Chapter 17: The First Day of the First Month

  On New Year's Eve, the entire Jin Wang Fu seemed to have welcomed a lot of vitality all at once, and the atmosphere of the new year was indeed extraordinary.

  The lively atmosphere continued until late at night.

  By the time the banquet began, many guests and some masters of the Wang Fu, as well as those who had been serving the Wang Fu for years with their families, had already entered the main hall on the left side of the Jinwang Fu.

  Then there was Consort Fu and Yueming, the imperial concubine in white, followed by King Xue of Jin, Xiao Yehan.

  Xiao Yuehan still had a charming and elegant demeanor, not smiling as if he were an iceberg, his eyes sharp like a knife's edge. But when he smiled, it was like a fleeting glimpse of a rare flower, enchanting and captivating, with an aura of royalty that could never be ignored.

  The imperial concubine, Yueming, wore a long gown made of purple-red lotus-patterned brocade, with three phoenix-head hairpins inserted at an angle into her coiled chignon, clearly indicating her ambition to become the queen consort, and even more so, the future empress. Concubine Yuming's entire body was snow-white, but the fabric of her clothes was top-grade white silk gauze, and her intricately styled hairdo had a single gold hairpin inserted at an angle, giving off a sensual aura that was both alluring and yet fragile, as if she needed to be protected.

  After that...

  After waiting for a while, everyone's gaze gradually shifted from the two beauties beside Xiao Yuehan to the empty position of the queen.

  Not long after, all the dishes were served, and everyone had begun to raise their cups to give a toast, but Princess Jing Wanghua was still nowhere to be seen.

  Those sitting below did not dare to speak out, but they all carefully raised their eyes to glance at Xiao Yuehan. Seeing that there was no ripple in his eyes, as if he didn't care about the queen's impolite behavior, Hua Cefei, who was beside him, smiled with a trembling flower branch, while Yu Fang Cefei kept staring at the wine cup in front of her without speaking.

  "Reporting to Your Highness, the princess has sent someone over to say that she has caught a slight chill and is not feeling well enough to receive guests. She requests that Your Highness and the other masters do not wait for her."

  The young servant's words suddenly broke the awkwardness of a group of people who wanted to flatter Xiao Yuehan but didn't know when to speak, and for a time, cups and chopsticks were crossed, boasting and laughing voices almost shook half the sky.

  Xiao Yuehan's lips were always curled up with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. No one saw the icy glint that flashed in his eyes, as his thin, emotionless lips slightly raised, gazing at the empty position of the queen beside him.

  Then, someone suddenly suggested that the two henchmen beside Xiao Yuehan show off their skills and talents.

  Xiao Yuehan agreed, and Fu Ceifei took the lead in standing up, letting someone prepare the guqin, playing a tune that attracted Xiao Yuehan to her home back then.

  After the song ended, Xiao Yuehan smiled slightly and seemed to be praising her, but there was no smile in his eyes. He gave Fu Ce Fei a precious night pearl.

  Yu Yin recited poetry with everyone, and then exchanged a few couplets with some talented people. Later, Xiao Yuehan rewarded her with a peacock green jade hairpin passed down from the palace.

  Then, another round of singing and dancing rose to a perfect pitch, with cups and chopsticks clinking together in joy.

  Until...

  Xiao Yuehan seemed to know that today's program was not completely over yet. When he saw two guards from the Snow Spirit Garden carrying a round box with a diameter of half a meter and a height of one meter, covered in thousands of flowers, walking into the stage and placing it at the center below, he slightly curved his lips into a smile.

  A group of puzzled people's curious eyes suddenly turned over, but only Ling Tong, standing not far away, saw a faint smile flashing out from Xiao Yuehan's eyes.