Having had his suspicions for some time, General Mu was not surprised to see Shen Danqing. Instead, he stepped forward with delight. "It's been so many years. You've grown so tall. With that imperial envoy's token, you really look like an official."
"I want to have a heart - to - heart with Danqing. You big, clumsy guys stay out. If you scare my grandson, you'll all go for extra training."
Shen Danqing didn't expect General Mu to still remember him. Just as he was about to speak, General Mu put an arm around his shoulder and led him into the tent.
Despite being a general, General Mu's tent was nothing special. It was just like an ordinary general's, or even shabbier, looking rather simple.
General Mu rummaged through the back of the tent and found a worm - eaten tree stump, which he handed to Shen Danqing as a stool. Then he plopped down on the ground casually.
With the tree stump beside him, Shen Danqing didn't hesitate at all. He imitated General Mu and sat on the ground too.
General Mu was much taller than Shen Danqing. Outside, the sun had been shining brightly. Before Shen Danqing could get a good look at General Mu's face, he had been pulled into the tent.
Now that they were both sitting on the ground, Shen Danqing could finally see General Mu clearly.
General Mu was extremely tall. Even when sitting, he was still taller than Shen Danqing. He had a big beard, dark skin, and regular features. Looking at General Mu, Shen Danqing couldn't help but think of Shen Haiyan.
General Mu was very satisfied with Shen Danqing's behavior. "Not bad. You don't act like a book - worm. That's good. You're nothing like the Shen family!"
"Grandfather, Mother has divorced Shen Yunfeng. My household register was moved to the general's mansion with Mother. To be exact, I'm a Mu now." Shen Danqing explained the situation clearly.
He added, "Big Brother, Third Brother, and Baozhu have also followed Mother. Don't worry, Grandfather. It was Shen Yunfeng who was kicked out."
This was good news for General Mu amidst all the mess. He slapped his thigh hard and laughed. "Good, good, good! Excellent!"
"I've long disliked those hypocrites in the Shen family. They just took advantage of my absence from the capital to bully my daughter."
Shen Danqing knew what General Mu liked to hear, so he told him stories about Shen Yunfeng's misfortunes, especially the strange incident when Shen Yunfeng was struck by lightning and the whole capital came to watch.
General Mu's face turned red with excitement. His look towards Shen Danqing became even more loving. After all, Shen Danqing's household register was in the general's mansion, so he was his own child. The more he looked, the more he liked him.
After chatting about family matters, General Mu cleared his throat and got down to business.
The Great Yong and the Xiangyun Kingdom had been at war several times. This time, the war had lasted for half a year. At first, both sides had been evenly matched, but half a month ago, the Xiangyun Kingdom had somehow invited a master and won three consecutive battles. General Mu was extremely anxious about this.
Hearing this, Shen Danqing immediately suggested improving the weapons. General Mu was skeptical about the power of the improved weapons. He was still brooding over his three defeats.
As the great general of the Great Yong and the backbone of the army, General Mu had no one to pour out his emotions to. This time, seeing Shen Danqing, he simply told him everything.
The Xiangyun Kingdom was in the north of the Great Yong. Although it was a small country, it had good luck. It had been founded for three hundred years, earlier than the Great Yong. It had fought against the Great Yong three times, a hundred years ago, eighteen years ago, and this time.
Eighteen years ago, it was also General Mu who led the troops. In just three months, he had driven the Xiangyun Kingdom into retreat. Just as he was about to pursue the victory, the former emperor had bestowed a marriage on the Princess Jingning and Shen Yunfeng. General Mu had been eager to return to the capital for the wedding, so the matter had ended there.
This time, things were very strange.
General Mu couldn't figure it out. "I always feel that the Xiangyun Kingdom knows me very well. Several times, they could predict our army's battle plans. Fortunately, they don't have much ability, so we could still hold our own."
"But since half a month ago, the Xiangyun Kingdom seems to have replaced its general. Three times in a row, we failed to wipe them out!"
Shen Danqing was listening intently, but when he heard two words, he suddenly paused. He asked, "Wipe them out? Didn't the Great Yong lose three battles in a row?"
"Yes. My Mu family's army is made up of elites, but three times in a row, those scoundrels from the Xiangyun Kingdom managed to escape. It's a great defeat!" General Mu frowned, very dissatisfied.
Shen Danqing, who didn't know much about the battlefield, believed him. He mentioned the improved weapons again. "In that case, Grandfather, why don't you try the weapons I brought?"
"These weapons were bestowed on Baozhu by the immortals."
Shen Danqing had seen Shen Baozhu holding the picture album with his own eyes, so he was well - informed.
Hearing the name of his precious granddaughter, General Mu suddenly rubbed his hands. He asked nervously, "I haven't been back to the capital for a year or two. Does Baozhu still remember me?"
Counting the time since his last return to the capital, it was early last year. Thinking that children had short memories, General Mu cursed the emperor for being shameless for not allowing him to return.
Mentioning Shen Baozhu, a smile appeared in Shen Danqing's eyes. "Baozhu remembers Grandfather. She even kept pestering Grandfather to take her to the restaurant for a big meal. A few days before I left the capital, she ate so much that her stomach hurt, and she asked Mother to rub it."
General Mu laughed and praised. "A good appetite is a blessing. Baozhu is still young. It's normal for her to be spoiled."
Suddenly, General Mu changed the subject and asked about Shen Heqing. "Heqing is close to the Shen family and has always looked down on me, a rough - hewn man. Is he willing to leave the Shen family and disown Shen Yunfeng as his father?"
This was a long story. Shen Danqing was in an awkward position and didn't want to say too much. He could only say vaguely, "Big Brother is smart. After seeing the true nature of the Shen family, he stopped having anything to do with them."
...
Ten kilometers away.
In the magnificent tent, there was a scene of feasting and dancing.
The eldest prince of the Xiangyun Kingdom sat in the main seat and toasted the masked man on his right. "Thanks to my brother - in - law's help, the Great Yong didn't succeed in their pursuit."
The masked man didn't say a word. He just raised his glass and spilled all the wine on the ground as a return of the toast.
The eldest prince wasn't angry. He knew that this brother - in - law had a special identity.
Not drinking the toast was because he was afraid of revealing his identity if he took off his mask. It was the same in the Xiangyun Kingdom's palace. He always wore a mask and didn't show his face.
Then the generals of the Xiangyun Kingdom praised the eldest prince non - stop. It was not until it got dark that this "victory celebration banquet" ended.
Everyone returned to their tents. As soon as the masked man entered his tent, a pair of delicate hands caressed his chest.
The woman spoke in a coquettish voice. "Yunfeng..."
Shen Yunfeng put his arm around the woman's slender waist and frowned. "Didn't we agree? Don't call me that outside. Be careful that someone might be listening."
"You're so cautious. Don't tell me you're going to run away after getting dressed like you did back then?" The woman threw a tantrum and pouted as she pushed Shen Yunfeng away.
She was the princess of the Xiangyun Kingdom, Xiang Yunrou.
Seeing Xiang Yunrou getting angry, Shen Yunfeng quickly coaxed her. "How could I? I was tricked back then. My feelings for you are as clear as day and night, and can be witnessed by heaven and earth."
"If I didn't love you, would I have rushed here from the capital just because of a letter?"
Xiang Yunrou was just throwing a tantrum. With just a little coaxing from Shen Yunfeng, she calmed down. "Of course. You're even willing to tell me the Great Yong's battle plans. You must love me very much."
Shen Yunfeng put his arm around Xiang Yunrou and kissed her on the forehead. "You know that, then."