New Year's Eve Palace Banquet
The air was filled with the bitter smell of Chinese medicine. The bed curtains swayed slightly in the wind. The floor candlesticks on both sides illuminated the weak and pale face of the man lying on the bed. His delicate eyebrows were furrowed in discomfort. As he was held in someone's arms, the warmth of the body brought color back to his lips.
Suddenly, Ah Chou, who was in a coma, opened her eyes. In her fear, she instinctively clutched the quilt tightly. As her blurry vision gradually cleared, she saw that the person beside her was Jiang Yan Hui. At that moment, tears welled up in her eyes.
He opened his mouth, and a dull ache shot through his throat and down to his chest.
Dou Yu stepped forward, her hands clenched nervously in front of her, her eyes burning as she looked at the weak and powerless A Chou. She quickly reassured her, "We're still at the Sheng family home. The doctor has already treated you. Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Ah Chou slowly turned his eyes, his limbs were numb and he couldn't muster any strength, and he shook his head very little.
"The medicine is at the perfect temperature. Drink it before you go to sleep."
Jiang Yanhui was not as attentive as Dou Yu in feeding medicine. She consciously gave up her place and stood aside to watch Ah Chou drink the dark, bitter medicine in small sips without the slightest complaint.
After carefully feeding Ah Chou the last sip, Dou Yu's eyes were already wet. She sobbed softly and reflected, "If I hadn't argued with that guy Song Wenxuan, you wouldn't have fallen into the water. I will never argue with people again."
If Dou Yu herself were injured, she might not be too upset; at most, she would reflect on the incident and vow to get revenge next time. But for her friend who was protecting her to get injured because of this is a thousand times, ten thousand times more painful than if she were injured herself.
Ah Chou could easily see through Dou Yu's meaning, but he was too weak to speak of anything important.
His gaze remained fixed on Jiang Yan Hui, his clear, black and white eyes seeming to speak volumes, expressing unspoken needs.
"You can go out first," Jiang Yan replied.
Dou Yu put down the empty bowl, stuffed half a piece of candied fruit into A Chou's mouth, pulled up the quilt, and left, turning back every few steps, leaving the place for them.
Jiang Yan sat back down and naturally handed her hand to A Chou, letting him write on her palm.
This is an intimate act that belongs only to them.
Ah Chou stared blankly at his palm, tears streaming down his face. Overwhelmed by guilt, his hand holding Jiang Yanhui's trembled slightly.
He wrote stroke by stroke in his palm—the dagger is gone.
The lotus pond in the Sheng Mansion is not as shallow as the one where the wooden plaque fell; the bottom is invisible, and if you lose something there, it's truly gone.
"It fell into the water?"
In contrast to Ah Chou, whose face was streaked with tears, Jiang Yan Hui spoke indifferently, reaching out to brush away the strands of hair clinging to Ah Chou's temples, her eyes filled with unfathomable emotions.
—This was left to you by your father. I'm sorry.
Ah Chou pursed her lips, regretting that she shouldn't have brought such an important thing with her, otherwise she wouldn't have lost it when she fell into the water.
A sharp pain started shooting through her head again, and unfamiliar memories kept flashing through her mind. Ah Chou closed her eyes to try to relieve it, but it was like a flood that had been released from its dam, and she couldn't stop it.
The overwhelming amount of information was about to engulf him; veins bulged on his forehead in pain as he gripped Jiang Yanhui's hand tightly, seeking a sliver of solace.
Jiang Yanhui's brow twitched, and she exclaimed, "Ah Chou? Ah Chou!"
Dou Yu, who was waiting outside, heard the strange noise and rushed in. In her haste, she knocked over a stool, gasped in pain, and hopped in on one leg.
"Go and call the doctor! Quickly!"
Jiang Yanhui lost her composure in her anxiety and almost shouted at Dou Yu to hurry up.
He picked up the trembling Ah Chou and wrapped his cold hands and feet tightly in the blanket. His palm touched the back of his neck, which was covered in cold, damp sweat, and his heart sank.
Ah Chou, whose consciousness was on the verge of blurring, grimaced in pain, gasped for breath, and endured the throbbing pain in his head, trembling as he gestured on Jiang Yan Hui's sleeve.
"Do you really enjoy saying sorry that much?"
Jiang Yanhui grasped A Chou's hand, unable to tell whether it was A Chou trembling or her fingertips shaking.
"It's just a dagger. I'll have people retrieve it right now. We'll drain the pond and find it!"
Ah Chou's strange symptoms were not typical of someone who had fallen into the water. Jiang Yanhui couldn't help but recall the old injury the doctor had mentioned, and guessed that it might be caused by a recurrence of the old injury.
Jiang Yanhui didn't know the specifics of the old injury, nor did she know how A Chou had recovered after being injured, but she figured the situation must be quite serious.
A profound sense of helplessness enveloped Jiang Yan Hui, much like her father's illness many years ago, a feeling of powerlessness that could only watch helplessly as he slowly faded away with time.
Jiang Yan hugged him even tighter, her lips close to his ear, speaking in a threatening tone: "I bought your life. I didn't allow anything to happen to you, so nothing can happen to you, understand?"
Who cares about the You tribe or their background?
When you're about to lose someone, all your worries suddenly clear up. As long as the person is safe and sound in front of you, that's more important than anything else.
In her confusion, Ah Chou felt herself being held by Jiang Yan Hui and tried hard to hear what Jiang Yan Hui was saying in her ear.
Despite being oblivious to matters of the heart, Ah Chou unexpectedly sensed the care in Jiang Yan Hui's words. The momentary sense of satisfaction eased the pain, and she regained her senses for a brief moment.
The hazy voice suddenly became clear. He heard Jiang Yanhui utter a sentence that weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds before the doctor arrived.
"Losang, I... like you."
What followed was an unbearable, sharp pain. Before Ah Chou could process who Jiang Yan Hui was referring to as Losang, her consciousness was abruptly severed.
——
"Losang, from now on I'll be your older sister~ My name is Urentuya~"
"Losang! Father has heated up some goat's milk. If you play with the foal again, I'll drink it all!"
"Losang, you look really good in your new clothes. You're such a great brother! Cheer me on loudly during the sheep-catching competition!"
"Losang! Don't play with those people. They're just teasing you because you're pretty! Don't be angry, I'll beat them up for you!"
“Losang, those people are not our brothers and sisters. They only think about how to kill us. But don’t worry, I will protect you and Father.”
"Losang, be careful when you go out with your father this time. I'll be waiting for you to come back."
...
The dazzling sunlight pierced through the clouds and illuminated the walls and tiles. A small green plant on the windowsill swayed gently in the sunlight, its emerald green leaves glistening with dew.
A woman lay on a soft couch by the window, a thin blanket covering her waist. She was so tired that she did not turn over for a long time.
Looking at the bed not far away, there was a thin man lying on it. After waiting for a while, the man's eyebrows and eyes twitched slightly, showing signs of waking up.
With his eyes wide open and unable to focus, Ah Chou blinked hard as jumbled fragments of information played repeatedly in his mind, eventually forming a complete chain of memories.
His name is not A Chou, but Luo Sang. He was born to the former leader of the You tribe, and he also has an older sister named Urentuya.
Having finally confirmed his long-awaited identity, Ah Chou was not as happy as he had imagined. Lying on the bed, he searched around in a daze, and finally his gaze fell on the woman sleeping soundly on the soft couch.
My heart suddenly softened, followed by a sense of dread about the unknown.
The relationship between the current dynasty and the You tribe can be described as irreconcilable. Jiang Yanhui, who was stationed in Lingzhou, fought against the You tribe many times, and they regarded each other as mortal enemies.
And he, Losang, is the younger brother of the current leader of the You tribe.
Ah Chou knew perfectly well that she loved Jiang Yan Hui, and it was precisely because she knew this that she felt even more tragic.
Jiang Yanhui's current special treatment of me is all because I have no power ties to him. If he knew his true identity in the You tribe, would things still be the same?
Just thinking about the consequences of his secret being exposed made Ah Chou feel a dull ache in his chest, as if a huge boulder was hanging over his head, ready to fall and crush him to pieces at any moment.
All we can do is pray that things will slow down a bit more, that he can catch his breath, and that we can find a solution that satisfies both sides.
Ah Chou moved her numb limbs slightly, and when she regained consciousness, she slowly got out of bed.
As soon as she took a step, the woman on the soft couch opened her eyes and rubbed them sleepily.
He was taken aback when he saw Ah Chou standing there perfectly fine, then his tense shoulders relaxed, he leaned back lazily, and smiled, "You're finally awake."
The bright window behind her blurred Jiang Yanhui's outline, but it stung Ah Chou's eyes.
The woman had faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she hadn't slept well these past few days. Seeing that she was clearly relaxed, she couldn't pretend anymore. Everything about her was proof of Jiang Yan Hui's affection for her.
Ah Chou gave a weak smile, then walked towards Jiang Yan Hui without hesitation, and hugged her tightly as she opened her arms, which were both helpless and slightly smug.
He buried his head in Jiang Yanhui's neck, greedily inhaling her familiar and reassuring scent.
Ah Chou thought he should keep it a secret for now and give Jiang Yan Hui more time to get along well, so that he wouldn't have any regrets when it was time to part.
The person buried in his arms did not get up for a long time, and Jiang Yanhui did not urge him. He stroked the person from the back of the neck to the tailbone, again and again, patiently comforting the injured person.
Jiang Yanhui's attitude was unusually gentle and patient, causing A Chou to be momentarily dazed. He vaguely remembered Jiang Yanhui calling his name, Losang, in his ear before he fainted again; that was his real name from the Youbu tribe.
Logically speaking, no one should know his background, otherwise why would a prince from the You tribe stay by the side of the King of Jiangbei? It's really illogical.
But what about the name Jiang Yan called out?
Ah Chou was completely baffled. Could it be that his memory had become confused when he was in a daze, and it wasn't actually Jiang Yan calling him?
Before Ah Chou could figure out the reason, his eyes lit up and a dagger inlaid with rubies appeared before him.
"Lord Sheng sent it over yesterday; he really went to great lengths." Jiang Yan handed it back to A Chou. "I have a dagger pouch in my storeroom; it won't get lost this time."
Ah Chou held the dagger she had lost and found, her fingertips gently stroking the patterns on the scabbard, her joy overshadowing all her complex emotions.
It's good that he didn't lose it.
Ah Chou wanted to return the dagger to Jiang Yan Hui, but the other party raised an eyebrow and did not take it.
Question: "What do you mean?"
Ah Chou had no choice but to pull her hand and write carefully—it's too precious.
This dagger is not only a relic left to Jiang Yanhui by his father, but according to Uncle Wang, it can also carry out Jiang Yanhui's orders. It is an extremely important item and should not have fallen into the hands of an outsider.
Jiang Yanhui doesn't know his identity yet, but A Chou can't take advantage of Jiang Yanhui's trust to do anything that would hurt her.
Little did he know that his refusal had already angered him. Jiang Yan turned her face away, every strand of her hair expressing her displeasure.
He bluntly stated, "If you don't want it, just throw it away."
After saying that, he put his hands behind his back, taking advantage of Ah Chou's muteness and inability to speak, and not giving him any chance to explain.
Throwing it away was absolutely out of the question. Ah Chou held the dagger with a bittersweet feeling, thinking he was just temporarily keeping it by Jiang Yan's side for safekeeping. He would definitely not hide it if Jiang Yan wanted to go back.
Ah Chou tightened his grip on the question of what exactly caused him to retract the dagger.
——
Under careful care, Ah Chou's body recovered at an extremely fast pace. The nourishing medicinal meals she ate made her complexion rosy and delicate. Perhaps it was because she was getting older and her features had matured, but she became more and more beautiful. Her eyes, which were free of any trace of worldly dust, held a rare beauty.
The capital city is full of beautiful scenery. The first snow has covered everything in a white dress, and it looks so beautiful when you stand on a high place and look out.
The snow in the capital is lighter and softer than that in Lingzhou, allowing one to better appreciate the artistic conception of reciting poems about snow.
Jiang Yanhui, wearing a fox fur cloak, strolled briskly under the corridor. Suddenly, she saw A Chou, wearing a rabbit fur scarf and holding her hands in a hand warmer, admiring the snow under the corridor. Her serene and beautiful profile brought peace to her heart, and she unconsciously slowed down and stood beside her.
"Are you cold?" Jiang Yanhui asked, already touching A Chou's cheek. "The winters in the capital are not as harsh as those in Lingzhou, but they are still not to be underestimated. The damp and cold climate makes it easy to get sick."
Ah Chou shook his head and handed the warm hand warmer to Jiang Yan Hui. He was the one who was worried about whether Jiang Yan Hui was dressed warmly enough when she went out, so he waited for her on the way back.
After recuperating, Ah Chou clearly felt better, but Jiang Yan Hui's old injuries, accumulated over time, were not so easy to heal. Judging from Doctor Zhang's words, it seemed that she would have to live with them for the rest of her life.
But upon closer reflection, it's not surprising. Who among soldiers is without illness or pain? By the time they reach their fifties, they have countless old ailments.
If they take good care of themselves, they can suffer less in their old age.
"You've changed."
Jiang Yan stared into Ah Chou's eyes for a while, then suddenly said something that sent chills down his spine.
Ah Chou forced himself to remain calm as he looked back, his rapid blinking a subconscious sign of guilt. His hands, tucked into his sleeves, trembled slightly with nervousness, and his palms were damp with a thin layer of sweat.
"You've matured quite a bit." Jiang Yan adjusted her cloak and stood side by side with A Chou, a faint smile always playing on her lips. "When is your birthday?"
Ah Chou shook his head.
"When you remember the past, you must tell me your birth date."
Ah Chou slowly lowered her eyes, a snowflake falling onto her long, thick eyelashes, melting away with her body heat, making it impossible to tell whether it was snow water or a tear in her eye.
Her hands, hanging by her sides, were enveloped by warm, dry palms. Feeling the warmth, her fingertips twitched slightly. Ah Chou looked up at Jiang Yan Hui, though she had a thousand words in her heart, she could not say them.
If Jiang Yan were to glance at him now, she would surely see the embarrassment and panic in his eyes.
But Jiang Yanhui kept looking ahead, watching the snowflakes falling gently.
——
The capital city in the snow has a unique charm. Dou Yu, who had been well-behaved for less than half a month, couldn't resist his playful nature and eagerly ran to the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion to beg Jiang Yan to release him.
He wanted to take Ah Chou to experience the snowy scenery of the capital, not only as an apology for what had happened before, but also in the hope that Ah Chou, who would be returning to Lingzhou after the New Year, would have a good impression of the capital.
It's unacceptable to go back to the capital and think of nothing but arguments and fights; that would be too disgraceful for the people of the capital.
Two pairs of eyes were fixed on Jiang Yan in the room, making her laugh.
"Why are you all looking at me? You invited Ah Chou to go sightseeing, you should ask him what he thinks."
Dou Yu grabbed Ah Chou's hand, her eyes shining brightly, and said earnestly, "Ah Chou, you must want to come with me to play, right? Sheng Yu is here too; he's been wanting to find an opportunity to apologize to you for a long time."
Whether or not Ah Chou appreciated the snow, he didn't care; snow didn't hold a particularly good place in his heart. However, he cherished the friends he made in the capital; they were all very understanding and reasonable people, which explained why Dou Yu was willing to hang out with them.
Furthermore... Ah Chou looked at Jiang Yan Hui, who was smiling at them.
He wasn't sure if he was just imagining things, but he always felt that Jiang Yanhui's attitude towards him was strange, which made Ah Chou feel guilty, as if he had been seen through.
Ah Chou thought it was most likely because he was too nervous about regaining his memories. Otherwise, how could Jiang Yan Hui not have driven him away after knowing his true identity? Perhaps driving him away would have been too lenient; she might have simply used him as a hostage to blackmail Urentuya.
Unsure if it was just her imagination, Ah Chou thought it best to stay away from Jiang Yan Hui for an afternoon, hoping that things might improve.
Ah Chou nodded decisively, just in time to let Sheng Yu know that he had never blamed the Sheng family.
"Wear more clothes." Jiang Yanhui raised her chin.
——
With the snow falling and the Lunar New Year approaching, the bustling atmosphere in Beijing is unlike anything seen before, imbued with a warm and human touch.
Even if there are no happy events recently, people are still happy in their hearts.
It is often said that no matter how many unpleasant things happen this year, if you have a happy and joyful year, everything will go smoothly next year.
The old man loves lively festivals the most, and this year it happens to be the great joy of the Prince of Jiangbei spending the New Year in Beijing. Uncle Wang had already instructed people to prepare and decorate the mansion.
No New Year's customs or etiquette can be omitted, as if to fill the void left by Jiang Yan's departure over the years.
The happiest person in the entire mansion was none other than Ah Chou.
When he was still a lowly servant in the Prince's mansion, he could eat pastries bestowed by his superiors during festivals. Now things are different; he can eat exquisite pastries and delicious meals whenever he wants, but that still can't change Ah Chou's anticipation for the New Year.
Although the winters in the capital are not as harsh as those in Lingzhou, as Jiang Yanhui said, the capital is damp and cold, and one can easily catch a chill if one is not careful.
Considering Jiang Yanhui's old ailment, an extra charcoal brazier was placed in the room, making it warm and cozy, like springtime.
Wearing only a light shirt, Jiang Yanhui sat cross-legged on the soft couch, her gaze occasionally drifting from her book to Ah Chou, who was busy at work. Watching Ah Chou tirelessly working and decorating the red cypress trees, she felt an unprecedented sense of joy.
Before long, the house was decorated with festive cheer, and even before New Year's Eve arrived, the festive atmosphere was already palpable.
Ah Chou changed into a thick, warm padded jacket, put on a neck warmer after hearing Jiang Yan's reply, and happily followed Hong Chun to the yard to continue working.
Jiang Yanhui could roughly guess Ah Chou's reaction just from the conversations of others. He probably nodded in agreement and ran around like a little rabbit.
It's a rare treat to celebrate the New Year. If someone wants to have fun, let them go. It's better than keeping them cooped up in the house with her, which is so boring.
Although it was cold outside, it couldn't dampen their enthusiasm.
Hongchun would ask him for his opinion on decorating the yard. Achou felt quite involved, and looking at the colors that gradually became richer with his suggestions, he felt a great sense of accomplishment and straightened his chest.
"That's about it." Hongchun climbed down the ladder, patted off imaginary dust from her hands, and smiled happily. "There are still two days until New Year's Eve. We can make up for anything that's missing then."
Hongchun looked at Achou's rosy cheeks, which were even prettier than the paper-cut window decorations, and said with a smile, "On New Year's Eve, the manor will distribute dumplings with copper coins inside. Whoever finds a copper coin in their dumpling will be blessed in the coming year. Achou, you must eat more then."
The novel way of celebrating the festival sounded fun, and Ah Chou nodded in interest.
The thought of eating dumplings with Jiang Yanhui, and possibly even getting a coin, made him smile uncontrollably.
"If the palace banquet ends early, you can ask the Prince to take you to the streets to play. It's very lively. The maids in the manor love going to the market. All kinds of delicious food and fun things are displayed. The street stretches as far as the eye can see."
Hongchun's words made Achou's smile fade, and he frowned in confusion.
Unfortunately, Hong Chun couldn't tell what A Chou was thinking just by looking at his facial expressions, unlike Jiang Yan Hui. She simply assumed that he knew that the King would be invited to the palace banquet on New Year's Eve.
With plenty of work to do, Hongchun took a short break and then told Achou to go ask Uncle Wang if he needed anything else, and to have him go inside to serve Wang Zun.
With her mind preoccupied, Ah Chou's lips were pursed, and her wet eyes were filled with unhappiness. She slowly entered the house and stood in front of Jiang Yan Hui, still clutching the extra paper-cut window decorations in her hand.
Jiang Yan looked at the person standing blankly in front of her with amusement. "Are you trying to stick to me?"
I don't know about the others who are not as long as Changjiang Yanhui, but Ah Chou's temper has grown quite a bit.
The timidity he once displayed in front of her has completely vanished, and he occasionally reveals his childlike side when he is extremely dissatisfied.
For example, right now, just stand in front of him, with the corners of his mouth slightly turned down.
Ever since writing in Jiang Yanhui's palm, A Chou has been reluctant to go through the trouble of using paper and pen. Naturally, she holds Jiang Yanhui's hand and gently strokes her cool fingertips across her warm palm.
—Are you going to a palace banquet?
Jiang Yan raised one eyebrow, not expecting that Ah Chou, who was not in a good mood at the moment, pulled her to sit down on the soft couch, clasped her hands together to cover her fingertips, and explained, "On New Year's Eve, His Majesty will invite his family and close ministers to the palace for a banquet. I am His Majesty's sister, so naturally I will go."
Ah Chou wrinkled his nose, pulled out his finger and wrote down—Can I go with you?
Jiang Yanhui chuckled softly, understanding that he was reluctant to part with her, and felt exceptionally happy.
"Only those invited by His Majesty are allowed to enter the palace. If you want to stay with me, you'll have to wait outside the palace gates."
Just as Ah Chou was about to nod, Jiang Yanhui interrupted him.
“New Year’s Eve is very lively in the countryside, why wait for me at the cold palace gate?” Jiang Yanhui couldn’t bear to see Ah Chou’s disappointed and downcast appearance, so she lowered her voice and coaxed her gently, “The palace banquet won’t last too long. I’ll go to the night market with you after it’s over.”
Finally, a hint of a smile appeared on the dejected face. Ah Chou sat close to Jiang Yan Hui and happily swung her toes.
New Year's Eve is a day for family reunion, and the continuous sound of firecrackers in the morning is enough to feel the strong festive atmosphere.
The festive atmosphere in Lingzhou was too weak. Everyone was busy trying to survive the snowy weather, and no one had the energy or time to waste on unimportant holidays.
The capital city, however, is quite different.
Ah Chou listened to the loud firecrackers and smelled the faint sulfur in the air, feeling extremely happy. Even more wonderful was knowing that after Jiang Yan returned from the palace banquet that evening, she would take him to stroll through the bustling market.
Formal attire is required to attend banquets in the palace. When Hongchun brought out a complete set of clothes, Achou stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
I have never seen such intricate and beautiful patterns on clothes before; just admiring them is enough to make one gasp.
The clothes had so many layers and accessories that it took Ah Chou and Hong Chun almost half an hour to dress Jiang Yan Hui.
The palace banquet was held in the late afternoon, near dusk. I heard that fireworks would be set off in the palace, and the people in the city could also see them.
Ah Chou thought that he must wait for the fireworks, even if he couldn't enjoy them with Jiang Yan Hui, at least he could look up and see a beautiful view.
As Ah Chou helped Jiang Yan Hui into the carriage, under the gaze of so many people, she felt her palm being pinched lightly twice, but she didn't notice it because of the loose dress.
Ah Chou glanced at Jiang Yan Hui, who seemed completely unaffected, and a chord in her heart was gently plucked.
Outsiders might perceive the cold-faced Jiangbei King as aloof and unapproachable, but to him, he's a lovable person who subtly engages in small, thoughtful gestures.
Ah Chou knew Jiang Yan Hui's patience and gentleness better than anyone else. It was precisely this unique treatment that made Ah Chou fall deeper and deeper into it, to the point that she couldn't extricate herself and simply plunged headlong into the land of gentleness.
Standing still, Ah Chou watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance. Even the tassels hanging from the corners of the carriage fluttering in the wind made Ah Chou frown, worried that a cold wind might seep in through the gaps and blow onto Jiang Yan Hui.
Only after the carriage disappeared around the next corner, and after the heat from Ah Chou's body dissipated, did he finally turn his gaze away and follow everyone into the mansion.
"Good child, come with me to make dumplings." Uncle Wang smiled and took Ah Chou's hand affectionately. Like a playful old man, he whispered to Ah Chou behind everyone's back, "Make a mark on the dumplings so you don't end up with nothing after eating until you're full."
Ah Chou smiled and obediently let Uncle Wang lead her, her disappointment vanishing completely.
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