They laughed and frolicked until midnight. Yi Yaofeng couldn't resist the drowsiness any longer and was carried to the side room to sleep.
According to Yun Xi's past habits, she would have been so sleepy at this hour that she could hardly keep her eyes open.
But tonight she was unusually awake. She and Jiang Ning were huddled on a small couch by the window, covered with thick blankets, chatting away. Beside them, Yi Yuan, Yun Weisheng, Yun Qi and Liu Jingyue were playing leaf cards.
There was no trace of her usual cold and aloof look on her face.
The night was long and the wind and snow raged outside. Inside the room, the candles were bright and the charcoal fire was burning vigorously, making it warm and cozy.
Yun Xi felt a strange sense of fear in the depth of her heart because of this happiness.
She was afraid that this happiness would be broken someday, and that it would suddenly slip away.
Coincidentally, there was also a hint of melancholy hidden beneath Jiang Ning's seemingly cheerful expression.
Yun Xi keenly noticed her mood. She patted Jiang Ning on the arm and asked softly:
"What's wrong? Do you miss home?"
Looking up at Yun Xi, Jiang Ning forced a smile and said:
"A bit,"
After a pause, she denied it:
"No, I miss it very much."
"A few days ago I received a letter from my parents. They said they were not in a hurry about my marriage and would leave it entirely up to me. But I've been away for too long. As the New Year is approaching, my father and mother asked me to go back for the family reunion if I could make it in time."
Her eyes gradually turned red and Jiang Ning lowered her head slightly:
"But it was already too late for me to go back when I received the letter. On this day of family reunion, I... I left my parents alone at home while I'm having such a good time in the capital, tasting all kinds of delicious food and fine wine. They are at home all by themselves, waiting for me to go back with longing eyes..."
Her voice gradually choked with sobs and Jiang Ning couldn't help shedding tears.
Yun Xi quickly comforted her in a soft voice and said:
"Don't be too sad. Coincidentally, there was a mansion that became available after the Ye family was raided. It's not far from the cloth workshop either. The emperor rewarded it to me because of the incident with Yi Zhen."
"I don't live there anyway, so it's just sitting empty. When the weather gets better in a couple of days, you can go back and bring your parents here to live in it."
"That's not possible,"
Jiang Ning opened her eyes wide in surprise:
"It's disrespectful to give away something the emperor bestowed. Moreover, although that mansion is not extremely grand, it's still a proper two - courtyard mansion with such a beautiful garden. It's too precious for me to accept casually."
Yun Xi couldn't help laughing. She finally understood how Yi Yuan felt when he gave Zhihong Garden to her.
"Don't worry,"
Yun Xi cracked a pine nut and handed it to Jiang Ning, smiling:
"That mansion is not even the most precious one among the compensation gifts the emperor gave me. And he also said in person that I could do whatever I wanted with those things. You can accept it with confidence."
"You've suffered a lot for me. You've just had a bit of free time, but you still have to worry about finding a way to dispel the poison for me."
"You deserve this mansion. Don't decline anymore. Otherwise, how can I feel at ease asking you for help in the future?"
After hesitating for a long time, Jiang Ning finally gratefully accepted Yun Xi's kindness.
She secretly made up her mind to help Yun Xi more whole - heartedly.
With her worry resolved, the atmosphere in the room became even more relaxed and lively.
They stayed up until midnight and set off firecrackers. Amid the crackling sounds, people all over the world welcomed the new year.
They all went their separate ways to wash up and go to bed.
Yun Xi slept in the courtyard that had been prepared for her since she was a child.
There was a big Chinese parasol tree in the courtyard, but it was bare in winter with few leaves.
Yun Xi felt quite strange about this courtyard where she used to play as a child. Maybe she was too young at that time. After looking around for a few times, she couldn't recall a single memory.
Lying on the once - soft big bed, Yun Xi was drowsy and was about to fall asleep.
Suddenly, she saw a figure flash past the window. Yi Yuan sneaked in furtively, which gave Yun Xi a big scare and made her lose some of her drowsiness.
"What are you doing?"
Yun Xi glared at him and said nervously:
"This is my home. Be careful or I'll tell my father and mother. You'll be in big trouble."
Yi Yuan didn't say a word. He stepped forward and gave her a passionate kiss.
It almost made Yun Xi out of breath.
When both of them were out of breath, Yi Yuan finally managed to control his impulse and let go of Yun Xi, whose body had gone limp. He let her fall into his arms and whispered:
"You heartless girl. I thought you were quite used to me not being by your side."
"I was so restless that I couldn't fall asleep. I just wanted to see you before going to bed. But you were almost asleep when I came."
Yun Xi couldn't help laughing at Yi Yuan's aggrieved tone. She held Yi Yuan's warm and big hand and comforted him softly.
After they had been intimate for a while, they were afraid of being caught. Yun Xi had to urge him to leave quickly.
Although he was extremely reluctant, Yi Yuan knew his behavior was inappropriate.
He kissed Yun Xi again and then left reluctantly.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out of Yun Xi's room, he suddenly bumped into Hun Yuan who was sneaking over.
Both of them were startled and almost fought.
Fortunately, they had been brothers for more than a decade. Just as they were about to fight, they recognized each other at the same time.
Hun Yuan's eyes immediately changed. They were full of ambiguity and curiosity. Just as he was about to tease Yi Yuan, Yi Yuan spoke first:
"Why didn't you come after dawn? Jiang Ning has already gone to bed. What bad idea do you have?"
"Bah!"
Hun Yuan was so angry that he stamped his feet. He spat and said:
"Do you think I'm like you? You even dare to cause trouble under your future in - laws' noses. I'm just going to give her something!"
"You're about to win over your junior sister. It's the New Year and A Ning is all alone in the capital. Don't I need to care about her more?"
Seeing that Hun Yuan was getting angry, Yi Yuan stopped teasing him. He said a few serious words and pointed out the location of Jiang Ning's room for him. Then they went their separate ways.
They had a good night's sleep.
The next day was the first day of the New Year. Early in the morning, many people came and went to pay New Year greetings.
Yun Xi went to bed late last night and the whole family doted on her, so no one came to wake her up.
When she woke up, most of the visitors had already arrived.
Yun Xi's heart skipped a beat. She knew she had been very impolite.
She quickly washed up and rushed to the front hall.
Although Yun Weisheng was the youngest brother in the Yun family, he was the one with the highest status in the family now. So the second branch and collateral relatives of the Yun family had all gathered in General Yun Weisheng's mansion.
When Yun Xi arrived, everyone had already finished their greetings. The men and women were separated by a gilded screen painted with pine, bamboo and plum blossoms, chatting in their respective groups.
Yun Xi took a quick look and didn't see Yi Yuan.
She thought he had gone to pay New Year greetings to the royal family, so she didn't ask any more questions. Under Yun Qi's guidance, she paid her respects to all the elders and received a lot of praise before they let her go to Liu Jingyue's side.
Yun Xi smiled and excused herself. As she walked around the screen, she saw an old woman with sharp eyes staring at her unhappily.
Seeing her smiling, the old woman's face turned even colder. She turned her eyes away from Yun Xi and just snorted and said:
"What bad manners! She's so lazy on the first day of the New Year, making so many elders wait for her. I don't know where she learned such behavior!"