As the New Year draws closer, officials take a year-end holiday, and the people who have been busy all year are happily preparing for the New Year.
Because it was his first time to celebrate the New Year, Helian Yu was particularly looking forward to it.
Under Helian Yu's arrangement, the Imperial Master's Mansion was hung with red silk and red lanterns were hung in front of the door.
"Red Lantern?"
Chang Zuo raised his head and said, "Aren't red lanterns hung only when you get married?"
"Marrying a wife is a happy occasion, and celebrating the New Year is also a happy occasion." Helian Yu admired the big red lantern he made by himself, "Isn't it beautiful? And the material is also very good. Maybe you can use it when you get married."
"No."
Chang Zuo looked at Helian Yu with a stern face.
"My brother already has children, so there's no need for me to continue the bloodline of the Xiao family. Besides, I have no feelings for women."
Helian Yu knew Chang Zuo's straightforward personality: "Understood, let's go in. It's time to post the couplets."
Entering the courtyard, the maids and servants were busy making arrangements. Fruits, pastries and snacks were also delivered to each courtyard, some for offering and some for consumption.
The New Year atmosphere becomes more intense, and the festive pace becomes faster.
On the night of New Year's Eve, fireworks bloomed all over the capital, colorful and dazzling, and lasted for most of the night. The fireworks only stopped at the second watch.
After returning home from the New Year’s Eve palace banquet.
Helian Yu was wearing a brocade robe and a cloak, standing under the eaves.
A hand warmer was handed to me.
She looked at the newcomer, her eyes like a crescent moon: "Master, you have been busy for a year. Thank you for your hard work."
"You too." Xie Rangchen looked at the bright fireworks and said, "I'm going to be away for a while."
"Leaving?" Helian Yu stared at his superior profile and asked, "Why? Master, won't you wait another three years?"
"There are some things that need to be dealt with." Xie Rangchen tilted his head and looked at Helian Yu, "While I'm away, I'll leave my clone behind to urge you to study."
Helian Yu opened his mouth and his voice became hoarse. For a moment he didn't know whether he should be happy or sad.
Read, read, read!
She didn't need to take the imperial examination, so why did she keep studying? What was so good about those crappy books?
Helian Yu did not agree with the teachings of the sages in the book, but he had to learn them.
"Master, can I ask why you insist on making me read those crappy books?"
Helian Yu thought, since he was leaving anyway, there would be no punishment for her disobeying him now, so of course she should be bolder! "Cultivate your character."
Xie Rangchen's four light words almost made Helian Yu jump up.
"Am I not self-disciplined enough? Do I beat people up whenever I see them? When have I not been kind and courteous to others?"
Xie Rangchen remained silent.
"Master! You don't trust me!"
"Forget it! Just go! You have so many important things to do anyway, more important than me!"
Xie Rangchen's eyes were complicated, "Please stop laughing first."
Helian Yu quickly straightened her expression. She was not smiling because she felt freer, she was happy because she was extremely sad!
On the first day of the New Year, Helian Yu got up early and went to pay New Year's greetings to Xie Rangchen.
She had to ask him for a large sum of New Year's money before he left.
However, there was a piece of news that arrived at the main courtyard earlier than her.
"What? Madam Liang died last night!"
Helian Yu looked at Chang An who came to deliver the message, and she couldn't tell what she felt. She was not familiar with Madam Liang and they had only clashed once or twice.
How could Madam Liang, who was supposed to die many years later, suddenly...
"Who did it?"
Chang An had no solid evidence, so he only said what he knew: "The King of Chu left the palace banquet early last night and went to West Street."
Helian Yu understood, but was confused.
She couldn't understand why he would choose to get rid of Mrs. Liang at this time.
Although the sooner Mrs. Liang is dealt with, the fewer hidden dangers there will be, but... is there any unknown secret?
She ran into the room and was greeted by a familiar face drinking tea, but...
"Master?"
The person in front of me looked and acted the same, but his eyes had clearly changed.
So, he's gone? "Yeah. He left you some New Year's money."
Helian Yu didn't know how to address the person in front of him for a moment, so he just took the red envelope he handed over.
"he……"
"He asked me to urge you to study. When are you going to start?"
Helian Yu forced a smile: "I haven't had breakfast yet."
"Then let's start after we finish eating."
Helian Yu gritted her teeth. She already missed her master. At least her master wouldn't urge her so much! Nor would he be so rigid as to only let her study.
"Do you know about Mrs. Liang's situation?" Helian Yu tried to save the situation.
"Madam Liang died because the King of Chu discovered the person behind the manipulation of Madam Liang, that is, the Zhongzhou Kingdom to the west of Daxia."
"Zhongzhou?" Helian Yu had never heard of Zhongzhou, nor had he seen these three words in previous plots, not even on the map. "Does Daxia know about this country?"
"No one knows except the emperor."
The clone who stayed behind tried his best to answer Helian Yu's doubts, but he did not have any emotions that a human should have.
Helian Yu felt a chill on his back. Could it be that Helian Su was hiding something very important? Something that concerned the survival of Daxia?
Thinking of this, Helian Yu prepared to go to the palace.
but--
"Finish your homework first."
Helian Yu: "..."
The joyous occasion lasted for a month, but Helian Yu didn't get any of it.
The long-awaited New Year was also spent in the study.
"The young master seems to have changed."
Even though he was very old, he noticed the difference of the current imperial teacher.
Although the imperial teacher in the past also forced Helian Yu to study, he would not spoil the fun most of the time. He would let Helian Yu have fun first and then study.
But this time, I just let her read.
Helian Yu complained bitterly: "Yes! It has turned into a dead wood!"
"Is there any way to make the young master change back?" Although it had no effect on Chang Zuo, he saw that Helian Yu was not happy and always felt that the atmosphere in the mansion was strange, so he couldn't help but feel awkward. "How about giving him a stick on the head?"
"It's useless." Helian Yu knew the reason very well and lamented, "I can only leave it to fate. But don't worry, he will definitely change back, it's just a matter of time."
"It doesn't matter to me." Chang Zuo said frankly, "After all, the young master didn't force me to study, it was mainly you."
Helian Yu: "..."
Isn't it just time?
She can wait!
The sky is easy to fade, the heat is hard to stay
Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Eight years is enough time for many things to change.
The territory of Daxia doubled, the surrounding small tribes were absorbed and assimilated, and after the mutual communication of writing, the economy of various regions developed further.
The two most important capitals of Daxia were Jingcheng, the capital of the world, and Zhaoyang County, which was renamed Yucheng.
Among the people of Daxia, the four words "Princess Zhaoyang" are known to everyone.
Capital city, imperial palace.
"Father, I think the envoys from Zhongzhou are here to gather information and prepare for war."
Helian Yu is now an adult, and she is wearing a crimson palace dress with a lifelike golden phoenix on it, and a jade bead belt around her waist, which makes her look lively and playful, yet noble.