Heavy snow was falling.
The sky was covered in a blanket of silver.
Standing in the square in front of the palace, looking at the colorful lanterns soaring into the sky all around the capital, Li Xin finally felt a touch of the New Year's atmosphere.
Although there were no fireworks or firecrackers, the rising lanterns heralded the approaching new year.
"father,"
Just then, a childish voice came from behind.
Li Xin turned around and saw a toddler, about two or three years old, running towards him, babbling, "Eat, eat..."
"Okay, time to eat!"
Li Xin squatted down, picked up the child, and walked towards the Wuying Hall.
This little child is Li Xin's bloodline successor in this world, his son, Li Mu.
After carrying Li Mu back to the Wuying Hall, the hall was brightly lit, and Empress Ning Xiaoqian, Consort Lan Bai Fenglan, and others were already waiting for Li Xin.
Upon seeing Li Xin return, Ning Xiaoqian and Bai Fenglan quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"
"Get up."
Li Xin waved and said with a smile, "It's the New Year, don't be so formal, there's no need for so many formalities."
With a reprimand, Li Xin picked up Li Mu and sat down in his seat.
Ning Xiaoqian and Bai Fenglan also sat down.
"Come, Mu'er, come down and sit here."
Ning Xiaoqian picked up Li Mu and put him aside.
"No, I want to sit with Father."
Li Mu's little head was shaking like a rattle drum, making him look somewhat silly and cute.
"You should call him Father Emperor..."
Ning Xiaoqian gently patted Li Mu's small hand.
"Alright, calling me 'Dad' is much better, it's so much more affectionate..."
Li Xin smiled and said, "That's fine, let's eat."
The food on the table was extremely plentiful.
Chicken, duck, fish—none of them are good.
There were also shrimp, crabs, and even some fresh seasonal vegetables.
Thinking back to the first time I spent Chinese New Year in Dongning, I was in dire straits. With the little bit of flour we had left, we made dumplings, added some horse leg meat and pheasant, and that was our New Year's Eve dinner.
There wasn't even any alcohol.
However, those difficult days are over.
Nowadays, even ordinary people can cook several dishes and have a very sumptuous meal during the Spring Festival.
After years of hard work, things are finally starting to look promising.
Although the entire Da Gan Kingdom has not yet been completely pacified and recovered, Li Xin believes that after this New Year, the other forces in Da Gan Kingdom will also be pacified one by one.
The entire Great Gan Kingdom will also fall under Li Xin's rule.
The future is promising!
Li Xin took a deep breath, raised his wine glass, looked at the two beautiful women beside him, and said with a smile, "Happy New Year, my two wives!"
"Happy New Year!"
Ning Xiaoqian and Bai Fenglan also raised their glasses together.
The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with toasts and laughter filling the air.
This feeling of home is wonderful!
After the drinks and dishes, it was time to eat dumplings.
Delicious dumplings.
New Year's Eve has passed.
The new year has arrived!
As dawn broke in the first year of Yan Ning, Li Xin and the others were already dressed in their finest attire.
Today is the first day of the first month of the first year of the Yan Ning era, New Year's Day!
The first day of the new year!
According to imperial custom, on New Year's Day, officials were to receive the court's congratulations.
Although not all the officials in the capital were present yet, all the officials, large and small, dressed neatly and came to the square in front of the palace.
Before long, Li Xin, dressed in a dragon robe, stepped onto the platform.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
A Tiger Legion general shouted loudly.
There are no longer any eunuchs in the palace.
After Li Ming and others withdrew from the capital, the eunuchs of the inner court of the capital either went south or fled.
After Li Xin and his men entered the capital, the palace was severely burned and was almost a ghost town.
After taking over the palace, Li Xin did not recruit any more eunuchs.
There weren't many people inside the palace either.
Aside from Li Xin's large family, there were only the Women's Guard Battalion and the Tiger Legion.
The entire family of Li Xin was cared for by palace maids and women's guards.
Therefore, there were no eunuchs.
Accompanied by the resounding voice of the Tiger Warrior general, the officials in the square in front of the palace all knelt down.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
...
They shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
A loud and clear voice resounded across the square in front of the palace.
Looking at the sea of heads, Li Xin took a deep breath.
He knew that those kneeling on the ground were all his subjects.
And he was the emperor of the Great Gan Kingdom!
Li Xin has fully accepted this identity.
After the New Year's Day court ceremony concluded, all the civil and military officials returned to their homes.
Li Xin, on the other hand, kept Zhao Bingzhang, Yu Maocai, He Tongyuan, Wei Dahai, and others.
These people were also Li Xin's core group in the capital.
Even though it's the first day of the new year, it's still important to finalize work plans and directions for the coming year as early as possible.
Wuying Hall, a side hall.
The coal stove burned, making the hall warm and cozy.
After Li Xin and his entourage entered, palace maids brought them steaming hot drinks.
After everyone was seated, Li Xin smiled and said to them, "Happy New Year, everyone!"
Happy New Year, Your Majesty!
The officials clasped their hands in return.
This is a customary way for ordinary people to celebrate the New Year; it was the same back in Dongning.
After entering the capital, Li Xin did not forget.
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