After hearing this, Tong Tiemei once again felt sorry for Bao Min.

Cai Damei is a good woman, but Bao Min failed to hold onto her.

"Xiao Min left a New Year's gift for Shu Shu before she left."

"I'll go back and tell my mother."

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

The eunuch's distinctive shrill voice made everyone in the room quickly stop laughing and return to their seats.

Ye Yunniang returned to her place in the Su Yan Marquis's residence and, like the other female members of the family, bowed and greeted them.

Ye Yunniang bowed and waited for the distinguished guest to enter the room and take a seat.

Then I heard someone say, "No need for formalities."

Ye Yunniang slowly rose and sat down, following the others.

Granny Lu and Qiu Shuang stood to the side behind Ye Yunniang.

Ye Yunniang's seat was in the middle of the hall, slightly towards the front.

Hearing the Queen speak, summarizing the hardships of the past year and looking forward to the coming year...

After the Empress finished speaking, the banquet began.

First came the song and dance performances from the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).

Next came the talent show by the girls from each family.

Ye Yunniang enjoyed the performance and the food. However, she felt something was amiss with what she had been probing.

The food is not cold.

Besides the side dishes and cold food, every hot dish was kept warm over charcoal.

Ye Yunniang can enjoy it without worry.

The imperial chefs were very skilled, and Ye Yunniang was very satisfied with her meal.

The performance ended, and it was almost midnight.

The emperor arrived with his ministers.

Jiang Mingzhe sat down next to Ye Yunniang and carefully examined her.

"Nobody is bullying me."

"Have you eaten?" Ye Yunniang held Jiang Mingzhe's hand, which was a little cold.

Then I looked and the hand warmer was gone.

"Where's the hand warmer?"

"It's for Prince Jing." Jiang Mingzhe wasn't cold; he had just run into Prince Jing on the road.

He gave the hand warmer to Prince Jing.

Ye Yunniang placed the hand warmer she was holding into Jiang Mingzhe's hands.

"Take it and don't give it to anyone else."

"Okay, I'll do as my wife says," Jiang Mingzhe replied.

"The dishes are quite good," Ye Yunniang said to Jiang Mingzhe, mentioning which dish she liked best.

Jiang Mingzhe listened attentively, picked up his chopsticks, and tasted what Ye Yunniang had described; it tasted really good.

The couple leaned against each other, talking quietly about their food.

Until the midnight bells rang.

Jiang Mingzhe and Ye Yunniang left the palace and returned to the Su Yan Earl's residence by carriage.

Cai Damei was waiting for them.

After exchanging a few words, Cai Damei went back to her room to rest.

Ye Yunniang and Jiang Mingzhe also returned to their own courtyards and went to wash up.

After washing up, Ye Yunniang returned to her bedroom.

Jiang Mingzhe is drinking chicken soup.