Chapter 815: The Childlike Innocence That Should Be

"These fireworks are really beautiful."

"They’re definitely different from ours in Qinghe Bay."

Everyone admired the fireworks while chatting and laughing.

New Year’s Eve was very cold, with the snow reflecting a silvery glow under the fireworks.

The wind on New Year’s Eve was quite strong, you could feel it even while standing under the veranda.

Gu Taohua and Su Chengmin were in charge of setting off the fireworks, while Man Er, Yaozu, and Hua Er were on the side to create the lively atmosphere, marveling every time the fireworks soared into the sky.

The Crown grandson, influenced by Man Er and the others, raised his head happily with a wide grin.

Man Er made a snowball and threw it at the Crown grandson, who retaliated quickly.

Soon, snowballs flew everywhere, with the children engaging in a snowball fight amid the fireworks.

The Crown grandson has heavy study tasks every day in the palace, restrained by various rules and occasional assassinations, making a relaxed snowball fight impossible in the palace.

Only at Tong Huaqiong’s home could he find his lost youthful spirit.

Lu Zhaozhao watched Gu Taohua set off fireworks in the snow, her playful heart eager, and said to Gu Jingzhe who was supporting her, "I want to set off fireworks too."

As Lu Zhaozhao’s belly grew bigger, Gu Jingzhe didn’t dare let down his guard.

Afraid that the icy snow would make Lu Zhaozhao slip.

Gu Jingzhe said, "The wind is strong in the yard, it wouldn’t be good if you catch a cold, let’s watch them set it off from under the veranda."

Lu Zhaozhao frowned.

Ever since winter came with the snow, she was strictly protected by her family.

They feared she would catch cold or slip.

Even going to the shop meant being surrounded closely.

Now, with the festive atmosphere so lively, she couldn’t even set off fireworks.

This pregnancy was truly tough.

Tong Huaqiong observed this and said to Lu Zhaozhao, "Zhao Zhao, there will be plenty of opportunities to set off fireworks in the future. Your body isn’t suitable for it now in the snow."

With the yard so slippery, a fall could easily injure both the child and herself.

With the medical means of this era, neither mother nor child could be guaranteed safety.

Tong Huaqiong understood that losing temporary freedom was painful for Lu Zhaozhao, but compared to life, she dared not be careless.

Lu Zhaozhao, hearing Tong Huaqiong’s advice, gave up on the idea of setting off fireworks.

Tong Huaqiong said, "When your child is born safely, we’ll buy a yard full of fireworks for you to set off."

Lu Zhaozhao burst into laughter and then sighed, "I’m more precious now than Man Er and Yaozu."

Mrs. Zhao said, "Zhao Zhao, listen to your mother-in-law, you must take good care of yourself, don’t think you’re overly delicate; it’s good to be delicate during pregnancy. Don’t listen to people say some women can go through pregnancy like it’s nothing, still wash clothes, cook and serve the whole family, giving birth as easily as laying eggs, and immediately being able to work after. Those who do so swallow bitterness. Most women in Qinghe Bay are like that; who hasn’t left a disease behind? What woman wouldn’t want to be taken care of at home during pregnancy if conditions allowed?"

"Your mother-in-law’s health is better than mine. When your mother-in-law was pregnant, no matter how your great-grandmother scolded nor how people in the village talked, she persisted not to go out to do laundry, at most making a simple meal. Because she took good care of her health, she has strength and energy for business."

Lu Zhaozhao listened and said with a smile to Mrs. Zhao, "Aunt Zhao, I understand this principle. My mother-in-law cares for me, for my wellbeing."

Liu Yueer said sourly, "Zhao Zhao is experiencing good times; when I was pregnant with Yaozu, I would still cook."

Mrs. Zhao glanced at Liu Yueer and said, "Were those times the same as now? Back then the family was poor, everyone worked. You in comparison to other daughters-in-law had it quite good, during your pregnancy with Yaozu you merely helped with a meal, not going out to work or doing laundry, had a decent postpartum period."

Mrs. Zhao was not willing to say Liu Yueer had it better than Chen Sufen.

The most suffering Gu Family daughter-in-law was Chen Sufen, working even before the postpartum with Man Er.

Back then the older in-laws treated the step daughters-in-law without any kindness.

Simply a world apart from today’s in-laws.

Fortunately, Chen Sufen rested properly during Ying Er’s postpartum period, recovering her health gap.

Liu Yueer envied Chen Sufen and Lu Zhaozhao’s high-status pregnancy after their families prospered, wanting to experience being cherished by the whole family during pregnancy again.

Tong Huaqiong was speechless about Liu Yueer’s thoughts and said, "No matter how well you’re taken care of during pregnancy, how well you rest during postpartum, your body still won’t be as good as before childbirth."

While saying this she looked at Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Jingzhe didn’t need Tong Huaqiong to continue speaking and quickly said, "Mom, I’ll understand Zhao Zhao’s hardships, I’ll be good to Zhao Zhao, and won’t upset her."

Mrs. Zhao sighed, "Jingzhe is someone who cares."

Soon, the fireworks were finished.

Gu Taohua rubbed her frozen red hands and brought Man Er and Yaozu to the veranda.

"We’ll save the remaining fireworks for the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth," Gu Taohua ordered people to store the unopened fireworks.

At this point, Su Chengmin approached and said to the Crown grandson, "Your Highness, the time has come, you should return to the palace."

The Crown grandson was chatting with Man Er, in high spirits, but showed disappointment upon hearing Su Chengmin’s reminder.

The Gu Family’s New Year’s Eve was truly celebrating the year.

He didn’t want to return to the palace at all.

But he had no choice, the Crown grandson discarded the snowball in his hand, and Chen Sufen carefully wiped his hands clean with a hot towel. Tong Huaqiong instructed someone to bring a hand warmer for him.

"Grandmother, I’m going back," the Crown grandson said to Tong Huaqiong, retracting the smile on his face.

"Go back then," Tong Huaqiong adjusted his collar and said, "You received this year’s first good fortune, from now on, every year will be peaceful."

The Crown grandson smiled and said, "You too, Grandmother."

"Dad, Mom, I’m going back."

The Crown grandson approached Chen Sufen and Gu Dahuan, looking up to them with his sparkling eyes.

Chen Sufen held his hand, giving advice from diet to dressing, from studying to resting, reluctantly letting go afterward.

Gu Dahuan had many things he wanted to say to the Crown grandson but didn’t know how to start; finally, he raised his hand to brush off the snow from the Crown grandson’s shoulders.

The Crown grandson felt a sharp pain in his nose, almost tearing up.

The so-called Royal Family banquet on New Year’s Eve had the familiar faces but lacked his father and mother concubine.

He remembered the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, where his father and mother concubine sat beneath his grand imperial grandfather.

He was young then, his emotions evident, playing and frolicking during the banquet.

Uncle Ning jokingly said he was unruly, his father lovingly ruffled his hair saying he was still small, children should play and have fun. His mother concubine would hold him, fearing he’d catch cold, carefully feeding him hot soup spoon by spoon.

Such scenes would never happen again.

His father and mother concubine had vanished within and out of the palace in a cruel manner.

Gu Dahuan and Chen Sufen’s care reminded him once again of his father and mother concubine.

"Happy New Year, no sadness allowed. On the fifteenth, you can come out again, we’ll watch the lanterns together," Man Er saw the Crown grandson’s red-rimmed eyes and approached to hold his hand.

The Crown grandson blinked, smiling, "Okay."

After bidding farewell to everyone, the tightly bundled Crown grandson was carried onto the carriage by Su Chengmin.

The carriage slowly departed from the Gu Family, with the Crown grandson frequently looking back, seeing the lanterns under the Gu Family veranda swaying in the New Year’s Eve wind.

This New Year’s Eve had been truly joyful for him.

Tong Huaqiong and others remained under the veranda, watching the Crown grandson’s carriage disappear into the distance before returning inside.