Handsome Qiao Ziqiu Among the Incoming Navy

"The navy is here!" Xiang Bei quickly tidied herself up and, hand in hand with Cheng Mo, made their way across the pier square towards the deep-water sea harbor dock. Standing on the breakwater embankment, they gazed into the distance, where the sunrise burst forth from the horizon in a shower of golden light, silhouetting the outline of a warship under the canopy of crimson clouds. One by one, more ships emerged, their figures becoming clearer as they approached.

As the loud horn of the ship's bow sounded the port entry signal, the armored navy, reflecting the rays of the rising sun, lined up neatly on the deck. Xiang Bei, who had watched countless military parades on television, had never experienced such an impact before. It wasn't just the intense visual spectacle; it was the iron-blooded combat power and the unwavering battle spirit emanating from them.

Cheng Mo stepped steadily onto the flagship, receiving the military orders for the southern expedition from the commander-in-chief and personally unfurling the royal flag of Mo Kingdom in front of the dynasty's navy flag at the bow. In the brisk morning breeze, Cheng Mo welcomed the first contingent of his granted navy. Once joined by the imminent arrival of the twenty-thousand-strong royal army, he would officially become the king of defense, poised to enter the political stage destined for him.

Accompanying the naval commanders disembarking from the warship to the camp, Cheng Mo passed by Xiang Bei without so much as a glance, quietly instructing, "Noon feast at home," before continuing on his way.

Just as Xiang Bei was about to turn back to prepare for the noon feast, a dazzling smile behind her caught all of her attention—it was Qiao Ziqiu! Yet, he seemed different from before. Never before had he exuded such vigor and high spirits, never had she seen such lofty ambition. The once elegant and charming gentleman still retained this heroic and valiant demeanor. Qiao Ziqiu, how many faces do you have left? Can you get any more handsome? Oh no, even after traversing thousands of years, Tong Xiang Bei couldn't shake off her shallow penchant for good looks. Faced with such a handsome figure clad in armor, she couldn't help but feel breathless. Who will come to her rescue and give her some oxygen?

Qiao Er was very satisfied with Xiang Bei's expression at this moment. Having known her for so long, he was sure that this moment belonged entirely to him. Joy, admiration, infatuation, pride—all these expressions changed unabashedly on the face of the woman he admired. He realized that he, too, was a man capable of capturing her full attention. Standing a little taller involuntarily, he put on a solemn and aloof expression on his face, while his eyes were filled with the image of that little girl looking at her. He knew the girl hand in her heart to other, but he himself got back his family reputation, maybe he still had a little chance to stand beside her now?

Completely ignored as he walked past Xiang Bei, General Qiao, the older man of Qiao family who's father of ZiQiu felt as if he was transparent. He couldn't help but glance back at his son, who had suffered for so many years and was no longer young, teasing him with a slight smile. He watched with pleasure as his son's cheeks quickly turned red from the corner of his eyes to the tips of his ears.

Qiao Ziqiu suppressed those fleeting romantic thoughts and hurried over to Xiang Bei with a gentle nod and a smile, "Everyone is coming to your place for lunch today. It's been months since we last met, and Big Brother Qiao really misses your cooking skills. Thank you for your hard work. We'll talk more at noon."

Xiang Bei finally caught her breath, awkwardly nodding in response, and quickly dashed back home, feeling embarrassed and flustered.

There were many tasks to handle during the Navy handover. By the time the morning warships arrived and everyone changed into casual clothes to gather at the Sunrise Residence, the usual lunchtime had passed. With no guests in sight yet, Xiang Bei, following the guiding principle of "idle hands are the devil's workshop," had already prepared a variety of cold dishes and hot dishes, stacked on the table, making the rotating tray almost overloaded.

Rotating tray, yes, that's right. Xiang Bei wasn't sure who her Amo had invited or their status and position. She was also unsure about the seating arrangement according to the dining etiquette of ancient times. So, she directly set up a five-meter diameter rotating round table. The large dining hall had windows on all four sides, making it difficult to determine the main seating position. She wasn't sure exactly how many people were coming, but with a dozen or even twenty guests, a few extra chairs could be added on the fly. Therefore, she couldn't help but mentally applaud herself, giving herself a dozen or so extra-large thumbs-ups. She was indeed very clever.

Cheng Mo, Rong Wang, and Old Master Qiao, just these three alone,Xiang Bei would didn't know how to arrange the seating politely even joining them were the old generals of the Qiao family, the main lineage of the Cheng family, and distinguished friends from the capital. Along the way, these people speculated about what they would eat at lunchtime. Those who had tried it recounted their favorite dishes, while those who hadn't imagined the new flavors rumored to be extraordinary. When they saw the banquet table adorned with flowers, surrounded by delicacies, and adorned with exquisite tableware, they couldn't help but say in unison, "Indeed. Duke Mo's Blessing Sea FuHai Pavilion is truly the leader in the catering industry." They all began to look forward to today's delicious experience.