Daughter of aristocratic family

Chapter 475 Congratulations
This year's New Year's Eve palace banquet went smoothly. The emperor and his two sons even put on a drama of loving father and filial piety.

After the palace banquet, the emperor also invited all officials to watch a grand fireworks show.

The brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky, brilliant and dazzling, like blooming flowers, illuminating the entire palace as if it were daytime.

Zhao Wangshu and Yun Hao stood side by side in the crowd, looking up at the colorful fireworks. Under their cloaks, their fingers were intertwined.

"The fireworks are so beautiful!" Zhao Wangshu exclaimed softly.

Yun Hao smiled slightly, gazing deeply at Zhao Wangshu's profile, which looked soft and beautiful under the reflection of the fireworks. "It is indeed beautiful."

The fireworks gradually faded away, and the night sky returned to tranquility. The emperor left happily, and everyone bowed and saw him off.

Coming out of the palace, the carriage drove slowly on the empty street. The lanterns on both sides swayed as the carriage moved forward, casting mottled light and shadows.

In the carriage, Zhao Wangshu held a hand warmer and said, "Your Majesty seems particularly calm and peaceful today, and he is a kind father to Prince Zuo and the Eleventh Prince."

"Wangshu, do you think there is father-son love among the royal family?" Yun Hao asked.

"Perhaps when the prince was young, but Prince Zuo is already old enough to seize the throne. To Your Majesty, he is not a son, but an opponent." Zhao Wangshu chuckled, "There is no father and son in the royal family, only monarch and ministers."

Yun Hao smiled approvingly, "Madam, what you said hits the nail on the head."

"The tragedy of the royal family is that family affection and power often cannot coexist." Zhao Wangshu sighed.

"Calling yourself alone and being isolated is the norm for emperors," Yun Hao echoed.

After chatting for a while about the emperor's family affairs, Zhao Wangshu covered his mouth and yawned.

"If you're sleepy, just take a nap." Yun Hao held her in his arms.

"I won't sleep. I have to eat the New Year's Eve dinner and stay up all night soon." Zhao Wangshu said with half-closed eyes.

Yun Hao patted her back gently and said, "It's okay. We can have the New Year's Eve dinner later. We can eat it while staying up late."

"We're almost home, and I can't sleep for much longer, so I'd better not go to sleep." Zhao Wangshu sat up and said with energy.

The carriage was moving slowly in the night, and snow was falling outside the window, flakes of snow falling from the sky.

"It snows one after another. Will there be another snowstorm?" Zhao Wangshu opened a corner of the curtain and looked out. The biting cold wind made her sleepiness disappear instantly.

Yun Hao reached out and held Zhao Wangshu's hand, warming it in his palm. "Don't worry, the court has made preparations. Even if there is a snowstorm, we can respond in time."

Zhao Wangshu nodded, lowered the curtains, and leaned into Yun Hao's arms. "It's not really peaceful these past few years. There have been droughts, floods, snowstorms, and Prince Rong's rebellion."

"These few years have indeed been full of disasters, but we have all gotten through it safely." Yun Hao said with a smile.

"Life will get better and better." Zhao Wangshu said with a smile.

The carriage drove on the snowy night, and the wheels left deep marks on the snow.

Soon, the carriage entered the mansion and stopped outside the second gate. Zhao Wangshu and Yun Hao got off the carriage, and snowflakes were still falling.

After returning to Linglong Courtyard, Xiao Yunyu was still trying to stay awake.

"My dear child." Zhao Wangshu washed his hands, warmed them by the charcoal stove, and then went over to pick him up.

Little Yunyu tried hard to open his eyes, called out aggrievedly, "Mom." and snuggled into her arms.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting for a long time. Let's eat something to show our respect and then go to bed, okay?" Zhao Wangshu said while sitting on the kang.

"Hmm" Xiao Yunyu hummed twice like a well-behaved kitten. The servants brought the New Year's Eve dinner, ten dishes, implying perfection.

Zhao Wangshu fed little Yunyu some chicken and fish, and wanted the nurse to carry him back to his room to sleep, but little Yunyu grabbed her clothes tightly, "Mom, I won't go."

"Okay, okay, I won't leave. Follow mom and I'll coax you to sleep." Zhao Wangshu coaxed him to rinse his mouth and wash his face, then he held him in one hand and ate with chopsticks in the other.

"Let me hold it." Yun Hao put down his chopsticks and stretched out his hand.

"No need, he's just acting like a spoiled child and you can't coax him." Although Zhao Wangshu didn't know why Xiao Yunyu was so clingy tonight, he was willing to obey him.

Just like this, little Yunyu, in his mother's arms, accompanied his parents to eat the New Year's Eve dinner and stay up until midnight.

When the firecrackers were set off, Zhao Wangshu covered his ears, but he was still startled. Zhao Wangshu quickly coaxed him softly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, dear boy, don't be afraid, mother is here."

After coaxing the little guy to sleep again, I put him back to bed, washed up, and went to bed.

Zhao Wangshu held his son, Yun Hao held her, and the family of three slept soundly.

However, on the first day of the first lunar month, one had to get up early and go to the palace to pay homage.

Before daybreak, Zhao Wangshu got up and put on his official make-up, then went to the palace in a carriage with Yun Hao, who was wearing his official uniform.

The snow had stopped, but the streets were covered with thick snow. The carriages moved very slowly, and the lanterns along the way flickered dimly in the morning mist, adding a bit of solemnity and mystery to the first day of the new year.

"This New Year is more tiring than usual." Zhao Wangshu said, holding his head.

Yun Hao reached out and helped her massage her neck, "Thank you for your hard work, Madam."

"My husband has worked hard, getting up so early every day." Zhao Wangshu's eyes turned, "Other wives would get up to help their husbands wash and groom themselves, and send them out, but I have never done this. Do you think I am not virtuous?"

Yun Hao chuckled when he heard this. He reached out and took Zhao Wangshu into his arms, whispering in her ear, "Why does my wife have to work so hard? I just hope that my wife can be well every day, and I will be satisfied. Virtuous or not, each has its own definition. In my opinion, my wife is the best."

Zhao Wangshu smiled sweetly, "In my heart, my husband is also the most perfect in the world."

The carriage slowly stopped outside the palace. The palace gate was majestic and magnificent. The guards on both sides stood like pine trees. The atmosphere was solemn. The red lanterns swaying in the cold wind seemed particularly festive.

After each of them tidied their robes, they got off the carriage and walked towards the palace.

Inside the hall, there was splendor and gold. On the dragon throne, the emperor, wearing a crown and robes, sat with an awe-inspiring dignity.

All the civil and military officials, as well as the imperial edicts, were present. Zhao Wangshu and Yun Hao followed the others and respectfully performed the ceremony. "Your Majesty, we wish you a prosperous new year, a long life, good health and happiness. Long live your Majesty."

The emperor nodded slightly and said in a voice as loud as a bell: "No need to be polite, everyone. Please stand up."

At the beginning of the new year, the emperor seemed to be in a particularly good mood. He smiled and glanced around the hall, then slowly said, "Today is the first day of the new year. Seeing that you are all in high spirits, I am very pleased. I hope that this year will be a good year with good weather, peace and prosperity for the country and the people. You should all work together and do your best for the country."

"We obey your order." All the ministers responded in unison.

After the complicated court ceremony, the emperor gave a banquet to all officials.

Inside the hall, the sounds of banquet and music gradually rose; the dancers' light steps and melodious music intertwined into a harmonious picture.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, enjoying the feast with a smile on his face.

In Zhao Wangshu's opinion, there was not much difference between the morning congratulatory banquet and the New Year's Eve palace banquet last night. He just picked up the dishes he liked, tasted a few bites, put down his chopsticks, held the hot tea, and drank it in small sips while enjoying the singing and dancing.

It's so hot and the water has been cut off for two consecutive days. It's really driving people crazy.