Chapter 127 Shangyuan

The young princess apologized and explained, "Princess Yi'an always invites Princess Ronghua from Prince Ning's Mansion to watch the lanterns together every year. This year, for some reason, she suddenly invited me."

On the Lantern Festival, the emperor and the people celebrate together. The emperor would bring high-ranking concubines, the crown prince, princesses and other royal family members to the Xuande Tower to enjoy the lanterns.

Emperor Tai'an had few children. Besides the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei, he only had a little princess, not even ten years old. The "Princess Yi'an" Qi Qiong mentioned was the granddaughter of the Empress Dowager's younger brother. After the incident ten years ago, the Empress Dowager was in a bad mood and brought her six-year-old niece, Miss Kou, into the palace to accompany her, and she has been with her ever since.

Emperor Tai'an was a filial son. In order to please the empress dowager, he named Miss Kou Princess Yi'an.

Although Princess Yian was not the emperor's daughter, she was favored by the empress dowager. Even Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Jing had to be polite to her when they saw her, not to mention the princesses of the various royal palaces.

Qi Qiong was also confused.

Princess Yi'an has always been inseparable from Princess Ronghua, so why did they suddenly call her to go watch the lanterns on the Lantern Festival?

Lin Hao naturally wouldn't care about the little princess's broken promise: "Then the princess will accompany the princess to have fun. When the time comes, you will be upstairs in Xuande Building and we will be downstairs. It's actually the same thing."

Qi Qiong keenly grasped the word: "We? Ah Hao, who are you going to watch the lanterns with?"

Lin Hao said with a smile: "I also received a post from Miss Chen, and wanted to ask if the princess could join us."

Qi Qiong sighed when he heard this: "Ms. Chen is also an interesting person. It's a pity that she can't join you."

Lin Hao had only met Princess Yi'an a few times and had never even spoken to her. He didn't know much about this princess, but judging from Qi Qiong's reaction, he was afraid that she was not someone who was easy to get along with.

"It's okay, let's make an appointment next year."

"Next year is still a long time away." Qi Qiong smiled. "Fortunately, we can go for an outing together when the weather warms up. By the way, last year's Lantern Mountain Riddle Guessing was really interesting. I won't be able to see it this year at Xuande Tower, so you can go and see it."

After hearing what Qi Shuo and Qi Qiong said one after another, Lin Hao became a little excited.

The weather was fine on the Lantern Festival, and the areas on Tian Street where people were allowed to move around were crowded early in the morning. Countless people were waiting for the emperor to ascend the tower to enjoy the lanterns after nightfall, so that they could see the emperor's face from afar.

Lin Hao, Chen Yi, Zhu Jiayu and Tao Qing made an appointment to have tea. As it was getting dark, they walked leisurely towards Tianjie.

Thousands of lanterns on both sides of the street have been lit up, covering the people in them with a dazzling array of colors, and everywhere they look is prosperous and dazzling.

"Look at that Jade Rabbit lantern!" Zhu Jiayu excitedly pointed at one spot. "Did you notice? The Jade Rabbit's red eyes move!"

Chen Yi patted her shoulder helplessly: "Ayu, calm down. We also saw rabbit lanterns with moving eyes during the Lantern Festival last year."

"Is there?" Zhu Jiayu was a little confused.

Tao Qing nodded: "Yes, but this year's Jade Rabbit is lying down, while last year's was jumping."

Zhu Jiayu smiled sheepishly: "It changed its appearance, I forgot. Ah, look there, look there!"

Amidst the screams of their friends, the four of them squeezed into the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd and walked in hand in hand.

Suddenly, the crowd in front burst into cheers, followed by shouts of "Long live the emperor". In the distance, a figure could be seen swaying in the Xuande Tower, and the emperor had ascended the tower.

The cheers of "Long live the lanterns" were like waves, one higher than the other. This earth-shaking cheer lasted for a while, and people's attention finally returned to watching the lanterns.

Lin Hao breathed a sigh of relief.

She hadn't been out for the Lantern Festival for two years, and she had forgotten how shocking the excitement was.

She looked at the Xuande Tower from afar and pursed her lips slightly.

The Dog Prince should also be up there at this time.

The truth spread through rumors has not been able to shake the prince's foundation at all. It really can't be rushed to make the dog prince get his retribution.

"Ahao, why are you still standing there? The riddle guessing game has started over there. Let's go over there quickly." Seeing that Lin Hao didn't move, Zhu Jiayu pulled her.

Chen Yi smiled and said, "Ah Hao, are you thinking about the little princess?"

Lin Hao admitted it readily.

Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "It's not as comfortable upstairs in Xuande Tower as it is on the street. Maybe the little princess is envious of us. Okay, don't waste time, let's go over there."

By the time the four of them had passed, someone had already guessed a riddle on the second tier of lanterns. Under the envious gazes of countless young ladies, the boy who had guessed the riddle handed a koi lantern to a shy girl nearby.

"Anyone else wants to challenge?" The person presiding over the guessing game was a minor official from the Ministry of Rites. He smiled broadly at the people who gathered around him, showing no airs at all.

"I want to give it a try." A young man who looked like a scholar stepped forward and bowed to the clerk.

"Which level do you want to challenge?"

"Southeast corner of the fourth floor."

A yamen runner climbed up and took down the riddle tied to the lantern in the southeast corner of the fourth floor and presented it to the clerk.

The clerk read aloud: "Don't go near fireworks, and you'll be at ease. Guess one word."

The young man thought for a moment and said aloud, "Don't go near fireworks, and you'll be at ease. It's a word of 'en'."

The clerk took a look at the answer and smiled: "Congratulations, you guessed it right."

Some of the people around were literate, while others were illiterate. Most of them still didn't understand the answer after hearing it, and asked one after another: "Why is it 'en'?"

The young man was in high spirits after guessing the riddle correctly. He smiled and explained, "Stay away from fireworks, and keep the remaining 'yin' in your heart, which is 'en'."

"It really is 'yes', young master is really quick-witted."

Amidst the crowd's praises, the young man took the lantern and gave it to the young woman who came with him.

Zhu Jiayu was eager to try: "Let's challenge one too. I've got my eye on the lotus lantern in the northwest corner of the fifth floor."

In the riddle guessing game of Lantern Mountain, according to unwritten rules, only the palace lantern in the middle of the ninth layer must be challenged by unmarried men, while the others can be challenged by anyone, regardless of gender, age or status.

"Yier, you are best at guessing riddles. Please help me win that lotus lantern." Zhu Jiayu begged her friend.

Chen Yi hesitated for a moment: "Then I'll try. Don't blame me if the challenge fails."

With the encouragement of Lin Hao and the other two, Chen Yi lived up to everyone's expectations and won the exquisite lotus lantern.

"Thank you!" Zhu Jiayu took the lantern, hugged her friend and cheered.

The girl's cheerful laughter easily infected more people, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively with many participants. However, when it came to challenging the ninth-level glazed palace lantern, everyone returned empty-handed.

On the top floor of Xuande Tower, Princess Yian leaned against the railing, looking at the sea of lights and people with a low mood.

Although you can see far from here, it's boring after a long time. In previous years, it wasn't difficult to chat and laugh with Rong Hua, but after some unpleasantness not long ago, she invited Qi Qiong instead, but there wasn't much to say.

Princess Yi'an held her chin with her hand, lowered her eyes and looked a little sleepy.

For the busy Emperor Tai'an, ascending the tower to admire the lanterns was a rare opportunity to relax. He looked toward the busiest area and said with a smile, "That's the Lantern Mountain Riddle Guessing Game over there, right? I remember no one won the Glazed Palace Lantern last year. I wonder if anyone has guessed it this year?"

Liu Chuan immediately said, "I'll send someone to ask."