Although Xiao Huayong didn't get to taste the dumplings made by Shen Xihe, he received a jar of Tusu wine delivered to the Eastern Palace by Shen Xihe's messenger on New Year's Day. This was a New Year's custom - a medicinal wine believed to drive away evil spirits, detoxify the body, and prolong life.
There was also a drinking custom: the youngest family member should drink first, as "the young gain a year, so they drink first to celebrate; the elderly lose a year, hence they drink later."
She also prepared sweet malt sugar treats to give to any visiting children for a sweet treat.
With door gods and spring couplets pasted, peach wood charms replaced, and streamers inserted, the atmosphere became exceptionally lively.
After eating dumplings at the Tao residence, Shen Xihe returned to the Princess Manor. On the first day of the New Year, every household would burn bamboo poles - hollow bamboo sections crackling in the flames, a tradition called "courtyard bonfires."
This fire was meant to burn from morning till night, or even continuously for several days and nights. Fragrant spices were thrown into the fire, filling the entire estate with exotic scents. Before the New Year, all spices at the Living-Alone Pavilion had been sold out due to this custom.
With nothing particular to do, Shen Xihe worked with Zhenzhu and others to create a massive lantern tree, having the servants of the Princess Manor gather around it merrily, singing and dancing. People of this era were skilled dancers - not just nobles and aristocrats, but commoners enjoyed it too.
Due to her poor health since childhood, Shen Xihe had never been able to learn dancing. She brought out a guqin and played music to add to the fun. Without distinction of status, everyone fully enjoyed the New Year's joy, their faces beaming with happy smiles.
Bu Shulin didn't pester Shen Xihe, as she had gone visiting neighbors.
The so-called "visiting rounds" meant that from New Year's Day onward, every household in the capital would set up feasts. Neighbors would exchange New Year greetings, stopping to eat and drink at whichever house they visited.
Thinking of this, Shen Xihe secretly felt grateful that today was the Grand Court Assembly, otherwise Xiao Huayong would surely have taken advantage of the custom to swagger right into her home.
After half a day of festivities, Shen Xihe had a whole lamb roasted for dinner. Everyone in the Princess Manor gathered in the courtyard, sitting in different spots, each receiving several plates to enjoy a fine meal. Ziyu then suggested everyone play the hidden hook game.
Shen Xihe declined to participate and returned to her room early. From her room, she watched them playing and laughing in the courtyard, savoring this rare moment of relaxation and joy.
"Your Highness, Deputy Secretary Wang has been suspended for reflection again." Mo Yuan came to report while Shen Xihe was painting.
"On New Year's Day? What offense could it be? Would His Majesty actually take action today?" Shen Xihe was surprised.
New Year's Day was such an important occasion. For ordinary offenses, even serious enough to warrant suspension for reflection, the Emperor would usually tolerate it for the holiday's sake and postpone punishment for a few days.
"I heard it was caused by two diplomatic envoys clashing in the Taiji Hall." The specific details were still unknown to them.
Shen Xihe set down her brush, thought for a moment, and said, "Someone must have set a trap."
How important was the Grand Court Assembly?
All civil and military officials, tribute envoys from various provinces, frontier regions, and surrounding nations - all states came to offer congratulations.
Wang Zheng was the Deputy Secretary of the Department of State Affairs, responsible for receiving and arranging foreign envoys. For two parties to clash, it couldn't be an ordinary matter. But Wang Zheng was old and crafty, handling affairs meticulously - how could he easily make such a mistake?
"Your Highness, could it be the Crown Prince?" Hongyu recalled that the last time Wang Zheng was suspended for reflection, it was the Crown Prince's doing.
"While he's not the only one in court who could accomplish this, moving against him at this time does make the Crown Prince the most suspicious." Shen Xihe also suspected that Xiao Huayong had secretly played a dirty trick."You know me best, Youyou." Just as her words fell, Xiao Huayong's clear and deep voice came from the rooftop.
The guards only noticed him then, but Shen Xihe couldn't blame her guards for being useless—after all, this man could come and go freely even in the imperial palace, let alone her small Princess Manor.
"Your Highness fears the cold, don't act like a mischievous child," Shen Xihe said softly.
Xiao Huayong leaped down from the rooftop and strode toward Shen Xihe: "I came to the Princess Manor for the neighborhood feast. Youyou can't deny me a meal."
Though neighborhood feasts were popular in the capital, people knew their place. Ordinary folks wouldn't dare visit the mansions of high officials, so neighbors were usually of similar status. Shen Xihe's Princess Manor occupied a corner spanning two streets, with few neighbors—only a few imperial relatives. Most knew of Shen Xihe's aloof nature, and since the Princess Manor hadn't opened its gates, they wouldn't impose.
Still, it was a festival. Though Shen Xihe hadn't opened her gates, that didn't mean she hadn't prepared food—the Princess Manor had many mouths to feed after all.
A guest was a guest, and it was a New Year's custom. Shen Xihe had no reason to drive Xiao Huayong away, allowing him to linger for a meal.
"Youyou, do you want to know why Wang Zheng stopped?" Xiao Huayong asked, moving close to Shen Xihe after finishing his meal.
Shen Xihe didn't even lift her eyelids: "No."
Xiao Huayong's smile didn't fade: "But I want to tell you."
It turned out Wang Zheng was responsible for arranging the envoys. Xiao Huayong had manipulated things—luring the already seated Arabian envoy away from his seat, then guiding the Goguryeo envoy to take the Arabian's place. When the Arabian envoy returned, a dispute erupted.
With neither understanding the other's language, Xiao Huayong arranged for an interpreter to translate their words using unfriendly terms, escalating the conflict until they nearly drew swords. Only then was the detained Wang Zheng allowed to intervene.
"Is there anywhere Your Highness wouldn't dare to act?" Shen Xihe asked.
He'd dared to set fire outside the ancestral temple, and now he'd created conflict during the grand court assembly with envoys from all nations.
"Just a harmless little conflict," Xiao Huayong said indifferently. "Merely to let His Majesty know he's unfit for the responsibility of Palace Attendant."
"Your Highness, there's no need for this..."
"There is every need," Xiao Huayong cut her off with a laugh. "I'm not just doing this for Censor Tao."
With Xue Heng needing to vacate the Grand Secretary position, Wang Zheng's mistake at this time was a major fault—making His Majesty lose face before the envoys. Even if His Majesty forgot, others wouldn't, creating future ammunition against Wang Zheng.
Among the Six Ministries now: His Majesty knew well the capabilities of Minister of Personnel Xue Hui—his time as Minister was ending. The Ministers of Justice and Revenue had just taken office, their seats not yet warm. For the Minister of Rites, Xiao Huayong likely had other plans. The Minister of Works was elderly, nearing retirement. That left only the Minister of War.
With none of these blocking the way, selection would have to come from the Court of Judicial Review or the Censorate. The other courts had little competitiveness—in terms of seniority, Tao Zhuanxian ranked above Court of Judicial Review Chief Xue Cheng.
"Are there other reasons?" Shen Xihe asked.
"Naturally," Xiao Huayong chuckled lightly. "He displeased you, so I'm making trouble for him. The agony of rising and falling—this is only the beginning."
Shen Xihe found it both amusing and exasperating: "Your Highness truly holds grudges.""No, if he were disrespectful to me, I could still be magnanimous." Xiao Huayong's gaze was tender and lingering, "But if he were disrespectful to you, I would be meticulous in seeking retribution."
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