Chapter 6 The Lantern Festival is approaching

As days passed by, Kyoto Prefecture transitioned from summer to winter.

In the winter months, a heavy snow continued for half a month, the weather so cold it could freeze someone to death.

Even Chen Yi, who always stayed inside the side room and never went out, wore thick cotton clothes and relied on the furnace to get by.

Not to mention the common people outside the residence.

It was said that in Changle County, several people had frozen to death at home, causing the supreme dragon countenance in the Imperial City to become extremely angry.

Hearing from old dad, the supreme not only slammed the table but also almost chopped off the head of the Kyoto Prefecture authority, bluntly stating that if people froze to death at the foot of the Imperial City, how much more so would the common people of the world suffer?

From this, it was not difficult for Chen Yi to infer that the Great Wei Dynasty's survival for a thousand years without faltering was greatly related to the Emperor's broad perspective.

At least the current Holy Emperor was a smart person who used his brain.

However, Chen Yi could just listen to these things.

Having learned from the previous "painful lesson," he had already learned to hide his talents.

Otherwise, mentioning things like heated beds and coal stoves would surely result in Xia Wanwan intensifying his curriculum mercilessly.

He didn't want to lose his promising life as a second generation before he even experienced it by perishing amidst Martial Arts training.

That would be even more unbearable than killing him.

Thus, sometimes, Chen Yi quite envied his older brother, Chen Yuan.

Just like now, Zhou Wanyi brought Chen Yuan to visit the right side room.

Xia Wanwan and Zhou Wanyi sat by the furnace chatting leisurely, while Chen Yuan ran around with a wooden sword.

Only he—holding a book, not daring to lift his head—could only prick up his ears, listening to the chat between the two ladies of the Marquis Mansion.

Different people, different fates, damn!

Xia Wanwan looked at the snow outside the window and sighed, "If the Kyoto Prefecture is already this cold, I fear the Beixiong Pass would be even colder. I wonder what the scene is like where my husband is stationed at the border."

Zhou Wanyi smiled and said, "My husband's Martial Arts Cultivation is so strong that neither cold nor fire affects him; he won't have any problems."

"Speaking of which, you are originally from Beizhi, which is not far from Beixiong Pass. You must be the most familiar with the weather there. Is it very cold?"

"Very cold," Xia Wanwan nodded, "Winter arrives in September, and every household prepares dry firewood."

"Even so, when faced with continuous heavy snow, there are still people who freeze to death at home."

"I remember when I was little, one time there was heavy snow and our home's firewood got used up early. My father ran out to seek help in the snow, but he wasn's able to gather a few bundles."

"What happened after that?"

Chen Yi also lifted his head, wanting to know what followed.

"Eventually, we only managed to buy some emergency firewood at the price of one Silver Coin per bundle."

"One Silver Coin per piece?!"

Zhou Wanyi exclaimed, "Even in the Kyoto Prefecture, such a situation has never occurred."

Xia Wanwan gave a miserable smile, "At that time, the heavy snow sealed the mountain, and demons were lurking around. No one dared to joke with their lives."

"So ever since then, our home always prepares firewood in advance to avoid any accidents."

Zhou Wanyi patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "Now I understand why you worry about your husband."

"There's no helping it..."

Chen Yi also felt somewhat emotional after listening.

It wasn't just the snow sealing the mountains, but he felt that demons sporadically causing trouble would eventually lead to a major disaster.

However, as far as he knew, there had been nearly twenty years without war in the north.

The last time the Demon Country launched a massive invasion was when the Demon Emperor had just ascended the throne, claiming he wanted to prove himself by leading the army southward.

It was said that the battle lasted three years, and many people from the Wei Dynasty died.

Especially in his grandma's home region of Beizhi, nearly every household had white silk hung outside their doors.

From this, Chen Yi could imagine the hardship of that battle.

At this moment, his aunty and mother changed the subject, pulling back his thoughts.

"In a few months, the husband is set to rotate and take up his post at Beixiong Pass," Zhou Wanyi asked. "Sister Wan Wan, do you plan to take the opportunity to visit your maternal home?"

Xia Wanwan seemed tempted, but after thinking it over, she shook her head, "The army is deploying, it's not suitable for me to follow, and Yi Er is about to undertake his Foundation Establishment, it wouldn't be good to leave."

"That's no issue. The Wuan Army has many strong warriors; just have your husband make arrangements for Yi Er then."

"Still, no..."

Hearing this, Chen Yi stealthily glanced at Zhou Wanyi, silently frowning.

Was this aunty, proposing Xia Wanwan return to her home before his Foundation Establishment, playing another game?

However, her words sounded normal, making his Foundation Establishment feasible in Beizhi.

"Brother, brother, what are you looking at?"

At this moment, like the wind, Chen Yuanfeng ran over, leaning on the table curiously peering at him.

Chen Yi gave him a look, closed the book and showed its cover, saying, "Ten Thousand Characters."

"What is 'Ten Thousand Characters'?"

"It contains ten thousand characters."

"Ten thousand? Is it like one?"

"No, it's a number much larger than one."

Chen Yuan, only partly understanding, praised with an adult-like demeanor, "Brother, you are really amazing."

A blue vein faintly stood out on Chen Yi's forehead, and from the corner of his eye he noticed Xia Wanwan and Zhou Wanyi looking over, so he forced a smile:

"Big brother is even more amazing for being able to run that fast."

"Right? Grandpa also praised me for that," Chen Yuan said seriously, nodding and waving his wooden saber, "Watch this Great Circulation Saber Technique!"

With that, he leaped up and brought the wooden saber down in a chop, smashing it onto the table.

"Impressive, right?"

Chen Yi: "..."

He couldn't help but glance at Zhou Wanyi, wondering if this wild child really shouldn't be disciplined.

But Zhou Wanyi just smiled at Xia Wanwan and said, "In the future, Yi Er might have to support Yuan Er."

"It's only right for brothers to support each other," Xia Wanwan also smiled.

After a few words, Zhou Wanyi left with Chen Yuan.

They arranged to go out together for the Lantern Festival before departing, and Xia Wanwan did not decline.

She had already promised Chen Yi to take him out for a stroll, and it would be safer with Zhou Wanyi and her son.

However, as Chen Yi watched Zhou Wanyi's retreating figure, he secretly pondered.

Her visit must have had some purpose.

Perhaps to urge his birth mother to return to her parental home?

Foundation Establishment?

Or maybe...

Chen Yi looked down at himself and suddenly realized.

She came to check on the effects after he took the Soft Bone Powder!

...

In the following days, the weather cleared up, and Kyoto Prefecture felt a bit more lively, though still cold.

With the Lantern Festival approaching, every household hung up red lanterns, adding to the festive atmosphere.

But Chen Yi felt a bit disappointed.

His second birthday was nothing special.

Other than the pastries prepared by the kitchen under his father's instructions, there were no substantial gifts.

Fortunately, Xia Wanwan gave him a few days "off."

Not only were there no scheduled lessons, but he was also allowed to roam around the Marquis Mansion.

Of course, he had to be accompanied by house servants.

"Young Master Yi, where would you like to go? I'll take you there," asked a house servant, kneeling to match Chen Yi's height, with a smile on his face.

Chen Yi thought for a moment and said, "The Martial Arts Arena."

"This," the house servant said reluctantly, "Young Master, according to the mansion's rules, I'm not permitted to enter there."

"Oh, can I?"

"You certainly can, but..."

"Then let's go."

Not giving him a chance to refuse, Chen Yi dashed out of the backyard.

If it weren't for Xia Wanwan not giving him the chance, he would have wanted to visit the Martial Arts Arena long ago.

Soon, the house servant led him to the outside of the Martial Arts Arena in the west side of the central courtyard, looking distressed, he said:

"Young Master, please don't run around once you're inside. If you get hurt, I could lose my life."

"Don't worry, don't worry..."

With a perfunctory reply, Chen Yi went straight into the Martial Arts Arena.

He was already two years old, able to run and jump, and he had beginner level Sword Dao skills, being careful should indeed not be a problem.

But as soon as Chen Yi entered the Martial Arts Arena, he was stunned by the sight before him!

"Is that a giant ten meters tall!?"