HMAM CH 47 New Years Extra
This was a picturesque little town in Jiangnan. As the New Year approached, the usually quiet streets, where the wind blew gently and the people lived in peace, had come alive with laughter and chatter.
Most pedestrians were dressed in new clothes made for the holiday. As people came and went, two children, beautifully dressed and resembling miniature jade dumplings, stood out particularly. Behind them were two individuals—one with striking features wearing a green silk headband, and the other handsome and graceful—who were Le Zhenghuan and Lu Baizang.
Jing Xiao Yun was engrossed in the snacks that Uncle Lu had made for him, happily nibbling on one in each hand, oblivious to the gazes from those around him. Zhao Yue, who was even younger, remained very quiet, his dark, shiny eyes quietly observing the crowd passing by.
The two adults appeared to move casually, but no one can get within three feet of the two children.
Le Zhenghuan glanced at the crowd surrounding them and frowned, saying, "Running around indoors is fine, but why come all the way here?"
Lu Baizang, lazily, replied, "Even for pet cats or dogs, you have to take them out to get some fresh air. Just bear with it."
He only dared to say this here. If Jing Ye were to hear his precious nephew being compared to a pet cat or dog, someone would probably be in trouble for half a month.
Since last year, Jing Ye had been less involved in governmental affairs due to his poor health. Now, he was gradually recovering and only handled extremely important matters, leaving the routine affairs to Gu Hong and Lin Xiaosheng.
The weather in the Jiangnan region was mild, so Jing Ye decided to visit Heyun Town for the winter, not only for the suitable climate to recuperate but also for another reason.
While nibbling on his snack, Jing Xiao Yun was suddenly attracted by a beautifully colored object and quickly took a few steps forward, his little mouth slightly open, eagerly gazing at the sugar figurines displayed in the shop.
Lu Baizang glanced at the row of sugar figurines, bent down to pat Jing Xiao Yun's head, and reassured him, "Sweetheart, those aren't meant to be eaten."
Jing Xiao Yun looked up at him, and the two shared a long gaze. Seeing that Lu Baizang had no intention of agreeing, he pouted and tears welled up in his eyes.
Lu Baizang furrowed his brow. He had various ways to deal with the complex thoughts of adults, but he found it hard to manage these little sprites.
Le Zhenghuan was more direct. With a cold snort, he stepped forward to pick up Zhao Yue, who quickly grabbed hold of the table leg holding the sugar figurines to express his support for his big brother.
Le Zhenghuan's movement froze. The child's body was so delicate; what if he accidentally broke him?
The adults and children stared at each other for a long time, and Lu Baizang was the first to relent, waving to the shopkeeper, "Do you sell sugar figurines here?"
The shopkeeper hurriedly ran over, first surprised by the striking appearance of the two pairs of father-and-son, and then quickly said, "The ones displayed are just samples and can't be eaten. It's the New Year, and we've sold out of sugar figurines; I truly apologize."
Le Zhenghuan finally picked up Zhao Yue, saying, "Then let's go buy somewhere else."
The group then visited other shops, but all were sold out.
Lu Baizang helplessly looked down at Jing Xiao Yun, saying, "See, there aren't any. Can we go home?"
Jing Xiao Yun gazed up at him with wet eyes.
Lu Baizang: "…"
So, the group returned to the first shop. Jing Xiao Yun and Zhao Yue sat side by side on the long bench, while the two adults sat at the table and started molding sugar figurines.
Lu Baizang was very skilled in culinary arts, so he molded the sugar figurines effortlessly, with smooth and beautiful gestures.
Le Zhenghuan, however, was clumsy. Although martial artists were known for their precision in strength, he could not understand why the figures he molded turned out to be so... incredibly ugly.
Le Zhenghuan slammed the sugar figurine onto the table, and the formed confection crumbled beneath his hand, angrily exclaiming, "Why does Li Tingqiu get to take Ah Ye out to the gardens when I can only sit here molding sugar figurines for little children!"
The table fell silent.
Jing Xiao Yun, sensing that Uncle Le's mood had soured, obediently kept quiet. At that moment, Zhao Yue spoke up.
He extended his pudgy little hand, pointing at the crumbled sugar, and sweetly said, "Ah… want to eat this candy."
Le Zhenghuan: "…"
At this time, Jing Ye was slowly walking through the long corridor with Li Tingqiu, stepping delicately over the snow-covered branches of a plum grove.
Jing Ye said, "Is the old madam from Jiangnan?"
Li Tingqiu nodded, brushing away the plum branches that brushed against Jing Ye's hat, replying, "My grandmother is from here, and after marrying to the north, she still longs for this place. After I turned ten, she moved back here and never wanted to go back north."
Jing Ye smiled, "Nostalgia is a good thing."
Li Tingqiu turned slightly, focusing his gaze on Jing Ye. Usually, everyone gathered around to keep Jing Ye company, or they were in groups of two or three. Rarely was there a situation like now, where Jing Ye looked only at him and spoke solely to him.
Though it was taken for a fact that when the emperor spreads grace, he must distribute his favors evenly, a person's deep affection still fostered an insatiable desire for possession.
As the two engaged in casual conversation, two young maidservants approached, one of them cheerfully holding a vase of red plum blossoms. Upon seeing Li Tingqiu and Jing Ye, they quickly bowed and greeted, "Young master, Jing Gongzi."
Li Tingqiu asked, "Where are you taking the plum blossoms?"
One maidservant smiled, "These plum blossoms are particularly beautiful. We've cut a vase to deliver to the old madam's room, but we have more tasks. Could we trouble the young master and Jing Gongzi to take it there on your way?"
Jing Ye replied, "Sure." He reached out to take the gorgeous vase filled with bright red plum blossoms and held it to his chest.
The maidservants expressed their thanks and smiled as they walked away.
Jing Ye, holding the flowers, accompanied Li Tingqiu to the bedroom of Old Madam Li.
At over eighty years old, the old madam was slightly unclear-minded but still recognized her grandson. However, upon seeing Jing Ye behind Li Tingqiu, she paused and asked, "Which family's young lady is this?"
One of the maidservants serving the old madam bursted into laughter and said, "Mistress, you are mistaken, what young lady is there? This is Jing Gongzi."
Jing Ye was draped in a grand red cloak of wool. The old madam's eyesight was unclear, but upon looking more closely, she saw a tall, handsome young man.
Looking at Jing Ye, the old madam seemed to recall something, her eyes blinking as tears unexpectedly fell. She told Li Tingqiu, "Your aunt loved to wear red on snowy days, and she often picked flowers to cheer me up. This child resembles her so much..."
The maidservant quickly chimed in, "Again mistaken, Mistress! The second master is the young master's uncle, how can he be an aunt?"
The old madam chided her, saying, "Young children mustn't speak carelessly." Then, looking at Jing Ye, she waved him over, "You, child, come here."
Jing Ye glanced at Li Tingqiu, handed the plum branches to the maidservant, and approached, saying, "Old Madam?"
The old madam's bony fingers stroked his cheek, tears gleaming in her eyes. Although she had aged, one could still see the spirit and beauty she possessed in her youth from her features and expressions.
The old madam examined Jing Ye closely for a moment, and then a smile appeared on her face, "What a good-looking child, you seem gentle too."
She lowered her head, trembling fingers removing a gold bracelet with entwined lotus vines from her wrist, handing it to Jing Ye.
"Dear child, I will entrust Ting Qiu to you."
Jing Ye glanced at Li Tingqiu with a smile, gently clasping the old madam's hand.
After sitting for a while, the old madam felt tired and went to the inner room for a nap. Jing Ye and Li Tingqiu stepped out, retracing their steps.
Jing Ye opened his hand, revealing the gold bracelet resting in his palm, jokingly saying, "The dowry is all prepared; Lady Li, should we choose a date for our wedding?"
Li Tingqiu remained silent, but after taking two steps, he suddenly grabbed Jing Ye's wrist and pressed his slightly cool lips against him. Jing Ye, responding instinctively, held the back of his head, and the two kissed amidst the gently falling snow.
On the other side of the little town, in a pastry shop, Le Zhenghuan secretly selected the most acceptable sugar figurine from those he had molded, wrapping it up and hiding it in his clothes.
Zhao Yue held a string of gelatinous things that didn't resemble any shape and licked it slightly, only to exclaim at how sweet it was, "Ah… woo."