Rong Miaoyan was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and with the passing of the ruler, changes in the court officials’ appointments were numerous, all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel.

On the other hand, in Yan Country, there was no custom of concubines accompanying the deceased, so all concubines need to be granted new titles. Fortunately, Rong Jing did not have many concubines. Besides the Empress, there were only two concubines and a few other concubines.

The Empress became the Empress Dowager, and the two concubines, including Princess Consort Yi, became consorts, while a few more were titled as imperial concubines.

However, various palaces inside the palace, along with palace gates experienced varying degrees of destruction, with only the Blue Banner of the Inner Supervision remaining. These all needed the Empress and the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Revenue to coordinate and adjust.

Countless trivial matters kept the civil and military officials working from dawn till dusk, while the people of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion moved back from Prince Rui’s Mansion to the Marquis Mansion, each feeling leisurely and carefree.

Some were working overtime,

some were sleeping,

some were having hot pot late at night,

everyone had a bright future ahead.

The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion returned to its former bustling state; Young Master Gu’s Step Lotus Hall was adorned with beautiful lanterns, illuminating the bright lights, with a few winter green plums blooming in the corners.

Tonight was truly New Year’s Eve; the night was romantic, and the wind was gentle. The old madam and the women retired early, while Young Master Gu cast aside all trivial matters, first igniting a small brass hot pot in the Step Lotus Hall, no, a large hot pot.

The moonlight flowed quietly as Gu Lan waited for the hot pot to boil, slicing lamb with the Longquan sword—she found the Longquan sword to be especially suitable for slicing lamb.

In any case, lamb sliced without a Longquan sword was not good lamb.

Zijin helplessly attended on the side, noticing her wearing a long shirt embroidered with jade patterns, and couldn’t help asking, "Why don’t you wear women’s clothing?"

Gu Lan’s red lips lightly curved: "Aren’t you still calling me Young Master? Moreover... wearing the skirt made by Zijin to eat hot pot, I can’t bear to; it pains my heart."

Zijin’s face blushed: "... Young Master, please watch your words."

On the stone table beside them, there were plates of freshly washed fruits, vegetables, and meats, waiting to be added to the pot once it boiled. A large cup of hot milk tea, sweet and warm, and dried fruit pastries exquisitely placed.

After slicing two plates of lamb, Young Master Gu rested her head on her left arm, lazily reclining on a rattan chair, holding a cup of milk tea in the other hand.

There’s nothing like being at home.

How long has it been since she had a small hot pot like this?

Today was the day Rong Jing passed, theoretically, families in the Capital City were not supposed to sing and feast, even the usual New Year’s Eve drumming and music, staying up all night was canceled. But this was only theoretical; once the door was closed, it was fine to dance in grass skirts to send off Yer Majesty to the Western Capital.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Day, in the evening when Gu Lan left the palace, she saw Rong Heng and others still working hard at the Wenyuan Pavilion—they probably had to work until morning tonight.

"Is this your excuse for secretly eating a hot pot without me?"

A familiar, cool voice sounded.

Gu Lan showed an "I knew it" expression, calmly looking up: "Rong Zichan, why do you like climbing walls so much?"

The next moment, her eyes widened, instinctively protecting the milk tea in her hands.

Because sitting on the wall, besides Rong Heng, there was also Xie Yun’s Jiu and the astonished Qin Zhenghu!

Xie Yun could be excused, since he lived next door to the Marquis Mansion... but what was the deal with Qin Zhenghu?

Qin Zhenghu, pale-faced, clung to the wall not letting go; upon meeting Gu Lan’s gaze, he shouted, terrified: "Savior, help me, I—I am afraid of heights!"

Xie Yun patted his shoulder: "Brother Zhenghu, I used to be afraid of heights too, see how I am now."

Qin Zhenghu: "..."

Gu Lan asked: "Why don’t you come down?"

Xie Yun’s mouth twitched: "The ladder is gone, but I can make another one tomorrow."

Gu Lan then remembered, to prevent implicating Xie Yun, she had deliberately destroyed the ladder on her side before entering the palace.

The next moment, Rong Heng, looking disgusted, flipped down from the wall, light as a swallow, his jade robe fluttering: "Rong Miaoyan insisted on me accompanying her to see Xie Yun’s home, and brought these people along."

Jiu turned back to look at the wall below Xie Yun, a doll-like face with a smile, said, "Baoyi, I’ll catch you."

He still remembered how when Baoyi snuck out of the palace with them, he was the one carrying her over the wall.

Rong Baoyi quickly climbed the wall, patted his hands, then smilingly picked up Rong Miaoyan, put her down in front of Gu Lan: "Princess, be careful, if you want to practice martial arts, Baoyi just happens to be free today and is willing to teach the princess."

Miaoyan: "I truly have the desire, but..."

She carefully glanced at Gu Lan, her cheeks flushed, embarrassedly said: "I want to ask Gu Lan to teach me, sorry, Baoyi, I..."

Rong Baoyi’s eyes lit up: "It’s okay!"

Qin Zhenghu: "..." Why do I feel like I’m the extra one?

Jiu: "..." Why do I feel like I’m the most extra one?

In the end, he could only angrily toss Xie Yun and Qin Zhenghu off the wall!

"I used the excuse that Xie Yun was held by Rong Qijun to send Song Zhi away. Now, Song Zhi and his three thousand imperial guards are still in the Capital City. I fear that once he learns of the Emperor’s death, he might harm Xie Yun," said Rong Miaoyan, recounting what happened before she was poisoned by the Eight Sufferings Poison.

Xie Yun lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged.

In fact, when Gu Lan entered the palace, he had already known about his familial connection with Rong Jing.

That day, Nan Shiqi climbed over the wall to inform Wei Chengyuan, saying that Gu Lan suspected Rong Jing was the son of Xie Xu and Empress Dowager Su.

Once you find a thread of evidence on some matters, everything unravels, revealing the truth.

He turned out to be the Emperor’s half-brother, which was the reason Su Wenzhong had nurtured him all those years.

Ultimately, Gu Lan and Rong Heng did not reveal Rong Jing’s true parentage to the public, considering it an effort to preserve what little dignity the Royal Family had and to protect Xie Yun.

If the truth came out, Xie Yun might be implicated too; if not openly, then he would bear the stigma of being the brother of Rong Jing, the sinner, tarnishing the long-deceased Xie Xu and the exonerated Xie Family.

"Since he’s fine, you can leave the Gu Family now, and don’t disturb me and Lanlan from having a meal. Besides, Xie Yun lives next to the Gu Family, and whatever happens, I can attend to it myself," Rong Heng said calmly, sitting down beside Gu Lan, skillfully picking up his bowl and chopsticks with one hand and beginning to ladle seasoning.

Gu Lan retorted, "Xie Yun lives next to my house, what do you mean by attending to it?"

Rong Heng responded without hesitation, "Lanlan’s home is my home."

Gu Lan chuckled, "Isn’t the Xiang Prince Mansion built yet? It’s only right for a Prince to return home after work."

When Rong Jing had conferred Rong Heng the title of Prince Xiang, he had ordered the construction of the Xiang Prince Mansion in the Capital, but Rong Heng had never returned to the Capital City, and therefore had never lived there, which was why the Xiang Prince Mansion still wasn’t completed.

Qin Zhenghu quickly said, "The Prince Mansion is almost finished, just over on West Cao Street. The Ministry of Industry is supervising, and I can personally check the progress tomorrow."

Rong Heng lowered his gaze, almost snapping the chopsticks in his hand, then reconsidered as they were Gu Family’s chopsticks, and reluctantly put them down.

Hmm, the Xiang Prince Mansion would never be completed. As for Qin Zhenghu,

he should be eliminated.

Upon seeing Rong Heng sit down, Miaoyan also immediately sat down across from the two of them: "Such a beautiful moment, Gu Lan and I haven’t dined together for a long time, right... Sister Lan?"

Her voice softened, her beauty mark quivered gently. Usually, the graceful Princess Ning’an appeared particularly demure in front of Young Master Gu.

Gu Lan: "Sit, sit, Zijin, add more dishes."

Zijin showed a knowing expression.

Rong Baoyi quietly sat down in a corner, watching everything, thinking to herself, is this the legendary epic drama, she’s loving it!

Qin Zhenghu sat down silently, "With so many people dining, one more minister won’t hurt."

Rong Heng displayed killing intent, "One less of you won’t hurt either."

However, Qin Zhenghu had already sat next to Princess Ning’an, and Rong Heng snorted softly, eyes flickering, saying nothing more.

Enough, with Qin Zhenghu around, it could at least divert some of Rong Miaoyan’s attention.

Jiu naturally sat down as well, and Rong Baoyi took a deep breath, pulling out a few bottles of fine wine from behind her: "This is the Imperial Jade Liquid Wine I took from the Mansion yesterday—"

"Pfft!"

Young Master Gu almost spat his tea onto Rong Heng, "What wine?"

Rong Baoyi: "It’s called Apricot Village from the palace, also known as Imperial Jade Liquid Wine... Any problem?"

"No," Gu Lan accepted a napkin to wipe his mouth, maintaining the grace of the Young Master, "Great, then tonight everyone...drink and not leave until drunk."

Miaoyan blinked her sore eyes, echoing, "Drink and not leave until drunk!"

Gu Lan was the first to raise his cup, a thought flashing through his mind.

He seemed to have forgotten something.

Xie Yun looked at this group of people and lifted his head. In the sky was a solitary moon; there was no wind tonight, but it still felt a bit chilly.

"Um..."

It seemed they had all forgotten, Rong Jing had just died during the day.

That person was not only the Emperor but also Rong Miaoyan’s father, Rong Heng’s brother, Rong Baoyi’s uncle, and...

Xie Yun sighed sorrowfully and sat down, beginning to compete with Prince Xiang for the first bite of meat in the hotpot.

"Forget it, Your Majesty, I, toast you a cup," Xie Yun poured the wine from his jade cup onto the ground.

He said in his heart,

Rong Jing, may your soul find peace and be safe in the next life.