After receiving such an answer, all the officials and nobles were at a loss, and could only be arranged by the eunuchs to return to their respective residences without mentioning the matter.

Many people slept uneasily that night.

Emperor Jingming rested with the Empress.

Although it was a temporary bedroom, the heating in the floor was burning brightly, and the house was as warm as spring.

The emperor and the empress slept on the same bed, but neither of them could fall asleep.

After turning over and over countless times, Emperor Jingming simply got up from the bed and walked to the window.

The smoky blue curtains blocked the view outside the window.

Emperor Jingming stretched out his hand and pushed open the window, and the biting cold wind rushed in instantly.

There were soft footsteps behind me, and then an extra coat appeared on my body.

"Your Majesty, be careful not to catch a cold."

Emperor Jingming turned his head and saw the empress with her hair loose standing beside him, with worry in her eyes.

Emperor Jingming pointed out the window and said in an inexplicable tone: "Empress, look, the snow has stopped."

The queen looked out.

It was late at night, but the corridor outside was hung with strings of bright red lanterns. At this moment, the orange-red light from the lanterns merged into one, illuminating the courtyard outside the window.

The snow had indeed stopped. Snow was piled up in the corners of the yard and on the eaves, and the white was dazzling.

The queen nodded slightly and said softly: "Yes, the snow has stopped, and we can return to the palace tomorrow."

Emperor Jingming was silent for a moment, then laughed at himself: "Every time I came to Cuiluo Mountain to offer sacrifices to the heavens, I always secretly hoped to stay overnight. It was novel and interesting just thinking about it, but now that I really have this opportunity, I hope to return to the palace as soon as possible..."

"Your Majesty, no one could have imagined that something like this would happen—"

Emperor Jingming waved his hand to stop the empress from trying to comfort him, and said with a wry smile: "That being said, if it were in the palace, how could the prince and Concubine Yang possibly——"

The queen twitched the corners of her lips and did not refute, but she sighed in her heart.

The prince did something so unethical, but the emperor actually thought that he had provided the prince with an opportunity, without thinking that a rotten thing to the core would sooner or later cause trouble.

It seems that the emperor has not completely despaired of the prince.

With this knowledge, the queen became more cautious in what she said.

The emperor was bored and reached out to close the window: "Queen, go and have a rest."

In Yuhe Garden of Prince Yan's Mansion, Jiang Si woke up in a daze.

Hearing the noise, Ah Man asked in a hoarse voice: "Master, would you like some water?"

Jiang Si sat up: "Bring me a glass of warm water."

Ah Man quickly brought over a cup of warm water.

Jiang Si took the cup of water, took two sips, got off the bed, put on his slippers and walked towards the window.

"Has the snow stopped?"

On a cold winter night, she, who was pregnant, did not dare to open the window and could only stare at the dim view outside through the curtains.

"Stop." Although Ah Man didn't understand why his master was paying special attention to the weather changes today, he would carry out his master's orders without fail.

She checked to see if the snow had stopped before she lay down.

Jiang Si smiled faintly: "It's good that it has stopped. People should come back now."

Ah Man was a nosy person, and upon hearing this, he immediately smiled and said, "Yes, I heard that the Emperor led the nobles and officials to the outskirts of the city to offer sacrifices to the heavens today. Because of the snowstorm, they stayed outside. They will be able to return tomorrow when the snow stops."

Jiang Si looked out the window and murmured, "I mean, it's time for A-Jian to come back."

Ah Man didn't hear clearly for a moment, and asked hurriedly: "Master, what did you say?"

Jiang Si recovered his thoughts and looked at her, then smiled and said, "Nothing to say, go and have a rest. Remember to ask the kitchen to make steamed meat tomorrow morning."

The lean and fat pork is cut into even pieces, boiled with water and seasonings, then sliced ​​and placed on dried beans. It is then smeared with salt, sugar and other ingredients. Mashed garlic is also essential. It is then steamed in a steamer and a big bowl of fragrant steamed meat is ready.

In this cold winter, eating crispy steamed meat with sour beans soaked in meaty aroma is simply the ultimate delicacy.

Ah Man couldn't help swallowing his saliva when he thought about it, and suggested: "I think it would be more delicious if we spread some fermented bean curd on it and steam it in a steamer."

Jiang Si couldn't help but laugh.

Yu Qi likes to eat steamed meat, but steamed meat is full of fat and cannot be eaten when it is cold. In winter, it is delicious only when it is hot out of the pot. He stayed in the clan residence for a few days, and this dish was not available when the food was delivered, so he naturally could not eat it.

Ah Man discussed with her seriously how to make steamed meat taste better, which made Jiang Si very happy.

She just wanted Ah Man to live a simple and enjoyable life.

"Then I'll have one bowl with fermented bean curd and one bowl with mashed garlic. We'll try them tomorrow to see which one tastes better."

Ah Man happily agreed, helped Jiang Si onto the bed, and looked forward to tomorrow.

In the clan residence, Yu Jin was also unable to sleep as he stared at the ceiling.

I haven't seen Ah Si for several days.

If I had known I should have been more patient, I wouldn’t have separated from Asi.

Yu Jin turned over and over again, tossing and turning on the bed like a pancake.

The guard couldn't help but stick his head out.

Yu Jian glanced over and waved to the clerk.

The clerk stepped forward and asked: "What do you want, Your Majesty? Do you want some water?"

Yu Jin sat up and said lazily, "Why drink water in such a cold weather? I want to eat steamed meat."

The clerk was stunned.

Did he hear it wrongly?

"You heard me right. I want to eat steamed meat."

The clerk shook his face and said, "Your Majesty, I have no place to get you steamed meat right now."

"Can't get it?"

The clerk nodded vigorously: "I can't get it."

"Can't even steam meat?"

The clerk almost knelt down and said, "My Lord, the clan residence is not a wine shop. Let alone in the middle of the night, you can't just steam meat in broad daylight."

To be honest, this gentleman is in prison. I thought he was in the palace.

Yu Jin sighed and said angrily, "It's really not as comfortable here as in the palace. It's better to leave as soon as possible."

The clerk twitched his lips, feeling a bit of contempt in his heart.

Do you think you can leave the Imperial Clan Court whenever you want? This is where the royal family is imprisoned. If you come in without the emperor's order, don't even think about leaving.

The Prince of Yan beat the Crown Prince, and based on his experience, he would be imprisoned for at least half a year.

"Go get some paper and pen."

"You want to write a letter?" the clerk guessed.

Yu Jin glanced at him and said impatiently, "Why write a letter? Let me draw a bowl of steamed meat for you to see."

The clerk: “…” He was sure that a man like the Prince of Yan would be imprisoned for at least a year, and he would end up slapping himself in the face!

Yu Jin sighed deeply in his heart.

I want to eat steamed meat, and I miss Ah Si even more. I even miss Erniu's dog face a little.

The next day the sun came out early, and as it rose higher, it melted the thin layer of snow on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please ride back to the palace." Pan Hai, who had hardly slept all night, asked.

Emperor Jingming stood up and flicked his sleeves: "Return to the palace!"

"Let's go! --" The loud chanting disturbed the tranquility of Cuiluo Mountain, and soon a long dragon-like team slowly descended the mountain road.

The snow had melted, but the ground was still a little slippery. The team finally returned to the imperial city after a much longer journey.

Looking at the familiar golden tiles and red walls, Emperor Jingming breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally I'm back, it's time to settle the accounts.