Shen Hanshan couldn't refuse his daughter's request, so he had to agree.
On the riverbank, amidst the lanterns, Lin Wanqing looked at Zhu Sanniang, gently twirling a lotus lantern between her fingers, and teased with a smile, "Lord Zhu, look how beautiful this lantern is, and the inscription on it is also very fitting—'May we find one heart to share, and stay together until our hair turns white.'"
Upon hearing this, Zhu San Niang smiled faintly, but her heart was filled with ripples. She sighed inwardly, "I'm afraid it's just that our love is deep but our fate is shallow, and we can't escape our destiny."
"Alright, alright! Now that you're out, cheer up and don't think about those unhappy things." Zhao Zhi put her arm around Zhu San Niang's shoulder. Zhu San Niang nodded, hiding the sadness in her eyes.
The three chatted and laughed as they strolled along the riverbank, which was adorned with dazzling lanterns.
Not far away, Shen Hanshan, accompanied by his two children, slowly walked towards the three of them.
"Daddy, look at that rabbit lantern, it's so cute!" Yunxuan pointed to a lantern not far away, her eyes sparkling with surprise.
"Yes, she is very beautiful." Shen Hanshan's tone was somewhat perfunctory. Yun Xuan followed his gaze and saw three ladies walking towards her. One of them had a round belly and a kind face, which made her feel inexplicably close to her.
She suddenly turned to look at Shen Hanshan, her dark, bright eyes sparkling with curiosity: "Father, was I like this in Mother's belly before I was born?"
“Yes.” Shen Hanshan looked at Zhao Zhi, his gaze filled with deep affection.
Seeing this, Zhu San Niang used the excuse of going to see the lantern riddle guessing game in the distance to pull Lin Wanqing away.
Upon hearing this, Yunxuan's little face showed a look of sudden understanding. Then she looked at Zhao Zhi seriously, her gaze falling on her belly, and said in a childish voice, "Oh~ then Mother must be very tired, right? I will be a good girl from now on, and I will help Father love Mother!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi's heart melted instantly. Her eyes reddened slightly, but her smile was even brighter than the lanterns on the river.
"What a sweet little mouth."
"Thank you for the compliment, beautiful lady." Yunxuan smiled happily. Her smile made her dimples more prominent, which looked especially adorable against the backdrop of the lanterns and the shimmering river.
At this moment, not far away, Zhu Sanniang was standing in front of a uniquely shaped lantern, intently studying the riddles on it.
The riddle happened to be the first line of a love poem: "The moon rises above the willow branches, and lovers meet after dusk." She was about to say the second line she was thinking of when a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind her: "The wind caresses the peach blossoms, and love is sealed at the Three Lifetimes Stone."
Zhu San Niang was startled, then suddenly looked up and met Zhao Yi's smiling eyes.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze in that moment. All the surrounding noise vanished, leaving only the sound of their breathing and her pounding heartbeat.
She hurriedly lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, trembled slightly. When she looked up again, her eyes were slightly red-rimmed, and her gaze had regained its usual coldness.
"Young Master Zhao, you've come to see the lanterns too?"
Zhao Yi looked at Zhu San Niang, a thousand words in his heart gathered into a gentle smile on his lips, but in the end he only said softly: "Yes, the moonlight is just right, and the lantern festival is lively, so I thought I might run into an old friend."
His eyes held too many unspoken emotions; his restrained love was like an undercurrent, yet he was careful not to disturb the tranquility before him.
Zhu Sanniang dared not look him in the eye, trying her best to calm the turmoil in her heart. She turned slightly to the side, curtsied, and said, "Young Master Zhao, please continue to enjoy the moon. I am going to find my companions."
"Oh—Sheng'er—" Zhao Yi was extremely upset when he heard that Zhu San Niang was leaving.
"Is there anything else, Young Master Zhao?" Zhu San Niang asked, frowning. Her slightly trembling voice betrayed her nervousness.
Just as the atmosphere between the two was delicate and complicated, a series of hurried and disordered footsteps broke the silence.
Immediately afterwards, several sharp whistles pierced the night sky, and several cold arrows shot from the shadows, their target Zhu Sanniang in the crowd.
"Watch out!" Zhao Yi reacted almost instinctively, pulling Zhu San Niang behind him and shielding her with his own body from the sudden danger.
An arrow struck his shoulder, instantly staining his clothes with blood, but he skillfully deflected many more arrows.
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