In the capital of Zhongzhou, as the New Year approached, almost every household was adorned with festive greetings and red decorations.
On the day of the grand lantern festival, Xiao Chizhan set aside all his official duties to accompany Ye鸾 to view the lantern market.
The streets were crowded, with vendors lining both sides. Various exquisite lanterns were hung high, illuminating every corner with a multitude of designs and dazzling golden light.
Ye鸾 weaved through the bustling streets, observing the passersby, her small palm-sized face beaming with a smile.
A gentle breeze brushed the fluff on her cloak, tickling her fair cheeks. She couldn't help but reach up to brush it away.
Xiao Chizhan had been watching her closely. Seeing her smile and her actions, he couldn't help but reveal a faint smile. The deep crimson, bloodthirsty gaze in his eyes gradually softened.
“Hold my hand.”
The restraint around his waist loosened, and before her were his long, clean fingers.
Ye鸾 paused for a moment, then reached out and took his hand.
“There are so many people. Stick close to me, don’t get lost.”
“Don’t we have hidden guards all around us? How could we get lost?”
Xiao Chizhan’s back stiffened slightly. He then glanced at her, finding nothing unusual.
He ignored the discomfort in his heart and changed the subject, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to buy candied hawthorns.”
“I don’t want any.”
Her blunt refusal ignited a spark of anger in Xiao Chizhan’s heart. Last time in Daliang’s capital, Lu Feibai bought her some, and she had eaten them with such delight. Now, with him, she didn’t want them?
He suppressed his annoyance and asked, “Then what do you want to eat?”
Ye鸾 sensed the sharpness in his tone and frowned slightly. She truly didn’t want anything.
“Then shall we go to the bridge and see if there’s anything good to eat?”
Seeing her ask him, Xiao Chizhan leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Don’t look at me with those innocent eyes, I can’t stand it.”
Ye鸾: “----”
The two followed the crowd towards the bridge, with various snacks lining both sides: candies, preserved fruits, fruits, and vegetables, everything imaginable.
Ye鸾 walked around but didn’t see anything she wanted to eat.
They descended from the bridge and arrived at the livelier other end, where the crowds grew thicker.
Ye鸾 spotted a bustling stall and her eyes lit up.
“You want to eat?”
“Sour plum rice noodles. I’ve never seen them sold in Liangdu. Zhongzhou has quite a few delicacies.”
In front of the small stall, steam rose in plumes, and many people were eating.
Xiao Chizhan stood awkwardly at the stall, out of place.
Ye鸾 asked him indifferently, “Do you want any?”
He remained silent.
“If you don’t eat, I’ll have a bowl.”
‘I want to eat.’
Upon hearing this, Ye鸾 ordered two bowls.
They sat on the stools, and the common people eating noodles around them cast curious glances, especially the children, who pointed at Xiao Chizhan’s hair and giggled.
“Strange man, strange man—”
“Mother, why are his eyes red? Is he a ghost from the storybooks?”
Ye鸾 was startled and quickly looked at Xiao Chizhan opposite her. Seeing that his expression hadn’t changed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She was afraid Xiao Chizhan would get angry, smash the stall, and kill someone.
“Here they come, here they come, fragrant and delicious rice noodles are here—”
“Please enjoy, two esteemed customers.”
Ye鸾 looked at the porcelain bowls on the table, the steaming rice noodles, topped with minced meat and chopped scallions. With each bite, they were refreshing, tender, and left a lingering fragrance.
The tables and stools of this small stall were a bit dirty. Xiao Chizhan sat on a stool, looking at the food before him, his chopsticks motionless for a long time.
He looked up at the girl opposite him. Under the flickering lamplight, the coldness in her eyes gradually dissipated. She ate her noodles in small bites, her nose tip rosy, looking exceptionally cute.
“Is it really that delicious?”
Ye鸾 looked up and said, “You can try it.”
Xiao Chizhan picked up a pair of chopsticks and asked her, “Did you bring a handkerchief?”
“Here.”
After wiping them with the handkerchief, he began to eat.
Ye鸾 glanced at him inadvertently, then quietly lowered her head and ate.
The surroundings were filled with a cacophony of voices, the continuous lamplight, the lively calls of vendors peddling their wares through the streets, and street performers not far away, breathing fire. It was incredibly vibrant.
After finishing a bowl of noodles, Ye鸾 felt a warmth spread through her, her fair cheeks flushed.
“Let’s go when you’re done eating.”
Xiao Chizhan put down the silver coins and pulled her up to leave.
The two walked around the market.
Ye鸾 saw a lantern tree ahead and was slightly surprised.
“What a large lantern tree.”
“Let’s go, let’s go take a look.”
Xiao Chizhan pulled her towards the lively crowd.
“Would you two like to see some lanterns? If you buy a lantern here and make a wish, it’s very effective when hung up.”
In front of the stall, many lanterns were displayed. Ye鸾 thought they were quite pretty. She casually picked a rabbit lantern and sat on a stool to write her wish.
“Young master, you come too! The wishes these two have made can be hung on this same lantern.”
Hearing this, Xiao Chizhan sat beside Ye鸾 and peered at what she was writing.
Ye鸾 immediately noticed and deliberately covered it.
“What are you covering? You’ve written so much. If you have so many wishes, why not tell me? I’ll grant them all for you.”
Seeing that she ignored him, Xiao Chizhan also took a piece of paper and turned his back to her to write.
He finished quickly. Seeing that Ye鸾 was still not done, he couldn’t help but peek again.
Ye鸾 dodged him, quickly folded it, and threw it into the lantern.
“Young master, put it in.”
Xiao Chizhan threw his paper strip in.
After sealing the opening, Ye鸾 took the rabbit lantern and hung it on the lantern tree behind them.
Just then, suddenly, there was a loud bang in the sky as fireworks exploded, showering the heavens with streams of light.
The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in cheers and rushed to the river to watch the fireworks.
In an instant, the crowds here thinned considerably.
After Ye鸾 hung the lantern, she spoke calmly.
“Once the wish is revealed, it’s no longer effective. Your Highness must not secretly open it in the middle of the night.”
Having guessed his thoughts, Xiao Chizhan coughed lightly, “What are you talking about? I am not a person who sneaks around like a thief.”
“Yes, Your Highness is definitely not.”
Xiao Chizhan, displeased, took her hand and walked forward.
“Do you want to watch the fireworks? I can have someone set off fireworks all night.”
Ye鸾: “---”
‘What’s wrong? What’s with that look?’
His tone was even a little aggrieved.
Ye鸾 gently squeezed his palm, “Let’s go watch from the colored pavilion.”
“Okay.”
He directly scooped her up by the waist and leaped onto the roof of the colored pavilion.
Ye鸾 lay on the eaves, gazing at the brilliant fireworks overhead, and smiled faintly. Such free and easy days would soon arrive.
“Luan luan, you like coming out to play. I will definitely bring you out more, alright?”
He leaned in, his dangerously red lips curving slightly, his bewitching face full of sincerity.
Ye鸾 turned her head and looked at him intently. His seductive fox-like eyes seemed to fix on his face. She suddenly reached out and touched the mole beneath his eye.
“Okay.”
Xiao Chizhan, I don’t want to be your prisoner anymore. After tomorrow night, we! Will never see each other again!
The girl’s bright, cunning face was tinged with a faint smile. He lifted her chin, and a gentle kiss began to fall, inch by inch.
Above, fireworks bloomed, unrestrained and brilliant.