Chapter 13 Lantern Festival
Pei Yanzhi nodded, got up and walked to the window, looking out.
"The young master just came by."
Gongsun Li stood up and asked, "Is there something you need, Your Highness?"
Pei Yanzhi turned around, pondered for a moment, and then said, "It's nothing. The young master won't be attending the Lantern Festival. On that day, keep a close watch and don't let any words that are detrimental to the young master get out."
Gongsun Li paused for a moment. Having followed his lord for many years, he keenly noticed an inconspicuous crease on his sleeve when his lord turned around. It was a mark left by clenching a fist tightly.
He was shocked. What could have made his usually composed lord so flustered? He didn't show it on his face, but said respectfully, "Rest assured, my lord, I will handle it properly."
But one cannot try to guess what one's lord is thinking; that would be a grave taboo.
He cupped his hands and said, "Yes, since Your Highness had other matters to attend to that day, I will make arrangements accordingly."
"Um."
"A memorial was presented today stating that Yanzhou has experienced the heaviest snowfall in its history. What are your thoughts, strategist?"
Gongsun Li suppressed her thoughts, took the memorial and read it carefully, then sighed, "Allocating funds is only a temporary solution; it would be best if there were extra grain."
"But Yanzhou is already out of food. This year we spent the whole country's strength attacking Youzhou and Chongzhou, and we have no surplus food left."
Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly, "So on the Lantern Festival, officials from all over the country gathered together. If they could raise enough grain, the problem would be solved."
"Yes, that's what I think too."
Gongsun Li took out a letter from her sleeve. "My lord, a carrier pigeon just reported that the Wei family's young lady departed from Yanzhou yesterday and should arrive soon. This—"
It was practically stated outright that the Crown Prince's recklessness could damage the relationship between the two families if things went wrong.
"Very well, I am aware of this matter."
As night deepened, Pei Yanzhi casually tossed the book aside, rubbed his temples, and strolled out of the courtyard.
Outside, the moon shone like silver, and the chill seeped into the skin. The night patrolling attendants saw him approaching in the dim light and hurriedly bowed and walked around him.
...
Ji Shu slept fairly well last night; if it weren't for the Lantern Festival tonight, she would have been in an even better mood.
After lunch, Ji Shu made incense in her room. She hadn't been able to think of what to give Pei Yanzhi before, but now she knew.
Her specialty is making incense, so blending a fragrance for him would be perfect.
The Lantern Festival in Chongzhou is the grandest lantern festival of the year.
With the war just over, the people needed a gathering to break the previous depression.
The streets were as bright as day, filled with laughter and revelry. Lanterns stretched for miles on both sides of the main street, and the entire area was deserted.
Amidst the rustling of elegant clothes and flowing hair, Ji Shu, wearing a veil, was pushed forward by the crowd. Chunzhi called out loudly, "My lady? My lady?"
Just as she was about to fall, a pair of hands gently supported her shoulders.
Ji Shu met a pair of smiling eyes. Pei Xingjian saw that she had stood firm, took the rabbit lantern from her hand, and said, "Follow me."
After speaking, she pushed through the crowd and followed him forward. Ji Shu lowered her head slightly, lost in thought, but she was so engrossed in her thoughts that she bumped straight into Pei Xingjian's strong back.
The pain made her hiss, and her eyes began to well up with tears. Pei Xingjian felt a sweet fragrance hit his back.
He abruptly stopped, turned to her, and said urgently, "Did you hurt yourself? Let me see."
After saying that, he was about to lift the veil to inspect it.
Ji Shu took a few steps back, and seeing that the crowd was growing larger, she said, "I'm fine, let's leave this place first."
We arrived at Yunxiaolou, the largest restaurant in Chongzhou.
"Madam Ji, are you alright?"
Ji Shu looked at the crowd in a panic and said urgently, "Young Master, my maid is missing. Please help me find her."
Pei Xingjian instructed Lu Changfeng, "Go and look for it."
"Yes, my lord," he said, and then disappeared into the crowd.
Pei Xingjian walked to her side and whispered, "It's alright, Changfeng has already gone to look for it, he'll find it soon. I've reserved a private room, let's go upstairs and wait."
Ji Shu felt his intense heat, and even through the veil, she could see that his eyes were filled with nothing but her.
Upon entering the private room, Pei Xingjian stepped forward to help her remove her veil, but Ji Shu subconsciously stepped back, saying, "No need to trouble the young master."
Pei Xingjian just stared at him quietly.
Seeing her remove her veil and cloak and place them on the screen, he smiled slightly and said, "Why are you being so polite with me?"
Sure enough, her pretty nose was slightly red and her eyes were a little moist.
She reached out to touch it, but realizing it was inappropriate, she asked with concern, "Does it hurt?"
Such a delicate person seems so fragile that they would break at the slightest touch; they can only be cherished and protected in the palm of one's hand.
Ji Shu shook her head.
As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter knocked on the door and opened it after hearing "Come in" from inside.
He said respectfully, "My lord, all the dishes are ready. I'll serve them to you now."
"good."
After leaving, Pei Xingjian sat in a chair and saw Ji Shu opposite him. He felt extremely pleased, even more so than if he had conquered a city.
He looked down at her; she was wearing a plain white cross-collar long coat, with embroidered winter plum blossoms on the collar and cuffs.
Her jade-colored silk skirt trailed on the ground, and her long black hair was styled into a neat heart-shaped bun, adorned only with a white jade hairpin shaped like a screw.
Seeing Ji Shu dressed like this, she was truly stunning. Her jade-like face was more radiant than spring blossoms, and her delicate petals shone like rosy buds in the north wind.
Just sitting here, so beautiful, I couldn't get enough of it.
The land in Yanzhou is barren, and the women there are not as beautiful as those in the south.
Ji Shu brought out the exquisite beauty unique to women from the South to its fullest extent.
Ji Shu felt a tightness in her heart as he stared at her. She pretended to look away from the window, where she could see winding corridors and high-reaching eaves, with lights that looked like a sky full of gorgeous red, incomparably beautiful.
Seeing her looking down at the candied hawthorns, I assumed she wanted some. "Do you want some? I'll go down and buy some for you."
If Lu Changfeng were to see this, he would probably be astonished. His young master had never been so affectionate towards a woman before.
It could be said that they tried every means to please him.
Seeing that she remained unmoved, he frowned as if he was thinking about something.
He continued, "Well... I don't want to eat candied hawthorns. Let's go release lanterns later."
"Solving riddles is also acceptable."
Ji Shu looked at him with a big smile. Pei Xingjian had his coming-of-age ceremony last year and was handsome and refined, making him the most admired young woman of the time.
Feeling his warmth, and even seeing her own reflection in his eyes, her fingertips trembled.
Seeing that she remained silent, Pei Xingjian's smile gradually faded, and he asked, "What's wrong? Are you worried about your maid? Don't worry, Changfeng will definitely find her. Maybe they're already watching the lanterns."
Ji Shu remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and took out a sachet embroidered with mimosa flowers from her sleeve.
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