Chapter 854: Bite, separated by a single partition (1/2)

Han Yunxi put on the airs of an insufferably arrogant person, enough to infuriate the nearby mermaid soldiers. But in the end, they all endured and didn’t lash out. Xu Donglin’s eyes flashed with mirth before he hastened to explain. “Your Royal Highness, His Highness can only see you tomorrow. As for over there, hehe, there’s going to be a bonfire banquet tomorrow night. Since time is tight, they need to prepare things as soon as possible.”

Han Yunxi’s words had been designed to get Long Feiye over, but when she heard he’d be back tomorrow, her heart secretly rejoiced. “Why are we holding a bonfire banquet? Is it to welcome someone?”

In her memories, bonfire banquets were rather grand and solemn affairs for an army. Usually, it was held for specific reasons.

“Princess, tomorrow is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month,” Xu Donglin said.

Han Yunxi suddenly came to her senses. So tomorrow’s already the seventh!

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month was considered the modern Chinese Valentine’s Day. In the past, the ancients considered it a day for lovers too. “Qiqiao” (乞巧), or “begging for cleverness,” was a festival for young girls to pray to the Weaving-girl to make their hands qiao, or clever (thus perfecting their needlework skills) and ask for her aid in finding a rich and sweetness-filled marriage that could yield a son.

This was a holiday for females, so Han Yunxi didn’t know why the army was celebrating it too.

“You’re all men, why celebrate Qiqiao?” she asked disdainfully. “Unless His Highness Crown Prince likes the festival?”

The mermaid soldiers on the side looked over again, their faces full of fury. This woman was perfectly fine, so why is she mocking His Highness Crown Prince again? What has he ever done to provoke or offend her? He’s already being magnanimous by not locking her up!

Meanwhile, Xu Donglin could only secretly laugh up his sleeve. In the past, when His Highness left for a few days, the princess would only ask about him once, or be so busy that she didn’t even realize when he came back again. Now only a few days had passed, but their conversation had already turned back to His Highness again. They must have been apart for too long and miss each other terribly. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, ah!

“Princess, the Baili Army has a tradition. On Qiqiao day, the wives of the soldiers are allowed to give them gifts, and a fixed quota of family members can come for a visit. If the troops are fighting and unable to meet their families, then General Baili will host a banquet to celebrate the holiday with everyone else. This year, His Highness is living in the barracks, so he’ll be celebrating with them too. The soldiers’ quarters have already been set up, so they’re setting up another one at the main baacks. Tomorrow night, His Highness will come here after drinking a few cups with the rest of the soldiers.”

At this point, Xu Donglin purposely added on, “Thus, we have to build up the site tonight. May Your Royal Highness forgive me.”

“So it’s that like, ah?” Han Yunxi nodded, before she asked with amusement, “Then fine, go tell His Highness that this princess lost sleep tonight, so have him drink a cup to me tomorrow night as punishment!”

Dream on!” the mermaid soldiers couldn’t take it anymore. Xu Donglin immediately shot them a look to warn them not to cause trouble for themselves. As His Highness’s favorite, everyone at the camp gave him face aside from Baili Yuanlong. The mermaid soldiers naturally didn’t dare to disobey and turned aside their heads. Out of sight, out of mind.

“Don’t worry, Your Royal Highness. This one will definitely pass on your sentiments. Princess, please go back,” Xu Donglin said as he blinked at her.

A satisfied Han Yunxi thus returned to her tent. The play between her and Xu Donglin now gave Long Feiye ample excuse to invite her to the banquet. Baili Yuanlong wouldn’t be able to stop them then. In any case, there was a banquet area right here at the main barracks, so there was no need for her to expose herself elsewhere. Now that she was certain Long Feiye would return tomorrow, Han Yunxi was less perturbed. She couldn’t sleep, so she sat up and continued to cultivate. The third level of the poison storage space required more mental effort than the previous two. Previously, she’d feel refreshed after each session, but training for the third required a good sleep before she recovered.

Perhaps it had been too long since she last cultivated, but this time thoroughly exhausted Han Yunxi. By the time the sun came up, she unconsciously fell into a deep slumber. Long Feiye and Baili Yuanlong made it back that morning, covered in wind and dust from the night’s travels. Their horses stopped outside the main barracks and the soldiers came to get them. After dismounting his horse, Long Feiye shot a glance at Han Yunxi’s tent and only saw Xu Donglin sitting outside.

Baili Yuanlong got off his horse and said, “Your Highness, hurry and go rest. You need to host the Qiqiao bonfire banquet tonight. So many officers and men at the soldiers’ barracks have never seen you before and they’re looking forward to it!”

“Mm,” Long Feiye replied. As he took long strides towards the main barracks, he passed by the door of Han Yunxi’s tent. By now, Xu Donglin had long gotten up to pay his respects. Although Long Feiye was clearly in a hurry, he still stopped in front of Han Yunxi’s tent, where Xu Donglin hurried to meet him.

“Has she been well-behaved these past few days?” Long Feiye asked coldly.

Hearing these words, Baili Yuanlong paid attention, too.

“The West Qin princess has just been strolling outside these past few days. Most of her time is spent inside the tent. It’s not convenient for this subordinate to enter, so I don’t know what she’s doing. Just last night, the soldiers woke her up while they were stacking up the bonfire, so she said Your Highness must drink to her as punishment tonight,” Xu Donglin reported.

Baili Yuanlong immediately gave a cold snort. “Who does she think she is? My East Qin’s banquet has no place for her to attend!”

Xu Donglin glanced at Long Feiye, who didn’t say anything one way or another. “Call her out,” he said coldly.

Xu Donglin called a few times from outside the tent, but there was no response.