Baby, don't be afraid, I'll accompany you to the heavens and the seas!

Wan Qing, her aura heavy with tension, raised her bronze wine cup and drank heartily, saying, "These young generals have traveled a long way from the capital to the northern desert; it has not been easy. Tonight, let us welcome them and wash away the dust of their journey!"

On the right side of the palace steps are General Zhao Da, Deputy General Zhao Ye, General Ling Xiao, and General Ke Shouyu!

General Zhao Da was over middle age, a big and burly man with a long, thick white stubble on his chin!

Deputy General Zhao Ye was in his prime, unlike his rugged father Zhao Da. Instead, he had the appearance of a frail scholar, with a fair and delicate face, blood-red lips, and a slender waist. He looked more like a beautiful young lady kept in seclusion than a warrior on the battlefield!

General Lingxiao was in his prime, tall and strong, his armor stretched so tight it looked like it was about to burst. His features were sharpened by the wind and sand of the northern desert, and there were several scars on his right cheek!

General Ke Shouyu was already middle-aged, with graying temples, and looked very composed and dignified!

Upon hearing that the Grand General had spoken, the generals raised their wine cups, saying, "Welcome to the Northern Desert, young generals!"

Seeing this, Yang Chenqing and Mei Ziye helped Qianqianluo up with one hand each, who was still drowning her sorrows in alcohol, and raised their glasses in celebration, saying, "Thank you, General Wan, General Zhao Da, Deputy General Zhao Ye, General Ling Xiao, and General Ke Shouyu!!"

As Mei Ziye spoke, she gestured with her eyes for Qianqian to recognize the appearances and names of the generals on the right flank!

After a few glasses of strong liquor, Qianqian was already tipsy. Her face was flushed as if she had applied rouge, and there was a touch of red at the corners of her eyes, making her look even more charming and alluring than a woman!

Ling Xiao's lips curled in disgust; he disliked Qian Qianlu's affected manner.

Thinking of this, Ling Xiao glared fiercely at Zhao Ye, the deputy general beside him, and said disdainfully, "Even sissies like you have come to the Northern Desert. Aren't you happy about that?"

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhao Ye's eyes welled up with tears, but he kept his head down and did not answer Ling Xiao's question.

Seeing the two generals bickering again, Ke Shouyu covered his mouth and coughed, "Hahaha~ General Luo is indeed a dashing young man, his beautiful face truly surpasses the spring scenery of the entire capital!!"

General Zhao Da, being a free-spirited man, failed to notice his only son's unusual mood and raised his glass, laughing loudly, "So many talented young men! Heaven blesses our dynasty! Hahaha~"

General Wan raised her hand to dismiss the music and dance party, and said in a deep voice, "The three tribes of the Northern Desert—the Hanba, the Sheman, and the Zhegu—are located outside the territory of Gaotatai!!!"

"The ambitious King of the Hanba tribe annexed and massacred the Snake Barbarian and Partridge tribes in just three years. Now, the entire royal family of the Snake Barbarian tribe has been killed and sacrificed to the flag, while the remaining lower-ranking members have fled south to the Central Plains, where they have committed all sorts of atrocities!"

"The Snake Barbarian tribe fled south to the Central Plains, killing my people and seizing my fertile land, causing many good people and noble families in the north to be separated from their wives and children!"

"Against natural disasters and man-made calamities, our people who fled south either fell ill or starved to death, and even cannibalism became commonplace!"

"Alas!! Alas!!" Wanqing cried out to the sky, her brows furrowed with sorrow.

Ke Shouyu seemed to sense something as well, and sighed, "The Partridge Tribe has a simple and honest folk culture. The Partridge King was a man of great talent and ambition, but he also died tragically under the blade of the Fierce King. The Partridge Tribe retreated to the outside of the Bitter Peak Forest, suffering heavy casualties, and their whereabouts are unknown!"

"Now that King Hanba is dead, his son Hanba Tuozhang is even more arrogant, claiming that he will break through the high tower and compete for the Central Plains!"

Upon hearing the hint of worry in General Ke's words, Ling Xiao sneered, "Why is General Ke so worried?! That fierce and unruly barbarian dares to dream of taking the throne. I'm afraid he has the guts but not the fate!"

Ling Xiao slammed his hand down, shattering the dining table in front of him. He then asked Qianqian Luo meaningfully, "General Luo, you are also barbarians. Do you think this fierce and ruthless Tuozhang has the ability to ascend to the throne according to the will of Heaven?!"

Wanqing smiled knowingly at the tense exchange and said nothing more.

On the left side of the palace steps, Mei Ziye and Yang Chenqing frowned, their expressions somewhat awkward.

Hearing such harsh mockery, the drunken Qianqianluo kicked over the table laden with delicacies in front of her and retorted sarcastically, "Our Emperor trusts his men, so why is General Ling being so aggressive?!"

Seeing the tense atmosphere at the table, Zhao Ye said calmly, "General Luo, there is no need to worry. General Ling only misspoke after drinking and did not offend you or the Emperor!"

Ling Xiao had already drawn the cold blade from his waist. He hated nothing more than being bullied by those in power. Now, how dare that barbarian invoking the emperor to intimidate him?!

Zhao Ye raised his hand and grabbed Ling Xiao's strong wrist, turned his head, and said with a smile, "Ling Xiao!!!"

Ling Xiao's temper was extinguished by Zhao Ye's effeminate manner, so he had no choice but to sheathe his sword, plop down on the ground, and grit his teeth as he drank to drown his sorrows!

Zhao Da remained indifferent, treating it as mere children's squabbles, and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, General Luo, there's no need to be angry. Our General Ling is just outspoken, please don't take it to heart!"

Mei Ziye pulled Qianqianluo, who had suddenly gone on a drunken rampage, back onto the cushion, signaling Yang Chenqing to keep an eye on her. She then cupped her hands and said, "Since our Emperor has ordered us to come to the Northern Desert to assist you generals in quelling the rebellion, we have already abandoned fame, fortune, and even life and death. We hope that you generals will not harbor any suspicion among yourselves, lest you give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of us!"

Wan Qing sat high on the general's platform, calmly sipping the autumn wine from the northern desert. "Young General Ziye is absolutely right! Come, come! Everyone, raise your glasses again and drink heartily, forgetting this unpleasant matter!"

As the banquet drew to a close, Qianqian, feeling drowsy, bid farewell to everyone and then pretended to be drunk, leaving early!

After scaling the rooftops of the back garden, Qianqianluo, who had been drowsy with drunkenness, had sobered up considerably and was now intently following the two generals who had left midway through the event!

General Ling Xiao, a large man, used the excuse of needing to use the restroom to grab Zhao Ye's belt and leave the celebration banquet!

Right now, General Ling Xiao, relying on his height and size, has taken off Zhao Ye's military belt and is slamming him against the wall by the neck!

"Zhao Ye! Why did you speak up for General Luo at the banquet just now? Are you angry that I scolded you?! Or have you fallen for General Luo again?!"

Zhao Ye's arms were delicate and slender, and he couldn't overpower Ling Xiao's crazed strength. He could only cough and gasp, "Ling, Ling Xiao, let, let me go!!"

"Didn't you need to use the restroom?! What are you doing now?"

Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, increasingly annoyed that Zhao Ye was playing hard to get and not revealing his true thoughts. "Yes! This general needs to use the restroom, but you know who my latrine belongs to?!"

"Um?!"

Zhao Ye's lips, already red from being bitten and rubbed, grew even more vibrant and tempting. He was nearly suffocated by this barbarian's grip, and had no choice but to humbly compromise:

"I turned around. Hurry, this is General Luo's residence, I'm afraid..."