like that?"

Knowing that Qin Yue was still angry over Xiao Linglong's initial "betrayal" of him, Qin Cheng chose not to over-explain and instead diverted the topic. "Xinxin will be staying here with you for the next few days. Once the things in my courtyard are all settled in a while, I'll come pick Xinxin up."

Qin Yue didn't pry further and smiled, "That would be wonderful. Day in and day out, I'm cooped up at home alone with nothing to do, feeling terribly bored. Miss Bai coming over is just right to keep me company. If you ask me, Miss Bai, you don't even need to go to that courtyard of his; just stay right here with me. The two of us can keep each other company. What do you think?"

Bai Xinxin reached up to touch her temple and said, "Xinxin would naturally be happy to live with Sister."

"Now that won't do," Qin Cheng firmly rejected, glancing sideways at Le Yi with a mischievous smile. "Sister, look, don't you already have company? Quit plotting over Xinxin; Xinxin is mine, haha!"

"What are you babbling about? Talking to your sister like that, you really have grown bold!" Qin Yue said with bashful anger, though she couldn't help glancing at Le Yi.

Le Yi flushed red as he ate his food, pretending he hadn't heard anything. This fellow normally disliked talking much, and when encountering such situations, he was left with no choice but to be the butt of the jokes.

"Le Yi, don't just focus on eating. Did you hear what I said just now? You must be diligent and responsible from now on, or else I'll deal with you by military law, haha!" How could Qin Cheng let Le Yi off the hook, continuing to tease him.

"...... Ah?" Le Yi raised his head, looking flustered. He instinctively glanced at Qin Yue, then lowered his head again to eat.

"Eat your food!" Qin Yue scolded angrily, though it was unclear towards whom her anger was directed more.

"Haha..."

...

After the meal, Qin Qingzhi arrived with little Rong'er. Seeing that Bai Xinxin was safe and sound, little Rong'er let out a dramatic cry and threw herself into Bai Xinxin's arms, prompting Bai Xinxin to comfort her tenderly for quite a while.

Qin Cheng arranged for Bai Xinxin and little Rong'er to stay at Qin Yue's place, while he, along with Le Yi and Qin Qingzhi, hurried back to the military camp. With new recruits about to enter the camp soon, countless matters required preparation, leaving Qin Cheng no choice but to press forward urgently.

Upon reaching the camp, Li Guang happened to be present, so Qin Cheng entered the main general's tent.

Seeing Qin Cheng's glowing and radiant expression, Li Guang put down the bamboo slips in his hand, smiled meaningfully, and asked, "Have all matters been settled?"

"All settled," Qin Cheng replied with a relaxed smile.

"The results of the battle against the Wuhuan King have already been summarized in the camp, and tomorrow we shall report them to the imperial court." Li Guang stepped out from behind his desk. "The rewards from His Majesty for the great battle against the Xiongnu at the end of last year have just arrived, and now our new battle report is to be sent off to the court. Just thinking about it brings a sense of relief."

With that, Li Guang could not help but laugh heartily twice.

Qin Cheng chuckled along with him.

Seeing that Qin Cheng did not pick up the conversation, Li Guang asked with amused interest, "Don't you want to know what reward His Majesty has bestowed upon you?"

"What your subordinate is thinking right now is that once the new recruits enter the camp, the 'Iron Cavalry Project' must officially begin, and various difficulties will follow one after another. Figuring out how to resolve these challenges is indeed what gives me a headache," Qin Cheng said, thinking to himself that the court's rewards wouldn't run away and Liu Zhe wouldn't treat him unfairly, so what was there to rush for?

"Haha!" Li Guang patted Qin Cheng on the shoulder. "If you can have such a mindset, then this general can rest easy. Otherwise, if you asked me to leave Shanggu right now, I'd still feel somewhat uneasy!"

"Is the General going to be transferred away from Shanggu?" Qin Cheng asked in surprise.

"Not right now," Li Guang shook his head. "Though it won't be too far off either."

Eighteen days after this conversation between Li Guang and Qin Cheng, the imperial court's rewards for the great victory of the Shanggu Han army against the Wuhuan King finally arrived. The delegation of imperial envoys this time was even larger than the one Wei Qing had led previously.

On that day, the imperial decree went straight to the Shanggu military camp. Standing on the drill platform before all the officers and soldiers, the envoy proclaimed Liu Zhe's rewards for Shanggu's crushing defeat of the thirty-thousand-strong Wuhuan army:

"Commandant Li Guang, as the Governor of Shanggu and Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, has rendered meritorious service in this great victory over the Xiongnu. He is ennobled as the Marquis of Everlasting Victory and shall enter Chang'an to have an audience with the Emperor on an auspicious day!"

"Cavalry Colonel Qin Cheng, who devised strategies in the command tent, executed numerous brilliant stratagems, led the charge at the vanguard, and commanded the army to rout the Wuhuan forces, is ennobled as the Marquis of Cavalry, appointed as the Governor of Shanggu Commandery, and named the Commandant of Shanggu, taking command of Shanggu..."