Chapter 42 Entering the Palace to Pay New Year's Greetings
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, Ye Xunyang woke up.
He tried to get up quietly from Lou Jin's embrace, but as soon as he moved, the arms around his waist tightened.
"Sleep a little longer." Lou Jin's voice was heavy with sleepiness as he pulled him closer into his arms.
Ye Xunyang's heart softened, but he still whispered, "Your Highness, today is the first day of the new year. I have to go and prepare the red envelopes. Everyone in the manor is waiting."
Lou Jin slowly opened his eyes, looking at the person in his arms, who was no longer sleepy at all.
"Wang Quan will handle this. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Ye Xunyang shook Lou Jin's hand and said coquettishly.
"Your Highness, in previous years I was only the one who received money, but this year I'm the one who can give out money. Please let me go and make some preparations so I can have some fun as a steward."
He released his arm, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Alright, go ahead then."
Like a rabbit that had been granted permission, Ye Xunyang quickly got up to wash and changed into a brand-new scarlet brocade robe, which made his face look like jade and his spirits look high.
He first went to the accounting office and checked the red envelopes that had been prepared in advance to make sure they were full of weight, for good luck.
When he finished his work and returned to the main courtyard, Lou Jin had already gotten up and was being helped to change his clothes.
Today he was wearing a prince's everyday robe, black with a coiled dragon pattern embroidered in gold thread. He stood tall and straight, with a dignified and imposing presence.
Upon seeing Ye Xunyang enter, Lou Jin dismissed the maids, took out an exceptionally thick and exquisite red envelope from his sleeve, and handed it to him.
"What is this?" Ye Xunyang was taken aback.
"Here you go." Lou Jin looked at him, his gaze gentle.
May you have peace and safety every year, and may everything go smoothly.
Ye Xunyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he accepted the red envelope. It felt heavy in his hand, clearly indicating that it was more than just money.
He squeezed it, and there seemed to be a small, hard object inside.
He couldn't resist opening it to take a look, but then felt embarrassed, his cheeks flushing slightly: "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Everything I have will eventually be yours," Lou Jin said casually, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.
Ye Xunyang's heart skipped a beat; the implication in those words was so obvious that his ears burned.
After breakfast, it was time to go to the palace to pay New Year's respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
This is a royal custom; even if Lou Jin is ill in previous years, the etiquette on the first day of the Lunar New Year cannot be completely omitted.
Ye Xunyang looked at Lou Jin, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
Entering the palace to meet the Emperor will inevitably draw attention, especially if the Prince takes that pill again...
Every medicine has its side effects. Although the medicine was not fatal, Lou Jin's weak appearance after each dose broke his heart. He really didn't want Lou Jin to suffer like this anymore.
Ye Xunyang stepped forward, grabbed Lou Jin's sleeve, and said with concern and determination, "Your Highness, I will go to the palace alone today."
Lou Jin looked at him.
Ye Xunyang explained, "The Emperor and the Empress Dowager both know that you need to rest. I went to pay my respects alone. I know that your health condition cannot withstand the long journey in the imperial carriage, so they will not blame me too much."
"Please rest well in the manor and stop taking medicine. I can't bear to see you like that again."
He spoke the last sentence very softly, yet it brushed against Lou Jin's heart like a feather.
Lou Jin looked at the pity in his eyes. He really didn't want to take that medicine anymore, and Ye Xunyang's suggestion suited him perfectly.
Sending Ye Xunyang to the palace on behalf of the Prince Jin's Mansion was, to some extent, a way of showing the outside world Ye Xunyang's status in the mansion and his trust and reliance on the princess.
"Okay." Lou Jin raised his hand and straightened his already neat collar.
"Then I'll trouble you to make the trip. There are many rules in the palace, so speak less and observe more. Just do as usual. After you've finished your New Year's greetings, come back as soon as possible."
"Yes! Your Highness, rest assured, I know what to do."
Ye Xunyang breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lou Jin agree. He was no longer the impetuous young man he once was, and he was already well-versed in palace etiquette and how to conduct himself.
It was getting late, so Ye Xunyang, carrying Nian Li, rode his horse toward the palace.
Inside the palace, the emperor disliked extravagance and kept everything simple, yet the grandeur and majesty of the royal family were still evident everywhere.
Red walls and white snow, palace lanterns hanging high, palace servants coming and going all dressed in new clothes, their faces bearing the joy of the festival.
Ye Xunyang first went to the Hall of Diligent Governance to pay New Year's respects to the Emperor, as was customary.
When the Emperor saw that he had come alone, he was not too surprised. He simply inquired about Lou Jin's condition. Ye Xunyang replied respectfully, following the prepared script, with earnest and impeccable words.
After hearing this, the emperor gave a few simple instructions to take good care of the patient, then rewarded him with some gifts and dismissed him.
Before leaving, he instructed that the items be delivered to the Empress Dowager's palace, and that Ye Xunyang need not pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
Ye Xunyang knew that the Empress Dowager had been bedridden for many years and had once doted on Lou Jin. If she knew that he had married her, she probably wouldn't accept it so easily.
Thinking of this, Ye Xunyang couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. In the few months since their marriage, although Lou Jin had not entered the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, he had sent her quite a few things.
He didn't say it, but Ye Xunyang knew that Lou Jin still cared about the Empress Dowager.
When Ye Xunyang arrived at Cining Palace, the palace servants politely accepted the New Year's gifts he presented on behalf of the Prince Jin's Mansion, and then asked him to return home.
He turned and left Cining Palace. He had not gone far when, at the corner of the palace road, he met the Fifth Prince Lou Yi, who had also come to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
When Lou Yi saw Ye Xunyang coming from the direction of Cining Palace, a knowing look and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, but his face was covered with a gentle smile.
"Is Third Princess well? Why didn't Third Prince come along?"
Ye Xunyang remained vigilant, but her smile did not change. She bowed and said, "Greetings, Fifth Prince. His Highness was feeling unwell again this morning and the doctor advised him to rest absolutely. Therefore, he sent me alone to pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. I hope Your Highness will forgive any rudeness I may have shown."
Lou Yi smiled and glanced at Ye Xunyang's face: "Third brother's health is of utmost importance. Sister-in-law, you've worked hard."
His tone was gentle, but it didn't make people feel much warmth.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two parted ways.
Ye Xunyang could feel Lou Yi's gaze on his back, which was filled with scrutiny and calculation.
He straightened his back and walked with steady steps, thinking to himself, "This palace is indeed not a peaceful place. I should go back to my residence as soon as possible to be with the prince."
Lou Yi watched Ye Xunyang's straight departing figure, his smile slowly fading, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
This Ye Xunyang is not the reckless brute he was rumored to be. Under Lou Jin's tutelage, he seems to be becoming increasingly difficult to deal with.
Ye Xunyang breathed a sigh of relief as he walked out of the palace gates and boarded the carriage to return home.
Lou Jin did not rest in the Jinwang Mansion.
He sat in his study, listening to the guards report on Ye Xunyang's situation in the palace.
Upon learning that everything had gone smoothly and there had been no difficulties, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
His Xunyang is growing at a visible pace and is capable of standing on his own.
He picked up the red envelope that Ye Xunyang had not yet opened on the desk, and ran his fingertips along the delicate patterns on it.
Inside, besides the silver notes, there was also a white jade pendant he had carved himself, with a design of intertwined lotus flowers.
May every year be like this morning, may we all live long and be together forever.
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