Emperor Hui personally awarded Xie Zhaozhao a gold medal exempting her from kneeling and granted iron certificates to the two households, which thereafter enjoyed the protection of imperial power.
After the palace banquet ended, His Majesty, the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, the Crown Prince, and others departed, and the court officials left in order.
Madam Xie held Xie Zhaozhao's hand and patted the back of her hand a few times affectionately.
Xie Tingting walked over confidently, smiling sincerely and adorably, with gratitude and envy in her eyes: "Elder sister, you are truly amazing."
Xie Zhaozhao looked at her and smiled, "Congratulations!"
As she emerged from the palace, she immediately spotted Gu Shaoyu waiting at the palace gate.
Today is New Year's Eve, and the entire imperial road and main streets of the capital are adorned with lanterns, making the city bright and cheerful.
"Let's go!" He handed the horse to Nanxing and got into the carriage with Xie Zhaozhao. The flickering light cast shadows on his hard profile, making him look dreamlike and unreal!
Xie Zhaozhao stole glances at him, staring at him with a somewhat infatuated look.
Deep down, she grew to like his calmness, wisdom, and meticulousness more and more. She liked his refined yet masculine nature, his principled yet kind character!
His cool, masculine scent filled her nostrils, making her heart flutter and her mind race.
In this secluded space, perhaps it was the unexpected surprise at the palace banquet, or perhaps it was the aftereffects of the sweet fruit wine, but for the first time, she took the initiative and boldly touched his face with her hand.
A heart, like a sponge soaked with water, experiences an indescribable sense of satisfaction that gradually spreads to every part of the body.
She thought she had been poisoned!
Seeing her like this, Lord Gu didn't dare to move, his upright and dignified figure allowing her to explore him.
But under the flickering light, his eyes, unlike the dignified and serious ones he wore in the palace, were like clear lake water rippling in the spring sun, overflowing with smiles and doting affection.
After touching his face, Xie Zhaozhao gave him a deep kiss on his cool, thin lips.
Gu Shaoyu was stunned for a second, and then his heart was filled with a hundred flowers blooming!
What a wonderful New Year, what wonderful New Year's gifts!
He would never let Xie Zhaozhao suffer a loss, so he immediately grabbed the back of her head and kissed her.
Everything outside was irrelevant to them; at this moment, they only had each other in their eyes and hearts.
Every now and then, someone would send a New Year's greeting to Zhou Shaoyu from outside the car, but Gu Shaoyu would not respond.
He held Xie Zhaozhao in his arms, his wide sleeves covering half of her head. Even if the cold wind accidentally blew a corner open, no one could see his little darling's radiant beauty.
Xie Zhaozhao's heart was pounding as she looked up at him, trying her best not to make any suspicious noises.
The two kissed, as if they were having an affair, excited and happy.
Never before had Gu Shaoyu wished the journey home to be longer than it had this time.
The two didn't say a word. The snowflakes of New Year's Eve fell gently on the car roof, beautiful and peaceful.
Back at the manor, under everyone's gaze, Gu Shaoyu still strode ahead, with Xie Zhaozhao half a step behind closely following.
Aunt Cui had prepared all sorts of fruits and drinks long ago, hoping that everyone in the courtyard would stay up all night to celebrate the New Year together.
However, their wish was not fulfilled. The old lady sent Ta Xue to call Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao, saying that in the guest hall in the front courtyard, the masters of each courtyard would keep the old lady company on New Year's Eve.
Gu Shaoyu asked Xie Zhaozhao if she was willing to go; if not, he would refuse.
Xie Zhaozhao shook her head: "We shouldn't let people criticize us; we should fulfill our filial duties."
After changing out of their court robes and into everyday clothes, Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu washed up and prepared New Year's gifts for the younger generation and elders.
In the darkness, the two walked side by side. Gu Shaoyu held her hand and, under his wide sleeves, gently tickled her palm with his index finger.
My palms feel numb, and my heart is trembling.
The pace slowed considerably, and even the heavy fireworks in the night sky couldn't stop the ever-rising happiness.
Several stoves and braziers were already lit in the main room, and people from all the rooms were present.
It was both surprising and unsurprising that Zhi Baiju and the three Zhi sisters were also there.
As soon as Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao arrived, the atmosphere in the courtyard reached a climax. Gu Boyu and Gu Zhongyu warmly offered their third brother seats, and the old lady, Tu Shi, and Lu Shi all called Xie Zhaozhao to take a seat.
The three Zhi sisters came to greet her together. Zhi Yaoyao said respectfully, "Auntie, please guide me in the future."
Xie Zhaozhao nodded and gave each person a New Year's gift pouch.
"Third sister-in-law, did you really use all your dowry to buy food?"
"Um."
"How much silver would that cost?"
"I think it's worth exchanging it for two iron certificates."
Xie Zhaozhao would never tell them how much silver it would cost; she simply smiled and mentioned the iron certificate.
She was gentle and dignified, but this extreme, Guanyin-like dignity actually made her seem very distant.
Neither of the two sisters-in-law mentioned the money again; they only marveled that the Marquis's mansion had obtained a certificate of merit and was now working hard, as such certificates had not been issued for decades.
The Marquis's Mansion enjoys unparalleled glory.
The old lady was only happy. Although the emperor had bestowed upon her a certificate of merit, which she had not earned herself or through her own children, the fact that she had brought home the daughter-in-law for her third son was her achievement.
There's a custom in Dagan that people stay up until the early hours of the new year, and firecrackers are set off in a flurry to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. Firecrackers are especially essential for families who have welcomed a new baby in the previous year.
Two new brides entered the Marquis's mansion last year, and the mansion has prepared enough firecrackers.
At midnight, firecrackers were going off outside. The men and servants in the mansion all went to set off firecrackers. The best fireworks of the time were going off incessantly in the front yard.
As soon as the first firecracker went off in the kitchen, the dumplings were put into the pot.
Before long, steaming hot dumplings were served.
Men and women did not sit together. Xie Zhaozhao and the old lady sat in the inner room, separated by a screen. Outside were the three Gu brothers and their nephews and nieces.
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