Chapter 189: Stealing Someone Away

“…I won’t say much more, I wish you all a bright future.”

Suimian Street, the mansion of the Duke of Chu County.

The banquet in the second courtyard’s floral hall had entered its second half. Ding Suian raised his cup, and those at the table rose one after another.

Those present, Wang Xigui, Chest Hair, Gongye Ni, and Hu Jiangjiu, had always been his subordinates.

Xu Jizu, Zhang Dengbao, and Chen Hantai were among the former prisoners of war.

“Young Lord, first you saved us from Southern Zhao and brought us back to the country, and later you recommended us to the nobles; this grace is like a second birth. I, Zhang Dengbao, am not good with words, but in short, if there is ever a place where you need this subordinate, and I frown even once, then I am a son of a bitch!”

Zhang Dengbao tilted his head back and drained his cup in one gulp.

Next was Xu Jizu, “To the Young Lord.”

After more than twenty days of screening and recuperation, the seven thousand returning prisoners of war had all been assigned to various units of the Imperial Guard.

Most of the officers were demoted and retained. After all, they were defeated generals; not being punished for surrendering to the enemy was already an act of grace.

But there were exceptions, such as Chen Hantai and others. Previously commanders in the Black Tortoise Army, they were instead promoted to deputy commanders this time.

Xu Jizu and Zhang Dengbao were originally Dutous, and both received promotions this time.

There were over a dozen such ‘exceptions’ like them. They didn’t know where they had heard that this was due to the recommendation of the Duke of Chu County, so they sent Xu, Zhang, and Chen as representatives to express their gratitude.

“Young Lord~”

Just as Chen Hantai opened his mouth, Ding Suian raised a hand to stop him, “Uncle Tai, don’t call me that, it gives me goosebumps.”

“Haha, Yuanxi, the three of us came tonight not just representing ourselves. The seven thousand brothers who returned this time all cherish the kindness of Yuanxi in their hearts. Now that everyone is scattered across the eight divisions of the Imperial Guard, and you have been appointed as the Nine Gates Inspector, if you want to inquire about anything in the future, just feel free to order us.”

“Uh, haha.”

We know about this, no need to say it out loud.

“By the way, I heard that Brother Lie is finally willing to move up this time?”

“Uncle Tai is well-informed.”

Ding Suian smiled.

Old Ding was promoted to Commander of the Winged Tiger Army’s C-Camp. That was originally Zheng Jinsan’s position.

This matter was indeed facilitated by Ding Suian, but the process was not so smooth. On the tenth day of the fourth month, he had tried to persuade him with earnest words, but at first, Old Ding refused to do it no matter what.

But after the two of them had a drink at noon, Old Ding suddenly changed his mind and agreed.

To this day, Ding Suian still hadn’t figured out the reason for Old Ding’s change of heart.

The hour of Hai.

The banquet ended. After Chen Hantai and the others left, Wang Xigui and the others stayed for a while longer.

Ding Suian had been transferred from the Vermilion Bird Army Elite Cavalry, taking Chest Hair and Gongye Ni with him. Wang Xigui took over as the Dutou of the Elite Cavalry, with Hu Jiangjiu as his deputy.

It was originally a good thing to be promoted, but that simpleton Hu Jiangjiu was already wiping away tears.

“Jiangjiu, what the hell are you crying about!”

Facing Chest Hair’s question, Hu Jiangjiu ignored him and instead looked at Ding Suian with teary eyes, “Brother Suian, did I do something wrong? Why are you transferring away…”

Hu Jiangjiu looked at Chest Hair and Gongye Ni, aggrieved, “You’re transferring away, why didn’t you take me with you.”

“…”

“…”

“You simpleton!”

Before Ding Suian could speak, Chest Hair kicked the black tower-like Jiangjiu on the butt, “We are all in Central Heaven. We can see each other after walking for two quarters of an hour after our shifts. It’s not like we’re being torn apart forever, damn it.”

Wang Xigui also smiled, “Jiangjiu, our leader is moving on to better things, and only then can we brothers follow him to higher places. Don’t act like a sentimental child.”

“I don’t want to go to higher places, I just want to be with everyone.”

Hu Jiangjiu had followed Ding Suian since his first day in the army, and he was long used to letting ‘Brother Suian’ make decisions for him on everything, big or small.

This transfer, which took away half of the Elite Cavalry’s backbone, felt to Hu Jiangjiu like his parents were divorcing and his family was falling apart.

Ding Suian reached out and patted Hu Jiangjiu’s shoulder, comforting him, “Jiangjiu, your nature is pure and straightforward; staying in the army suits you better. Perhaps in a few years, Jiangjiu will become the most famous fierce general in our Great Wu. We brothers will meet again when we have achieved success.”

He saw off the guests.

Ding Suian returned to the back courtyard. The courtyard was quiet.

The lights in the east wing were out.

Zhao Yan was not a quiet person. As long as she was home, she was either chattering away or making a racket; in short, she could never be quiet for a moment.

Now that she had been away for several days in a row, Ding Suian was not quite used to it.

Ding Suian walked to the east wall and nimbly jumped onto the wall. Next door in Huguai Garden, the Ji Pavilion was brightly lit.

Five days ago, Zhao Yan, Ruan Ruan, and even Jiang Yuan had suddenly moved in. He didn’t know what they were up to, acting all mysterious.

Ding Suian wanted to go over and take a look, but he was hindered by the presence of Ruan Ruan and Jiang Yuan. After all, in their eyes, his appearance in Lin Hansu’s boudoir would be very inappropriate.

“What is the use of this iron rod~ What if I have this Divine Ability~”

Ding Suian looked up at the full moon of the fifteenth, feeling sentimental, and hummed a melancholy little tune.

He sat quietly on the wall until the hour of Zi.

After waiting for the lights in Ji Pavilion to go out and waiting for another half an hour, Ding Suian flipped over into Huguai Garden.

His Astral was perfectly fused, and his control over the circulation of his Protective Aura was masterful. He was as light as a leaf, making absolutely no sound.

Ding Suian climbed to the second floor with ease and flipped into the boudoir through the window.

On the large bed covered by red silk curtains, four distinct, rhythmic breathing sounds could be clearly distinguished.

His extremely sensitive senses not only allowed Ding Suian to hear the sounds but also to smell several completely different fragrances.

The most familiar one was naturally the orchid and osmanthus scent on Lin Hansu.

Another one, with a faint, seductive sweetness, belonged to the Jile Sect; it was naturally Zhao Yan.

Ruan Ruan had a clean, soft milky scent, mixed with a little sandalwood that cleared the heart and calmed the spirit.

The relatively unfamiliar cold plum blossom scent should be Jiang Yuan.

Ding Suian approached the bed silently and raised his hand to pull back the red silk curtains. Moonlight flowed in like silver.

On the large bed, four figures lay side by side.

Lin Hansu slept on the outermost side, her dark hair draped underneath her, a thin silk quilt neatly covered up to her chest, one hand resting lightly on her abdomen.

Inside her, Zhao Yan was still habitually curled up, her little head nestled against Lin Hansu’s upper arm, her dark hair spread across the pillow.

Next to Zhao Yan was Ruan Ruan, who was sleeping face up, completely unguarded, while one hand unconsciously clutched a strand of Zhao Yan’s hair, with a faint, satisfied smile on her lips.

Jiang Yuan, on the innermost side, had the most orderly sleeping posture, almost motionless, her hands folded in front of her, as if she were strictly observing aristocratic etiquette even in her sleep.

The four of them had their breathing intertwined, their auras blending together.

Inside the quiet red curtains, the scene was full of spring.

“Sister~ Sister~”

Ding Suian’s voice was extremely light. Lin Hansu woke up faintly, not even because she was called awake, but because she was tickled awake by the warm, soft breath that kept brushing against her earlobe.

Even though the title’Sister’ had already made her realize who had come to her side in her half-dreaming state, after she realized it, she still couldn’t help but open her mouth to call out subconsciously.

“Sister, it’s me! Shh~”

Fortunately, Ding Suian was prepared and covered Lin Hansu’s mouth.

The latter was full of terror at first, then after confirming who it was by the voice, the Phoenix eyes she turned to look with had turned into annoyance.

Ding Suian, however, gently removed the arm that Zhao Yan had draped over Lin Hansu, carried Lin Hansu directly onto his back, walked to the window in two steps, and jumped down.

Only then did Lin Hansu’s brain fully wake up, and she couldn’t help but let out a low cry, “Young Master, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see, Sister? I’m stealing someone away.”

“Pfft~”

Lin Hansu, who had been carried out in the middle of the night in this way, felt the displeasure from being disturbed in her sleep dissipate, and she pursed her lips and laughed.

Being with her younger brother was truly exciting.