Chapter 569: Can you let people see more?

The golden crow (sun) set in the west,

Bianjing City was gradually shrouded in night as dark as ink,

Looking from the high city walls, the lanterns and candles lit by every household were like the twinkling stars in the night sky.

Between the 'stars', fireworks launched into the sky from time to time, especially dense inside and outside the palace city.

Quyuan Street,

Marquis of Yongyi's mansion,

In front of the main hall in the front courtyard,

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

The fireworks that flew into the sky and exploded lit up the eyes of everyone in the courtyard.

"Wow~"

Looking at the beautiful and gorgeous fireworks, the maids from various courtyards on the side let out exclamations one after another.

"*Boom~*"

Qingcao, wearing furry earmuffs, closed her eyes after seeing another firework rise into the sky, put her hands together, and muttered: "May the gods and Bodhisattvas bless Mother, Big Brother... to be free from disasters and difficulties."

Xu Zaijing held incense sticks in his hand, looked at Yunxiang and Huaxiang, who were standing beside Qingcao and whose expressions were somewhat desolate in the light of the fireworks, and beckoned: "Yunxiang, come here!"

Wearing earmuffs and a brocade cotton-padded jacket, Yunxiang walked to Xu Zaijing's side in small steps: "Young Master?"

Putting the lit incense sticks into Yunxiang's hand, Xu Zaijing said: "Go, you light the next firework."

"Ah?"

After Yunxiang was surprised, she waved her hand: "Young Master, this slave, this slave doesn't dare to go..."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "That's not a fire-rat; it won't scurry under your feet. Go!"

Yunxiang looked at Qingcao and her younger sister Huaxiang for help. Seeing Yunxiang's gaze, the two girls shrank back one after another, clearly also somewhat afraid.

In the courtyard,

Alan lifted the lantern in her hand to make it easier for Xunshu on the side to see where the firework fuse was.

After seeing it clearly, Xunshu carried the firework to the open space in the courtyard and placed it down.

"Hurry up!"

Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Yunxiang pursed her lips and walked toward the firework Xunshu had placed, looking back every step of the way.

"Watch the fuse first."

Xu Zaijing said.

"Yes, Young Master."

Yunxiang said, took a careful look, and then brought the burning red incense stick over.

After trembling and bringing it over three times,

"*Sizzle~*"

"Eek!"

Watching the sparking fuse, Yunxiang covered her head and ran back quickly.

"*Boom~*"

The firework flew straight into the sky,

"*Bang! *"

Yunxiang looked at the light in the sky and listened to the explosion; the desolate look on her face had already disappeared.

After setting off a few more fireworks, Alan and Xunshu carried an object half a person tall that rotated slowly like a carriage wheel and placed it in the open space.

Looking at Lu Zezong's eager eyes beside him, Xu Zaijing smiled, raised his chin, and said: "Be careful!"

"Understood, Righteous Brother."

Soon,

Lu Zezong ran back with a smile. After the sizzling sound of the fuse, flames began to spray from around the object, and the object began to rotate like a carriage wheel.

The flames sprayed for a while before gradually extinguishing.

"Little Uncle, this thing is really fun."

Xu Xingdai, standing beside Xie Shi, clapped his hands excitedly.

Lu Zezong smiled: "If Dai-ge'er likes it, I'll have the family send a few more in two days."

"Thank you, Little Uncle Lu."

Xie Shi waved her hand with a smile: "Zong-ge'er, don't bother; he's just saying it."

"Mother, I'm not..." Xu Xingdai shook Xie Shi's hand and said.

While the two were talking, more fireworks were lit by Zaizhang.

On the side, in the gaps of moving fireworks, Alan and Xunshu stood on the side watching the fireworks in the courtyard with smiles on their faces. Xunshu said:

"Alan, I went to the Duke of Yan's mansion to deliver gifts to my future mother-in-law today. She said she has a niece who has already reached the age of fifteen this year. Just now, Madam's maid, Mama Dan, passed the word that you should find a time after the New Year to go see her."

Hearing this, Alan nodded with some embarrassment and said: "Hmm, understood."

After setting off fireworks for another two or three quarters of an hour, Mama Zhu walked to Sun Shi's side and said: "Madam, the meal is set!"

Sun Shi nodded and greeted: "Children, let's eat! Those who still want to play can continue after the meal."

Everyone responded and walked toward the backyard one after another.

On the way,

Sun Shi held her little granddaughter, walked side by side with her husband, and said: "I don't know if Duan'er can have a good New Year in the Northwest."

Xu Minghua reached out to the granddaughter, took her into his arms, and said: "Don't worry! There are rewards in the army during festivals, and he is a deputy general of an army; how could he not have a good New Year?"

Sun Shi nodded.

Behind Sun Shi, Hualan and Xie Shi, sisters-in-law, walked arm in arm talking. Listening to the fragments of their conversation, it seemed they were talking about their respective younger sisters.

At the very back, Zaizhang held his son Xingzhong, while Xu Zaijing held his eldest nephew with one hand and Lu Zezong with the other.

Entering the backyard main hall,

The incense burner in the hall emitted heat, and the underground heating system burning stone coal made the room very warm.

After everyone washed their hands and faces and took their seats at the table, they cast their gazes toward Xu Minghua, who was sitting in the middle of the upper seat.

Xu Minghua looked at his sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren who were drooling at the food, smiled, and said: "Let's start the banquet."

After everyone took a few bites of food, Xie Shi stood up, picked up a wine cup, and said: "Father, Mother, my husband instructed me before he left that I should represent him in offering a cup of wine to the two elders during the New Year."

Xu Minghua and Sun Shi raised their wine glasses with a smile, and Sun Shi waved her hand: "Big Brother's wife, sit down; there aren't so many formalities at home."

Xie Shi smiled, stood up, drank the wine in the cup, and sat down.

Xu Minghua and Sun Shi also drank it with a smile.

Soon, after Hualan gave Zaizhang a look, the couple stood up together and offered Xu Minghua and Sun Shi a glass of wine.

After Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong finished offering their wine, Xu Xingdai, holding a wine cup filled with sweet drink, said like a grown-up: "Grandfather, Grandmother, my brother and I also offer a toast."

After some liveliness, everyone was full of food and wine.

Sun Shi took her daughters-in-law to play leaf cards, while Xu Minghua and Zaizhang played Go like grown-ups.

Xu Zaijing sat on the side, cracking melon seeds while acting as a referee, watching Lu Zezong and his eldest nephew Xingdai play pitch-pot.

Xingguo Lane,

Ningyuan Marquis's mansion,

In the backyard hall, it was also after the meal, but the atmosphere was not as lively as the Xu family's.

The reason was Gu Tingye, who was walking with a limp and grimacing in the hall.

Gu Shixing stood beside Pingmei, looking curiously at his uncle Gu Tingye.

Ningyuan Hou Gu Yanka took the tea soup offered by Mama Chang, frowned and took a sip, then looked at the standing Gu Tingye and said: "What kind of weather! What kind of road! Huh? And you were racing horses with people?"

Listening to Gu Yanka's questioning, Gu Tingye lowered his head in shame.

"Your classmate in the study, Jing'er, the younger brother of your eldest sister-in-law—among the fine horses in his family, if you bring one out, which one isn't better than yours? Did he race horses on a day like this?"

Gu Tingye looked at Gu Yanka sheepishly and said: "Father, isn't Jing'er grounded by the Emperor!"

"You!"

Gu Yanka was speechless for a moment, then said: "Say one more word? If it weren't for New Year's Eve today, I would break..."

"Clack!"

Bai Shi on the side slapped the table and said: "Ye'er, your father is doing this for your own good; how dare you talk back to your father?"

"If something really happens, do you still want your future? Why don't you hurry up and admit your mistake to your father and apologize?"

Gu Tingye glanced at Bai Shi and lowered his head without speaking.

Looking at his son who stopped speaking, Gu Yanka took a deep breath, glared at Gu Tingye, and was about to continue speaking when,

Tingyi's eyes turned, and he hugged his niece Yan-jie'er and leaned toward Gu Yanka, saying: "Father, Yan-jie'er is looking for you."

Gu Yanka's expression instantly softened. After taking his granddaughter, a smile appeared on his face: "Yan-jie'er, what's the matter?"

Looking at Gu Yanka's appearance, Bai Shi and Pingmei on the side shook their heads and smiled.

Tingyi said to Bai Shi: "Mother, my brother and I are going to play pitch-pot for a while."

"Go ahead."

Bai Shi said, and Gu Yanka, who was avoiding his granddaughter pulling his beard on the side, glared at the limping Gu Tingye again.

Jiying Lane, Sheng family,

Although the Sheng family's main branch had a mansion in Bianjing, under the invitation of the Sheng Old Madam and the insistence of the Great Old Madam, the whole family still came to Jiying Lane for the New Year.

Shou'an Hall courtyard,

In the hall,

The Great Old Madam and the Sheng Old Madam, two old ladies, had pillows behind their backs and quilts on their legs. On the small table between them were placed several kinds of dried fruits and candied fruits. The sisters-in-law were lying and sitting on the Luo Han chair together like this.

Leaning toward the Sheng Old Madam, the Great Old Madam said with a smile: "Old sister is right, this child goes to my mansion every few days to help me diagnose my pulse and perform acupuncture to regulate my body."

"My chronic illness in the waist has been regulated by this child, and it is much more comfortable."

The Sheng Old Madam looked at the lively hall and smiled: "Speaking of which, the Yu family cousin is really a good grandson-in-law."

Afterwards, the Old Madam lowered her voice and said: "Then, Old Sister-in-law, did you let the child see Shulan more often?"

The Great Old Madam raised her eyebrows, looked at the Sheng Old Madam, and said: "Am I that unreasonable person? Naturally..."

Hearing this, the Sheng Old Madam smiled and nodded repeatedly, teasing: "If you didn't let them see each other, maybe he wouldn't go!"

The Great Old Madam shook her head with a smile, full of emotion: "The Yu family child is filial and wouldn't be like that."

The Sheng Old Madam nodded and smiled.

The Great Old Madam continued: "Hey! This also has to thank you, Old Sister; it is thanks to your blessing that I can find such a good grandson-in-law."

"It is Shulan's own blessing." The Old Madam waved her hand and said.

The Great Old Madam looked at the children in the hall and said: "Look at your youngest, Zhen-ge'er; this demeanor and appearance are really like Bo-ge'er."

The Old Madam looked at Sheng Changzhen, smiled slightly, and whispered to the Great Old Madam: "This kid, whether sitting or lying down, is learning from his second brother."

Looking at the sisters-in-law talking on the Luo Han bed, Mama Fang and Mama Cui smiled at each other.

Not far from the two old ladies,

Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei sat together, the cousins drinking tea while exchanging relationships between officials and nobles in the capital.

Changwu, Changbai, and Changfeng sat beside their respective fathers, listening to the elders talking.

On the other side, Wang Ruofu and her sister-in-law Li sat together, cracking pumpkin seeds while playing leaf cards, and could even interject a few gossip stories about high-ranking families in the capital.

Since Li stopped competing with Wang Ruofu, the relationship between the sisters-in-law had improved a lot.

After the meal, Shulan originally wanted to sit with her cousins.

As a result, just as Shulan sat down beside Rulan, she was called over by Wang Ruofu.

After hearing her aunt Wang Ruofu say a few words about "You will marry into the Yu family and stay in the capital in the future; listening to this will be useful to you later," Shulan sat on the side and listened honestly.

Then, after Shulan only listened for a few sentences, her younger sister Pinlan called her over to 'form a team' to play pitch-pot, and she didn't want to go over anymore.

Where the four Lans were,

Seeing Mo Lan was the oldest, Pinlan was second, and Rulan and Minglan were the youngest.

Pinlan glanced at Seeing Mo Lan, who was preparing to play pitch-pot, and said to Rulan: "Rulan sister, the poem recited by Changbai brother just now was very good, right? Why do you and Minglan sister look frowning?"

Rulan and Minglan looked at each other, took a deep breath, and said: "Sigh! Pinlan sister, you don't know, my brother has been doing this for several years, every year it's this one..."

"Ah? Every year?" Pinlan looked surprised.

Rulan and Minglan nodded in unison.

At this time.

"Clack."

The arrow Seeing Mo Lan threw hit the pitch-pot and fell to the side.

The maid Luzhong hurriedly stepped forward to pick up the arrow.

"What's so fun about this pitch-pot? Why don't we talk about poetry and songs!" Seeing Mo Lan said.

Hearing this,

The three other Lans all looked troubled. Pinlan said: "Seeing Mo Lan sister, I don't recognize many characters, and I don't understand poetry and songs."

Rulan secretly rolled her eyes at Seeing Mo Lan, stood up, and said: "Is it my turn to throw?"

As she spoke, Xique hurriedly stepped forward and handed the arrow to Rulan: "Yes, Young Lady."

"Am I one point ahead of Fourth Sister?"

Xique didn't speak, just nodded.

Rulan raised her chin proudly and walked toward the pitch-pot.

Seeing Mo Lan wanted to speak angrily, but after glancing at Sheng Hong, who was talking, and turning to look at Lin Qinshuang, who was standing in the corner, she sat down beside Pinlan honestly after thinking for a moment.

Watching Rulan aiming the arrow with one hand, Pinlan withdrew her gaze and said to Minglan: "Minglan sister, is the stuff you can win by gambling during the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival the same as other times of the year?"

Minglan shook her head: "Pinlan sister, it's different! During the days of the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival, the things you can win by gambling are much more valuable than other times."

"Really? Then I'll have to try my hand when the time comes! Two sisters, I was very good at gambling in Youyang; I once spent two hundred wen and won..."

Listening to Pinlan's words, Minglan nodded repeatedly with admiration in her eyes.

"Heh."

Not far away, Rulan threw the arrow after aiming.

"Thud."

Looking at the arrow that hit the target, Rulan smiled and raised her eyebrows at Seeing Mo Lan proudly.

Seeing Mo Lan stood up unwilling to lose and walked toward the pitch-pot.

Pinlan and Minglan applauded Rulan together and said: "Minglan sister, what have you won by gambling before?"

After Minglan talked about her 'battle record', her eyes lit up, as if she remembered something, and said: "Pinlan sister, I once saw two people who were very good at gambling!"

Pinlan: "Oh? How good?"

"It was Fifth Cousin Xu and one of his personal attendants. I heard that the two of them gambled..."

Seeing Mo Lan, who had hit the target, sat back on the side, listening to their conversation. Taking advantage of the gap, she said:

"Sixth sister, you reminded me; was it the time Rong Feiyan won the powerful bow?"

"Speaking of which, it's funny; what's the use of winning such a big bow?"

Listening to Seeing Mo Lan's words, Pinlan thought carefully for a while, and a beautiful figure with her chin raised appeared in her heart.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 570 =====