Chapter 134 New Year's Eve
The palace was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns everywhere.
Zhao Yuanrong was directing the maids to set out the food. Seeing Qu Ling come in, she smiled and waved her hand, "Finally, it's time. This New Year's Eve dinner has been waiting for you."
She usually tied her hair up and wore military uniform, but tonight she changed into a rouge-red jacket and skirt for the first time, with a silk ribbon tied around her waist, looking very lively.
That jacket and skirt are exactly the same as Qu Ling's.
The two of them standing together look like sisters.
Zhao Yuanrong affectionately held Qu Ling's arm.
"Sister, you look really beautiful today." Qu Ling praised her.
Zhao Yuanrong tugged at her dress and said, "Mother said our clothes were made together, and I wore them to complement you."
She pinched Qu Ling's face and said, "My Ah Ling is really as beautiful as a flower in the sky."
After a pause, he said mischievously, "Chi Yuan got a bargain."
Qu Ling answered generously, leaning on Zhao Yuanrong, "Then who will my sister choose?"
Zhao Yuanrong showed no sign of shyness, and her eyes were extremely sharp. "In the future, I want all the men in the world to enter my tent, and be like the beautiful girls in the boudoir, painting their eyebrows and eyes, and begging for my favor."
"Yuan Rong's lofty ambitions will surely come true." Pei Jingming brought over an unfinished couplet at some point.
He said to Qu Ling, "Yuan Rong, my mother, and I have each added to this couplet. Let me add one too, my sister."
The three of them walked to the table.
They were chattering about how to start writing.
The eldest princess looked at the three children with joy in her eyes.
There haven't been such good days in many years.
Fortunately, there will be such good days every year in the future.
"Your Highness, the meal is ready."
All four of them sat down.
There was a charcoal fire burning in the hall.
The eldest princess sat at the head of the table and raised her glass with a smile, "I am so happy to have you by my side to celebrate the New Year this year."
Qu Ling's eyes were slightly hot.
When she was in Jiangzhou, she hated the Chinese New Year the most and did not allow her servants to put up couplets or hang lanterns.
The entire mansion was as cold as an ice cellar.
In those years, the Princess's Mansion and the Marquis' Mansion also sent gifts.
She threw them all away.
This was due to the instigation of the wet nurse and her own anger.
She always cries loudly and unrestrainedly on New Year's Eve.
The sound of firecrackers could cover up her collapse.
This is the first time in my two lifetimes that I have experienced such a moment of laughter and joy.
Just after dinner, the steward came trotting over and said, "The Crown Prince is here."
The eldest princess frowned and said, "Please follow me to the front hall."
Pei Jingming put away his previous casualness and looked slightly stern.
Qu Ling and Zhao Yuanrong looked at each other and stood up.
"It's Chinese New Year, what is he doing here?"
Zhao Yuanrong was obviously displeased.
When I arrived at the front hall, Zhao Xuanyi happened to come in.
He wore a cloak over the brocade robe, and his hair was tied up with a jade crown, looking very noble.
He bowed to the eldest princess and said, "Aunt, my father originally wanted you to bring your sisters to the palace to celebrate the New Year's Eve, but he didn't expect you to hold a banquet at home, so he ordered me to bring some imperial dishes."
With a wave of his hand, the eunuchs behind him came in one after another, holding eight food boxes.
The eldest princess said nothing and did not let anyone accept it.
"If my aunt doesn't want to accept it, why not go to the palace to stay up all night."
The eldest princess still didn't speak.
After the death of the previous emperor, she never went to the palace to celebrate the New Year again.
The Queen Mother Song scolded her and invited her, but she just refused to go.
The mother and daughter were arguing like this.
After a few years, every time the twelfth lunar month came, the Empress Dowager Song would send people to negotiate peace.
In the end, it's still the same words.
"Your Highness and the Queen Mother are mother and daughter after all. Why go to this extent?"
The eldest princess was in a good mood, so she just listened to the opera as if it were a performance.
When in a bad mood, he would just throw up his sleeves and not give anyone any face.
It was not until the Queen Mother of Song threatened her openly and secretly with Zhao Yuanrong that she became angry and entered the palace with a sword.
She handed the sword to Queen Dowager Song and pushed Zhao Yuanrong in front of her. "If you kill us mother and daughter, you will be satisfied."
The emperor always arrived at the most critical moment, held Zhao Yuanrong in his arms, and told him not to always use children as knives.
Such a play should be performed every year.
She was determined not to enter the palace.
After the Queen Mother Song was angry and scolded her, she gave her some food.
There is one for the meritorious families, two for the Song family, and eight for the princess's mansion.
That dish cannot be allowed into the princess's mansion.
The eldest princess picked up the dishes one by one and threw them at the feet of the eunuch who was delivering the dishes.
She said, "Go back and tell the Queen Mother that I am waiting for her to kill me, my Yuan Rong."
When Qu Ling was in Jiangzhou, he hated the New Year the most, and the eldest princess was the same.
"Since it's a gift from His Majesty, accept it."
This time, the eldest princess did not throw the dishes away.
Zhao Xuanyi's gaze had already fallen on Zhao Yuanrong, and a look of surprise flashed across his eyes.
His Adam's apple moved slightly, "Yuan Rong, this is your first time staying at the Princess's residence to celebrate the New Year. Are you happy?"
As the crown prince, he was not required to deliver the imperial dishes.
All the generals of the twelve imperial guards can take on this task.
But he was used to Zhao Yuanrong being by his side every year.
So he ran to see her.
Zhao Yuanrong said calmly, "This is my home. I have my mother and sister here. Of course I'm happy."
Zhao Xuanyi felt disappointed when he saw her like this.
"Your Highness, it's time for us to return to the palace." The eunuch who left the palace with him reminded.
Zhao Xuanyi was annoyed and looked at Zhao Yuanrong again, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance in his mind.
"Go slowly, Prince." The eldest princess took in everything and understood everything.
After the people in the palace left, Zhao Yuanrong cheered, "Everyone has left, let's go to the West Warm Pavilion."
The eight-immortal table in the warm room was filled with various snacks.
The eldest princess took out several red brocade bags embroidered with auspicious patterns.
"Yuanrong," she gave it to her biological daughter first, "I've done a lot of things that I've done wrong to you in the past. Please don't blame me."
Zhao Yuanrong's tears instantly fell, and she wiped them away hurriedly, then knelt down and lay in the arms of the eldest princess, "I will never blame my mother."
Life was hard in the past, and her mother suffered a lot to protect her.
The eldest princess stroked her hair lovingly and said, "My daughter, you must be someone who cares about your family, country, and the world."
Zhao Yuanrong took it and nodded solemnly, "My daughter will definitely live up to your wish."
Next is Qu Ling.
The eldest princess called out, "A Ling..."
Her voice choked with sobs as she pulled the person into her arms.
Qu Ling also started crying.
"Auntie only wishes you a peaceful and worry-free life."
The two of them cried together.
Pei Jingming couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he pulled Qu Ling out of the princess's arms and said with a smile, "You can't cry like this."
He also ordered the servants to fetch water for Qu Ling to wipe his face.
Then he looked at the eldest princess expectantly, "Mother, it's my turn now."
He is good-looking, with eyes and eyebrows curved when he smiles. Today, to suit the occasion, he is wearing red clothes, which gives him a captivating charm.
The eldest princess wiped her tears with a handkerchief and took the last brocade bag to him. "In previous years, they were not in the mansion. Only you got it."
Pei Jingming smiled and asked, "What teachings does mother have this year?"
The eldest princess said, "You are not young anymore. While making achievements is important, love is also essential. Jingming may find his ideal partner next year."
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