Chapter 293: Chapter 120 Thousands of Doors and Windows Glowing in the Sun_1

Since the day Pei Yunmeng arrived without invitation, Miao Liangfang had been in a state of constant unease for many days.

Du Changqing failed to notice the trepidation in the heart of the new tutor, as he was busy arranging the offerings of liquor and fruit to send to the Kitchen God, pasting Zao Ma decorations, and buying Tusuzui Wine and candied pastries—there was always so much to do at the end of the year.

Inside Yazhai Bookstore on West Street, books were stacked inside while Luo Dazui set up his stall outside the door, with all kinds of Zhong Kui pictures, peach boards, peach talismans, as well as Wealth-Bringing Dull Donkeys, Turnaround Deer-Horses, and Heavenly Progress stickers piled everywhere, with crowds squeezing in the alley to choose from them.

Du Changqing also picked a few Wealth-Bringing Dull Donkeys, and as he was pasting New Year’s posters on both sides of the main gate, the apprentice from Official Hu’s residence brought good news. Du Changqing smeared the last spot of glue, stepped on the stool to paste the right side, Ah Cheng steadied the stool base for him below, while Yin Zheng stood a few steps away, looking up and gesturing frantically, "Lower, a bit higher to the right, a bit more, that’s right—"

The apprentice dodged through the bustling entrance and ran up to Lu Tong, stuffing an envelope into Lu Tong’s hand with a beaming smile, "Doctor Lu, the master entrusted me to wish you a happy New Year, and here’s the matter you asked the master to handle. The master told me to convey that Doctor Lu should just focus on preparing for the spring examination; everything related to the medical practice has been taken care of!"

Du Changqing wobbled on his feet and nearly fell, as Ah Cheng helped him down. Miao Liangfang, with both hands covered in medicinal herbs, couldn’t bother with his crutch and limped from the back of the room to behind Lu Tong, craning his neck to ask, "Did you get the spot for the spring examination?"

Lu Tong looked down and pulled a thin copper token from within the letter, inscribed with "Renxin Medical Hall" and Lu Tong’s name.

When entering the examination venue, this token would serve as the admission command.

"Wonderful!" Yin Zheng exclaimed in delight, "Miss can now participate in the spring examination!"

In fact, over these days, Miao Liangfang had been instructing Lu Tong to prepare for the spring examination—but the more diligently Lu Tong worked, the more concerned the other people in the medical hall became. Whether the commoner medical worker nomination from the Imperial Medical Bureau could actually pass was uncertain, and moreover, a single word from Lady Dong, the Minister of Imperial Treasury, could potentially send Lu Tong back from the examination hall empty-handed.

But heaven must have been on their side, or perhaps Lady Dong deemed it beneath her to trip up such a simple female doctor, or maybe in their eyes, even if Lu Tong participated in the examination, it was utterly impossible for her to pass, merely self-inflicted hardship. In any case, Lady Dong did not interfere, and the nomination secured through Official Hu’s connections passed smoothly.

Lu Tong gazed at the thin copper token in her hand, a faint smile emerging in her eyes.

"Today is truly a day of double happiness," Du Changqing kicked at Ah Cheng’s rear, "Go on, fetch the firecrackers, let’s celebrate with a bang for Doctor Lu!"

"Boss, those are supposed to be set off at night during the vigil..."

"If I tell you to go, just go!" Du Changqing replied impatiently, "Does the young master lack silver for a couple of strings of firecrackers?"

"Oh." Ah Cheng, rubbing his behind, went off.

"Pick out the biggest and loudest ones, set them off right at the entrance, aiming for one firecracker to go off, the whole West Street should explode!"

"Oh!"

...

"Pop pop pop—"

Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers was non-stop on the streets, with children holding bamboo poles running around, hanging their firecrackers under the eaves.

It was the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, shops on the street closed one after another, wanderers returned home, busy with ancestral worship, putting up talismans, and keeping the vigil, with few pedestrians to be seen on the streets; bright red firecracker scraps dotted the long street covered with white snow, but the noise rendered this New Year’s Eve morning even more desolate.

In the courtyard of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion, the black dog that used to frolic in the snow was not there today—it had been taken home by Duan Xiaoyan.

The sound of street firecrackers faintly blew through the window cracks, within the office, a young man sat in front of the window, half-submerged in his chair, the gloomy winter’s day left the Palace Front Office’s light duller than usual, and that solitude bore a chill.

He was not dressed in his official attire today, but wore a purple sandalwood round-necked brocade robe, silently gazing at the paperweight in front of him, lost in thought.

This New Year’s Eve, except for the Imperial Guards on duty in the palace, all other members of the Palace Front Office had gone home.

The usually bustling office became even lonelier during the most festive time.

He should go back to the mansion too.

No matter how much he detested it, every New Year’s Eve, he had to return to the Pei Mansion; he was supposed to go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to his mother’s spirit tablet.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read