Chapter 77
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the weather is chilly but the sun is warm. It is still early before the Lantern Festival, but the shops on Yongxing Street have already hung their signs high in front of their doors, lanterns are hung under the eaves, and all kinds of lantern stands are placed on the door lintels. It doesn't seem like much during the day, but when night falls, the streets are deserted, lanterns and flower lights are all lit, there are fireworks, flags and banners are connected, it is a magnificent scene in the capital.
While the people were celebrating, the defense of the capital was also under critical circumstances. The Iron Cavalry Battalion was busy preparing for the Lantern Festival. Although they didn't have to do anything for General Gu, they still had to show up and make an appearance. Gu Fuzhou struggled to get up early in the morning, had breakfast and went to the military camp. Lin Qingyu didn't have to enter the palace today, nor did he plan to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, so he could take a break from his busy life.
At noon, Hua Lu served Lin Qingyu lunch. She poured a bowl of milky white fish soup and handed it to Lin Qingyu, and asked expectantly: "Master, are you going to see the lantern festival tonight?"
Lin Qingyu has always liked quietness. The Lantern Festival is crowded with people. He grew up in the capital and has been to see it only a few times. As an adult, I have never been there even once. "You want to go?"
Hua Lu nodded excitedly: "The last time I went to a lantern festival was several years ago. I still remember there were so many people at the festival, and the Jinshui River was full of lotus lanterns. Later, I was sent to the Nan'an Marquis' Mansion to serve the young marquis, and I never went there again..." Hua Lu realized that she had said the wrong thing and quickly shut up.
Lin Qingyu drank a mouthful of fish soup and said, "Then think carefully about what to wear tonight."
Hua Lu's eyes lit up: "Master, are you going to take me with you?"
"Yes." Lin Qingyu looked at the delighted girl, "Go and get ready."
Gu Fuzhou asked a lot of questions about the customs of the Lantern Festival, and it seemed that they were going to Yongxing Street to join in the fun. He knew that Gu Fuzhou loved to show off, so he specially ordered his servants to iron a few newly tailored gorgeous clothes for him to choose from.
Gu Fuzhou did not return home until dusk. When Lin Qingyu heard the news, he came and saw him slumped on the bed, like a dried and dehydrated salted fish.
Lin Qingyu was very familiar with his condition: "Tired?"
Gu Fuzhou said weakly: "Water, water..."
Knowing that this person was pretending, Lin Qingyu still poured a cup of tea for Gu Fuzhou and handed it to his mouth. Gu Fuzhou drank the tea in one gulp and said, "Can you believe that I didn't slack off all day?"
"Why don't you touch it?"
"The defense of the capital city is full of loopholes. I couldn't stand it and couldn't help but give some advice. Then the people from Wuhou Mansion kept pestering me." Gu Fuzhou regretted it. "I could have come back to have lunch with you."
Lin Qingyu said: "Looking at you like this, you don't have the energy to go to the Lantern Festival."
Gu Fuzhou was quite interested in Dayu's Lantern Festival, but he knew that Lin Qingyu didn't like crowded occasions, so he said, "Yes, there are so many people outside. It would be exhausting to go out for a walk. I can lie on the bed and imagine myself going out and watching the Lantern Festival."
"Okay, then you stay at home and think about it. I'll take Huantong and Hualu to enjoy the lanterns."
"Hmm?" Gu Fuzhou propped himself up with one hand, "Do you want to go?"
Lin Qingyu said: "I promised Hualu that I would take her there."
Gu Fuzhou said slowly, "Oh," and said, "Then I'll go with you."
Lin Qingyu raised his eyebrows: "Aren't you tired?"
Gu Fuzhou sighed, "There's nothing I can do. Madam wants to go shopping, and I have to accompany her no matter how tired she is, and Xinran has to accompany her."
When the time was almost up, they both changed their clothes. Lin Qingyu's long hair was tied up with a jade crown. She was dressed in white and wore a hooded snow cape on the outside. Seeing Gu Fuzhou in a neat waistcoat, still dressed as a warrior, he couldn't help but ask, "Don't you like wearing red?"
When Gu Fuzhou was still Lu Wancheng, he preferred gorgeous clothes. Lu Wancheng has a noble temperament and is most suited to the fiery red color. He now wears dark colors, and when he is not smiling, his eyebrows and eyes look even sharper and his face looks stern.
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, "Lu Wancheng is young, and he looks good in red. Red is delicate, and I am a few years old now. When it comes to dressing, the most important thing is to suit yourself." As he said this, he reminisced about the past, "My body is still good, and I won't look ugly in anything I wear."
Lin Qingyu sneered disdainfully. Gu Fuzhou thought he didn't believe it, so he said, "It's true, you can even give me a rag."
"I've seen you." Lin Qingyu deliberately said in order to avenge Gu Fuzhou's concealment, "I can only say that your original body is not the type I like."
Gu Fuzhou was not fooled: "Oh, who said in the dream that I am prettier than Lu Wancheng?"
Lin Qingyu said in a light tone: "You said it yourself."
The two of them left the house with Huantong and Hualu. It was only halfway through the night and the city was already bustling with people. Walking on the street were common people, nobles, men and women, old and young, children and even quite a few foreigners. When it is completely dark, all the lights are lit, and the brilliant lanterns cast a blush on the faces of the tourists, saving the girls the money to buy rouge.
Several people walked all the way. There were countless hawking stalls along the street. Huantong and Hualu were both lively people, and after walking for only half an hour, their stomachs were filled with snacks.
Huantong was enjoying her meal when she suddenly pointed to the sky and said, "Master, General, look!"
Hundreds of sky lanterns were seen rising slowly from the direction of Changsheng Temple, lighting up the night sky. Hualu looked up, the lights in the sky reflected in her eyes: "It's so beautiful..."
Gu Fuzhou said, "I always feel like something is missing when I look at it from here. Qingyu, where is the best place in the capital to enjoy the moon?"
Lin Qingyu thought for a moment and said, "It should be on the tower of the imperial palace."
The imperial palace tower could only be reached from inside the palace, so Gu Fuzhou had to give up. At this time, they were not far from the imperial palace. Gu Fuzhou was much taller than most people on the street. He looked over the sea of people and saw a man standing alone in the wind on the city wall, with his four-clawed dragon robe fluttering in the wind.
It's the Lantern Festival, with lights on in every house, what is this person thinking about?
Gu Fuzhou withdrew his gaze and suddenly felt himself bumped by something. He looked down and saw a little girl carrying a basket of flowers. Gu Fuzhou had a strong build, and the girl almost bounced back after being hit like that. Fortunately, Gu Fuzhou caught her quickly.
The flower basket fell to the ground and the flowers were trampled under the feet of tourists. The little girl's mouth was flat, as if she was about to cry. Lin Qingyu signaled Hua Lu to coax the child, but Gu Fuzhou squatted down, smiled, and coaxed the little girl with a few words. When the little girl burst into laughter, her mother came over. It turned out that the mother and daughter came to the street to sell flowers.
Gu Fuzhou bought all the flowers from the little girl's mother, turned around and said, "Qingyu, this is for you."
Before Lin Qingyu could react, a large bouquet of flowers was stuffed into her arms: "Why are you giving me flowers?"
The flowers are in full bloom, gorgeous and colorful, making the beauty look more beautiful than the flowers.
Gu Fuzhou looked at Lin Qingyu, his eyes shining: "I have nothing in Jiangnan, so I'll just give you a branch of spring - hey, luckily I have memorized a lot of poems, otherwise I wouldn't be able to respond to your words normally."
Lin Qingyu lowered her head and smelled the fragrance of the flowers: "You don't have to do this, just speak the way you are used to speaking, I can understand you even if you use your native dialect."
"Oh, so I gave you flowers because..."
At this time, the parade of lantern cars came slowly, almost filling up the entire street. A woman with her face covered by a veil was dancing gracefully in the car, and her clothes were fragrant, attracting countless tourists to stop and watch. But in the blink of an eye, the four of them were separated by the crowd. Lin Qingyu and Huantong were together, and no one knew where the other two had gone.
Lin Qingyu was not worried. Gu Fuzhou was tall and it would not be difficult to find him. Even if you can't find it, just go back to the carriage and wait.
It was inconvenient to hold such a large bouquet of flowers in his hands, so Lin Qingyu handed the flowers to Huantong and asked him to carry them to the carriage first. After Huantong left, he moved alone among the crowd, admiring the lanterns and looking for people.
The lanterns were still there, and the lights were bright everywhere. It was exactly the same scene as before, but Lin Qingyu found it boring. Before long, he stopped admiring the lanterns and just looked for people. However, there were too many tourists, bustling about, and face after face passed by his eyes, but none of them was the one he wanted.
Lin Qingyu felt a little anxious for no reason. He was thinking about whether he should go back to the carriage and wait, when he suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Qingyu."
Lin Qingyu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Gu Fuzhou looking at him under the flaming trees by the Jinshui River.
The eyes are bright, and all the emotions are contained in them.
This person...likes him.
——Gu Fuzhou likes him.
Lin Qingyu's chest felt hot and his heart was beating like a drum. He didn't have palpitations, but his heart was beating so fast because of one person.
He took an uncontrollable step forward, passing through the crowded crowd. Just when he was about to reach that person, there was another shove from behind, causing him to lose his balance.
Just like that, he came into Gu Fuzhou's arms.
Gu Fuzhou lightly supported his waist and said with a smile, "Doctor Lin, why are you running away?"
Lin Qingyu was stunned. He actually came here running, and he didn't even realize it.
Lin Qingyu couldn't help but smile: "To come to see you, of course I have to run."
Gu Fuzhou was stunned, but without hesitation, he held the waist of the person in his arms.
Hua Lu's voice came at this time: "General, have you found the young master?"
"Found it." Gu Fuzhou let go of Lin Qingyu and asked calmly, "Where's Huantong?"
Lin Qingyu said: "I asked him to get back on the carriage first."
Gu Fuzhou asked Hua Lu to go back and tell Huan Tong so that he wouldn't have to wait anxiously. Once Hua Lu left, only the two of them were left.
The two looked at each other for a while, both seemed a little embarrassed. Finally, it was Gu Fuzhou who spoke first: "Qingyu, do you want to go for a walk by the river?"
Lin Qingyu nodded: "Okay."
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, there are countless boats on the rivers, and lotus lanterns decorate the water surface like the Milky Way. Gu Fuzhou was usually a talkative person, but now he was silent. Lin Qingyu walked beside him, not knowing what to say.
Obviously, their conversation was very natural when they went out, but now they are being awkward.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Fuzhou cleared his throat and said, "The moon is bright, and the people are beautiful..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Lin Qingyu stopped.
"Shu Yao Jiu Xi, Lao Xin Xiao Xi..." Gu Fuzhou paused, and his expression changed, "Uh, what's next?"
Shit, he forgot the words.
The lanterns are as bright as day, the sound of phoenix flutes is moving, the crowds are surging, and the air is filled with laughter. Lin Qingyu looked at him quietly. Her long eyelashes could not hide the sparkling light in her eyes. The surrounding scenery seemed to have become blurs.
Gu Fuzhou looked at Lin Qingyu for a long time, lowered his eyes and chuckled, as if he was mocking himself, or as if he was relieving his tension: "I'm sorry, Qingyu, the Book of Songs is too difficult to memorize. I only memorized a few pieces in a whole class, and now I have forgotten a lot. Can I change the poem? Um... There are trees on the mountain and branches on the trees..."
"I like you too." Lin Qingyu said in Gu Fuzhou's native dialect, "Do you want to date me?"
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