After traveling through time, I became a princess in ancient times

In the Nandu City Lord's Mansion, Xia Yurou was wearing a light-colored long dress and holding a bright red silk ribbon in her hand, which she was carefully hanging on the pillar of the mansion. The red silk fluttered in the wind, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, instantly lighting up the surrounding scenery, creating a festive and busy scene.

Xiaoxue was busy standing on tiptoe, trying to draw the door god neatly, and then pasting it carefully. The door god had eyes wide open, as if he could drive away all evil spirits.

Ren Chenxi, dressed in a brocade robe, walked into the busy scene with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes shuttled through the red, and finally fell on Xia Yurou's busy figure. He asked in confusion: "Rou'er, what are you doing? Why did the mansion suddenly become so... um, weird?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Yurou curled up her lips into a gentle smile. After hanging up the red silk in her hand, she turned to face everyone, her eyes flashing with the joy that should be seen during the New Year.

"Your Majesty, today is a traditional festival in my hometown, commonly known as the Chinese New Year, also known as New Year's Eve, which means getting rid of the old and starting anew at the end of the year. Every household will decorate with lanterns, post Spring Festival couplets, and hang lanterns to pray for good weather and good health for the whole family in the coming year."

As she spoke, she ran her fingers over the red silk that had just been hung on the porch pillars, and that bright color seemed to reflect in everyone's heart.

Jiang Wan stood aside in plain clothes, still looking cold and aloof, with curiosity in her eyes.

"New Year's Eve? There is such a strange festival!"

She couldn't help but move along with the princess's gestures, secretly pondering the unique charm of this exotic culture.

Xia Yurou said mysteriously: "Not only that, but we also have to put up blessing characters, set off firecrackers, and eat a reunion dinner."

Now it was Er Niang's turn to be curious. After thinking for a long time, she still couldn't figure out what it meant, so she asked in confusion: "What is the New Year's Eve dinner?"

She pretended to be mysterious and patiently explained: "This reunion dinner is a sumptuous dinner shared by the whole family on New Year's Eve. It is not just a meal, but also an emotional bond between family members, symbolizing reunion and happiness. Tonight, I will prepare a table of sumptuous dishes for everyone, including fish and meat, which means surplus every year and a rich life. At that time, we will all sit together and chat about family matters."

Xiaoxue looked at the princess with admiration in her eyes: "Miss, these customs in your hometown sound very joyful. We must have a good time tonight."

After hearing this, Ren Chenxi suddenly realized: "Rou'er's hometown is really rich and colorful. This has broadened my horizons."

Dong Yuhong, who had been silent the whole time, asked: "Princess, you just mentioned setting off firecrackers. What are these firecrackers?"

Jiang Wan said calmly, "It should be the firecrackers played by children."

Xia Yurou turned around and took out a small wooden box from the side, inside which were neatly arranged long and thin objects wrapped in red paper.

She picked up a roll of firecrackers and carefully unwrapped the red paper, revealing a tightly wrapped small bamboo tube, which was connected by a thin thread and tied to the end with a small fuse that would ignite when lit.

"This is firecrackers. During the Spring Festival or other festive occasions, people will light firecrackers. The crackling sound can dispel the bad luck of the year and bring joy and good luck to the new year. It is rumored that it can also drive away the monster Nian."

She explained patiently, showing the firecrackers in her hand to everyone and teaching how to light them.

Dong Yuhong nodded in sudden realization, her face filled with curiosity and anticipation for the new and exciting activities she was about to participate in.

Xia Yurou immediately cleared her throat and said softly, "Okay, now that everyone understands, let's split up. Miss Yuhong and Erniang have worked hard, go to the market to pick out the freshest ingredients, and remember to buy more fish and meat, which means abundance every year. Xiaoxue, you will be responsible for pasting those blessing characters all over the mansion, so that the blessing will fill the entire city lord's mansion. As for Wanwan, you and I will go together to buy some necessary things for the New Year, as well as those small things that can add to the festive atmosphere."

Xiaoxue held a brush dipped in golden ink and gently outlined the word "Fu" on pieces of red paper. Each word was written in a round and full shape, exuding a festive feeling.

She stood on tiptoe and gently pressed the written word "Fu" on the door, then took a few steps back, squinted her eyes and looked at it carefully, making sure that each word "Fu" was straight, as if she was putting a New Year's badge on the lintel of the city lord's mansion.

Ren Chenxi saw that everyone had been assigned a task except himself, so he asked: "What do you need me to do?"

Hearing the prince's question, Xia Yurou said mischievously: "My prince must do important things to match your status. Don't you think Rou'er is right?"

He nodded vigorously, looking forward to the important task that was about to begin, but she said, "Hanhan, I'll leave it to you."

Hearing this, Ren Chenxi's mouth twitched slightly. Looking at Xia Yurou's sly smile, although there were a lot of bitterness in his heart, it turned into a gentle sigh.

He gently picked up little Hanhan, and the little girl immediately hugged Ren Chenxi's neck tightly with her chubby little hands, giggling, and the clear laughter was as sweet as a silver bell.

Ren Chenxi clumsily imitated Xia Yurou's usual behavior, gently rocking the child, his eyes full of tenderness.

He hummed a tuneless little song and paced slowly in the room, as if he was performing a solemn ceremony.

Xia Yurou walked arm in arm with Jiang Wan on the busy street, pointing at the various items on the stalls from time to time, and discussing with Jiang Wan which ones could better embellish the festive atmosphere in the house.

They stopped in front of a stall hung with red lanterns. Xia Yurou gently stroked the delicate window grilles and finally selected a few with auspicious patterns and handed them to the stall owner.

The stall owner took it with a smile, packed it up, and praised: "Madam, you have a good eye. If you put these window decorations at home, everything will be fine in the coming year."

Xia Yurou took out a few warm and shiny copper coins from her purse and gently placed them in the stall owner's large and rough palm.

The stall owner took the copper coins with a smile and thanked me repeatedly, as if this simple transaction also conveyed the joy of the festival.

The two of them walked between the dazzling stalls, and Xia Yurou pointed at each exquisite handicraft with great excitement.

Then we stopped in front of a stall selling sugar figures, and saw an old artist with skillful techniques. As the sugar threads fluttered, lifelike zodiac animals appeared on the bamboo sticks.

Xia Yurou picked out a cute little rabbit and handed it to Jiang Wan, saying with a smile, "Wanwan, you look cold and aloof at ordinary times, but you are actually gentle at heart, just like this little rabbit."

Jiang Wan took the sugar man and a rare smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, as warm as a ray of sunshine in winter.

Her cold gaze moved among the colorful sugar figures, and finally landed on a phoenix flapping its wings as if it was about to fly. Its wings were so delicate that they seemed to be able to really dance with the wind.

"Yu Rou, you are like this phoenix. Even in the midst of troubled times, you can still spread your wings and fly high, leading everyone through the darkness to the light, and usher in a more splendid sky."

As she spoke, Jiang Wan handed her the Phoenix candy man.

The bustling market seemed to be still. The two smiled at each other. They had long regarded each other as sisters. However, Jiang Wan was not good at expressing herself, so this deep friendship broke free from its constraints and blossomed in the dim light of the sugar man.