Pei Xiaoyun had been working nonstop for over ten days and finally managed to settle all his affairs. With only three days left until New Year’s Eve, all government offices had closed for the holiday.
He rushed back through wind and frost, the dew clinging to his eyelashes melting away as soon as he stepped indoors.
He saw her dressed in a purple gown, her brows and eyes gentle and graceful. She was sitting sideways, threading a needle, her petite figure trembling slightly with the movement of her hands.
After not seeing her for several days, she seemed to have grown much thinner.
Ming Ying casually wiped her tears with her sleeve, revealing a delicate smile as she stood up to greet him. “Young Master, why have you returned at this hour? Let me prepare some tea for you.”
Pei Xiaoyun noticed something off about her expression. Through her clothes, he took hold of her wrist and guided her to sit down. “Lin Xian has left, and I didn’t even know. When did he go?”
He looked into her teary eyes, waiting for her answer.
Ming Ying clenched her fingertips beneath her sleeve.
In an instant, she suddenly took his hand and showed him the newly made tassel. “This servant doesn’t know either. Perhaps I was too engrossed in making the tassel. You liked the last one, so I thought I’d make another for you.”
Hearing her answer, Pei Xiaoyun finally felt relieved. He gently stroked her warm brows and eyes. “Why were you crying?”
“Just now, while putting on my clothes, the hidden clasp caught my ear.” Ming Ying dared not touch it, pointing to her right ear as she leaned slightly into his embrace.
Pei Xiaoyun examined it. The small, fair earlobe had turned a dull red. Although it had scabbed over, it didn’t seem to be healing very quickly.
“Did you apply medicine?” he asked.
“Yes, I did.” Ming Ying lowered her almond-shaped eyes. Unsure whether she had dispelled his doubts, she cautiously added, “If you were to apply the medicine for me, perhaps it would heal faster.”
“Alright, I’ll apply it for you.”
Pei Xiaoyun smiled, pulling her even closer.
After days of rushing about, the scent of her now brought a sense of peace to his weary mind. “I’m on leave before the New Year. I’ll spend it with you.”
For the next three days, Pei Xiaoyun indeed stayed at home.
On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the last snowfall of the year arrived. The elm tree in the courtyard had shed its leaves, leaving its branches bare and inevitably evoking a sense of desolation and severity.
Ming Ying led the servants in hanging bright red lanterns all over the tree. When the wind blew, the lanterns swayed gently, and from a distance, they added a festive New Year atmosphere.
Door gods, peach wood charms, and festive banners were also hung up, keeping everyone so busy they barely had time to catch their breath.
Having been weighed down by gloom for so many days, Ming Ying finally broke into a heartfelt smile upon seeing this fresh and lively scene.
No matter what, this was her role.
If she remained troubled by the past, he would not be pleased to see it, and she herself would not feel any better.
Take the charcoal in her room, for example. When he was in a good mood, he would replace it with hongluo charcoal—smokeless and dust-free, warming the entire room. When he was displeased, only a few damp pieces were provided, leaving her coughing all night.
Pei Xiaoyun sat leisurely under the corridor, sipping tea as he watched the servants tending to flowers, hanging curtains, and putting up lanterns.
Since childhood, he had never held much anticipation for festivals like the New Year; instead, he found them somewhat noisy.
When Ming Ying rolled up the curtain and stepped out, holding two pairs of couplets to ask him which to hang, he brushed aside the red and white characters and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Why do you always busy yourself with these things? Leave them to the others.”
The courtyard was filled with maids sweeping and cleaning. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ming Ying struggled slightly, only to be held even tighter by him. Half her face flushed red as she said, "Doesn’t Young Master think it looks better when they’re hung up? If everything were just as usual, how would it feel like the New Year?"
The past year, from Yangzhou to the capital, had been filled with hardships and turbulence. She had experienced too much, and it had not been a good year.
But no matter what, the new year should be welcomed, bringing new hopes.
She glanced at the man holding her, her gaze dimming slightly.
Once the new year passed and spring arrived, he would also marry. For her, where was there any new hope?
Why had life become a matter of just getting by, year after year?
"Fine, if you love making a fuss, go hang them up," Pei Xiaoyun said, seeing that she was genuinely happy today, and decided to let her have her way.
Ming Ying tightened her grip on the couplets in her hand and slowly looked up at him. "Besides, with the joyous occasion in the mansion come spring, making things livelier is also a good omen."
The words "joyous occasion," spoken in her gentle and melodious voice, fell upon Pei Xiaoyun’s ears, causing him to pause briefly.
He looked into her bright eyes and chuckled lightly, his meaning unclear.
She was always thinking of his joyous occasion for him.
For some reason, he thought of Lin Xian again and pinched her fingertips tightly. "Even after I marry, you will still serve me as usual. Don’t think of anything else, understand?"
"You and the County Mistress grew up together. Won’t you send me away?" Ming Ying mustered the courage to ask.
This was a question she had wanted to ask for a long time.
She just never had the chance, nor dared to bring it up.
"Didn’t I say I would take you as a concubine?" Pei Xiaoyun looked at her, his eyes darkening. "Do you want to leave?"
Ming Ying rubbed her reddened fingertips and hurriedly replied, "To serve as your concubine—such good fortune—this servant is endlessly grateful."
She herself didn’t know what answer she wanted to hear from him.
To send her away, reducing the affection of these years to ashes, or to keep her, letting her remain a servant for life, watching him have children with another.
Her heart felt heavy, as if something were stuck in her chest—unable to be swallowed or removed.
The sight of the fiery red lanterns swaying before her eyes made her eyes sting slightly.
There would be many more New Years like this, spent forcing smiles.
The next day, Ling Shuang and Yu'er, along with a few other maids, were granted leave to return home as they wished. Pei Xiaoyun paid little attention to their comings and goings. In their eyes, he naturally seemed like a reasonable and kind master.
Only Ming Ying had seen many sides of him and knew full well that the more lenient and indulgent he appeared, the less he truly cared.
On New Year’s Eve, lights illuminated every corner.
Brilliant fireworks soared into the sky, bursting into bright sparks.
Ming Ying went to the main courtyard to fetch the warmed New Year’s wine. She saw the main hall filled with people, everyone exchanging congratulations in a joyful atmosphere, and even a troupe had been invited to perform.
The further she walked toward Lanqing Zhuoyuan, the quieter it became. The noisy fireworks felt out of place in this courtyard.
Covering her ears as she entered, she poured two cups of Tusu wine. Master and servant sat facing each other as usual.
After drinking just half a cup, she began to feel warm all over, becoming thoroughly drunk and nearly collapsing onto the stove.
In her daze, she fell into a warm embrace.
Pei Xiaoyun was well aware of her drinking capacity and immediately tried to take her cup. Seeing her still unwilling to give up, reaching out to grab it, he slapped her wrist. "If you get drunk, will you be serving me, or will I be serving you?"
"It hurts, why did you hit me?" Ming Ying was heavily drunk, her words childlike as she leaned into his embrace and cried, tears soaking his lapel.
Though intoxicated, she recognized his scent the moment she caught it. She suppressed many things she wanted to say, afraid he might hear something she shouldn’t utter.
So she remained silent, only sobbing.
Pei Xiaoyun’s chest trembled with her shaking. Gazing at her tear-streaked eyes, he felt somewhat at a loss.
She had been drunk before, and each time she would ramble about her childhood—like getting pricked by a fishbone while eating fish, falling into a trap while picking mushrooms, or cutting her hand while secretly playing with her father’s carving knife. Her incoherent stories had always bored him.
This time, however, she said nothing, only cried so sorrowfully.
Perhaps she was too drunk, even foolishly trying to wipe her tears and snot on his lapel.
He promptly slapped her hand away. Though questioning, his anger was not pronounced: "Being with me, have I somehow wronged you? Why are you crying like this for no reason?"
Ming Ying heard his words clearly and stammered out two words: "It hurts… it hurts…"
It was what she hadn’t finished saying that night.
It hurt when he forcibly pierced her earlobe, and it hurt when he carved those two characters onto her body.
Pei Xiaoyun froze for a moment, then forcefully turned her head, forcing her to look at him: "Who told you to disobey me, insisting on getting involved with that Lin Xian? How dare you accept his gifts behind my back? Don’t think I don’t know what you said to him at Fuguang Lou."
Ming Ying didn’t answer.
She thought he was unreasonable—why could he entangle himself with other women, while she merely exchanged a few words with someone else and had to endure such treatment?
But how could she dare say that? She wanted to lean back and continue crying, but he pulled her up.
"Do you still dare?"
Ming Ying quickly replied: "I don’t dare, I don’t dare. Serving Young Master is my fortune. This servant is willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay your great kindness."
A strange feeling stirred in Pei Xiaoyun’s heart. Her words sounded sincere, yet they felt so awkward.
He peeled her off him and laid her on the bed, then pressed his lips to her rapidly parting mouth. It tasted sweet and refreshing, with a hint of wine. He found her tongue and bit down hard.
Ming Ying arched her neck in pain, but he pressed the back of her head, burying her face in the pillow.
He always favored this position.
She couldn’t see him, only following his movements with soft moans or quiet sobs.
Meanwhile, he could see her completely, controlling her reactions from above.
She was grateful he was much gentler than that night.
Gradually, her drunkenness faded as she clung to his chest, rising and falling with him.
…
When the storm subsided, Ming Ying was still awake, holding his arm without letting go. Listening to the bursts of fireworks outside the window, a long-lost warmth spread through her limbs.
She blinked quietly, as if transported back to the feeling of celebrating the New Year with him in Yangzhou—just as peaceful, with only the two of them.
Pei Xiaoyun felt content and gently traced the trembling of her eyelashes with his fingertips, chatting idly with her. "In the future, let’s have a daughter as lovely as you."
A flicker of light passed through Ming Ying’s calm gaze, like the reflection of fireworks.
Was he saying he hoped to have a child with her?
Ever since she began serving him, she had been drinking Contraception Decoction. By this year, it had been three years, and she had never missed a dose.
At times, she would even think that he believed her unworthy of bearing his children, which was why he made her drink bowl after bowl of medicine.
Regarding children, they maintained an unspoken understanding and never brought it up.
Tonight, however, he had taken the initiative to mention it.
Her voice trembled slightly. "Would the Young Master be pleased?"
"Of course," Pei Xiaoyun said, brushing his lips against hers.
Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, Kong Qing’s urgent voice came from outside the door.
"Eldest Master, something terrible has happened!"
Pei Xiaoyun propped himself up on one elbow, a faint displeasure flickering in his eyes as he called out, "What is it?"
Kong Qing shrank back.
On New Year’s Eve, he had no desire to deliver such ill-omened news, yet he dared not delay. He reported truthfully, "The elderly matriarch of Prince Yi’s residence has passed away. The County Mistress is overwhelmed with grief and has suffered an asthma attack. She insists that you go and see her."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xiaoyun’s expression shifted subtly.
Ming Ying naturally heard it too but pretended not to.
She did not release his hand, their fingers still tightly interlaced, yet no matter how tightly she held on, she could not resist the force with which he withdrew.
Tonight was New Year’s Eve—he was supposed to stay with her.
She felt a chill in her palm, the sense of security in her heart vanishing like smoke. Then, he pushed back the covers and rose, letting in a gust of cold air.
She sighed softly and made to get up to help him dress.
"Go back to sleep. I can manage on my own."
Pei Xiaoyun stepped off the bed, draped a black cloak over himself, and before leaving, glanced at her pale, gentle face. "I have urgent matters to attend to. Rest well. When you wake up tomorrow morning, I’ll give you a big red envelope."
"Mmm," Ming Ying nodded stiffly.
The sound of him opening the door was deafening, even drowning out the roar of fireworks blooming outside.
She turned onto her side and lay awake through the night.
The next day, as dawn broke faintly in the sky.
She too put on new clothes. Seeing the leftover wine and plates of pastries by the stove, the warmth of the previous night felt fleeting, like a dream.
In the past, he would always give her a red envelope on the first day of the new year.
But today, the sun was already high in the sky, and he still had not returned.
Gazing through the window at the lanterns swaying gently from the tree, she suddenly realized it was the first day of the new year—a day to be kind to herself.
She took out a large red envelope, stuffed all her money inside, passed it from her left hand to her right, and spoke words of blessing.
"Ah Ying, Happy New Year. May you have peace and safety year after year."
Author’s Note:
There is a second male lead, and the female lead will have a storyline with him, but he will not replace the male lead—he will not replace the male lead! As stated in the synopsis, this is a melodramatic story of forced possession and power struggles, so take it as it is. Different strokes for different folks—let’s not argue, everyone [pitiful] [bursting into tears]