Wishing you a happy Chinese New Year

  "Ah Yan, sister," said the girl in yellow blouse and green skirt as she walked over, furrowing her brow. "You're coughing so badly?" She gently patted Zhang Yan's back. "It's not serious, is it? Do you want to find a doctor to take a look?"

  Zhang Yan hastily waved her hand, with a hint of tears in her eyes.

  "Madam Lü," Chrysanthemum took a step back, placed her right hand on top of her left hand, both fists clasped together in her sleeves and held to her chest, and bowed her head in greeting.

  "Don't call me Lü Niangzi," the girl said displeased, "there are so many Lü Niangzis in my family, who knows who you're referring to, just call me Yi instead."

  "Agreed."

  "Eldest sister," Zhang Yan guessed that this girl's identity was probably correct, so she put down her sleeve and smiled, "I'm fine now."

  "That's good," Lü Yi looked her up and down, nodded and said, "Your hair is thick, this hairstyle is prettier than before, however," she beckoned the maid, rummaged through the dressing table, found a hairband of the same color as Zhang Yan's dress, and helped her tie up the long strand of hair that reached her waist into a bun, patted her hands in satisfaction and said, "This way, no matter how hard the wind blows, it won't come undone."

  As they spoke, the palace servants brought in breakfast. On a thick, black lacquer tray with gold trimmings were placed a bowl of millet porridge with chicken and white rice, accompanied by a dish of preserved egg and another of bamboo shoots. Zhang Yan picked up the bowl and took a sip of the porridge, feeling extremely comfortable as she closed her eyes in appreciation of its authentic flavor, perfectly cooked texture, and suitable temperature. It was truly a delight to eat, melting in her mouth with a subtle aroma. She had been very particular about food and drink, worried that the Western Han dynasty's culinary skills would not meet her expectations. Now she realized that the more natural something was, the less it needed to be adorned, and the more effort had gone into its preparation. Although the people of the Two Hans period were not skilled in roasting, frying, stir-frying, or making noodles, they excelled in boiling, stewing, and simmering, surpassing later generations in these aspects.

  "Clang", sitting opposite her, Lyu Yi put down her chopsticks and complained, "The breakfast here at the imperial palace is really frugal. She's the empress, but I think the expenses of the Zhonggong Palace are not even as good as my own home."

  Zhang Yan asked in surprise, "Sister thinks the flavor is not good enough?"

  "It's not the issue." Lü Yi said irritably, glaring at her with a hint of frustration, "A Yan, do you know that in the Divine Temple, just one breakfast trip used 20 dishes including carp and water shield soup, cherry yam, chicken silk egg skin, etc. Comparing, don't you think the Pepper House is too shabby?"

  "Immortal Temple?" Zhang Yan muttered.

  "It's the palace of Qi Ji, whom you greatly offended yesterday."

  Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Food is enough to eat." She loved food, but she didn't have a habit of wasting. Moreover...

  "A Yan, you're just too soft-hearted, I won't say anything more." Lü Yi said resentfully, "I don't know how you had the nerve to defy His Majesty yesterday!"

  Zhang Yan finished the last mouthful of porridge, smiled and said, "Auntie told me to go see her after getting up today, do you want to come together, cousin?"

  Lü Yi looked up at her, then lowered his head again, muttering, "I don't want to go in front of her and listen to a lecture." He raised his face and smiled, "A Yan, you go ahead, I'll come find you when you get back."

  Zhang Yan nodded and ordered the eunuch to lead the way out. The Pepper Chamber was a palace in the Chang Le Palace, with nine open spaces, four deep intervals, two secondary intervals, two side halls, and eighteen rooms for the palace people's bedrooms and miscellaneous items. The corridors were connected by a corridor. Lü Zhi lived in the east wing of the main hall every day. On the way, Zhang Yan walked along the long corridor, studying the bricks on the floor, when suddenly she heard a woman's slightly excited voice, "Brother Ao can't possibly rebel," and suddenly came back to her senses, only to find herself standing outside the main hall.

  "Mother, you have to believe me," the woman turned to plead with her, "Ao Ge is my husband, what good would he get from rebelling?"

  "The Empress Dowager knew, the Empress Dowager has always known," said Lü Yu, holding the woman's hand and speaking softly to comfort her. "The Empress Dowager believes just like you that Zhang Ao will not rebel, only..."

  The palace maids in green clothes standing inside and outside the temple gate slightly bowed to greet her. In the temple, Su Mo saw her and smiled, "The Princess of Zhao has arrived."

  "Hmm," she nodded and stepped onto the courtyard steps into the hall.

  Zhang Yan deliberately looked at the woman in blue sitting next to Lü Yu, who was about eight or nine months pregnant. Lu Yuan couldn't bear to sit for a long time, so she sat with a relaxed posture, but didn't give people a rough feeling. She raised her head, her face as round as a full moon, and her eyebrows and eyes were fresh and familiar.

  She felt a natural intimacy arise in her heart and unconsciously called out "Mother".

  "Ah Yan," Lu Yuan said, seeing her with a mix of anxiety and joy, hastily pulling his daughter's hand, looking at her with concern. "Mother almost died from fright after hearing what happened yesterday. How did you suddenly become so bold? Your father is already in trouble, you can't cause more worry for Mother."

  "Good." Zhang Yan nodded gently.

  "Ah Yan," Lyu Lü beckoned her over, saying kindly, "Come here."

  She nodded and got up to walk to Lü Zhi's side.

  Lü Cu's eyes lit up and he took her hand, making her spin around once, praising, "Ah Yan looks particularly neat and elegant today."

  She smiled with pursed lips.

  "Ah Yan, Ah Po asked you, when you scolded your Emperor grandfather yesterday, were you afraid in your heart?"

  Zhang Yan nodded, "Afraid."

  It's not that she's being pretentious, but after knowing the truth, she's really scared. She's afraid that if he gets angry, she'll be dragged out and who-knows-what will happen to her. It's not that she's corrupt, what she fears is not Liu Bang's identity as an emperor itself, but the feudal imperial power it represents. If Liu Bang were to come to her era, no matter how much he threatened to beat or punish her, she would just think he was putting on a big show and walk away with a snort of disdain. But since she has traveled to his era, she must accept the rules of this era and look up to the power of the imperial court.

  The master of the house is the one who makes the rules, an eternal law.

  "Then you rushed out to scold him, I couldn't even hold you back?"

  Zhang Yan said with a blush, "I didn't think that much at the time." She just thought he looked disgusting and in the heat of the moment, she rushed up to him.

  Lü Wei's eyes warmed for a moment, then quickly covered up, patted her shoulder and praised, "Good girl."

  Lu Yuan's face showed a tired look, and he said, "Mother, I'll go back and rest first."

  "Go." Lü Zhi nodded in response, "Mǎn Huá, your body is the most important thing right now. Even if Zhang Jiào is at the廷尉府, he wouldn't want anything to happen to the child in your belly. Who knows, this might be Zhao Wang's legitimate son."

  Zhang Yan burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with spirit, "This must be a younger brother."

  Lv Wei and Lu Yuan looked at each other and smiled. He heavily pressed her forehead, "You little kid only know that?"

  "I knew it," Zhang Yan said with a pout, "I want a little brother."

  "Alright, little brother." Lü Wei held her hand and instructed, "A Yan, stay with Grandma for a while longer."

  She imperceptibly shrunk back and replied softly, "Okay."

  Lv Lian pulled her hand and chatted with her about some family matters, asking if she felt good after coming to Chang'an. Zhang Yan thought for a moment, tilted her head and said, "Chang'an is pretty good. But it's colder in winter than Handan. Grandma, my father the king was locked up by Emperor Gong, does he have enough quilts where he lives? Is there a stove? Will he feel cold?"

  Lü Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Indeed, he's a considerate child. Don't worry, even if he's being held captive, he is still the King of Zhao of the Great Han, your mother's husband, no one will treat him poorly."

  "What about that grandmother?"

  Lv Lü was stunned again.

  A gentle laugh came from outside the hall, "Don't worry, A Yan, I've already made arrangements. Your grandmother will naturally have someone to take care of her." The speaker walked into the hall with a steady pace, and all the palace maids and eunuchs bowed down, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

  Liu Ying smiled slightly, and the sky was clear and bright.

  On New Year's Day, firecrackers outside started going off from 3 or 4 o'clock. When I got up in the morning, the air was filled with the smell of sulfur.

  Dear friend, are you visiting relatives now or are your relatives visiting you? o∩_∩o...

  Going out for New Year's visit, tomorrow's update will be around 7 pm.

  Wishing you a happy new year and gifting red envelopes, collecting and recommending.