CH 31

The winter solstice was the shortest day of the year. For these small holidays, the idle concubines always devised ways to gather for a banquet. At this time every year, Mingluan Palace would be bustling with activity, but this year Consort Shu declined all invitations.

As soon as it got dark, she called all three children in the palace to the main hall to eat dumplings together. The maids and eunuchs who were not on duty were serving inside so the spacious and magnificent main hall was especially lively today.

As soon as the three of them came in, Consort Shu generously rewarded each of them with a pouch full of freshwater pearls. Jun Huailang handed the pouch to Fuyi for safekeeping. He said to Consort Shu with a smile, “Gumu,[1] what a coincidence! Linghuan and I also have a pouch for you.”

Consort Shu raised her eyebrows and said playfully, “Let me see? I have seen a lot of good things, you can’t fool me with ordinary objects.”

“Of course it’s not ordinary,” Jun Huailang smiled and stretched out his hand to Fuyi. Fuyi offered a brilliant smile and handed over a bunch of pouches.

Among the pile of pouches, a lot of time had obviously gone into the top one. It was even decorated with a few small beads. But the embroidery on this pouch was truly too terrible to look at. The stitches were crude and the pattern was shapeless and twisted.

“This is the pouch Linghuan embroidered for Gumu,” Jun Huailang smiled and passed the pouch to Consort Shu. “She has been sewing a great deal. This is the most beautiful one, just for you.”

One look at the crooked little thing and Consort Shu suddenly burst out laughing. “These stitches! One glance and you can tell it’s from a daughter of the Jun family.”

She pulled a golden embroidered fragrance pouch from her waist and tossed it to the nearest maid, saying casually, “You are rewarded.” Then she tied Jun Linghuan’s pouch at her waist and said, “I will wear this tomorrow and let His Majesty admire Linghuan’s embroidery work.”

“There’s more,” Jun Huailang said, amused by her actions. He took all the pouches remaining in Fuyi’s hands and personally handed them out to the surrounding maids and eunuchs. A particular one at the bottom remained covered by his sleeve. Jun Huailang held it without batting an eye, until finally, he delivered it to Diancui.

“This was made by Linghuan herself and the perfume was also chosen by her. No one is allowed to dislike it,” Jun Huailang said with a half-joking smile.

Next to him, Consort Shu also smiled and chimed in, “Hear that? Wear it every day, anyone who dares take it off will be punished.”

The palace was filled with laughter. All the eunuchs and maids had already received a generous gift from Consort Shu, and now they got something handmade by the little miss. They all smiled and expressed their gratitude.

“I see that you also have one,” Consort Shu said suddenly. “Have you given one to Xue Yan?” She deliberately assumed a casual tone, but Jun Huailang could tell right away that she was concerned that Xue Yan was left out.

“Naturally,” Jun Huailang said.

Consort Shu still wanted to tease him. “Really? Don’t bluff, take it out and let me see.”

Jun Huailang laughed. He had never seen Xue Yan wear the pouch, even Xue Yunhuan never saw it. How could he produce it for Consort Shu to look at? He was about to reply when he saw Xue Yan, who had been sitting beside him silently, lift up the hem of his dark robe. He held up a dark pouch that was of the same color as the robe and showed it to Consort Shu.

It was also an ugly pouch. The stitches on it were especially thick, and the fragrance inside leaked out when it was picked up.

Jun Huailang was taken aback for a moment. Xue Yan rearranged his robes casually, looking as if he didn’t know how ugly the pouch was.

Jun Huailang’s heart suddenly became hot. This person looked cold and withdrawn, but he was still a good-natured person who silently treated others well. He just didn’t say anything. He was surely just like Jun Huailang, and saw Jun Linghuan as his own younger sister.

Consort Shu was just joking so she was also stunned. After a while she glanced at Xue Yan a few times and said, “I didn’t expect you would treasure it.” Her voice softened.

Not long after, the servants brought in piping hot dumplings. The dumplings were made in Consort Shu’s kitchen, they were exquisite and stuffed with filling. Steam rose from the small and delicate dumplings served on gilded plates. The maids filled the table with dumplings and condiments, then stood in attendance. Consort Shu picked up a pair of ivory chopsticks and said, “Hurry, eat up while it’s hot.”

She took one and said with a smile, “The rules are the same as before. Let’s see who gets lucky.”

Hearing this, Jun Linghuan became very happy. She grasped a dumpling crookedly with her chopsticks and stuffed it in her mouth. She went to pick up a second one, but the first one was too hot and scalded her mouth.

Jun Huailang laughed in amusement. He told her to slow down and mixed a sauce for her with a practiced hand.

The Jun family had a custom. Whenever they ate dumplings for the new year, they placed a copper coin inside one dumpling. Whoever got the coin would have good luck for the year. Although it was just superstition, it made things very lively and amusing every time they ate dumplings.

In the past, when Jun Huailang ate the dumplings, he poked them with his chopsticks first. If he hit the coin, he would pretend not to know and put it in Jun Linghuan’s bowl. This year it was the same. After he mixed the sauce for Jun Linghuan, he picked up a dumpling, placed it in his bowl, and poked it. 

It was soft, the chopstick went straight through with one stab. The experienced Jun Huailang knew that there was nothing in this piece. After eating a few, Jun Huailang picked up a dumpling, poked it lightly, and felt hard metal within.

The corners of his mouth quirked up. He picked up the dumpling and went to place it in Jun Linghuan’s bowl.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Xue Yan silently eating beside him. Xue Yan was silent and calm, as if he didn’t fit in with the joyous excitement. 

Jun Huailang’s hand paused. He thought of everything he had seen with his own eyes happening to Xue Yan. He also thought about the purse of leaking perfume that Xue Yan had silently taken out a moment ago.

Even though he was a member of Mingluan Palace now, he still looked like an outsider and watched the excitement from a distance. His luck seemed a bit better than in his previous life, but he was still as lonely and silent as before, excluded from everything. 

As if he were possessed,[2] Jun Huailang placed the dumpling in Xue Yan’s bowl.

He thought to himself, the good fortune from this copper coin can last for a year. One from the winter solstice and one from the new year will be just enough for both Xue Yan and Linghuan. It would be great if it could really impart some blessings to him.

A dumpling was suddenly placed in his bowl. Xue Yan looked up and saw Jun Huailang smiling at him under the bright lights.

“Don’t just eat the ones in front of you. This filling is also delicious. Try it?” Jun Huailang said.

When Xue Yan lowered his eyes, he saw the dumpling in the center of his bowl – cute, white, and steaming. He looked at Jun Huailang again and saw expectation gleaming in those eyes, as if he was waiting for Xue Yan to eat it. 

Usually Jun Huailang possessed a maturity beyond his years, he rarely had such a lively expression on his face. Xue Yan’s mind went blank. His chopsticks moved and put the dumpling in his mouth.

Immediately after, Jun Huailang saw him frown.

“What’s wrong?” he asked hastily.

Xue Yan silently spit out a shiny copper coin. He frowned as he glanced at the coin, then casually put it on the table. “The cook must have been careless, it’s nothing.”

But Jun Linghuan exclaimed softly, “Ah! Fifth Prince-gege,[3] you ate the good fortune!”

Xue Yan paused. “What good fortune?”

Jun Lighuan pointed at the copper coin and said, “It’s right there!”

Consort Shu smiled and explained, “This is a custom in our family to place a coin in one dumpling. Whoever gets this coin will have good luck for the whole year.”

Xue Yan’s eyes fell on the copper coin. Then he heard Jun Huailang say in disappointment, “Who knew the coin was in that dumpling? If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

There was a look of reluctance on his face, but his eyes were full of smiles. The little peacock had put this so-called “good fortune” in his bowl on purpose.

Xue Yan had never believed in gods or Buddhas, so naturally he didn’t believe in these little tricks either. But looking at the dazzling smile in Jun Huailang’s eyes, he knew that Jun Huailang sent this coin to him hoping it would bring him good luck. 

…… Maybe the little peacock didn’t know that Xue Yan was already lucky to meet him. There was no need to give him this coin as well.

Consort Shu smiled and poked Jun Huailang’s forehead with her hand. “You’re so stingy, why do you have regrets after giving it away? This good luck should belong to Xue Yan, otherwise this coincidence wouldn’t have happened.”

Jun Linghuan also feigned maturity and nodded. “Gege can’t be so petty!”

Jun Huailang patted Jun Linghuan’s hair with a smile when he heard this. He nodded and said, “Gumu is right, this nephew has been educated.”

The hall was extremely warm from the dilong[4] and steam from the dumplings filled the air. Seeing the clamor and warmth in front of him and the smiles on everyone’s faces, Xue Yan was a little dazed.

He was accustomed to contempt and coldness. He never thought that he could be accepted into this bright world. 

And he knew all of this was given to him by Jun Huailang.

Consort Shu’s main hall was resplendent. The bright lights reflecting off pearls, jades, and gold objects made Jun Huailang’s smile look particularly bright. It branded itself in Xue Yan’s heart. His heart beat loudly in his ears. A warm emotion pooled in his chest, made him feel flustered and made his blood boil.

His hand involuntarily landed on the copper coin and he held it tightly in his palm. It seemed to ease the sudden impulse in his heart, the urgent desire to possess something and hide it away.

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