The sound of firecrackers came from the courtyard, adding a joyful atmosphere to the New Year's celebration. Xiaozhuang smiled and drank tea with a very happy mood, she asked the palace maid to serve the rare fruits and food from all over the world to each Fu Jin, and specially asked Yu An to go to the courtyard to watch those little boys who set off firecrackers, reminding them to be careful not to get hurt.

  Meili and Suying sat on either side of the same kang table, and the accompanying nanny reminded Suying, who had just finished her postpartum confinement, not to eat too many cold foods, nor fruits. Suying, who had just given birth to a daughter, was more plump than before, with a special beauty unique to young mothers.

  The ladies who came to pay respects to the ancestors were all talking about their children, complimenting each other, and rarely mentioning Yun Ke. The rumors about Yun Ke had gradually subsided a lot, but the cautious women did not want to mention this topic, especially in front of Su Ying.

  Compared to Meili's silence, Suyin was more talkative than before. Meili listened to them chatting and laughing, quietly peeling melon seeds for Yunke, waiting for him to come back with the boys after setting off firecrackers. The distance was close, she smelled a change in the fragrance on Suyin's body, no longer the rich jasmine scent, but a kind of gentle and soft clear scent, which she couldn't name either. Suyin had always been good at dressing up, even the details were flawless, and she also dressed Yunke very nicely, earlier the ladies were still praising the fabric style of his small jacket, asking Suyin where they could buy the fabric and which store made it.

  Su Ying said the name of the store and its origin, and the ladies nodded in agreement, saying: "It's that family's, no wonder."

  Su Ying had heard of the shop, it was a place that was expensive to the point of being scary. Even though Jing Xuan always gave her a lot of money, and the rent for the Qian Wang Fu was also considered as her extra income, she still couldn't afford to let Yun Ke go to such a luxurious place to make clothes. Children grow up fast, and a small robe that cost about one month's rent of the Qian Wang Fu was something she couldn't afford. She used her money very carefully, all saved up for Yun Ke's future.

  A commotion arose outside, and the Emperor and several nobles entered the inner palace with smiles. The imperial consorts all rose to greet their husbands. Meili followed behind Suyun with propriety, Jingxuan sat in the place where Suyun had been earlier, and Meili stood properly on one side close to Suyun, waiting for her to sit down before sitting on a stool that a palace maid had brought over for her.

  Before the pleasantries were over, the boys had finished setting off firecrackers and ran into the room, crowding around the brazier, each with a rosy face from the cold.

  Xiangzhuang urged the palace maids to hurry up and get some hot water for them. The most favored prince, Yinxi, whined that he wanted to drink oil tea, so the old emperor immediately ordered it, and all the children drank oil tea.

  Yun Ke had been holding onto Yong Yan's hand, and Cheng Yi's son, Tai Zhuo, was also standing beside them. Although they were a few years apart in age, they had always gotten along extremely well, their bond stronger than with their own biological siblings. The oil tea was served, but the children's ayis were too busy to attend to it, so Mei Li worried that Yun Ke would get scalded and didn't dare walk over. Yong Yan, being a bit older, carefully pulled Yun Ke down to sit, stirring and blowing on the tea to cool it down, looking very much like an adult as he fed Yun Ke spoonful by spoonful, causing the adults to burst out laughing.

  Su Ying felt a bit uncomfortable, especially when the old ancestor smiled and said that Yun Ke Tai Yu and Xiao Si were actually so close, it was really rare, usually the fourth brother was not very sociable.

  The girls who were originally sitting on the south kang playing because they weren't cold and hadn't eaten many snacks all got down from the kang to play with the boys.

  Two little girls were fighting over wiping Yunruo's mouth and both ended up crying, being pulled apart by their nanny.

  Xiao Zhuang burst out laughing and playfully looked at Jing Xuan, "No wonder he's your son, even the way they attract girls is similar."

  Jing Xuan smiled and couldn't help but glance at Mei Li, who also smiled. A shared memory flashed back to life - in their youth, he was the cold boy who wouldn't respond, while she was the girl who fought for him and cried. Their eyes briefly met before she quickly looked away, her heart still aching from the old man's teasing words, memories that couldn't be erased... and so they hurt.

  Watching the little kids performing a familiar scene, she suddenly remembered that she had actually liked him so much before, and all these feelings were forgotten in the eternal flow of life.

  "Amma, Amma." Yunju rushed to Jingxuan's leg, "Didn't we agree to go see the temple fair together today?"

  Jingxuan nodded, "Mm, Ama promised, didn't forget."

  She noticed he was looking at Mei again, suppressed the resentment in her heart and smiled, trying to make her tone natural. "That's right, it's been a long time since our family of three went out together." She suddenly wanted to give Mei some color to see, Mei had already gotten too much over the years!

  Jingxuan's eyebrows slightly furrowed, since SuYue said so, he didn't dare to say what he was going to say earlier about going together.

  Implicitly, Meri understood.

  She also saw the expectation that flashed in Yun Ke's eyes and then cleverly hid, his cleverness and thoughtfulness made her heart ache. She had never explained to him, but he seemed to understand it by nature, Ama was not just his alone, and seemed to have understood what he lacked compared to Yun Jue. He never asked her, and she felt even more heartbroken for his understanding.

  Everyone is talking about how lively and prosperous the Lantern Festival was this year, all thanks to the wise emperor who brought such a flourishing era. Those who have been there can't stop raving about the new things they saw at the Lantern Festival, including unique vendors from all over the country who are worth checking out.

  His Majesty was also mentioned to be excited, mentioning the grand lantern festival to be held in the palace three days later on Yuanxiao Festival, inviting all relatives and high-ranking officials to come and celebrate.

  Everyone bid farewell and left, Meili deliberately stayed behind to accompany the old ancestor for a while, so that Jingxuan could take Su'e and her mother away calmly, and she and Yunkai didn't have to be so embarrassed. Fortunately, there were Yinzhuan and Taishao, Yunkai had a great time playing.

  The ancestors also saw the scene just now and understood it in their hearts, but didn't point it out. After everyone left, they instructed Yu An to bring over the extra New Year's reward given to Yun Ke, which was very generous, and Mei Li was grateful.

  On the way back, Yun Ke sat in her arms silently, the smile from earlier had sunk into his already handsome doll-like face, but he didn't ask for anything, nor did he ask any questions.

  As an illegitimate child... this sensitivity may be destined from birth.

  Outside the sedan, people's voices were noisy, and the festive atmosphere was very strong. Mei Li leaned down, close to Yun Qiao's soft face, "Yun Qiao also wants to go to the lantern festival?"

  Yu Ke didn't answer immediately, but after all, he was a child who wasn't even five years old yet. He hesitated for a moment before honestly saying: "I do."

  Meili smiled lightly, "Let's go home and change our clothes first, call Yue Mo and the others, we'll also go to the fair together, okay? What do you like, Mother will buy it for you."

  Yu Ke smiled and nodded repeatedly.

  There were too many people on the lantern festival, it seemed like the entire city of Jing was squeezed here, Mei Li had to hold onto Yong Qie's hand tightly, regretting not bringing a few guards, Yong Qie had grown up and could no longer be carried, little him struggled hard in the crowd.

  She tried hard to make him happy, playing darts and ring toss with him. Fortunately, her mischievousness as a child made her proficient in many children's games, and she won a big prize for him, a beautiful ceramic tiger. Yunkai cheered and was very excited.

  In front of a sugar gourd stall, the crowd was exceptionally dense, and their sugar gourds were exceptionally long. The first hawthorn was as big as a begonia, extremely rare. Yun Ke had been yearning for their signature large sugar gourd, and Mei Li, who was shivering with cold, still personally lined up in the long queue to wait. When they finally bought a sugar gourd over two feet long, both mother and son were thrilled. The sugar gourd was too long, and only others could eat it while holding it. Yun Ke insisted that his mother eat the first largest hawthorn, Mei Li couldn't persuade him otherwise, and suggested that each person eat half of one, Yun Ke clapped his hands and laughed in agreement.

  Holding the heavy sugar gourd to feed Yunkai, Yunkai also struggled to hold it up with her small hands to feed her back. Both mother and daughter laughed very happily. Mei Li felt that for many years, she was able to laugh out loud like this for the first time. Yunkai's childhood seemed to have extended her own childhood. Yunkai's happiness was her happiness.

  A faint murmur spread through the crowd, and four sleek guards cleared a path from the bustling throng, nearly colliding with Yun Xi as they moved back. Mei Li hastily shielded him with her back.

  She heard the familiar sound of children's laughter, not wanting to turn around, not wanting to let Yun Xiao see, following Yun Xiao's gaze, she turned pale and turned around. Jing Xuan hugged Yun Jue, Su Yan smiled and held his arm, chatting and laughing as they walked on the road opened by the guards, as if no one was there.

  Her heart ached in place of Yun Ke's.

  Her husband and another woman walked by happily, she had already acknowledged it, numbness, but what about Yu Ke, he saw the Ama he worshipped and loved walking with his younger brother instead of him.

  As expected, the child's smile gradually solidified, and the sugar gourd that had just made him jump for joy was handed to Yue Qi beside him, no longer paying attention.

  "Allow me..." At this moment, when his mother couldn't say anything, how could she comfort him?

  "Come on, Mother." Yun Ke suddenly squeezed out a smile and pulled her hand up. He was still too young, his smile was not perfectly disguised.

  She suddenly felt a stinging sensation in her eyes, and she would rather he cried out loud.

  "What else does Yunkai like? Mother will buy it for you." She choked back a sob.

  Yu Ke shook her head and walked a few steps before suddenly saying in a low voice, "It would be great if I could buy an Ama."

  Mori's lips trembled, the surrounding noise seemed to be another world, and a sense of powerless despair struck her again. She suddenly realized that Yunka had grown up, and just giving her all the love... was no longer enough.