Chapter 66. He held the peach charm in his palm, that little bit...
Li Lianshun, carrying the food box and peach charms, moved with lightning speed. If he handled this task well, he would be the most respectable person in front of his godfather and His Majesty.
He hurried back to the palace and went straight to find Li Defu.
Li Defu had just finished arranging a round of rewards and was standing under the eaves, squinting at the palace lanterns, when he saw his godson coming over with some things. He raised his eyelids and asked, "Is everything done?"
"Don't worry, Godfather, everything is fine at Lord Lin's residence. The imperial gifts have also arrived." Li Lianshun leaned closer, showing the food box and peach charms in his hand, and lowered his voice, "This is what Lord Lin asked his son to bring back to present to His Majesty. He said that the dumplings were made by hand, and the peach charms were also made by hand, to wish His Majesty a happy and healthy New Year."
Li Defu's shrewd eyes swept over the simple food box and peach charms, and his mind immediately became clear.
Wow, Lord Lin's kindness is truly, truly generous.
He showed no emotion on his face, only nodding: "Yes, I understand. His Majesty is still at the banquet and is busy right now. Take these dumplings to the kitchen and have someone cook them carefully. Serve them in His Majesty's favorite sweet white glazed jade lotus pattern bowl and keep them warm. I'll keep these peach charms for now."
Li Lianshun quickly agreed and picked up the food box to leave.
"Wait a minute." Li Defu called him again, giving him a meaningful look. "When it's cooked, be quick and wait for the right moment to put it in. Don't spoil His Majesty's mood, and don't let it get cold."
"I understand, son!" Li Lianshun understood immediately. This was his godfather giving him a hint. He bowed solemnly again before hurrying towards the kitchen.
Li Defu watched his godson walk away, then looked down at the peach charm that still carried a faint scent of wood shavings. The craftsmanship was a bit rough, and the edges weren't perfectly rounded, but the sentiment behind it was heavy.
He carefully tucked the peach charm into his bosom, straightened his robes, and resumed his composed demeanor as the Grand Eunuch before the Emperor. He quietly returned to Chonghua Palace and stood not far behind Xiao Che.
Inside the hall, the noise continued, with singing and dancing filling the air. After several rounds of drinks, many relatives and ministers were already tipsy, toasting each other and exchanging auspicious words.
Xiao Che sat upright, his face serene and dignified. Occasionally, he would raise his cup to gesture to the princes or important ministers nearby, but deep in his eyes, there was always a layer of detached weariness, until Li Defu quietly returned and nodded very slightly to him.
Xiao Che's fingers holding the cup paused almost imperceptibly, and the thin layer of ice in his eyes seemed to melt a little.
He put down his wine glass, placed his hand on his forehead, and whispered something to a senior member of the royal family beside him who was giving a toast.
The old prince immediately said with concern, "Your Majesty must be tired after working hard for several days. Why don't you take a rest?"
Xiao Che readily nodded slightly and said to everyone, "My dear ministers, please enjoy yourselves. I will change my clothes and then return."
With that, he got up and left his seat.
Li Defu immediately stepped forward, gently supporting Xiao Che, and calmly walked towards the back of the hall amidst a group of bowing officials.
As soon as you turn into the corridor leading to the side hall, away from the noise, the surroundings become quiet instantly, with only the palace lanterns under the eaves swaying gently in the night breeze, casting a dim and tranquil glow.
Xiao Che didn't stop walking, but his voice had already regained its usual coldness: "Where is the stuff?"
Li Defu took out the peach charm from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, Lord Lin specially asked that boy Li Lianshun to bring it back, saying that it was made by hand, wishing Your Majesty a happy and prosperous New Year."
Xiao Che accepted the peach charm.
It feels slightly cool to the touch, with clear wood grain. The carved pattern is auspicious cloud and mythical beast, but the lines are a bit rough, and you can feel some burrs at the edges. It is obviously the work of a novice, not a craftsman.
He imagined it: normally he was either buried in his studies, writing furiously, or mentally churning out ideas, but now he was calmly carving this thing bit by bit with a carving knife. The image was a bit...
Xiao Che's fingertips slowly traced the slightly rough characters "Peace," and the last trace of weariness and aloofness in his eyes completely dissipated, replaced by an extremely gentle warmth.
He chuckled very softly, shook his head, seemingly helpless yet unable to hide his joy: "My skills are really not good."
Li Defu, being a shrewd man, immediately chimed in: "Your Majesty is right. After all, Lord Lin is a scholar, and his craftsmanship naturally cannot compare to the exquisite work of the artisans in the Imperial Workshops. But what is truly admirable is his heart! Look at these auspicious clouds and mythical beasts; though simple, they are full of strength and sincerity! Lord Lin must have put in a lot of effort. This sentiment is priceless!"
Xiao Che glanced at Li Defu, knowing full well that the old man was flattering him, but his words truly struck a chord with him.
He held the peachwood charm in his palm, and the slightly cool wood seemed to have gained warmth.
Where is Li Lianshun?
"Your Majesty, this old servant has sent him to the small kitchen to oversee the cooking of dumplings. Lord Lin said he made them by hand, with several different fillings, so Your Majesty can try them out, for the sake of family reunion and staying up late on New Year's Eve," Li Defu replied with a smile. "Judging by the time, they should be ready by now."
Just then, Li Lianshun came over carefully, carrying a tray with a sweet white glazed jade lotus-patterned bowl on it. The bowl was steaming hot.
Upon seeing Xiao Che, Li Lianshun immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, the dumplings are ready. Please have some."
Xiao Che's gaze fell on the bowl, where plump, white dumplings were squeezed together, steaming and carrying the simple aroma of noodles and fillings. In this palace night filled with the smells of wine, meat and delicacies, it seemed particularly fresh and tempting.
"Get up." Xiao Che's tone softened considerably. "What else did Lin Yan say?"
Li Lianshun stood up, bowed his head, and respectfully repeated Lin Yan's words: "Lord Lin said that he wished His Majesty a happy and prosperous New Year, and that he had prepared several kinds of dumpling fillings, including pork and cabbage, and chives and eggs. He didn't know if they would suit His Majesty's taste."
Pork and cabbage? Chives and eggs? These are all very common home-style fillings.
As the emperor, Xiao Che had tasted all sorts of delicacies, yet it was this most ordinary thing, imbued with someone's affection and the warmth of home, that touched the softest chord in his heart.
He could even picture Lin Yan wearing an apron, kneading dough, preparing fillings, and making dumplings in the kitchen, perhaps with flour all over her face...
Xiao Che couldn't help but smile.
"Your Majesty, it's windy outside. Why don't we go back to the warm pavilion?" Li Defu suggested at the opportune moment.
Xiao Che nodded, picked up the bowl of dumplings, and turned to enter a nearby warm pavilion.
The heated floor in the warm room was cozy and quiet. Xiao Che sat down on the couch, and Li Defu immediately handed him silver chopsticks.
He picked up a dumpling, blew on it to cool it down, and put it in his mouth.
The dough was chewy, the filling was generous, and the pork and cabbage broth was sweet and delicious. Although it was far inferior to the dumplings in the imperial kitchen, which were filled with delicacies, it was this "homemade" taste that made Xiao Che feel more delicious and comforting than any of the delicacies at the banquet.
Xiao Che ate several in a row, including pork and cabbage, and chives and eggs, and he tasted each one carefully.
Li Defu watched as His Majesty showed a rare appetite, and he was happy for His Majesty, for Lord Lin, and even more happy for his godson.
He smiled and chimed in, "Your Majesty, Lord Lin's cooking looks excellent. These dumplings are substantial, with large fillings and thin wrappers; they're very warming to eat."
After Xiao Che finished the last dumpling and even drank a few sips of the soup, he felt warm all over, and the tedium and emptiness brought by the palace banquet were completely dispelled.
He put down his bowl and sighed contentedly, "Hmm, it's not bad."
His gaze swept over Li Lianshun, who stood with his hands at his sides: "You've done a good job; you'll be rewarded."
Li Lianshun was overjoyed and immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! It is my greatest blessing to be able to serve Your Majesty and Lord Lin!"
Xiao Che was in a good mood and looked at Li Defu: "The people you trained are not bad, so they deserve a reward."
Li Defu quickly bowed as well: "This old servant thanks Your Majesty for the reward! It is all within this old servant's duty."
"Alright, get up, all of you." Xiao Che waved his hand, picked up the peach charm again, and rubbed it between his fingertips. "I've rested enough, let's go back to the banquet."
But when he returned to the bustling Chonghua Palace and smelled the aroma of wine, Xiao Che found it less unbearable. The peach charm in his sleeve pressed against his wrist, reminding him of the longing he had for those outside the palace walls.
At this time, the Lin family had almost finished their New Year's Eve dinner.
The table was littered with cups and plates, but the family ate to their hearts' content, their faces flushed and languid with the satisfaction of a full meal.
As the head of the family, Lin Chengji cleared his throat and took out several small lucky bags that he had prepared in advance, which were bulging with moisture.
"Here, this is your New Year's money." He smiled and handed one to Wen Yun first, saying, "My wife has worked hard all year."
Wen Yun smiled and accepted it, saying, "Thank you, my husband."
Next came Lin Yan, Lin Mo, and Wen Ke, each receiving one.
"Thank you, Dad!"
"Thank you, Uncle!"
The three of them accepted it in unison with smiles. Lin Yan squeezed it; inside was a hard, granular substance. When he poured it out, it was indeed a handful of smooth, shiny silver melon seeds, gleaming warmly under the lamp.
"Wow! Silver melon seeds!" Lin Mo, with her girlish nature, picked one up and looked at it under the light, beaming with joy.
Lin Yan also laughed: "Father, you're really being honest."
In previous years, when only Lin Chengji was an official supporting the family, the New Year's money was strings of copper coins. Now, they are receiving silver melon seeds instead.
Wen Ke was a little embarrassed: "Uncle, this is too precious..."
"Hey, it's the New Year, so we're hoping for good luck. Put this under your pillow and it'll bless you with a smooth year ahead and that you'll pass the imperial examinations." Lin Chengji patted his shoulder.
Wen Yun smiled and took out several similar lucky bags, distributing them to the three younger members. Inside were silver melon seeds: "I'll give one to you too."
Lin Yan and Lin Mo happily accepted another serving, and Wen Ke thanked them repeatedly.
After distributing New Year's money to the younger generation, Lin Chengji and Wen Yun began distributing "festival allowances" to the servants.
This isn't just a symbolic gift like silver melon seeds; it's a real, tangible benefit.
The copper coins were strung together with red cord, heavy with weight; the silk was brand new and of fine material; there was also grain, and even newly made cotton clothes and shoes.
Depending on their rank and length of service in the Lin family, each person received a different share, but all were generous enough to be equivalent to receiving several months' wages.
The servants stepped forward one by one to receive their rewards, their faces beaming with joy and their mouths uttering auspicious words.
"Thank you for the generous gift, sir and madam! Wishing you a happy new year and good health!"
"Wishing you all the best in the coming year, young master and young lady!"
"May the young master achieve great success in the imperial examination!"
The courtyard was bustling with activity and filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Seeing this scene, Lin Yan felt a warmth in her heart.
After distributing the money and provisions, it was time to stay up all night to welcome the New Year.
The Lin family is well-off this year and has purchased a lot of fireworks and firecrackers.
With a wave of his hand, Lin Chengji not only provided entertainment for the masters, but also distributed some small and safe fireworks and firecrackers to the servants.
The courtyard immediately became even more lively.
"Whoosh—snap!"
Brilliant fireworks burst in the night sky, illuminating smiling faces.
Lin Yan also took a few sticks of Didi Jin and gave them to Lin Mo and Wen Ke. He also took two sticks for himself, lit them with incense sticks, and golden sparks sizzled out, drawing bright arcs of light in the darkness.
Lin Yan waved the sparkler, watching the sparks fly, and suddenly realized that Xiao Che, being in the palace, would definitely not see him having such a silly, happy moment with sparklers.
The fireworks in the palace were always larger, more magnificent, and more organized, set off by designated personnel, with the emperor only needing to watch from afar on a high platform.
I wonder what Xiao Che is doing right now? Has the banquet ended? Has he eaten the dumplings? He should have seen the peach charms by now, right?
We'll see him tomorrow night! Bring Xiao Che out for some fun!
Hmm... I'm going to take Xiao Che to play with fireworks!
Under the starry night sky, there was continuous laughter and fireworks, and the air was filled with the pleasant smell of gunpowder and the aroma of food.
The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is strong.
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Author's Note: There will still be an extra chapter! [heart emoji]
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