After a heavy snowfall, the coldest days of winter are approaching, and the New Year is just around the corner.

Huan Yue stayed in the comfortable Chengen Hall.

This time, everything has been renovated, and the rear hall has been turned into a storeroom.

On a cold day, the back door of Chengen Hall was closed, but the fire in front was burning brightly, making it warm and cozy.

In this cold weather, we don't need to eat in the east wing of the rear hall anymore; we can just eat in front of the main hall.

Anyway, this room is much bigger than the back hall.

Actually, the rear hall wasn't small either, but Huan Yue thought the Chengen Hall was quite good.

Now I occasionally go to Qing'e Palace, so the front, middle and back are a complete set, and the design is correct.

To the east of Chengen Hall, the east side room is a bedroom, formerly the Crown Prince's private quarters, now incorporating elements of the Crown Princess.

The east side room, the one in front is considered the living room. Instead of going from the outer sleeping quarters, it goes inside; that's a place for activities.

The Crown Prince's belongings were stored in the back of the east side room, and the Crown Princess's clothes were stored in the far east room, so there was plenty of space for activities.

In front of the east side room, there was still a large and comfortable tatami mat, but there was no glass window outside.

To the west of Chengen Hall.

The west side room was Huan Yue's study, but she had turned it into a large dressing room at the very back.

Another bedroom was built in the middle. It wasn't particularly big, but it was enough for one person to sleep in. It wasn't smaller than the bedroom in the back hall.

The study in the west side room of the rear hall originally had a rest room, but it was too small; the bedroom behind this study is just right.

The study in front is also particularly large.

Although the study doesn't need to be fancy, otherwise it will strain your eyes.

But the necessary imposing presence must be maintained. Huan Yue also had so many screens; by placing them here and there, the eyes wouldn't be so strained.

This further enhances the depth of the bedroom, while also providing space for palace maids to serve.

The front of the west side room also served as a study, while the back was used for storage. The west end room was a storeroom.

As for what goes first and what goes last?

Naturally, the commonly used items are placed in front, while some items are reserved for rewards and placed in the west side of the rear hall, and the personal items are placed in the east side.

Huan Yue, dressed in a warm white robe and red skirt, sat on the throne in the center.

The throne and its surroundings have been rearranged to be more comfortable, a place where one can hibernate like a king in the dead of winter.

Huan Yue used to practice the Eight Pieces of Brocade in the middle of the room, in the open space in front of the throne.

Now, Yan Boxuan is rolling around on the carpet.

Princess Yongning and Xie Fufu were reading on one side.

It's warm when you huddle together, and it saves on charcoal.

As for whether Yan Boxuan's playfulness would affect them, well, they're not going to take the imperial examination anyway.

Yan Boxuan rolled around for a while, then went to find his sister and the baby to read.

Xie Fufu had no choice but to teach patiently.

Huan Yue just sat there and watched the fun.

Yan Boxuan was quite clever; although he could write before he was three years old, his speech was still not very clear.

The imperial envoy has arrived!

Huan Yue stood up and respectfully accepted the imperial decree.

Xie Fufu brought her younger brother and sixth aunt along; this was the basic rule.

Princess Yongning was speechless. Was her father mocking her sister-in-law for not having enough storerooms?

About half of the tribute that was to be presented at the end of the year was moved over, despite the heavy snow.

Her good second sister-in-law doesn't share much; now she's admiring ginkgo nuts, but in spring she'll be admiring saplings and various flowers.

In spring, hundreds of flowers bloom. Although planting flowers also costs money, it seems to be cheaper than these precious things.

If the flowers were to be grown by the family themselves, the Di family would grow flowers specifically for the Empress.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with Princess Yongning.

Xie Fufu wasn't worried at all; that long list of gifts didn't equate to happiness.

Her aunt had promised her a generous dowry, but Xie Fufu was still young and would continue her studies.

In terms of the amount of rewards bestowed, could any surpass those given to Princess Huayang?

And you know what? The rewards given to the crown prince and the princess are completely different.

The princess was a married woman, perhaps because Lady Dong was keeping an eye on her.

Now there are no worries about moving to the East Palace, as the combined rewards from the concubines in the harem are probably as much as those from the East Palace.

A little is also given to Di Baose, Guo Bing, Gong Shanyuan, and all the Zhaoxun and Chenghui.

Princess Yongning wasn't very clear about the inner palace, but she knew that Consort Xing and the others had never received such large rewards before.

Needless to say, Consort Shen was also rewarded, since Prince Peng was going to take a concubine, so Princess Peng would receive an extra share of the rewards.

So, the Emperor was actually quite generous, and Princess Yongning was no longer worried.

With Empress Dong and Consort Cui gone, the harem enjoyed a rare period of harmony, with Consort De and Consort Xian at the head.

Xie Zhou returned.

Huan Yue sat on the throne, utterly bored.

Anyway, she didn't have to personally oversee the moving of those things, and everyone in the Eastern Palace was quite happy to do so.

As for the ongoing war, Huan Yue was not concerned.

That's a major matter for the court; Huan Yue just needs to make sure he doesn't cause trouble.

Xie Zhou took off his cloak, hugged his wife, and kissed her.

"Aww!" Yan Boxuan chuckled foolishly! He could pull his sister aside and give her a kiss.

Xie Fufu wanted to slap him, so she took him somewhere else to play.

Yan Boxuan was unwilling to leave.

Princess Yongning and Xie Fufu seemed to be carrying him away.

Yan Boxuan was dressed in thick clothes and rolled around in the snow, whimpering that the heavy snowfall was so refreshing!

Huan Yue looked at the child, then at the scoundrel.

Xie Zhou felt that his wife's attitude towards him and Yan Boxuan was very different.

But Xie Zhou didn't mind. Once he warmed up a bit, he sat down with his wife in his arms and said, "He Kun should be trapped."

Huan Yue asked curiously, "Is Guan Zun that powerful?"

Xie Zhou snorted coldly, with a mocking tone: "He Kun has misunderstood."

He Kun's actions were not simply a matter of defecting to the enemy; he also wanted to establish himself as king. Given the strategic importance of Weizhou, it was natural for He Kun to have such ambitions.

Guan Zun agreed, but stressed that any rebellion needed sufficient guarantees. He Kun, being both skilled and daring, readily agreed.

Guan Zun submitted a secret memorial, clarifying that he was not truly rebelling with He Kun.

Xie Zhouxin. Moreover, Han Xun also submitted a secret memorial, so Guan Zun couldn't simply rebel if he wanted to.

We won't know what will happen next until after the snow.

Huan Yue thought to himself, "The male lead is really something."

Xie Zhou was modest. If anyone should praise someone, it should be his father, the Emperor; otherwise, he'd get into trouble. He just wanted to stay home and cuddle with his wife. He just wanted more rewards from his father. And indeed, his father was wise and benevolent.

Huan Yue asked, "Should we send Xie Su and Xie Xuan back for the New Year?"

Xie Zhou coldly replied, "No need. The King of Wu can't afford to worry about that right now. Let them have a good New Year in prison and learn a lesson from it."

Huan Yue said, "Xie Xuan must be about to reach his limit, right?"

Xie Zhou was quite ruthless: "What do you want to do if you can't stand him?"

Huan Yue didn't care. But he did have to give an explanation to the Princess of Wu.

However, Princess Wu is currently busy with her grandson Xie Gong and her fourth son Xie Chen.

With so many children, who has time to worry about them every day?

The King of Wu also had some sons born out of wedlock. The Queen of Wu did not suppress them, but it was not so easy for the sons born out of wedlock to be made kings.

Xie Zhou chatted with his wife: "Xie Mi is not bad. The King of Wu intends to cultivate him."

Huan Yue asked, "Is the Princess Consort of Wu willing?"

Xie Zhoucai didn't care: "The eldest son is too prominent, and Xie Mi also has ambitions. He just happened to marry a woman from the Fu family, although she is from a collateral branch."

Huan Yue nodded. Being associated with the Fu family makes all the difference. Although the Fu family is not doing well now, it's not over yet, and their reputation still exists.

While the legitimate son may not work hard, there are plenty of others willing to strive.

It is not uncommon for illegitimate sons to inherit titles in the future.

If Xie Mi can truly achieve merit, as the son of the King of Wu, it is not impossible for him to be granted the title of king.

He can work hard if he has something to look forward to.

So Xie Su was still able to keep watch while in prison?