Rich overnight

Jingxiu Palace!

Princess Lin'an, her exquisite embroidered shoes gliding on the soft carpet, linked arm with her elder brother, the Crown Prince, as they entered Jingxiu Palace.

The room was warm as spring, with underfloor heating dispelling the December chill. The elegantly dressed imperial concubine sat at the table, where a sumptuous feast had been laid out, and she waited with a smile for her two children.

Consort Chen was in her early forties, long past the prime of a woman's life, but at the most voluptuous and full-figured stage of her life.

Her skin remained firm, her eyes still sparkled with a bright light, and her well-maintained figure hadn't changed. Time had bestowed upon her a mature and graceful charm.

Aside from the stunningly beautiful empress, among all the beauties in the harem, Consort Chen was the most formidable.

Therefore, among the four princesses, only Lin'an could rival the eldest princess. No, rival her in skill.

"It's too hot. Have the servants outside cool down the charcoal fire." The energetic Princess Lin'an frowned.

She usually only needs to burn charcoal; the underfloor heating is just too hot, making her feel like she's in a steamer.

With a gentle smile, Consort Chen immediately ordered, "Listen to Princess Lin'an, lower the charcoal fire."

Lin'an happily nestled into her mother's arms, smiling like a little girl, "Mother, shall I stay here tonight and sleep with you?"

Consort Chen nodded with a gentle smile.

Although this was against the rules, since the concubines were supposed to serve the emperor at night, by the time of Emperor Yuanjing, the emperor had long been practicing Daoism and had forbidden himself from having sex with women, so many rules in the harem had become mere formalities.

The emperor cared about women, which is why the rules were so strict. But now that the emperor no longer cares about the beauties in his harem, he does whatever he wants as long as no fundamental mistakes are made.

So-called fundamental mistakes, hehehe.

However, Emperor Yuanjing's situation was not entirely without its merits; at least the harem was very harmonious, and the concubines couldn't even start fighting each other.

The Crown Prince chatted with his mother, while Princess Lin'an chimed in from the side.

"Today, the dragon suddenly went berserk and almost injured Lin'an. Father and the guards were unable to come to the rescue in time," the Crown Prince said, recounting the events of the afternoon.

The Buddhist-like Imperial Concubine was shocked and hurriedly took Princess Lin'an's hand, examining her anxiously. "Are you injured anywhere? Let your mother take a look."

The second princess, a spoiled brat, immediately adopted a pitiful and aggrieved expression. "The child almost didn't get to see his mother again."

The Imperial Concubine, still shaken, angrily exclaimed, "What's wrong with these servants? They can't even tame a beast! They almost hurt my son!"

After she finished her tantrum, she grasped Princess Lin'an's soft hand. "And then, was it the Crown Prince who saved you?"

The Crown Prince's status was distinctly different from that of other princes. Apart from the Empress, all other concubines in the harem had to address him as the Crown Prince, and could not refer to him as "my son" or "the Emperor's son."

The Crown Prince of Lin'an wrinkled his nose and complained, "My brother Crown Prince doesn't have that ability. Every time Huaiqing bullies me, he only talks the talk but doesn't help me fight Huaiqing."

The crown prince shook his head with a wry smile.

The Imperial Concubine grew increasingly curious, glanced at the Crown Prince, and grasped her daughter's hand. "Tell your mother what it is?"

Lin'an's charming peach blossom eyes suddenly lit up. "I received a small copper gong today, um, the day before yesterday. I brought it with me today intending to use it, and just then this happened, and it was he who saved me."

"A gong." Consort Chen frowned. "Is it the Nightwatchers?"

"Yes," Lin'an said, "I know my mother doesn't like Nightwatchers because they're all Wei Yuan's men, but he's one of mine."

Consort Chen smiled and nodded, "Has His Majesty bestowed any rewards?"

"Of course we have them," the crown prince replied.

"I also deserve a reward," Consort Chen said solemnly. "I will send someone to the storeroom to fetch some jewelry and send it over later."

The imperial concubine's bestowal of gifts could not be directed at officials, but rather at the female members of their families.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince suddenly frowned, "When did Xu Qi'an become your man?"

Princess Lin'an immediately raised her snow-white chin and said proudly, "I snatched it from Huaiqing."

"Does Huaiqing know?"

"I know."

"Didn't she scold you?"

"She dared to lecture me. I'll take Xu Qi'an to see her later. That way, I'll have protection and I can also annoy her." Princess Lin'an said, pleased with her own cleverness.

In December, darkness falls quickly.

When we set off from the government office, the sun was still hanging in the western sky, stubbornly dyeing the clouds with its own shape and color.

When they arrived at the Xu Residence, the sky was completely dark, and lanterns were lit, illuminating the late-returning pedestrians and the pavilions and tiled houses.

The azure sky, bamboo lanterns, and antique buildings—every time Xu Qi'an saw this scene, he regretted not having studied painting.

At this hour, the Xu Residence was already closed, and the gatekeeper, Old Zhang, knew that the Dalang never used the gate.

So when Xu Qi'an knocked on the door, Old Zhang looked completely surprised.

"Summon the servants from the manor to come and move the things," Xu Qi'an ordered.

Moving things?

Old Zhang's gaze swept past Xu Dalang's shoulder and looked at the three carriages behind him, as well as the Nightwatchers was traveling with him.

In the front hall, the family of four was having dinner. Xu Lingyue still hadn't seen her eldest brother eat with her today, and she missed him terribly. With her head down, she asked, "Big brother hasn't been home for dinner on time for many days."

The candlelight flickered, her long eyelashes caught the light, and her delicate oval face shimmered with a warm, jade-like glow.

With her fair and beautiful oval face and pure and delicate demeanor, she would be the epitome of a school beauty if she wore a sailor uniform.

Yes, she's a mixed-race school beauty. Xu Lingyue's features are more defined and three-dimensional than those of ordinary women.

"I'll leave some food for my older brother." Xu Lingyin and her sister are complete opposites; with her older brother not around, there's no one to compete with her for food.

His short, stubby hands gripped the chopsticks, moving them with incredible speed and skill.

"Isn't it time to get our monthly salary in a few days?" Auntie glanced at Second Uncle.

Second Uncle Xu lowered his head and ate his food, then hummed in response.

He had already overspent his monthly salary; with the year-end approaching, socializing and gift-giving among colleagues would cost a lot of money.

Since Ningyan hasn't gotten married yet, Second Uncle Xu thought he'd just borrow his salary to tide him over.

"We still need to make clothes for Lingyue, Lingyin, Dalang Erlang at the end of the year, but we don't have enough money again," Auntie sighed.

Before going to the Cloud Deer Academy last month, the family had several dozen taels of silver in savings, but when they returned, it was all gone.

My aunt was about to tear my second uncle apart on the spot, accusing him of having affairs.

Xu Dalang and Xu Erlang vouched for them with their personal integrity, saying that the money was used to build connections and get things done properly, and was definitely not wasted on frivolous spending.

My aunt believed it.

Although Xu Dalang was annoying, he was stubborn and never lied. Xu Erlang was a scholar, and from childhood he was meticulous and sensible.

"It's just a matter of a few taels of silver," Second Uncle Xu said nonchalantly.

His aunt glanced at him and said, "I want to buy a bolt of Yun brocade."

Second Uncle Xu looked up in surprise. He didn't think the family's current financial situation allowed them to afford a foot or two of Yun brocade.

His aunt then calculated for him, saying that if Erlang passed the imperial examination, his status would be different, and he could no longer wear the same robe as before. No matter how precious it was, one robe wouldn't be enough to make him look good.

Lingyue is of marriageable age, and it's time to refresh the clothes in her closet.

Second Uncle Xu listened absentmindedly, offering only perfunctory "uh-huhs" and "yeahs."

Snap!

The aunt slammed her chopsticks on the table, and everyone looked over.

My aunt picked up her chopsticks again, expressionless. "Eat."

Second Uncle Xu said helplessly, "During the tax scandal, we emptied our savings. I even had to borrow rice and flour from my colleagues for the first month. We'll wait until next year; we'll definitely buy it next year."

The aunt lowered her head, not wanting him to see her slightly reddened eyes.

"Be careful, be careful not to bump into the wall, or I'll teach you a lesson if you get dirty."

Old Zhang's shouting came from the gatekeeper.

Second Uncle Xu was in a bad mood, and he frowned as he looked around. The servants in the mansion were carrying bolts of silk and carefully entering under the direction of the gatekeeper, Old Zhang.

Auntie stared wide-eyed in disbelief as bolts of gleaming satin were carried in.

"So beautiful!" Xu Lingyue exclaimed.

Lü'e's eyes widened, her mouth watering.

Only Xu Lingyin remained steadfastly devoted to food, her little face buried in the bowl, her cheeks puffing out.

"Where, where did all of these come from?" Second Uncle Xu asked blankly.

The gatekeeper, Old Zhang, quickly unfolded a piece of coarse cloth and spread it on the ground. While directing his servants to put down the silk, he replied, "This is what the Dalang brought back; he said it was a gift from His Majesty."

"A gift from His Majesty?" Second Uncle Xu's first thought was that the Sangbo case had been solved.

As a centurion of the Imperial Saber Guard, he was usually on duty in the outer city and knew nothing about the inner city. The Sangbo case was causing a great uproar in the inner city, but people with insufficient status could not access relevant information.

The thought of being stuck at the Qi Refining Realm for nearly twenty years filled Second Uncle with gloom. But this melancholy was quickly dispelled by joy. "Where is Ningyan Yan?"

"His Majesty bestowed a total of five hundred bolts of silk outside the gate," said Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, with delight.

"Clatter!"

The aunt slammed the chopsticks in her hand onto the table.

PS: There will be another chapter at midnight. Please vote for me with your monthly tickets, considering how hard I'm working.