It’s New Year’s Eve in the second year of Shengyuan.
As the New Year approaches, the bustle in the capital becomes even louder.
In the early morning, walking on the street, Lin Ji could often see children running around, laughing and playing.
The vendors on both sides of the road were all smiling, but the items they sold were 20% more expensive than usual.
"When I was a kid, the New Year celebrations in Beijing were a bit more lively than now, but compared to last year, this year is a bit better." Lu Zhaoer followed Lin Ji very close.
Lin Ji sniffed the fragrance of Lu Zhaoer's body and said: "The impact of the Demon Suppression Tower incident is far from being eliminated in just a few years. I am afraid that in the next few decades, it will be difficult to achieve the grandeur of the previous dynasty."
"Yes." Lu Zhaoer nodded slightly, but his eyes fell on the vendor selling candied haws on the side, who was shouting.
Seeing this scene, Lin Ji said: "You don't want to eat candied haws too, do you?"
"No, I just remember that when I was a child, I told my father that I wanted to eat candied haws, but he invited the candied haws seller back home to raise them just so he could make candied haws for me."
Speaking of this incident, a rare smile appeared on Lu Zhaoer's face.
"It's a pity that I was just greedy when I was a kid, but after trying it, I was no longer interested."
Lin Ji also heard it interestingly.
"What about the candied haws seller now?"
"Still at home, I learned some skills in the kitchen and earned more than he did selling candied haws outside."
After walking and stopping along the way, the two of them sat down at a roadside wonton stall.
"Two bowls of wontons, two steamed buns, one meat and one vegetarian."
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment!"
Seeing the stall owner getting busy, Lin Ji added, "I met your father in Yunzhou before."
"I know."
"How do you know? I don't seem to have mentioned it..."
"Dad sent a letter home a few days ago, saying that you and he were brothers, which made him lose a lot of face. Let me teach you a lesson." Lu Zhaoer said expressionlessly, but there was a bit of teasing in his tone.
.
"Haha, I was just about to tell you about this." Lin Ji also smiled and narrowed his eyes.
After a while, the wontons came.
The two of them chatted from time to time while eating wontons.
A rare peace.
After the meal, the bill was settled.
It's almost noon.
"Are you going to Panlong Mountain tonight?" Lu Zhaoer asked.
"Yes, Mr. Fang told me." Lin Ji nodded, "With your glory, I am also a relative of the emperor, haha."
Speaking of Panlong Mountain, Lin Ji was a little curious and asked: "Are there any rules at the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony? It's hard to make a joke again."
"There are no rules. It is said to be a sacrifice to heaven, but it is just a way for the Qin family to win over the ministers." Lu Zhaoer shook his head and said, "We are just attending the banquet outside. It is not our turn to participate in the real festival."
This was the first time Lin Ji heard about this and asked, "What do you mean?"
"The Qin family worships ancestors and heaven in their ancestral tombs. Even my mother has never entered the Qin family's ancestral tombs after marrying my father." Lu Zhaoer said.
"So we're just going to join in the fun and soak up the energy of the earth dragon?"
"That's right, I just went to see the excitement."
While speaking, Lu Zhaoer's eyes looked into the distance.
That was the direction of the palace. At this time, the two of them could see a corner of the palace.
"The Qin family is a cultivating family first, and then the Qin royal family." Lu Zhaoer's eyes flashed with an inexplicable light, "There are benefits, of course, they should be left to their own family first."
"That's the truth."
At noon, Lu Zhaoer left. As the eldest grandson of the Lu family, although she was a girl, she was also the niece of Emperor Pei.
So she needed to go to Panlong Mountain with Lu Guogong in advance and wait early.
In the afternoon is the Qin family's family dinner.
In the evening, there was a banquet for all the ministers and guests.
Lin Ji had nothing to do and was planning to go home and wait.
But when he arrived in the east of the city and passed by Qunfang Garden, he happened to see the girl Xiangling he had seen before standing at the door. He didn't know what she was doing.
At the same time, Xiangling also saw Lin Ji.
The moment she saw Lin Ji, a bit of fear suddenly appeared on her pretty face, and she raised her legs to go back to the garden.
But at this moment, a shout suddenly sounded not far away.
"Miss Xiangling?"
Xiangling paused.
"Second Master Yu is here."
Lin Ji also looked in the direction of the sound, and then he was surprised to find that the person who came was actually the scholar in white next to Mu Kai that night.
At the same time, Second Master Yu also came closer, but stopped beside Lin Ji.
"Commander Lin from the Supervisory Office?" Mr. Yu said with a bit of curiosity in his eyes and bowed slightly.
"You haven't asked for advice yet?"
"Jade second child."
"Mr. Yu." Lin Ji returned the courtesy. Naturally, he would not call someone else's nickname the first time they interacted with him.
"You're welcome." Second Master Yu was a familiar character. He suddenly grabbed Lin Ji's wrist and said, "I've heard of Lin Zhangling's name for a long time. It's rare to meet him today, so I asked Lin Zhangling to give me a favor.
How many drinks should we have together?”
Lin Ji found it hard to refuse what he said.
If it's someone else, he can go if he wants to, and ignore him if he doesn't want to go.
But this Second Master Yu is not simple.
In Qunfang Garden before, he had watched Mu Kai act like a bitch next to the Second Master Yu.
Mu Kai is the only son of the right-hand minister Mu Hanfei and a dignified uncle.
Being able to make Mu Kai a dog-legger, the identity of Second Master Yu is obvious.
Thinking of this, Lin Ji subconsciously did not want to have anything to do with this powerful man in the capital.
"Lin has other things to do..."
"Today is New Year's Eve, what else can happen?" Second Master Yu was reluctant to leave, dragging Lin Ji to Qunfang Garden.
As he walked, he said: "It's like getting familiar again. I really want to get close to Zhang Ling Lin."
While talking, Lin Ji had already been taken to the entrance of Qunfang Garden.
Seeing that Second Master Yu could not refuse his kindness, he thought for a moment and finally nodded slightly.
"In that case, let's have a few drinks."
Seeing Erye Yu dragging Lin Ji into Qunfang Garden, Xiangling beside her was obviously reluctant.
"Second Master Yu, this guy is not a good guy."
"Hahaha, you bunch of foxy people are still talking about others!" Second Master Yu laughed twice, "Quickly, quickly, go and invite Miss Yujiao out, Commander Lin is an honored guest, and you must have Miss Yujiao to accompany you.
This is the drink that makes you happy."
Lin Ji originally thought that Second Master Yu was just trying to save his face. After all, Hu Yujiao was a great demon in the sixth realm and would never be manipulated by others.
But what Lin Ji didn't expect was that Xiang Ling nodded and actually ran behind the arch.
This scene immediately piqued Lin Ji's interest.
It has only been a few days, but why did Mr. Yu come to Qunfang Garden as if he was going home?
Even Hu Yujiao wants to betray his face.
After a while, Xiangling walked out of the arch again.
"Grandma said you two should be invited in."
"Lead the way." Second Master Yu said quickly.
Following Xiangling all the way into the back house of Qunfangyuan, Lin Ji met Hu Yujiao again in an attic.
Hu Yujiao's eyes immediately fell on Lin Ji.
"Second Master Yu is coming as soon as he comes, why are you still bringing this one with you?"
"Haha, Commander Lin looks like a good person. Xiao Wang wants to get close to him."