readx(); A few days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve of the twenty-fifth year of Tianwu.
Because Concubine Yun lived in Prince Chun's Mansion, Xuan Tianming arranged for the whole family to go to Prince Chun's Mansion to celebrate the New Year. But speaking of the whole family, it was only him and Feng Yuheng, and at most they would bring their attendant Bai Ze and their maid Wang Chuan Huang Quan. Originally, Feng Yuheng would also bring Xiang Rong, but Xiang Rong moved to Prince Chun's Mansion before her, so she had no one to bring. Xuan Tianming also proposed to let Feng Zirui leave the palace for the New Year during the last morning court session of the old year, but was rejected by Emperor Tianwu, who forcibly kept Feng Zirui in the palace on the grounds that "I like that child very much."
Feng Yuheng didn't say anything about this. After all, she couldn't control many things. At least the current Dashun Dynasty was still ruled by Emperor Tianwu. If the emperor wanted to keep someone in the palace, how else could she bring the person out except stealing? Fortunately, Xuan Tianming and Xuan Tianhua had arranged people to look after her in the palace, so she didn't have to worry too much.
The group got on the imperial carriage and drove towards Prince Chun's Mansion, rolling over the snow that had fallen the previous night. At that time, at the gate of Prince Chun's Mansion, the Fourth Prince Xuan Tianyi came out of the mansion himself and rushed over to pick up Xiangrong to spend the New Year in his mansion.
Feng Xiangrong stood in front of Prince Chun's mansion, with a maid holding an umbrella for her. She was wearing a pure white cloak with a furry collar and hood, which made her face look even cleaner and fresher. She also vaguely resembled Xuan Tianhua in white.
Xuan Tianyi looked displeased and frowned, saying, "This color doesn't suit you. Why is a little girl wearing white? Are you in mourning?"
Xiang Rong ignored his words and said calmly: "You can go back. I will not spend the New Year at Prince Ping's mansion. You and I are just a master and a disciple. I have never heard of a master spending the New Year at his disciple's house. What's more, you are a prince. This is against the rules."
"The Seventh Prince is still a prince!" Xuan Tianyi pointed at the Prince Chun's Mansion and shouted angrily, "The Seventh Prince is also a prince, so what? Is it in accordance with the rules for you to spend the New Year at his house?"
Xiang Rongtong explained to him, "That's because the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince have a close relationship, and the Ninth Princess and I are sisters. I stayed here to wait for my sister to come and celebrate the New Year. If you don't believe me, just wait a little longer at the gate of this mansion. I think the Ninth Prince and my second sister will be here soon."
"You said they are coming here to celebrate the New Year as well?" Xuan Tianyi was a little puzzled. "It's the first year of their marriage. Why are they coming here to join in the fun instead of just enjoying their own world at home?"
Xiangrong couldn't tell him because Concubine Yun was there too. After all, Concubine Yun's departure from the palace was a secret. No one knew about it except Prince Chun's mansion and Prince Yu and his wife, and no one could tell anyone else. So she just said to Xuan Tianyi, "After all, they were all raised by Concubine Yun, so it's only natural for them to celebrate the New Year together."
"Humph!" Xuan Tianyi snorted coldly, "Isn't it that they are brothers? Yes, I don't have any brothers, so I deserve to spend the New Year alone in my house. I have been with you in Ji'an County for these days, and you refused to spend the New Year with me. You are really inhuman."
Xiangrong said, "I was originally going to spend the New Year with my second sister. Even if I didn't stay in Prince Chun's Mansion, I couldn't go to Prince Ping's Mansion. Fourth Prince, I told you back in Ji'an County that a master and a disciple are a master and a disciple. I know my own thoughts. You are very good, but since I have such thoughts, I shouldn't give you any hope. That is not something I can bear with my conscience."
"Do you really want to be with him?" Xuan Tianyi pointed out Xiangrong's inner feelings so clearly for the first time. He asked Xiangrong: "Do you know how many people in this world secretly like him? But who does he like? Does he look for a woman in his life?"
Xiangrong smiled sadly, and said, "I have never hidden anything from you. There is someone in my heart that I can't erase. This is my fate, and I can only accept it."
"But he doesn't fancy you at all!"
"That's his business." Xiang Rong raised his head and looked at Xuan Tianyi, and said firmly, "Whether he thinks highly of me or not is his business. I can only take care of myself. Fourth Prince, please go back!"
After she finished speaking, she didn't stay any longer and turned around and left with the maid beside her. Xuan Tianyi didn't stop her anymore, but subconsciously stroked his face and murmured to himself: "Does she think I'm too old? Compared with the little girl, I am really old!"
Xuan Tianyi was shut out and watched Xiangrong go around the front yard and into the backyard. When he could no longer see him, he suddenly had an idea and said to the servant beside him, "Let's stay in Prince Chun's Mansion to celebrate the New Year! The Seventh Brother and I are brothers, so why can't we celebrate the New Year together? It's settled!" As he spoke, he was about to walk into the mansion, and even had one foot over the threshold, but was stopped by the steward of Prince Chun's Mansion.
The housekeeper said to him, "Your Highness, I'm sorry. Today, Prince Chun's Mansion will not receive any other guests except Prince Yu and Princess Yu! Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"Ah?" Xuan Tianyi didn't expect to be turned away so soon. He was so angry that he couldn't help but point in the direction where Xiang Rong had just left and asked, "Where's that girl? She's not from Prince Chun's Mansion, so why are we still receiving her?"
The housekeeper looked back and said with a smile: "Your Highness the Fourth Prince, are you talking about Miss Feng San? You misunderstood. Miss Feng San is not a guest. She has always lived in the mansion." In one sentence, he simply attributed Xiang Rong to someone who was already in Prince Chun's mansion. Hearing this, Xuan Tianyi was indignant again.
But what can he do even if he is unhappy? Just like Xiangrong said, this is her own choice, and she doesn't care what the other party's attitude is, whether he likes her or not, she is happy. This is really worth more than money!
He retracted his steps, took another deep look at Prince Chun's mansion, and then turned around and left without staying any longer. But his footsteps were a little heavy, with a lot of reluctance. But no matter how reluctant he was, it couldn't beat the courage he had accumulated over the years after he fell in love with her, and the persistence and spirit of not turning back until he hit the wall.
That night, Prince Chun's mansion was very lively. With Concubine Yun here, the family felt more like a family, and the two brothers felt more like two brothers. In addition, there was a new daughter-in-law, Feng Yuheng, and a future daughter-in-law, Feng Xiangrong, whom Concubine Yun had prepared in her heart. The New Year's Eve dinner was a joyful one. Not only did they make dumplings and set off firecrackers, Xuan Tianhua also played the harp for everyone. However, just as the sound of the harp fell, Concubine Yun, who was holding dumplings in one hand and the red wine that Feng Yuheng had brought out in the other, suddenly asked loudly, "Hua'er, tell mother, do you like the third girl?"
This question made everyone feel awkward. Although the red wine tasted good and was mixed with soft drinks, the aftereffect was still quite strong, not to mention that it was a vintage Lafite that Feng Yuheng took out from the space. Yun Fei drank from the afternoon to the evening without stopping, and was already a little drunk at this time. Feng Yuheng was worried that Xuan Tianhua's answer would hurt Xiangrong's heart, so she quickly added: "Xiangrong is so well-behaved and sensible, we all like her." What she meant was that liking is liking, but following up with a level of affection is another matter, indicating that Xuan Tianhua should not be too hurtful during the New Year.
Xuan Tianhua didn't make them too embarrassed. He just stared at them for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is right."
Xiangrong twisted her skirt with both hands. She was relieved to hear such an answer, but she also felt a little disappointed. She was afraid of Xuan Tianhua's direct rejection, but she also cherished Yun Fei's sudden question, because apart from Yun Fei, no one else would be willing to ask such a question, right? She might keep her thoughts in her heart silently for the rest of her life, never dare to tell him directly, and never get an answer from him. This life, perhaps, is spent slowly in such hesitation. Fortunately, now that the Feng family is gone, she no longer has the pressure and coercion to get married. ⑧☆⑧☆(.*)⑧☆.＄.
Xuan Tianhua's answer was very vague, but it was enough to fool him. Xuan Tianming persuaded Yun Fei to drink again, so this story was over. Yun Fei looked at Xiang Rong with a sigh and said, "I really helped you, but you have to take the initiative! Look, your second sister is sitting so close to Ming'er, why are you so far away from Hua'er? Are you afraid that he will eat you?"
Xiangrong blushed and said quickly, "The Seventh Prince is playing the piano."
At this time, Xuan Tianhua's piano music had stopped playing, and he returned to the table and sat down. There was indeed an empty seat next to him. He took the initiative to greet Xiangrong and said, "Come and sit down!"
Xiangrong was very excited. With a red face, he walked over and, with the help of the alcohol, he sat down unceremoniously. He even moved his chair closer to Xuan Tianhua, looking like he was ready to be executed, which made Concubine Yun giggle.
On New Year's Eve, everyone tacitly chose not to mention Emperor Tianwu, so as not to bring up Concubine Yun's sadness. But after drinking for more than thirty minutes, Concubine Yun brought up the topic herself, saying, "Guess what the old man is doing now?"
Inside the palace, a New Year's Eve banquet was also set up in the outer hall of Zhaohe Hall. There were only three masters at the banquet, namely Emperor Tianwu, Concubine Yuan Shu, and the eighth prince Xuan Tianmo. The three of them sat around the table and raised their glasses frequently. When Tianwu drank a glass, Concubine Yuan Shu would twist her handkerchief to wipe off the wine drops from the corners of his lips. People who didn't know would only sigh at such a beautiful and harmonious family of three! But those who knew, including the palace servants serving inside and outside Zhaohe Hall, didn't say it, but most of them had some feelings in their hearts. It was said that Emperor Tianwu's New Year's Eve this year was very different from the past.
Not only did the palace servants feel that it was very different, even Emperor Tianwu himself felt a little strange. As he was drinking, he suddenly said, "This is the happiest New Year I have ever had. With my wife and children by my side, it feels like I have fulfilled a long-cherished wish." As he spoke, he gently embraced Concubine Yuan Shu, with a wave of memories on his face. He paused, as if he was still thinking about something. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "How did you spend the New Year in the past? Why can't I remember it no matter how hard I try?"
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