The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

"Report—!" With a loud shout, the messenger burst through the palace gates like a whirlwind and rushed straight in.

At this moment, Gongsun Ruotang was inside the palace, carefully tying the sash of Chenghuan's cloak. The little girl's ears seemed to have grown wings; upon hearing the call, she immediately dropped the candied hawthorn in her hand and ran out of the palace like a joyful little bird.

"Uncle is back!" Cheng Huan's voice was clear and loud, as if it could penetrate the entire palace.

On the training ground, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun. Gongsun Lin, clad in silver armor, rode majestically on his horse, like a war god descending to earth. On his saddle, a Northern Rong general was bound hand and foot, so tightly he could not move an inch.

Cheng Huan excitedly clung to the railing, her big eyes fixed on Gongsun Lin, repeatedly shouting, "Uncle is like a great general on the stage!"

However, before she could finish speaking, she reached out her small hand and pulled off the leather hat from the Northern Rong general's head, then kicked it far away like a football.

Seeing this, Gongsun Ruotang quickly lifted her skirt and chased after her. As she ran, she called out, "Chenghuan, don't be naughty!"

Just as Gongsun Ruotang was about to catch up with Chenghuan, the Northern Rong general suddenly widened his eyes and stared fiercely at Chenghuan, as if he wanted to scare her.

In the blink of an eye, Si Yunchen rushed forward and, like lightning, swiftly grabbed Cheng Huan, who was screaming incoherently, while simultaneously kicking the Northern Rong general off his horse.

"A defeated general dares to frighten my princess?" Si Yunchen's voice was cold and authoritative, carrying a chilling aura.

The bonfire roared, illuminating half the sky. While the adults weren't looking, Chenghuan, like a little mouse, secretly sipped three cups of fruit wine.

Gongsun Ruotang, quick as a flash, snatched the wine cup from Chenghuan's hand and scolded, "You little rascal, why are you so greedy for wine!" Chenghuan's cheeks puffed up like a little bun, and she muttered, "Mother is stingy! Huan'er wants to see Uncle's sword dance!"

Seeing this, Gongsun Lin laughed and took off his sword, tossing it to Yuwen Mo like a toy, saying, "Come on, let your senior uncle show it off to you." Yuwen Mo took the sword with ease, and with a flash of cold light, the tip of the sword swept across like lightning, accurately picking up a skewer of golden-brown roasted mutton, which then landed steadily in the lotus leaf held by Cheng Huan.

Cheng Huan was so happy that she danced around and clapped her hands, her oily little handprints instantly smearing onto Yuwen Mo's white clothes, turning them into flowery garments.

Yuwen Mo was both amused and exasperated. Holding up his greasy sleeve, he jumped up and down, shouting, "Junior Sister, you better control your girl!" Gongsun Ruotang suppressed a laugh, handed him a handkerchief, and teased, "Senior Brother, you were much more pathetic than Huan'er is now when you stole Master's medicinal wine back then!"

The water clock dripped slowly until midnight, the night was deep, and all was quiet except for the crackling of the campfire. Cheng Huan, her head resting on Gongsun Lin's cloak, curled up in a corner and had already drifted off to sleep.

Gongsun Ruotang gently removed the heavy phoenix crown from her head, her cascading black hair flying wildly in the night wind, becoming somewhat disheveled. She looked at her brother and said softly, "Brother, you have been through many hardships on this campaign, and even your temples are now streaked with white."

Gongsun Lin smiled slightly and said nonchalantly, "It's still better than some people." His gaze drifted to Si Yunchen, who was arm wrestling with the soldiers not far away, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. "His Majesty lost half of his eyebrow in the freezing snow on that snowy mountain while gathering herbs for you."

Before the words were finished, a burst of sparks suddenly erupted from the campfire, crackling and scattering in all directions, startling the crows perched on the gate. Chenghuan, seemingly disturbed in her sleep, mumbled sleepily, "Father has turned into a featherless parrot..."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Ruotang could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter, collapsing onto her brother's shoulder, her body trembling with mirth. Meanwhile, Si Yunchen, seemingly having heard the commotion, shouted angrily, "Gongsun Lin!"

At dawn, the rooster crowed, and the east began to lighten with the first hint of white. Yuwen Mo, carrying a wine jar in his arms, nimbly scaled the wall like a raccoon, preparing to sneak away.

However, just as he was about to successfully escape, a small figure suddenly emerged from the haystack in the training ground. It was Cheng Huan, with a straw still stuck to her head, making her look somewhat comical.

"Uncle-Master!" Cheng Huan's voice was clear and bright. "Take Huan'er with you to explore the martial world!"

Yuwen Mo was startled by the sudden shout and almost dropped the wine jar. He looked closely and saw that it was Cheng Huan, and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Just then, Gongsun Ruotang appeared behind Yuwen Mo like a ghost. Her face was ashen, and she held Chenghuan by the back of her collar, coldly saying, "Pay back the money for the broken glass cup from yesterday."

Yuwen Mo looked helpless; he knew he couldn't escape this time. Si Yunchen, meanwhile, leisurely emerged from behind the tree, waving an account book, and said with a smile, "Not much, enough to cover your New Year's money for three years."

Just as the three of them were locked in a stalemate, a commotion suddenly arose in the prisoner-of-war camp in the morning light. Gongsun Lin abruptly stood up, his hand on his sword. The armor on his body reflected a dazzling light in the morning glow, echoing the golden plaque on the city tower that read "Peace Under Heaven".

At the same time, the bird-startling bells rang out, echoing through the sky, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.