The Nanyang Imperial Palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Two large red lanterns hung in front of the Anqing Hall, and the palace servants had changed into festive attire.
The snow inside the palace has been cleared away, and a potted orange tree symbolizing good luck has been placed every ten meters along both sides of the palace path.
As the year drew to a close, the palace maids and eunuchs were even busier, but they were all beaming with joy, their rosy faces radiating happiness.
This year's Lunar New Year's Eve was especially cold. Inside the Fushuang Palace, Yun Duoduo was wearing a red plum blossom short jacket and a red cotton skirt, with gold trim on the cuffs and pretty little butterflies embroidered on the collar.
She looks very spirited.
Her hair was styled into a pretty bun, tied with a red hair tie, and adorned with two small white pom-poms. Her hair was half-down.
"Erhuo, eat less! There's plenty of food in the main hall, isn't there?"
Yun Duoduo glanced at Sun Huohuo, who was sitting at the table, stuffing himself with food.
"Look at you, it's like you haven't eaten for days."
"Duo'er, you know that your father is here in this hall, your father is here, and there are so many ministers. No one dares to eat anything if His Majesty doesn't start eating."
"I was starving the last few times, I'm determined to eat my fill this time!"
Yun Duoduo thought about it and agreed. Every New Year's Eve banquet, her father and ministers would toast and say a lot of polite words, which could make people feel uncomfortable, especially for children, who couldn't sit still.
"Sister Duo, does Zhuangzhuang look good in this?"
Jin Zhuangzhuang wore a pale yellow satin dress, and her hair was styled into two braids, making her look very charming and cute.
"Hmm, Zhuangzhuang is getting more and more handsome." Yun Duoduo pulled Jin Zhuangzhuang in front of her and looked at him carefully.
Yunben, that wrinkled little baby with sallow skin, has grown up quite a bit now. Although she can't be called pretty, her little face is fair and tender.
After the New Year, Yun Duoduo will be six years old, and Jin Zhuangzhuang will be over five years old.
"Let's go, I'll take you to Anqing Palace." Seeing that the little ones were almost ready, Ah Xiang led the palace maids to escort them to Anqing Palace.
"Sister Duo, let's hold hands." Jin Zhuangzhuang tugged at Yun Duoduo's clothes, and Yun Duoduo took Jin Zhuangzhuang's hand and walked towards Anqing Palace.
...
Fires and incense were lit inside and outside the Anqing Hall, where the banquet was held in the Nanyang Palace.
The tables, chairs, and floor were all covered with a thick layer of plush.
Guan Guan, dressed in a light blue palace dress adorned with plum blossoms and embroidered with jade, with a butterfly ribbon tied around his waist, led Grand Secretary Guan by the hand into the Anqing Palace.
Sun Huohuo's father, Sun Ren, walked hand in hand with his wife, greeting the families of his colleagues as they went.
"Grand Secretary Guan, it's been a long time! You look even more energetic than before!" Sun Ren greeted him with a smile.
Grand Secretary Guan was a civil official, while Sun Ren was a military official. The two had little interaction on a daily basis, but both were important officials in Nanyang.
"Not at all, Lord Sun is in his prime!" Grand Secretary Guan said with a smile.
"Where is your son?"
"My naughty son will probably come with the princess."
The other adults present greeted each other and spoke in official jargon.
...
"Lord Hu, has something good happened recently? You seem to be in much better spirits!"
"Alas, none of them are as promising as Lord Liu's son. When the results were announced recently, Lord Liu's second son passed with flying colors!"
"Ah, Lord Hu has three sons, all of whom have passed the imperial examinations. Their futures are limitless!"
...
"Young Master Yao, you've really worked hard these past few days receiving the envoys from Loulan!"
"It's nothing, it's nothing. It's all for the court. This little bit of hard work is nothing. As long as it's good for my Great Zhao Kingdom, I, Yao, will do my best. Haha, come, Lord Qin, sit down and let's talk."
...
“Editor Du, come and sit down. I see there are quite a few fresh fruits and vegetables at today’s banquet.”
"Yes, I'm a little hungry right now," a young official said, fiddling with the fruits and vegetables on the table.
"Wait until His Majesty arrives before making any moves," the elder beside the young official whispered in admonition.
"Yes, Father."
...
"Xue Xielu, look at the food on this table. I heard that Loulan has sent a lot of tribute."
"Hmm, it must be tribute from Loulan. We're in for a treat today!" Xue Xielu was plump and quite young. He looked around happily, as if it were his first time attending such a banquet.
"Today, we're bound to have a heated debate, and we'll definitely be discussing the commercial ports and treaty ports!"
"Who can argue with that?"
...
“Lord Sun, the other day I went shopping with my wife at a jewelry store on Zouma Street and found a restaurant called Wild Vegetable Fragrance. Oh my, the wild vegetables they make are so authentic. It’s strange, I just like to eat dishes that taste a little bitter or astringent, haha.”
"These wild vegetables are good for your health. Master Fan certainly knows how to eat. I'll go and try them myself tomorrow," Lord Sun said with a smile, stroking his beard.
...
Outside Anqing Palace, Yun Duoduo encountered Jin Jinzhi and Yun Yishu.
"Third Imperial Brother, Brother Jinzhi, why are you two together?" Yun Duoduo asked, looking at the two people walking towards her.
Jin Jinzhi wore a fine blue silk long gown, with elegant bamboo leaf patterns embroidered on the outer garment, and white silk trim on the cuffs. She wore a white jade hair ornament and a light blue belt with white trim around her waist.
Yun Yishu was dressed in a dark blue robe, and he looked very spirited.
A few steps behind Jin Jinzhi were General Jin and Xun Yunge.
"We bumped into each other on the way, so we came together," Yun Yishu said, noticing Jin Zhuangzhuang next to Yun Duoduo.
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