Though Xiao Huayong didn’t get to eat Shen Xihe’s laozawan, on New Year’s Day he received a jar of tusu wine that she had sent to the Eastern Palace. This was a New Year’s custom – the wine was brewed with medicinal ingredients and was said to ward off evil, detoxify, and extend life.

There were customs for drinking it too – one had to start with the youngest in the family, following the saying “The young gain a year, so drink first in celebration; the old lose a year, so drink later.”

Sweet sticky candy was also prepared – if children came by, they would be given some sweets.

Putting up door gods and spring couplets, changing peach charms, inserting banners – everything was so festive.

Shen Xihe returned to the Princess’s mansion after having laozawan at the Tao residence. On the first day of the new year, every household would set off firecrackers. The hollow bamboo sections would crackle in the flames – this was called a “courtyard bonfire.”

These fires would burn from morning to night, or continuously for several days and nights. Spices were thrown into the fire, filling the entire residence with fragrant smoke. Before the New Year, the Duhuo Tower had sold out of all its spices because of this custom.

With nothing else to do, Shen Xihe and Zhenzhu made a huge lantern tree, letting the mansion’s servants gather around merrily, singing and dancing. People of the time were fond of dancing – not just nobles but common people too loved it.

Due to poor health in her youth, Shen Xihe had never learned to dance. She brought out her guqin to accompany them with music. Regardless of status, everyone enjoyed the New Year’s joy, every face beaming with happy smiles.

Bu Shulin wasn’t hanging around Shen Xihe – she had gone “seat visiting.”

This “seat visiting” meant that from New Year’s Day, every household in the capital would set up wine feasts. Neighbors would visit each other for New Year’s greetings, and wherever one went, one would join that family’s feast.

Thinking of this, Shen Xihe secretly rejoiced that today was the Grand Court Assembly. Otherwise, Xiao Huayong would surely have used the custom as an excuse to swagger into her place.

After being lively for most of the day, Shen Xihe had a whole roasted lamb prepared for the evening meal. Everyone in the Princess’s mansion gathered in the courtyard, sitting in different spots, each person getting several plates for a proper feast. Ziyu suggested they play the hook-hiding game.

Shen Xihe didn’t want to participate and returned to her room early, watching them play in the courtyard from there, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation and pleasure.

“Princess, Minister Wang has been suspended again for reflection,” Mo Yuan came to report while Shen Xihe was painting.

“On New Year’s Day? What error did he make that would cause His Majesty to act today?” Shen Xihe was surprised.

New Year’s Day was such an important day. Usually, even for serious offenses warranting suspension, His Majesty would restrain himself for the holiday’s sake and wait a few days before punishing.

“It’s said there was a conflict between two groups of envoys in the Taiji Hall,” but they didn’t know the specific details.

Shen Xihe put down her brush and pondered briefly before saying, “Someone must have set him up.”

How important was the Grand Court Assembly?

All civil and military officials, envoys from various prefectures, tributary states, and neighboring countries – all came to offer congratulations.

Wang Zheng was the Vice Director of the Imperial Chancellery, responsible for guiding and arranging visiting envoys. For two groups to come into conflict – this was no ordinary matter. But Wang Zheng was old and cunning, thorough in handling affairs. How could he make such a mistake?

“Princess, could it be His Highness the Crown Prince?” Hong Yu remembered the last time Wang Zheng was suspended was the Crown Prince’s doing.

“He’s not the only one at court capable of this, but at this time, the Crown Prince is indeed most suspicious,” Shen Xihe also suspected it was Xiao Huayong secretly causing trouble.

“Those who know me well include Youyou,” Xiao Huayong’s clear, deep voice came from the roof just as she finished speaking.

The guards only noticed him then. Shen Xihe couldn’t blame her guards for being useless – this man came and went freely even in the imperial palace, let alone her small Princess’s mansion.

“Your Highness fears the cold – don’t play around like a child,” Shen Xihe said softly.

Xiao Huayong leaped down from the roof and strode toward Shen Xihe: “I’m seat visiting at the Princess’s mansion. Youyou can’t deny me a meal.”

Though seat visiting was popular in the capital, people knew their place. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare visit officials’ mansions, so naturally, neighbors were of similar status. Shen Xihe’s Princess’s mansion occupied a corner of two streets, reducing the number of neighbors to just a few households, all royal relatives. Most knew Shen Xihe’s cold personality, and since the mansion gates weren’t open, they wouldn’t embarrass themselves by trying to visit.

Though it was a festival, Shen Xihe’s not opening the gates didn’t mean she hadn’t prepared food – the Princess’s mansion had many people after all.

A guest was a guest, and this was a New Year’s custom. Shen Xihe had no reason to drive Xiao Huayong away, so she let him stay for a meal.

“Does Youyou want to know why Wang Zheng was suspended?” Xiao Huayong moved close to Shen Xihe after finishing his meal.

Shen Xihe didn’t even lift her eyelids: “No.”

Xiao Huayong’s smile didn’t diminish: “But I want to tell Youyou.”

It turned out that Wang Zheng was responsible for arranging the envoys. Xiao Huayong manipulated things to make the already-seated Arabian envoys leave their seats, then led the Goguryeo envoys to sit in the Arabian envoys’ places. When the Arabian envoys returned, an argument broke out.

Neither side understood the other’s language, and the translator assigned to facilitate communication deliberately used unfriendly words when translating for both sides, intensifying the conflict until they nearly drew weapons. Only then was the trapped Wang Zheng allowed in.

“Is there anywhere Your Highness wouldn’t dare to act?” Shen Xihe asked.

He dared to set fires outside ancestral temples and even dared to create conflict at the Grand Court Assembly where all nations came to pay respects.

“It was just a minor conflict, nothing serious,” Xiao Huayong was completely unconcerned. “Just letting His Majesty know he can’t handle the responsibilities of Vice Director.”

“Your Highness, there’s no need for this…”

“There is every need,” Xiao Huayong cut in with a smile before Shen Xihe could finish. “I’m not just doing this for Censor Tao.”

Xue Heng needed to vacate the position of Chief Minister. At this time, Wang Zheng’s mistake was a major error, causing His Majesty to lose face before the envoys. Even if His Majesty forgot, others wouldn’t – it would become ammunition for future attacks against Wang Zheng.

Of the Six Ministries now, His Majesty knew Minister of Personnel Xue Qi’s abilities had reached their limit. The Ministers of Justice and Revenue had just taken office and hadn’t warmed their seats yet. The Crown Prince likely had other plans for the Minister of Rites. The Minister of Works was elderly and near retirement age. Only the Minister of War remained.

With these people out of the way, candidates could only come from the Court of Judicial Review or the Censorate. The other courts didn’t have much competitive power, and by seniority, Censor Tao ranked before Xue Chen, the Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review.

“Are there other reasons?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Of course,” Xiao Huayong laughed softly. “He displeased you, so I’ll torment him. The ups and downs are most entertaining – this is just the beginning.”

Shen Xihe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Your Highness truly holds grudges.”

“No, if he were disrespectful to me, I could be magnanimous,” Xiao Huayong’s gaze was tender and affectionate. “But when he’s disrespectful to you, I’ll count every slight.”