During this New Year, Yinzhen was very easygoing and relaxed, letting his ministers eat, drink, and play at the banquet while he just smiled and remained silent, or simply went outside for some fresh air.

The banquet was hosted by Prince Yi (the 13th Prince) and Hongyan.

He first went to Cining Palace and spoke with the Empress Dowager for a while. Since the Fourteenth Prince was leading troops in the field and could not return to the capital in time, he specially sent some things to him so that the soldiers would not feel homesick and lonely while they were away from home.

This move moved the entire court to tears of gratitude, praising the emperor's wisdom.

Thirteen and Hongyan were sweating profusely from their busy work, and the fifth and seventh brothers, as well as their younger brothers fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen, were all brought in to help.

And at this moment...

Yinzhen embraced Changning as they leaned against the couch, reading a storybook together, chatting about the plot from time to time, eating a snack, and peeling a grape—a truly leisurely scene.

"Hahaha, look at this scholar. He's full of cunning. He took a young lady's gold hairpin and said he wanted to get engaged. I don't believe it. If it were a wooden hairpin, would he really want to get engaged to her? He's just after money." Changning pouted and couldn't help but complain.

Yinzhen laughed and said, "How do you know that someone with a wooden hairpin can't get engaged?"

"That's impossible. If he were a proper and upright scholar, why would he be wandering around someone's garden with his head down, looking around? It would definitely involve the women of the inner quarters, who would be eager to leave to avoid any suspicion. Yet he's wandering around here, saying he's lost. Bah! I don't believe it. Lost? Does that mean he doesn't even recognize the garden?"

"Haha, Yao Xian is so clever."

Changning tilted her head smugly, raised her hand to check her watch, and said, "Oh dear, it's already this late. Shouldn't we go back to the banquet?"

To everyone's surprise, Yinzhen, who was always serious and strived for perfection in everything, was not in a hurry at all at this moment.

"I've left everything to Thirteen and Hongyan. With the two of them there, nothing will go wrong. Consider this a small test."

"Will this work?" Changning asked with some concern. "The younger ones are all here. Will Hongzhao and Hongqing start fighting again? Will Hongchen cause trouble again?"

Yinzhen patted her head and comforted her, "It's alright, it's alright. Hongyan is eleven now, and I've noticed that he's become much more worldly and sophisticated in his dealings with people these days. He's made great progress. Hongzhao isn't the naive child he used to be either; he knows exactly what to do in any situation. You don't need to worry about him. Besides, there's Honghui, Hongxi, and Hongyu on the boys' side."

Hearing him say that, Changning breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Yinzhen didn't want her to sigh during the New Year, so he pulled her aside and insisted on showing her the new clothes he had made.

Changning laughed: "What clothes? We've already received four or five boxes of new clothes for the New Year. I can't even wear them all. I'll have to wear them until March."

"That's nothing, just something to amuse you. This is the real treasure." Yinzhen's tone piqued Changning's curiosity.

When he mysteriously led Changning into the inner hall, there was a scarlet dress hanging on a clothes rack. It was dazzling and eye-catching, and even the bright candlelight next to it could not take away its color in the slightest.

Changning was stunned. She had never seen such a vibrant red dye before, nor had she ever seen such fabric. Even before she had worn it, just hanging there quietly, it already radiated a dazzling luster, as if a piece of moonlight from the sky had been woven and kneaded into the garment.

The fabric itself is as if woven from moonlight, not to mention the exquisite embroidery on it.

"What kind of material is this? It's so beautiful..."

No woman can resist the allure of a new dress, especially a globally limited edition haute couture piece like this.

With a slightly boastful tone, Yinzhen boasted to her, "This was specially made by the Imperial Household Department. It is called Moonflower Brocade. It was inspired by the Halo Brocade of the Han and Tang Dynasties. It uses colored stripes and silk threads for jacquard. It took a lot of effort to develop it."

After saying that, she sighed and said, "Originally, I wanted to have you wear this wedding dress on our wedding night, the day you were crowned Empress. Unfortunately, the people in the Imperial Household Department were a bit slow. It took them so long to finally make this one."

Only then did Changning finally understand the preciousness of this item. It could be said that, throughout the development of ancient China, there was only one complete set of Yuehua Brocade clothing, hanging quietly in front of her, waiting for her to wear it.

Yinzhen urged her to change: "The first year of my reign should naturally be a joyous one. I hope to stay with you forever, but it's a pity the wedding dress is a little late."

Changning was deeply moved, but could not utter a word. She could only take off the dress woven from moonlight brocade and change into it herself.

When she put it on, she felt that the fabric was incredibly soft, like the texture of clouds, and felt as if she were wearing nothing.

When she emerged gracefully and elegantly in that moon-shine brocade dress, Yinzhen truly understood what it meant to have a smile that could launch a thousand ships and make all the beauties of the harem pale in comparison.

With her radiant gaze and captivating eyes, Changning perfectly embodied the elegance and grace of the dress, exuding an ethereal beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. Yinzhen was completely mesmerized and remained speechless for a long time.

"What's wrong? Are you stunned?" Changning poked Yinzhen's shoulder and chuckled.

Yinzhen felt that the best decision he had made tonight was to stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and spend the night with Yaoxian.

Even after the New Year, the liveliness in the palace did not dissipate. There were plays every day, and the rooms were warm and cozy. Apart from the playground built by the Empress in the Imperial Garden, the concubines had no other entertainment, so they preferred to gather together to listen to plays in the winter.

After listening for two days, Changning lost interest. She found Pingtan or storytelling more interesting. As for drama, it had enough charm, but it took her a long time to finish a single sentence, and she was an impatient person who couldn't handle it.

Hutuli followed Changning's lead, disliking going to listen to the tales and preferring to play mahjong with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace.

Surprisingly, Yierha actually quite enjoyed listening to operas. The concubines would gather together to listen and would often invite her. With Consort Mao leading the way, Changning would go along with her.

It just so happens that the play being performed on the stage today is "The Peony Pavilion".

Changning has never liked to restrict people's thoughts, so they can choose any kind of opera or other repertoire they want.

The concubines listened with great interest, and the leading actress on stage sang: "Dreaming of the warbling of orioles, the fleeting years are scattered everywhere. I stand in the deep courtyard."

Yierha seemed to have been struck by a revelation, standing there in a daze, savoring the words.

Consort Mao, who was standing to the side, naturally noticed her daughter's unusual behavior and simply handed her a grape to remind her.