si-mexico Chapter 334 Staying New Year’s Eve
Chapter 334 Staying New Year’s Eve
When the water clock points to the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the drumming stops, the Nuo ritual performance ends, and the noise gradually subsides.
Emperor Sukang slowly rose, now holding a cup of specially made cypress leaf wine.
Cypress Leaf Wine is a secret imperial brew made from pine and cypress leaves. It symbolizes resilience and longevity, and was specially prepared for New Year's Eve vigil.
The eunuchs, carrying warm wine goblets, filed in and poured the fine, azure wine for every member of the royal family and high-ranking official present.
Emperor Sukang's gaze swept over the crowd below the steps. He raised his cup in a prayer, his voice steady and sincere: "May our dynasty's rule be everlasting, as evergreen as pine and cypress!"
Everyone rose and raised their cups to Emperor Sukang, who was seated on the throne, responding in unison.
May our dynasty's rule be everlasting, as evergreen as the pine and cypress!
The sound waves, carried by the golden candles and the rich aroma of wine, along with the warmth in their hearts, converged into a fervent and unwavering torrent, echoing between the carved palace rooftops.
Outside the palace gates, thousands of lights in the capital city shone brightly, seemingly twinkling along with the countless stars in the night sky, illuminating the endless stream of human life and the sleepless New Year's Eve vigil.
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Qin Palace
Although Xiao Han went to the palace today, the New Year's Eve banquet in the Prince's mansion was still lavish and lively.
With him not at home, the servants were less reserved and more relaxed.
Because it was the happiest and most important day of the year, Uncle Zhong and the head matriarch relaxed the rules considerably, and during the banquet, one could hear toasts and laughter constantly coming from the table.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone cleaned the entire house thoroughly, and then followed the traditional custom of staying up all night to welcome the new year.
The Yinhua Palace was still brightly lit, with several braziers placed inside, and the servants of the mansion sitting around the fires.
The group gathered together, some telling stories, some chatting about everyday life while eating sunflower seeds, and some taking out their treasured chessboards to play against others. The area was filled with onlookers, and some couldn't help but offer their opinions and gestures.
Normally, the servants need to be strictly disciplined, and they are not allowed to make loud noises in the mansion. However, these rules are relaxed on New Year's Eve. If everyone sits there quietly, they will all fall asleep in less than fifteen minutes. It is more lively to create a festive atmosphere for the New Year.
Since everyone is usually busy with their own things, it's rare for them to get together tonight to celebrate the New Year. So, some of the older folks wanted Long Chuqing to take their pulses.
"Miss Long, do you have some free time now? Could you take a look at this old man and prescribe some medicine? My stomach has been bothering me lately," asked Grandpa Zhang, the gardener.
An older woman surnamed Ma joked, "Old Zhang, have you been eating too much because the food has been so plentiful these past few days? Even if the food is delicious, you can't overeat!"
Grandpa Zhang waved his hand and said, "Go away, go away, stop making fun of this old man."
Another woman, Aunt Wu, stepped forward: "Miss Long, could you also take a look at me? My headache has flared up again recently."
Long Chuqing was initially surprised, then smiled helplessly: It wasn't that she was afraid of trouble, but it was just that today was New Year's Eve, and it was a bit unlucky to see a doctor during the New Year.
Hmm, aren't they all superstitious about these things?
When she shared her idea, everyone agreed that it made sense, as it was indeed not a good time to see a doctor during the Chinese New Year.
Some people are sensitive about this, while others don't care and don't mind it.
So, everyone set up a temporary consultation table for Long Chuqing inside the Yinhua Hall.
At first, only a few elderly people came for consultations, but more and more people flocked in afterward, completely forgetting the taboo that it was not advisable to see a doctor during the Lunar New Year.
Many people are still somewhat hesitant about this. Those with only minor health issues didn't join in the fun and instead continued chatting about everyday matters.
These are all common ailments, such as leg pain, back pain, headache, and fever.
Most of the patients were elderly, but there were also women who had been married for a long time but had not been able to conceive. Long Chuqing took their pulses, prescribed medicine, and even gave them acupuncture to relieve the symptoms in severe cases.
Before 9 PM, Long Chuqing finished seeing the last patient.
After leaving Yinhua Palace, Long Chuqing returned to Qiushui Pavilion, washed up, and went to bed.
She doesn't have the concept of staying up all night on New Year's Eve; she just wants to sleep when she's tired.
Ziguang and Granny Lin did not go home for the New Year; they were chatting and staying up late with everyone in Yinhua Palace.
Xiao Han didn't emerge from the palace until 3:45 PM.
As you pass by the Yinhua Hall, you can hear a lively sound coming from inside.
The guard greeted him, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Long Chuqing had previously said she would give him a surprise, and this morning she told him that the surprise would take place tonight at midnight.
So, Xiao Han paused for a while before heading to Qiushui Pavilion with great anticipation.
Seeing the faint light on in the attic, one knew that Long Chuqing was in the room.
"Dong dong dong."
There was a knock on Long Chuqing's door.
"Dong dong dong."
Xiao Han spoke up: "Chu Qing, it's me. Are you inside?"
Long Chuqing turned over in a daze, poking her head out from under the covers, her voice languid: "Come in."
Xiao Han pushed open the door, came in, and casually closed it behind him. He then sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, "Chu Qing, why are you asleep so early?"
Long Chuqing countered, "On such a cold day, what else can we do besides sleep?"
"Staying up all night! Everyone's gathered in the Yinhua Palace. I just passed by there, and it seemed quite lively inside."
Besides, didn't she say she was going to give him a surprise? He's really looking forward to it!
"Actually, I stayed there for more than an hour. It was just too boring sitting there, and I got a little sleepy, so I came back to wash up and go to sleep." Long Chuqing asked, "By the way, what time is it now?"
Xiao Han said, "It's almost midnight."
"So fast." Long Chuqing yawned.
Xiao Han looked around and reached out to touch the quilt that Long Chuqing was covered with. He found that the quilt was not very thick and there was only one.
The temperature in the attic is a bit lower than downstairs; you can feel a chill just by sitting there for a while.
He hadn't paid attention to these things before; perhaps his subordinates had been negligent and hadn't prepared properly.
"Chu Qing, the blanket is so thin, don't you feel cold sleeping?"
"It's not cold! It's cold outside, but it's not cold inside the blankets."
Xiao Han was a little suspicious. He touched the thickness of the quilt again. It was thin and not very warm.
"You're not lying to me! The blanket is so thin, why didn't you use another one? Or did the people below not prepare one for you? Why didn't you tell me?"
Long Chuqing explained, "No, no, we have blankets. There are two more in the closet! But I don't need them. One is enough for me."
"Really?" Xiao Han was skeptical.
"You should move to Lanxi Garden tomorrow. There are heated rooms there, and I'll have someone help you move your things tomorrow."
"No need, I'm really not cold." Long Chuqing lifted the blanket. "Why don't you come in and try it?"
A few seconds of silence fell over the air, and Long Chuqing quickly covered herself with the blanket.
"Hehe, I was just kidding."
"Look, if I felt cold, I would have been shivering long ago, how could I have slept so soundly, right?"
Xiao Han shook his head helplessly: "That's true."
Immediately, Long Chuqing got up and dressed.
Xiao Han took the opportunity to reach into the blankets to check and found that the blankets were indeed very warm.
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of constitution Long Chuqing had. When she was cold, she was as cold as ice, but now she only needed to cover herself with a blanket.