On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the servants of the Hou Mansion walked to the door with firecrackers and huozhezi, and set off the firecrackers at dawn.
Others brought out several baskets of copper coins, which Mrs. Chen had sent people to prepare earlier.
According to the practice in previous years, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Hou Mansion will distribute copper coins to the poor people.
After several boys carried out all the baskets, they were all so tired that they were sweating profusely.
One of the boys said: "Why do there seem to be more copper coins this year than in previous years!"
A man dressed as a steward said: "The young lady took out the money from her pocket and added a basket."
"No wonder, our young lady is such a kind-hearted person!"
*
Seeing that the time was almost up, Chunying brought hot water into Ma's house and prepared to wake Ma up.
Chunying was surprised. Ma usually got up early, but why was there no movement in Ma's house today, the first day of the Lunar New Year, even with the sound of firecrackers outside?
Chunying walked in, opened the partition door, and saw that the room was quiet.
When Ma is sleeping, he doesn't like to have people keeping watch all night.
Chunying opened the curtain and walked to the bedside to take a look, only to see no one on the bed.
She was surprised, where had Ma gone so early?
Looking at the bed again, it was still the same as she made it yesterday. There was no sign that anyone had slept on it. Could it be that Ma had not slept all night?
Chunying was startled by her own thoughts and quickly went to the small Buddhist hall.
On weekdays, if Ma is not in the house, he must be in the small Buddhist hall.
Chunying hurried into the small Buddhist hall and saw Ma, kneeling on the futon with her eyes closed piously.
Hearing the sound of opening the door, Ma opened her eyes and saw that it was Chunying. She asked calmly: "Why are you here?"
Chunying could hear the deep tiredness and sleepiness in Ma's tone, and then looking at the black spots under Ma's eyes, she asked in surprise: "Did you not sleep all night?"
Ma smiled faintly and said, "I can't sleep either way."
Chunying said anxiously: "You can't do this, it will hurt your health. While it's still early, you should go back and sleep for a while."
Ma shook his head, "No, I can't sleep."
"Are the firecrackers too noisy?" Chunying asked tentatively.
After all, Ma has never suffered from insomnia before.
Ma sighed silently, with a sad look on her face.
She supported Chunying's arm before she stood up with difficulty. After kneeling for half the night, her legs were stiff and did not feel like her own.
After Mr. Ma finished lighting the incense, he suddenly heard movement in the yard.
Chunying walked to the door, took a look, and said, "The young master is here."
Ma gave a gentle smile and left the small Buddhist hall.
Chen Yize came over, saluted Mr. Ma and said, "Happy New Year, mother!"
"Okay, okay." Mr. Ma looked at Chen Yize with a smile. Chen Yize was wearing brand-new clothes and was polite when he greeted her. Chen Jing's shadow could be faintly seen on him.
Ma took Chen Yize into the house and asked the maid to bring breakfast.
"If you wake up so early, you must not have had breakfast yet." Ma pushed the porridge bowl in front of Chen Yize.
Chen Yize did not move his chopsticks, but raised his head and said, "Mom, I want to go and offer incense to my father."
Ma's eyes dimmed and her smile became less natural, but looking at Chen Yize's hopeful eyes, she couldn't say a word of rejection.
"Okay, go ahead." Madam Ma called the maid and took Chen Yize to the small Buddhist hall to offer incense to Chen Jing.
Ma opened the window and watched Chen Yize enter the small Buddhist hall.
Ma stopped laughing and asked, "Is the third brother's son still with his mother?"
Chunying told the truth what she had learned, "Yes, Madam said, they will be moved back in the afternoon."
Ma nodded slightly, this is indeed something Mrs. Chen can do.
Mrs. Chen only has Chen Shan in her heart. Except for her precious son Chen Shan, none of the other junior Mrs. Chen in the Hou family will really care about him.
What's more, although Chen Xin gave birth to a son, he was just a concubine.
When Rose and her daughter moved back to Chen Xin's yard, they would definitely have two more wet nurses.
Ma's eyebrows moved and she had an idea in her mind.
*
After Qiu's mother got dressed, she was about to pay her respects to the crown prince.
This year is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and she once again mentioned the former Madam.
The prince is a nostalgic person and will definitely be more tolerant of her.
Mother Qiu wore a hairpin gifted by the late Madam on her bun, and a wristband gifted by the Madam on her hand. She walked to the prince's house with a smile on her face.
She wanted to open the door and go in, but was stopped by Liangsui and Siqi who were waiting at the door.
Mother Qiu didn't have a good impression of these two maids at all. They were just two lumps of elm wood, extremely stupid!
Mother Qiu put a serious face on her face and asked: "What are you two doing to stop me? Get out of my way, it's not your turn to make the decision in this yard!"
Liang Sui recalled how rude and unreasonable Qiu's mother was in front of Fu Zhao, and wanted to have a fight with Qiu's mother.
Si Qi hurriedly stopped Liangsui.
Siqi has stayed in the Hou Mansion for a long time. Although she served in the front yard before, she has also heard some things about Qiu's mother.
Because of Mother Qiu's background, she was particularly prestigious in the prince's courtyard.
If he offended Mother Qiu, the prince might be dissatisfied with Fu Zhao.
Si Qi walked up to Liangsui and said politely: "Mom, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince's wife haven't woken up yet, so I'm afraid it's not good to go in at this time."
Mother Qiu raised her eyebrows with a stern look, "You're talking nonsense! The prince has the habit of getting up early to practice swordsmanship, how could he not get up yet?"
Si Qi said: "Your Majesty has not gotten up early to practice sword practice these past two days."
Mother Qiu became increasingly dissatisfied. Just by marrying a daughter-in-law, the prince abandoned the good habits he had developed over the years?
What you marry is not a wife, but a disaster!
"Even if you don't go to sword practice, it's time to get up at this hour. Get out of my way!" Mother Qiu said sternly.
But Si Qi and Liang Sui were still blocking the door, apparently not wanting Mother Qiu to go in.
Mother Qiu's eyebrows turned cold, and she simply moved her hands to push the two of them away.
Mother Qiu's hand was quite strong, and Siqi and Liangsui did not expect her to make a move. They were unprepared for the moment, and both of them were pushed away.
Mother Qiu opened the door and walked in.
*
When Fu Zhao woke up, he couldn't help but smile when he saw Chen Feng still lying next to him.
After a night's sleep, her mood had improved a lot.
Fu Zhao supported his head with his hands and looked at Chen Feng like this. Chen Feng's facial features were firm.
Chen Feng opened his eyes and saw this scene.
Fu Zhao's long black brocade-like hair was spread on the bed, and his delicate almond eyes were focused and affectionate. There was still a pool of water that had just thawed in spring in his almond eyes, and Chen Feng almost drowned in it.
"Did I wake you up?" Fu Zhao slightly blamed himself.
Chen Feng laughed and said, "You didn't say anything, how could you possibly wake me up."
"That's good." Fu Zhao smiled softly, this smile was as gentle as water.
