Celebrate the New Year and the Old Year tonight

Spring Festival Special

On the first day of the first lunar month, the snow cleared up.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the palace servants started working early in the morning. The fire in the hall was burning brightly, and the subtle fragrance of red plum blossoms was floating quietly in the warm stove.

Gu Zi'an's bony hands passed through Ji Mingxiu's long dark blue hair. He lowered his eyes and carefully braided the crimson rope into the ends of her hair.

In the past few years of sharing a bed with His Majesty, he never delegated these matters to others, which made his hands, which were used to holding swords, not inferior to others in doing such delicate work.

"The red rope can ward off evil and ward off disasters. Your Majesty will surely have a safe and smooth year."

He muttered to himself that the general who never believed in ghosts and gods on the battlefield was particularly superstitious about His Majesty.

Ji Mingxiu, on the other hand, was getting impatient. He had to get up early every year on the first day of the lunar year to worship his ancestors, and the process was complicated and tedious. On the table was the sacrificial text that the imperial teacher had prepared for him to read today, but he had not yet reviewed it thoroughly.

He was like a cat without bones, half lying in Gu Zi'an's arms and mumbling, "Why haven't you recovered yet? I'm hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pearl curtain rang, and Qiu Ling entered the hall holding a gilded food box.

"On the first day of the first lunar month, we have to eat dumplings. This is your majesty's favorite crystal shrimp dumplings. There is also sweet osmanthus cake. Your majesty, please eat first."

Each one is for one person only.

Qiu Ling had no good face towards Gu Zi'an who had taken away his job, so he could only serve His Majesty whenever he could.

After all, opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.

"Great! Qiu Ling still understands me the best! But..."

He had not yet put on his crown and robes; they were too complicated and difficult to wear, and he was reluctant to start.

"I am here to serve your majesty."

Before Ji Mingxiu finished speaking, Qiu Ling handed a shrimp dumpling to him.

Gu Zi'an, who was standing behind him, lowered his eyebrows and glanced at Qiu Ling, who was being attentive. He then adjusted the crown and jade belt, and wrapped his hands around the slender waist. He suddenly pulled the emperor into his arms, declaring his status as the queen.

The two people reflected in the bronze mirror, one standing and one kneeling, trapped Ji Mingxiu between them, with their sharp edges hidden and not giving in. Ji Mingxiu seemed to be accustomed to this kind of scene and was completely unaware of the open and secret struggles between the two.

"Father!" The pearl curtain was suddenly shattered by the north wind, and Li Qingyun stepped in wrapped in snow, with residual snow on the hem of his clothes. A delicate little head poked out from the silver fox fur, and a crisp child's voice broke through the smoke in the hall. "Happy New Year!"

"A Yuan insisted on coming to congratulate His Majesty."

He still held A Yuan in his arms, not letting him disturb His Majesty. He gently pinched A Yuan's rosy cheeks with his slender fingertips, half jokingly and half with a sigh.

"Your Highness, please grow up quickly, so your father won't have to work so hard."

But when Ayuan grows up, he will be really old, and I don’t know if he can still stay by Your Majesty’s side.

*

The snow covering the nine-tiered jade steps of the Imperial Temple had already been swept clean. As the emperor's personal guard, Cheng Tianfeng had been keeping an eye on the safety issues before and after the ancestor worship, and he had not slept for several nights.

"May the rivers be clear and the seas peaceful, and the years be peaceful and prosperous..."

He looked at the bright yellow figure on the altar from afar, and the cold scabbard left dark patterns in his clenched palm.

May Your Majesty be blessed with everything and enjoy peace every year. He is willing to go through fire and water and even death.

The music gradually faded away, and the ancestor worship ceremony finally came to an end.

"Your Majesty, be careful." Gu Zi'an took a few steps forward and held His Majesty's hand. It was indeed freezing cold.

He paid no attention to the officials' gazes and immediately took off his dark cloak and covered His Majesty with it. The lining of the cloak still carried his body temperature.

It was a fine day and everyone was used to this kind of scene, but they could not defeat the general in terms of power or force, so they could only watch and pretend nothing happened.

When all the officials turned their backs, Qiu Ling also stuffed the gilded hand warmer into His Majesty's arms. Each of them relied on their own abilities and did not delay each other.

After the ancestor worship ceremony, it was time for a family banquet and the officials went home to reunite with their families.

Twelve-branch colored glass lanterns hung from the four corners of the warm pavilion, illuminating the entire room with an amber honey glow. Ah Yuan, wrapped in a silver fox fur coat, rolled around on the brocade felt, fiddling with his toy figurines, much like Gu Zian's youth, arranging his troops.

After accepting the New Year's money from his father and several other dads, he also followed the adults' example and picked out a rattle inlaid with oriental pearls from his toys and handed it to his father.

"May my father be healthy forever."

Seeing that His Highness was about to climb onto His Majesty again, Li Qingyun at the side grabbed him at the right time and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has really grown up. A big boy has already learned to eat by himself, right?"

A Yuan (unhappy): I want to be close to my father

"I have prepared a gift for Your Majesty."

As usual, Gu Zi'an would start the process every year by handing over a safety lock that he had carved himself. Ji Mingxiu would receive many of these safety items every year, but he would still keep them close to him.

Su Yuanbai presented a hand-copied copy of the Heart Sutra, which was written with cinnabar and gold powder and had been enshrined in a temple. He hoped that Your Majesty would be free from worries and stay away from disasters.

With these two gifts, Qiu Ling, who was standing aside, looked at the Five Blessings Clothes that she had sewed herself, and couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.

This is too shabby. He really doesn't know what he was thinking at the time. Not to mention His Majesty, he can't help but feel disgusted when he sees it now.

But His Majesty was looking at him expectantly, so he had no choice but to present it.

"It's very beautiful. I didn't expect that Qiu Ling has such skills." Ji Mingxiu looked at the Five Blessings Clothes in front of him. The stitches were so fine that it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into it. It was not much different from the embroiderers in the palace.

"It is a blessing for me to be favored by your majesty."

His Majesty's words made Qiu Ling feel dizzy. He pinched the wound caused by the needle on his fingertips, and the dense tingling sensation made his brain barely clear.

Cheng Tianfeng did not have Qiu Ling's complicated thoughts. When he presented the rabbit lantern made of red plum branches, the joy in his eyes was about to overflow.

"When I was on patrol, I saw this red plum blossom in full bloom. I liked it very much and gave it to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will be happy."

After everyone had given their gifts, Ji Mingxiu's gaze shifted to Li Qingyun. He was the last one to give one, so what was this old fox trying to say?

"For His Majesty." Li Qingyun smiled mysteriously, took out a wooden box from his arms and placed it in front of His Majesty, but did not say what was in it. He just put his fingertips along His Majesty's cuffs on the jade-like wrist, rubbing out ambiguous red marks.

"Your Majesty will surely like it."

"What are you doing? So mysterious..." Ji Mingxiu opened it curiously, but closed it immediately after taking a glance. His fair face turned red, and he felt embarrassed and annoyed. "Li Qingyun!"

"What did Master give Father?"

Ah Yuan was also very curious and was about to lean over to take a look, but was forcibly held back by Li Qingyun.

"Children are not allowed to watch."

A Yuan: Master just said I was a big kid

With a "bang", the moment the fireworks exploded outside the palace, Gu Zi'an held His Majesty in his arms, and the gorgeous fireworks were reflected in His Majesty's eyes, but none of the people around him looked up at the fireworks.

Snow falls and red plum blossoms bloom, the new year has arrived.

Wish you all a happy new year and all the best!