Chapter 63: New Year’s Eve

Chapter 63: New Year's Eve

In addition to carefully overseeing every dish for the New Year's Eve feast, there were also wine and fruit platters, rice cakes, and various items to be arranged for the ancestral rites that night.

There were also New Year gifts from families connected to the Liang household, and the list of New Year goods sent from the Liang family’s estates across the country, including delicacies like deer, roe deer, Siamese pigs, live deer, and golden pheasants.

The large kitchen was bustling with the festive aroma of the New Year. Even though it was already a three-room kitchen with both wings connected, it was still not enough space to accommodate all the New Year gifts.

The titled elderly ladies and wives of the household had to first go to the palace to pay their respects, after which the men returned home to worship at the ancestral hall, with roles such as the main worshiper, accompanying worshiper, wine offerer, silk offerer, and incense bearer.

After the ancestral rites, it was already evening, and the family reunion feast officially began.

The men took their seats on the east side, and the women on the west. After seating, the maids brought in four items: Tusu wine, reunion broth, auspicious fruits, and wish-fulfilling cakes.

Ying Shi was run off her feet all day, barely finding a moment to rest. She had barely sat down and taken a few bites when the firecrackers began outside.

After the feast, everyone headed to the west building to enjoy the opera. Xiao Qiongyu, looking pale, couldn’t hold on any longer and excused herself, startling the female relatives.

Xiao Qiongyu explained, "It’s nothing, just my back is really sore, I can’t sit still. Grandmother, aunts, and mother, I apologize for leaving early today, I’ll make it up tomorrow..."

The elderly lady said, "What’s there to make up for tomorrow? You are now the great benefactor of the Liang family. If you’re not feeling well, you shouldn’t hide it. Hurry, let Zhi’er take you back to rest."

Lady Xiao, anxious, insisted, "If you’re not feeling well, you should call a doctor to examine you immediately. You’re about to give birth, you can’t take this lightly."

Liang Zhi, seated at another table, was deeply concerned. He came over from the east table to personally assist Xiao Qiongyu and escort her back.

Seeing her son’s concern, Lady Xiao teased, "You used to be so brusque, but now you know how to cherish your wife, understanding how hard it is for her to be pregnant."

Liang Zhi was abashed by the remark. Xiao Qiongyu, supported by him, managed a strained smile for the onlookers, and the couple left the feast early.

Later, the men remained to keep the night watch, while the women retired to their own courtyards to rest.

Ying Shi fought to stay awake until the very end. The moment she returned to her room, she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the bed for a deep sleep.

The New Year’s Eve was bitterly cold and dragged on interminably. Two basins of charcoal were burning in the room, and the maid placed a warming pan in Ying Shi’s bed.

As her body warmed up again, Ying Shi originally thought she would just close her eyes for a while to regain some energy and then stay up with the maids to keep the vigil. However, she quickly fell into a deep sleep and was only awakened by the rustling sounds of conversation outside.

She barely opened her eyes and heard Chun Lan announce, "The Duke is here."

Ying Shi was naturally taken aback.

Since she returned from the hot spring estate, she had hardly seen Liang Yun these days. Something must have happened at court, as Liang Yun had been extremely busy.

Almost on this very day, New Year’s Eve, she saw him finally free from the palace. She thought Liang Yun wouldn’t come over today—after all, he had just worshipped the ancestors and Liang Ji’s memorial tablet.

On such an important day, why did he come here?

Ying Shi got up from the bed, struggling against her drowsiness, and went to Liang Yun’s side, serving him a bowl of sweet soup.

Liang Yun sat by the couch, took the sweet soup she handed him, and took a small sip.

She thoughtfully asked Liang Yun, "Brother, have you been drinking? Should I prepare a bowl of sobering soup for you?"

His taste seemed particularly light; he didn’t like sweet, spicy, or even salty foods. However, he was easy to talk to, and he would drink whatever Ying Shi served him.

He didn’t require Ying Shi to go out of her way to take care of him, nor would he make any demands.

"No need, I haven’t had much to drink." As expected, Liang Yun tasted her sweet soup and then stopped drinking, not wanting to trouble her further.

As soon as he entered, he noticed the untouched food on the tea table.

Gui Niang had brought the food for Ying Shi when she returned in the evening, but she had only wanted to catch up on sleep, so it was still left on the tea table by the daybed.

"You hardly ate anything at the banquet, and now you’re not eating after returning? Is it not to your taste?"

He had always known that the New Year’s feast at Duke Mu’s estate was merely a lively spectacle.

Most of the dishes were cold, and even the hot dishes turned cold quickly. There were few edible dishes, and the rules were strict—each person had to wait for the maids to serve them, making it hard for anyone to eat much.

Ying Shi shook her head, saying that wasn’t it.

"It’s just too cold; I’ve lost my appetite."

Liang Yun’s dark eyes fixed on her thin face in the candlelight, his brow slightly furrowed.

When he saw her at the banquet earlier, he had noticed she looked thinner. She had always been picky with her food, but being picky wasn’t good.

Liang Yun asked her to sit with him. He then had the kitchen prepare a fresh set of dishes. When the food arrived, he personally served her a full bowl of rice.

"Then think of it as keeping me company and eat a little more."

After saying this, he began adding food to her bowl.

But Ying Shi stayed still. She said, "I already told you I’m not hungry. If I’m hungry, I’ll eat."

Her tone carried a hint of frustration. Liang Yun glanced at her, then handed her a bowl of soup, spooning a creamy clam broth and bringing the spoon to her lips.

This broke the rules, but Ying Shi couldn’t resist.

Ying Shi watched as a drop of the creamy broth was about to fall from the spoon. She quickly parted her lips, licking the bottom of the spoon with her tongue, then sipped the soup slowly, licking her moistened lips afterward.

Liang Yun watched her, ready to feed her again.

"Is it good?"

Seeing he was about to feed her again, Ying Shi quickly leaned back, as if facing a threat. "It’s not good at all."

She frowned, recalling the taste of the soup, and seemed on the verge of retching. She thought today’s clam broth wasn’t just bland but also unbearably fishy.

Liang Yun set the soup aside and started serving her other dishes. He said, "You’ve lost weight; you must have been picky and not eating well lately. Most people lose their appetite in summer, but you…"

He paused, his dark eyes turning to her.

Ying Shi, however, didn’t notice at all.

She looked at the piece of goose meat he had placed in her bowl, its skin glistening with oil. She felt nauseous and had to fight it for a while. She couldn’t bear to look at it anymore, closing her eyes and turning away.

"I’ve had enough to eat today. You eat by yourself. I’m very tired and need to go to sleep now," she said.

With that, Ying Shi ignored him and slipped back into the warm bedding.

Leaving Liang Yun alone in the outer chamber.

Liang Yun sat by the daybed, his expression still calm, slowly eating the dishes she had scorned. Only after finishing the food in his bowl did he slowly walk toward the bed.

He carried a faint trace of incense from the ancestral hall.

On the bed, Ying Shi’s mind was heavy, her breathing light as she slept, her small nostrils slightly flaring.

She was in a deep sleep, yet her sense of touch lingered. In her sleep, she felt a cold hand press against her forehead.

"Ying Shi, have you been feeling unwell these past few days?" In the haze, she heard someone ask her.

"I'm fine..." Ying Shi's voice was heavy with exhaustion.

She had woken up too early this morning and now just wanted to rest.

In the dim light, Liang Yun's cold breath brushed against her from behind. He seemed very close, his breath warm against her cheek.

"Should we call a doctor tomorrow morning to check on you?" Liang Yun held her cold hand, gently warming it in his palm.

Ying Shi, still in a daze, softly hummed in agreement but stubbornly insisted, "I told you I'm fine. It's bad luck to see a doctor during the New Year."

Liang Yun didn't disturb her again.

He lay beside her, fully clothed, but stayed awake for a long time.

...

The next morning, Ying Shi woke up to find Liang Yun still asleep on the outer side of the bed, also not yet up.

Ying Shi's brow twitched slightly. This was the first time she had seen Liang Yun sleep later than her. She was about to lean over and touch his face when his eyes suddenly opened.

Ying Shi's face was close to his, and she was startled when his eyes opened. Her sleepy voice murmured in his ear, "You're still not up?"

Perhaps she had slept well; her complexion was rosier, and she seemed more energetic, not as listless as the night before.

Liang Yun hummed softly and asked, "You didn't seem well last night. How are you feeling now?"

Ying Shi replied, "Good, very good."

He didn't look particularly strong, but lying on the outer side, he nearly took up the entire bed. Ying Shi lifted the blanket and searched several corners of the bed before managing to slip past him and jump off.

For some reason, Liang Yun seemed especially listless today. He closed his eyes as if wanting to go back to sleep.

Only when he heard Ying Shi turn over and jump off the bed did his brow twitch slightly.

"Be careful," he said.

Ying Shi ignored his words, muttering to herself, "It's the first day of the New Year, and many households will be visiting. I'll be going to Rongshou Hall to pay my respects to the old lady later. But brother, are you okay? Why did you get up so late this morning? Later... how..."

Ying Shi couldn't help but think, last night they were just sleeping, and this morning he was still too lazy to get up. Later, if he goes out from her courtyard in broad daylight and others see, how embarrassing would that be?

Liang Yun coughed lightly, recalling that Ying Shi had mentioned getting up to pay New Year's respects to the old lady. He said, "The snow outside is slippery. Just say you're not feeling well and don't go."

Ying Shi thought there was something off with Liang Yun today.

Her misty eyes looked at Liang Yun, puzzled, "It's the first day of the New Year, why would I curse myself for no reason?"

Liang Yun looked at her seriously and said, "Ying Shi, I'm going too. Let's go together, alright?"

Ying Shi wasn't that shameless. She ignored his nonsense, even fearing that he would really follow her out. After washing up, she took advantage of the time he was dressing to sneak out first.

Liang Yun shook his head as he watched her lively demeanor, convincing himself he had overthought things.

Today was the first day of the New Year, and he couldn't afford to be idle. Soon, Zhang Ping came looking for him, and Liang Yun went to greet the male guests who had come to pay New Year's respects at the front courtyard.

Around noon, while Liang Yun was entertaining the male guests in the front courtyard, Zhang Ping hurriedly ran over again.

"Duke, it's bad. Third Madam has fainted in the old lady's courtyard..."