Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 832 - 522 Reunion

Chapter 832: Chapter 522 Reunion

Firecrackers rang out as the year came to an end, from just when night began around the military patrols, occasional fireworks started sounding off in Di’an City. By the time it was close to the hour of the pig, these firework sounds almost fused together, intermittently drowning out the recent "blessing" issued by the royal family to the people.

The New Year’s Eve in Di’an City was filled with festive atmosphere, although the officials had to stay up late for the Imperial, the people did not.

After the reunion dinner, the residential alleys became bustling. Neighbors were familiar with each other, children in groups of three or two scampered around on the muddy streets in the dim alleys, while the elders gathered either to chat about past events or to play mahjong and card games at tables set up in their courtyards.

Outside these residential lanes, the commercial streets remained busy. Affluent families in brocade robes wandered in groups around the temple fairs, their shouts and laughter mingling with the bright red light illuminating Di’an’s multitude of lights.

"Whoosh—"

Just before the hour of the pig, at the peak of the festivities, a loud shrill suddenly pierced through the sky of Di’an.

It was a fireball, slowly climbing from the Palace City at the center of Di’an to the dark Sky Dome.

The sight did not alarm the people; instead, they stopped what they were doing, anticipating and excitedly gazing at the slowly ascending fireball.

Every New Year’s Eve, the Ministry of Rites would join with the Ritual Supervision inside the palace to set off a New Year’s Eve flame to celebrate the new year. Although this year had its tense moments, they were confined to the higher echelons, irrelevant to the common folk.

This celebratory flame, under the watchful eyes of thousands, rose to heights invisible to the naked eye.

After a moment’s silence,

"Bang—"

The fireball exploded precisely at the hour of the pig in the dark Sky Dome, countless meteor-like sparks flying in all directions, exploding again mid-flight, scattering a myriad of colors across the dark Sky Dome.

In an instant, dazzling, colorful fireworks covered most of Di’an, brightening the Sky Dome and the eyes of every citizen of Di’an.

This was the Emperor’s New Year’s greeting to all the people.

Watching the fireworks gradually fade in the Sky Dome and seeing the crowds kneeling like a tide facing the Palace City, Xu Yuan suddenly thought of his father’s resignation letter submitted earlier that night.

Two entirely unrelated matters, yet mysteriously connected in his mind.

After a brief reflection, Xu Yuan gently shook his head.

He was mindful of the public sentiment in Dayan, yet unfortunately, the world was not borne by the populace.

This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner was initially planned at home by Xu Yuan, but plans did not keep up with changes. The Crown Prince suddenly visited the residence of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, that is, the old man Wang Yuqian, wanting to see his "illegitimate son." Facing the Crown Prince, Xu Yuan could not maintain his disguise and had to abandon his meal to "socialize," staying there till the hour of the pig.

The Crown Prince, Li Yucheng, discussed matters with him tonight, and, like before, extended an olive branch to recruit him. However, the difference was that this time the recruitment was framed under the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Because the identity of Wang Shicai had already been placed within the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The Crown Prince’s previous private recruitment had showcased the capabilities of "Wang Shicai." Armed with this endorsement, Wang Yuqian the old man legitimately introduced him into the Prime Minister’s Mansion, which significantly facilitated his comings and goings.

This affair, however, had caused Wang Yuqian considerable distress.

His harem had caught fire.

Legitimate sons from noble families were still just gaining experience in some minor Yamen. Could an illegitimate son be simply placed by his master into the Prime Minister’s Mansion like this? Of course not.

The major houses were all in uproar.

If it hadn’t been for consideration of the Crown Prince within the mansion, the difficulties those wives intended for Xu Yuan might have made Wang Yuqian wet his pants right there and then.

After all, according to Dayan’s customs, juniors had to kowtow to their elders.

Watching this internal palace drama, Xu Yuan felt some understanding of how terrible the environment Li Zhaoyuan faced within the palace was.

With the identity of Wang Shicai secured by Wang Yuqian as the head of the household, he was still so maltreated; not to mention within the red walls of the palace where death could occur at any time.

Back to the main story, the Crown Prince, Li Yucheng’s visiting the high echelon of the Prime Minister Party on New Year’s Eve held some interest. His actions last night had served as a pledge to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and tonight, even after the resignation of the Prime Minister, visiting the high echelons of the Prime Minister Party essentially declared his stance. Once this controversy subsided, this Crown Prince could almost be considered half an insider of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the kind that used each other.

Musing over these trifles, a voice tentatively reached Xu Yuan’s ears,

"Third Young Master, it’s really a sin to make you go out during such a festive time; my three incompetent wives have embarrassed you."

Xu Yuan glanced up, seeing Wang Yuqian the old man carefully gauging his reaction.

Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite, Xu Yuan knew the details of Wang Yuqian, who, although backed by the Prime Minister’s Mansion, had three wives from great families of the Capital City, forming political marriages.

Those families connected to the Prime Minister’s Mansion through Wang Yuqian, and the Prime Minister’s Mansion also controlled those families through him. Therefore, in the Yamen, although Wang Yuqian held significant influence, he did not dictate everything alone.

With a slight smile, Xu Yuan gently waved his hand, then turned back to look out the window: