The soft moonlight shines on the lantern market, and the spring colors fill the night city. Streetlights chase the shadows of flowers, and the fragrance of plum blossoms mingles with the aroma of wine. Mirages and starlight fall like rain, and the night sky is ablaze with lights and fireworks.
Tonight, the earth is filled with jubilation.
Within the imperial city of the Western Qin Kingdom, numerous grand lantern festivals were also held.
As night falls, people quickly finish their sumptuous Lantern Festival reunion dinner, then take their children by the hand, carry them on their shoulders, or lift them up. They then choose a lantern that they like, light a red candle inside, and stroll through the streets with their neighbors in twos and threes.
The bustling night market stretches as far as the eye can see, a sea of people and lights merging into a vibrant, colorful ocean. People seem to linger endlessly in this dazzling, lively carnival of lights, unaware that they themselves have become a unique part of the spectacle.
Just as midnight struck, a dazzling light suddenly appeared from the crowd, instantly transforming the bustling land into a silvery-white dream world, as bright as day. At that moment, all the surrounding scenery seemed to pale in comparison.
People were all astonished and looked up at it in unison. They saw a large, round moon hanging high in the sky. It turned out that a rare and magnificent celestial phenomenon of "the bright moon shining overhead" had appeared in the night sky.
Among the crowd, some people began to say, "On the night of the Lantern Festival, the bright moon hangs in the sky, which foretells that a noble person will appear in our Western Qin Kingdom next year, and the people will surely live in peace and prosperity."
As they spoke and the story spread, suddenly everyone knelt down one after another, bowing their heads to the bright moon and shouting in unison, "A noble person has appeared in the world! Heaven blesses Western Qin! From now on, the weather will be favorable, the country will be prosperous and the people will live in peace!"
Despite the noisy and bustling scene, it seemed to have no effect whatsoever on a quiet pavilion in a corner of a small river on the edge of the market. There, a gentle woman with tears streaming down her face was sobbing sadly on the stone table in the pavilion.
This woman seemed to be the only one who was completely out of place with the situation throughout the entire night.
At this moment, she was oblivious to everything that was happening before her eyes, even the extremely rare moonlight that illuminated the entire night.
The woman just kept burying her face in her hands on the table, sobbing and pleading, "Brother Han, I'm sorry, Tianjiao didn't mean it, Tianjiao really didn't mean it, you have to forgive Tianjiao, you must forgive Tianjiao!"
Suddenly, a tall man with half-tied black hair appeared outside the pavilion. Bathed in the bright moonlight, he wore a white brocade robe. Although his face appeared somewhat pale and frail, he still exuded a remarkable air about him.
The man stood alone to the side, silently observing and scrutinizing the woman for a long time before slowly walking up the stone steps and entering the pavilion. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to the woman, saying with concern, "The Lantern Festival is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It should be a wonderful day to invite your beloved to enjoy the moon and lanterns in the streets. Why are you here alone, young lady, heartbroken and shedding tears? Please wipe your tears quickly. It would be so embarrassing if outsiders saw you like this."
"Who asked you to meddle in my business? What are you? How dare you disturb me?" Upon hearing this, the woman immediately stopped crying, raised her head, wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, and then shouted at the man.
But as soon as she finished speaking, her gaze shifted to the man's facial features, and the woman was instantly stunned by the person before her. She was speechless for a long time. When she came to her senses, she asked in surprise, "How come it's you? The merchant from the Northern Lie Kingdom... Tuoba... Ze?"
“Miss Lu, daughter of Dean Lu of Xiqin Academy… It’s been a long time. I’m truly honored that you still remember me.” The man then bowed and thanked her.
However, Lu Tianjiao seemed to be just as disdainful as when they first met, glancing at him with a cold snort before turning his head away and sitting upright, no longer speaking.
“I’ve noticed that every time we meet, Miss, you seem to be at a loss. Please forgive my impertinence, but may I ask what troubles you tonight? Such a beautiful night, how could you bear to waste it and cry alone here? Could it be that unlucky man who doesn’t understand romance and doesn’t know how to cherish a beautiful woman…” The man said, speculating, and then, as if it had become a habit, he sat down uninvited beside her.
Upon hearing this, Lu Tianjiao suddenly collapsed onto the stone table and burst into tears once again.
Tuoba Ze hurriedly took out the handkerchief he hadn't offered earlier, but to his surprise, Lu Tianjiao accepted it and used it this time. Perhaps it was because she was truly too lonely and helpless at that moment!
While crying, Lu Tianjiao said, "I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to. I didn't want her to die either, but why won't he believe me? He won't even give me a chance to explain to him in person."
"Miss Lu... Miss Lu..." Upon seeing this, Tuoba Ze hurriedly reached out a hand towards her but stopped in mid-air. After hesitating for a moment, he gently patted Lu Tianjiao's back twice and called out softly.
Suddenly, Lu Tianjiao abruptly sat up, her delicate hands, seemingly untouched by any hardship, gripping the hem of Tuoba Ze's clothes tightly against his strong arms. Shaking him violently, she asked through tear-filled eyes, "Do you believe me? Do you believe me? I really didn't know there was a drug in that bowl of bird's nest porridge. I really didn't know, I really didn't know..."
Seeing the pitiful, desperate plea for understanding in Lu Tianjiao's eyes, Tuoba Ze stared at him in silence for a moment before clearly replying, "I believe what you said is true."
In an instant, Lu Tianjiao's long-depressed and conflicted heart seemed to finally be released, and he cried and laughed with joy, slowly releasing his hands that were attached to Tuoba Ze.
Tuoba Ze watched helplessly as Lu Tianjiao's hand slowly withdrew from his arm. Finally, feigning reluctance, he murmured to her in a low voice, "Miss Lu, actually, I came here specifically to say goodbye to you... In the future, we may never see each other again, no matter where we are."
Upon hearing this, Lu Tianjiao immediately looked at Tuoba Ze's face and asked him with a puzzled expression, "Saying goodbye? Didn't you say you were doing...doing that kind of business in the south of the city? How come you never mentioned it last time? Why is it so sudden?"
"That business was never doing well to begin with, and since I'm not a native of Western Qin and have no connections, it's even harder for me to survive. Now, I'm running around everywhere, working day and night, but it's all been for nothing. I've even ruined my health. Rather than struggling to survive here, I might as well close down, go back home, regroup, and start a proper small business to make a living in peace." Tuoba Ze coughed a few times, feigning a pitiful expression.
Upon hearing this, for some reason, a strong sense of sympathy welled up in Lu Tianjiao's heart. After a moment's thought, he said to him, "If you don't mind, young master, I can find someone in Western Qin to help you out. What do you think?"
"Really? That's wonderful! I'm so lucky to have Miss Lu's help!" Tuoba Ze exclaimed in surprise as he quickly stood up and bowed to her in gratitude.
After speaking, the two sat down together. After a slight hesitation, Tuoba Ze asked with a smile, "Then... if I need Miss Lu's help in the future, where should I look for you? It is truly fate that I was able to see you again tonight."
“I’m currently living in the Prince of Qin’s residence, but it would be inconvenient for you to come to the residence to find me… How about you tell me your address in the capital, and I can come to see you when I have time?” After a moment’s thought, Lu Tianjiao suggested.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Tuoba Ze clapped his hands repeatedly, praising it.
He quickly leaned close to Lu Tianjiao's ear and whispered something in it.
After listening, Lu Tianjiao sat up and nodded slightly.
After a moment of silence, Tuoba Ze finally spoke, addressing the key question he had sought out that night: "From what Miss Lu has said, it seems you have quite a connection with the Qin Prince's Mansion. I wonder, is there something Miss Lu has heard of?"
"What is it?" Lu Tianjiao asked casually.
Taking a deep breath, Tuoba Ze said softly, "In the Lingkong Continent, it is widely rumored that the Western Qin Kingdom is protected by a mysterious power, but no one knows what this power is. I would like to ask, Miss Lu, have you ever heard of this mysterious power?"
"So that's what you wanted to ask? But why would a merchant like you ask this? You wouldn't happen to be... a spy from the Northern Lie Kingdom who has infiltrated my Western Qin with ill intentions, would you?" Lu Tianjiao suddenly realized, slowly got up, turned his back to him, looked at the gurgling water by the pavilion, and suddenly turned around to stare at Tuoba Ze's eyes.
Upon seeing this, Tuoba Ze was taken aback. After a moment, he calmly said, "Miss Lu, what makes you say that? Look at my current weak and frail appearance, I ask you, where in the Northern Lie Kingdom would you find such a poor spy?"
Lu Tianjiao strolled back to Tuoba Ze's side, slowly circled the spot where he was standing, and carefully examined him again. "You don't seem like it either. However, let's get this straight: if one day I find out that you're lying to me, I will personally tear you to pieces."
"If that's the case, how could I dare to trouble Miss Lu to do it herself? I'd be afraid of dirtying your hands if you killed me with your own hands! Now that Miss Lu has done me a great favor, I will definitely repay her by serving her like a cow or a horse."
Lu Tianjiao smiled and said, "There's no need for me to be your servant. I have plenty of those things. However, if one day I need your help..."
Before she could finish speaking, Tuoba Ze hurriedly interrupted, saying, "Miss Lu, please make the arrangements. I will obey your orders without hesitation, even at the cost of my life."
Lu Tianjiao covered his nose and chuckled, saying, "It's not that serious."
"Then, Miss, do you know what this power is?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com