Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Shen House.

Shen Jiangliu and Shang Jingming sat facing each other, looking at each other blankly.

To be honest, the two of them weren't really close.

Shen Jiangliu was originally supposed to stay up with his teacher to celebrate the New Year, but he was squeezed out by Xiao Kong Fengwo Mei to take care of some unknown junior apprentice.

I was stunned when the other person addressed me as "Uncle-Master" the moment we met.

Considering his young age, barely twenty-three, he's suddenly been promoted a generation.

There's an extra sixteen or seventeen-year-old "junior apprentice".

Who has a sixteen or seventeen-year-old child who still needs someone to take care of them?

Besides, isn't this the newly appointed commander of the Five Cities Garrison?

If he remembers correctly, it seems to be the eldest son of Shang Yu, the Vice Minister of War?

Why wasn't he at home celebrating the New Year? Instead, His Majesty sent him here.

Is Shang Yu dead? He couldn't even raise his son properly?

Even if Shen Jiangliu had a sharp tongue, he wouldn't go looking for trouble by insulting Shang Jingming's father in front of him during the New Year.

So, as his "senior brother," he had no choice but to put on a show of courtesy and politely ask, "Would you like some hot pot?"

Shang Jingming was also a little embarrassed.

He knew he had caused trouble for Lord Shen.

Actually, he didn't necessarily want to bother Lord Shen. Shang Yu and Feng Jiqin took their son and daughter to the night market to see the lantern festival and asked him if he wanted to go, but he declined, citing feeling unwell.

Being alone at home, without having to face that harmonious family, Shang Jingming was actually quite content. However, he didn't want to let His Majesty down, as His Majesty had made arrangements for him out of kindness.

Moreover, he was curious about the famous Lord Shen Jiangliu. In the capital, which young man his age with any sense of pride had not admired Lord Shen's integrity in not fearing Wang Jing and directly satirizing him?

Now, by a twist of fate, this adult has become his "senior brother".

For some reason, Shang Jingming thought of that night when he was recuperating at the villa after being flogged sixty times for dereliction of duty.

At that time, he felt like an outsider, out of place in the villa.

Now, he wants to actively integrate himself into the group.

Therefore, he took the first step, following his teacher's arrangement, and took the initiative to visit his "senior uncle" as an uninvited guest.

When visiting someone's home, Shang Jingming naturally wouldn't be picky and politely said, "When in Rome, do as the host does."

"Can you eat spicy food?" Shen Jiangliu asked again.

Shang Jingming isn't really good at eating spicy food, but since Shen Jiangliu asked, he must want to try it, so he replied, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Since his "nephew" had said so, Shen Jiangliu had no choice but to be blunt and had his servants prepare a hot pot.

So the two of them sat around the stove and started cooking hot pot.

Shen Jiangliu picked up a piece of mutton that was sliced ​​to a suitable thickness with his chopsticks. "This mutton is loose and lacks chewiness. It's obvious that he didn't like to exercise when he was alive. He died of laziness."

Shang Jingming: "Sigh, sigh—"

Shen Jiangliu pushed a thick piece of pork belly aside. "It's so thick, did the cook cut it with his feet? I think this pig died for nothing."

Shang Jingming: "Sigh, sigh—"

Shen Jiangliu shook a leaf of vegetable. "There are more wormholes on this vegetable than there are freckles on Old Li's face. You want me to eat the leftovers with worms? Old Li sold me off under the cover of darkness. Has his heart been eaten by dogs?"

Shang Jingming: "Sigh, sigh—"

"If you can't handle spicy food, why pretend to be so arrogant?" Shen Jiangliu casually poured Shang Jingming a cup of cold tea and told the servants to quickly replace the spicy broth with clear broth.

Shang Jingming's lips were red from the spiciness, and beads of sweat appeared on his nose. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and then gulped down half a cup of cold tea before he could catch his breath. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

"That's all you know? When in Rome, do as the Romans do, haha, haha?"

Shang Jingming was a little embarrassed by his lapse in composure. "That's not it."

Shen Jiangliu raised an eyebrow. "So what else can you do?"

Shang Jingming answered fluently: "I can also call him Master Uncle."

Shen Jiangliu: "..."

After switching to a clear broth hot pot, Shen Jiangliu found the food bland and tasteless, but at least he didn't have to listen to his junior brother, who called him "Master Uncle," spitting out everything on the table, edible and inedible, alive and dead, except for Shang Jingming.

Shang Jingming stood tall and straight, sitting on the edge of a stool, not daring to put his bottom down, as if he were surrounded by thorns and would be caught in the crossfire and spat in the face with poison.

After a hearty meal and drinks, the two sat facing each other around the stove to keep vigil for the New Year.

The two people looked into each other's eyes.

Shen Jiangliu: "This charcoal is no good; it's too pungent."

Shang Jingming: "It's alright, it's alright."

Shen Jiangliu: "This dust is so big it's almost getting into my eyes. You get what you pay for."

Shang Jingming: "It's alright, it's alright."

Shen Jiangliu: "All you can say is 'It's okay, it's okay'?"

Shang Jingming: "No, that's not it."

Shen Jiangliu: "..."

Shang Jingming: "..."

We're not familiar with each other at all; the conversation has already died out.

After a moment of silence, Shang Jingming, eager to integrate into the sect, broke the silence: "How about we go for a walk?"

It's better to leave than to stand here awkwardly and die.

Shen Jiangliu immediately stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "Let's go, your senior uncle will take you to the night market."

This wasn't his own idea to go; it was His Majesty's dear disciple who wanted to go for a walk! In this freezing weather, where else could they go besides the night market?

The thought of his father and stepmother and their whole family possibly going to the lantern festival at the night market made Shang Jingming feel a little resistant.

But seeing his senior brother's enthusiastic expression, he didn't want to spoil the fun.

In such a large night market, he couldn't possibly run into someone he didn't want to see.

Shang Jingming stood up, dusted off the dust on his clothes, and readily agreed, "When in Rome, do as the host says."

...

Lunar New Year's Eve is a rare day without a curfew, and people flock to the streets to enjoy the festive atmosphere at the night markets.

The crowds were dense and the lights were dazzling.

The aroma of various foods filled the air, and all kinds of stalls stretched out along both sides of the long street.

The shouts of the acrobats, the boisterous cheers of the crowd, and the continuous firecrackers on New Year's Eve converged into a tumultuous river, embracing the festive prosperity.

As the year draws to a close, the people's faces are filled with hopeful smiles.

Their lives may not have been wealthy, but everything has improved since the young emperor took power.

With surplus grain at home, we can afford to buy a few pounds of meat on New Year's Eve to satisfy our cravings, unlike the previous years when things were getting worse year by year.

The young emperor, dressed in festive red, was like an ordinary teenager, pulling Jiang Jibai along as they wandered among various stalls, their attention drawn to the dazzling array of novelties.

Sugar painting, candied fruit, pastries, roasted chestnuts, and candied hawthorn skewers.

Windmills, clay figurines, masks.

Qin Ji seemed to want to try everything, so he bought a whole bunch of things and stuffed them all into Jiang Jibai's arms when he couldn't carry them all.

Jiang Jibai: "..."

A filial disciple.

Why didn't he listen to Uncle Li's advice and bring two servants?

It must have been the young disciple's obvious disdain for the servant that made him soften his heart and give in to his desires.

"You bought so much food, but haven't eaten a single bite. Are you just giving it away?" Jiang Jibai finally couldn't help but remind his junior disciple.

This is outside; a monarch must be careful what he puts in his mouth!

Or should we let the teacher give him a taste one by one?

Forget it, what if it's poisonous?

How about letting lentils try?

Qin Ji seemed to be deep in thought, just as he was about to say something.

Jiang Jibai's gaze fell on a spot not far behind him, and a familiar smile appeared on his face: "Brother Yang, what a coincidence."