Chapter 514: The Demon Lord Princess's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 607: The Kongming Lantern Fell Into the Water

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Ouyang Chengren seemed to realize only now that everyone around was watching him; a faint blush rose on his face, he gave an awkward smile, then quickly took Qianqian's hand and hurriedly slipped away.

The two walked slowly along the river, chatting and laughing all the way. As they walked, they saw many people ahead releasing Kongming lanterns; lantern after lantern, like stars in the night sky, shimmering with faint light, rose slowly into the heavens.

Ouyang Chengren had previously had zero interest in this sort of thing, not even willing to spare it a second glance.

Yet now, watching those young couples release Kongming lanterns together, an unprecedented romantic feeling surged in his heart.

He involuntarily stopped, led Qianqian to a small stall, and curiously asked the price of the lanterns. The stall keeper replied enthusiastically: "Fifty copper coins each, Young Master."

Without hesitation Ouyang Chengren fished a piece of broken silver from his sleeve, handed it to the stall keeper, and said: "Two."

The stall keeper took the silver and said with a smile: "Young Master, you may pick the patterns you like."

Ouyang Chengren looked closely and saw the lanterns had four sides; three sides bore exquisite designs, while the fourth side was blank.

He examined the designs carefully and finally chose a landscape-painting lantern, while Qianqian picked one painted with a cute little rabbit.

The stall keeper smiled and explained: "Young Master, Miss, the blank side is for you to write your own wishes.

When you light the lantern later, it will carry your wishes up into the sky.

If the lantern flies up smoothly, it means your wish will surely come true!"

Ouyang Chengren smiled and nodded, indicating he understood.

As before, he took a writing brush from the stall keeper and solemnly wrote his wish on the lantern: "May Xishang Kingdom enjoy lasting peace and stability, and may I be joined in marriage with the one my heart desires."

After writing, Ouyang Chengren handed the brush to Qianqian.

Qianqian took the brush, thought a moment, then swiftly wrote her wish: "May my family be healthy in body." Though only a few characters, she wrote quickly, as if those words had been silently recited in her heart countless times.

Ouyang Chengren curiously wanted to lean over and see what Qianqian had written, but Qianqian quickly turned the written side toward herself and said: "No peeking, or the wish won't work!"

Ouyang Chengren smiled helplessly and had to give up.

Then the two walked together to the riverbank. Ouyang Chengren took a fire starter from his sleeve, handed it to Qianqian, and said gently: "You go first." Qianqian nodded and replied softly: "Okay."

Qianqian carefully placed the lantern on the ground, then used the fire starter to gently light the wick. In an instant the lantern seemed to come alive, shooting straight up and rising slowly into the sky.

When the lantern reached high altitude, a gentle breeze happened to blow; this soft wind, like an invisible hand, lightly lifted the lantern, carrying it higher and farther along the wind's direction.

At the moment the lantern soared, the flame illuminated the whole lantern, like a brilliant pearl in the night sky.

And in that bright firelight Ouyang Chengren clearly saw the characters on the lantern: "May my family be healthy in body."

Ouyang Chengren couldn't help but exclaim: "Qianqian really is a filial good girl!" His gaze followed the lantern into the distance, and a warm feeling rose in his heart.

Watching the lantern gradually rise, a delighted smile appeared on Qianqian's face. She handed the fire starter to Ouyang Chenrin and said softly: "Here, your turn."

Ouyang Chengren took the fire starter, carefully placed the lantern on the ground, then used the fire starter to light the wick.

As the flame leaped, the lantern slowly rose into the sky, as if carrying Ouyang Chengren's wish, flying toward the distance.

However, just as the lantern had only reached mid-air, a sudden gale struck. The wind was extraordinarily fierce, like a ferocious giant beast, ruthlessly blowing out the fire inside the lantern.

The lantern lost power and plummeted straight down from mid-air, like a kite with a broken string, finally landing with a "plop" into the river beside them.

Ouyang Chengren watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, his heart tightening involuntarily. He couldn't help thinking: "Could my wish come to nothing? Could Xishang Kingdom cease to exist?"

At that thought, Ouyang Chengren's face instantly turned cold, as if shrouded in a chill.

Qianqian beside him, though unaware what wish Ouyang Chengren had written, saw his dejected look and hurriedly comforted him: "General, want to release another river lantern? Maybe this was just an accident."

Hearing this, Ouyang Chengren couldn't help but hesitate.

He thought: if I release another river lantern and it still falls, how can I console myself that it was just an accident? The thought made him instantly lose all interest; he completely lost enthusiasm for releasing river lanterns.

Yet faced with Qianqian's concerned gaze, Ouyang Chengren truly couldn't bear to disappoint her. So he forced his spirits up, put on a dark face, and said to Qianqian: "Forget it, we won't release any more. Let's go stroll somewhere else."

Seeing Ouyang Chengren say so, Qianqian naturally agreed readily.

The two continued strolling along the riverbank, admiring the scenery along the way.

As they walked, they suddenly saw many women releasing river lanterns by the river; colorful lanterns floated on the water like twinkling stars, beautiful beyond description.

However, Ouyang Chengren at this point had zero interest in releasing river lanterns, so he did not propose doing so again.

As for Qianqian, she hadn't had much interest in releasing river lanterns to begin with, so she didn't mind.

The two walked leisurely like this; before long, Ouyang Chengren escorted Qianqian back to the General's Mansion.

He himself then turned and headed toward the Imperial Gongdian. The palace had halls specially for rest; Ouyang Chengren, familiar with the route, went straight there.

When he entered the hall, the palace maids, seeing the Zhenxi General arrive unexpectedly, were all startled and retreated trembling to the side.

Only a few little eunuchs mustered courage to step forward and attend to Ouyang Chengren carefully.