kingnovel Chapter 198 New Year’s Eve
Chapter 198 New Year’s Eve
New Year's Eve should be a night of lights and decorations, with a lively atmosphere. The palace should hold banquets to entertain officials and it should be a festive time for the emperor and his ministers to celebrate the new year together.
However, this year, due to the incident in which the crown prince attempted a rebellion, the entire palace and even the capital city were shrouded in a haze.
His Majesty the Emperor was so furious that he had no time to prepare for the annual New Year's Eve banquet.
All the ministers also returned to their residences to celebrate the New Year.
On his way back to the Mu Mansion, Mu Xun looked at the shops on both sides of the street decorated with lights and big red lanterns with auspicious patterns painted on them.
The hawkers kept shouting their wares, and the sugar figurines they sold were made with exquisite craftsmanship, which made the children cheer.
The stalls selling Spring Festival couplets with the Chinese character "Fu" are doing a brisk business, and the couplets, reeking of ink, are filled with good wishes.
There were wonderful juggling performances by artists in the open space, and people walking on stilts dressed as mythological characters moving among the crowd.
The children wore new clothes and ran around playing with windmills, while the adults came together to greet each other, stopped to watch, all with smiles on their faces.
Mu Xun sighed secretly and quickened his pace towards the Mu Mansion.
At this time, bursts of laughter and joy came from the Mu Mansion. The lively atmosphere of the New Year was permeating every corner of the Mu Mansion.
……
Mu Lanfeng stood up, walked to the window, gently pushed it open, and the lively scene suddenly came into view.
The courtyard in the mansion had already been decorated with lights and colorful lanterns.
Big red lanterns were hung all over the corridors and tree branches, swaying gently in the breeze, like ripples on a red ocean. The warm light cast on the entire courtyard, making it glow red and full of festive atmosphere.
Maids and servants were walking around, all with happy smiles on their faces.
Some were busy placing fireworks on the ground. The firework tubes of various shapes were arranged neatly, as if waiting to bloom with brilliant light after the night falls. Some were arranging tables and chairs in preparation for the family dinner that would be held later, placing the exquisite porcelain and sumptuous dishes one by one. Waves of tempting aroma had begun to waft in the air.
The garden not far away was even more lively.
The women and children in the family gathered there and played various New Year games.
The children were running in the wind with colorful windmills in their hands. The windmills were whirring and their laughter could be heard from far away.
There were also children playing riddles. Exquisite lanterns with all kinds of interesting riddles written on them were hung on the branches. The children gathered around, frowning and thinking hard. Once they guessed the answer, they would dance with excitement and run to ask their elders for rewards. They looked so adorable.
The women sat in a pavilion nearby, enjoying tea and chatting in low voices.
The table was filled with all kinds of exquisite snacks, including soft and sticky rice cakes, sweet sesame candies, crispy fried fruits, etc., each of which exuded an enticing taste. Sometimes they laughed out loud at the children's laughter, and sometimes they whispered about trivial matters at home, with gentleness and comfort in their eyes.
Mu Lanfeng watched all these scenes, and although the heaviness in her heart had not completely dissipated, she was also slightly affected by the lively atmosphere. She turned to Hong Yin and said, "Let's go out and join in the fun."
When Hong Yin heard this, she immediately perked up and quickly nodded and said, "Okay, girl!"
The master and servant walked out of the house and just as they reached the courtyard, a few maids came over with steaming dumplings that had just come out of the pot. After bowing respectfully, they said, "Fifth Miss, these are freshly wrapped and cooked dumplings. Madam has ordered some to be sent to each room. Come and try some, Miss."
Mu Lanfeng took the bowl and chopsticks handed to her by the maid with a smile, picked up a dumpling and put it in her mouth. The delicious filling spread on the tip of her tongue, and she couldn't help but praise: "Well, this dumpling tastes very good."
Hongyin also tasted it, her mouth full, and said incoherently: "It's really delicious, girl."
After eating dumplings, Mu Lanfeng took Hong Yin to the garden.
Along the way, maids and servants kept greeting her and she responded with a smile.
When they arrived at the garden, the children saw Mu Lanfeng coming and ran over to surround her, talking about the interesting things they had just done when playing games.
Mu Lanfeng listened patiently, touching this child's head and teasing that child from time to time, and a sincere smile gradually appeared on his face.
Just then, the sky gradually darkened, and the sky seemed like a piece of black silk, waiting to be lit up.
People in the mansion also gathered in the center of the courtyard to watch the fireworks.
The servants lit the fuse of the fireworks, and with a "whoosh" sound, the first firework rushed into the sky. Immediately after a loud "bang", a gorgeous firework bloomed in the night sky. The colorful light instantly illuminated the entire Mu Mansion. Red like fire, blue like the sea, purple like a dream, and the petal-like light spread out in all directions, magnificent.
The children screamed with excitement and the adults also exclaimed in amazement.
One after another, fireworks rose into the sky and bloomed, bringing the lively atmosphere of the New Year festival to a climax.
Mu Lanfeng looked up at the bright fireworks in the sky and prayed silently in his heart, hoping that this lively New Year's festival would continue forever.
"What the hell have you been doing lately? You've been missing all day. Does this mean the Mu family can't accommodate you anymore? Explain it to me clearly and don't play tricks on me!" Mu Lanxue came behind Mu Lanfeng at some point, her face darkened, and asked fiercely with a look in her eyes.
Hongyin bowed, called out "Third Miss!", and then tactfully stepped aside.
Mu Lanfeng did not look back, still gazing at the bright and vast starry sky, with a hint of self-mockery on the corner of his mouth, he said quietly: "It's just busying around, third sister, on this auspicious occasion of the New Year, I wish you a happy New Year, worry-free years, and constant joy. Lanfeng would like to congratulate you on the New Year!"
Mu Lanxue raised her eyebrows slightly, with an unquestionable look on her face. Her eyes were like cold frost, falling directly on Mu Lanfeng.
Mu Lanfeng looked solemn, as if shrouded in a layer of gloomy clouds.
She opened her red lips and chuckled softly, then teased, "Look at you, you look like a sentimental young lady in a secluded boudoir. When did you become so sad? And what you just said was very literary, but it really doesn't seem like the free and easy you of the past! Could it be that you were shocked by something?"
"Third sister, you are really good at teasing me!" Mu Lanfeng said as a smile quietly appeared on her fair face, like a bud blooming in spring, revealing a bit of shyness and anger.
Mu Lanxue walked slowly towards Mu Lanfeng, then gently stretched out her arms and hugged Mu Lanfeng's slightly thin shoulders from behind.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin gently on Mu Lanfeng's right shoulder, exhaling sweetly and speaking softly, "My dear sister, how dare I tease you? But seeing your tense expression, like a tight bowstring, I really can't bear it. I only hope that you can relax a little!"
Mu Lanfeng turned his head slightly and gently patted Mu Lanxue's hand on his shoulder. His eyes were full of emotion, and he said softly: "Thank you for your concern, sister. I know that you are worried about me. I am not nervous at all. If the sky falls, there is still someone taller to hold it up. What is there to be afraid of!"
"You are always talking nonsense! Look at your expression now, are you still trying to deceive me? Humph, do you really think I can't see through your little thoughts?" Mu Lanxue frowned slightly, with a hint of anger in her tone, and said it directly.
When Mu Lanfeng heard what Mu Lanxue said, she was stunned at first, and then a trace of panic flashed in her eyes. She subconsciously turned her face away to avoid Mu Lanxue's sharp gaze, and her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes. She stammered, "Sister, I... I am not talking nonsense, and I didn't mean to lie to you. It's just... there are some things I don't know how to explain clearly."
"Since you can't explain it clearly, then so be it. Don't worry about it anymore. Today is New Year's Eve, a good day that should be joyful and lively. Sister, let's not worry about those troubles. How about we stay up together to see the New Year coming? We can also share in the joy of the New Year and pray for a smooth and worry-free year ahead!" Mu Lanxue said softly in a gentle tone.
Mu Lanfeng held Mu Lanxue's hand, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he replied softly: "Okay, today is such a festive day, we should put aside all those troubles for the time being and stay up happily until the New Year!"
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