As the New Year approaches, the palace is adorned with paper decorations and hung with red tassels.
In the palace, Princess Bai Zhi’er is the only child.
Thus, the Imperial Affairs Bureau, eager to please, has made seven or eight festive new garments and sent them to Ruizhu Palace for the princess to celebrate the New Year.
Because of this, Bai Xilie was very satisfied and rewarded many people in the bureau.
At this moment, the winter weather was unusually clear and blue, with wispy clouds like torn cotton scattered unevenly across the sky.
Gusts of gentle wind blew, making Zhi’er’s little nose turn a jelly-like red.
Zhi’er sat under the veranda, with a handkerchief around her.
Yes, she was here to see Brother Juzi again.
The little one held Feng Fuce’s hand, whimsically scribbling and teaching him various segmented characters.
Zhi’er taught "stay," and Feng Fuce responded with "swallow."
The little one taught "peace," and he wrote back "guard."
After a busy half-day, she taught her way, and he learned his.
The characters they wrote couldn’t be said to match, but nor were they completely unrelated.
Zhi’er’s little face showed confusion.
She sighed quietly, "Brother Juzi, don’t think you’re stupid; if you can’t learn this year, we’ll continue next year!"
Feng Fuce sat beside her, originally looking lazily at the blue sky.
Upon hearing her, the young boy slightly turned his gaze, his dark eyes coolly observing the little one beside him.
The little rascal is truly becoming more and more outrageous.
Clearly, it was he who humored her whims, yet Zhi’er never considered that she might be teaching incorrectly?
Feng Fuce pressed his brow.
He grabbed the chestnuts he had prepared for her and placed them in her palm.
They were still warm.
Feng Fuce wrote a character in her palm—
Zhi’er trusted him completely, pinching the soft chestnut and putting it into her mouth.
A sweet, soft aroma burst on her tongue.
"So fragrant!" Zhi’er enthusiastically lifted another chestnut and offered it forward: "Brother Juzi, you have some too!"
By now, Feng Fuce was used to eating the food she offered. His lips slightly parted, and he bit into it directly.
The abundant sensation of mana was something only Zhi’er could bring to him.
Happy with her eating, Zhi’er’s voice became even softer and stickier.
"Brother Juzi, the New Year is coming. Do you have any other friends in the palace? Who do you plan to spend it with?"
Feng Fuce lowered his gaze.
These human world holidays made no difference to him, and he even found them somewhat bothersome.
Because during every festive season, inside and outside the palace, firecrackers would be set off, scaring away the Nian beast.
But Feng Fuce hated noise.
So he didn’t answer, only writing two counter-question characters in the little one’s palm—
Zhi’er immediately replied happily, "Of course, I’ll celebrate with Dad and Uncle, and my brothers!"
"If you have no one else to accompany you, I can come and play with you! We can set off firecrackers together, how about that?"
The little one beamed sweetly, her chubby cheeks like delectable pink cotton candy.
Seeing her , Feng Fuce couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows and wrote—
Firecrackers are too noisy, and she wouldn’t be able to see with her eye veil on, what’s the point?
Feng Fuce furrowed his brows slightly, sideways glancing at the little one beside him.
Should he take this opportunity to tell Zhi’er that the so-called Brother Juzi was actually him?
Just as he pondered this, a familiar meow came.
"Meow~" The ginger cat Dahua, in search of a snack, leaped from the rooftop and landed right at Feng Fuce’s feet.
It twisted its plump body, rubbing against him.
Zhi’er, hearing the sound, spoke excitedly in her little voice: "Is that Dahua?"