In the past few days, whenever the young lady and the prince have corresponded, it has been through her who delivers the letters; it is absolutely impossible for them to be delivered by the gatekeeper.

"No, it's not that. Someone is using the prince's name to lure me out."

Qi Yu scoffed, "When you lead Miss out, shouldn't you be imitating the Prince's handwriting? How can you imitate yours? Is this person out of their mind?"

Zhu Yu chuckled lightly, "He's got a problem with his head, and he's seriously ill."

Qi Yu casually tossed the letter into the brazier: "Miss, are you going?"

"Go, why wouldn't you go?"

"ah?"

"Get ready, I'm taking you and Li Feng out for some fun today."

Qi Yu nodded: "Miss, let me go and meet this person. I want to see what kind of tricks he is up to."

The Lantern Festival was the grandest festival in Shengjing (Mukden), but he had never had the chance to participate in it before because he was in the Northwest.

Even before he turned thirteen, no one took him out of the palace to play.

This was the first time he had ever participated in such a lively event, so naturally he had to go.

As the fourth prince, Lu Xiaoyun naturally had to go as well. She had to go up to the lantern-lighting platform first, accompany her father to light the lanterns, and then escort her father back to the palace before she could come out.

During this time, he could first take Li Feng and Qi Yu sightseeing, and then go to Liaohu Residence.

As night fell, many nobles from the palace began to take their seats on the lamp-lighting platform.

A huge lantern stands in front of the lighting platform, winding its way upwards as if gazing up at the vast sky.

The Third Prince has been collecting winter clothes and provisions these past few days, but for some reason, several large grain shops in Shengjing City are out of food, and even winter clothes are scarce.

The emperor ordered him to collect 100,000 shi of grain and 100,000 sets of winter clothes and quilts, but so many days have passed and he hasn't even collected half of them.

This was his first official assignment, and if he messed it up, he would surely be scolded by his father.

Outraged, he led his men to search all the shops' warehouses, but apart from a few rats scurrying around, they couldn't find a single grain of rice.

The same goes for winter clothes and quilts; a huge warehouse only had a few bolts of cloth scattered around.

He was so anxious that he developed several blisters on his lips, so naturally he had no interest in participating in the Lantern Festival.

The Third Prince's mission didn't go smoothly, so Consort De lost interest in causing trouble and was anxiously pacing around the inner palace.

Consort De could only pressure her father, the Duke of Yingguo. What could the Duke of Yingguo do? He could only squeeze out a few thousand shi (a unit of dry measure) from the military rations, but that was just a drop in the bucket.

There must have been someone secretly buying up supplies before them, hoping that the Third Prince would fail in his mission and be punished by the Emperor.

Who else could it be but Zhu Zhi?

Zhu Zhi doesn't have that kind of brain; it must be Bu Feizhang.

Zhu Chen had people keep a close eye on Bu Feizhang, but the old man had been behaving himself these past few days, and Zhu Chen hadn't been able to find any fault with him.

While keeping an eye on Bu Feizhang, Zhu Chen personally went to several major cities near Shengjing City to buy grain.

However, the amount of grain purchased was still pitifully small, falling short of 100,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

"Your Highness, several wealthy merchants have appeared in Mu City and are distributing porridge and winter clothes there."

Zhu Chen's eyelids twitched, and he looked at the servant kneeling before him, asking, "Who?"

The man handed a piece of paper to Zhu Chen: "There have been several groups. Our people have already gone to find out where these people came from."

Zhu Chen felt uneasy when several wealthy businessmen inexplicably offered assistance to Mu Cheng, but he couldn't find a way to address this unease.

I looked at that piece of paper over and over again, but I didn't recognize any of the names on it.

On the lamp-lighting platform, the noble ladies of the palace ate fruits and chatted, but the old emperor had not yet arrived.

The main seat was empty, and below it was the Crown Prince's seat. Beside the Crown Prince was the Second Prince, Zhu Heng. Opposite them were the Consort Xian, as well as other concubines from the palace and several princesses who had already married.

The Empress Dowager is old and doesn't like to join in such festivities, but Princess Ruoling has come as well.

She leaned on the railing, chatting and laughing with several older princesses who were already married.

Prince An also has a position, but he hasn't arrived yet either.

Several important people were gathered together, chattering away.

Commander Xiao Song of the Imperial Guards led two squads of Imperial Guards to patrol the area around Zhaiyue Tower again. With the emperor away from the palace, his responsibility as the commander of the Imperial Guards was particularly heavy.

Ren Yushan walked to the lampstand and looked at a young eunuch not far away.

The young eunuch nodded slightly to him and then disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Zhu Yu led Li Feng and Qi Yu through the streets of Shengjing City.

The city of Shengjing, adorned with lanterns of all kinds, looked even more dazzling and colorful than during the day.

Groups of young men and women also went out that day.

The customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty were relatively open, and there were no rules that prohibited women from leaving their residences or required them to wear curtains when leaving.

There were even young masters who secretly met with women they admired.

Zhu Yu thought how wonderful it would be if he and Lu Xiaoyun walked hand in hand on the streets of Shengjing.

A young couple was buying things at a stall, and the young man was holding a string of candied hawthorns.

Zhu Yu was so engrossed in watching that he felt as if the young couple opposite him were himself and Lu Xiaoyun.

The young man held the candied hawthorn to the woman's lips, and she smiled sweetly at him, then stretched out her delicate white teeth and took a bite out of half of it.

The young man smiled gently and took the other half into his mouth.

The woman asked the young man, "Is it sweet?"

The young master laughed and said, "Not as sweet as yours."

The woman, immediately embarrassed and annoyed, went to pat the young man.

"Not as sweet as you."

Zhu Yu also bought a string of candied hawthorns, took a bite, and found them very sweet.

But, "not as sweet as you."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!