GSY 2025 New Year Extra – Second Episode

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you going back to your bedchamber to rest?”

 

On New Year’s Eve, all the royal family members in the capital gathered together, including Cen Yelan and Cen Yu. The family members were no longer surprised that General Cen could attend the palace banquet every year. After all, Yuan Zheng had never concealed his favoritism towards Cen Yelan and his daughter. A titled king commanding the powerful northern army, permitted to see the emperor without kneeling, allowed to wear his sword in the emperor’s presence, and even his daughter had been granted the title of princess. The ministers sought to offer counsel, and the civil officials even submitted memorials to impeach Cen Yelan. But the emperor turned a blind eye. On other matters, he might be open to discussion, but when it came to the Cen family, he was so obstinate that the court officials could do nothing about it.

 

And yet, Meng Tan never said a word about it—only that, as long as His Majesty was happy, that was all that mattered.

 

Some sharp-eyed and perceptive courtiers were even horrified to realize that the much-favored little princess of the Cen family, as she grew older, bore a faint resemblance to His Majesty in her features. But as the matter concerned the royal bloodline, no one dared to ask questions, nor did anyone truly believe Cen Yu was of Yuan Zheng’s blood. After all, if she truly were the emperor’s child, no matter who her mother was, she wouldn’t have been left to wander outside the palace and certainly wouldn’t be bearing Cen Yelan’s surname. And yet, if one were to claim she wasn’t Cen Yelan’s child, a closer look would reveal the small mole beneath her right eye—identical to the one on Cen Yelan himself.

 

No one would have ever imagined that Cen Yu was the child of the reigning emperor and the great general.

 

This year’s palace banquet was as grand as ever, order prevailed in both court and country, the people lived in harmony and happiness, and praises from the imperial clans flowed without end. Yuan Zheng appeared to be in high spirits as well, drinking heavily throughout the night. Cen Yelan had planned to urge him to stop, but upon seeing the emperor so cheerful, he decided to let it be.

 

As expected, Yuan Zheng drank too much. Before heading back to the palace to rest, he summoned Cen Yelan to accompany him.

 

Cen Yelan shook his head helplessly, gave a few brief instructions to Cen Yu, who was nestled beside the Dowager Consort, and then supported Yuan Zheng as they left the hall. But to his surprise, once they were outside the palace, Yuan Zheng suddenly sobered up. He grabbed Cen Yelan’s hand and said, “Ah Lan, I’m not drunk.”

 

Cen Yelan looked into Yuan Zheng’s eyes. The young emperor’s gaze was clear, his smile bright. Aside from the slight flush on his cheeks, he truly didn’t look drunk at all.

 

The head eunuch, Cheng Huai, suddenly appeared from who knows where, holding two sets of clothing in his hands. “Your Majesty, everything is ready.”

 

Cen Yelan: “?”

 

Yuan Zheng grabbed the clothes and shoved Cen Yelan into a side hall. “Get changed, we’re going out of the palace.”

 

Cen Yelan didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. “You pretended to be drunk just to sneak out of the palace?”

 

Cheng Huai had already lit all the lamps inside the hall. Yuan Zheng swiftly stripped off his ornate imperial dragon robe and tossed it aside. “Yes, in order to pretend to be drunk, I drank a lot of water tonight.”

 

Seeing this, Cen Yelan could only follow suit and began changing out of his formal king’s attire. “Is there any day you can’t leave the palace? You go to such lengths just to sneak out?”

 

“How could today be the same?” Yuan Zheng’s eyes lingered on Cen Yelan’s slender waist as he removed his outer robe, and he couldn’t resist pulling him into his arms. He leaned in to kiss Cen Yelan’s cheek and murmured, “It’s New Year’s Eve, there’ll be fireworks in the capital tonight.”

 

“Stop that,” Cen Yelan said, squirming from the ticklish touch. “You can see them just fine from inside the palace. Outside, it’s a chaotic mess—”

 

Yuan Zheng said softly, “How could that be the same? I just want to watch them with you, just you and me.”

 

“We’re leaving the palace, and even you didn’t know it beforehand, so who else could possibly find out? Besides, with you by my side, why should I be afraid of assassins?”

 

Cen Yelan was momentarily dazed by that simple phrase—just you and me—as Yuan Zheng kept muttering, “We won’t bring the little tail along, let the Dowager Consort watch her. Tonight, it’s just you and me,”

 

Cen Yelan couldn’t help but laugh. “Yu’er’s going to throw a fit when she finds out.”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Let her throw a fit if she wants. Can’t her two fathers enjoy a bit of romance and do some grown-up things once in a while?”

 

Listening to Yuan Zheng’s cheeky nonsense, Cen Yelan found not a trace of imperial dignity in him. Yet, somehow, it only made Yuan Zheng seem even more endearing. The elegant calm in Cen Yelan’s eyes softened into indulgent amusement. Yuan Zheng, swept away by that gentle gaze, grew bolder, his heart fluttering as he continued, “Am I wrong though? Think about it, we’re always buried in state affairs, and when we finally get a moment of peace, we still have to bring the little tail along. Ah Lan, be honest, how long has it been since we spent time together, just the two of us?”

 

As Yuan Zheng spoke, he actually seemed to grow a little aggrieved. He had always felt that, in Cen Yelan’s heart, Yu’er came first, followed by the state and the people, and only then did he perhaps rank somewhere afterward.

 

Oh, and there was also Cen Mo.

 

Cen Yelan was speechless, utterly perplexed by how Yuan Zheng could suddenly claim to feel aggrieved. Was this… him getting jealous over Yu’er?

 

A dignified emperor, jealous of his own daughter—he wasn’t even afraid of being laughed at.

 

Cen Yelan said, “Weren’t we going to watch the fireworks? If we wait any longer, we’ll miss them.”

 

Yuan Zheng snorted, “I’m just afraid that although General Cen came out with me, but he left his heart behind somewhere else. Fine, if you’re truly that unwilling, I won’t force you.” With that, Yuan Zheng actually stopped putting on his robe, pressing his lips together. Yet, from the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but watch Cen Yelan.

 

Cen Yelan: “……”

 

Cen Yelan sighed inwardly, took a couple of steps closer, and reached out to adjust Yuan Zheng’s robe, tying the waistband for him. “I’m really happy to watch the fireworks with you, and I’m truly looking forward to it.”

 

“Just you and me.”

 

Yuan Zheng’s lips had already curled into a smile, though he still pressed them together forcefully, grumbling, “Then why are you still being so indecisive?”

 

“I don’t see you looking happy either.”

 

Yuan Zheng was clearly testing his limits, stirring up trouble for no reason. Cen Yelan, by nature, was an extremely reserved person. He had always been awkward when it came to matters of love and romance, speaking in a direct and formal way about emotions. Seeing the emperor sulking, Cen Yelan immediately realized Yuan Zheng was just looking for an excuse to be playful and to have him coax him.

 

Cen Yelan leaned in and kissed Yuan Zheng’s lips. Yuan Zheng, gazing at him, instinctively tried to deepen the kiss. But just as he was about to move, Cen Yelan pulled back slightly and whispered, “Did you see it now?”

 

Yuan Zheng, slightly frustrated, replied, “No.”

 

Cen Yelan cupped Yuan Zheng’s chin and kissed him again. This time, Yuan Zheng had learned his lesson, holding the back of Cen Yelan’s neck. But after only a couple of exchanges, Cen Yelan once again pulled away, his lips flushed and soft, asking, “Did you see it?”

 

Yuan Zheng glared at him fiercely and muttered, “I saw it.”

 

The seasoned General Cen, skilled in drawing the enemy in only to strike decisively, let out a soft chuckle before kissing the impatient Yuan Zheng once more.

 

By the time the two left the palace, the sky was already filled with fireworks. They had nearly missed the spectacle, but now they stood still, gazing at the brilliant display above. The sounds of the crowd echoed around them, with laughter and chatter filling the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

 

Both Cen Yelan and Yuan Zheng wore masks they had bought casually from a roadside vendor. Yuan Zheng had purchased them, putting one on himself before attempting to put the other on Cen Yelan’s face. “Do you remember when you used to take me out of the palace as a child, and we’d buy masks like these?”

 

Cen Yelan smiled and said, “I remember.” As he took the mask and put it on his face.

 

With the two brightly colored masks now in place, just as Cen Yelan finished putting his on, Yuan Zheng leaned in close, tilting his head playfully and gently bumping it against Cen Yelan’s forehead. Perhaps because of the masks, the usually composed General Cen seemed a bit more playful, and he returned the gesture by bumping Yuan Zheng’s head back.

 

Though both were over the age of fifty if added together, the two most powerful men in the court, wearing their masks, played like carefree children, their steps lighter as they walked among the crowd.

 

The sky bloomed with dazzling fireworks, bright as day, while countless lotus lanterns drifted along the winding city river, carried gently by the current. The people, filled with devotion, prayed for blessings, creating a scene of peace and prosperity. Standing side by side, Yuan Zheng and Cen Yelan exchanged a glance, unable to stop themselves from gripping each other’s hands.

 

May it always be like this, with each year bringing new seasons and new blessings.