36 New Year's Eve (Revised Edition)

"Zhu... Your Majesty?" Shi Nian exclaimed in shock. The person standing before her was none other than Zhu Houzhao, who should have been in the palace celebrating the New Year!

"How are you here?!"

Zhu Houzhao did not answer, merely tilting his head with a smile. Only then did Shi Nian realize he was still holding her. She immediately pulled away and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao looked at his empty hands and raised an eyebrow. "Why be so formal? That is not how you intended to address me just a moment ago."

Just a moment ago? Was he referring to how she had almost blurted out his given name? Zhu Houzhao smiled broadly. "Say it again, let me hear it. It has been years since anyone called me by my name. The last time I heard it at the Leopard Quarter, it felt quite refreshing."

His tone was like an adult teasing a child. Shi Nian pretended not to hear him. "It is New Year's Eve. Is it really all right for you to be out like this? Shouldn't there be a grand banquet in the palace tonight?"

"Who cares about them? Whether they eat or not, why should I have to keep them company?" Zhu Houzhao replied. "It is New Year's Eve, the whole world is celebrating, so naturally, I should celebrate too."

His version of celebrating involved sneaking into a young woman's room in the dead of night, disguised like a bandit? Shi Nian stared at Zhu Houzhao, silent. Perhaps her gaze was too stern, as Zhu Houzhao began to look uncomfortable. After a long pause, he suddenly said, "What is it? I came to see you out of the kindness of my heart—am I not welcome? If I'm not welcome, I’ll leave."

He made a show of turning to leave, but Shi Nian did not stop him and remained standing quietly. As expected, the man could not keep up the act; after a few steps, he turned back and grabbed her hand. "What are you holding? Let me see."

What she was holding was... instant noodles! In their plastic packaging, no less! Shi Nian's first thought was that he must not see them, so she frantically hid them behind her back. Zhu Houzhao, not expecting such a strong reaction, became even more curious and reached out to snatch them. The two wrestled like children over two packets of instant noodles. Finally, feeling the absurdity of it all, Shi Nian shouted, "Stop!"

Zhu Houzhao was startled, his hand frozen in mid-air. The girl was fuming, and his tone suddenly softened. "Are you really going to be that cold? I said it's New Year's—can't you be a little nicer to me?"

The man wore a smile, tinged with a hint of ingratiation. When he had let her leave the palace but stationed guards to watch her, Shi Nian knew he would come back, so she wasn't actually surprised by his arrival tonight. She was merely curious: what were his current thoughts toward her? Was he still unwilling to let go...

Her tone softened as well. "If you wish to visit, how could I dare not welcome you? I am only worried that it might not be appropriate for you to be out like this. On a day like today, you should be with your family."

"They are not good people; I do not want to be with them. On a day like this, I only want to be with you..."

He spoke with such sincerity, carrying a child-like vulnerability that left Shi Nian stunned. She suddenly recalled that, historically, Zhu Houzhao did not seem to have a good relationship with his mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, and there were many unofficial rumors about his true parentage—that he was not her biological son...

With his father deceased and his mother distant, did he truly have no one to reunite with, even on New Year's Eve?

The girl gazed at him intently, her pupils dark and clear, reflecting two tiny shadows. In that moment, it seemed as though she could only see him. Zhu Houzhao’s expression flickered, and he reached out to cup her face. "My little beauty..."

Shi Nian shivered as he leaned in slowly. His eyelashes were truly long, like little fans, casting a faint shadow in the candlelight...

*Clatter.*

The door was pushed open. Both turned simultaneously to see Nie Cheng standing there, saying calmly, "Your Majesty."

They separated as if electrocuted. The movement was so sudden that Shi Nian almost tripped! Once she managed to steady herself, she asked, "Nie Cheng, you... why are you here?"

"You had been gone for so long, Su Geng was worried something had happened, so she asked me to check."

"Ah, is that so? Xiao Geng is so thoughtful..."

Shi Nian grabbed her hair, feeling so awkward she didn't know where to look. *Oh, this is mortifying.* Why did this scene feel so much like being caught having an affair? The worst part was that her first instinct had indeed been to pull away!

Zhu Houzhao was also feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Although he had coveted married women before, he had always had subordinates to handle the arrangements, and sometimes he never even laid eyes on the husbands. This time, however, he had climbed over a wall, broken into a room, and been caught red-handed by the little beauty's husband...

Stealing another man's wife was not exactly a glorious act, especially since he held a shred of respect for Nie Cheng. Coughing lightly, Zhu Houzhao said, "Brother Nie, it has been a long time. How have you been?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This commoner is doing well."

"Oh, I was just passing by tonight, so I dropped in to take a look. Please, don't think too much of it."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, this commoner will not think too much of it."

His composure was unwavering, as if the fact that he and Shi Nian were sharing a room together did not cause him a shred of alarm. Zhu Houzhao should have felt relieved, but instead, he felt a surge of irritation. The memory of the man's absolute self-assurance in the dungeon surfaced in his mind, and he suddenly said, "You are having your New Year's Eve dinner, aren't you? I haven't eaten yet. I'll join you."

"Huh?" Shi Nian widened her eyes. "You want to join us..."

"It’s just adding a pair of chopsticks. You wouldn't be so stingy, would you? Surely you don't want me to leave hungry."

"But..."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Nie Cheng. "Brother Nie, do you have any objections?"

Nie Cheng met his eyes, seeing the amusement within them, as well as a hidden provocation.

After a moment of silence, he also smiled. "Your Majesty’s presence is an honor to this humble home. Of course, I have no objections."

Lu Zhiyao had not expected that when Nie Cheng went to find Shi Nian, he would "buy one, get one free" and bring Zhu Houzhao back with him!

He was stunned when they walked through the door, and it took him several seconds to scramble up in a panic. "Your... Your Majesty???"

He was bewildered, and Zhu Houzhao was equally confused, staring at the bubbling pot. "What... what is this you're eating?"

Although Zhu Houzhao had eaten hot pot before, the one Shi Nian and the others were having was clearly different from the norm. Chili peppers had not yet been introduced to China, and as Zhu Houzhao caught the scent, he found it strangely fragrant and numbing—a completely novel experience.

Seeing this, Shi Nian felt the urge to show off again. "Want to know? If you want to know, try it yourself. It tastes even better than the noodles I cooked!"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up. Shi Nian pulled him to a seat, personally mixed a dipping sauce of oil and spices, then swished a piece of beef in the pot until it was cooked, placing it into his bowl. "Quick, have a taste."

Because it was cooked to perfection, the beef was tender and smooth, coated in the spicy, fragrant oil. Zhu Houzhao took a bite and felt the flavor linger on his tongue. He exclaimed, "Ah... delicious, so delicious..."

Shi Nian found that Zhu Houzhao was the type of person who brought great satisfaction to those watching him eat. She watched him dig in with gusto and said with a dreamy smile, "It's a pity there are no mobile phones here, otherwise you could do a 'mukbang' livestream, and you'd surely receive so many gifts..."

Zhu Houzhao did not understand, but Shi Nian just smiled and added a slice of ham sausage to his bowl. "This, this! I'm sure you've never had this either!"

They ate with great enthusiasm, while Su Geng and Lu Zhiyao exchanged glances, both feeling a bit disoriented. What was happening? Were they really eating hot pot with the Ming Wuzong Emperor?!

And so, the first fifteen minutes of Zhu Houzhao's visit were spent with him buried in his meal. When Shi Nian added the instant noodles to the pot, Zhu Houzhao finally tasted the flavor he had been longing for, to the point of almost shedding tears of gratitude.

*This* was what New Year's was supposed to be!

Satiated, he leaned back in his chair with satisfaction and finally had the energy to pay attention to the others in the room. "Oh, so you are that Lu Zhiyao, Nie Cheng's sworn brother?"

"This humble subject is indeed he."

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Su Geng nearby, noting her pure, elegant face, as clear as a pear blossom. "And this is?"

Lu Zhiyao immediately replied, "This is my wife."

Zhu Houzhao raised an eyebrow. Lu Zhiyao looked defensive, as if worried he might try something again. Interested, Zhu Houzhao said meaningfully, "You brothers certainly have beautiful wives..."

Seeing Lu Zhiyao bristling like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Zhu Houzhao laughed aloud. Shi Nian couldn't bear to watch—could Lu Zhiyao be any more hopeless? Why was he acting like a mascot, allowing even Zhu Houzhao to tease him upon their first meeting?

Zhu Houzhao tried to intimidate Su Geng, but the woman simply smiled softly. "Your Majesty is too kind; this commoner is unworthy of such praise."

The girl's eyes were clear, calm, and composed—far more steady than her so-called husband. Zhu Houzhao was surprised and truly intrigued. Just as he was about to say more, Shi Nian placed another piece of beef into his bowl. "Just eat your meat!"

Zhu Houzhao rolled his eyes and put on a docile expression. "Fine, fine, I won't say anything else."

After a while, Zhu Houzhao stood up and walked to the window. The leftover snow in the courtyard had not yet melted, and he gazed at the sparse stars in the sky, seemingly admiring the view. Shi Nian and Nie Cheng exchanged a look; he gave her a signal, and Shi Nian understood. Since Zhu Houzhao was here and the atmosphere was so pleasant, they could try to achieve their goal.

She thought for a moment, then walked over, asking with a smile, "Did you come alone, Your Majesty?"

"Two of us. Qian Ning is outside freezing in the cold."

*Wow,* the Commander Qian was actually waiting outside. Thinking of the other Imperial Guards who had to be on duty outside this small courtyard on a day like this, Shi Nian felt a surge of admiration. "What about Eunuch Liu? Did he not come?"

"I told him to stay indoors and reflect on his mistakes, so naturally, he did not come," Zhu Houzhao said. "Why? Do you wish to see him?"

"I have no desire to see him at all."

Her blunt expression of dislike for Liu Jin did not offend Zhu Houzhao; instead, he found such candor refreshing. "Are you still angry with him?"

"Yes. If it weren't for him, Nie Cheng wouldn't have been injured so severely."

"That is why I punished him. He has even lost his position as the Chief Ceremonial Eunuch. Do you still think that is not enough?"

Nie Cheng and Lu Zhiyao had nearly lost their lives, yet Liu Jin had only lost a title. To Zhu Houzhao, this was sufficient punishment. Shi Nian suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, do you trust Eunuch Liu very much?"

Zhu Houzhao countered, "Should I not trust him?"

Shi Nian was left speechless. It was actually easy to understand. Liu Jin had served Zhu Houzhao since he was a small child, attending to his every need. To a child, he might have been more familiar than his own father. Furthermore, Liu Jin knew Zhu Houzhao's temperament and knew how to amuse him and keep him company. To Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin was not just an attentive servant, but a companion of nearly twenty years—a family-like presence. It was only natural that he trusted him.

Yet, Shi Nian felt a sense of frustration.

She remembered what the man had said while riding his horse on Canglong Mountain. At the time, she felt he shouldn't just be viewed as the foolish, licentious emperor described in history books. But now, seeing it with her own eyes, she realized that because of his indulgence, the likes of Liu Jin had thrown the court into chaos, persecuted loyal officials, and left the common people in misery.

Zhu Houzhao observed her expression, as if realizing something. "Do you still have that seal?"

He was referring to his private seal. Shi Nian nodded and took it out from her bodice. Because she had heard it was his prized possession, she had intended to return it to him but hadn't found the right opportunity.

Zhu Houzhao took the seal, breathed on it, pulled her hand over, and stamped it onto her palm. The girl's palm was pale pink with clear lines, and now it bore a bright red mark.

"The Seal of Zhu Shou," he recited softly, revealing a faint smile. "Do you know who Zhu Shou is?"

Of course she knew. Zhu Shou was the name he had given himself. He used this title to parade through the streets, lead military campaigns, and even appoint himself to official posts, calling himself "General-in-Chief Zhu Shou." In history, no emperor had ever demoted himself to a subordinate, and this behavior was despised by orthodox scholars. However, the name "Zhu Shou" had spread widely, appearing in almost every television drama about the Zhengde Emperor.

Zhu Houzhao held her hand and squeezed it gently, as if wanting to hold those four characters in his palm. "I tell you to call me Zhu Houzhao, but in truth, I don't like that name at all. If I had a choice, I would rather be Zhu Shou than Zhu Houzhao."

Shi Nian was momentarily lost in thought.

The man's longing was so genuine that she did not doubt his words came from the bottom of his heart.

So, was he saying that he did not actually want to be emperor?

Even with the world at his feet and the throne beneath him, it was not as fulfilling as being the lawless Zhu Shou?

"Brother Nie, Brother Lu, we brothers have come to wish you a Happy New Year... Your, Your Majesty?!"

The Zhang brothers were carrying two jars of wine, beaming with joy, but they froze upon seeing the man by the window and collapsed to their knees in terror. *Oh my god,* were their eyes deceiving them? The Emperor was actually here?!

The two kept kowtowing, a scene that snapped Zhu Houzhao out of his reverie. He sighed with a wry smile, appearing helpless. "Pity, I can only dream of it in this life."

The next instant, a loud sound erupted all around them. Firecrackers from the neighbors began to crackle and pop, and countless fireworks shot into the night sky, blooming in various patterns. The once-quiet world awakened in an instant.

Shi Nian looked up abruptly at the magnificent display and said, "It's the New Year."

"Yes, it's the New Year," Zhu Houzhao echoed.

The two left the room, followed by Nie Cheng, Lu Zhiyao, and Su Geng. They all stood in the courtyard. The sounds of celebration and firecrackers from across the capital filled their ears; every citizen was welcoming the new year. As Shi Nian listened, she suddenly cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Happy New Year!"

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback. Shi Nian smiled brilliantly and said to him, "You shout too!"

He then smiled, following her lead as he shouted to the heavens, "Happy New Year!"

Shi Nian looked at the others. The Zhang brothers were the quickest to react; since the Emperor had done it, they quickly followed suit with a "Happy New Year." Then came Su Geng and Lu Zhiyao. Lu Zhiyao was a bit awkward, but encouraged by Su Geng, he said it too.

Finally, Shi Nian turned her gaze to Nie Cheng. The man seemed reluctant to participate, but she insisted, and he finally said helplessly, "Happy New Year."

Shi Nian smiled in victory.

She looked up; the eighth year of Zhengde had passed, and what she was seeing now was the first night sky of the ninth year of Zhengde.

She had never imagined she would witness such a moment.

Shi Nian's heart surged, and she shouted again, "Happy New Year!"

The others joined her, gazing at the night sky. Under the fireworks, there were seven young faces, smiling and illuminated by the light.

So young, so beautiful.