Published at 6th of January 2026 8:49 am

Chapter 1994: New Year’s Eve Reunion (Jingkong Extra)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Xiao Hen stayed inside the room for a full two quarter-hours before coming out.

Earlier, he had intentionally given Gu Jiao an excuse to leave. It wasn’t that Gu Jiao truly wanted to look at the door couplets.

As expected, he went next door and Gu Jiao sat there motionless.

The way she sat there so quietly made one’s heart ache.

Gu Jiao heard the sound of him pushing the door open and got up to look at him. Her tone was calm, but her eyes carried worry: “How is Jing Kong?”

Xiao Hen entered the room and placed the empty bottle of wound medicine on the table.

The answer was already clear.

With such a large bottle, their whole family couldn’t use it up in a year, which showed how many injuries Jing Kong had on his body.

Gu Jiao silently pressed her forehead against his firm chest.

He raised his long, jade-like hand and gently rubbed her head.

Whenever she was down, he would always comfort her this way.

Xiao Hen softly said, “Don’t be too sad. I looked carefully, and all the wounds have healed.”

At this moment, he was able to calmly explain to her, but earlier in the room, he was almost unable to hold it together several times.

Fortunately, Jiaojiao didn’t see him in such a sorry state, or he would have no face to meet anyone later.

She spoke softly, “When he had chickenpox before, I didn’t want him to have a single small pockmark, so I wrapped his little hand up. He sneaked out to scratch, and Gu Changqing caught him red-handed.”

Now, with so many scars on his body, her heart must ache terribly.

“Also, he would tell me even if he hurt his finger smashing walnuts.”

Xiao Hen didn’t know how to comfort her.

Boys are like that; when young, they cling to their mothers, but as they slowly grow up, some things and words only their fathers can know.

Perhaps, that’s the price of growing up.

It’s the child’s way of protecting his mother, I suppose.

…

Dinner was set at Shangguan Yun’s place.

Because Xiao Cong had just vomited and hadn’t yet recovered, someone needed to hold him. Since Xiao Hen was already holding Xiao Yang and Little Xiao Xuan, Gu Jiao went to hold Xiao Cong.

But how could Xuanyuan Xi let Jiaojiao tire herself out?

Carrying the child was definitely his job!

Xuanyuan Xi decisively took Xiao Cong again.

Xiao Cong sat in his arms with a sullen face: Uncle, could you be a person?!

Tonight was the New Year’s Eve dinner. Duke An was invited to the Imperial Palace, and Geng Wuxiu also came.

Geng Wuxiu found it puzzling why the palace always called him or his brother for the New Year’s Eve dinner every year?

But since the food cooked by the royal chef was delicious, he was happy to come.

Xuanyuan Qi, Liao Chen, and the Taoist priest Qingfeng were all stationed at the border pass and couldn’t return to the capital.

During dinner, Xuanyuan Xi finally learned about his being granted a marquisate. To be honest, he wasn’t very keen on official titles. He went to war not for official status, but if it meant he could show off to his bad brother-in-law, it would be delightful!

He picked up some greens with his chopsticks and spoke in a pretentious tone, “Ah, some people become top scholars at nineteen, but some are already marquis at thirteen!”

Apart from Xiao Yang and Little Xiao Xuan, everyone else at the table twitched their mouth corners. Familiar recipe, familiar taste—the boastful little monk is back.

But what kind of humblebrag is this?

Top scholar at nineteen? How would other top scholars feel?

Also, should you be reminded that your bad brother-in-law became a young Jinjiao of the Guozijian at thirteen?

The pinnacle of both civil and military domains has been taken down by you two.

Xuanyuan Xi raised his chin and snorted, “I don’t care; anyway, I’m better than the bad brother-in-law!”

Xiao Hen picked up a piece of fish with the bones removed and placed it in his bowl, “Just eat your food.”

Since he was ten, Xuanyuan Xi gradually became less averse to meat; initially, he could only drink a bit of meat broth, but he gradually began to eat small fish and shrimp, and now he can eat a bit of lean meat.

Just not too much.

Xuanyuan Xi hummed as he began eating happily.

At this moment, he was just a carefree child again.

New Year’s Eve is also the birthday of Xiao Hen and Xuanyuan Xi; the Imperial Kitchen made Longevity Noodles for the two of them, and Xuanyuan Xi slurped it all up in one go.

He was never hungry at home, but on the battlefield, he often went hungry, which made everything taste especially good to him afterward.

The adults around the table watching him couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry.

Duke An chuckled to lighten the mood: “Almost forgot about the gifts.”

Xuanyuan Xi lifted his head from the bowl, “Oh, there’s a gift? For me?”

Duke An smiled, “Both you and Ahen have one.”

The gifts for Xiao Hen were mostly books, antiques, and paintings, whereas the gifts for Xuanyuan Xi were a wide variety.

Gu Jiao gifted him a newly made nine-section whip, even designed with hidden weapons by Gu Xiaoshun. It could be used for attack, defense, and sneak attacks.

Xuanyuan Xi went outside to swing it a few times on the spot. The weight and length were just right, and the agility was perfect. He really liked it.

He tucked the whip at his waist, returned to his seat, and asked Xiao Hen, “Brother-in-law, what gift did you get for me?”

Xiao Hen said lightly, “No, I didn’t know you were coming back.”

Just as the words fell, a sudden sound of piercing through the air was heard outside the hall, followed by a golden firework that exploded with a bang in the endless sky.

“Fireworks!”

Xuanyuan Xi widened his eyes and flashed out!

Xiao Yang was anxious: “I want to see too! I want to see too! I want to see too!”

The doors and windows were wide open, the reunion dinner held at the best spot, and the angle of the fireworks was carefully calculated; you could enjoy a firework display sitting there.

But unable to resist the dazzling fireworks, everyone went to the small garden outside the hall.

The glittering golden fireworks bloomed again and again, lighting up the entire night sky, and the whole Imperial Palace witnessed this grand firework display.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Xiao Yang was excitedly screaming: “So pretty! So pretty!”

The quiet little handsome boy Xiao Cong rarely thought the fireworks tonight were beautiful.

Little Xiao Xuan, who was only two years old, was scared by the sound of explosions and burrowed into Shangguan Yun’s arms.

There were a total of thirteen rounds of fireworks.

Xuanyuan Xi looked up at the dazzling colors filling the sky, unwilling to blink.

Unbeknownst to him, Gu Jiao had come to his side, also looking at the brilliant fireworks overhead, and softly said, “Your brother-in-law made them especially for you.”

“Hmm?” He was stunned.

Gu Jiao said, “Last year you came back from Liang Country and said the fireworks there were beautiful, so your brother-in-law made these for you. He planned to let them off on your twelfth birthday, but you went to join the military.”

Xiao Hen didn’t say anything on the surface but kept it in his heart; Time has grown a year older, he made more fireworks.

Just waiting for Time to come safely back.

Gu Jiao smiled and looked at him: “Your brother-in-law cares deeply for you.”

Just like he would love his eldest son, both strict and demanding, but if you wanted a star, I would unhesitatingly give you the entire galaxy.

Xuanyuan Xi tugged at his slightly reddened little ear, glanced at the bad brother-in-law also watching the fireworks not far away, and muttered softly, “Jiaojiao cares for me the most!”

…

After watching the fireworks, Shangguan Qing brought over the osmanthus wine brewed by the palace winemaker.

Xuanyuan Xi drank wine for the first time in his life.

Yes, he was coaxed by Shangguan Qing.

He perfectly inherited Gu Jiao’s tolerance for alcohol, getting drunk with just one cup!

Then he also perfectly inherited Gu Jiao’s behavior when drunk.

He was seen holding a wine jug in one hand, staggering across the grass in the small garden, taking a deep breath, and starting to sing.

“…What difference does it make to sing worn-out lines~~White bones and ashes are all me~~Floating amidst chaos~~Bearing the flames to set the rivers and mountains ablaze~~Despite my low status, I dare not forget the nation~~Even if no one knows me~”

His right hand took the stance, as he spun, a theatrical voice arose: “People pass by under the stage~Without seeing the old colors~People sing on stage~Heartbreaking farewell songs~The word love is hard to put into ink~She sings must be with blood~The curtain rises~The curtain falls~Ultimately just guests~”

The slender and tall figure of the young man, with a face handsome as jade, carried a slight tipsiness and trance from the drunkenness, with slightly flushed cheeks, singing with heart-stirring fervor, his posture stylish and graceful.

Such a young man, truly captivating.

The palace maids had their hearts pounding, unknowingly blushing one by one.

Shangguan Qing also got drunk, listening while tapping his leg to the beat.

When the song was over, he raised the wine jug and shouted heartily, “Bravo!”

Gu Jiao sat beside Xiao Hen, resting her chin on her hand, watching the young man who had grown into a heavenly being, and smiled: “Really good looking.”

Xiao Hen: “…”

Wife, look at me.

…

Xuanyuan Xi took a couple more sips, getting drunk enough to not recognize anyone, and Xiao Hen came over to carry him back.

“I can… walk by myself!” He waved his hand to refuse.

Xiao Hen looked at him both amused and annoyed: “Walk a couple of steps for me to see.”

Xuanyuan Xi: “…”

Xiao Hen hoisted him on his back.

Xuanyuan Xi lay on his back, pinched him, and complained, “Bad brother-in-law… Why do I feel… you’ve gotten smaller…”

“You have grown up!”

How could he have gotten smaller?

An eight-year-old and a thirteen-year-old lying on the same back, the feeling is naturally different.

Even drunk, Xuanyuan Xi didn’t forget to ask worriedly, “Can you… carry me?”

Xiao Hen carried him and walked towards the Sleeping Palace: “I’m only twenty-seven, young enough; how could I not carry a thirteen-year-old kid?”

“Oh.” Xuanyuan Xi’s cheeks buried in his arrowhead, incoherently said, “Then promise me… you won’t grow old… you and Jiaojiao… aren’t allowed to grow old…”

Xiao Hen chuckled: “Alright, won’t grow old.”

Xuanyuan Xi clung to Xiao Hen’s neck, drunkenly muttering, “Growing old is okay too…”

You cared for me when I was young, I will care for you when you grow old.

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