The day of the victory feast.

Countless sheep, chickens, and ducks were slaughtered, drinks flowed freely, bonfires shot up all around—it was tremendously lively.

Ye Qichi was also among the crowd.

Watching the soldiers’ revelry.

The joy of winning a battle—indeed, if not personally experienced, one cannot empathize.

"Why aren’t you eating anything?" Xie Ruotong asked.

She sat next to Ye Qichi, similarly watching everyone drinking and eating meat, bold and joyful.

"May I speak the truth?" Ye Qichi smiled.

"When have you ever spoken falsehoods?" Xie Ruotong teased.

"The food isn’t really tasty." Ye Qichi commented.

The wine isn’t very mellow either.

The meat lacks flavor as well.

"Compared to what you make, it’s indeed quite lacking."

"Have you ever had fried chicken?" Ye Qichi asked.

"Fried chicken?"

"Suddenly have a craving for it." Ye Qichi stated, saliva flowing.

"If it requires certain ingredients, I’ll find a way to get them for you," Xie Ruotong said earnestly.

Somehow, she was convinced it must be delicious.

"We need chicken."

"That’s easy to handle, I saw many live chickens delivered to the camp today."

"Then let’s go catch a couple." Ye Qichi was full of enthusiasm.

"Alright."

The two of them got up, ready to leave.

"The Prince has arrived, the Great General has arrived!" a herald’s voice rang out.

Ye Qichi and Xie Ruotong exchanged a glance.

Leaving at this time seemed a bit inappropriate.

Ye Qichi had thought Xiao Jinxing wouldn’t come.

In these past few days, he had been accompanying Bai Mowan, never leaving her side.

Moreover, with him here, other people wouldn’t be able to let loose.

Ye Qichi actually didn’t want to come either.

But hearing there would be meat and wine, she had dragged Xie Ruotong along.

As a result, aside from the atmosphere, everything else was just passable.

Now Xiao Jinxing and Bai Wenwu have arrived.

Everyone hastily kneeled on the ground to pay respects, "Greetings to the Prince, greetings to the Great General."

Xiao Jinxing walked to the front of the crowd.

Bai Wenwu followed behind him.

Bai Mowan was also with them.

Ye Qichi hadn’t expected that Bai Mowan would come.

Even though her wounds were almost healed, traveling such a long distance could still affect her health.

Of course, Bai Mowan herself didn’t seem to mind, and Ye Qichi didn’t need to be concerned either.

"Everyone, please rise, there is no need for such formality," Xiao Jinxing declared loudly, "Today’s banquet celebrates our victory. There are no distinctions of rank or status. All of you, drink freely, eat your fill, indulge to your heart’s content!"

As the words fell.

The crowd cheered.

Everyone then stood up from the ground.

Those who were drinking, drank; those who were eating, ate; some even sang loudly and danced.

Ye Qichi couldn’t help but be impressed.

In ancient times, it was truly rare to witness such a scene.

No hierarchies, everyone so content and carefree.

"Princess Chen, allow me to offer you a toast," suddenly, a soldier stepped forward.

Ye Qichi paused for a moment.

"It was you who repaired my finger." The soldier put forth the hand that was still wrapped in gauze.

Ye Qichi suddenly remembered.

It was indeed severed at the time.

After it was reattached, it should still be functional.

"I shall drink first in honor." Saying this, the soldier emptied the bowl of wine in his hand.

Ye Qichi quickly picked up the bowl in front of her and drank it down as well.

The soldier left.

Another soldier came over, "Princess Xie, I owe you my life for picking me up from the battlefield. I want to express my gratitude. Let me drink to your honor first."

Ye Qichi then followed suit and downed another cup.

"Princess Xie, my own brother was brought back to life by you. He’s still lying in the tent and can’t come out, but he specifically instructed me to come and thank you. On behalf of my brother, I’d like to toast to Princess Xie," he said, empting his cup in one gulp.

Ye Qichi found it a bit hard to keep up.

If she kept drinking like this, she would be drunk to death.

She cast a glance that way.

A line was forming behind, with everyone wanting to toast to her.

Oh my goodness.

She turned and glanced at Xie Ruotong.

Xie Ruotong whispered into Ye Qichi’s ear, "Even if you add me to it, you still wouldn’t be able to drink it all."

"..."

If only she had known, she would have slipped away as soon as Xiao Jinxing arrived.

Xiao Jinxing naturally clashes with her!

Over there, Xiao Jinxing was sitting on the ground, magnanimously sharing meat and drinks with everyone.

Of course, those sitting around him were naturally the military’s key figures, and they drank very modestly.

Everyone was also paying attention to Xiao Jinxing’s expressions in their actions.

At this moment, seeming to notice Xiao Jinxing’s gaze, everyone looked his way.

"I didn’t expect the Princess to be so popular," Bai Wenwu remarked with a sigh.

Their side, by contrast, was cold and deserted.

And yet, Ye Qichi’s side was bustling like a thriving court.

Xiao Jinxing remained silent.

His gaze drifted elsewhere.

Bai Mowan naturally noticed the situation at Ye Qichi’s side too.

So many people initiating toasts to Ye Qichi...

There was an element of discomfort in her heart.

Thinking back to the days when she led the soldiers in battle, at the victory celebrations, the soldiers would crowd around her.

Now.

They were all attracted to Ye Qichi instead.

Just a military doctor.

She didn’t even fight on the front lines, yet she received such adoration.

Ye Qichi, what is it that she has?!

"The Princess indeed makes me see her in a different light," the former Great General suddenly said, "On the battlefield, I saw the Princess command the logistical troops multiple times to treat the wounded, completely disregarding her own safety as she searched for the injured amidst swords and spears. I even saw the Princess protect a wounded soldier and get stabbed by the enemy. Although it did not hit any vital spot, she was indeed injured. Yet, the Princess did not utter a single groan, nor did she tend to her wound, but instead rescued the soldier from the battlefield."

Xiao Jinxing looked at the former Great General Meng Mingxi.

"Doesn’t the Prince know?" Meng Mingxi looked at Xiao Jinxing’s expression with some surprise.

"I did not know."

"The Princess didn’t tell you? She must have been worried about you being concerned on the battlefield, right? The Princess truly has the demeanor of a Great General!" Meng Mingxi exclaimed his admiration.

Xiao Jinxing said nothing.

But he couldn’t help glancing at Ye Qichi again.

Ye Qichi was being toasted to by many in a queue.

Most people in the military camp are straightforward, without much scheming, and what they are most instilled with are ideas of fighting the enemy and defending the homeland.

They’re not very good at flattery.

Unless, it’s out of genuine gratitude.

"But looking at the Princess now, she doesn’t seem like someone who’s been injured," Bai Mowan observed as she followed Xiao Jinxing’s gaze and spoke up.

Meng Mingxi turned to look again, also surprised.

Logically, having suffered that stab, there should be some physical signs.

Even after so many days, it seemed unlikely she would appear as she did.

"But I am certain I did not missee it at that time," Meng Mingxi recalled the situation on the battlefield and asserted firmly.

"With General Meng fighting on the battlefield, most of your focus was on killing the enemy. It’s not surprising that you could occasionally make a mistake," Bai Mowan said.

Meng Mingxi furrowed his brows.

That shouldn’t be the case.

The Princess was not far from him at that time; he should not have made such a mistake.

"Xiaowu," Xiao Jinxing suddenly called out.

"Here!"

"Ask the Princess to go back earlier," Xiao Jinxing ordered.