The sneak attack was a complete success. Although there was some friction between New Wings and Van Gogh, it seemed that their alliance hadn't fallen apart. They just moved their camps farther away from each other.
When Lin Qiong led the large army to arrive, the reinforcements from New Wings and Van Gogh hadn't come yet. With this, Gu Yue instantly gained confidence and took back the two cities that had been captured before in one go.
But before they could hold a victory banquet, Lin Qiong first called Lin Yuan away.
"What's wrong with you?"
Lin Yuan was confused. "What do you mean?"
Lin Qiong looked at him in disappointment. "Don't play dumb. I've heard everything. You've kept a pretty boy here, haven't you? You take him with you every day, even sleep with him. You only left him behind during the siege, for fear that something might happen to him. Do you still want to hide it from me?!"
"Father, he's not..."
Lin Qiong didn't even give him a chance to explain and interrupted him. "Don't try to excuse yourself. Tell me, do you think you're worthy of the princess? She's been so kind to you. You two were so lovey - dovey in the capital. How come once you left the capital, it's all over? Are boys really going to be philandering once they grow up? Why isn't the marquis's son like this? Why aren't I like this? Huh?!"
Yi Zhici happened to come to deliver tea. When he heard the word "philandering" about Lin Yuan, he stopped and wanted to listen carefully. This word was quite new, and what Lin Qiong said couldn't be a joke.
Lin Yuan was both amused and helpless by the scolding. "Father..."
Lin Qiong interrupted him again. "Stop explaining. Back in the borderlands, every time Princess Qingping crossed the border to find you, you always ignored her. When you got to the capital, so many young ladies from noble families showed their affection for you, and you were even more cold - hearted. I was finally relieved when you married the princess, but I didn't expect that your marriage to the princess was just a strategic move? Is that young man your true love? Are you really... really a homosexual?"
Lin Yuan stopped Lin Qiong in time. "Father, that's enough. My marriage to the princess is not a strategic move. I like the princess. I'm not philandering."
Lin Qiong still didn't believe him. "Fine. I'll just find a pretty boy for the princess too. Anyway, since she's married into our family, we can't let her suffer."
Yi Zhici: "???" The world is so terrifying...
Lin Yuan was completely speechless. He pulled Yi Zhici, who had been eavesdropping, over. "Father, A Ci has heard everything."
Lin Qiong: "..."
It took him a long time to believe that the person in front of him was Yi Zhici. "Nonsense! This is simply nonsense! What a disgrace! Stand here and be punished!"
Lin Yuan and Yi Zhici lowered their heads and stole a glance at each other, then couldn't help laughing.
"Still laughing? You have the nerve to laugh. If something happens to A Ci here, who can take the responsibility?!" Lin Qiong said angrily. "Going to war is a natural duty for a military general. How can you bring your wife here?
No matter how much you miss each other, it's not allowed. What's the punishment for violating military discipline?!"
Yi Zhici realized something was wrong and quickly explained, "Father, it wasn't Lin Yuan who brought me here. I came here secretly by myself. It has nothing to do with Lin Yuan."
Lin Qiong was almost fuming with anger. "That's still nonsense! Does the Marquis of Jing know about this?"
Yi Zhici mumbled, "He'll know sooner or later. He won't care about me anyway..."
"Stand here until you admit your mistakes!"
With that, Lin Qiong turned around and left, looking extremely angry.
When Lin Qiong's figure disappeared, Yi Zhici burst out laughing. He lowered his head and secretly glanced at Lin Yuan, only to find that Lin Yuan was also suppressing a smile.
Yi Zhici nudged Lin Yuan with his shoulder. "What are you laughing at?"
Lin Yuan held back his laughter. "What are you laughing at?"
"I was punished to stand by Master Cangyang in Bihai Mountain Villa when I was a kid for causing trouble. Now it feels just like when I was a child," Yi Zhici sighed. "What about you?"
Lin Yuan looked a bit lost. "I've never been punished to stand before. But I'm being punished to stand after getting married. It feels quite novel."
Yi Zhici thought it wasn't good for Lin Yuan, who had been an outstanding student since childhood, to be punished to stand with him. He felt quite sorry for him. Just as he was about to say something to comfort Lin Yuan, his stomach suddenly started to hurt.
Lin Yuan was just about to push aside the stray hair on Yi Zhici's forehead when he suddenly saw Yi Zhici frowning tightly, looking in great pain. He immediately became nervous.
Yi Zhici covered his stomach. "Lin Yuan, it hurts..."
Lin Yuan didn't dare to delay any longer. He quickly picked up Yi Zhici and carried him into the house.
Lin Qiong, who hadn't gone far, felt that his authority had been offended. He quickly came over to see what was going on this time.
Lin Yuan put Yi Zhici on the bed and covered him with the quilt. "I'll go find a doctor."
Yi Zhici grabbed Lin Yuan's sleeve. "No. The doctor will find out that I'm a woman. Don't go - "
Lin Qiong stretched his neck outside the door but still couldn't figure out what was going on. He was eager to stick his head in to see, but as a father, he still maintained his last bit of dignity and didn't go in. He just waited outside the door.
Lin Yuan ran out in a hurry. He sent up something like a firework into the sky and then immediately ran back into the room without even noticing Lin Qiong outside.
Lin Qiong: "..."
Sure enough, once a man gets a wife, he forgets his mother. Now he doesn't even see his father. Sigh...