Due to the heavy snow, the area that had just been cleaned soon became covered in white again.

The eunuchs on duty could only sweep the snow back and forth in the passages they were responsible for, and from time to time they would look at the “snowman” under the stone steps outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

In the heavy snow, Zhao Tong came wearing a cloak, and his sleeves were bulging in the cloak.

Before he reached the steps of the Yangxin Palace, Zhao Tong stopped, looked at the “snowman” and asked, “Who?”

A young eunuch half covered his mouth with his hand and whispered in Zhao Tong’s ear: “To answer the old ancestor, it is the Duke of Zhenguo.”

Zhao Tong was startled and walked forward quickly. It was indeed Niu Jizong. His body was covered with a thick layer of snow, and a layer of frost had formed on his eyebrows and gray beard. His eyes were still open, staring at the closed palace door.

Subconsciously, Zhao Tong was about to help Niu Jizong up, but he suddenly remembered that he was holding a medicine box in his arms, so he shouted at the young eunuch, “What are you looking at? Why don’t you help the Duke of Zhenguo up?”

The young eunuch knelt down, glanced at the tightly closed palace door, and lowered his head.

Zhao Tong’s face suddenly changed, and he turned and walked towards the Yangxin Palace. Suddenly he stopped, then walked back and said in a low voice: “Shake off the snow on the Duke of Zhenguo’s body and bring an umbrella.” After that, he walked straight into the Yangxin Palace.

There are underground heating systems in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the west warm room is as warm as spring.

The imperial desk was still piled with memorials, and Emperor Yongxing was sitting there reviewing them.

“Your Majesty, I am back.”

Zhao Tong, still wearing his cloak, walked to the imperial desk, took out a medicine box hidden in his cloak with both hands, and carefully placed it on the desk.

Emperor Yongxing put down his pen, opened the lid of the box, revealing a few bright red pills!

He picked out a bright red pill and put it into his mouth. Then Emperor Yongxing took the warm water that Zhao Tong brought and drank it. His face immediately turned red, blood red.

Zhao Tong looked at Emperor Yongxing with worried eyes.

Emperor Yongxing smiled and said, “This elixir is very effective. It’s so cold today, but I don’t feel any discomfort, not even a cough.”

Zhao Tong hesitated for a moment and said, “It’s only the eighth day and I have to take two pills. Let’s ask Li Yuanzheng to come and take a look.”

Emperor Yongxing said nonchalantly: “The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven is a physical activity. The weather is so cold that we just need to rest for two days.” He then spread out a memorial and prepared to review it.

Zhao Tong didn’t know what to say. While sorting out the memorials and official documents on the imperial desk, he said, “On the way back just now, I met the eunuch in charge of the Empress’s palace. The Empress Dowager sent a message saying that if the Emperor is fine, he should go to the Cining Palace with the Empress to eat dumplings.”

Emperor Yongxing replied calmly: “I know.”

Zhao Tong: “Today is a festival, and the court has won another great victory. Your Majesty, please rest early and go over to talk to the Queen Mother.”

Emperor Yongxing raised his head and asked, “What do you want to say?”

Zhao Tong: “This.”

Emperor Yongxing: “If you don’t want to tell me, get out.”

Zhao Tong glanced at the heavy snow outside the window and gritted his teeth: “The Duke of Zhenguo is already over fifty years old. It would be terrible if he caught a cold kneeling there in such a heavy snowstorm.”

Emperor Yongxing frowned and said, “Niu Jizong is still kneeling?”

Zhao Tong: “Yes. He is covered with a thick layer of snow, and there is a layer of frost on his eyebrows and beard. If he kneels down again, I am really worried that the Duke of Zhenguo will freeze to death.”

Emperor Yongxing snorted: “He wanted to kneel on his own initiative. It has nothing to do with me.”

Zhao Tong: “I dare to say that the Duke of Zhenguo is the Minister of War and a first-class duke of the court. If he commits any crime, you can teach him a lesson in person.”

Emperor Yongxing: “Teach him a lesson? How dare I teach him a lesson?! He taught me a lesson, which is more like teaching me a lesson! He also said that I would destroy the country and society of our ancestors! I just didn’t agree to his request, but he knelt in the snow out of anger. He is threatening me, and his heart deserves death!”

Zhao Tong immediately knelt down and said, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty is the father of the world. How can a ‘son’ threaten a ‘father’? How can you be so heartless? On this auspicious day, Your Majesty should not be upset by such a small matter. The Queen Mother is still waiting for Your Majesty to eat dumplings.”

Emperor Yongxing wanted to refute him again, but seeing his pleading look, he snorted coldly and said, “Let him go back.”

“Yes.” Zhao Tong bowed his head, climbed up, bowed and walked out.

“Wait.” Emperor Yongxing called him again.

Zhao Tong stopped.

Emperor Yongxing: “Tell him that I have made up my mind.”

Zhao Tong: “Yes.” He walked out quickly.

Emperor Yongxing hesitated for a moment and followed him out.

At the foot of the stone steps, Niu Jizong was still kneeling there straight, with an oilcloth umbrella on his head.

Zhao Tong walked over quickly and said, “Duke, the emperor asked you to get up.” As he spoke, he went to help him up.

Niu Jizong looked at him and asked, “Did the emperor say anything?” Zhao Tong was silent for a moment and replied, “Duke, you know what the emperor’s temper is like.”

The little light that had just appeared in Niu Jizong’s eyes dimmed, and he stared at the half-open palace door in a daze.

Zhao Tong immediately felt that Niu Jizong’s hand, which was a little warm just now, suddenly became cold, and immediately held his hand: “Duke, if there is anything, we can talk about it tomorrow, there is no rush.”

Niu Jizong slowly pulled his hand out of Zhao Tong’s palm and said, “Sorry to bother the Prime Minister.” After that, he slowly turned around and walked tremblingly into the heavy snow.

Looking at Niu Jizong who was trembling as he walked into the snow, Zhao Tong sighed silently. The figure suddenly swayed a few times and fell headfirst into the snow.

“The Duke of Zhenguo has fainted!” Several young eunuchs screamed almost at the same time.

Zhao Tong was also shocked and shouted loudly: “Quick! Send to the Imperial Hospital!” Then he rushed over like a fly.

“Blood!” The eunuch’s voice was already shrill, and this shout was made in fear, so that it immediately spread throughout the sky above the courtyard of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

Zhao Tong’s panicked voice: “Send to the Imperial Hospital, quickly!”

The half-closed palace door opened, and Emperor Yongxing strode out. There was no trace of Zhao Tong and others in the heavy snow, and there was a huge pool of blood on the snow!

Emperor Yongxing was stunned for a moment. He stood there, looking blankly ahead, muttering to himself: “Am I wrong?”

If you don’t eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice, no one will care if your ears get frozen.

According to legend, when Zhang Zhongjing resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown, it was the dead of winter and many poor people’s ears were ulcerated due to frostbite. Zhang Zhongjing asked his disciples to set up a big pot outside the city, boiled mutton and some cold-relieving drugs, chopped them up, and wrapped them in dough to make “jiao’er” shaped like ears. After cooking, they were distributed to the people to eat.

After eating the “jiao’er” and drinking the “cold-dispelling soup”, the people felt warm all over, their ears became hot, and their frostbitten ears were cured. Later, the people imitated the “jiao’er” and made food into dumplings, which were also called “dumplings” or “partial food”.

Of course, this is the custom in the north.

The Li family has few people, but they are divided into two factions.

The local group, led by Li Hu, are all authentic Beijingers. The other group, led by Lin Daiyu, are Suzhou people. Now there are also Xue Baochai and Ying’er, two Jinling people. The customs of Jinling are different from those of Suzhou. However, Xue Baochai and her servant have no say, so they are ignored.

There are not only dumplings on the dinner table, but also Suzhou delicacies such as wontons, glutinous rice balls, red bean dumplings, and hot pot, which is indispensable in winter.

A bite of dumpling, a large piece of mutton wrapped in oil, and a glass of wine, Li Hu smacked his lips with satisfaction.

“Virtue!”

Lin Daiyu sneered and poured the wine from the thermos to Li Hu, saying, “Eat slowly. No one will snatch it from you.”

Li Hu smiled and said, “We have to rush to eat, so that it will taste good.”

“Bah! You’re talking nonsense again.” Lin Daiyu smiled and picked up a piece of food for Li Hu with chopsticks.

Xue Baochai, who was standing next to her, smiled with her hand covering her mouth, put down her chopsticks, stood up and served Lin Daiyu a spoonful of red bean dumplings.

Lin Daiyu looked at her and smiled. After the wedding, Xue Baochai was no longer qualified to eat at this table.

At this moment, Feng came in with a letter and knelt down to Li Hu: “Second Master, this is a letter from Third Uncle.”

Li Hu took the letter, opened it and took a look, then shook his head. The emperor was confused. If the people’s hearts were scattered, it would be difficult to lead the troops. The empress dowager must be mad at him!

Lin Daiyu: “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu shook his head, folded the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve.

Lin Daiyu: “Still drinking?”

“No more drinking. I’ll save some for you to drink winter wine at night.”

Li Hu picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp. He handed the empty glass to Xiangling and said, “Let’s go to Tuobi Villa tonight to have a drink and enjoy the snow scenery.”

Lin Daiyu said “hmm” and said to Xue Baochai, “Let’s go together.”

Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment and said, “I won’t disturb you and the second master from enjoying the snow.”

Lin Daiyu didn’t force her and nodded with a smile.

The imperial palace was sometimes leaky like a sieve, and the news soon reached the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion.

After hearing this, the Prince of Nan’an’s eyes rolled around, and then he sneered. Almost all the nobles who were able to lead troops to fight died in Xishan. If Niu Jizon also died, only Duke Xiuguo Hou Xiaokang, Li Hu and Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding would be left.

The situation in Mobei is complicated. Hou Xiaokang may not be able to return for one or two years, and may even die in battle. Li Hu is already a dying man, so there is only Shi Ding left. When the support of the Western Barbarians arrives, the great cause will be accomplished!
Just as I was thinking about it, the clock in the corner rang.

The Prince of Nan’an County took a glance, stood up and walked out. It was time to go drink with that loser Wang Ren. (End of this chapter)