"Mom!" Jing'er, who was talking to Xu Lingyi, left his father, opened his arms, took a few steps forward and hugged Shiyi Niang tightly, "Do you miss me?" Then he rested his head on Shiyi Niang's shoulder like he did when he was a child, completely ignoring the fact that he was half a head taller than his mother.

"Yes!" Eleventh Lady kissed her son's cheek. "Come, let me see whether you have gained weight or lost weight!" She gently pushed him away and looked him up and down carefully.

The twelve-year-old Jing'er has a well-proportioned and tall figure, fair and delicate skin, bright and clear eyes, and a brilliant smile, like the autumn sunshine, clean and refreshing.

Eleventh Lady smiled with her eyes curved.

"Mom," Jin Ge'er felt his mother's joy and smiled even more brightly, "I'm fine, now you should be relieved!"

Shiyi Niang nodded and gently pinched his cheek: "I heard that the sun in Jiayuguan is very strong, how come you are not tanned at all? Are you lazy and didn't go to the guard post?"

"How is that possible!" Jing'er cried out in injustice, "I just can't get tanned, what can I do?" He sounded quite aggrieved.

Eleventh Lady laughed heartily.

Jinger hugged his mother again and said, "Mom, I miss the braised lion's head you made, and the mung bean cakes at home."

Eleventh Lady's heart softened: "I knew you were coming back in the next two days, so I asked my family to prepare for it every day!"

Xu Lingyi frowned at the side: "You are so old, what's the matter with you? Stand up straight and talk!"

Jing'er made a face at Shiyi Niang and stood up straight.

Eleventh Lady couldn't bear to leave her son, so she pulled Jing'er's hand and said, "Let's talk later if you have anything to say! Let him go wash up first, and then go to greet his mother."

Xu Lingyi nodded.

The mother and son walked out of the study side by side, talking in low voices.

"Mom, did the emperor really appoint me as the commander-in-chief of the Xiaoling Guard?" After all, she was a child, and she asked about this matter as soon as she opened her mouth.

"I've called you back from afar, how could this be false?" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I just came back from the palace, and the Queen Mother asked when you would be back. She asked you to come to the palace when you come back, and she has something else to give you. And the eldest princess also asked you to come to the palace to play Cuju with her during the New Year."

Jing'er sighed and said, "The eldest princess is so honored." Then he said, "Mom, I got this position of commander-in-chief because of Cuju. Do you think anyone will call me the commander-in-chief of Cuju? If so, it will be troublesome." He looked very worried.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help laughing and teased her son: "It's really possible!"

"Mother!" He stared at Shiyi Niang, his big phoenix eyes sparkling, "You, how could you do this? And you're laughing at me!"

"Okay, okay, don't laugh, don't laugh." Eleventh Lady put her arm around her son's shoulders.

Jin Ge'er refused.

"I was wrong." Shiyi Niang apologized, "I will never say such things again, okay?"

Jinggeer, it’s cloudy to overcast.

Xu Lingyi, who was walking behind them, listened to them patiently at first, but when he saw Jing'er's stern face, he looked a little unhappy. When Shiyi Niang apologized to Jing'er and Jing'er became happy, his expression became even uglier.

"How can anyone talk to their mother like this?" he shouted in a deep voice, "I've spoiled you like a child!"

"Yes!" Jin Ge'er lowered his head quickly, "I was wrong, I won't do this again." He supported Shiyi Niang obediently and didn't dare to speak.

Eleventh Lady looked both angry and amused.

The three of them walked in silence for almost a cup of tea. Jing'er couldn't help but whispered to Shiyi Niang again: "Mom, have you worn the Hu clothing I brought back for you? That's Huihui clothing. There are also Mongolian clothing and Weiwei clothing over in Jiayuguan... They are all different. When I first went there, I didn't know them, so I bought the most beautiful one in the shop. This time when I came back, I brought you several Hu clothing and a very beautiful veil..."

"She also wore a beautiful veil!" Eleventh Lady whispered, "I heard their hats are very beautiful. Have you thought about buying a few hats?"

"Mom, you are so nice! You even know that their hats are beautiful." Jing'er said, "I also think their hats are the most beautiful. I bought a lot of them..."

The two of them were talking in low voices all the way, and Xu Lingyi kept shaking his head behind them, revealing an expression of helplessness and a bit of doting.

* * * * * *

While the Madam gave Jing'er a chance to talk, the whole family knew about Jing'er's return. Not only did the Fifth Madam, Chen'er, Cheng'er, Xu Sizhun and his wife, take Ting'er, Xu Sijie and Yingniang to the Madam, but even the housekeepers who were well-known in the house went to kowtow to Jing'er. The Madam was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling and kept asking the Second Madam to give her a reward. The Second Madam didn't want to spoil the Madam's mood, so she asked Jiexiang and Yuban to carry the basket of reward silver under the eaves.

The silver ingot sparkled in the sun, like water dripping into a frying pan, which suddenly lifted everyone's spirits.

The sounds of kowtows, thanks and praises came one after another, making it even more lively than New Year's Eve.

The lady laughed and told Xu Lingyi: "We will set off fireworks tonight."

Xu Lingyi felt a headache and was just thinking about how to report it to the Madam. The Second Madam had already said with a smile: "Mother, Jin'er just came back and the imperial edict has not been received yet. If we set off fireworks at this time, it will seem lonely and deserted on the day."

"That's right." The old lady always responded to the second lady's words and smiled, "We will release it when the day comes."

On that day, Jin Ge'er received the imperial edict early in the morning. Accompanied by Xu Lingyi, he went to the palace to express his gratitude and went to pay his respects to the Empress. The Empress rewarded him with a pair of Hetian jade ruyi. The eldest princess had sent someone to inquire about Jin Ge'er's news. As soon as the Empress finished asking, she arrived. Xu Lingyi thanked the eldest princess: "...It's all thanks to your good words. Otherwise, Jin Ge'er wouldn't have such a great fortune."

Compared to Xu Lingyi's respect and solemnity, Jin Ge'er seemed much more lively and friendly: "Thank you, Princess, for your kindness. If you have any questions in the future, just ask me. I will go through fire and water, and I will not refuse." As she said this, she patted her chest, making everyone in the side hall laugh. The Princess even laughed so hard that she bent over: "Why do I want you to go through fire and water?" As she said this, her smile froze slightly, and she said, "You will come to the palace to pay tribute on the first day of the new year, right?"

"I was nothing before, but I secretly followed my father and mother to get in. Now I am at least a fourth-rank commander, okay?" Jing'er muttered, "It's legitimate, why wouldn't I come to the palace to pay my respects?"

The eldest princess laughed again: "Don't be so proud, what about being a fourth rank official? Not everyone can enter the palace to pay homage to the emperor."

The two of them chatted with each other, and the Queen and Xu Lingyi frowned slightly, but when they thought that their daughter was about to get married and it would be difficult for them to have such a happy time in the future, they relaxed their brows and smiled faintly. One of them thought that this was in the palace, and although his son looked a bit ruffian, the eldest princess seemed to like him very much, so he endured it and said nothing.

When they got home, the stage had been set up, and the three major troupes were already dressing up in the side rooms. Liang Ge Lao, Dou Ge Lao and others sent their butlers to deliver gifts. Shun Wang, Weibei Hou, Wang Li and others came to Xu's house to congratulate in person. Five tables were set up in the outer courtyard. Xu Lingyi and Jing Ge'er toasted and thanked each table, while Xu Sizhun directed the servants and maids to serve tea and wine. In the inner courtyard, there were Madam Lin, Huang Sanniang, Madam Gan and others, and twelve tables were set up. Eleventh Lady and Madam Wu and Madam San accompanied the guests, while Jiang went to Dianchun Hall to urge the maids to take out all the lanterns used during the New Year and hang them up. After the banquet, everyone sat in Dianchun Hall and listened to the opera with smiles on their faces.

The sound of gongs and drums, the bright lights, the melodious music and beautiful scenery filled the eyes, creating a prosperous and flourishing atmosphere.

The old lady was so happy that she felt like she had forgotten something. She quickly put the thought behind her as she watched the excitement. She sat with the second lady on the Arhat bed covered with a big red cushion with five bats holding longevity scarves. She talked to Mrs. Huang next to her and fell asleep on the bed. The next day, she woke up and asked the second lady, "Did you set off the fireworks?"

The second lady smiled and said, "I didn't release it because I didn't have your order."

"Didn't I give any instructions?" The lady was very confused.

On the third day, Xin Jieer, who had married in Tianjin, sent a gift. On the fourth day, Zhen Jieer sent a gift. When I received the gift from Xu Siyu from Le'an, I had already eaten Laba porridge and prepared for the New Year.

Xu Lingyi was going to meet with the big shopkeepers from various places, and Shiyi Niang was going to send New Year gifts. Some of them could be entrusted to Jiang, but she had to go to the places like Yongchang Marquis, Weibei Marquis, and Liang Ge Lao in person. She also had to take this opportunity to visit Madam Gan and Cao'e. Xu Sizhun and Jiang were busy with New Year's goods, New Year's rewards in the mansion, new clothes for the New Year, sweeping the house, pasting peach charms and other trivial matters in the outer courtyard and the inner courtyard respectively. Chen Ge'er and Cheng Ge'er were taken by Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Lady to meet the elders. Even Xu Sijie was pulled by Xu Sizhun to write invitations. Only Yingniang and Jing Ge'er, who were about to give birth, had nothing to do, and they both liked to run to Shiyi Niang's yard, so they soon got together. One practiced boxing, wrote big characters, and practiced Cuju in the hall, while the other sat on the armchair next to him and did needlework, looking up and cheering from time to time.

Jin Ge'er was not satisfied: "Can't you look carefully before cheering? It was clearly a missed kick, but you were shouting 'good'. If you were not my cousin, I would have thought you were booing me!"

Yingniang smiled awkwardly, put down her needle and thread, and said, "I'll watch it carefully now."

Jing'er's face brightened up slightly.

Changan ran in: "Sixth Young Master, Sixth Young Master, someone is looking for you!"

"Who's looking for me?" Jing'er didn't care. He kicked the ball into the air, then turned around lightly to catch it. He was obviously in high spirits.

Changan couldn't help but get anxious: "It's a little eunuch."

Jing'er said "Eh", threw the bowl to Suifeng beside him, and left the hall.

The next day, he said he was bored at home and wanted to go out for a walk.

After the boys of the Xu family moved to the outer courtyard, the curfew was basically opened, not to mention that Jing'er had been alone in Jiayuguan for several months. Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang certainly would not stop him, but only told him that it was almost the New Year and there would be many people, so he should bring more guards when he went out, be careful not to be robbed, and not to cause trouble.

Jin Ge'er agreed to all the requests, and went out with Chang'an and Suifeng, escorted by several guards from the Xu Mansion.

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Post a draft first!

O(∩_∩)O~

The update is a bit late, please read it tomorrow morning!