The New Year Had Come Again

It's Chinese New Year again!

The Capital was covered in snow, making the roads difficult to travel on.

The maids and servants of wealthy families no longer go out casually.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng waited for people to come and pay their respects for the New Year, while Qi Zaijun went to the Imperial Palace to accompany Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao in their place.

"We didn't have enough 'Fu Characters to write on New Year's Eve."

Lin Yunwan picked up her pen again and wrote another stack of gold-flecked red paper.

Qi Lingheng, standing nearby to help, said, "Who told the people below to covet your 'Fu Character?"

Lin Yunwan smiled too, "I am the master." Even if a subordinate doesn't like something, they'll pretend to like it.

Qi Lingheng the ink and asked, "Has it been sent to Yun Yi yet?"

Lin Yunwan said, "If Yun Yi hadn't brought a whole stack over, we would have had enough this morning."

"What does Yun Yi need so much for? Does he want to plaster the Lin Family with it?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and looked down, "... He probably wanted to give it to Chang Gong."

Mentioning Lu Chang'gong, Qi Lingheng could already picture how desolate and lonely the Lu family must be now.

After the funeral, Lu Chang'gong moved with Zhu Qing and the others.

"Isn't a two-courtyard house a bit too small?"

After rewarding the servants, Zhu Qing took Mu'er and went to find Lu Chang'gong.

There was a death in the family, and everyone was dressed in mourning clothes. She didn't even need to use rouge, which made her look much younger.

Lu Chang'gong was reading in the study. He put down the book, walked over to Mu'er, and spoke to Zhu Qing, "Does Concubine feel the room is not enough?"

Men and women live separately.

Lu Chang'gong didn't know how Zhu Qing had arranged her several rooms. If they weren't enough, he could have vacated some of his own rooms to make room for her.

Zhu Qing said with concern, "Mu'er and I are certainly enough, but I'm afraid it won't be enough after you get married, Eldest Young Master."

Lu Chang'gong smiled faintly, "Concubine is thinking too far ahead."

The period of mourning has only just begun.

Zhu Qing thought about it and realized it made sense. She called Lu Chang'gong to go outside and look at the Fu Character pasted on the window, excitedly saying, "Eldest Young Master, look at this character, doesn't it look like the one our Young Madam used to write?"

These Fu Characters were all brought back by Lu Chang'gong from Lin Yunyi.

He smiled and told Zhu Qing, "Concubine has a good eye."

Zhu Qing was taken aback, "It really is..."

Lu Chang'gong nodded, turned and went into the study, took out several red envelopes and two wooden boxes, and said, "This is entrusted to me by Uncle Yi to be given to Concubine and Mu'er."

Zhu Qing was very surprised, "This..."

She never expected to receive a gift!

Mu'er was overjoyed. "Mother, does Mu'er have one too?"

Zhu Qing opened the two wooden boxes and gave her a very valuable hair ornament, exquisitely crafted.

However, it wasn't made for the imperial court; judging from the patterns and carvings, it was the work of a folk master.

For Mu'er...

Zhu Qing's eyes widened. "So many gems? This... this huge box!"

Red, blue, and green gemstones—they're all available.

Lu Chang'gong said, "Uncle Yi said that since Mu'er was born, her mother..." He was getting used to changing his address, so he said, "The Princess Consort has never given a gift before, this is a gift for Mu'er."

"This is too valuable!"

Zhu Qing clutched her chest, gazing at the glittering gemstone, and said, "This is enough to buy another large Courtyard."

Lu Chang'gong smiled gently, "This will be Mu'er's dowry from now on, Concubine, please keep it."

Zhu Qing was already tempted, and smiled, "I wanted to return it, but there's no way to do so now. I'll just... I'll keep it for Mu'er for now."

The mother and daughter went back to the back Courtyard together.

Zhu Qing, along with her two maids, Xiliu and Tong Liu, went to cook together.

There are no servants left in the mansion; those who remain are those who used to serve her closely and whom she trusts.

At lunchtime, the table was set with both meat and vegetable dishes.

Mu'er smelled the aroma and said, "Mother, didn't you say we can't eat meat?"

Zhu Qing said irritably, "I clearly said that in front of outsiders we should say we're observing mourning and can't eat meat!"

Mu'er nodded. "I understand, I can eat at home."

"Mu'er is clever."

Mu'er smiled and said, "Mommy, it smells so good!"

"It smells delicious, doesn't it! Mother has saved up a lot of money on the side. From now on Mu'er and your elder brother will be able to eat delicious food every day."

Zhu Qing wouldn't let Mu'er pick up her chopsticks first, "Go and call your brother over, and your Qiao Da- grandfather Qiao too. He's guarding the gate in the Front Courtyard; he must be starving."

Mu'er nodded, got off the bed, and took Tong Liu's hand, saying, "Auntie, come with me."

Tong Liu led her to call people for dinner.

Lu Chang'gong and Qiao Da smelled the aroma of meat and their stomachs started to rumble.

They observed a three-year mourning period, during which they could not eat meat. At first, they really kept to it for a while, but by the time the New Year came, no one could bear it anymore.

Qiao Da didn't stand on ceremony; he grabbed a bowl of pig's trotters and went next door to eat them.

Zhu Qing served food to Lu Chang'gong, but Lu Chang'gong said, "Concubine, no need. I'll just eat the same thing as usual."

"... good."

Zhu Qing then served Lu Chang'gong a vegetarian dish.

Lu Chang'gong also ate with relish. "Concubine, Mu'er, I'm going to the study."

"Alright, Eldest Young Master, just focus on your studies. If you need anything, just let me know."

Lu Chang'gong nodded. "If anything happens, I'll have Qianru come to see Concubine."

After he left, Zhu Qing looked at the empty bowl and sighed, "Eldest Young Master is truly a man of great loyalty and affection."

It's no exaggeration to say that they observed three years of mourning for the elders of the Lu family.

Tong Liu and Xiliu both agreed.

Zhu Qing smiled again, "This is what it means to be someone who will achieve great things." She lowered her head and touched Mu'er's face, "From now on, our Mu'er will have someone to rely on."

Mu'er's lips were glistening and moist from eating.

It wouldn't have been like this before. It's just that children can't stand being hungry. They only see meat once in a long while, so they can't help but eat until their bellies are round and full.

Lin Residence.

The Lin Family has been very lively this year. Ever since Lin Yunyi the imperial examination and became Provincial Graduate, the Lin Family has been constantly visited.

Madam Lin looked at the relatives and friends in front of her, many of whom she didn't recognize at all.

"Who is this...?"

A beautiful but completely unfamiliar girl.

Madam Lin couldn't remember when she had seen him before.

Her aunt, her cousin, introduced her with a smile, "This is my distant Niece, don't you remember? You held her when she was two years old. And your Yun Yi held her too!"

Madam Lin laughed awkwardly, "I really don't remember that."

That happened more than a decade ago, who knows if it's true or false?

My aunt pulled her Niece in front of Madam Lin and said, "Look at this little girl, she comes from a scholarly family, and I'm not just saying that..."

Someone impatiently said, "Just shut up! What girl hasn't been to school?"

My aunt turned around and glared at the other person; they were almost arguing.

Madam Lin quickly urged her aunt, "Have some tea! Have some tea! This year's new tea was specially offered to you all by Yun Yi."

Mentioning Lin Yunyi made Auntie a little quieter, but her eyes darted around quickly as she said with a smile, "Yun Yi's grown up, and he's got quite the airs. How come he doesn't even come to greet his elders during the New Year?"

Madam Lin smiled and said, "It's because I'm afraid of offending the young ladies."

Everyone laughed and said, "We're all family, what's this talk of 'clashing'?"

Madam Lin said, "I'll send someone to fetch him right away."

It's good that Yun Yi has the opportunity to meet so many unmarried girls who have suddenly appeared in his relatives' home.