The next day is Chinese New Year.
In the early morning, before the sun rises, the streets of Kyoto City are no different, but every household is already busy.
Some were hanging peach charms, and some were sweeping the floor.
"Don't sweep outwards, sweep from the door inwards today."
"Oh, no, it's hanging crookedly. A little to the left... Ouch, that's right!"
"Be careful"
"Bang..." The sound of porcelain falling to the ground.
"It's okay, it's okay. May you be safe every year, safe every year!" Even if the little girl accidentally broke the porcelain, she would not be scolded today.
There were all kinds of noises coming from all over the place. People from all the houses were preparing for New Year's Eve. They had to welcome the gods at dawn the next day, so they had to clean up the house so as not to let the gods feel that they were not welcome.
The masters of each mansion gathered in their own ancestral halls to worship their ancestors.
Ye Chen and his family of four were all in the ancestral hall. Lan Yu accompanied Xiao Hang in the medicine garden and kowtowed to Xiao Hang's parents.
Lan Yu was from Ye Nan. Ye Nan also had ancestor worship, but the etiquette and rituals were much more complicated than this.
Xiao Hang felt that Lan Yu had not yet married into the family, so there was no need for her to kowtow to his parents. Lan Yu did not kneel, but just stood and bowed to Xiao Hang's parents.
After coming out of the ancestral hall, Ye Chen and Shen Qiu went to Xiyuan, where they also kowtowed to Ye Chen's parents.
After Aunt Hua left, no one lived here anymore. The little girl would be scared if she moved in, so except for cleaning every day, there was basically no one here.
This time, the feeling is different from the last time. The last time I came, this place was still somewhat popular, but now it is deserted and gloomy.
Aunt Hua followed them in and burned incense to Ye Chen's parents.
After lunch, Xiao Su combed Chen Qiu's hair into a bun to match her palace dress. Under Xiao Su's guidance, Ye Chen put on some hair accessories for Chen Qiu.
After inserting it, Ye Chen looked at Chen Qiu, whose hair was covered with pearls and jade, and said, "This doesn't look good. Let's take out that set of Nanzhu headpiece."
Chen Qiu said, "No need for that. That headgear is too eye-catching."
Ye Chen said, "You wore that headdress once, on your birthday. Don't you like it?"
Chen Qiu said, "I like it, but isn't there something important happening today? What if it breaks?"
Ye Chen interrupted Chen Qiu and said, "Wear it if you like. These headpieces are too common. I have to ask Cui Yu Pavilion to make some special ones this year."
Before she could finish her words, Ye Chen pulled off the pearl hairpin on Chen Qiu's head.
The old Duke changed into his official uniform, and Lady Xiao changed into her imperial robes.
He set out for the palace at the beginning of the You hour.
Only Xiao Hang and Mingyue were left at home. Black Hawk returned to the emperor first, but hid in the dark.
Chen Qiu is accompanied by Mingyue and Xiaofu. Although Xiaofu is mentally retarded, he is obedient, especially to Chen Qiu.
Chen Qiu said to her: "Xiaofu, you follow Sister Xing'er. If you want to do something, you must let Sister Xing'er accompany you, okay?"
Originally, Xiaofu could not be brought into the palace, but today was special. Chen Qiu could not use force and was in a heavy body. After much consideration, Ye Chen decided to bring Xiaofu with him.
Rather than letting Xiaofu offend the nobles in the palace and let him clean up the mess, he chose to let Xiaofu protect Chen Qiu.
Even if I offended a noble, so what? In the palace, besides the emperor and empress, there were also two princes. Who else could be more noble than me?
Ye Chen didn't take the emperor's concubines seriously.
Ye Chen always arrived late at the palace banquets.
After the old Duke and Madam Xiao sat down, Ye Chen helped Chen Qiu sit down.
After Ye Chen sat down, he glanced at Yan Qinglian's seat and said with a smile, "Lord Yan always arrives early. Why hasn't he come today?"
Dali Temple Minister Zheng said, "Lord Yan has asked for leave, saying he caught a cold before the New Year and hasn't recovered yet."
Ye Chen snorted coldly and said, "I'm afraid it's a mental illness." He didn't say anything else after that. He picked up Chen Qiu's right hand and played with the calluses on Chen Qiu's hand.
Generally speaking, in such situations, the woman sits behind the man on his left and cannot sit on the same level as her husband.
Every time Ye Chen came, he asked people to put Chen Qiu's seat next to him.
The emperor and the elders in his family didn't say anything, and no one else dared to say anything. The Minister of Rites even reminded Ye Chen about this, but Ye Chen just thought he was meddling in other people's business.
Chen Qingyun and Gu Ruojin sat opposite Ye Chen and Shen Qiu. Chen Qingyun was still a little nervous about what happened today.
After all, he knew Yan Qinglian too well. Yan Qinglian never did anything without certainty. This time, Yan Qinglian was determined to succeed!
He really wanted to go to Ye Chen and ask him what his plans were. He didn't want to take his whole family to gamble on a battle that was not sure of success.
Years ago, Chen Qingyun had visited him many times but Ye Chen had rejected him. Now that the matter was at hand, why was this person still like that?
At least give him a look that reassures him.
The palace banquet officially began at 12:30 pm.
After three rounds of drinks, we enjoyed several rounds of singing and dancing.
Unmarried girls all want to perform well today so that they can win the favor of the ladies in wealthy families, which will increase their chances of marrying into a wealthy family.
The girls' various talent performances also won praise from the adults.
A girl with almond-shaped eyes and a round face was struggling to twitch her sleeves and perform a difficult dance.
Suddenly, with a "bang", a little palace maid covered in blood broke through the door and flew in. She landed beside the girl, spat out two mouthfuls of blood, and died with her eyes wide open.
The dancing girl screamed "Ah" and sat down on the ground, shaking all over.
Mrs. Zheng hurried forward to support the girl and said, "Sister, how are you?"
The girl trembled and said, "My legs are weak and I can't stand up, sister..."
Before he could finish his words, there was a cry of killing outside. Shen Qiu glanced at Xing'er. Xing'er stepped forward to help Madam Zheng and Madam Zheng's sister up, and then they stood behind Ye Chen and Shen Qiu together.
As Yan Qinglian came in with a group of people, he glanced at the people who were already gathered in fear and said, "Don't let an old man like me disturb your elegant enjoyment at the New Year's Eve palace banquet."
The emperor stood up and said, "Lord Yan, what do you mean by this?"
Yan Qinglian said, "Your Majesty, I have recovered from my cold and am here to attend the palace banquet. Doesn't Your Majesty welcome me?"
The emperor snorted coldly and said, "Lord Yan, do you think that I should welcome you with open arms just because you act like this?"
Yan Qinglian chuckled and said, "My methods may not be very gentle, but I am much better than some flatterers, aren't I? Old Duke Ye?"
The old Duke and Madam Xiao were still eating and drinking, but were now blocked behind by the crowd.
When everyone looked away, the old prince was feeding shrimp to Lady Xiao.
Yan Qinglian looked at the old Duke, calmly fed Lady Xiao shrimp, and then slowly picked up a handkerchief to wipe his hands.
Then he stood up and straightened his official uniform. Everyone in the palace held their breath, waiting for the old duke to speak. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
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