Chapter 64 Farewell to the Old: His heart was like a precarious railing, not to be leaned upon for long. ...

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the lanterns on both sides of the streets and alleys are lit up one after another, and the festive atmosphere reaches its peak amidst the hustle and bustle.

Jiang Xuxin changed into an ochre-colored round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe, with lotus patterns embroidered in gold thread on the collar and cuffs. A crimson undergarment was slightly visible at the collar, and he wore black leather six-piece boots.

Shi Wan's off-white dress was adorned with pearl necklaces, and she wore a peacock blue brocade half-sleeved garment over it. A gold filigree lantern hairpin was inserted diagonally into her hair, with a few strands of tassels hanging down at the end, swaying gently with her movements.

It was just before the lantern festival opened. Under the eaves, the beauty was captivating at first glance. Her graceful figure made her seem otherworldly. As she walked towards him, Jiang Xu felt his breath catch in his throat.

He was holding a light-colored long cloak with a butterfly pattern in his hand. The lotus pattern embroidered on the fur collar was quite unique. When Shi Wan stopped, he subconsciously covered her with it. "It's still cold today, wear more clothes, don't catch a chill." After speaking, seeing that all the beautiful women were covered by the cloak, he felt a strange sense of relief.

He glanced at her exquisite face, which she had made up a little today. Her beauty was like a flower in full bloom, exuding fragrance. The closer he got, the more he was captivated. He tried to hold back, but in the end, he couldn't help but say, "Madam... you look beautiful today."

Since she opened the door yesterday, this person has become increasingly addicted, calling her several times during the day under various pretexts. As she was about to go out for a stroll, Shi Wan didn't want to argue with him now, so she casually replied, "Judging from your words, it sounds like you're a little unwilling."

“Indeed.” Jiang Xu nodded seriously. The two walked together under the corridor and went out through the small door in the backyard. His voice was serious, but it dissipated in the cold winter wind. Shi Wan listened and was stunned for a moment.

"Today is the Lantern Festival, and I dressed up, but you're not happy about it?"

"Madam is already stunningly beautiful, and now, with a little makeup, she shines even brighter, like the moon in the sky, untouched by the mortal world." Jiang Xu was amused by her expression, and was probably in a very good mood as well. Although he spoke in a teasing tone, his eyes still held the gentleness she was familiar with. After speaking, he joked, "If it were me, I would only want to cherish this beauty. Others... would certainly not dare to take another look."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wan's smile faltered slightly. She quickly glanced at the person in front of her. Just then, the carriage stopped outside the door. The two got into the carriage, and she then pretended to be annoyed and said, "It's the Lantern Festival today, so it's better to say something auspicious."

He stared at Jiang Xu for a few seconds, then said calmly, "What's this talk about hiding? Don't spoil people's mood."

Jiang Xu remained silent for a moment, then simply let the matter drop.

The wheels rolled smoothly forward, and once on the main street, thousands of lanterns lined up, creating a lively scene. The silk lanterns emitted a warm orange glow, and Shi Wan was already dazzled by their sight. Not to mention, in front of some shops, the vendors had somehow managed to obtain glass lanterns, which shimmered with seven colors, making the surroundings seem like a dream.

Children chased and played under the tree, holding rabbit lanterns. The lanterns swayed gently, and Shi Wan couldn't help but feel a little tempted. Jiang Xu saw this and suggested, "Why don't we go release the lanterns first? It's still early. Some shops haven't set up their stalls yet. It will be really exciting and lively later."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wan quickened her pace and the two of them arrived at the tree. Several lanterns were already swaying in the wind, which made her momentarily stunned.

Last summer, she and Jiang Xu released lanterns in the same way. The door to her memory opened a crack behind her, but as the man's footsteps drew nearer, she stopped, and the door suddenly closed again.

Shi Wan snapped out of her reverie and, methodically, chose a lantern with Jiang Xu. This lantern was different from the lanterns for the Qixi Festival; it lacked exquisite craftsmanship, but its meaning was excellent. It was made of several layers of thin bamboo paper. When a spark was lit, it cast several mottled and interesting shadows that swayed in the wind. As soon as she let go, it drifted away on the night breeze and slowly rose into the air.

She prefers this method to boating on the water.

The vast sky holds immense potential.

In comparison, she is now... only able to stay by Jiang Xu's side, wasting her days, and doesn't know when she can get rid of him.

"Why do you seem so down during the festival?" Jiang Xu stood beside her, his hands clasped tightly beneath his sleeves, making them look like a couple to onlookers. He turned his gaze away from the lanterns in the sky and said slowly, "If you feel that things haven't met your expectations, I know of something else that you might be interested in."

Shi Wan looked at him, "What is it?"

Her expression held a strange meticulousness, like a child stubbornly guarding their most beloved toy. Jiang Xu saw her like this for the first time and couldn't help but chuckle. "Come with me."

Shi Wan silently let him hold her hand. It was just past 7 PM, the beginning of the most lively time that Jiang Xu had just mentioned. The crowds were dense, and the sounds of singing and conversation were endless. Among them, many young men and women, newlyweds strolled hand in hand, and there were also children and the elderly, some dressed in ordinary clothes and others dressed up in elaborate costumes, walking on the street. The festive atmosphere was particularly strong.

The two walked side by side and soon arrived at a small stall with a few benches and a wooden table of the appropriate size. When the old woman saw Jiang Xu, she chuckled and made several hand gestures. Shi Wan watched silently as Jiang Xu and the old woman exchanged a few hand gestures, after which the old woman suddenly looked at her.

"Hello, Grandma." Shi Wan subconsciously raised her lips, and sure enough, the old woman smiled even more brightly. After a while, she took out a few silk ropes from the stall and handed them to the two of them.

Jiang Xu's voice rang out at just the right moment, "Five-colored silk threads are made by taking red, gold, blue, white, and black, and weaving them together with some dried grains and flowers."

Shi Wan looked at the silk thread in her hand, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. "Why did you bring me here?" The old woman must be an old acquaintance of Jiang Xu's. His actions gave the impression of introducing her to an elder, and she...

She naturally didn't want to get involved in these things.

When there's involvement, there's hesitation, there's soft-heartedness, there's...

Unknowingly, they sank into a quagmire.

"I just saw you were in a bad mood, so I thought I'd make some auspicious items by hand to cheer you up."

So this person is still bothered by the excuse she gave him before leaving? Shi Wan fell silent for a moment, her lips moving but she didn't know what to say. In the end, she just gave a dry reply and started braiding the rope on her own.

Jiang Xu sat upright beside her, and with just a few turns of his slender fingers, he had already woven out the basic shape. Shi Wan glanced at it and saw that he had folded the red rope in half and then woven a double knot to form the end of the rope.

She looked away and said, "Since it's about celebrating the festival, wouldn't it be better to make a different design?"

The two silk ribbons around their waists, tied in a knot of love, suggest that the two of them are deeply in love, but this is just self-deception.

Jiang Xu just smiled. The two of them were enjoying their time together. He said, "I only know how to make this pattern."

Shi Wan ignored him and continued weaving her own knot. After a while, under his subtle hints, she firmly put the knot she had woven into the turquoise purse she carried with her.

On their way back, the lanterns in the street stretched as far as the eye could see.

There were many kinds of lanterns, such as revolving lanterns, lotus lanterns, rabbit lanterns, carp lanterns, and dragon lanterns. The patterns were exquisite. I estimated that I saw nearly a hundred of them halfway through the walk.

As they walked, they heard a vendor's shout, "...Don't guess! My glass lantern is only for those who can solve the riddle! I won't sell it for a thousand pieces of gold!"

Shi Wan looked up in response and saw that the glass lamp was no bigger than the palm of an adult man, but it was translucent and colorful. In the completely dark sky, it immediately attracted her attention. She leaned closer to take a look and saw that the riddle on the lamp read: "One family of eleven, one family of twenty, two families together, nothing to worry about."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Xu pondered for a moment and then confidently asked Shi Wan with a smile, "Have you guessed it yet?" If she didn't know, then he would be playing the hero and rescuing the beauty, which would fulfill his wish.

Unexpectedly, after a few moments of contemplation, Shi Wan smiled and went to the vendor alone, asking, "Boss, is the answer to the riddle the character for 'happiness'?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the shopkeeper took down the glass lamp and respectfully handed it to Shi Wan, saying a lot of auspicious words. Jiang Xu looked from a distance and saw that she was surrounded by a crowd of people, with congratulations and well wishes coming incessantly. He felt a little jealous.

Jiang Xu suddenly stepped forward, subtly blocking the admiring or surprised gazes, and led Shi Wan to a less crowded area.

Fortunately, the other party was completely attracted by the lamp, and seeing him like this, she did not show any particular resistance, but instead obediently let him do as he pleased.

Upon closer inspection, the glass lamp's belly was perfectly round like a full moon, with an amber halo shining through its thin walls, just like her eyes looking at her—similar in color, equally breathtakingly beautiful.

"So beautiful," Shi Wan murmured unconsciously, lost in her own world.

Jiang Xu glanced down and saw her bright, sparkling eyes. His heart softened, and he replied, "She is indeed beautiful." But a moment later, that restlessness surged up again. "You know, I've accompanied you all this way, working tirelessly without complaint, but I haven't gotten anything in return."

"Isn't this... a bit unreasonable?"

The moon was high in the sky, a gentle night breeze blew, and the chill of late winter was palpable. Shi Wan subconsciously wrapped her long cloak with butterfly patterns tighter around her, glanced at him closely, and her earlier joy vanished. "What do you want now?"

What does "again" mean? When has Shi Wan ever given him what he wanted?

Jiang Xu was a little annoyed for a moment, but he still patiently said in a gentle voice, "I just wanted to wander around. It's a holiday, and we haven't been to a temple yet."

"You believe in Buddhism?" Shi Wan's tone carried a hint of surprise.

Even though the Buddhist disciple Xuanmin was under his command, it's unclear how much he actually studied or discussed the text.

Jiang Xu pursed his lips and looked at him, then changed the subject, saying, "I heard that the incense at Fushou Temple is especially effective during the Lantern Festival, particularly for those seeking marriage and children."

Ordinary women would go to pray for blessings with their husbands every year. He made a lot of dumplings for this plate of vinegar, but Shi Wan didn't mention it at all. It's unclear whether she didn't understand or was unwilling.

Fushou Temple? Shi Wan recalled the scene when she first went there, and her mood gradually became more depressed. She was also afraid that Jiang Xu would bring up the past and find fault with her, so she could only give an ambiguous answer.

"Next time."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. He looked up and saw that Jiang Xu's tone was gentle and his expression was still quite mild, but his gaze was already probing, as if he wanted to get to the bottom of things. Their eyes met, and he seemed to have a lot to say.

In the end, he could only restrain himself and say, "Can't it be this time?"

If Shi Wan's wrist hadn't been still tightly gripped by him, she might have thought his words were a step backward. Silence spread, and she subconsciously raised the corners of her lips to look back, "Next time... it'll be the same."

Seeing her composed expression and the unwavering smile on her face, Jiang Xu suddenly chuckled and, mimicking her tone, slowly called out, "Shi Wan."

He paused for two seconds, and seeing that she showed no remorse, he continued, "If..."

"I absolutely must do it this time!"

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The author writes: "Two silk belts around the waist, a dream of a love knot." This is from "Thoughts on Something," written by Xiao Yan of the Southern Dynasties.

Wow, this chapter has 3344 words! Auspicious for all lifetimes, hehe [doge emoji]