Extra three

The New Year is approaching. Changge Gate is still deserted and quiet. Snow covers the evergreen trees and grass, and the small house next to Honghu Courtyard is brightly lit, like a cluster of flames in the winter night, warming people's hearts.

"Yang Yuan, Yang Yuan, come and eat dumplings!"

Zhu Qing swept aside the calligraphy and painting paper and brushes that the two of them had been playing with all day, opened the lunchbox they had received earlier, and found two small dishes on top and a large plate of dumplings below, still steaming.

Yang Yuan tuned the maple wood zither in her arms one last time, tested the sound, and put it away with satisfaction. She then got up and went to the table to set out the bowls and chopsticks for Zhu Qing.

The two little girls looked at each other, smiled knowingly, stuck their chopsticks into the dumplings and put them in their mouths, mumbling that the cabbage dumplings were tastier than the celery dumplings.

Hidden Sword Manor.

Today is the Little New Year. Ye Min was ordered to visit all his fellow disciples to wish them a Happy Little New Year. He also went to the Sword Furnace for a look around. Finally, as darkness fell and heavy snow began to fall, he pulled his cloak tighter, put on his hood, and returned to his residence.

As I approached the door, a bright lamp stood out against the snowy night.

He went over and saw that his fellow disciple had forgotten to put the lanterns back properly during his night patrol and had gone off to play.

Ye Min smiled, picked up the lantern, hung it on the eaves, went back inside and closed the door.

Yanmen Pass.

The wind and snow, like the wronged spirits of the dead, swirled and danced where the clouds lingered. The crystalline hexagonal icicles, like sharp blades, grazed the black armor of the soldiers at Yanmen Pass, sparking icy blue flames.

Li Xuan sat beside Li Yuan, holding his slightly warmer hand. A fire had been lit in the tent, but Li Xuan was still worried that he would catch a cold. He took off his black armor and touched the forehead of the sleeping man with his hand. Just as he was about to add more firewood, the hand he was holding began to move.

Li Xuan turned around, and the person lying in the quilt slowly opened their eyes and looked at her.

"Sister," Li Yuan called out hoarsely.

Li Xuan nodded and immediately took his hand.

"I'm here. Does the wound still hurt? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"

Li Yuan blinked slowly, looked at her, and said:

"I'm fine, where's Xue Hua?"

Li Xuan smiled and said softly, "The situation at the front is urgent. The commander sent them to provide support. He specifically asked me to tell you this before he left, so don't worry."

Li Yuan nodded, said he wanted to sleep a little longer, closed his eyes, and fell asleep again.

Ming Cult.

"Brother Lu! Come quick, come quick, come quick!"

Ge Yue pushed the hurriedly arriving Alu Lingyi into the tent. The boy curiously went inside and saw Yita inside as well. Upon seeing him, Yita took a big gulp from a silver wine cup.

"Today is the Little New Year in the Central Plains. Sister Yita and I have discussed having a meal together!" Ge Yue pulled his arm and led him to a seat, placing a wine glass in front of him and pouring in a fragrant liquid.

"Ge Yue hopes that every year from now on, we can spend together, happy and joyful every day!"

A-Lu smiled, raised her wine glass and clinked it with Ge Yue's, then drank it all in one gulp.

The Five Poisons.

Tang Xiaoye sat at the highest point of the bushes, with a jar of aged Nu'er Hong wine beside her, exuding a mellow aroma.

She picked up the jar and took a big gulp, gazing dreamily at the distant palace, her face gradually flushing red.

"Drinking alone here?" Alena gracefully stepped onto the tree branch, put away her flute behind her back, snatched the wine jar from her hand, and took a big gulp.

"Wow...that's really spicy." Alena stuck out her tongue and placed the drink beside her.

"What are you doing here?" Tang Xiaoye asked.

"Just browsing around since I have nothing to do," Alena said, stretching and looking into the distance.

Alena looked around, and just as she was about to turn her head to look at her, a weight came over her shoulder. She turned her head and saw Tang Xiaoye leaning against her side, breathing softly.

Alena let out a long sigh, put her arm around her shoulder, and looked into the distance.

"You've been guarding the crossbow for Tang Feng for so long, thank you for your hard work!"

"After all, he's just a kid!"

"Men are sometimes like a glass of ice water; no matter how much you boil it, it won't boil."

Qingyan held a white porcelain wine cup and greedily drank a few more sips. Cheng Feng sat opposite her, smiling slightly as he held his own wine cup. The dim lights of Yangzhou were reflected in the cup, and the image of the beautiful woman reclining drunk was reflected in his eyes.

"Jiang Chengfeng, why are you so old and still not married?" Qingyan murmured, gazing dreamily at the man in red robes and silver armor.

Cheng Feng smiled and put down his wine glass.

"You're drunk, Qingyan."

After a long, long time had passed since they finished talking, Qingyan lay down on the coffee table and murmured as she fell asleep.

Cheng Feng gazed at the scenery of Yangzhou, his eyes filled with a gentle, clear light.

The young man in white stood on the icy plains of Kunlun, dressed in thin clothes but wearing a mask, his eyes vacant as he watched the snowflakes drift and fall in the distance, his expression utterly unmoved.

A Lingxue Pavilion disciple, also dressed in white, slowly walked up behind him, holding a black cloak, and draped it over the young man.

"Master, Kunlun is not like the mountain villa. Be careful not to catch a cold."

The boy didn't answer, gazing at the snow of Kunlun, his eyes as cold as the icy plain beneath his feet.