Summary of the previous chapter: Hua Yue handed herself over to Ma Xiaoquan. Ma Xiaoquan also delayed the Zhang family's affairs because of chatting with her, but Li Qinghan helped to deal with it...
"Uh, okay, first-class Vulcan Empress, I would like to give you my regards," Ma Xiaoquan said, imitating a lower official and bowing to Li Qinghan.
Feng'er, who was standing next to him, saw his father Ma Xiaoquan's actions and imitated them in a decent manner. While imitating, he murmured: "Goodbye..."
Feng'er is less than two years old and can't speak many words fully. The little guy's voice is milky and very interesting.
"Pfft" Li Qinghan covered his mouth, squatted down, picked up Feng'er again, patted the little guy's back, and said lovingly, "Feng'er is good, don't imitate your father's bad example."
"Oh, don't be bad like daddy," the little guy said, but his big eyes kept looking at Ma Xiaoquan.
Ma Xiaoquan saw curiosity in the little guy's eyes and also saw that the little guy wanted to play with him. However, he had to pack up and go to the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor soon, so he couldn't play with his son for the time being.
"Well, now that the Zhang family's affairs have been settled, I will go and take care of it. Well, I have to go to court in the morning. It's New Year's Eve, and the emperor may go to court."
Li Qinghan nodded and said, "It's a pity that neither dad nor Qiao Yu will come back..."
Ma Xiaoquan said humbly: "Yeah, okay, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'll pack up and go to the palace. Qinghan, you just need to organize the house first. Yue'er is up. You guys can take care of it. I should be there in the afternoon.
return."
"Well, okay, let's go"
...
On New Year's Eve, all officials went to court to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor.
Zhu Youxiao followed the usual practice and issued a series of amnesty orders, and then suddenly announced that all officials would stay tonight and the emperor would entertain all officials for a New Year's Eve dinner.
Ma Xiaoquan originally wanted to go home to celebrate the New Year, but when he heard about the emperor's treat, he had to send a subordinate home to inform him.
Zhu Youxiao "sealed the pen" and "sealed the seal" on the 26th day of the New Year. Today is New Year's Eve. In the court hall, Zhu Youxiao distributed the extra imperial New Year's goods he had during the New Year to the ministers one by one.
, Ma Xiaoquan also received a lot.
The ministers respectfully thanked the Lord for his kindness and waited quietly in the court hall.
It was rare for the palace to be lively, but the atmosphere was still a bit deserted. After all, the monarch and his ministers were different. No matter how much Zhu Youxiao said it was okay, the ministers would not dare to make a mistake.
The emperor ordered to stay, and no one dared to leave. At noon, all the ministers were hungry and dizzy. In desperation, they had no choice but to secretly open the new year's goods that the emperor had just given to fill their bellies.
In the afternoon, Zhu Youxiao suddenly conveyed another imperial edict, saying that it would be meaningless just for the ministers to celebrate the New Year with him, so he wanted all the ministers to bring their wives and children to the palace to celebrate the New Year.
As soon as the emperor's imperial edict was issued, some old men immediately came out to object. The reason for their opposition was simple: it was contrary to tradition.
Zhu Youxiao couldn't resist these old men, and angrily announced that the dinner was cancelled.
Ma Xiaoquan was overjoyed. He just didn't want to attend the dinner. As soon as the order was cancelled, he ran home without stopping.
...
The courtyard of the Ma family was very beautifully decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Although Ma Ruiqing and others did not return from guarding the border in Ningyuan, there were dozens of people in the Ma family and it was also very lively.
Ma Xiaoquan pushed open the courtyard door. When the servants saw him, they were stunned at first, and then they all knelt down.
"Get up, get up, it's New Year's Eve, so there's no need for etiquette or anything like that," Ma Xiaoquan said with a smile.
"Eh? Ma Xiaoquan, didn't you say you wanted to spend the New Year with the emperor in the palace? Why did you suddenly come back?" Bei Mingxue and Hua Qingqing each came out carrying two small basins and asked.
These two little beauties have been inseparable since they became friends. A few days ago, they even had the courage to disappear. If Li Qinghan hadn't sent someone to find them, these two little beauties would probably still be out there going crazy.
"Well, I finally saw you two. You are so playful," Ma Xiaoquan said with a smile.
Hua Qingqing pouted and said: "Ma Xiaoquan, don't act stupid, my little aunt is yours. Huh, am I going to call you my little brother-in-law in the future?"
"Uh," Ma Xiaoquan scratched his head and said, "You don't have to scream, I won't force you."
Bei Mingxue pouted and said: "Ma Xiaoquan, you actually took advantage of my absence... Hum, I don't care. When the new year is over, you have to go to my house to propose marriage, otherwise I will never be done with you."
...
While being entangled by these two chicks, Li Qinghan appeared in time.
Seeing this, Ma Xiaoquan quickly ran to Li Qinghan, took her hand and asked: "Well, I think you are almost ready, eh, not bad."
Li Qinghan smiled and nodded: "Sister Yue'er's contribution is also part of this. By the way, why are you back? Didn't you say that the emperor is going to treat you to a New Year's Eve dinner?"
Ma Xiaoquan smiled and said: "The emperor suddenly canceled it again, so I came back..."
Just as he was talking, the door of Ma's house was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Although the door is unlocked, it opens as soon as you push it.
Everyone in the courtyard turned around and saw that it was Wei Zhongxian who came in.
Ma Xiaoquan's face darkened, and he frowned and said: "Old Eunuch Wei, are you very free? Why are you here in Calgary? I didn't invite you, right?"
Wei Zhongxian raised his eyes and looked around the Ma family's house, and then he focused on Li Qinghan, Hua Qingqing and Bei Mingxue.
"Hey, have you seen enough?" Hua Qingqing walked up to Wei Zhongxian and asked without showing any signs of weakness.
Wei Zhongxian chuckled, wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth, and reached out to touch Hua Qingqing's face.
Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward, grabbed Wei Zhongxian's rough hand, and flicked it away. With the help of inertia, Wei Zhongxian touched his own.
"Bah, shameless" several women in the house said in unison.
Wei Zhongxian's face turned red, but he recovered quickly.
"Ma Xiaoquan, do you think I am willing to come? The emperor has said that he will come to your place tonight to celebrate the New Year. You can serve him well. If the service is wrong, you are the only one to ask."
"Ah?" Ma Xiaoquan was shocked, "Wei Zhongxian, don't try to trick me. If I find out that you are trying to trick me, then wait for me to beat you up like a storm, right?"
"Why did I lie to you, hum?"
While the two were talking, Zhu Youxiao's laughter suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate: "Ma Aiqing, I'm here unexpectedly, why don't you come out to greet me?"
Ma Xiaoquan and Wei Zhongxian were stunned at the same time, and they rushed to the door.
After all, Wei Zhongxian was older, and Ma Xiaoquan was taller than him. In a few moments, Ma Xiaoquan ran to the front and met Zhu Youxiao first.
"I would like to send my regards to the Emperor. My Emperor will sleep forever and sleep forever."
Wei Zhongxian came up from behind and said: "Old slave, please bow to your Majesty. Long live my Emperor!"
Zhu Youxiao chuckled, stretched out his hand to help the two of them up at the same time: "Well, I like you both very much. Ma Aiqing, I am having a New Year's dinner with you today, will you welcome me?"
Ma Xiaoquan said respectfully: "Replying to the emperor, it is a great honor for me to be able to have the New Year dinner with the emperor. This humble abode is really full of glory."
"Haha, okay, then why are you still standing there? Come on, tell me, what have you prepared for today?"
Ma Xiaoquan led Zhu Youxiao to the main hall. After Zhu Youxiao sat down, Ma Xiaoquan said respectfully: "Your Majesty, our ministers' New Year's dinner includes both meat and vegetables as well as special side dishes. Your Majesty has eaten enough delicacies from mountains and seas. I'm afraid he hasn't tasted our special dishes."
A side dish?"
Wei Zhongxian snorted coldly: "What do you have to eat?"
Ma Xiaoquan ignored Wei Zhongxian's provocation and continued: "Your Majesty, I am not very talented. I occasionally make side dishes for myself, so I call them special side dishes. Your Majesty is here today, and I just want to show my hand to the Emperor to taste."
"Oh? That's great," Zhu Youxiao clapped his hands.
"Wait a minute," Wei Zhongxian snorted, "Ma Xiaoquan, your dish is not clean. What if Emperor Yi feels uncomfortable after eating it?"
Ma Xiaoquan said: "Wei Zhongxian, you can either listen obediently or get lost. There are dozens of bodyguard brothers standing around the emperor. How can I, Ma Xiaoquan, make the emperor uncomfortable? In this way, you, you, and you
, you guys pick up vegetables together with me."
Although the three guards chosen by Ma Xiaoquan were a little reluctant, after secretly taking the money handed over by Ma Xiaoquan, they all smiled and nodded like chickens pecking at rice.
The sky gradually darkened and the lanterns on the street were lit. Zhu Youxiao was very interested and asked Ma Xiaoquan to open the courtyard door and look at the people playing on the street through the courtyard door.
At this time, Ma Xiaoquan served the side dishes he made. Zhu Youxiao hummed, picked up a piece and took a bite.
"Well, Ma Aiqing, is your cooking good? It tastes very good. Well, I'm tired of eating those mountain delicacies. I want to try this. It's also very good."
Ma Xiaoquan chuckled, served another plate of tofu, and said: "Your Majesty, try this tofu. Uh, Your Majesty, the tofu is a bit spicy. Please eat it slowly, bit by bit."
Zhu Youxiao chuckled: "Okay"
...
Zhu Youxiao was not too old. According to current sayings, he was actually still a child under twenty years old. Ma Xiaoquan fed him and made him happy. Zhu Youxiao was naturally very satisfied.
At this moment, a man from Huangmen ran to Wei Zhongxian and whispered something in his ear.
When Wei Zhongxian heard this, he whispered: "What, Zhang Tianhao led his family and ran away? What are you doing to eat? Quick, lead the people, I want to catch up with him, damn, run? Where are you running?"
After speaking, Wei Zhongxian suddenly covered his stomach and pretended to say: "Your Majesty, I suddenly have a stomachache and want to go to the toilet."
"Well, go ahead" Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.
Wei Zhongxian thanked him, pulled up his trousers and ran out.
Just as he was about to run out of Ma's courtyard, a woman suddenly appeared at the gate.
Wei Zhongxian stopped and took a look, and it turned out to be Li Qinghan.
"Eunuch Wei, it's so late to go to the toilet. It's not like my Ma family doesn't have one. Well, even the toilets used by southerners are in my Ma family. Why does Eunuch Wei not like the toilet in my Ma family? It's a toilet."