Time flies, and New Year's Eve is fast approaching.

On this day, red lanterns were hung all over the capital, creating a festive atmosphere and a strong sense of the New Year.

Qin Xi, dressed in a white mink coat and wearing a hat, was distributing New Year's red envelopes to the servants in the mansion. The amounts weren't large; they were all taken from her dowry.

"Oh, thank you so much, young mistress. I never expected that an old servant like me would receive a red envelope," the butler said with a smile, accepting Qin Xi's red envelope with great kindness.

Qin Xi always felt that he was very kind, just like the steward Qin in the Prime Minister's mansion.

"You are an elder, this is just a younger generation's way of showing respect to you," Qin Qi said with a smile.

"Good, good, good, young mistress, you're so kind." The butler was very touched and said "good" several times.

He had served in the Lu household for over twenty years, yet he had no children of his own. Lu Chuan and Lu Huai called him "Uncle," and he treated them with the utmost kindness. But being two boys, they weren't as thoughtful as Qin Xi.

"Where is your father-in-law?" Qin Xi asked.

"Master was watching the lanterns being hung at the door and told this old servant to keep an eye on them cleaning inside. And sure enough, speak of the devil and he appears," the steward said, pointing to the doorway.

Qin Qi followed his gaze—it was Minister Lu who had entered.

"Hmm, did Yizhi need something from me?" Minister Lu asked, puzzled.

"Father-in-law," Qin Qiyan said with a smile, taking a box from Lele's hand and handing it to Minister Lu, "Wishing you all the best in the coming year."

Minister Lu took it, opened it, and saw that it was a jade ruyi. Both its appearance and its material looked to be of the highest quality.

Minister Lu smiled and stroked his beard: "Yizhi is very kind. But I have nothing to be unhappy about except that I want a grandson. Yizhi and Changjue must work hard to have one."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qi's cheeks flushed red, and she seemed somewhat at a loss for words.

At this moment, Lu Huai walked in and came to Qin Qi's rescue: "What grandson are you holding? Aren't I enough for you to cause trouble with?"

Minister Lu glared at him: "All you do is cause trouble! No one is as cute as a chubby, soft grandson!"

When Qin Qi saw him walk to her side, he naturally took her hand and rolled his eyes at Minister Lu: "We're talking past each other."

Qin Xi smiled, letting him pull her away.

"Hmph!" Minister Lu flicked his robe behind him.

On the way back to Qihuai Academy, Qin Qi asked him, "Are the couplets up?"

Lu Huai nodded.

Minister Lu was very particular about pasting couplets. He said that these were pasted on the front door and should be done by the younger generation of the family, to symbolize a vibrant new year.

So Lu Huai had no choice but to go along with him and put up the couplets.

The two returned to the courtyard, and as soon as they entered the house, they saw a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall, which was the work Lu Huai had created that day. He had even stamped it with his seal and signed it.

Qin Xi: "..."

Even after seeing it for so many days, Qin Xi still couldn't get used to it. The calligraphy and paintings she had seen since childhood were all of excellent quality, and seeing such awkward and unnatural characters for the first time was truly disorienting.

Lu Huai pressed her down onto the stool, then placed the burning charcoal brazier beside her feet, muttering, "Your hands are so cold, don't catch a cold, or I'll be finished if I see your father today."

Qin Qi felt a warm sensation at her feet, but a vague sense of loneliness washed over her.

When her gaze fell upon the purse tied at her waist, a hint of warmth finally appeared in Qin Xi's eyes.

She lovingly stroked the purse; thankfully, she still had this.

Lu Huai looked up and saw her like this. He quickly looked down at the charcoal brazier, his eyes flashing.