Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

At this moment, a bearded, loud-voiced lieutenant beside Qi Jinyu leaned closer, winking and chuckling, "Your Highness, I heard that this batch of pigs and sheep was purchased and sent by that 'noble person' in your household? Tsk tsk, what a generous gesture! The brothers all speak highly of this person!"

He spoke softly, but several close generals around him heard him and exchanged knowing smiles.

They had all witnessed the welcoming ceremony, but because Qi Jinyu was extremely strict in disciplining his troops, no one dared to discuss it openly. Now, taking advantage of the lively atmosphere of rewarding the troops, they dared to make a few jokes.

Qi Jinyu glanced at the deputy general, her eyes showing little reproach. Instead, the phrase "remembering the goodness of this person" inexplicably made her feel a little more at ease.

He pictured Su Ziyu, dressed in a heavy fox fur coat, her face pale but her eyes clear, arranging these matters, and a warm feeling washed over him.

"Hmm." Qi Jinyu responded lightly, her gaze sweeping over the excited faces of those below the stage, who were eager for meat after such a long time, and a thought struck her.

He kept Su Ziyu in the mansion, partly because of his frail health and partly because he didn't want him to be exposed to the harshness and cold of the frontier.

But now that his health has improved and he's thinking about rewarding the army, perhaps... it's time.

He had already been selfish enough by bringing people to the frontier in the name of love; he could no longer allow Su Ziyu to be treated by his soldiers as a vague appendage that he had "hidden away."

With this in mind, Qi Jinyu made a decision.

He turned to his personal guard beside him and whispered, "Go back to the manor and invite Mr. Su over. Tell him... the military camp is simple, but there's plenty of roasted meat. Invite him to come and have a chat with the soldiers."

The personal guards took the order and left.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding generals showed a mixture of surprise and even greater curiosity. Was the prince... about to formally introduce that person to everyone?

Qin Wujiu, who had remained silent the whole time, frowned and looked up, his lips pursed. As the prince's closest strategist, he immediately guessed the meaning behind the prince's words the moment he heard him speak.

Your Highness is foolish!

If the people in the capital were to find out that the prince has homosexual tendencies, they might use it against him, which would be detrimental to his ascension to the throne.

Qin Wujiu's words of dissuasion reached his throat, but in the end he simply raised his wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. The cold, pungent wine slid down his throat and into his stomach, masking his unspoken words.

No one noticed his unusual demeanor during the meal, as the strategist's serious and unsmiling appearance was deeply ingrained in everyone's minds, and they continued to chat and laugh.

About half an hour later, a simple carriage, escorted by guards, drove into the military camp.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing first a snow-white fox fur coat that seemed out of place in the military camp. Then, Su Ziyu's handsome face, though still bearing a hint of illness, was revealed.

As soon as he lifted the curtain, he felt the lively and bustling atmosphere of the camp.

The campfire roared, and large chunks of pork and mutton sizzled and dripped with oil, filling the air with their enticing aroma. The soldiers sat huddled together, laughing and talking loudly, drinking from large bowls. Their rugged and unrestrained vitality stood in stark contrast to the deathly silence and numbness of the streets of Ding'an City.

Countless eyes instantly focused on him.

There was curiosity, exploration, amazement, and also a sense of instinctive awe for "scholars" or "people close to the prince."

Qi Jinyu strode over, naturally reached out to help him up, and whispered, "The ground is uneven, be careful."

This thoughtful gesture caused a slight change in the eyes of the soldiers who were secretly watching this side.

Ignoring the stares from all around, Su Ziyu smiled faintly at Qi Jinyu and stepped off the carriage with his help. "Your Highness, I'm fine."

Qi Jinyu squeezed his palm. "You've been staying in the manor for a long time. It's time to come out and walk around. Most importantly, I want to formally introduce you to everyone. You're not some nobody hiding behind me."

The two walked forward side by side, and Qi Jinyu addressed the crowd in a loud voice that clearly echoed throughout the training ground: "All soldiers!"

The noise gradually subsided, and everyone looked towards the command platform and the young man beside the prince, whose fur coat was as white as snow and whose demeanor was elegant and refined.

"The pigs and sheep we are giving to the troops today were all purchased by Mr. Su Ziyu, who is by my side. They are a gift to you all to reward your hard work!" Qi Jinyu's voice was solemn and unquestionable.

"Although Mr. Su is not a soldier, he cares deeply about the frontier. This time, despite his recent recovery from illness, he has devoted himself to the people of Ding'an City and our border troops. Today, I will introduce him to you all!"

He did not use any ambiguous words, but solemnly addressed him as "Mr. Su," highlighting his contributions and sentiments.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, Su Ziyu did not show any fear. He simply nodded slightly to the audience below, and his clear voice, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of the soldiers in the front row: "I am but a humble soldier, doing my best. The peace and tranquility of the border depends entirely on the bravery of all of you soldiers. Thank you for your hard work."

His words were sincere, and his demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant; he possessed neither the pedantry of a scholar nor any obsequiousness.

After a brief silence, the bearded lieutenant suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, "Thank you for the reward, Mr. Su! Brothers, let's thank Mr. Su!"

"Thank you for the reward, Mr. Xie Su!"

The deafening roar rang out again, this time with less curiosity and speculation, and more sincere gratitude and acceptance.

The firelight illuminated the simple, smiling faces, revealing something Su Ziyu hadn't seen on the faces of the people of Ding'an for a long time—hope and vitality.

Looking at Su Ziyu's profile, which was slightly reddened by the firelight, and the faint light in his eyes, Qi Jinyu felt that the impulse to formally include him in a corner of her world finally came to fruition.

Surrounded by people offering toasts, Su Ziyu felt awkward refusing and was about to accept when Qi Jinyu grabbed her hand, then gave a dangerous look to the crowd offering toasts.

"Since Ziyu is still ill, he should not drink alcohol. I will drink his wine in his place."

Upon hearing this, the bearded deputy general and the others were taken aback at first, but then burst into great enthusiasm.

Nonsense, the opportunity to get the general drunk doesn't come every day.

And so, a group of roughnecks who barely knew any words held their wine bowls and began reciting one toast after another.

Qi Jinyu, with a dark expression, drank bowl after bowl.

He tried to use his position to intimidate them into stopping, but the adjutants were already drunk and didn't understand what he meant, continuing to offer toasts.

Su Ziyu gave Qi Jinyu a look that said "good luck," and wisely withdrew from the encirclement early, standing on the outer circle watching the group of people making a ruckus at the dinner table.

"Mr. Su, are you just going to watch like this? Aren't you afraid the Prince will get drunk?"

A deep voice suddenly came from behind.

Su Ziyu turned around upon hearing this and saw that the person who came was the strategist Qin Wujiu. The disgust in the other party's eyes was undisguised, which surprised him greatly. He didn't seem to have offended this person!

He nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then turned his gaze back to Qi Jinyu, "Your Highness carries a heavy burden; a proper relaxation would be beneficial to your physical and mental health."