Chapter 756: Bright with Lantern Light【Thank You! Again, Thank You! 39k Words Owed】

The sun set behind the mountains.

The sky grew dark.

Lanterns along the streets of Bianjing gradually lit up.

From the third floor of Pan Lou, the entire city of Bianjing appeared as an ocean of light.

Not far from the main street of Pan Lou, the Imperial Street was the busiest place today, with frequent cheers and exclamations from the crowd watching performances.

“Second Young Master, it’s growing dark—you should prepare to go to the palace,” said Yi Que, bowing respectfully.

Gu Tingye, who had been admiring the view outside the private room, nodded: “Understood.”

After speaking, Gu Tingye gave Xu Zaijing a glance, patted his shoulder, and left the private room.

Shortly after,

Han Niu also bowed and said: “Second Young Master, Third Young Master, word has come from home—our carriage has already set out.”

Chang Bai and Chang Feng nodded together: “Good, we’re going down now.”

Chang Bai looked around at the group and bowed: “We’ll take our leave first. Wu Lang, Young Lord, see you tomorrow.”

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: “See you tomorrow.”

Qi Heng echoed the sentiment.

After seeing them to the door, Qi Heng said: “Jing Ge, your third aunt and the others are in the Four Treasures Shop over there—why don’t we go down together?”

Liang Han added: “True, night is falling—perfect time to admire the lanterns.”

“All right.”

Immediately, the group had their maids and attendants gather their belongings and descended to the first floor.

At the eastern entrance of Pan Lou’s main street,

the Four Treasures Shop,

had numerous carriages parked below, and many servants, maids, and guards stood on the first floor.

On the second floor,

several noble ladies of the capital were chatting.

Seeing Zhang Wu Niang looking gloomy, Chai Zhengzheng whispered two words in her ear, then the two noble ladies walked to the window facing the street.

After opening the window, Zhang Wu Niang peered curiously outside, murmuring: “Where is it?”

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and pointed down to a sturdy, handsome young man in a brocade robe standing beside a fine steed.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng and Zhang Wu Niang, the young man in brocade looked up, his gaze sharpening, then quickly turned away.

Seeing this, the two noble ladies closed the window and burst into giggles.

“What are you two up to?” Gu Tingyi asked, puzzled, from nearby.

“Brother Tingyi, nothing!” Chai Zhengzheng smiled, biting her lip.

Rong Feiyan, beside her, glanced around and said: “I arrived last, and when I came up, I thought I saw the young master of the Marquis of Shoushan’s Huang family.”

Upon hearing this,

Gu Tingyi immediately looked flustered, nodding: “Oh!”

Watching the noble ladies on the floor above exchange teasing smiles, Gu Tingyi’s eyes darted and she said: “It’s nearly dark—Yuan Ruo and Jing Ge should be arriving soon.”

“Really?” Zhang Wu Niang smiled and walked back toward the window.

Chai Zhengzheng paused, then forced herself to say: “I’ll take a look too.”

Just as she reached the window,

“Wu Lang! Happy Lantern Festival.”

“Yue Ge, Happy Lantern Festival.”

Voices came from below.

After more greetings exchanged with Qi Heng, Liang Han, and others, someone asked: “I heard Second Lady caught a cold—has she recovered?”

“Much better! But for safety’s sake, we didn’t let her come out tonight,” Huang Qingyue said.

“Exactly, it’s cold at night.”

“Clearly, the north is dry—Yue Ge, you’ve aged quite a bit,” Xu Zaijing said.

“Xu Wu Ge!” came Zhang Wu Niang’s call from above.

Everyone below looked up; Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed.

Above,

Zhang Wu Niang turned to the others on the second floor and said: “Let’s go!”

After a flurry of activity upstairs, several noble ladies wrapped in expensive fur cloaks descended.

As they stepped outside, the cool night wind brushed past, carrying the subtle, costly incense from their garments.

Xu Zaijing noticed Chang Mama standing beside Gu Tingyi and nodded with a smile.

Chang Mama bowed slightly in return.

Riding horses and carriages, they headed west along Pan Lou’s main street; before reaching the Imperial Street, the crowd became extremely dense.

Everyone dismounted and stepped down from their vehicles, preparing to walk the rest of the way to the Imperial Street.

Before they moved, Xu Zaijing instructed Qing Yun and A Lan to guard the outer perimeter.

To Qing Yun and A Lan’s right stood Qing Cao and two other maids following Xu Zaijing.

Bi Wei and the other personal attendants of Qi Heng stood behind Qing Yun and the others.

Zhang Wu Niang called to the retainers of the Duke of Ying: “You four, walk ahead of Qing Yun. Fan Mama and you others, stay close to me. Protect me, Zhengzheng, and Feiyan.”

With this arrangement, the noble ladies were shielded inside by guards, servants, and maids—safe, yet still able to enjoy the lanterns and riddles.

As the group prepared to move forward, Chang Mama stood on tiptoe, peered ahead, pointed at someone, and called: “Hey! That boy over there—come to me!”

The servants and retainers ahead turned to look at Chang Mama.

Qing Yun, taller than the rest, pointed to A Lan ahead; Chang Mama quickly nodded: “Qing Yun, that boy—tell him to come here.”

Hearing this, Qing Yun nudged A Lan.

Soon,

A Lan approached Chang Mama, who looked at Qing Zhi, who was trying to hide her face in her chest, and said: “Stay behind me and watch over my young lady’s maids.”

Several of Gu Tingyi’s personal maids nearby covered their mouths and laughed.

And they openly stared at A Lan’s embarrassment.

When the group reached the vicinity of the Imperial Street, the procession remained intact.

Zhang Wu Niang, intentionally or not, held the hands of her two friends and walked to Xu Zaijing’s side.

Qi Heng and Liang Han walked together, occasionally whispering to each other.

Mostly Liang Han spoke, while Qi Heng listened, nodding now and then.

Walking in the middle were Huang Qingyue and Gu Tingyi; perhaps still carrying battlefield habits from his recent return to the capital.

Huang Qingyue kept glancing around, his eyes sweeping over lanterns and passersby, yet avoiding lingering on the girls beside him.

Gu Tingyi glanced several times at the young man beside her, about to say something to break the silence, when he turned his head away.

When Gu Tingyi herself looked at the lanterns, she felt the young man beside her watching her with the corner of his eye.

Back and forth, Gu Tingyi sighed and rolled her eyes, then fixed her gaze directly on the young man beside her.

When Huang Qingyue dared another “stealthy” glance, he met the girl’s steady stare.

“Uh… the lanterns tonight are really beautiful,” Huang Qingyue said, gesturing around.

Gu Tingyi nodded: “How does the weather in the north compare to Bianjing?”

Huang Qingyue touched his cheek and smiled: “As Wu Lang said—it’s cold and dry, wearing you down.”

“My father uses a special ointment—I’ll have Mama send you a bottle tomorrow; it should help a bit,” Gu Tingyi smiled.

Huang Qingyue paused, then nodded with a smile: “Thank you.”

Chang Mama, pretending to look elsewhere but listening intently, nodded slightly to herself.

As the group walked along the Imperial Street, they paused frequently to watch roadside performances.

Xu Zaijing had seen many lantern festivals; some performances now seemed dull.

Only the storytelling booths with jokes and tales made him pause briefly.

The three noble ladies beside him focused on the exquisite lanterns, pulling Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng aside to help solve riddles.

As they drew near the girls, Xu Zaijing’s keen nose caught three distinct incense scents.

Walking north along the Imperial Street, the group gradually neared the vast open space before Xuande Gate; the noise grew louder.

Shouts of “Ten Thousand Years!” echoed frequently, like a tidal wave of voices.

Xu Zaijing’s group had all been to Xuande Gate to view the lanterns before; they were not unfamiliar with it.

Along the way, they often saw similar groups—mostly young men and women walking together.

As they drew closer, seeing the dense crowd ahead, Zhang Wu Niang held tightly to Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan’s hands and hesitantly asked Xu Zaijing: “Xu Wu Ge, can we still go to the Great Turtle Mountain over there?”

“The lanterns on the Great Turtle Mountain are made every year—they say if you sincerely pray to them, your wishes will come true!”

Xu Zaijing frowned: “Wu Niang, I’ve never heard of this.”

He glanced at Chai Zhengzheng and the tightly guarded Rong Feiyan, then turned to Qi Heng and Liang Han: “Yuan Ruo, Liu Lang—do you know about this?”

Qi Heng and Liang Han nodded; Liang Han said: “I know, Jing Ge! Ever since the Great Turtle Mountain lanterns were built, this belief has gradually spread.”

“Oh! So that’s how it started,” Xu Zaijing said.

Listening to their conversation, Rong Feiyan beside Zhang Wu Niang nodded vigorously, her eyes darting among the speakers.

When her gaze landed on Xu Zaijing, she inevitably met his eyes.

Seeing Xu Zaijing’s gaze sweep over her with deep meaning, Rong Feiyan first felt shy, but after that shyness came even more confusion and bewilderment.

She had known Xu Zaijing for years, exchanged glances with him countless times, yet she had never seen him look at her like this.

“Feiyan sister?” Wu niang called out.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Rong Feiyan snapped out of her confusion.

“Feiyan, what did you pray for at the Giant Ao Mountain lantern?” asked Chai Zhengzheng, sitting beside Wu niang, smiling.

“Hmm, I’m praying for my brother,” Rong Feiyan said.

Zhang Wu niang nodded. “The southern mountains and rivers are treacherous, full of poisonous miasmas—you must pray hard.”

Xu Zaijing looked at the sea of people ahead and turned back. “Guards and retainers, link arms together. The maids and ladies-in-waiting, do the same.”

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

Watching Xu Zaijing’s helpless expression, Liang Han squeezed his elbow hard, feeling the strength of Xu Zaijing’s arm, then glanced gloomily at his own.

Then the group moved forward into the crowded throng.

On the tall Xuande Gate tower,

beneath a lantern on one side of the gate,

Princess Pingning stood behind the parapet, her face troubled, watching the colorful lanterns and the flowing crowd before Xuande Gate.

“My lady, what’s wrong?” the Duke of Qi asked, stepping closer with concern.

Princess Pingning whispered, “Today, Yuanruo is watching the lanterns alone—I wonder where he is now, whether he…”

The Duke of Qi reassured her: “My lady, Yuanruo has Xu Wulang with him. That boy is always careful—you needn’t worry.”

Princess Pingning sighed. “On this Lantern Festival, so many young men and women meet. Jingge is still young—what if he’s not paying attention to Yuanruo and the others?”

“Yuanruo has guards and servants, and the Chai family’s strong women and guards are there too. Would Zhengzheng let her cousin come to harm?” the Duke of Qi said.

“Mm! You’re right, my lord.”

“Exactly! Don’t go worrying needlessly.”

Saying this, the Duke of Qi and Princess Pingning walked together toward the Xuande Gate tower.

On the other side,

in the corridor connecting the Xuande Gate tower and the nearby Duo Tower, several noblewomen gathered, chatting.

Hua Lan smiled at Yanran, standing beside Pingmei. “Yanran sister, if your husband does this again, ask him: if he still can’t stand the Huang boys and still can’t bear to let go of Tingyi, can he really block Tingyi’s marriage?”

Yanran, dressed as a married woman, nodded vigorously, then turned her eyes to Pingmei. “Sister-in-law, when you married your eldest brother, was the Marquis of Yongyi the same way?”

Hearing this, Pingmei smiled and tapped Yanran’s forehead. “We’re talking about Erlang—why are you dragging me into it?”

Hua Lan laughed. "Sister, I'm curious too—how did our eldest brother view Yu-brother back then?"

Pingmei looked at her sister-in-laws and shook her head with a smile. “My eldest brother never disliked his brother-in-law the way Erlang does. Though my husband’s martial skill is only for health, he reads well. Just a few lines of poetry, and my eldest brother would bow and praise him.”

“Hah!” Yanran and Hua Lan both laughed, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs.

After laughing, Yanran’s eyes flickered between Pingmei and Hua Lan.

“Yanran, what are you thinking?” Pingmei asked, smiling.

Yanran quickly shook her head. “Sister-in-law, I—I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Hua Lan frowned playfully. “Really?”

Feeling the stares of the two senior ladies, Yu Yanran could no longer hold back. “I—I’ve often heard our grandmother say that the girls in the capital…”

Before Yanran finished, Pingmei and Hua Lan already understood.

Pingmei sighed with a smile. “Ah, little Wu—he’s not worth arguing about. We’ll see later.”

Hua Lan whispered softly, “Yanran, is your stepmother pushing you?”

Pingmei turned to look too. Yanran waved her hands frantically. “No, no! One, Grandmother mentioned it a few times; two, I’ve often attended incense gatherings and heard and seen things…”

Seeing that Pingmei and Hua Lan showed no surprise, Yanran fell silent and changed the subject. “Sister-in-law, Hua Lan sister, you wouldn’t… know something, would you?”

Hua Lan and Pingmei exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison: “We know nothing.”

After hearing this, Yanran nodded thoughtfully.

Before Xuande Gate,

before the massive Ao Mountain lantern,

Xu Zaijing, having finally pushed through, let out a deep breath.

Then he shifted his body slightly, making way for the noblewomen behind him.

Rong Feiyan and the others hurried forward, standing to one side of Xu Zaijing’s group, palms pressed together in sincere prayer.

As Xu Zaijing, with his back turned, prepared to look back at the Ao Mountain lantern, Qi Heng tugged his sleeve and pointed. “Jingge, look over there!”

Xu Zaijing turned as instructed—and his eyes widened in surprise.

For not far away, past five or six people, Sheng’s eldest daughter, Wang Ruofu, was also praying with palms pressed together.

Beside Wang Ruofu stood Liu mama, wiping sweat, and Caihuan, pale-faced; beyond them, not far off, the Sheng family’s maids and servants panted heavily.

Clearly, the Sheng family had gone to great lengths to reach the front of the Giant Ao Mountain lantern.

“Wang da niangzi is truly sincere!” Liang Han, standing on tiptoe, said earnestly.

Xu Zaijing smiled. “Naturally.”

(End of Chapter)