Shang Yunlan said helplessly, "What's there to thank me for? It's my responsibility to take care of you."
He stroked Shang Shaoyan's head with some guilt: "If it weren't for my health, wouldn't I want to do everything I could to make you happy and carefree, just like in my past life? But now you have to do it all yourself, and I feel really bad about it."
Shang Shaoyan gave Shang Yunlan a reproachful look: "Why are you saying all this? Just like you said, I also want to do my best to make you happy and carefree."
The two sat on a stone bench, chatting idly. Just then, several fireworks burst into bloom in the night sky, their shimmering light scattering across Shengjing City. Shang Shaoyan watched tenderly as one firework faded and another burst into bloom…
Happy New Year, bro.
Happy New Year, An'an.
Shang Shaoyan closed his eyes and silently prayed: May the coming year bring favorable weather and abundant harvests, and may the people live in peace and prosperity. Oh, and may Emperor Chen die soon, and may the Crown Prince and the Prince of Nan'an die without a proper burial!
Shang Yunlan chuckled and read aloud, "May the coming year bring... peace, safety, and good health."
Li Langxuan patted Yan Xuening's shoulder and said gently, "I hope that A-Ning can marry into the Yongle Marquis's mansion smoothly next year."
Yan Xuening glared at him, but then smiled: "Then I wish that the Marquis can marry me smoothly next year."
...
Madam Xie and Ye Minyuan sat side by side in the shop. Ye Minyuan smiled and ate a piece of hibiscus cake, saying, "I wish Mother a prosperous business next year."
Madam Xie smiled happily: "May Minyuan find her ideal husband next year and live a harmonious and loving life together."
...
Inside the palace, the lights were bright, and there was singing and dancing. Court officials and noblewomen smiled and exchanged blessings. Amidst the laughter and merriment in the main hall, Qin Ye looked at Consort Zhao, who sat high up, looking bored, and prayed in his heart: May Your Majesty smile more next year.
...
Qiao Xiuyu leaned against the window alone. The cold wind blew into the bedroom, but he was oblivious. He just looked at the fireworks in the sky, took a sip of warm wine, and murmured half-drunk, "I hope that next year, An'an will like me a little more, and a little more."
...
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it is auspicious to perform sacrifices, prepare a body for burial, break ground for the grave, remove mourning clothes, put on mourning clothes, open the coffin, bury the dead, repair the grave, and erect a monument. Other activities should be avoided.
Shang Shaoyan and Shang Yunlan went to pay their respects to the old Duke and Duchess. After returning home, they did nothing but quietly read books.
Shang Shaoyan had already packed his luggage for his trip to Shuzhou. Today, he had some rare free time, so he sat on the swing in the courtyard, holding a hot water bottle in his hand, and started reading poetry and prose.
Just as she was engrossed in reading, a familiar voice rang out behind her: "An'an."
Shang Shaoyan paused in his book-turning, then looked up and saw that it was indeed Qiao Xiuyu.
"You've arrived?" Shang Shaoyan smiled, then waved to Qiao Xiuyu. "Come and see, how's this poem?"
Qiao Xiuyu then leaned over and bent down to look at the poem that Shang Shaoyan was pointing to.
"A spring outing. Apricot blossoms fill my hair. On the roadside, whose young man is so dashing? I intend to marry him and spend my life with him. But I am heartlessly abandoned, yet I am not ashamed."
"But it's Wei Zhuang's 'Thinking of My Hometown'." After reading it aloud, Qiao Xiuyu looked at Shang Shaoyan and caught a hint of mockery in her eyes. She couldn't help but laugh. "An'an specifically asked me to read this. Why?"
Shang Shaoyan blinked: "Where did I specifically ask you to read it? I just thought it was very well written and wanted to share it with you. The way you're saying this makes it sound like I have ulterior motives."
Qiao Xiuyu didn't delve into it—or rather, he genuinely couldn't understand it. He simply patted Shang Shaoyan's head and said helplessly, "It was my fault."
Shang Shaoyan glanced at him and then said, "Why did you come here again? Don't those people in the palace care about you?"
Qiao Xiuyu touched his nose, a little embarrassed: "I wanted to tell you that I'm going to Suzhou in a few days and will be back in about two or three months."
Shang Shaoyan raised an eyebrow but didn't speak—she remembered what Yingge had told her about how the Third Princess, Lu Shuangyi, had been relentlessly pursuing Qiao Xiuyu and had made him afraid to stay in the palace for too long, and a subtle displeasure welled up in her heart.
This third princess is really unreasonable!
Seeing that Shang Shaoyan remained silent, Qiao Xiuyu assumed she was somewhat displeased and quickly explained, "It's just that things aren't very peaceful in the palace, so I'd like to go to Suzhou to take refuge..."
Shang Shaoyan's lips twitched—it was indeed not peaceful. Yesterday, Yingge relayed that the Third Princess was simply lawless. She thought this in her heart, but on the surface, she put on an expression of complete understanding: "You can go. Suzhou is a beautiful place with nice scenery, good for your health. It would be good for you to go and avoid it."
Qiao Xiuyu nodded, and then asked, "So... how long are you going to stay in Shu Prefecture?"
Shang Shaoyan thought for a moment and said somewhat uncertainly, "Maybe two or three months, at most no more than half a year."
Qiao Xiuyu immediately felt wronged: "Why did you take so long?"
Shang Shaoyan looked at him with amusement, but her heart softened for no reason. She coaxed him softly, "Besides seeking medical help for my brother, I have other things to do... His Majesty asked me to find some iron-eating beasts, which will take some effort."
Shang Shaoyan said this, but in her heart she thought—there was no way she would bring the adorable giant panda to Emperor Chen! What did the giant panda do wrong? Why should it have to associate with an idiot?
Seeing that Shang Shaoyan seemed a little unhappy towards the end, Qiao Xiuyu thought for a moment and said, "Then, once things have settled down in the palace and you've finished your work, I'll come to Shuzhou to find you and we can go back to Shengjing together, okay?"
Shang Shaoyan was amused: "Going to Shu Prefecture is a long and arduous journey, it would take at least a month to go back and forth, don't you find it troublesome!"
Qiao Xiuyu looked at Shang Shaoyan gently: "It's no trouble at all."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
