Chapter 113: Meeting Guan Qingrui and Watching the Dragon Lantern

Xu Nian was completely unaware of the changes in the palace because she had been taken around by Luo Jinan for the past few days.

September 8th is the annual Autumn Harvest Festival in the Sheng Dynasty. As the name suggests, it is to celebrate the harvest of the year and to pray for good weather in the coming year.

Because Luo Jinan promised to accompany Xu Nian to watch the dragon lanterns that day, he took her out early.

Although it was still early for the evening Dragon Lantern Festival, the streets and alleys in the royal city had already been decorated with lights and colorful flags.

The wide streets were already filled with stalls of all kinds. Baskets of grain piled up like mountains, golden in color, gleaming in the sun. Fresh fruits and vegetables, moistened by the morning dew, made people happy at the sight.

Everyone had a simple and satisfied smile on their face. The jugglers in front of the colorful building were performing wonderful skills, which drew cheers from the crowd. Xu Nian was so excited that he also bought a lot of copper plates like others.

Luo Jinan saw the girl beside him laughing happily and also smiling with satisfaction. The two were watching with great interest when they suddenly heard a greeting coming from behind.

Xu Nian looked back and realized that it was someone he knew.

"I have met His Royal Highness the Prince and Miss Xu. It is my fault for disturbing your pleasure."

Guan Qingrui laughed timidly, and Luo Jinan retorted mercilessly: "You know you're disturbing me, but you're still standing here."

Xu Nian pulled Luo Jin'an's sleeve, smiled and bowed, "I've met Master Guan. It's been a long time since we last met in Lingshan County."

"Haha... Miss Xu still remembers me. I'm lucky."

At this time, a group of people around Guan Qingrui also stepped forward to salute, "Greetings to the Prince, and to Miss Xu."

Seeing Xu Nian's curiosity, Luo Jin'an introduced them one by one: "This is General Shen's son Shen Zhen; this is Captain Liu's son Liu Ziyi; this is Zuo Changshi's son Zheng Zhiyue; these two are Shen Zhen and Liu Ziyi's sisters respectively."

Xu Nian greeted everyone one by one. At the same time, the people opposite were also very curious about this Miss Xu. They wondered which rich girl could make His Royal Highness the Prince be so humble to accompany her.

Shen Zhen suggested enthusiastically: "If the prince and Miss Xu don't mind, let's go to Qingyun Pavilion to watch the dragon lanterns. There are many people and it's lively."

Luo Jin'an was reluctant in his heart, but he had no choice as these people were also watching the dragon lantern in Qingyun Pavilion. According to Shen Zhen's shameless personality, even if he refused, that guy would definitely come over.

"Niannian, what do you think?"

Of course Xu Nian thought it was okay, as it was her first time playing together with so many people of the same age.

The group walked slowly towards Qingyun Pavilion. On the way, Shen Tinghuan and Liu Wanqiu accompanied Xu Nian. Although the three of them met for the first time, the two girls had very straightforward personalities. Xu Nian felt that they really hit it off and felt that they had met too late.

The three of them were having a great time talking and laughing along the way, but it was hard for the few people who were accompanying Luo Jinan at the back. The prince had a cold face and didn't say a word all the way, so they didn't dare to joke around.

Shen Zhen secretly regretted that he shouldn't have said that much and he should have avoided the prince when he saw him.

Qingyun Pavilion is the largest tavern in the royal city. The five-story pavilion looks very spectacular. Xu Nian followed everyone to the top floor and found that there was no one there.

Shen Tinghuan saw Xu Nian looking around and said with a smile: "This place is reserved for His Royal Highness the Prince during the Harvest Festival every year. Today, thanks to my brother, this is my first time to be on this floor."

"Sister Shen, Sister Xu, come here quickly."

Liu Wanqiu stood by the window, looking outside excitedly and called the two to hurry over.

Xu Nian walked over and took a look, and it felt like half of the royal city was in sight. He then looked down and saw that there was already a long queue at the entrance of Qingyun Pavilion.

“I wonder when this dragon lantern show will start?”

"It's almost there, Sister Xu, look over there, the faint glow is where the dragon dance starts."

At this time, the sky had darkened slightly, and colored lights were turned on everywhere. Xu Nian was looking carefully when she saw Luo Jinan placing a glass lamp in front of her.

"To match the festive atmosphere, this is prepared for Nian Nian."

Xu Nian took the lamp and looked at it carefully, and found that the lamp was made of colored glass. What's more amazing is that the scenery presented by the glass lamp is different when viewed from different angles.

Shen Tinghuan and Liu Wanqiu also came over to look at the glass lamp, their eyes full of envy.

At this time Mo Zhu handed the other two glass lamps in his hand to the two ladies.

Shen Tinghuan and Liu Wanqiu were very surprised when they took them and bowed to thank His Royal Highness the Prince. Although these two glass lamps were not as exquisite as Xu Nian's, they were also very happy. You know, glass lamps are hard to come by in the prosperous dynasty and have always been a tribute to the Liyue Kingdom as a diplomatic token.

"It seems that we still have to thank Sister Xu today, otherwise where would we get such a beautiful glass lantern?"

"That's right, when I get back I'll definitely give those little girls a good look and make them get pink eye."

“…”

Xu Nian glanced at Luo Jinan with a smile. She didn't expect this person to be so considerate. If she was the only one walking around with the glass lantern, she would feel a little uncomfortable.

"Everyone, come and see! The dragon dance has begun. Look here and there."

"Where is it?" Shen Zhen rushed over and squeezed Shen Tinghuan so hard that he screamed.

"Shen Zhen, you are so big, why are you squeezing me? You are squeezing me."

Shen Zhen slapped Shen Tinghuan on the forehead with a slap, "You are so disrespectful, call me big brother."

The two of them were having a great time arguing, and the people watching were laughing. Xu Nian was also watching with great interest. Suddenly, she felt her sleeve tighten. She looked down and saw that it was Luo Jinan who was holding her sleeve.

She followed Luo Jinan to the window not far away.

"Those two guys have been fighting since they were little, and it's very noisy. Let's watch the dragon lanterns here."

Xu Nian nodded and looked out the window. He saw a long red dragon moving slowly in the distance and heading towards this direction.

As the dragon dance team got closer, Xu Nian's eyes widened in amazement. He saw that the team in front and behind was as huge as a thousand people, with a huge dragon head in the lead, followed by a dragon body made up of lanterns, and finally a dragon tail lantern made of paper.

For some reason, Xu Nian felt deeply moved when he saw the people singing and dancing below.

Luo Jin'an gently embraced the girl in his arms and whispered in her ear: "May the people of the world have enough food and clothing, and may my Nian Nian live a life without worries."

Xu Nianwei turned around and looked at Luo Jinan who was smiling and said softly: "May Luo Jinan be blessed with longevity and health."

The two smiled at each other. Luo Jinan restrained himself and kissed Xu Nian's hair, then hugged her and looked at the long dragon below.

I don't know when the Shen Zhen siblings stopped talking. The group of people were quietly admiring the dragon lantern below. Only Zheng Zhiyue would steal a glance at the two people hugging each other from time to time and sigh silently: it seems that his sister's wish is doomed to fail.