Chapter 32:
When the winter solstice arrives, it gets dark early.
Mingluan Palace is very lively at this time every year, but Concubine Shu has pushed all the invitations this year.
As soon as it got dark, she called all three children in the palace to the main hall to eat dumplings together.
As soon as the three of them came in, Concubine Shu generously rewarded each of them with a purse, each filled with Dongzhu. Jun Huailang put the purse in Fuyi for safekeeping, smiled and said to Concubine Shu, "Aunt, it's a coincidence, Ling Huan and I also have a purse for you."
Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows lazily and coquettishly when she heard this: "Bring it to me and see? This palace has seen a lot of good things, so don't fool me with ordinary things."
"Naturally it's not an ordinary object." Jun Huailang smiled and reached out to Fuyi, Fuyi also smiled happily, and gave Jun Huailang the purse he was holding.
A bunch of purses, the top one obviously took a lot of thought and decorated with a few small beads. But this purse is so embroidered that it is hard to bear to look directly at it, the stitches are rough, and the pattern on the top is crooked.
"This is the purse that Ling Huan embroidered for my aunt, auntie?" "She has been embroidering for a long time. This is the best looking one, just for you."
When Concubine Shu saw the crooked little thing, she burst into laughter: "The needlework of this embroidery shows that it is the daughter of the Jun family."
She dragged the hollow carved gold sachet ball around her waist and threw it to the nearest palace maid: "I'll reward you." Then, she tied the sachet made by Jun Linghuan to it. , said with a smile: "Tomorrow I will wear this face saint, and I must let the emperor also praise Linghuan's embroidery."
The one at the bottom was concealed by his sleeve, and he held it in his hand quietly, until finally, it was handed over to Dian Cui's hand.
"This is made by Ling Huan himself, and the spices are also picked by Ling Huan. No one should dislike it." Jun Huailang said with a half-joking smile.
Besides, Concubine Shu also smiled and said, "Have you heard it? If you wear it every day, who dares to take it off, this palace will punish him for his sins."
For a time, the palace was filled with laughter. The surrounding eunuchs and palace maids had already received a generous reward from Concubine Shu, but now they have received small things made by the little master himself, and they all smiled and thanked them.
"I think you have one too." Concubine Shu suddenly said. "Did you give Xue Yan one?"
"Naturally give it." Jun Huailang said.
Concubine Shu also teased him: "Really? Don't bluff me, take it out and I'll take a look."
Jun Huailang laughed. That purse is what he wears every day, even Xue Yunhuan has never seen him wear it. Where can I let Concubine Shu look at it?
He smiled and was about to answer, when he saw Xue Yan, who had been sitting beside him without saying a word, raised his hand to lift the dark robe, and held the dark sachet of the same color as the robe. Get up and give Concubine Shu a look.
Jun Huailang was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xue Yan, and saw that he put the robe back naturally, as if he didn't know how ugly he was wearing.
Jun Huailang suddenly felt hot.
This person looks cold and withdrawn, but he is still a good-natured person.
Presumably, he is also like himself, and regards Jun Linghuan as his biological sister.
There, Concubine Shu, who was just joking, was also stunned. After a while, she looked at Xue Yan a few more times: "I didn't expect you to care." The tone has softened a lot.
Not long after, a palace servant brought the steaming dumplings up. These dumplings were made by Concubine Shu's small kitchen. They were exquisite in style. They were filled with various fillings.
The ladies placed the dumplings and seasonings on the table, and they all stood by the side. Concubine Shu picked up the toothpaste and greeted several people to move their chopsticks: "Hurry up and eat while it's hot."
Speaking, she picked one up and said with a smile, "This year's rules are the same as in previous years, it just depends on who is lucky."
Hearing this, Jun Linghuan was also happy, holding chopsticks crookedly picked one up and stuffed it into his mouth, when he was about to pick the second one, the dumplings in his mouth scalded Have to exhale.
Jun Huailang was amused and laughed, and greeted her to slow down, and his subordinates skillfully mixed the sauce for Jun Linghuan.
Jun's family has always had rules. If you eat dumplings on this New Year's Day, you must wrap the dumplings with copper plates. Whoever eats the copper plates will have a year of good luck. Although it is just a picture, it is quite lively and interesting to teach the family to eat dumplings every time.
In previous years, when Jun Huailang was eating dumplings, he used to poke his chopsticks first.
The same is true today. He adjusted the seasoning for Jun Linghuan, picked up a dumpling, and poked it in the bowl.
It's soft, and you can see the bottom when you poke it. The experienced Jun Huailang knew that there was nothing in this dumpling.
After eating a few, Jun Huailang picked up a dumpling and poked it lightly, and he touched the hard metal touch inside.
He couldn't help raising the corners of his lips, picked up the dumpling, and put it in Jun Linghuan's bowl.
At this moment, he caught a glimpse of Xue Yan, who was sitting silently on the side eating.
Silence and quietness, as if unable to fit into this joyous liveliness.
Jun Huailang's subordinates paused.
He thought of what happened to Xue Yan he had seen since he entered the palace, and also thought of the purse that leaked spices that Xue Yan silently took out.
Even now, he is accepted by Mingluan Palace, but he still looks like an outsider, watching them from outside the excitement. His luck seemed to be a little better than in the previous life, but he was still lonely and silent, as if he had been divided.
Somehow, he picked up the dumpling and put it in Xue Yan's bowl.
He thought to himself, the good luck of this copper plate can last a year. One for the Winter Solstice and one for the New Year's Eve, just enough for him and Ling Huan.
If you can really give him some blessings, that is the best.
A dumpling was suddenly placed in Xue Yan's bowl. When he looked up, he saw Jun Huailang's brows twitching and smiling at him under the bright light.
"Don't just eat what's in front of you, this stuffing is also delicious, can you try it?" Jun Huailang said.
Xue Yan looked down and saw a hot dumpling in the bowl, Yuxue was cute.
He has always been mature beyond his age, and rarely has such a lively and bright expression. Xue Yan's mind was still empty, so he moved his chopsticks first and put the dumpling into his mouth.
Immediately afterwards, Jun Huailang saw him frown.
"What's wrong?" Jun Huailang asked quickly.
Seeing Xue Yan frowning, speechless, a shiny copper plate spit out from his mouth after a while.
"It doesn't matter, the cook should be careless." He frowned and glanced at the copper plate, and placed it on the table.
But Jun Linghuan exclaimed in a low voice: "Yeah! Brother Fifth Prince, you have eaten the fortune!"
Xue Yan said: "What blessing?"
Jun Linghuan took the copper plate with his finger: "It's there!"
Besides, Concubine Shu explained with a smile: "This is a custom in our family, to pick a dumpling and wrap it with a copper plate. Those who eat this copper plate will have good luck in the coming year."
Xue Yan paused, his eyes fell on the copper plate on the table.
Then, he heard Jun Huailang say disappointedly: "I knew that dumplings would not be given to you, who knew the copper plate was there?"
Xue Yan looked up at Jun Huailang, and saw a look of reluctance on his face, but those eyes were full of smiles.
The little peacock deliberately put this so-called "blessing" into his bowl.
He didn't even believe in gods and Buddhas, so naturally he wouldn't believe in such little tricks.
However, looking at the radiant smile in Jun Huailang's eyes, he knew that the other party hoped that the copper plate would bring him good luck, and hoped to give him this good luck.
…Xu is the little peacock who doesn't know that he has never been lucky enough to meet him, so why give him this copper plate.
Besides, Concubine Shu smiled and stabbed Jun Huailang in the forehead: "How can you be so stingy, there is a reason to regret giving it? It can be considered that this good luck should belong to Xue Yan, Otherwise, it wouldn't be so coincidental."
Jun Linghuan also pretended to be mature and nodded: "Brother can't be a cheapskate!"
Jun Huailang smiled and touched the top of Jun Linghuan's hair, nodded and said, "Aunt is right, nephew has been taught."
The earth dragon made the room extremely warm, and the steam of the dumplings filled the room. Xue Yan looked at the liveliness and warmth in front of him, everyone had a smile on their faces, and was a little dazed for a while.
He was accustomed to contempt and indifference, and never thought that he would be accepted by the world in the light.
And he knew that Jun Huailang gave him all this.
The main hall of Concubine Shu was resplendent, and the bright lights reflected on the jade and gold wares, which illuminated Jun Huailang's smile particularly brightly, and warmly imprinted it in Xue Yan's heart.
His heart pounded, making his eardrums resonate. There was a warm, flustered emotion that accumulated in his chest, making his blood hotter than ever before.
His hand fell on the copper plate unconsciously and clenched it tightly into the palm of his hand.
As if to relieve the urge to take possession of something and hide it tightly.