Chapter 26 Lantern

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people enjoy the lanterns.

Just after the You hour, Sui Yan had already changed his clothes and was walking around in the front yard in a black butterfly cloak, holding a small hand warmer in his hands, and from time to time he would grab Haitang to ask about the time.

Jun Jingxing was drinking tea nearby and said calmly, "Are you an unmarried girl? You are just going out to admire the lanterns, but you are so excited."

Sui Yan said, "Why do you care about me? Come to think of it, why did you change your clothes? Are you going out?"

Jun Jingxing paused while holding the tea, then said awkwardly, "Well, I'm going out to do something. If I'm not back by midnight, don't wait for me."

The golden bear jumped from the table onto Sui Yan's shoulder, chirping. Sui Yan was busy stroking its chin and didn't pay attention to the strangeness of Jun Jingxing's words. He said vaguely, "Okay, just come back early tomorrow."

Jun Jingxing said nothing.

The two of them sat opposite each other and drank a cup of tea before Haitang ran in from outside, calling out repeatedly, "Young Master, Young Master! The Crown Prince's carriage has stopped outside."

Sui Yan immediately put down the cup and was about to run out, but before he took a few steps, Li Zhao came hurriedly from the side yard and stopped him when he saw what was happening.

"Master, we have just received news about the matter you sent someone to investigate. Do you want to meet him now?"

Sui Yan was busy meeting Duan Mingchong, and he put all the important things aside. He kept walking: "It won't take long. I'll talk to you when I get back in the evening!"

Having said that, he ran out quickly.

Jun Jingxing shouted from behind, "Young Marquis! Leave the golden bear behind. Aren't you afraid of being trampled to death if you carry it with you?!"

Sui Yan was far away from Lao and still shouted: "No - I won't -"

The heavy snow finally stopped on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month. The weather was very good for two days in a row. The setting sun quietly fell, like a dye pouring down, sprinkling half the sky.

Sui Yan trotted all the way to the door, but stopped a few steps before going out. He walked out slowly and leisurely, but his little face was still slightly red and he was still breathing slightly.

The prince's carriage had already stopped, and Duan Mingchong did not get out of the car. He lifted the curtain to reveal half of his face. When he saw him, he raised his lips and smiled, saying, "Come up quickly."

Sui Yan suddenly became complacent and trotted down the stairs, climbing up without even stepping on the stool.

Duan Mingchong was startled by him and quickly reached out to pull him up: "Be careful, don't get bumped."

Sui Yan smiled at him with his eyes narrowed.

Duan Mingchong said: "Why are you so reckless? You are like a child."

After Duan Mingchong finished speaking, he thought to himself, "Oh no!"

After promising Sui Yan that he would accompany him to appreciate the lanterns a few days ago, Duan Mingchong asked someone to find some folk opera scripts when he returned to see if he could learn something interesting. From then on, when he was with Sui Yan, he wouldn't have to talk about politics or various complaints all the time - at least he could make Sui Yan feel that he was not a boring person who would just walk away in anger.

We had just met and I was already worried sick, so I said the wrong thing in my first sentence.

Duan Mingchong recalled the plays he had read, but found that there was not even a single one in the pile that could deal with the current situation - only then did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince realize what it meant to "regret not having enough knowledge when you need it".

Duan Mingchong hesitated and said, "I... I mean, you, you..."

Sui Yan was heartless. He turned around in the spacious car, his eyes shining, and said very impolitely: "Your Highness, Your Highness! Did you bring sweet soup today? Soup! Porridge is also fine!"

Duan Mingchong: “…”

Duan Mingchong blinked his eyes, then took out a small cup from under the small table and said, "It's here."

The way Sui Yan looked at him could almost be described as looking up to a god.

Duan Mingchong breathed a sigh of relief without leaving a trace, and came to a conclusion - if he said something wrong in the future and made this person unhappy, probably a bowl of sweet porridge would be enough to make him happy.

After knowing this, Duan Mingchong felt like he had obtained a token of immunity from death, and he no longer worried about saying the wrong thing all the time.

Sui Yan sat aside drinking porridge. The golden teddy bear on his shoulder smelled the food, climbed down from his shoulder, and looked at Sui Yan with its black eyes blinking.

Sui Yan took the bottle and threw it to Duan Mingchong in a hurry, saying, "I won't be able to drink it if you keep watching me. Just watch me."

Duan Mingchong took the golden silk bear with a smile on his face and asked, "Why did you bring it here? What if you lose it?"

Sui Yan said vaguely: "If it's lost, then don't want it. Let's see if it dares to run around again."

Not until Sui Yan finished his bowl of porridge did the carriage sway to the street in front of the City God Temple.

The City God Temple is located in a busy city, and there are many people there on weekdays. Today is the Lantern Festival, and there are even more people coming and going. The noise can be heard from far away.

Duan Mingchong put the golden bear into his sleeve to avoid losing it, and got off the carriage with Sui Yan.

If you think about it carefully, Sui Yan hasn't been out during the Lantern Festival for several years. When he first saw the brightly lit and bustling night market, he was almost dazzled.

The houses on the street in front of the City God Temple are left over from the previous dynasty, with green bricks and red tiles, flying eaves and curled corners. Red ropes shuttle back and forth along the street, and fiery red lanterns are hung above, swaying in the wind. Standing at the end of the street and looking around, you can see a bright and warm light that is dazzling.

Sui Yan was holding a small hand stove. Seeing this, he exclaimed "Wow", his eyes lit up, and he almost jumped up on the spot: "Your Highness! Your Highness, come quickly!"

Duan Mingchong hurried over and whispered, "Don't be so loud."

Sui Yan fell silent. The two of them were dressed in casual clothes today. If they were recognized, it would be fine for him, but there was no guarantee that someone would not take advantage of the chaos to harm the prince.

Sui Yan approached Duan Mingchong and whispered in his ear, "Then what should I call His Highness?"

Duan Mingchong thought for a moment and said, "Brother."

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan looked at him dimly and said, "If I remember correctly, Your Highness is born in the Year of the Rabbit."

Duan Mingchong said: "Yes...ah?"

Sui Yan said: "One year younger than me."

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a moment and his cheeks suddenly turned red.

Just now, Duan Mingchong's mind was full of thoughts about the play he had watched in the past few days, in which there was such a dialogue. Perhaps it was because Sui Yan's performance was too childish that he forgot that he was one year younger than him, so he just said it smoothly.

Sui Yan saw his blushing face and immediately covered his chest, trying hard to suppress his evil thoughts of wanting to tease him.

Duan Mingchong said hesitantly: "Then... call me by my courtesy name."

Sui Yan blinked his eyes. He had originally thought that at the very least he could call him Young Master or something like that, but he hadn't expected the Crown Prince to be so friendly that he let him call him by his name directly.

Sui Yan walked gently to Duan Mingchong's side, whispered softly in his ear, "Then Mingchong can also call me...A Yan."

Duan Mingchong turned his head to look at him in surprise, and then his ears turned red quickly.

Sui Yan was wary of Duan Mingchong's identity and didn't dare to flirt any more. After he finished speaking, he quickly took a few steps back and pulled his cloak together awkwardly.

It was obviously he who flirted with her without knowing the consequences, and after saying this shameless sentence, he felt at a loss as to what to do.

It was the first time that Duan Mingchong was called so affectionately. He felt shy and curious. After a long while, he said softly, "Yes, okay... A-Yan."

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan was stunned for a long time, and suddenly he exclaimed "Ah", pointing at a crowded stall nearby, hesitantly saying: "Ah...ah, there...there are so many people buying lanterns there! Let's...go, go there."

The author has something to say: Sui Yan: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so easy to tease.