In modern times, people in other hometowns have the custom of eating dumplings or glutinous rice balls on Winter Solstice. In Su Xiaoqi's hometown, however, they ate mutton.
There is a saying that if you don't drink mutton soup on Winter Solstice, you'll be so cold your eyes will water tomorrow.
Su Xiaoqi was still thinking about going to the market to buy some mutton to stew when she finished delivering the seasonal gifts to the Gu family.
She hadn't expected the Gu family to be so thoughtful and have already prepared mutton soup.
She exchanged a look with Shen Yun, their eyes filled with smiles.
It was evident that Shen Yun was also pleased.
He felt sorry for Su Xiaoqi.
Thinking about how she had accompanied him to deliver gifts all the way, and that she was afraid of the cold. Although he had entertained her and kept her warm in the carriage, the moment they got out, he saw her shivering with cold. She indeed needed a bowl of mutton soup to warm her body.
After entering the second gate, Granny Gao led her directly to the warm chamber on the east side.
The underfloor heating was already lit, and as the thick blue cloth curtain was lifted, a wave of warmth rushed out.
Su Xiaoqi squinted her eyes and quickly stepped inside, the warmth spreading through her entire body.
She let out a comfortable sigh.
This underfloor heating was truly comfortable, just like the underfloor heating at home.
She decided she would definitely have underfloor heating installed in her own home soon.
She looked up and saw Madam Gu, Yu Shi, sitting on a Luohan couch, her head tilted as she spoke to Mr. Gu.
Their voices were kept low, so gentle and kind that they evoked a sense of closeness.
"Master, Madam, the young lady and the Jinshi are here," Granny Gao reported as she stepped forward.
Yu Shi looked up and saw Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun standing at the door, bowing.
She quickly beckoned to Su Xiaoqi:
"Little Qi girl is here, come quickly, come quickly. Oh my, you must be cold, look how icy your hands are." Yu Shi took Su Xiaoqi's hands, a flicker of heartache crossing her face, and said hurriedly,
"Why are you so cold? Oh dear, I always say these empty courtesies are harmful.
Why bother with Winter Solstice? It's the beginning of the coldest period, and look how frozen you are."
Yu Shi felt it was unnecessary for her to personally make this trip, only to deliver seasonal gifts.
Su Xiaoqi felt an immense warmth in her heart hearing this, and a look of filial affection naturally appeared on her face. She said softly,
"It's not that, I was just craving a bowl of mutton soup from my godmother!"
Su Xiaoqi's words made Yu Shi's worried expression ease a little, but she remained concerned.
She handed Su Xiaoqi the dark blue hot water bottle she was holding, letting her warm her hands, and even shot a glare at Shen Yun, who was sitting beside Mr. Gu.
This was a reproach for not taking good care of Su Xiaoqi.
Shen Yun blinked innocently. He had wanted to take good care of Xiaoqi, but hadn't she complained about him being too forward?
Shen Yun's look caused Su Xiaoqi to blush again. Yu Shi, having been through this herself, saw the situation clearly and couldn't help but smile softly.
It seemed the relationship between her husband's student and her beloved goddaughter was even better than they had imagined.
Previously, Yu Shi had thought it was natural for Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun to be close.
After all, they were a handsome young man and a delicate young lady, a perfect match.
However, after Shen Yun won first place in the grand examination, Yu Shi began to worry that Shen Yun might look down on Su Xiaoqi due to her background.
Therefore, she repeatedly gave Su Xiaoqi preferential treatment.
This was inseparable from her affection for Su Xiaoqi.
But at the same time, she also wanted Shen Yun to know that Xiaoqi was not without support; she had a family who would stand by her.
Even though she was only a godmother, she had no daughters and was willing to treat her as her own.
That's why, on Su Xiaoqi's birthday, she was willing to host a banquet for her and introduce her to the ladies of Mianzhou city.
"I had promised to host a banquet for Xu Zhi, but I was busy with other matters and couldn't follow through. Today is perfect, as we have mutton sent from the capital by our relatives, let's have a hot pot."
Yu Shi saw that Su Xiaoqi's hands were warm enough and invited them to eat hot pot in the adjacent flower hall.
Su Xiaoqi had already smelled the fragrance and was very tempted.
Mr. Gu and Yu Shi led the way, with Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun following behind to the flower hall.
Inside, there was a round table made of huatanch wood carved with patterns of fortune and longevity. In the center was a round copper pot with a high, protruding cylindrical base in the middle.
It resembled old Beijing-style hot pot.
The soup base inside was made from stewed mutton, milky white, with waves of fragrance wafting out, and sesame paste served on both sides.
Su Xiaoqi took a breath. Mmm, it smelled so good, it had that familiar aroma.
However, it would be great to have a bowl of chili sauce right now.
Unfortunately, chilies had not yet been introduced from foreign lands during this period in the Daliang Dynasty.
Yu Shi smiled and beckoned everyone to enter and sit according to their status as host and guest.
Mr. Gu and Yu Shi took the main seats, with Su Xiaoqi seated next to Yu Shi and Shen Yun next to Mr. Gu.
During the meal, Shen Yun asked about the whereabouts of the two young masters of the Gu family.
Mr. Gu laughed heartily and said they had gone to the capital and might not be able to return for the New Year.
Shen Yun's heart stirred, and after a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Master, will you also be returning to the capital after the New Year?"
So, the two young masters of the Gu family were essentially paving the way back to the capital, which was why no one else was present at the banquet today.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Gu looked up at Shen Yun and thought to himself, he truly is the student he had chosen.
His guess was remarkably accurate.
There had been recent changes in court affairs.
Those who had been demoted during the previous unrest, or those who had been wrongly dismissed from office for various reasons, might be recalled to clear their names.
However, this was only a possibility.
The situation was not yet clear, and he couldn't say much for now.
He took the opportunity to impart some good advice to Shen Yun, telling him to be careful not to form factions or engage in private cliques when he went to the capital for the imperial examinations in the spring.
Although the current emperor was growing old, he still disliked these matters the most.
He should just focus on taking the examinations well. He would provide a list of some prominent scholars he should visit.
He should only visit those on the list and must not provoke anyone not on it.
"Especially this Prince Ning, the further away you stay from them, the better."
Shen Yun listened to Mr. Gu speaking earnestly and responded with utmost seriousness.
Su Xiaoqi, hearing the name Prince Ning from the side, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
However, she couldn't interfere in such matters, so she acted as if she hadn't heard anything.
She quietly brewed tea for Mr. Gu and Yu Shi.
When they were leaving, Yu Shi told Su Xiaoqi that even if they couldn't return next year, her sister and brother-in-law would definitely be transferred back.
So, they wouldn't have to worry about having no support when they reached the capital.
"I have no daughters, and you and I get along so well, you are like my own daughter," Yu Shi said, holding Su Xiaoqi's hand and making a solemn promise.
Su Xiaoqi was touched and responded with genuine emotion.
In the days that followed, she would visit Yu Shi to pay her respects whenever she had the chance, and she found many medicinal recipes beneficial for Yu Shi's health to help her recuperate.
The mother-daughter relationship grew stronger and stronger.
Of course, these are all stories for later.
After delivering the seasonal gifts, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun did not go anywhere else and returned to the manor.
Shen Yun instructed Guo'er to light three braziers and fill two hot water bottles before they were satisfied.
Su Xiaoqi was sitting on the bed reading a letter.
She had been keeping in touch with Du Yiyi through letters during this period.
She knew that the "white lotus" Sun Jiaojiao had been thoroughly disliked by her grandmother and sent back to her own home.
Du Yiyi proudly stated in her letter that no matter how hard Sun Jiaojiao tried, she would no longer be able to appear before Old Madam Du.