Yu Jiao smiled and took over the conversation, "So, big brother wants to wait until we are all married before discussing marriage. It would be a waste of time for big brother to make things difficult for himself. He is so considerate of me and my second sister."

The three siblings joked for a while. Liu Yaoyu was so sleepy that she could hardly open her eyes. She yawned several times in a row and said sleepily, "The time for staying up all night is over. Third sister, let's go back to bed."

Yu Jiao agreed, and the two of them got off the couch, put on their shoes, said goodbye to Liu Ziqi, and left Fufeng Pavilion hand in hand.

Liu Yaoyu didn't have a maid with her, so Yu Jiao called Bai Lu to send Liu Yaoyu back to East Garden.

-

Liang Wushuang had been waiting for Cheng Ying to come since the evening. She asked the servants to sweep the yard early and hang orange lanterns all over the yard. Even the dishes to be prepared in the small kitchen were all decided by her.

When it was pitch dark outside and the night was deep, the sound of firecrackers could be heard in the distance. Liang Wushuang was sitting alone in the main hall, holding a pipa. She looked a little anxious and had to get up and look outside from time to time.

During the New Year holidays, all ministers stayed at home and did not have to attend court for three days. Although Mr. Cheng was on duty in the palace, given his status, it would be easy for him to leave the palace. Liang Wushuang didn't know whether he was held back by something in the palace or if he had never intended to come and stay up with her to celebrate the New Year.

There were footsteps outside the house. Liang Wushuang's expression moved, and he put on a gentle look and looked up.

"Madam, the food is a little cold. Would you like to heat it up on the stove?" the visitor asked cautiously.

Seeing that it was the kitchen manager, Liang Wushuang's expression changed and she said coldly, "If it gets cold, just make it again! For the New Year's Eve reunion dinner, do you want the governor to eat dishes that have changed in taste?"

It's the New Year, who doesn't want to rest early? Those who serve in other people's houses can get rewards during the New Year, but they don't get any rewards, not to mention they have to suffer during the New Year.

Because Liang Wushuang brought up the governor to put pressure on her, the housekeeper had no choice but to respond, "I'll ask the kitchen to cook another table of delicious food."

After leaving the main hall, the housekeeper returned to the kitchen and told the cook to cook again. The cook was obviously unhappy.

The housekeeper repeated Liang Wushuang's words verbatim.

The cook had no choice but to prepare the dishes again, but he could not help but complain in a low voice, "Once this woman gained power, she forgot what she was like before. She is so ignorant of the heavens and the earth. She is acting like a spoiled child by relying on the governor's favor. I really don't know what the governor sees in her."

The housekeeper's face turned serious, "Be careful what you say, and let the governor know about it."

But even the cook who was lighting the fire was full of resentment, "I don't think the governor will come tonight. She really thinks she is the real master and keeps torturing us servants. After all, we are the governor's people."

The housekeeper never liked to serve Liang Wushuang. She sighed and said, "What a proper master! Don't say such things in the future. After all, she is the master and we are the slaves. It is our duty to serve her well. Stop gossiping and get to work."

"If the supervisor doesn't come, do we have to cook again in the kitchen all night?" asked the cook.

The housekeeper helped to pick the vegetables. "It's not up to me to decide. We should just do what the master tells us to do. It's New Year's Day, so we should behave ourselves and avoid being punished."

"Do you want to go back and rest, Governor?" Xia Ning followed Cheng Ying out of Kunning Palace and asked respectfully.

Cheng Ying took out a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and threw it to Xia Ning. Every New Year's Eve, Cheng Ying had to serve beside Emperor Mingzheng. There were singing and dancing at the palace banquets, and the concubines were dressed gorgeously and vied for favor. It was like this every year, and Cheng Ying had long been tired of it.

Although he was said to be serving, he was just staying beside Emperor Mingzheng. Small tasks like serving food were done by other eunuchs.

"You go and have a rest. I'm going out of the palace for a while." Cheng Ying said lightly.

Xia Ning stepped back in response.

Cheng Ying walked slowly towards the palace gate. He was the only one walking along the long palace road. His tall figure looked a little lonely against the backdrop of the palace lanterns.

In the distance, palaces overlapped and were brightly lit. The sky inside the palace walls was extremely quiet, and no one set off firecrackers. Outside the palace, there were thousands of lights, but not a single one was lit for him.