Chapter 132 Don't give her all sorts of dirty things to eat
Seeing Xie Mianmian's eager expression, He Chuan made a gesture, "Princess, Young Master Zhou, please follow me."
He and Eunuch Li escorted the two children to the riverbank, and with He Chuan's help, the children's lanterns were slowly lowered into the water.
After the lotus lantern rippled in the water a few times, under everyone's gaze, the originally half-closed petals gradually opened.
The river lanterns, like vibrant lotus blossoms, bloom in the Liu River, carrying the thoughts and feelings of the people who visit them, drifting with the current.
It even started to slowly rotate in circles, which was also a little design by He Chuan.
Xie Mianmian pulled the Seventh Prince along as they chased after the lotus lanterns, their eyes mesmerized as they gazed at the shimmering river. The small lanterns, carrying their prayers, drifted slowly toward their doom.
He Chuan looked at Xie Mingyi, the dim night obscuring the deep affection in his eyes, "Please, Miss."
Only the two of them remained. Xie Mingyi held the lotus lantern and placed it into the water, while He Chuan stretched out his hands, carefully protecting her without touching her at all.
The candlelight shone on Xie Mingyi's gentle face. He Chuan clenched his fists tightly, lowered his eyes, and remained silent, letting the delusions in his heart grow wildly like weeds.
What to do? He's so greedy. Just seeing the bright moon isn't enough; he wants more...
On the other side, two children stood by the river, quietly admiring the twinkling, colorful Milky Way.
At that moment, Xie Mianmian noticed something moving in her peripheral vision. She seemed to see a large, strangely shaped golden fish in the dark water, its tail swaying as it flashed by.
"Young Master Zhou, did you just see a fish swimming underwater? It was golden!"
The Seventh Prince shook his head. "Could it be that the bright yellow candlelight is reflected in the water, and you're seeing things incorrectly?"
Xie Mianmian was puzzled. Her eyes were new, she couldn't be mistaken, could there be... a water demon at the bottom of the Willow River!
Or perhaps they are wronged souls imprisoned at the bottom of the water, never to leave!
She nervously clung to the Seventh Prince's arm. "Young Master Zhou, Mianmian heard that the gates of hell open during the Ghost Festival. Could there be water ghosts at the bottom of this river?"
Seeing that the child was truly frightened, the seventh prince led her a few steps back, away from the riverbank.
"Have you ever heard of a golden water ghost?"
Even the soul of Master Qianjing after his death was not necessarily golden.
"But..." Xie Mianmian leaned closer to the Seventh Prince and whispered, "Since there is a girl in red in the palace, why can't there be a golden wronged soul at the bottom of the Willow River?"
The Seventh Prince whispered menacingly in Xie Mianmian's ear, "How about I throw you into the river right now and let you go find that wronged soul yourself?"
After saying that, he grabbed Xie Mianmian and started to head towards the river.
"Ahhh, no, no! Mianmian knows she was wrong..."
Xie Mianmian struggled incessantly, like a pig celebrating the New Year. Even the Seventh Prince could hardly hold her down, and could only release her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
Xie Mianmian shrugged as if she had lice on her body, her shoulders constantly twisting and turning. "Oh dear, Young Master Zhou, please let go of Mianmian!"
The Seventh Prince looked at her, puzzled. "I haven't touched you at all." Is this child putting on a show?
"Then..." Xie Mianmian's heart skipped a beat. What was that thing draped over her shoulder?
Xie Mianmian jumped up and darted behind the Seventh Prince, whimpering, "There...there are wronged spirits!"
Almost at the same time, the Seventh Prince shielded Xie Mianmian and looked in the direction she had originally been.
There stood an old woman whose head was wrapped in coarse cloth.
The two children were playing around, so Grandpa Li stood aside for a while. It was too dark here, and the old man walked silently. He didn't even know when she had stood next to them.
"Who goes there?" Eunuch Li demanded angrily.
The old woman carried a small bamboo basket covered tightly with coarse cloth. She said in a hoarse voice, "You just saved my little grandson, didn't you? Thank you so much, my benefactors. If it weren't for your help, my grandson's life would have been in danger."
Xie Mianmian looked her over. Although the old lady was hunched over, she looked very strong. Even in the dim light of the night, you could still tell that she was very powerful.
It seemed somewhat incongruous with the wrinkles covering her face, creating an indescribable sense of dissonance. Xie Mianmian scratched her head, wondering if some people's faces age faster.
"No need to thank me. Promoting good and eliminating evil is our consistent style. It's getting late, Grandma, you should go home now."
Xie Mianmian remained hidden behind the Seventh Prince. For some reason, she was somewhat afraid of this old woman; she found her strange.
The old woman choked up and said, "I set up my stall today, but I didn't expect so many customers. I was so focused on selling that I didn't even notice when my grandson disappeared."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and wiped away her tears with her sleeve.
Seeing her pitiful state, Xie Mianmian felt a pang of sympathy.
"I brought homemade rice cakes, freshly baked. I hope my benefactor won't find them offensive," the old woman kindly invited her over.
Xie Mianmian sniffed the air gently, only smelling the scent of the summer riverside, not the aroma of rice cakes.
But that's rice cake! Xie Mianmian was tempted. She wondered whether the old lady's rice cake was better or the one from Fohua Temple.
She started to take the bait, slowly walking out from behind the Seventh Prince, but suddenly remembered something halfway through.
The old woman has already found her grandson and brought him home, so why haven't the two beasts returned yet? They only needed to guard the place until the soldiers came, then they could have left.
"My rice cakes are the best-selling item. I managed to save the last basket, so please have a taste, little benefactor," the old lady said.
Wow, that must taste delicious! Xie Mianmian paused and started walking, taking two steps forward.
The seventh prince cautiously pulled her back; all she knew was eating.
The old woman smiled and reached into the bamboo basket with one hand, taking something out from under the cloth and slowly pulling it out.
Even Eunuch Li wanted to kick her out. Did you wash your hands? You can't just give his princess all sorts of dirty things to eat.
Suddenly, the sound of water came from the riverbank. Xie Mianmian seemed to see a flash of golden light in her peripheral vision, and she turned her head to look in confusion.
Just then, under Eunuch Li's disdainful gaze, the old lady pulled her hand out, revealing not rice cakes, but a silver dagger.
Xie Mianmian was looking at the river and was completely unaware of what was happening behind her.
At this moment, time seems to slow down.
Behind the innocent child, a dagger was raised high, about to stab her.
She couldn't see, and the Seventh Prince panicked and tried to push her away. Eunuch Li's hideous face screamed in the air, "No!"
With a "splash," a strange fish leaped out of the water, startling Xie Mianmian so much that she ran to the riverbank to get a better look.
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