Chapter 523: Joy in the New Year (Part 1)

The fourteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, New Year's Eve.

Count's Mansion, Daiyu's courtyard.

Outside, the sky had not yet fully brightened; the eaves reflected black-blue clouds, and the sound of firecrackers rose and fell in the distance, circling over the small courtyard, the atmosphere of the New Year growing increasingly heavy.

Candles had been lit in Daiyu's room since the early morning, their glow soft and bright, illuminating the room completely.

The light in the room was soft, shadows moved, and the air was filled with the lingering scent of a young girl's morning makeup, fragrant and refreshing to the heart.

Daiyu wore a long jacket with light gold and peach-red floral patterns and a peach-red horse-face skirt. Her slender waist was easily grasped, her posture graceful, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes like autumn water, her pretty face pink and tender—extraordinarily charming and moving.

On the desk in front of her were several piles of sorted gifts: stationery, paper and brushes, round fans and paper umbrellas, inkstones and seals, incense and jade pendants, strange stones and table screens—all items full of Jiangnan elegance.

There were also two boxes of top-grade Yangzhou green salt, and two boxes of rouge, powder, handkerchiefs, hairpins, and other boudoir items from the Jin Feng Pavilion in Jiangnan.

The Lin family of Gusu was a family of hereditary counts for five generations. By Lin Ruhai's generation, the direct line was passed down through a single heir, and he had only one daughter, Lin Daiyu. The wealth accumulated by the Lin family over several generations was all in Lin Ruhai's hands alone.

Therefore, this chief official of salt inspection in the two Huai regions was not a pure official living only on his salary; his family assets were quite wealthy and noble, although not comparable to the four great families of Jin Ling, the gap was not far.

Back then, because Jia Min passed away, the Lin family had no direct female relatives to raise her, and the risks of salt inspection were unpredictable.

Only then was Daiyu sent to be raised at her grandmother's knees. Because Jia Mu was a super-grade State Lady of Da Zhou, her status was noble, which could dilute the haze of Daiyu losing her mother and serve as a prestigious endorsement for her future marriage.

Every year on Daiyu's birthday or during the New Year, Lin Ruhai would have his concubine, Chen Shi, prepare gifts to send to his daughter, so that she could use the old items from Jiangnan herself, and also give them to relatives and friends as a sign of respect.

The New Year gifts from the Lin family were also delivered on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. Yesterday, Daiyu had personally delivered the gifts for Jia Mu, the two aunts, Wang Xifeng, and Li Wan.

Getting up early today, she began to organize the gifts for the sisters in the garden.

She pointed to the piles of gifts on the desk and distributed them, counting on her fingers: "This is for eldest sister Yingchun, sister Seeing Tan Chun, sister Baochai, little sister Xichun, and cousin Xiuyan."

"Keep this one for sister Xiangyun; give it to her when she comes."

"This last one is for Baoyu. Hearing Zi Juan, Xueyan, you go to the East Mansion first and then the West Mansion later, and help me deliver them separately."

She turned her head to look at another pile of gifts already placed on the embroidered bed, the number of which was clearly larger, and there was a small box beside the bed.

She said, "I will deliver Third Brother's portion myself. Call me a strong maid to help me carry that box; inside are rouge and powder from the Jin Feng Pavilion."

"It is for sister Zhi Shao in Third Brother's room, and for girls like Wu'er, Qingwen, Ying Lian, and Ling Guan."

Hearing Zi Juan smiled upon hearing this and said, "The young lady loves the house and its crow; you even care for the girls in Cong Sanye's room. You are too partial; you don't even leave some for us to use."

Daiyu's pretty face flushed, and she scolded slightly, "You have too many strange words. There is another box there; you can use it all. Let's see when you will finish using it."

Ignoring Hearing Zi Juan's secret laughter, Daiyu picked up a pile of gifts from the bed and left the room. Hearing Zi Juan hurriedly called a maid from outside, who hugged the box and followed.

……

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Daiyu entered Jia Cong's courtyard. Wu'er had gone to the West Mansion early in the morning to help Wang Xifeng and Ping'er manage various chores for New Year's Eve. Zhi Shao had gone to the Mouni Nunnery yesterday to keep watch with her master, and had not returned to the mansion early this morning.

Daiyu met Qingwen and Ying Lian and handed over the box of gifts for them. Everyone thanked her happily. Daiyu then went to Jia Cong's study alone.

Ling Guan followed behind and said, "Miss Lin, Cong Sanye went to the Rongqing Hall early in the morning to meet guests. I will go over and take a look, just to say that you sent the gifts over."

Daiyu entered Jia Cong's study and saw a wooden box on the desk. It didn't look like something Jia Cong would use for reading, so she curiously went up to take a look.

She saw a long robe, a pair of cotton shoes, and a light blue Xue Tao letter paper neatly placed in the wooden box.

Daiyu was well-read and loved literary matters. She curiously picked up the Xue Tao letter paper and saw it written: "In the deep alley, fireworks reflect on the floating life; the spring water of the river resents the separation."

Ling Guan, who was behind her, couldn't help but stick out her tongue and retreated from the study.

Yesterday, Cong Sanye received the gifts sent from Gusu, played with them in the study for a long time, and was in a daze for a while. I think he also misses sister Min'er.

It must be that Cong Sanye didn't pack things up last night, went to the West Mansion early this morning, and Ying Lian didn't have time to come into the study to clean up...

……

Early this morning, several sisters-in-law of the eight branches of the Love Shenjing, who were of the same generation as Jia Mu, came to the Rongqing Hall to pay their respects and sit for a while. Because of the seniority, Jia Mu asked Jia Cong, the new head of the family, to go over and show his face.

Ever since he inherited the Rongguo title, these New Year rituals had become cumbersome. Originally, it was enough for Jia Zheng to show up, but now Jia Cong could not avoid it.

Although it made him feel a bit helpless, he could not slight the clan rituals. After he finished dealing with the matters, he returned to the East Mansion alone and did not meet Ling Guan, who had gone to the West Mansion to look for him.

When he entered the study, he saw Daiyu sitting at his desk, holding a light blue Xue Tao letter paper, looking at it back and forth.

Seeing Jia Cong enter, she subconsciously hid the Xue Tao letter paper behind her back.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "What good thing is my sister hiding? Take it out and let me see."

Daiyu pursed her lips slightly, bit her cherry lips, took out the Xue Tao letter paper from behind her back, and said, "I didn't peek at your things; who told you to leave it on the table?"

"Third Brother, you shouldn't keep such good things well, lest they be seen by others. Hmph!"

Jia Cong forced a smile and said, "Sister is joking again. It's just a piece of paper with words on it; how can it be a good thing? If you like it, I can write as much as you want."

Daiyu blinked and said, "The words on this are beautiful and neat, but they have some skill. I think the sister who wrote these words must be a daughter of an official family."

Daiyu was right. In this world, any woman who was literate and could write a good hand was mostly from an official family, with very few exceptions.

Daiyu looked at the Xue Tao letter paper in her hand, her bright eyes turned slightly, and she said, "This kind of Xue Tao letter paper also looks familiar. The paper is soft and tough, not easy to damage, and there is a plum blossom brand in the lower right corner of each sheet."

"This is the Xue Tao letter paper from Rongbao Studio in Gusu. Other families don't have such a mark. I am from Gusu, and my family has used Rongbao Studio's paper since I was a child."

"I often used Rongbao Studio's Xue Tao letter paper to write words and poems when I was a child. Every year, Concubine Chen sends New Year gifts from the south, and among them are Rongbao Studio's Xue Tao letter paper."

Daiyu pointed to the gifts she had just brought and pursed her lips, saying, "The New Year gift I sent you has this kind of Xue Tao letter paper. I am too familiar with it."

"I guess the sister who wrote these words is not only an official's daughter, but also lives in Jiangnan. Maybe she lives in Gusu."

"Third Brother, tell me, am I right?"

Jia Cong's expression was a bit difficult, and he said, "Sister Lin, girls don't actually need to be so smart."

Daiyu tilted her head slightly, snorted, and said, "I said Third Brother learned to be bad after going to Jiangnan this time, and it was true. Besides that Miss Zhen San, you actually know other confidantes."

"With such a good thing, you didn't tell sister about it when you came back."

Jia Cong felt strange in his heart when he heard this. Can this kind of thing be heard as a rarity...? Daiyu raised her head and said, "Third Brother, we sisters don't go out of the second gate or the big gate on weekdays, and we love to hear about the wonders outside. Third Brother, if you have such a good thing, you must tell me."

"At most, I promise not to be petty and not to snatch Third Brother's words."

Jia Cong looked at Daiyu suspiciously and said, "Is sister deliberately coaxing me to get my words?"

Daiyu laughed, then said solemnly, "I don't care to coax you; it has always been Third Brother coaxing me. Besides, it was you who did the thing."

Jia Cong knew that this matter could not be hidden from Daiyu sooner or later. Although she was gentle and considerate to him, she could not hide her pride in her bones. Since she saw the signs, it was best to tell her.

He said, "It's just knowing one person. If you want to hear it, I will tell you, but don't be angry again."

Daiyu nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. I won't be angry."

Jia Cong sat down beside Daiyu and told her the ins and outs of himself and Zou Min'er.

He didn't even hide from Daiyu that Zou Min'er faked her death to escape, got rid of the lowly status of the Zhongche Division and the Jiaofang Division, and lived in seclusion in Gusu from then on.

Of course, romantic things like undressing and wiping Zou Min'er, changing medicine and dressing her, and holding her in and out were naturally written in the Spring and Autumn style, deleted and gone.

It was not that Jia Cong had a guilty conscience, but if such words were spoken, they would never be explained clearly. Daiyu's little face would not be able to hang on, she would definitely be ashamed and angry, and might even turn her face...

In front of a girl, saying that he and another woman were intimate was not called honesty or frankness, but probably belonged to the category of stupidity...

Jia Cong seemed to have magnified the girl's jealousy and ignored their overflowing sympathy.

Hearing Zou Min'er's encounter, Daiyu not only didn't act petty, but was tearful and quite sympathetic to Zou Min'er's situation, which made Jia Cong feel some warmth.

Daiyu sighed, "Miss Zou has suffered so much. If it were me, I would probably not be able to live."

"Compared to Miss Zou, we sisters are much luckier, living in wealth every day, living peacefully and smoothly, and still being able to talk and accompany Third Brother from time to time."

When Daiyu said this, she suddenly reacted, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and she said, "Third Brother, did you take a fancy to Miss Zou? I think she must have lost her heart to you."

"You said that every time you go out, you provoke people indiscriminately and owe so many debts. Let's see how you end up in the future, hmph!" Jia Cong forced a smile, "Good sister, didn't we agree not to be angry just now? You can't go back on your words."

Daiyu said unconvinced, "I didn't act petty. In the future, Third Brother, don't call me good sister, lest you call me good sister in your mouth, but I'm afraid you don't know who you are thinking of in your heart."

Jia Cong: "..."

As she spoke, Daiyu stood up to leave. Jia Cong said, "Why is sister leaving? Stay and talk, or shall I accompany you to stroll in the garden?"

Daiyu said, "I'm a little tired, I'll go back and lie down, so I can stay up late tonight to keep watch. If I don't have the spirit, Grandmother will worry and talk again."

She walked to the door and looked back and said, "Third Brother, I didn't act petty, I always keep my words."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I'll accompany sister back."

Before Jia Cong finished speaking, Daiyu had already left the room and went far away.

Jia Cong knew that although she kept saying she wouldn't act petty, after hearing about Zou Min'er, she was inevitably uncomfortable in her heart, which was also reasonable.

After Daiyu left, Jia Cong thought for a while and took out the sachet Daiyu gave him, which had the pattern of a stone bridge, a bright moon, and red plum blossoms embroidered by Daiyu.

He carefully copied the pattern on the sachet on rice paper, wrote another letter, put the image and the letter into an envelope, and stuffed a silver note into it.

He called Qingwen and said, "You have someone pass this letter to the outer courtyard and have someone give it to Jiang Liu, and tell him to send the letter to the Yongjin Studio in the east of the city to find Shopkeeper Hong."

"Just say it's a matter I entrusted, and ask him to work hard today and must make the things before midnight and send them to the inner courtyard by female servants."

Qingwen was puzzled when she heard this, but she didn't ask any more questions and just passed the message as it was.

……

Gusu, Heguang Square.

In a unique small courtyard at the end of the alley, the winter sun was dazzling and bright, full of gentle and quiet charm. Zou Min'er wore a cloth dress and jacket, her hair coiled into a pretty bun, and the plum blossom gold hairpin on her head shone brightly in the sun.

She saw the paulownia tree in the courtyard, which had dropped a few leaves, and picked up a broom to sweep the fallen leaves clean.

A pair of watery bright eyes subconsciously looked at the courtyard gate. When Jia Cong entered the gate that time, she was also sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard. Time passed in a flash for several months.

In fact, not much time had passed since Jia Cong left, but she felt it was unusually long, as if she had spent a long time in the small courtyard...

Her hands were clear and moist, her hair was fluttering, she held the handle of the broom in her hand, looking at the black oil courtyard gate, an illusion filled her heart, as if in the next moment, Jia Cong would push the door and enter.

At this time, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Zou Min'er felt a strange feeling in her heart, and her heart beat violently.

The maid Shuanghe, who was busy in the kitchen, hurriedly ran to the courtyard gate, looked through the crack in the door, and then opened the courtyard gate.

The person who came in was a middle-aged maid, carrying a vermilion wooden box in her hand.

Zou Min'er was very disappointed in her heart, and then thought, she was also obsessed, how could he come at this time.

Shuanghe clearly knew this maid and smiled, "Aunt Zhou, today is New Year's Eve, why do you have time to come?"

Aunt Zhou smiled, "I received the shopkeeper's instructions. He said he received a letter from the noble in the Love Shenjing a few days ago, asking the firm to prepare a New Year gift for Miss Zhou according to his wishes, and there is also a letter to be passed on."

Hearing the letter from the Love Shenjing, joy appeared on Zou Min'er's pretty face.

Shuanghe took the wooden box from the maid, thanked her, closed the courtyard gate, and said with joy, "Miss, a letter from the Love Shenjing, is it a New Year gift from the young master?"

Zou Min'er smiled slightly, like a strange flower blooming, clear and eye-catching.

She put the wooden box on the stone table in the courtyard and opened it carefully. The wooden box was beautifully styled, divided into many compartments, all paved with vermilion velvet.

There was a phoenix hairpin, a pair of earrings, and a pair of jade bracelets, exquisitely styled and dazzling, as well as top-grade boudoir items such as rouge and powder, looking very luxurious and festive.

But Zou Min'er's eyes were only attracted by a letter in the box. The letter had the words "Min'er personally open" written on it. Zou Min'er could see that it was Jia Cong's handwriting.

This was his personal letter. She didn't know if it was sent by flying feathers or sent from the Love Shenjing long ago, and it was only delivered to Gusu on New Year's Eve.

Zou Min'er unfolded the letter. Back then, when she was in the Qinyin Pavilion in Jin Ling, she discussed and deduced the matter of Zhou Zhengyang with Jia Cong every day, and she was already very familiar with his handwriting.

Now seeing the familiar font again, a heart couldn't help but beat.

The letter wrote about ordinary things, talking about his daily chores such as living at home during the mourning period, reading, etc., detailed and meticulous, without getting tired of it, writing nearly ten pages of letter paper.

Zou Min'er could even imagine Jia Cong's appearance living in the mansion between those lines. She read the thick letter paper, and her heart was warm.

In fact, whether from the streets or from the Gusu Xin Chun branch, Zou Min'er knew that after Jia Cong returned to the capital, many major events had happened, ups and downs, glory and color, making people dizzying.

First, he was granted marriage by the Emperor, then he retired from the edict due to his father's death, and then the situation turned around, and he actually got the glory of one body and two titles, becoming the head of the Rongguo Prefecture in the Love Shenjing. Everything seemed incredible.

Perhaps he was born with such a root, no matter where he went, he would stir up the sky.

However, Zou Min'er had tasted life, death, glory, and humiliation, love and hate entanglement, faked her death and hid, and lived a peaceful and peaceful life now.

What she wanted to know most was not his glory, but the daily idle and quiet fragments after he took off his gorgeous clothes, just like her own time now, as if he had always been by her side.

She didn't know if Jia Cong wrote such a letter to herself because of the unintentional connection between the two, or if he saw through her heart. No matter which one, she was very happy in her heart.

The maid Shuanghe beside her had followed Zou Min'er for so long and already knew that any information from the Love Shenjing was related to the young master who stayed overnight that day.

Zou Min'er didn't tell Shuanghe Jia Cong's name and identity, but Shuanghe knew that the young lady and that person were close, and that person was the young lady's most important person.

Shuanghe saw Zou Min'er's pretty face blushing and said, "Miss, look at the New Year gift from the young master, how beautiful it is. Miss is so happy after reading his letter. If the young master often comes to see you, wouldn't that be good?"

Zou Min'er said softly, "Shuanghe, not everything in the world can be satisfactory. People and people pay attention to fate. Some people can live together, and some people have the fate of forgetting each other in the rivers and lakes."

"Some things, as long as you have had them, that's enough..."

The little maid Shuanghe was confused and didn't know what the young lady meant.

……

Jin Ling, Yumin Square, Qu Mansion.

On New Year's Eve, the whole Jin Ling city was noisy, and the sound of firecrackers urged the old year.

In the three-entry small courtyard, lanterns were also hung, and there was a festive atmosphere of the New Year everywhere.

At sunset, in the main room of the inner courtyard, red candles were burning high, and there were two boxes on the ground, neatly filled with various gifts for girls. These were the New Year gifts that Jia Cong asked to be sent from the Love Shenjing.

Qin Keqing grew up in the Love Shenjing, and Qu Hongxiu also lived in the Love Shenjing for a long time. These gifts were exquisite items from major famous shops in the Love Shenjing, which Jia Cong asked Wu'er to prepare in advance after the twelfth lunar month.

This inner courtyard main room was originally lived in by Jia Cong, but now Qu Hongxiu and Keqing set up a banquet in the room, the two drank a small cup, talking about idle things to keep watch.

In the courtyard, Bao Zhu played with firecrackers like a tomboy, making Rui Zhu, who was watching the fun, scream constantly.

The noisy sound entered the room, dispelling some of the loneliness in their hearts, and giving birth to a lot of family warmth.

Keqing said, "Sister Xiu, Third Brother can really stir up things wherever he goes. Although the marriage grant didn't happen, he got the glory of one body and two titles, which is really a great thing."

Qu Hongxiu felt a slight movement in her heart when she heard this, and suddenly remembered the portrait she had collected, and said, "His scene is getting bigger and bigger. I would rather he be mediocre, it is best to be a rich man."

Qin Keqing didn't think so when she heard it. She came from an official family and naturally hoped that her sweetheart would be successful in the imperial examination and smooth in his official career.

She smiled, "Sister Xiu, why do you think differently from others? Don't men in the world seek official career and merit? Others want to be like Third Brother, but they don't have his ability."

Qu Hongxiu heard Keqing's words full of pride, but said in her mouth, "At first he was just a count, and he made a fuss about the palace granting marriage. Now he has one body and two titles, and he will definitely make a bigger fuss in the future."

"You wait in Jin Ling, and there is even less hope."

Keqing's pretty face flushed when she heard this, not knowing if it was because of drinking, or because of Qu Hongxiu's teasing.

She scolded slightly, "Don't just say this about me, you should also keep it for yourself. Now Third Brother has to observe mourning for three years, at least within three years, nothing will happen."

Qu Hongxiu laughed and scolded, "I think you have been coaxed by Third Brother and become stupid. If he wants to make something happen, must he get married? Look at how many pretty maids he has raised by his side."

"Next year he will be fifteen. Look at whether he will mess around! No, I want to write him a letter, saying that the kung fu of my Qu family has other mysteries, and he must be allowed to build a foundation for two more years before he can be truly stable."

Keqing was stunned when she heard this, held it for a while, and then couldn't help laughing out loud, the laughter was uncontrollable, the whole person was trembling like a flower branch, and finally laughed and lay on the table.

Qu Hongxiu also held back her laughter and said, "Hey, what are you laughing at? You must be wishing I would write this letter..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 524 =====