Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Li’er Is Worth It
Su Li dropped the snowball in her hand and clapped her small hands clean.
"It’s the New Year’s Festival today. Aren’t you accompanying Consort De?"
Jun Mo walked over and took her hand; it was icy cold to the touch. He frowned slightly but said nothing. He led her towards the house, speaking as they walked: "I went into the palace early this morning to pay New Year’s respects to Father Emperor, and I’ve been with Mother Consort ever since. I only left the palace after lunch."
Once inside, Si Qin helped Su Li brush off the snow from her clothes, and Zhi Shu brought over some tea.
Mo Hua brought clean shoes and said, "Miss, let’s quickly go inside and change your wet shoes to avoid catching a cold."
Su Li nodded and went into the inner room, returning after changing her shoes and socks.
Jun Mo poured her a cup of tea, took her hand, placed the cup in it, then drew her other hand over to hold it, making her cup the warmth.
"Your hands are too cold. Warm them up."
Su Li smiled and said, "Only my hands are a bit cold; my body isn’t cold at all." She had run back and forth in the snow many times and hadn’t felt this carefree in a long while.
Jun Mo reached out to smooth her hair and smiled, "Li’er looks lovely like this." This was more like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl.
Seeing the two talking, the maids didn’t interrupt, continuing to paste the window-flowers.
As Jun Mo watched them, his eyes suddenly lit up. He rose and walked to the window, his finger tracing one of the window-flowers.
Si Qin chuckled, "Your Highness has sharp eyes. This window-flower was cut by Miss."
A warmth spread through Jun Mo’s heart. Li’er had already regarded him as family.
Su Li got up and approached, a little embarrassed: "That’s just something I casually cut..."
Jun Mo turned to look at her, the tenderness in his eyes almost overflowing. What was cut subconsciously truly reflected what was in one’s heart.
"Li’er can cut window-flowers too? My Prince’s Residence has empty windows, and the New Year’s Festival should be more festive. Li’er, please help me cut some."
Su Li asked, "Didn’t the steward of your Prince’s Residence buy couplets or divine images?"
Jun Mo replied, "No." Perhaps he had bought some, but Jun Mo usually paid no attention to such things. In previous New Year’s Festivals, he would spend the morning in the palace, and the afternoon would be like any other day. But now, he felt that life could be different. The moment he stepped into the Su Residence, he distinctly felt the festive joy of the New Year. This family was living their lives very earnestly. This feeling was good, making one feel warmth from the inside out.
Su Li felt a pang of sympathy. Despite being a prince, noble in status, he had left the palace at a very young age to live alone in his own residence. Besides the old steward and an old nanny, he had no one to talk to.
Su Li looked at Zhi Shu and said, "Go to Mother’s courtyard and fetch some red paper."
Zhi Shu nodded, "Yes, Miss."
Soon, the red paper was brought. Su Li took the red paper and slowly began cutting, her expression serious. Jun Mo sat opposite her, watching silently, his eyes holding only her.
"Li’er, cut one of you and me."
Su Li nodded and said, "Alright, but if it doesn’t look like us, you’re not allowed to laugh."
Jun Mo smiled faintly, "I won’t."
The maids finished pasting the window-flowers and also took red paper to help cut. Prince Jing’s Residence was so large; how long would it take if Miss cut them all herself?
"Li’er, since you’re cutting my likeness, why aren’t you looking at me?"
Su Li didn’t lift her head, "No need."
Jun Mo chuckled, "Oh, I see."
Su Li looked up at him and asked, "What do you see?"
"Because Li’er keeps me in her heart, so she can cut me out without looking."
Su Li found herself unable to refute his words. His features had long since, unknowingly, imprinted themselves in her heart; she even remembered the curve of his lips when he smiled.
Seeing her speechless, Jun Mo’s smile grew even more triumphant.
"Zi Yan, look."
Su Li unfolded the red paper and held it up for Jun Mo to see. Beneath blooming red plum blossoms, two figures leaned together, their features remarkably lifelike.
Jun Mo carefully took it, his fingers tracing the paper. "Li’er is truly amazing." With that, he carefully folded it again and placed it close to his chest.
Su Li asked, puzzled, "What are you doing?"
Jun Mo replied, "This must be treasured. Li’er, please embroider a pouch for me; I’m afraid I’ll damage it." She had even embroidered knee pads for her cousin, so why hadn’t she thought of embroidering a pouch for him?
Su Li, good-naturedly, nodded and agreed: "Alright, I’ll embroider one for you these next few days when I have nothing else to do."
Jun Mo’s lips curved into a smile.
He suddenly presented her with an exquisite casket. "A New Year’s gift."
Su Li was surprised, "Isn’t tomorrow when we start paying New Year’s visits and exchanging gifts?" She had also prepared a gift for him, thinking to give it to him tomorrow.
Jun Mo smiled, "Tomorrow’s for the Su Residence. This one is for Li’er. Open it and take a look."
Su Li took the casket and slowly opened it.
Instantly, the entire room shone brightly.
Su Li gasped, "A night-luminous pearl!" This night-luminous pearl was as big as a baby’s fist!
Jun Mo nodded and chuckled, "I noticed Li’er enjoys reading at night, and that’s not good for your eyes. With this night-luminous pearl, it should be much better."
Su Li closed the lid, looked at Jun Mo, and said, "This is too valuable!" There were only a few such night-luminous pearls in the entire world. Yet he easily gave it to her, for her to use as a light source.
Jun Mo smiled, "Li’er is worth it."
This was the second time Su Li had heard these words from him. He believed she deserved the best in the world, and he not only believed it but was actively making it so.
Su Li smiled, "I really like this gift. I also have a gift for you; wait for me a moment."
Su Li took the night-luminous pearl into the inner room, put it away, and planned to make a netting cord to hang the pearl by her bed later. She returned holding a box and handed it to Jun Mo.
Jun Mo took it, smiling, "What is this?"
Su Li gestured for him to open it.
Jun Mo slowly opened the box.
Su Li said, "I didn’t know what to give you. You lack nothing, so I made this for you personally, as a small token of my regard."
Jun Mo slowly took it out. It was a wide-edged brocade belt, deep purple with auspicious cloud and python patterns. The embroidery was exquisite, and it perfectly matched his clothes today.
Jun Mo unfastened his own belt and put on the new one; it was neither too long nor too short, a perfect fit.
Jun Mo looked up at Su Li, who was blushing. She had secretly measured him by hand last time; thankfully, the size was just right.
Seeing her blush, Jun Mo was in an even better mood. He carefully stored his original belt and gave it, along with the window-flower, to Mo Yang.
The two sat, drinking tea and chatting, playing chess and drawing, enjoying a warm and harmonious time. It wasn’t until a maid came to invite them to the main courtyard that they realized how late it had grown.
Upon arriving at the main courtyard, Father Su and Mother Su were already seated at the table. The two quickly took their seats.
Mother Su chuckled, "Today is the New Year’s Festival, and tonight is for reunion. Come, come, don’t just sit there, eat more."
Father Su hadn’t had a drink in a long time due to Mother Su’s pregnancy, but tonight he also planned to have a light drink.
Jun Mo drank with Father Su, while Su Li served dishes to her mother.
After dinner, the group sat together to digest, listening to the firecrackers in the courtyard and the occasional laughter from the servants. Everything was so beautiful.
It was close to the Hai Shi when Jun Mo finally rose to bid farewell.
Mother Su took out the red envelopes she had prepared earlier and smiled, "Here, one for each of you."
Su Li took hers and chuckled, "Thank you, Father and Mother!"
Jun Mo was momentarily surprised, not expecting to receive one himself. "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."
Mother Su smiled and nodded.
As Su Li saw Jun Mo out of the residence, fireworks were blooming across the sky. The sound of firecrackers outside the gate blended with the fireworks, and looking back at the brightly lit, joyous courtyard, Su Li’s heart once again swelled with gratitude to the heavens for granting her this chance at rebirth.
Jun Mo leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Wait for me."
Su Li only relaxed when she saw that no one around them was paying attention.
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