The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1202 - 277: Making an Opportunity_3

"Not with your imperial father, so why have you come here?" The Empress smiled and asked as she saw him approaching.

"Father was again playing chess with Brother-in-law Qin. I always want to interject when I watch others play chess, so I was chased out." Xiao Yong replied with a laugh, and turned his head to see Pei Qin, "Sister Qin!" He gave her a bow to wish her a happy new year.

Jiujiu and Xixi also came to pay their respects, calling him Uncle Yong and wishing him a new year’s greetings.

Xiao Yong immediately took out the prepared red envelopes, "This is money earned by Uncle Yong myself, as lucky money for you two!"

"Thank you, Uncle Yong!" The two little radishes happily took the red packets.

Xiao Yong then extended his hand toward Pei Qin, "Sister Qin! What about mine?"

The Empress laughed at him, "How old are you, and still wanting lucky money!?"

"I may not be young, but I’m not old either!" Xiao Yong gestured with his hand for Pei Qin to give him his lucky money.

Pei Qin took out three red envelopes, "Which one do you want?"

Xiao Yong took all three in one hand, opened them to have a look, and the smile on his face suddenly froze, "Sister Qin..."

Seeing his expression, Pei Qin returned his look with a smile. Her mood had finally improved a bit.

The three red envelopes, she had pulled the old trick again, and in a blink of an eye, Xiao Yong now owed her one hundred and seventy taels of silver.

After the Empress understood the reason, she also laughed, "I’ve always heard Yongyong say that you are witty, and it’s indeed true!"

"Just teasing them!" said Pei Qin with a laugh.

Xiao Yong looked at her and laughed, "This year I haven’t received any lucky money, and my stipend isn’t enough for giving out lucky money. With over a hundred taels of silver in debt, I can only work to pay it off!"

"You are allowed to pay in installments!" Pei Qin generously said.

Xiao Yong looked up at the ceiling.

Pei Qin sat chatting and laughing for a while, then requested her leave, which coincided with someone coming to see the Empress.

"I’ll see you out!" Xiao Yong scooped up Xixi in one arm.

Pei Qin paid her respects, taking Jiujiu with her to take their leave.

The Empress watched as Xiao Yong attentively saw them out, her smile fading. Her eldest son did not grow up by her side and was not very close to her. But with Pei Qin and the others, they were perhaps too intimate.

As soon as Pei Qin stepped out, she drew close to Xiao Yong to ask, "On such a festive occasion, what kind of chess are they playing!?"

Xiao Yong turned his head to look at her, his voice involuntarily softening, "I don’t know what kind of riddle they were playing, then suddenly they started playing chess." Ever since Father ascended the throne, he had grown distant from her, but whenever he got the chance, he couldn’t resist the urge to see her.

Pei Qin complained discontentedly, and left the palace with him.

Xiao Yong went straight into the carriage, instructing to the outside, "Leave my horse here; when Brother-in-law Qin leaves the palace, let him ride my horse home."

His subordinate complied and waited with his horse outside the palace gate.

"I haven’t given Happy and Yun Yun their lucky money yet!" Xiao Yong turned back to smile at Pei Qin.

Feng Wei stayed behind as well, waiting for Mo Heng and sent Lu Hai to drive the carriage home.

The second day of the Lunar New Year was the day for visiting one’s maternal home, and since they were all staying together, there was no issue of visiting or not. Knowing that Pei Qin took Jiujiu and Xixi into the palace, Pei Qian guessed there must be no good news, and apart from Fang Liuming and Zhao Xiaochen, who went out for social engagements, everyone else was waiting in Tiance Mansion for news.

"Just in time to stay for a meal!" said Pei Qin, seeing everyone gathered, then called out to Xiao Yong.

Happy had already run over, "Uncle Yong! Happy New Year!"

"All these years we’ve celebrated together, it really feels odd to be apart," Xiao Yong said, handing out red envelopes to him and to Yun Yun, then sat down to talk with Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin.

Everyone saw Pei Qin’s expression was not unhappy and began to joke and laugh.

Before the meal, Mo Heng rushed back, "I’m starving."

Pei Qin looked at him, not asking any questions, and served him some soup.

After the meal, Xiao Yong sat for a while, then was taken away by Chang Yonglin and Pei Wendong.

A few little radishes also gathered to play.

Pei Qin and Mo Heng returned to their room and discussed the marriage decree, "That old hag, she definitely won’t let it go! Her son is dead, and she’s old through and through, yet she really still clings to life!"

"Just agree directly, if not, there will surely be an imperial decree," Mo Heng said, stroking her head.

Pei Qin’s face darkened, "Do you think it’s feasible? With Xiao Chonghua’s naive face?"

"Who can say for sure about the future!?" Mo Heng smiled as he looked at her. The Grand Empress Dowager was seeking support for her grandson; he, too, wanted to find additional support for his two daughters.

Pei Qin got angry; her girls were only seven years old, and already people were targeting them.

"With this agreement, it can also block others from targeting them." Mo Heng objectively agreed, even if the Grand Empress Dowager had far-reaching power, if Xiao Chonghua himself did not have the capability, he wouldn’t be able to survive for long.

Pei Qin thought about it and realized it was true. It was unlikely that she could cure him, and if he couldn’t have children again, then she and Mo Heng would only have their two precious daughters Jiujiu and Xixi, and at that time they would naturally treasure any son-in-law. She pursed her lips, "Then just let it be! Let that kid fend off some disasters!"

Mo Heng agreed.

Having communicated with the Grand Empress Dowager, Pei Qin began hosting various New Year’s banquets. Some were at noon, others in the evening.

Pei Qin was busy running around until the fifth day, when her family’s New Year’s party started. And she was busy entertaining guests.

Pei Yuan and Pei Qian also had to socialize as the General’s Wife and the officer’s wife, making their New Year’s celebration very busy.

It wasn’t until the seventh or eighth that things finally calmed down.

Then, it was time to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

Since many aristocratic families set off fireworks during the New Year, the common people had their fill of spectacle, but those who launched the fireworks had not had enough.

Seeing an opportunity for profit, Xiao Guangjing had a large quantity of Lantern Festival fireworks made.

Pei Qin was at home cursing when an invitation from Wei Mansion was delivered.

"General! Wei Shu wishes to visit the General," Jun Suxue said as he walked in with the invitation, his gaze cold.