As the music resumed, it announced the end of the New Year greeting ceremony for the Empress Dowager and Empress.

The first day of the New Year in the imperial palace passed just like this.

Watching the swarms of court ladies in various colored robes laughing and chatting while maintaining proper decorum as they disappeared outside the palace hall, the emperor behind the great hall turned around.

“Your Majesty isn’t going in?” Cai Zhong asked with some surprise.

“Not going in. I’ll dine at the Empress Dowager’s quarters later,” the emperor said.

Not with the consorts, but only with the Empress Dowager and Empress – the Empress Dowager and Empress would surely be happier.

Cai Zhong cheerfully led the way.

The emperor walked leisurely.

That woman wasn’t there…

The court ladies all entered and exited according to their ranks. Those who could exit through the main gate of the Li family would naturally not be of low rank, but looking over them all…

He smiled and shook his head.

Quite amusing…

The emperor had something on his mind, and Cai Zhong could see it at a glance, but what was it? This time he couldn’t guess, and he didn’t dare to guess.

The emperor was a person who most detested others knowing his thoughts, and most detested being led by the nose. In the past, rather than saying he understood the imperial will, it was more accurate to say the emperor allowed him to understand the imperial will. Once he understood imperial will that the emperor didn’t want understood, then his life would be over.

Cai Zhong lowered his head and asked the emperor about trivial matters with a smile.

“…Old Master Zhou can’t go on like this. At his age, he might really cause some trouble. Your Majesty should call him back,” he said.

The emperor indeed laughed, and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to laugh, finally bursting into hearty laughter. In the solemn place of the imperial palace, the sudden clear laughter made the eunuchs and palace maids hurrying past with lowered heads look over in surprise.

At this time in the northern desert region, laughter also rang out, though compared to the emperor’s supreme dignity, they were as lowly as dust.

The vast training ground was surrounded by soldiers, some standing, some sitting, all laughing so hard they were falling over.

In the middle of the training ground, several soldiers lay scattered about in disorder.

“…I have a leg injury!” A soldier lying on the ground saw the sweating man in azure robes wrapping white bandages around his arm and quickly opened his eyes to remind him.

The man glared.

“Then why did you sprinkle the dye on your arm?” he asked, holding the bandage somewhat at a loss.

“I sprinkled it wrong,” the soldier also glared back. “Can’t you diagnose? If my arm is bleeding, can’t my leg be injured too?”

Diagnose! You’re really getting into character!

“You’re unconscious but you can still talk?” the disciple also glared back in retort.

The two stared at each other with wide eyes, while people beside them stamped their feet.

“Are you carrying him or not?” they shouted.

The man finally made up his mind and still bound the bandage around the soldier’s arm.

“Then we can’t use a wooden board to carry him. We need a soft cloth stretcher,” the stretcher bearers reminded.

Sweat poured layer by layer from the man’s head as he began shouting for a cloth stretcher.

Other places were equally chaotic.

Suddenly another burst of laughter erupted – a soldier had fallen off the stretcher halfway and climbed back on himself.

The surrounding laughter grew louder and louder. Everyone was laughing until tears came out.

This sound carried far, making passing civilians look over curiously.

“What are they doing in the training ground? So lively?”

Those in the know shared their information with everyone.

“They say it’s a performance,” he said.

A theatrical performance? That was too much! If it was theater, why wasn’t it at the Horse King Temple?

Why could only the soldiers watch?

Too unfair!

Because the border regions were especially careful and vigilant during New Year. It had been two years since they’d invited theater troupes to perform. They’d actually secretly invited a theater troupe only for the soldiers to watch!

They wouldn’t stand for it!

Finally, with the sound of a gong, the drill ended.

Although the surrounding people had laughed until they fell to the ground and couldn’t get up, Qi Yue, Liu Pucheng, Zhang Tong, and seven others who served as judges still maintained serious expressions.

“…Failed…”

“…Failed…”

“…No injury severity classification strips… delayed treatment… points deducted…”

One by one, the judgments came down. The disciples of Qianjin Hall hung their heads in dejection, while the soldiers playing wounded were laughing happily.

“Alright, write summary analyses when you return. Today’s drill ends here.”

Watching these people pack up various strange tools, the people in the training ground hadn’t dispersed yet. Everyone still gathered together, laughing and asking when the next performance would be.

“It’s not a performance, it’s a drill,” Hu San glared at a soldier to correct him.

This was a very serious matter!

“Isn’t it just playing wounded soldiers? That’s just acting,” the soldiers said with laughter, patting Hu San’s shoulder. “Find me next time. Being carried around is quite fun. It’s New Year and we’re idle anyway. This is much more interesting than drinking after training.”

Hu San was slapped until he grimaced and walked away angrily.

The Guard Commander standing on the high platform was also struggling to hold back his laughter. If not for Chang Yuncheng standing beside him, he would have burst into laughter long ago.

When he heard that this former Prince’s wife wanted to borrow some soldiers, he thought it was to have them do manual labor, since this Miss Qi’s house had been clanging and banging with activity that hadn’t stopped even during New Year. But he hadn’t expected it to be for acting – oh no, drilling. During New Year when everyone was idle anyway, he was happy to watch the excitement and show his attention and support. He hadn’t expected it to be truly entertaining. Next time he’d bring his wife and children too.

Chang Yuncheng’s gaze had been fixed on that woman the entire time. Now seeing people beginning to disperse, he bid farewell to the Guard Commander.

“When shall we invite Old Master Zhou and Miss Qi for a meal? No matter how busy, one must celebrate New Year,” the Guard Commander said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and shook his head.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, but let’s forget it,” he said.

With such an important figure celebrating New Year here, all the civil and military officials along the Gansu line wished they could visit daily, but none had been able to invite Old Master Zhou for a meal. Even getting to see him was good fortune.

Never mind them – even he, after so many days, hadn’t had the chance. Of course, there were opportunities to dine, but no opportunities to dine and spend time alone.

Chang Yuncheng watched as they finally finished their work there. The disciples loaded their carts and drove away from the training ground. Qi Yue and A’Ru and others had a separate cart. Best of all, Zhou Maochun wasn’t there! This was truly a rare opportunity! He again bowed farewell to the Guard Commander and hurried away.

As head manager, Hu San’s cart always brought up the rear. Suddenly he saw Qi Yue’s cart ahead turn a corner and hurriedly shouted for his master.

“Master, where are you going?” He was about to spur his horse to follow when Zhang Tong slapped him on the head.

“Senior Brother, why did you hit me?” he turned back to say pitifully.

Zhang Tong glared at him.

“You claim to be so capable at business, but you really have no perception,” Zhang Tong said.

Hu San stared in confusion.

“But it’s always unsafe for Master to go out alone…” he said.

“There’s no place safer than here,” Liu Pucheng said with a smile from inside the cart.

Why?

Hu San was somewhat confused.

When she discovered the cart was taking the wrong route, Qi Yue was also confused.

She and A’Ru had been discussing the emergency drill in the cart. When she felt they should have arrived home but hadn’t, she came to her senses and lifted the cart curtain to see they had already reached outside the city.

It had snowed heavily on New Year’s Eve, and now everything around was white. On the morning of the first day, there were no pedestrians in sight.

“Where are we going?” A’Ru was startled, looking at the driver. “Who told you to go the wrong way?”

The driver turned back somewhat awkwardly. Before he could speak, Qi Yue was already laughing.

A horse galloped out from around a bend ahead. Seeing their cart, Chang Yuncheng reined in his horse.

“The Prince instructed to go this way…” the driver said in a low voice.

A’Ru looked at him angrily.

“Just because he told you to go, you went? Whose wages do you eat?” she scolded, while looking up to see Qi Yue had already gotten off the cart and was walking toward Chang Yuncheng.

“Where are we going? On the first day of New Year…” A’Ru muttered.

Qi Yue was also looking up at Chang Yuncheng with a smile, asking this question.

Chang Yuncheng extended his hand.

“Ride the horse?” Qi Yue was delighted, reaching out to grasp Chang Yuncheng’s hand while stepping up according to his guidance.

The skirt was inconvenient. Chang Yuncheng pulled hard and seated her sideways in his arms.

“It’s too cold, better take the cart,” A’Ru quickly called out.

But it was too late. Chang Yuncheng had already wrapped Qi Yue in his large cloak and spurred the horse into a gallop.

“Are you cold?” Chang Yuncheng asked loudly.

Qi Yue held tightly to his waist, pressed against his warm chest, her face emerging from beneath the thick cloak as she smiled at him.

“Not cold,” she said loudly.

Chang Yuncheng looked down at her and also smiled, then raised his head and continued spurring the horse.

After riding another stretch, the horse slowed down.

“We’re here,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Because of the strong wind, Qi Yue had kept her eyes half-closed, leaning against Chang Yuncheng’s chest and not paying attention to the scenery along the way. Hearing this, she looked up.

“Wow!” she couldn’t help exclaiming, throwing off the cloak.

They were now standing on a gentle slope. What lay before them was a large plum garden in brilliant red bloom, strikingly beautiful against the white snow scene all around.

Seeing Qi Yue’s delighted expression, Chang Yuncheng smiled somewhat proudly.

“Hey, I know!” Qi Yue grabbed his arm and laughed. “This is the plum garden Jianghai mentioned! He even said he’d bring me to see it!”

Chang Yuncheng’s face immediately darkened. He again wrapped her in the cloak and spurred the horse down the slope.

Although the plum garden wasn’t a residence, it was still enclosed by a circle of walls, obviously meant to indicate that the garden had an owner, just like those orchards.

The wall was somewhat damaged, with several places bearing obvious signs of new repairs, and another place still had a gap. Chang Yuncheng’s horse went straight around and leaped through.

“Isn’t anyone managing this place? Does it belong to some family?” Qi Yue couldn’t help asking.

“So what if it belongs to a family? Does that mean we can’t look at plum blossoms?” Chang Yuncheng snorted.

That familiar domineering and unreasonable expression appeared again. Qi Yue laughed and pinched his chest.

Chang Yuncheng unceremoniously lowered his head and kissed her between the eyebrows.

The horse continued without stopping toward the depths of the plum garden.

The several tenant farmers who hurriedly ran over at the sound only saw hoofprints on the ground.

“Damn it, those soldiers are here again!”

“They’re going to ruin these trees again!”

“Not this time. If they dare cut down trees again, I’ll fight them…”