While Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Xia were talking in the Clumsy Grass Hall, Chen Ji patiently waited outside.

He stood under the eaves, hands folded in his sleeves, looking up at the icicles hanging above, contemplating the upcoming New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Last New Year's Day, they spent it on the road back to the Imperial Capital from Guyuan.

Having survived the disaster, no one had the energy to celebrate anything. On New Year's Eve, even Xiao Man only made some dumplings in the inn's kitchen, and they even missed the Lantern Festival in the Imperial Capital.

How should they celebrate this New Year's Day?

Chen Ji tried to recall how he celebrated before coming to the Ning Dynasty.

When he was seven, his father hadn't started his business yet, and the family wasn't wealthy.

On New Year's Eve, his father finally got a day off and rode a shabby electric bike, with him sitting on the front crossbar and his mother in the back.

He cuddled in his father's arms, his face pressed against his father's sweater, smelling the scent of laundry detergent.

They went to the wholesale market.

The market was crowded with people, with red lanterns and Chinese knots hanging everywhere.

His father carried him on his shoulders, squeezing through the throng. From his father's shoulders, he could see higher than others, spotting sellers of candied hawthorn, New Year paintings, and fireworks and firecrackers.

His mother followed behind, carrying a cloth bag, and filled it with items as she walked: a few pounds of pork, two fish, a bundle of scallions, a bag of flour.

By the time they left the market, it was almost dark. The three of them rode slowly on the bike back home. Once home, his mother put on an apron and went into the kitchen.

His father brought out a small table, spread newspapers on it, and started making dumplings.

He didn't know how to make dumplings, so his father gave him a small piece of dough to play with. He made a variety of odd shapes on the table: long ones, round ones, flat ones, and even a dumpling shaped like a little person.

Meanwhile, the Spring Festival Gala played Zhao Benshan's skit, and the whole family laughed uproariously.

At midnight, someone started setting off firecrackers, crackling loudly. He asked his father why they set off firecrackers, and his father said it was to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.

Chen Ji stood under the porch and exhaled a cloud of white breath, "Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new..."

He suddenly remembered what Xiao Man had once said, if festivals are not celebrated, home doesn't feel like home. When life is hard, a festival offers something to look forward to.

While he was lost in thought, Xiao Man's voice rang out not far away, "What is the young master thinking about?"

Chen Ji snapped back to reality and looked at her, "You're here?"

Xiao Man smiled and said, "I've already placed everything in the West Garden where you and Sister Axia live. From now on, I'll stay in the West Wing Room, and the little monk will stay in the East Wing Room... What were you thinking about so intently just now, young master?"

Chen Ji chuckled, "I was thinking about how to spend New Year's Day."

Xiao Man blinked, "Aunt said that those with families are the ones who care about celebrating festivals. People who wander aimlessly don't have the interest in festivals."

Chen Ji laughed, "Aunt seems to tell you everything..."

Just then, a servant ran over through the snow, slipping once as he rounded the corner into the courtyard, barely regaining his balance before hurrying to the Clumsy Grass Hall.

He paused briefly upon seeing Chen Ji, hastily greeted him with "Good day, young master," then quickly lifted the curtain, "Madam, the official has woken up and is calling for you."

Mrs. Zhang stood up, "To Zhen Garden."

Nuanchun draped the black sable cloak over her shoulders and called a maid to bring a copper hand warmer, adding fresh charcoal before handing it to Mrs. Zhang.

Standing at the threshold, Mrs. Zhang thought for a moment and instructed the servant, "Changgui, go call the master. The current situation at home is delicate, and he cannot be absent."

Official Xu now wakes up only once every six or seven days, and each awakening is a significant event.

Changgui hesitated, "Madam, isn't the master at the Changping Supervisory Warehouse?"

Mrs. Zhang laughed coldly, "Does the court really need a cabinet minister to personally brave the snow to supervise the warehouse? Go to the Ministry of War office and find Mr. Wang; he's surely there drinking and playing chess."

Changgui acknowledged and turned to leave quickly.

As Mrs. Zhang stepped out, she glanced at Chen Ji under the eaves and paused, "You come with me as well."

…

…

Mrs. Zhang did not take the "Dragon Gate" between the Xu Family and the Zhang Family but exited the Zhang Mansion first before turning towards the Xu Family, entering with her head held high and chest out.

The large vermilion door of the Xu Mansion bore a plaque not inscribed with "Xu Mansion" but with the three large characters "Advanced Scholar's House."

Zhang Xia whispered to Chen Ji: "Written by Taizong himself, inscribed when the Xu Family produced its first top scorer. The couplet was penned by Wenzong himself for the family's first Grand Secretary."

Chen Ji examined the couplets on either side; the upper line read, "Twenty years behind the yellow doors, stewing and mending robes," and the lower line, "Three thousand scrolls of green bamboo slips, teaching sons and grandsons."

He asked curiously, "Yellow doors..."

Before Zhang Xia could answer, Mrs. Zhang ahead snorted coldly: "Yellow doors refer to the Cabinet; you should read more books in the future."

Chen Ji was not embarrassed and continued to ask: "Mother, what does stewing and mending robes mean?"

Mrs. Zhang said expressionlessly: "King Shang Wuding once said to Fu Yue: If making broth, you are the salt and plum. Meaning governing a country is like making broth; Fu Yue is the salt and plum, responsible for balancing the flavors... It is a term of praise used by emperors for their prime ministers."

Chen Ji chuckled: "Mother is indeed knowledgeable."

Mrs. Zhang's eyelids twitched, changing her intended mockery: "Axia should have shown you the Dragon Gate, but nobody from the Zhang Family is allowed to use that door; when visiting the Xu Family, one must use the front door, enter openly and honestly. This is about having dignity, both the husband's and the Zhang Family's."

Chen Ji nodded: "Understood."

Turning past the screen wall, they saw thirty-seven flagpoles densely standing before the ceremonial gate, some with two tiers, some with three, and others with four.

Chen Ji knew these were flagpoles of merit.

When someone in the family becomes a tribute student, a flagpole as thick as a bowl can be erected before the house. If they pass as a scholar, one tier can be added; if they pass the imperial examination, two tiers; if they pass in the top rank, three tiers, and if they are promoted to a First-Grade Official, four tiers.

Mrs. Zhang spoke indifferently: "Scholars and tribute students are not qualified to erect flagpoles at the Xu Family in the Imperial Capital; they can only be erected back home in Jinling. Ordinary people who come to this ceremonial gate should be filled with awe upon seeing these flagpoles of merit; it is the heritage of a family. But don't just look at the excitement; someday, the Zhang Family will also have this kind of heritage… although there's little hope for you, there's hope for your and Axia's offspring."

Chen Ji was not offended and replied with a smile: "There's also Brother Zhang Zheng."

Mrs. Zhang said nothing.

Entering the ceremonial gate, Mrs. Zhang walked unimpeded toward the inner dwelling of the Xu Family.

Chen Ji gradually heard someone ahead speaking in a deep voice: "Why is the old man waiting for the Zhang Family to come over? Since when do outsiders get to dictate the Xu Family's matters? Zhang Zhuo, at the end of the day, is nothing but a son-in-law of our Xu Family!" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Mrs. Zhang's face darkened as she quickened her pace into the courtyard: "Xu Chuanxi, how many times have I told you? Zhang Zhuo is not a son-in-law of the Xu Family!"

The voice ahead suddenly stopped, and dozens of people turned around in front of Du Mei Hall. Among them stood Xu Chuanxi, the recently promoted Minister of the Ministry of Justice, in a bright red robe, pale face devoid of a beard, with sunken eye sockets and slightly high cheekbones.

Xu Chuanxi, seeing Mrs. Zhang arriving, said leisurely: "You, as a person of the Xu Family, why always turn your elbow outwards?"

Mrs. Zhang calmly replied: "Married into the Zhang Family, hence I am a person of the Zhang Family. There is absolutely no reason to lose face before others."

Xu Chuanxi scoffed: "Since you're of the Zhang Family, what brings you to the Xu Family?"

Mrs. Zhang sneered: "The Official has summoned us here; it's not your place to make decisions for the Xu Family yet."

Having said that, her gaze scanned the crowd, ultimately settling on Right Imperial Censor Yang Zhan, with a fierce look: "The Yang Family came, why can't I come?"

Off to the side, the Huqiu Xu Family's Xu Chuanyin spoke with a dull expression: "Xu Yihong, Yang Zhan is a relative by marriage to our Xu Family; why can't they come? You two fight, don't involve others."

Xu Chuanxi sneered at Mrs. Zhang: "Over the years, Zhang Zhuo climbed high by relying on our Xu Family, without thinking of repaying us. Instead, with the old master seriously ill, he comes to the Xu Mansion to draft approvals, having the power of the prime minister without the position; isn't that coveting the nest?"

Another person amongst the crowd said: "Xu Yihong, collect your thoughts; if the old man selects a successor, it will be a member of the Xu Family, not Zhang Zheng."

Chen Ji had been listening, but now looked at Zhang Xia in surprise, who nodded slightly.

Indeed, Xu Shu was the Bodhisattva reincarnated from the 'Pure Glass World' of the Forty-nine Heavens and was always at odds with Cabinet Minister Xu, needing Zhang Zhuo to convey even a word.

Now, Xu Shu, without descendants, was also considering adopting.

Chen Ji found it odd that both the prominent Xu and Chen Families had no direct descendants. One family being so could be a coincidence, but two?

More perplexing was, if Zhang Zheng is adopted under Xu Shu, would he not have to change his surname to Xu? Would Zhang Zheng not have to be renamed Xu...

No wonder before the marriage, Mrs. Zhang stipulated the second offspring should bear the surname Zhang, fearing Zhang Zheng's adoption would end the Zhang lineage. No wonder he just said "there is also Brother Zhang Zheng," and Mrs. Zhang remained silent.

At this moment, Xu Chuanxi said in a deep voice: "Xu Yihong, Zhang Zhuo should have gratitude for entering the Cabinet through our Xu Family's influence; without us, where would he be today?"

Mrs. Zhang's chest heaved as she surveyed the crowd.

This Du Mei Hall was the usual sleeping quarters of Cabinet Minister Xu, and standing outside were all members from the Xu Family's branches, dozens of them, glaring and babbling, while she stood alone.

She was about to retaliate when Chen Ji softly said behind her: "Lord Xu is also from the Xu Family and can leverage its influence, why don't we see Lord Xu in the Cabinet? Is he not interested?"

Mrs. Zhang was momentarily stunned, turning to examine Chen Ji in surprise.