New Year’s Eve night.

In the capital city, the intricate and orderly winding alleys were already hung full of red lanterns, like the afterglow of sunset adorning this snowy white night. Bundle after bundle of fireworks continuously shot into the sky, exploding with a “bang,” their myriad colors enveloping the entire capital in a brilliant luster.

Children played and laughed in the streets, waiting for their families to call them home for dinner.

The fronts of the major shops were swept clean, and couplets were pasted on the doors of every household.

A festive atmosphere everywhere.

At this moment, Prince Rong’s manor was especially lively.

Servants and maids hung lanterns and pasted couplets in the courtyard, working with great enthusiasm. Everyone had changed into festive clothing, preparing to welcome the new year.

The kitchen was also busy preparing this year’s New Year’s Eve feast, bustling about inside and out, in full swing.

From early this morning, people had been continuously carrying gifts in and out of Prince Rong’s manor.

All New Year’s gifts sent by various officials!

Jingrong accepted them all and also ordered return gifts to be sent.

Snowflakes accompanied by bright moonlight fell profusely, the festive new year atmosphere growing even more intense.

Inside the room, everyone gathered around the brazier chatting and laughing.

They talked about everything under the sun.

This was the first time they had all gathered together like this for New Year’s Eve.

Lang Bo, that rough fellow, couldn’t recite poetry or compose verses, so he sat alone to one side, stuffing pastries into his mouth while saying cheerfully, “New Year’s Eves in past years were never this lively.”

Lu Jiang picked up his words. “That’s right. New Year’s Eves in the past were rather quiet. And last year, the Prince left the capital and wasn’t at the manor. This year with Miss Ji, Young Master Wei, and Miss Tang added, it’s indeed much livelier than previous years.”

More people meant more liveliness—it had always been so.

Muruo rotated the wine cup in his hand, curving his lips. “This year I can finally spend New Year’s Eve at Prince Rong’s manor with peace of mind.”

These words earned him some resentment.

“Master Muruo, which year has my Prince treated you poorly? You come to our manor every New Year’s Eve—good food and drink, never lacking once.” Lang Bo said.

“The ‘peace of mind’ I’m talking about is different from what you’re saying. How is your elm-wood head not at all like your Prince?”

“…”

He was powerless to refute. Not smart—is that my fault?

We’re people who carry swords and spears into battle to kill enemies. Having strength is enough—what’s the use of brains? How tiring!

He simply grabbed pastries to fill his belly, which was most important.

Smacking and chewing away.

Like a pig!

Ji Yunshu found it delightful to watch, pursing her lips in a smile. Seeing the charcoal in the brazier nearly burned out, she prepared to use tongs to add more charcoal, but just as her hand touched the tongs, Wei Yi beat her to it.

“Let me do it.”

He took the tongs and added a piece of charcoal.

His movements clean and efficient!

Tang Si squinted her eyes and said, “Wei Yi, you’re now a Prince of the Second Rank personally conferred by the Emperor. You’re handsome and intelligent, and… you’re not young anymore. Shouldn’t you take a wife?”

She grinned, carefree and thoughtless.

What was most feared when everyone gathered together?

The air suddenly turning cold.

Not young? This point was enough to poke at every man present.

Jingrong frowned. He was already twenty-five years old. In ancient times, that made him an overage bachelor. Wei Yi was only twenty-one and was being called “not young”—how was he, this uncle, supposed to survive?

Really, the young lady spoke without thinking.

But Wei Yi just smiled and calmly said, “Some things can’t be rushed.”

He continued adding charcoal to the brazier.

These words also broke the awkwardness.

Jingrong also picked up the end of his words, saying, “What should come will come eventually—no need to rush for a moment.”

“But…” Tang Si was about to say something more when Muruo stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth.

“Just eat your food. What nonsense are you talking?”

“You know I don’t like eating this.” She tossed the pastry aside and reached for the wine nearby, but Muruo slapped her hand.

It hurt enough to make her grimace.

“You’re not allowed to drink.”

“Just a little!”

“No!”

Tang Si pouted, looking displeased. She licked her lips and could only stare longingly.

There seemed to be quite a story here!

Ji Yunshu seemed to guess something. She looked curiously at Tang Si’s belly and asked, “Could it be… there’s good news?”

At this question, Tang Si bit her lip and smiled.

Everyone was still puzzled, all eyes fixed on her.

Muruo was somewhat embarrassed, his face full of happiness as he smiled. “Happy events often come unexpectedly.”

Everyone in the room was quite shocked, all looking at Tang Si in unison.

Tang Si, being stared at, felt very shy. She turned her head and buried it in Muruo’s embrace, twisting coquettishly a few times.

The scene was painful to watch.

Jingrong raised his cup. “Muruo, congratulations.”

He raised his cup. “Thank you, but you should hurry up too.”

“That’s for certain.”

The two drank it down!

Truly a great happy occasion!

But—

After finishing this cup of wine, Muruo’s expression suddenly grew somber. Meeting Jingrong’s gaze, he said seriously, “Actually, there’s something I wanted to wait until tomorrow to say, but I might as well say it now. Tang Si and I plan to go to Houliao after the new year. If there are no accidents, we probably won’t return to the capital again.”

“Hmm? Why this sudden decision?”

“It’s not sudden—I’ve actually thought about it for a long time. Now that Tang Si is pregnant and I don’t know how to care for her, you also know I’m just a wanderer with only one Yuhua Pavilion. But Tang Si is different—she has family, has a father. So I want to take her home.” He reached out and held Tang Si’s hand.

Tang Si lifted her head from his embrace, putting away her bold look, gazing tenderly at this man.

Actually, she understood!

The matter with Jingxian had ultimately left a knot in Muruo’s heart that he could never forget or let go of in this lifetime.

Perhaps leaving was the best choice.

Though Jingrong was reluctant, he understood Muruo’s feelings. Not wanting to expose it, he said, “Since you’ve already decided, I suppose even if I tried to keep you, it wouldn’t have any meaning.”

“My mind is made up.”

“Alright, be careful along the way.”

He nodded!

Lang Bo teased, “Master Muruo, I hear the wine in Houliao is much better than our Central Plains wine. Now you’re in for a treat. But since you and Miss Tang both love drinking so much, the child you have in the future will surely take after you both.”

He smiled without speaking!

Ji Yunshu gave Tang Si a few instructions, telling her to absolutely not drink or roughhouse. On the journey to Houliao, the road would inevitably be bumpy—she explained in detail everything that needed attention.

Tang Si was surprised. “A’Ji, how do you know more than me? You couldn’t have had a child before, could you?”

“…”

Black lines appeared on Ji Yunshu’s forehead. Sister, that’s all common knowledge!

When she turned around, she saw Wei Yi stand up and go out to the corridor.

She exchanged a glance with Jingrong. Jingrong understood her thoughts and nodded. She followed him out, walking to the corridor and silently standing beside Wei Yi.

She didn’t speak.

After a long while—

Wei Yi gazed at the snow filling the sky and said, “Last year at this time, I was still at home. Back then, Father and Mother were both still there.”