5360

Chapter 5360: New Year's Eve

"Husband, I don't know if it's my illusion, but I keep feeling like my cultivation realm is about to advance again!"

Mo Lian: ...

"It seems my spiritual consciousness is also about to level up."

"I feel like I haven't really cultivated well lately. After getting pregnant, I rarely stay in the star domain. Why am I about to advance again?" Lady Qiao Qiao was completely bewildered. "Husband, do you think other pregnant women are like this too?"

Mo Lian's face was serious. "Wife, I think no one is like you. You're a special case!"

"Guess why, husband?"

"I guess it's because... Little Mo Baby is doing something in your belly."

Qiao Mu was startled, then thought back carefully, and suddenly realized, "Husband, I have to agree with you."

"Husband, when you usually look, do you ever see anything unusual happening with my belly?"

The two of them whispered to each other all the way to the bed. Cai Xiu and Cai Qi, the two maids, suppressed their laughter and quickly followed, lowering the golden silk drapes, and quietly exited the room.

Over the next period, everyone was quite busy. Fu San Wushuang and Qi Xuanxuan (Little Fatty), two new couples, successfully got married one after another, completing an important milestone in their lives. It was said that Fu San's stepmother, Madam Bao, fainted from anger because Fu San, the third young master, was exceptionally promoted to the youngest first-rank Protective General of the Nation.

The court officials clearly understood that His Majesty was already preparing for the Crown Prince's future enthronement. By promoting a group of young talents, they would become trusted ministers of the new emperor in the future.

Because Lady Qiao Qiao was heavily pregnant, His Majesty granted special permission for her not to attend the New Year's palace feast. Crown Prince Mo now guarded his wife every step of the way; wherever his wife was, he was there too.

On New Year's Eve, many fireworks were set off after the palace feast to celebrate. It seemed the Emperor was also in a splendid mood. This was the first New Year he spent with the Empress since she woke up.

Qiao Mu's spirits were unusually high today, and she stayed up with her family to see in the New Year. Qiao Sen had emerged from seclusion two days prior. Seeing the lively scene in the courtyard, he couldn't help but feel emotional. "I remember, it's been a long time since we all gathered together for the New Year."

Qiao Lin smiled and nodded. "Yes." Ever since his older sister left home to study at the Divine Water Sect, she rarely celebrated the New Year with them. Later, she went to the Six Prefectures and then to the Divine Province, and they thought she would drift further and further away from their family. But to their surprise, as long as the family's hearts were connected, they would never be separated, no matter where they went.

"Here they come, here they come, hot dumplings!" Qi Xuanxuan greeted her companions with a smile, helping to take the plates busily handed over by the young palace maids. "There are all kinds of fillings; serve yourselves."

Everyone eagerly held their bowls, lining up to get dumplings, loudly calling out things like "I don't want sauce!" "I want some, I want some!" "A bit of green onion!" — a cacophony of chatter.

Qiao Mu and Mo Lian sat under the lamplight, occasionally looking up at the lively crowd. The man's fingers were long and slender as he peeled pine nuts, and the woman, expressionless, would occasionally extend a small paw to take the peeled pine nut kernels from his palm. In everyone's eyes, these two looked like an old married couple, sitting there perfectly matched and calm, one peeling pine nuts, the other eating them, a picture of leisurely tranquility.

Mo Lian suddenly clapped his hands and took out a communication jade talisman from his embrace.