Chapter 384: First Gift

Chapter 384: The First Gift

Ji Yuntang smiled, "Brother, this is only the first day. This silver is nothing yet. If the barbecue joint's business stays this booming in the future, we can open chain stores in the other three kingdoms. By then, you'll really know what it feels like to be rolling in money!"

The more Ji Yuntang talked, the more Xie Liuzheng's imagination ran wild. He could already picture himself swimming in a pile of cash!

Luo Qingge had also been helping out at the barbecue joint all day. She'd already slipped out before the shop even closed!

On her way back to the palace, Luo Qingge unexpectedly ran into an unwanted guest—Luo Qianxue.

She straight-up had her people block Luo Qingge's carriage, and a taunting voice rang out from outside.

"Oh, isn't this the Ninth Princess's carriage? I heard Father betrothed you to that good-for-nothing Xie Liuzheng? And on the same day as my wedding?"

"What a joke! The man I didn't want got picked up by you, Luo Qingge. So what if you're the Empress's own daughter? You're still just settling for my leftovers!"

Luo Qingge couldn't take it anymore. She stormed out of the carriage, fuming. "Luo Qianxue, are you done?"

Luo Qianxue shot her a sideways glance, curling her lips in a taunting smirk. "Of course not. Everyone knows Xie Liuzheng can't even touch a woman. Once you marry him, you'll be a widow for the rest of your life."

"Unlike me, who's about to marry my Xue Lang. He's promised to love only me for the rest of his life. We'll have kids and live a life you couldn't even dream of."

With that, Luo Qianxue coyly looped her arm around the black-clad man beside her and nestled against his chest.

"I used to be blind, treating Xie Liuzheng like a treasure. It wasn't until I met my Xue Lang that I realized he's my one true love. Someone like Xie Liuzheng isn't even fit to polish his shoes."

Xue Cheng pulled Luo Qianxue into his arms, saying with all the tenderness in the world, "Xue'er, I'll never let you down in this lifetime."

Luo Qingge watched this scene, and goosebumps broke out all over her body. She twitched her lips, feeling a wave of nausea hit her for the first time.

"If you hadn't said he was your Xue Lang, I'd have thought he was some stable boy mucking out horses in someone's backyard!"

She finally took a good look at Xue Cheng for the first time. She took in his pale skin, his refined air, and a pair of narrow eyes glinting with something sinister.

Even though he was dressed and groomed like a gentleman, his whole vibe was deeply unsettling.

After sizing him up, three words popped into Luo Qingge's head: "A total phony."

She said with pure disgust, "Luo Qianxue, you need to get better taste!"

"This husband of yours isn't all that impressive either. He's not even a tenth as good-looking as Xie Liuzheng. You can't be that blind, can you? I have no idea what you see in him!"

Those words hit Luo Qianxue right where it hurt. She flew into a rage!

"Luo Qingge, shut your mouth!"

"So what if Xie Liuzheng is handsome? He's still a useless waste—all looks and no brains. Other than his face, he's got nothing going for him. How dare he even compare to my Xue Lang!?"

Luo Qingge couldn't be bothered to argue with Luo Qianxue anymore. She just scoffed.

"Oh, then I wish you two a lifetime of love and happiness. I have no interest in watching a toad critique humans."

With that, she climbed into her carriage and left. Behind her, Luo Qianxue's face twisted in fury, and it was Xue Cheng who held her back.

"Alright, Xue'er, why bother lowering yourself to her level?"

"Once you marry me, I'll make sure you live a life everyone envies. By then, she'll be too busy being jealous of you to have any nerve to show off in front of you."

Luo Qianxue blushed at his words, shooting him a coy look. "Xue Lang, you're so bad~"

The next day was New Year's Eve.

Ji Yuntang didn't go to the barbecue restaurant today. Instead, she stayed at the residence to keep Luo Junhe company.

According to Dongchen Kingdom customs, on New Year's Eve, you're supposed to put up New Year paintings and have a big family dinner.

There were also red envelopes and staying up late to ring in the new year.

Luo Junhe painted the New Year picture himself, and he also hand-wrote the couplets and blessing characters. Ji Yuntang was in charge of pasting them on the doors.

After pasting them up, she took out the red envelopes she'd prepared and handed them out to everyone in the residence one by one.

Chen Hu snuck a peek inside his—there was actually a five hundred tael banknote. He widened his eyes in shock.

That much silver was equivalent to five years of a servant's wages. He never expected Ji Yuntang to give it to them as an extra red envelope.

After distributing to the servants, Ji Yuntang stuffed a red envelope into Luo Junhe's arms.

"A He, this one's for you."

Luo Junhe was slightly taken aback. "This Prince gets a red envelope too?"

Ji Yuntang nodded. "Of course! It's a tradition. The amount doesn't matter much—it's mainly for good luck."

His red envelope was different from everyone else's. Inside, there was a full fifty-two thousand tael in silver notes.

Ji Yuntang smiled. "I know you're a bit short on funds. Consider this my allowance for you. If it's not enough, just tell me. I have plenty of money to support you."

Luo Junhe's gaze warmed, and he took her hand. "A Tang, this Prince also has a gift he wants to give you."

With that, he took out a string of beads from his bosom and put it on Ji Yuntang's wrist.

The round brown rosewood beads were strung together with a jade-green jade ruyi in the middle, making her wrist look even more fair and delicate.

Ji Yuntang looked at the bracelet on her hand and suddenly thought of something. She asked, "A He, did you carve and polish this yourself?"

Before Luo Junhe could speak, Chen Hu chimed in, "Princess, you really have sharp eyes. This was indeed made by His Highness himself."

"He finished it a month ago, wanting to surprise you."

Ji Yuntang suddenly understood. No wonder she had been finding wood shavings on the floor recently.

Thinking about it now, he must have started carving the bracelet behind her back as soon as he first got into the wheelchair!

Luo Junhe watched Ji Yuntang's expression, his heart a little uncertain. "Does A Tang not like it?"

"No, I love it. I'll wear it every day from now on."

As night fell, stars dotted the sky.

Ji Yuntang prepared a table full of New Year's Eve dinner and invited everyone in the residence to eat together.

Suddenly, a firework exploded in the sky, its brilliant colors dyeing half the heavens red, like a dazzling river of stars.

Tao Zhi said excitedly, "Princess, the Lantern Festival is about to begin!"

Ji Yuntang curled her lips. "I'm giving you all the night off. If any of you want to go out and see the lantern show, feel free to go!"

Chen Hu immediately said, "I won't go; I'll stay to protect His Highness and Her Highness."

Yaoniang, holding the child in her arms, also said, "That's a place for young couples to date. Xiao Qiyue and I won't join the crowd."

Once they spoke, the others also expressed that they wouldn't go, preferring to stay at the Prince's residence.

Ji Yuntang knew perfectly well that they were all declining because Luo Junhe couldn't easily leave the residence.

She smiled slightly and said, "Since none of you are going, let's throw a fireworks party right here in the mansion!"

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