“Was everything recorded?”
The warden asked the personnel in the monitoring room.
The person in charge of monitoring nodded, “It’s all recorded, right here.”
The warden picked up the surveillance footage and walked out, not lingering there any longer.
Everyone that Xuan Niao saw was closely monitored. Although they couldn't decipher what was being said, every subtle movement was captured. They would find someone skilled in lip-reading to analyze their conversations.
“Send this to the Hall of Honor.”
Back in his office, the warden summoned his confidant and handed him a letter, instructing him to deliver it directly to the Hall of Honor.
“Understood.”
After his confidant left, the warden sighed and murmured to himself, “The Four Diamond Vajras of the Dragon Pavilion, why would they do something like this? Could she have truly betrayed the country? Impossible. Anyone else, perhaps, but not someone from the Dragon Pavilion. If they wanted to do this, they would have done it long ago. They have no reason whatsoever.”
Many, like him, were baffled by Xuan Niao’s actions. It remained a mystery, at least for now.
Watching Yuan Gang leave from the window, the warden could only sigh deeply.
Some people, some matters, would inevitably appear in this capital, a capital already filled with the spirits of heroes!
...
Upon his return, Yuan Gang brought two bottles of good wine.
Five dishes and one soup accompanied them.
Ye Longlin and Yuan Gang reminisced about the past, though mostly Yuan Gang spoke while Ye Longlin listened. They chatted idly as the evening wore on.
This meal was likely the last Ye Longlin would have before his retirement. Both men enjoyed themselves immensely, much to the quiet labor of Mu Hanqi, who cleared the table without complaint.
After Yuan Gang left the residential complex alone, he stayed in his car until the early hours of the morning. Only when the ground was littered with cigarette butts did he call for a designated driver to take him home.
“Ye Longlin, you’re so heavy.”
Mu Hanqi said unhappily as she held Ye Longlin, clearly finding it a strenuous task to manage someone who had drunk too much.
Ye Longlin suddenly wrapped his arms around Mu Hanqi and chuckled, “Did you really think I was drunk?”
He deliberately breathed warm air into her ear, watching her earlobes turn red, his eyes filled with schadenfreude.
*I can’t control you anymore.*
“I’m on my period these past two days.”
“……”
...
News of Ye Longlin’s return had spread throughout the capital, from street to street. Those most concerned were the current officeholders, for they knew very well what Ye Longlin’s return signified!
“At nine o’clock this morning, Ye Longlin will return to the inner court for reporting.”
At this moment, in the inner court of the Hall of Honor, beneath a pine tree, an old man lay on a lounge chair, a small heater beside him, a blanket over his body.
He held a cigarette between his lips, gazing at the sky.
Suddenly, the cigarette was snatched from his mouth. Before he could utter a word, a voice reached his ears.
“Tsk, just like always. Didn’t I tell you not to bite the cigarette filter?”
The owner of the voice, without showing any disgust, took a puff from the captured cigarette.
“Hey! You brat, you’re always so disrespectful!”
The elder sprang up from his lounge chair, looking at the young man before him, deliberately putting on a stern face.
The inner court of the Hall of Honor was also known as the Elder Council, where six elders held positions below the Supreme Being.
Ye Longlin finished the cigarette in two draws and asked directly, “Summoning me back for reporting at this time, something must have happened, right? Otherwise, I wouldn’t be reporting before the year’s end.”
Ye Longlin saw this clearly. Military reporting was usually done at the beginning of the year, rarely at the end.
“We’ll talk about that later. I heard you’ve got a girlfriend. Let me see.”
Second Elder Li Chengdao chuckled, a look of gossip on his face.
Beyond their esteemed positions, they were, after all, old men, naturally curious about such matters.
Moreover, Ye Longlin had been promoted by him. He had vigorously advocated for Ye Longlin’s appointment against all opposition, and Ye Longlin had not disappointed him, reaching his current status.
Even when Ye Longlin was just a junior officer, his resume was already impressive. What truly caught Li Chengdao’s attention was a red-blue military exercise.
The blue team, to which Ye Longlin belonged, was on the verge of defeat. Just as everyone believed the blue team was about to lose, Ye Longlin led a squad of fifty men in a flanking maneuver that disrupted the entire red team’s defense. He single-handedly broke the stalemate and led the blue team to victory.
At that time, Li Chengdao was still an elder in the military, far from such a crucial position in the inner court.
Or rather, Ye Longlin’s exceptional performance had also contributed to his own advancement.
“She’s at home.”
“Elder, please smoke a little less. You’ve been smoking for decades, aren’t you afraid of some problem being discovered eventually?”
Ye Longlin savored two puffs of the cigarette before stubbing out the butt.
Li Chengdao retorted with a light slap on Ye Longlin’s shoulder, “Get lost. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth. Hurry up and get out of here. I need to notify others to come for a meeting.”
Ye Longlin said nothing and entered the meeting room, one after the other.
After Li Chengdao notified the other five elders, they all quickly appeared in the meeting room.
“Esteemed elders, why have I been summoned? Or is it related to the incident in Jinling?”
At the conference table, no one spoke first. Finally, Ye Longlin broke the silence.
“The matter in Jinling was handled well, but our reason for calling you back has nothing to do with Jinling. It’s about something else.”
After speaking, the First Elder checked the time and continued, “We still need about half an hour. Let’s wait for another half hour.”
Then, the meeting room fell silent.
Usually, when a meeting began, it seemed there were endless words and suggestions to be made. Now, however, it was eerily quiet.
“Since no one is speaking, I’ll bring up a matter first. Have all elders received my resignation?”
Ye Longlin scanned them all and said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Li Chengdao was the first to frown, “Are you really planning to retire? But you’re still so young. If you stay in this position, you can stay for at least a few more decades. You’ve reached the pinnacle!”
This matter was closely related to what they were about to discuss. If Ye Longlin truly retired, then this reporting session would be meaningless.
Ye Longlin shook his head, “This is my genuine intention. I truly wish to step down. After so many years on the front lines, I am tired. I want to stop and properly admire the beautiful mountains and rivers of our homeland. I want to see the magnificent scenery of our country.
Whether you agree or disagree, I will be leaving by the end of the year at the latest. It can be public or private.”