Chapter Six: The Approach of the Lantern Festival

Day by day, time passed, and the capital prefecture transitioned from summer to winter.

In the winter month, a heavy snowstorm lasted for half a month, the cold so bitter it could freeze a person to death.

Even Chen Yi, who rarely left his side room, wore thick cotton clothes and relied on a stove to get through the days.

Not to mention the common folk outside the manor.

Rumor had it that several people in Chang Le County had already frozen to death at home, which enraged the imperial court's supreme ruler.

His father said the emperor not only slammed his table in anger but nearly ordered the execution of the prefect of the capital prefecture, saying plainly that if people were freezing to death right under the imperial city, how much worse must it be for the common people across the realm?

From this, Chen Yi easily deduced that the thousand-year stability of the Great Wei Dynasty owed much to the emperor’s broad vision.

At least, the current sovereign was a clever and thoughtful man.

But Chen Yi only listened and did not speak.

Having learned a painful lesson before, he understood the value of keeping a low profile.

If he mentioned things like heated kang beds or coal stoves, Xia Wanwan would surely pile on more lessons, driving him to exhaustion.

He did not want to lose the chance to enjoy the privileges of the second generation before being buried in mountains of books and martial training.

That would be far worse than death.

At times, Chen Yi envied his elder brother Chen Yuan.

Just now, Zhou Wanyi came to visit the right side room with Chen Yuan.

Xia Wanwan and Zhou Wanyi sat around the stove, chatting leisurely, while Chen Yuan ran around playing with a wooden sword.

Only Chen Yi sat with his head bowed over his book, not daring to look up, quietly listening to the two ladies of the Hou family.

Different people, different fates—damn it!

Xia Wanwan sighed, gazing at the snow drifting outside the window. “The capital prefecture is already so cold; I fear the Northern Xiong Pass must be even colder. I wonder what my husband’s situation will be like when he’s stationed at the frontier.”

Zhou Wanyi smiled. “Your husband is so skilled in martial arts, impervious to cold, fire, and water, he’ll be fine.”

“Speaking of which, since you come from Northern Zhili, not far from Northern Xiong Pass, you must know the weather there well. Is it very cold?”

“Very cold,” Xia Wanwan nodded. “Winter begins in September, and every household prepares firewood in advance.”

“Even so, during continuous heavy snowstorms, people still freeze to death at home.”

“I remember when I was a child, one particularly heavy snowfall depleted our firewood early. My father braved the snow to beg for help but could hardly get any dry wood.”

“And then?”

Chen Yi lifted his head, curious about the outcome.

“In the end, we had to buy some emergency firewood at ten times the normal price—one silver coin per stick.”

“One silver coin per stick?!” Zhou Wanyi exclaimed. “Even in the capital prefecture, prices have never soared that high.”

Xia Wanwan smiled bitterly. “With the mountains sealed by snow and the presence of demons, no one dared risk their lives for firewood.”

“Since then, our family always prepares ample firewood early to prevent such emergencies.”

Zhou Wanyi patted her chest, sighing with relief. “Now I understand why you worry so much about your husband.”

“There’s no choice…”

Chen Yi felt a pang of emotion upon hearing this.

It wasn’t just the snow sealing the mountains—it was the frequent demon incursions that would surely cause major trouble sooner or later.

But as far as he knew, the north had not seen war in nearly twenty years.

The last large-scale demon invasion occurred when the Demon Emperor had just ascended, seeking to prove himself by leading a massive army southward.

That war lasted three years, with heavy casualties across the Wei Dynasty.

Especially in Northern Zhili, where his maternal grandfather’s home was, many households hung white mourning silk outside their doors.

From this, Chen Yi could imagine the hardships of that battle.

At this moment, the two ladies shifted the topic, drawing Chen Yi back to the present.

“In a few months, your husband will rotate to station at Northern Xiong Pass,” Zhou Wanyi asked, “Will Wanwan be visiting her family on the way?”

Xia Wanwan hesitated but then shook her head after some thought. “The army’s departure isn’t a suitable time for me to go, and Yi is about to establish his foundation, so I shouldn’t leave.”

“Why not? The Martial Peace Army has many strong warriors; your husband can arrange for Yi’s care.”

“No, thank you…”

Hearing this, Chen Yi secretly glanced at Zhou Wanyi, frowning.

Suggesting that Xia Wanwan return to her family just before his foundation establishment—did this elder lady have some scheme?

But the words sounded reasonable; it was indeed feasible for him to establish his foundation in Northern Zhili.

“Bro, bro, what are you looking at?” Chen Yuan suddenly ran over like a gust of wind, leaning on the table and staring curiously.

Chen Yi glanced at him, closed his book to reveal the cover. “The ‘Ten Thousand Characters Text’.”

“What’s that?”

“It has ten thousand characters.”

“Ten thousand? Is that a number?”

“No, it's a number much larger than one.”

Chen Yuan was half-confused but proudly praised, “Bro, you’re amazing.”

Chen Yi’s forehead twitched slightly, veins bulging as he noticed Xia Wanwan and Zhou Wanyi looking over. He forced a smile:

“Elder brother is even more amazing; he can run so fast.”

“Right? Great-grandpa says the same,” Chen Yuan nodded solemnly, brandishing his wooden sword, “Watch my Great Zhou Heavenly Sword Technique!”

He jumped suddenly, slashing his wooden sword down onto the table.

“Cool, huh?”

Chen Yi: “…”

He couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Wanyi—doesn’t she want to discipline this wild child?

But Zhou Wanyi smiled at Xia Wanwan and said, “Yuan’er will probably depend on Yi for help in the future.”

“Brothers should help each other,” Xia Wanwan smiled too.

After a few more words, Zhou Wanyi and Chen Yuan took their leave.

Before leaving, they agreed to go out together on the Lantern Festival, which Xia Wanwan did not refuse.

She had promised Chen Yi she would take him out for a stroll, and having Zhou Wanyi and her son along would be safer.

However, Chen Yi watched Zhou Wanyi’s departing figure with suspicion.

Her visit this time must have a purpose.

Was she deliberately persuading his birth mother to visit her family?

Foundation establishment?

Or perhaps…

Chen Yi looked down at himself and suddenly realized.

She must be here to check on the changes after he took the soft bone powder.

…

In the following days, the weather cleared, bringing more life to the capital prefecture, though the cold remained.

With the Lantern Festival approaching, red lanterns hung from every household, adding a festive air.

But Chen Yi felt a little disappointed.

His second birthday passed without anything special.

Apart from the cheap pastries ordered by his father from the kitchen, there were no real gifts.

Fortunately, Xia Wanwan gave him a few days’ “holiday.”

She neither scheduled lessons nor forbade him from wandering around the manor.

Of course, he had to be accompanied by the household servants.

“Young Master Yi, where would you like to go? I’ll take you there,” a young male servant asked, kneeling to match Chen Yi’s height, smiling warmly.

Chen Yi thought for a moment and said, “The training ground.”

“Well,” the servant hesitated, “Young Master, according to the manor’s rules, I’m not allowed to enter there.”

“Oh, can I go?”

“Of course you can, but…”

“Then let’s go.”

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Chen Yi trotted out of the backyard.

If Xia Wanwan hadn’t stopped him, he would have gone to the training ground long ago.

Soon, the servant led him to the training ground on the west side of the central courtyard, wearing a troubled expression.

“Young Master, please don’t run around too much inside. If you get hurt, I’ll lose half my life.”

“Don’t worry…”

Chen Yi gave a perfunctory reply and strode into the training ground.

He was two years old now, able to run and jump, and had beginner-level sword skills; a little caution was indeed necessary.

But as soon as Chen Yi entered the training ground, he was stunned by the sight before him!

“A giant ten meters tall!?”