"Brother, is something the matter?"
The guard recognized Fang Er and dismounted.
"Greetings, Commander Fang. His Majesty saw the sky was bright over here earlier and sent me to investigate."
"Uh, that's it? Alright! Zhuzi, go on a trip. Take a cart full of fireworks and send them to His Majesty. It's the New Year, let him have some fun too." ka nshu 5. x a
Fang Er was speechless. Just because he set off some fireworks, a guard was sent from afar to check.
"Here, take a cartload and have fun yourself."
After sending off the guard.
Fang Er played for a while longer, then called the children from the manor to light them together.
Even the little maids at home came forward to join in the fun.
Finally, after the time it took an incense stick to burn, all the fireworks were set off.
In the Fang Manor, after finishing the dumplings.
Fang Er took out a deck of playing cards.
They were made from bamboo slivers.
The numbers and patterns were burned onto them with charcoal.
"Come, young master will teach you a game."
"Okay, okay, what game?"
Xiao Qing's face was full of anticipation.
She remembered how Fang Er had stayed up day and night guarding her when she was injured.
But after she recovered, young master rarely stayed at home.
It was great to play games with young master today on New Year's Day!
Xiao Huan, Xiao Mi, Chen Xuelian, and Xing'er also gathered around.
"Alright, the rules are like this."
Fang Er saw that there were many people, so he explained the rules of "Run Fast."
"Kiss for each card!"
"Come on, who wants to play?"
After explaining the rules, Fang Er had a wicked grin on his face.
The faces of the several maids instantly turned red.
"If you want to play, let's play, who's afraid of whom!"
Xiao Qing didn't care. It was just a kiss on the cheek!
Seeing that Xiao Qing had agreed, the others also gritted their teeth, their faces red, and joined in.
Fang Er had a great time!
His face was so kissed that it swelled up!
It was painful yet happy!
In the imperial palace, Li Shimin watched the magnificent fireworks filling the sky.
Empress Changsun sat beside him.
Several concubines also sat nearby.
The princes and princesses eagerly vied to play with the fireworks.
Li Shimin felt that this was the happiest moment.
At this moment, it seemed as though natural disasters and man-made calamities were not as important as everything before his eyes.
"This kid Fang is really good at having fun! I'll have someone fetch a few more carts later."
"Yes, Your Majesty, look how happy they are playing."
"Since there's nothing important today, let them play to their heart's content!"
The fireworks in the palace also attracted countless citizens of Chang'an to come out of their homes and look up at the sky.
The dark sky was illuminated in all sorts of colors by the fireworks, as if telling them that their future days would also get better and better.
The first day of the Lunar New Year.
The gate of Fang Manor was opened early.
The old and young from the manor came one after another to pay their respects and wish Fang Er a Happy New Year.
This continued for the entire day.
Zhuzi and the others stood in the courtyard with copper coins and showered the children with them.
Fang Er sat in the main hall, exchanging blessings with the farmers who came to pay their respects.
All day long
He felt the muscles in his face stiffen.
It seemed like this was retribution?
He had fun yesterday, and now he had to suffer today!
No! No matter what, he had to hide away next year!
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the Grand Court Assembly.
It also signified the start of the new year's work.
All officials of the seventh rank and above in the capital were present.
Fang Er was no exception.
He was woken up by Xiao Qing at the fourth watch.
He changed his clothes and took a carriage to Chang'an city.
Taiji Palace!
This was originally where Li Yuan resided and met his officials during his reign.
Last year, Li Shimin had repelled Jieli and Goguryeo, demonstrating his extraordinary martial prowess.
Therefore, on the third day of the first lunar month, Li Yuan proposed to give it up.
Outside Chengtian Gate, when Fang Er arrived, countless officials had already gathered.
"Anzhi, over here!"
Cheng Yaojin's voice came from the crowd.
Fang Er looked for him.
Yu Chijungde, Li Ji, Li Jing, Zhang Gongjin, Chai Shao, all the people he knew were there.
"Fang offers his New Year's greetings to all the esteemed officials."
Fang Er clasped his hands in greeting towards everyone.
"Hahahaha, Commander Fang is so polite! You're sixteen this year, right? It's time to get married. Do you have a betrothal?"
Chai Shao said with a smile.
These big shots were quite satisfied with Fang Er's主动 greeting.
"Heh heh, not yet, no rush, no rush."
Fang Er said with a smile.
"Still not in a hurry? Brother, I had Chumo at sixteen!"
Cheng Yaojin patted Fang Er, then his eyes rolled as he continued, "How about I betroth my daughter to you?"
"Brother! I consider you my brother! But you want to be my father-in-law?"
Fang Er looked at him in surprise.
"Hahahaha!"
The others were amused by Fang Er's words.
"Black Cheng, don't even think about getting this son-in-law. Anzhi, I have a daughter who is fifteen years old, about your age. What do you say? I'm not your brother, can I be your father-in-law?"
Chai Shao said to Fang Er.
Fang Er's head immediately started to ache!
Then he looked at the expressions of the others around him.
"Holy crap!"
"Did I fall into a wolf's den?"
"Why do they all want to take me as a son-in-law?"
"Damn it, I wasn't forced to marry in my previous life."
"I've landed in this situation in this life!"
"Thank you for your kind offer, Duke of Chai. This young man truly doesn't want to get married so early, so could we talk about it in a couple of years?"
Fang Er said helplessly.
"Getting married isn't urgent, let's get engaged first! This matter is settled!"
Chai Shao said earnestly.
"What?"
"What's settled?"
"Don't I have any rights?"
"No, Duke Chai, it's not that I don't understand propriety, but it's just that we haven't even met, and we're going to get engaged directly. Is that okay?"
Fang Er's head was spinning!
"The command of parents and the words of a matchmaker have always been the way. Ask anyone here, haven't they all gone through this?"
Chai Shao gave Fang Er no room to argue.
Just then, the palace gate suddenly opened.
"All officials enter the hall!"
Eunuch Deng stood at the gate and shouted loudly.
Fang Er wiped away a cold sweat.
"So close!"
"I almost got myself into trouble."
Chai Shao glared at Eunuch Deng with dissatisfaction.
"This damned eunuch, why open it early and not late? He's ruining my good deed!"
Eunuch Deng felt his whole body shiver under his glare.
"What's going on?"
"Did I offend Duke Chai?"
All the officials entered the hall in succession.
According to the rules, only officials of the fifth rank and above were qualified to enter the hall.
Fang Er was about to find a place for himself on the steps in front of the Taiji Palace gate.
Chai Shao grabbed him as he approached.
"Let's go, let's go inside. You'll have to go in anyway later."
Fang Er looked at the others.
"This is not in accordance with the rules!"
"Let's go, brother. You're going to be rewarded today, so you can go directly into the hall."
Cheng Yaojin said with a nod.
Seeing that both of them said so, Fang Er was reassured and followed them in.
Taiji Palace is very large!
Compared to it, the East Palace was simply like a small studio facing a large three-bedroom apartment.
No wonder one was for the father and the other for the son!
All the officials entered the hall and took their positions.
Li Shimin slowly walked to the dragon throne.
He turned and sat down.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
All officials shouted in unison and bowed.