Winter comes early and goes slowly in Chang'an, and the nights are bitterly cold. But today is the Lantern Festival, so despite the cold weather, people are still coming and going on the streets.
Lanterns were hung high in the streets and alleys, and people were guessing riddles and releasing lanterns, creating a lively atmosphere.
Inside the Prince's mansion, several playful servants had bought lanterns and fireworks early on, and were already making a ruckus in the courtyard.
The princess has always been kind and benevolent, and she doesn't concern herself with such matters. Besides, there's already a lively young master in the household.
Chu Huaixu originally had a share of these fireworks, but because he was unable to return from the palace, several servants dared not wait for him.
Only one corner of the courtyard was particularly deserted.
Song Ting sat quietly on the edge of the bed, listening to the laughter and noise around her. Besides thinking about Chu Huaixu, who was far away in the palace, she also thought about the person she had met on the street that day.
He went out today to buy roast goose from Qingfengju for Chu Huaixu.
Roast goose is a specialty of Qingfengju Restaurant. Chu Huaixu loves it and craves it every few days, but when he is actually asked to eat it, he usually can't eat more than a few bites.
He casually mentioned it before leaving home today, and Song Ting kept it in mind.
On the Lantern Festival, the streets were crowded with people, and Qingfengju was also extremely busy. Song Ting waited for quite a while before she could buy her things.
He was lucky enough to buy the last roast goose in the store, wrapped in oil paper, and the aroma could be smelled from a distance.
He deliberately chose to buy it before dinner so that the Third Young Master might be able to eat a warm roast goose when he returned.
Roast goose and roast chicken taste best when eaten hot.
The young nobleman will be very happy. Song Ting could already imagine what Huaixu would look like at that time.
Thinking of this, Song Ting's eyes curved into a smile, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the oil paper package in her hand.
"Little rabbit lanterns—little dog lanterns—...all kinds of beautiful lanterns, come and take a look...Young master, would you like to buy a lantern?"
"Salted peanuts, green beans, broad beans, jujube paste cake... ten coins for any of your choice—buy more, get more free..."
The sky wasn't completely dark yet, but the streets were already bustling with activity, with vendors calling out their wares incessantly, each enthusiastically trying to attract customers.
As Song Ting walked and looked around, he felt his heart swell with joy. He had never paid attention to such human warmth before, until he came to live like a human being by Chu Huaixu's side.
"This one looks good, it suits you perfectly."
"It looks nice, but it's too expensive. Maybe we should just forget about it and not waste the money."
A middle-aged couple stood in front of a hairpin stall. Song Ting glanced at the cloisonné enamel hairpin the woman was wearing; it was indeed very beautiful.
He stopped unconsciously.
The old woman selling hairpins noticed him: "Young master, would you like to buy a hairpin?"
"Mmm." Song Ting responded softly, her eyes lowered as she stared at the dazzling array of hairpins.
The old woman was quite elderly; her hair was completely white, and her face was wrinkled, but her smile was gentle. Seeing Song Ting's troubled expression, she asked him:
"If you don't mind, young master, you might as well tell me about your sweetheart, what kind of girl she is. Perhaps I can give you some advice."
The one I love.
These three words stunned Song Ting on the spot. After realizing what was happening, he quickly denied it: "No, no! It's not my sweetheart!"
"Oh my, so shy," the old woman chuckled. "I understand, young master, you're just shy. You haven't confessed your feelings to the young lady yet, have you?"
Song Ting's face burned like fire: "It really isn't..."
The old woman, however, did not believe his explanation at all: "Perfect timing! Today is the Lantern Festival, an auspicious day. Young master, pick out a hairpin and buy a lantern. Take this opportunity to express your feelings to the girl. Who knows, things might just work out!"
"..." The stall next to him was selling lanterns. Lanterns of various shapes were hung at different heights. The light shone on Song Ting's face, but the fire inside the lanterns seemed to burn into Song Ting's heart, making his cheeks even hotter.
He had never been in such an embarrassing moment before, yet he felt no anger, but rather... inexplicably ashamed.
"Young master, you are so handsome, the girl you're with must be very beautiful too, right?" the old woman asked again.
The image of Chu Huaixu involuntarily appeared in Song Ting's mind, and her face grew hotter and hotter: "Beautiful, pretty."
Seeing how shy he was, the old woman chuckled: "So, what kind of person is she?"
“He’s very handsome.” Song Ting blurted out without realizing it. “He’s very tall, loves to laugh, and has naturally almond-shaped eyes, or maybe phoenix eyes, I can’t tell the difference. In short, he’s exceptionally handsome, exceptionally handsome.”
“He is very kind-hearted and always helps those in need he encounters on the road, but sometimes he also causes chaos in the mansion and angers the Prince… the Master.”
"He is exceptionally good; everyone who meets him will like him. He is my angel."
He is the person I would be willing to die for.
No one can dislike Huaixu.
Upon hearing this, not only did the old woman laugh, but the middle-aged couple who bought the hairpin also laughed. The woman gently punched her husband's chest and said reproachfully:
"Look how eloquent other people are, unlike you, who are so tongue-tied."
The man scratched his head, took out some loose silver, and bought the hairpin from the woman's head. The woman said it was fine, but in reality, she really liked the hairpin and touched it lovingly.
"Young man, don't be afraid. If you have such a good girl, hurry up and pursue her, otherwise, she might be snatched away by someone else one day." A little while later, she said to Song.
The man nodded and chimed in, "Yes, young man. A real man should act quickly if he has someone he likes. Don't be afraid of rejection. I was rejected many times when I was pursuing my wife."
"What are you saying?" The woman lightly pounded his chest.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore." The man put his arm around his wife's shoulder. "Let's go, my wife."
The two walked slowly away. Song Ting stood there, stunned, her head practically steaming.
That's not what he meant at all.
But his mouth seemed to have its own thoughts, and he blurted it out without even realizing it. Even he himself was surprised.
However, he felt he was right. In his heart, Huaixu was such a good person that no one in the world could compare to him.
"It seems the young master really likes that girl." The old woman, who had been listening the whole time, handed him a jade hairpin, saying, "Take a look at this one."
“If that young lady likes to wear white, this hairpin would be very suitable for her. It is the most beautiful hairpin I have, and I don’t think anyone else would be willing to sell it.”
The hairpins here are naturally not as exquisite as those in jewelry shops, and the old woman's words may not be taken seriously, but Song Ting really likes this hairpin.
Moreover, with his financial resources, this is the only one he can afford.
Thinking of this, Song Ting felt a little embarrassed, but he still wanted to do his best to give that person the best he could afford.
Without much hesitation, Song Ting bought the jade hairpin: "I'll take this one. Please wrap it up nicely for me."
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