CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 140: NEW YEAR’S MONEY (7TH UPDATE)

Lu Xingzhou noticed his wife was distracted and spoke timely, "Ah Yin, watch your step."

The Eldest Princess snapped back to reality and nodded.

The family of three soon arrived at the flower hall.

The Old Marquis and the old lady were indeed already seated inside.

The gaze of the Eldest Princess lingered on the vigorous face of the Old Marquis for a moment before she lowered her eyes and, together with Lu Xingzhou, bent her knees in salute.

"Son (daughter-in-law) greets father and mother."

The old lady was surprised that the Eldest Princess had come over, her smile amiable, "Xun Yin, it’s New Year’s Eve today, just as the old master is back, why don’t you stay and have a reunion dinner with everyone?"

It was a consultative tone.

Having a princess as a daughter-in-law, even if one does not like her, one wouldn’t dare show a sour face.

Moreover, the old lady genuinely liked the second daughter-in-law, although she was somewhat cold, she was reasonable in her actions and never flaunted her status, which was more than any other princess or even noble family’s daughter could compare to.

However, the Eldest Princess hardly ever visited the Marquis Mansion, so when the old lady asked, it was more of a formality, without much hope.

Unexpectedly, the Eldest Princess directly agreed.

"As mother said, it has indeed been a while since the daughter-in-law came to the Marquis Mansion for a meal."

Such a straightforward answer surprised everyone.

Even Su Yi, who followed in, was slightly stunned, "Er... is sister-in-law staying for dinner?"

The Eldest Princess raised an eyebrow, "What, hasn’t big sister-in-law prepared meals for the three of us?"

Su Yi’s gaze swept over Lu Xingzhou’s face briefly, and she smiled, "What are you saying? I just remembered that on past New Year’s Eve, sister-in-law was always in the palace and thought this year would be the same."

"It’s different this year." The Eldest Princess said, casting a fleeting glance at the Old Marquis, "Now that father-in-law is back, our whole family is here, we ought to have a reunion dinner."

Facing the gaze of the Eldest Princess, the Old Marquis slightly turned his head away.

The old lady glanced at him, "Before, didn’t you keep mentioning the grandson? Now he’s right here, why aren’t you saying anything?"

The Eldest Princess, with a faint smile, looked back at Lu Yanqing, "Yanqing, why don’t you quickly greet your grandfather?"

Lu Yanqing responded with an "Oh," stepped forward, and knelt with a thud, "Grandson is here to wish grandfather and grandmother a Happy New Year in advance!"

"The ground is cold, get up quickly!" The Old Marquis gestured to the nanny to help Lu Yanqing up. Then he smiled, "You wished me Happy New Year early on New Year’s Eve morning, but grandfather hasn’t prepared the red envelope yet!"

Lu Yanqing laughed twice, "Well, grandfather can make up for it tonight, make up for all those years you haven’t given!"

The Old Marquis was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Only then did the atmosphere in the flower hall officially come alive.

After greeting her elders, the Eldest Princess did not plan to stay for casual chats and wanted to stroll in the garden.

Su Yi followed, speaking softly, "Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you!"

The Eldest Princess looked at her, "Isn’t big sister-in-law in charge of the inner mansion affairs after gaining authority from the old lady? So, doesn’t the New Year dinner need your organizing?"

Su Yi shook her head, "The steward is overseeing things, it won’t go wrong. I just think it’s rare for sister-in-law to come here, and as the big sister-in-law, I should accompany you properly; otherwise, after a long time without gatherings, our camaraderie as sisters-in-law would become unfamiliar."

"It won’t become unfamiliar." The Eldest Princess curled her lips into a slight smile, "Big sister-in-law’s significant gesture back then has been remembered by both me and the Prince Consort. Before coming, the Prince Consort was even pondering how to repay big sister-in-law’s kindness!"

Su Yi noticed Lu Xingzhou’s gaze turning cold towards her, causing her to take a step back uneasily, but she quickly regained composure, "Don’t say I did anything back then. Even if I did, it’s been eighteen years, and sister-in-law should look ahead. We both have children now, and it’s not right to live with nothing but memories, is it? You are a princess, noble and precious, and it doesn’t matter if you resent me, but if it harms your health because of it, that would be a real sin."

The Eldest Princess corrected her, "Su Yi, you’re not qualified for me to harbor resentment for eighteen years, and as for who’s living with memories, aren’t you the person who should know best?"

Finishing these words, she gave Su Yi no time to react and turned swiftly to leave.

Su Yi glanced at Lu Xingzhou standing there, composed herself, and showed concern, "Is sister-in-law in a bad mood today?"

Lu Xingzhou did not deny it, "Meeting people I don’t want to see ruins any good mood."

Su Yi asked, "Do you also believe the incident back then was my doing?"

"Who did it isn’t important; whether it’s eighteen years ago or eighteen years later, no one can tear Ah Yin and me apart."

As Lu Xingzhou was about to leave, Su Yi suddenly said, "Brother Zhou, do you truly believe she spent those three missing years just recovering from illness?"

"Big sister-in-law, please mind your words!"

Su Yi’s eyes reddened, "One day, I’ll find evidence to show you how big a lie she has told! That woman is simply not worthy of what you’ve done for her!"

Lu Xingzhou didn’t hear the rest, leaving Su Yi only with the sight of his gradually receding upright figure.

The Eldest Princess sat in the pavilion by the lake, a brazier was inside making it not cold.

Seeing the Prince Consort walking slowly over, her lips curved into a smile, "It’s hard to see you, I thought she would stick around to talk more."

Lu Xingzhou remained silent for a while and said, "This is the first time since the marriage that Ah Yin has shown genuine concern for my affairs."

The smile on the Eldest Princess’s face faded, her gaze settling on the fiery coals, "I suddenly feel like drinking."

Lu Xingzhou called a maid to fetch the best wine from the mansion to warm it up.

In memory, it seemed this was the first time the couple drank together like this, Lu Xingzhou couldn’t help but drink a little more, and with the influence of alcohol, some words slipped out as he looked at the beautiful Eldest Princess opposite, "Ah Yin, it’s been so many years, let go of the knot in your heart!"

The Eldest Princess looked at him with a faint smile, "Has the Prince Consort drunk too much?"

Realizing what he had said, Lu Xingzhou rubbed his forehead with his hand, "I haven’t drunk for a long time, indeed I’m a little tipsy and lost my manners."

The Eldest Princess had the remaining wine taken away and ordered a maid to help the Prince Consort back to his guest room to rest. She stood up, called over two maidservants, saying that she wanted to go out for a walk.

——

Xu Shu’s father heard that Song Wei and his young wife were not going home for the New Year, so he asked Xu Shu to come early to invite them, hoping they would spend New Year’s Eve at the General Mansion for a reunion dinner.

In the small alley courtyard,

Song Wei was pasting couplets and window paper cuts with glue, while Wen Wan and her sister-in-law were busy in the kitchen.

Embracing the New Year’s cheer, they bought a lot of good dishes today, all of which had to be finished by dusk before setting off fireworks.

When Xu Shu arrived, he ran into Song Wei just outside the courtyard gate. Glancing at the couplets and the scroll on the door, he clicked his tongue, "Did you write these yourself? Not bad! I’m impressed by your talent, buddy."

Song Wei didn’t answer and instead asked, "Why are you coming here instead of staying home during the big New Year?"

Xu Shu remembered the main task and hurriedly said, "My dad sent me over to invite your family of three to the General Mansion for a reunion dinner."

Putting the glue brush back in the bowl, Song Wei wiped his hands and said, "We can’t go. I’m afraid we’ll have to disappoint the Great General’s kindness."

"Why can’t you go?" Xu Shu said, "You’re celebrating the New Year here, isn’t it the same as celebrating at our house?"

"There’s no reason to visit others’ homes on New Year’s Eve."

Xu Shu caught on, "You mean, you don’t consider me family, so no matter what, you won’t come, is that right?"

"Now that you understand, hurry back. I’m busy today and don’t have time to entertain you."

"Come on...it’s just a meal, is it necessary to be so particular?"

Song Wei, too lazy to argue further, picked up a small bowl and headed into the courtyard.

Xu Shu didn’t chase after him, and shouted at Song Wei’s back, "Hey, really not coming?"

Without hearing a response, Xu Shu shrugged, "Alright, guess this was a wasted trip for me."

——

Despite cooking a large table full of dishes for good fortune, both Wen Wan and Song Fang ate very little due to their small appetites.

Tonight, they would stay up to keep watch for the New Year.

Hearing Song Wei say that fireworks would be set off throughout the city at midnight, Song Fang was somewhat impatient.

In Ningzhou, she’d never seen any fireworks. Even if there were some in the county town, they were set off at night. Who would venture out to the county town so late at night?

"Third Brother, it sounds quite lively outside now. Why don’t we go for a walk? We’ve been here for so long, always worrying about clothes and food. We haven’t had a good outing with Sister-in-law. Tonight, you can’t stop me. Otherwise, I’ll get angry with you!"

Song Wei said, "On New Year’s Eve, most stay home to keep the night watch. The streets won’t be that lively."

"I don’t care!" Song Fang insisted, "Just give me a definitive answer, will you let me take Sister-in-law out?"

Song Wei couldn’t refuse her, "I’ll go with you then!"

He couldn’t rest easy letting two frail women go out alone.

"That works."

After saying this, Song Fang extended her hand towards Song Wei, "It’s the New Year, where’s my red envelope?"

"Aren’t you too old to be asking for New Year’s money?"

"I haven’t married yet, why shouldn’t I ask for it? Besides, you’re the elder brother, like a father. It’s not too much for you to give me New Year’s money, is it?"

Song Wei asked her, "How old are you this year?"

Song Fang replied truthfully, "Seventeen, at midnight I’ll be eighteen, and the New Year’s money should increase, so it’s up to you to weigh it."

Song Wei nodded, "One tael of silver for each year of age. Wanwan, give her the red envelope so she won’t demand another tael after midnight."

One tael per year, seventeen years, seventeen taels.

The red envelope was already prepared, containing a small-denomination silver note that’s widely accepted.

Song Fang opened it and was stunned, "Is this really for me?"

In her life, she hadn’t even carried five taels of silver on her. Seventeen taels was a huge amount for Song Fang, enough to buy quite a lot even with the high prices in the capital.

It’s important to know that, aside from subsidies and high integrity silver, the regular annual salary of a current Standard Third Rank minister is only two hundred ten taels. What she’s taking is equivalent to a month’s salary of such a minister, no doubt a considerable sum.

Seeing Song Wei nod, Song Fang was overjoyed, quickly taking it back to her room to hide.

Wen Wan blinked at her husband.

The sister-in-law had received New Year’s money, what about me?

Song Wei had her extend her hand, placing a big red envelope in it.

Wen Wan opened it to find silver notes inside, amounting to several hundred taels.

Song Wei smiled, "I’ve kept a small portion for emergencies, the rest is all yours. Spend it however you wish."