As Jian Yang spoke, she took Jian Hong's hand and led him toward the dining room.

Jian Hong originally wanted to remind her that she was already a grown woman and should be mindful of the proper separation between men and women.

But the moment she took his hand, he suddenly recalled the time they spent together as children, and his heart softened instantly.

His sister is so cute.

"No, I don't mind at all." The decisive and ruthless general was so nervous that he could hardly speak. "The pastries you sent me last time, sister, were delicious."

Jian Yang was pleased to receive his praise and said happily, "Since you like it, I'll make it for you again tomorrow."

Jian Hong suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

He doesn't know how much his sister has suffered in the years he's been gone.

The daughter of a high-ranking official actually cooked for herself.

But he was afraid of hurting Jian Yang's feelings, so he didn't dare say these words to her face.

Little did Jian Yang know that her brother felt even more sympathy and pity for her, and secretly vowed to protect her for the rest of his life.

After dinner, Jian Hong told her about what he had seen and heard in northern Xinjiang, which filled Jian Yang with longing.

Because they talked so late, Jian Hong stayed overnight at the Prime Minister's residence.

The next day, Jian Hong took her out of the city to ride horses again, and the two siblings played wildly all day.

Good times always pass too quickly. With the three-day holiday coming to an end, Jian Yang was extremely depressed and spent the whole afternoon feeling gloomy.

To cheer her up, Jian Hong suggested taking her to the night market in Dongshi.

She immediately perked up.

There is a curfew in the capital, but tonight is an exception.

Because a lantern festival is being held in the East Market tonight.

The two went out when it got dark, and the closer they got to the East Market, the more lively it became.

Lanterns of various shapes and sizes illuminated the long street, and merchants and vendors along the way called out their wares.

People on the street were each carrying a lantern.

Those lanterns were truly beautiful; whether they were shaped like small animals or plants, they were all made with remarkable realism.

This craftsmanship would be considered exquisite even by modern standards.

Jian Yang, her eyes gleaming with envy, stopped a girl carrying a pig-shaped lantern and asked with a smile, "Little sister, where did you buy this lantern?"

The little girl was very kind: "The lanterns were bought from the Zhang family. Their lanterns win the championship every year."

Jian Yang then asked where Lantern Zhang's shop was, and after receiving the answer, she went there with Jian Hong.

However, the street was crowded with people, and the two were so good-looking that Jian Hong was afraid his younger sister would be taken advantage of, so he casually bought a fox mask from a nearby vendor.

“Ayang, you wear a mask and wait for your brother under that big locust tree.”

Jian Yang obediently complied.

She just didn't expect that no sooner had Jian Hong left than two drunken thugs showed up.

"Young lady, who are you waiting for here? Take off your mask and let your brothers see you."

Jian Yang said expressionlessly, "Get lost!"

The rogue laughed even more heartily, "This young lady has quite a fiery temper, which I find very appealing."

After saying that, the two pounced on her.

Jian Yang didn't dodge at all. She simply raised her hand and flicked it, scattering a handful of powder from her hand. The two thugs inhaled it into their nostrils and collapsed to the ground in an instant.

Passersby were busy admiring the lanterns and assumed the two drunkards were just drunkards, so they all took a detour.

Suddenly, a male voice came from behind the locust tree.

"This young lady is truly remarkable."

Jian Yang was startled and turned her head to see a tall and slender man in a brocade robe and a fox mask leaning against the locust tree.

"Who are you?" Jian Yang grabbed the remaining powder, her face wary.

The man raised his hands and waved them to indicate that he meant no harm.

"Please don't misunderstand, young lady. I arrived here under the locust tree before you to wait for someone, and I meant no harm."

Seeing that he was sincere and dressed like a bad person, Jian Yang gradually lowered her guard.

"Would you like it, young lady?"

The man pulled out a round rabbit lantern from somewhere and laughed, "It's from the Zhang family of lanterns."

The little rabbit was so cute that Jian Yang fell in love with it at first sight.

She certainly wanted it, but she had never met this man before, and it wouldn't be right to accept something from someone else so rashly.

So she shook her head and said, "A gentleman does not take what others cherish. You should keep it for the person you are waiting for."

On such a romantic night, he must be waiting for someone's girl.

The man laughed upon hearing this, "I just bought this on a whim. If you don't like it, I'll just throw it away."

"No, no, no!" Jian Yang snatched it away. "This rabbit is so cute, if you don't want it, I'll take it."

The man's smile deepened as he watched her fondling the lantern.

"Ah Yang, I'm sorry," Jian Hong's voice sounded from behind. "The lanterns from Lantern Zhang's shop are sold out, so I bought a rabbit lantern from another shop. Do you like it?"

Before Jian Hong could finish speaking, he saw his sister carrying an adorable rabbit lantern, much more exquisite than the one he had bought.

At the same time, a strange man was standing next to her.

Jian Hong frowned immediately, pulled her behind him, and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "Just a passerby."

After all, one is indebted to others, and Jian Yang had just received the rabbit lantern from them, so how could she let Jian Hong question her so fiercely?

So she cleared her throat and stepped in to smooth things over, "Brother, don't worry, he was also waiting for someone under this tree, he arrived even before me."

Jian Hong then looked at the two drunkards lying dead on the ground.

Jian Yang quickly explained, "These two were resolved by this young master."

It turns out he was the one who helped his sister.

Jian Hong's expression immediately softened considerably.

"I hope you will forgive my poor attitude just now."

The man smiled and said, "It's alright, the people I'm waiting for have arrived. Farewell, you two."

Jian Yang and his sister also said goodbye to him.

After the man left, Jian Hong looked at the lantern in her hand, feeling slightly disappointed. "Since my sister has such a beautiful lantern, she probably wouldn't be interested in this one."

"Who said that!" Jian Yang snatched the rabbit lantern from his hand. "What my brother bought is naturally the most precious."

Upon hearing this, Jian Hong smiled with a simple and honest expression.

The two strolled around for a long time before returning to the Prime Minister's residence together.

To their surprise, when they arrived home, they found Prime Minister Jian waiting for them with a sour expression on his face.

Upon seeing Jian Yang carrying two rabbit lanterns, Prime Minister Jian was furious. "How can you two, of such noble status, parade through the streets with those commoners?"

"Father!" Jian Hong's face also fell. "Most of the soldiers guarding the border come from the countryside. If it weren't for their desperate protection, how could we have the peace and stability we enjoy today?"

Jian Yang chimed in sarcastically, "That's right, who among us didn't start as peasants a few generations ago? Our Jian family isn't some prestigious family, so no one should look down on anyone else."

Prime Minister Jian was speechless after being rebuked by his two children, and left angrily with a dark face.

The remaining two exchanged a smile.

"Ayang, don't take it to heart. Wang is gone; I imagine Father is feeling quite down."