Chapter 55 Qixi Lantern Festival
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the Qixi Festival.
This is the annual Qixi Festival, also known as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl's legendary reunion on the Magpie Bridge. For young men and women in Beijing, it's an even more legitimate day for dating and expressing their feelings to each other—a major "dog-abusing" festival.
The atmosphere inside the Regent's Palace also became somewhat romantic.
Early in the morning, the steward directed the servants to hang colorful lanterns throughout the mansion, and even the two imposing stone lions at the gate were adorned with red ribbons, making it look both festive and comical.
In the main bedroom of the courtyard.
Jiang Mianmian was facing the mirror, pinching a tiny bit of soft flesh on her waist with a worried expression.
Oh no, the food has been so good lately, I think I've actually gained weight.
Is this what happy weight gain is like? I'd love to be a happy fat person, but this period costume is fitted at the waist! If I gain any more weight, I'll turn into one of those sumo wrestlers whose belt snaps!
Looks like I'll have to control my appetite at tonight's Qixi Festival lantern festival. I can only eat ten skewers of roadside barbecue, two candied hawthorns, and a tiny bite of stinky tofu... that's enough.
Just as she was mentally devising a "diet plan" that was impossible to follow, Shen Jin walked in.
He was clearly dressed up carefully today.
He wore a moon-white brocade robe, with delicate silver cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a jade belt of the same color around his waist, which accentuated his tall and straight figure and gentle, jade-like appearance. The usual stern and imposing aura of a regent was somewhat toned down, replaced by the refined elegance and charm of a noble young master.
He was holding a freshly picked twin lotus in his hand, its petals glistening with dew, looking delicate and beautiful.
"princess."
Shen Jin walked behind her and gently placed the lotus flower in her hair. Looking at the woman in the mirror with a face as beautiful as a peach blossom, his eyes were full of amazement. "You look beautiful today."
Jiang Mianmian looked at the two people in the mirror, and her heart skipped a beat.
[Holy crap...why is this jerk so flashy today? Wearing white? Doesn't he know the saying "To look good, wear mourning clothes"? This is practically using his good looks to commit murder!]
【He even sent flowers? And twin lotus blossoms at that? That's so thoughtful! Where did that straight guy who used to only send me "green tea b*tch" flowers go? Did he get possessed?】
Although she was inwardly complaining, her face lit up with a smile. She turned around, hugged Shen Jin's waist, and rubbed her face against his chest, which exuded a faint scent of ambergris.
"Your Highness looks handsome today! You're simply the most handsome man in the capital! I'm completely mesmerized!"
Shen Jin chuckled softly and pinched her cheek:
"Since you've been drugged, would you be willing to come for a walk with me tonight?"
Where to?
Lantern Festival.
Shen Jin took her hand, their fingers intertwined. "I heard there are river lanterns being released along the moat tonight, as well as Kongming lanterns for blessings. I'll take you to see them."
Jiang Mianmian's eyes lit up.
[A lantern festival? Wouldn't that mean lots of delicious food and lots of exciting things to see?]
[I'm going! I absolutely have to go! I'm going to eat my way through the entire street!]
"Yes, yes!" Jiang Mianmian nodded vigorously. "Your Highness is the best!"
...
Night falls and the city lights come on.
The banks of the moat in Beijing were already teeming with people and brightly lit. Countless lanterns of various shapes and sizes hung from the treetops and eaves of the streets, turning the night into day.
On the river, thousands of lanterns float downstream, like stars gathering into a galaxy, a scene of breathtaking beauty.
Shen Jin held Jiang Mianmian's hand tightly, protecting her by his side and shielding her from the surrounding crowd with his own body.
"Watch your step," he whispered in her ear.
Jiang Mianmian held a candied hawthorn in one hand and a newly bought mask in the other, as excited as a child who had never seen the world before.
Wow! That bunny lantern is so cute!
Wow! There's a juggling act over there! Breaking a boulder on his chest? Pshaw, I can't even do that as well.
[Is that fried quail? It smells so good! Chenjin, Chenjin, I want to eat that!]
Throughout the journey, Shen Jin acted like an emotionless payment and feeding machine. Whenever Jiang Mianmian glanced at him, he would immediately take out money; whenever Jiang Mianmian stopped eating, he would immediately offer her food.
The girls around were so envious of this scene that their eyes almost turned red.
"Is that the Regent? Oh my god, he spoils the Queen so much!" "Who said the Regent is cold-hearted? He's clearly an exceptionally good man!" "Waaah, I want to eat fried quail too, but my husband says it's unhygienic..."
Jiang Mianmian listened to the surrounding discussions and felt incredibly happy.
[Hehe, envious? Jealous? This is the perfect husband I trained with my own skills!]
After strolling around and filling their stomachs, the two finally arrived at the place where they could release sky lanterns.
This is a spacious square where countless young men and women are holding Kongming lanterns, writing down their wishes, and then reverently releasing them. The sky is already filled with twinkling lights, carrying countless beautiful hopes.
"Let's put one up too."
Shen Jin bought a huge Kongming lantern painted with mandarin ducks playing in the water, and also brought out writing brushes and ink.
"Your Highness, please write first."
Shen Jin handed her the calligraphy brush, his gaze gentle. "I've heard that wishes made on Qixi Festival are most likely to come true. What would you like to write?"
Jiang Mianmian took the pen, somewhat hesitant.
What should I write?
Having a son early? Too cliché. Growing old together? Too unrealistic.
In this ancient world filled with uncertainty, of course we should make some real wishes!
She glanced at Shen Jin secretly and saw that he was staring at the lights in the sky, so she turned her back to block his view and wrote four large, flamboyant characters on one side of the lantern paper.
After she finished writing, she nodded in satisfaction, then quickly turned the other side away so that Shen Jin wouldn't see it.
[Hehe, perfect! This is what I've been pursuing my whole life!]
"Finished writing?" Shen Jin snapped out of his daze, raising an eyebrow at her furtive manner.
"It's finished, it's finished!" Jiang Mianmian handed him the pen. "Your Highness, it's your turn! What would you like to write, Your Highness?"
Shen Jin took the pen without trying to hide it from her.
He pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush and solemnly wrote a line of words on the other side of the lamp paper, using his vigorous and powerful, iron-hooked, thin gold script.
Jiang Mianmian leaned over to take a look.
I wish to hear your heart's desire for a lifetime.
She paused for a moment.
Would you like to hear your thoughts?
What does this mean? Does it mean it wants to hear my true feelings? Or... does it mean it wants to understand me?
[This jerk, he's quite the artsy type. But "a lifetime"... why does that sound so heavy? Does he have to listen to my every thought for the rest of his life? Won't he be driven crazy by me?]
Although she complained, Jiang Mianmian's heartbeat was thrown off track by these words.
In an era when travel was slow and letters took a long time to arrive, the word "a lifetime" often represented the most solemn promise.
He wanted to hear her heart, to listen to it for a lifetime.
Whether they are cursing him, complaining about him, or loving him in their hearts.
"Your Highness..." Jiang Mianmian's nose tingled a little, "Your wish... is too easy to grant. I'm such a chatterbox, isn't it easy for you to listen?"
Shen Jin put down his pen, looked at her, his eyes as deep as the sea:
"It's not easy."
"You can't see into someone's heart. In this world, there are too few truths and too many lies. To be able to hear someone's true feelings is the greatest blessing of my life."
He reached out and stroked her cheek. "Mianmian, I only hope that no matter what you're thinking, I can know it. Even if... you want to scold me."
Jiang Mianmian: [...]
Oh no, I've been charmed again.
[Has this guy had some training? How come he can spout so many sweet nothings?]
"Alright, alright, let's put the lanterns out!"
Unable to bear the sentimental atmosphere, Jiang Mianmian urged, "If we don't release it now, we'll miss the auspicious time!"
The two people each held one corner of the Kongming lantern and lit the candle at the bottom.
As the heat rose, the lampshade slowly bulged up.
"One, two, three, release!"
As the two let go, the Kongming lantern carrying their wishes slowly rose into the air, swaying as it flew towards the Milky Way.
As the lamp rotated and rose, the side that Jiang Mianmian had written on finally turned around and was exposed to Shen Jin's view.
By the light of the lamp, Chen Jin could clearly see those four bold characters—
[Sudden wealth and sudden weight loss].
Shen Jin: "..."
The romantic feelings that had been carefully cultivated shattered into pieces at that moment.
Get rich quick?
Extreme weight loss?
Is this her wish for Qixi Festival?
Is this the ultimate dream she made to the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?
Shen Jin looked at the woman who was still praying to the sky with her hands clasped together and her eyes closed, saying "Let me lose ten pounds," and his mouth twitched wildly.
He wrote, "I wish to hear your heart for a lifetime," a vow of eternal love. She wrote, "Sudden wealth and sudden weight loss," a reflection of rampant materialism.
The contrast is stark.
"Jiang Mianmian".
Shen Jin couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with a helpless gritted teeth, "My private treasury is all in your hands, how much richer do you want to get? Are you going to empty the national treasury too?"
Jiang Mianmian opened one eye, speaking with righteous indignation:
"Who would complain about having too much money? Besides, don't you know about inflation? It's always good to be prepared!"
"What about losing a lot of weight?" Shen Jin looked her up and down. "You're just the right size now... It'll be too uncomfortable to hold you. If you lose any more weight, it'll be uncomfortable to hold."
"What do you know!" Jiang Mianmian retorted, "This is a woman's lifelong career! I want to be so thin I'll be a lightning bolt and blind those little vixens!"
[Hmph, if I gained weight, would you still hug me? Men are visual creatures! I'm just trying to maintain my attractiveness!]
Shen Jin was so angry that he laughed.
He reached out and pulled the woman, whose mind was filled with thoughts of "getting rich quick and losing weight quickly," into his arms. He lowered his head and bit her lip as punishment.
"Hmm!" Jiang Mianmian's eyes widened.
The surrounding crowd was still cheering, and the sky was filled with Kongming lanterns, creating a dreamlike scene.
On this romantic and bustling night, as Shen Jin kissed her, he silently made his third wish:
Let her become incredibly rich.
As for her extreme weight loss... I will feed her back to normal.
As long as she's there, what does it matter if things are a little vulgar?
After a long while, their lips parted.
Jiang Mianmian leaned against him, panting, watching the light in the sky fly further and further away.
On that lamp, one side was inscribed with deep affection, the other with vulgarity. Back to back, yet tightly connected, they flew together towards an unknown distance.
Just like the two of them.
One is aloof and profound, the other is cheerful and down-to-earth. They seem incompatible, yet they are the most compatible pair in the world.
"Your Highness."
"Um?"
"I want to eat that... Osmanthus-flavored lotus root."
"……purchase."
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