We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?-Chapter 368: Peace Every Year

After Xiao Mo endured tribulation and entered the Nascent Soul Realm, Qin Shengtian had people deliver congratulatory gifts.

In addition, quite a few court officials took this opportunity to send gifts as well, hoping to build a good relationship with Xiao Mo.

After all, Xiao Mo could be said to be at the height of his fame now. That he would control the Northern Wasteland in the future was practically a foregone conclusion. No one didn’t want to latch onto Xiao Mo’s coattails.

But aside from Qin Shengtian’s congratulatory gifts, Xiao Mo refused every other gift.

A few days passed, and it reached New Year’s Eve.

Every household was adorned with lanterns and bright decorations, seeing off the old and welcoming the new, replacing their couplets and their door guardians with fresh ones.

Whether in Qin or in the other states, the door guardian was the same man.

It was said this man was the first human sword immortal in the age of ancient gods, and also the leader of humankind—he led humankind to split heaven and earth, overthrowing the rule of the gods.

However, because it had been far too long, no portrait of this human ancestor had been passed down. Later generations could only rely on descriptions from scattered legends and use their imagination to depict him.

So it led to this—although every state pasted the same person on their doors, the face looked a little different.

Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao also pasted couplets and door guardians.

But Frost King’s residence was simply too large, so Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao only did it together for the main gate of Frost King’s residence and their own two courtyards.

As for the other courtyards, that was naturally left to the maids.

After pasting the couplets and door guardians at Frost King’s residence, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao went to Prince Xiao’s residence at once.

“Mother, Aunt Cui, we’re here!”

Outside the courtyard, Qin Siyao lifted the New Year’s gifts and called out happily.

“Why is Siyao here?”

Zhou Ruoxi stepped forward to welcome them with delight. Cuicui also hurriedly took the New Year’s gifts from Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao and set them on the stone table.

Zhou Ruoxi knew Mo’er would definitely come to spend the New Year with her, but she hadn’t expected Siyao would come as well. She had thought Siyao would return to the imperial palace to accompany her father and mother.

“Of course Siyao is here to spend the New Year with Mother,” Qin Siyao said sweetly as she held her mother-in-law’s hand.

“But over at His Majesty’s...” Zhou Ruoxi said tactfully.

“It’s fine, Mother. Even though Siyao hasn’t officially married in yet, I still count as part of the Xiao family. And my father has my two older brothers with him, so it doesn’t matter if I’m missing. Not to mention my mother already agreed.”

As she spoke, Qin Siyao put on a pitiful look and said in a timid tone, “It can’t be that Mother doesn’t welcome Siyao, right?”

“You silly girl—what are you saying? I’m happy beyond measure.” Zhou Ruoxi tapped Qin Siyao’s forehead, naturally knowing she was acting coy. “Later I’ll cook your favorite crescent meat.”

“Thank you, Mother. Mother is the best.” Qin Siyao hugged Zhou Ruoxi’s arm happily and rubbed her head against it in delight.

“Alright. Come over and paste the couplets first—noon has already passed.”

Not far away, Xiao Mo smiled as he called to Qin Siyao.

“Coming, coming.” Qin Siyao answered, then turned to Zhou Ruoxi. “Mother, we’re going to paste couplets for you. We’ll make sure they’re neat and straight.”

“Go on, go on.” Zhou Ruoxi patted Qin Siyao’s hand.

Qin Siyao picked up the couplets from the table and hopped happily to Xiao Mo’s side.

Xiao Mo didn’t use any spells. Instead, like an ordinary person, he took a ladder and climbed up, pasting the couplets on both sides of the courtyard entrance.

Xiao Mo had written both the upper and lower lines, and Qin Siyao had written the horizontal banner.

Their handwriting was a little short of calligraphy masters, but it was absolutely still good-looking.

Watching the two of them paste the couplets, Zhou Ruoxi’s lips curved faintly. She felt that these days, happiness was a little unreal.

After pasting the couplets, Qin Siyao also ran to the kitchen, helping Zhou Ruoxi and Cuicui prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.

As if she knew just how “remarkable” her own skills were, Qin Siyao didn’t take charge of the wok today, and instead helped from the side.

As for Xiao Mo, he sat at the stone table in the courtyard, carving a formation array. Once the dishes were brought out, the formation array could keep them warm.

Not until evening, when the last dish was carried out of the kitchen, did Xiao Mo wind the firecrackers around a bamboo pole outside the courtyard gate.

“I’ll light them, I’ll light them.”

Qin Siyao held a thin incense stick, eager to try lighting the fuse.

But every time the tip neared the fuse, Qin Siyao would shrink back in fear.

“Can you do it, Madam? If you can’t, then I’ll do it,” Xiao Mo said with a smile.

“Of course I can!” Qin Siyao puffed her cheeks, her eyes turning. “Eh? I’ve got it. Husband, come here!”

Without waiting for Xiao Mo to refuse, Qin Siyao pulled him over.

Qin Siyao held Xiao Mo with one hand and slowly reached forward with the incense stick in the other.

The instant she lit the firecrackers’ fuse, she turned like a kitten and suddenly pounced into Xiao Mo’s arms.

Xiao Mo understood at once. Helplessly, he hurried to scoop her up and run into the courtyard. Behind him, a burst of “CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE” immediately erupted.

When the last explosion finished, Xiao Mo and the others sat around the stone table.

“In the new year, Siyao and Husband wish Mother a long life and endless blessings, and we wish Aunt Cui gets prettier and prettier.”

“Thank you, Mo’er and Siyao.”

“Thank you, Young Master and Princess.”

Zhou Ruoxi raised her cup. “We also wish Mo’er and Siyao to grow old together, bound as one forever, and peace every year.”

“Cheers!”

As the blessings drifted through the courtyard, Qin Siyao stood up happily, and the four of them clinked their cups together.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the sky had already turned dark.

In Qin’s capital, it became lively again.

Qin had a custom.

On New Year’s Eve, there would be a lantern festival.

After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, every household would head to the towns and streets to keep vigil together, welcoming the arrival of the new year.

Xiao Mo’s family was naturally no exception.

The four of them left the courtyard and arrived on the capital’s streets. It was already a sea of people, bustling beyond measure.

The long street was lit in a warm yellow by lanterns of every kind.

Under the eaves and at the tips of tree branches hung round silk lanterns, with the character “Fortune” written neatly on them or simple flowers and birds painted across them.

Red cloth drapes stretched continuously in front of each shop, fluttering faintly in the wind.

Laughter, children’s squeals, the faint sound of gongs and drums in the distance, and vendors’ clear cries blended into a single tide of sound—yet it didn’t feel noisy.

The air was filled with the sweetness of freshly baked pastries mixed with the roasted fragrance of sugar-fried chestnuts, threading into people’s noses bit by bit.

Standing at the center of an arch bridge and looking down, the river surface had already been covered in scattered points of lamplight.

People squatted by the stone steps, carefully sending their lotus lanterns into the water. The lotus lanterns drifted along slowly with the current, gradually linking into a band of light that brightened and dimmed, reflecting one another from afar with the sparse stars in the sky.

Qin Siyao looped her arm through her mother-in-law’s, leaning slightly toward her ear, pointing at fresh new things on the street and whispering something softly.

The corners of Zhou Ruoxi’s eyes relaxed, looking especially gentle beneath the lantern light.

They stopped at a stall selling velvet flowers. Qin Siyao pinched up a pale pink one, turning with a smile to show her mother-in-law.

Cuicui kept both hands in front of her and followed beside her madam and young lady.

As for Xiao Mo, he walked a little farther behind, watching the mother who had given birth to him and raised him, watching the wife he loved, watching Aunt Cui who had accompanied him as he grew up and who was no longer merely a servant.

The instant midnight passed, bell after bell rang out, spreading through the entire capital.

“SHOO—”

“SHOO—”

“SHOO—”

Immediately after, firework after firework shot into the air, like blossoms blooming across the night.

The bells and the fireworks meant that the new year had arrived.

“Husband, come quick, come quick—fireworks!” Qin Siyao turned around and waved her slender hand at Xiao Mo. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

“Young Master, hurry—this maid saved you a good spot,” Cuicui called as well.

“Mo’er.” Even Mother, who usually didn’t like crowds, called softly.

“Coming.”

Xiao Mo smiled slightly and walked forward.

More and more fireworks filled the entire night sky, slanting and sparse as they cut open the vault of heaven.

Some were like bright silver chrysanthemums, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) strands and threads falling down. Before they could fully fade, a rouge-colored embroidered ball burst open beside them, blooming in round clusters.

Points of light flickered as they fell, like countless warm raindrops. In the end, only a few wisps of smoke remained, softly winding around a half-moon.

As if tonight, all colors had melted into this ink-blackness.

New Year.

Happiness.