That year, the New Year's celebrations in Bianjing were extremely lively.
The imperial palace had welcomed a little grandson, and Tianqi Emperor was so happy that he rewarded the Ning Family, granted general amnesty for three years, and the whole country celebrated together.
The border wars had ended, and many soldiers returned home to reunite with their families.
Zhao Changdu, who had become commander-in-chief, gave rewards all along the way back, wanting the four corners to rejoice together and people from all eight directions to come congratulate, so that everyone in the world would know how delighted he was to have Little Zhao Yan.
Ever since Gu Boqing returned to Bianjing, Gu Ying had a huge fight with that grandmother who only knew how to protect the main room, and completely cut off all contact after that.
Gu Boqing kept a taut face without saying much, thinking of his years of neglect towards his daughter, he let it be by default.
Later, it was an incident from the year Ye Zhuoning passed away that made Gu Boqing furious.
After arguing with her own mother all night, Gu Boqing was also disappointed with Gu Old Madam, and moved out of the Gu manor.
Gu Jia's illness had improved somewhat. Under the interference of the Ye Family, she was helpless to marry a burly and brutal military man. The couple's affairs would end up in the yamen every few days, bringing public disgrace to the prominent families of Bianjing. Everyone in privileged circles knew about Gu Jia's scandals.
The previously arrogant Gu Jia went crying to Gu Old Madam many times, and whenever she saw Gu Ying, she would make all kinds of snide remarks, the hatred in her eyes seemingly able to spew fire.
Unfortunately, after Gu Ying stopped returning to the Duke of Dongping's manor, Gu Jia didn't even have an outlet to vent her anger, and was nearly driven mad from exasperation.
Not long after, Gu Ying heard that Gu Jia had become pregnant, but was ravaged by her drunk husband, losing the child that very day. She had massive bleeding and nearly died. Since then her health deteriorated day after day, until finally she could only lie in bed waiting to be served by others.
Her unreliable husband had long been fooling around with her personal maid. After she took to her sickbed, the maid gained power and became the mistress, taking over the inner residence. She cut off Gu Jia's food and clothing. Now beside her bed there was no one left she could ask for help, and filth soiled her whole bed but no one came to clean it up.
That military man became even more repulsed by her, rarely even going into her room.
Gu Jia dragged her battered body and leaned against the bed frame. The room was pitch black, cold and damp. Outside, a few specks of moonlight drifted in through the cracks in the roof, and snowflakes floated in through the gaps in the eaves. She clenched her stiff fingers, gave a self-deprecating chuckle, and hated, "Gu Ying! My decline to this point is all thanks to you! Just you wait! You wait for me!"
She panted heavily, thinking at one moment of that wretched horse Doukou wantonly cavorting with that military man in the room next to hers, and at the next moment thinking of how happy and carefree Gu Ying must be in the Duke of Zhenguo's manor right now, with the Crown Prince doting on and cherishing her, surrounded by the care and concern of the Ye Family, and with her father who should have died on the battlefield long ago. Her heart ached and burned with hatred!
Why does Gu Ying get to enjoy the affection of so many people? Why does grandmother favor her so? Yet she is still trampled under Gu Ying's feet!
She gnashed her teeth fiercely, her eyeballs nearly bulging out, "Gu Ying! How could you do this to me! That glory and wealth clearly should have been mine! I will kill you... I must kill you!"
Unlike the bleakness in Gu Jia's manor, the Duke of Zhenguo's manor was extremely lively.
This year, the Duke of Dongping's manor and the Ye censor's family were both spending New Year's at the Duke of Zhenguo's manor.
Other than Gu Old Madam and several from the main room, Qin, Ye Qingchi and Gu Shuang leading Gu Boqing had all sent gifts and came.
Except for Lady Zhao who stayed at the Duke of Dongping's manor busy with tasks, almost everyone else came bearing gifts and in person.
Ye Zhuojian finished dealing with Gu Jia early and squatted in Chunshan Courtyard waiting to eat good food.
Qin even more so directly treated the Duke of Zhenguo's manor as her own home, busying herself here and there, not seeing herself as an outsider at all.
Seeing this, Lady Lin drank a few more cups in delight, and was helped back to Lingxi Pavilion by Zhao Hui to rest.
Thus, Lady Lin and Zhao Hui did not stay to keep New Year's Eve watch, not knowing what delights the couple enjoyed in Lingxi Pavilion.
With many people in Chunshan Courtyard, Yin Lan had arranged the fruits, wine and desserts properly. All kinds of hot dishes kept coming.
Everyone surrounded Little Crown Prince, vying to place red envelopes in the little guy's arms.
The little one grinned widely with his pink lips, giggling nonstop.
Gu Shuang begged and pleaded with Crown Prince to let her hold Little Crown Prince for a while. The soft and chubby little milk dumpling had just gotten into her arms when he stretched out his little hands to pull at her plum blossom embroidered collar, and moved his little mouth to kiss her chin.
Before the little one's mouth reached its target, Ye Qingchi intercepted midway. The baby pouted his lips, staring with his shiny black eyes at his uncle's handsome face, and let out a loud wail.
Seeming to be protesting his uncle's unfairness!
Gu Shuang's arms were full of the baby's milk scent. She blinked resentfully at him, "Husband, I'm playing with the child, don't bully little Yan."
Ye Qingchi hooked his wife's shoulder with his arm, arching his brow, "He's just a little boy, how could he casually kiss other men's wives?"
Feeling the man's fingers gently caressing her lips, Gu Shuang's pretty face turned red, "Husband, he's just a little milk baby, could you actually be jealous of a baby?"
"How could I be."
"I see that husband is definitely jealous."
Calling him husband with every sentence, it made his heart feel as sweet as honey.
Ye Qingchi felt gratified inside. He scooped the little milk dumpling from his wife's arms with his big hand, looking between the child and his wife's belly, a profound meaning appeared between his brows.
Gu Shuang didn't notice the deep look in the man's eyes. She extended a slender jade finger to play with the little one. He was very well-behaved and didn't cry much since Second Sister came back. His distinct black and white big eyes were bright like stars. His brows, nose, they looked exactly like they were cast from the same mold as Crown Prince's.
He was still so tiny yet already so exquisite and beautiful. When he grew up some more, I'm afraid the young girls in Bianjing would all be smitten.
It was just a pity that after marrying into the Ye family for so long, there was still no movement in her belly. Yet she and husband were... quite frequent in the matter of making babies.
But she just hadn't been able to conceive. Mother had found her many folk remedies, which husband also didn't allow her to take.
When he put on that stern face, he looked exactly like Old Master, so Ye Qingchi's words were ones she didn't dare disobey.
She could only blame her useless body for letting husband down in this matter of children. Thinking of this, Gu Shuang's small face drooped.
That year, the New Year's celebrations in Bianjing were extremely lively.
The imperial palace had welcomed a little grandson, and Tianqi Emperor was so happy that he rewarded the Ning Family, granted general amnesty for three years, and the whole country celebrated together.
The border wars had ended, and many soldiers returned home to reunite with their families.
Zhao Changdu, who had become commander-in-chief, gave rewards all along the way back, wanting the four corners to rejoice together and people from all eight directions to come congratulate, so that everyone in the world would know how delighted he was to have Little Zhao Yan.
Ever since Gu Boqing returned to Bianjing, Gu Ying had a huge fight with that grandmother who only knew how to protect the main room, and completely cut off all contact after that.
Gu Boqing kept a taut face without saying much, thinking of his years of neglect towards his daughter, he let it be by default.
Later, it was an incident from the year Ye Zhuoning passed away that made Gu Boqing furious.
After arguing with her own mother all night, Gu Boqing was also disappointed with Gu Old Madam, and moved out of the Gu manor.
Gu Jia's illness had improved somewhat. Under the interference of the Ye Family, she was helpless to marry a burly and brutal military man. The couple's affairs would end up in the yamen every few days, bringing public disgrace to the prominent families of Bianjing. Everyone in privileged circles knew about Gu Jia's scandals.
The previously arrogant Gu Jia went crying to Gu Old Madam many times, and whenever she saw Gu Ying, she would make all kinds of snide remarks, the hatred in her eyes seemingly able to spew fire.
Unfortunately, after Gu Ying stopped returning to the Duke of Dongping's manor, Gu Jia didn't even have an outlet to vent her anger, and was nearly driven mad from exasperation.
Not long after, Gu Ying heard that Gu Jia had become pregnant, but was ravaged by her drunk husband, losing the child that very day. She had massive bleeding and nearly died. Since then her health deteriorated day after day, until finally she could only lie in bed waiting to be served by others.
Her unreliable husband had long been fooling around with her personal maid. After she took to her sickbed, the maid gained power and became the mistress, taking over the inner residence. She cut off Gu Jia's food and clothing. Now beside her bed there was no one left she could ask for help, and filth soiled her whole bed but no one came to clean it up.
That military man became even more repulsed by her, rarely even going into her room.
Gu Jia dragged her battered body and leaned against the bed frame. The room was pitch black, cold and damp. Outside, a few specks of moonlight drifted in through the cracks in the roof, and snowflakes floated in through the gaps in the eaves. She clenched her stiff fingers, gave a self-deprecating chuckle, and hated, "Gu Ying! My decline to this point is all thanks to you! Just you wait! You wait for me!"
She panted heavily, thinking at one moment of that wretched horse Doukou wantonly cavorting with that military man in the room next to hers, and at the next moment thinking of how happy and carefree Gu Ying must be in the Duke of Zhenguo's manor right now, with the Crown Prince doting on and cherishing her, surrounded by the care and concern of the Ye Family, and with her father who should have died on the battlefield long ago. Her heart ached and burned with hatred!
Why does Gu Ying get to enjoy the affection of so many people? Why does grandmother favor her so? Yet she is still trampled under Gu Ying's feet!
She gnashed her teeth fiercely, her eyeballs nearly bulging out, "Gu Ying! How could you do this to me! That glory and wealth clearly should have been mine! I will kill you... I must kill you!"
Unlike the bleakness in Gu Jia's manor, the Duke of Zhenguo's manor was extremely lively.
This year, the Duke of Dongping's manor and the Ye censor's family were both spending New Year's at the Duke of Zhenguo's manor.
Other than Gu Old Madam and several from the main room, Qin, Ye Qingchi and Gu Shuang leading Gu Boqing had all sent gifts and came.
Except for Lady Zhao who stayed at the Duke of Dongping's manor busy with tasks, almost everyone else came bearing gifts and in person.
Ye Zhuojian finished dealing with Gu Jia early and squatted in Chunshan Courtyard waiting to eat good food.
Qin even more so directly treated the Duke of Zhenguo's manor as her own home, busying herself here and there, not seeing herself as an outsider at all.
Seeing this, Lady Lin drank a few more cups in delight, and was helped back to Lingxi Pavilion by Zhao Hui to rest.
Thus, Lady Lin and Zhao Hui did not stay to keep New Year's Eve watch, not knowing what delights the couple enjoyed in Lingxi Pavilion.
With many people in Chunshan Courtyard, Yin Lan had arranged the fruits, wine and desserts properly. All kinds of hot dishes kept coming.
Everyone surrounded Little Crown Prince, vying to place red envelopes in the little guy's arms.
The little one grinned widely with his pink lips, giggling nonstop.
Gu Shuang begged and pleaded with Crown Prince to let her hold Little Crown Prince for a while. The soft and chubby little milk dumpling had just gotten into her arms when he stretched out his little hands to pull at her plum blossom embroidered collar, and moved his little mouth to kiss her chin.
Before the little one's mouth reached its target, Ye Qingchi intercepted midway. The baby pouted his lips, staring with his shiny black eyes at his uncle's handsome face, and let out a loud wail.
Seeming to be protesting his uncle's unfairness!
Gu Shuang's arms were full of the baby's milk scent. She blinked resentfully at him, "Husband, I'm playing with the child, don't bully little Yan."
Ye Qingchi hooked his wife's shoulder with his arm, arching his brow, "He's just a little boy, how could he casually kiss other men's wives?"
Feeling the man's fingers gently caressing her lips, Gu Shuang's pretty face turned red, "Husband, he's just a little milk baby, could you actually be jealous of a baby?"
"How could I be."
"I see that husband is definitely jealous."
Calling him husband with every sentence, it made his heart feel as sweet as honey.
Ye Qingchi felt gratified inside. He scooped the little milk dumpling from his wife's arms with his big hand, looking between the child and his wife's belly, a profound meaning appeared between his brows.
Gu Shuang didn't notice the deep look in the man's eyes. She extended a slender jade finger to play with the little one. He was very well-behaved and didn't cry much since Second Sister came back. His distinct black and white big eyes were bright like stars. His brows, nose, they looked exactly like they were cast from the same mold as Crown Prince's.
He was still so tiny yet already so exquisite and beautiful. When he grew up some more, I'm afraid the young girls in Bianjing would all be smitten.
It was just a pity that after marrying into the Ye family for so long, there was still no movement in her belly. Yet she and husband were... quite frequent in the matter of making babies.
But she just hadn't been able to conceive. Mother had found her many folk remedies, which husband also didn't allow her to take.
When he put on that stern face, he looked exactly like Old Master, so Ye Qingchi's words were ones she didn't dare disobey.
She could only blame her useless body for letting husband down in this matter of children. Thinking of this, Gu Shuang's small face drooped.
