The New Year of the ninth year of Yongjia arrived amid heavy snowfall.

It snowed all night and stopped at five o’clock. As soon as you step on it, you will find a deep footpit.

As a court official, one had to enter the palace early on New Year’s Day. Today, Emperor Yongjia was leading civil and military officials and a host of princes in the imperial ancestral temple for a grand ceremony to pay respects to the heavens and ancestors, followed by a lavish palace banquet.

The imperial decree required the noblewomen to rise early and enter the imperial harem to pay respects to Empress Dowager Zhao and Empress Qiao.

The maids and women of the Lu family and the soldiers, all dressed in thick cotton clothes, came happily to pay their respects to their master.

Lu Mingyu and Shen Lan were sitting in the inner hall, with a large basket of copper coins beside them. Those who come to pay their respects are rewarded with money. The rewards given by the Lu family were also interesting; just walk to the basket and grab a handful. Catch as many as you can afford.

The maids with weak hands could not hold a few, but the same could not be said for the stewards and soldiers whose hands were as big as cattail leaf fans. He stretched out his hand and fished it out coolly, and found a handful full of copper coins. It simply made the maids’ eyes turn red with envy.

It was also the first time Shen Lan had seen such excitement, and she laughed in a low voice: “It’s quite interesting to have such a red envelope.”

Lu Xuan laughed and said: “This is the method that the fourth sister came up with.”

“It’s the New Year, after all, a time for celebration and joy,” Lu Mingyu smiled and said, “I’ve instructed the kitchen to prepare plenty of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, and we have wine too. On this New Year’s Day, let everyone have a hearty meal.”

Why were all the soldiers of the Lu family loyal to their master through fire and water? Not afraid of death?

This was why.

Lu Lin was strict in running the army and never showed mercy when he trained his own soldiers. However, in addition to being ferocious in training, he was also very good to his soldiers.

They always got money on time every month, had warm clothes, and ate well. If someone died on the battlefield, the family received a generous pension and money to settle down. If someone was injured and had nowhere to go, he found a place in the Lu Mansion to work as an errand to provide for his old age.

Lu Mingyu has been in charge of the family for six years and treated their soldiers equally well.

In this way, the soldiers were loyal to Lu Lin and his daughter from the bottom of their hearts.

Shen Lan listened silently and remembered everything in her heart.

Lu Mingyu was getting married soon, and from now on, the inner house will be in her hands. She couldn’t compare with Lu Mingyu, at least, she couldn’t chill everyone’s hearts.

“Fourth sister, it’s cold today, how about we have a hot pot for lunch?” Lu Mingyue suggested with anticipation.

Lu Xuan was also very greedy: “Yes, yes, there is a frozen lamb in the house, cut into thin rolls, rinsed in a hot pot, dipped in some spicy oil and autumn oil, not to mention how delicious it is.”

Shen Lan loved to eat hot pot. However, as a new bride and èr sǎo, she had to be reserved. So, she swallowed quietly and said nothing.

Lu Mingyu, who knew Shen Lan well, smiled and joked: “èr sǎo didn’t say anything, did you not want to eat it?”

Shen Lan was no longer reserved, and immediately said: “The soup base made with pheasants tastes the best.”

…

The aroma was fragrant. The steaming pheasant soup was filled with green vegetable leaves, white bamboo shoots, and tofu.

Lu Mingyu held a frozen leg of lamb in her left hand and a thin dagger in her right hand. With a slight movement of her right hand, slices of mutton as thin as cicada wings flew into the pot like snowflakes.

The mutton slices fell into the pot, tumbled in the fragrant chicken soup, and were cooked in an instant.

This was not the first time Shen Lan saw her do this. Every time she saw her, she always exclaimed: “Xiaoyu, you are so awesome!”

Lu Mingyu casually smiled and said: “It’s nothing but a small skill.”

She had been practicing martial arts and swordsmanship since she was young, and she had also dedicated herself to archery, possessing great strength and precision. In her hands, even a fallen leaf or a flying petal could be turned into a weapon capable of causing harm.

Shen Lan sighed sincerely: “Xiaoyu, how does it feel to be a peerless master?”

Lu Mingyu thought for a moment, and then replied seriously: “I’m used to it, so let’s do it!”

Shen Lan chuckled and playfully teased her with a playful remark.

Lu Mingyue and Lu Xuan were busy eating and drinking with their heads down, and soon sweat broke out on their foreheads.

After Lu Mingyu trimmed a leg of lamb, she sat down slowly, drank a sip of fruit wine, and ate a mouthful of hot lamb. This day was indeed very enjoyable.

Lu Lin and his son returned home after dark.

In the evening, like at noon, they also had pheasant soup in a hot pot.

Lu Fei wanted to show off his skills in front of his newlywed wife, so he brought a frozen leg of lamb. Before he could cut a few pieces of mutton, Shen Lan smiled and said, “Xiaoyu can cut it quickly and well.”

Lu Fei: “…”

Everyone burst into laughter. Lu Fei looked at Lu Mingyu helplessly: “Fourth sister, can you save some face for your second brother?”

Lu Mingyu responded without sincerity: “I didn’t mean it.”

After dinner, everyone gathered together to play cards and throw dice. Lu Mingyu was so lucky that she won all the private property that Lu Xuan had saved for a year.

Lu Xuan beat his chest in annoyance, making everyone laugh again.

…

On the second day of the new year, the married Lu Mingfang and Lu Minghua brought their husbands back.

From the third to the sixth day of the lunar month, relatives, acquaintances, and friends move around each other. The Lu family was already prominent. After Lu Mingyu and the Second Prince got engaged, the word “more” had to be added before saying famous.

In the past few days, people who came to pay their respects were like ministers crossing the river.

After sifting out most of it, Lu Mansion was still extremely lively with people coming and going every day.

As a prince, Li Jing had to entertain himself with various banquets every day. He only showed up on the third day of the lunar new year. It doesn’t stop until the Lantern Festival.

In the past few years, the Great Wei has been conquering territory everywhere, and there has been little peace between Yan and Chu. However, the capital city of Great Wei was prosperous. The lantern market during the Lantern Festival was also the busiest time of the year.

Lu Lin smiled and told Lu Fei: “I’m going to the military camp, so don’t go today. Accompany Shen to the lantern market to see the excitement.”

Lu Fei agreed with a smile.

Zheng Zheng had already specially reserved a restaurant with the best location, which was very convenient for viewing lanterns, guessing riddles, eating Yuanxiao, and watching sideshows. Zhou Li and Lu Minghua also returned home early. Everyone was chatting and laughing, preparing to go to the lantern market together.

“Fourth sister,” Lu Minghua asked with a smile, “Will the Second Prince come today?”

Lu Mingyu smiled casually and said: “He specifically told me before that he would like to enjoy the lanterns with me during the Lantern Festival. He should be coming soon.”

Li Jing personally gave her a New Year gift and invited her to go to the lantern market with her during the Lantern Festival. Her fiancé actively looked for various opportunities to show her courtesy, and Lu Mingyu accepted without refusing.

Before she finished speaking, Qiyun came to report with a smile: “Miss, the Second Prince is here.”

Li Jing often came to visit, and the Lu family was flattered and cautious at the beginning, but now they were used to it. No one even went with Lu Mingyu to greet him.

The unmarried couple held hands and made love endlessly as soon as they met. They were too much of an eyesore.

Lu Mingyu walked to the front door, and a handsome young man in a jade green robe came into view.

A year later, Li Jing became taller and more slender. Standing with a smile on his face, his eyes are like the spring breeze.

Lu Mingyu glanced over and said, “It’s so cold, why are you wearing such thin clothes?”

Li Jing: “…”

The peacock with its tail spread unexpectedly met the fiancée who didn’t understand the charm. It was really depressing.