"Who is that?"
As King You's troops passed by, the people gathered outside the city gate all looked at the figure disappearing through the city gate.
When King You was deposed as crown prince, he was already past the age of twenty, and now he was only a few years away from turning thirty. However, he had never married, and there had never been any romantic affairs reported around him.
Now there is a woman who can stand shoulder to shoulder with King You and receive the people's worship together on the day of victory and triumphant return from the battle.
Could it be that His Royal Highness Prince You, who has been single for so many years, is finally about to get married?
The huge team entered the city from the north gate.
Beiguan City has always been known for its noble status. The people outside the city did not know who the woman who came back with King You was. However, the ladies and young ladies of Beiguan and Beicheng were familiar with Wei Yunlan's face.
The team went straight through the main city avenue without stopping halfway. The officials and their families living in the north city had to suppress their doubts for the time being, saluted and watched King You's team go to the City Affairs Office in the city.
The solid gate of the City Affairs Office blocks out prying eyes from outside.
However, at this time, the two protagonists had already put on two veiled hats to cover their faces and rode towards the south city.
The closer it gets to the end of the year, the busier the streets become, with lights and decorations everywhere.
Especially when the news of victory came back, the festive atmosphere of the New Year became even stronger, and the people seen walking on the street all had happy smiles on their faces.
The South City is more lively than the North City.
Heading south, there were many makeshift stalls on the street, and many people were buying things in front of the stalls. It was difficult for the horses to move in the crowd, so Qi Xu and Wei Yunlan simply got off the horses and handed the two horses to the guards following behind them.
The sound of "dong, dong" came from not far away.
Qi Xu looked through the gap in the crowd and saw a middle-aged man in a thin coat, swinging a hammer and hitting something in the stone trough in front of him.
Each blow was extremely powerful, no wonder he was sweating profusely in this cold winter.
"What is that?"
Wei Yunlan followed Qi Xu's line of sight and saw a dough-like substance in the stone trough. It was light brown in color, and one could vaguely see a lot of nuts that had been hammered into powder mixed in it.
"It's Su Ma Tang, a snack from the north. Every household usually prepares it only during the New Year." Wei Yunlan remembered that her family had prepared a lot of it last year. It was said that they were purchased in the twelfth lunar month, and they had not been eaten up until she came back from the northwestern countries.
It’s not that this thing doesn’t taste good, but it’s a bit sticky. The sister-in-law was afraid that Jiayan would damage his teeth, so she limited him to eating no more than three pieces a day.
As for Xiao Jiarong, her teeth haven't grown in yet, so she can only hold a piece of food slowly in her mouth.
Seeing Wei Yunlan's eyebrows curved and eyes full of gentle smile when she spoke, Qi Xu guessed that she was thinking of her family.
We have arrived at the most lively place in the south city. After walking a few more blocks, we will arrive at Jingping Lane near the city gate.
"Let's buy some Su Ma Candy too."
Just then, a pot of sugar was pounded out, and the stall owner rolled up his sleeves and cut it with a knife. Qi Xu suggested.
After waiting in line for a while, it was their turn. The stall owner wrapped the candy in oil paper, then covered it with red paper and tied it with a string. When he handed it to them, he said something auspicious, "The spirit snake brings good luck, and everything goes well!"
"Thank you." The two of them continued walking towards Jingping Lane, carrying two bundles of sesame candies. They bought a few more things on the way. Every time they bought something, they received a blessing from the stall owner.
After walking through the most crowded section of the road, Wei Yunlan saw a family with their doors open at the entrance of the alley, cleaning the yard and offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. Then he suddenly realized, "Today is the Little New Year."
The Little New Year in the north falls on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, one day earlier than in the south.
There is no New Year's Eve this year, and the next six days will be New Year's Eve.
"What are your family's customs for the New Year's Eve? Is it inconvenient to visit you today..." Qi Xu asked cautiously.
"We're already here, how can I let you turn back?" Wei Yunlan pointed to the intersection ahead. Jingping Lane was just around the corner.
Seeing Qi Xu's expression suddenly become serious, he couldn't help but explain with a smile: "Don't worry, my family doesn't have any customs, and we don't care about those. Let's go quickly, mother and the others must have heard the news of our entry into the city, and they must be waiting anxiously at home now."
The two men, wearing veiled hats and carrying their hands full of things, just walked into Jingping Lane when they saw the gate of the Wei family courtyard being pushed open from the inside. Two men came out with brooms, bending down to clean up the fallen leaves and dust in front of the door.
Seeing the two people coming over, they were stunned at first, and then they heard Wei Yunlan say, "It's me."
His eyes lit up instantly and he said in surprise: "Miss!"
"Liu Quan, go tell the master and his wife that the eldest lady is back!"
In just a moment, the Wei family gathered in the front yard.
Today, Wei Maolin deliberately did not go to the City Affairs Office in order to welcome his daughter and King You.
"I'm glad you're not hurt."
Gao took Wei Yunlan's hand and carefully checked him up and down before she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she looked at Qi Xu beside her and praised him repeatedly, "This is such a beautiful victory!"
Everyone in Beiguan City knew that King You's battle had forced the Northern Barbarians to sign a truce agreement, and they sent 10,000 cattle and sheep.
The first batch of sheep, including several thousand, had been brought back to Beiguan by King You's men. This part would be managed directly by the City Affairs Office, and after slaughtering, they would be distributed to every household before the New Year according to the number of people living in each household.
This is the New Year gift that King You gave to the people!
As soon as the news spread, the people were in an uproar in just half an hour.
We won the battle and gave them a stable life, and now we are willing to share some of the spoils with them.
It is probably difficult to find a few monarchs as good as King You throughout the dynasties.
Yes, monarch.
In the hearts of the people in the north, King You was no longer an idle prince or a deposed crown prince, but a "wise ruler" who was a thousand times or even ten thousand times wiser than Emperor Xiaoming.
"Brother Wang."
A clear female voice sounded.
Princess Changning, who had changed into a comfortable cotton dress and a cloak, walked out from the backyard.
Although she had been taken care of by Tianshu Pavilion before, this was the first time Princess Changning met Qi Xu since she was sent to the Northern Barbarians as a marriage partner many years ago.
The two men were not much different in age, but they were not very familiar with each other when they were in the palace.
Princess Changning had never expected that the person who saved her from the dire situation in the end was her brother, with whom she had little relationship.
"Changning thanks Brother Wang for saving my life!"
Princess Changning bowed sincerely.
Qi Xu held her arm and helped her up, "It's good that you're back."
"This year, you will stay in the North and celebrate the New Year with your uncle, Lord Wei and his family."
At this point, Qi Xu paused for a moment, then said firmly: "In the spring of next year, we will return to the capital together."
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