Chapter 195: Celebrating the New Year

Jun Zijin’s tone carried a hint of playfulness.

Han Xiao blushed, thinking, "Young Lady is being improper again."

Mama Dong’s eyes turned red once more; the Young Lady had promised to provide for her old age, and now, not only was she giving her a share of the profits, but also so much silver.

Back then, the Lady had passed away early, and in order to protect the only daughter the Lady had left behind, she had been framed by the Wu woman.

Who would have thought that now that the Young Lady has grown up, she would be so good to a servant like her, yet the Lady is no longer here...

Xiao He almost burst into tears. Ever since she was sold by her father and stepmother, and ever since she lost her home, the Young Lady was the only person who had ever treated her this well.

"Young Lady, I won't marry; I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life."

The Young Lady treated her like family and looked out for her in every way; she truly had no way to repay her other than by helping manage the business.

Jun Zijin was a person who clearly distinguished between kindness and enmity; she treated those who interacted with her sincerely with equal sincerity and protected them at every turn. As for those who harmed her, she never showed mercy when dealing with them.

"Alright, it's the New Year, stop crying. The shops will be closed for a few days, so take a few days off and have a good time."

Jun Zijin teased her.

She took out three more red envelopes, thought for a moment, then pulled 20,000 taels from her stack of banknotes and handed them to Guazi:

"Take this banknote to the Jingzhu Courtyard for the Old Madam. These two 50-tael red envelopes are for Mama Zhou, and the two 500-tael ones are for you and Huasheng respectively. Also, go and call the two mamas from our courtyard in."

Guazi was all smiles:

"We get some too!" And so much, at that.

Jun Zijin smiled and said:

"Of course you do. It hasn't been easy for you, staying by my side and the Old Madam's."

"Alright, since the mistress says so, then I'll accept it."

Guazi ran toward the Jingzhu Courtyard, overjoyed with the banknotes and red envelopes.

Before long, Mama Xu and Mama Chen walked into the room and bowed respectfully.

Jun Zijin handed the red envelopes to them and said:

"That my courtyard can be managed so orderly is all thanks to the two of you taking care of things, which allows me to be so at ease. Please accept this small token of my appreciation and have a good rest during the New Year."

Mama Xu and Mama Chen were pleasantly surprised and thanked her repeatedly.

"Also, Mamas, go to the accounting office to draw some silver; all the servants in our courtyard are to be rewarded according to their rank, so that everyone can have a happy New Year."

The second branch had been split off and had completely torn their masks off with this side.

Now, the household was simple, and apart from Jun Yiyi, everyone else was of one mind.

They ate the New Year's Eve dinner in relative harmony and stayed up for the New Year. Because this year was special, the Old Madam gave out double the usual New Year money, and the whole day passed without any trouble.

On the first day of the New Year, before the night had fully faded and just as a hint of white appeared on the horizon, the Jun Residence was already awakened by the lively sounds of people.

The vermilion gates slowly opened, and the candlelight inside the lanterns swayed gently, reflecting the figures moving in and out.

The servants walked with hurried steps; some were adjusting the reins on the carriages, while others were moving items—busy, yet orderly.

"Be careful, everyone! We cannot have any mishaps today!"

The steward stood on the steps, shouting at the top of his lungs, his eyes scanning every corner, not missing a single detail.

In the main room, the Old Madam sat upright on a carved rosewood chair, letting the maidservants dress her.

Her complexion was rosy, and she looked full of vigor, though her hair had turned completely white, like frost and snow in winter.

In truth, the Old Madam was not that old, but because she had been poisoned and bedridden for six years, her bodily functions had declined severely.

Now that Jun Zijin had been treating her, her spirit had recovered, but her completely white hair could not be changed back.

Today, her eyes were exceptionally bright, revealing an irrepressible excitement.

"Old Madam, this hairpin was your favorite when you were young. Wearing it today, you are sure to look radiant."

As the maid spoke, she gently inserted a jade hairpin into the Old Madam's bun.

The Old Madam raised her hand to touch the hairpin, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly:

"Indeed, I haven't worn it for so many years. I hope I don't embarrass the children today."

"Not at all, Old Madam! To have a granddaughter like the Second Young Lady is a great blessing!"

Just as they were speaking, Jun Zijin walked in.

At this moment, Jun Zijin was dressed in a treasure-blue palace gown with a simple and exquisite hairstyle; her face was lightly powdered, looking fresh and lovely.

"Grandmother, everything is ready, you can rest assured."

The Old Madam looked up, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment, filled with gratification:

"Child, it is all thanks to you. Grandmother never thought I would be able to stand up again, let alone walk, and that this old bag of bones would have the chance to enter the palace again."

Yes, the Old Madam, whose legs had been broken and who had been poisoned by the Wu woman, had been treated by Jun Zijin with surgery a few months ago. A few days prior, using her own blood as a primer and the Red Arrow herb as medicine, she had concocted an antidote to clear the poison of the Ten Thousand Year Demon Vine from the Old Madam, and she was now able to walk.

Jun Zijin shook her head slightly:

"This granddaughter only hopes that Grandmother will be healthy and live a long life in the days to come."

The Old Madam laughed heartily:

"Then wouldn't I become an old hag?"

Jun Shuyan also came in with Lady Zhou, like a cheerful little bird, and said with a smile:

"Grandmother is still very young; you aren't old at all."

The group chatted and laughed, ushering the Old Madam into the carriage.

The Jun Residence was bustling and glorious, which only served to make the Jun house look all the more gloomy and sorrowful.

Yesterday, they had been waiting for the Jun Residence to invite them over for New Year's Eve dinner, as the Old Madam's red envelopes were always extremely generous every year.

Thinking of the Old Madam's red envelopes, they had waited eagerly for an entire day, but no one came to invite them, let alone getting even a single hair's worth of profit.

Early this morning, the residence was busy preparing to enter the palace, and there was nothing for them to do there either.

Tianqi had a tradition where every year on the first day of the New Year, officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital had to bring their families into the palace to pay New Year's greetings and attend a banquet.

Without the protection of the Jun Residence, such matters as entering the palace naturally did not fall to the people of the Jun house.

Lady Li hid in a corner, watching the carriages from the other side speed away, hating them so much she nearly bit through her own teeth.

The carriages slowly started, the wheels rolling over the stone road with a dull sound.

Jun Zijin, Jun Shuyan, and the Old Madam rode in the palace carriage reserved for the Princess, while Jun Chengcai followed on horseback.

The palace gates slowly swung open, and the group from the Jun Residence walked into the palace under the guidance of the eunuchs.

The palace walls were towering, and the glazed tiles shimmered with golden light in the morning sun.

Inside the great hall, the lights were brilliant, and the Emperor and Empress sat high on their dais, waiting for the officials and their families to offer gifts and kowtow.

When the group from the Jun Residence walked into the hall, everyone's eyes were drawn to the Old Madam.

Supported by Jun Zijin, the Old Madam walked steadily forward.

Although her steps were somewhat slow, they carried a long-lost strength.

"This... isn't this the Old Madam of the Jun Residence? Wasn't she paralyzed for six years? How..."

"Indeed, it's unbelievable. What on earth is going on?"

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