frightfiction Chapter 227 New Year’s Eve 2
Chapter 227 New Year’s Eve 2
Lin Wantang pinched the tassel of the jade pendant at her waist and swung it in her hand. She walked with an air of ease, bouncing and skipping. The maid behind her sighed softly and hurried to follow.
"Miss, even if you don't want to marry His Royal Highness Prince Su, there's no need to ruin your reputation by pretending to be a stutterer. If word gets out about this, how will you ever get married in the future?"
The maid nervously took Lin Wan's arm, patting her heart. She was terrified to be acting out this drama with the young lady.
"Humph, I won't marry!"
Lin Wantang jumped up and down, and waved two fingers in the air like a sword, and said proudly,
"I want to emulate the heroine in those storybooks, traversing the world with a sword, enjoying the world, and witnessing the prosperity of the world."
"But, Concubine Li said that if you marry His Royal Highness Prince Su, you may become the mother of the country in the future!"
"Whoever wants to be the mother of the country can go! Anyway, I don't care."
Lin Wantang pointed to the red wall and bright tiles in the distance.
"Look at the walls of this palace. They're so high and thick. Once you get in, you can't get out!"
"I don't want to be trapped like my aunt, fighting with a bunch of women for a husband, being on guard against this and that all day long. How painful! And look at cousin Li Wei. Even though she's as noble as she is, she still has to endure the cowardice of her in-laws after getting married. Her life is worse than death. It's better not to get married! Living alone is so much freer!"
"Miss, you've ruined your marriage by pretending to be a stutterer and a coward. It would be disastrous if the master and the mistress found out!" The maid stomped her feet anxiously.
"What's the big deal? At worst, they'll scold me, or even beat me up. If Mom and Dad get too impatient, I'll run away from home! I'll just take you out to play!"
Lin Wantang pinched the little girl's nose and took a plate of fruit and a pot of wine from the oncoming palace maid.
"Let's go! Let's fill our stomachs!"
Turning the corner, Xie An sat astride the railing, his legs swaying. He threw a peanut into the air, stretched his neck to catch it, and said to Huan Ge'er beside him, shaking his head:
"This Miss Lin is really clear-headed."
"Sober, so what?"
Huan Ge'er turned around coldly and glanced at the palace in the twilight. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the glazed tiles, and the entire palace was glowing with a sacred golden light.
But he didn't like it here at all. Instead, he missed the warmth and coziness of the General's Mansion.
"You mean, she and His Royal Highness Prince Su cannot escape the fate of being tied together?" Xie An asked.
"Let's go. Don't bother with other people's business. It's more important to take care of my father, your master."
"Yes, yes! Let's go!"
Xie An jumped down from the railing.
Just now, he saw a few noble ladies approaching the master in a sneaky manner, as if they wanted to put handkerchiefs into his purse. He had to teach them a lesson.
The palace banquet was grand and magnificent.
Although Emperor Jingde's health had mostly recovered, he could not escape the erosion of time. Sitting on the dragon throne, he no longer had the majesty of the past, but instead looked old and frail.
On his left sat Concubine De, on his right sat Concubine Jiang, and below them sat Prince Kang and Prince Su.
What’s rare is that King Heng is also here today.
He had been out of sight since the Mid-Autumn Festival, so when he appeared on crutches with all his limbs intact, it caused quite a stir.
Emperor Jingde even trembled and almost fell off the dragon throne.
"Huang'er, what is this?"
He asked in a trembling voice, pointing at King Heng's legs.
Prince Heng had lost weight, but he was in good spirits. He was leaning on a cane and smiling like a Miller Buddha:
"Your Majesty, General Pei's wife helped me press the prosthetic limbs, so I was able to stand up. Now I look like a normal person and can walk very easily."
The plump Princess Heng also praised her.
"Father, Your Highness has become more cheerful since he got this prosthetic limb. It is truly thanks to Madam Pei that he was able to leave the palace and attend the annual banquet today."
When Emperor Jingde heard Prince Heng and Princess Heng praising Su Li, he felt very complicated. However, for the sake of appearance, he was still very happy. He called Pei Heng to praise him and gave Su Li many gifts.
Since entering the hall, Prince Kang has been glancing at Pei Heng. When he found out that Pei Heng came with Huan Ge'er and Su Li did not show up, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Defei sat at the top and looked at her son's lonely look, rolled her eyes and cursed inwardly, "Go to hell!"
She sat beside the old emperor with an expressionless face, and she never stopped drinking. The banquet had just begun, but there were already several empty wine jugs on the table in front of her. Her face gradually turned red and she looked drunk.
This boring palace banquet!
If she hadn't come to see Brother Huan, she wouldn't have bothered to come out!
It was indeed a very boring palace banquet, consisting of nothing more than congratulations from the ministers and some song and dance performances. Pei Heng barely made it to halfway through the banquet, toasted, and then sneaked away with his son.
Xie An also wanted to slip away, but was forced to stay by Xie Guogong, grabbing his ears.
The father and son pretended not to hear his wailing because they were so eager to go home.
In the general's mansion, the New Year's Eve dinner was specially postponed for an hour.
Su Li and everyone were making dumplings around the stove, waiting for Pei Heng and his son.
As soon as Pei Heng entered the house, he hurriedly hugged Su Li and rushed to the kitchen.
He promised Su Li that he would make her a dish called "Year after Year of Abundance" for the New Year's Eve dinner. At this moment, the fish in the kitchen has been cleaned and all kinds of seasonings have been prepared, just waiting for him, the househusband, to take up his post.
The dish "Year after year of abundance" was served, and other steaming hot delicious dishes were also served one after another. The New Year's Eve dinner at the General's Mansion officially began.
As the head of the family, Pei Heng said happily:
"The New Year is here, and I wish everyone a happy New Year! Grandmother, may you live a long and healthy life, Ah-Li may you have endless wealth, Brother Huan may have a lot of creative ideas, and Sister Xi may enjoy everything she eats. I wish Madam Li good health, Mr. Fei may eat chicken every day, and Songzhi and Songtao may find a good husband!"
A blessing for everyone in the family.
"I wish my husband good health and no illness or disaster."
"Happy New Year, Grandpa!"
"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year, General and Madam!"
There was snow outside, and the atmosphere inside was warm, with the whole family gathered together happily.
Su Li looked at Pei Heng beside her, feeling a mixture of emotions.
This was the first New Year she and Pei Heng had spent together, and in the future, she would spend countless New Years with him.
And you!
She sweetly touched her still flat belly. Although she was not pregnant yet, she could feel all the time that the little life inside was growing healthily.
By next year, there will be one more person in the family!
Happy New Year to you too!
Outside the house, brilliant fireworks exploded all over the sky!
As bright as the stars!
……
At the same time, hundreds of miles away in the wasteland to the north, the wind was freezing and the land was frozen for thousands of miles.
The Pei family huddled together, shivering, using their meager body heat to keep each other warm. Pei Yan was bruised and unconscious, his face bruised and battered. Little Wen held him in her arms, weeping silently. From the camp came the glow of fire and the aroma of barbecue and wine.
A thousand miles further northwest.
A border town.
child time.
Thousands of Beimang cavalrymen gathered outside the border town. The howling snow and wind hid their tracks and presence. A man on a chestnut horse weaved through the vast army and reached the front of the column.
Even the bulky fur coat couldn't hide her slender figure. She covered her face, revealing only a pair of clear, sharp eyes as she gazed at the towering, sturdy border town walls in the distance and the Daqi banners fluttering in the cold wind.
"Pei Heng, you're not dead?"
She spoke softly, then slowly raised her right hand and waved it. The siege crossbow launched a huge fireball that whizzed towards the border town.
The flames from the explosion instantly lit up the long city wall.
"Happy New Year! Pei Heng!"