"Feng'er! Oh, you're finally back!" Shen Yu grabbed Shen Qingfeng, who had just alighted from the carriage, and rushed towards the inner hall, shouting, "Father! No need to go to the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion. Feng'er is back!"
Hearing this, Shen Shiqiu, who was putting on his boots, kicked off his cotton boots in a hurry and ran out of the room in his white socks. Seeing Shen Qingfeng really back, the stone in his heart finally dropped. He quickly pulled Shen Qingfeng and asked, "You've really worried me to death! Feng'er, you didn't suffer any grievances at the Marquis of Dingbei's place, did you?"
The Shen family was a noble family, while the Lu family was related to the royal family. Moreover, since Lu Yan had been in the northern country for a long time, the Shen family's understanding of Lu Yan only stayed at the level of "hearsay". This sudden imperial marriage proposal took them by surprise. Shen Shiqiu still didn't know Lu Yan's intention even now. He was extremely afraid that something might happen to Shen Qingfeng.
"Father, don't worry. I'm fine." Shen Qingfeng smiled and stroked his overly worried father's back. He led Shen Shiqiu into the room and chided, "Father, you should be more careful. How can you go out without wearing cotton boots in such cold winter?"
"Your father is in good health. My waist doesn't ache, and my legs don't hurt. I'm even better than your elder brother." Shen Shiqiu said indifferently, but still obediently put on his boots after entering the room.
Hearing his father's words, Shen Yu shrugged helplessly and said, "Father, you don't even know what I'm in charge of. There are so many things to deal with in the Divination Hall every day. Wearing such heavy sacrificial robes all day long, it's no wonder my waist doesn't ache."
Seeing his elder brother and father bickering, Shen Qingfeng felt warm in his heart. The family affection he had once abandoned for Xia Chuli in his previous life seemed to be back again. Regret and tenderness welled up in his heart. It was only at this moment that he realized how stupid he had been back then.
Looking at his dearest people, Shen Qingfeng smiled and asked, "Father, elder brother, haven't you had dinner yet?"
Shen Yu pouted and said, "Yes. We've all been waiting for you. What kind of family reunion dinner would it be if not everyone is present?"
Shen Qingfeng's eyes felt sour. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said softly, "Then what are we waiting for? Come on. Don't miss the time. A Man!"
As soon as he finished speaking, A Man led several little maids and served the already prepared dinner. The table was densely filled with dishes.
During the Spring Festival, the whole family was reunited. Shen Shiqiu invited everyone in the mansion to the main hall for the reunion dinner. Everyone was beaming with smiles, celebrating the new year together.
Shen Qingfeng looked up from the toasting and drinking. He looked around. All the people around him were familiar. They all had the smiles that once existed in his memory. His father, elder brother, A Man, Uncle Zhong, and others. Yes, there was no blood on their faces. His father hadn't died unjustly. His elder brother hadn't had his chest pierced. A Man hadn't grown up yet. Uncle Zhong hadn't fled from Liange. Nothing had happened yet.
Shen Qingfeng thought that such a scene would only appear in the nightmares he had in Qifeng Hall in those years. But now everything was within his reach.
Tears slowly moistened Shen Qingfeng's eyes. He smiled and explained to Shen Yu that it was the spiciness of the wine that made his eyes water. But the tears kept falling one by one, like an unbroken string of beads, onto his clothes.
A white object fluttered past the window lattice and landed on Shen Qingfeng's chopsticks.
Shen Qingfeng was stunned for a moment. He turned to look out of the window. Somehow, it had started to snow outside. The star - like snowflakes were slowly falling on this windless night. Everything was so peaceful and warm.
Yes, wasn't this what he wanted to protect?
In this life, everything was different. He would eventually drift apart from Xia Chuli. He would personally overthrow King Xia Jie. He would protect the Shen family well. And there was another difference, which was Lu Yan.
Suddenly, Lu Yan's face appeared in Shen Qingfeng's mind. Looking at the wine cup in his hand, a slow smile curled up on his lips.
What kind of connection would he have with Lu Yan? He didn't know. But what he did know was that in this life, he wouldn't be the same as in his previous life.
He tilted his head and drained the wine in the cup in one gulp. The strong liquor burned down his throat, warming his whole body.
The Coldest Winter Festival was a unique festival in Lixia. It was on the first day after the New Year's Eve.
It was said that Lixia was the descendant of the God of War, Xing Tian. Before Xing Tian's head was cut off, he once met a human woman at the current location of Liange City. They fell in love with each other. But because Xing Tian had his own obsession, he left the woman and fought a great battle with the Yellow Emperor. After he was defeated in the war, the Yellow Emperor chopped off his head with one sword. After that, he used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth. Because he was afraid of scaring the woman, he never returned there again. But the woman missed him so much that she fell ill. She sat at the city gate and cried for ninety - nine days and eighty - one nights. Her tears finally formed a freshwater lake in Liange City, which would freeze in winter. The thickest part of the ice might be as deep as three feet.
Later generations said that it was because the woman's love had no happy ending. Eventually, she cried all her tears dry and threw herself into the lake. Until her death, Xing Tian didn't know about this. It wasn't until he had descendants with other gods that one day when he was wandering in the mortal world, he found that the woman from that year had already become a white skeleton at the bottom of the lake.
To commemorate this incident, Xing Tian's descendants named this freshwater lake Acacia Lake. According to legend, if you carved an iris out of the frozen water of Acacia Lake and gave it to your beloved, they would stay together until old age and never be separated again.
As time passed, Lixia had the Coldest Winter Festival. On this day, there would be folk activities such as ice - surface markets, skiing, and riddle - guessing.
On this day, people would carve ice flowers, praying for the country's peace and the lovers' happy endings.
Shen Qingfeng came to the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion early in the morning. According to King Xia Jie's order, he needed to accompany Lu Yan for the whole day. After all, King Xia Jie had been waiting for Shen Qingfeng to back out of the marriage. Although Shen Qingfeng had shown extreme reluctance, he had never taken that step. Presumably, King Xia Jie was quite anxious. Early this morning, he sent Chen Qi to the Shen mansion to convey the message.
Lu Yan got up before dawn. He washed up as quickly as possible, then kicked open Xu Ruhui's door and dragged the confused Xu Ruhui out to ask for advice.
Xu Ruhui stared at Lu Yan with his sleepy eyes and said contemptuously, "What are you planning to do today?"
"I want to give him an ice flower today." Lu Yan said seriously.
Xu Ruhui thought for a while and said, "Senior brother, sister - in - law has liked the crown prince for so long. This matter can't be rushed. Moreover, ice flowers can't be given casually. You know the meaning."
Lu Yan's eyes dimmed. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Take him around to eat and play, then drag him into a deserted alley and give him a few kisses. Maybe you can just get him into bed."
Lu Yan frowned. "Didn't you just say it can't be rushed?"
"Yes. Didn't you ask me for advice? Every time I want to sleep with a man, I flirt like this." Seeing Lu Yan's increasingly gloomy face, Xu Ruhui gloated and thought, "Who asked you to wake me up so early in the morning? Serves you right!"
Lu Yan glared at him angrily and scolded, "I'm talking to you seriously!"
"Hey." Xu Ruhui didn't answer but instead asked, "By the way, what did you say to sister - in - law last night? I saw his ears were red when he left. Is it going to work? If it is, just get him into bed directly! Why be so particular about it!"
Lu Yan's face darkened. "No!"
Xu Ruhui said in disappointment, "What do you mean no? Can't you think with your lower body anymore?"
Just as Lu Yan was about to say something, the servant knocked on the door. "My lord, Young Master Shen is here."
Lu Yan suddenly stood up from the stool. Ignoring Xu Ruhui, he rushed out of the door directly.
"Humph, a flirt who values sex over friends." Xu Ruhui snorted, grabbed the quilt, and fell back to sleep.
It had snowed all night. Shen Qingfeng was standing in front of the Marquis's mansion, where the snow had just been swept away. He was staring blankly at the jade cicada dew in his hand. He didn't even notice when Lu Yan walked up to him.
"Why are you standing here waiting?" Lu Yan's voice suddenly rang in his ear. Shen Qingfeng was startled. He quickly stuffed the jade cicada dew into his sleeve. The next moment, he was hugged by Lu Yan. Shen Qingfeng was already quite tall, but Lu Yan was still a head taller than him. Leaning against Lu Yan's chest, he felt the latter's burning body temperature.
"Why is your body so cold? Have you been waiting for a long time?" Lu Yan asked with concern and brought Shen Qingfeng's pale hand to his lips to blow warm air on it.
Shen Qingfeng blushed and quickly withdrew his hand. "N - no."
Lu Yan looked at him with a deep smile and said, "Shall we go then?"