Chapter 69 [69] Moon Over the Willow Trees [First Update]...

【69】/First release

The moon is above the treetops, and the lights in the flower market are as bright as day.

During the Lantern Festival, the three-day curfew in Chang'an was lifted so that the people could party all night long.

As night fell, one could see that Suzaku Street was already a magnificent sight, like a starry sky falling to the ground. The locust trees on both sides were adorned with silk palace lanterns. The scarlet, gilded, and moon-white lights lit up one after another in the twilight, making the bluestone road shine like brocade.

The vendors on both sides of the streets of the market also set up tiered lantern stands, including exquisitely crafted revolving lanterns, fish-shaped lanterns with a silver-scale-like halo, rabbit lanterns and crab lanterns that are loved by children, and glass lanterns and lotus lanterns that are favored by young ladies. There are tens of millions of exquisite and bright lanterns, which are overwhelming and dazzling.

As early as when he was in Yangzhou, Yun Ran had heard storytellers mention the grand scene of the Chang'an Lantern Festival.

Half an hour ago, before the lights came on, she was lying on the carriage looking at the colorful lanterns, already filled with curiosity and anticipation.

When I was sitting in the private room of Ruyi Tower and looking at the lanterns in the Lantern Market that looked like thousands of stars, I didn't even have time to eat. I just wanted to go shopping.

However, her eldest brother and his wife and their family of three, her third brother and his wife and their fourth brother were still sitting at the table eating, so she felt embarrassed to urge everyone to eat quickly and go shopping after eating.

"Ranran, don't worry. The lanterns at the Lantern Festival will be lit all night long. There's plenty of time to explore."

Li Wanrong, the eldest sister-in-law sitting at the table, saw her eager look and couldn't help but chuckle, "The moon soup at Ruyi Tower is a unique dish in Chang'an. Come and try it first."

Third sister-in-law Qian Sijin also said: "Yes, the lantern festival is only fun after it is completely dark. It would be boring if we go down too early."

Even Chang'an City's veteran player, Yun Shang, nodded in agreement: "Fireworks should be set off at midnight, so it's not too late to go down at midnight."

After they all said this, Yun Ranfang walked back from the railing and said embarrassedly, "This is also my first time seeing such a grand lantern festival, so I'm a little excited."

After he finished speaking, everyone at the table was stunned at the same time.

Li Wanrong: Damn it, how could I forget that this was the first time my sister had visited the Lantern Festival in Chang'an since she grew up.

Qian Sijin: ...You're such a jerk, just following what my sister-in-law says.

Yunshang: My sister was kidnapped at the Lantern Festival. After so many years, I’m afraid I’ve forgotten whether there were fireworks at the festival or not.

Dalang Yunyi and Sanlang Yunze obviously thought of this as well, and felt a little depressed for a moment.

Yun Ran didn't expect that her casual mention would cause everyone to have different thoughts. She just picked up the bowl of moon soup in front of her seat and said, "You know what, this soup looks quite tempting."

The white porcelain bowl was filled with a translucent soup, the rice-white soup was frozen and translucent, and a glutinous rice ball as a "moon" lay in it, shaped like a jade ball. A few bright red candied cherries and snow-white diced pears were dotted around it, just like stars scattered under the moon.

When the silver spoon scooped it open, the sweetness mixed with osmanthus honey spread out, and the soup slid across the tip of the tongue, cool and moist, with the dense glutinous rice, the sour and sweet cherries, the crisp and tender diced pears, and the aftertaste was lingering with a faint osmanthus fragrance, as if the moonlight of the Lantern Festival was melted into this bowl of sweetness.

Soon, Yun Ran had devoured the entire bowl of soup. As he put it down with a reluctant look on his face, he noticed Sima Jing's bowl, which remained motionless. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, why aren't you eating? This mooncake soup tastes really good, definitely worth a try!"

Sima Jing glanced sideways and said, "If you like it, take it and eat it."

"One bowl is enough. There are other delicious foods on the table."

Yun Ran shook his head and winked at him cunningly like a little fox. "Besides, there are still many delicious foods at the Lantern Festival. I have to save some for them."

"But this mooncake soup is really good. Your Highness really needs to try it. You will regret it if you don't!"

Sima Jing: “…”

There are not so many things to regret in life.

However, seeing her eyes shining at him, he finally picked up the bowl of soup and started eating slowly.

Seeing that he didn't waste the delicious food, Yun Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Sijin happened to be sitting next to Yun Ran. Seeing that the taciturn and cold Prince Jing was almost accommodating and obedient to his sister-in-law tonight, she couldn't help but whisper in her ear with a smile: "I didn't expect that your prince, who looks cold and aloof, is also a henpecked man."

Yun Ran was puzzled: "What is a henpecked man? Is it something to eat?"

Qian Sijin smiled and said, "It's a dialect from our Shu area, specifically referring to a man who is afraid of his wife."

Yun Ran suddenly realized, but disagreed: "Your Highness is not afraid of me."

She secretly glanced at the man who was so elegant even when drinking soup, and muttered softly, "I should be afraid of him."

Qian Sijin was slightly startled: "Is there?"

It was obvious that from the moment the sister-in-law and her husband stepped into this private room, Prince Jing was just like the men of the Yun family, pulling out a chair for his wife, picking up dishes, serving tea, pouring water, picking fish bones, handing her a handkerchief... A series of actions were so smooth and natural that those who didn't know would think that he had privately consulted his uncles from the Yun family.

On the other hand, my sister-in-law eats whatever she wants. If she can't get something, she just gives King Jing a look and he immediately gets it for her.

This is quite common in the Yun family.

But outside, it is usually the wife who serves the husband, not to mention that the sister-in-law's husband is a prince.

Yun Ran did not pay attention to these small details of picking up dishes and pouring water. She saw her father treating her mother in this way and her brother taking care of her sister-in-law in this way, so she thought it was normal in Chang'an.

As for her "fear" of Sima Jing, today she finally got the chance to complain to her third sister-in-law.

"Third sister-in-law, you lied to me."

Qian Sijin was stunned: "How did I lie to you?"

Yun Ran saw that her eldest brother and sister-in-law were taking care of their little nephew, her third and fourth brothers were drinking, and Sima Jing was concentrating on drinking soup. It seemed that no one was paying attention to them. Then she whispered to her third sister-in-law and complained bitterly, including why she didn't tell her that it could last so long and took up most of the night.

Qian Sijin was stunned by what she heard, and her face turned red.

Is His Royal Highness Prince Jing so gifted?

She originally thought that Yunze had been a big enough problem, but unexpectedly... there are always people better than you?

Seeing Qian Sijin remained silent for a long time, Yun Ran thought she was guilty and snorted, "I trusted you so much, but you only said it was comfortable but didn't tell me how tiring it would be. I will never trust you again."

Qian Sijin: “…”

It’s unfair.

She really felt that it was quite enjoyable to do that with Yunze, and she had just sincerely recommended it to her sister-in-law. Who could have thought that these young people could be so capable?

But that's not right either.

When she and Yunze had just gotten married, she was about the same age as her sister-in-law and her husband. How come Yunze usually lasted half an hour, but King Jing could last an hour?

After a while of wandering thoughts, Qian Sijin whispered, "Maybe you've just started, and you need some time to adjust? Otherwise, I'll ask your third brother to send some books to King Jing."

Yun Ran: "What book?"

Qian Sijin blushed and coughed lightly: "It's just like the books we women keep at the bottom of our box."

Yun Ran: “…”

She immediately thought of the various scenes, locations, and poses in the brochures she had bought, and shook her head without hesitation: "No, no, you and Third Brother can keep it for yourselves."

Sima Jing really learned from her, but she was the one who suffered——

She will never do such things that will only hurt herself again!

After sitting for another half an hour, Yun Ran still longed for the excitement of the lantern festival and couldn't sit still.

Seeing this, Sima Jing stood up, took her hand, and said to Yun Yi and the others, "Please sit down. The princess and I will go downstairs for a stroll first."

As soon as he spoke, no one dared to object.

What's more, the Lantern Festival is a good time for lovers to date. They have already gathered together for dinner to fulfill the meaning of "reunion", so it's okay for them to go shopping separately afterwards.

Yun Yi told Yun Ran earnestly, "No matter how beautiful the lantern festival is, don't run around. You must stay close to His Highness."

He turned around and asked Sima Jing: "Your Highness, please also take good care of Ranran and don't let her get lost."

Many years ago today, my family and I were crowding together to see Mount Da'ao. As we were crowding together, I turned around and found my sister was missing.

regret.

The whole family was filled with regret.

Yunyi was the oldest and had the most profound impression. In just three days, her parents lost a lot of weight and their usually black hair turned largely white.

From that year on, the Marquis of Changxin and his wife, who loved the hustle and bustle of life, never went to the Lantern Festival again.

Even when Yunyi and Li Wanrong took A Zong out to play, the couple repeatedly warned him: "Even if you two get lost, the child can't be lost, understand!"

Yun Yi naturally didn't dare to say this to Sima Jing, and could only bow to him.

Sima Jing straightened his expression and said, "Uncle, you are too polite."

He held Yun Ran's hand tightly and said, "I will never let her leave me."

Yunyi felt relieved.

When the young couple walked out of Ruyi Tower, Yun Ran saw Sima Jing loosen his hand and hold her shoulders more intimately. She couldn't help but struggle: "I'm not a child anymore. How can I get lost so easily?"

Sima Jing glanced at her now more charming face and said: "Kidnappers not only kidnap children, but also young and beautiful ladies."

Upon hearing this, Yun Ran's face tensed up and he clenched his fists angrily: "If only I were a god, I could beat them all up with one punch and make them explode into the sky!"

Sima Jing was amused by her.

Yun Ran frowned, "What are you laughing at! Don't kidnappers deserve to die? In my opinion, those who kidnap and sell people should be imprisoned for life, never seeing the light of day and suffering endlessly."

"Yes, those people deserve to be cut into pieces."

Sima Jing patted her on the back and said, "It's such a beautiful day, don't think about those bad things for now, just enjoy the lantern festival."

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The author has something to say: There is one more chapter before 10 o'clock~