Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Beneath the city walls of Chang'an, the crowd surged like a boiling pot. Waves of jubilant cheers rose higher and higher, mingling with the sound of wind and snow, and even the city bricks seemed to tremble slightly. The people who had migrated from the Black Mountains were seeing the legendary King Liang for the first time, and they all stood on tiptoe to get closer, their eyes wide with amazement.

"Tsk tsk, is this the King of Liang? He looks even younger than the rumors say!" An old man wrapped in a coarse cotton-padded coat clicked his tongue and couldn't help but mutter to the person next to him, "Look at that physique, that presence, no wonder he was able to drive away the Xianbei!"

The woman beside him nodded in agreement: "Indeed, he is very valiant! We are able to settle in Chang'an thanks to this king!"

The young girls in the crowd couldn't contain themselves any longer, gathering in twos and threes, their faces flushed as they whispered among themselves. "Look at how handsome the King of Liang is when he smiles..." "He's even more handsome than the generals in the paintings..." Their voices were as soft as mosquitoes, yet they were carried far away by the wind, prompting a woman next to them to laugh and pat her daughter on the shoulder.

Hearing these comments, Ma Chao's smile deepened, and he raised his hand to wave to the people. The hand that had once held a spear and slain enemies now moved with gentle strength, instantly drawing an even louder cheer.

Seeing this, Zhang Liao, Zhang Xiu, and the others behind him were all filled with pride. Zhang Liao stroked his beard and laughed, "Your Majesty is deeply loved by the people. How can our Western Liang not prosper!" Xu Huang nodded in agreement, "Back then on the battlefield, Your Majesty always took the lead. Now, you are so beloved by the people. It's truly..." He didn't finish his sentence before he was drowned out by the cheers around him. He could only shake his head with a smile, his eyes full of admiration.

The people's discussion continued. Some praised Ma Chao's bright armor, others lauded the white horse's swiftness, and some old men, holding children's hands, pointed in Ma Chao's direction and earnestly instructed them: "Remember this king, it is he who protects us so that we can live in peace."

The wind and snow gradually stopped, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the plaque on the city gate tower, where the two characters "Chang'an" shone brightly. Ma Chao gazed at the vibrant life before him, then turned to look at his generals beside him and the beautiful woman in the distance, a surge of warmth welling up in his heart. This was the land he had protected; this was the meaning of his return.

At this moment, the civil and military officials who had been waiting in formation quickly stepped forward. Leading them was Zhang Yan, clad in black armor and of imposing stature; he was the very general who had led the Black Mountain Army to surrender. Unable to contain his excitement, he knelt on one knee before Ma Chao, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty! The old camp in Xiliang is ready, and the soldiers are all waiting for you! We, your humble servants, respectfully welcome Your Majesty's triumphant return!"

Ma Chao was slightly taken aback, and Ma Xiu beside him quickly explained in a low voice: "Brother, this is General Zhang Yan, whom I mentioned to you before. He is the leader of the Black Mountain Army and has now submitted to our Xiliang."

"Oh? So it's General Zhang Yan, nicknamed 'Flying Swallow'!" Ma Chao suddenly realized, and quickly stepped forward to help him up. He looked him up and down and praised him loudly, "Indeed, you are strong and powerful, with a heroic air between your brows. You can tell at a glance that you are a great general with great dignity!"

Zhang Yan already held the renowned King of Liang in high esteem, and now, being praised to his face, he felt his bones lighten threefold. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty flatters me! It is truly an honor for this humble general to follow Your Majesty!"

The Black Mountain Army generals behind him were all honored to see their leader so highly regarded by the King of Liang. They straightened their backs even more and looked at Ma Chao with great respect.

Ma Chao patted Zhang Yan on the shoulder with a smile, then turned to Zhang Liao beside him and said, "Wen Yuan, make arrangements for the army to rest at the old camp in Xiliang first, and prepare plenty of hot food and wine for the soldiers so they can have a good rest."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhang Liao replied, cupping his hands in greeting.

Ma Chao then looked around at the generals beside him and said loudly, "You have all fought alongside me for months and have endured great hardship! Put aside all military matters for now and come with me into the city tonight—a banquet has been prepared in the Liang King's mansion, and we shall drink until we drop!"

"Alright! We won't leave until we're drunk!" Zhang Liao, Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang, and the others responded enthusiastically. The fatigue of the past few days seemed to be dispelled by this one sentence, and genuine smiles appeared on their faces.

Standing to the side, Zhang Yan listened to the words of harmony between the ruler and his subject, feeling even more at ease—being able to follow such a compassionate and powerful lord meant that the future was sure to be bright.

Although the common people could not understand the conversation between the generals, they could see the harmony and joy in their expressions. Cheers rang out again, mixed with the laughter of children, adding a touch of liveliness to Chang'an, where the snow had just stopped.

Ma Chao mounted his horse, "Horse King Aurora," which pawed lightly with its hooves. He reined in the horse, turned back to the crowd, and laughed, "Let's go, into the city!"

A group of people and horses trudged through the remaining snow towards the bustling city of Chang'an. The clanging of armor, the clashing of hooves, and the cheers of the people mingled together, creating a triumphant symphony. The lights of the Liang Prince's mansion were already lit in the distance, waiting to welcome its master and his comrades who had shared life and death.

At the inner city gate of the Liang King's Palace, Ma Teng and his mother, along with their relatives, were already waiting there. The elderly couple watched Ma Chao approaching from afar, their white hair at the temples particularly noticeable in the twilight, their faces filled with undisguised emotion and tenderness.

As soon as Ma Chao approached, he strode forward, knelt down in the snow with a thud, and kowtowed deeply to his parents: "Father, Mother, your son has returned."

Ma's mother rushed forward to help him up, stroking his armor with her hand, tears streaming down her face: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back... You've lost weight, you must have suffered a lot outside."

Ma Teng stood to the side, his eyes reddening though he didn't shed a tear. He patted Ma Chao on the back and said, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. The sons of the Ma family should make their mark on the battlefield. Your father is proud of you."

After exchanging a few private words with his family, Ma Chao glanced around at his relatives but didn't see that familiar figure. He couldn't help but ask, "Father, Mother, where is Yunlu?"

Ma Teng sighed, a hint of helplessness in his smile, "Girls grow up and leave home. She gets along very well with that boy Cao Ang. A few days ago, war broke out again in the Central Plains, and Cao Ang went back to take care of family matters. She was worried about him, so she went with him. She said she would come back to let you know she was safe once things calmed down there."

Ma Chao replied with an "okay," but was somewhat surprised. He helped his mother up and then said to Ma Teng, "Father, let's go inside. It's cold outside. Tonight, the manor has prepared a banquet to welcome all the generals. Please have a few drinks with me."

Ma Teng smiled and nodded: "Okay, okay, let's have a few drinks!"

The group walked in, and the palace lanterns in the inner city lit up one after another. The warm yellow light reflected off the snow and fell on everyone's faces, filled with the warmth of reunion. In the distance, the laughter of the generals could be heard, gradually blending with the noise inside the mansion. This night before New Year's Eve became especially lively and warm because of the returning travelers.

Inside the banquet hall of the Liang Prince's mansion, candlelight shone brightly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Military generals clinked glasses, laughing and talking loudly; the chill from their armor was dispelled by the aroma of wine and the warmth of the food, filling the room with boisterous revelry. Because the room was filled with battle-hardened men, Dong Bai and his entourage only sat briefly at the beginning of the meal before retreating with their female relatives to a side hall, so as not to disturb the men's enjoyment.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, just as everyone was enjoying themselves, Dong Bai led Cai Wenji, Lu Wan, Gongsun Rou, and others in. Each of them carried a wine cup, their composed demeanor instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"My lord, fellow generals," Dong Bai said in a clear voice, smiling at Ma Chao and the others, "we raise a toast to the King and all of you to congratulate the army on its triumphant return and safe journey."

Cai Wenji, Lu Wan, and others also raised their glasses and said, "Congratulations on your triumphant return."

Upon seeing this, the generals all stopped drinking and rose, their faces beaming with smiles. Zhang Liao stroked his beard and laughed, "Thank you, ladies! King Liang is truly blessed to have you all here!"

Xu Huang jokingly added, "That's right! I feel at ease knowing that you all are taking care of our families while we fight on the front lines!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the hall, as people's eyes darted between Ma Chao and the women, filled with envy.

Looking at the group of people before him, Ma Chao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He was about to raise his cup when his gaze paused slightly as it swept over Gongsun Rou. He recognized her as Gongsun Zan's daughter, but he hadn't expected her to be among the women, and even come along to offer a toast.

Although he was surprised, the room was bustling with noise and people were in high spirits, so it was clearly not the time to ask questions. Ma Chao suppressed his doubts, put on a gentle smile, took the wine cup from Dong Bai, and then clinked glasses with Cai Wenji, Lu Wan, Gongsun Rou, and others in turn.

"Thank you all." He said gently, downing the wine in his glass in one gulp.

When Gongsun Rou raised her cup, her fingers tightened slightly. Feeling Ma Chao's gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she still managed to calm herself and drink the wine.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Dong Bai didn't linger and said with a smile, "Generals, please enjoy your meal. We'll take our leave now."

After saying that, she turned and left with everyone, her skirt sweeping across the ground, leaving a faint fragrance in the air.

The banquet lasted until midnight. The night watchman struck the gong three times, and the cold wind, carrying lingering snow, rattled the windowpanes, gradually calming the noise inside the hall. Everyone was completely drunk; some were slumped over the table snoring, while others helped each other out, muttering unfinished drunken ramblings, their faces flushed with unbridled enjoyment.

Ma Chao had also drunk quite a bit. His silver armor had long since been removed and placed aside, the collar of his brocade robe was open, his face was flushed with alcohol, and his steps were somewhat unsteady. He had intended to ask his father, Cao Ang, about how he and Ma Yunlu got along, and why Gongsun Rou was among the women after the banquet—these questions had lingered in his mind for a long time. But now, with the effects of the alcohol, he felt dizzy and even speaking was difficult, so he could only sigh and say, "I'll talk about it tomorrow."

During the banquet, he even forced Gao Shun, who never drank, to drink a few cups, despite his status as the King of Liang. Gao Shun was an upright gentleman, but he couldn't resist Ma Chao's repeated urging and drank it all. Now he was walking unsteadily, and as his personal guards helped him out, he didn't forget to turn back and bow, his voice slurred, "Your...Your Majesty, please rest early..."

Ma Chao looked at his staggering back and couldn't help but laugh out loud. As he laughed, the effects of the alcohol intensified, and he felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

"My lord, let me help you back to your room." Dong Bai entered unnoticed, followed by two maids carrying lanterns. She looked at Ma Chao's flushed cheeks with tenderness in her eyes.

Ma Chao nodded, letting her help him walk outside. The lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind and snow, casting long shadows of the two of them. He smelled the familiar scent of perfume on Dong Bai, mixed with a faint smell of snow. The slight intoxication in his heart seemed to have subsided a bit, and he became even less inclined to think about those trivial matters.

"About Miss Gongsun..." He mumbled something, but was interrupted by a hiccup.

Dong Bai patted his arm with a smile: "No matter how big the matter is, we can talk about it after you wake up. Just rest peacefully tonight."

Ma Chao grunted in agreement and didn't ask any more questions. As he was helped up the stone steps of the corridor, he caught a glimpse of Li Ru being supported by two minor officials in the corner, muttering "The King of Liang has a huge capacity for alcohol," and couldn't help but laugh again.

Back in the bedroom, the maid had already prepared a hangover soup. Dong Bai brought it over himself and fed it to him spoonful by spoonful. The warm soup slid down his throat and finally suppressed some of the effects of the alcohol.

"Go to sleep," she said softly, tucking him in.

Ma Chao closed his eyes, the sounds of the banquet still seeming to echo in his ears, the aroma of wine and the crisp scent of snow lingering in his nostrils. Those things he hadn't had time to ask, like the lingering snow outside the window, were temporarily covered by the night, awaiting the sunrise to clarify them one by one.

As night deepened, the Liang Prince's Mansion finally fell completely quiet, with only the soft sound of wind and snow rustling through the eaves, accompanied by the snoring of everyone sleeping soundly, sinking into the final tranquility before New Year's Eve.