FID – Chapter 861

Chapter 861 – You Know the New Year Picture Babies? Aren’t They Cute? 

Now that the political landscape of the court had stabilized, and with the final remnants of the Iron Triangle power structure dissolved, nothing could threaten Feng Mohan’s hold on the throne anymore.

The entire atmosphere of the imperial court began to shift toward harmony and calm.

At the same time, Feng Mohan gradually began to handle court affairs with growing confidence and skill. The once constantly busy King of Nanling, Feng Qingbai, was finally able to enjoy some leisure.

These days, aside from attending morning court sessions to mark his presence and occasionally stepping in to correct or guide the young emperor on governmental matters, he spent most of his time accompanying his beloved young wife, rarely leaving her side.

The small amount of time that remained was spent having people secretly investigate two matters.

The first was the case of Feng Moyun. 

When the Empress Dowager went to confront Consort Liu, just as Feng Qingbai had predicted, she pushed all the blame onto Prime Minister Zuo. But Prime Minister Zuo had already fled, making it impossible to confront him or verify the claims.

Historically, royal succession struggles had always been bloody and ruthless, often ending in death. At first glance, Feng Moyun’s death appeared to be part of a power grab within the harem, exacerbating the conflict between Feng Qingbai and the Empress Dowager.

But Feng Qingbai didn’t see it that way. He had a gut feeling something wasn’t right. It was like someone was playing a much bigger game behind the scenes, calculating and manipulating everyone, including themselves.

The second matter was Xue Zhong. His hostility toward Feng Qingbai was unusually intense, and everything the Cangying Pavilion had done over the years seemed aimed at inciting internal turmoil in various nations. 

Feng Qingbai wanted to know what Xue Zhong’s true purpose was in doing all this, and what exactly had happened in Baicao Valley all these years.

As for what the man was up to, Liu Yusheng didn’t really know. She only noticed that sometimes, in the midst of spending time with her, he would step away briefly to handle matters in his study.

Since he didn’t tell her, she never asked. Either way, it was clearly to spare her from worry.

“Princess Consort, it’s already late December, and the New Year’s Festival is almost here. Is there anything special we need to prepare for this year?” In the warm pavilion, Zisu stoked the brazier, making the fire blaze brighter.

Liu Yusheng held a hand warmer, wrapped in a fox-fur cloak, curled up on the soft couch like a little furball.

She waved her hand at the question. “Let’s prepare the same way as in previous years.”

She really had no clue about such things. Back in the Liu family courtyard, her grandmother, mother, and second aunt had always taken care of every detail for the New Year festivities. She just waited to eat and play.

Even now that she was the mistress of her own household, she had no desire to manage such affairs, feeling lazy all over. She blamed the baby in her belly for it.

It was perfectly normal for pregnant women to be a bit lazier.

Chenxiang had just finished shutting the windows tightly when she heard them talking and came over with a smile. “I heard from the steward that in past years, His Highness always spent New Year’s in the palace with His Majesty for a family feast, then returned home. So during the New Year, the servants in the residence are actually the most relaxed.”

“Then let’s spend the New Year in the palace again this year.” The mistress of the house made the final decision.

The two maids looked at each other, their gazes falling on the round belly of the woman.

Going to the palace this year too? It was snowing heavily outside.

Normally, when the princess consort took just a couple of steps, the prince would get incredibly anxious. And now, in this blizzard, she wanted to go out?

“Do you want to spend the New Year in the palace, Shengsheng?” At the doorway, a refined and elegant figure of a man stepped inside, brushing the snowflakes off his shoulders. He warmed his hands by the brazier before approaching the woman. 

That way he wouldn’t bring the chill to her.

“If that’s how it’s always been in past years, there’s no need to make this year an exception.” Liu Yusheng clumsily shifted to make more room. “If we celebrate here in the manor, it’ll be lively, sure, but wouldn’t it be lonely for Xiao Feng’er and the Empress Dowager to be all alone in the palace with no one to accompany them?”

Given Xiao Feng’er’s personality, and how he always had some complaints about the Empress Dowager, if the two of them had New Year’s dinner together, they probably wouldn’t exchange a single word the whole time.

How could that still be called a New Year’s meal? Instead of festivity and joy, it would just end in silent frustration.

“They’re both adults. Do you really need to worry about them?”

“Two sulky adults aren’t even as well-behaved as a child,” the woman argued stubbornly, making Feng Qingbai laugh softly. “If you want to go, then let’s go.”

With him there to accompany her, going to the palace for a meal was still manageable.

“It’s a pity we can’t go back to Xinghua Village to spend the New Year with my family. Around this time, they’re probably already preparing for the celebrations.” She couldn’t return, and she knew her grandparents, parents, and the others must be missing her dearly.

“Don’t worry, if we can’t make it this year, we’ll definitely go next year. Besides, Zhixia and Zhiqiu are there at home. It won’t be lonely.”

That was true. So long as Xiao Maodou and Liu Zhiqiu were there, they’d surely keep the elders cheerful and entertained.

In the depths of winter, snow fell heavily as fierce winds howled against the doors and windows, making harsh, whistling sounds. From time to time, gusts lifted flurries of snowflakes through the warm chamber’s doorway.

Meeting the toasty air inside, the flakes melted into mist, dampening the area near the entrance of the cozy room.

On the soft couch, the man held the woman in his arms, a travel journal in hand. Together, they leafed through it to pass the time, occasionally whispering to each other, drawing bursts of soft laughter from the woman.

Seeing the situation, the two maidservants tactfully excused themselves and didn’t linger in the room to be an eyesore. They stepped into the outer chamber to await orders.

The news that the Princess Consort would be spending the New Year in the palace quickly reached the ears of various people within the palace.

Traditionally, after a royal prince marries, he celebrates the New Year in his own residence. If there are elders in the palace, they would simply visit to pay respects and receive blessings.

However, since the Princess Consort expressed the desire, and the emperor was pleased; even the Empress Dowager did not voice any objection, naturally, the other consorts dared not say anything either.

On the eve of the New Year, after the emperor hosted a grand palace banquet to reward the officials, the court ministers began their holiday leave. During the New Year period, there would be no morning court session, no roll calls either.

With political affairs set aside, the young emperor’s top priority became having the palace decorated festively and beautifully. The snow on the white marble palace paths had to be thoroughly cleared, leaving not a trace of slipperiness.

Red lanterns were to be hung on both sides of the palace walkways, to be lit at night and illuminate the surroundings brightly.

And finally, there were the Spring Festival couplets.

These were traditionally not hung in the palace.

But this year was special.

In past years, his aunt would celebrate the New Year at the Liu family courtyard, where couplets were pasted all around. New Year paintings were hung at the gates, and before the reunion dinner, a string of firecrackers would be set off.

Everything that was in the Liu family courtyard must also be in the imperial palace—because that was what his aunt liked.

For this reason, the young emperor and the Empress Dowager had a minor disagreement in the Yangxin Hall.

The Empress Dowager was exuding cold air, while the young emperor grinned shamelessly like a rascal. “Just because we never hung them before doesn’t mean we can’t now. Palace rules don’t say anything about not allowing Spring Festival couplets during the New Year. This doesn’t break any regulations! And sticking red paper on the palace gates—how festive is that? Isn’t the New Year supposed to be full of red everywhere?”

As he spoke, he pulled two New Year paintings out from his robe and unfolded them to show the Empress Dowager. “Take a look—this is called a New Year painting. You’ve spent decades cooped up in the palace, so I’m sure you haven’t seen how ordinary folks celebrate the New Year. See these New Year baby dolls? Aren’t they cute? So chubby, smiling like little rice dumplings. They say putting these up brings wealth and good fortune! Do you want me to hang them up for you myself?”

Without caring how dark the Empress Dowager’s expression turned, he went ahead and ordered the old matron, “Granny, those concubines in the harem used to like putting up paper window cuttings too, right? Go to the ceremonial warehouse and bring some. Stick them up on all the doors and windows—red ones, pretty ones. My Imperial Aunt loves this stuff!”