Chapter 79, at the end of the year.

As November approached, the year drew to a close, and the court gradually became busier. Chu Heng and the Ministry of Rites began preparing for the year-end sacrificial rites, having to get up early every day to go out.

Daiyu covered her mouth and yawned, then, as usual, instructed, "Don't forget the hand warmer and charcoal fire. Don't take off your outer clothes as soon as you come in; warm yourself up first..."

Chu Heng was already dressed. Seeing her still sleepy, sitting on the bed wrapped in the blanket, he went over and rubbed her still red eyes: "I know, don't talk, just rest."

"Hmm..." Daiyu nodded gently with her eyes half-open, watching Chu Heng's back as he left. Only after the door to the outer room was closed did she lie back down.

The floor in the room was very warm from the heating. The brocade quilt covering her had been carefully fumigated by Zijuan and the others the day before, and the hot water bottle had just been changed and was still warm. Daiyu fell into a deep sleep again, and when she woke up, she didn't know what time it was.

Daiyu turned to the side and called out, "Zijuan."

Zijuan turned around the screen and entered the warm pavilion: "Your Highness..." Seeing that Daiyu was sitting up with her elbows propped up, she hurried over to help her. Xueyan, who followed behind, brought a large pillow for Daiyu to lean on.

"What time is it?" Daiyu asked.

Zijuan glanced at the clock in the room: "Your Highness, it's still a quarter of an hour before 9 AM."

Daiyu covered her mouth and yawned again: "It's so late, let's get up."

Xueyan helped her out of bed, while Zijuan went to get her clothes. The maids outside brought water for washing her face and rinsing her mouth. They served their mistress in an orderly manner until she was ready, and then breakfast was laid out on the table.

Today is the day Fang Lanyi, the fifth daughter of the Fang family, is coming. She had previously told Daiyu that November is the last time they will hold a literary gathering for the year.

Since returning from the hot spring resort, the weather has grown colder day by day. This was Fang Lanyi's first visit since the beginning of winter. When Daiyu saw that her face was red from the cold, she realized that the agreement she had made with her was inappropriate.

No matter how cold it was, Daiyu still had to go to the palace to pay her respects. Therefore, she knew that even if the carriage was sealed tightly and she was wearing a crane cloak and holding a hand warmer, she could still feel the chill. Especially after getting off the carriage, the cold wind made her feel the biting cold.

However, before Daiyu could ask her not to come in the cold after the New Year, Fang Lanyi said with melancholy, "Aunt, I will be preparing for my wedding after the New Year, so I can't participate in the poetry club for the time being, nor can I send you poems anymore. As for the future... we'll have to see."

Daiyu understood Fang Lanyi's meaning: once you become someone else's daughter-in-law, you have to follow their rules. Even if she is the Empress Dowager's grandniece and her father holds a high position, she will never be as carefree as she was when she was a girl at home.

“Poetry clubs are an elegant affair; no one would say a bad word about them,” Daiyu comforted.

Fang Lanyi smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Aunt. But if I am able to form a society again in the future, would you be willing to join?"

Daiyu smiled apologetically: "Thank you for your kindness, but I will have to disappoint you."

Fang Lanyi did not try to persuade her again this time. She had heard about many things happening in the family recently. For example, the Empress Dowager insisted that the sixth daughter be the eldest prince's wife, with the intention of making her the crown princess and then the empress in the future.

The family also wanted to remain in their high positions, so they naturally supported the Empress Dowager's decision. However, they had a longer-term vision. The governess who taught the sixth daughter also taught the other younger girls in the family.

She overheard her parents talking and realized that they were thinking that if the sixth daughter didn't turn out well, they could push another girl to take her place, or if the eldest prince didn't work out, they could have other options.

The Fang family wanted to produce another empress, then become the maternal family of the princes, and then the maternal family of the emperor.

When Fang Lanyi first heard these words, she was terrified. After calming down, she couldn't help but feel fortunate that she was older and not a match for the princes, so she wouldn't be abandoned by her family at any time. But then she felt sad for her sisters.

If someone in the family harbors ambitions to get involved in the struggle for the throne, they must also have their own methods in court. Fang Lanyi lives in the inner quarters and cannot see the upheavals in the court, but she is well-educated and learns from history, so she can always guess a thing or two.

Given Prince Duan's status, the Fang family would naturally keep their distance.

Therefore, Princess Duan's repeated rejections of her were actually an act of self-preservation.

Fang Lanyi sighed silently in her heart. It was better when she was a child, innocent and naive. Now, her thoughts and ideas are really annoying.

“Then I… won’t bother you anymore, Auntie,” Fang Lanyi said, bowing her head.

Daiyu's feelings were quite complicated: "It's not a disturbance at all; I should be thanking you."

Ultimately, it's a matter of differing stances; she can't be friends with the Fang family's daughter.

...

When Chu Heng returned, it was still somewhat daylight. Daiyu got up and came over: "You're back early today."

Chu Heng was standing in front of the charcoal brazier warming himself when he saw this and said, "You should move away; I'm feeling rather cold."

Daiyu sat down on the daybed beside her, ordered someone to hand Chu Heng a cup of warm water, and asked, "Are you almost done with your work?"

"I'll be laughing in my sleep when I'm done with this..." Chu Heng said with a wry smile. "But I had to go to the palace to see the Emperor today, and he said it was rather cold, so he told me to take care of things tomorrow and I came back."

Daiyu said, "I see. It's not that I'm not busy, I'm just putting off today's tasks until tomorrow."

Chu Heng slowly drank a glass of water and asked, "What did you do today? Don't complain when you go out for some fresh air; don't forget your clothes and hand warmer."

"I know, I know." Daiyu couldn't help but laugh. "You told me to stop talking this morning, but now you're nagging again."

Chu Heng smiled too: "Our hearts are the same. You still haven't told me what you did today?"

As he gradually warmed up, Chu Heng began to unbutton his outer garments. When the maids saw this, they all rushed over to serve him.

Daiyu came over and handed him the hand warmer: "Miss Fang came today and read the poem. When I saw her out, I came back and walked around a few times. The plum blossoms over there have already bloomed. I picked some and put them in a vase. I put them in the inner room. Go and take a look."

Chu Heng took Daiyu's hand and turned around the screen. He saw the plum blossoms in the vase, nodded and smiled, "The white plum blossoms are whiter than snow. The red plum blossoms in the west should be blooming soon."

"I'll go see it again tomorrow." Daiyu picked up two knotted nets from the small kang table. "I also made this for you. What do you think?"

"It's dark today, why are you doing this again?" Chu Heng leaned closer to look into her eyes, then at her hands.

Daiyu smiled and scolded, "I had the lamp lit, and you didn't even say so..."

Chu Heng quickly looked at it carefully for a few moments, then nodded vigorously and said, "It's really good, but I feel sorry for you having to put in so much effort, and I can't bear to see you do all this."

As he finished speaking, his tone softened, causing Daiyu to blush: "Why bother? I didn't make any big clothes, just embroidered a handkerchief or a purse, and tied a knot. It's just to pass the time. Otherwise, it would be so boring to stay cooped up in the room."

"Yes, do what you want, just don't overwork yourself." Chu Heng knew that winter was inevitably stifling, so he pinched Daiyu's earlobe. "At the end of the year, there are not only merchants from all over the country in the capital, but also many foreigners. I've ordered people to search for some novel trinkets."

“Alright, but I’m busy too. We need to prepare all sorts of things for the New Year in our household. Oh, right, you stayed in the palace for a while last year. Shall we go again this year?” Daiyu suddenly remembered and asked hastily.

Chu Heng shook his head: "There is no rule that princes of the imperial family should stay in the palace during the New Year. It's not comfortable in the palace. We won't go. We'll just go to the palace to pay our respects as usual."

Daiyu asked with some concern, "Would the Empress Dowager agree?"

Chu Heng shrugged: "No matter what others say, the Empress Dowager won't listen to them. Just watch me deal with her."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Alright, Your Highness will have to go to the trouble of explaining."

Chu Heng gently lifted her chin: "Then... Miss Lin, how will you thank me?"

"Here's a snack for you." Daiyu casually picked up a plate from the small kang table. "Hmm... pea flour cake, have a taste. The new pastry chef is better at making it than the previous ones at home."

Chu Heng didn't move: "Feed me one."

Daiyu scolded, "You're being indecent again."

Even so, she still asked someone to bring water to wash her hands, and Chu Heng followed suit, then sat upright waiting for Daiyu to feed him.

Daiyu chuckled and then took a pastry and offered it to Chu Heng's lips.

Chu Heng ate slowly, nodding and praising, "Delicious." He also took a piece and handed it to Daiyu.

Daiyu's earlobes turned slightly red. She lowered her head and ate the snack, then raised her eyes and said seriously, "I've asked someone to prepare dinner. Don't eat any more snacks."

Chu Heng said with great regret, "Alright."

After dinner, Chu Heng remembered something important: "The monks from Longhua Temple will be going to the capital the day after tomorrow. I will go to see Master Pingyi then."

Daiyu discussed with him what to say to Master Pingyi before washing up and going to bed.

...

After Master Pingyi arrived in the capital, he had to go to the palace and many people came to visit him, making him busier than the important officials of the court.

Chu Heng didn't want to attract too much attention, so he waited a few days before going to see him.

"It's been a long time. I hope Your Highness is well." Ping Yi politely invited Chu Heng to take a seat.

Chu Heng returned the greeting before sitting down: "Greetings, Master."

Pingyi replied, "To be honest, Your Highness, I haven't been feeling well lately."

Chu Heng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Master's supernatural powers are known to everyone in the capital, so naturally everyone wants to bask in the Master's Buddha-light."

Pingyi shook his head: "This humble monk has no great supernatural powers."

Chu Heng laughed and said, "The fact that I can stand before you, Master, is the greatest supernatural power you have ever possessed."

Pingyi glanced at him for a moment, then sighed and said, "Does Your Highness have something to ask of this humble monk?"

Chu Heng lowered his eyes and glanced at the tea in his cup: "This tea is a tribute tea from Jiangnan. It was personally selected by the late emperor, and there are only a few dozen tea trees."

Pingyi sighed even more heavily: "This was given to me by His Majesty when I visited him on the day I entered the capital. I never expected him to cherish it so much. This humble monk should not use it to entertain guests."

Chu Heng smiled and said, "I have a suggestion for you, Master. Just say that you must recite Buddhist scriptures devoutly during the sacrificial ceremony and not be tainted by worldly defilement. If anyone dares to disturb you again, His Majesty will be the first to object."

Pingyi said with difficulty, "Your Highness, monks do not lie."

Chu Heng remained silent for a moment, but since he needed a favor from the master, he said, "Master, you are of noble character. I will go and speak to the Emperor."

Pingyi bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness." As he straightened up, he repeated his words, "Does Your Highness have any favors for this humble monk?"

Chu Heng smiled: "For a master, it's just a small matter."

Ping Yi said, "Your Highness, please speak."