My vicious dog, my horse, I can do whatever I want with it

"It's really impressive..."

"With such great respect from my parents, look at the dowry being carried behind me."

"Oh, I can't even see the end of the street!"

The people around shouted as they came closer: "Come on, let's go get some candy!"

There were a lot of people following the lively wedding procession, and they followed all the way to the Wei family. There were people waiting at the door of the Wei family early. When they saw this scene, they couldn't help but exclaim in their hearts. At first glance, they thought it was a famous noble lady in the capital getting married!

What a big event!

As the wedding procession stopped in front of the Wei Mansion, the servants there were very sensible and stuffed wedding candies into the hands of the onlookers, asking for some auspicious words. If you could say something nice to please the host, you might even get a reward.

The Wei family is quite generous. It seems that they value the bride very much and are willing to do this to save her reputation.

As the gongs and drums sounded, the newlyweds entered the house. The onlookers were about to disperse when they suddenly saw the imperial horse coming out of the palace, and saw a eunuch dismounting.

"On behalf of the Imperial Concubine, I have come to congratulate the Zong Yan family on their daughter's wedding!" The eunuch held the brocade box in his hand, with a smile on his face and spoke a lot of auspicious words. He then turned and sang, holding the brocade box in his hand: "The Imperial Concubine specially gave me a pair of jade ruyi, congratulations to the newlyweds on their great happiness——!"

No one in the Wei family had ever seen such a scene before. They opened their eyes wide and hurried forward to express their gratitude.

After presenting the gift, the eunuch did not forget to explain: "Please stand up quickly, the two newlyweds. When my queen entered the pass to marry, she was protected by General Zong Yan of the Zong Yan clan. She has always been grateful for this kindness. Now I know that his sister Zong Yan's daughter is getting married, so I came to congratulate you on your wedding."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately praised Concubine Gao for her righteousness in not forgetting her gratitude. Zong Yanyin did not remove her veil, but only knelt slightly to express her gratitude.

With the Imperial Concubine's gift in front, the Wei family couldn't help but look up to the Zong Yan family. However, they never expected that as soon as the Imperial Concubine's eunuchs left, the eunuchs of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Xuan followed closely.

"What a coincidence! I didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would also join in the fun?" The eunuch of His Royal Highness Prince Xuan met him, with a hint of sparks flying in his eyes despite his forced smile.

"It's no coincidence. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that when he was on the expedition to Nankang on behalf of the king, he was trapped in the battle array and General Zong Yan risked his life to save him. He has never forgotten it. Today, he learned that Zong Yan's daughter was married and several of his generals were stationed at the border and could not return."

"Your Highness, as the crown prince, whether it is for the sake of your subjects or to repay your gratitude, you should come to congratulate!"

The eunuch squinted at the eunuchs in Prince Xuan's mansion and sneered, "I wonder why Prince Xuan came here?"

The eunuchs of Prince Xuan's Palace also raised their voices and said, "My prince's fiefdom is in Shouxi County, and he has been helping General Zong Yan stationed in Pingnan Camp. For many years, General Zong Yan has been stationed outside to protect Pingnan Camp. My prince is grateful for General Zong Yan's kindness, so he has prepared a small gift to congratulate him! What's wrong with that?"

The two eunuchs snorted coldly, walked into the Wei Mansion and presented their gifts.

As the Crown Prince and King Xuan sent their eunuchs to congratulate them, the situation seemed to become a little unusual.

"I've never heard of the Zong Yan family before..." The common people who were watching the fun couldn't help but talk about it. After counting all the famous clans in the capital, they had never heard of the Zong Yan family. They didn't expect that now that they were just marrying off their daughter, they could get the congratulations from the imperial concubine, and even the crown prince came to congratulate King Xuan.

"It was originally a clan in Huai'an. They have been generals for generations, and have produced many generals and leaders..."

"Oh! I've heard a little bit about the Zong Yan family from Huai'an!"

"The Zong Yan clan is known for producing many brave generals, but unfortunately most of them died in battle..."

"The descendant of a loyal hero is truly admirable."

The name of Zong Yan family gradually came into the public eye as this wedding came to an end, and Zong Yanyin also became famous in the capital because of this wedding. The Wei Mansion and even the Han family received many visiting invitations.

This also seems to mean that the Zong Yan family began to gradually and steadily rise to a higher position.

Qian Zhixing relied on his current status as the "uncle" to drink heavily with the Wei family's relatives, and pulled Wei Songhe to persuade him: "This is my general's biological sister, you have to treat her well and never bully her, otherwise... hiccups!"

"Otherwise, we brothers will not let you go! Wei family boy, did you hear me clearly?"

"Although our general is not able to return to the capital, I am still here!"

Qian Zhixing patted his chest as he spoke, looking heroic as if he was willing to sacrifice his life for his general.

Wei Songhe responded to all of them without any impatience. He drank with Qian Zhixing and other soldiers until they were happy. Then he staggered into the bridal chamber.

Qian Zhixing had originally planned to leave the day after seeing the bride off, but Han asked him to stay, saying that Zong Yanyin would be returning home with her husband in three days, and that it would not be too late for Qian Zhixing to leave after having the banquet, so Qian Zhixing stayed for two more days.

"General Qian, please see A-Yin and her husband return home in person, and then you can tell A-Li for me so that he can rest assured." Han said in a low voice with her eyes lowered.

Qian Zhixing naturally didn't say anything and saw with his own eyes Wei Songhe accompanying Zong Yanyin back home.

The two of them looked like a sweet and loving newlywed couple, which made Han feel completely relieved.

When Qian Zhixing set out on his journey home, Zong Yanyin and Wei Songhe came to see him off and prepared many things for Qian Zhixing to take with him. In addition to gifts for his father, brothers, uncles and aunts, there were also return gifts for the soldiers under Zong Yanli's command, and even two jars of wine.

It is said that they must each have a drink at the wedding!

Qian Zhixing thanked Han and said to Zong Yanyin and Wei Songhe, "I hope you two will be well in the future. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to write to me."

"Thank you, brother." Wei Songhe bowed and saw him off.

Qian Zhixing waved his hand, jumped on his horse, and set off on his journey home with his brothers.

It's another autumn month.

Qian Zhixing ran to Pingnan Camp to deliver the letter, and sent the return gifts to Kuang Xingquan and others. After that, he went to see Zong Yanhongjing, and then he couldn't wait to take the remaining things to Yuanshi Pass.

The mountain road was difficult to travel on, and many mud pits had accumulated from the autumn rain. Qian Zhixing rubbed his sore and dull legs, exhaled, swung the whip, and endured the pain as he hurried towards Yuanshi Pass.

"General——!" Bai Xiujun hurried in, with a look of surprise on his face, "General, look who's here!"

"Your humble servant greets the general!" Qian Zhixing entered the tent, looked at Zong Yanli with unspeakable excitement in his eyes, held his breath, lifted his robe, knelt down and bowed.

"Ah Xing! You came back so soon!" Zong Yanli showed a look of joy, and quickly stood up and helped the man up.

"Did you have a smooth journey?" Zong Yanli asked as he pulled him to sit down.

Qian Zhixing nodded and said, "It went smoothly. Thanks to the general's trust, I met your sister and personally sent her off to marry. The Wei family treated her very well, and sister Ayin and her husband were very loving. The general can rest assured!"

Zong Yanli breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Qian Zhixing aside to ask him about many detailed and trivial matters.

When he heard that the imperial concubine was sending a gift, Zong Yanli raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't say anything. But when he heard that the crown prince and King Xuan also joined in, he couldn't help but frowned.

"He is our general too! He is so appreciated by the Crown Prince and King Xuan." Qian Zhixing felt extremely honored.

"Besides delivering gifts, did the Crown Prince and King Xuan do anything else?" Zong Yanli asked in a calm voice.

Qian Zhixing shook his head. The prince and King Xuan's men didn't even drink the wedding wine. They just put down their things and left.

Zong Yanli's expression relaxed a little after listening. The Crown Prince and King Xuan were not stupid people. The old emperor was not dead yet. Neither of them wanted to be accused of forming a clique for personal gain. They sent someone to deliver a small gift. Moreover, both of them had legitimate reasons and would not provoke gossip. They didn't even drink a glass of wedding wine. It was obvious that it was just the friendship between the monarch and his subject.

Since we don't have any close friendship, naturally there won't be any speculation from others, but we have left behind a few good reputations.

"Since you are here, stay for two more days." Zong Yanli looked at Qian Zhixing and said, "Tell me about the current situation in Shouxi County."

"Yes!" Qian Zhixing naturally agreed. Zong Yanli asked Gao Feilin to prepare a banquet and also send a portion of the things Qian Zhixing brought to Zong Yanhongtu.

"How is your leg?" Bai Xiujun was most familiar with Qian Zhixing. When he saw Zong Yanli went to the camp, he immediately went to Qian Zhixing's side, thinking that Qian Zhixing would stay after returning this time, and they brothers could fight side by side again!

Qian Zhixing laughed and patted his thigh, saying, "It's useless."

Even though he tried his best to show that he didn't care, the bitterness in his eyes was hard to control. He just raised his lips and smiled at Bai Xiuyun and said, "Xiaobai, you are great! Now you are the commander of the Ghost Camp. You have made great progress. If the other people in our former recruit camp knew about this, they would not believe it."

At the beginning, Bai Xiuyun was the most useless in everyone's eyes. He was thin and short and looked insignificant.

But now...

Bai Xiuyun, who was wearing heavy black armor, had an upright posture. Having gone through such hardships, his eyebrows and eyes were sharp and he exuded a heroic spirit.

"Let me see your legs." Bai Xiuyun didn't believe Qian Zhixing's words, so he squatted down and reached out to touch his legs.

"Bai Xiujun!" Qian Zhixing couldn't help but stretched out his hand to push him away, and with such force, Bai Xiujun was pushed so hard that he staggered and sat on the ground.

"I know my own legs well! This leg is useless. Don't you understand that it's broken?" Qian Zhixing held back his anger, turned around and sat down on a wooden stool, tilted his head, stiffened his neck, and was unable to speak.

Bai Xiujun sat on the ground for a long time before getting up, brushing the mud off his hands, and sitting on the wooden stool next to Qian Zhixing.

The two were silent for a long time, and Qian Zhixing finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "I can't come back, you just follow the general and carry my will with you, and go on!"

Qian Zhixing stood up and rubbed his sore legs and walked away.

Bai Xiujun looked at Qian Zhixing's back, and he didn't know what happened. Suddenly, he felt his vision blurry. The unbearable sour emotion made his eyes a little bitter. Finally, he reached out and put on the mask hanging on his waist.

This way no one can see his face clearly, and no one will know that he is heartbroken and sad at the moment.

At night, Zong Yanli prepared delicious food and wine, and had a great time with Qian Zhixing and others. The men sang and danced as if they had returned to the days in the recruit camp.

Just as the dawn was breaking, Qian Zhixing quietly left the tent and set out on the journey back to Shouxi County.

"General, didn't you tell General Zong Yan?" Xiao Wu looked at his own general with some reluctance.

"No..." Qian Zhixing stared deeply into the tent, tightened the reins and said awkwardly: "Let's go."

Qian Zhixing turned his horse around and left the camp. He did not see Bai Xiuyun, who was wearing armor behind the camp and turned his back without daring to look back. He also did not know that in the tent, Zong Yanli was lying on his back on the bed with his eyes open, not awake at all.

Jian Jia Cang Cang, white dew is frost.

When autumn was in full swing, Zong Yanli received a heart-protecting mirror from Zong Yanhongjing. This was a coming-of-age ceremony prepared by Zong Yanhongjing for Zong Yanli. Zong Yanli was already twenty years old, and although she was a woman, Zong Yanhongjing still performed the coming-of-age ceremony for her as a man.

"Second uncle has nothing to give you, so I'll give you this dagger." As an elder, Zong Yanhongtu should prepare a gift.

"Your grandfather gave me this dagger, and now I give it to you." Zong Yanhongtu's eyes were deep, and he patted Zong Yanli's shoulder and said, "Uncle treats you as his own son. The important task of the Zong Yan family in the future depends on you!"

"Second uncle..." Zong Yanli raised his eyes and looked.

Zong Yanhongtu smiled and said, "The war is imminent, but I can't do it for you. I'm sorry for letting you down."

Zong Yanli shook his head to indicate that he was fine, and put the dagger close to his body. Then he listened to Zong Yanhongtu saying, "Come over and talk business. Yesterday, our scouts learned that the Qing Kingdom had added 10,000 cavalrymen, led by Fei Taishan. Fei Taishan is the uncle of the Qing Kingdom's emperor."

"Although our army has defeated the White Eagle Army, Fei Taishan should not be underestimated." Zong Yanhongtu said with a heavy face: "Our army's food supply route has been blocked, and the Qing Kingdom will definitely attack us this time."

"This general would like to appoint you as the vanguard, and Gaoguo and the White Eagle Army as the left and right wings."

"This general will lead the main force of our army to conduct guerrilla warfare to resist the enemy and escort you."

Zong Yanli looked solemn and agreed immediately.

There was no singing and dancing, no grand banquet at her coming-of-age ceremony. There were only the blowing of trumpets, the sound of marching drums, and the heart guard pressed against her chest. When she looked up, she could see the proudly-raised battle flag of the Zong Yan clan. For her, this was the best coming-of-age ceremony.

"To show the military might of our Wu country——!"

"kill--!!!"

As the attack horn sounded, Zong Yanli suddenly drew out the long sword in his hand and rushed into the enemy's formation.

The generals behind her responded and charged forward.

In the direction of Qing State, Yuan Heng stared at the enemy's vanguard who rushed out, and shouted with concentration: "Archers! Prepare the rain of arrows!"

"Shoot!" Arrows were fired all over the sky. War horses would neigh and fall to the ground if they were hit. However, the soldiers who fell off their horses showed no fear at all. They rolled on the ground and fought with swords in hand.

"Infantry charge, kill!" Yuan Heng drew the sword from his waist and looked at the two soldiers fighting each other. He saw an extremely conspicuous war horse rushing into the army among the thousands of troops, and Zong Yanli, who was holding a long sword, waved the long sword in his hand with such bravery that he dispersed the infantry formation.

"General! That's General Zhong Ming's warhorse!" Xu Yinghao spotted the warhorse under Zong Yanli at a glance, and immediately became so angry that his eyes turned red. He raised his sword and said, "I will go meet him!"