Chapter 370 Extra Chapter: Xie Qi (Part 3)

As the year draws to a close, this is Jiang Zhi's first Lunar New Year's Eve in Yaocheng.

The general's mansion only had Xie Qi and her as masters, and there weren't many servants.

But Qingxing didn't want Jiang Zhi to have such a quiet New Year, so she busied herself getting everyone to prepare things, like making dumplings, picking plum blossoms, and cutting paper snowflakes.

As night fell, Jiang Zhi asked Qingxing and Ruying Anyue to sit down and celebrate New Year's Eve together.

Qingxing and Jiangzhi grew up together and had an extraordinary friendship, so she didn't hesitate when she heard this.

After years of guidance and training from Jiang Zhi, Ru Ying and An Yue no longer held such strong views of master and servant. After exchanging a glance, they sat down together.

The small kitchen has prepared a copper pot today, and a three-legged copper stove is filled with bubbling mutton bone soup, steaming hot.

The surrounding dishes contained slices of fresh beef and mutton, as well as more than a dozen other dishes such as cabbage, okra, and tofu.

Soon after, another large plate of steaming hot dumplings was served.

Jiang Zhi gave everyone a reward and told the rest of the servants to go to their own courtyards to celebrate the New Year and not to stay here to serve.

The servants thanked him and happily went off to celebrate the New Year.

"I put a copper coin in one of the dumplings. Whoever finds it will have a smooth, peaceful, and prosperous year ahead!" Qingxing blinked.

Sure enough, I saw my young lady's eyes light up when she heard the words "get rich".

"Alright, today we'll forget about master and servant. Whoever manages to collect the copper coins will get an extra reward!" Jiang Zhi was already rubbing her hands together, eager to try her luck.

Ruying and Anyue were also eager to try after hearing this.

The dumplings were piled on the plate, all of similar shape and size, making them indistinguishable. Jiang Zhi picked up several but found none.

Xie Qi didn't compete with them; instead, he dutifully helped Jiang Zhi cook the meat and urged her to eat.

Ruying and Anyue are martial artists after all, with excellent eyesight and hearing.

Before long, the two of them spotted one of the dumplings and reached for it with their chopsticks.

Just as they were about to pick up the dumpling, a pair of chopsticks beat them to it and placed the dumpling on their own plate.

The shadowy moon looked up.

Xie Qi raised an eyebrow at them, his eyes clearly showing innocence.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I just want to eat some dumplings, or do you want some?"

"No need, no need." Ruying and Anyue stared at the dumpling in Xie Qi's dish, wanting to see if he could actually find a copper coin in it.

However, Xie Qi did not touch it, but continued to help Jiang Zhi cook vegetables.

Jiang Zhi was completely unaware of the undercurrents among the three people at the table, and was focused on finding the copper coin.

In a short while, they had eaten nearly ten.

She doesn't have a big appetite to begin with, and she's starting to feel a bit full.

When Xie Qi handed her the cooked vegetables, Jiang Zhi glared at him and said, "I don't want them, you can eat them yourself."

His eyes were still fixed on the dumplings on the table.

Xie Qi was both amused and exasperated. He finally gave up teasing her, rinsed the only dumpling on his plate in the copper pot, and placed it in front of her.

“I already said I wasn’t going to eat it,” Jiang Zhi complained.

Xie Qi suppressed a laugh, "Um, I don't like it. Zhizhi, can you help me get some?"

"Okay, this is it." Jiang Zhi muttered as she took it, and her eyes lit up the moment she bit into the slightly bulging dumpling skin.

"Oh my, Miss has found a copper coin!" Qingxing exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Zhi wiped the copper coin clean with a handkerchief and placed it in her palm, unable to suppress the smile in her eyes.

"Looks like my luck will be pretty good next year." She smiled, her eyebrows curving and her eyes sparkling with tiny lights.

She asked Qingxing to get her a red string to string them together so she could hang them by her bedside.

Xie Qi sighed dramatically, "If I had known, I wouldn't have given it to Zhizhi. It should have been mine."

Jiang Zhi smiled even more upon hearing this, "It's your own fault for not eating it. It's too late to regret it now."

Ruying and Anyue watched as Xie Qi teased their young lady as if no one else was around, while their young lady remained completely unaware of what was going on. They couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

Not only were the copper coins stolen, but I also got to witness a wave of PDA.

It's too difficult.

At this moment, Xie Qi spoke up, "Then, to celebrate Zhizhi finding the copper coin, everyone present tonight will receive double the reward money."

The disappointment that had just overwhelmed Ruying and Anyue vanished instantly, and they said in unison, "Thank you, General!"

Next time you have copper coins, give them to the young lady first!

Seeing that Jiang Zhi had almost finished eating, Xie Qi asked her, "Would you like to go for a walk to digest your food?"

"Where to?" Jiang Zhi was indeed quite full, mainly from eating dumplings.

Xie Qi got up and wrapped her in his cloak, completely surrounding her. He took her hand and led her outside, saying, "I'll take you to a fun place."

He then instructed Qingxing and the others, "After you finish eating, you can clean up and leave. My wife and I will be back later."

As midnight approached, the whole city was filled with the deafening sound of firecrackers.

Xie Qi led Jiang Zhi up to the city wall.

In the darkness, the north wind whistled through the snow, and beneath my feet stretched a starry river of lights from countless homes.

Jiang Zhi was completely embraced by Xie Qi, and the wind and snow couldn't touch her at all. Fireworks burst open in the sky with a "bang", dyeing the entire sky dazzlingly.

It was her first time watching fireworks from such a height. Her eyes reflected the fiery display, illuminating her entire face. "Xie Qi, look, it's so beautiful!"

She tugged at his sleeve, pointing towards the air.

Xie Qi's gaze, however, fell on her face, and without hesitation, he said, "Yes, she is indeed very beautiful."

He pulled her closer to his chest, brushed the snowflakes from her hair, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Before Jiang Zhi could turn around, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Xie Qi's lips carried the chill of the wind, startling her so much that her slightly open eyelashes trembled.

Behind me, fireworks exploded one after another, turning the entire night sky into a colorful tapestry.

He deepened the kiss, pried open her teeth, swallowed her breath, and his eyes shone with a light brighter than fireworks.

“In the past, when we stayed up all night, we were guarding the border of Yaocheng. This year, we have you with us,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against hers. “From now on, year after year, we will spend it together.”

"Wishing you a peaceful and healthy new year, Zhizhi."

Jiang Zhi's eyes were filled with his reflection. She smiled and said, "Xie Qi, I will always be with you, day and night, year after year."

(End of extra chapter by Xie Qi)

I noticed that many readers didn't see the author's note, so I'll repeat it again: the extra chapters are all parallel universes with "what if" scenarios, and each male lead has one, including the one where everyone goes all in at the end.