Chapter 281 Wishing River Lanterns
It's said that you can just stroll around the garden, but the Lantern Festival night in the palace can't compare to the liveliness of the streets of Nanhua.
Therefore, the trip out of the palace was naturally accomplished.
Although the Grand Tutor disagreed, Xiao Qing was not without his own people. Although it would be a bit troublesome to keep it a secret, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to leave.
While changing her clothes, Xiao Qing quickly exchanged ideas with "Mingxiu" and gave Xingchen a few instructions. After arranging everything she could think of, she quietly watched the sliver of light that leaked in through the window crack and the tiny dust particles struggling and dancing in the light.
When she went out, Xiao Qing was still as gentle and warm as ever.
"Brother Wang, since we're out here, let's call each other brothers~" His voice was clearly filled with excitement.
Xiao Lang's attendant glanced sideways, his thoughts drifting away unconsciously.
After several years of renovation and development, Nanhua is more prosperous than ever before.
On this festival symbolizing reunion and happiness, the people of Da Xiao, who have experienced pain, cherish this hard-won prosperity even more.
The four of them, dressed casually, strolled slowly through the bustling, brightly lit streets.
As Xiao Qing pushed Xiao Lang's wheelchair forward, she would occasionally bend down to introduce him to the novel gadgets that Nanhua had been selling at the stalls next to them in recent years.
Whenever Xiao Qing saw a beautiful lantern or heard someone shout out an interesting riddle they had solved, she would tell Xiao Lang about it with great enthusiasm, and she didn't stop talking about it the whole way.
"Brother, look at that! Those are wishing lanterns that are released into the river. Shall we go buy a few?"
Xiao Qing took over Xiao Lang's job of attending to him. With nothing to do while following behind, he looked around and sometimes touched anything interesting, acting like he had never seen the world before.
Xiao Lang said gently, "Okay."
The attendant then went to buy river lanterns on his own initiative.
Xiao Qing was not entirely satisfied with the four lotus lanterns that were brought back neatly.
She returned to the stall with two river lanterns, picked and chose, and finally exchanged them for lotus lanterns that were more elaborate and beautiful before returning satisfied.
She placed a lotus lantern in Xiao Lang's arms, hung one on her own arm, and happily pushed Xiao Lang forward.
"We can go to the river to release lanterns soon. There are many lanterns there every year for the Lantern Festival, they are very beautiful!"
The closer you get to the river, the more crowded it becomes.
Today, there are still many tourist boats on the river, large and small, red and green, with swaying lights and all kinds of lotus lanterns on the shimmering water.
A table was set up by the river, where people releasing river lanterns could write their wishes for the coming year on small slips of paper inside the lanterns.
Xiao Qing pushed Xiao Lang over, handed him a pen, and smiled, her eyes full of affection for her brother: "Brother, write first."
There were quite a few people around the desk, and Xiao Qing stood guard beside the wheelchair to shield him from the crowd and prevent anyone from pushing him.
Xiao Lang held the pen, feeling both unfamiliar with the situation and annoyed by the bustling crowd.
I don't know what to write for a moment.
An elderly woman nearby shouted, "Are you going to write or not? If not, lend me your pen first. There will be even more people coming soon..."
Xiao Lang instinctively gripped the pen tightly.
Xiao Qing blocked the old woman's outstretched hand, smiling but not giving way at all: "Auntie, you can borrow from someone else. My brother has to think it over carefully. How can such an important wish be written down casually?"
The old woman glanced at them and thought to herself that the two brothers were good-looking, but it was a pity that one of them was in a wheelchair.
Sigh! What a waste! The clothes this person is wearing are worth several years' worth of her food! This young man really spares no expense on his older brother!
The old woman immediately became displeased again.
"Hmph, I bet he can't write, right? He's got a shiny face, but he's probably an idiot, isn't he?" He started cursing.
Xiao Qing got angry, put her hands on her hips and glared at him: "What did you say? Who are you calling an idiot? Don't you have any manners? You just casually talk bad about people, what did I do to you? What? You think you're afraid of me just because I'm loud? Are you pointing at me again? Don't think I won't hit you! Your foul mouth deserves a beating!"
Xiao Qing rolled up his sleeves, his eyes flashing fiercely.
Seeing that she wasn't easy to bully, the old woman spat and turned to squeeze to the side, while someone nearby advised, "Don't make a fuss, don't make a fuss, it's all good news, I have a pen, I have a pen..."
Xiao Qing was still angry, and her face turned even redder.
Xiao Lang withdrew his gaze, suddenly threw down his pen, crumpled the small piece of paper that Xiao Qing had helped him spread out into a ball, and was about to stuff it back in, saying, "I have nothing to write."
Xiao Qing grabbed the pen, snatched the paper from his hand, held it in his palm, and bowed to the sky. "Gods, please don't be offended. We are brothers of the same blood. Sincere and heartfelt, it's the same as me writing for my brother."
Then, carefully unfolding the note, he wrote down, stroke by stroke: May you be free from disaster and illness, and live a long and healthy life.
Then, it was neatly folded and placed into the lamp in Xiao Lang's arms.
Mingxiu and her attendants squeezed their way in with great difficulty.
Xiao Qing glanced at the two of them and said calmly, "Are you done writing? Wait a little longer, I haven't written mine yet."
He bent down to write his own.
May this prosperous and peaceful era bring health and happiness to our family and friends, and may all our wishes come true.
Clusters of fireworks exploded one after another in the sky. Xiao Qing happily pushed Xiao Lang to the riverbank and asked him with a smile, "Brother, should you set them off yourself or should I help you?"
"Mingxiu" approached with a river lantern.
People releasing river lanterns near and far were laughing and chatting, and children were jumping up and down laughing as they pointed at the fireworks.
Holding a river lantern, Xiao Lang looked at the brilliant fireworks and shimmering waves and asked his Xiao Qing with a smile.
A distant "ding-a-ling" suddenly rang in my ears.
He unconsciously bent down, pressed his wrist with one hand, and placed the beautiful lotus lantern on the water.
Xiao Qing happily squatted down and put down his lotus lantern, then took a tinderbox and lit the red candle on the candlestick inside the lantern.
Xiao Lang slowly straightened up and turned the wheelchair by gripping the handles.
Before he could sit up straight, "Mingxiu" next to him suddenly reached out and pushed Xiao Qing.
Someone has fallen into the water!
Screams erupted as several figures leaped through the crowd.
Xiao Lang watched helplessly as Xiao Qing thrashed about in the water, her hand an arm's length away from his.
His hand reached forward faster than his brain.
Behind him came the terrified voice of a servant: "Your Highness!"
He grasped a hand, a warm hand.
Suddenly everything seems so far away.
He felt his waist being held, and he wanted to swim, but his legs were too weak.
He gripped the body in front of him, and in his dazed state, he saw dark shadows swimming towards him from all directions underwater.
Some of the shadowy figures began to fight amongst themselves, while others continued to approach.
He felt his body being carried forward while swimming.
He has the good fortune to live to be a hundred years old, free from illness and disaster.
His life was filled with misfortune and illness; he should have died long ago, leaving not even ashes.
His youthful brilliance and high spirits were no longer enough to support his already riddled, black-hearted and ruthless nature. He spent most of his life struggling to survive in pain, despair, coldness, hatred, and destruction, endlessly repeating the cycle without any escape.
He has filthy and despicable blood flowing through his veins, and his descendants with such blood should all die in a hopeless purgatory.
But why are these hands warm?
In Tianyin Temple, the ancient bell tolls without wind.
Jueyan hurried up the mountain and rushed over in surprise: "You're awake!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
