"Come, let us toast to Grandfather and Brother's return to the military camp."
Gu Qianying raised her wine cup.
"A toast to General Gu, and General Gu, for regaining military authority."
Du Chun, Nangong Li, Meng Qinghua, and others raised their wine cups in unison.
Old General Gu and Gu Yefeng raised their cups.
"We are grateful for everyone's support of Qianying, which has allowed my grandson and I to return to court."
Old General Gu's voice was steady.
He knew very well that the people present were there to support his granddaughter, Gu Qianying, not an old man like himself.
At the same time, he was very pleased that his granddaughter had made so many good friends.
"Old General Gu is valiant and mighty. I have long heard of your deeds. It is my honor to be seated at the same table and drink with you today."
Yan Kuan raised his wine cup and toasted Old General Gu.
If there was anyone in this world he admired, it was Old General Gu.
"Hahaha, you are a smooth talker, young man."
Old General Gu sat next to Yan Kuan. He patted Yan Kuan's shoulder and suddenly leaned in, asking, "Have you gotten married?"
Yan Kuan was startled and shook his head, "Not yet."
"Then do you have someone you like?"
As Old General Gu asked this, everyone else—Nangong Li, Du Chun, Meng Qinghua, and Gu Yefeng—looked at Yan Kuan.
Only Gu Qianying quietly drank her wine.
When Old General Gu asked, Yan Kuan subconsciously glanced at Gu Qianying.
He looked down shyly, "I do, but she doesn't know it yet."
Everyone noticed his expression as he spoke.
Du Chun, dressed in white, clenched his fist. When he looked at Yan Kuan again, a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
Nangong Li, standing beside him, was indifferent. Gu Qianying was not the person he loved, so it didn't matter to him if someone else fancied her.
However... he felt a bit uncomfortable. This was because Gu Qianying had once been his Ninth Imperial Aunt, and he had a good relationship with the Ninth Imperial Uncle. Naturally, he had treated Gu Qianying as family.
His Ninth Imperial Uncle had passed away not long ago, and now his Ninth Imperial Aunt was "married off"!
He felt uncomfortable.
Of course, Meng Qinghua had already explained to him how Gu Qianying had become the Imperial Noble Consort and where her "child" came from.
The feeling of being desired was naturally different from the current situation.
Meng Qinghua, standing beside him, looked at Yan Kuan with the eyes of a "proud father."
This young man was "handsome and decent," even good-looking, but... Gu Qianying belonged to Nangong Mo. He feared Yan Kuan would be disappointed.
He turned his head to look at Gu Qianying.
Alas, it was troublesome for a beauty to be too beautiful.
However, if Little Ying were to monopolize the throne in the future and become an empress, keeping a few handsome men in her harem would also be good.
He thought that Nangong Mo wouldn't be so petty.
At this moment.
Gu Yefeng and Meng Qinghua had the same thought.
"Hahaha, you're quite something, young man," Old General Gu laughed heartily. In his good mood, his grip tightened, and Yan Kuan was almost injured by his pat.
He was a scholar with no strength, how could he withstand Old General Gu's forceful pat?
"Old General Gu, please stop teasing me. I currently only wish to focus on my duties without any distractions."
Although his charges, like Miss Gu, had been cleared, Emperor Nan Rongqi still did not trust him.
While pardoning him, the Emperor did not reinstate him to his original position. Instead, he was assigned to a local yamen as a common runner.
Although he was unwilling, he could only accept his current situation due to his lack of ability.
He knew very well what Miss Gu intended to do upon her return. As an incapable scholar, he could not help her. For now, he just needed to mind his own business and not cause trouble.
Although the Yan clan was not a major family in the capital, nor a noble family of the court, they still had some shops in the market, and their business was decent.
If Miss Gu ever needed money, he could do his best to raise all the funds for her.
With this thought, Yan Kuan raised his wine cup again and toasted Old General Gu, "Old General Gu, please rest assured. Although I am incapable, I will do my utmost to help those who deserve it."
His words clearly stated his stance.
The person he intended to help was not lost on anyone present.
Old General Gu smiled.
Gu Yefeng also raised his cup to Yan Kuan, "Thank you."
Others helped out of goodwill and personal conviction. They should be grateful, not take it for granted.
"You don't have to do this. The Yan clan should remain as they are. If you get involved in other matters, you might be implicated by me. Yan Kuan, what you are doing is not worth it."
Gu Qianying, who had been silent all along, suddenly looked at Yan Kuan.
The wine in her cup was almost gone, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
After drinking, she was even more captivating.
These words were spoken from the heart. She had said those things to Yan Kuan before, but later Yan Kuan had fled with her.
In fact, she regretted it a little.
Especially after returning and learning that the Yan clan had suffered significant losses due to Yan Kuan's involvement.
And Yan Kuan had ended up in such a miserable state because of her.
The position of Shaoqing of the Dali Temple and that of a runner were worlds apart.
She had no intention of doing so, yet she had caused others to be unable to realize their lifelong ambitions.
In the end, she had been selfish.
Later, from Yan Kuan's words, she clearly knew what Yan Kuan was thinking, yet she pretended not to know.
This was where she had erred.
She should not have trampled on someone's devoted feelings.
"Whether it's worth it or not, I know very well. Miss Gu, you don't need to worry about it. You didn't force me; this is my willing choice."
Yan Kuan understood everything and was clear about everything.
He knew that Gu Qianying only had Nangong Mo in her heart.
He also knew that Gu Qianying could never fall in love with him.
But he didn't care about these things. Some loves only require one to see the beloved happy.
Upon hearing Yan Kuan's words, some were angry, some were pleased, and some were relieved.
However, regardless of their inner thoughts, they were all intelligent people and did not show it on their faces.
Gu Qianying did not say anything further. She could not control Yan Kuan's personal thoughts.
But she had promised everyone present that no matter what they asked her to do in the future, she would do her best.
This was the way friends interacted.
Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, one should just give their all.
That night, Gu Qianying and the others chatted happily and drank all night.
Outside the restaurant, more than a dozen men in green acted as lookouts, guarding the surroundings.
They were not afraid of exposure.
After a night of heavy drinking, Meng Qinghua, Nangong Li, and Yan Kuan were all drunk.
They were all sent back by the men in green.
Old General Gu also left.
He agreed to let Gu Yefeng stay to take care of Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying was also drunk.
"Qianying, let me take you back."
Du Chun picked up Gu Qianying, preparing to leave.
"No need. I'll take her. You go back."
Gu Yefeng walked over and took Gu Qianying from him.
Du Chun's arms suddenly felt empty, and his eyes turned cold.
"General Gu, what do you mean?"
The drunk Gu Qianying was somewhat adorable. She leaned into Gu Yefeng's arms and kept poking Gu Yefeng's scarred face with her hand.
"Brother, this face is so fleshy. Brother, hey, why can't I poke through it?"
Gu Yefeng caught Gu Qianying's restless hand and looked up at Du Chun, "Physician Du, men and women should not touch. Do you understand?"
His little sister was drunk. In such a situation, how could he hand her over to another man?
It was too dangerous!
"Heh!"
Du Chun sneered, "General Gu, do you think I, Du Chun, am someone who takes advantage of others?"
He admitted that he liked Gu Qianying.
But precisely because he liked her, he would never do anything to hurt her.
"I think you are!"
Du Chun: "..."
Gu Yefeng did not give Du Chun any face at all.
He hugged the drunk Gu Qianying out of the restaurant and got into a carriage.
He had hired a carriage when they arrived.
It was originally meant for his grandfather.
His grandfather had a poor tolerance for alcohol and would get drunk as soon as he drank.
So he had planned to take his grandfather back.
Now that his grandfather and he had their positions restored, and they had returned home.
Their return had surprised his father, Gu Kun, and the others.
No matter how unwelcome they were in their hearts, no one dared to say anything on the surface.
And now, his sister was drunk, so he naturally took his sister home.
Gu Yefeng gently placed Gu Qianying into the carriage. Before he could order his men to drive, Du Chun followed.
He kicked away the young man driving the carriage and sat in the carriage himself.
"The road is too dark at night. I'll take you back."
Gu Yefeng: "..."
"No need! My sister and I can go back ourselves. You can leave."
Gu Yefeng lifted the carriage curtain and poked half of his body out, stopping Du Chun.
What was the meaning of a grown man escorting them back?
He was capable of protecting his little sister.
"General Gu, you don't need to be embarrassed. I am escorting Gu Qianying, not you."
Gu Yefeng tried to stop Du Chun from getting close to Gu Qianying, but Du Chun refused to leave.
Gu Yefeng's face turned very sour, "Physician Du, my sister will not like you. Don't be so self-indulgent."
"So what? I'll stick to my own beliefs. What does it have to do with you!"
Gu Yefeng and Du Chun refused to back down.
One wanted to escort Gu Qianying back, while the other insisted on preventing it.
After a dispute, they ended up fighting.
It was late at night, and there were few people on the street.
One in purple and one in white sparred at the end of the street.
Suddenly, a strong wind arose.
A white figure appeared in mid-air.
In an instant, everything around seemed to freeze.
The two who were fighting more intensely looked in the direction where the white figure appeared.
They were both startled.
"Sister!"
"Gu Qianying!"
Because the distance was a bit far, they could not see the face of the white figure. They only saw the person pick up Gu Qianying from the carriage and then disappear!