NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1133: Departure
Seeing the distracted appearance of the Empress Dowager Yan, the personal maid, having washed her hands, stood beside the Empress Dowager Yan. While bending over to adjust the thin white fuzzy blanket on her legs, she whispered, "Empress Dowager, today is New Year's Eve, even if His Majesty and the Ninth Prince return, they will surely go to inspect the camp and speak with the soldiers for a while. Why not have some bird's nest porridge to tide you over?"
"No need…" The Empress Dowager Yan stroked the warmer cover embroidered with green bamboo in her arms, exhaled a long breath, and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
"The Empress Dowager is thinking of the late Emperor." The personal maid of the Empress Dowager Yan also had reddened eyes, knowing well the deep affection between the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor.
"On this day in previous years, the late Emperor would always be by my side. He would unexpectedly give me little trinkets to make me smile. The late Emperor always said the national treasury was strained, so he could only give me some worthless little things, but... Ah Nu, in my heart, I was very happy. Whatever he gave always showed he held me in his heart! I was really very happy…"
Thinking of all the past moments with Murong Yu, tears welled up in the Empress Dowager Yan's eyes. She wished she could depart with Murong Yu right then, but if she left, there would be no one to keep Rong Yan in check, and if he developed other thoughts, her child would not be able to handle it.
The Empress Dowager Yan knew well that although she didn't have great capabilities, Murong Yan always respected her as his sister-in-law. With her present… Rong Yan wouldn't act without restraint.
"Ah Nu, do you think... will Rong Yan not come back to celebrate New Year's Eve? After all, today is New Year's Eve, and that Emperor of Zhou carries his flesh and blood, how could I and Ah Li be more important than his child?" The Empress Dowager's heart twisted in pain.
As she was speaking, a young eunuch outside lifted the curtain and entered, bowed, and said, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty and the Ninth Prince are heading this way!"
The Empress Dowager quickly dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, and with Ah Nu's support, stood up, revealing a joyful smile: "Quickly, have some people carry the lanterns to welcome them, today's wind and snow are heavy… let His Majesty and the Ninth Prince be careful of the slippery road!"
"Yes!"
"Warm a pot of fruit honey wine brewed personally by Meng Zhaorong. The rich aroma of apricot nectar lingers in the mouth, and even though Xiao Ali is young, he can still have a couple of cups! Let Rong Yan also taste Meng Zhaorong's craftsmanship." The Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"Understood!" Ah Nu responded and turned to warm the fruit honey.
Murong Li and Murong Yan entered with a chill, removed their cloaks, and then stepped forward to greet the Empress Dowager Yan.
"Your son greets Mother! Happy New Year, Mother!"
"Rong Yan greets Sister-in-law! Happy New Year, Sister-in-law!"
Seeing Murong Yan, who had already taken off his mask, with a smile in his eyes, seeming not to mind what she had said before, the Empress Dowager's heart felt much more at ease.
She turned to glance at her personal maid Ah Nu, who promptly smiled and presented a square red lacquer bamboo tray adorned with gold. Inside were two red pouches, one embroidered with a golden dragon, the other with a golden python.
The Empress Dowager picked up the pouch embroidered with the golden dragon from the tray and smiled as she said to Murong Li: "Ah Li, this is your New Year's money pouch from your mother. In the coming year… continue to strive to be an Emperor who will not disappoint your father and your Ninth Uncle!"
Murong Li stepped forward to receive the pouch, smiling, "I will be an Emperor who gives peace of mind to Mother and reassures the people."
The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, then took the pouch embroidered with the golden python from the tray, smiling at Murong Yan: "Rong Yan, in previous years you were never home for New Year's Eve, and your brother always prepared a red envelope for you, saying he'd give it to you when you returned! This year... you are celebrating New Year in the Yan Kingdom, but your brother…"
At this, the Empress Dowager's voice choked and her eyes reddened again. She forced a smile to Rong Yan, "So this year, this red envelope, your sister-in-law gives it to you! Do not take to heart what your sister-in-law said the other day. It was my small-mindedness that hurt our Rong Yan's feelings."
"Sister-in-law, we are family, let's not speak as if we are two separate households! Even teeth and tongues can sometimes clash; ordinary families have their bickering too. It's just because we are of the Imperial Family that when discussing family matters… it becomes state affairs!" Rong Yan tried to lighten the mood and looked at the pouch in the Empress Dowager's hand, "Sister-in-law, I am already an adult! If I accept this New Year's red envelope, wouldn't that make Xiao Ali laugh at me."
The Empress Dowager was amused and burst out laughing, "He wouldn't dare! Here with Sister-in-law… you will always be the child you were when we first met!"
Rong Yan no longer hesitated and stepped forward to receive the red envelope, thanking her solemnly.
"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Ninth Prince, the dishes have been reheated, and they're ready to be served!" Ah Nu bowed.
Rong Yan sat at the round table, watching his sister-in-law continually adding food to both his and Murong Li's plates, and couldn't help but recall Bai Qingyan…
If not for Bai Qingyan urging him to come back for New Year's Eve, he would certainly have stayed in the Zhou, accompanying Bai Qingyan, but it would have been difficult for his sister-in-law, who spent the New Year's without her brother, making her suspect even more that he might one day hand over the Yan Kingdom to Bai Qingyan, thus deepening doubts about the Zhou and him.
"Your brother said this Braised Lion's Head is Mother's specialty dish. When you were a child, it was your favorite to eat. I followed your mother's recipe to make it this time, which is just my second attempt. I am not sure how it tastes; please try it, Rong Yan!" The Empress Dowager placed a piece on Rong Yan's plate, smiling as she encouraged him to try.
When their mother was still around, in between managing state affairs, she would often prepare various unheard-of delicacies for the brothers, and after her passing, those tastes gradually faded from his memory as time went on.
"Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Rong Yan smiled.
Seeing his mother and ninth uncle getting along harmoniously, Murong Li's eyes sparkled with joy. This was how a family should be.
·
The white snow fell through the night, covering the eaves and green tiles of Pingdu City in crystalline white, with even the charred and blackened remains of the ruined walls buried under a thick layer of white fluff.
Bai Jinzhi rose early, came over to Bai Qingyan's place for breakfast, and to inquire about her elder sister's plans. But upon arriving at her door, she overheard her fifth brother raising the subject of her returning to Dadu City once again.
She quickly signaled to Wei Zhong not to announce her presence, pressing her ear against the carved flower partition to eavesdrop.
"The spring examination starts at the end of February or early March. No later than the final trial before the Emperor, I must hurry back, so I plan to depart at the end of this month…" Bai Qingyan washed her hands and picked up a piece of steamed cake for Bai Qingyu, smiling as she spoke towards the door, "Fourth Sister, come in and join us for breakfast, no need to eavesdrop."
Bai Jinzhi pulled aside the padded blue-gray curtain and entered, smiling, "I just arrived, haven't heard anything yet!"
She then went to the stove to warm her hands, washed them, and sat by the round table. Wei Zhong placed a set of dishes and chopsticks for Bai Jinzhi and served her a bowl of porridge, before withdrawing to the side.