New Year's Eve

Wuying Hall

At this moment, the sky was pitch black, and the zero-point stars filled the entire sky.

The Forbidden Army soldiers who were guarding the entire palace were all wearing iron armor and holding silver spears and swords, standing solemnly at various gates and intersections.

But in the whole hall, there was singing and dancing, talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was full of peace.

Xiao Jingyang was sitting in the banquet, looking very handsome in his royal robe.

The dancers in the center of the palace are all dancing to the music, as graceful as a giant dragon, and as graceful as a swimming dragon. Every movement is carefully arranged, and every movement is full of tenderness.

They have been preparing for this performance for at least more than three months, and the year-end celebration cannot go wrong.

The hard work I have put in over the past few months is just for this beautiful dance.

What Xiao Jingyang was watching down there was enjoyable. Although he watched it every year, after all, it was some pretty girls of fifteen or sixteen years old dancing, so you would never get tired of watching it.

The same is true for His Majesty the Emperor, who is rarely happy during the New Year and comments on the dances of these dancers from time to time.

Concubine Yue, who was sitting next to him, had a charming face, sometimes laughing and sometimes drinking, she looked like a little woman.

The prince's face was full of joy. Seeing the loving appearance of his mother-in-law and his father, he couldn't help but feel a little proud in his heart.

King Yu! Not so happy.

However, he did not show his unhappiness directly on his face. He only glanced at the high platform from time to time, and occasionally his eyes showed a little disgust and disdain.

Xiao Jingyang didn't bother to pay attention to this. What does this have to do with him?

Isn’t it nice to watch young ladies dancing?

Prince Jing sat next to Xiao Jingyang. He always had a straight face, neither happy nor disgusted.

He has never had high requirements for women. He is a gentleman, so this behavior is considered normal.

As for Prince Ji, he was very happy at the moment. He was sitting in the first place under the emperor, sipping wine from time to time, shaking his head and listening to the music, with a face full of enjoyment.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

Gao Zhan, who was standing aside, noticed that the time was almost up, so he quietly came to the emperor's side and shouted a few times in a low voice.

"ah?"

The emperor responded with a smile and put down the wine glass in his hand.

"It's almost midnight."

Gao Zhan held a gilded red-covered book and handed it to the emperor.

"Oh! Yes! According to the order I ordered years ago, let's start distributing New Year's dishes to various prefectures!"

The emperor glanced at the things recorded in the book, and then seemed to be stunned when he saw the name of a mansion. He looked at the contents carefully, then pointed to a dish and said:

"I will reward Mu Qing with this pigeon egg."

"Huh?" Gao Zhan was also stunned, and for a moment he didn't understand what the emperor was up to.

"Your Majesty! Prince Mu's Mansion was originally on this year's list of food gifts!"

"I know!" The emperor looked a little impatient and simply replied.

"This year, Prince Mu's palace will give you a special reward and an extra dish."

Gao Zhan's brows moved slightly and he blinked. He instantly understood the meaning of this extra dish.

"According to the order!"

Gao Zhan didn't say anything more. He stepped back in small steps, walked around and walked down the high platform, and went to prepare for the food presentation.

The emperor's actions made many people present have other plans in their minds.

Anyway, the prince's complexion has become a little bad.

Xiao Jingyang didn't care anyway. Whether the emperor wanted to ease the relationship with Prince Mu's palace or had some other deep meaning, it had nothing to do with him.

Eat well, drink well, have fun, this is what I should do now.

What you should be concerned about is that the elbow is well burned, so eat two more bites quickly.

The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year

Xiao Jingyang stayed up late last night with his mother and father, and didn't go to bed until late at night.

So it was already three o'clock in the morning, and Xiao Jingyang was still in his sleep, unable to extricate himself.

"Click..." A sound of pushing the door broke the silence.

I saw a girl in Tsing Yi walking in quietly. Of course she was Xiao Jingyang's maid Xiao Ling'er.

"Your Majesty! It's time to get up! Your Majesty and Princess are both up and waiting for you to have breakfast."

"Well... don't move me, and sleep a little longer." Xiao Jamyang squirmed a little, and then stuffed his head into the quilt again.

According to the rules, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Children of the royal family, especially children like Xiao Jingyang who have grown up doted on by the Empress Dowager, should go to Ci'an Palace before noon to pay homage to the Empress Dowager as a sign of filial piety.

"I'm about to miss the time to enter the palace."

Xiao Ling'er is not discouraged. Anyway, this is a scene that happens every year and she has long been used to it.

She walked forward and pushed Xiao Jingyang gently, and said like coaxing a child:

"Your Majesty, if you don't get up, you will miss the hour."

"You still have to enter the palace today."

"Huh? Well, okay, I understand." Xiao Jingyang then remembered that he had to go to the palace to see his grandma today, so he stretched his head out of the quilt and forced himself to open his eyes.

In the middle of winter, getting out of bed without heating is really a torture.

ten minutes later

"I've met my father! My mother and concubine!"

Xiao Jingyang was already dressed and washed, and came to the main dining room.

Today is the first day of the New Year after all, so you still have to follow the proper etiquette.

Xiao Jingyang respectfully kowtowed to his parents respectively, which was regarded as a formal New Year greeting.

"Okay! Get up quickly. It's time to eat. We have to go to the palace later."

Princess Ji looked at her child with loving eyes, urging Xiao Jingyang to get to the table and eat.

"Okay!" Xiao Jingyang stood up with a smile and sat in front of the table.

The breakfast at Prince Ji's Mansion is quite sumptuous. To be precise, the three meals at Prince Ji's Mansion are sumptuous.

The emperor received a lot of rewards every year, coupled with the salaries of his father and son (the prince had a salary) and the annual visits between various royal relatives, the life in Prince Ji's palace was quite comfortable.

Today is no different than yesterday. It is not a formal occasion. Xiao Jingyang no longer needs to wear the formal official uniform.

After all, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. It is the first day of the year, so naturally I have to wear new clothes.

Princess Ji had prepared Xiao Jingyang's new clothes early and had the maid deliver them to Xiao Jingyang's room this morning.

Every new piece of clothing that Xiao Jingyang has had since childhood was basically made by Princess Ji herself.

The fabrics are basically black or sky blue, and during the Chinese New Year, they are basically red.

For example, what Xiao Jingyang is wearing at the moment is made of red gold and red as the base, with flowing cloud patterns sewn on gold threads as a match. There is a red gilt jade buckle belt around the waist. The overall fabric is basically silk, and there are also additional threads on the inside of the top.

A little goose down was added to keep warm, which made Xiao Jingyang look a little plump and wealthy.

Prince Ji was still dressed the same as before, feeling the happy atmosphere of the family, with a smile on his face.

This is the day he looks forward to most.
Chapter completed!