Chapter 200 Chinese New Year
The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is getting stronger every day, and in the blink of an eye, it's New Year's Eve.
Qiu Heng called all the people from Lengxiangju over, and didn't forget to call Granny Yu, giving each of them a handful of small goldfish.
"Everyone has worked hard, may you have abundance every year."
"Thank you for the gift, young lady." Everyone who received the goldfish beamed with joy and showered each other with auspicious words.
Granny Yu left Lengxiang Residence with a brisk pace. She encountered Granny Zhu, who had a serious expression, and proudly adjusted the silk flower in her hair.
Granny Zhu had long since become obedient to Qiu Heng after being repeatedly defeated, but she couldn't stand Granny Yu's smug look. She sneered, "Could it be that the Sixth Miss gave you these silk flowers? The silk flowers are pretty, but the colors suit young girls better than our old faces."
She was clearly a governess, yet she wore flowers and powder, not caring about looking shabby.
"What about these silk flowers, Granny Zhu?" Granny Yu raised her hand and touched them. "I don't know if the color suits them, but these are from the palace. The Sixth Miss gave two of them, and everyone in Lengxiang Residence got one."
At this point, Granny Yu reached into her purse: "The other one is also very pretty—oh dear, I took the wrong one."
Granny Zhu stared wide-eyed at the goldfish that Granny Yu had taken out.
"These were also gifts from the Sixth Miss, one for each of us." Granny Yu, having shown off enough, left satisfied.
Granny Zhu was so jealous that her heart ached.
She was the one who went to Lengxiangju in the first place!
The news that the Sixth Miss had rewarded each of the servants at Lengxiangju with a goldfish-shaped ornament spread like wildfire among the servants of the Earl's mansion. As a result, the maids and old women they encountered on the way to Qiansongtang were all extremely enthusiastic, wishing they could tattoo the three characters "Lengxiangju" on their bodies to show their loyalty.
No matter who Qiu Heng encounters, she casually gives them two silver peanuts.
Granny Yu rushed out and earnestly advised, "Sixth Miss, you can't be so loose with your grip. People will gossip if word gets out."
Those noble ladies and young women would probably think that Sixth Miss is acting like a nouveau riche.
"Gossiping won't cost you anything. Are you happy, Granny Yu?" Seeing that Granny Yu was sweating profusely from running over to persuade her, Qiu Heng stuffed another handful of silver peanuts into her mouth.
Granny Yu couldn't help but raise her voice: "Happy!"
Who wouldn't be happy about this!
"Being happy is enough," Qiu Heng said with a smile as she walked into Qiansong Hall.
Granny Yu remained where she was, staring blankly at a handful of silver peanuts, and suddenly felt like crying.
"grandmother."
The old lady glanced at the young girl who walked in and frowned: "Have you been throwing money around again?"
This is just wasteful spending! How could someone have such a wasteful thing?
“It’s Chinese New Year.” Qiu Heng completely ignored the old lady’s expression, walked over and took her arm. “It’s so good that everyone is happy.”
If things develop as described in the book after the New Year, a civil unrest will soon break out in the south.
It was a disaster that lasted for more than a year and swept through dozens of counties. Although it was eventually quelled, it left the southeast riddled with holes and shook the foundations of the Great Xia dynasty. The Great Xia's eventual demise at the hands of the Northern Qi was closely related to this.
Having returned less than a year ago and eliminated three thieves, Qiu Heng's fourth thief she can currently contact is Xue Quan.
The reason why Xue Quan was listed as one of the Five Traitors by the Master and others, and was asked to be eliminated, was mainly due to the death of Emperor Jingping.
Emperor Jingping died after taking the elixir offered by Xue Quan, forcing the young fifth prince to hastily ascend the throne, making it difficult to stabilize the precarious situation.
But now Qiuheng has a different idea.
Contrary to what is recorded in the book, the crown prince is still alive!
She had enough time to observe and judge whether it would be better to save Emperor Jingping for the benefit of Great Xia, or to sit idly by and watch Emperor Jingping die so that the Crown Prince could succeed to the throne.
She preferred the latter, so there was absolutely no need for her to eliminate Xue Quan.
In the new year, she should put Xue Quan aside for now and pay more attention to the turmoil in the southeast.
Yuan Chenghai is dead, and the person who replaced him is no better; unrest in the southeast is likely to continue.
Perhaps in the end, she can't change anything. Whether she cares about people or not, they will all become a speck of dust caught in the hurricane.
Happiness is so easy and simple these days, why not embrace it?
"You, you," the old lady tapped Qiuheng's forehead, then stopped scolding her.
Yes, it's Chinese New Year.
"Tomorrow morning you will come with me to the palace to pay homage. Dress yourself in the county princess's court robes. We must set off at dawn, so don't oversleep."
"The fifth watch?" Qiu Heng's expression was complicated.
The old lady glanced at her: "You think it's too early? Do you know that the officials who go to court set off at this time every day? It is an unparalleled honor for a lady of high rank to enter the palace to offer congratulations. Many women dream of it. You must be careful with your words and actions and never cause trouble."
At this point, the old lady's heart was heavy.
In previous years, she was the only one from the Earl's Mansion who was qualified to enter the palace to offer congratulations. She felt sad that the Earl's Mansion had no successor. Now that she had someone to accompany her, she was worried and anxious. She was not as good as herself.
“I felt that my grandmother was working too hard getting up so early on such a cold day.”
"You're not allowed to say things like that. Don't eat too much for dinner, and especially drink less water..."
Qiu Heng pretended to listen attentively, and was only released after the old lady gave her instructions for almost half an hour.
The New Year's Eve banquet was held at Qiansong Hall. Qiuheng ate until she was half full under the watchful eyes of the old lady, and then returned to Lengxiang Residence with the New Year's money given to her by her elders.
When it was still dark, Granny Yu, who had been entrusted with an important task, came into the room to call Qiuheng.
Qiu Heng opened her eyes when Granny Yu came in. With the help of Granny Yu and Fang Zhou, she put on her formal dress and got into the carriage heading to the capital.
The old lady clasped her hands together nervously, her expression tense.
"Grandma, don't worry. There will definitely be many people in that kind of occasion. Just follow along with everyone else," Qiu Heng said, trying to comfort her grandmother, afraid that she might get sick from being nervous.
The old lady glared at Qiu Heng, thinking to herself, "Why are you so nervous about this girl? Doesn't she know her place?"
Before getting off the bus, the old lady gave her one last instruction: "Don't say a word if no one asks you anything."
Qiu Heng nodded obediently: "I understand."
The old lady stared at her for a moment, then sighed inwardly and got off the carriage.
The sky was still pitch black, but fortunately, countless lanterns were lit, and officials, nobles, and women with titles and honors slowly entered the imperial city in a long line.
Qiu Heng was separated from the old lady and was arranged to live with the princesses of the Jiayi County clan.
There was no Empress Dowager or Empress in the inner palace. The concubines, led by Consort Yu, received court congratulations in the palace, followed by a banquet.
The ladies of higher rank began to toast the concubines, a much more relaxed affair than the cautious approach taken during the morning court audience.
Since it was Qiu Heng's first time appearing on such an occasion, Princess Jiayi gave her a few pointers from time to time. At this moment, she glanced at Consort Yu, who was being toasted by her mother, and whispered, "Last year and the year before, Consort Yu only accepted the court congratulations and left without staying for a meal."
"Will the banquet last much longer?" Qiu Heng asked casually, looking at Consort Yu.
Whether by coincidence or not, Consort Yu's eyes met Qiu Heng's gaze, and then she smiled sweetly: "Is that Miss Qiu Liu?"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
