Chapter 66: New Year

  Chapter 66: New Year

  But normally trying to get close to the Fourth Prince is an impossible task.

  But the fourth prince has always been cautious and wants to wait until he gets drunk... That's not easy.

  From the tide birth to the East Palace, it has been more than a year and a half. In total, I have only seen the fourth prince drunk once, and that was when the second prince forced him to drink. The fourth prince himself does not usually drink alcohol.

  I don't know when I'll have another chance.

  The opportunity came faster than she had imagined.

  On New Year's Eve, the fourth prince returned to the palace in a half-drunken state, personally sent back by eunuch Su Gonggong, who was very influential in the palace. As for the eunuchs beside the emperor, the first one that comes to mind is Lai Gonggong. Chao Sheng had seen him when he was living in the Smoke and Clouds Palace; apart from not having a beard, this person didn't look like an eunuch at all. Eunuch Su was young, looking not much older than the fourth prince, Chun Mo thanked him and handed over a pouch, inviting Eunuch Su to come in for tea.

  "No, it's getting late, I still have to go back and take care of things."

  Chun Mo didn't stay much longer and when sending Su Gonggong out asked: "Our prince... how did he drink so much wine?"

  "Tonight the Emperor is in high spirits, and ordered several princes to compose poems. Even the princesses have done so. The Fourth Prince has composed three poems, which the Emperor likes very much, therefore..."

  Chun Mo hastily expressed his gratitude again and saw off Su Gonggong. He ordered someone to close the courtyard gate, then returned with a joyful expression.

  "Is the hangover soup ready? Hurry up and bring it over. Also, get some hot water and incense. Bring that incense burner from the outer room in here too."

  Chao Sheng responded with a "yes" and went out, turning his head back to take one last look when he reached the door.

  The fourth prince lay on the bed, his face flushed, probably due to the heat of the wine rising, and his collar was already undone.

  It is said that people who blush when drinking will not be harmed by alcohol. Those whose faces turn pale after a few drinks are the ones to worry about. Cao Sheng doesn't know if there's any truth to this, but looking at the Fourth Prince, apart from being hot and bothered, he seems fine.

  Chao Sheng returned with the sobering soup, and Chun Mo had already helped the Fourth Prince change his clothes. Tonight was a grand banquet in the palace, and the Fourth Prince wore formal attire, magnificent and dignified. Chao Sheng put down the sobering soup, took over the clothes, and carefully draped them on the screen behind him.

  There is Chunmo in it, she wants to ask what can't be done.

  We have to think of a way to get rid of Chunmo's interference.

  This difficulty... is a bit too high.

  Besides, the fourth prince looks like he's even more drunk than that day. At least on that day, he was sober, but today he's completely out of it.

  "Your Highness, Your Highness?" Chun Mo softly called: "Have a drink of water and go back to sleep."

  The candlelight shone on the face of the fourth prince, his eyelashes were very long, and a sparse shadow was pulled out under his eyes, making him look exceptionally delicate.

  He grumbled and didn't open his eyes.

  Chun Mo whispered to Chao Sheng: "You help the young master get up, at least let him drink two mouthfuls of this soup."

  Chao Sheng sat on the edge of the bed with a slanted body, and with some effort, he helped the fourth prince sit up. When people get drunk, they are probably all dull and heavy.

  Chun Mo held out a bowl of sobering soup and handed it to the Fourth Prince's mouth.

  "Your Highness, have a sip."

  The fourth prince's lips moved slightly, his head turned to the other side, almost leaning on Chao Sheng's shoulder. The hot breath with a hint of alcohol blew into his neck, making Chao Sheng feel like his ears and neck were burning, and half of his body was numb.

  She has always been afraid of having itchy ears.

  Chun Mo took the spoon, coaxing and persuading, shaking and advising, the fourth prince's eyes finally opened a slit, and he drank two mouthfuls of soup with great courtesy. Chun Mo wanted to persuade him again, but the fourth prince raised his hand: "Take it away, I want to sleep..."

  He raised his hand and accidentally knocked over the soup that Chunmo was holding, spilling it all over her body, not a single drop was wasted.

  Chunmo exclaimed and quickly got up. Fortunately, it was winter and she was wearing thick clothes, and the soup had already cooled down a bit.

  "Quickly go and change your clothes, sister."

  Spring ink shoes were all splashed wet, first felt hot and humid, then felt sticky and wet, very uncomfortable.

  "I'll go and come back, you wait here, if His Highness wants tea or water, you just pay attention to serve him."

  Chao Sheng nodded and said: "I know, sister hurry up, be careful of catching a cold."

  There was also a little palace maid named Coral in the house, who came to fill their vacancy after Gui Zhi and Gui Yu left. Chao Sheng ordered her to go fetch a basin of hot water.

  Zhan walked away with Shanhu, leaving only Chao Sheng and the Fourth Prince in the house.

  It was her first time doing something like this, although strictly speaking it wasn't anything shameful, but she just couldn't help feeling nervous, her heart beating boom boom boom, jumping faster with each beat.

  She had better hurry up, Chun Mo would change her clothes and come back soon.

  "Your Highness? Your Highness?"

  The fourth prince narrowed his eyes and looked at her, seemingly unable to recognize who she was for a moment.

  Chao Sheng looked nervously at the door and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness mentioned last time that someone was making things difficult for me, but I don't know who that person is?"

  The fourth prince responded with an "uh-huh" and lazily asked: "What?"

  Chao Sheng's face turned red with anxiety and sweat beaded on the tip of his nose: "Your Highness, you said last time that someone would make things difficult for me. Do you know who that person is?"

  Heaven bless the fourth prince so that he can still hear her words clearly and remember this matter.

  The fourth prince nodded slightly, his mouth corners curved up, and a hint of complacency in his expression: "I naturally know."

  "Who is that?"

  The fourth prince's eyes widened and he looked at her: "Why should I tell you? What benefit will you give me?"

  What's good about it?

  Almost fainted from shock.

  The fourth prince is such a gentleman, how can he be like a spoiled child at this time? Does he still want to take advantage of the situation?

  Alright, alright. A drunk person cannot be reasoned with.

  "What benefits does Your Highness want?"

  The fourth prince tilted his head, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if he was seriously considering what benefits he could gain that would be worth it.

  The tide is urgent and life-threatening, I'm afraid Spring Ink will be back soon, and urged another sentence.

  The fourth prince suddenly lit up: "Good. You remember that you owe me one thing that hasn't been done, I'll ask for it when I think of it again."

  Chao Sheng hastily said: "Good"

  The fourth prince blinked: "You promised, don't go back on your word."

  The waves shook his head like a drum: "Not bad at all, you say it quickly"

  Why does it feel like coaxing a child?

  The fourth prince hehe smiled, looking like a child who had secretly eaten sugar.

  "What's so difficult about that... the water is murky, it's easy to catch fish, if it weren't for your father-in-law speaking up for you, you would have been beaten to death by that one board long ago, how could the empress dowager let you live until today..."

  Is your husband coming?

  Queen?

  Chao Sheng wanted to ask again, but he had already heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

  Sanhua carried a basin of hot water and walked in step by step with great care.

  Chao Sheng hastily took over the water: "What's wrong with you, carrying it so full?"

  Coral is very honest, the basin edge is also hot, her hands are all red: "Less holding, afraid it's not enough to use."

  "It's not enough for another trip, it's so full, if it spills on the body, it won't be fun."

  Coral pinched her earrings with scorching fingers and smiled foolishly.

  As she spoke, Chun Mo also returned. She changed into a half-old jacket and tied a light green skirt underneath.

  "What's wrong with sister wearing old clothes?"

  Because of the New Year, everyone has new clothes on.

  Chunmo rolled up her sleeves and walked into the house: "Tomorrow is only the first day of the Lunar New Year, who are you showing off to tonight? Besides, if I get soaked again, I won't have anything to wear tomorrow."

  The tide was born busy nodding in response.

  She had been pondering the fourth prince's words in her heart all along.

  Why did Lai Gonggong want to speak for her? She hadn't said anything to Lai Gonggong before, at most just exchanging greetings when they met.

  And besides, the person behind the scenes is really the queen

  The clue from Aunt Li is like this, and the fourth prince also said so:

  But how did the fourth prince know?

  The whole night was spent tossing and turning in bed, feeling hot and dry all over, unable to sleep soundly. Getting up to throw off the quilt, then lying down again, only to feel cool once more after a while. One quilt was neither enough to keep warm nor sufficient to press down.

  The second day was the first day of the Lunar New Year. Although the fourth prince got drunk last night and slept in late, he woke up early before dawn. The second prince was no exception, and both of them changed their clothes and went to pay their respects to the emperor with each other. Then, the emperor would lead his wives and children to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. Chao Sheng and the others had a bowl of tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) made by Li Gu Gu for breakfast, which also included dumplings - this was a tradition that catered to both southerners and northerners. The dumplings contained a hidden surprise, and Chao Sheng happened to get one wrapped with copper coins inside. Everyone laughed and congratulated her, and when she saw Li Gu Gu's expression, she knew for sure that Li Gu Gu had deliberately put the lucky charm in her bowl.

  She almost chipped her tooth.

  Qiu Yan was also wearing new clothes, but her complexion didn't look very good.

  On New Year's festive days, the palace maids were allowed to apply some makeup. Shanhu and several other young palace maids applied rouge to their cheeks until they were bright red. Probably they thought the redder the better... Cao Zhen only felt that those two red spots looked like a monkey's buttocks, but indeed very festive.

  In comparison, Qiu Yan's face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. When eating the wontons, he looked listless and didn't even finish two bites.

  Chun Mo asked her: "What's wrong with you? Yesterday wasn't your turn on night duty, and yet you look so listless. Did you sneak out to steal chickens last night?"

  "It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well."

  Chunmo said: "You'd better be careful, don't get sick during the New Year and feel uncomfortable."

  The tide was born to eat her own, she had not yet told Li Auntie about the four princes' words yesterday, the kitchen was bustling with people coming and going, and the little palace girls were also more lively than usual. They didn't have many days in the palace, but they were full of enthusiasm for the New Year, and Li Auntie was also more gentle than usual, giving them a big handful of sugar flowers, fried fruit, and each one ate with sugar residue and oil stains on their hands and mouths.

  The masters were not around, and the palace people and eunuchs in Yiqiu Palace all visited each other to celebrate the new year. Chao Sheng also sneaked out to find Han Xiang. Han Xiang was wearing a new outfit, a pink jacket with a light yellow skirt underneath, and the colors were incredibly vibrant. She had her hair styled in a "luo yun ji" (a type of ancient Chinese hairstyle), adorned with a velvet flower, and had applied rouge to her face and lips, looking delicate and lovely, like a flower blooming in the snow.

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  It's raining and the weather is getting cooler day by day.

  Everyone should pay attention to their health.

  These days I've been allergic to everything and don't dare eat anything, so I've just been eating vegetarian food. I'm almost turning into a rabbit now.