Chapter 440 - 368: Peace Year After Year
Chapter 440: Chapter 368: Peace Year After Year
After Xiao Mo entered the Nascent Soul realm, the Sovereign of Qin had congratulatory gifts sent over.
Additionally, many Court officials also took this opportunity to send gifts, hoping to get on good terms with Xiao Mo.
After all, Xiao Mo was at the height of his power, and his future rule over the Northern Wilderness was practically set in stone. No one wanted to miss the chance to get on his good side.
However, aside from the gifts from the Sovereign of Qin, Xiao Mo refused all others.
「A few days later, New Year’s Eve arrived.」
Every household was decorated with lanterns and streamers, ringing out the old and welcoming the new, putting up fresh spring couplets and Door Gods.
Whether in the Qin Kingdom or the other Allied States, the Door God was always the same man.
Legend had it that this man was the first Human Race Sword Immortal from the era of the Ancient Divine Spirits. He was also the leader of the Human Race, who led them in Heaven-Opening, overthrowing the rule of the Divine Spirits.
However, because it was so long ago, no portraits of this Human Race ancestor survived. Later generations could only rely on descriptions from legends, using their own imagination to depict him.
This led to a situation where—although it was the same person on the doors of all the Allied States, his appearance varied.
Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao also put up spring couplets and Door Gods.
But Prince Shuang’s Mansion was simply too large, so Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao only decorated the main gate and their own two courtyards together.
As for the other courtyards, that task was naturally left to the Maids.
After finishing with the couplets and Door Gods at Prince Shuang’s Mansion, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao went straight to Prince Xiao’s Mansion.
"Mother, Aunt Cui, we’re here!"
Outside the courtyard, Qin Siyao called out happily, carrying New Year’s gifts.
"Siyao, what brings you here?"
Zhou Ruoxi came forward happily to greet them, while Cuicui quickly took the New Year’s gifts from Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao’s hands and placed them on the stone table.
Zhou Ruoxi knew Mo’er would definitely come to spend the New Year with her, but she hadn’t expected Siyao to come along too. ’I thought she would return to the Imperial Palace to be with her father and mother.’
"Of course I came to spend the New Year with you, Mother," Qin Siyao said sweetly, holding her mother-in-law’s hand.
"But what about His Majesty..." Zhou Ruoxi said tactfully.
"It’s alright, Mother. Even though I haven’t officially married in yet, I’m already part of the Xiao Family. Besides, my father has my two older brothers with him, so it’s fine if I’m not there. Not to mention, my mother already agreed."
As she spoke, Qin Siyao put on a pitiful act, her tone feigning anxiety.
"Don’t tell me Mother doesn’t welcome me?"
"You silly girl, what are you talking about? I couldn’t be happier." Zhou Ruoxi tapped Qin Siyao’s forehead, naturally knowing she was just being playful. "Wait a bit, and I’ll cook your favorite crescent moon meat."
"Thank you, Mother! You’re the best!" Qin Siyao happily hugged Zhou Ruoxi’s arm, nuzzling her head against it joyfully.
"Alright, alright, come help with the spring couplets. It’s already past noon."
Xiao Mo called out with a smile to Qin Siyao from a short distance away.
"Coming, coming!" Qin Siyao answered. "Mother, we’ll go put up the couplets for you. We’ll make sure they’re perfectly straight."
"Go on, then," Zhou Ruoxi said, patting Qin Siyao’s hand.
Qin Siyao gathered the spring couplets from the table and skipped happily over to Xiao Mo’s side.
Xiao Mo didn’t use Magic; instead, like an ordinary person, he got a ladder and climbed up to paste the couplets on both sides of the courtyard entrance.
The upper and lower scrolls were written by Xiao Mo, while the horizontal scroll was written by Qin Siyao.
Although their calligraphy wasn’t quite at the level of a master, it was definitely still beautiful.
Watching the two of them put up the couplets, Zhou Ruoxi’s lips curled into a slight smile. ’These past few days have been so happy, it feels a little unreal...’
After they finished with the couplets, Qin Siyao also ran to the kitchen to help Zhou Ruoxi and Cuicui prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.
As if aware of just how "skilled" her cooking was, Qin Siyao didn’t take charge of the wok today, instead just helping out on the side.
As for Xiao Mo, he sat at the stone table in the courtyard, carving an Array. When the food was brought out later, the Array would keep it warm.
By evening, when the last dish was brought out from the kitchen, Xiao Mo finally wound a string of firecrackers around a bamboo pole outside the courtyard gate.
"Let me light it, let me light it..."
Qin Siyao held a stick of incense, eager to light the firecrackers.
But every time she touched the fuse, she would snatch her hand back in fear...
"Can you do it, my lady? If not, I’ll take over," Xiao Mo said with a laugh.
"Of course I can!" Qin Siyao pouted, her eyes darting around. "Hey! I have an idea! Husband, come here!"
Without waiting for Xiao Mo to refuse, Qin Siyao pulled him over.
Qin Siyao held onto Xiao Mo with one hand while slowly reaching forward with the incense stick in the other.
The moment Qin Siyao lit the fuse, she spun around like a little kitten and pounced into Xiao Mo’s arms.
Xiao Mo understood immediately. With a helpless sigh, he quickly scooped her up and ran into the courtyard as a series of CRACKLES and POPS erupted behind him.
After the last explosion faded, Xiao Mo and the others gathered around the stone table.
"For the new year, Siyao and my husband wish Mother a long and prosperous life, and we wish Aunt Cui to become more and more beautiful."
"Thank you, Mo’er and Siyao."
"Thank you, Young Master and Princess."
Zhou Ruoxi raised her wine cup. "We also wish for Mo’er and Siyao to have Xielao, to be forever united in heart, and to have peace in all the years to come."
"Cheers!"
As their well-wishes drifted through the courtyard, Qin Siyao stood up happily, and their wine cups clinked together.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the sky had already darkened.
The Qin Kingdom’s Imperial City once again burst into life.
The Qin Kingdom had a custom.
On the night of New Year’s Eve, a lantern festival would be held.
After their New Year’s Eve dinner, every family would head into town to hold a vigil together, welcoming the arrival of the new year.
The Xiao Family was, naturally, no exception.
The four of them walked out of the courtyard and onto the streets of the Imperial City, which were already a sea of people, bustling with excitement.
The long street was cast in a warm yellow glow by all sorts of lanterns.
Under the eaves and on the tips of tree branches hung round silk lanterns, neatly inscribed with the character for "Fortune" or painted with simple images of flowers and birds.
Red cloth banners hung in a continuous line in front of every shop, swaying gently in the breeze.
The sounds of chatter and laughter, of children playing, the faint beat of gongs and drums in the distance, and the clear cries of street vendors all blended together into a lively but not jarring symphony.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of freshly baked pastries, mixed with the caramelized aroma of roasted chestnuts, which tickled one’s nose.
Standing in the middle of an arched bridge and looking down, the river’s surface was covered with dots of light.
People squatted by the stone steps, carefully placing their lotus lanterns into the water. The lanterns drifted slowly downstream, gradually forming a flickering ribbon of light that mirrored the sparse stars in the sky.
Qin Siyao had her arm linked with her mother-in-law’s, leaning in close to her ear and pointing out novelties on the street as she whispered something.
The corners of Zhou Ruoxi’s eyes crinkled in a smile, looking exceptionally gentle in the lantern light.
They stopped at a stall selling velvet flowers. Qin Siyao picked up a light pink one and turned with a smile to show her mother-in-law.
Cuicui followed beside her mistress and the Princess, her hands clasped politely in front of her.
As for Xiao Mo, he walked a little behind them, watching the mother who gave birth to him and raised him, watching his beloved future wife, and watching Aunt Cui, who had been with him since he was a child and was long since more than just a servant.
The moment midnight passed, the tolling of a bell echoed throughout the entire Imperial City.
FWOOSH~
FWOOSH~
FWOOSH~
Immediately after, fireworks soared into the sky, blooming like brilliant flowers against the dark canvas of night.
The bells and fireworks signified that the new year had arrived.
"Husband, come over here, quickly! They’re lighting the fireworks..." Qin Siyao turned and waved her slender hand at Xiao Mo.
"Young Master, hurry! This servant has saved a good spot for you," Cuicui called out as well.
"Mo’er." Even his mother, who usually disliked crowds, was calling him softly.
"I’m coming."
Xiao Mo smiled and walked toward them.
More and more fireworks filled the entire night sky, streaking diagonally and sparsely across the heavens.
Some looked like silver chrysanthemums, their silky strands drooping down. Before they could fade, a crimson hydrangea burst open beside them, blooming in a perfect sphere.
The points of light flickered as they fell, like a warm, gentle rain, until only a few wisps of smoke remained, softly curling around the crescent moon.
It was as if tonight, all the colors had melted into the inky blackness.
New Year.
Happiness.