Jingxiu Palace!

Princess Lin'an stepped on the soft moss with her exquisite embroidered shoes, holding her elder brother's arm, and entered Jingxiu Palace.

The room was warm as spring, and the floor heating dispelled the cold of December. The noble concubine, dressed in luxurious clothes, sat at the table with a smile, waiting for her children.

At forty years old, Chen Guifei was no longer in her prime, but she was still in the most plump and mature stage of a woman's life. Her skin was still firm, her eyes still sparkling, and her well-maintained figure exuded the charm of maturity.

Among the many beauties in the harem, Chen Guifei was the most capable. Among the four princesses, only Lin'an could compete with the eldest princess.

"It's too hot. Let the servants outside lower the charcoal fire." Lin'an Princess frowned.

She usually only needed charcoal fire, but the floor heating was too hot, making her feel like she was in a steamer.

Chen Guifei immediately ordered, "Listen to Princess Lin'an and lower the charcoal fire."

Lin'an happily threw herself into her mother's arms and said, "Mother, can I sleep here with you tonight?"

Chen Guifei nodded with a gentle smile.

Although this was not in accordance with the rules, after all, the concubines might have to serve the emperor at night. But in Emperor Yuan Jing's reign, because he had been practicing Taoism for many years, many rules in the harem had become meaningless.

If the emperor cared about women, the rules would be strict. But since the emperor didn't care about his beauties, as long as there was no violation of principle, they could do whatever they wanted.

As for the violation of principles... hehehe.

However, Emperor Yuan Jing was not useless. At least the harem was very harmonious, and the concubines couldn't even start a fight if they wanted to.

The crown prince chatted with his mother, while Lin'an Princess chattered on the side.

Find the original at "pawread.com".

"Linglong went crazy today and almost hurt Lin'an. Father and the guards couldn't save her in time." The crown prince mentioned what had happened in the afternoon.

Chen Guifei, who was usually calm, was shocked and quickly took Lin'an's hand, anxiously asking, "Did you get hurt? Let me see."

The second princess put on a pitiful expression and said, "I almost couldn't see mother."

Chen Guifei was angry and said, "What's wrong with these servants? They can't even control an animal, and it almost hurt my child."

After venting her anger, she held Lin'an's soft hand and asked, "Then what happened? Did the crown prince save you?"

The crown prince's status was different from that of other princes. Except for the empress, all other concubines in the harem had to call him "crown prince" and couldn't call him "my son" or "imperial son."

Lin'an pouted at the crown prince and complained, "Crown Prince Brother doesn't have this ability. Every time Huaiqing bullies me, he only talks and doesn't help me fight her."

The crown prince smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Chen Guifei became more curious and looked at the crown prince, holding her daughter's hand and saying, "Tell mother?"

Lin'an's peach blossom eyes lit up and she said, "I received a small copper gong... well, it was two days ago. I brought it with me today and planned to send it out. I happened to meet this incident, and he saved me."

"A copper gong..." Chen Guifei frowned. "Is he a Nightwatcher?"

"Yes," Lin'an said. "I know mother doesn't like Nightwatchers because they are Wei Yuan's people, but he is my person."

The crown prince added, "There will be rewards from His Majesty."

"I also need a reward from the palace," Chen Guifei said solemnly. "I will send someone to the warehouse to get some jewelry and send it over."

"The imperial concubine's reward should not be given to officials, but to the female relatives of officials."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince frowned, "When did Xu Qi'an become your man?"

Princess Lin'an raised her chin proudly, "I snatched him from Huai Qing."

"Does Huai Qing know?"

"Of course she does."

"Hasn't she scolded you?"

"She wouldn't dare...I'll bring Xu Qi'an to see her, I'll have protection and I can make her angry." Princess Lin'an was pleased with her own cleverness.

...

In December, it was dark as soon as the sun set.

When they left the yamen, the sun was still in the western sky, stubbornly dyeing the clouds into its own shape and color.

By the time they arrived at the Xu residence, the sky was completely dark, and lanterns lit up one by one, illuminating the pedestrians returning home and the buildings and houses.

The dark sky, bamboo lanterns, and ancient buildings...every time Xu Qi'an saw this scene, he regretted not learning how to paint.

The Xu residence was already closed at this time, but Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, knew that the young master never used the front gate.

So when Xu Qi'an knocked on the door, Old Zhang was surprised to see him.

"Call the people in the house to move things." Xu Qi'an ordered.

Move things?

Old Zhang glanced at the young master's shoulder and saw the three carriages and the Nightwatchers who came with him.

...

In the main hall, the family of four was having dinner. Xu Lingyue had been waiting for her big brother to eat together, but he had been late for many days. She lowered her head and asked, "Big brother hasn't been coming home for dinner on time for many days."

The candlelight flickered, and her long eyelashes caught the light, her sharp and delicate face shining like warm jade.

Her fair and beautiful face and pure and weak posture would make her the school's most popular girl if she wore a sailor suit.

Hmm, she's still a mixed-race school flower. Xu Lingyue's features were more profound than ordinary women, giving her a more three-dimensional look.

"I'll save some food for big brother." Xu Lingyin was the complete opposite of her sister. If big brother wasn't home, no one would compete with her for food.

"Isn't it time to receive our monthly salary in a few days?" Auntie looked at Uncle.

Uncle lowered his head to eat, "Hmm."

He had already overdrawn this month's salary. As the year-end approached, there were banquets and gifts to be given among colleagues, which cost a lot of money.

...Anyway, Ning Yan hadn't married yet, so let him borrow his salary to get by for now. Uncle Xu thought.

"At the end of the year, we also have to buy clothes for Lingyue and Lingyin, and make clothes for the young masters. We don't have enough money." Auntie sighed.

Last month, they still had dozens of taels of silver in savings before going to the Yunlu Academy. But when they came back, it was all gone...

Auntie was about to tear Uncle apart, accusing him of fooling around outside.

It was guaranteed by the honor of Xu Qi'an and Xu Erlang that the silver was spent on networking and official business, not on fooling around.

Auntie believed them.

Although Xu Qi'an was an annoying person, he was stubborn and never lied. Xu Erlang was a scholar and had been sensible since he was young.

"It's only a matter of a few taels of silver." Uncle Xu didn't care.

Auntie looked at him, "I want to buy a cloud brocade."

Uncle Xu was surprised. He didn't think the family's financial situation could afford a foot or two of cloud brocade.

Auntie calculated for him, saying that after Erlang passed the imperial exam, his status would be different. He couldn't keep wearing his old robe, no matter how precious it was, it wouldn't be enough for the occasion.

It was time for Lingyue to get married, and the clothes in the cabinet needed to be renewed.

Uncle Xu absent-mindedly listened, making vague sounds of agreement.

Snap!Auntie tapped her chopsticks on the table, and everyone looked over.

Auntie picked up the chopsticks expressionlessly and said, "Let's eat."

Uncle Xu helplessly said, "During the tax case, we emptied our savings. The rice and flour for the first month were borrowed from my colleagues. Let's wait until next year, we will definitely buy them then."

Auntie lowered her head, not letting him see her slightly red eyes.

"Be careful, be careful... don't touch the wall. If you dirty it, I won't spare you," came the scolding voice of the gatekeeper, Old Zhang.

Uncle Xu was in a bad mood and looked over with a frown. The servants in the mansion were carrying bolts of silk and carefully entering under Old Zhang's command.

Auntie widened her big Cartier eyes in disbelief as she watched the beautiful bolts of silk being brought in.

"How pretty..." Xu Lingyue exclaimed.

Greenie also widened her eyes, drooling.

Only Xu Lingyin remained unwavering in her love for food, burying her little face in her bowl, her cheeks bulging.

"Where did these come from?" Uncle Xu asked in confusion.

Old Zhang spread out a piece of coarse cloth and placed the silk on it while answering, "The young master brought them back, saying they were bestowed by the Emperor."

Bestowed by the Emperor? Uncle Xu's first reaction was that the Sangpo case had been solved.

As a captain of the Imperial Guards, he was on duty in the outer city and was not aware of what was happening in the inner city. The Sangpo case caused a stir in the inner city, but those without sufficient status couldn't access relevant information.

Thinking about how he had been stuck in the Qi Refining Stage for almost twenty years, Uncle Xu felt gloomy. But soon, his melancholy was dispelled by joy. "What about Ning Yanren?"

"He's outside... The Emperor bestowed five hundred bolts of silk in total," Old Zhang said happily.

"Snap!"

Auntie's chopsticks fell on the table.

PS: There will be another chapter at midnight. Please give me some monthly votes for my hard work.