Chapter 1174: The New Year

Chen Xi didn't bother explaining to Jia Xu or Li You what he intended to do or was currently doing. None of that really mattered. What was important was that the situation continued to move steadily forward.

After parting ways with Li You and Jia Xu, Chen Xi returned home to wait for nightfall, preparing to stay up late for the New Year. As for the gifts he had prepared for Lu Xun, Xin Xianying, and others, those had already been arranged long ago.

On New Year’s Eve, there was no moon in sight, and Chen Xi didn’t feel like going out. In this New Year, without firecrackers or spring couplets, Chen Xi passed another year in peace.

Unlike the mental exhaustion he had felt in previous years, this New Year’s was much more relaxing. In fact, Chen Xi even felt light-hearted enough to joke around with Fan Jian before falling asleep with her in the late hours of the night.

After only about two hours of rest, Chen Yun came to wake Chen Xi at the hour of Chou (around 1-3 a.m.), signaling the start of the ceremonies to worship various deities and the ancestors of the Chen family.

After all the rituals, when daylight finally broke, Chen Xi was so exhausted that he immediately went back to bed, holding Chen Lan close. New Year’s was tiring, and even though it was morning, it felt like the dead of night due to the winter snow that Chen Xi and others had chosen to delay, leaving the world in a snow-draped haze.

As for the tradition of offering incense at temples, Chen Xi figured there was nothing more reliable than the noon offerings at the Tian Ren Erding temple, so he decided to set aside visits to other temples for later. Trying to get there early for the "first incense" was already out of the question; showing up later with sincerity would suffice.

Feeling safe in the knowledge that today would be peaceful, and knowing that most young women who regularly visited his household would be busy observing formalities at their own homes on the first day of the New Year, Chen Xi prepared to sleep in, hoping that Zhang Fei wouldn’t come to disturb him. But sometimes, the more you hope something won’t happen, the more it insists on occurring.

"Zi Chuan!" Zhang Fei’s booming voice suddenly reverberated through the house just as Chen Xi was starting to doze off again. The entire roof seemed to shake from his shout. Fortunately, the house had been tidied up before the New Year, or else a bit of dust might have fallen from the ceiling.

"Greetings to the Marquis of Xinting. The master is currently resting. Please, Lord, take a seat and wait," Chen Ying hurriedly stepped forward to block Zhang Fei, explaining that Chen Xi was still asleep.

"Then I’ll wait here. Go wake him up! Old Zhang’s here to wish him a Happy New Year!" Zhang Fei roared with laughter, placing a large jug of aged wine and twenty pounds of cured meat that he had brought with him down beside him. These were things he had personally prepared; after all, the Zhang family had once been butchers.

Chen Ying could only smile bitterly. As the maid on duty in the inner courtyard, she had no choice but to bow and retreat, leaving to inform Chen Xi’s personal maid, Chen Yun.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this snowfall has really stopped nicely. I wonder if it’s due to the people’s wishes or just Zi Chuan’s," Zhang Fei mused as he stood under the doorway, catching snowflakes in his hand.

After visiting Liu Bei and Guan Yu’s homes to offer New Year’s greetings, Zhang Fei had rushed over to Chen Xi’s house. He still had plans to visit Lu Su, Zhao Yun, Hua Xiong, and Mi Zhu, as well as share a drink with Xu Chu. As for the others, Zhang Fei didn’t plan on visiting them personally—sending the gifts was enough.

This small group of households formed the core of Liu Bei’s closest circle, one that had been established before the rise of Tai Shan. Even Lu Su and Mi Zhu had barely managed to enter it.

Chen Yun, without hesitation, gently opened the door to enter. By this point, Chen Xi was already groggily sitting up. Fortunately, Fan Jian hadn’t been startled awake, and Chen Lan quickly took Fan Jian into her arms and lightly patted her back when she stirred slightly.

Chen Yun handed over a fresh set of clothes and then stepped aside. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to help Chen Xi dress, but rather that Chen Xi usually preferred to dress himself, with her only standing by in case he needed assistance.

In the past, Chen Xi had felt uncomfortable with this kind of luxurious lifestyle, even feeling awkward having Chen Yun waiting on him. But over time, he had gotten used to it.

"Prepare a meal," Chen Xi said, still bleary-eyed as he began putting on his new clothes. As he dressed, he turned to Chen Yun to give instructions.

"Master, I’ve already had a meal prepared. You can go straight to the dining hall when you’re ready," Chen Yun replied with a bow. She had already ensured that the main hall was warmed by a fire, well before Chen Xi woke up.

After a quick wash and brushing, Chen Xi didn’t bother with any formalities; Zhang Fei was an old friend and didn’t require much formality either. As long as he went out to greet him, that was enough.

"Yi De, you’re up early," Chen Xi yawned as he greeted Zhang Fei, forgoing the need for any grand reception.

"I came early to see you, but I still have other houses to visit," Zhang Fei laughed heartily, his booming voice shaking Chen Xi’s head. The louder Zhang Fei's voice grew, the stronger his body seemed to become.

"Ah, let’s have a small drink then. Has Lord Xuande finished setting up the altar?" Chen Xi chuckled as he accepted the cured meat and wine that Zhang Fei brought, planning to enjoy them later.

"My big brother didn’t let me see it, so I don’t know," Zhang Fei scratched his head in confusion.

Chen Xi was puzzled. Why wouldn’t Liu Bei allow anyone to see it? It was right in the backyard, after all. If the altar was taller than the wall, it could be seen, and if it was smaller, it was just a small altar. What was there to hide?

But Chen Xi wasn’t particularly curious, as it was Liu Bei’s private matter. Whatever the altar turned out to be didn’t really concern him.

Zhang Fei only stayed at Chen Xi’s for a brief while before leaving to continue his rounds. When Zhang Fei left, Chen Xi personally walked him to the front gate. Though all the homes around were tightly closed, Chen Xi could still glimpse a few people in the distance dressed in new clothes, giving a slight sense of the New Year atmosphere.

Watching Zhang Fei dash back home to fetch another gift before heading to Zhao Yun’s house, Chen Xi found the whole situation rather amusing.

Of all the officials and generals, Zhao Yun’s household was the most empty. Zhao Yun’s older brother had passed away early, leaving no descendants, and Zhao Yun himself had no concubines or children—he led a very upright and solitary life.

Had it not been for Liu Bei and Chen Xi’s intervention, sending him thirty-something songstresses and maids, Zhao Yun’s mansion would have only housed a cook and a steward.

As a result, the songstresses and maids of the Zhao and Chen households were known for living rather easy lives, though both households were equally famous for their lack of heirs.

"Zi Long, I’m here to wish you a Happy New Year!" Zhang Fei’s voice boomed so loudly it could be heard halfway down the street. After a long wait, the gatekeeper finally opened the door—not because Zhao Yun was ignoring Zhang Fei, but because the head of the household wasn’t supposed to open the door himself. Only gatekeepers or guards could do that.

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