Chapter 133 The Last Competition
West Market.
This is the first time Yu Youning has come to the West Market at night since he came to the capital.
The West Market during the day just feels lively.
But at night, all kinds of lanterns are hung high, bright and dreamy.
As they walked along, they saw people performing juggling and drawing sugar paintings.
Further ahead, there are ventriloquist performers.
A screen embroidered with landscapes, flowers and birds surrounds the ventriloquist in the middle.
I can't see its face, but I can hear the chirping of insects and birds and the gurgling of the stream.
In just a quarter of an hour, it felt like I had spent a whole day wandering in the mountains.
Until the end, Yu Youning and his friends were still not satisfied.
Before they could continue enjoying the food, a group of children came running in the other direction, shouting, "Make way, the shadow play is about to begin."
Yu Youning immediately grabbed Chu Huaixu's hand and ran over there, "Hurry up, hurry up, if you go too late you won't be able to see it!"
When they arrived, most of the seats were already occupied.
But in the front, in the middle, there was a bald little monk sitting. There were many seats next to him, but they were all empty.
Many children wanted to sit over there, but were stopped by their parents and elders.
That’s a Buddhist!
People like them are not worthy of sitting together with Buddhists!
"Read one!"
Yu Youning was very surprised and ran towards Nian Yi.
"Why are you sitting here?"
Nian Yi lowered his eyebrows and eyes, his face full of compassion, "Come and watch the shadow play."
Yu Youning looked at the empty seat next to him and asked, "Can we sit here?"
"Of course."
Yu Youning hurriedly waved to Chu Huaixu and the others, "Come here quickly!"
Chu Huaixu was the first to step forward and nodded slightly to Nian Yi, "Son of Buddha."
Nian Yi also nodded, "It's about to begin, everyone please take your seats!"
Yu Youning sat down nearby, next to Nian Yi.
Chu Huaixu took two steps back and sat on the other side of Yu Youning.
Wei Zhao walked around behind Yu Youning. Huo Qingchen hesitated for a moment and sat next to Wei Zhao.
Only Wen Xiangli stood there hesitating for a moment, and finally sat on the other side of Nian Yi.
Wen Xiangli turned his head and saw Yu Youning's focused profile through Nian Yi. She was staring straight ahead, her little face full of anticipation and excitement.
The shadow play was very exciting. It was a very ancient story, full of fantasy and adventure.
It’s just that the story is too long. This is not the beginning nor the end, but just a very exciting part of it.
When the shadow puppet screen went dark, Yu Youning was still a little reluctant, "Why don't you continue the performance? I want to watch more!"
Chant with your hands together, "Amitabha, every sip and every bite has its own laws, don't force it."
"What did you say?" Yu Youning looked at Nian Yi in confusion, "I don't understand."
Chu Huaixu smiled and patted Yu Youning's head. "He relies on this to make a living. If he performs a short piece here to pique people's interest, they will go to the shadow puppetry house and spend money to watch it."
Hearing this explanation, Yu Youning smiled happily, "I have the money! I'll go to the shadow puppetry museum later! I'll treat you! Let's watch it from beginning to end!"
When everyone heard this, except Nian Yi, they all smiled and agreed.
Nian Yi frowned slightly, looking thoughtful, and no one knew what he was thinking about.
I looked at the time and it was already late.
Chu Huaixu was about to say it was time to go back when Yu Youning spoke up first, "Let's go find some Kongming lanterns! I want to write a hundred wishes on them!"
Huo Qingchen sneered ruthlessly, "There's no way you can write so many wishes on a Kongming lantern!"
"How do you know you can't write it down?"
“Because I tried!”
Yu Youning immediately gave in and said, "Then I'll write ten!"
"Then I want to write ten too!" Huo Qingchen was unwilling to fall behind.
The two of them walked out as they talked.
Halfway through the walk, Yu Youning stopped again, turned around and urged, "Come on!"
Chu Huaixu, Wen Xiangli and Wei Zhao hurried to catch up.
Only Nian Yi was still standing there.
Yu Youning looked at Nianyi, "Nianyi, aren't you coming?"
Nian Yi smiled slightly and said, "Come."
Coming to the stall selling Kongming lanterns, Chu Huaixu took out some silver and bought six Kongming lanterns.
There were pens and ink on the stall, and several people dipped their hands in ink and started writing.
Yu Youning and Huo Qingchen seemed to be competing with each other, each writing more and faster than the other.
The only difference is that Yu Youning's handwriting is vigorous and powerful, and it doesn't look like it was written by a five-year-old girl at all.
And Huo Qingchen's handwriting...can only be described as neat.
Before Huo Qingchen finished writing, Yu Youning's Kongming lantern had already flown up.
Huo Qingchen hurriedly released his Kongming lantern, then asked Yu Youning, "Youning, what did you write?"
Yu Youning smiled with curved eyebrows and counted on his fingers, "Eat delicious food, drink delicious drinks, have fun, don't have to go to the Imperial College, don't have to teach apprentices, don't have to get up early, don't have to practice martial arts..."
After hearing Yu Youning's wish, Huo Qingchen laughed and applauded, "We're almost the same!"
"You imitate me!" Yu Youning snorted and looked at Chu Huaixu, "Prince, what did you write?"
Chu Huaixu's Kongming lantern had already flown high into the sky. He could vaguely see a line of words on it, but he couldn't make out what was written.
Chu Huaixu looked at Yu Youning, lowered his eyebrows and smiled softly, his voice gentle, "I'll tell you later."
"Why later?"
Yu Youning muttered something, and out of the corner of his eye he saw someone holding a pen but not writing a single word.
"Why don't you write?" Yu Youning walked over.
Nian Yi put down his brush and said, "I don't have any wishes."
"You don't have any wishes?" Yu Youning looked at Nian Yi in disbelief. "I have too many wishes to list. How about I give you one?"
"good."
"Then I'll share with you my wish that we can play together every day from now on!"
"Do we play together every day..."
Nian Yi repeated the sentence softly, picked up the brush again, and wrote it stroke by stroke.
The Kongming lantern gradually rose into the air. The six people looked up at the same time, watching it fly higher and higher, farther and farther, until it finally merged with the Kongming lanterns in the sky and could no longer be distinguished.
There were fewer and fewer people on the street, and they all got on Chu Huaixu's carriage.
The carriage stopped and started, sending everyone back, and finally only Yu Youning and Chu Huaixu were left.
Yu Youning was already feeling a little sleepy, and her little head was nodding.
Chu Huaixu originally wanted to say a few words to her, but seeing her like this, he ended up saying nothing.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the gate of Wen Mansion, Wen Shiyan and Yu Tingwan walked over quickly.
Wen Shiyan held Yu Youning in his arms and thanked him softly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for bringing Youning back. You've worked hard today."
Yu Tingwan also said, "It's getting late, Prince, you should go back early!"
"You're too polite. You should take Youning back to rest. She had a great time today and is exhausted."
Yu Tingwan looked at Yu Youning who was sleeping soundly on Wen Shiyan's shoulder, her eyes full of helplessness.
This girl loves to play too much!
Yu Youning slept until noon the next day.
When he sat up, rubbing his eyes, his expression was still a little confused.
Seeing her like this, Yu Tingwan said helplessly, "The third competition will be in two days. After the third competition, the Imperial College will start classes. You can't play around like this anymore."
"ah?"
Yu Youning had just woken up when he heard this shocking news and quickly lay down again.
"Then I'll sleep a little longer!"
"Are you still sleeping?" Yu Tingwan sighed, "Then I asked the kitchen to prepare eight-treasure duck, white-cut chicken, braised pork elbow, steamed fish... only your father, grandfather, and I can eat them."
Yu Youning turned over and sat up instantly, "I'm not going to sleep anymore! Mom, I'm not going to sleep anymore! I'm going to get up right away!"
A triumphant smile flashed across Yu Tingwan's eyes, and then he came forward to help Yu Youning get dressed. He heard Yu Youning mumbling while getting dressed, saying that the wish he made didn't work at all.
"Youning, when did you make a wish? What did you wish for?" Yu Tingwan asked curiously.
"It was last night! We flew Kongming lanterns together. I made a lot of wishes on them and gave one to Nianyi, who is a Buddhist child! Mom, we had so much fun last night. I want to play again tonight!"
Yu Tingwan knew that Yu Youning had a childish nature. Although he had great medical skills and was very talented, he loved to eat and play.
"I'm afraid it won't be possible tonight." Yu Tingwan explained slowly, "The third competition is the day after tomorrow. Huo Qingchen's brother Huo Yun'an is going to participate in the competition. I'm afraid he will have to accompany his brother for the next two days and won't be able to play with you."
Yu Youning didn't want to be left out, so he waved his hand and said, "That's fine, let's play after the competition is over!"
Yu Tingwan moved his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
After the competition, Wei Zhao was about to leave with the Nanzhao delegation, and Fuzi should also leave with the Xiliang delegation.
I'm afraid it's impossible to gather those people from last night again.
But it’s better not to tell Yu Youning these words for now, otherwise she will be depressed for the next few days.
Two days later.
Yu Youning finished his meal early and went to the competition venue with Yu Tingwan, Wen Shiyan, and Marshal Wen.
As soon as I arrived, I found that it was different from before.
The previous two competitions were held underground, but this time, it was held on the ground.
The venue was circled and divided into three parts with a point as the center.
Participants from the three countries each stood in their own area.
Behind each of them stood fifty men in armor.
Huo Qingchen had come to Yu Youning's side at some point, looking at the field with some worry, "Youning, do you think my brother can win?"
"Of course!"
"I think so too." Huo Qingchen paused, "But I'm still worried."
Chu Huaixu also came over and sat down on the other side of Yu Youning.
Huo Qingchen glanced at him and said, "Your Highness, didn't you say there were only five participants? Why are there fifty more people?"
"That's a puppet," Chu Huaixu explained. "It's made using some kind of mechanical device. It's not a real person."
"This competition is about deploying troops and fighting on the battlefield."
"Yes, the winner takes it all!"
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