Chapter 30 "Call My Name" A few days later, it was the Lantern Festival...
A few days later, it was the Lantern Festival. The ice and snow had not yet melted, and new yellow green was emerging.
As Yun Yang was in deep mourning, she did not attend the family dinner. She locked the courtyard door and practiced calligraphy in front of the window. She seldom went out these days, could not drink and have fun, did not like music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was even less willing to do needlework. Besides practicing with a spear, she thought of practicing calligraphy.
As I wrote, my heart calmed down unconsciously, and the strength in my hands when I wrote was much steadier than before.
The room was half-lit and half-dark, with only one lamp on. Dimly, the sound of stringed instruments and bamboo pipes could be heard from the Qing Lake not far away. Yun Yang couldn't help but feel a little homesick and lonely.
But what am I thinking about? There is no one at home.
Just as she was feeling sad about her age, the maidservant at the door came and said, "Second Miss, someone is looking for you. They are waiting outside the mansion."
Yun Yang had no other relatives in Shangjing except the Xue family, and she had no friends who she knew or had connections with who would come to visit her during the Lantern Festival.
Yun Yang thought for a moment, put away his brush and ink, and stood up. "Who is it? What kind of person is he?"
The maid Rong'er thought for a moment and said, "He looks unfamiliar. He's a young man with fair skin and polite manners."
Yun Yang thought for a long time but still didn't know who would come, so he put on his robe and walked out of the mansion. When he reached the corridor, he saw a carriage parked at the foot of the steps in the distance.
The carriage was blue-gray, and the sheepskin lanterns hanging on the four corners did not have the owner's surname written on them. The wheels were clean, and it had never been on any dirty or bad roads.
A young man, about fourteen or fifteen years old, tall and handsome, with red lips and white teeth, could not help but attract a second glance. When he saw Yun Yang coming out, he hurried over to greet her with a smile, "Second Miss Yun, our master wants to see you."
Yun Yang was very puzzled. He stood there with his snow-white rabbit fur sleeves gathered up, not moving his legs to go out.
Seeing her hesitation, a tall man like a bear popped out from nowhere, with a simple smile on his face, a little shy, "Second Miss Yun, it's me, our master, have you forgotten?"
Yun Yang widened his eyes. Isn’t this Guard Bear?
Seeing someone he knew, Yun Yang walked down the stairs and took two quick steps, feeling a bit unbelievable. Could the person behind the carriage curtain be...
"It's us!" The car window suddenly opened, and a pretty face poked out, "Yun Yang, get in quickly!"
Yun Yang was surprised to find that it was Princess An Ning. Without hesitation, he quickly stepped into the carriage, but stood there in a daze.
There was another person behind the carriage curtain. He was dressed in brocade and had a jade crown. His handsome and gloomy face had a faint smile on it. His tone was gentle: "Miss Yun, I heard that Sister An Ning was going out of the palace to play, so I also felt like playing. I came here so abruptly. Did I scare you?"
Yun Yang waved his hand quickly, bowing awkwardly in the carriage. "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness, you, you, why are you out of the palace? Today is the Lantern Festival, don't you need to be in the palace to entertain all the officials?"
The Crown Prince was dressed in ordinary clothes, yet he still couldn't hide his noble and distinguished royal bearing. However, his tone of voice was very homely, making people naturally feel a sense of intimacy. "The Lantern Festival is all about reuniting with family. Miss Yun, your brother-in-law is still at home, so I naturally have time."
The prince spoke in a gentle voice. Yun Yang mustered up the courage to look up at him. He smiled at her and spoke in a humble manner, just like an ordinary young man.
"Could it be that Miss Yun doesn't want to play with me and Sister An Ning?" The prince smiled faintly, "Or is it that Miss Yun has guests at her house and we've come at the wrong time?"
Yun Yang really felt flattered. The prince was so noble that he and the princess condescended to come to see her. How could she not accompany them?
Yun Yang said, "No, no, I don't have any guests, and I'm just free. I just don't know where the two princes would like to go for fun? Is there anything they can do to entertain themselves? I'm not very familiar with Shangjing..."
The prince smiled and said, "Miss Yun, why are you so distant from us? We were in an opera together before, you played Yin Li Niang and I played the ghost Wei Sheng. Didn't we have a lot of fun together?"
Yun Yang: "...So, the one pretending to be a ghost is you?"
Princess An Ning pursed her lips and smiled, "Yes, yes, it was Brother Ying who played with us last time. He was just afraid you'd feel awkward, so he didn't show up. They say first time makes second time familiar, so don't be a stranger to us this time."
Yun Yang stared at the prince with her eyes wide open. The prince coughed twice when she looked at him, lowered his eyes and smiled. There was a rare kind of youthfulness in that smile.
It has been several months since the last time the prince saw Yun Yang. He never expected that the cute and bright girl would grow up to be so beautiful and graceful, which was really amazing.
Yun Yang thought to himself how could he have deserved the favor of the two princes, so he didn't act pretentiously. He told the doorman that he would be back later, and then told the coachman that they were going to Fengqiao Market. This was the place he and Xue Yu had visited a few days ago. It was lively and fun, and they would definitely like it.
Although the prince and princess were born and raised in the capital, they only went to places frequented by dignitaries. They had never seen the hustle and bustle of the market, had never been to any temple fairs, and had never seen how lively and festive it was to guess lantern riddles, appreciate lanterns, and dance with dragon lanterns.
"Where are we going? What is that Fengqiao Market?" the princess leaned forward and asked.
Yun Yang was very excited. "There are so many fun things to do here. There are a long row of stalls selling everything. I guarantee your Highnesses will be satisfied when you go there! After we have some fun and stroll around, I will treat you two to a delicious meal. Last time in that building, it was the princess who treated us, so this time it's my turn."
As he spoke, he felt his purse. It was empty. He didn't bring anything with him! He blushed and said a little embarrassedly, "I wonder if I can put this on the Xue Mansion's account? I'll take out the money and send it to you tomorrow... You two came so suddenly, I wasn't prepared, so I didn't bring any money."
The prince's hands, pressed against his knees, trembled with laughter, and his usual solemnity and gloom were gone. After all, he was only eighteen or nineteen years old. He said cheerfully, "As long as I'm here, there's no reason for my two sisters to pay."
The three of them sat close together, discussing the upcoming fun enthusiastically. When they were excited, the laughter of the two girls could be heard all the way.
The Crown Prince has been under stricter discipline than other princes since he was a child. He is very dignified and hides his joys and sorrows in his heart. I think this is why he is only close to An Ning. Princess An Ning has a straightforward personality. Although her mother is not of high birth, she does not complain about herself. She is more content with the status quo and expresses her joys and sorrows outwardly.
The prince rarely had the opportunity to laugh. The only time was when he put on the devil mask and sang a play with Yun Yang. His love for opera had been kept secret since he was a child because his noble status did not match it. However, the more suppressed something is, the more excited it becomes.
The two girls were reserved at first, but when they talked about the new things in the market, they gradually became more relaxed. The prince was also infected by the atmosphere at this moment, and the smile on his face became deeper, making him look very amiable.
There were more people at the market than when Yun Yang was here last time. Lanterns of all colors were hung high, making it look like a sea of lights, glittering and colorful, and very dreamy.
In the bustling crowd, the three of them were afraid of getting lost, so they called each other. Yun Yang called the princess An Ning, but before he even uttered the words "Your Highness", he felt that it was inappropriate to address the prince.
A crowd gathered around the foreign spice stall. Princess An Ning squeezed in. The Crown Prince and Yun Yang stood side by side. The Crown Prince said gently, "Yun Yang, my name is Li Yi."
Yun Yang was stunned. Was the prince introducing himself? Why was this so strange?
It turns out that even high-ranking figures like the Crown Prince and the Emperor have names. But shouldn't the Crown Prince's name be taboo? How could he have said it to her so openly...
"You can join An Ning in calling me Brother Ying." The prince smiled, then leaned closer and whispered, "Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to call you Your Highness, Your Highness."
Yun Yang nodded, thought for a moment, and then moved closer to the Crown Prince, whispering, "Yi, or Yi? Yi? It's a very good name, very much like the name of the Crown Prince."
The prince pursed his lips and smiled, "Give me your hand."
Yun Yang stretched out his hand hesitantly.
The prince's skin color was whiter than that of normal people, but he looked quite popular under the lights of this bustling city. He lowered his eyes and concentrated on writing the word "嶷" on her hand.
Yun Yang tilted her head and repeated it with her other hand in the prince's palm, "Is this the Yi?"
The lights were dimly lit, the hawking sounds were endless, and the people were coming and going shoulder to shoulder. The prince was filled with an indescribable joy, and his eyes were only on the girl in front of him who was tilting her head and carefully thinking about her name.
He was appointed the crown prince since he was young, and after that the two words "Li Yi" became a taboo. His name had long been replaced by the word "crown prince". As the crown prince of a country, he was given too many hopes and was secretly observed and speculated by countless people, as if his father, mother, and ministers only wanted him to be a puppet placed on the altar, whose every move had to follow the set trajectory.
And at this moment, his name came out of her mouth with a soft tone and a smile that bloomed freely, which had a special taste.
He heard her laugh in his ear and say, "Ah, Li Yi, that sounds more like the prince's name."
Li Yong lowered his eyes and stared intently at the smiling girl.
Her smile was beautiful, like an invisible flame burning in his heart. He suddenly wanted to touch her cheek, and it would be best if he could touch her slightly open red lips.
Let her call his name again.
Next to the spice stall was a stall selling bronze mirrors. Li Yi suddenly looked up and saw the person in the mirror with an oddly focused expression. His eyes were deep and focused on the girl. His cheeks, ears, and neck were all red, covered in a layer of dim and hazy light.
"Li Yi, Li Yi. Really?" She looked up at him and smiled, then suddenly covered her mouth as if she had thought of something. "Shouldn't I call you by your name?!"
His ears were slightly numb, and he had an inexplicable palpitation. His heart beat heavily, and the deep and tingling aftertaste slowly flowed to every part of his limbs.
He suddenly wanted to grab something, such as her neck, her hair.
He was too cold, cold deep into his bones, while the person in front of him was too warm, warm and rich, with a beaming expression, fresh and attractive, emitting a strong and warm breath that made people want to absorb it deeply.
He wanted her to only look at him, wanted her to call his name over and over again, in bed, or in...
"That's all right." In the end, he simply smiled faintly, trying his best to organize and suppress his scattered thoughts, but his face showed no sign of it. A warm smile graced his handsome and gloomy face. "In the common people, we don't follow the court etiquette. Call me by my name or follow An Ning and call me Brother Yi. It's all up to Sister Yun."
Yun Yang smiled and said, "You are so kind. We ordinary people are so lucky to have a crown prince like you in Da Zhao!"
These words made Li Yi feel deeply comforted. Perhaps the people in power were willing to hear such words, or perhaps these words came from her mouth naturally and without any flattery.
He really liked her temperament.
"Don't be so rude. I'm only a few years older than you." Li Yi said, unable to resist asking, "What's my elder brother's reputation among the people? Who do you think is more suitable, me or me..."
There was no need to say more about the following words. Yun Yang immediately understood. If she couldn't answer this question well, would it be a matter of life and death? At this moment, she felt a little sympathetic towards her brother-in-law Xue Yu. It seemed that Xue Yu was walking on thin ice every day.
"How would we common people know about the affairs of the royal family? Everyone says he's diligent and self-disciplined, but so what? He hunted so many prey in the hunting grounds, but he still lost to you, Brother Yi, didn't he?" Yun Yang pondered, lowering his voice and tiptoeing closer to the Crown Prince. "I think that kings, princes, generals, and ministers should all be in their proper places. Your Highness values force but lacks the kindness of an emperor. Although you're a bit frail, you have a good temper, aren't arrogant, and are willing to understand the people's feelings. A prosperous age deserves a benevolent ruler."
After saying this, he felt sweat running down his neck into his clothes, and he didn't know if his words of flattery were right.
Your Highness, I'm sorry.
After the prince heard what she said, he thought for a moment, smiled gently, and felt more and more happy in his heart.
After Princess An Ning finished picking the spices, she turned around and saw that her brother and Yun Yang had become familiar with each other. The two of them were talking together, which was really pleasing to the eye.
He thought to himself that he had no chance with Lord Xue, but it would be a wonderful thing if the Crown Prince married Lord Xue's sister-in-law. One of the brother and sister would surely get what they wanted!
Going further, there are jugglers playing with sparks, guns and sticks, and the flying sparks look thrilling, attracting many people to watch.
The girl dancing with the gun seemed to be in poor health, her face was pale, and she almost made mistakes several times, brushing past the flying sparks. Afterwards, she was dragged to a hidden place by the bearded man and given a good beating.
Yun Yang couldn't control his emotions and rushed over and said anxiously: "Can't you see that she's not feeling well? And you hit her. Who are you to her?"
"I'm her father. What's wrong with beating my own daughter?" the bearded man sneered. "You're such a busybody! This money-loser is affecting my earnings during the holidays. If I don't beat her, who should I beat? If you're capable, go do it for her!"
"...Just replace it." Yun Yang said.
An Ning couldn't squeeze through the crowd, and the prince was about to stop her, but the iron flowers flying in the air were made of boiling hot molten iron. If they accidentally splashed on her body or face, she would not be able to face people.
But before he could elaborate, Yun Yang snatched the spear from the thin girl who looked like a bean sprout and rushed out.
Yun Yang was only a sixteen-year-old girl with a pretty face and a slim figure, but after she snatched the spear that was shining with cold light, her original shyness disappeared. Her eyes were sharp and cold, and she moved as lightly as a swallow and gained momentum. With just this one action, the people watching on the field burst into cheers.
The spear was like a spirit snake, turning flexibly in her hands, sparks flying all over the sky, the girl's red dress was as red as fire, and after stretching her muscles, she was as agile as a dragon, and her stick techniques were smooth and flowing with an unignorable decisive edge, which was dazzling.
Li Yi was stunned. He was used to seeing women in delicate and red makeup, but Yun Yang was cold and seductive, which made his heart itch.
It was completely dark and the palace gates were about to be locked.
On the return carriage, Yun Yang hesitated, "I made a fool of myself just now. Maybe it's because I can wield a spear, so I have a little more admiration for that little girl. I practice martial arts for self-defense. That little girl was so young and had such good skills, but she was still being bullied. I was so angry that I couldn't help myself..."
An Ning patted her hands and said, "You dance very well, but you just gave the money to that black-hearted stall owner for nothing. You can help that little girl temporarily, but you can't help her forever."
The belated shame refused to dissipate on her ears. She raised her eyes to glance at the prince who was looking at her with a smile, and found that he did not show any disdain. She felt relieved and said quietly, "That's right. I can't help you forever. I won't be impulsive next time."
She didn't notice that when she said this, Crown Prince Li Yi's eyes became dark and deep.
After Yun Yang left, Princess An Ning heaved a long sigh, relaxed her shoulders, looked at her brother and said with a smile, "Brother Yi, next time you want to ask Miss Yun out, do you still need me to cover for you?"
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