Chapter 19. New Year’s Eve Gu Sui: “This cup of wine, I toast to you.”…

The next day, Gu Sui, hugging a hand warmer and wrapped in a thick cloak, boarded the carriage home, reluctantly lifting the curtain.

Although he had stayed in the palace last night, they didn’t share a room. He tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep.

As the carriage rumbled forward, the figure behind became smaller and smaller. It took Gu Sui a long while to lower the curtain, leaning wearily against the carriage wall.

After returning home, it took Gu Sui several days of rest to recover.

Drinking medicine every day, without even a baby to feed, was miserable.

But he had to drink it; he didn’t want to experience that pain a second time.

With Mu Jiulu not around, he could only frown as he drank it all at once, then quickly put a candy in his mouth.

Fortunately, by New Year’s Eve, he had finally become lively again. Before going to the palace for the night banquet, he set about preparing a birthday gift for Mu Jiulu.

Her birthday was on the first day of the first lunar month, and she was born at sunrise, which alone showed how favored she was.

“Sui gege, you’re biased. I want a birthday gift like that too,” Li Fuyu said, shaking Gu Sui’s arm, looking extremely aggrieved.

“Didn’t I send you one that day?”

“But that wasn’t made by Sui gege himself. Why does the Regent get a small statue carved by Sui gege? I want one too.

And that cake, the one Sui gege made for me was so small, unlike the one for the Regent, which was even double-layered, hmph.”

Li Fuyu had a childish nature. Hearing this, Gu Sui tapped his head.

“Wasn’t that because it was too rushed that day? Wait until next year, I’ll definitely make you an even better cake.”

Li Fuyu pouted, “What about the wood carving?”

Gu Sui gently refused, “That’s not possible. This one is unique.”

He carefully blew away the wood shavings from the small sandalwood statue and held it up to the sunlight for a closer look.

It was her appearance from the day they first met, with a long hairpin holding up a simple bun. Every strand of hair exuded her solitary pride, and the lifelike expression seemed as if it could come alive at any moment.

“Sui gege is so skillful,” Li Fuyu praised, with a trace of envy and regret in his eyes.

Gu Sui had been carving all afternoon. Gu Tingsong came by once during that time.

Seeing him so focused, she didn’t go in to disturb him, just watched him from the window for a while.

Although she hadn’t been at the mansion much lately, she knew about what had happened around Gu Sui. She felt a bit helpless, but also somewhat moved.

It was the first time she had seen him like someone so much.

When he talked about her, there was light in his eyes.

“I heard that today’s night banquet will end very late, right?” Gu Sui asked after packing up his things. Li Fuyu sighed.

“Yes, and even after it’s over, we still have to stay up for the New Year at home. Basically, it’ll be until dawn.

I don’t know what’s so good about staying up. Time isn’t something you can hold onto anyway.”

Gu Sui: “So long? Isn’t it just until twelve… the hour of Zi?”

He planned to give her the birthday gift as soon as it turned twelve, making him definitely the first person to celebrate her birthday.

“If only it was just until the hour of Zi. In previous years, I had no fun at all at home, and on New Year’s Eve, I still had to meet with Li Wenxin and the others. It was so annoying.”

“It’s alright, this year you’re with us. You can play whatever you want.”

Li Fuyu finally cheered up: “Yay! Then Sui gege has to play leaf cards with me.”

Gu Sui hesitated for a moment: “…You might have to teach me first.”

“It’s okay, Sui gege is so smart, you’ll definitely learn quickly. We still have some time before going to the palace, I’ll teach you now.”

“Alright.”

Night fell as expected, but the capital was brightly lit. The emperor and the people celebrated together, officials brought their relatives to the banquet, and the palace roads were bustling with activity.

Inside the imperial city, even the palace servants’ attire was more festive. Red silk lanterns were hung everywhere, creating a joyous atmosphere.

Gu Sui and Li Fuyu were led by palace servants to the area for male relatives, waiting for the night banquet to begin.

As soon as Gu Sui entered, he drew in a sharp breath.

So many people!

He felt as if he had stumbled into some large-scale traditional fashion show, with the gentlemen and young masters of various families competing in beauty and elegance.

There were those who were dignified and magnificent, those who were dazzlingly beautiful, and those who were clear and handsome.

If Gu Sui had seen any one of them individually, he wouldn’t have thought much of it.

But with so many gathered together, he felt somewhat out of place.

Little did he know, he was the one who seemed even more out of place in others’ eyes.

The young man wore a black brocade robe with silver-embroidered qilin cloud patterns and narrow sleeves. Unlike others, the hem of his robe didn’t reach his ankles. He wore a jade belt at his waist with a red jade pendant hanging from it. His figure was as straight as jade, with bright eyes and white teeth.

His black hair was loosely draped over his shoulders, without any elaborate hairpins. He only wore a white crane hair clip on the left side, which made his features even more picturesque.

“Tch, just showing off,” a round-faced young master next to Mu Yi said disdainfully. Mu Yi glanced at him coldly.

His name was Xue Song, the fifth young master of the Prime Minister’s mansion, and had always been Mu Yi’s little follower.

Xue Song knew that Mu Yi disliked Gu Sui, which was why he spoke like this in front of him.

But Xue Song didn’t know that Mu Yi had already been warned by his imperial sister.

“Say less,” Mu Yi said expressionlessly, his gaze fixed on Gu Sui, puzzled in his heart.

What exactly about him attracted imperial sister?!

Someone came forward to chat with Gu Sui, saying nothing more than pleasantries. Gu Sui couldn’t even recognize who they were, let alone bother to socialize. He just nodded in response, being quite perfunctory.

Walking towards the inner side, Gu Sui saw Mu Yi in full attire.

Seeing Gu Sui look over, Mu Yi’s first reaction was to avoid his gaze, but the next second he realized something was wrong.

He was the Yuan Yi Jun, what did he have to hide from?

Mu Yi raised his chin proudly and looked back.

“Li Fuyu, how have you been recently? Has he been bullying you?”

Li Fuyu had been following Gu Sui all along. Hearing this, he inwardly snorted.

“Little uncle is overthinking. Sui gege treats me very well.”

He even helped him copy the imperial edict, finally managing to submit it to the Regent before today.

Gu Sui chose to sit near Mu Yi, and palace servants brought over fruit wine and snacks.

“Shall we drink together?” Gu Sui asked.

In Gu Sui’s eyes, male friendship was very simple. There was nothing that couldn’t be resolved by either a fight or a drink.

Wu Tian was a good example.

Gu Sui lazily sat sideways at the table, holding out his wine cup towards Mu Yi.

Mu Yi pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment.

If he just drank like this, it would be too undignified, but if he refused, imperial sister would surely be angry if she found out.

“What kind of person does the young master think he is to offer a drink to His Highness? Gu Gongzi is being too presumptuous,” Xue Song suddenly spoke up from the side. Li Fuyu was about to slam the table and stand up, but was held back by Gu Sui.

“Who are you?” Gu Sui raised his eyes to look over, his previously gentle and warm peach blossom eyes becoming much more obscure.

“Xue Song, from the Prime Minister’s mansion.”

Gu Sui suddenly hooked his lips, moving his hand holding the wine cup slightly to the right, directly facing Xue Song.

“Xue Song? Then this cup of wine, I toast to you.”

As soon as the words fell, Xue Song was about to mock him, but he only saw Gu Sui flip his wrist, the cup mouth tilting.

The crystal-clear wine all spilled onto the smooth floor tiles, the trickling sound not loud, but very prominent at this moment.

At that instant, no one dared to speak.

Even Mu Yi held his breath, his throat bobbing.

How dare he!

After a while, Xue Song, who had come to his senses, widened his eyes in disbelief, stood up, and shouted at Gu Sui.

“Gu Sui Zhi! You’re being insolent!”

Gu Sui seemed not to hear, placing the now empty wine cup on the table with a light clink, then said neither lightly nor heavily.

The total word count of this book is: 473,237 words. “Fill it up.”

Sui Yu did as told upon hearing this.

Gu Sui looked at Mu Yi again and asked once more.

“Drink?”

Mu Yi glanced at the almost exploding Xue Song beside him, and this time he instinctively picked up his own cup.

“Please, Gu Gongzi.”

As the cups clinked together, a crisp sound rang out, surrounded by Xue Song’s angry and unwilling gasps.

No one paid attention to him.

After drinking, Mu Yi even deliberately turned his cup upside down. The curve of Gu Sui’s lips deepened.

“Was it good?”

Mu Yi, firstly afraid that Gu Sui Zhi would hit him, and secondly afraid that imperial sister would punish him later, was much more obedient than his usual arrogance.

“It was good.”

“This wine is actually just so-so. Next time you come to my place, I’ll brew you something better to drink.”

Gu Sui said kindly. Mu Yi, who had been on tenterhooks, couldn’t quite react.

“Huh?”

“Sui gege, why are you specially brewing wine for him? I want some too!” Li Fuyu beside them said, unwilling to be left out. When Mu Yi heard that even Li Fuyu didn’t get any, he suddenly became energized.

“What are you fighting for? This young master is the Yuan Yi Jun, and your elder. Gu Gongzi said it was for me.”

Li Fuyu secretly glared at him. At this moment, with so many people around, and having just been punished not long ago, he really couldn’t argue with him.

Gu Sui chuckled lightly, secretly leaning close to Li Fuyu’s ear and saying,

“It’s alright, I’ll make something different for you when we get back.”

Mu Yi didn’t hear clearly what Gu Sui said, he just felt that since the food Gu Sui Zhi made that day was so delicious, the wine he brewed must not be bad either. At this moment, he felt a little expectant.

It seems this Gu Sui Zhi is quite sensible after all, thinking of him first for any good things. Add one point.

Xue Song beside them was completely ignored. If not for the fact that this was the imperial palace, he might have directly flipped the table.

He was the apple of everyone’s eye at home, when had he ever suffered such grievance.

The key was that he thought he was helping Mu Yi, but Mu Yi had somehow joined Gu Sui Zhi’s camp at some point, which made him even more stifled.

Soon after, everyone moved to Shaohe Hall. The officials were also present, and the night banquet was about to begin.

Mu Jiulu and Gu Tingsong sat at the forefront of the civil and military officials respectively. Gu Sui could see both of them at a glance.

When they sat together without speaking, there was a strange harmony, their auras not inferior to each other. Gu Sui silently hooked his lips.

It seems they’re not so irreconcilable after all.

Both of their gazes swept towards Gu Sui at the same time. Seeing him looking this way, they both thought he was looking at themselves.

Gu Tingsong and Mu Jiulu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of smugness in each other’s eyes.

The young emperor, along with the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager, were the last to arrive. After the young emperor gave a brief speech bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, the night banquet officially began.

The bells and music sounded, dancers took the stage, and palace servants like flowing water brought various exquisite dishes. Everyone raised their cups together, celebrating the new year.