Lunar New Year's eve

Li Wan slept intermittently for several days, until she was fully awake on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.

"Xiuhe."

Li Wan tried to sit up, but found it difficult even to lift her hand, and slumped back onto the bed.

"Slow down, young lady."

Xiuhe quickly helped her lean against the soft mandarin duck pillows and handed her a cup of hot ginseng tea.

The warm tea slid down her throat, and Li Wan finally regained some energy.

Images of snow-covered forests, wolf packs, and Xie Qi being dragged along flashed through her mind. She hurriedly asked, "Where's Xie Qi?"

"The son-in-law woke up early."

Xiuzhu walked in carrying a copper basin. "The imperial physician said that although the young master was seriously injured, his life is no longer in danger."

Xiuhe wrung out a damp cloth and gently wiped Li Wan's face. "After the master woke up, he sent people to see you several times."

"oh."

Li Wan casually responded, as long as Xie Qi wasn't dead, then her gaze was drawn to the food on the small table.

After drinking two bowls of chicken porridge and eating a few crab dumplings, a long-lost warmth spread from her stomach to her limbs, and she sighed contentedly.

After taking the medicine, he wrapped himself in a mink blanket and sat on the daybed by the window, watching the servants in the courtyard hang red lanterns.

"Tomorrow is already New Year's Eve."

She murmured to herself, "Unconsciously, I've been here for almost half a year."

I wonder what my parents and brother in Niutian Village are doing, whether they are busy killing chickens, stewing meat, steaming buns, and frying pastries, just like in previous years.

But if, like last time when she accidentally traveled back in time, her original body had been in a deep sleep, then her parents and brothers must have been very worried about her, so how could they have the mind to celebrate the New Year?

Li Wan carefully recalled the process of being kidnapped to the cliff that day, but still couldn't find a way to return to Niutian Village.

"well!"

Li Wan sighed heavily. If only she could go back again, even if it was just for a moment, just to tell her family not to worry about her.

The next day.

The Marquis's family banquet on New Year's Eve was held in the main hall of the West Mansion.

Li Wan wore a newly made light pink embroidered short jacket and long skirt, her figure was delicate and her features were exquisite.

As soon as Xiuhe arrived in the front yard, they ran into Xie Qi, who was coming out of the study.

He was unusually dressed in a bright blue brocade robe with wide sleeves, a jade belt around his waist. Tall and elegant, he concealed his usual stern and oppressive demeanor, revealing himself to be a gentle and refined gentleman.

"grown ups."

Li Wan lowered her eyes and greeted him.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked her in a deep voice.

Li Wan looked up and met his downcast gaze.

His face was still a little pale. Of course, after suffering such serious injuries, how could he have fully recovered in just a few days?

He's still busy in the study even though he's not fully recovered; how can he be so reckless with his life?

He wasn't afraid of dying, but she was.

So Li Wan hurriedly said, "I'm much better now. You should take good care of yourself. It's cold, let's go inside."

"Um."

Xie Qi replied with only one word before walking towards the main hall.

As soon as Li Wan stepped into the hall, a warm feeling mixed with the aroma of food and wine wafted towards her.

On the golden nanmu wood octagonal table, various dishes and rare fruits have been laid out.

The old lady, dressed in a crimson-purple long coat, sat upright in the main seat. When she saw Li Wan enter, the prayer beads in her hand paused.

"Ah Wan is here. How are you feeling?"

Li Wan bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Your granddaughter-in-law is all better now."

"May Buddha protect us, please sit down and talk."

"yes."

Marquis Ningyuan still hadn't arrived today. Xie Qi sat to the right of the old lady, with Xie Ye sitting one seat away. Li Wan naturally sat in the empty seat.

Xie Ye raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Wan sideways. "You're amazing, little sister-in-law. You're clearly a delicate and frail young lady, yet you can make a trolley and even pull my brother along for miles in the blizzard. I was really blind to your abilities before."

Li Wan tightened her grip on the silver chopsticks, fearing he might suspect something, and quickly explained, "I was forced into this situation because I was in dire straits. He is my husband, how could I abandon him?"

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of wild ginseng stewed with turtle meat and placed it on Xie Qi's plate, saying, "My husband's injuries are not yet healed, so please eat more."

Xie Qi looked down at the meat on the plate, then picked up his chopsticks and put it into his mouth cleanly and neatly.

Xie Ye seemed to be choked by the two's actions. He looked at Li Wan and then at Xie Qi, and finally swallowed what he was about to say.

Li Wan glanced at him sideways before she could eat with peace of mind.

The dishes on the table were more plentiful and delicious than usual. She first ate the chicken slices with egg white, then ate quite a bit of braised shark fin. Just as she was about to pick up a jade embroidered ball, she heard the old lady slowly speak, so she had to put down her silver chopsticks.

"Were the thieves who kidnapped Awan that day the same group that tried to assassinate you?" the old lady asked Xie Qi.

Xie Qi picked up a jade embroidered ball with his chopsticks and placed it on Li Wan's plate. "Grandson has already made up his mind about this matter. Grandmother need not worry."

The old lady paused slightly, then said, "Very well, you've always been a person of principle."

The table suddenly fell silent.

Li Wan looked at the jade embroidered balls on the plate, unsure whether she should eat them.

Fortunately, Aunt Lin shared some interesting anecdotes from the capital, which eased the tension at the table.

Li Wan also took the opportunity to put the embroidered ball into her mouth. Mmm... it really tasted good.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the family banquet ended.

Since both Li Wan and Xie Qi were ill, the old lady only kept Xie Ye with her to celebrate the New Year.

The two emerged from the main hall. Li Wan tightened her fox fur coat, deliberately slowing her pace and keeping a half-step distance from Xie Qi.

Just now, the old lady pulled her aside and whispered her instructions: According to custom, on New Year's Eve, the husband and wife must stay in the same room.

Upon hearing this, she knew that the old lady was aware that she and Xie Qi usually lived in separate rooms.

I wonder if Xie Qi heard it.

He looked down on her, and she was also engaged. The two of them were forced to share a room, which put him in a difficult position and made her feel awkward. It was not a good situation.

After a while, it's best if we all tacitly separate, just like usual.

However, Li Wan looked up at the tall figure in front of her. Although he was still not well, it was best to tell him about Xiao Xian and Lin Youke as soon as possible so that he could be wary of Lin Youke.

"grown ups."

Li Wan broke the silence.

Xie Qi stopped and turned around. The glow of the lanterns under the eaves cast shadows of varying depths on his sharply defined face, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

"I have something I want to tell you... cough."

A gust of cold wind entered her throat, and she coughed a few times from the cold.

Xie Qi's gaze fell on her wet eyelashes, and he patiently waited for her to catch her breath.

"May I come to your room?"

Li Wan asked sincerely, and according to Xiao Xian, this matter not only involved the Lin family of Lin Youke, but also Consort Xue, and could not be explained in a few words.

On such a cold night, we can't stay frozen forever.

Yingyue Residence is too small; he'll definitely find it unpleasant. Therefore, it's best to go to his place.

The pale moonlight cast long, thin shadows of the two people.

Li Wan stared at the two figures for a moment, neither speaking nor moving.

"If you're tired, then forget it?"

She couldn't help but speak up, her urging clear. Her hands were freezing from standing there, so she instinctively tucked her fingers into her palms to warm them.

Xie Qi watched her movements, and the white fingertips she pinched made his gaze even darker. He slowly rubbed his long, slender fingers against her back.

Was she embarrassed?

A woman, married but never consummating her marriage, repeatedly expressed her feelings but was still rejected.

Today is New Year's Eve, and the old lady's words must have stung her, which is why she came to plead with him with a sorrowful expression.

'Fine, if you don't want to, then so be it!'

His aggrieved tone suggested that if he turned around and took a step, tears would likely roll down his cheeks.

Very well, according to custom we should stay together tonight, so I should just appease the old lady.

"grown ups."

Li Wan and the others were impatient, their lips were cold and trembling, and their voices were soft and trembling.

Xie Qi subtly curled his lips, gave her a deep look, and said, "Let's go."

Finally, she didn't have to stand here freezing anymore. Li Wan breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed him toward Zhenyun Hall.

He hadn't walked far when he suddenly turned to the side and said sternly, "Don't cry."

Li Wan: ?

Who's crying, what's he saying... Oh well, who cares.

Perhaps because it was New Year's Eve, Zhenyuntang had its underfloor heating turned on for the first time. The room was filled with warmth, and as soon as one entered, one felt as if their entire body had melted away.

Most of the servants at Zhenyun Hall were young men, and Xiuhe and Xiuzhu were not brought to the family banquet today. So Li Wan took off her cloak and sat on the large daybed in the main room.

A moment later, an old woman wearing a dark-patterned brown vest entered with her eyebrows lowered.

"Madam, I am the head maid of Zhenyun Hall. Please feel free to give me any instructions."

Li Wan had heard Xiuhe mention that the trivial matters of Zhenyun Hall were handled by a nanny surnamed Zhao, who was highly trusted by Xie Qi and the old lady.

"Granny Zhao, there's no need for formalities. I'm new to the Marquis's residence, and I'll need your guidance in all matters at Zhenyun Hall."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhao thought to herself that this young mistress was quite kind. Although she was not the official mistress, she was still their proper mistress. Since she was so polite, she figured she wouldn't mistreat the servants in the future.

Feeling a bit more favorably towards Li Wan, she quickly bowed and said, "Madam, you flatter me."

Then she said, "The bathing room is ready. Would you like me to call someone to serve you a bath?"

Li Wan was slightly taken aback. She had only said a few words, so why did she need to take a bath?

"Where is the master?"

"The eldest young master went to the study and instructed me to help you take a bath and rest first."

Li Wan frowned. Didn't we agree that I was going to talk to him about something? Even if I only said a few words, I still needed to take a shower?

Li Wan clasped her hands together. It was already past 7 PM. Rather than sitting here waiting, she decided to take a bath first and then rest when she returned to Yingyue Residence.

"Clothes have been prepared here, Madam, you need not worry."

Zhao Mama knew that Li Wan was settling in here for the first time, so she was inevitably unfamiliar with the place and had some concerns.

Li Wan nodded upon hearing this, "Alright."

Granny Zhao summoned two obedient maids to serve her.

But after bathing, Li Wan discovered that the clothes prepared by Granny Zhao were actually a light yellow brocade nightgown.

It seems the servants thought she was going to stay here tonight.

Li Wan sighed inwardly and had no choice but to put on her nightgown and head to the main house to find her cloak to put on.

When Li Wan stepped into the inner room after her bath, she carried a damp floral scent, her hair still dripping with water, leaving dark stains on her shoulders. Looking up, she saw Xie Qi leaning against the daybed.

He changed into a moon-white nightgown, the collar loosely open, revealing the sharp lines of his collarbone. His long, strong fingers held a military treatise, his right hand resting on his bent knee, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the pages.

The candlelight shone from the side, casting a straight shadow on the bridge of his nose, and his long eyelashes drooped down, obscuring the expression in his eyes.

Li Wan had never seen him so relaxed and carefree, and with both of them wearing pajamas, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became strange.