When the winter solstice arrives, it gets dark early.
For this kind of small festival, the ladies who have nothing to do in the palace must find ways to get together for a banquet. 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.
The maids and eunuchs in the palace are not on duty today, and they are all serving inside. The spacious and magnificent main hall is especially lively today.
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."
Hearing this, Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows lazily and coquettishly: "Bring it to me to see? I have seen a lot of good things in this palace, 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 pile of purses, the top one obviously put a lot of thought into it, and also decorated with a few small beads. But the embroidery of this purse is so real that it can't bear to look directly, the stitches are rough, and the pattern on the top is crooked.
"This is the purse that Ling Huan embroidered for my aunt. Aunt, take a look?" Jun Huailang smiled and handed the purse to Concubine Shu. "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 out laughing: "This embroidery stitching method, you can tell it is the daughter of the Jun family at a glance."
She grabbed the hollow carved golden sachet ball around her waist and threw it to the nearest palace maid: "I will reward you." Then, she tied the sachet made by Jun Linghuan, and said with a smile, "Tomorrow I will Wearing this face saint, the emperor must also praise Linghuan's embroiderer."
"There are still some." Jun Huailang was amused by her actions, and he took all the purses left in Fuyi's hand and distributed them among the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs. 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.
Beside her, Concubine Shu also smiled and said, "Have you heard it? Whoever dares to take it off is wearing it every day, and 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?"
She deliberately put on a casual tone, but Jun Huailang could tell immediately that this was Concubine Shu caring about him, afraid that she would leave him behind.
"Of course I gave it." Jun Huailang said.
Concubine Shu wanted to tease 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, held up the dark sachet of the same color as the robe, and gave Concubine Shu a look .
It is also an ugly purse. The stitches are particularly thick. When you pick it up, the spices inside are still rustling down.
Jun Huailang was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xue Yan, and saw that he put the robe back with a natural expression, as if he didn't know how ugly he was wearing.
Jun Huailang suddenly felt a little warm in his heart.
This person looks cold and withdrawn, but he is still a good-natured person who treats people silently but doesn't speak out.
Presumably, he is also like himself, and regards Jun Linghuan as his biological sister.
Over 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 be attentive." The tone has softened a lot.
Not long after, someone from the palace brought up the steaming dumplings. These dumplings were made by Concubine Shu's small kitchen. They were exquisite in style. They were filled with various fillings.
The maids placed the dumplings and seasonings on the table, and they all stood beside them. Concubine Shu picked up the toothpaste and greeted several people to move their chopsticks: "Hurry up and eat while it's hot."
Saying that, 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 delighted, holding the chopsticks crookedly, picking one up and stuffing it into his mouth, just as he was about to pick up the second one, the dumplings in his mouth scalded him and exhaled.
Jun Huailang was amused and laughed, and he 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 copper plates in the dumplings. 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 with chopsticks first.
The same is true today. After he adjusted the seasoning for Jun Linghuan, he picked up a dumpling and poked it in the bowl.
Soft and fluffy, 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, poked it lightly on top, and 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, out of the corner of his light, he caught a glimpse of Xue Yan who was sitting silently on the side eating.
It was silent and quiet, as if it couldn't fit into this joyous liveliness.
The movements of Jun Huailang's subordinates paused.
He thought about what happened to Xue Yan he had seen with his own eyes since he entered the palace, and also thought about the purse that leaked spices that Xue Yan silently took out just now.
Even now, he was accepted by Mingluan Palace, but he still looked 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.
In a strange way, 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 be managed for 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 share some blessings with him, that would be the best.
A dumpling was suddenly placed in Xue Yan's bowl. He looked up and saw Jun Huailang's eyebrows and eyes curled up, 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 lowered his eyes and saw a hot dumpling in the bowl, Yu Xue was cute.
He looked at Jun Huailang again, and saw that there was some anticipation in his eyes, shining brightly, as if waiting to see him eat.
He has always had a kind of maturity beyond his age on weekdays, and he 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, it should be the cook who was careless." He frowned and glanced at the copper plate, and placed it on the table.
However, Jun Linghuan exclaimed in a low voice: "Yeah! Brother Fifth Prince, you have eaten the fortune!"
Xue Yan paused: "What kind of luck?"
Jun Linghuan took the copper plate with his finger: "It's there!"
Beside her, Concubine Shu explained with a smile, "It's 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, and his eyes fell on the copper plate on the table.
Then, he heard Jun Huailang say in disappointment: "I knew that dumplings would not be given to you, who knew that 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, when he looked 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.
Beside her, Concubine Shu poked Jun Huailang's forehead with a smile: "Why are you so stingy, and there is a reason to regret giving it? It can be considered that this good fortune should belong to Xue Yan, otherwise it would not be such a coincidence."
Jun Linghuan also nodded, pretending to be mature, "Brother can't be a cheapskate!"
Hearing this, 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 burned the room extremely warm, and the steam from 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 also be accepted by the world in the light.
And he knew that all this was given to him by Jun Huailang.
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 so brightly that it was hotly imprinted 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 unconsciously on the copper plate and clenched it tightly into the palm of his hand.
As if to relieve the sudden urge in his heart to want to possess something and hide it tightly.