[Even though eating dim sum for breakfast gave me a bit of heartburn, it still tasted pretty good. I'll bear with it! I'll bear with it!]

"Dear guests, please come and wish us a happy new year!" A shrill eunuch's voice came.

Immediately afterwards, the entire hall became solemn and everyone shut their mouths.

The guests walked into the main hall in groups according to their status, paid New Year's greetings to the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager, and presented New Year's gifts.

First came the royal family, then the civil and military officials, and then the royal merchants and representatives of the people.

Xia Miaoyuan munched on some snacks while waiting patiently.

She looked at the guests boredly, complaining in her heart from time to time.

"Prince Min sent a pair of high-grade carrier pigeons and a pair of macaws! Prince Duan sent..." the eunuch shouted.

Xia Zhengqi's third uncle, Prince Min, and several other princes walked into the hall, bowed in unison, and said auspicious words of New Year's greetings.

[What? Carrier pigeons, macaws? No, did I hear that right?]

Xia Miaoyuan's attention was completely attracted by the carrier pigeons and macaws, and he had no time to look at the princes. He craned his neck and looked hard behind the princes.

Behind the princes stood a few young eunuchs, holding some New Year gifts from the princes in their hands.

Among the group of young eunuchs, there were indeed four bird cages, each containing a pigeon and a parrot.

[Tsk tsk tsk, even people give birds as gifts during the Chinese New Year. This old man, King Min, is really interesting.]

Xia Zhengqi saw his daughter's strong reaction. Because of the noise in the hall, he didn't hear what she said clearly. But seeing his daughter desperately craning her neck to look at the birds, he mistakenly thought that Xia Miaoyuan was very interested in these birds.

After the princes finished their New Year greetings, Xia Zhengqi bent down and asked his daughter softly, "Miao'er, do you like these birds? Can I give them to you as a reward?"

"Okay!" Xia Miaoyuan clapped her hands.

Because there were so many guests, the New Year greetings lasted for a long time.

After two hours, Xia Miaoyuan had fallen asleep in the chair, with saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth.

"Miao'er, wake up. The New Year's greetings are almost over." The queen called softly.

Xia Miaoyuan rubbed his eyes and sat up. After listening carefully, he found that it was the imperial merchant's turn.

There are few imperial merchants, and after paying New Year's greetings, they become representatives of the people, but it's almost over.

Thinking of this, Xia Miaoyuan stretched excitedly and looked towards the hall with bright eyes.

"Please invite the imperial merchants Liang Xin, Sun Baiwan and Li Qianyou to come into the hall to pay New Year's greetings!" came the eunuch's voice.

Xia Miaoyuan's eyes lit up: [Who? Liang Xin?!]

[Isn't Liang Xin the pseudonym of the fallen crown prince Liang Chaozong?]