During the first Spring Festival in Daxia Kingdom, Si Ning spent it in the army.
A group of soldiers gathered around the campfire, and Lu Hanxiao raised a toast to them.
"The years are fragrant. Congratulations on the new year. May all the soldiers be invincible. May the people of Great Xia live and work in peace and contentment. May there be no more smoke of gunpowder in the land."
"No more smoke!"
"No more smoke!"
Everyone stood up and shouted, then drank the wine in one gulp.
Si Ning followed up with a drink, and the spicy wine slid from his throat into his stomach, with a bitter aftertaste at first but also a sweet aftertaste.
Lu Hanxiao poured another glass to toast the soldiers, "With this glass, I wish you to be invulnerable and invincible on the battlefield, and to see your old friends again when you return from the battlefield."
"I wish the general will be invulnerable and invincible on the battlefield."
Everyone raised their heads and drank this cup, and Si Ning also drank another cup.
When Lu Hanxiao picked up the third cup, his expression became a little heavier, he said.
"This cup is dedicated to the soldiers who left first. May they be safe and happy in the next life and no longer be homeless."
Everyone threw the wine on the ground, and Si Ning followed suit, feeling deeply moved.
She knew that Lu Hanxiao had been investigating the truth of the border battle. Those soldiers were relatives and friends to him.
When she dreamed back at midnight, she heard him asking herself why he took them out but didn't bring them back.
The atmosphere was a little depressing, so Lu Hanxiao raised his glass and looked at Si Ning.
Si Ning was confused and heard Lu Hanxiao say.
"This year is also the first Spring Festival for my wife and I. I hope my wife will be happy every day and be safe every year in the years to come."
Si Ning was stunned for a moment, and there was a sound of cheering in his ears.
Somewhat embarrassedly, he raised the wine glass towards Lu Hanxiao and drank it all in one gulp.
That night, the lights of thousands of houses were brightly lit, and the troops laughed constantly.
It was past midnight when Si Ning and Lu Hanxiao returned to the camp. They simply washed up and planned to go to bed.
But here comes the problem, there is only one bed.
In the past, when he was at the residence, Lu Hanxiao would always sleep on the imperial concubine's couch. It was in their courtyard and no one would say anything.
But this is the military, and it’s hard for someone to move a camp bed over. How would it be decent if word spread out about it?
Si Ning was a little embarrassed, Lu Hanxiao pointed to the ground and said.
"I'll make the bunk on the floor, and you'll sleep on the bed."
"It's cold at night. You'll definitely catch a cold tomorrow."
The tent only had a thick curtain as a door, and the wind blew into the tent from time to time. It was very cold even when sleeping on the bed, let alone sleeping on the ground.
"You come up too," Si Ning said.
After saying that, she lay down inside, leaving a place for Lu Hanxiao, and turned her body inside, leaning against the person behind her.
After a while, she heard the sound of tiny scraps of clothing rubbing against each other, the quilt beside her sank, and warmth came from behind.
Si Ning's body was a little stiff and his breathing was a little tight.
Lu Hanxiao's voice came from behind, "Go to sleep."
He didn't make any overstep, which made Si Ning feel relieved.
From being awkward at the beginning, to finally hugging Lu Hanxiao when he fell asleep.
Lu Hanxiao didn't even know that the little girl was so dishonest when sleeping. He didn't dare to look at the person next to him until dawn.
It wasn't until dawn that the little girl turned over to the other side of the bed.
Lu Hanxiao smiled helplessly and thought to himself, "You really don't regard me as a man."
Not daring to snooze, I got dressed and tiptoed out of the tent.
On the first day of the new year, one should go to pay respects to the elders, but now that the old lady is dead and the old marquis is missing, Si Ning simply spends another whole morning in the army.
In the afternoon, the emperor issued an order for Lu Hanxiao and Si Ning to enter the palace for a banquet. The two returned home to tidy up and took a car to the palace.
Every year the emperor holds a banquet in the palace on the first day of the new year. Not only the ministers of the court will bring their wives and children into the palace, but also the vassal kings who are away will come back on this day to attend the palace banquet.
This was the first time for Si Ning to see such a grand occasion. It had to be said that it was completely different from what was shown on TV in later generations.
In other words, later generations can restore less than one ten thousandth of the luxury.
The cups in front of Si Ning were all made of gold, and the dancers on the dance floor were dancing gracefully, which was pleasing to the eye.
Before the emperor and the queen arrived, the concubine with a low status had already sat down, waiting for the two people on the throne.
Si Ning saw Concubine Shu, whom he had not seen for a long time. Concubine Shu also looked in her direction and nodded slightly. Si Ning also returned the gift.
Lu Hanxiao handed a plate of fruit to Si Ning and interrupted her gaze.
Si Ning raised his eyes to look at the person beside him and heard Lu Hanxiao whisper in his ear.
"Follow me closely today, and find an excuse to avoid anyone who asks you to go."
Si Ning heard Lu Hanxiao's overtone. This was the most likely time for trouble to arise.
She nodded and took Lu Hanxiao's words to heart.
Soon the emperor came in with the queen, and everyone stood up and gave them gifts.
"Join the Emperor, long live the Emperor."
"Join the Queen Empress, and the Empress will live a thousand years."
"I wish the Emperor and Queen long blessings and good health."
"Stand flat, no need to be formal."
After the emperor sat down, everyone dared to sit down.
The emperor glanced at the ministers and said with a smile.
"Today is the New Year. You don't need to pay attention to those false etiquette. Just eat and drink to your heart's content. Come and give me a toast."
The emperor raised his glass, and everyone present stood up again, raised their glasses to the emperor, and said in unison.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty accept the blessings of Great Xia and the blessings of my people."
The emperor smiled and downed the drink in one gulp, then raised his hand to signal everyone to sit down.
After the emperor took his seat, one plate after another was quickly brought out.
The music was played again in the main hall, and the dancers started dancing again.
Several concubines toasted to the emperor and said auspicious words. The emperor always had a smile on his face, but Si Ning always felt that the smile did not reach his eyes.
After the concubine had toasted, it was the ministers' turn to toast.
Everyone stepped forward one after another and praised the emperor. Even Lu Hanxiao had to stand up.
The emperor's attitude towards him was different from others, and he said with a pleased expression.
"It is my great blessing that you can wake up. I will entrust the border to you in the future."
Everyone could understand that Lu Hanxiao was afraid that he would go to the battlefield again.
Lu Hanxiao did not refuse, nodded and drank the wine in one gulp.
Han Liangan on the side saw it and said with a smile, "Father, General Lu can wake up, it is because of Mrs. Lu. You don't know something. Mrs. Lu is not only excellent in medical skills, but also talented. Today is such a great day, why not Let Mrs. Lu show off her skills?"
Si Ning was drinking juice when his name was suddenly called, and his expression became tense.
Everyone's eyes fell on her, and they had to put down the cup in their hands. When they were about to get up, Lu Hanxiao said.
"I heard that the third prince recently took a concubine, and his talents are well-known in the capital. Why not invite her to perform?"
