Chapter 109: The Crystal Vial

Chapter 109: The Crystal Vial

As the old year draws to a close, the expenses for New Year's gifts become a significant burden, requiring not just money but also considerable thought to select the most appropriate gifts based on the closeness of relationships and the circumstances of different households.

After this New Year, Jiu Jiu will turn eleven, an age at which girls in the Yu Dynasty are expected to start learning household management.

When preparing the New Year's gift list, Qiu Huanian brought Jiu Jiu along.

In fact, Qiu Huanian had never formally studied this, but in his previous life, he was a highly paid PR executive at a major company, skilled in integrating and coordinating resources between departments and maintaining good relationships with external companies and media.

Many aspects of interpersonal relationships are universal across time, and managing the social interactions of a small ancient family was well within his capabilities.

By observing carefully and learning from others when unsure, he quickly mastered the task through hands-on experience and was able to teach Jiu Jiu in turn.

Qiu Huanian first divided the households needing New Year's gifts into several groups: one group from Du Village and its surroundings, one group of literati friends of Du Yunse, one group of households in Xiangping Prefecture with whom they had regular interactions, and one group from the border garrison at Jingshan.

The gifts for each group followed a standard pattern, differing only in quantity based on the recipients' status, to avoid accusations of favoritism.

For those with whom they had closer relationships, special items were added to the standard gifts.

For example, he had a set of flower-shaped jewelry suitable for young girls made for Cun Lan at the frontier, Ru Tang from the Shu family, Wei Fuxia, the adopted daughter of Huang Daniang, Zhu Xian from the Zhu family, and Su Xinyao from the Su family.

He gave a stationery set to Chi Qinghe from the Song Juren's family, Yun Kang, the son of Hu Qiuyan, and Youge from Wei Liuhua's family.

He sent ten new books to Liao Cang, who taught at the Du Village school, and had a pearl headband adorned with floral motifs custom-made for Yuan Ruo, Chun Sheng's best friend at school...

Many of these special items were decided by Jiu Jiu, with Qiu Huanian offering guidance only when she was indecisive.

After spending two or three days finalizing the gift lists, Qiu Huanian handed them all to the steward Wu Da, who arranged for the household staff to deliver them, either directly in Xiangping Prefecture or through the Wanshi Escort Bureau for those farther away.

Though the New Year's gift lists were burdensome, they were not the most critical. One gift, in particular, required Qiu Huanian to spend considerable effort revising the wording of the accompanying memorial.

This was the New Year's gift to be presented to the current emperor of the Yu Dynasty, the Yuanhua Emperor.

Due to various reasons, Qiu Huanian had somewhat come to the attention of the Yuanhua Emperor, which was an honor but also carried risks for someone in ancient times.

Since the emperor might personally review the gifts, Qiu Huanian dared not overlook a single detail.

In a feudal society, offending the emperor could be fatal, and Qiu Huanian wished to live a peaceful life with his family.

Finally, when the box containing plum blossom ointment, oyster paste, cotton, sugar beet cultivars, and other top-quality items, along with the memorial polished by Du Yunse, was sealed and carefully taken away by the imperial courier, Qiu Huanian sighed in relief.

With the imperial courier's fast horses, Qiu Huanian's New Year's gift reached the capital in less than ten days. The eunuch Wen Xing, as usual, set aside the memorial and placed it on the emperor's desk for him to read during his leisure after handling state affairs.

The Yuanhua Emperor, who had risen through military exploits, was not particularly interested in the pure and serene fragrance of plum blossom ointment but found the sugar beet cultivars intriguing.

"Take the cultivars to the imperial estate and have them carefully cultivated. Dispatch someone to Liaozhou to inquire with Lady Qishu about these beetroots that might yield white sugar."

"Yes," Wen Xing replied, lowering his gaze.

"Is the Crown Prince still at the imperial estate?"

Wen Xing pondered before answering, "The Crown Prince is still residing at the imperial estate, but in a few days, it will be the anniversary of the Empress's passing. His Highness will surely return to the palace to pay his respects."

The Yuanhua Emperor remained silent for a long time.

Recently, several heavy snowfalls had occurred in the capital. A newly transferred young eunuch outside the Jinshen Hall slipped, causing a slight commotion. Wen Xing frowned imperceptibly, and the eunuchs outside immediately took the young man away for discipline.

The emperor's expression remained inscrutable. "Send two jars of the plum blossom ointment presented by Lady Qishu to Noble Consort Kang, and give one jar to each of the imperial children. The remainder shall be stored in the treasury."

"Understood."

As the Yuanhua Emperor's voice fell, the eunuch scribe outside had already started drafting the edict.

The heavy snowfalls in the capital followed one after another; before the previous one could melt, the next one would fall, causing temperatures to plummet rapidly.

The imperial palace was already the warmest place in the entire capital, yet even in the imperial manor outside the city, despite burning the finest tribute charcoal, the indoor temperature was far from ideal.

Jia Hongyuan, draped in a pure white fox fur cloak without a single stray hair, stood pale-faced by the open window, allowing the cold wind and scattered snowflakes to land on his brows.

The door opened silently, and a shadow as elusive as a ghost slipped in.

Sixteen knelt on one knee, "Your Highness, it is time for your meal and medicine."

Jia Hongyuan turned to look at him, "They sent you again."

Everyone knew the Crown Prince was in a foul mood today. The Yuanhua Emperor had bestowed a jar of plum blossom ointment upon all the imperial heirs, seemingly impartial, but as the Crown Prince, if his treatment was the same as the others, what significance did it hold?

Whenever Jia Hongyuan was alone without summoning attendants, those who served him closely dared not provoke his temper. Any matters were only relayed by Sixteen, the Crown Prince's most trusted shadow guard.

Sixteen did not respond but spoke methodically, "The aunt said the sacrificial ceremony for the late empress had been prepared. Please review it personally after your meal."

Jia Hongyuan raised his hand and tossed something. Sixteen caught it effortlessly; it was the jar of imperial plum blossom ointment.

Seeing the 'Qiu's Six Staples' mark on it, Sixteen's heart trembled slightly, though no abnormality was visible on the outside.

"This ointment smells nice, like plum blossoms. Take it for yourself."

Sixteen remained expressionless, "Your Highness, I am a shadow; I cannot carry any scent."

A smile spread across Jia Hongyuan's ethereal face, but his calm tone was terrifying.

"Who isn't a shadow?"

"..."

Jia Hongyuan adjusted his cloak and walked out, passing by Sixteen, he said indifferently, "Rise."

Sixteen stood up silently, his movements swift.

Jia Hongyuan looked at the falling snow outside the window, his voice devoid of any emotion, much like the Yuanhua Emperor before a massacre.

"Sixteen, do you remember my mother?"

"Yes."

"Why did she choose you? Say it again, I want to hear it."

Sixteen repeated the unchanging answer, "Thirteen years ago, the late empress was gravely ill. The Emperor was on a military campaign and had not returned to the court. Seeing Your Highness worried all day, the late empress wanted to select a companion for you in the capital, but found no suitable candidate."

"The head maid suggested to the late empress that there was a group of children in the palace training school who had completed their training. One could be chosen to stay by Your Highness's side, to amuse and protect you."

"The late empress then summoned that group of trained children and chose Sixteen."

Jia Hongyuan turned to examine Sixteen, reaching out to pinch his chin.

"Perhaps she also wanted to give you a name, perhaps..."

Jia Hongyuan laughed, the sound like water droplets striking jade.

"That afternoon, my mother suddenly fell ill and passed away, and I also became so sick that I didn’t get to see her one last time."

"They brought you before me, saying... you were the last gift my mother chose for me."

Sixteen lowered his long eyelashes.

Jia Hongyuan released his hand and turned to leave. Sixteen silently followed a few steps behind, like a wisp of cold, insubstantial smoke.

...

Just a few days before the New Year, Qiu Huanian received the annual gifts delivered by the official courier for the Township Lord, which included two rolls of fashionable palace silk and a finely crafted set of jewelry. Though not particularly valuable, wearing the emperor’s gifts during the New Year was a status symbol.

Lark and her daughter Agate spent several days sewing, transforming the palace silks into outfits. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse each received a set in the same color but different styles.

The rest of the family’s New Year clothes were already made. The winter in the northeast was too cold, so Qiu Huanian splurged on fur cloaks for everyone, including even Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling.

Meng Yuanling, who had been working as the manager for Qiu's Six Staples for most of the year, had saved up about fifty or sixty taels and wanted to get something for Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian stopped him.

"In the future, when Yun Cheng becomes an official after the imperial exam, there will be many expenses. You’re in charge of the finances, so you should save."

Yun Cheng had already entered Class B of Qingfeng Academy, and he was sure to pass the academy exam and become a scholar next year.

Thanks to Du Yunse’s guidance and Qingfeng Academy’s strong faculty, coupled with his own decent talent and hard work, he might even try the provincial exam in three years.

Meng Yuanling stuck out his tongue, "I know I’ve got to save. After learning from Brother Hua for so long, how could I not know?"

"Yun Cheng and I talked about getting something. Our brothers have looked after us long enough; it’s our turn to show thanks."

Seeing this, Qiu Huanian could only reluctantly agree.

Meng Yuanling searched all over Xiangping Prefecture and finally picked out a pair of glass bottles painted with Western art.

"Is this... something from the West?"

"Yes, it was bought from Westerners at the Fuzhou port by a merchant caravan. I thought Brother Hua, who loves novel things, would like it."

Qiu Huanian indeed found it novel, although he knew that this parallel world must have many other countries, he had never encountered any since coming to the Yu Dynasty.

Although the Yu Dynasty did not enforce a strict isolationist policy, it was not enthusiastic about interacting with other countries.

Apart from the envoys from vassal states paying tribute, the Yu Dynasty only opened three ports in the Fuzhou area, allowing trade between foreign and domestic merchants.

Qiu Huanian, living in the inland northeast, naturally had no opportunity to see such things.

Qiu Huanian examined the glass bottles in his hand, which lacked refinement but had unique craftsmanship, and his thoughts began to wander.

He wondered about the technology and politics of foreign countries in this timeline.

If possible, it would be good to engage more with the world, keeping up with the times to avoid the regrets and sorrows that occurred in the history of his original timeline.

Qiu Huanian shook his head and placed the glass bottle with the winged angel in the living room, so guests could admire something new when they came over.

The things he was thinking about were still too far off; at least he would have to wait until Du Yunse entered the officialdom and had some influence before considering them.