腊月廿三，这一天，整个京城都沉浸在祭灶的热闹氛围之中。大街小巷，鞭炮声此起彼伏，那清脆响亮的鞭炮声，如同欢快的鼓点，敲打着新年即将来临的节奏。然而，在这一片喧嚣之中，锦云书局内却呈现出另一番独特的热闹景象。
书局里，檀木柜格大大敞开，仿佛是一座宝藏库敞开了大门。成捆的银票整齐地码放在柜格之中，泛着暖黄的光泽，那光泽宛如冬日里的暖阳，柔和而温暖。这些银票摞起来足有半人高，彰显着书局这段时间以来的丰硕成果。墙角处，桑皮纸包着的银锭堆积如山，在摇曳的烛光下，折射出细碎而璀璨的光芒，仿佛是无数颗星星在闪烁，诉说着财富的故事。
苏锦璃静静地坐在堆满账本的酸枝木桌后，全神贯注地记录着年终最后的收支情况。她手中的狼毫笔在宣纸上沙沙作响，犹如春蚕在咀嚼桑叶，又似细雨在轻敲窗棂。鼻尖上那一点墨渍，为她增添了几分专注的可爱。烛光映照下，她的脸庞显得格外柔和，眼神中透露出坚毅与执着。
Jiang Yan was dressed in a moon-white gown, its texture soft and flowing as he moved, like a light cloud. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the black jade bracelet Su Jinli had given him. The black jade was warm and lustrous, as if imbued with endless affection. At this moment, he was concentrating on the abacus. The crisp sound of the beads colliding, like lively notes, cleverly intertwined with the noise outside the window, forming a unique and distinctive melody. Sometimes he lowered his head to carefully check the densely packed figures in the account book, sometimes he picked up a pen to annotate the key points in the account book, and occasionally raised his head to look at Su Jinli with a gentle and doting gaze, his eyes seemed to tell a thousand words.
Su Jinli paused, resting her elbow on the table, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed silently at Jiang Yan. The flickering candlelight cast a golden edge on his profile, highlighting his resoluteness and handsomeness. Looking at the man before her, completely absorbed in bookkeeping, her thoughts, like a wild horse, drifted uncontrollably back to her past life.
In her previous life, she was mired in the complex power struggles and schemes of the prime minister's mansion. Her stepmother's endless harassment and manipulations bound her like a heavy yoke. Her unhappy marriage plunged her into a deep abyss of suffering. She struggled alone on her cold sickbed until her final moments, even a sip of warm soup beyond her reach. Those were dark and despairing days, and every memory pierced her heart like a sharp knife.
Now, the gears of fate have shifted in a miraculous way. Not only has she escaped the tragic fate of her previous life, but she has also built a thriving career through her wisdom and courage. More importantly, she now has Jiang Yan, who loves her wholeheartedly and supports her unconditionally. He is like a ray of light, illuminating her once dark world and bringing her warmth and strength.
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Yan keenly caught Su Jinli's focused gaze. He paused, gently set down his abacus, and walked around the table, taking steady steps to her side. He gently reached out and gently grasped her hand. His palm was broad and warm, like a warm stove on a winter's day, conveying a reassuring strength that instantly brought Su Jinli's thoughts back to her.
Su Jinli slowly raised her head, meeting Jiang Yan's concerned and affectionate gaze. A happy and contented smile involuntarily curled up at the corners of her mouth. Her voice was soft yet firm, like a spring flowing from the depths of her heart: "I'm thinking, the honey in this life is so sweet." Her eyes sparkled with tears of happiness and emotion.
Jiang Yan was taken aback for a moment, then he understood the profound meaning of her words. His heart seemed to be gently touched, filled with heartache and love. He gently embraced her in his arms, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head, as if wanting to integrate her into his life. His voice was low and warm, like a spring breeze, gently caressing her ears: "The days to come will only be sweeter."
At this heartwarming moment, the bookstore door suddenly slammed open with a bang, like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, shattering the tranquility. Young Marquis Su burst in like a whirlwind of energy. He was dressed in a brand new brocade robe, its vibrant colors dazzling, showcasing the youthful vigor and energy of a young man. The jade pendant at his waist swung back and forth as he ran, making crisp sounds, as if cheering his excitement. His face flushed with excitement, like a ripe apple, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Sister! Brother Jiang Yan!" He waved the large red announcement in his hand, his voice trembling with extreme excitement, as if every word was filled with his irrepressible joy. "The Emperor has named you the 'Legendary Couple of Dajing'!"
Su Jinli and Jiang Yan exchanged a look of surprise, their eyes filled with disbelief and delight. Before they could recover from the sudden joyous news, Su Qingyao entered with graceful steps, like a dignified swan. She wore a long crimson dress, the crimson hue resembling a blooming lilac, regal and elegant. A delicate coral pearl hairpin shimmered enchantingly in the candlelight, adding a touch of glamour to her appearance. In her hands, she held a beautifully packaged box of rouge, a delighted smile on her face.
"Hurry up and dress up," she threw the rouge to Su Jinli, her eyes full of smiles, as if sharing an inestimable joy, "The Queen Mother asked you to come to the palace to receive your reward!"
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