Chapter 59 New Year’s Day
The huge noise stopped and the city of Bianjing returned to peace.

At this time, the air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and the lingering charm of the grand scene.

Yang Wenyuan followed everyone back into the room.

At this time, freshly baked, steaming wontons were already on the table.

"It is shaped like a crescent moon and is eaten by people all over the world."

It is a mascot that carries people's good wishes.

There was also a pot of warm Tusu wine on the mahogany lacquer tray held by the maid next to her.

At this time, people also drink Tu Su wine during the New Year.

It is said that Tu Su wine was created by Hua Tuo, and its recipe includes Chinese herbs such as rhubarb, white atractylodes, cinnamon twig, and Sichuan pepper.

Therefore, Tu Su wine is regarded as a medicinal wine that can ward off evil spirits, cure diseases and strengthen the body.

Therefore, people drink Tu Su wine during the New Year, which also implies their wish to pray for good health and to ward off evil and disaster in the coming year.

The children and grandchildren drank Tu Su one after another.

Usually when toasting, the elder is served first and the younger is served later, but with Tu Su wine, it is just the opposite, the younger is served first and the elder is served later.

After drinking and eating wontons, the family sat together again.

During the Zhou Dynasty, many areas followed the tradition of "adults sleeping while children staying up all night".

"Children play games all night long and stay awake, which is called staying up all night."

But that is the custom of ordinary people.

As a noble family, the Yang family will go to the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor tomorrow. Naturally, they cannot let the children stay up all night, lest they behave improperly in front of the palace due to fatigue.

However, Yang Ruijin was obviously in high spirits and not sleepy at all.

After Yang Yuqing and Madam Chen left, only Yang Wenyuan and Yang Ruijin were left there. The two of them leaned against the newly lit brazier in the room, playing cards while eating sweet fruit and drinking tea, and they didn't feel bored.

……

New Year's Day.

Before daybreak, all the nobles and high-ranking officials in Bianliang, as well as the ladies who had imperial decrees, got up early, washed and dressed, and went to the palace together to meet the emperor, empress, and concubines to wish them a happy new year.

The emperor is also busy today.

Get up early, get dressed and wash up.

At the fifth watch, people light up the "Tianxiang" and pray to God for a good harvest on behalf of the people of the world.

Then pray to God for peace in the world and for the people to live and work in peace and contentment.

Then they went to burn incense to the ancestors and thank them for their blessings.

After completing this set of procedures, the queues outside the palace had already been formed according to the ranks of their families, waiting to enter the palace to pay New Year's greetings and give their blessings to the emperor.

In the Yang family carriage.

Yang Wenyuan was still in high spirits, but Yang Ruijin looked a little listless.

Not to mention Yang Rujin, even Mrs. Chen looked a little sleepy.

It is normal to feel low in energy as you are busy preparing for spring during the day and cannot sleep well at night.

He got off the carriage and walked into the palace on foot.

Looking around along the way, all I saw were familiar faces. Noble families in brocade hats and sable furs were everywhere, all waiting for the emperor's summons.

Naturally, people did not enter the palace to pay New Year's greetings in large numbers at once. Instead, they entered one by one according to the order arranged in advance by the emperor, and then the eunuch standing outside the palace passed the message loudly.

The family who enters first represents the emperor's favorite, and will most likely be kept in the hall by the emperor to continue talking as a sign of grace.

Most of the other families had to leave the palace immediately after receiving their rewards and could not stay in the palace for long.

The first few families this year were still no surprises, namely the Yongwang family, the Yanwang family, the Zhang family of the Duke of Yingguo, and the Qi family of the Duke of Qi. However, the next few candidates were beyond the expectations of everyone present.

"Announce, the Yang family of Pingyang Marquis' Mansion enter the palace!"

As soon as these words came out, the ladies present looked at each other in bewilderment. Why is it the Yang family?
Shouldn't it be time to summon the Gu family from Ningyuan Marquis's mansion to appease Ningyuan Marquis who is on guard duty outside?

Yang Wenyuan naturally didn't know, and just followed his family into the hall.

After entering the hall, Yang Wen saw the emperor sitting at the top from afar.

He did not look as dignified as imagined, but instead had an old face, with gray hair and wrinkled skin.

Sitting next to the emperor was a graceful and elegant woman, who must be Empress Cao.

Sitting below the Queen was Princess Pingning.

Her position was the most unique among all the people present. She stood out from the surrounding seats and sat next to the queen.

Based on this point alone, it is not difficult to see the emperor and the empress's favor for Princess Pingning.

It’s not only because of Princess Pingning’s father, the old Marquis of Xiangyang, but more importantly, Princess Pingning has been raised by the queen since she was a child.

The current emperor is kind and tolerant. He has watched Princess Pingning grow up by his side since she was a child and has long regarded her as his own daughter.

This may be the reason why Princess Pingning is always so arrogant.

Her biological father, Marquis of Xiangyang, was a big shot in the army and she was his only daughter.

My adoptive parents are the current emperor and queen, and they love me very much.

With this background, anyone would be proud of themselves.

If I don't look at others as if they owe me money, it would be unworthy of my awesome status.

If the current Marquis of Xiangyang and the emperor were not already old, Princess Pingning would never have to bother with anyone and would be able to walk around anywhere.

Next came a few concubines.

Yang Wenyuan couldn't tell which one was Concubine Rong.

After all, the concubines who can appear here must have been favored by the emperor in recent days, and they are all young, beautiful and charming young women.

Then came the Princess of Yong and the Princess of Yan.

Finally, there is the wife of the Duke of England, and next to her is a young girl with heroic eyes and brows, the Duke of England’s only daughter, Zhang Guifen.

To be honest, the name Zhang Guifen has a very good meaning.

"Gui" is regarded as auspicious and means honor and nobility.

"Fen" refers to the fragrance of flowers and plants, and also implies a good reputation.

But every time he saw the name Zhang Guifen, Yang Wenyuan felt something strange.

I don’t know if it’s the memories of my past life that are causing trouble, but Yang Wenyuan always associates the name Guifen with names like Osmanthus and Cuifen.

When Yang Wenyuan was a child, he grew up in the countryside. His neighbor had an old lady named Guihua...

Yang Wenyuan and others bowed and greeted them while saying auspicious words.

The emperor spoke gently to encourage her, and then the empress said a few words to Madam Chen.

Then the emperor nodded slightly, waved his sleeves, and asked Yang Wenyuan and others to sit nearby.

"Announce, the Gu family of Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion enter the palace!"

While waiting for Xiao Qin's group to come in, the emperor suddenly looked at Yang Wenyuan and said, "Young man from the Yang family, I heard that you have come up with a new leaf game called 'Mahjong'?"

Hearing the emperor's sudden question, Yang Wenyuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, it is indeed called 'Mahjong'."

Having obtained mahjong, a new and novel way to pass the time in the backyard, Mrs. Chen naturally wanted to share it with her close friends.

As time went by, the entire circle of ladies in Bian Jing knew about mahjong, and there was a mahjong craze going on.

It is not surprising that the emperor knew about the existence of mahjong.

It is possible that he himself was fighting with his concubines in the palace.

(End of this chapter)