Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The original enthusiastic and cheerful atmosphere in the tent had long since dissipated, and was now shrouded in solemnity. Everyone was immersed in thinking about the situation. For a moment, it was so quiet that one could almost hear each other's breathing.

Seeing the oppressive atmosphere, Jia Xu quietly nudged Zhang Xiu twice, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Young Master, today is your and Young Madam's return home ceremony. We can discuss military matters later. If this continues, General Ma Chao will probably be too inattentive to stay and will be off to make arrangements for the battle at any moment. You should step forward to lighten the mood." Zhang Xiu agreed, saying, "Yes, we can't let this atmosphere remain so depressing. If we continue discussing military matters, I'm afraid everyone's mood will become even more depressed."

Zhang Xiu stood up, raised his wine vessel, and looked at Ma Chao respectfully. He said in a loud voice, "Brother, Xiliang is under the care of my father-in-law, and there are 300,000 soldiers ready at all times. Although there may be some fighting, I don't think they will encounter any great danger. Don't worry too much. And here in Yangzhou, we have all these brothers with us. Even if the journey is difficult, what's the harm? Why are you all so depressed? Come, drink this cup. I'll have my younger sister come over and have my wife meet you brothers and then pour wine for you one by one."

Ma Chao knew that today was the day Zhang Xiu and Ma Yunying were returning home, and if they continued discussing military matters, the occasion would likely turn into a serious military meeting, ruining the lively atmosphere. He naturally didn't want to cause anyone any anxiety during this festive occasion, so he followed Zhang Xiu's lead and said with a smile, "Okay, okay. Come on, all of you, drink this cup to the full. We'll meet my little sister later." With that, he took the lead and drank it all in one gulp. The atmosphere in the tent then eased slightly, and everyone followed suit, toasting their glasses and finishing the wine.

Everyone in the tent was lost in deep thought about the situation, except for Xu Huang, whose solemn expression was mostly feigned, truly unburdened. He regained his playful demeanor, approached Zhang Xiu, and said with a grin, "Quick, quick, bring your wife up here so we can all see her. You're truly blessed, young man, to have married such a beautiful woman. I didn't even make it to your wedding, so I'll definitely have your wife pour a couple of drinks for my brother today."

Zhang Xiu smiled and replied, "Of course I'll pour the wine, but you, my brother, have to sit in the back row." Xu Huang's face darkened immediately, feigning displeasure. "What's the matter? Now that you've married, you no longer recognize me as your brother?" Zhang Xiu quickly explained, "Of course I do. How could I not recognize you as my brother? It's just that my wife is..." He pointed at Ma Chao and continued, "She's the general's sister. As the eldest brother, I naturally have to sit in front of you."

Xu Huang's face was filled with confusion, and he was secretly wondering, he only knew that Ma Chao had a younger sister, Ma Yunlu, but where did this Ma Yunying come from? He looked at Ma Chao curiously, but Ma Chao just smiled and said nothing. Xu Huang didn't dare to ask Ma Chao rashly, so he could only laugh dryly and return to his seat. After hesitating for a moment, he quietly approached Zhang Liao and asked in a low voice, "Wenyuan, how did Zhang Xiu's wife become the general's sister? Doesn't the general have only one younger sister, Ma Yunlu? When did Ma Yunying become the one promised to Zhang Xiu?"

Zhang Liao was overwhelmed by this. He knew the situation, but it was so complicated that he didn't know where to begin. He shook his head helplessly at Xu Huang and said vaguely, "I'll explain this matter to you later. For now, don't ask any more questions." Xu Huang was puzzled, but he could only suppress his doubts for the time being and stopped asking questions.

Shortly after Zhang Xiu's departure, he brought Ma Yunying into the tent. Ma Yunying's heart was now completely untied. She was now able to remain with her beloved, and with the unwavering support of a powerful figure like Ma Chao, her past sorrow and melancholy had vanished, and she appeared even more radiant and stunning. Her unique aura and beauty captivated everyone's gaze as soon as she entered the tent.

Everyone knew Ma Yunying's past and the conflicts that surrounded it, but now that Ma Chao was personally standing up for her, no one dared to look down on her because of her past. The Zou family of the past was history, and now she stood here as Ma Chao's beloved sister, and everyone had no choice but to treat her with respect, not daring to overstep the bounds.

Xu Huang was surprised to see Ma Yunying enter with Zhang Xiu. The woman before him bore no resemblance to Ma Yunlu, and he had followed Ma Chao for a long time, yet had never met her before. Looking at her age, she seemed a year or two older than Ma Chao. Filled with doubt, he then saw Ma Yunying's stunning beauty, and a wave of bitterness welled up in his heart. He muttered to Ma Chao, "General, I, Xu Huang, have been with you for a long time. How come I didn't even know about this incredibly beautiful sister? Besides, I, Xu Huang, have fought alongside you in battles, through thick and thin for so many years, and Zhang Xiu even left you mid-flight. How could you have promised such a wonderful sister to him? Old Xu, I still haven't found a marriage yet." His sour words drew laughter from the crowd, and Ma Yunying couldn't help but chuckle. Ma Chao feigned a glare at him, then jokingly scolded him, "You had so many women in Xiliang, but I didn't see you showing any interest in any of them. If you had asked earlier, how could I not have helped you get married?" Xu Huang's neck shrank, startled by Ma Chao's half-hearted tone. His face paled slightly, and he quickly said, "Then...then General, please make a promise. I'm counting on you for my marriage."

Ma Chao patiently explained to Xu Huang, "My sister Yunying has a very miserable life experience, but she is courageous and dares to love and hate. She is truly an extraordinary woman. When I met and got to know her, I was deeply impressed by her character, so I adopted her as my sister. It's natural that you haven't heard of her in the army before." Ma Yunying was filled with gratitude when she heard Ma Chao's words, and saluted Ma Chao again.

Xu Huang's eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "Is that so? Then it's a deal, General. If I ever get a wife, you have to take her in as your sister, and I want to have such a close relationship with you. Otherwise, wouldn't I, the Xu, be inferior to this kid Zhang Xiu? I, the Xu, am also a well-known figure in this world. How can I be inferior to this kid Zhang Xiu?" After saying this, he glanced at Zhang Xiu with a bit of arrogance, his face full of pride.

Looking at Xu Huang's expression, Ma Chao couldn't help but smile and nodded in response, "Okay, okay, once you find a suitable candidate for your marriage, I will do my best to arrange it for you." Xu Huang was delighted to get Ma Chao's promise, as if he had already seen the beautiful scene of himself getting married and building a career. He resumed his playful and smiling look. Seeing this, everyone laughed so hard that they fell over. The atmosphere in the tent instantly became relaxed and cheerful, as if they had temporarily forgotten the solemnity and worries before.

Ma Yunying and Zhang Xiu moved among the crowd, smiling as they poured wine for Ma Chao and the others. Xu Huang's curiosity, like an itch, was inexorable. He approached Zhang Liao again, tugged at his sleeve, and whispered, begging him to learn more about Ma Yunying's background. Zhang Liao, frustrated by his clinginess, sighed helplessly and leaned close to Xu Huang's ear. Lowering his voice, he recounted Ma Yunying's life story in detail.

Xu Huang was increasingly astonished as he listened. When he learned that Ma Yunying was actually Zhang Xiu's aunt, and had been arranged for Zhang Xiu by his uncle, his eyes widened, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Then, upon hearing that Ma Yunying was willing to die for Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang was stunned for a moment, then his eyes filled with admiration. Overwhelmed with emotion, he clapped Zhang Liao's shoulder and exclaimed, "Ah, then this Miss Yunying is truly a remarkable woman! Those stale rules of etiquette are nothing compared to such true love and righteousness. I, Xu Huang, admire women like this the most."

His sudden, passionate cry was particularly abrupt in the tent. Ma Chao, who was drinking from his glass, was so startled that his hand trembled and he almost spilled the wine. Ma Yunying's hand holding the wine jug also trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and firmly grasped the jug. Ma Chao frowned and glanced at Xu Huang with a hint of displeasure, as if blaming him for being so reckless and ruining the relaxed atmosphere.

Ma Chao feigned anger and said, "You fool, what are you doing yelling and hollering about? You're such a complete jerk." Everyone's eyes suddenly turned to Xu Huang. Seeing his embarrassment at Ma Chao's scolding, Xu Huang finally came to his senses, realizing that he had just spoken out of turn. His face flushed and paled for a moment. Not wanting to appear too embarrassed, he said, "I think this girl Yunying is a passionate person who dares to love and hate. She's really my type."

Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, and then said, "In that case, little sister, go pour Gongming a few more glasses of wine. We must make sure he drinks heartily today." As he said this, he laughed out loud. Ma Yunying nodded obediently, holding the wine pot with a smile, and walked over to Xu Huang with Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu joked, "Well, then, don't use wine glasses, bring large bowls. You don't know how much I can drink." Ma Yunying also agreed, with a smile on her face, "In that case, Brother Xu, you better drink more."

Seeing this, Xu Huang had no choice but to agree. He picked up the big bowl and poured it into his mouth one bowl after another. After drinking three bowls in a row, the alcohol rushed straight to his head. He soon became dizzy. His body was a little shaky and he could not stand steadily. He kept muttering, "Good wine, good wine...", which made everyone laugh again.

The atmosphere in the tent grew increasingly heated as laughter and the clinking of glasses continued to intertwine. Everyone drank heartily, passing drinks back and forth. After several rounds of drinking, everyone was a little tipsy. Only then did this grand and boisterous banquet gradually come to an end.

Everyone stood up, stumbling to leave. Ma Chao's eyes searched the crowd for Xu Shu, and when their eyes met, Xu Shu immediately understood. After everyone filed out, Xu Shu remained behind, silently. He knew Ma Chao must have something important to discuss with him, so he stood quietly aside, waiting for Ma Chao to speak. They were now the only two left in the tent, and the silence was so quiet that they could hear each other's gentle breathing, a stark contrast to the previous clamor.