Yan Qingqing looked at Xiao Mochen without any politeness and scolded him, "This girl is already unruly. If you continue to spoil her like this, how will you be able to control her in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen smiled and said, "Auntie, actually Xiao Qi is very well-behaved. It's rare for her to have something she likes, so I think it's best not to restrict her."

Of course, while saying this, Xiao Mochen was also feeling sorry for the rare books he had collected from various places in his study, as well as the set of Nine Dragons Glazed Cups that his father had recently bestowed upon him.

But there's no point in pursuing the matter now that it's already broken.

Moreover, he dared not tell his aunt, otherwise Li Xiangyang would get beaten again.

Although he sometimes gets so angry at the little girl that he can't help but spoil her when he sees her quirky and clever appearance.

Seeing that Yan Qingqing was no longer angry, Li Xiangyang twisted his body and got out of Yan Qingqing's arms and said, "I'm going to play with my eldest niece and nephew. I even brought back a lot of toys for them. Mother, you talk to Brother Mochen."

After saying that, he ran off happily.

If you see this, quickly instruct the maid outside to follow, making sure she doesn't bump into anything.

After Li Xiangyang left, Yan Qingqing spoke up, "I heard that the Emperor has sealed it, so you don't need to attend the morning court anymore, right?"

Xiao Mochen nodded and replied, "Overall, this year has been relatively favorable with good weather and abundant harvests. In addition, we have high-yield crops, so both the Ministry of Revenue's tax revenue and the border's grain supplies are quite plentiful."

Father has no worries and wants everyone to have a good New Year, so he sealed the seal ahead of schedule.

In fact, this sealing was similar to taking a holiday. During the sealing period, neither the emperor nor the officials needed to work unless there was an urgent matter.

Yan Qingqing clicked her tongue twice in her heart. Actually, the welfare in the Great Yan Dynasty was not bad. Although there was no year-end bonus, there were many holidays.

The emperor's seal will not be opened until at least the eighth day of the first lunar month, but if there is nothing major happening, it may be opened on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Xiao Mochen paused and then said, "Father said that there is nothing to worry about in the court this year, and he wants to celebrate with all the officials, so Aunt will probably have to spend New Year's Eve in the palace this year."

Although officials of the Great Yan Dynasty were given a New Year's holiday, New Year's Eve was also a time for them to reunite with their families.

However, if the emperor was in a good mood, he would hold a grand banquet in the palace and invite all the officials to join in the festivities.

Yan Qingqing is now a second-rank official's wife, so she will definitely be attending the emperor's banquets.

In truth, Yan Qingqing was unwilling to go, because going would only mean enjoying some song and dance performances and flattering the emperor's wisdom and might.

We can't indulge in eating and drinking to our heart's content, but we also have to guard against the schemes of those scoundrels.

The assassination attempt she suffered during her last visit to the palace left Yan Qingqing with considerable trauma, making her somewhat socially anxious now.

However, the emperor is her boss now, and if her boss really wants to hold a banquet, she has to go whether she likes it or not.

Sure enough, an imperial edict arrived from the palace the next day. On New Year's Eve, the Emperor wished to celebrate with all his officials, and ordered officials of the third rank and above, along with their families, to enter the palace for the New Year's Eve banquet.

After receiving the imperial edict, Yan Qingqing said that she would definitely attend on time.

After seeing off the eunuch who had come to deliver the imperial decree, Yan Qingqing turned around and saw the worried faces of her young children.

Yan Qingqing asked, somewhat puzzled, "What's with those expressions?"

I'm just going to the palace for a meal, not to the guillotine.

"Since you're all home, you can have a lively and enjoyable New Year."

Yuan Huiniang said with a sad face, "Mother, don't hide it from me. I heard it from Ruyi. When you went to the palace to express your gratitude last time, you were assassinated by a little eunuch."

There must be someone in the palace who doesn't like you, that's why they did this.

I'm afraid they'll target you again at this palace banquet.

"How about you pretend to be sick and not go?"

In Yuan Huiniang's view, the palace was not Canghe Town, nor was it their territory. If someone wanted to harm Yan Qingqing, they had no way to stop them. The best way was to avoid them.

Yan Qingqing glared at Ruyi upon hearing this. She had repeatedly told Ruyi not to tell her family, but this girl was such a blabbermouth.

As Yan Qingqing glared at him, he shrank back. She had just gotten along well with the eldest young mistress and accidentally let it slip. Who knew the whole family would find out?

Yan Qingqing laughed nonchalantly, "I'm not afraid of thieves stealing from me, I'm afraid of thieves eyeing me."

Some things can't be solved by hiding at home.

Besides, we came to the capital for more than just to express our gratitude.

If we don't even have this much courage, we'd better go back to Canghe Town as soon as possible.

But that's not how our family operates.

Yan Qingqing isn't easily intimidated; they probably don't have the ability to take her life.

Besides, they had already alerted the enemy last time, so why would Yan Qingqing give them a second chance?

The other children in the Li family didn't want Yan Qingqing to go either, but they knew they couldn't stop her.

Li Xiang'an thought for a moment and said, "Mother, let Mu Xi accompany you. She's good at martial arts, so she won't be afraid of anything that happens."

Yuan Huiniang and the others' eyes lit up when they heard this. Mu Xi was their family's legitimate unmarried daughter-in-law, and no one could say anything if she accompanied Yan Qingqing.

Moreover, Mu Xi was looking at Yan Qingqing with great anticipation. She regretted not accompanying Yan Qingqing to the palace after hearing that the lady had almost been assassinated in the palace.

If she were to accompany Yan Qingqing into the palace, she would surely take that eunuch's life.

Seeing the children looking at her as if facing a formidable enemy, Yan Qingqing said helplessly, "Alright, alright, since you're worried, let Mu Xi come along too."

However, Mu Xi might have to disguise herself as a maid.

Since Mu Xi is not yet married into the family, and Li Xiang'an is not an official, there will certainly be no place for Mu Xi at the palace banquet.

Mu Xi didn't care. Her duty was to protect Yan Qingqing, so what difference did it make whether she was a guard or a maid?

New Year's Eve arrived quickly, and Yan Qingqing resigned herself to having her two maids, Ruyi and Ruxue, dress her up.

She wore a purple, floral-patterned, plain pleated skirt, with a small, stand-up collar cape over it. She looked both dignified and lively.

What's even more outrageous is that these two girls think every headdress they see is beautiful, and they wish they could put all the pretty headdresses on Yan Qingqing's head.

Seeing that the two of them couldn't decide which one to choose, Yan Qingqing casually picked up a jade swallow holding a pearl hairpin and put it in her hair, saying, "Alright, this one will do."

If you two dawdle any longer, the palace banquet might be over soon.

The two then gave up after hearing this.

Outside, Ah Da had already prepared the car, and Mu Xi was already waiting for Yan Qingqing.

After Yan Qingqing got into the carriage, Mu Xi followed closely behind.

Yan Qingqing smiled as she looked at Mu Xi's maid-like attire. She did look quite like her, but she was just too pretty.

Soon, Ah Da drove the carriage to the palace gate. Yan Qingqing got out of the carriage and was also a little shocked. There were so many carriages at the palace gate. The line was very long. They were all coming to the palace to attend the New Year's Eve banquet.

So, there are quite a few officials of the third rank or above in the capital.

After getting off the carriage, Yan Qingqing resigned herself to her fate and joined the queue, waiting for the palace maids and eunuchs to search her before she could enter the palace.

Just as Yan Qingqing was queuing, she suddenly heard a cheerful voice say, "So my little sister has already arrived. I was just wondering when you would be here."

Yan Qingqing looked up and saw that it was an acquaintance, and she smiled.