New Year

In the end, no fight broke out in the private kitchen. After a chaotic bout of squabbling, Xu Changge sighed softly and reluctantly yielded the head chef spot to Xu Yuan and Xu Xinyao. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the whitewashed wall with half-lidded eyes, taking on the role of overseer. He was genuinely uneasy, though this time his concern was not Xu Yuan. Ever since the kid had let loose, he had spent every day indulging in revelry across Di'an. Eating inevitably formed a major part of it, and from soaking in so much culinary experience, his cooking skills were actually reliable. Just as Xu Yuan hadn't wanted Xu Xinyao in the kitchen, the one Xu Changge was truly worried about was their fourth sister. That girl had genuinely blown up the kitchen in the past. Having seized control of the stove, Xu Yuan cast a cursory glance across the counter. Various spices housed in colored-glass bottles were neatly arrayed across the surface, in a variety even richer than the seasoning selection under modern industrialization in his past life. Food was the paramount need of the people, and Great Yan was vast, giving rise to an even more diverse tapestry of cuisines. Not having stepped into a kitchen in a long time, Xu Yuan hadn't expected the seasonings here to be so complete. Yet on second thought, it made sense—this was the Prime Minister's Manor. Even if never used, they had to be stocked, for who knew when the Chancellor or his children might fancy something novel. All the ingredients and seasonings in this private kitchen were sent over from the manor's main kitchens. Glancing past the spices, Xu Yuan's gaze came to rest on two piping hot dishes freshly taken off the fire. Both were the most ordinary home-style fare: a plate of pan-fried tofu and a plate of stir-fried meat, simple yet overflowing with aroma. After staring at them for a moment, Xu Yuan smiled softly and shook his head. This time it was not out of mockery, for back then Xu Changge had learned to cook simply so the three little ones wouldn't starve. As he was thinking this, Xu Xinyao's gentle voice drifted over from beside him: "Third Brother, when Xinyao was traveling and passed through Liushan Commandery of Pinghuai, I had a dish called Purple Orchid Fire Dragon Pepper. It was sour, spicy, and crisp, and the Purple Orchid Vine could be cooked to give the texture of meat." "..." Xu Yuan raised a brow and glanced back at his fourth sister, only to see that she had already rolled up the sleeves of her red dress, baring two porcelain forearms, an eager smile on her lips. "After having it, Xinyao kept thinking of you, Third Brother. I was sure you'd love it." At that, Xu Xinyao seemed to remember something and turned back to beam at their supervisor, eyes curving into crescents. "Of course, Big Brother, you too." "..." The green-robed overseer let out an indifferent snort. Unlike Xu Changge, Xu Yuan, who was well versed in the culinary arts, had actually heard of this dish. A bit puzzled, he asked softly: "But if I recall correctly, Purple Orchid Vine is a spirit vegetable that withers within two days of being harvested. The manor wouldn't have any in stock, would it?" Hearing this, Xu Xinyao chuckled casually and said: "I already thought of that on the road back to the capital! Purple Orchid Vine is cold in nature and belongs to the Profound Water family, sharing medicinal properties with Phoenix Tail Vine, so it should be a direct substitute. The spiritual energy would conflict with the Fire Dragon Pepper, though, so adding some ambergris will harmonize them just fine." "..." Xu Yuan's eyelid twitched, and he cleared his throat. "Xinyao..." "Hmm?" Her face full of eager enthusiasm, Xu Xinyao looked back and waved a hand with an airy chuckle. "Don't worry, Third Brother! Even though ambergris is rich in spirit qi, once the medicinal properties are blended, it won't harm your body at all..." "That's not what I'm worried about." "Huh?" "Cooking isn't actually that complicated." "..." Xu Xinyao blinked, then lowered her head a little dejectedly. But after a moment's silence, she looked up again and probed: "Then what about Guanghuai Province's Perching Phoenix Nine Ganoderma Soup?" "Does that involve swapping ingredients?" "...Just a tiny bit." "..." Xu Yuan looked toward Xu Changge. Xu Changge nodded to him with a solemn expression. "..." "..." *Bang!* Xu Xinyao was tossed out of the kitchen by the two brothers together. With Xu Xinyao drooping off in dejection, everything in the kitchen proceeded smoothly. Because the New Year's Eve dinner had to be finished before the hour of the Rat, Xu Yuan even got to experience the satisfaction of ordering the supreme poser around as his kitchen assistant. Cooking was fundamentally a simple matter. After repeating a dish a few times, it would turn out palatable; kitchen explosions like those in anime and novels simply didn't happen in real life. Yet a certain Fourth Miss of the Prime Minister's Manor insisted on treating cooking like alchemy. Who on earth factored in medicinal properties when cooking ordinary food?! That was exactly how Xu Xinyao had blown up the kitchen before. Back then, the incident had alarmed half the manor's high-ranking figures, who assumed an assassin had infiltrated the inner courtyard. Only when a crowd of Origin Realm and Transcendent Realm experts rushed to the scene did they discover that the Fourth Miss had simply blown up the kitchen. When Xu Yuan and Xu Changge returned to the main hall with the New Year's Eve dinner, Xu Xinyao was sullenly toying with the sash of her red dress with her head down. Seeing them approach, she pouted slightly in discontent. Yet the girl's gentle nature kept her from throwing a tantrum. She stepped forward quickly to help her two elder brothers lay the fragrant dishes out across the table in the main hall. Without a word or any ceremony, once the whole family was seated, all five naturally lifted their chopsticks. Inside the inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's Manor, there were few rigid rules; maxims like 'no talking while eating, no speaking in bed' were nonexistent. Even so, though the atmosphere of this New Year's Eve dinner was tender, it remained rather quiet, entirely lacking the lively warmth of an ordinary household celebrating the festival. It couldn't be helped—out of five people at the table, three were aloof, posturing stoics. It would be a miracle if things got rowdy. Well, perhaps their father didn't count as one; he was simply a man of few words. After asking the three siblings a few brief questions, he fell silent once more. To liven things up, Xu Yuan suggested that everyone drink a little. After a brief hesitation, Xu Yinhe, who normally drank only fine tea, made an exception and agreed. Uncle Feng Jiuxuan quietly retrieved jars of Centennial Illusory Sword Brew from his Sumeru ring. Illusory Sword Brew was exceedingly rare—so precious that even Xu Yuan had never tasted it before. It was said that drinking it over a prolonged period allowed one to comprehend sword intent through the haze of intoxication. Yet two cups in, Xu Yuan discovered a problem. His head was already swimming, and Xu Xinyao's cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes hazy, while the three stone-faced men opposite them continued picking up food with complete composure. Their cultivation was too high; they couldn't get drunk at all. Throughout the meal, only Xu Yuan and Xu Xinyao kept chattering as they ate. It wasn't until a tipsy Xu Xinyao happened to bring up childhood memories that the floodgates of conversation finally opened in the hall. She claimed Xu Yuan used to bully her constantly. And that Xu Changge had beaten Xu Yuan too harshly every time. To which Xu Changge calmly replied that Xu Yuan had deserved it. Half-drunk, Xu Yuan declared that Xu Changge was utterly useless and didn't even know how to throw a proper punch. Xu Changge let out a meaningful, soft "Oh?" Xu Yuan went on, asserting that Uncle Feng Jiuxuan was the one who really hit hard—he still trembled all over whenever he saw his uncle. Feng Jiuxuan responded in an indifferent tone, telling him not to worry; he always measured his strikes, so nobody would die. At the side, Xu Yinhe smiled without a word. Amidst this festive warmth, another burst of fireworks quietly rose from the depths of the Palace City, exploding above Di'an into a sky full of dazzling brilliance. Only then did the five in the room realize the hour of the Rat had passed, and together they had welcomed the new year. The forty-sixth year of Jiajing had drawn to a close, and the forty-seventh year of Jiajing had arrived. This rare reunion dinner lasted a long time, polishing off two jars of Feng Jiuxuan's Centennial Illusory Sword Brew. It only came to a halt when Xu Xinyao, having the weakest cultivation of the siblings, pitched headfirst toward the floor and was caught in an instant flash by Xu Changge. Outside, snow had begun to fall again at some point. The drifting flakes descended quietly alongside the festive fireworks of Di'an's streets, slowly blanketing the stone path and withered lawn outside the main hall in fresh white. After Xu Changge helped Xu Xinyao back to her room, Feng Jiuxuan rose, uttered a curt "I'm leaving," and vanished into thin air. In an instant, the once-lively hall was left with only Xu Yinhe, quietly sipping fine liquor from the head seat, and the dead-drunk Xu Yuan. Before long, Xu Changge returned. Casting a slightly helpless look at his third brother slumped over the chair and table, he addressed his father at the head seat with a faint smile: "Father, Xinyao has been exhausted lately. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow; she should get a good night's rest tonight." Outside, the snow fell without a sound. Looking up at his eldest son, Xu Yinhe fell silent for a moment before uttering three words in a deep voice: "You've worked hard." Xu Yinhe knew he was hardly a qualified father. After Qian'er passed away, nearly all the burdens of the three children in the manor had fallen on Xu Changge, the eldest brother. The only parental duty Xu Yinhe had fulfilled was carving out rare moments from his relentless duties to share a simple meal with them. Yet as the children grew and their cultivation deepened, even such moments had become fewer and farther between. Xu Changge smiled softly and shook his head, offering no reply to the praise: "I'll take Changtian back to rest as well." As he spoke, he bent down, taking Xu Yuan's arm to haul him upright, but the moment he made contact, Xu Yuan slapped his hand away. "..." Rubbing his bleary, drunken eyes, Xu Yuan pushed himself upright in his seat with difficulty. Realizing the fireworks in the sky had quieted down, he surveyed his surroundings and asked hoarsely, bewildered: "Where are Uncle and Xinyao?" Seeing the boy's drunken state, Xu Changge frowned slightly and answered patiently: "The New Year's Eve dinner is over. Xinyao was drunk, and Uncle has returned to the Sword Pavilion." "Oh, I see..." Xu Yuan rapped his spinning head. Feeling the world revolve around him, he instinctively began to circulate his cultivation technique to disperse the alcohol, only to be interrupted by Xu Changge, who warned him in a flat tone: "Circulating your cultivation in this state makes it easy to suffer qi deviation." Xu Yuan shot Xu Changge a sideways glance and sneered with disdain: "Who are you looking down on, Xu Changge? I could circulate my technique even when I was on the verge of death. Leave me alone." Throwing a drunken tantrum again... This attitude stirred up unpleasant memories of the past, but considering the new year had just begun and his brother was drunk, Xu Changge suppressed his irritation and said softly: "Fine, I know you're amazing, but you can rest now—" "No... I—I still have things to ask Father." "..." Xu Changge glanced at Xu Yinhe in the seat of honor. Xu Yinhe pondered for a moment, then gave a nod. Xu Changge sighed softly and murmured, "Be careful, then." Watching Xu Changge's back vanish into the shadows of the snowy night, Xu Yuan set about circulating his technique to sober up. The intoxicating effects of Centennial Illusory Sword Brew permeated deep into the intent-soul. Xu Yuan circulated the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art through several cycles before his drunkenness eased even slightly; were he to stand up right now, he would probably still take a direct tumble to the floor. "Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow morning," Xu Yinhe's voice drifted over, calm and measured. "Go back and sleep now. Your uncle's Illusory Sword Brew might just allow you to comprehend some of his sword intent." Hearing this, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. The room was still spinning. Massaging the bridge of his brow, he said: "I most likely won't have any use for Uncle's sword intent. We're not walking the same path." Xu Yinhe shook his head softly. "It seems neither of you brothers intends to inherit his path of the sword. A pity." Aside from blackouts, intoxication actually left one's consciousness relatively lucid most of the time; it merely made one much bolder. Using what clarity he had left to carefully weigh his words, Xu Yuan looked across at his father and asked in a low voice: "Father... are you going to attend tomorrow's New Year banquet?" Xu Yinhe took a light sip of the fine brew in his cup, feeling Feng Jiuxuan's sword intent within, and replied in an unhurried tone: "The answer to that question does not actually depend on me." Xu Yuan blurted out instinctively: "That old dog of an emperor, then." Xu Yinhe said nothing. The hall was silent while the wind and snow swirled outside. After a brief pause, Xu Yuan asked with a trace of worry: "Father, what if—I mean what if—the imperial family refuses to compromise?" Xu Yinhe set down his cup and countered softly: "Changtian, do you think that's possible?" Xu Yuan gave a low chuckle and shook his head: "I don't think it's likely. I'm just asking what we'll do if the worst happens. After all, if you lose the office of Prime Minister, our standing changes entirely." The post of Prime Minister was proof of status, an instrument of power, but his father had no need for such things. Right now, the title of Prime Minister served more as a symbol that he stood on the side of the imperial court. If the Emperor actually allowed him to resign, severing that link, the Chancellor's Manor would instantly become nothing more than the Xu Clan of the imperial capital. When that time came, the "Xu Clan of the imperial capital" would suffer the throes of losing its court legitimacy. High-ranking officials openly aligned with them in court would tumble one after another, and the center of power that was Di'an City would very likely be purged by the imperial family within a very short span, replaced entirely by members of the imperial faction. Yet that would be confined strictly to Di'an City. The Prime Minister's Manor had already sunk its roots deep into every corner of Great Yan. In many prefectures and commanderies, officials would heed edicts but refuse military mobilization; an era where imperial authority failed to reach the provinces would likely unfold. Just like Xu Yinhe's ancestral home, Jingjiang Prefecture. Worse yet, if the imperial family truly dared to go that far, it would be tantamount to driving the "Xu Clan of the imperial capital" straight into the arms of the sects... Thinking of this, Xu Yuan smiled faintly: "Indeed. You've played this chess match with the Emperor for so long; it's about time to draw a hard line, or else those people will keep pushing their luck." Saying this, Xu Yuan paused for a moment and asked softly: "Though, Father, you should know that wasn't what I meant?" Xu Yinhe's brow furrowed slightly: "What then?" Xu Yuan fell quiet for a moment, rubbed his hands together, and probed: "If the imperial family truly doesn't compromise, do you have a contingency plan? *That* kind of contingency plan. After all, you've come this far, and the Emperor doesn't have much time left anyway, does he?" "You are drunk, Changtian." Xu Yinhe didn't answer. He stood directly up from his seat. "Get some rest early. Don't dwell on such distant matters." Seeing this, Xu Yuan sighed inwardly. It seemed his father was unwilling to reveal that plan to him, likely wanting to do everything possible to prevent such a scenario from coming to pass... "Oh, by the way, Changtian." Reaching the threshold of the hall, Xu Yinhe suddenly halted and said softly: "Ran Jianli's disciple has been pacing outside the inner courtyard gate for nearly half an hour now."