***
Because it was a palace lantern banquet, the lanterns could only be appreciated under the cover of night, so people from inside and outside the palace gradually gathered at Liushang Pavilion in the evening.
The Liushang Pavilion is connected to the palace moat, which leads to the outside of the palace. Lanterns are placed inside to pray for blessings, and lucky lanterns will arrive safely outside the palace.
If the common people find it, there will definitely be some gold or silver inside as a reward, and they can probably work less hard for a year or two.
If a lantern is unlucky, it will sink to the bottom of the water and will not even have a chance to float out.
Today, the focus is on palace lanterns. Jing Huaixu and Empress Ye did not restrict anyone to sitting in the main hall. They simply met with the families of the officials, Jing Huaixu said.
"Today, everyone is enjoying the lanterns, so please don't be shy. The night view outside the palace is quite beautiful right now. I have already ordered that fine wine and delicacies be prepared outside. You may go outside to enjoy the scenery."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the crowd below the steps rose and expressed their gratitude in unison.
So the emperor and empress first led people to release lanterns towards the Nine-Bend Qiongtan Bridge.
Yue Jiang was heavy-set, so Jing Yan helped her walk slowly. Suddenly, Yue Jiang saw something familiar.
"Your Highness, look at the Zhao family's daughter and Cousin Zheng, aren't their clothes very similar to mine?"
Jing Yan followed Yue Jiang's gaze and saw Zhao Nianfu and Zheng Yutong walking one after the other. He glanced at their fabrics and shook his head.
“It’s different. Their clothes are not as luxurious as yours. They have the form but not the spirit. You can still tell the difference between a peony and a peony.”
Yue Jiang jokingly added, "Your Highness's interpretation is different. It will get dark outside soon, so please don't mistake it for something else."
Jingyan understood Yuejiang's meaning. He picked up the auspicious and peaceful lantern he had made earlier and waved it in front of Yuejiang, making a suggestive gesture.
"It's getting dark outside. I already have the best lantern, so I don't care about anything else. It's the same with people. I can't just abandon you and go and mistake someone else for someone else."
“Your Highness, I know you have the best eyesight, you’re definitely not blind,” Yue Jiang whispered secretly in Jing Yan’s ear.
Jing Yan: "..."
Blink! He's not blind, is he?
As its name suggests, the Nine-Bend Qiongtan Bridge consists of nine winding arched bridges. Since the emperor and empress were of noble status, they would naturally stand in front of the first arched bridge to release lanterns.
The next order was the two empress dowagers, the crown prince, the two princes, the princess, and the concubines of each palace, followed by the families of the officials.
Those who didn't want to release lanterns in the water could hang them in a separate peach grove, as long as the palace servants took precautions against fire.
Yue Jiang, carrying the auspicious and peaceful lanterns painted by Jing Yan and just finished by the palace craftsmen, stood on the Nine-Bend Qiongtai Bridge. Looking at the sparkling lights in the water, she couldn't help but want to put a lantern in as well.
"Your Highness, I would like to set off a cup."
Jing Yan personally picked out a lotus lantern for Yue Jiang and handed her a tinderbox.
Yue Jiang lit the wick in the lotus lantern, but before she could even hold it in her hands, Jing Yan took the lantern for himself.
“Your body is not in good condition, and the riverbank is steep, so Jiang’er can stand on it. I will put her down.”
Surrounded by a bustling crowd and filled with laughter, Yue Jiang felt for a moment as if she were strolling through a night market outside the palace.
The relaxed atmosphere made her feel happy, as if she had suddenly become an ordinary couple with Jingyan.
Yue Jiang asked with a smile, "Your Highness, do you know what I wish for?"
"I don't know," Jing Yan paused for a moment, then shook his head, but in an instant, he became confident.
"My wish is that Jiang'er's wish will come true. If Heaven truly has a spirit, it can grant the wishes of those destined to be granted with a small lantern."
"I am the Crown Prince of Jing. For the first time, I hope that I, the Crown Prince who is protected by Heaven, will be blessed by Heaven and have all my wife's desires fulfilled."
A slight warmth rose in Yue Jiang's heart, and an undisguised smile appeared in her eyes as she teased, "Your Highness is a little blinded by lust!"
Since they were outside, her voice was very soft, and she was very close to Jing Yan, so that Jing Yan could hear almost every word clearly.
Jing Yan wasn't angry at receiving such a comment, but he couldn't help but think of the words Jing Yi had said to him when Yue Jiang first entered the palace, which were exactly the same as Yue Jiang's words.
He didn't think he would be blinded by lust at the time, and he still doesn't think he would be now.
"I told you to stay away from Jingyi. You've been spouting nonsense all along. All you wanted was to release a lantern. I'll help you. This is called being blinded by lust. Isn't Jiang'er a femme fatale? She's a perfect match for you."
"Thinking about it carefully, even if we are infamous for this for all eternity, it would truly be a disgrace to the tyrant and his wicked concubine."
"Pfft," Yue Jiang chuckled at Jing Yan's joke. Sometimes she thought Jing Yan was really good at telling lame jokes.
"I smell wonderful, I don't want to be remembered for my infamy. Your Highness, please release the lanterns quickly," Yue Jiang hurriedly stopped laughing and urged Jing Yan.
Jing Yan stopped chatting with Yue Jiang and took out a pair of small gold beans from his pocket and threw them into the lantern. His eyes had already found a good spot to place the lantern.
"Jiang'er, you're heavy, you're not allowed to go near the shore to look. I'll let you out and show you when I get back."
Before setting off the lanterns, he was still worried about Yue Jiang, fearing she wouldn't obey, so he turned back to give her some instructions.
Sure enough, as soon as Jing Yan turned around, he saw that Yue Jiang had already quietly taken a step. Caught red-handed, Yue Jiang explained guiltily.
"Can't I just hold onto the railing and watch?"
"Holding onto the railing won't work either. Don't forget that you almost fell into the water when someone bumped into you last time," Jing Yan said, not giving an inch.
Yue Jiang suddenly thought of the time at the Longevity Palace, and subconsciously looked around. Although there were people standing on the arched bridge according to their status, the people coming and going were all palace servants carrying wine and water.
Zheng Yutong and Zhao Nianfu's clothes today are strange. Why would they wear clothes so similar to their own on this occasion?
What is its purpose and what is its function?
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