My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

The outside world was in an uproar because of these things, but things were much calmer on Chen Mo's side.

With Lunar New Year's Eve just around the corner, Chen Mo has been spending the last few days either preparing things, teaching Xiao Sizi, or spending time with Li Lizhi and Xiao Sizi.

I used to be able to spend all day scrolling through my phone, but now I hardly touch it anymore.

Scrolling through your phone is great, but where's your wife, cough cough...?

Where is the best place to keep Li Lizhi and Xiao Sizi company?

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Spring Festival couplets have already been pasted on the door of the Time Inn.

First line: All who come and go are guests.

Second line: This place is home

Horizontal scroll: A corner of time and space

Of course, it was written by Li Lizhi.

She originally wanted Chen Mo to write it, but Chen Mo kept declining.

Li Lizhi initially thought Chen Mo was being modest, but after seeing Chen Mo's handwriting, she fell silent.

"Manager Chen should practice his calligraphy more! A grown man writes like this..."

Li Lizhi said this at the time.

From then on, she began to supervise Chen Mo's calligraphy practice, teaching him while also learning to cook with him.

Back to now,

Little Sizi tilted his head back, looking at the Spring Festival couplets with a furrowed brow and asking questions.

"Little Bacterium, what does 'a corner of time and space' mean?"

Chen Mo was hanging lanterns on a ladder when he heard this and looked down at her.

"It's like... no matter where you come from, once you're here, you're all one family."

Little Sizi's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.

"Yes! We're family!"

Li Lizhi stood at the bottom of the ladder, holding it steady. Upon hearing this, she lowered her eyes slightly, but the corners of her mouth curved gently.

She was wearing a light blue jacket and skirt today, which Chen Mo bought at the mall a few days ago—he said it was "new clothes for the New Year".

She initially declined, but after Xiao Sizi egged her on, she finally accepted it.

At that moment, the blue light reflected off the red lanterns at the door, making her features appear even more gentle and graceful.

"Manager Chen, raise it a bit higher on the left."

She reminded her softly.

Chen Mo moved to the left.

"so?"

"A little higher...that's enough."

He jumped down from the ladder, stepped back a few paces to examine it, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Perfect!"

The little rhinoceros clapped and cheered.

"It's so pretty! Look, sister, it's all red!"

Looking at the two red lanterns, the still-wet ink on the Spring Festival couplets on the door, and the festively decorated little inn, Li Lizhi suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable warmth in her heart.

In the Tang Dynasty, sixteen New Year's Eves were celebrated, always following the established customs—ancestor worship, staying up all night, receiving rewards, and listening to the same old New Year's greetings.

This year, in this place that doesn't belong to any dynasty, she felt for the first time—

So this is what Chinese New Year is like.

"Sister!" Little Sizi tugged at her sleeve, "Let's go put up paper-cut window decorations! Shopkeeper Chen bought so many!"

Li Lizhi came to her senses and nodded gently.

"it is good."

The three people went into the house.

Inside the lobby, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Several red paper-cut window decorations, including gold ingots and the character "福" (fortune), have already been pasted on the windowpane.

Little Sizi tiptoed and pressed the little horse card in his hand against the glass, making it crooked and uneven.

"Sister, look at this!"

Li Lizhi walked over, bent down to look, and said softly.

"It's applied very well."

Little Si chuckled.

Chen Mo was packing up the New Year's goods on the side: melon seeds, peanuts, candies, snacks, and a few bottles of wine.

He made a special trip to the supermarket and picked out some nice items. There were also several new sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, which he had specially prepared.

"Manager Chen," Li Lizhi approached, "is there anything else I can help you with?"

Chen Mo looked up at her.

The candlelight illuminated her face, making the faint blush stand out.

He paused for a moment, then quickly looked away.

"Um... there are still a few dishes to prepare in the kitchen, I'll go check on them."

After saying that, he got up and walked towards the kitchen.

Li Lizhi stood there, watching his back, her lips slightly pursed.

Little Sizi leaned closer and whispered, "Sister, why did Manager Chen run away?"

Li Lizhi remained silent.

She simply lowered her head and gently fiddled with the red paper-cut window decorations on the table.

Suddenly, a noise came from outside the door.

Before Chen Mo even reached the kitchen, he heard a loud banging on the front door—

"Hey Chen! Is Chen here?!"

After he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang walked in.

He glanced around and chuckled.

"Looks like we were one of the first ones to arrive!"

No sooner had Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking than another set of footsteps came from outside the door.

"Old Zhu, you're here early."

Liu Che's voice sounded behind him.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled.

"That's right! We've been counting down the days, afraid we'll be late and there won't be any seats left."

Empress Ma shook her head helplessly, her gaze falling on the dignified woman who entered the room next.

She knew Liu Che, so she could guess what the woman beside him was saying in a gentle voice.

"You must be Zifu, right? Come and sit here."

Following behind Liu Che, Wei Zifu nodded slightly upon hearing this and gracefully sat down next to Empress Ma.

He sat down while glancing around at his surroundings.

This was her first time visiting this place.

Before she came, Liu Che had told her about things like the "Time Hotel," "people from the future," and "being able to meet emperors from various dynasties."

She found it absurd, but Liu Che spoke earnestly, so she believed him.

Seeing it with her own eyes now, she realized it was even more...wonderful than she had imagined.

"Zifu," Empress Ma gently patted her hand, "Don't be shy since it's your first time here. There aren't many rules here, just make yourself at home."

Wei Zifu smiled slightly.

"Thank you..."

"Just call me Xiuying," Empress Ma said with a smile. "We don't stand on formalities here."

Wei Zifu nodded gently, but her eyes couldn't help but look around again.

Beside them, Liu Ju and Huo Qubing stood by the window, marveling at the bright red paper-cut window decorations.

"Qubing, look at this," Liu Ju said, pointing to the small latticework window decoration. "The craftsmanship of this later generation is truly exquisite."

Huo Qubing leaned closer to look and then gently touched it.

"Not only is the craftsmanship exquisite, but the material is also excellent. I don't know why it's so popular?"

"It must be... dyed, right?"

Liu Ju wasn't entirely sure either.

As the two were studying, a voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Those are paper-cut window decorations, made of red paper."

Liu Ju turned around and saw a chubby, gentle-looking man standing behind him, smiling.

There were two others standing nearby—one valiant and the other clever.

Zhu Gaochi cupped his hands in greeting: "Zhu Gaochi of the Great Ming Dynasty greets you both."

Liu Ju quickly returned the greeting.

"Liu Ju of the Han Dynasty. This is Huo Qubing."

Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows and looked Zhu Gaochi and the other two up and down.

Zhu Gaoxu leaned closer.

"You're Huo Qubing? The one who fought the Xiongnu?"

"Exactly."

Huo Qubing spoke calmly, but a hint of arrogance flashed in his eyes.

"I've heard of you!" Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up. "Shall we have a little sparring session sometime?"

"Okay."

The two warmongers hit it off immediately.

Zhu Gaochi, however, sat down next to Zhu Biao.

"Uncle, you're here too..."

"It's high-temperature gas!"

"My father recently wants to attack Japan, and I have some questions I'd like to ask my uncle..."

"Oh~!"

A few young people huddled together and whispered among themselves.

On the other side, Liu Che, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Di sat at a table.

"How have you guys been lately?"

Liu Che asked, and after taking a sip of tea, he was immediately surprised.

"This tea is quite good. I'll have Manager Chen bring some back for me later."

Not long after, Ying Zheng arrived with Fusu, looking at the group of people who were already sitting together.

"You're all here so early?"

"Oh~ The First Emperor has arrived."

"We're late, so we'll have to have a few more drinks later!"

"Drink as much as you like! I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!"