Lanterns
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, each holding a small and exquisite rabbit lantern in their hands, were heading towards the moat.
The guards behind him always kept a few steps away and did not dare to follow too closely.
Qi Qinghe turned his head from time to time and looked at Xiao Junbai.
Xiao Junbai was dressed in a gray-black brocade robe, his face calm and emotionless, making him seem even more difficult to get along with. However, he held a cute rabbit lantern in his hand.
Although it is a bit weird, it is less sharp and more friendly.
She looked at the prince like this, and smiled, "This lamp is very suitable for my husband."
Xiao Junbai was at a loss for a moment as he held the lamp. He glanced at her with a natural look and said, "Look at the road."
Qi Qinghe responded and pulled him to trot to the riverside, "Husband, look, there are so many people here."
Xiao Junbai staggered when she pulled him, but fortunately he was tall and had long legs, so he quickly stabilized his body. He lowered his eyes to see her back, pursed his lips and let her pull him.
Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, people would come to the river, release a river lantern, and pray for good luck and health. Therefore, even after the festival has passed, there are still many people gathering by the river.
Colorful lanterns float down the river and gradually drift away.
Qi Qinghe placed the rabbit lantern on the river. The shimmering water reflected her face. She blinked, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes.
After a while, she slowly opened her eyes and gently pushed the rabbit lantern. The rabbit lantern quickly floated away, merged with the other lanterns, and gradually disappeared from her sight.
She turned her head and saw Xiao Junbai standing upright behind her, the rabbit lantern in his hand had long disappeared.
"Husband...why don't you make a wish?" Qi Qinghe asked hesitantly.
"I don't have to." Xiao Junbai reached out his hand to her and pulled her away.
The warm touch came from the palm of my hand, swept across my body, and dispelled the chill of the autumn night. I felt myself surrounded by warmth.
Qi Qinghe's gaze moved down to the two people's tightly clasped hands.
After releasing the lanterns, the two walked slowly along the river, with all kinds of dazzling new gadgets on their sides.
When Qi Qinghe returned to the carriage, his hands were already stuffed full.
In her left hand she held two strings of candied haws, and in her right hand she wore a string of tinkling bells and a sachet embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks.
The faint floral scent penetrates my nose.
"Your Highness, would you like to try it?" Qi Qinghe threw the things in his hand on the table, raised the candied haws and handed it to the prince's mouth.
Xiao Junbai met her expectant gaze and took a tentative bite of one.
It was sour, too sour. Xiao Junbai frowned and chewed a few mouthfuls before swallowing it whole.
What's so delicious about this thing?
Seeing him like this, Qi Qinghe smiled even more happily, "It's okay if your Highness is not used to it. It's all mine."
As she spoke, she took a bite, her cheeks puffed out and her face became even rounder.
Xiao Junbai drank two cups of tea before he swallowed the sour taste in his mouth. He turned his head and saw that she was eating happily. He couldn't help but wonder if it was a problem with his taste?
His doubts vanished in an instant. He picked up the book at hand and knocked it on the Crown Princess's head. "Sit still and don't eat so fast."
Qi Qinghe nodded, sat up straight, and finished both strings of candied haws in a short while.
After returning to the palace, she hung the string of small bells on the gauze curtain beside the bed, and they jingled when she moved them slightly.
Qi Qinghe took off his coat, collapsed on the bed, wrapped in the quilt and drowsy.
Xiao Junbai had taken a shower and changed into loose pajamas. Only when he got closer could he see the sleeping face of the Crown Princess clearly.
Soft black hair spread on the pillow, crow-feather eyelashes trembled slightly, and the round cheeks were very cute.
He leaned over and raised his hand to pinch her. The girl's delicate skin was very pleasant to touch. He pondered for a moment and pinched her again.
Perhaps the force was a little too strong, Qi Qinghe frowned, muttered in dissatisfaction, and slowly opened his trembling eyelashes.
Xiao Junbai's handsome face came into view, his dark eyes were as deep and unfathomable as the night outside the window.
There was only one lamp lit by the bed in the hall. Under the dim candlelight, the faces of the two people were particularly clear, reflected in each other's eyes.
"Your Highness..." She only said one word, and then she was picked up by Xiao Junbai.
Their positions were reversed, with Qi Qinghe lying on Xiao Junbai's chest. In the quiet and silent bed, the only sound was her rapidly beating heartbeat.
She swallowed and glanced around casually, not daring to look at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
There wasn't much going on in bed, but the Crown Prince was incredibly persistent, and every time he did, she wouldn't be able to fall asleep until midnight.
Xiao Junbai looked at her and saw that her eyes were avoiding him. His whole body froze. He sighed silently, turned over, and hugged her tightly in his arms. He stroked her long hair with his fingers, kissed her lightly, and pulled the quilt to cover them both.
Qi Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he didn't bother her, the sleepiness that had dissipated came back and she fell into a deep sleep.
A sleepless night.
The only bad thing was that the bell beside the bed kept ringing all morning, disturbing her.
Qi Qinghe suddenly turned over and sat up, and suddenly saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince changing clothes. His face turned red with anger, and he fell back on the bed and covered his face with the quilt.
Xiao Junbai slowly took off his pajamas and glanced at her with a hint of smile in his eyes. "Your husband has called you, so what are you afraid of?"
Qi Qinghe gently pulled back the quilt, revealing only her eyes, and stared at Xiao Junbai without blinking.
Xiao Junbai had never practiced anything. His broad back was covered with scars, and his slightly thin waist seemed like it could be wrapped around with one hand.
Qi Qinghe suddenly turned over and sat up, picked up the brocade robe beside him, draped it on the prince, fastened his belt and jade pendant for him, and hung the sachet from last night around his waist.
The next moment, Xiao Junbai reached out and lifted her face, and kissed her without thinking.
The woman's rosy lips were held and rubbed repeatedly.
Qi Qinghe blinked, gently grabbed His Highness's robe, and closed her eyes.
The hot breath crisscrossed back and forth, making both of them blush.
After a long time, Xiao Junbai let her go and held her in his arms. "It's still early, sleep a little longer."
Qi Qinghe leaned against His Highness's chest, remaining silent. How could she sleep after being disturbed by him like that?
She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she always felt that His Royal Highness had made significant progress in this area, unlike before...
Qi Qinghe shook his head, scolding himself for what he was thinking, took a step back, pulled up the brocade robe for His Highness, and sent Him out.
The sky was just beginning to brighten, then turned dark, and the prince's upright back soon blended into the hazy night.
She turned around and rolled around on the bed, but she was not sleepy at all. She turned over and sat at the desk, picking up a pen to write something.
After a moment, her restless heart slowly calmed down, and she couldn't help but start thinking about the conspiracy with Qi Qingyu.
Qi Qingyu said it carefully, as long as the time is right.
But what exactly is this opportunity?
Qi Qinghe suddenly woke up from a trance.
A crisp knock on the door echoed in the hall, accompanied by Cheng Xi's voice, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent a message that the Grand Prince and the Princess will return to the palace today. Your Majesty, please go to Xuanming Hall for lunch at noon."
She rubbed her eyebrows, responded and called Yun Tao and Yun Xing.
Since I have nothing to do, I might as well go to the Imperial Concubine and Xiao Junluo to chat and relieve my boredom.
The Imperial Concubine resided in Fengxue Palace. When she arrived, the eunuch Wang who served the Imperial Concubine hurried to greet her. "Oh, Your Majesty, you have arrived at the perfect time. His Highness and the Grand Concubine are currently speaking to the Imperial Concubine. His Highness Shaoyue is also in the palace. Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will go and inform you."
Qi Qinghe raised her eyebrows and smiled slightly, while Eunuch Wang had already gone in to report.
As the saying goes, it is better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. She wanted to take this opportunity to ask the prince and the eldest princess, but she didn't expect that they would arrive at this time.
She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them, calmed her breathing, and secretly told herself not to be afraid.
Your Majesty and the Queen have seen it, so what is there to be afraid of?
After a while, Eunuch Wang smiled apologetically and led the people into the main hall. "Thank you for waiting, Your Majesty. Please come this way."
Before he got close, he heard bursts of hearty laughter coming from the hall, mixed with the woman's giggles and Xiao Junluo's serious voice.
Qi Qinghe paused, then immediately stepped into the main hall, "My concubine, greets my mother."
She leaned forward, her hands on her waist, clutching a light pink handkerchief, with a faint smile on her lips. Her bright eyes did not look around, but only focused on the imperial concubine.
The Imperial Concubine was reclining on the beauty couch, wearing a bright red dress. She was laughing repeatedly at the joke. Seeing the Crown Princess coming, she nodded slightly and said, "I thought you and the Crown Prince were having a good time and had forgotten about me."
What she was talking about was naturally what happened last night when the prince took her out of the palace for a trip.
Qi Qinghe smiled awkwardly, "You're joking, mother. His Highness has always been thinking about you and even brought you some new and interesting gadgets."
As she spoke, Yun Tao and Yun Xing presented something, a transparent jade Pi Xiu made of the finest Hetian jade, small and lively, lifelike, and a peace amulet.
"We are all family, sit down and talk." The imperial concubine said with a smile, and then looked at the two things carefully. "It is amazing that the prince is so thoughtful."
Qi Qinghe thanked her and sat down to the lower right of the imperial concubine, which happened to be next to Xiao Junluo.
Opposite her sat a man and a woman. The man was tall and strong with a loud and powerful voice. Upon closer inspection, his face was somewhat similar to that of the imperial concubine.
The woman next to the man was wearing a goose yellow dress, with bright eyes and white teeth, as bright as the moonlight, and curved eyebrows.
Qi Qinghe couldn't help but take a few more glances. When he met the woman's smiling eyes, he was slightly stunned and quickly looked away.
"You don't recognize him. This is His Majesty's eldest son, Xiao Junmo, born to me. He is away from home all year round and seldom returns to the capital. Next to him is His Majesty's wife, Cheng Ying. This is also a coincidence. This is your second brother's wife, the Crown Princess Qi Qingyu." The imperial concubine explained with a smile and introduced everyone one by one.
Qi Qinghe stood up and greeted his brother and sister-in-law.
"After several years of absence, I didn't expect that the second royal brother has already married. It's such a big event, your sister-in-law and I haven't been able to greet him. It's really a pity." Xiao Junmo had heard his mother and eunuch mention it a long time ago. This was the first time he had met him in person. "It's a first meeting, so some greetings should be given."
After saying this, he signaled the palace servants to present the things.
"No wonder mother always praises you. Look, such a clever girl is a perfect match for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Cheng Ying grabbed Qi Qinghe's hand as she was about to stand up and salute. "We will be staying in the palace for a while this time. If you have time, come and keep me company."
Qi Qinghe responded with a smile and accepted the gift, but felt that the words sounded familiar.
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