Expressing My Feelings after Reading My Old Poems on the Winter Solstice

By the Qianlong Emperor (Qing Dynasty)

Quietly listening to the sandglass in the palace from far away,
I stay at my study for a while, free from the state affairs.
I want to find some lines to describe the clean scenery,
The cold fragrance of the plum blossom comes just in time.
In my spare time, I check the books and writings accumulated on my desk,
Hoping to pick up the old knowledge again.
In the middle of the night, I write some lines down with the ash of incense growing,
To celebrate that there is one more yang in heaven.