After the Laba Festival, every household started getting busy with the New Year's gift preparations, and all the shops began doing their year-end summaries. It felt as though the New Year was closing in all of a sudden.
Even Xiao'er had to spend time, both in the morning and the afternoon, to inspect the account books and gift lists every day.
Shangguan Xuanyi was even busier, rushing here and there every day. The two of them remained busy like this until the eve of the Lunar New Year.
On New Year's Eve, Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao'er went to the Imperial Palace early in the morning to wish the Emperor and the Empress well.
The palace feast was held on this day. After that, they had to stay up late into the night. They had to stay in the Imperial Palace for the entire day.
After Shangguan Xuanyi brought Xiao'er to visit the Emperor in Zichen Palace, they then went to pay their respects in Cining Palace.