Chapter 56

Shen Yanxin came over, shared a few cups of wine with them, exchanged some pleasantries, and then left.

The imperial banquet was held at midday. As it neared its end, guests began to take their leave one after another. New Year’s Eve was, after all, a time to be spent with the whole family. Once everyone had gone, Si Yunqin had the attendants clear the area and prepare for the evening banquet.

The evening banquet was much simpler—just the imperial consorts gathered together for a meal. Without a difficult Empress Dowager tormenting the harem, and without consorts scheming against each other, wasn’t it far more comfortable?

By the time the imperial banquet ended, Si Yunqin was exhausted. She had risen early that morning to participate in various ceremonies, presided over the banquet, and entertained so many sisters in conversation. It was all quite tiring.

Si Yunqin returned to the Eternal Peace Palace and fell asleep immediately. With the end of the year approaching, the court had been in recess for a few days, but official matters still had to be dealt with as necessary.

Shen Yanxin had initially intended to go to the Imperial Study, but after drinking some wine at the banquet, she was a bit tipsy.

So she also returned to the Respectful Peace Palace and took a nap. When she woke again, the sky outside had already darkened. Looking out the window, she could only vaguely see a vast expanse of white.

She draped a robe over her shoulders and walked to the window. Gazing at the white snow covering heaven and earth, Shen Yanxin had no heart for admiring the scenery. She simply sighed softly, hoping that this year’s disasters wouldn’t claim too many lives.

“A timely snow promises a good harvest,” but one had to endure the heavy snowfall before seeing the bountiful year.

Rubbing her head, she suddenly heard the sound of a firecracker. A moment later, some oddly patterned fireworks appeared in the sky.

Shen Yanxin looked in that direction. It should be from the Eternal Peace Palace. The corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily.

The vast palace walls no longer seemed so empty.

Lan Xi knocked on the door. Shen Yanxin called out for her to enter.

“Your Majesty, the Empress has sent word. She says everyone should set off fireworks together before the family banquet to liven things up, and asks if you would like to come.”

Shen Yanxin thought it over, then nodded. “Let’s go take a look. She certainly knows how to have fun. Hasn’t the entire palace gone to the Eternal Peace Palace?”

“No, not at all. The banquet is at Feihong Hall. The Empress also invites you to go there.”

“Why are they setting off fireworks at the Eternal Peace Palace?” Shen Yanxin asked.

“This servant wouldn’t know. Perhaps Her Majesty is playing around with the consorts.” How could Lan Xi possibly know what Si Yunqin was thinking from day to day?

Shen Yanxin dressed properly and nodded without asking further. The imperial carriage was already prepared outside. She set off for Feihong Hall.

When she arrived, Si Yunqin and the others were already there, laughing and playing. Some were having snowball fights, some were setting off fireworks. It looked so lively that you wouldn’t think it was the imperial palace.

There was none of the usual formality. It was as if everyone had let loose.

Seeing Shen Yanxin approach, everyone quickly bowed. Si Yunqin stood at the head of the consorts, with the young emperor at her side.

Shen Yanxin noticed the snow on her hat, glanced at it twice, then looked away and told everyone to rise. Si Yunqin was wrapped in a red cloak, with gloves on her hands, and had put on some makeup today. When she saw Shen Yanxin, she smiled dazzlingly at her. “The Empress Dowager is here. Then let’s set off the fireworks.”

“Weren’t you just playing?” Shen Yanxin asked.

Si Yunqin’s eyes curved slightly, her beautiful peach blossom eyes meeting Shen Yanxin’s gaze. “We were just playing, but the time has come. Time to light the fireworks.”

She ran over, pulled Shen Yanxin along, and handed her a fire starter. “Empress Dowager, take His Majesty to light the biggest one over there. Even though it’s a banquet, we still need a sense of ceremony.”

Then she called the young emperor over and placed her hand in Shen Yanxin’s.

After that, Si Yunqin stepped back. Shen Yanxin loosened her grip slightly, still feeling the lingering warmth of Si Yunqin’s palm in hers.

The Little Empress’s hand was not as soft as that of an ordinary woman. Perhaps because she practiced martial arts all year round, her knuckles were very distinct.

Shen Yanxin didn’t ask further. She took the young emperor’s hand and walked over.

They lit the grand firework in the center. Shen Yanxin pulled Yuwen Luo back a couple of steps.

The brilliant firework exploded in the sky, illuminating the night, and then took the shape of a palace.

After that, within the imperial palace, over the moat, in the center of Heavenly Light City, and elsewhere, fireworks went off one after another.

It seemed to present a magnificent panorama of Great Zhao.

Si Yunqin walked up beside Shen Yanxin and said loudly, “I didn’t report this to you first, but I thought that this year, Great Zhao deserves such a grand scene. Consider it a prayer for blessings for the disaster victims. It didn’t cost much. I was very careful with the budget. This was included in today’s midday budget.”

Shen Yanxin turned her head to look at her. “The Empress is meticulous with her accounts. You didn’t trick your sisters into helping again, did you?”

“It works, so why do you care? I help my sisters with their troubles, and they help me in return. That’s how human relationships work. Don’t you get it?” Si Yunqin gave a light snort.

The corners of Shen Yanxin’s mouth lifted slightly. “Alright. The Empress has been thoughtful. What reward would you like?”

Si Yunqin shook her head lightly. “I haven’t thought of one yet. Owe me.”

Shen Yanxin reached out and brushed the snow off her hat. “I owe you quite a bit already. If I owe any more, I might have to default.”

Si Yunqin looked up at her. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Listening to the fireworks in her ears, Shen Yanxin leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Si Yunqin was so angry she wanted to stomp on her feet. Bitch of a woman.

One face in front of people, another behind their backs. Some people might seem cold and icy, but that wasn’t the truth at all.

When the fireworks ended, Si Yunqin ordered the food to be served and the banquet to begin. The family banquet was just a few familiar faces, so there was no need to be so formal. Si Yunqin even opened a side hall for the palace maids and eunuchs to enjoy their New Year’s Eve dinner too.

Shen Yanxin found out but said nothing. She always seemed to see in Si Yunqin an attitude of treating everyone equally. It wasn’t annoying; in fact, it was quite endearing.

There were no outsiders at the evening banquet, and with Si Yunqin livening up the atmosphere, the whole group was exceptionally relaxed.

Shen Yanxin didn’t say much, but she didn’t stop their revelry either.

Feihong Hall had also hired an opera troupe. The palace had never been so lively, with molten iron being thrown to create sparks. The consorts were naturally making a racket.

New Year’s Eve passed, and a new year began. Just as the night watch announced the hour, firecrackers sounded outside the city. There was no curfew tonight, so there were many who would stay awake all night.

Shen Yanxin stood behind the crowd, watching them play. The smile on her lips never faded.

After a while, Si Yunqin came over leading Yuwen Luo, and walked up to Shen Yanxin. The woman was probably drunk again—her face was flushed pink. She hadn’t gotten drunk during the day, saving it all for tonight’s dinner.

She held out her hand to Shen Yanxin. “Red envelope.”

Yuwen Qiyue stared at the pair, the tall and the small, stunned. Even when she was young, she had never asked her imperial father like this. It was disrespectful.

Shen Yanxin, however, was not angry. She just looked at Si Yunqin with a teasing smile. “The Empress wants a red envelope without saying something nice?”

She stood there with her back straight, but her words held no coldness at all.

Si Yunqin lowered her head and looked at Yuwen Luo. “You say it.”

Yuwen Luo met her gaze and struggled for a long time. “Your Child wishes Mother Empress boundless longevity and blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea.”

Shen Yanxin: …

Luo’er really shouldn’t be hanging around Si Yunqin too much. Look how badly she’s been led astray.

“Mm, very good.” Si Yunqin even praised her.

Shen Yanxin sighed. “Forget it. Lan Xi.”

Lan Xi came over and handed her three red silk pouches. Shen Yanxin first gave one to Yuwen Luo, then one to Yuwen Qiyue, and finally looked at Si Yunqin, who was staring at her with eager eyes.

She smiled, bent down, took her hand, and placed the pouch in her palm. “For you.”

Si Yunqin took it back. Then her eyes suddenly moved. “Your Subject has thought of a reward.”

“Oh? Say it.”

“Could Your Subject summon Elder Sister and Mother into the palace tomorrow?” As soon as she finished speaking, Si Yunqin hiccupped from the wine.

Shen Yanxin looked at her and shook her head.

“You won’t allow even this?” Si Yunqin grumbled in dissatisfaction. “Then I’ll sneak out of the palace myself.”

“On New Year’s Day, the noble ladies and wives of the officials are supposed to come to the palace to pay respects to the Empress. How silly of you.”

Hearing Shen Yanxin’s tone, Yuwen Qiyue felt that it carried a hint of indulgence.

She quietly retreated to Xi Fengyu’s side. “As expected, no one can resist Yunqin’s sugar-coated bullets.”

Xi Fengyu nodded in deep agreement.

After hearing Shen Yanxin’s words, Si Yunqin scratched her head. “Oh, that’s right.”

Shen Yanxin looked at her, not looking too bright, and sighed helplessly. That happened when she drank too much—poor tolerance but still greedy for the cup.

“Lin Feng, escort the Empress back to the palace to rest.”

Lin Feng quickly came over to support Si Yunqin and prepared to send her back. Si Yunqin was a bit reluctant, but Shen Yanxin said that the others should also head back to rest, and only then did she obediently return.

Early the next morning, Si Yunqin woke up with a splitting headache. Truly unbearable.

She was still preparing to wash up when she heard that the others had already come to pay their respects.

Si Yunqin sighed deeply. “We all stayed up late drinking. How come they can get up so early?”

“Missing the time to pay respects to the Empress is a great offense,” Lin Feng explained.

Si Yunqin scratched her head. “Alright.”

By the time she reached the main hall, the others were indeed already waiting for her. However, these were all consorts of the late emperor. Although they hadn’t been granted the title of Grand Consort, they were still senior to her in terms of generation. Si Yunqin excused them from formal bows. They cracked melon seeds, chatted, agreed on who would play mahjong and who would play pitch-pot, and then dispersed.

After that came the real main event—the audience with the wives and daughters of the court ministers.

A few words here, a few there. By the time the morning was over, Si Yunqin felt her lips were chapped. Being the Empress was really not easy.

When it finally ended, Si Yunqin truly felt completely drained.

Only after they left did she go eat with her mother and elder sister. Her mother and elder sister had arrived early that day as well, but Si Yunqin had been busy, so she could only let them wait in the palace.

Over lunch, they talked about last night’s events, and about how her third brother had come home. They mentioned someone trying to arrange a match for her second brother, but that block of wood he rejected everyone, which made their mother furious. She threatened to let him live out his life with his spear.

Si Yunqin scratched her head, thinking that her second brother was really capable of that. It would be more productive to nag her eldest sister instead—maybe then her mother could have a grandchild sooner.

Of course, the conversation soon turned to Si Yunqin herself. Her mother felt she was fated to suffer, what with the young emperor being only a few years old.

“Besides, Qin’er doesn’t even like men,” her mother said, growing more sorrowful.

Si Yunqin almost choked. How did her mother know that too?