Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

On the other side, Shen Sangwan was practically dragged into the room by Wen Yuening.

One of them exuded impatience, while the other was filled with resistance.

"Ah Ning, Ah Ning, I think we can still discuss this. How about... how about we find someone else?"

A maid brought hot water, and Wen Yuening washed all the marks off her face. Seeing that Shen Sangwan was about to run away, she said calmly, "If Your Highness dares to leave your room today, you may not be able to face anyone on New Year's Eve."

The person who was furtively stepping halfway across the threshold quickly withdrew their foot.

New Year's Eve is only four or five days away. She believes that if she really dares to run away, the other party may not let her go for several days.

Turning around, she smiled awkwardly and explained, "Look what kind of person you think I am, Ah Ning. I was just thinking that Ah Ning might be hungry, so I asked someone to prepare some fruit."

"Your Highness, A-Ning isn't hungry!"

"Cough cough cough...Is...is that so...?"

Shen Sangwan touched her nose with both hands, then rubbed them against her body. Her speech became hesitant, and her eyes darted around, avoiding direct eye contact.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Sangwan noticed someone approaching her from a distance, and she couldn't help but move closer to the table next to her.

"Ah... Ah Ning, I feel... I'm a little hungry!"

“Your Highness left the city early this morning and must be hungry by now. Ah Ning was too thoughtful. I’ll have someone prepare some food for Your Highness.”

Shen Sangwan was completely bewildered by this turn of events and found it hard to believe that the other party would let her off so easily.

She didn't realize it until the table was full of food and the aroma filled her nostrils.

However, just as I suspected, the other party was unlikely to be so kind.

She was now forced to sit on Wen Yuening's lap, letting the other woman hold her, and she could only eat the food that the other woman fed her.

This meal was perhaps the most difficult she had ever eaten. On one hand, there were restless little hands wandering all over her body, and on the other hand, there was a constant stream of food being fed, leaving her overwhelmed.

"A-Ning, I'm full, I'm full."

"Now that Your Highness is full, and it is late..."

"Um... Aning, I'm a little full. I... I'll go for a walk to digest!"

Shen Sangwan noticed the other person's malicious gaze and was about to run away when she realized that the hand wrapped around her waist was noticing.

The moment he stood up, he was taken back.

"Your Highness, Ah Ning has another way to aid digestion."

After saying that, he picked the person up by the waist and slowly walked towards the bed in the inner room.

Outside, snowflakes fall freely; inside, figures are entangled, some joyful, some sorrowful.

After a few peaceful days, Shen Sangwan finally arrived at her first New Year's Eve here.

Huzhou is located near the border and is not as bustling as the capital. However, on New Year's Eve, every household is decorated very festively, and the streets are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The sound of gongs and drums is deafening, creating a unique atmosphere.

Since getting up early in the morning, Xiao Tong was assigned by Shen Sangwan to help the maids of the government office decorate the courtyard. After finishing her business, she accompanied Wen Yuening to enjoy the snow and tea.

As dusk fell and the mansion was ablaze with lights, the entire place was a festive red, before the two of them emerged from the house.

At Shen Sangwan's repeated instructions, Xiao Tong searched everywhere for people to prepare sparks.

Along with Xiaotong, the five of them left the government office together. There was a very spacious place outside, which was perfect for a performance.

The smiles on their faces were reflected in the instant the molten iron was released.

Shen Sangwan held Wen Yuening's hand and glanced at her sideways, "Does A-Ning like it?"

Their eyes met, and an overwhelmingly sweet affection lingered between them.

"like!"

She liked anything prepared by His Highness.

On the other side, Cen Yan was holding Ruoying's arm, nestled in her arms like a little bird, and the smile on her face never faded.

Standing in the middle, Xiao Tong felt a deep sense of powerlessness; he hadn't even had his New Year's Eve dinner yet, but he already felt full.

"You really don't treat me like a human being. Even a dog wouldn't be forced to eat dog food like this, would you?"

After being ignored, he could only stomp his feet in the snow to vent his frustration.

"What is Your Highness doing?"

Seeing Shen Sangwan with her eyes closed and hands clasped in front of her chest in a very devout manner, Wen Yuening was a little puzzled and asked when the other opened her eyes.

"I cherish the days I spend with Ah Ning, so naturally I wish that we could be together forever."

At this moment, Cen Yan, who was standing next to Shen Sangwan, smiled and said, "Sincerity is the key to success. I believe that just as the flowers may bloom similarly year after year, people will surely remain the same year after year."

After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and laughed. Even Ruoying, who was as wooden as wood, had a smile on his lips that had never been there for a thousand years.

Standing outside for too long made me feel cold, so I hurriedly went back inside.

The maids had already set out all the food, and the five of them sat together. Shen Sangwan, Cen Yan, and Xiao Tong rubbed their hands together and breathed on them to warm them. Wen Yuening and Ruoying, though they didn't know why they were doing this and thought it was some kind of pre-meal ritual, obediently followed along.

The charcoal fire in the stove burned brightly, and fireworks lit up outside the window, creating a dazzling spectacle in the night sky.

Fireworks light up the world, let's raise a glass to this year, Happy New Year!

Shen Sangwan was the first to raise her glass and move closer to the center, and Cen Yan responded enthusiastically, "Happy New Year!"

Xiaotong is short, but in order not to interfere with the toasting, she knelt down on the chair and raised her small hand, "Happy New Year!"

Wen Yuening and Ruoying then raised their glasses and gathered together, and the five of them said in unison, "Happy New Year!"

At this moment in Huzhou, every household gathers around the stove, laughter and cheerful chatter filling the air. Joy and leisure prevail, as families wish for a smooth and peaceful year, one that surpasses the last…

As it approached midnight, everyone except Xiaotong was quite drunk and was staggering as they walked.

In the end, the only option was for the wronged Xiao Tong to use his small body to drag the four of them back to their rooms one by one.

"My lord, what will you do without me!"

After seeing the four people off, Xiaotong was so exhausted that she collapsed on the ground. She found a warm spot, lay down, and fell asleep like a log.

The next day, he was discovered by a maid in the mansion and carried back to his own room and onto his bed.

When Shen Sangwan woke up, she had a terrible headache. Fortunately, the maid had prepared a hangover soup in advance, which relieved her headache a little after she drank it.

I was just thinking of taking a nap when someone outside announced that Shuyun had returned.

So he had no choice but to get up quickly, change his clothes, and go to the front hall to meet the other party.

"I greet your Highness."

"Did things go smoothly?"

"The city that the Northern Witches exchanged is now under the control of Mo Ran. Miss Lin made a solemn oath before I left, promising to send the Ming King away in a month. I have also confirmed that even if she does not take action, the Ming King will not live for more than two months."

Shuyun knelt on the ground, his face showing signs of weariness. The wind and snow had gotten quite heavy on the way there and back.

"You have worked so hard these days, you didn't even have a peaceful New Year's Eve. I'm giving you a few days off so you can rest well."

"Your Highness, I thank you."

After thanking her, Shuyun returned to her room. She was indeed very tired, as it was the dead of winter and the wind and frost outside were quite harsh.

Shen Sangwan leaned back in her chair, her fingertips tapping the armrest. She felt that she couldn't rest easy until she had personally killed Shen Yujing.