Chapter 45: Sky Lantern

Sky Lanterns are similar to river lanterns; in earlier years they were used for sacrificial purposes.

Over time they evolved into things like praying for blessings and fulfilling vows.

Liu Dafu chuckled as he asked around and found out that today, an elderly lady of a wealthy household's residence in the city is seriously ill; the wealthy household, wanting to pray for blessings, organized their servants to release sky lanterns outside the city.

At this moment, the people pouring into the street are all going to watch the lantern release.

After all, the sight of dozens or hundreds of sky lanterns rising together into the sky is still quite spectacular.

Upon hearing that one had to go outside the city to see them, Feng Xuanrui immediately jumped up and said, "We want to see, we want to see!"

Sui Sui didn't really understand, but she trusted her brother, so she quickly jumped up as well, saying, "Brother is right!"

Liu Dafu was amused by the two children, but he didn't immediately agree; instead he turned his head to look at Prince Qing.

Prince Qing:?

Whether to agree or refuse, it's up to me to decide?

If in the end I refuse, then I'll be the one to play the bad guy?

The two children's gazes, following Liu Dafu's movement, have now fallen upon Prince Qing.

Two pairs of eyes, full of anticipation and shining brightly, looked at him; Prince Qing felt no pressure, only helplessness.

So many people……

If another abduction incident were to happen again, that would really be troublesome.

But he couldn't bear to disappoint the two children.

After all, Sui Sui, this pitiful child, rarely dared to express what was in her heart.

If I were to refuse, who knows whether she would dare to speak up next time.

Thinking of these, Prince Qing nodded and said, "Pay attention, don't get separated, stay close to the adults, and don't keep rushing forward on your own!"

The deception and abduction happened just a few days ago, and the two children still remember it.

So at this moment they are obediently nodding.

This time, Prince Qing and his group are also protecting the two children more carefully.

Aside from the attendants whose injuries haven't healed yet, who are resting at the inn, everyone else has gone out onto the street.

This small town also has a considerable population; Wen Prefecture's geographical environment is superior, the land is fairly fertile, so the overall economy is not bad.

From the town's nighttime, the splendid streetscape can be seen somewhat.

With many people and lively atmosphere, it is also full of various unknown dangers.

Having learned from the previous experience, Liu Dafu's eyes couldn't afford to look elsewhere; they kept fixed on the two children as they watched.

Although they didn't release river lanterns, nor did they get to see the lively scene.

But they can go see sky lanterns!

Moreover, compared to river lanterns, this is relatively friendly for Sui Sui.

Because one can see it just by looking up, without needing to push forward.

When they arrived outside the city, many sky lanterns had already been released.

Watching lantern after lantern fly up into the sky, Sui Sui raised her head and couldn't help exclaiming again and again, "Wow, brother, there's another one!"

"Brother, here comes another, here comes another!"

"Brother, that one is also going up!"

……

Sui Sui's repeated cries of "brother" left Feng Xuanrui feeling completely bewildered.

He kept nodding, saying, "Little sister, don't make a fuss; when we return to Jing Cheng, I'll have someone specially set off a display for you."

"The craftsmanship of this lantern is just average; it can't compare to the skills of the old artisans in Jing Cheng."

……

The two children's conversation made people want to laugh but afraid to really laugh, and they became annoyed again.

Sui Sui is fine; she understands little, her courage is small, and even if she laughs she might not understand.

But Feng Xuanrui, this little tyrant, is still rather fragile-hearted.

So they should bear it a bit longer, lest they provoke him.

At first, Sui Sui was still marveling at the beauty and splendor of the sky lanterns.

As she watched, she also recalled what Feng Xuanrui had earlier explained to her—what sky lanterns are and why they are released.

Sui Sui thought: Although the sky lanterns aren't released by her, since they are blessing lanterns, it shouldn't matter if she tags along, right?

Because she wasn't sure, Sui Sui didn't dare to ask anyone else, so she quietly asked the system.

【Le Le, if I tag along and join the blessing, is it okay?】

The system quickly gave a reply.

【It's fine; originally releasing them outside the city was precisely so everyone could bless together.】

【Sui Sui only needs, while praying for herself and those around her, to murmur: May the old lady be safe.】

Although Sui Sui didn't quite understand, Le Le's words were surely correct.

So Sui Sui raised her head, watching those slowly ascending and drifting away sky lanterns, and whispered her blessing: "May my brother be safe, may Liu Ye Ye be safe, may Prince Qing Uncle be safe…… may the old lady be safe."

Sui Sui also doesn't know complex blessing phrases.

Safety, to her, is the greatest and best blessing.

So, for each person, she used the same words.

Feng Xuanrui didn't hear it at first, but later felt his sister must be murmuring something, so he involuntarily turned sideways and pricked up his ears to listen.

At that moment, Sui Sui had already called out to Di Jiao.

Feng Xuanrui listened for a long time, and in the end even the unnamed old lady received a blessing phrase.

How come he doesn't have it?

This left him feeling both lost and uneasy.

Feng Xuanrui shook Sui Sui's hand, feeling wronged as he asked: "Sister, what about me? Why don't I have one?"

Sui Sui had just finished reciting a long string of names, and her mind was still a bit slow to catch up.

Hearing her brother's question, she voiced her confusion: "Ah?"

Meeting her brother's eyes, which were filled with big tears, Sui Sui took a moment to understand: "The first person I prayed for was you, brother!"

After saying that, Sui Sui shyly pressed her lips, hesitated a moment, then asked: "Brother, is this the right thing to do?"

Upon hearing that the first person his sister prayed for was himself, the big tears in Feng Xuanrui's eyes instantly fell.

Before, it was because he felt wronged, so tears had welled up in his eyes.

Now they fell because he was moved.

As expected, sister is the best!

He loves sister the most!

Feng Xuanrui was both happy and moved.

He couldn't help but pull Sui Sui into a tight hug: "Exactly, exactly, sister, whatever you do is right."

Afraid that Sui Sui might not follow this order next time, Feng Xuanrui quickly added: "Putting brother first is right; sister, you're truly good, brother loves Sui Sui the most!"

To be honest, Feng Xuanrui's hug was a bit tight, leaving Sui Sui somewhat short of breath.

But she still felt that her brother's embrace was warm and reassuring.

Sui Sui didn't struggle; instead, she obediently let Feng Xuanrui hold her, her voice muffled but her words clear: "Sui Sui also loves brother the most."

After saying that, Sui Sui felt the words weren't sincere enough, so she quickly added: "I love only brother."

Upon hearing that, Feng Xuanrui felt moved and was about to cry again.

As a young master of the Wangfu, many people had previously prayed for him and copied scriptures for him.

But Feng Xuanrui felt that what moved him most was still his sister.

Perhaps deep in a child's heart, it's not just because of this simple prayer; there was also the time when, trapped in the firewood shed, as danger approached, Sui Sui, with difficulty but determination, stood in front of him to shield him from all harm.

Second update

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(End of chapter)