latelenovela Chapter 271 Winter Festival
Chapter 271 Winter Festival
On the eve of the winter festival, it snowed.
Yun Shang got up halfway through the night and saw that the branches in the courtyard were already covered with snow, but his expression remained calm.
He had already inquired about the celestial phenomena of the past few days from the Imperial Observatory and made preparations in advance for the snowfall. Everything was ready, and he was just waiting for the winter festival tomorrow.
Yu Wan groggily saw Yun Shang standing by the window. She sat up sleepily and asked lazily, "What's wrong?"
Yun Shang turned around, and the dim yellow light shone on his fair and jade-like face, making him look like a bewitching ghost.
He walked slowly back to the bedside, sat on the edge of the couch, gently stroked Yu Wan's hair, and said softly, "It's nothing, I just noticed it's snowing."
"No wonder it's so cold." Yu Wan nodded slightly, then shrank further under the covers, muttering, "Can you handle Prince Yong?"
Unsure of what Prince Yong's scheme was for the winter festival, Yun Shang did not discover any clues.
Such unknown and uncontrollable things are the most unsettling.
Yun Shang tucked the blanket around her, her cool voice full of gentleness, "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements in advance. No matter what Prince Yong wants to do, he won't succeed."
"Be careful when you go out with your mother and Yunxi tomorrow. There will be a lot of people on the streets during the Winter Festival, so don't get lost."
The Winter Festival was not only a royal ceremony, but also an annual day of celebration for both the emperor and the people of Da Zhao.
The altar can accommodate tens of thousands of people to watch the ceremony, so tomorrow the guards of Shengjing, the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Army of the palace will all be mobilized to protect the emperor's safety and maintain order at the scene.
Yu Wan had already fallen asleep in a daze, and it was unclear whether she heard Yun Shang's words. She only mumbled an "Mmm".
The snow outside the window was falling heavier and heavier, and the rustling sound of the falling snow was particularly clear in the quiet night.
Although everything seems to be ready for tomorrow's winter festival, countless eyes are secretly watching and countless conspiracies are waiting in the shadows.
Yun Shang silently sorted out the various matters in his mind, pondering every possible loophole and countermeasure.
A moment later, he returned to the bedside, lay down quietly, and gently embraced Yu Wan.
Yu Wan unconsciously murmured something and snuggled into his arms.
That night, the snow fell silently, and the two slept in each other's arms.
The next day.
The snow covered the streets and buildings of Shengjing in silver, and lanterns and decorations were hung in the streets and alleys. The people of Dazhao, dressed in their finest clothes, flocked to the streets.
Early in the morning, children who love excitement were already running around laughing and playing, holding sugar paintings in their hands.
Huangjue Temple in the east of the city appears even more solemn and majestic against the backdrop of white snow.
This royal temple is not far from the imperial city, and most of the royal family's grand sacrificial ceremonies are held here.
At this moment, the tall altar had been completed, and covered in snow, it resembled a sacred temple.
Yun Shang arrived at Huangjue Temple early in the morning to conduct a final check.
The surrounding area was bustling with noise, but he seemed to be in another world, completely absorbed, with a serious and focused expression.
He meticulously examined every corner of the altar, from the placement of the sacrificial implements to the details of the surrounding arrangements, leaving nothing out.
Around 3:45 AM, Yu Wan, Shen Shi, and Yun Xi went out together.
Most of the people on the street were heading towards Huangjue Temple, where they could also watch the ceremony from afar.
Some people who were very curious about Emperor Wenjing would not miss this only opportunity to see the emperor.
Shen and Yunxi were also very curious about Emperor Wenjing, so the three of them headed towards Huangjue Temple.
The group chatted and laughed along the way, attracting many vendors with their calls and buying a lot of food.
"Selling sweet soup, selling sweet soup, sweet and warm sweet soup—"
As they approached the outside of Huangjue Temple, Yunxi spotted a vendor selling sweet soup and exclaimed joyfully, "Mother, sister-in-law, I want to drink sweet soup!"
This was the first time Yunxi had ever seen such a lively scene.
Her health has improved a lot after being treated by Old Man Feng, and she is now able to go out for a walk.
Yunxi rarely went out, so Shen Shi and Yu Wan naturally doted on her, buying her whatever she wanted.
Yu Wan smiled as she glanced at her hands, which were already too full to hold anything, and teased, "You can still carry things?"
Yunxi glanced down, blinked guiltily, quickly stuffed the pancake in one hand into her bosom, then shook her free hand with a sly smile, and said, "You can take it now."
Seeing this, Madam Shen couldn't stop smiling.
Yu Wan smiled helplessly and led Yun Xi toward the dessert stall.
The stall owner was a kind-looking middle-aged man. When he saw them coming, he greeted them warmly, "Ladies, my sweet soup uses a secret recipe. I guarantee you'll want more after you try it!"
Yunxi's eyes sparkled as she urged, "Quickly, give me a bowl!"
"Mother, sister-in-law, would you like to drink with us?"
Yu Wan nodded with a smile.
As Yu Wan took the sweet soup from the stall owner, she handed him the money. Her gaze paused when it fell on a certain spot.
She was startled and subconsciously looked up at the stall owner.
The stall owner had a kind and honest smile on his face.
Yu Wan smiled at him calmly, took the sugar water, and took a small sip.
He smiled and praised, "It's delicious."
The stall owner's smile grew even warmer, and he burst into hearty laughter, "Hahaha, a bowl of steaming hot sweet soup is the best way to ward off the cold in winter!"
Yunxi also praised it with a big smile.
The three of them drank as they walked toward Huangjue Temple.
On the surface, Yu Wan was talking to Shen Shi and Yun Xi as if nothing was wrong, but her eyes were always on the stall owner selling sweet soup.
If she wasn't mistaken, the vendor selling sweet soup had a ring of calluses around his thumb and forefinger—the kind of calluses that only people who wield swords for years develop…
Yu Wan looked down at the sugar water in her hand, a smile playing on her lips.
The closer they got to Huangjue Temple, the more crowded it became, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder. Yu Wan held tightly to Shen Shi and Yun Xi's hands, afraid of getting separated.
The group found a spot with a decent view and stopped.
As soon as she sat down, Yu Wan felt a sudden bloating in her lower abdomen.
Her eyes flickered slightly as she glanced around.
Unsurprisingly, she noticed several people in the crowd who seemed to be watching her suspiciously.
Yu Wan observed Yun Xi and Shen Shi discreetly, and seeing that they had no reaction, she understood what was going on.
It seems that the other party is only targeting her.
Perhaps something extra was added to her bowl of sweet soup, because she felt exactly the same way Wan Ruyu did at the Jinglu Tea House.
Were those people trying to distract her and take advantage of her being alone?
Yu Wan sneered inwardly, but remained calm and composed on the surface.
She leaned close to Madam Shen's ear and whispered, "Mother, I suddenly need to pee. Please wait here with Yunxi for me and don't wander off."
Madam Shen looked at her with concern and instructed, "Go quickly and come back quickly, be careful."
Yu Wan nodded, got up and walked out of the crowd.
She deliberately slowed her pace, pretending to be nonchalant, while secretly keeping an eye on the movements of the person following her.
Sure enough, the suspicious men quietly followed her after she left.