Chapter 244: The Divine Weapon Map is Determined to Obtain
The twenty-ninth day of the year, the eve of New Year's Eve.
The snow is falling.
The magnificent palace was brightly lit as day, with singing and dancing, and palace music.
In the Yonghe Hall with its carved beams and painted pillars, civil and military officials gathered for a palace banquet, toasting each other and chatting happily.
A scene of prosperity and dancing.
The emperor sat at the top in a dragon robe.
The ministers below sat on both sides.
At this moment, in the first seat on the left, a group of ministers held wine glasses and toasted the person sitting there.
"Your Highness, you have worked hard for the court over the years and made great contributions, which have brought prosperity and peace to our dynasty. On this festive occasion, I, this old minister, would like to offer you a toast! I wish Your Highness's achievements will last for thousands of years and the world will be peaceful!" The second-rank official with white hair and beard raised his glass to the man sitting on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
The others followed suit, "You are right. If we were to talk about Your Highness's achievements, we could not count them all even if we spent three days and three nights. Your Highness, I offer you a toast too! May your achievements be passed down through the ages, and may the world be peaceful and prosperous!"
"My achievements will be remembered for thousands of years, and I wish the world peace and prosperity!"
The man seated was about forty years old, with strong features and a natural aura. He sat upright in a purple robe with a python pattern, twirling a wine glass in his hand with a faint smile on his face. He raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the emperor sitting above him. "I don't deserve such a high honor. The prosperity of this country is due to the emperor's governance. As a subject, how dare I overstep my bounds?"
The emperor stood up hastily, his eyes filled with fear. "Uncle, please don't be too modest. The ministers are right. Our dynasty is now so prosperous because of your uncle's contribution. Today, all officials have gathered to celebrate. I would like to offer a glass of wine to your uncle. I hope that your uncle will continue to assist me in governing the country and create another prosperous era for the people of our dynasty!"
"Hahahaha!" The prince laughed heartily, then stood up and raised his glass in response, "Your Majesty's wisdom is a blessing to our dynasty. This glass of wine, I drink!"
All the officials stood up to congratulate, and the atmosphere in the hall became even more lively.
The palace banquet ended at midnight, and the ministers left in a drunken state.
The man in the purple python robe walked behind with one hand behind his back. His eyes were clear without a trace of drunkenness, and the color in his eyes was unfathomable.
After leaving the hall, a guard with a sword appeared behind the man and followed him closely.
"Your Highness, the spies have reported that those people have begun preparing to go to the Poison King Valley." The guard whispered.
He walked down the white jade steps, the snow thickly covering his body, but the man walked steadily and with an expression that did not change. "Where is the Eighth Prince?"
"The Eighth Prince is in Dai Viet, and Emperor Hong Duc treats him as a distinguished guest."
"He's been blinded by lust and has forgotten his homeland! Tell him that I am determined to obtain the Divine Weapon Map. If he ruins my plans, he won't have to come back!"
"yes!"
…
New Year's Eve morning.
The entire Tubei Mountain was covered with white snow, the surface of the Qinghe River next to the village was frozen, and only bare branches were left in the reed marshes along the river.
The atmosphere in the village is unusually cheerful and lively. Looking around, red spring couplets are posted in front of every household. The warm and bright red adds a festive touch to the cold winter.
The snow on the loess road was cleared away, and the children in the village were playing and laughing in groups in front of the courtyard and on the roadside.
With the busy activities in each house and courtyard, and the voices of people talking and laughing, the winter is still cold.
In the Su family courtyard, Mrs. Su, her daughter, and her daughter-in-law put the radishes, cabbages, and chili peppers that had just been pulled out of the vegetable garden into a basket, picked it up, and prepared to go out of the village.
"Grandma, Mom, Second Aunt, Auntie." Tian Bao yawned as she walked out of the house, her black hair draped over her head, looking sleepy. A hint of laziness lingered in her silence. "Why are you pulling so many vegetables?"
The old woman's face was full of smiles. She was nearly sixty but still energetic. "Let's go to the village entrance to sell vegetables! Today is New Year's Eve, and the market is the busiest time of the year. Let's go and join in the fun. I estimate that this load of vegetables will be sold out in no time!"
Liu Yuelan also smiled and said, "The New Year is coming soon. There are more and more things for sale at the market today. Let's take a look and see if there is anything you want to buy or exchange so that you can add some more to your family."
He Daxiang saw the little girl's bewildered look and teased, "Look at how many fun things you've missed by running out all day."
"Tianbao, go wash your face and rinse your mouth first. There are pancakes and vegetable porridge warming up in the pot in the kitchen. Remember to eat them later." Su Xiuer picked up the small basket at the door of the main hall, which contained a bunch of small bottles and jars. "Old Du said that he made too many of these ordinary pills and asked me to deal with them. I'm also going to the market. Although they are ordinary medicines, it's worth noting that if someone needs them."
The four women were in a hurry. Before they left the house, they shouted towards the kitchen, "Big Boss, wash the dishes after breakfast! And then wash and cut the vegetables on the counter. We'll come back later and cook!"
Tianbao looked at the four people's happy backs, and listened to the chaotic sounds coming from the kitchen after the women were gone, and smiled.
There is heavy snow at the end of the year.
The valley was also covered in white snow. Fortunately, it was a valley, so the wind was weaker than outside.
Even so, the cold weather cannot suppress the excitement.
The people setting up stalls filled the open space, leaving only a small path between the stalls for people to walk.
The place was crowded and noisy.
The sounds of talking, shouting, bargaining, roosters crowing and ducks quacking, and the sound of knives chopping...all converge into one.
The old woman led three women inside, looking for a suitable place to set up their stall.
"Grandma Su, here, here! We've saved a seat for you!" Behind the pork stall in the middle of the market, Zhao Laoer ordered his apprentice to chop up a piece of pork ribs, tied it with dry straw, and handed it to the customer, saying in a loud and powerful voice, "I knew you had to come today!"
A small space was reserved next to the pork stall, which was big enough to place baskets and vegetable baskets. Mrs. Su didn't hesitate and walked over to put the things on the stall. The guys setting up stalls here were all old acquaintances.
"Brother Zhao, how come you have time to come here today? Isn't Xiaoyi the one who usually looks after the stall?" the old woman asked with a smile.
Someone at a nearby stall immediately called out, "He's taken on two more apprentices. He's leaving his stall in the city with them today. He came all the way here."
Someone else said, "Grandma Su, he has more intentions than me. He heard your sweet baby is back, so he came here specifically to try and get close to her! Hahaha!"
Zhao Lao Er didn't get angry either, he just chuckled, "Why? I just came here to see Tian Bao. I haven't seen Tian Bao in the city for a long time, it's not lively anymore."
The four women of the Su family twitched their lips. What's the point of being lively or not? Are they waiting for Tianbao to go to the city to fight?
"Grandma Su, Auntie, Second Auntie, Little Auntie..." A timid voice rang in the women's ears, and then an oil-paper bag was placed in Old Lady Su's hands. "I bought too many buns today and couldn't finish them all. There are a few left for you to eat, eat them... They are clean and untouched!"
The person who spoke was Zhao Laoer's apprentice, a boy about fourteen or fifteen years old, tall and thin, with a handsome appearance, but a little too thin. He always kept his head down when speaking and was a bit timid.
The oil-paper bag placed in Old Lady Su's hand was still warm. In this kind of freezing weather, I'm afraid the child must have been holding the oil-paper bag in his arms to keep it warm.
"You kid, I've told you so many times that you don't have to bring us food all the time. Save the money you earn." Old Mrs. Su was helpless. Ever since Zhao Laoer set up his pork stall in the market, this kid would stuff food into their mouths every now and then. She had advised him many times but he never listened.
Su Xiuer smiled and said, "It's meat buns. I smelled them. You ate them once and said they were delicious. After that, Xiaoyi often brought meat buns from this shop."
She also took out a small cloth bag from the basket and handed it to the silent boy with his head down. "This is the vegetable pancake I made this morning. Keep it with you. I can borrow some from the stall next door at noon and have them baked again. It's enough for two people, you and your master."
The boy's eyes trembled, and he took the small cloth bag and whispered, "Thank you... Auntie."
Zhao Laoer slammed his butcher knife down on the wooden table and pretended to be unhappy. "I've been taking care of this brat for several years, and I've never seen him be so filial to me."
This made the young man blush with embarrassment, and everyone laughed in good faith.
Amidst the laughter, the young man with his head lowered secretly raised his eyes to look at the women who were also smiling beside the stall, with an unknown joy and admiration in his eyes.
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