Chapter 75: Qiqiao Night "General, I don't need this kind of protection,...

Upon hearing this, Qi Yu turned his head and looked at Liu Yeshu. Liu Yeshu accepted his gaze and shook her head slightly. The jade hairpin on her bun swayed gently, making a slight sound.

When Qi Yu turned to Han Mo again, the warmth in his eyes had faded.

"Master Han, Miss Liu is a servant of my family, not a maid. I'm sorry I can't agree to what you've proposed."

Han Mo's smile remained undimmed, like a carefully crafted mask. His voice remained gentle, "General Qi, there's no need to be so defensive." As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily flicked to Liu Yeshu. "If the General is willing to help, I will ensure she is properly accommodated and won't suffer a single grievance."

"Helping someone achieve their goal?" Liu Yeshu, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke, her cold voice echoing through the hall. She took a half step forward, her figure as graceful as an orchid, her gaze clear yet sharp. "Excuse me, Young Master Han, whose goal have you achieved?" Her voice gradually rose. "I have only met Young Master Han once, and I have no feelings for him. I never imagined you would be such a reckless person. If I weren't from General Qi's household, I'd probably try to force myself on me."

Qi Yu's eyes flickered with surprise when he heard this. The flickering candlelight illuminated Liu Yeshu's now frosty face. He hadn't expected the usually gentle woman to be so sharp-tongued. Han Mo's mask of composure finally cracked, and a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes.

Qi Yu smiled coldly: "Mr. Han, did you hear that? If you have nothing else to do, please do as you please."

Han Mo tactfully stopped pestering her, bowing slightly. "In that case, I won't bother you today." Before leaving, his gaze lingered on Liu Yeshu for a moment, a look that held not only reluctance but also a hint of unfathomable emotion. Then he turned and strode away, his brocade robe fluttering, leaving behind a waft of ambergris.

By the time Han Mo left the general's residence, dusk had already fallen. His attendant lowered his voice and said, "Sir, it seems General Qi T is quite interested in that girl. Someone saw the old general playing chess with this woman in our residence today."

Han Mo listened and just replied lazily, "No problem." After walking a few steps, he suddenly hummed a lazy tune, with a meaningful tone, "Good stuff, everyone likes it."

At the Qi Mansion, Qi Yu took his seat again, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest as if lost in thought. After a moment, he looked up at Liu Yeshu and said, "This Han Mo is no ordinary man. He's General Han's youngest son. He's been my enemy since childhood. He's warm on the outside, but cold on the inside. If you encounter him in the future, be wary."

Liu Yeshu nodded and said bluntly: "What the general hates is exactly what I hate."

Qi Yu was delighted when he heard this, but he pretended to be calm. He picked up the teacup beside him and gently skimmed off the residue with the lid. His movements were graceful and calm. "It's not that I hate him, it's just that he's quite boring. He just does things that attract attention all the time."

He panicked, his Adam's apple moving slightly as he cleared his throat, his eyes unconsciously glancing away. The general, always so capable of commanding his troops, now displayed a touch of youthful embarrassment. He quickly changed the subject, a subtle hint of panic in his voice: "Tomorrow is the Qiqiao Festival. The capital city will surely be bustling tonight. You could go for a stroll."

Liu Yeshu looked up and asked sincerely, "General, aren't you going?"

"You can go." Qi Yu put down the teacup in his hand and said slowly.

*

On the night of the Qiqiao Festival, the streets of Beijing are ablaze with lights and decorations. People, dressed in their finest attire, flock to the streets in an endless stream, celebrating the annual Qixi Festival. Stalls selling sugar figurines and lanterns line the streets, while exquisitely dressed young women crowd the dazzling jewelry stalls. The air is filled with the delicate fragrance of osmanthus cakes, mingled with the sweet aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts.

Liu Yeshu had specially changed into a light green skirt today, the hem embroidered with delicate butterflies and a dark red brocade belt, which accentuated her delicate complexion. A white jade hairpin slanted through her hair, swaying gently with her steps. Qi Yu, on the other hand, wore a dark blue brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist. His handsome face lost some of its usual sharpness, gaining a touch of leisure, making him look like an ordinary young man.

The two walked side by side, crossing a small bridge with pink walls and black tiles. On the waterside pavilions beside the bridge, strings of lotus lanterns lit up one after another, like a crisscross of stars in the night sky. Under each lantern was a strip of red paper, written in either elegant regular script or flowing cursive script, filled with the girl's thoughts.

Qi Yu glanced sideways, watching Liu Yeshu intently watching the lotus lanterns. A gentle smile flashed in his eyes as he pointed to a young woman not far away. "During the Qiqiao Festival, people write their wishes on pieces of paper and place them in the river. If they float downstream, their wishes will come true. This is a custom in the capital."

Liu Yeshu nodded gently, gazing at the shimmering river. The lights reflected in the water looked like stars in the sky, fallen into the mortal world.

"The capital city is truly prosperous, and has a lot more human touch than the frontier fortresses."

Qi Yu's eyes dimmed slightly, but soon turned into tenderness: "If you like it, come often in the future."

Liu Yeshu did not answer, but looked down at the clear river water in front of her, with the moonlight dancing on the water.

Suddenly, a burst of cheerful laughter came from not far away. Someone shouted, "We have a game of "Qiaoguo Dou" (a kind of fruit-threading game) here! Ladies, come and try to see who can thread the needle the fastest!"

Liu Yeshu's eyes lit up slightly, and she looked up at Qi Yu: "General, do you want to go and take a look?"

Qi Yu looked at her bright eyes, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Of course it's up to you."

The two of them followed the path to a square where many women gathered, each holding a needle and thread, trying to thread fine threads through tiny needles under the moonlight. The girl in charge held a plate of qiao guo (a kind of fruit) and announced loudly, "Whoever threads three needles first wins a plate of qiao guo!"

The women watching were all eager to try. Seeing the fragrant aroma of the chocolate fruit, Liu Yeshu became curious and couldn't help but roll up her sleeves, revealing a glimpse of her fair wrist. She took the needle and thread, twisted it lightly with her slender fingers, and began to concentrate on aligning it with the needlehole.

After a while, Liu Yeshu deftly pulled the first thread through with a gentle push. Qi Yu couldn't help but whisper in admiration, "Shu'er, you're quite deft." The natural "Shu'er" she called out made Liu Yeshu's ears blush slightly.

She looked up, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I learned this from my mother," she said, her voice tinged with the sweetness of a young girl. Soon, she had threaded the second and third needles with ease.

The lady in charge handed her a plate of snacks and praised Qi Yu, "Your wife's cooking skills are really amazing!"

Liu Yeshu was almost unable to hold the Qiaoguo firmly.

Qi Yu nodded in agreement and helped to steady the plate: "I am so lucky."

The sweet aroma of the glutinous rice cake wafts into your nose, exuding a faint scent of osmanthus.

Liu Yeshu shared the cookie with Qi Yu and picked up a piece to taste. The soft and fragrant texture made her eat a few more. Qi Yu looked at her happy expression and couldn't help but taste a few more.

The two continued their tour of the night market, following the crowds to another bustling stall. They saw several young women gathered around a table, intently kneading dough figurines. The stall owner, a kindly old woman, noticed someone stopping by and smiled as she explained, "Use flour, water, and colorful pigments to create your desired shape. Legend has it that the better you make the dough, the more clever you become, and the richer and happier you'll be in your future."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yeshu couldn't help but be eager to try again. She picked up the dough the stall owner handed her and began to knead it carefully. First, she rolled out a round body, then added short limbs. Finally, she used a thin wooden stick to carefully carve out pointed ears and round eyes. She dipped a little red paint and gently dotted the tips of the rabbit's ears, instantly bringing the dough bunny to life. Its adorable appearance drew the amazement of the girls around it.

Qi Yu looked down at the chubby bunny, his smile deepened, and he whispered, "This bunny looks like you, smart and cute."

Liu Yeshu blushed slightly and handed the noodle rabbit to Qi Yu: "Then General, take it back."

Qi Yu solemnly accepted the dough rabbit, as if accepting a rare treasure. They strolled to another stall, where a large basin filled with clear water sat on a wooden table. A few copper coins floated in the basin, and a few slender silver needles were neatly arranged beside it. This was the game of "throwing a needle to pray for skill." The rules seemed simple, but they were actually quite challenging: drop a silver needle into the basin and let it rest firmly on the copper coins to win a beautifully embroidered sachet.

"General, how about a try?" Liu Yeshu handed over a silver needle with a smile and a hint of mischief.

Qi Yu took the silver needle and flicked his wrist gently. The needle drew a graceful arc and landed directly on the copper coin. The silver needle stood firmly on the water surface, and the surrounding people immediately cheered and praised.

Liu Yeshu couldn't help but applaud: "It's really amazing!"

Qi Yu smiled slightly and handed the sachet to her: "In that case, this prize is for you."

Liu Yeshu took the sachet, feeling a warmth in her hand, still slightly cool from the silver needle. As she was examining the sachet, she suddenly heard a few clear laughs coming from the river not far away.

Following the sound, she saw countless colorful lanterns floating on the river, each emitting a soft halo, like stars fallen from the sky. The flickering shadows of the lanterns drifted slowly into the distance on the ripples, sketching a flowing picture in the night. Many young women gathered by the river, their hands clasped together, praying devoutly to the lanterns, their faces filled with longing smiles. Liu Yeshu watched, mesmerized, her eyes following the lights, each carrying a wish, as if her own thoughts drifted along with them.

Liu Yeshu was fascinated by the sight, and her eyes involuntarily lingered on the gentle shadows of the lights.

On the nearby river, colorful lights illuminated the water with dazzling colors. Small boats sat quietly moored on the shore, their boatmen warmly greeting the passing tourists.

Seeing Liu Yeshu fascinated by the scene, Qi Yu said at the right time: "Why don't we go take a boat trip on the river as well?"

Liu Yeshu's heart was already fluttering, and she nodded quickly upon hearing this. Qi Yu extended his hand, his palm warm and strong, and carefully helped her step onto the boat. The boat was covered with soft brocade mats and decorated with delicate colored lights. As the boat rocked gently, a gentle breeze blew in, bringing with it the cool scent of the river water.

The boat slowly left the shore, sending up a few tiny splashes of water. Sitting side by side, they gazed at the dazzling lights on the shore, a sense of peace welling up in their hearts. The night breeze blew gently, and Liu Yeshu unconsciously lowered her head to play with the fruit in her hand. Suddenly, she felt a strange sense of nervousness. All around was silence, the only sound being the gentle rustle of the water.

Qi Yu broke the silence and asked softly, "Shu'er, do you have any wishes in your heart?"

Liu Yeshu was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Qi Yu: "General...why do you suddenly ask this?"

Qi Yu smiled slightly, with tenderness in his eyes: "I know you have been working hard for your family. Why don't you tell me what you wish for?"

Liu Yeshu's heart moved, she lowered her eyes, and said softly: "I just want my family to be safe and live a stable life. Other than that... I don't have any extravagant requests."

Qi Yu stared at her silently, his heart full of words, but he didn't know where to begin. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "If you can settle down in the capital and live there permanently in the future, you will have less trouble."

Liu Yeshu's heart trembled slightly when she heard this. She understood the meaning of his words, but she couldn't believe it. She took a deep breath and said half-jokingly, "Is it possible that the general would give up the frontier defense?"

Qi Yu was silent for a while, then said, "If I don't set foot in the temple, it may be difficult to protect... the people I want to protect."

"General, I don't need this kind of protection," Liu Yeshu said seriously, "I also hope that you are safe."

The night breeze blew gently, causing their sleeves to flutter slightly. All around was silence, with only the gentle rippling of water and the faint chirping of insects in the distance. Liu Yeshu let out a soft breath, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. Qi Yu reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Come with me to see the night scenery." Qi Yu said softly, looking at the starry sky with gentle eyes.

Liu Yeshu nodded slightly and followed Qi Yu's gaze towards the night sky. The stars twinkled against the deep blue sky, like countless dazzling diamonds, quietly framing their figures. She and Qi Yu sat side by side, feeling the tacit understanding between them, and her heart gradually filled with peace and satisfaction.

"It's so beautiful..." Liu Yeshu sighed softly.

The two of them sat quietly under the starry sky, as if they were the only two people left in the world. The world stopped at this moment, and only the sound of each other's heartbeats could be heard.