Chu Lang

The rustling white snow falls with the north wind, and the thin petals of wintersweet are accompanied by crystal clear frost, accompanied by a lingering faint fragrance. Chu Yue stands under the vermilion corridor of the Lishan Palace, looking at the flowers like flying catkins. Ordinary snowflakes and warm yellow wintersweet, I can't help feeling in a good mood.

In the yard, Gu Erzhen led Tang Zhong and the others to have a snowball fight.Gu Erzhen relied on his own growing up in the grassland, and he was good at archery and throwing stones, so he had been unilaterally smashing green pines.

"Brother Mo Zhu, save me." Qing Song hid behind Mo Zhu while holding his head.

"It's useless for you to call Mo Zhu, go to your brother Tang Zhong and teach him a lesson." Chu Yue shouted at Qingsong.

Only then did Qingsong wake up like a dream, and ran to seek Tang Zhong's protection.

The four people in this room were noisy, Xie Changge sat by the stove behind Chu Yue and squinted to watch them making noise.

The green plum wine that Xie Changge specially brought to the palace was brewed in the small red clay stove under the porch. The elegant aroma of the wine was mixed with the floating dark fragrance.

"Will there be such a heavy snowfall in Jinling in winter?" Xie Changge asked Chu Yue while sitting on the rocking chair with the heater in his arms.

Chu Yue stretched out her hand to the outside of the promenade, picked up a piece of snow the size of velvet, turned her head to Xie Changge and said, "There will be, and there will be such a heavy snowfall in Jinling every year. But the snow in Jinling will fall on you soon. It turns into a puddle of water, unlike Chang'an, which doesn't even need an umbrella in snowy weather."

"It turns out that Jinling needs umbrellas in snowy weather. Then if you stand outside for a while, won't there be a layer of snow on the paper umbrellas?" Xie Changge asked.

Chu Yue smiled and shook her head: "Why? The snow in the south of the Yangtze River is not as dry as in Chang'an. Except for the snow as big as today, it is rarely able to accumulate. It will melt quickly when it falls on the umbrella."

"I understand. They say that the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River is dense and warm, but I didn't expect that even the snow has moisture. It is also thanks to the warmth of the south of the Yangtze River that I can raise a person like you." Xie Changge waved to Chu Yue , "Ziyu, are you tired from standing, come and sit for a while." After finishing speaking, Xie Changge patted his thigh again.

"No one is right." Chu Yue said angrily, "Make room for me."

Chu Yue is now a month old, and it will be uncomfortable to stand for a long time. Xie Changge knew that it was not easy for him now, so he obediently vacated his seat.

Two adults were squeezed into a rocking chair that wasn't too spacious, and they didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

"How long will Lin Yuan be born?" Xie Changge asked while stroking Chu Yue's swollen belly.

Chu Yue: "Brother said it will be February."

"Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Xie Changge asked.

Chu Yue tapped the back of Xie Changge's hand lightly with five fingers, and asked back, "So do you want it to be a boy or a girl?"

"If it's a boy, he will be my eldest son." When I become emperor in the future, he will be my legitimate prince.The following words were a bit outrageous, and Xie Changge dared not say them out loud.

However, Liguo and Zhaoguo are both Han courts, and the system of the eldest son inheriting the throne has been passed down for thousands of years. This hint couldn't be more obvious.

Chu Yue smiled and said nothing. He actually wanted to ask Xie Changge, would your ministers allow a prince with the blood of a neighboring country's royal family to become a prince?

"What about a daughter?" Chu Yue continued to ask.

Xie Changge: "If it's a daughter, it's natural that it hurts on the apex of my heart. If she wants stars, I'll send someone to pick them up for her. If she wants the moon, I'll ask someone to pick them up for her."

Chu Yue poked Xie Changge's head with a smile, and commented: "Foolish."

"Back then, King You of Zhou smiled for Bo Baosi, and he did not hesitate to play with the princes. Li Longji, in order to please Concubine Yang, gave away lychees. For the one I love, I can do anything at all costs. For you and the child, I am willing to do anything .”

"Smart words." Chu Yue said.

"What did you say? Say it again?" As he spoke, Xie Changge's hand moved along Chu Yue's waist to his armpit.

"Hahaha, so don't make trouble."

Seeing that Chu Yue was scratched so hard that she couldn't breathe, Xie Changge stopped.

After calming down, Chu Yue asked again: "When are we going back to the East Palace?"

"I have to go back after the New Year's Eve. On the second day of the junior high school, I have to offer sacrifices to my father." Xie Changge said, "Zi Yu, you can stay here for a few more days. I'll come back from work and spend the Lantern Festival with you here."

"But I think it's better to spend the Lantern Festival in the city." Chu Yue said.

Xie Changge explained: "Although that is the case, the city is too noisy, and the fireworks will be set off all night. Because it is still the New Year's Day, all kinds of banquets are also overwhelmed. I am afraid that you will be uncomfortable in the East Palace. Or, I also want to take a break."

"Alright then, but next year Shangyuan will go out of the palace to join in the fun."

Xie Changge promised: "Definitely, definitely. How about the three of us going to visit the lamps on Zhuque Street together?"

Chu Yue nodded, unconsciously looking forward to it.

--------

With the sound of firecrackers, the New Year's Eve, on New Year's Eve, the snow that had fallen for several days finally stopped, and everyone stood in the yard, watching Gu Erzhen light the firecrackers with fire sticks.

Sparks lit up from the bottom of the vermilion firecrackers, and saltpeter met flames, as if meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land. The two chatted non-stop with teary eyes, and the crackling sound of reminiscing about the past resounded throughout the night sky.

Xie Changge consciously covered Chu Yue's ears, while Gurzhen flew directly onto Tang Zhong's body and said coquettishly, "Ah Zhong, can I make this firecracker loud enough? Is it good or not?"

Tang Zhong: Xiu'er, stop showing off.

"Your Highness, the dumplings are ready." The sound of the firecracker subsided, and Shi Xuan stood on the porch and shouted to Xie Changge who was in the yard.

"Dumplings? It turns out that Li Guo people eat dumplings during Chinese New Year." Qingsong ran to Shi Xuan's side and said, "Master Shi, let me serve it for you."

"Huh? Don't you eat dumplings on New Year's Eve in Zhao Kingdom?" Xie Changge asked.

Tang Zhong asked, "Why do you want to eat dumplings?"

Xie Changge: "Then what do you eat?"

Chu Yue said: "We will eat some of the Lantern Festival and spring rolls."

"People in our Li country will eat dumplings throughout the New Year. I thought it would be the same in Zhao country."

Chu Yue said: "So sometimes, we can't speculate on this world based on our own experience."

"It's rare, Chu Lang is talking about the truth again." Tang Zhong interjected, "Our Fifth Highness liked to tell me this kind of thing when we were in Qinghe Mountain. can hear."

Chu Yue blushed and pretended to fight Tang Zhong.

Gu Erzhen quickly diverted Chu Yue's attention, and said to him: "Your Highness, guess what we Huns will eat on New Year's Eve?"

"Beef and mutton?"

Gulzhen laughed: "Wrong, wrong, we Huns don't celebrate New Year's Eve at all."

Gu Erzhen's wave of hatred was full, and before Chu Yue could make a move, Xie Changge had already rolled up his sleeve and beat him up.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Chu Yue saw Mo Zhu hugging the sword and leaning against the pillar, covering her mouth and snickering, so she unconsciously laughed along with Mo Zhu.

After playing around for a while, only Qingsong's cheerful voice came from the room: "The dumplings are on the table." So everyone went back to the room one after another, and each chose a seat to sit down.

"Mozhu, Qingsong, and sometimes, my lord, come to the table to eat, it will be more lively." Chu Yue said to the three people standing by.

"I dare not." Shi Xuan was the first to reply.

Seeing Shi Xuan like this, Qing Song could only lower his head and waved to Chu Yue.

"It's okay, let's all come to the table. Today's New Year's Eve, there is no need to stick to these etiquette."

Hearing what Xie Changge said, Shi Xuan didn't refuse any more, thanked him and sat aside with Mo Zhuqingsong.

The dumpling stuffed with pork has a thin skin and big stuffing, with greasy shredded ginger and scallion inside. No matter in shape or taste, it is completely different from the ones Chu Yue has eaten before.

"Liguo's dumplings are quite delicious." Tang Zhong picked up one and stuffed it into his mouth. Just as he finished speaking, he spit out another hard object from his mouth.Tang Zhong took a closer look and found that it was a copper coin with a square hole.

"Why did you put copper coins in it? Master Shi, your cook is a little too sloppy." Tang Zhong complained.

Shi Xuan quickly explained: "Doctor Tang doesn't know something, it's a tradition of leaving the country, a copper coin will be wrapped in a pot of dumplings, and the person who eats it will have good luck this year. This is a good omen, see Coming to Doctor Tang this year will definitely be smooth sailing and promoted step by step."

Gu Erzhen whispered: "That's right, Ah Zhong will definitely marry me this year."

Tang Zhong turned his head away and ignored him.

After dinner, it was not early, and several people went back to their rooms.

"This is the first year we have lived together." Amidst the heavy curtains, Xie Changge leaned his chin on Chu Yue's shoulder and said, "I hope that in this year, you and I can also be here, eating dumplings , let off firecrackers, and watched Linyuan's children playing around in the yard."

"Ziyu, promise me that you will never leave me." Xie Changge said.

Chu Yue smiled, but did not respond.