Chapter 3
The woman's slender figure from behind was ethereal, and the gazes behind her remained fixed on her.
Ling Wu curled her lips. Even the so-called "Gentleman of the Bright Moon" had a day when he didn't trust others and had to follow them personally.
She was curious to see what tricks he would pull this time.
“Miss, look at that lantern, it’s so unique, it looks like…” Qinglu’s tense heart slowly calmed down, and she stared at the lantern with amazement.
Qinglu pondered, "It seems...it seems to be something from the gods!"
Lingwu followed and looked.
The shopkeeper was surrounded by a crowd, and he looked arrogant.
"This is a lantern I spent two months making! When lit, the petals emit a delicate fragrance like celestial herbs, making one feel as if they are in a fairyland. After the lantern is turned off, it resembles the flowers on the other side of the River of Oblivion..."
"The other shore flower?" Ling Wu asked.
As she finished speaking, the shopkeeper's face showed displeasure at being interrupted.
He looked up, about to reprimand her, but froze when he saw Ling Wu, which aroused the curiosity of others to look for her as well.
Ling Wu wore a long, rouge-red dress embroidered with silver thread, and a pearl tassel pendant at her waist, which made her slender waist appear even more delicate.
Her eyes, bright and smiling, were beautiful and lively, gentle and affectionate, and every smile and frown exuded an irresistible charm.
"Such a beautiful woman..." someone exclaimed in a low voice.
The shopkeeper coughed lightly and softened his voice, explaining gently, "The red spider lily is a divine flower that guides the souls of the dead to the land of the living."
Upon hearing his words, the crowd couldn't help but sigh.
"Why make such an unlucky lantern for a festival like this?"
"That's right, that's right. Young lady, you shouldn't buy it. There are many other styles that young ladies would like. This lantern will only bring bad luck!"
"Yes, I can also show you the way!"
The shopkeeper looked somewhat embarrassed, but still shook his head and sighed, "You don't understand, this red spider lily is a flower of merit."
Seeing the fondness in Lingwu's eyes, the shopkeeper felt as if he had found a kindred spirit.
What do you think, young lady?
"Those who love it have countless reasons to love it. How much are your lanterns?" Ling Wu smiled faintly, making the lanterns in the sky seem dim in comparison.
Guiding the soul into a new life is itself a meritorious act; it is indeed no exaggeration to call it a flower of merit.
Jiang Qi murmured softly from the crowd, "Those who like something have countless reasons for liking it."
After a long while, he chuckled softly. This Miss Bai was not as timid as rumored, but she was just as pure and innocent as the rumors described.
The shopkeeper's gaze was intense. "What you say makes perfect sense, young lady! Those who have a multitude of reasons for liking something will not be bothered by gossip. You are truly talented!"
He then smiled and said somewhat apologetically, "But these lanterns are not for sale, they are given away for free. If you want one, you must answer ten questions correctly before I can give it to you."
Ling Wu nodded, "No problem, go ahead and ask the question."
Those around her nodded in agreement with her words, and some even blushed, though they eventually hid it on their faces.
They wanted to see if the beauty would be at a disadvantage, and they also wanted to play the hero and save the damsel in distress.
The shopkeeper smiled, and although he was setting questions for everyone, he kept glancing at Lingwu a few more times, hoping she would come out on top.
"Listen, everyone: When drawn, it is round; when written, it is square; it is short in winter and long in summer. What character is this?"
While everyone else was pondering, Lingwu answered without hesitation, "Sun."
As soon as she finished speaking, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up. "That's it!"
The onlookers then realized what had happened and exclaimed, "That's right, it really is! The girl is truly clever!"
Jiang Qi stopped short of the answer he was about to blurt out, then smiled, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.
The shopkeeper then said, "Listen again, everyone, why is there no smoke? This is a riddle about insects."
"Zhao Yeqing." Her voice was soft, lingering in everyone's hearts.
The shopkeeper laughed heartily, and then directly posed a riddle to Lingwu: "Listen again, young lady, this long-legged boy, plays the flute into the bridal chamber, loves to drink safflower wine, and claps his hands to his death. Guess what insect this riddle is."
"mosquito."
"You got it right again!"
"Unfathomable darkness, first ascending to the heavens, then descending to the earth. This riddle is about a celestial being." The shopkeeper smiled, his face full of anticipation!
Ling Wu wasn't fooled either, and her red lips parted again: "Still the sun."
"The young lady is intelligent!"
"..."
Nine questions in a row, including some simple puzzles, but what was amazing was that she answered them all before others even had a chance to think about them.
Jiang Qi's eyes gleamed with increasing interest.
"This young lady is truly extraordinary!" the shopkeeper exclaimed repeatedly, adding, "I just wonder if she can solve this last riddle."
"Please give me a question," Ling Wu said calmly and gently.
This seemingly simple statement possesses an irresistible charm.
"You're too kind, young lady. Please listen: the river is all shrouded in mist, the well is a dark hole, the yellow dog has white spots, and the white dog has swollen spots."
Ling Wu paused slightly, then heard a clear, elegant male voice beside her utter at the same time: "Xue".
Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of curiosity, but her heart remained completely unmoved. Lingwu glanced at her sideways.
Jiang Qi's clothes were exactly the same as those in Bai Lingwu's memory.
He wore a long, moon-white robe, the wind was gentle and the moon was bright, a jade pendant hung at his waist, and a jade crown bound his hair.
A strand of hair on her forehead was blown by a gentle breeze, giving her an ethereal appearance.
His jade-like face held a calm smile, and his eyes were clear and unfathomable, as if he were indifferent to everything in the world.
Yet, when he looked back at her, his eyes seemed to hold a thousand emotions.
Ling Wu merely nodded in return, her eyes showing no surprise or other emotion.
Jiang Qi smiled and nodded, looking as radiant as the bright moon.
A sense of sorrow and bitterness spread through his heart.
For some reason, he always felt that Miss Bai shouldn't be so calm.
The shopkeeper paused slightly, but still nodded: "If both the young lady and the young master answer correctly at the same time, but the young lady answers ten questions correctly in a row, then this lantern will still belong to the young lady."
He nodded slightly to Jiang Qi as a greeting.
Jiang Qi parted his thin lips slightly, his voice clear and elegant, like a clear spring under the moon, "That's natural."
After all, what he wanted wasn't the lantern, but the attention of a beautiful woman.
Qinglu frowned and quietly squeezed to the other side of Lingwu, blocking Jiang Qi's gaze from staring at her young lady.
"This lantern is a gift for you, young lady." The shopkeeper held the lantern with some reluctance, but was still filled with joy when he saw Lingwu's beautiful face.
With a beautiful woman as a complement to the lantern, his lantern is truly worthy of the world's praise.
"Thank you." Ling Wu nodded slightly, took the lantern, and left.
Her figure was graceful and alluring, seemingly possessing endless attraction, which intensified Jiang Qi's interest.
Even after she had walked away, the shopkeeper still watched her with lingering affection, unsure whether he was reluctant to part with the lantern or with his beautiful confidante.
After a long while, the onlookers finally came to their senses and began to discuss among themselves:
"Whose daughter is this?"
"I had no idea; I've never heard of such talent and beauty in Shengjing!"
"If that's the case, I'm reminded of someone, who seems to be... who seems to be the second young lady of the Bai family!"
"The Bai family? The Second Miss Bai, the younger sister of the current Consort Xian?"
"I've never heard of such a color in Shengjing before. Thinking about it, the Bai family really dotes on their second young lady, keeping it so well hidden!"
Jiang Qi's eyes darkened. If this continued, the number of people seeking to marry her in Shengjing would likely increase even further.
but……
He followed Ling Wu's steps, a faint smile playing on his lips.
However, why would he be afraid of these things?
However, unlike other young ladies from noble families, Miss Bai did not look at him with eyes full of affection.
On the contrary, there are some...
It seems there's still some aversion?
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