After being steadied, Xu Yuxuan, with the help of Tao Zhi, finally managed to shake the large golden pig. Hearing the jingling sounds inside, he was overjoyed.
Still not satisfied, Xu Yuxuan took out the golden peanuts and silver seeds that his aunt had given him from his pouch. Just like at the beginning, he carefully placed them into the small holes on the back of the golden pig, even though the peanuts and seeds were much smaller than the holes.
Once everything was inside, Xu Yuxuan began shaking the pig again for fun. However, as the golden pig was turned upside down, the peanuts and seeds started falling out of the small holes, scattering around Xu Yuxuan's little feet.
Madam Lu instructed the maids to pick up the scattered golden peanuts and silver seeds and put them back into the pouch.
Xu Jingrong watched with envy. He also wanted a piggy bank like that, so he wouldn’t have to hand over his New Year's money every year to his mother, who always claimed it was "to prevent him from developing the bad habits of a spoiled child."
Every month, he was only given a few taels of silver as pocket money.
For Xu Jingrong, the New Year's money was just something he slept on under his pillow for one night before it was promptly taken away the next day.
Every year, Madam Lu gave her two sons golden pine nuts as New Year's money.
Xu Jingrong didn’t want anything too complicated—just a large pine nut-shaped piggy bank would do.
Thinking this, Xu Jingrong couldn’t help but glance at Madam Lu, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Madam Lu, noticing her eldest son's look, subtly averted her gaze, pretending not to see.
Understanding her reaction, Xu Jingrong’s face showed clear displeasure.
Inwardly, he thought: Hmph!
Xu Jinglin was also interested in the golden piggy bank in his cousin’s hands, but his thoughts were more focused on whether it could store snacks. His mother had recently restricted the amount and frequency of his daily snacks.
Xu Jinglin pinched the flesh on the back of his hand and sighed quietly. He had lost weight recently.
He really wished he had a treasure chest where he could secretly store snacks.
Meanwhile, Xu Yuxuan, after having his fill of shaking the golden piggy bank, picked it up again and suddenly tumbled into the arms of his father, Xu Yuejia.
He wriggled in his father’s embrace, as if acting coquettishly.
Xu Yuejia’s body stiffened slightly.
Everyone found the scene amusing.
It was the first time Madam Lu had seen Xu Yuxuan being so affectionate toward Xu Yuejia, and she found it quite remarkable.
Wen Ye, noticing Xu Yuejia’s slightly awkward expression, also chuckled.
Hearing everyone’s laughter, Xu Yuxuan slowly lifted his head.
Father and son suddenly locked eyes.
Xu Yuxuan’s innocent eyes were filled with confusion as he asked, "Father?"
Just as everyone thought a heartwarming father-son moment was about to unfold, Xu Yuxuan suddenly stumbled out of Xu Yuejia’s arms, clutching the golden piggy bank, and without hesitation, turned toward Wen Ye.
Wen Ye had no choice but to catch the piggy bank, which was half-thrown and half-handed to her.
Xu Yuxuan then threw himself into her arms, looked up at her for a while, and finally called out softly, "Mother~"
His tone was completely different from the questioning one he had used earlier.
The onlookers were speechless: "…" So, after all that, he had mistaken her for his mother.
But perhaps this could still be considered a form of "fatherly love and filial piety"?
In response to Xu Yuxuan’s affectionate behavior, Wen Ye gently patted the back of his head and calmly accepted the varied looks from the others.
As for Xu Yuejia, who had been unceremoniously abandoned by his son, he remained composed, even leisurely sipping his tea.
The teasing glances from everyone seemed to have no effect on him.
It had to be said that the couple shared a certain resemblance in this regard.
The children, unable to stay awake any longer, fell asleep one by one.
The adults stayed up until midnight as per tradition, ate a few symbolic dumplings, and then returned to their respective courtyards to rest.
Wen Ye, however, thought the dumplings prepared by the main kitchen this time were particularly delicious. The fillings were all her favorites.
Before leaving, she specifically asked Tao Zhi to make a detour to the main kitchen to see if there were any leftovers. If there were, she wanted to bring some back to the west courtyard to save the trouble of having the small kitchen prepare more.
Tao Zhi went quickly and returned just as fast, meeting Wen Ye and the others on their way back to the west courtyard at a section of the water corridor bridge.
Wen Ye looked at the basket Tao Zhi was carrying and asked, "How much did you take?"
After curtsying, Tao Zhi replied, "Not too much. I took some of each filling, about sixty in total."
Although the path was lit, the night was dark, and the contents of the basket were not clearly visible.
Xu Yuejia glanced at the basket and then looked at Wen Ye. "What did you send someone to the main kitchen for?"
There was no need to hide it, so Wen Ye replied, "The dumplings we ate earlier were delicious. I liked them, so I asked Tao Zhi to bring some back."
Dumplings made in winter, as long as they were frozen solid, could last for a long time without spoiling. She could save them for several meals.
Although he already knew her habits, Xu Yuejia still asked, "What’s the difference between these and the ones you usually eat?"
"Of course, there’s a difference," Wen Ye retorted. "Can you usually eat dumplings made on New Year’s Eve?"
Understanding her implication, Xu Yuejia replied, "…That’s sophistry."
Wen Ye chuckled. "Sophistry or not, as long as it wins the argument against you, it’s fine."
Xu Yuejia: "…"
Wen Ye wondered if Xu Yuejia had too much free time lately, with no court duties or official business to attend to. She hadn’t noticed before that he was the type to ask such trivial questions.
By the way, when did the Great Jin court reopen?
She realized she had been seeing Xu Yuejia in the west courtyard far too often recently.
Wen Ye pondered this as they returned to the west courtyard. After a quick wash, she glanced at Xu Yuejia, who was about to lie down, and suddenly felt wide awake.
She took back the thoughts she had just been silently criticizing and hinted, "Husband, how about we take a walk to aid digestion?"
Xu Yuejia: "…"
*
In the Great Jin, there was no rule against visiting relatives on the first day of the New Year, but most people were accustomed to starting their visits on the second day.
Madam Lu had always returned to her family’s Ding'an Marquis Manor on the second day. However, this year, with the addition of her aunt and sister-in-law who had returned to the capital, Madam Lu decided to visit the manor on the first day to avoid neglecting them.
This way, she could avoid overlapping with Xu Yuejia and Wen Ye, who were planning to visit the Wen family on the second day.
As for Xu’s aunt from the Changnan Marquis Mansion, since the Changnan Marquis also had a sister, she usually visited the Duke’s mansion on the third day with her husband and children.
This year was no exception.
Other relatives of the Duke’s mansion who were in the capital also followed the same tradition, visiting on the third day to offer New Year’s greetings.
On the first day of the New Year, Madam Lu and her family of four left the Duke’s mansion at around 7 a.m.
Before leaving, Madam Lu asked Auntie Ji to take Xu Yuxuan to the west courtyard.
Upon learning that the second madam, Wen Ye, had not yet woken up, Auntie Ji took Xu Yuxuan to the west study to see Xu Yuejia first.
After being put down by Auntie Ji, Xu Yuxuan obediently called out, "Father."
Xu Yuejia acknowledged him with a nod and said, "Your mother hasn’t woken up yet. Be patient and wait a little longer."
Xu Yuxuan seemed to understand.
He asked Auntie Ji Xi for a few toys, then climbed onto the soft couch behind the screen and began playing by himself.
However, a child’s patience is limited, and toys can only hold their interest for so long.
Xu Yuxuan tossed aside the crumpled dough figurine he had been playing with, wriggled off the couch, and approached Xu Yuejia. Tilting his head, he asked, "See mother?"
Xu Yuejia estimated the time and replied, "Just a quick look, then come back."
Whether he understood or not, Xu Yuxuan nodded eagerly.
Without having to go to the main courtyard early in the morning, Wen Ye had slept soundly. As she was half-asleep, she suddenly felt something on her cheek.
Without opening her eyes, she reached out to swat it away but instead caught a small, warm hand.
Then she heard a child’s giggle.
Wen Ye forced her eyes open and saw a chubby face close to hers.
The little one called out, "Mother, still sleeping?"
When Wen Ye didn’t respond, the child leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Wen Ye: "…"
Disturbing someone’s sleep is truly inconsiderate.
Without warning, the little one was pulled into the bed as revenge.
Xu Yuxuan, who wasn’t sleepy and only wanted his mother to wake up and play with him, found himself tightly wrapped in Wen Ye’s arms, unable to break free.
Wen Ye held him close and went back to sleep.
When Xu Yuejia noticed that Xu Yuxuan hadn’t come out of the inner chamber, he closed his book, stood up, and walked straight toward the room.
Upon pushing the door open, Xu Yuejia did not immediately spot Xu Yuxuan. His gaze eventually settled on the canopy bed, its curtains drawn tightly shut.
He walked over and silently lifted a corner of the curtain, his eyes meeting those of Xu Yuxuan, who seemed to have gradually given up struggling.
Xu Yuxuan, looking rather helpless, whispered softly to him, "Father, help—"
Xu Yuejia glanced at the woman sleeping soundly, paused for a moment, and then let the curtain fall back into place.
