The emperor smiled and shook his head, "I'm not afraid anymore."

They held hands and walked downstream with the crowd.

————

South of the city.

Many people were already waiting by the river.

Everyone hoped their boat would be the first to break through the river mouth and reach them.

At this moment, two uniquely shaped bamboo leaf boats, each carrying a candle, came side by side.

They were very close together, indistinguishable in front and behind, as if they were completely inseparable.

"They're here! They're here!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Whose boat is that? Wait... whose two boats are these? They've come together! Amazing!"

"It's rare for two bamboo leaf boats to arrive downstream simultaneously as the first ones!"

Congratulations! Come out and claim it!

Gu Jiangli tugged at the emperor's hand, overjoyed: "It's ours! It's our ship!"

The two held hands and rushed to the front of the crowd.

Everyone could tell from their appearance that they were a married couple.

"It turns out to be a perfect couple's boat. It turns out that even a bamboo leaf boat can become harmonious when the couple is well-matched."

"What a perfect couple! The goddess will surely bless them and grant their wishes!"

No one here knew they were the emperor and empress; they were all genuinely offering their blessings.

Gu Jiangli liked this atmosphere; there was no scheming, no competition, no plotting, and no jealousy or dissatisfaction.

Even though their ship didn't come in first place, they still sincerely wished the winner well.

A pure and simple heart should be just like that, simple and kind.

Liu Feng stepped forward and retrieved the bamboo leaf boat from the two of them, then placed two pieces of paper with wishes written on them into their hands.

Gu Jiangli asked in surprise, "Didn't you say that only the goddess could see your wishes? Why did you take them back?"

Liu Feng explained, "The goddess has already seen it. Everyone should collect these papers and boats. If they are not collected, they will flow downstream and cause inconvenience."

Gu Jiangli nodded and said with surprise, "So everyone is quite environmentally conscious."

Liu Feng was stunned, not quite understanding what she meant by "environmental protection," but he could tell that Gu Jiangli's words were in a positive sense, so he could only nod and agree.

The emperor took her hand and continued walking.

She thought they would go straight back to the palace, but they were still wandering around until nightfall.

When the moon was full, they arrived in the west of the city.

The place is already packed with people.

"What a lively scene! What's going on here?"

The emperor led her to the very edge of the crowd, found a long bench, and the two of them stood on the bench one after the other, much taller than the people surrounding them.

He smiled faintly and said, "Iron flower performance."