The old emperor, who had no idea how long he had been listening to the opera, had a flushed face. He reluctantly gave the heater that he had been holding in his hands for most of the day to the eunuch next to him, rubbed his hands, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Golden Palace with steady steps.

Only then did Su Juan calm down and follow the others in bowing.

She didn't know if it was her illusion, but she felt that she was kneeling for longer this time than the previous times.

As the year draws to a close, the weather is freezing cold, and even in the huge Golden Palace, a dozen braziers are not enough to keep warm.

Su Juan, who had been afraid of cold since childhood, quietly put her red little hands in front of her body to keep warm and breathed a long sigh of relief.

[Phew! Fortunately, I prepared warm clothes filled with hot water in advance, otherwise, I would have been frozen to death with only a few braziers on this day.]

"!!!" The court officials who were so cold that they were stamping their feet widened their eyes. There was actually such a good thing!

The old emperor's eyes widened!

He had been afraid of cold since he was a child. No matter how many clothes he wore, they were still not enough. When he went out, a hand warmer could only warm his hands. He wished he could stay in the house every day to keep warm, but because he was a man, he couldn't show it. It would be embarrassing if people knew that he, the emperor, was afraid of cold.

But how could Su Juan have such a good thing hidden on her body without being discovered?

Su Juan narrowed her eyes, [Comfortable! ]

Scholar Yuan from the Hanlin Academy in front of him suddenly realized what was going on, and he said, "Why do you feel warm when you're close to Su Juan? She seems to be steaming."

The old emperor could hardly sit still, and several old ministers who were afraid of the cold were about to stamp their feet.

I don’t know what this warm clothing looks like, how it is made, and why I have never heard of it.

[The weather is getting colder and colder. Tomorrow I will ask Dongdong to find someone to make three more gifts for people.]

The old emperor's ears perked up. Three pieces! ?

He straightened his back silently and narrowed his eyes. This must be one of my things.

This official has not learned anything else, but he is naturally good at pleasing me.

The Minister of Rites was also a little itchy. The older he got, the more he feared winter. He almost couldn't get out of bed today.

[One for each of the father, the king, and the mother...]

Hearing this, Prince Jing straightened his back and greeted the envious gazes of his colleagues. Not everyone has a daughter-in-law as filial as him.

Song Qianfan snorted coldly, looking disdainful. This woman was always using such despicable tricks to please people.

[One piece for Her Majesty the Queen. 】

The old emperor's smile froze on his face, "..."

His eyes inadvertently met the smile on Duke Ping's face, as if he was being laughed at by Duke Ping.

The old emperor has a sullen face, what a joke!

I don’t have it, do you have it?

[I don’t know if the Duke of Ping is wearing it...]

Old Emperor: “???”

[I gave him two pieces last time, but I don’t know if they will fit him.]

King Jing: “???” Two pieces! ?

Under the envious gazes of the crowd, Duke Ping patted his clothes to make the warm clothes fit better, and the expression on his face seemed to say: Just two pieces, nothing.

The old emperor's face turned black: Stupid boy! Give it to Duke Ping, what can an old man like him give you! ?

If you please me, I can give you a promotion!

...

When the morning court ended, the old emperor was in a hurry to go back to keep warm. As soon as he left, Su Juan ran away as if her feet were greased.

Duke Ping was surrounded by many colleagues, who asked openly and secretly about the two warm clothes that Su Juan gave him. Lord Sheng Ping, relying on his good relationship with Duke Ping, put his hand directly on him to keep him warm.

Sheng Pingbo: "It's really warm!"

"Why is Xiao Su so nice to you? Tell me!"

Duke Ping coughed pretentiously, "It's nothing, it's just that this child recognized me as his godfather, this is to show filial piety to me."

"I also told her that I don't need these things, but this girl is stubborn and insists that I keep them... Alas, I can't do anything about it."

Sheng Pingbo was envious, "You are so lucky!" If he had known earlier, he would have taken the initiative and recognized the baby first!

The smile on Duke Ping's face was as if it was free of charge.

Prince Jing snorted. It’s just warm clothes. Who doesn’t have them?

He wears one piece, he wears two pieces, look how he shows off!

Immediately, someone started to covet the other warm clothing of the Duke of Ping. In fact, it was the Minister of Rites who wanted it the most.

The Minister of Rites came over with a shameless face and asked in a low voice, "Duke, I wonder if you can give me one of your two warm clothes..."

Duke Ping snorted coldly, "This is a gift from my adopted daughter to me as a token of my filial piety!"

"If Minister Wu wants it, why not ask those sons and daughters of his who are still cursing at the gate of our mansion for it!"

The Minister of Rites blushed and said, "If you don't want to give it to me, then don't give it to me! Who wants it?"

Sheng Pingbo, who was always a good guy and never offended anyone, helped Duke Ping to rebuke the Minister of Rites, "Minister Wu, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but your sons and daughters are really outrageous. How could they block the door of the Duke's Mansion?"

"Why don't you go and call them away quickly? They are all colleagues in the court. What your Wu family did is really unkind!"

"Is it possible that we will have to bring trouble to His Majesty?

The Minister of Rites snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and left.

Duke Pingguo was surprised to see Marquis Sheng Ping. This old man had changed his nature and was even speaking for him?

After the Minister of Rites left, Sheng Pingbo coughed lightly, put his hands in his pockets and kissed the Duke of Guo, "Old Xie, we have been friends for decades!"

Duke Ping was silent, it has been decades.

Sheng Pingbo added, "My Liu Xuan and your Xie Xun have been good friends for more than ten years... Our two families have a history that goes back decades, don't you think?"

He didn't get to the point in his few sentences and almost confused Duke Ping.

Duke Ping stared at him suspiciously, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Sheng Pingbo coughed and looked around, "Your adopted daughter..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the eunuch who was coming towards him.

The eunuch said respectfully, "Duke, His Majesty invites you."

The old emperor wanted to see someone, so Sheng Pingbo didn't have the chance to finish his words. He watched his old friend leave with the eunuch and could only signal that he would wait for him outside.

...

After entering the imperial study, the old emperor discussed a number of official matters with Duke Ping.

After talking about this and that, the old emperor finally pretended to be nonchalant and started to talk to him casually, "The weather has been getting colder lately!"

Duke Ping responded, "I think it will snow in the next two days. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

Old Emperor: “…”

Seeing that Duke Ping looked as if he didn't understand, he was so angry that he had to ask for the warm clothes today!

The old emperor pretended to be distressed, shook his head and sighed, "I'm fine, but the queen..."

The Duke of Pingguo had a younger brother and two younger sisters who were illegitimate. The only one still alive is the queen in the palace.

Duke Ping frowned and asked worriedly, "What happened to the Queen?"

The old emperor was filled with worry. "The queen has been very afraid of the cold lately. She has put several braziers in the room but she is still cold. She won't leave the room at all. I am very worried!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Duke Ping, feeling anxious!