[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-756":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2308534,4510,"Chapter 756: Bright with Lantern Light【Thank You! Again, Thank You! 39k Words Owed】","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-756",756,"\u003Cp>The sun set behind the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky grew dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lanterns along the streets of Bianjing gradually lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the third floor of Pan Lou, the entire city of Bianjing appeared as an ocean of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Young Master, it’s growing dark—you should prepare to go to the palace,” said Yi Que, bowing respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye, who had been admiring the view outside the private room, nodded: “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Gu Tingye gave Xu Zaijing a glance, patted his shoulder, and left the private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Niu also bowed and said: “Second Young Master, Third Young Master, word has come from home—our carriage has already set out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai and Chang Feng nodded together: “Good, we’re going down now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Bai looked around at the group and bowed: “We’ll take our leave first. Wu Lang, Young Lord, see you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: “See you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng echoed the sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Han added: “True, night is falling—perfect time to admire the lanterns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the group had their maids and attendants gather their belongings and descended to the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the eastern entrance of Pan Lou’s main street,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Four Treasures Shop,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had numerous carriages parked below, and many servants, maids, and guards stood on the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>several noble ladies of the capital were chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening the window, Zhang Wu Niang peered curiously outside, murmuring: “Where is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chai Zhengzheng smiled and pointed down to a sturdy, handsome young man in a brocade robe standing beside a fine steed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Chai Zhengzheng and Zhang Wu Niang, the young man in brocade looked up, his gaze sharpening, then quickly turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the two noble ladies closed the window and burst into giggles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you two up to?” Gu Tingyi asked, puzzled, from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Tingyi, nothing!” Chai Zhengzheng smiled, biting her lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingyi immediately looked flustered, nodding: “Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?” Zhang Wu Niang smiled and walked back toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chai Zhengzheng paused, then forced herself to say: “I’ll take a look too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she reached the window,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Lang! Happy Lantern Festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yue Ge, Happy Lantern Festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voices came from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more greetings exchanged with Qi Heng, Liang Han, and others, someone asked: “I heard Second Lady caught a cold—has she recovered?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Much better! But for safety’s sake, we didn’t let her come out tonight,” Huang Qingyue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly, it’s cold at night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clearly, the north is dry—Yue Ge, you’ve aged quite a bit,” Xu Zaijing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Wu Ge!” came Zhang Wu Niang’s call from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone below looked up; Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Wu Niang turned to the others on the second floor and said: “Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a flurry of activity upstairs, several noble ladies wrapped in expensive fur cloaks descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stepped outside, the cool night wind brushed past, carrying the subtle, costly incense from their garments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing noticed Chang Mama standing beside Gu Tingyi and nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Mama bowed slightly in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding horses and carriages, they headed west along Pan Lou’s main street; before reaching the Imperial Street, the crowd became extremely dense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone dismounted and stepped down from their vehicles, preparing to walk the rest of the way to the Imperial Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they moved, Xu Zaijing instructed Qing Yun and A Lan to guard the outer perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Qing Yun and A Lan’s right stood Qing Cao and two other maids following Xu Zaijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bi Wei and the other personal attendants of Qi Heng stood behind Qing Yun and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this arrangement, the noble ladies were shielded inside by guards, servants, and maids—safe, yet still able to enjoy the lanterns and riddles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servants and retainers ahead turned to look at Chang Mama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing Yun, taller than the rest, pointed to A Lan ahead; Chang Mama quickly nodded: “Qing Yun, that boy—tell him to come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Qing Yun nudged A Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several of Gu Tingyi’s personal maids nearby covered their mouths and laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they openly stared at A Lan’s embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the group reached the vicinity of the Imperial Street, the procession remained intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Wu Niang, intentionally or not, held the hands of her two friends and walked to Xu Zaijing’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng and Liang Han walked together, occasionally whispering to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly Liang Han spoke, while Qi Heng listened, nodding now and then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking in the middle were Huang Qingyue and Gu Tingyi; perhaps still carrying battlefield habits from his recent return to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qingyue kept glancing around, his eyes sweeping over lanterns and passersby, yet avoiding lingering on the girls beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Gu Tingyi herself looked at the lanterns, she felt the young man beside her watching her with the corner of his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back and forth, Gu Tingyi sighed and rolled her eyes, then fixed her gaze directly on the young man beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Huang Qingyue dared another “stealthy” glance, he met the girl’s steady stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… the lanterns tonight are really beautiful,” Huang Qingyue said, gesturing around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingyi nodded: “How does the weather in the north compare to Bianjing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qingyue touched his cheek and smiled: “As Wu Lang said—it’s cold and dry, wearing you down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father uses a special ointment—I’ll have Mama send you a bottle tomorrow; it should help a bit,” Gu Tingyi smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qingyue paused, then nodded with a smile: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Mama, pretending to look elsewhere but listening intently, nodded slightly to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group walked along the Imperial Street, they paused frequently to watch roadside performances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing had seen many lantern festivals; some performances now seemed dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the storytelling booths with jokes and tales made him pause briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three noble ladies beside him focused on the exquisite lanterns, pulling Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng aside to help solve riddles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they drew near the girls, Xu Zaijing’s keen nose caught three distinct incense scents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking north along the Imperial Street, the group gradually neared the vast open space before Xuande Gate; the noise grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouts of “Ten Thousand Years!” echoed frequently, like a tidal wave of voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing’s group had all been to Xuande Gate to view the lanterns before; they were not unfamiliar with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, they often saw similar groups—mostly young men and women walking together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The lanterns on the Great Turtle Mountain are made every year—they say if you sincerely pray to them, your wishes will come true!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing frowned: “Wu Niang, I’ve never heard of this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! So that’s how it started,” Xu Zaijing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to their conversation, Rong Feiyan beside Zhang Wu Niang nodded vigorously, her eyes darting among the speakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her gaze landed on Xu Zaijing, she inevitably met his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had known Xu Zaijing for years, exchanged glances with him countless times, yet she had never seen him look at her like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feiyan sister?” Wu niang called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? What’s wrong?” Rong Feiyan snapped out of her confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feiyan, what did you pray for at the Giant Ao Mountain lantern?” asked Chai Zhengzheng, sitting beside Wu niang, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I’m praying for my brother,” Rong Feiyan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Wu niang nodded. “The southern mountains and rivers are treacherous, full of poisonous miasmas—you must pray hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Qi Heng and Liang Han hurried to Xu Zaijing’s side, each grabbing one of his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the group moved forward into the crowded throng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the tall Xuande Gate tower,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>beneath a lantern on one side of the gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Pingning stood behind the parapet, her face troubled, watching the colorful lanterns and the flowing crowd before Xuande Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lady, what’s wrong?” the Duke of Qi asked, stepping closer with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Pingning whispered, “Today, Yuanruo is watching the lanterns alone—I wonder where he is now, whether he…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke of Qi reassured her: “My lady, Yuanruo has Xu Wulang with him. That boy is always careful—you needn’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm! You’re right, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! Don’t go worrying needlessly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, the Duke of Qi and Princess Pingning walked together toward the Xuande Gate tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in the corridor connecting the Xuande Gate tower and the nearby Duo Tower, several noblewomen gathered, chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Pingmei smiled and tapped Yanran’s forehead. “We’re talking about Erlang—why are you dragging me into it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan laughed. \"Sister, I'm curious too—how did our eldest brother view Yu-brother back then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!” Yanran and Hua Lan both laughed, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing, Yanran’s eyes flickered between Pingmei and Hua Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yanran, what are you thinking?” Pingmei asked, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yanran quickly shook her head. “Sister-in-law, I—I wasn’t thinking anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan frowned playfully. “Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yanran finished, Pingmei and Hua Lan already understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pingmei sighed with a smile. “Ah, little Wu—he’s not worth arguing about. We’ll see later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan whispered softly, “Yanran, is your stepmother pushing you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Lan and Pingmei exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison: “We know nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Yanran nodded thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Xuande Gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>before the massive Ao Mountain lantern,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing, having finally pushed through, let out a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he shifted his body slightly, making way for the noblewomen behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rong Feiyan and the others hurried forward, standing to one side of Xu Zaijing’s group, palms pressed together in sincere prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing turned as instructed—and his eyes widened in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For not far away, past five or six people, Sheng’s eldest daughter, Wang Ruofu, was also praying with palms pressed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the Sheng family had gone to great lengths to reach the front of the Giant Ao Mountain lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang da niangzi is truly sincere!” Liang Han, standing on tiptoe, said earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing smiled. “Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2392,"2026-06-20T10:32:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","59d3d3a3eae689c7e243e17cb67b49fbbbca72a586bc38ee99236df0b51a83cd","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-757","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-755",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]