Pei Jing brought a cook and a manservant to help. He Fangzhi set up a banquet on New Year's Eve and offered incense and candles in the courtyard. Together with Zhao Hui, they happily accepted Yu Shu as their goddaughter. From then on, they called them godmother and godfather. Even Pei Jing got a ready-made uncle and was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth.
Zhao Hui was very satisfied and drank the tea that Yu Shu offered to acknowledge her as her family. On the spot, she gave a jade bracelet that had been passed down in the Zhao Family to Yu Shu and didn't allow her to refuse. Yu Shu had no choice but to accept it, thinking that in the future when Zhao Hui had a daughter, she would give it to her.
Pei Jing generously gave Yu Shu a golden abacus. It was unknown where he got it from, but every bead on the abacus was coated with a layer of real gold powder. When used, it sparkled with golden light and looked very beautiful.
He Fangzhi bought twelve jars of Huadiao wine and sealed them in the cellar.
The adults didn't favor one and discriminate against the other. Yu Xiaoxiu also received a few gifts. He didn't feel unhappy because Yu Shu acknowledged him as her family because he understood that even if Aunt Cui didn't treat him well, she would still occasionally act like a loving mother and secretly give him money to spend. On the other hand, his sister had been beaten and scolded by her mother since she was young and had never been treated kindly. Therefore, with the love of a mother like Zhao Hui, he felt happy for his sister.
At the dining table, the whole family ate and chatted happily without the taboos of a rich family.
Pei Jing's wife, Madam Qin, couldn't go to the capital with them because she was sick. Like Grandma He, she stayed in Yiyang to celebrate the New Year. After He Fangzhi and Pei Jing settled down in the capital, they sent a letter home together, asking them to pack up and come to Anling after the New Year.
They had to wait until March before the whole family could reunite in the capital. As a result, there were a few family members missing at the table. As the mood for drinking rose, it was inevitable that there would be a lot of booing. Fortunately, there was Yu Shu, who was a lively person, to lighten the mood. Only then did they have a peaceful and happy New Year's dinner.
The banquet lasted until the second watch of the night. After that, it was replaced with soup and desserts … rice cakes, crystal dumplings, plum flower flatbreads, candied fruits, lotus sweets, hundred-fruit dumplings, longan seeds, and a bowl of bird's nest porridge.
Pei Jing, on the other hand, was fine as he had been eating all day. Yu Shu and her brother, on the other hand, hadn't had many good days and had never seen such exquisite tea and snacks. Tonight, they ate to their heart's content and their stomachs were full. Kim Bao had been gluttonous for a long time and was lying by the stove to digest the food.
Zhao Hui asked Mother Shen to clean up the guest room and laid out a clean bedding. She asked Pei Jing to stay the night so that he wouldn't be alone when he returned in the middle of the night.
Keeping vigil on New Year's Eve was a custom that the people of the An Dynasty followed. They had to stay up until the third watch of the night to ensure a year of peace. However, before the third watch of the night, Yu Xiaoxiu was already yawning. When Yu Shu saw him dozing off, she asked He Fangzhi for a few firecrackers. She grabbed two handfuls of candied seeds and stuffed them into Yu Xiaoxiu's pocket. Then, she brought him outside to set off the firecrackers.
Zhao Hui hurriedly asked Yun Dou to carry a lantern and follow them so that they wouldn't bump into each other in the middle of the night.
On the streets, there were a few families' children who came out to play. The street was bustling with activity. Just as one spark went out, another one lit up. This was Yu Shu's first time playing with these ancient firecrackers. When she looked closely, she saw that it was gunpowder wrapped in paper. It was made from thin hemp stems and tied together. The longer ones had a hundred of them, while the shorter ones only had forty to fifty of them.
She had seen He Fangzhi light it twice in the morning and afternoon. Seeing that it wasn't very powerful, it was like throwing a firecracker. She was so bold that she didn't even pick up a bamboo stick. She used the incense to light the fire and twirled it twice in her hand. When the sparks flew, it scared Yu Xiaoxiu so much that he cried out in pain.
"I'm going to throw it away!"
"Don't be afraid. I'll hold it for you."
"Ah, I don't want it!"
Yu Xiaoxiu was really a quiet child. How could he be as naughty as her? Being chased by Yu Shu in her new dress, he ran all over the street with his head in his hands. In the blink of an eye, he was no longer sleepy.
Later, after playing for a while, the children in the neighborhood gathered together. Yu Shu was the oldest, so she deserved to be the king of the children. She led a group of little farts to set off firecrackers and catch ghosts. They competed in running and jumping, and also gave out candies. She pulled Yu Xiaoxiu and ran all over the street. It wasn't until the middle of the night when all the families came out to look for each other. Only then did they disperse and return to their homes.
"Xiu, Xiao Yu, come home!"
Hearing the shouts of Zhao Hui and He Fangzhi, Yu Shu lit up the last firecracker and threw it far away. She loudly responded to them, pulled Yu Xiaoxiu's hand, and quickly ran to the door with the lantern hanging in the distance.
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Yu Shu ushered in her first New Year in the prosperous Da 'an City.
It was the Spring Festival, but many of the Celestial Commissioner's officials could not go home. They lived in the West Courtyard with more than 20 Great Yi Masters who came up with this year's questions to mark this year's examination papers.
The same paper needed to pass through the hands of three people. One person would make a mistake, the second person would correct it, and the third person would review it. In order to ensure fairness, the examiners were divided into three groups. They didn't live in the same room and didn't meet each other.
This year was a bit special. The answers to the Uncanny Techniques section would be sorted out by the officials and presented to the Great Tiandao for a look. Then, someone would be sent to inform the Xiang Wangfu to send servants to various places to search for the Xiang Wangfu. In addition, the Astrology section was personally set by the Great Tiandao. This section's papers were all sent to the Taixi Palace for the Great Tiandao to personally review and select the top three hundred yuan. There was no need for others to interfere.
On the first day of the New Year, there was a banquet in the palace. The Great Tiandao returned from the palace in the middle of the night. Riding on an eight-person green silk carriage, he was escorted back to the Taixi Palace by the palace guards. Just then, a sealed scroll was delivered from the West Courtyard. Two officials bowed and waited outside the building. They reported to the inside, "Reporting to the Imperial Secretary, the Uncanny Techniques section's papers have been sorted out overnight. After screening, there are a total of 27 places that need to be sent to. There are also a few other topics that require your attention before making a decision."
The lights in the Taixi Palace lit up. In the middle of the empty main hall, there was a silver table that was six feet long. Beside it were thousands of lotus candles. Bamboo scrolls and books were arranged neatly from the east to the west. Behind the table, there was a person dressed in a moon robe with purple shoulders and a black ribbon. He held a long scroll in his hands as he listened to the report from outside the hall.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a voice came from outside the hall, "Imperial Secretary, the Junior Supervisor requests an audience."
"Let him in."
Not long after, a man dressed in embroidered robes entered the hall with his head bowed. The person behind the table waved to him, "Qi Ming, come and take a look."
"Yes, Imperial Secretary."
Standing in front of the table, the Great Tiandao pointed the scroll in his hands to the person. He pointed to a line on it and laughed softly, "Look, there are actually a few people with keen senses in this year's examinations."
The person took a look and his expression did not change. He said, "Imperial Secretary, what do you want me to do? Do you need me to go to the Ding Bo Hall to see Xiang Wangfu?"
"There's no need. Since Xiang Wangfu wants to hide it, it's useless for you to investigate further. If he says that the painting is gone, then it's gone. Yesterday, I took advantage of the time when the seven stars were intersecting to reveal the secrets of the heavens. I observed the sky and saw that the Great An Disaster is in An Ling. I will enter the palace to report to His Majesty and ask him to be patient. The year of the Great An Disaster is at its heaviest and he will bring disaster to his family and friends. Let him hide for a while. After the year of the upper year, when the moon is full and the power of Kedu Star has weakened, we will then put up an imperial notice in the city to find the Great An Disaster. "
The person said, "There is no painting and we don't know his face. How can we find him?"
The Great Tiandao shook his head and rolled up the scroll in his hands. He was calm and composed, "I have long predicted this day. Three months ago, I have already asked His Majesty to invite the Ninth Prince to return to the court without alerting anyone. Calculating the days, he should be here by now. Why worry about not knowing the Great An Disaster's face?"
The person sighed and said, "Grand Secretary has great foresight and foresees things like a god."
"Ha ha, I am tired of hearing such flattery. Spare me some peace and quiet." The Great Tiandao put down the scroll and asked, "I asked you to mark the Astrology paper. How is it?"
The person's expression turned serious and his brows showed some disgust. He walked to the table and bowed. He said in a deep voice, "Reporting to Grand Secretary. In this year's Da Yan examination, someone leaked the questions."
The person on the table was shocked and asked, "Oh? Which subject is it? "
"It is the Astrology subject."
During the New Year, they had to visit their relatives and friends. He Fangzhi also had a few old friends in the capital. They used to write to each other. Because Zhao Hui was not well, she asked her to stay at home and took Yu Xiaoxiu to visit them. Yu Shu used the excuse of visiting a neighbor on Huixing Street. Under Zhao Hui's repeated warnings, she went out alone.
On the first few days of the New Year, there were almost no stalls on the street. There were no sedan carriers, so Yu Shu walked.
She had received two packets of medicine from Xue Rui and used it to soak her hands and feet every day. She then applied the snake oil ointment. The effect was strange. After three or four days, the frostbite on her hands and feet disappeared and she did not feel pain when she walked.
When she arrived at the small courtyard on Huixing Street, Yu Shu opened the door and walked around. She did not find any signs of people being here. She retreated and was locking the door when she heard someone behind her ask, "Miss, who are you? Why do you have the key to this house? "
Yu Shu turned her head and saw Auntie Xu opposite the door. She was wearing new clothes and holding a basket. She stood at the door and looked at her. Judging from her expression, she did not recognize her.
In the past few days, she had changed into a dress, combed her hair in the morning, and put on some rouge. She looked like a girl, so the neighbors in the alley always thought that she was a young woman. No wonder Auntie Xu could not recognize her when she dressed like this.
Yu Shu thought of Zhou Fangfang, so she softened her voice to avoid being recognized by Auntie Xu and thinking that they had not moved out of the capital, "Hey, this courtyard was sold to my father. I am here today to take a look."
Auntie Xu believed her and nodded. She asked, "Then do you know where the Yu brothers who lived here moved to?"
"I am not sure about that." Yu Shu smiled at her and turned to leave. She heard Auntie Xu murmur, "How can this be good? I can't find someone to pass the message."
Yu Shu was suspicious, so she turned around and asked, "Auntie, what did you just say?"
Auntie Xu was a straightforward person, so she didn't hide it, "It's like this. A few days ago, a madam came to visit and claimed that she was the mother of the Yu brothers. I don't know if it's true or not, but I saw that madam's anxious face, so I wanted to pass a message to the Yu brothers. I don't know where they moved to."
When Yu Shu heard this, she guessed that it was the Ji family who came to look for someone. She didn't come, so she pretended to be curious and asked, "What did that madam say?"
Auntie Xu curled her lips and told her in a low voice, "She looked very well dressed, but she kept cursing. I didn't hear what she said and then she left."
Yu Shu was now sure that Aunt Cui must have come. She tried to get Auntie Xu to say a few more things. Seeing that there was nothing more to say, she left.
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