The twelfth lunar month is a busy month, especially for ordinary families, where it is filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
There were fewer people at the imperial palace, but even so, everyone was still extremely busy on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of the twelfth lunar month.
Since it was in the imperial palace, the Empress Dowager had decreed that there was no need for court ceremonies and that the first year in Guanzhou would be celebrated like a regular New Year's Eve, which gave it a festive feel.
If one were in the palace, every word spoken would naturally be recorded by historians, and supervised by scholars of rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing and causing misfortune in the coming year.
Naturally, these things had little to do with Zhao Shu. No historian would record her every word and action, so she was incomparable to the Empress Dowager, the mother of the emperor. This gave her much more freedom.
On the 27th, the imperial kitchen began slaughtering pigs and sheep, and even the Pengcheng army roasted whole sheep, prompting Mo Qin to buy two to reward his subordinates.
There's a folk rhyme: "Make the dough rise on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and steam the buns on the 29th." These two days are the time to prepare staple foods. Zhao Shu thought for a long time, then wrote down a few recipes and handed them to Xing'er, letting her study them herself. Now that she's in the palace, she's been following Jin Xi closely, afraid of not learning any skills, and is working very hard.
On the 29th, the eve of the Lunar New Year, families hold banquets and friends come and go to bid farewell to the old year. Some play the game of passing a flower while beating a drum, some sing and dance, and some bid farewell to the previous day like princes.
The five imperial physicians finally decided to reattach the Crown Prince's leg on the eve of the Lunar New Year. The Empress Dowager summoned Prince Yong and then meditated with Master Wuye. Now, Zhao Shu no longer expected to use Master Wuye to slap Liaoyuan in the face, because Liaoyuan was unworthy. She did not understand this a few days ago, but now she suddenly understands. The Empress Dowager did not want her to disappoint the high monk.
When the leg was being reattached, Li Zhuo came to convey the Crown Prince's message: "Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince wishes that none of you go there. The imperial physicians will notify you once the leg has been reattached."
Zhao Shu nodded, "I understand. Tell the Crown Prince that we are with him."
After Li Zhuo finished reporting, he turned to Sun Yun and said, "Miss Sun, Physician Peng requests that you play a piece called 'High Mountains and Flowing Water'."
"Alright." Sun Yun stopped Banshu and followed Li Zhuo alone with his zither. The Crown Prince certainly didn't want to show his disheveled side to others; the fewer people who knew, the better.
After Sun Yun left, Zhao Shu took a pot of tea, went up to the top floor of the embroidered building, locked herself in her room, opened the window, poured herself a cup of tea, and slowly drank it.
A cold wind swept over her, creeping into her collar, yet she didn't feel cold. The tea quickly went cold, but she continued to sip it. She thought of Li Bai's poem, "Farewell to My Uncle at Xie Tiao Tower in Xuanzhou": "Those who have left me, the days of yesterday cannot be retained. Those who trouble my heart, the days of today are full of worries."
He let out a long sigh, leaned against the window frame, and looked at the snow-covered glazed tiles. He had heard that the weather would usually warm up in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, but perhaps due to the special geographical location of Guanzhou, he did not see the weather warm up. Instead, it was frozen solid and the cold wind was howling.
Suddenly, an eagle-shaped kite shot into the sky and floated into her view. Then came the second, the third, the fourth... Before long, many kites of all colors and shapes floated in the sky.
Can you fly a kite in winter? That was the first question that popped into her unromantic mind.
She chuckled lightly. Running freely on the ground and flying a kite in the sky was such a joyful thing. But she felt that her heart was old. Even with her still-growing body, she felt that flying a kite was too far removed from her.
I wanted to pour myself another cup of tea, but found the teapot was empty. I put the teapot down and decided not to drink anymore. I leaned against the window frame and watched the kites flying all over the sky, temporarily putting aside the matter of the Crown Prince and giving myself a short break.
Suddenly, a kite larger than all the others slowly rose into the air, hovering above them, and began to drift towards the palace.
Closer and closer, Zhao Shu noticed words on the kite and opened her eyes wide. Even with her neck craned and eyes strained, she couldn't make out the words. Fortunately, the kite drew nearer, and she watched intently until her eyes were almost sore, finally managing to read the words.
The text was brief, simply stating, "Wouldn't it make you happier if someone tried to make you laugh?"
After reading the words, she leaned back in her chair, smiled knowingly, and felt a warm feeling in her heart.
She remembered a book she had read before, in which there was a scene where the male protagonist said, "Jianjian."
The female protagonist said, "It's been a long time since anyone called me that."
So the male protagonist kept calling, "Jianjian, Jianjian, Jianjian." At that time, she didn't know why the female protagonist was crying so hard, but now she understands. She was probably feeling extremely bitter and had suddenly found a shoulder to lean on.
"The kite, the kite, it's fallen, it's fallen!" A cry of alarm came from below the embroidered tower. Zhao Shu's heart jumped. The largest kite in the sky had broken its string and fallen into the palace.
She hurriedly opened the door and said to Xiao Guozi outside, "Quickly, go find me the kite and find out who is flying it."
"Yes, Your servant will go right away." Little Guozi hurriedly went off.
Xiao Guozi went down, and Xiao Zhuzi came up, bowing first, "Princess, Consort Hao has gone to Fengxin Palace with a token in hand."
Zhao Shu snorted coldly after hearing this, "Since they've come looking for death, let's not hold back. Let's go take a look."
Today is a crucial day for the Crown Prince; not a single mistake can be made. She cannot let Hao Shumei ruin things.
When she first arrived, she noticed that Hao Shumei had an unusual relationship with the Crown Prince. The reason she chose to enter the city on her birthday was probably because she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to see the Crown Prince when she arrived at the palace. What a clever idea! Such a game of wits, played so casually, is truly hateful!
If she hadn't been rescued in time that day, the Crown Prince might have been driven to his death by her anger.
After leaving the embroidered tower, she hurried towards Fengxin Palace. Just as she arrived at the palace gate, she heard Hao Shumei shout sternly, "I have the Emperor's token. Who dares to stop me!"
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