What bad luck! It's all because of that mouth of mine, why is it so annoying?!
[Why didn't Consort Chen tell her beforehand that the Empress Dowager is so protective of her own? Isn't that trying to get him killed?!]
Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and seeing blood is considered unlucky. Luckily, his head wasn't taken. If it were any other time, his head would probably be off his neck by now.
[I've even lost my job, sigh.]
After the farce ended, the palace maids, dressed in red palace attire and looking very festive, quickly came up and cleared away the leftover food and cold dishes from the table. They then quickly and efficiently brought out the second round of dishes from the imperial kitchen: braised crucian carp, bird's nest soup, stewed deer tendon, shredded chicken and white fungus, pork dumplings, and so on.
Yun Beiye took a sip of the soup Zhao Zhongquan handed him, then said, "Please have some tea!"
As soon as he finished speaking, palace maids came out from behind and served each minister a bowl of tea.
Yun Duoduo watched excitedly, realizing that this was how the New Year was celebrated in the ancient palace: there were two rounds of meals served, and the emperor would also bestow tea upon the guests.
After finishing their tea, Yun Beiye instructed Eunuch Zhao to distribute the red purses he had prepared to the ministers, as well as to the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the hall.
All of this was prepared by the Imperial Household Department. The red envelopes were very beautiful, embroidered with different patterns, and full of festive cheer.
Wow, there are even red envelopes!
Yun Duoduo exclaimed inwardly that her father was truly humane. She saw the palace maids and eunuchs standing behind the ministers also showing joy after receiving the red purses.
Yun Duoduo rubbed her hands together, eagerly watching the head eunuch hand out red envelopes, but the head eunuch showed no intention of giving her one.
[No way, no way, she wasn't included?]
Does her young age mean she doesn't deserve a fragrant, warm, and beautiful red envelope?
After waiting for a while, the head eunuch had disappeared from sight, and she still hadn't received the red envelope.
Yun Duoduo felt empty inside. Well, it's clear from the evidence that she really doesn't deserve a red envelope.
Yun Duoduo pouted, her expression somewhat tearful.
As she was feeling down, she saw something red flashing in front of her eyes.
Yun Duoduo reached out to grab it, but Yun Beiye raised his hand to tease her again.
Seeing that she couldn't catch the red envelope anyway, Yun Duoduo put her hand down and stared straight at Yun Beiye.
"Duoduo, this is your New Year's gift from your father!"
Yun Beiye tucked the beautiful red purse embroidered with lotus flowers into the quilt wrapped with clouds.
"Wow!" Yun Duoduo grinned to express her gratitude, and gave Yun Beiye a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, my daughter kissed me!" Yun Beiye smiled brightly with joy.
The palace maids and eunuchs behind the Empress Dowager were also infected by the Emperor's smile and smiled as well. They then realized that it was not appropriate and quickly lowered their heads and stopped smiling.
Yun Beiye was very happy to receive a kiss from his daughter.
"Today, I am in a very good mood. Zhao Zhongquan, bring me pen and ink!" Yun Beiye wiped his face, which was covered with Yun Duoduo's drool, with a handkerchief and ordered the person beside him.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Zhongquan replied, feeling a chill run down his spine. He wondered which minister would receive Yun Beiye's letter this time.
Whenever he was in a good mood, Yun Beiye would write calligraphy and then bestow these words upon his ministers.
The eunuch serving beside him pushed the dishes on the table aside and removed several plates to make room for Yun Beiye to write. Yun Beiye wrote several large "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune) characters and bestowed them upon several senior officials of the court.
"My dear ministers, you have worked hard and rendered great service to the court!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! This is what this old minister should do."
"It is my honor to be able to share Your Majesty's burdens."
The senior officials who received the "Fu" character smiled on the surface, but inwardly they were suffering.
This "Fu" character, personally written and bestowed by His Majesty, must be taken home and carefully enshrined. It must not be exposed to wind or rain, nor torn or damaged, otherwise it would be a great disrespect to the Emperor.
This isn't a blessing; it's clearly a hot potato!
Listening to the ministers' thoughts, Yun Duoduo also felt that this seemed a bit unfair, and it would be more practical to just send money directly!
She was very curious about what was inside the New Year's purse that her emperor father had given her.
If it's silver, that's far too little; this purse doesn't feel very heavy.
Could it be silver notes? But this purse isn't very big, and if it is silver notes, there don't seem to be many.
With so many ministers watching, she couldn't just open the purse and see what was inside.
What could it be?
Yun Duoduo's big eyes were filled with doubt.
"Huh? Where's the red paper?" Yun Beiye wrote several "Fu" characters in a row with a flourish of his brush, then looked at the empty table and said with some dissatisfaction.
Seeing that Yun Beiye was still not satisfied, Zhao Zhongquan, with great shrewdness, brought out another piece of red paper. Yun Beiye wrote a couplet: "Self-reliance creates a great cause for thousands of years; diligence and hard work lay a foundation for ten thousand generations." He then ordered it to be hung on the two pillars at the entrance of the main hall.
After Yun Beiye expressed his joy, the ministers, having eaten and drunk their fill, exchanged pleasantries and then dispersed to return home.
...
The capital city was filled with the deafening sound of gongs and drums, the booming sounds shattering the darkness of the night, while the bright red lanterns of every household illuminated the night as if it were daytime.
Despite the bitter cold and the occasional snowflakes falling from the sky, people who stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year braved the freezing weather to leave their homes, carrying torches and beating drums as they walked through the streets and alleys of the capital to celebrate the arrival of the new year and pray for good luck and more wealth.
According to Nanyang custom, adults and children do not sleep on New Year's Eve, a custom known as "keeping watch over the New Year." The longer one stays up, the longer one is believed to live and the better one's prospects for the coming year.
They would sit around the stove and listen to their grandparents and elders tell family stories or unforgettable events from previous years. They would eat and talk, and the elders would keep the fire burning brightly, symbolizing a prosperous and thriving future.
The people in the capital cut bamboo poles and paulownia wood into sections and burned them in braziers, making crackling sounds that scared Nian away.
The crackling sounds outside grew louder and louder, signifying that bad luck was being driven away and a good omen was being ushered in for the new year.
...
After the banquet, Yun Duoduo was sent back to Fushuang Palace.
The eaves of the sleeping quarters and front hall of Fushuang Palace were adorned with large red lanterns, Spring Festival couplets were hung on the pillars, the windows were decorated with the character "福" (fortune) and red paper-cut window decorations of different styles, and red ribbons and large red lanterns were hung on the railings, creating a very festive atmosphere.
She lay on the warm, soft bed, staring out the window, unable to sleep.
(Happy New Year, my little cuties! Dodo wishes you all a prosperous and auspicious Year of the Tiger! Please like, save, and comment! I look forward to your recognition and encouragement!)
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