Chapter 78 During the New Year, his large hand firmly embraced her waist as she leaned back…
After leaving the palace, Cui Ying and Xiao Qiyu discussed where to spend the New Year in the carriage.
Cui Ying felt that since the two of them had been away for several months, they must both want to go back to their respective homes to be with their families. Whether she went to the Marquis's mansion for the New Year or Xiao Qiyu accompanied her to the Duke of Wei's mansion for the New Year, there was a bit of regret.
It would be better if they each went back to their own homes and spent time with their own families. After the New Year, she would return to the Marquis's residence from the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Without a second thought, Xiao Qiyu readily agreed, displaying a casual attitude.
Cui Ying's imagination was beautiful.
But when she returned to the Duke of Wei's mansion and told her parents about her plans, both Madam Kong and Cui Yan had expressions of astonishment, as if they had heard something extraordinary.
"It's the Lunar New Year, who goes back to their parents' home?"
Cui Yan's brows furrowed, and he said decisively, "This is absolutely not going to work. You should immediately return to the Duke of Wei's mansion. The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day your wife returns to her parents' home. You can stay at home as long as you want then, but don't cause any trouble."
Cui Ying, who had been nestled in Kong Shi's arms enjoying a sweet fried dough stick, covered her ears upon hearing this and said, "Father, what are you saying? I can stay at home as long as I want! I understand, thank you, Father!"
Cui Yan was so angry at her ability to feign ignorance that he glared at her and insisted that she return to the Marquis's residence to celebrate the New Year.
When Cui Ying realized that pretending to be stupid wouldn't work, she ran to Fushou Hall and snuggled into the Princess's arms, sobbing incessantly without shedding a single tear. She insisted on staying home with her grandmother and refused to go to the Marquis's mansion.
The eldest princess was already heartbroken that Cui Ying had returned alive from southern Jiangxi, so she naturally did everything she could to help. She hugged Cui Ying tightly and glared at Cui Yan: "The child has just returned from a dangerous situation, she's still not at peace, and you're yelling at her for no reason? It's not a big deal that she just wants to spend the New Year at home, is it? With me here today, let's see who dares to make things difficult for her!"
Cui Yan dared not say another word.
Cui Ying reached out and patted the princess's chest, sobbing as she said, "Grandmother's mood swings are not intentional; Father did it for his granddaughter's sake."
Then she winked at Cui Yan discreetly, her expression as if to say: See, I succeeded after all.
In the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve has arrived.
Inside the Duke of Wei's mansion, bright red lanterns formed a warm glow, swaying under the eaves. Falling snowflakes were reflected in the lantern light, turning into dazzling gold dust. The kitchen was bustling with activity, filled with the aroma of roasting mutton, the sweet and glutinous smell of steamed rice cakes, and the rich fragrance of wine. All these flavors intertwined, creating a strong festive atmosphere.
The Fushou Hall was warm as springtime, with the underfloor heating burning brightly.
The huge round table was laden with all sorts of delicacies, with bowls and plates piled high like mountains.
The whole family sat together, laughing and chatting, clinking glasses.
Cui Ying changed into a brand-new pomegranate-red brocade jacket and skirt with lotus patterns, and wore a red-gold hairpin with kingfisher feathers in her hair, making her look beautiful and festive.
She then moved closer to the princess, picked up a tender and flavorful braised pork hock with silver chopsticks, and fed it to her grandmother in a coquettish manner: "Grandmother, please try this. The cook said it has been stewed for two hours, and it is extremely nourishing!"
A moment later, she ran behind Cui Yan and Kong Shi, hugged Kong Shi's neck, and chattered about how much she missed her mother and father when she was in southern Jiangxi.
A moment later, she was laughing and joking with her brothers and sisters-in-law, playing drinking games and guessing riddles. If she lost, she would happily tilt her head back and drink the sweet fruit wine in her glass. Soon, two blushes of the same color as her clothes would appear on her cheeks. Her eyes would be surprisingly bright, and her whole body would radiate happiness. She was like a happy butterfly, flitting among the guests, as if she wanted to make up for all the months she had missed.
Looking at her daughter's lively and spirited appearance, and thinking of the days of fear and anxiety she had endured in the past, Mrs. Kong felt as if it were a lifetime ago. Her eyes were filled with the joy of regaining what she had lost, and she kept putting food into her bowl.
Although Cui Yan still had a stern face, he was easily coaxed by Cui Ying's few words, and all his anger disappeared. He was even somewhat glad that his daughter was by his side, otherwise, no matter how wonderful the New Year's Eve dinner was this year, it would have been tasteless to him.
On the other side, at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.
Because of the large population, the banquet at the Marquis's residence was more grand than that at the Duke of Wei's residence. The charcoal fire burned very warmly, and the banquet featured a dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea.
Xiao Qiyu sat there, his posture still upright and his demeanor proper.
He listened quietly to his cousins' lively conversation, occasionally responding to their questions with a perfectly timed faint smile. He even picked up the silver pot and poured wine for each of the elders, amidst the cheers of the crowd.
There doesn't seem to be anything wrong.
Aside from the fact that his gaze would occasionally drift to his side.
The empty seats felt especially desolate.
Cui Ying should have been sitting here.
What is Cui Ying doing right now?
Does she joke around with people? Does she drink alcohol? Does she ever... think of him for a moment?
Xiao Qiyu suddenly felt thirsty, as if a sour plum was stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down, with a bitter aftertaste.
He suddenly raised his cup and drank the wine in it in one gulp.
...
Perhaps because he was too comfortable at home, Cui Ying didn't want to leave after the New Year and stayed for several more days.
With the early spring cold snap arriving fiercely and several snowfalls in a row, she had even more reasons to stay, saying things like it was too cold and the roads were too slippery, and she made these excuses with great confidence.
On this day, a heavy, silent snowflake fell, transforming the courtyard into a silver-white wonderland.
Inside Yingchun Pavilion, it was warm and cozy, just like springtime.
Cui Ying ordered someone to bring a small basin of red-hot walnut charcoal and place it inside an exquisite copper wire cover. He then opened a small crack in the diamond-shaped window to let in some air.
The round table was laden with a dazzling array of thinly sliced, evenly cut slices of fresh meat.
Cui Ying, along with several maids, gathered around the stove to roast meat and played drinking games, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The charcoal fire grilled the slices of meat, making an enticing sizzling sound. The oil dripped down, and the smoke carrying a smoky aroma mingled with the sweet scent of wine, filling the entire warm pavilion.
The crab roe had fully developed and was plump. It nestled comfortably in Cui Ying's soft arms, its amber cat eyes wide open, staring intently at the sizzling beef brisket on the grill. It was so eager that it nudged Cui Ying's wrist with its fluffy head, meowing incessantly.
Cui Ying barely ate a few bites herself, feeding almost all the grilled meat slices to the cat. Before long, the cat had eaten its fill of crab roe, its belly round and full, purring contentedly.
"No wonder everyone likes to call a gluttonous cat."
Cui Ying gently scratched the crab's chin fur, teasing it in a high-pitched voice, her cheeks flushed from the charcoal fire and the smell of alcohol: "Why are you so greedy? Looking at your figure, you don't seem like you've been wronged."
Cui Jin smiled and said, "Miss, you must believe in my innocence. Ever since you disappeared, I have kept it by my side day and night, afraid that it would run away. As for food, needless to say, this little ancestor can't live without meat. Even if I try to be perfunctory, it will bark from day to night. No one can sleep until I bring out the meat for it."
"What a little devil!" Cui Ying poked Crab Roe's head, and after a few sips of fruit wine, her eyes were moist and slightly tipsy. She scolded softly, "They say that cats and dogs are like whoever holds them, but why do I feel like you're even harder to please than me? Hmm?"
The crab roe felt so good being poked by her that it tilted its head into her palm, making a comfortable purring sound.
Cui Ying smiled and subconsciously poured herself a full glass of wine. The fruit wine was sweet and delicious, and before she knew it, she had drunk several glasses.
Gradually, Cui Ying felt hot all over, her head was spinning, and she could see double.
She was in a daze, feeling unbearably hot. Slurring her words, she mumbled incoherently to the person next to her, "Xiao Qiyu... I'm so hot. Could you open the window wider so I can get some fresh air?"
The only response she received was the soft crackling of the charcoal fire.
Cui Jin paused for a moment, then gently reminded her, "Miss, are you confused? The young master isn't here."
Upon hearing this, Cui Ying blinked her hazy, drunken eyes and then sobered up.
She looked around and realized that this was indeed Yingchun Pavilion, not Qiyun Pavilion. There was no sign of Xiao Qiyu.
Cui Ying felt that she was truly drunk.
Even if she was drunk, why did she subconsciously call out Xiao Qiyu's name?
Could it be that she's been spending too much time alone with him in southern Jiangxi and has gotten used to having him around?
For some reason, Cui Ying's heart skipped a beat, and her face felt even hotter than before.
She stood up abruptly, her steps unsteady, and stammered, "No, it's too hot, I can't breathe. I need to go out for some fresh air."
As she spoke, ignoring the maid's attempts to stop her, she staggered toward rushing out into the freezing snow.
"Young lady! You mustn't! It's snowing heavily outside! Be careful not to catch a cold!"
Cui Jin hurriedly grabbed the red fox fur cloak draped over her shoulders and chased after her, frantically draping it over her shoulders.
Cui Ying pushed open the door.
A crisp, refreshing wind, mixed with snowflakes, rushed in and hit her burning cheeks and neck, bringing an indescribable coolness.
The cold wind jolted her awake, clearing her muddled mind. Far from feeling cold, she felt refreshed and lightly plunged into the snow. She bent down, made a snowball, and threw it at Cuijin, her laughter ringing out.
"Take this!"
The snowball hit Cui Jin's shoulder, scattering a cloud of snow.
Seeing their mistress having so much fun, the other maids also joined in, each making their own snowballs.
Laughter filled the courtyard, and snowballs flew around.
Cui Ying ran and dodged through the snow, lifting her skirt. Her hair was disheveled, her hair ornaments were askew, her cheeks were rosy, and the white breath she exhaled condensed into a cloud of mist in the air, clinging to her long, curled, black eyelashes.
She was laughing so hard, focused on dodging the snowballs, that she didn't notice where she was stepping and suddenly slipped.
Just as she braced herself to fall, an arm suddenly reached out and a large hand firmly caught her as she leaned back, pulling her into a broad and familiar embrace.
Xiao Qiyu appeared here at some point, his brows slightly furrowed, looking down at her. The white breath he exhaled almost brushed against her red nose, and his hair was covered with unmelted snowflakes.
Her reflection was clearly visible in his dark pupils.
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Author's Note: The plot has been written to this point; winter is over, and spring is just around the corner. [shy]
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