"Third Imperial Brother, you're drunk," the young man responded softly.
"I'm not drunk! It's such a festive day, so even if you really get drunk, you should have fun on a good day! Here, drink!" The man forced the wine glass into the hands of the young man.
The pushing and shoving knocked over the wine jar on the banquet table, and spilling the liquor out. It splashed on the table and the floor, and also soaked the young man's clothes.
The man feigned chagrin. "Sorry Brother. Your imperial brother accidentally made you such a mess."
"No harm. It's just a dirty shirt; it's not worthy of Brother's apology." The young man remained indifferent, no annoyance on his face.
"Hahahaha, it's strange why father likes you the most. Okay, you're still young so I won't force you to have to drink." The man braced himself to walk back, but then he suddenly stumbled and bumped into the banquet table, knocking an oil lamp lit on the table as well.
Flames instantly leaped up.
Through the liquor on the ground, it exploded ablaze.
The young man who was half-propped up on the table looked blankly at this scene, his face ashen.
The rest of the people, after the initial shock, quickly scrambled towards the steps. "Hurry up and evacuate!"
"Someone put out the fire, put out the fire!"
On the platform, in order to make Their Majesties view comfortable, the ground was paved with blankets as well as cicada cotton curtains hanging around, all flammable things.
Everyone was busy escaping in the chaos and not one cared for the pale faced young man who collapsed to his knees at the table.
Even when he stood up and wanted to go outside, he was constantly knocked back again.
The carpet and the curtains were all in flames, and smoke billowed out of the elevated platform while others screamed in horror off the stage.
The young man clenched his hands into fists, cold sweat seeping out on his forehead. In his dark pupils reflected wild jumping tongues of fire in front of him shouting at him mockingly. This picture constantly overlapped with the scene buried deep in his mind that made him want to scream and go crazy.
Those who had escaped from the elevated platform turned their heads and saw the thin young man standing motionless in the sea of fire, seemingly frightened out of his wits. His clothes were also starting to get swept away by the flames.
At the end of the night, the festivities ceased, leaving the people with only lingering fears.
The observation deck was burned down, and the people immersed in the festivities were frightened. Many people were injured when they fled.
When they thought back to the scene where people stepped on each other, their hearts still pounded rapidly.
In the Nanling Palace, the pale boy was lying on the bed asleep. His brows were tightly furrowed, and ravings would come out of his mouth from time to time. Even in his coma, he was restless.
"Imperial Doctor, how is His Highness?" Wei Zi stood at the head of the bed, hi eyebrows locked tightly.
"His Highness is suffering from hysteria triggered by shock again. When his fever subsides, he will slowly wake up."
"Thank you very much, Doctor."
After taking the prescription and sending the doctor and his attendants out of the palace, Wei Zi once again returned to the compartment he had just been in.
On the bed, the young man who was supposed to be unconscious opened his eyes, his eyes clear. "Are they gone?"
Wei Zi nodded and sighed. "Your Highness, your actions were too dangerous, wounding the enemy by a thousand and injuring yourself by eight hundred. If your calculations were off, and I didn't show up in time…"
"There's no if." The young man retorted. "What's going on in the palace?"
"His Majesty was furious. All the royal children and courtiers present at that time were punished. The Third Prince was put in solitary confinement and temporarily not allowed to meddle in the court affairs anymore, and His Majesty also stripped several others of their titles." After a pause, Wei Zi added, "I heard that the Third Prince has always insisted that he was wrongly accused and was being plotted against."
The young man's eyes flickered.
He was the one who deliberately spilled the liquor, and he was the one who deliberately let the three princes knock over the oil lamp. The fire was also his own machination.
In the struggle for imperial power, one would rise and one would fall. When others took more, you could take less, and vice versa.
Those people have been working to drive him stupid and crazy. They seized his fire phobia and tried countless attempts to test him. If so, why not use the trick to trample them down.
Besides, he wanted this opportunity to overcome his demons.
He couldn't have weaknesses.
It turned out he did well. He made it through. He finally wasn't swayed by his demons.
He wasn't crazy.
The windows were decorated with festive red everywhere, and the boy was unconsciously reminded of that small village, that farmhouse.
They must celebrating a very happy New Year.
While his New Year would have to be carefully calculated for every step afterwards.
At night, in one corner of the palace, a gorgeous woman unfolded a letter and looked at the two words written on it, "Shengsheng?".
"Yes, these are the words that the Nanling King murmured when he was unconscious. I heard it clearly this time!"
"Go investigate. Don't limit it to Xuzhou. Check all the surrounding area, and if you find out, take that person back."
"Yes!"
*
The New Year in Xinghua Village was another lively event.
Red Spring Festival couplets were posted on the doorstep of every household with festive New Year's paintings on the door panels.
On the first day of the year, they opened their doors early and prepared sweets and snacks for the children who came to pay their respects.
Liu Yusheng, who was wearing her new cotton-padded coat with her hair tied up in buns, was mingling in the midst of a bunch of little carrot heads. With her followers behind, they scuttled to the East and West and recited a few auspicious and pleasant words to every house, then grabbed a handful of candy and melon seeds and stuffed them in their pockets. In no time, their pockets were bulging.
Her two older brothers felt that they were too old and could no longer engage in this kind of embarrassing activity, so they didn't accompany her. Liu Yusheng also enjoyed herself.
She actually could eat those foods at home, but she just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere.
Nibbling on snacks from hundreds of households, listening to the children singing festive nursery rhymes, burying firecrackers together under the snow and blowing up snow castles… These could only be done carefree at this age.
After dinner in the evening, the three siblings gathered round to count their red envelopes, and every now and then, a yell would break out.
"Weighing it in one hand, I guess it's a little more than last year's. This is only from Mom and Aunt!"
"Hey! It's pure silver! With such a generous offer, it must be from Grandma!"
"Come on! Only five Wen! There's no need to think; this must be from dad!"
The loud chanting made the elders of the Liu family in between tears and laughter, and also simmer with laughter.
Before putting the New Year's money away and drifting off to sleep, Liu Yusheng thought, happiness is probably like this.
To be accompanied by your closest family and live a long, peaceful life.
Their concern and love were enough to fill the blank spaces in her life.
The excitement of the New Year lasted until the end of the Lantern Festival, and only then did it slowly dissipate.
The people who had been cats all winter also began to slowly come out and move about, preparing for the coming spring.
Liu Yusheng planned to build an orchard in Xinghua Ridge, which she had previously purchased, and grow herbs in between them.
The preliminary preparations were enough to keep her busy for a while.
By the time Qian Wanjin returned from the capital, it was already March and the ice and snow melted.
The spring planting was in full swing in the village.
After the snow melted, the Liu family hired people to help plough the Xinghua Ridge and just waited for the seedlings to be planted.