Chapter 125 My Ah Ning is healthy and happy

This eventful year is finally slowly passing, and New Year’s Eve is here, and everything is about bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.

The mansion has experienced many changes this year. The old lady is old and weak, and she has been unable to get up since she contracted the epidemic. As the year draws to a close, the fifth lady and the two sisters are getting better, and Qin Xiaoning is also getting better, but she is still weak. Lu Ji usually doesn't allow her to go out, and she stays in Qingsong Garden all day to recuperate.

New Year's Eve every year is the busiest time in the mansion. This year, because several masters are sick and frail, and the third grandmother, Xia, had a miscarriage, the wife of the Duke ordered that only family banquets be held and no more guests be entertained.

Due to this epidemic, many maids working in Qingsong Garden died of illness. As the year was coming to an end, Amber promoted a group of new people, four of whom were assigned to the house. Songzhi and the maids who used to work in the house have all become elderly people.

According to the rules of the mansion, a concubine can only have one personal maid by her side. Lu Ji was worried that Qin Xiaoning had just recovered from a serious illness and Songzhi could not take good care of her alone, so he broke the rule and added two more maids for her. He allowed Si'er, who originally worked in the house, and a little maid named Chunya to serve Qin Xiaoning personally.

New Year, new atmosphere. There are new people in Qingsongyuan and the monthly salary of the elderly has also increased. Everyone is happily preparing for the New Year.

On the morning of New Year's Eve, when Qin Xiaoning woke up, Qingsong Garden had been newly decorated inside and out. Songzhi came in to help Qin Xiaoning get up. Si'er and Chunya came in with food boxes and placed them full on the table. Qin Xiaoning was surprised: "How can I eat so much by myself?"

Si Er smiled and said, "Today is New Year's Eve, and the kitchen has made a lot of new snacks. Aunt Sun, who is in charge of the kitchen, asked me to bring some freshly baked snacks for you to try while they are still hot."

Qin Xiaoning looked at the various delicious snacks and called the little maid, "Sit down and eat with me."

Songzhi was busy making the bed, and he did not stop when he heard this, and said with a smile: "The prince will go to the front yard for a family dinner tonight, and we will accompany the girl to eat then."

There will be a family reunion dinner at the mansion on New Year's Eve, and concubines are not eligible to attend the dinner.

Qin Xiaoning replied, "Let's go tell the small kitchen to set up a big table in the evening and call all the maids in the house so we can have some fun together."

In previous years, she would spend New Year's Eve with the maids in Qingsong Garden. After Lu Ji returned from the family banquet, he would stay up with her.

Si Er clapped his hands and said, "That will be so lively." Then he said with regret, "It's a pity that the Madam is still ill this year and the mansion doesn't allow fireworks. Otherwise, we can go to the courtyard to set off fireworks after eating New Year's Eve dinner. That would be fun."

Songzhi smiled and straightened up: "We can find other fun things to do without fireworks. Let's have the New Year's Eve dinner while we play the flower game."

Si Er hurriedly said, "That won't work. I'm not good at this. I'm bound to lose money."

Songzhi smiled and said, "We don't gamble, the loser will drink a penalty."

Si Er covered his face and replied, "Then I must be the first one to get drunk."

Qin Xiaoning smiled and comforted Si'er: "Don't be afraid. If you can't think of the words, I will help you."

"That's great." Si'er's originally bitter face immediately smiled: "Miss Qin is the best at playing flower orders."

Qin Xiaoning was chatting and laughing with a few maids in the inner room. Lu Ji pushed the door and walked into the room: "What are you talking about? You look so happy."

Snowflakes were flying outside, and the snow on his black cloak suddenly encountered the warm current in the house, gradually melting into crystal water droplets and condensing on the shiny mink fur.

Qin Xiaoning stood up and walked to his side, raising her hand to undress Lu Ji, but he refused: "You rest well, I can do it myself."

Lu Ji took off his cloak and handed it to Si'er beside him. He looked at Qin Xiaoning with a smile and asked, "What were you talking about just now? It sounded very lively."

Qin Xiaoning raised her eyes to look at him, and replied with a smile: "We are talking about a New Year's Eve dinner today. We are going to play a game of flower order, and the loser will drink a penalty." "We'll play that another day." Lu Ji said: "I'm going to take you to the family dinner tonight."

If it was an ordinary family dinner on weekdays, it would be fine, but New Year’s Eve is a grand banquet to worship ancestors. Only the head of the family is qualified to attend such a banquet.

Qin Xiaoning was surprised when she heard this: "What are you talking about? How can I go?"

"Why can't you go?" he said.

She knew that he couldn't bear to leave her alone in Zhengqingsong Garden to celebrate the New Year, but the rules in the mansion were strict and Qin Xiaoning didn't want people to gossip.

For the sons of the rich and powerful, doting on concubines too much is not a good thing.

"I celebrate New Year's Eve with the maids in the house every year. I'm used to it. We eat, drink and have fun together. It's great."

She spoke frankly, worried that Lu Ji would be worried, and added: "Besides, you will be back after the family banquet, and it would be nice for us to stay up together to celebrate the New Year."

"I'll be very satisfied with this. Really, Lu Ji, I don't want you to always make exceptions for me and be gossiped about by others."

After Lu Ji patiently listened to her words, he was happy. He raised his hand and pinched her cheek, muttering to himself: "You were thin to begin with, and after this illness, the flesh on your face has become even less."

"I'll take you to a family dinner tonight so you can have a good rest." He joked to her.

Qin Xiaoning gave him a glare and said, "There are plenty of delicacies in the kitchen, so stop messing around."

"I'm not messing around with you." Lu Ji said seriously, "You were nobody before, so I couldn't bring you to the family dinner on New Year's Eve. Starting this year, you are mine. How can I leave you alone in the house?"

Qin Xiaoning wanted to refuse, but Lu Ji said without question: "It's settled. I'll take you there tonight."

He pulled her into his arms again, lowered his eyes to look at her, and smiled: "I also prepared a gift for you."

As he said that, Lu Ji pushed the door open and went out to call for help: "Go ask Amber if she has finished the things I gave to Ning."

The maid outside took the order and left. After a while, Amber came into the room holding a piece of snow-white mink and said, "My Lord, the cloak you want to give to Miss Qin is ready."

Lu Ji nodded, took the clothes from Amber, unfolded them and put them on Qin Xiaoning. Qin Xiaoning looked at the mink fur on her body, which was so white without a trace of color, and asked in surprise: "Where did you get it? The fur is really good."

Before Lu Ji could reply, Amber smiled and said, "This is a white fox that the prince hunted. He asked me to find the best tailor to make a cloak for Miss Qin. It is very warm to wear in winter."

The little girl's petite body was wrapped in snow-white mink. She looked up at the man. She had just recovered from a serious illness, and her face was pale, but her almond-shaped eyes were still bright and energetic.

She looked at the man and asked, "Can I go out for a walk while wearing this? After all, it's warm and won't keep me cold."

In front of him, she was a child who would never grow up. Once she was confined in the house for a while, the little thing could no longer control her temper.

Lu Ji answered the question irrelevantly and said to her, "The white fox is a symbol of good fortune. My Ah Ning will be healthy and live happily after wearing this."

(End of this chapter)