Chapter 74 Incident

Xu Shuyao didn't ask why.

She couldn't solve other people's problems, so it didn't sound like much sense.

Because there are only two possible outcomes: one is that it will be passed on to you, and the other is that they will say something to gloss over the situation.

She doesn't want to do the former, and she doesn't know how to do the latter.

This is the truth that Xu Shuyao has realized since she was a child. Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human instinct and also her way of survival.

Of course, life isn't all show. For example, towards her younger brother, towards Nanny Zheng who has been with her since she was a child, and towards Old Madam Xiao who has always taken good care of her...

Even though Xu Shuyao didn't want to listen, someone kept asking her to talk.

The next day, Xiao Jinshan came to Jiyunzhai with a distressed look on her face.

She sat in the small room sullenly for a while before asking awkwardly, "Cousin! Is getting married a bad idea?"

Xu Shuyao raised her head from the embroidery frame: "I don't know either."

Xiao Jinshan uttered an "oh" and twisted her face into a bitter melon shape, muttering, "I wonder what the situation is like in the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion..."

Xu Shuyao: “…”

The third cousin was completely annoyed when asked about the three things she didn't know. She said, "Why don't you say something?"

Xu Shuyao straightened her expression. "Like you, I'm completely clueless. But you can look at your aunt and uncle, your third uncle and aunt, and your second brother and his wife... Happiness or not is hard to say; it all depends on how you manage it."

Xiao Jinshan twisted her fingers. "My mom and dad are pretty good. My third uncle also respects my third aunt. But my second brother and second sister-in-law? Let's not talk about them. I feel that my second sister is not happy after marrying my second brother-in-law. My mom is almost mad at me."

So that’s how it is!

In the end, Xiao Jinshan spoke ambiguously, and Xu Shuyao didn't know what had happened to her second cousin.

Xu's father passed away in the first month of the lunar year, so on the eve of the Lantern Festival, Xu Shuyao and her brother began to pay their respects.

However, she had no special taboos in the Duke's Mansion before. Apart from not wearing brightly colored clothes and keeping her hair accessories a little simpler, everything else was no different.

Qiaowei seemed very happy and was eager to show off her skills.

Even Old Madam Xiao looked at her with a mysterious smile on her face.

On the Lantern Festival, the main streets of the capital will be decorated into beautiful lantern markets.

Even officials and students were given holidays, and they took to the streets with ordinary people to enjoy the lanterns and stroll at night, truly sharing the joy with the people.

In the Duke Chengguo Mansion, Old Madam Xiao did not go there herself, but she very much agreed with the younger generations to go out for a walk and have a look.

The old lady even recalled the scene when she was a lady watching lanterns and having fun with her brothers in the mansion, her expression full of emotion.

"Let's go and take a look!" She finally said to the girls in front of her.

The mansion had already made New Year dresses for them. Considering that Xu Shuyao was already in mourning when she wore them, Wang Shi also specially asked her to choose a crimson material for the cloak.

Ever since Xu Shuyao started learning how to manage the household, this aunt seemed to pay more attention to her.

And she is also a person who listens to advice, so let it be crimson!

"Don't get separated when the time comes. Mo'er will be invited to the city wall by the Holy Lord that day, and he will definitely not be able to take care of you. Just stay with the other brothers!" Old Lady Xiao said after a while.

Xu Shuyao sat below the old man, thinking about the dream she hadn't visited for a long time.

Daddy said that her biological parents might be from Beijing. I wonder if she will feel somewhat familiar when she is there in person?

However, many years have passed, and the surroundings should have changed a lot, right?

The Lantern Festival is held at night, so after dinner on this day, the young ladies and gentlemen from each mansion will go out of the mansion when the lights come on, either in carriages or on horses.

Lively and newly decorated.

After being manipulated by Qiao Wei, Xu Shuyao was finally able to go out.

She was in the same carriage with Xiao Jinshan and Xiao Jintong. Liu Qingwan and Xiao Jinrong did not go out. The fourth young master, the fifth young master, and Xu Shuheng were traveling with them.

The fourth young master rode a horse, and the fifth young master and Xu Shuheng rode in a carriage.

Xiao Jinshan sat in the carriage, her eyes fixed on Xu Shuyao, "Cousin! Your dress is so beautiful!"

Xu Shuyao was wearing a white jacket with a floral pattern, a black horse-faced skirt with gold sprinkled on it, and a scarlet fox fur cloak with sharp edges. Her hair was tied up in a bun with a pearl comb and a light pink crepe silk flower on her head.

Xu Shuyao looked at her body. Except for the slightly more eye-catching color of the cloak, everything else was no different from before.

"Yours looks good too," Xiao Jinshan's cloak was pure white, with a pink jacket underneath.

My fourth cousin was only twelve years old. She was wearing a light green dress and looked very fresh and pretty.

"Really?" Xiao Jinshan smiled awkwardly after hearing her compliment.

Then he looked around for a while.

When Xu Shuyao saw this, she knew that her third cousin probably had an appointment with the young master of the Wang family.

She looked at Xiao Jintong beside her and said, "Shall we go together later?"

But then he thought that the other party had a very strong maid, so there was nothing to worry about.

The most prosperous area of ​​the Lantern Festival is Zouma Street, which extends all the way to the front of the palace gate, where a tall city wall stands.

Every year, the emperor would bring the empress, princes and important ministers to the city wall to watch the bustling lantern market below, which was also a way to share the joy with the people.

The carriages of ordinary officials were not allowed to enter Zouma Street, and they had to get off and walk when they reached the intersection.

But it’s different in the Chengguo Mansion. Whether it’s Master Xiao Er who is in charge of the city defense, or the prince who commands the entire imperial guard, they are people that these people can’t afford to offend.

So when he saw the ivory plate hanging on the carriage, he let it go without saying a word.

The carriage didn't stop until it was not far from the city wall.

The driver also explained to them, "The mountain of lanterns is ahead. His Majesty will go up to the city wall to enjoy the lanterns with everyone later. This is the farthest we can go now."

After getting off the car, Xu Shuyao looked up and saw the huge mountain of lights in the shape of a giant turtle in front of her.

It is about three stories high. The lower level is decorated with figures of the Eight Immortals and colorful lanterns, the middle level is filled with statues of various gods and Buddhas, and the upper level is shaped like a pavilion or palace, symbolizing the fairy mountain and palace.

Xu Shuyao grew up in Huzhou and had never seen such a shocking scene. She couldn't take her eyes off it for a moment.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinshan smiled and said, "Is Beijing better? You guys watch first, I'll go over there."

After saying hello to Xiao Jinwen, she took the maids and servants to the other side.

Xu Shuyao smiled and didn't take it seriously.

A-di and the Fifth Young Master also got off the carriage. The Fifth Young Master was still muttering, "I should have known not to ride in the carriage with you. It's so boring."

Having said that, he looked towards his brother again.

Xiao Jinwen had already dismounted from his horse. Ever since the incident on New Year's Eve, Xu Shuyao had become much more distant from this Fourth Young Master Xiao.

But today, as the oldest among them, he needs to take care of his younger brothers and sisters.

So when he saw that they all went forward and cousin Xu was still standing there, Xiao Jinwen didn't dare to leave.

Xu Shuyao didn't want to be the only one who went her own way, so she followed them.

Perhaps it was due to her childhood memories, but she always felt a vague uneasiness in her heart.

Seeing that A-di and Xiao Jinli were still moving forward, he stopped them and said with a smile, "Don't go any further. From a distance, you can see the complete Penglai Fairy Mountain. If you get closer, you can only see a pile of colorful lanterns built by craftsmen."

When Xu Shuheng heard this, he also stopped and smiled.

Everyone stood still for a while, but as more and more people gathered forward, the group from Duke Cheng's Mansion were pushed to the edge.

Xu Shuyao was just feeling a little sorry when she saw the huge mountain of lights suddenly topple over from above.

The crowd screamed and cried continuously. The people in front retreated without hesitation. Xu Shuyao desperately looked for A-di, but was carried away by a strong arm...