"Hey, Jiang Bai, move the couplet a little to the right, you pasted it a bit crooked." Jing Xi directed Jiang Bai to paste the couplet on the ground, and everyone's faces were beaming with joy.

After a year of hard work, everyone finally relaxed as the year drew to a close.

"Okay, Jingxi, is this alright?" Jiang Bai stood on the ladder and moved to the right, stretching his body.

"It's a bit low. Raise it a little higher." Jing Xi waved her hand, signaling Jiang Bai to raise the couplet a little higher.

Following Jing Xi's instructions, Jiang Bai raised the couplet slightly higher and then asked, "How about this? Is it alright?"

"That's fantastic, Jiang Bai. You're so clever, this is just right." Jing Xi gave Jiang Bai a thumbs up and said happily.

Ji Mosheng stood outside the tent, watching the two people enjoying themselves, and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. Why? Why was Jing Xi's smile directed at Jiang Bai? To him, she was always respectful and distant.

"Your Highness, it's windy outside, why don't we go inside?" Ye Xiao said, seeing that the Crown Prince's face was somewhat gloomy. Why should Your Highness trouble yourself?

"I'm really not willing to accept this late-night snack," Ji Mosheng said, looking at Jing Xi.

"Your Highness, you..." Ye Xiao didn't know why his prince was so obsessed with Miss Jingxi. His prince had always been gentle and refined, and indifferent to everything, but this time, he had taken a special interest in Miss Jingxi.

"Let's go in." The more he saw, the less he could control his emotions. He was afraid that he would hurt Jing Xi if he couldn't control his emotions.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ye Xiao replied obediently. Out of sight, out of mind. If Your Highness couldn't see Miss Jing, perhaps he wouldn't be in so much pain.

——

"Hanhan, it's Chinese New Year today. I've invited Jingxi and Jiang Bai to come over and have hot pot with us tonight," Yan Wan said happily as she ran up to Ji Mohan.

Ji Mohan looked up and ruffled Yan Wan's hair. He naturally had no objection to what she said. He was aloof, while Yan Wan liked lively atmospheres. There was nothing wrong with him adapting to her. When two people are together, they always have to adapt to each other.

“Okay, you can invite whoever you want to celebrate the New Year with,” Ji Mohan said softly.

"Hanhan, is there anyone you want to invite? We can invite them over for hot pot. Hot pot is all about having lots of people and it's lively. Let's have a big, fun New Year this year," Yan Wan said. This is her first year with Ji Mohan, and she wants to leave him with a lively and warm memory.

In the past, Ji Mohan would spend the New Year with his soldiers in Yunzhou City. The soldiers respected and feared him. Only a few generals would come over to toast him, and he would leave after sitting for a while because he knew that with him around, everyone would be too reserved.

Sometimes, after Ji Mohan left, he would hear the sounds of drinking and finger-guessing games erupting from the tent he had just left. Sometimes, he envied this kind of liveliness. So he often hid alone on the city wall, took a bottle of wine, sat on the city gate tower, and drank while looking out over the border. When the wine was finished, his year would be over.

Yan Wan knew how he spent his years, and she felt sorry for him. The festivities were for them, but Ji Mohan had nothing; all he had was loneliness and desolation. So this time, she wanted Ji Mohan to have a lively New Year.

Ji Mohan thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "You can invite your friends. I don't have anyone to invite." When Li Shang was around, he might have invited Li Shang to have dinner together, but now that Li Shang is not here, he can't think of anyone to invite for the moment.

Yan Wan paused for a moment, then suggested, "Your Highness, Hanhan, you can invite Your Highness, as well as Wei Ting and Song Jue, to celebrate the New Year with us."

Ji Mohan looked down at Yan Wan's bright eyes, nodded, and said, "Okay, I'll ask them about it later."

"Mmm, they'll definitely agree. I'm going downstairs to prepare the hot pot for tonight. Oh, and I have a surprise for you tonight, so you can look forward to it." Yan Wan tiptoed and kissed Ji Mohan, saying mysteriously.

Just as Ji Mohan was about to kiss her back, Yan Wan slipped away from his arm, and his attempt to kiss her back failed.

Ji Mohan watched Yan Wan's fleeing figure and smiled helplessly. He would definitely find a chance to kiss her back.

"Jingxi, how about we have hot pot together tonight?" Yan Wan asked as she walked over to Jingxi and Jiang Bai, who were being all lovey-dovey.

“Okay, Wan’er. Let’s celebrate the New Year together this year.” Jing Xi agreed without hesitation. The New Year is all about the atmosphere; it’s more lively with lots of people.

"Then it's settled. You and Jiang Bai will be together tonight," Yan Wan said, nodding to Jiang Bai.

"Don't worry, we'll definitely go," Jing Xi said generously.

Ji Mohan walked to the outside of Ji Mosheng's tent and stopped. He didn't know how to start the conversation. He had never truly experienced family affection.

Just then, Ji Mosheng came out of his tent and ran into Ji Mohan. He was somewhat surprised to see his elder brother at his tent entrance. He stepped forward and said, "Brother, is there something you need from me?"

Ji Mo Han glanced at Ji Mo Sheng without saying a word, and Ji Mo Sheng didn't urge him either. It was the first time he had seen his elder brother with a conflicted expression, so it seemed that this matter was very important to him.

“It’s Chinese New Year today. Yan Wan said we’re having hot pot tonight. You’re alone too, so you can join us tonight.” Ji Mohan hesitated for a long time before finally saying it.

He breathed a sigh of relief; it wasn't so difficult after all.

Ji Mosheng never expected that the thing his elder brother had been agonizing over for so long would be inviting him to hot pot. "My elder brother has really changed a lot since he married my sister-in-law," Ji Mosheng sighed.

Seeing the surprised expression on Ji Mosheng's face, Ji Mohan said, "If you're not free, you don't have to come."

After saying that, he turned and left, and his back view gave the impression of him fleeing in panic.

Ji Mosheng called out to Ji Mohan's retreating figure, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely come if I have time tonight."

Ji Mohan paused for a moment before continuing forward, as he still needed to invite his generals.

Ugh, how should I bring this up?

Finally, Ji Mohan found Wei Ting and gave him the order. Then, he instructed Wei Ting to notify the other generals. It has to be said that this method was simply perfect.

Upon hearing Wei Ting's words, the other generals' expressions were exactly the same as Ji Mosheng's. The prince was inviting everyone to eat hot pot? Goodness, this hadn't happened in over a decade. It seems the princess is indeed formidable, causing such a dramatic change in the prince.

The prince had gone to great lengths to invite everyone, and they were reluctant to decline.

As night fell, everyone gathered in Ji Mohan's tent and sat around the table, creating a scene reminiscent of a family celebrating the New Year.

The hot pot in the middle was bubbling away, whetting everyone's appetite.

Foodie Wei Ting was the first to succumb to the temptation of hot pot.