Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 827 - 762: The Grand Finale (Part 2)_9

On the first day of the New Year, a ceremony is held to worship heaven and earth, attended with three prostrations and nine kowtows by civil and military officials, and the princes must not be absent.

Li Xingmao’s anxiety made Chai Eying even more anxious, she was crying out of worry.

Li Yuzhu came to see Chai Eying again, not letting Li Xingmao accompany them, and spoke with Chai Eying alone.

There’s no physical ailment, but she looks weary and has no appetite, showing signs of anxiety.

Chai Eying has something on her mind, and it’s something serious.

"Sister-in-law, since Brother isn’t here, why don’t you tell me? Is there anything troubling you?" Li Yuzhu held her hand, "Just speak up, I won’t tell Brother."

Chai Eying looked at Li Yuzhu, weakly saying, "Third Sister, you were the one who healed my illness before."

Li Yuzhu smiled slightly, "That’s right, so you can trust me completely."

"I, I’m not sick, I just want to go back to the village for a while. But... your brother probably wouldn’t agree." Chai Eying looked out the window. The small garden in this palace courtyard had been transformed by her into a peasant vegetable garden.

Wherever there was bare ground, she would plant small greens and scallions.

Now the weather is still cold, so she can’t plant the summer vines she loves, which are not available here.

If they were in Zhen An Prefecture, they could still eat green beans at this time, but the cold capital only has cabbage, and there are few green vegetables.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "So sister-in-law is homesick. Just tell Brother, after the New Year, once the weather improves, you can go back to the village for a while. He won’t disagree."

Chai Eying said with a hint of bitterness, "He’s a prince, how can he casually live outside?"

Li Yuzhu squeezed her hand, smiling, "It’s okay to stay for a while."

The mention of going back for a while brightened Chai Eying’s eyes considerably.

Li Yuzhu shared her concerns with Li Xingmao.

Li Xingmao laughed, "That silly woman, if she wants to go back to her parents’ home, she should just say so. Why be afraid?"

Li Xingmao went to the bedroom and comforted Chai Eying, "Eying, if you want to go back, we’ll stay for a while. But we must attend the Heaven Worship Ceremony on the first day of the New Year. You can skip the New Year’s Eve banquet if you don’t want to go, but the ceremony on the first day is a must. There’s only ten days until the first day of the New Year, you must get better by then. After the first day, I will mention it to Father. He’s a reasonable man, he won’t disagree."

Chai Eying was still worried, "But you’ve been assigned by the Emperor to help with governmental affairs lately. How can you leave?"

Li Xingmao dismissed it, "Aren’t Second Brother and Third Brother there? They don’t have wives or children to take care of, they should help Father share the workload."

Chai Eying blinked, "Is it okay?"

"Of course, it’s fine. We brothers don’t differentiate between each other."

.

Li Xingmao decided to take Chai Eying back home for a while, unraveling her worries and gradually improving her spirits.

By the day before New Year’s Eve, she could get up and go out normally.

Li Xingmao advised her not to attend the banquet, but she insisted on going.

They’re not leaving until after the New Year so she worries that her father-in-law might not allow it, thus, she needs to perform well at the pre-New Year banquet.

Li Xingmao couldn’t persuade her otherwise, so he could only accompany her doubly cautiously.

Fortunately, the three children were very well-behaved, not causing trouble for Chai Eying.

Especially Guoguo, acting like a big sister, supervising her brothers.

The family calmly and warmly enjoyed the palace banquet.

The Wei Family was concerned someone might trouble the pregnant Chai Eying, so they blocked all the toasts on her behalf.

The Wei Family was vigorous and competent even as a Princess Consort, and now as Empress, holding the highest rank, she protected her daughter-in-law so well that no one dared make it difficult for Chai Eying.

.

The New Year’s Eve banquet passed smoothly and quietly.

The next day was the Heaven Worship Ceremony.

Chai Eying also performed well, supporting herself to follow the Imperial Family’s women in worship.

.

On the second and third days, everyone had to enter the palace to accompany the Wei Family, so Chai Eying didn’t let Li Xingmao mention going home.

It wasn’t until after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the New Year that Li Xingmao brought up the matter with Li Boxuan.

Li Boxuan looked at Li Xingmao, "Is it you who wants to return to the village, eldest son?"

Li Xingmao looked embarrassed, "Both I and Eying want to go back and take a look."

Li Boxuan looked at his eldest son, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

His eldest son was never interested in politics from a young age. Even though he’s been diligently entering the palace every day to help review memorials these past few months, you can’t hide the weariness in his eyes.

No one knows a son better than his father.

Li Boxuan patted Li Xingmao’s shoulder, "Go ahead, how long do you plan to stay?"