Chapter 55 New Year's Eve "Let's go home."
Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and a banquet is being held in the palace. Jiang Zhiyao and Yan Zhenxi are currently on their way to the palace in a carriage.
Jiang Zhiyao lifted the car curtain and looked out. On New Year's Eve, there were far fewer vendors on the street than usual. Everyone had closed early and gone home to reunite with their families.
The shops along the street were decorated with lanterns that exuded festive joy, and the sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time in the distance.
"Alright." Yan Zhenxi sat down and cupped Jiang Zhiyao's face, then lowered the carriage curtain.
"You'll catch a cold if you keep looking like this." Yan Zhenxi covered Jiang Zhiyao's face with his hands, which had just been warmed by the hot water bottle.
Jiang Zhiyao's nose was a little red from the cold wind, but her eyes were sparkling with a hint of joy.
"Happy Chinese New Year?" Yan Zhenxi smiled and leaned in to kiss Jiang Zhiyao's nose. He lowered his hand after noticing that her face was no longer as cold as before.
"Of course." Jiang Zhiyao's eyes crinkled into a smile. "Aren't you happy to spend the New Year with me?"
"Of course I'm happy." Yan Zhenxi paused. "I'd be even happier if it were just the two of us today."
He knew that another reason Jiang Zhiyao was so happy was that she could see her Sister Ji and Mingzhu at the banquet later.
"We'll come back after the palace banquet, and we won't stay in the palace," Jiang Zhiyao reassured him, and then kissed Yan Zhenxi's lips.
Just as Yan Zhenxi was about to return the kiss, she covered her lips and quickly shook her head: "No, we're almost there, it will be very obvious later."
Yan Zhenxi chuckled softly, "Ayao, I'm being gentle, I'm not lying to you."
After Jiang Zhiyao put her hand down, he stepped forward and touched her soft lips, giving her a light kiss before letting go.
"Since I've been so obedient, how about you sit next to me at the banquet later?" Yan Zhenxi hugged her and said softly, a strand of hair falling onto Jiang Zhiyao's dark hair, making them look inseparable.
At previous banquets, Jiang Zhiyao would always slip away to other people in the blink of an eye.
"Okay," Jiang Zhiyao replied.
Today's banquet is grand, and the seating is all fixed. Of course, Jiang Zhiyao will not be sitting with Sister Ji and Mingzhu like she usually does at those fun banquets.
We only talk when we have free time.
After disembarking from the carriage, palace servants led them to the palace where the banquet was to be held. Unlike when Jiang Zhiyao first came to the palace to attend a banquet, today their seats were on the upper left.
One is the Empress's sister, and the other is the current Grand Secretary; naturally, no one dares to neglect them.
Jiang Zhiyao saw several ladies with whom she had a good relationship and was about to stand up to say something, but as soon as she stood up slightly, her hand was held and wouldn't let go.
She glanced to her side and saw Yan Zhenxi sitting quietly in his seat, turning his head to look at her: "You promised to sit next to me."
"I'm just going over to talk, I'll be right back," Jiang Zhiyao said softly.
Yan Zhenxi still didn't let go of Jiang Zhiyao's hand, so Jiang Zhiyao had to lean over slightly and coax him, "Really, I'll be right back."
"Husband." After Jiang Zhiyao called out, Yan Zhenxi finally let go of her hand.
The others at the banquet were somewhat surprised by this. Yan Zhenxi did not try to hide his actions, and the scene just now was seen by the others who were secretly watching them.
Previously, at the banquet, Jiang Zhiyao didn't sit with Yan Zhenxi much, so they thought the two didn't get along and that the rumors about their close relationship were just that—rumors. Now it seems they were wrong.
Some people who wanted to strike up a conversation gave up, and Lord Yan didn't seem to be in a good mood.
Just before the banquet was about to begin, and shortly after the Empress arrived, Jiang Zhiyao returned and took her seat.
Seeing the somewhat resentful look in Yan Zhenxi's eyes, Jiang Zhiyao felt a little guilty. She had originally intended to say a few words and then come back, but Mingzhu happened to come over, and she forgot about it for a moment.
Yan Zhenxi dislikes attending banquets. Every time he comes, Jiang Zhiyao is easily drawn away by other people or things besides him, as if he could be easily abandoned by Jiang Zhiyao if someone else is around.
Having spent so much time together, Jiang Zhiyao naturally knew what he was thinking. Using the large tablecloth as a cover, Jiang Zhiyao reached down and took Yan Zhenxi's hand, which was hanging by his side.
"Don't be angry." Jiang Zhiyao gently shook her, as if she were being coquettish. "I just haven't seen them for a while, so I went over to chat. Anyway, we'll be together all the time from now on, so a little time won't make a difference."
"Mmm," Yan Zhenxi responded softly, "Shake it again."
"What?" Jiang Zhiyao didn't react for a moment, and it took her a while to understand. She immediately tried to let go of Yan Zhenxi's hand, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Yan Zhenxi grabbed Jiang Zhiyao's hand as she tried to let go, his long fingers squeezing between hers, their fingers intertwined tightly.
"Alright." Jiang Zhiyao let him hold her hand for a while, then gently shook it again. "The banquet is about to begin."
Hearing Jiang Zhiyao's words, Yan Zhenxi reluctantly let go of her hand.
At the banquet, Yan Zhenxi, as usual, served Jiang Zhiyao tea and even personally took care of tasks like removing fish bones that could be left to servants before handing them to her.
Jiang Zhiyao was used to it and didn't think much of it, but the other ministers who noticed were secretly surprised. They didn't expect that someone as cold and aloof as Chief Minister Yan could be so caring and attentive.
At the banquet, Jiang Zhiyao was enjoying the beautiful song and dance performance. Perhaps noticing her focused gaze, one of the dancers in the middle smiled at Jiang Zhiyao and gently flicked her water sleeves towards her.
"Wow!" Jiang Zhiyao exclaimed softly, her eyes brightening slightly, and she straightened up a little.
"Ayao, would you like some water chestnut cake?" Yan Zhenxi's voice suddenly came from beside her. "It's quite sweet."
Jiang Zhiyao's eyes were reluctant to leave the dance in the middle, and she replied without looking at Yan Zhenxi, "No need, I'll eat later."
While watching the women's song and dance, Yan Zhenxi was fine, only occasionally asking Jiang Zhiyao a few questions. But when the men's song and dance came out, Yan Zhenxi couldn't help but directly grasp Jiang Zhiyao's hand, which was still on the table: "Ayao."
Seeing Yan Zhenxi's slightly dissatisfied expression, Jiang Zhiyao took his hand and squeezed his palm under the table: "I'm just enjoying the song and dance, I only like you."
"You have to keep an eye on me when we get back," Yan Zhenxi said in a low voice.
"Okay," Jiang Zhiyao replied softly.
As if comforted, Yan Zhenxi didn't say anything more, and Jiang Zhiyao held his hand tightly without letting go.
After the song and dance ended and the banquet was drawing to a close, Jiang Zhiyao took a peeled orange from Yan Zhenxi and tugged at his sleeve: "There will be fireworks later, let's watch them before we leave?"
"Okay." Yan Zhenxi picked up a clean silk handkerchief from the side and wiped her hands, then took Jiang Zhiyao's hand. "Ayao."
"What's wrong?" Jiang Zhiyao was still eating an orange when she heard Yan Zhenxi call her, so she turned her head to look.
"You have to be next to me when we watch the fireworks later," Yan Zhenxi said seriously.
Jiang Zhiyao was both amused and exasperated: "Of course."
After the banquet, everyone went to the Star-Picking Tower to watch the fireworks. The Star-Picking Tower is the tallest building in the capital, and from the top, you can have a panoramic view of the entire city.
The fireworks were spectacular. Jiang Zhiyao held Yan Zhenxi's hand, her eyes glued to the beautiful scene before her.
Yan Zhenxi moved closer to Jiang Zhiyao so that she could lean on him and not get tired of standing, and also to block some of the cool breeze blowing from above.
The dazzling fireworks faded, leaving only silence and a dark sky. But this time, Jiang Zhiyao didn't feel the usual loneliness she felt after watching fireworks. She turned to Yan Zhenxi and said gently, "Let's go home."
“Okay,” Yan Zhenxi replied with a smile.
Feeling a bit tired, Jiang Zhiyao took a short nap in the carriage on the way back to the manor. Noticing that the carriage had stopped, she lifted herself off Yan Zhenxi's shoulder and straightened up: "Are we home?"
"Mm." Yan Zhenxi got off the carriage first, and then led Jiang Zhiyao down.
Back in the dormitory, Yan Zhenxi helped Jiang Zhiyao take off her fox fur coat: "Would you like to rest first?"
Jiang Zhiyao shook her head: "We have to stay up all night tonight."
Yan Zhenxi smiled and pinched Jiang Zhiyao's cheek: "You can go to sleep if you're sleepy. It's okay if you don't stay up all night. I'll sleep with you."
Overwhelmed by sleepiness, Jiang Zhiyao finally accepted Yan Zhenxi's suggestion.
After washing up, Jiang Zhiyao crawled into the quilt and hugged Yan Zhenxi inside. She liked to hug Yan Zhenxi the most when sleeping in winter because he was warmer than her.
In the distance, the faint sounds of fireworks and firecrackers could be heard. Jiang Zhiyao, nestled in the warm and comfortable quilt, lifted her head from Yan Zhenxi's chest and suddenly said to him with a smile, "I'm so happy today."
I like you so much, and the thought of spending this holiday with you makes me so happy. But Jiang Zhiyao is still too shy to say these feelings out loud.
"I like Ayao so much." Yan Zhenxi understood Jiang Zhiyao's implication and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.
Jiang Zhiyao cupped Yan Zhenxi's face in her hands, her forehead pressed against his, her voice tinged with amusement: "We agreed at the banquet that I would keep an eye on you after we got back."
"You still remember?" Yan Zhenxi said softly, as if dissatisfied that Jiang Zhiyao had only remembered now.
“I’ve always remembered,” Jiang Zhiyao said. “Feel under your pillow and see what’s there.”
Following her words, Yan Zhenxi took out the New Year's money from under the pillow.
"This is all money I earned from my shop," Jiang Zhiyao said with a hint of pride.
"Ah Yao is amazing," Yan Zhenxi praised her with a smile, "You've earned so much."
"Ayao, feel under your pillow too."
Jiang Zhiyao also took out New Year's money from below, but unlike ordinary New Year's money, it contained house deeds and land deeds.
"This is the money I just earned; I've given it all to Ayao."
"Wow." Jiang Zhiyao couldn't help but start counting, but before she could look at a few pictures, Yan Zhenxi pressed her hand down.
"How about we look at it tomorrow? Ayao promised to keep an eye on me when she comes back," Yan Zhenxi said softly.
"I like you." Jiang Zhiyao put the New Year's money back, cupped Yan Zhenxi's face and kissed him several times, from his forehead to his chin.
Yan Zhenxi narrowed his eyes slightly, and after Jiang Zhiyao stopped, he said, "Give me another kiss."
Jiang Zhiyao kissed his cheek.
"Give me another kiss."
Jiang Zhiyao kissed his other cheek.
"Give me another kiss."
Jiang Zhiyao bit his lip hard.
Yan Zhenxi chuckled softly.
When Jiang Zhiyao woke up the next morning, the first thing she saw was Yan Zhenxi. He hadn't gotten out of bed yet and was just playing with Jiang Zhiyao's loose hair.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyao wake up, he gently leaned closer to her in the morning light and said, "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Jiang Zhiyao replied with a smile.
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