Every year on New Year's Eve, the mistresses of each courtyard in the Xiao family would gather for a reunion dinner.
In previous years, it was only Old Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, and the two brothers Xiao Yun and Xiao Mo. This year, with Wang Qingyao and Feng Jiangduo present, and Wang Qingyao being pregnant, the atmosphere was much livelier.
Not only that, but the palace had also bestowed four imperial dishes. In previous years, it was only two. This year, because Feng Jiangduo was also present, two more were added. This showed the influence of the Prince of Dingnan.
Empress Dowager Fang was still rather unhappy due to Xiao Mo's matter.
However, she was a devout Buddhist and always elegant, so her displeasure was not immediately apparent to anyone.
Seeing Xiao Yun constantly attending to Wang Qingyao, asking if she was thirsty or tired, and not being as attentive to her, she couldn't help but sneer, "Yun, you are a prince. What does it look like to be constantly doting on a woman?"
Old Empress Dowager smiled and said, "It's fine within one's own home. Yao Yao is pregnant, so Yun is taking care of her..."
"The Princess Consort is pregnant?" Empress Dowager Fang's voice became sharp.
The flower hall fell silent, and everyone exchanged glances.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun looked at each other, communicating with their eyes: Didn't you tell your mother?
I forgot. I was busy buying you mirrors and arranging to meet Fang Zheng, and I completely forgot.
What a pig teammate. Wang Qingyao felt like rolling her eyes.
Xiao Yun explained then, "Yes, Yao Yao is pregnant. It was just diagnosed. I wanted to tell you this morning, but I got busy and forgot."
Empress Dowager Fang, as Wang Qingyao's direct mother-in-law, was the last to know about her pregnancy! Looking at the expressions of the other maids in the hall, they had known for a while!
Empress Dowager Fang's anger flared up instantly.
Although Empress Dowager Fang had been hoping for Wang Qingyao to get pregnant every day, she felt no joy in learning about it under these circumstances. She even suspected that her son and daughter-in-law didn't take her seriously and deliberately kept it from her.
Thinking this, Empress Dowager Fang felt extremely wronged.
Old Empress Dowager, knowing her daughter-in-law's temperament, quickly smoothed things over, chiding Xiao Yun playfully, "You even forgot to inform your mother. You deserve to be punished. You'll have to drink three cups later."
"Yes, yes, yes," Xiao Yun agreed.
Empress Dowager Fang's expression improved slightly.
The wine was fruit wine. The entire Xiao family valued their lives and no one drank to excess. Xiao Yun was unaffected after drinking three cups. Wang Qingyao wanted to drink, but her wine was replaced with milk.
Outside, firecrackers crackled incessantly, and the sounds of fireworks from the palace and thunderous cheers could be heard.
The Xiao family's New Year's Eve dinner was extremely luxurious, with everything from abalone, sea cucumber, and shark fin to rustic country dishes, catering to all tastes.
However, Wang Qingyao was not allowed to eat cold food, which made the dinner not entirely perfect.
After the reunion dinner, the younger generation kowtowed to the elders to offer New Year's greetings. Of course, Wang Qingyao was an exception again.
The elders gave the younger generation red envelopes with lucky money. Since Wang Qingyao was pregnant, Old Empress Dowager specifically gave her two.
Empress Dowager Fang said sourly, "I didn't know the Princess Consort was pregnant, so I only prepared one. Princess Consort, you won't blame me, will you?"
Wang Qingyao chuckled and said, "It was supposed to be only one. Grandmother is just favoring the unborn child. I'm starting to get jealous."
Old Empress Dowager laughed heartily. Except for Empress Dowager Fang, the others also smiled.
Empress Dowager Fang thought to herself: Hmph, is she implying that I don't dote on my grandson?
After the New Year's greetings, it was supposed to be a night of staying up late. However, Old Empress Dowager was old and couldn't stay up late. In previous years, Xiao Yun and Xiao Mo would only stay up for a little while. This year, with more people, they could stay up and have fun, but Wang Qingyao was pregnant.
They chatted around the stove for a while, and then Wang Qingyao was sent back to sleep.
On New Year's Eve, Wang Qingyao couldn't sleep at all.
In the past, she used to watch the Spring Festival Gala!
With nothing else to do, she called out the four concubines from the West Garden and set up another table in Kangping Courtyard, asking them to perform. Those who performed well would receive rewards.
Soon, some sang, some danced, some performed sword dances. Even Xiao Yun performed a set of boxing and shamelessly asked her for a reward. Kangping Courtyard was filled with laughter and merriment.
Later, when the commotion became too loud, Old Empress Dowager sent Mama Jing over. Only then did Wang Qingyao guiltily end the party.
According to ancient custom, even if a man had concubines, he was required to spend the night with his principal wife on the first and fifteenth day of each month and on major festivals.
Wang Qingyao, the legitimate Princess Consort, had just become pregnant, and it was New Year's Eve, such a joyous occasion. Mama Nian worried that Xiao Yun, in his excitement, might ignore Wang Qingyao's dignity and stay in a concubine's room. She watched for a long time and, seeing that Xiao Yun had no intention of leaving, felt relieved.
However, a moment later, she began to worry about the young couple, Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun, getting carried away, as the baby was still young...
Thinking this, she shamelessly admonished Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun a few times.
Before Wang Qingyao could even react, Xiao Yun's face turned red with embarrassment.
"Don't worry, Mama. We know our limits."
Mama Nian also felt quite embarrassed. After Wang Qingyao finished speaking, she quickly withdrew.
Wang Qingyao looked at Xiao Yun and smiled, "...Actually, there are other ways too."
Xiao Yun said, "You're so lustful."