Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The atmosphere in the tent was as warm as a blazing fire, filled with laughter and joy. Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, and the others had already prepared a banquet to welcome Ma Chao, Gan Ning, and Lu Su.

Inside the tent, a long table was laid out with delicious food and wine, the aroma of wine filling the air. Xu Shu smiled and raised his hand, inviting everyone to take a seat. "Today, the lord has returned, and we have two more talented people. This is truly a joyous occasion for our army. Everyone, don't be shy, drink to your heart's content!"

Everyone took their seats. Ma Chao picked up the wine glass, stood up, and glanced at everyone present. He said with emotion: "It is my Ma Chao's honor to be able to gather here with you all. This glass of wine today is to toast you all! May we work together in the future to create great achievements!" After that, he raised his head and drank it all.

Gan Ning also stood up and raised his glass generously: "Great! I, Gan Ning, am happy to meet all the heroes today! I'll drink this glass of wine!" After that, he drank the wine in the glass.

Lu Su smiled and picked up the wine glass, and said slowly: "Thank you all for your kindness. Lu Su is new here, and I hope you will take care of me in the future." After that, he took a sip of wine.

During the meal, everyone clinked glasses, savored the delicious food, and shared their experiences and observations.

The tent was bustling with activity, the aroma of wine mingling with laughter. Xu Huang hadn't joked around with Ma Chao in ages, and now, drunken and eager to make his presence felt, he spotted Pan Feng and Wu Anguo beside Ma Chao. His eyes lit up, and he approached with a grin.

"Oh, hey, I haven't seen you two for a long time. Why do you seem to be lacking in energy and look a little weak?" As soon as Xu Huang said this, people around him looked at him sideways.

Pan Feng and Wu Anguo exchanged a glance, their faces etched with embarrassment. They'd already been feeling a bit unwell from the bumpy ride on the river, and their complexions certainly didn't look good. But Xu Huang hadn't considered this. He thought he'd caught some amusing tactic, and continued his joking, beaming with joy: "Could it be that you've been drained of the gentleness of southern women?" As soon as he finished speaking, the people around him were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Who could have imagined that Xu Huang's unintentional remark would unexpectedly strike a chord? Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Wu Anguo, Pan Feng, and all of Ma Chao's personal guards had married Shanyue women in the land of Shanyue, many of whom were pregnant. Wu Anguo and Pan Feng panicked at Xu Huang's question, instinctively glancing at Ma Chao, hoping to find a clue from their lord. They were torn between two words, unsure how to respond. This secret happiness had become a hot potato, suddenly exposed to the public by Xu Huang's joke.

Seeing their reactions, Xu Huang became excited. He strode over, put his arm around one of them on the shoulder, and shouted in a louder voice, "Oh my god, I couldn't have been right, did I?" This made everyone laugh so hard that they fell over. Pan Feng and Wu Anguo's faces turned red, and they wished they could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

Inside the tent, Xu Huang's teasing elicited laughter from everyone, but Pan Feng and Wu Anguo's reactions were indescribably strange. This unusual scene instantly caught the attention of Xu Shu and Zhang Liao.

Xu Shu gently waved his feather fan, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He knew these two men too well. Normally, they were straightforward individuals. Under normal circumstances, Xu Huang's teasing would have led them to roll up their sleeves and engage in a heated argument. But now, they stood there like wooden stakes, their eyes blank, constantly stealing glances at Ma Chao, unable to utter a single word.

Zhang Liao also noticed something was wrong. He frowned and strode forward. He patted Pan Feng on the shoulder and asked with concern and curiosity, "Old Pan, what's going on? You're not like this before. Why are you so silent today?"

Xu Shu also approached and asked in a gentle voice, "Yes, seeing how you two are acting, are you really hiding something from us? Why not tell us so we can all have some fun together."

Everyone's eyes were suddenly focused on Pan Feng and Wu Anguo. The air in the tent seemed to freeze. Everyone was waiting for them to speak and solve this puzzling mystery.

Pan Feng and Wu Anguo looked helpless and embarrassed, like two lambs to be slaughtered. They could only look at Ma Chao for help, almost crying, and said, "My lord, how about... how about you talk to them?"

As if drawn by a magnet, everyone's gaze shifted from Pan Feng and Wu Anguo to Ma Chao. Ma Chao hadn't anticipated this development, and his face flushed with embarrassment. He could only bite the bullet, clearing his throat and coughing. He smiled wryly and said, "Well... indeed, it's a long story."

Xu Huang was immediately interested when he heard this. He jumped in front of Ma Chao and said eagerly, "Hey, my lord, please make it short!"

Ma Chao secretly groaned, hesitated for a long time, and then gritted his teeth and said: "Well... Well, we all have families in Jiangnan."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap exploding in the tent. The previously bustling tent suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Ma Chao's former subordinates were stunned, their eyes wide open, full of disbelief.

Everyone had always considered Ma Chao an upright gentleman. Although he attracted numerous women, he always behaved properly and had never been accused of anything out of line. Furthermore, Ma Chao had previously fallen out with the Emperor over Empress Lu Wan. Everyone considered him loyal and devoted in his relationships. Now, with this explosive news suddenly arriving, everyone's gossipy minds were ablaze. Everyone looked at each other, unsure how to react.

Under everyone's curious inquiries, Ma Chao sighed helplessly, his expression a bit embarrassed and shy, and he slowly spoke, "To be honest, most of our marriages with those Shanyue women were foolishly done while drunk. Back in Shanyue, we were all infected by the local hospitality, and while drinking and having fun, we vaguely formed these fateful relationships." He paused, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "But after getting to know each other, we are very satisfied with the women we married. They are gentle, kind, hardworking and capable. During our time in Shanyue, they managed our lives in an orderly manner and brought warmth to our family."

After hearing Ma Chao's story, the tent fell silent for a moment, then erupted in laughter. Xu Huang, laughing so hard he collapsed, slapped his thigh, and said, "Haha, I didn't expect you, my lord, to have such a funny story. This truly proves the saying 'fate is predestined!'"

Zhang Liao couldn't help but laugh. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Congratulations, my lord! Although this started unexpectedly, the outcome is auspicious. Finding such a virtuous wife and having a child soon is truly a great blessing in life!"

Gan Ning continued Ma Chao's words, his face full of smiles, and he raised his voice, saying, "Everyone, there is another piece of great news! Most of the Shanyue women are now pregnant. My lord and brothers, we will soon have a child!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the tent fell silent. Everyone was stunned for a moment, seemingly trying to digest this bombshell. Then, a deafening cheer erupted.

Xu Huang's face flushed with excitement. He suddenly jumped up, waving his hands in the air and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Great, my lord! This is truly a great joyous occasion! Let's all wait for the full moon banquet!"

Zhang Liao, beaming, strode up to Ma Chao and respectfully bowed, his voice filled with sincere congratulations: "Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations, my lord! The birth of a new life is the hope of our family and the foundation of our legacy. It is truly cause for celebration!"

Zhang Ren said gently, "My lord, this fate is miraculous and precious. To have found such a good match in the land of Shanyue, and now to be welcoming a new life, is truly a blessing from heaven to our army. From now on, our team will not only be brothers fighting side by side, but also a family connected by blood."

Other old colleagues also gathered around, expressing their most sincere congratulations one after another.

"The fate in this world is truly wonderful. My lord and brothers are so blessed. We are truly the envy of others!"

"Yes, I'm really happy for you. From now on, there will be more children's laughter and joy in our military camp!"

In this vibrant atmosphere, the awkwardness of the past vanished without a trace. A thick wave of joy and well-wishes, like the warm spring sun, filled the entire tent. Everyone was immersed in this joy, as if the smoke and haze of the battlefield had been instantly swept away by the good news, leaving only an endless longing for the future.

Xu Shu wore a faint smile, but he was secretly worried. Ma Chao's love history was far too complicated and troubling. Previously, Ma Chao had clashed with the emperor over Lu Wan, and the incident had been a bitter dispute. The story had spread widely throughout the court and remained a popular topic of conversation.

While in Xiliang, Dong Bai, the daughter of the Dong family, entrusted Ma Chao with family matters and offered him her full support, creating a delicate relationship between them. Then there was the lonely and helpless Cai Wenji, with whom Ma Chao shared a deep affection and a close bond. Now, in Shanyue, Ma Chao had married a local woman and was expecting a child.

After much hesitation, Xu Shu finally decided to ask. He cleared his throat and tried to sound casual and relaxed: "Lord, how do you plan to arrange your relationships in the future?"

Ma Chao's bright smile froze instantly, as if under a spell. Then, his face darkened to the color of liver. He sighed deeply, his brows knitted into a "chuan" shape. He rubbed his temples, feeling helpless and overwhelmed. This complex emotional entanglement truly left him at a loss for words, let alone how to properly handle it.

Gan Ning and Lu Su's curiosity was instantly ignited when they heard this. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity, and they all turned to Xu Shu, their faces full of "tell me more!" Xu Shu thought to himself, "This is bad news. I didn't want to put Ma Chao in such an awkward position. I was just thinking of a way to get away with it, but Xu Huang, this big mouth, spilled the beans, revealing all of Ma Chao's complicated past.

After hearing this, everyone's eyes turned to Ma Chao, their faces showing varying expressions: some surprised, some puzzled, and most feeling troubled for him. The atmosphere in the tent suddenly became somewhat tense, and no one knew what to say.

At this moment, Gan Ning's hearty laughter broke the slightly oppressive atmosphere. With a wave of his hand, he said proudly, "It's common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. In these troubled times, it's a blessing for you to have so many devoted women by your side. Why bother with so much?"

Ma Chao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He looked around at these brothers who had been through life and death together, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. Yes, there was still a great cause to be accomplished, so let's put aside the matters of love and affection for the time being. He picked up the wine glass and said loudly: "Brothers, let's not talk about this anymore. We are gathered together today, so we should drink heartily!" Everyone responded, raised their glasses, and drank them all in one gulp. The tent was once again filled with laughter and joy. The awkwardness and entanglement just now gradually dissipated in this lively drinking party.