Li Jue showed no outward expression upon hearing this, but was deeply moved inside.

Although his encounter with Old Li was purely by chance, through the time they spent together, he had long since come to regard him as family.

The festive atmosphere in Sanglin Village is very strong. With Li Jue's help this year, every household in the village has made a lot of money and can have a prosperous New Year.

Therefore, early in the morning, the women in every household would get up to make paste and paste up New Year pictures and door gods.

Li Jue's house also had door gods posted, but when he looked at one of them, he couldn't help but think that it looked a bit like Master Yu, who taught him the horse spear.

He told Old Li about his question, and Old Li just chuckled and said that all the military generals in the Tang Dynasty looked pretty much the same.

Is it about the same?

Since Li Jue had never met any military generals, he had no choice but to believe Old Li's words.

After all, General Yuchi was granted the title of Duke of E. How could he possibly go to such a remote village to teach a wild child?

Besides, Old Li, the first palace eunuch, doesn't seem to have that much influence, does he?

After Li Jue happily finished pasting the door gods with Si Zi, the next step was to arrange various festive decorations.

For example, bright red lanterns and firecrackers wrapped in red paper.

Hu Delu organized the village's strong young men to dress up in strange costumes and wear masks with ferocious fangs for a rehearsal early in the morning.

Li Jue was very surprised to see this, and after pressing him for details, he learned that this was the so-called Nuo dance.

So Li Jue quickly ran home, made himself a mask of Sun Wukong, and made masks of Chang'e and Zhu Bajie for his aunt and Old Li respectively.

This greatly displeased Li Shimin, but seeing that both Sizi and Dasun were very happy, he could only reluctantly put on the pig's head mask.

Then the family of three joined the Nuo dance troupe of Sanglin Village, following Hu Delu, the leading ghost, from house to house.

Finally arriving at Li Jue's newly built courtyard, Yu Chi Fan happily lit a bonfire and threw in the firecrackers he had prepared beforehand, which made a series of popping sounds.

The sound of firecrackers not only drew cheers from all the people of Sanglin Village, but even Sun Simiao, who had been sitting in meditation in the side room, was infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere. He put on a mask of the Antarctic Immortal and, as the benevolent one, confronted the villagers dressed as evil spirits.

While the New Year celebrations were in full swing at Sanglin Village, the palace was rather quiet.

This year, His Majesty is not in the palace, and all entertainment activities have been canceled. Only the ladies of the palace, along with their servants, are eating dumplings and staying up to welcome the New Year.

Looking at the bustling city of Chang'an, with its streets brightly lit and decorated, Changsun Wuji's face showed deep worry.

It seems His Majesty is going to change the crown prince again!

Just as Changsun Wuji was secretly sighing, Changsun rushed forward and whispered something.

"Dad, the dumplings are in the pot, and the whole family is waiting for you!"

"oh……"

How's your cousin doing?

"Father, are you referring to the Crown Prince?"

"Um!"

"My cousin sent over New Year's gifts early this morning, and I returned the favor on behalf of my father..."

I was asking him who he was spending Chinese New Year with!

"ah?"

Changsun Chong was taken aback when he heard this, then shook his head to indicate that he did not know.

"It must be with His Majesty, right?"

"His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji sneered, then returned to the main hall without saying a word and invited the whole family to eat dumplings together.

But halfway through the meal, Changsun Wuji secretly made a decision.

Let the child celebrate the New Year first, then we'll find someone to get rid of him after the New Year!

While Changsun Wuji's family was happily eating dumplings, Li Jue's family had already started cooking their own dumplings.

"Auntie, there's a copper coin in one of today's dumplings! Whoever finds this coin will have good luck all year round!"

Upon hearing this, Si Zi's eyes immediately lit up.

"Then I'll have to eat more, haha!"

Before long, the dumplings were served. Li Jue thoughtfully picked out a few dumplings for his aunt that seemed to have copper coins inside, hoping that his aunt would actually find this good fortune.

However, Sizi has a very small appetite; she could only eat five dumplings before she couldn't eat anymore.

"Nephew, it seems I'm not destined for that..."

Li Jue looked at the only dumpling on the plate and said.

"Little aunt, why don't you eat another one? Maybe there's a copper coin inside?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately inquired out of curiosity. After learning that the dumplings contained copper coins to pray for good luck this year, he also offered words of encouragement.

With encouragement from the two, Sizi finally picked up the dumplings from the plate again.

But as soon as she took a bite, she felt something choke her. She spat it out and saw a bright yellow copper coin.

"Wow!"

"I can finally eat it!"

"I'm going to have good luck this year, hahaha!"

Both Li Shimin and Li Jue, seeing how happy the prince was, laughed along with him.

"Da Sun, you only ordered one?"

"Yes!"

"Make more next time, so I can share in your good luck!"

"good!"

"Next time I'll put a copper coin in every dumpling!"

Upon hearing this, Pan Hu immediately chuckled foolishly.

"So, does that mean we can only eat the copper coins of the Pixiu?"

Pan Hu's words caused everyone to burst into laughter. "But, you'll make us eat ourselves into pig-like creatures, hahaha!"

Because it was the New Year, Pan Hu also stopped his business in Chang'an and happily returned to Sanglin Manor to spend the New Year with Li Jue.

Little did the foolish Pan Hu know that any one of the people sitting at the same table with him was one of the most distinguished figures in the Tang Dynasty.

The old man sitting in the very center was someone whose mere stomp of his foot could shake the Tang Dynasty.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!