Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!

S T E L L A R C L O U D

[Galetron]

O R A N G E S T A R

[Alma S.] [Azurixa] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]

[Lily J.] [Michelle N.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Anasi] [Jwyla C.] [Passerby] [Xena]

G O L D S T A R

[Anne C.] [Rose Ky]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Smurfinbatik]

T H E S U N

[Kiiayame]

C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R

[Ava C.] [kuroneko_chan] [Leeyue] [Manon]

[Raquel G.] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes] [Woon Li Ying]

Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)

Xiao Heng stayed inside the room for a full quarter of an hour before finally coming out.

Earlier, he had deliberately given Gu Jiao an excuse to leave, and it was not that Gu Jiao truly needed to go and check on the pasted couplets.

Sure enough, when he went next door, Gu Jiao was sitting there completely still.

That quiet, motionless posture made one’s heart ache just from looking at her.

Gu Jiao heard the sound of him pushing the door open, stood up, and turned to look at him, her voice calm but her eyes filled with concern as she asked, “How is Jing Kong?”

Xiao Heng walked into the room and placed the now-empty bottle of jinchuang medicine on the table.

The answer was already obvious.

Such a large bottle was more than their whole family could use in a year, which showed just how many wounds Jing Kong had once had on his body.

Gu Jiao pressed her forehead dully against his firm chest.

He lifted his long, jade-like hand and gently rubbed the top of her head.

Whenever she felt down, this was how he always comforted her.

Xiao Heng spoke softly, “Don’t be too sad, I looked carefully, all the injuries have already healed.”

Only now was he able to speak to her so calmly, because earlier in the room he had almost lost composure several times.

Fortunately, that wretched state of his had not been seen by JiaoJiao, otherwise he really would have had no face to see anyone again.

She said in a low voice, “Back when he had smallpox, I didn’t even want to let a single pockmark remain on him, so I wrapped up his little hands, but he secretly ran out to scratch himself and was caught red-handed by Gu Changqing.”

Now that so many scars had been left on his body, how could her heart not ache?

“And also, even when he smashed his finger hurting it while cracking walnuts, he would still come and tell me.”

Xiao Heng did not know how to comfort her either.

Boys were like this, clinging closely to their mothers when they were young, but as they slowly grew up, there were some words and some matters that could only be told to their fathers.

Perhaps this was the price of growing up.

Perhaps it was also a child’s way of protecting his mother.

……

Dinner was laid out on Shangguan Yan’s side.

Because Xiao Cong had just vomited and his body had not yet recovered, he needed someone to hold him, and since Xiao Heng was already holding Xiao Yan and little Xiao Xuan, Gu Jiao went to hold Xiao Cong instead.

But how could Xuanyuan Xi allow JiaoJiao to tire herself out?

Holding children was the kind of work that absolutely had to be done by him!

Xuanyuan Xi decisively took Xiao Cong over into his own arms again.

Xiao Cong sat in his embrace with a darkened face, thinking: Uncle, could you please act like a decent human being?

Tonight was the New Year’s Eve dinner, Duke An had been invited into the imperial palace, and Feng Wuxiu had also come.

Feng Wuxiu was honestly rather puzzled, wondering why every time the imperial palace hosted a New Year’s Eve dinner, he or his brother was always invited.

Still, the food prepared by the imperial chefs was delicious, so he was quite willing to come.

Xuanyuan Qi, Liao Chen, and Taoist Qingfeng were all stationed at the border and had been unable to return to the capital.

While they were eating, Xuanyuan Xi finally learned that he had been granted a marquisate, and to be honest, he was not particularly interested in official positions, because he had gone to war not in order to become an official, but if it meant he could show off a little to his bad brother-in-law, that would be far too delightful.

He picked up a bite of vegetables with his chopsticks and said in an affected tone, “Oh my, some people only place first in the imperial examination at nineteen, but some people are already marquises at thirteen!”

Everyone at the table except Xiao Yan and little Xiao Xuan, who did not understand what was going on, all twitched the corners of their mouths, because it was the familiar recipe and the familiar flavor, that smug little monk was back again.

But what kind of ostensibly modest, but in fact boastful act was this?

Becoming a top scholar at nineteen, and you say that like it was late? How were other top scholars supposed to survive then?

And also, should someone remind you that your bad brother-in-law was already a young Chief of the Imperial Academy at thirteen?

The peak of civil and military achievement had really been claimed by the two of you.

Xuanyuan Xi lifted his chin and snorted, “I don’t care, anyway I’m more impressive than my bad brother-in-law!”

Xiao Heng put a piece of fish with the bones already removed into his bowl and said, “Just eat.”

Since the age of ten, Xuanyuan Xi had gradually stopped being so dizzy at the sight of meat, starting out with only being able to drink a little meat broth, then slowly managing to eat some small fish and shrimp, and now finally being able to eat a bit of lean meat as well.

It was just that he could not eat too much.

Xuanyuan Xi hummed to himself and began to eat with great relish, devouring the food heartily.

At this moment, he was once again a carefree, worry-free child.

New Year’s Eve was also the birthday of Xiao Heng and Xuanyuan Xi, and the Imperial Kitchen cooked longevity noodles for the two of them, which Xuanyuan Xi slurped down in one go until the bowl was completely clean.

He had never gone hungry at home, but after going to the battlefield he had been starving every few days, which led to him later finding everything he ate especially delicious.

Seeing him like this, the adults around the table could not help but feel a bit heartache.

Duke An smiled and smoothed things over by saying, “I almost forgot about the gifts.”

Xuanyuan Xi lifted his head out of the noodle bowl. “Huh, there are gifts too, for me?”

Duke An smiled. “For both you and Ah Heng.”

Most of the gifts everyone gave to Xiao Heng were books, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, while the gifts given to Xuanyuan Xi were far more varied.

Gu Jiao gave him a newly made nine-section whip, and even had Gu Xiaoshun design hidden mechanisms on the whip, allowing it to attack, defend, or launch surprise strikes.

Xuanyuan Xi immediately went outside to try it out a couple of times, finding that the weight and length were just right and the flexibility was perfect, making him love it immensely.

He tucked the whip at his waist, returned to his seat, and asked Xiao Heng, “Brother-in-law, what did you give me?”

Xiao Heng replied indifferently, “Nothing, I didn’t know you were coming back.”

As soon as his words fell, a sudden whooshing sound tore through the air outside the hall, followed by a burst as a brilliant golden firework bloomed across the endless sky.

“Fireworks!”

Xuanyuan Xi’s eyes widened, and he dashed out in a flash.

Xiao Yan grew frantic. “I want to see too! I want to see too! I want to see too!”

The doors and windows were wide open, the position of the reunion dinner had been chosen perfectly, and even the angle of the fireworks had been carefully calculated, so that one could enjoy a spectacular display even while sitting down.

But the fireworks were simply too dazzling to resist, and everyone went out into the small garden outside the hall.

Streams of radiant golden fireworks bloomed again and again, lighting up the entire night sky, allowing the whole imperial palace to witness this grand and prosperous display.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Xiao Yan was so excited that she shouted loudly, “So pretty! So pretty!”

Even the usually quiet little beauty Xiao Cong rarely felt that tonight’s fireworks were truly beautiful.

Only two-year-old little Xiao Xuan was frightened by the explosive sounds and kept burrowing into the arms of Shangguan Yan.

There were thirteen rounds of fireworks in total.

Xuanyuan Xi looked up at the brilliant splendor filling the sky, unwilling to blink even once.

To read advance GSPW chapters! Updates 7x a week (daily).

You can read up to 45 advance chapters in our patreon so you should go check it out. ^^

No patreon but want to support us? Then,

OR if you can't support us in money, you can always support us emotionally -just hope into . Hehehe~

--------------------------------------------

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW PROJECT:

Description:

In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.

The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.

From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.

***

Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.

After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"

Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"

Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”

Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.