Chapter 290: Lunar New Year
Chapter 290: Lunar New Year
Xiang Ling’s eyes flew open with a start. It took her a couple of moments to recognize her surroundings and she found herself in her bed.
"Are you alright?"
The question came from the man sleeping beside her and Xiang Ling slowly nodded her head as she turned to face him. Zhe Yuan pulled her closer to him and tightened his arm around her as he safely tucked her against his chest.
"Let me hold you for a while then. I know that from now on, you are going to become extremely busy." He whispered against her ear before he placed a soft kiss on her earlobe and then buried his nose in her hair.
The two of them stayed like that for nearly half an hour before they had to pull away as it was time for them to get dressed and head to the dining hall to join the rest of the family for breakfast.
The entire day was filled with chatter and laughter as the Chen family enjoyed the union after an entire year. There was a lot that everyone needed to talk about and discuss. The more Magistrate Chen talked with Xiang Ling, the more he realized that his daughter had become a lot smarter and knowledgeable compared to the past.
By the second day, Wu Tian and Su LiangLin once again appeared at Chen Manor’s doorsteps to join the family for lunch. As per Xiang Ling’s advice, no one told Magistrate Chen and the two Madams about Wu Tian and Su LiangLin’s true identities. They treated the couple as their next-door neighbors and Xiang Ling’s close friends.
Xiang Ling’s days also became extremely busy just like Zhe Yuan predicted. She was either spending her time setting up the beggars in their new home, or in the County Magistrate’s Office where she helped her father and Official Zhu in solving several matters related to Nanxia County.
As the days passed, the eve of the Lunar New Year finally arrived with a light snowfall. The entire Chen family gathered in the garden for dinner around the huge wooden tables that were set up with dozens of delicious dishes that were prepared by the kitchen staff and the ladies of the house. Madam Sheng also invited Wu Tian and Su LiangLin for the dinner.
Everyone had a great time as they all celebrated the arrival of the New Year festival that was going to last for next fifteen days.
As the first day of the new year arrived, so did the buzz surrounding the opening of the new shops of Chen family. Every day, there was a special performance on the street by the musicians and dancers of the Tranquil Cloud Inn to entertain the guests. Every day there was a new game set up for visitors and the winner received a prize. Not only this, but along with the performance and the prizes, the visitors were also given free pastries prepared by the Inn.
The fourteen days of the new year passed quickly and finally arrived the fifteenth day, the day of the biggest celebration - Lantern Festival. A huge number of people appeared at the Tranquil Cloud Inn to witness and join the opening of the three new shops.
Unlike the silent opening of Tranquil Cloud Inn, the opening of the three shops was filled with buzz and a lot of celebration. Every shop got dozens of visitors the moment they opened. People were lining up to buy the wine, clothes, and cosmetics. The result of the hype, that Xiang Ling created with her promotional ideas, turned out much better than what she was expecting.
By the time evening arrived, the three shops earned nearly as much as the Tranquil Cloud Inn earned that day. Satisfied with the results, Xiang Ling ordered the staff to close the shops within next an hour or so and spend the rest of the night celebrating the festival with their loved ones.
That evening, Xiang Ling had dinner with her family and friends in the Tranquil Cloud Inn before she and her husbands decided to enjoy the fun activities that were taking place on the streets.
They solved puzzles and earned rewards. They shopped around the stalls that were set up around the street by the locals who were permitted to do their business there by Xiang Ling. And finally, all seven of them launched the air lanterns with secret messages written on them.
Every moment of that day was beautiful and Xiang Ling found herself enjoying the sweetness that she never felt before. She was surrounded by people who considered her family, people who considered her a friend, people who admired her and looked up to her, people who were loyal to her, and finally, six men who loved her for who she really was. Even though for a moment, she found herself getting attached to this mortal life of hers. It was nice to be surrounded with so much love and happiness.
All of them returned home quite late that night, almost close to midnight. After bidding each other good nights, they all returned to their courtyards and Xiang Ling found herself following Dao Ming toward his bed-chamber.
"Why are you taking me there?" She asked while she noticed Xin Cheng heading toward the inner courtyard before he disappeared from her sight. The stupid and drunk part of her wanted to run after that man and jump into his arms, knowing that even for a moment, he would accept her.
"You are sleeping with me tonight." Dao Ming told her as they arrived outside his room and he opened the door before pulling her inside after him.
"Only sleeping?" Xiang Ling asked as she watched the man locking the door before he clicked his fingers and a Lantern flickered to life, filling the room with its soft glow.
"Why? You want to do something else?" He asked while keeping his distance from her. His blank expression made Xiang Ling recall his words from months ago. He was waiting for her to give in first.