Chapter 211: New Year

Chapter 211: New Year

"What is the prince writing?"

With just a month left until the New Year, Lin Yunwan noticed Qi Lingheng had been writing in his study, seemingly working on some sort of memorial to the throne.

She set down a bowl of soup, saying, "You've been writing for several days now."

Qi Lingheng rubbed his forehead, exhausted from writing.

He said, "It's the New Year's greeting for the emperor and empress."

Lin Yunwan approached and asked, "Prince, may I see it?"

"Of course."

Qi Lingheng, with a chuckle, handed her the greeting to read.

Lin Yunwan glanced at it.

With the prince's talent, drafting a greeting wasn't a difficult task.

There were also letters from the palace casually placed beside the table, which she perused.

Having read them, she understood everything.

The emperor and empress were urging them to have a child.

And it seemed the prince had once promised to fulfill their wish for a grandchild soon.

...No wonder this year's greeting was difficult to write.

Qi Lingheng stood up and walked to her side.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, caressed her flat belly, and whispered, "Now do you understand the difficulty your husband faces?"

Lin Yunwan turned with a smile, "Isn't it your own doing? Children are a gift from heaven, how could you promise the Emperor and Empress when we would have one?"

"If I hadn't said that, you would have had to meet your in-laws this New Year."

Qi Lingheng intended to pinch her cheek, but as she turned, her hairpin became slightly askew, so he adjusted it for her.

Lin Yunwan knew he was considering her; returning to the capital now was indeed not the right time.

She walked to the desk, picked up a pen, and also wrote a New Year's greeting.

As she finished writing, she said, "Even an ugly wife must meet her in-laws. I, too, shall present a greeting, as a gesture of respect."

Qi Lingheng looked over and saw that her greeting was almost an outright confession of guilt.

She was taking all the responsibility upon herself.

"This won't do, how can this be blamed on the princess alone?"

"It's the prince who is incompetent."

Qi Lingheng was joking with her. When they first married, they had a doctor check their pulses and both were healthy. But the matter of offspring indeed couldn’t be rushed. Even if the Emperor and Empress were anxious, it wouldn’t hasten things.

He picked up his pen to finish the latter half of his own greeting.

"If the princess is at fault, then the prince cannot be exempted."

It was also written in a self-accusatory style.

Once it had dried, Qi Lingheng instructed Afu to deliver it to the capital quickly.

"In a few days, the roads to the capital will be closed. Don’t delay on the way."

Afu, holding the greetings, replied, "I understand!"

Jiang Qian's courier sped to the capital with the two New Year's greetings.

Anything sent back to the capital by Prince Huan was directly presented to the Emperor or the inner palace.

Emperor Jing Shun and Empress Zhao read the greetings from their son and daughter-in-law together.

Emperor Jing Shun was very pleased, laughing, "Truly a newlywed couple, deeply in love."

The Empress was also satisfied, clearly understanding the affection expressed in both greetings.

"The literary grace of our daughter-in-law is commendable indeed, worthy of being the legitimate daughter of the Lin family."

"With things going like this, Your Majesty, are you still worried about not having a grandchild?"

Emperor Jing Shun nodded and sent a letter in response to his son and daughter-in-law, along with generous rewards, and a message: "If the Princess blesses our Great Zhou with a direct heir, there will be substantial rewards!"

Empress Zhao was also eager to reward them. Curious, she said, "I wonder how the eldest Miss Lin managed to win over our Heng'er."

"Our son, seemingly obedient, is actually quite willful."

Emperor Jing Shun was also full of questions, but even after Lady Wang's return to the capital, no specific reasons were disclosed.

Stroking his beard, he pondered for a moment and said, "Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to surpass the beauty's gate; it must be so."

Empress Zhao wasn't convinced.

"There are many beauties in the capital, yet our son never showed interest in anyone."

"But now that our son is married, it settles a concern for us as his parents. For now, let’s not dwell on it too much."

"Heng'er mentioned Miss Lin is frail. We won’t trouble them this year, but next year… I want to meet my daughter-in-law."

Emperor Jing Shun was also eager to meet her, adding with a smile, "If they come to the capital with our grandchild, that would be perfect."

The Emperor and Empress chatted and laughed, when a palace maid entered, saying, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience."

Emperor Jingshun frowned, "He is frail in health, why come over in such heavy snow? Go, have someone escort the crown prince back immediately. Also, send Physician Chen to the prince's residence to check his pulse for safety, and report back to me, regardless of the findings."

The palace maid withdrew, "Yes."

He continued to listen to the new music composed by Empress Zhao.

"Your Highness, the emperor is preoccupied and mentioned the heavy snow. He instructed me to escort you back."

The one who came was Emperor Jingshun's closest eunuch.

The crown prince, looking up at the snowy imperial city with its red walls and green tiles all covered in white, coughed twice and smiled, "Father is right, the snow is too heavy. Too heavy indeed..."

"Convey my regards to the emperor on behalf of me."

"Yes."

The attendants from the prince's mansion helped the crown prince leave the palace.

Physician Chen went to check the crown prince's pulse for reassurance, recorded the findings, and presented them to Emperor Jingshun, explaining in detail.

Afterwards, rare medicinal herbs were sent to the crown prince's residence like a flowing stream.

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"Yunwan, look, the emperor and empress are very pleased. The empress even said you are talented."

Qi Lingheng, having received the letter from the emperor and empress, eagerly showed it to Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan smiled, "It's all thanks to your good fortune, prince. The emperor and empress's affection is a reflection of their love for you."

She hadn't expected the emperor and empress to dote on the prince like ordinary parents would their young child.

Speaking of parental affection and then seeing the family letter on the table, Lin Yunwan suddenly looked melancholic.

"What's wrong?"

Qi Lingheng's expression changed, puzzled by her sudden sadness after their cheerful conversation.

Lin Yunwan offered a faint smile, "It's nothing."

She changed the subject, "My lord, Xiruo is not getting any younger. Originally a maid in our mansion, I know nothing of her background, but I believe it's time for her to marry. What do you think?"

"Xiruo is now your maid, devoted to you. Arrange her future as you see fit."

Lin Yunwan said, "I just don't want to wrong her."

Qi Lingheng laughed, "I have yet to see you mistreat any maid around you."

Except for their wedding night, when he forbade the maids from disturbing her in the bathhouse, every time he visited, Xiruo and Cuixin, the two maids, would immediately report his arrival.

Lin Yunwan thus decided, "Then I'll find a suitable place to settle Xiruo."

There were other domestic affairs to be handled as well.

Qi Lingheng had to meet with provincial officials today and left shortly after sitting down.

Lin Yunwan stayed in the mansion's council hall, meeting with the managers and heads of the external shops and estates.

"Managing these people requires both kindness and strictness, but with the New Year approaching, let's avoid any unpleasant discussions for now. We'll address any issues after the holiday."

Lin Yunwan continued her conversation with Xiruo and Cuixin.

Cuixin then said, "Replying to the princess, all the gifts for the meeting are ready."

Lin Yunwan nodded, "Go ahead and distribute the rewards."

As the New Year approached, everyone in and around the mansion received their gifts.

Lin Yunwan meticulously organized the exchange of favors between the mansion, officials in Jiang Qian, influential families, and the elite in the capital, ensuring that New Year's gifts were accurately delivered to each household without error.

Amidst the busy details, she received good news: Dong Shuangshuang was about to give birth.

Cuixin said with a giggle, "They’ve already invited a midwife to stay at home, expecting the baby in the first month."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Send five hundred taels for lamp oil to Ci'en Temple as a donation!"

By year-end, she had made two donations, and heard that the Su family had also made a couple.