Chapter 76 Fireworks in Full Bloom
These tiny, transparent spiders are all Gu worms.
It was similar to the Gu worm that had previously controlled Cheng Shuo, but less powerful.
However, the palace inspection was strict, and these little spiders were much easier to bring than centipedes and the like. Moreover, these little creatures had a weak aura and did not attract much attention.
The Gu worms on Cheng Shuo's body were destroyed, and the mother Gu worm in the hands of the Prince of Dingbei also died. It could only mean that the Qin family guessed that it was the Gu worms that were responsible and had them destroyed.
As for who destroyed the Gu, Baili Yu knew perfectly well.
There may not be any Gu Masters in the capital, but recently a famous Holy Maiden from the Southern Frontier has arrived.
It seems that the Qin family sought help from Si Tuanli, but Baili Yu did not expect that the Qin family's first thought was not to suspect the people in the Southern Frontier, but to ask them for help.
This ruined his plan to shift the blame, but no one knew it was him who did it.
Now the people in the palace must know about the existence of Gu worms, and Si Tu Anli has a small green snake that is said to be the king of all Gu worms. It can distinguish the smell of Gu worms and can also eliminate all Gu worms.
Now is not the right time to reveal the truth, so in order to avoid being found out that this matter is related to him, Baili Yu still wants to keep it hidden for a while longer.
Therefore, he brought these small items into the palace today, and they are unlikely to be discovered. They can stay in the palace and be used later.
He reached his fingertips into the purse, and two small spiders crawled out.
He then extended his fingertips along the sedan curtain, and two Gu worms crawled up and down the sedan, hiding in the hair of the two sedan bearers.
Baili Yu put away the purse, but left a gap at the opening so that the Gu worms could come out on their own without him having to do anything later.
The sedan chair quickly landed outside the Haiyan Palace, and the princes alighted from their sedan chairs and followed Baili Hong into the palace.
Everyone except the King of Southern Xinjiang thought that Qin Xiao should still be asleep.
But when they stepped into the hall, they found a tall figure already standing inside.
The man had his back to the door, dressed in a black and gold python robe, his dark hair tied up with a gold hair crown, and his mere back view exuded an imposing aura.
It's Qin Xiao!
Hearing the voice behind him, Qin Xiao turned around and looked over. His expression was calm, and his deep eyes swept over everyone before finally softening as he looked at Baili Hong and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities." Baili Hong immediately spoke, then walked to Qin Xiao's side and turned back to look at everyone, saying, "Please prepare to take your seats."
Everyone readily agreed.
Their facial expressions remained unchanged, but their inner thoughts were anything but calm.
Qin Xiao is not dead!
He might not even be seriously injured, otherwise how could he be here in such good condition?
Or was it really Chu Jiubian who cured him?
This is one of the benefits of having a deity by your side.
Everyone was filled with mixed thoughts, and some were curious about where Chu Jiubian had gone. Why was Qin Xiao out, but the other party hadn't appeared?
However, no one spoke up, and everyone prepared to take their seats.
Just then, Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan arrived with the Princess Consort of Southern Xinjiang, the Princess, and the Crown Prince.
After entering the palace, the women should, in principle, first go to the Empress Dowager to pay their respects.
The current mistress of the palace is the Empress Dowager, so after Si Tu Anli arrived at the palace gate with his two children, he parted ways with Baili Hao and went into the palace first to see Xiao Ruohan.
Upon meeting the Empress Dowager, all the vassal kings were required to pay their respects.
According to seniority, Xiao Ruohan was their stepmother.
As Xiao Ruohan watched the powerful vassal kings obediently greet her, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
This is power, this is status and position.
As a woman, she failed to pass the imperial examinations, but she still reached the highest position a woman could ever achieve.
Although Baili Hong is now in power, her ability to wield power has been greatly weakened. However, she was truly glorious for a long time when Emperor Yingzong was in power. It is only now that she has repeatedly suffered losses at the hands of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao that she has restrained her sharpness.
But now, seeing how respectfully these vassal kings treated her, she seemed to have regained the feeling of being second only to the emperor.
She walked up to the highest position and sat down in the spot second only to Baili Hong, before saying calmly, "Rise."
The princes thanked them before rising and taking their seats.
Baili Yu's gaze swept over Si Tuanli, who was sitting next to the King of Southern Xinjiang. He didn't see the little green snake, but such a small thing could easily be hidden in a sleeve.
So he didn't dare to make it too obvious, and just quietly loosened his sleeves.
Almost invisible to the naked eye, all six tiny spiders crawled out, scrambling down his robes and quickly disappearing into the shadows, slowly making their way up the massive stone pillar to the roof beam.
A bell rang outside the hall, and the first and second-rank officials who had received the invitation finally arrived outside the Haiyan Hall. Led by the six ministers, they entered the hall.
After another round of elaborate formalities, everyone finally took their seats.
After everyone sat down, they realized that Chu Jiubian was still nowhere to be seen, and there was still a seat left next to Qin Xiao.
Xiao Ruohan sat opposite Qin Xiao, smiled slightly, and said, "Why is the seat next to Prince Ning empty? I see that all the princes have arrived, so who is this seat reserved for?"
This occasion differs from the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet.
According to his status, the Prince of Jiannan could not sit next to her, and it would also be inappropriate for other vassal kings to sit next to her. Therefore, she was alone on her side, while Qin Xiao and an empty seat were sitting opposite her, which was obviously prepared for Chu Jiubian.
But Chu Jiubian is the Grand Tutor, and he is no match for these vassal kings. For him to sit here is an act of usurpation.
Xiao Ruohan is pretending to be stupid on purpose.
Little did she know that Chu Jiubian had already entered the hall when she asked that question.
He activated the system with a function he had used before in Hexi County, which made him unnoticed by those around him.
However, for some reason, even Baili Hong didn't notice him, but the moment he stepped into the palace, Qin Xiao looked at him.
It wasn't the kind of feeling that you only look when you sense something; rather, the other person clearly saw him and even stared at him rather brazenly.
Chu Jiubian met his gaze indifferently, but his steps never faltered.
As he moved, the jewelry on his body jingled softly.
The pure white silk felt a bit cool against my skin, but the long, fluffy fox fur cloak that trailed down to my ankles blocked out much of the chill.
Although it's not yet time to finish eating, it's already dark in the winter.
Many lamps were lit inside the hall, their warm yellow light creating a cozy atmosphere.
Chu Jiubian's long boots covered her calves, and her straight, long legs made every step she took beautiful.
His long, silvery-white hair was still loose, but there were delicate silver chains in it, which swayed in the light as he moved.
Qin Xiao stared at him almost without blinking, his gaze moving from the young man's legs hidden under his silk trousers, to the taut lines outlined by his belt, to his slender, fair neck and delicate, aloof face.
Like the bright white moon, high above.
This is the divine.
The inviolable deity.
Qin Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his eyes dark and deep.
Chu Jiubian had already slowly walked past the officials on both sides, and still no one noticed his presence.
"What is Prince Ning looking at?" Xiao Ruohan felt embarrassed when he ignored her, and her tone turned cold. "This position next to Prince Ning, is it really reserved for Grand Tutor Chu?"
Qin Xiao finally turned his gaze away, and when he looked at the Empress Dowager opposite him, a faint smile appeared on his face: "What are you saying? The Grand Tutor is an official position, and it is against etiquette for him to sit above a vassal king."
On the roof beam, a small spider had already reached the stone pillar behind Qin Xiao, quickly climbed down, then climbed onto Qin Xiao's table, and crawled into his cup, where it remained motionless.
An alarm also sounded in Chu Jiubian's mind.
[Warning! Warning! There is a hidden poisonous substance inside the hall. The location has been marked for the host. Please be careful!]
Chu Jiubian's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
He guessed that the person who used Gu might make another move today.
If any one of the people present here today were to be charged, it would be a terrible thing.
However, Chu Jiubian felt that if the other party really made a move, it would definitely be against people in the palace, such as Baili Hong, him and Qin Xiao, and Xiao Ruohan.
As for the others, if the other party wanted to make a move, they would have plenty of opportunities even outside the palace.
So he contacted the system beforehand and knew that its ability to detect toxins could also detect Gu poison, which put his mind at ease.
He deliberately arrived a little late, partly to scare these people with a "stealth"-like ability, and partly because he had prepared something else outside the palace and entrusted it to the guards.
Of course, there is another reason, which is to wait for the person who cast the curse to make a move.
If he were present, the other party might have been wary of his "divine" status and acted timidly. However, judging from his current audacity and style, he seems to have no fear whatsoever.
Chu Jiubian looked up and saw six green lights appear in the hall.
One of them was next to Xiao Ruohan, two were on the roof beam above Baili Hong's head, and there were three more.
One was on the roof beam of Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue, and the other was on the head of Baili Ming, the Prince of Anhuai.
The last one is in Qin Xiao's cup.
Su Sheng and the Prince of Anhuai? Chu Jiubian had a flash of inspiration and instantly understood some things.
He walked over and sat down next to Qin Xiao.
"So Prince Ning knew," Xiao Ruohan said with a smile. "Then this seat beside you..."
"This is for me to sit on," Chu Jiubian said, his voice clear and cold, standing out even more in the already quiet palace.
Xiao Ruohan was startled. She glanced sideways at the empty seat, then her pupils contracted sharply, and she froze on the spot.
The gazes of everyone else in the hall also fell on Chu Jiubian, their expressions filled with shock.
Only the Situ siblings, sitting behind their parents, had their eyes light up and craned their necks to look at Chu Jiubian. After seeing his appearance clearly, their eyes were filled with amazement and admiration.
This is the Divine Lord!
She has such a powerful presence! And she's so beautiful!
No wonder the high priest was so devoted to him, even wanting to descend to earth with him!
The others, however, were not as excited as the two of them. Instead, they were all horrified, and their hands and feet turned ice-cold.
When did Chu Jiu Bian appear?
Why didn't anyone notice?
The officials of the first and second ranks, looking at Chu Jiubian's attire, seemed to be transported back to the day of his coronation ceremony.
They finally remembered that the Grand Tutor Chu, with whom they had worked for so long, was actually a deity!
The hall was deathly silent. The vassal kings stared intently at Chu Jiubian, their hearts filled with indescribable turmoil.
This is the divine.
They had only heard of him but never met him, and now that they had actually seen him, they knew that the rumors were just that—rumors.
Chu Jiubian ignored everyone's reactions. He reached out and took Qin Xiao's cup, then took out the little spider from it.
Baili Yu's pupils trembled slightly, but there was no other reaction on his face.
The others knew they were to meet the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang, so they had some understanding of the Gu worms.
Upon seeing him, they all realized what was happening and looked at Si Tuanli.
The King and Queen of Southern Xinjiang showed no reaction whatsoever, remaining calm and composed.
"Thank you for your trouble, Holy Maiden." Chu Jiubian said, taking out a small lighter that could be hidden in the palm of his hand from the system space and lighting it.
With a crack, the flame burned the spider to ashes.
He put the lighter away again, and everyone was even more amazed to see a flame appear out of thin air at his fingertips. What surprised them even more was that Chu Jiubian could even detect such a tiny Gu worm.
Si Tu Anli hadn't actually noticed, but she knew the person who created the Gu was indeed skilled, managing to deceive her snake. And Chu Jiubian, who could detect the Gu worms, was even more formidable. Now that she had received the order, she responded gently. At the same time, the small green snake in her hair slithered out, licked her little fingernail, and then quickly circled the hall, swallowing the remaining five Gu worms.
Baili Yu didn't look at the snake, but instead stared at Chu Jiubian, a silent smile playing on his lips.
A show of force.
"Please keep a close eye on your belongings," Chu Jiubian said calmly, his gaze never meeting anyone's, yet he seemed more like a deity enshrined in a temple.
He stopped talking.
Qin Xiao then said, "Your Majesty, let's begin the banquet."
Baili Hong nodded, and Hong Fu then called out to start the banquet.
The palace servants, who had been preparing in the inner palace for a long time, immediately filed out, carrying trays with wine and food.
At the same time, a deafening roar suddenly resounded outside the hall.
Everyone at the palace banquet went on alert, staring in shock at the outside.
However, when they turned around, they found that Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, Baili Hong, and even the palace servants did not react.
"They're fireworks," Baili Hong said with a smile. "A gift from the Divine Lord to everyone."
The day before yesterday, Chu Jiubian took Baili Hong and Qin Xiao to the outskirts of the capital and found a place for them to set off fireworks. And the people serving the dishes now are not palace servants, but Qin Xiao's secret guards.
I did all this secretly so that I could show these vassal kings and officials today, and also so that they would not forget Chu Jiubian's identity as a deity.
Everyone was initially shocked, but it was Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo who got up and went out first, and then the others reacted and followed him out.
Xiao Ruohan also clutched her chest, realizing her loss of composure. She immediately composed herself, stood up with a stern face, and walked out of the main hall.
When she saw the scene outside, she was stunned.
The sky was ablaze with brilliant fireworks, their colorful flames illuminating the heavens like a fairyland.
The officials couldn't help but recall the previous assassination attempt, in which Chu Jiubian had killed many assassins with such a loud noise.
So, are these beautiful fireworks actually deadly weapons?
It's better that the vassal kings didn't know about Chu Jiubian's exploits.
Such a loud noise and such a beautiful scene made them clearly realize what Chu Jiubian's true identity was.
And does he actually have the right to sit in the highest position?
After a long while, when all the fireworks had finished, the crowd was still in a daze and waited a while before slowly returning to the palace.
With such a deterrent effect, not only were the people not as audacious as Baili Yu, but even if they were, they wouldn't dare to do anything now.
Nothing else changed; the food was served, drinks were poured, and toasts were exchanged.
Everyone maintained a peaceful and friendly demeanor, as if they were truly one family.
However, everyone's eyes would always fall on Chu Jiubian from time to time.
Jiannan King Baili Hai looked at Chu Jiubian from afar, then at Qin Xiao, the gloom in his eyes almost impossible to conceal.
He drank one glass of wine after another, and soon became drunk.
The Prince of Dingbei showed no sign of guilt at being exposed. He continued to drink his wine with a smile and an air of composure, though his gaze kept glancing at Chu Jiubian's face.
Gods?
Does the divine favor those who occupy that position?
Chu Jiubian was not an ignorant child; he understood these gazes all too well, but he didn't care much about them.
He can't control other people's gaze and dirty thoughts right now, but one day, these people will no longer have the chance to spy on him.
Qin Xiao's injuries hadn't healed yet, so he hadn't drunk much, but for some reason, he felt a little drunk.
Seeing the way those people were staring at Chu Jiubian, he also felt annoyed.
The hour-long palace banquet finally came to an end.
The princes left one by one, and although there were still many palace servants in the huge hall, it still felt much emptier.
The long-awaited palace banquet and New Year's celebrations have come to an end.
It can be considered that things were calm and peaceful.
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, these vassal kings should all set off to return to their fiefdoms.
Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao stood side by side under the eaves. The wind and snow blurred their vision, and they could only vaguely see the receding figures gradually becoming smaller and smaller until they disappeared.
When we meet again, it will probably only be to face each other in arms.
The historian Xun Xiuran packed up his books, walked out of the hall, stopped beside Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, bowed and said goodbye.
Qin Xiao nodded and said, "Go ahead. Tomorrow I will have someone send you some rewards."
Xun Xiuran accepted the offer without being humble or arrogant.
Historians earned little, could not freely associate with others, and were even less likely to engage in business or form profit-sharing relationships with others, lest their historical records be biased.
Therefore, he could not show excitement when faced with the reward Qin Xiao mentioned, and could only respond calmly.
After bidding farewell to the two adults, he turned and left.
However, the ground was slippery after the snowfall, and he slipped after taking only two steps, dropping the book from his hand.
After he regained his footing, he hurriedly bowed to his two superiors and apologized.
"It's alright," Qin Xiao said.
For some reason, Chu Jiubian's first reaction was to bend down and pick up the book.
Before returning it to Xun Xiuran, he casually glanced at the contents.
But just one glance was enough to strike him like a thunderbolt.
The open page read: "[Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, led his army to a great victory over the Western Regions border kingdom, but was seriously wounded. Grand Tutor Chu Jiubian's miraculous healing skills brought him back to health, and he recovered in three days.]"
If he wasn't mistaken, he had seen the original version of this sentence in the "original work," and it was—
Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, led his army to a great victory over the Western Regions border kingdom, but was seriously wounded and took three months to recover.
Why is the content above the original text the same as the description in the historian's writing?
Is it a coincidence?
Is it part of the original setting?
Or perhaps what he saw back then wasn't some male protagonist novel, but a history book, or even a biography of Baili Hong?
If that's the case, then was the world he entered real from the very beginning?
"What's wrong?" Qin Xiao's voice brought Chu Jiubian back to his senses.
He blinked, concealing the turmoil in his heart, and handed the book back to Xun Xiuran, saying, "Be careful."
Xun Xiuran noticed his momentary loss of composure, but did not ask any further questions. He bowed and left directly.
Chu Jiubian gazed at his figure; the swirling snow could not conceal the other's straight back.
Chu Jiubian felt that the world in front of him was somewhat blurry.
He suddenly wondered whether the content he had seen in the original work, as well as the readers' comments, were real or fabricated.
He knew his mental state was very poor, and he was perhaps only one step away from truly going insane. So, could it be that at that time, he was already somewhat unable to distinguish between reality and illusion?
Or is he real or fake now?
Could everything he's experiencing now just be a figment of his imagination?
Chu Jiubian unconsciously picked at his hand, and a stinging sensation came from it. He paused for a moment, then looked down.
Qin Xiao had been watching him closely, so he naturally looked down at him as well. When he saw the blood seeping from under the other man's fingernails, his expression turned cold, and he reached out and grabbed the man's wrist, lifting it up.
Ringing in his ears, the world before his eyes seemed distorted, and a sharp pain shot through Chu Jiubian's mind.
It's neuralgia.
He couldn't quite see Qin Xiao's expression, nor could he hear his voice.
"Qin Xiao," he said, but even his own voice was inaudible.
"How can one distinguish between reality and illusion?" he asked.
The young man looked blank, his eyes empty, utterly lifeless.
Qin Xiao suddenly recalled all the previous events. This was not the first time Chu Jiubian had hurt him, but why?
"Chu Jiubian." He called out, but the other person seemed not to hear him at all.
Qin Xiao's expression grew even colder. He grabbed the young man's wrist and took two steps into the Fengtian Hall.
The hall was empty.
Chu Jiubian staggered, and before he could regain his footing, Qin Xiao pulled him into the shadows of the main hall, pressing his back against a thick vermilion stone pillar.
The next moment, the man's strong body and hot breath pressed against her.
Chu Jiubian blinked, and the tinnitus faded away.
He caught a whiff of the man's distinctive scent, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he relaxed his jaw.
Sensing the change in him, Qin Xiao's breathing became light and heavy, and he pressed his body down even more heavily, the veins on his arms wrapped around the young man's waist bulging.
With his other hand, he grabbed Chu Jiubian's wrists and pressed them above his head, giving him no chance to resist.
Chu Jiubian tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, his body trembling slightly.
After an unknown amount of time, a sharp pain suddenly came from my lips.
This was the only method Qin Xiao could think of that could bring Chu Jiubian to his senses without causing too many side effects.
Chu Jiubian opened his eyes, his blank gaze fixed on the man's deep, dark eyes so close to his own, before his gaze gradually focused.
The neuralgia seemed to have subsided somewhat, but the stinging sensation on my lips and the metallic taste of blood between my lips became more pronounced.
Qin Xiao released his rosy lips, but still held him in his arms, their noses almost touching.
"Things that can be seen with the eyes and touched with the hands," Qin Xiao said in a low voice.
He held Chu Jiubian's hand and placed it on his heart, saying, "What you can feel in your heart is the truth."
A steady stream of heat came from my hands, and my icy hands gradually warmed up.
Chu Jiubian stared at the man for a long time, his rapid and powerful heartbeat constantly reminding him how real it all was.
For some reason, he suddenly licked his lips.
Qin Xiao lowered his gaze, and when he looked up again, his expression turned somewhat fierce.
Chu Jiubian's eyelashes trembled, and she gently pushed the man away, being careful not to touch his injury.
Then he turned around the pillar and walked quickly toward the back hall.
At the same time, he thought to himself, "Check it out."
The patient's movements were quite vigorous, but they did not aggravate the wound, so please rest assured.
Chu Jiubian pursed his lips; they felt a little numb, and the bite mark was still itchy.
You bastard.
He cursed under his breath and asked again, "Do you have a larger dose?"
[The host's mental state was only slightly abnormal. Overdosing on medication may damage the body; use is not recommended.]
Chu Jiubian was taken aback.
Only minor abnormalities?
Qin Xiao watched the young man's departing figure, raised his hand and gently wiped the water stains from the corner of his lips, but did not touch his lips.
He closed his eyes, took two deep breaths, then opened them again and walked towards the back hall.
==
Outside the palace, the princes bid farewell to each other and then boarded their own carriages to head towards their residences.
Baili Zheng walked slowly. Baili Hao told his wife and children to return to the carriage first, and then he also slowed down and walked side by side with Baili Zheng, knowing that the other party must have something to ask him.
Sure enough, after all the surrounding vassal kings had left, Baili Zheng stopped and looked at the departing carriages and horses in the distance, asking, "When did we establish contact with the palace?"
"After entering the capital," Baili Hao didn't lie.
Although his children had an extraordinary closeness and trust in Chu Jiubian, he and Si Tuanli did indeed only make contact with Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao after helping Cheng Shuo get rid of the Gu poison.
Or rather, a transaction was made.
They proved that they had no hostility towards His Majesty and had not laid a hand on Qin Xiao and his group, while Qin Xiao promised not to take action against the Southern Frontier.
This was a peaceful deal that benefited both sides.
As for whether there will be further cooperation and other transactions in the future, Baili Hao is not opposed to it.
“It’s better not to get involved in some things.” Baili Zheng turned to look at him, his expression as serious as ever. “Only by staying in one’s own corner, managing your own affairs, and taking care of your own people can you live a long life.”
He was such a mild-mannered, even somewhat old-fashioned, person.
From beginning to end, all he wanted was to be self-sufficient on his own fiefdom and provide a better life for the people there. As for developing the economy and building an armed force, these were merely means for him to protect himself and his people.
If he could, he would never have laid a hand on those tens of thousands of Pingxi troops.
Baili Hao understands him and can comprehend him.
He used to think the same way.
But after the drought, he no longer thought that way.
As a powerful vassal king, he had no chance to live in seclusion even if he wanted to. Sooner or later, he would be drawn into these troubles. Only when the world was truly at peace and the imperial power was supreme could these upheavals be completely quelled.
Even Baili Zheng would eventually be drawn into this chaos, whether willingly or unwillingly.
However, Baili Hao did not try to persuade the other party at the moment, but simply nodded and smiled, saying, "I know."
Baili Zheng knew him well and knew that he didn't actually intend to stop. He could only let out a slow breath, turn around and strode away, leaving behind only the words, "Take care of yourself."
Baili Hao stood there, watching his vehicle drive away.
It remains to be seen whether the two brothers will fight side by side or become adversaries in the future.
"My lord." The curtain of the carriage was lifted not far away, and a woman's clear and melodious voice rang out.
Baili Hao looked back and saw that the woman in the car window had stepped back, revealing two almost identical small faces.
He chuckled softly, walked over, and got into the car.
The family of four squeezed into the car and surprisingly found it quite warm.
"Father," Si Tu Zhaoling said with a smile, holding her mother's arm, "Don't worry, following the Grand Tutor is definitely the right thing to do."
Si Tu Zhaoyao nodded in agreement: "Yes, Father, we have just witnessed the methods of Grand Tutor Chu. Moreover, there is also the High Priest. With two deities in charge, His Majesty will not lose."
Baili Hao raised his hand and lightly tapped his forehead: "When you're not in the village, don't talk about politics."
Si Tu Zhaoyao laughed and said, "Then can you talk about the little emperor? He's so small, but he looks so clever and cute."
“Yes, yes.” Si Tu Zhaoling’s eyes lit up. “His face looks so soft. I wonder what it would feel like to pinch it.”
“You guys,” Si Tuanli said helplessly, “you’ve really spoiled me.”
That's what she said, but her eyes were full of doting and indulgence.
She knew her child well; no matter how lively and childish he was at home, he was very well-behaved outside, so there was no need to worry about him at all.
The vehicle traveled further and further away, gradually disappearing into the wind and snow.
Before long, the wind subsided a bit, but the snow started falling even harder.
Inside the main hall of the Prince of Dingbei's mansion, Baili Yu, dressed in a scarlet undergarment, leaned against a couch, with a stove beside him, the fire burning brightly.
He was toying with a palm-sized porcelain jar in his hand, inside which was a transparent spider about half the size of his palm.
Its transparent body was covered with blood vessels, which flowed in gurgling streams.
Not far from him, a person sat in a chair, completely covered in a black robe, making it impossible to see his face.
After a long silence, the man in black robes couldn't sit still any longer and spoke in a voice that was neither male nor female: "Your Highness, there are still two surviving offspring Gu that can be of some use."
Baili Yu smiled, his expression languid.
Upon hearing this, he closed the lid of the porcelain jar and casually tossed it to the man in black.
The other person quickly caught it, even wearing gloves on their hands, so not a bit of skin was exposed.
“Your skills are far inferior to those of Si Tu Anli,” Baili Yu said slowly.
The man in black robes tightened his grip on the porcelain jar and said in a low voice, "This time it was my mistake, next time..."
"Next time?" Baili Yu tilted his head to look at him and laughed, "Next time you'll only lose even more miserably."
The man in black lowered his head and remained silent.
Baili Yu withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Let's go back."
After a moment's pause, the man in black robes stood up, bowed, and turned to leave the room.
At the same time, a person walked out from the inner room. The person was dressed in a red gauze dress, with a slender waist and long hair draped behind him. His face looked like a man's, but his tone was gentle and charming when he spoke.
"Your Highness, I will serve you." The man walked to the edge of the bed and slowly sat down.
Baili Yu looked at him with a smile, and when he came closer, he reached out and gently stroked the other's smooth black hair, but his eyes were somewhat deep.
He used to like his long, ink-black hair, but now he seems to prefer the silver-white color.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the indoor lights dimmed, creating a beautiful ambiance.
In the palace.
Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao stayed in the main hall of Yangxin Hall, where they would keep the children company to celebrate the New Year.
Baili Hong sat at the table, his little face cupped in his hands, his short legs swinging back and forth, his eyes gradually becoming hazy, and his little head beginning to sway.
She was clearly very sleepy.
However, this is a custom of Da Ning, and when the late Empress was alive, she would also keep watch over the children in this way.
Baili Hong remembered what happened during the Spring Festival last year. He remembered his mother saying that children should stay up all night on New Year's Eve so that they could have a peaceful year ahead.
So even though he was so sleepy and a little confused, he still forced himself to keep going.
Qin Xiao was sick, and Chu Jiubian wanted him to go and rest, but he said he wasn't tired and insisted on staying with him.
Meanwhile, Hongfu, Xiaoxiangzi, Xiaoyuzi, and other palace servants were in the outer room, chatting casually around two large round tables. They were quite able to stay awake and didn't seem sleepy at all.
Chu Jiubian watched as the child yawned, and then he yawned too, his eyelashes becoming wet.
Qin Xiao turned his head to look at him, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over the almost invisible wound on the other's lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Chu Jiubian glanced at him: "Aren't you sleepy?"
Qin Xiao looked away and said, "I'm not sleepy."
Chu Jiubian asked the system for the time and found that there were still two hours until midnight.
This kind of passive endurance won't work.
He thought about it and found himself somewhat unsure of what to do while staying up late during the Lunar New Year.
During previous Chinese New Year celebrations, he was almost always at the gala venue.
Before he entered the entertainment industry, he would spend the night alone at home or in the shop where he worked, just like any other day.
When he was younger, his memories of the Lunar New Year were of alcohol, arguments, and crying.
He used to enjoy the sound of cannons outside. The windows and the whole old, dilapidated building vibrated, drowning out all the noise in the living room and allowing him to relax his tense body.
"System, what do normal people do during the Chinese New Year?" Chu Jiubian asked casually.
[Host, according to statistics, many people eat dumplings, watch TV, play cards, and give out red envelopes during the Lunar New Year...]
The system said a lot, and Chu Jiubian actually woke up.
"Give me three decks of cards," he said.
Now, all those in the palace are trustworthy palace servants, and they all firmly believe in Chu Jiubian's divine identity, so Chu Jiubian is not afraid to perform yet another "miracle" in front of them.
So he took out three decks of cards directly from the system.
The drowsy children perked up immediately upon seeing this.
"Sir, what is it?" he asked curiously, staring at the three boxes of playing cards.
Chu Jiubian laughed and said, "It's fun."
"Wow!" The child's eyes widened.
Chu Jiubian called Xiao Xiangzi and Xiao Yuzi in, gave them two decks of cards, and taught them the simplest way to play.
These are small things that can be taught to children; Hongfu doesn't need to do them himself.
After hearing the rules, the two eunuchs nodded hurriedly to show that they understood, and then quickly went to the outer room.
Upon hearing that the two had begun explaining the rules, Chu Jiubian looked at Qin Xiao and Baili Hong and said, "Let's play a game that's different from theirs."
With three people, they naturally played Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).
However, in Daning, this game of Dou Dizhu (a card game) became known as "Fighting the Aristocratic Families." But when Baili Hong heard this, he pouted and said, "Sir, I don't want to be an aristocratic family, and neither do you."
Qin Xiao chuckled and said, "It's just a name."
"It doesn't sound good," Baili Hong snorted.
"What's wrong with it?" Qin Xiao said deliberately. "Our Qin family is considered a prestigious family."
“That’s different,” Baili Hong retorted seriously. “The Qin family is good, while the aristocratic families are bad.”
Qin Xiao paused.
Chu Jiubian also looked at Baili Hong, feeling somewhat emotional.
As expected of the male protagonist who is tasked with abolishing powerful clans, he has such awareness at such a young age.
The child may not yet realize the meaning of his words, but he has already begun to resent the existence of "aristocratic families" and, naturally, the existence of so-called powerful and wealthy people.
Chu Jiubian suddenly remembered what happened after the palace banquet.
Xun Xiuran's writings in the history books, every word and sentence, are records of this dynasty and the powerful and wealthy in the court, but it is unknown whether there are any records of ordinary people.
As for why the content in the historical records is the same as the original text, Chu Jiubian did not investigate further.
Qin Xiao is right. He can personally experience the reality of all this, so he doesn't need to be trapped in the so-called "original work".
Moreover, he has already changed many things since he came into this world.
Even if there are original works or historical records, the process and ending should be rewritten for him.
Chu Jiubian looked at Baili Hong and asked gently, "Then Your Majesty, what do you think we should call him?"
Baili Hong thought for a moment and said, "Let's call it Fight the Bully!"
"Okay, let's call it Fight the Bully."
The child immediately started happily wiggling his little feet, and shrugged his shoulders while smiling somewhat shyly.
Chu Jiubian laughed and reached out to rub the child's head, but unexpectedly Qin Xiao also reached out, and their hands met unexpectedly on the child's head.
All three of them were stunned.
Baili Hong was the first to react, and he took the initiative to shake his little head and rub against the two adults' hands, chuckling.
Chu Jiubian didn't even look at Qin Xiao, and calmly withdrew his hand.
Qin Xiao glanced at him.
The palace servants outside had started fighting, and it was even more chaotic than before.
The three inside then began to fight the bully. At first, fearing that everyone might not understand the rules, Chu Jiu Bian was always the bully, and there were wins and losses.
Later, Baili Hong felt he needed a challenge, so he kept vying to be the bully.
The kid was indeed clever; neither Chu Jiubian nor Qin Xiao held back, and the fight ended with both wins and losses.
Time passed by unnoticed, and in the end, Qin Xiao became a bully twice, but was defeated by Baili Hong and Chu Jiubian.
"Uncle lost again!" Baili Hong clapped his hands happily.
At the same time, the palace servants outside began to shout joyfully, "Happy New Year!"
Hong Fu entered the inner hall and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Your Excellency, Young Master, it's time to go out and set off fireworks."
"Fireworks are going off!" Baili Hong happily got off his stool.
Hongfu dressed him in an outer robe and a thick cloak, and even put the little hood on the cloak before they left the main hall together.
Chu Jiubian also stood up and said, "Let's go take a look too."
"Hmm." Qin Xiao took the cloaks from the two of them and handed Chu Jiubian's to him.
When everyone arrived outside the hall, a dozen or so fireworks that Chu Jiubian had bought from the system were already set up in the large courtyard.
"Let's begin," Baili Hong called out crisply.
"Yes." Several palace servants responded in unison, and then the servants standing on both sides lit a fire with tinder.
Two fireworks rose into the sky at the same time, exploded, and brilliant sparks bloomed in the air, like a dream.
Inside the Cining Palace, the palace servants who heard the noise couldn't help but quietly look outside.
Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan had already changed into her nightgown. Upon hearing the sound, she was startled at first, and then her face darkened.
No one can resist fireworks after seeing them for the first time, and she wanted to see them more, but the thought that Chu Jiubian had put them on to make the young emperor look good made her lose interest.
"Master, shall we go out and take a look?" the nanny said softly. "What if that spark lands in our courtyard? Wouldn't that cause a disaster? It's better to keep an eye on things."
This is giving her a way out.
Xiao Ruohan felt aggrieved, but hearing the sounds outside, she still said, "Help me change my clothes."
In another palace hall, An Wuji and Qin Chaoyang stood side by side, watching the fireworks being set off from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"This is truly a wonderful thing," An Wuji exclaimed.
Qin Chaoyang said, "Yes, but I wonder when you will be able to make the fireworks weapon."
"Weapons?" An Wuji raised an eyebrow. "You mean the loud noises when the young master shot the assassins earlier?"
"Hmm," Qin Chaoyang said, "What can hurt people is naturally a weapon."
He felt the sound of the fireworks was similar to the loud bang that day, but the loud bang that day was even louder.
Fireworks were in full bloom.
Little Baili Hong stood in front of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, tilting his head up to look at them with bright eyes.
He suddenly clasped his hands together in front of his chest, his little face full of sincerity: "I hope that my mother and maternal grandparents in heaven can also see such beautiful fireworks."
He muttered to himself, his voice hidden beneath the sound of fireworks.
Chu Jiubian also looked at the starlight filling the sky, the halo of light making his face appear and disappear.
Qin Xiao didn't watch the fireworks; he only watched him.
As the fireworks faded, Chu Jiubian's first year in Da Ning came to an end.
After the young emperor fell asleep, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao left the main hall.
Seeing Chu Jiubian preparing to walk out of the courtyard, Qin Xiao stepped forward and followed beside him, asking, "Where are you going?"
“Let’s go back to Yaotai Residence,” Chu Jiubian said.
Qin Xiao grabbed his wrist, and the two of them stopped together.
Their eyes met, and Qin Xiao said, "Don't leave, I won't touch you."
Chu Jiubian: "?"
What are you moving?
In fact, Chu Jiubian didn't want to leave either, but he felt that since it was the New Year, Qin Chuan might come looking for Qin Xiao again, so he might as well leave to avoid delaying the two brothers from catching up.
Seeing that Qin Xiao had no intention of letting him go, Chu Jiubian asked, "Don't you need to wait for others?"
"No need," Qin Xiao said. "You go back to the palace first. I'll go to the Qin family and come back right away."
During the Lunar New Year, as the eldest brother, he really should go back and see his younger siblings.
Chu Jiubian didn't refuse and said, "Okay, then I'll go to sleep after I wash up. I won't wait for you."
"Hmm." Qin Xiao thought it was a wonderful thing that Chu Jiubian was able to lay floor tiles in his palace.
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