The wine had been poured three times, the dishes tasted five.
The roar and excitement inside the mansion's main hall finally ebbed away like the tide as time passed.
At the feast, everyone's faces were flushed with drunkenness, their words relaxed. After another round of mutual toasting, several esteemed elder relatives stood up first, citing age and inability to drink as excuses to leave.
Qin Qingluo remained seated in the main position, did not linger, nodded in acknowledgment, and offered farewell words. The housekeeper led them out of the hall and arranged for carriages.
Following them, several military officials, who came with families, also took their leave. They were more straightforward than the relatives, bowing and loudly expressing thanks to the Prince and Princess for their hospitality, saying things like "we must return to the camp for patrol duty."
