Chapter 118 Let her cry her heart out in the Eastern Palace!

Dou Wenyi sat blankly on the stone bench, raised her hand to wipe away her tears. The picture album showed the scene of her family of three releasing sky lanterns on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

She and Xie Guidu had lived together for more than ten years, but in reality, they had spent very few Mid-Autumn Festivals together.

Nannan was excited from the moment she woke up in the morning, and she changed into almost every dress in the closet, but she was still not satisfied. Dou Wenyi couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she helped her pick out a dress with rabbit embroidery, and only then was she satisfied.

She carefully carried a lifelike jade rabbit lantern and urged, "Mother, I want to light the candles now, let me see the lantern first!"

Dou Wenyi smiled and patted her head. "The lanterns will look prettier at night when the candles are lit. They won't look good if we light them now."

The little girl's eyes lit up. "Mommy, let's close all the doors and windows and draw the curtains, okay...?"

Dou Wenyi smiled and said, "Okay!"

Nannan beamed with joy, clapping her hands with delight. Dou Wenyi helped her close the doors and windows and joined in the silliness. When Xie Guidu came over, he saw them celebrating their hundredth day of ecstasy, playing happily with lanterns, and even teased her that she was just a child.

Before dusk, the family chatted and laughed, parked their carriage on the outskirts, and walked to Yanming Pond.

The streets gradually became lively, with countless lanterns hanging on both sides of the avenue. There were many vendors along the street selling all kinds of delicious food and fun things, such as adorable Mohele toys, exquisite masks, windmills, and various toys, which were dazzling to the eye.

The little girl stared with wide, curious eyes, wanting to touch and look at everything.

As they walked, they suddenly saw an old man selling cat slaves. Nannan immediately squatted down and carefully stroked the soft, cuddly kitten in the cage. "Mommy, Mommy, come and see! This little white kitten has such long, beautiful fur!"

"Mom, shall we keep it?"

Before Dou Wenyi could speak, Xie Guidu had already taken Nannan into his arms and decisively refused, "Alright, your grandmother doesn't like cats."

"Mother?" Nannan was extremely disappointed. Her little mouth twitched, and she looked so aggrieved that she was about to burst into tears.

Dou Wenyi quickly changed the subject, "Nannan, look at those lanterns over there, they're so big and beautiful, don't they look like prawns? And there are crab lanterns too."

Nannan is still a child at heart; her emotions come and go quickly. Her attention was immediately diverted. "Where is it?"

Xie Guidu quickened his pace, and the light in Dou Wenyi's eyes dimmed. In fact, she had always wanted to raise a cat, but unfortunately... Perhaps it was a mother-daughter bond, this child was just too much like her!

The surrounding area was bustling with noise, brightly lit, and filled with laughter and joy.

Dou Wenyi carried the lantern, but a bitter feeling welled up in her heart. Unconsciously, she had been separated from them by the crowd. Xie Guidu suddenly turned around, went against the crowd, and without saying a word, took her hand tightly and asked gently, "What's wrong? Stay close."

When Dou Wenyi and her group arrived near Yanming Pond, Nannan started clamoring for iced cold dumplings.

Xie Guidu put her down, bought her a bowl of food, and when she was halfway through eating, he deliberately put on a stern face, "Little girl, won't you give some to your mother to try?"

The little girl held a small spoon and obediently scooped up a spoonful and held it to Dou Wenyi's lips, saying, "Mommy, you eat too!"

Dou Wenyi was worried that she was eating too much raw and cold food, so she smiled and said, "Okay, I'll try some too."

The image captures the moment when the little girl is feeding her, a scene so lifelike that both the movements and expressions are depicted with remarkable realism, as if it all happened just yesterday.

Dou Wenyi's eyes were blurred with tears, and her hands trembled as she continued to flip through the picture album.

Cuizhi stood quietly behind her, looking very worried. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't.

......

Not far away stands the magnificent Fanlou Tower, towering high into the clouds.

The building's carved eaves reflect the sun, and its painted beams soar like clouds. Standing atop the high-rise, one can even overlook the imperial city. Even the private rooms on the second floor are usually in high demand, and the third floor is reserved for high-ranking officials, nobles, and prominent families.

The autumn wind howled, and the lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed and rattled in the wind, making a series of annoying noises.

At this moment, on the five-story tower of Fanlou, Pei Siyan, his robes fluttering, leaned against the sandalwood railing of the terrace, quietly watching her every move from his high vantage point.

He looked weary, his long, slender hand lazily holding the wine cup at an angle, a hint of coldness playing on his lips.

Under the bright lights, her face was somewhat blurred, her petite body almost curled up, and her trembling shoulders seemed like a sharp knife piercing his heart, leaving it bloody.

He hated seeing her tears.

What's more, those tears were shed for another man!

He didn't miss the smug look on Xie Guidu's face as he left; his eyebrows and the corners of his lips couldn't suppress the triumphant smile.

Oh!

Even now, it can still easily touch her heartstrings.

You're quite capable!

Pei Siyan's face was gloomy. He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. He almost crushed the wine cup in his hand. His sharp gaze was once again silently locked on Dou Wenyi.

What's so interesting about a tattered picture book?

Standing behind him, Eunuch Anxi, who was ready to serve at any moment, felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Miss Dou.

His Highness has been waiting for her here for almost half an hour, and he thought she was just late.

result......

His Highness the Crown Prince is handsome and refined, with the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix. He is as bright as a jade mountain and as clear as autumn water. He is of noble status and treats her with sincerity. Why is Miss Dou so clueless and inconsiderate?

Why can't she see His Highness's good qualities?

Eunuch Anxi sighed and tentatively asked, "Your Highness, perhaps this servant should go and invite her up?"

Pei Siyan shook his head in frustration. His mind was filled with the image of Dou Wenyi holding the little girl with tender eyes, looking incredibly loving, just like a loving mother!

It's as if she and Xie Guidu were once a real family?

He was the intruder who wanted to forcefully intervene and destroy their happy and fulfilling life.

Is he, the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, some kind of clown who covets another man's wife?

This bizarre realization plunged him into an incredibly embarrassing, sordid, world-weary, and shameful state.

An absurd idea quietly surfaced in his mind; it was simply too unbelievable.

But once he thought about Dou Wenyi's special qualities, he felt that was the only reasonable explanation.

Pei Siyan's phoenix eyes narrowed, and the coldness on his face grew heavier. "Anxi, she loves to cry. Tell her to go home and cry, or I'll let her cry her fill in the East Palace!"

Upon receiving the order, Eunuch Anxi had just stepped out to the door when Pei Siyan coldly said, "Come back and prepare some good dishes for her to take with you."

Anxi respectfully acknowledged the order and withdrew.

"Crimson Flame!"

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

A dark glint flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes. "Go check that picture album, and also..."