Daughter of aristocratic family

Chapter 474 Kumquat
Yun Hao brought his son to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God and returned to Linglong Courtyard. After waiting for a long time, Zhao Wangshu did not come back. He asked the servants to take care of his son while he went to the Buddhist temple to look for his wife.

When he arrived at the Buddhist temple, he saw Ah Qi bringing out the court doctor, "What happened to mother?"

"Sir, the monk has been coughing these days, and the young lady asked the court doctor to come and see him." Aqi replied.

Yun Hao walked into the Buddhist hall, stood outside Madam Yun's bedroom, and knocked gently.

"Come in." Zhao Wangshu said from inside.

Yun Hao pushed the door open and saw Madam Yun lying on the bed. Zhao Wangshu was sitting beside the bed. Seeing him come in, he asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"I'm going to ask you to come back for dinner." Yun Hao looked at Madam Yun on the bed. Seeing that her face was abnormally red, he frowned slightly and asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

"It's an old problem, nothing serious, it will be fine after taking the medicine." Madam Yun coughed twice, "You can take Wangshu away."

"We will leave after you drink the medicine." Yun Hao sat down on the chair.

Madam Yun wanted to say something, but a series of coughing sounds came out of her mouth, so loud that it was heart-wrenching.

Zhao Wangshu hurriedly poured a cup of warm water, helped Madam Yun up and fed her the water.

She looked at Madam Yun with concern, her eyes full of worry: "Mother, if you are sick, you must see a doctor and get some medicine. Don't just bear it. It will only get worse."

"It's okay." Madam Yun smiled weakly, her voice hoarse, "I know my own body well. It's just an old ailment that's come back. It's nothing serious."

Yun Hao and Zhao Wangshu stayed with her until Aqi prepared the medicine and fed it to her, and then the couple returned to Linglong Courtyard.

For the New Year's Eve dinner, Zhao Wangshu arranged six dishes, meaning everything would go smoothly. There were chicken, fish, meat, two seasonal vegetables, and a pot of warm wine. Although it was not luxurious, it was very exquisite and delicious.

Yun Hao raised his glass and toasted to Zhao Wangshu: "Wangshu, you have worked hard this year. Thank you for your contribution to this family."

Zhao Wangshu smiled slightly, raised his glass and said in response: "This is what I should do. Thank you for your hard work and support for me and my son."

The two smiled at each other, their eyes full of tenderness.

"Dad, Mom." Little Yunyu held the cup and tried hard to lift it up.

"And our Yu'er, come here, let mother clink cups with you." Zhao Wangshu lowered her head and gently clinked her cup against her son's small cup, making a crisp sound.

"Come on, Daddy will clink glasses with Yu'er too." Yun Hao also smiled and clinked his son's cup lightly.

The whole family happily ate the New Year’s Eve dinner and enjoyed this wonderful reunion time.

After the Little New Year, on the 25th, Yun Hao spent half a day writing the Spring Festival couplets, distributing them, and pasting them everywhere.

By the evening, the mansion had been completely transformed, bustling with activity and exuding a New Year atmosphere.

During the day, Zhao Wangshu also took time to go to the Buddhist temple and asked about Madam Yun's health. "Did you cough badly last night?"

"I still cough, but less frequently. When daybreak came, I slept soundly for half an hour." Aqi replied.

"Aunt Aqi, you've worked hard. I'm afraid you didn't sleep tonight. You go to sleep. I'll take care of mother." Zhao Wangshu said.

"The layman said that we should let the maidservant watch over the young master. The young mistress is taking care of him, so he shouldn't be infected with the disease. It's New Year's Day, and it's not a good time to ask a doctor to see someone if he's sick." Aqi insisted on sending Zhao Wangshu out of the Buddhist temple.

"Thank you, Aunt Aqi, for taking good care of mother." Zhao Wangshu didn't want to make Madam Yun worry, so he obeyed her wishes and left.

The closer it got to the end of the year, the faster the days seemed to pass. In the blink of an eye, it was the 28th. The emperor and the government offices were all closed for vacation, but rewards came out from the palace from time to time. The emperor not only bestowed the word "Fu" and spring couplets on the Anyuan Marquis' Mansion, but also awarded two pots of kumquats.

The servants carried the kumquats into the Linglong Courtyard and showed them to Zhao Wangshu. The golden fruits hung all over the branches, emitting a faint fragrance. Zhao Wangshu smiled and said, "These two pots of kumquats are really beautiful. Putting them in the yard adds a lot of vitality to this cold winter day."

Yun Hao came over, looked at Zhao Wangshu's satisfied expression, and smiled: "This kumquat symbolizes good luck and fortune. I hope that in the new year, we can be like this kumquat, fruitful, full of happiness and hope."

Little Yunyu also ran over, looked at the two pots of kumquats curiously, and reached out to touch the golden fruits.

Zhao Wangshu gently grasped his little hand and said softly, "Yu'er, these kumquats are for viewing, not for eating. Let's go inside and eat the honey tangerines that our godmother sent us, okay?"

"Okay." Xiao Yunyu responded loudly.

Then, he looked up at Yun Hao and said, "Daddy, let's go together."

The family of three entered the warm room, and the maid brought in a small basket of tangerines. Zhao Wangshu helped little Yunyu wash his hands, peeled a tangerine for him, and let him eat it by himself.

"Will there be a banquet in the palace on New Year's Eve this year?" Zhao Wangshu asked.

"Don't want to go?" Yun Hao asked.

"I don't think many people would be willing to brave the wind and snow to go to the palace and have a New Year's Eve dinner that is not filling and makes people nervous." Zhao Wangshu chuckled and stuffed the tangerine in his hand into his mouth.

"You're right. The New Year's Eve dinner in the palace is indeed not as comfortable as the one we have at home." Yun Hao looked at Zhao Wangshu tenderly, "But we still have to go."

"I hope everything goes well and that His Majesty doesn't have to vomit blood again." Zhao Wangshu joked, thinking of last year's palace banquet.

"Using the same trick twice is something only a fool can do." Yun Hao said with a smile.

"No." Zhao Wangshu stretched out his right index finger and shook it gently. "As long as the strategy is useful, it can be used as many times as needed."

Yun Hao pondered for a moment and smiled, "Madam, what you said makes sense."

"It's freezing cold, so don't bring Yu'er into the palace." Zhao Wangshu used a handkerchief to wipe the orange juice off Xiao Yunyu's chin.

"We won't bring Yu'er into the palace until he is seven years old." Yun Hao was reluctant to let his son suffer from the cold. Besides, if he brought his son into the palace, Zhao Wangshu would have to worry about him and would be tired.

The couple agreed that on New Year's Eve, they would bring their two maids to the palace for a banquet.

The palace gate is majestic and the lights are bright, illuminating the snow like daylight.

As soon as he entered the hall, a rich fragrance mixed with heat hit him in the face. Zhao Wangshu took off his cloak, handed it to the maid, and sat down under the guidance of the eunuch.

The palace maid brought tea, but Zhao Wangshu held it in his hand and did not drink it. He looked around and soon saw Madam Zheng sitting a little further away.

It was Mrs. Zheng's first time to attend a palace banquet, and she looked a little reserved. When Zheng Jin was called away, she looked even more uneasy.

Zhao Wangshu put down the cup and walked over, "Mrs. Zheng."

"Mrs. Yun." Mrs. Zheng, please stand up.

"Let's sit down and talk." Zhao Wangshu said with a friendly smile.

After sitting down, Zhao Wangshu whispered, "This palace banquet is not as good as a folk banquet. You can't eat enough. Besides, it's so cold that the dishes are cold and inedible. Did you eat anything before entering the palace?"

"I ate a small bowl of noodles." Mrs. Zheng said with a smile.

Zhao Wangshu guided her and started chatting, and Mrs. Zheng gradually relaxed.