Chapter 669: Where the lights are bright [Thank you! Bow again! Owe 39k]

The sun set,

The sky was about to darken,

The lanterns on the streets everywhere in Bianjing were gradually lit.

Looking from the high third floor of Pan Lou, the entire Bianjing became an ocean of lights.

On the Imperial Street not far from Pan Lou Main Street, it was the liveliest place today, and one could hear the cheers and exclamations of the common people when watching the performances from time to time.

"Second Young Master, it's dark. You should prepare to go to the palace," Zhique bowed to the side.

Gu Tingye, who was looking at the scenery outside the private room, nodded, "I know."

After speaking, Gu Tingye gave Xu Zaijing a look, patted Xu Zaijing on the shoulder, and turned to leave the private room.

Subsequently,

Han Niu also bowed to the side, "Second Young Master, Third Young Master, the family sent a letter, our family's carriage has already left."

Changbai nodded with Changfeng after hearing this, "Good, we will go down now."

After speaking, Changbai looked at everyone in the room, bowed, and said, "Everyone, we will say goodbye first. Fifth Young Master, Young Duke, then... see you tomorrow."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile, "See you tomorrow."

Qi Heng echoed to the side.

After sending the few people to the door, Qi Heng said, "Jing Ge'er, Third Aunt and the others are all in the Four Treasures Studio over there. Why don't we go down together?"

Liang Han said to the side, "Not bad, looking at the sky, it's almost dark. It's just the right time to watch the lanterns."

"That's fine."

Immediately, everyone asked their maids and personal attendants to pack up their things and walked toward the first floor.

East street entrance of Pan Lou Main Street,

Four Treasures Studio,

There were quite a few carriages parked downstairs, and there were quite a few maids, nannies, and guards standing on the first floor.

On the second floor,

Several noble young ladies in the capital were talking.

Looking at Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who was somewhat unhappy, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and whispered two sentences in her ear, and then the two noble young ladies walked to the window facing the street.

After opening the window, Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi looked out curiously and whispered, "Where is it?"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and reached out to point downstairs. There was a tough and sturdy young man standing beside a fine horse, wearing a new brocade robe.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng and Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi, the young man in the brocade robe, who was looking up at the second floor, first froze, then hurriedly turned his head to look at the side.

Seeing this scene, the two noble young ladies closed the window and covered their mouths and laughed.

"What are you doing?" Gu Tingyi to the side looked at her two good friends suspiciously.

"Sister Tingyi, it's nothing!" Chai Zhengzheng smiled with pursed lips.

Rong Feiyan to the side turned her eyes and smiled, "I came the latest today. When I came up, I seemed to have seen the Huang family boy of Shoushan Bo."

Hearing this,

Gu Tingyi didn't know where to put her eyes for a moment, nodded, and said, "Oh!"

Looking at the noble young ladies upstairs teasing and stealing smiles, Gu Tingyi turned her eyes and said, "Looking at the sky, it's almost dark. I imagine Yuanruo and Cousin Jing should be here soon."

"Is that so?" Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi smiled and walked toward the window again.

Chai Zhengzheng froze for a moment, then braced herself and said, "I'll take a look too."

Just walked to the window,

"Fifth Young Master! May you be safe and healthy on the Lantern Festival."

"Yue Ge'er, may you be safe and healthy on the Lantern Festival."

The sound of talking came from downstairs.

After another burst of greetings with Qi Heng, Liang Han, and others, someone said, "I heard that Second Da Niangzi caught a cold, is she recovered?"

"A lot better! But for the sake of stability, she didn't come out today," Huang Qingyue said.

"Right, right, it's cold at night."

"I can see that, the north is indeed somewhat dry, and you have become somewhat vicissitudes, Yue Ge'er," Xu Zaijing said.

"Xu Wu Ge Xu!" The greeting shout of Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi came from upstairs.

Everyone downstairs looked upstairs one after another, and Xu Zaijing bowed his hand with a smile.

Upstairs,

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi looked at everyone on the second floor and smiled, "Let's go!"

After saying this, after a burst of busyness upstairs, several noble young ladies wearing famous cloaks and capes walked downstairs.

After going downstairs, the cold night wind on the street blew over, bringing the elegant and famous incense smell on the noble young ladies' clothes.

Xu Zaijing looked at Chang Mama, who was following Gu Tingyi, and nodded to show his respects with a smile.

Chang Mama bowed slightly to return the favor.

Everyone rode horses and took carriages. Just after turning out of Pan Lou Main Street to the west, when they were still some distance from Imperial Street, the flow of people became very crowded.

Everyone dismounted and got off the carriages one after another, preparing to walk to Imperial Street.

Before setting off, Xu Zaijing greeted Qingyun and Alan beside him, guarding on the outermost side.

Qingyun and Alan's right side were the three maids, including Qingcao, who followed behind Xu Zaijing.

Buwei and other personal attendants following Qi Heng stood behind Qingyun and the others.

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi greeted the guards and servants of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, "You few, walk in front of Brother Qingyun. Fan Mama, you few walk beside me. Protect me, Zhengzheng, Feiyan, and the others well."

After this arrangement, several noble young ladies were protected on the inside by guards, servants, and nannies, which was safe and did not delay watching lanterns and guessing riddles.

When everyone was about to set off and walk forward, Chang Mama stood on tiptoe and looked forward, reached out and pointed at someone, and shouted, "Hey! That kid over there, come to my side!"

The little servants and housekeepers in front looked at Chang Mama one after another.

Qingyun relied on his height, reached out and pointed at Alan in front of him, and Chang Mama hurriedly nodded, "Brother Qingyun, that's the kid, let him come over."

Hearing this, Qingyun pushed Alan.

Soon,

Alan came near Chang Mama. Chang Mama looked at Qingzhi, who wanted to bury her head in her chest beside her, and said, "You stay behind Mama, take care of my family's maid."

Several of Gu Tingyi's personal maids around Chang Mama covered their mouths and laughed.

And they looked at Alan's embarrassed appearance without any shyness.

When everyone walked to the vicinity of Imperial Street, the team was still complete.

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi intentionally or unintentionally held the hands of her two good friends and walked to Xu Zaijing's side.

Qi Heng and Liang Han walked together, whispering a few words from time to time.

Looking at it, it was mostly Liang Han talking and Qi Heng listening. While listening, Qi Heng also nodded from time to time.

Walking in the middle were Huang Qingyue and Gu Tingyi. Perhaps because they had just returned to the capital, the habits on the battlefield had not yet been put down.

Huang Qingyue looked around at the situation from time to time, his eyes sweeping over the faces of various lanterns and passersby, but he dared not look at the young lady beside him much.

Gu Tingyi looked at the young man beside her several times, and just wanted to say a few words to break the dull atmosphere, but the young man beside her turned to look elsewhere.

When Gu Tingyi looked at the lanterns herself, she felt the young man beside her looking at her with his peripheral vision.

Back and forth, Gu Tingyi curled her lips helplessly, and then looked straight at the young man beside her.

When Huang Qingyue "stole a look" again, what greeted him was the gaze of the young lady beside him.

"Uh... you really... the lanterns tonight are really beautiful," Huang Qingyue pointed to the surroundings and said.

Gu Tingyi nodded and said, "How is the weather in the north compared to Bianjing?"

Huang Qingyue touched his cheek and smiled, "As Xu Wu Ge Xu said, cold and dry, devastating to people."

"Father has oil ointment that he often uses. Tomorrow I will ask Mama to send a bottle to you, I think it can resist it somewhat," Gu Tingyi smiled.

Huang Qingyue froze for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Good."

Chang Mama, who was looking elsewhere but listening with her ears pricked up to the side, nodded secretly after hearing the conversation between the two.

Everyone walked on Imperial Street, stopping from time to time to watch various performances

Xu Zaijing had seen the lantern festival so many times that some performances already seemed quite dull.

It was only the colorful booths where people told jokes and stories that could make Xu Zaijing linger for a while.

The three noble young ladies beside him had their attention on the exquisite lanterns, occasionally pulling Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng to help them guess the lantern riddles.

Being close to the three young ladies, Xu Zaijing's keen nose caught three different scents of incense.

Walking north along the Imperial Street, the group gradually approached the huge open space in front of the Xuande Gate, and the various noisy clamors grew louder.

From time to time, shouts of "Long live" came, the sound like a mountain of calls and a tsunami.

Most of Xu Zaijing's group had been up to the Xuande Gate to view the lanterns, so they were no strangers to this.

Along the way, the group could occasionally see groups similar to theirs, mostly young men and women walking together in company.

Arriving closer and looking at the crowded people ahead, Zhang Wu Niang held the hands of Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, and hesitantly said to Xu Zaijing: "Brother Xu Wu, can we still go to the Great Ao Mountain over there?"

"This Great Ao Mountain lantern exists every year. I heard people say that as long as you pray sincerely to it, your wishes will come true!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing asked in confusion: "Wu Niang, how come I have never heard of this?"

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing's gaze swept over Chai Zhengzheng and the well-protected Rong Feiyan, then looked at Qi Heng and Liang Han: "Yuanruo, Liang Liu Lang, do you two know?"

Qi Heng and Liang Han nodded, and Liang Han said: "Brother Jing, I know! Actually, ever since that Great Ao Mountain lantern was built, this saying has gradually emerged."

"Oh! So that's how it is," Xu Zaijing said.

Listening to their conversation, Rong Feiyan, who was beside Wu Niang, nodded repeatedly, her gaze jumping between the people speaking.

When her gaze landed on Xu Zaijing, who was speaking, Rong Feiyan inevitably met his eyes.

Looking at the meaningful, sweeping glance from Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan felt shy at first, but after the shyness, there was more confusion and bewilderment.

She had known Xu Zaijing for many years and had spoken and made eye contact with him many times, but Rong Feiyan had never seen such a look from him.

"Sister Feiyan?" Wu Niang called out.

"Ah? What is it?" Rong Feiyan woke up from her bewilderment.

"Feiyan, what are you praying for in front of the Great Ao Mountain lantern?" Chai Zhengzheng, on the other side of Wu Niang, asked with a smile.

"Um, I plan to pray for my brother," Rong Feiyan said.

Zhang Wu Niang nodded and said: "The mountains and waters in the south are treacherous and often have poisonous miasma; it is right to pray more."

Xu Zaijing looked at the sea of people ahead and turned back to say: "Guards and retainers, link your arms together; the mamas and maidservants must do the same."

Hearing this, Qi Heng and Liang Han hurriedly crowded to Xu Zaijing's side, each grabbing one of his arms.

Watching Xu Zaijing's helpless expression, Liang Han smiled and squeezed his elbows hard. After feeling the strength of Xu Zaijing's arms, Liang Han looked at his own with some depression.

Afterwards, the group walked toward the crowded crowd.

On the high Xuande Gate tower,

Under a lantern on one side outside the gate,

Princess Pingning stood behind the parapet with some worry on her face, looking at the colorful lanterns in front of the Xuande Gate and the flowing crowd beneath them.

"Madam, what is wrong?" The Duke of Qi walked to the side and asked with concern.

Princess Pingning said softly: "Today Yuanruo is watching the lanterns by himself. I don't know where he is right now, and whether..."

The Duke of Qi comforted her: "Madam, Yuanruo is accompanied by that child, the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family. Han Wulang Young Master has always been reliable, so you can rest assured."

Princess Pingning sighed: "On this Lantern Festival, many young men and women take the opportunity to meet today. Brother Jing is not very old; what if he isn't looking after Yuanruo and the others?"

"Yuanruo has guards and attendants with him, and the strong women and guards of the Chai family are also there. Could it be that Zhengzheng would let her cousin Yuanruo get into trouble?" the Duke of Qi said.

"Hmm! You are right, my husband."

"That's right! Stop worrying blindly."

As they spoke, the Duke of Qi and Princess Pingning walked together toward the Xuande Gate tower.

On the other side,

In the corridor between the Xuande Gate tower and the side tower, the daughters-in-law of several noble families were gathered together talking.

Hualan looked at Yanran, who was standing beside Pingmei, and smiled: "Sister Yanran, in the future, if your husband acts like this again, just ask him: even if he can't stand the Huang family's young master and is reluctant to part with Tingyi, can he really block Tingyi's marriage?"

Yanran, who was wearing a married woman's hairstyle, nodded repeatedly. After her eyes shifted, she looked at Pingmei and said: "Sister-in-law, when you and eldest brother got married, was the Heir of Marquis Yongyi like this too?"

Hearing this, Pingmei smiled and tapped Yanran's forehead, saying: "We are talking about the second young master; why bring me into it?"

Hualan smiled: "Sister, I am also curious how our eldest brother viewed Brother Yu at that time."

Pingmei looked at her sister-in-law and brother's wife, shook her head and smiled: "Eldest brother didn't dislike his brother-in-law like the second young master did. Although my husband's martial arts are only for fitness, he is good at reading. If you bring up a few poems, eldest brother will praise him with cupped hands."

"Haha." Yanran and Hualan both covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and laughed when they heard this.

After laughing, Yanran's eyes shifted between Pingmei and Hualan.

"Yanran, what are you thinking about?" Pingmei said with a smile.

Yanran hurriedly shook her head and said: "Sister-in-law, I... I am not thinking about anything."

Hualan smiled and frowned: "Really?"

Feeling the gaze of the two ladies, Yu Yanran couldn't hold up and said: "I, I, I just often hear my grandmother talk about the young ladies in the capital..."

Yu Yanran said half a sentence, and Pingmei and Hualan already understood.

Pingmei smiled and sighed, saying: "Hey, little Wu, there is no point in saying more; let's talk about it later."

Hualan said softly: "Yanran, was it your stepmother who told you to...?"

Pingmei also looked over, and Yanran hurriedly waved her hands: "No, no. One is that grandmother has mentioned it a few times, and the other is that I often participated in some incense and clothing gatherings before, and I heard and saw some..."

Seeing that Pingmei and Hualan did not look surprised at all, Yu Yanran did not continue, but instead said: "Sister-in-law, Sister Hualan, you wouldn't... know something, would you?"

Hualan and Pingmei looked at each other and said in unison: "We don't know anything."

After hearing this, Yu Yanran nodded thoughtfully.

In front of the Xuande Gate,

In front of the huge Ao Mountain lantern,

Xu Zaijing, who had finally walked over, let out a deep breath.

Then he turned his body to the side, making a path for the noble young ladies behind him.

Rong Feiyan and the others hurriedly walked over, stood on one side of Xu Zaijing and the others, and prayed sincerely with their hands together.

When Xu Zaijing, who had his back turned, was about to turn around to look at the Ao Mountain lantern, Qi Heng, who was beside him, tugged at Xu Zaijing's sleeve and reached out, saying: "Brother Jing, look over there!"

Xu Zaijing turned his head as told, and his eyes showed surprise.

The reason was that, not far away, separated by five or six people, the Sheng family's Da Niangzi Wang Ruofu was also praying with her hands together at this moment.

Beside Wang Ruofu were Mama Liu, who was wiping sweat, and Caihuan, who was pale. Not far outside Caihuan and Mama Liu were the Sheng family's panting mamas and attendants.

One could tell at a glance that the Sheng family had put in a great deal of effort to be able to come before this Great Ao Mountain.

"Da Niangzi Wang is truly sincere!" Liang Han, who was standing on tiptoe, said sincerely.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "That is natural."

(End of chapter)