The brief embrace ended as soon as it began. Gu Fang immediately turned to immerse himself in the busy military affairs. He ordered the entire army to enter the city to rest and reorganize, handle the prisoners on the spot, count the spoils of war, and tidy up the troops. All wounded soldiers were to stay in the city for proper treatment.
Yanran City was not yet fully built, and apart from the logistics department and Song Lin's men, there was no one else in the city. It was perfect for Gu Fang's army to camp and rest without worrying about disturbing the common people.
To allow the soldiers to rest fully, Lin Yi ordered the logistics department to take over the guarding of prisoners and the counting of spoils, making a detailed list of the captured supplies. At the same time, the soldiers could remove their equipment and hand it over to the logistics department for repair and cleaning of armor. In the evening, Lin Yi and Song Lin jointly hosted a welcome banquet to celebrate Gu Fang and the army's victory.
According to Lin Yi's plan, the celebration banquet had to be enjoyed by the entire army. She had people choose a sheltered open space, set out long tables, and set up several huge grills. Countless fat sheep slowly turned over the fire, carefully roasted by logistics soldiers, the grease sizzling and the enticing aroma of charred meat filling the air. Beside the tables, wooden barrels filled with fine wine were piled into small mountains, and on the tables, plates of delicious grilled fish were continuously brought out. The soldiers were in high spirits, gathered around towering bonfires, beating out rhythms and singing bold, cheerful songs. The thunderous laughter and singing merged into one, nearly overturning the silent night sky of Mobei.
At the banquet, Gu Fang was surrounded by layers of people, with a constant stream of soldiers toasting him. To avoid his drunken subordinates losing their composure and startling Lin Yi, he deliberately did not sit with her. Lin Yi watched his figure surrounded by the crowd, somewhat worried—she remembered that Gu Fang couldn't drink alcohol. Fortunately, Tian Guihong, as Gu Fang's old subordinate, knew Gu Fang's habits and whispered to Lin Yi, "Madam, don't worry. The general is drinking that low-alcohol fruit wine. He won't get drunk." Lin Yi then felt relieved.
Lin Yi had thought there would be no chance for them to be alone tonight, and even worried that Gu Fang, having drunk so much, might not even make it back. Unexpectedly, Gu Fang seized an opportunity to slip away from the banquet. Lin Yi's eyes had been following him all along, and seeing this, she understood and quietly got up to follow.
Gu Fang seemed to know that Lin Yi would follow. He deliberately slowed his pace, unhurriedly leading Lin Yi to a secluded corner before stopping and turning around. Lin Yi suddenly understood: Gu Fang wanted to see her, just as she wanted to see him. Her eyes curved into a smile, and she stepped forward lightly, looking up at him: "Is my husband drunk yet?"
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