If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Chapter 124 Wherever she is, that is home

Shen Sui'an didn't expect Lu Yuan to take her to the city wall.

Ordinary people don’t have the ability to buy fireworks, but they have their own ways of celebrating the festival.

Outside the city wall, craftsmen would make fireworks here every New Year’s Eve.

The bright lanterns are like flaming trees, lighting up hundreds of branches brilliantly.

Shen Suian witnessed a different kind of brilliant fireworks.

She turned and looked at Lu Yuan.

Amid the brilliant fireworks and silver lights, his profile was neat and steady, and indescribably handsome.

Today is New Year's Eve.

It should be the day when the whole family stays up all night.

At this time of year in the past, she would stay home with her grandparents to watch the fireworks, receive lucky money from them, and then sit around the fireplace together, eating cakes and staying up until the end of the year.

Although her biological mother died young, her grandparents would not let her feel lonely during the holidays.

What about Lu Yuan?

Where was he when the Lu family was staying up all night to celebrate the New Year?

He is alone.

When he grew up, he could run to the city wall by himself to watch the fireworks, but what about when he was a child?

Shen Sui'an's heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

She held Lu Yuan's hand and interlocked their fingers.

"Lu Yuan, from now on we must stay up together to celebrate the New Year in." She whispered.

"Okay." Lu Yuan raised the corners of his mouth, and warmth appeared in his eyes.

"Husband, do you still remember where you spent the New Year before you were taken to the Lu family?" Shen Suian asked in a low voice.

Lu Yuan held her in his arms and looked forward. "I was brought back when I was three years old. I don't have a very clear memory of the time before that, but I remember the person who took care of me was called Nuanniang."

"I don't know if she is my biological mother." Lu Yuan's voice was bitter.

Uncle Lu never wanted to mention his biological mother. Every time he mentioned her, he looked disgusted and regarded her as a great shame.

He seemed to be a stain on Mr. Lu's life.

Warm lady...

"Except for your father, is there no one who knows whether your biological mother is still alive?" Shen Suian asked with a frown.

Lu Yuan shook his head calmly, "I asked someone to check the place where he was released, but nothing was found."

Shen Sui'an's heart sank. If it had happened, there would be no way there would be no traces.

Unless it is deliberately covered up.

Twenty years ago, Mr. Lu was in his prime, and he was also the eldest son of the Duke's Mansion. At that time, the Duke's Mansion was still in its heyday. No matter where he was sent, he would definitely be the object of everyone's pursuit and attention.

He should have just been engaged at that time, and perhaps he loved Mrs. Lu, but what if a woman deliberately seduced him, or someone sent a beautiful woman to him?

In short, it is impossible to completely fail to find out what happened back then.

"Did father ask someone to destroy the evidence on purpose?" Shen Sui'an asked.

Lu Yuan, "If he had such great ability, he wouldn't have been in the position of Minister all these years."

Shen Sui'an felt that what Lu Yuan said made sense.

That means there is another force covering up Lu Yuan's existence.

She remembered the old friend that the third wife mentioned. Could it be that old friend?

"What about Nanny Zhou? Your father asked her to take care of you. Doesn't she know who your mother-in-law is?" Shen Sui'an didn't think that Madam Lu treated Lu Yuan as her son. The mother-in-law she was referring to was Lu Yuan's biological mother.

Lu Yuan shook his head. "She doesn't know either. I heard the old lady once scold my biological mother for being of low birth. She gave birth to me without telling my father. It was not until after my father got married that my biological mother told him about it."

Shen Sui'an originally planned to ask Nanny Zhou, perhaps she could know something about the past.

"There are no lowly mothers in this world." Shen Suian said gently.

A silver flower bloomed behind her, her pure face reflected a soft halo, and the smile in her eyes melted the coldness in every corner of his heart.

Lu Yuan wrapped her tightly in his arms, feeling her soft embrace, and for the first time in his life he felt that New Year's Eve was beautiful.

There is an unprecedented peace and warmth in my heart.

"Husband, let's go home." Shen Sui'an said.

The fireworks are over.

Lu Yuan whispered yes.

The Lu family is not his home, but where she is, that is home.

……

……

The first day of the first lunar month.

Court officials had to go to the palace to congratulate the emperor, and the wives of officials above the third rank had to wish the empress a happy new year.

Outside the palace, civil and military officials were dressed in court robes and jade belts around their waists. Everyone had a smile on their face and greeted each other with happy new year.

The palace was filled with singing and dancing, and Emperor Xuan stood up to propose a toast.

I wish the country a stable life and good weather in the new year.

In the harem, flowers are blooming in the imperial garden.

In the brocade tent, the ladies were dressed in bright and gorgeous clothes, chatting and laughing, and saying blessings to each other.

Soon the queen came over surrounded by people.

Queen Qu was wearing a bright yellow palace dress embroidered with a pattern of phoenixes and phoenixes saluted by gold and silver silk. She sat in the main seat with dignity and nobility, accepting the kneeling worship of the crowd with a smile on her face.

This was Shen Sui'an's first time to visit the palace to pay his respects, and it was not an easy task.

Fortunately, there were many ladies of noble birth today, and no one noticed her.

Shen Sui'an noticed that the woman sitting below Concubine Yao was not a concubine in the harem, but Concubine Bai from the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion, whom she had met several times in her previous life.

Princess Yuanjia, the eldest daughter of Prince Zhennan, sat quietly on the other side.

At this time, Feng Yuanjia was still noble and proud, without the cynicism and decadence that Shen Suian saw later.

Feng Yuanjia is thirteen years old this year. She is beautiful, but she has a cold expression and rarely speaks.

Shen Sui'an withdrew her gaze, fearing that others would notice that she was paying too much attention to the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion.

Only then did she realize that she had not seen Madam Qu and Li'er yet.

In previous years, Old Madam Qu would bring Qu Qingli to the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the Queen.

Shen Suian raised his eyes and glanced at Queen Qu.

Others might not be able to see it, but Shen Suian could see that Queen Qu's smile was only maintained reluctantly, and the Qu family's plan to move out of the capital had not yet been made public.

After this New Year holiday is over, it will no longer be a secret.

By then, everyone in the court will know the emperor and the Qu family’s intentions.

"Sui Sui, I seldom see you since you got married. Come here quickly." Queen Qu suddenly looked at Shen Sui'an.

There was a flash of astonishment in Shen Sui'an's eyes. She and Qu Qingli had a deep relationship, but her relationship with the Empress was just that of a monarch and his subject. How could they be as close as she said.

"Your Majesty the Queen is here to see you." Shen Suian collected her thoughts and stepped forward respectfully.

Concubine Yao, who was sitting below Empress Qu, also looked at her with a smile.

"You seem to have lost some weight. Is it because you are not happy living in the Lu family, or is it because the people under you are not serving you well?" Queen Qu said with a smile.

In such a grand palace banquet, is it appropriate for the Queen Mother to ask her about these family matters?

A gloomy look flashed across Shen Sui'an's eyes.

She didn't understand Queen Qu's intention.

"I heard that Concubine Yao once rewarded Lu Yuan with a palace maid?" Queen Qu didn't seem to need Shen Suian's answer and continued talking to herself.

Imperial Concubine Yao looked as gentle and relaxed as usual, "At first, I just saw that Commander Lu didn't have anyone close to him. Now that he has the Princess of Le'an, why would he need anyone else to serve him?"

"I believe that the palace maids trained by Imperial Concubine Yao are the best at serving men." Queen Qu sneered.

Shen Sui'an took a breath.

This Queen... doesn't want any dignity anymore?