Chapter 70 [70] Chang'an City is really small. [Second update]...

【70】/First release

By this time it was completely dark, and the lantern festival had indeed become even more crowded. The stalls everywhere were doing very well, and there were jugglers, storytellers, and shadow puppeteers everywhere, and people were everywhere.

Yun Ran was queuing up to buy a sugar painting. Next to the sugar painting shop was a small teahouse. The storyteller in the teahouse slammed the gavel and began to speak: "Let's talk about the princess who had a tragic fate but was blessed with good fortune——"

When Yun Ran heard these familiar words, his brows jumped suddenly.

She didn't want to listen, but she was waiting in line and had nothing to do, so the storyteller's words automatically fell into her ears.

Even though the storyteller had blurred the identity of the "Princess" in the story and said that it happened in the previous dynasty, anyone with discerning ears would know that it was the story of "Princess Jing" of this dynasty.

As the person involved, Yun Ran listened to the storyteller's eloquent exaggeration about the princess's blessing. He felt a headache again. He leaned into Sima Jing's arms and muttered softly, "The Lantern Festival is the day when the Heavenly Official bestows blessings. They don't tell the story of the Heavenly Official properly, but make up this story about the princess's blessing. What if the Heavenly Official finds out and comes to me in a dream at night and says, 'Hey, you little evil disciple, how dare you cause trouble in the world and steal my merits and incense? I'll take you in.' What should I do then..."

Sima Jing listened to her wild and imaginative mumbling and laughed again: "If there really were heavenly officials, they wouldn't bother with you over such a trivial matter."

Yun Ran thought about it and nodded, saying, "Then let's go light a lamp for the Heavenly Official, burn three sticks of incense, and ask for his blessing."

Although she had already worshipped the Heavenly Official this morning, more oil won't spoil the food, and more fragrance makes the heart more sincere—

Whether it is the Shangyuan Tianguan Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Zhongyuan Diguan Festival on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, or the Xiayuan Shuiguan Festival on the 15th day of the tenth lunar month, these three festivals are all important festivals for Taoism and should not be taken lightly. They must be treated with caution.

Finally, it was Yun Ran's turn to order sugar paintings. She ordered a crab and turned to Sima Jing, "Your Highness, would you like one? It's my treat."

Sima Jing glanced at the sugar painting stall calmly: "No need."

Yun Ran now knew that he didn't like sweets, so he didn't ask any more questions.

When a crab sugar painting was finished, the storyteller seemed to have reached a climax, and there was a burst of applause in the teahouse.

Yun Ran took the sugar painting and walked away a few steps. Seeing the storyteller had started the next part of the story, he couldn't help but sigh, "It was just about saving a child. How could it be spread so wildly and become so absurd?"

Sima Jing said calmly, "Foolish and ignorant people are mostly ignorant and blindly follow the crowd. Otherwise, how can there be such a thing as foolish people?"

Yun Ran choked when he heard this and subconsciously wanted to refute, but he also understood that although the words were harsh, they were the truth.

"The world is so vast, and the people are so numerous. Most people are already exhausted just trying to make ends meet, so how could they have the opportunity to learn to read and understand the truth?"

Yun Ran said, "It's only in recent years that the situation has stabilized and the world has been peaceful, allowing the people to breathe. I heard from my master that before, the world was in chaos, with wars and disasters. The people were so poor that they sold their children, dug up tree roots and ate Guanyin soil. There were even cases of cannibalism..."

Thinking of that scene, she couldn't help but shudder, and then looked toward the horizon with a feeling of emotion: "I wonder when the people of the world will be able to live a life without worries about food and clothing, and be able to read and write. With education and wisdom, they will no longer be as ignorant and blindly follow the crowd as they are now, right?"

When Sima Jing heard her words, he felt that they were like the Arabian Nights and so silly and adorable.

Not to mention that from ancient times to the present, there has never been a harmonious society like the Peach Blossom Spring described by literati. Even if everyone is literate, as long as people have desires and greed, they will still become stupid and blind.

People are just like this, hopeless.

But he didn't want to destroy his wife's "Peach Blossom Spring", so he didn't refute her, but only reminded her: "How about trying this sugar painting?"

Yun Ran came back to his senses and lowered his head to bite the lifelike crab candy.

After taking a bite, the left tongs disappeared. She chewed the candy and said, "It's sweet."

"Let me try it."

Without waiting for Yun Ran's reaction, Sima Jing lowered his head and took a bite from the spot she had just bitten. "Mmm, sweet."

Looking at the crab that was half lame all of a sudden, Yun Ran looked at him in amazement: "You you you you you..."

Sima Jing: "What?"

Yun Ran glared at him: "Didn't you just say you didn't want to eat? Why are you eating again?"

"I suddenly want to eat again."

Sima Jing looked down at her: "No?"

Yun Ran choked, then looked at the self-righteous look of the man in front of her and couldn't help but hum, "Then why don't you bite the right pincer? Now there's a gap on the left side, it's asymmetrical."

"Specially left for you to bite."

Sima Jing swallowed the last bit of sugar on the tip of his tongue and said, "If you don't like it, I'll buy a new one."

Just as he was about to turn back, Yun Ran stopped him: "No need, eating too much sugar will give you a toothache at night, and..."

She curled her lips and said, "It's just a piece of sugar painting. I'm not that stingy."

Sima Jing hummed, "Walk around a bit, and I'll buy you something delicious if you come across it."

Yun Ran shrugged: "Okay."

She completely failed to notice the smug smile that flashed across the man's eyes.

The two walked forward a little further, and soon they had two exquisite and gorgeous glass lanterns and a bag of steaming sugar-roasted chestnuts in their hands.

Yun Ran also discovered that Sima Jing always said that he didn't like to eat, but if she ate something, he would come over and take a bite -

She privately thought that perhaps he had a very hard childhood, lacking food and clothing, which led to his bad habit of snatching food.

Thinking this way, she no longer blamed him for snatching it away. She couldn't finish so much by herself anyway, and with someone to help her share, she could also try a few more Chang'an snacks.

Just as the two were about to line up for some fermented rice cakes, a familiar moon-white figure came towards them in the crowd.

At that time, Yun Ran was biting into the sugar-roasted chestnuts peeled by Sima Jing. She was stunned for a moment when she saw the young man holding a osmanthus jade rabbit lantern.

Chang'an is really small.

Unexpectedly, half a year later, I met Cui Boxu at the Lantern Festival.

Out of courtesy, she lifted the veil of the curtain and greeted him, "Brother Cui."

When this crisp voice came out, Cui Boxu was stunned for a moment.

When he saw the young couple standing in line obediently at the back of the crowd, his jaw dropped in shock: "Jing... Jing... Sir, Madam Yun... Why are you, why are you here?"

If Yun Ran had not suddenly spoken, Sima Jing would not have noticed Cui Boxu at all.

Now seeing this man coming with a lantern, and the little fool in his arms calling him "Brother Cui" sweetly, his face couldn't help but look a little gloomy.

"Brother Cui, it's really you."

Yun Ran smiled and said, "It's been a while since we last met. I thought I had made a mistake. My husband and I are out visiting the Lantern Festival. What about you? Are you out to play too?"

The words "my husband" came out so naturally, and she nestled in Sima Jing's arms with a relaxed and intimate manner, just like a newlywed couple in love. Cui Boxu felt a pang of pain in his chest, and even the smile on his face was a little forced. "Yes, I have an appointment with a friend to go to Aoshan to attend a poetry gathering."

"Poetry reading? Is it fun?" Yun Ran was curious.

"It's February and the Spring Examination is coming soon. Students from all over the country have gathered in Chang'an. With nothing better to do, they organized a poetry gathering to celebrate the occasion."

Cui Boxu didn't dare to look at the tall, graceful Prince Jing in his purple robe for too long. He simply lowered his eyes in Yun Ran's direction and said, "If Madam Yun is interested, you can go and take a look with Master Jing."

Yun Ran raised her eyebrows slightly. Although she was not well-versed in literature, she had a heart that yearned for poetry and painting. "Okay... well!"

A sweet and plump chestnut was suddenly stuffed into my mouth.

She turned around in surprise and looked at the man behind her depressedly. She was still talking, why was he feeding her at this time?

Sima Jing smiled and put another chestnut into her mouth, his dark eyes squinting at Cui Boxu: "The poem says, 'The moon is above the treetops, and people make appointments after dusk.' Perhaps Mr. Cui also has an appointment with a beautiful woman tonight, so we should not disturb him."

Yun Ran stuffed a chestnut in each cheek and glared at Sima Jing angrily. But thinking that what he had just said made sense, he just chewed the chestnut quickly and nodded vaguely to Cui Boxu, "Brother Cui, go and do your own thing. We'll go shopping later when we have time."

Cui Boxu: "..."

As a man, how could he not see King Jing's zeal to protect his food.

But no one would have expected that King Jing, who was said to be unkind, would actually be so jealous.

Although he had no beautiful woman to meet tonight, it was difficult to refute King Jing's words. Cui Boxu raised his sleeves and said, "Then I will not disturb your elegant enjoyment of the lanterns. I will be leaving first."

Yun Ran nodded: "Happy Lantern Festival! I'll see you later, Brother Cui."

Cui Boxu chuckled: "Madam Yun... and Mr. Jing are well too. See you later."

He turned and left, and couldn't help but look back twice until he was far away.

Seeing the pair standing in the dimly lit area, not knowing what they were talking about, King Jing raised his hand and pinched the princess's face, while the princess punched his chest in shame and anger.

This sweet and loving scene made Cui Boxu feel mixed emotions.

Although I have often heard about the good deeds of Princess Jing recently, and I also know that Prince Jing seems to have changed a lot after getting married, and is no longer as reclusive and isolated from the outside world as before, but no matter what others say, it is not as shocking as seeing it with my own eyes.

They can be so loving.

They were so loving that a prince was willing to put aside his status and accompany his wife in queue at a roadside food stall in the cold wind, without any impatience on his face.

They were so affectionate that he even peeled chestnuts for her and fed her with his own hands, oblivious to the surroundings...

The young lady from the Yun family didn't think there was anything wrong with this at all. Instead, she got used to it and enjoyed it.

Thinking of the bright and beautiful eyes of the young lady from the Yun family, which seemed even more radiant and charming than the last time he saw her, Cui Boxu felt a pang of sadness and bitterness in his heart.

Could it be that the young lady of the Yun family is really the reincarnation of a lucky star as rumored by the outside world, with extremely good luck, which is why she was not killed and has been safe until now?

If it weren't for this reason, why did the three noble ladies before him, including his sister, die at such a young age?

Cui Boxu was not the only one who had this question. When Yun Ran saw Cui Boxu, he naturally thought of the lady of the Cui family who unfortunately died young.

Although he knew it was inappropriate to ask this during the Lantern Festival, Yun Ran was really curious.

Taking advantage of the cover of her thick cloak, she quietly hugged Sima Jing's waist and looked up at him: "Your Highness, have you sent people to carefully investigate the cause of death of the three noble ladies you were previously engaged to?"

Sima Jing suddenly heard her question and his brows became gloomy.

Yun Ran was horrified at the sight, but he didn't loosen his grip on the narrow waist. He softened his tone and said, "Don't be angry. I know they're definitely not unlucky because of you. Your horoscope doesn't mean you're unlucky with your wife. That's all nonsense. Besides, if you were unlucky with your wife, wouldn't I still be fine? I can eat, drink, and sleep well."

Sima Jing heard everything she said to Cui Boxu in the bamboo forest that day, and he knew that she didn't have much prejudice against him in this regard.

She put the talisman on him on their wedding night. Later she explained that it was just to be prepared in case of any eventuality.

On the second day after her wedding, she put them all away and never used them again.

"Your Highness, are you angry?"

Seeing that the man in front of her didn't speak for a long time, Yun Ran couldn't help but hug his waist and rock him gently, then raised her pair of watery black eyes and looked at him pitifully.

Sima Jing raised his hand and pinched her face: "I'm not angry."

Yun Ran: "Then why don't you say anything? You have such a stern face, it's scary."

Sima Jing pursed his lips and fell silent again.

Yun Ran: “…”

Well, it seems he really doesn't want to mention this.

That’s right, after all, it’s not a good thing, and mentioning it will only make you feel worse.

"Okay, I won't ask anymore."

Just then, the line reached their end. Yun Ran hurriedly pulled him forward and said to the stall owner, "Please give me two fermented rice cakes, one with osmanthus and one with rose."

After buying the cakes, the two of them went to guess lantern riddles, toss rings, and release river lanterns...

After watching the first fireworks display at midnight, Yun Ran completely put the inappropriate question behind him and wholeheartedly enjoyed this grand annual festival in Chang'an City.

But when he returned to Prince Jing's mansion, washed up and lay down on the bed, Sima Jing covered him silently.

Yun Ran had been walking around all night and was feeling a little tired. She raised her hand and placed it against the man's chest, which was scorching hot, and negotiated with him, "I'll pay you back today and make it up tomorrow morning."

The man said nothing, but lowered his head to kiss her cheeks and neck, and slowly peeled her clothes with his long fingers like peeling a rice dumpling.

After kissing her until she was soft as water and her eyes were blurry, he bit her ear and coaxed her, "Just sleep. I won't play with you today."

Yun Ran thought that there would be no fiddling, just a kiss and then sleep.

In fact, there is no fiddling or changing of posture.

Yun Ran: “…”

How can she sleep like this!

In the end, she hugged Sima Jing's neck and cried and begged him to fiddle with her for a while, otherwise she couldn't bear lying there all the time.

Sima Jing fulfilled her wish.

But Yunran also discovered that Sima Jing seemed unusually silent tonight.

On weekdays, he would occasionally say a few naughty words to tease her, and would also coax her "good Ranran" and "Ranran, be good", but tonight he was as silent as if he had taken a mute drug.

The more silent, the more ferocious.

Even after midnight, they continued to do the things on the 16th, which really made Yun Ran very tired.

At the last moment of her consciousness, she had only one thought in her mind -

Is he crazy?

No matter what, when she has enough strength tomorrow, she will definitely sleep in a separate room from him!

However, the next day, she woke up again, and was about to denounce the beastly man for his beastly behavior, but she heard Qingling say, "Your Highness? He was summoned to the palace an hour ago."

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The author has something to say: The second update is here, good night everyone~