The city of Tongcheng is bustling with activity, especially during the Qixi Festival.
The city was filled with lanterns, making it as bright as day.
Pedestrians strolled along the street.
Unmarried young women, dressed in their prettiest dresses and with exquisite makeup, gathered in twos and threes, carrying lanterns, and hesitated in front of their favorite shops...
A learned man, with one hand behind his back, stood before the riddles, debating which riddle was correct...
The newlyweds found a small stall, sat down, and blushed as they shared a bowl of sweet soup...
The children, biting into candied hawthorns and holding sugar figurines, chased and played...
Red lanterns lined both sides of the street like a long dragon, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Stepping onto the long street, Yuan Yao was immediately drawn to the bustling scene.
The Ninth Prince held her small hand, his lips always curved into a smile.
The father and daughter were so eye-catching that they attracted a lot of attention as soon as they stepped onto the street.
The Ninth Prince remained calm and said to Yuan Yao, "Take whatever catches your eye."
This statement is similar in spirit to "Buy whatever you like".
Yuan Yao happily replied, "Yao'er understands!"
Come to think of it, she's been in ancient times for so long, but she's never gone shopping or gone on a shopping spree!
The streets are lined with all sorts of small stalls.
A dazzling array of trinkets.
Yuan Yao looked at the street scene, the Ninth Prince looked at him, and all the pedestrians on the street looked at the father and daughter.
Many young girls secretly glanced at the Ninth Prince, their faces flushing red...
Helplessly, when his gaze fell upon Yuan Yao, whom he was holding hands with, his expression became more hesitant.
Yuan Yao looked up casually and saw a teenage girl in yellow, her face flushed, staring at the Ninth Prince.
She picked up a rabbit lantern, raised her small eyebrows, and stared intently at the girl with a hint of a smile in her large eyes.
Upon meeting her gaze, the girl looked flustered.
Yuan Yao couldn't help but laugh smugly: "Haha..."
Her sweet, childlike voice was exceptionally clear and crisp.
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince bent down: "You've taken a fancy to this lantern?"
As he bent over, Yuan Yao reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, saying in a childish voice, "Daddy, lots of young and beautiful older sisters are looking at you!"
And they blush just looking at you!
I have no idea what they've been imagining...
That's so interesting!
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince raised an eyebrow, raised his icy eyes, and glanced disdainfully at his surroundings.
Immediately, many people were startled and looked away.
The Ninth Prince frowned slightly, and with a swift movement, he scooped the person up along with the lantern: "Father will take you to visit other places."
It seems that Father doesn't like being watched!
Yuan Yao obediently replied, "Okay!"
The lifelike rabbit lantern was a bit heavy. Yuan Yao held it for a while, then her attention was drawn to the sugar figurines on the street.
The guards were dutiful, following at a distance and buying up anything Yuan Yao glanced at...
Under the gaze of many people, Yuan Yao pointed to the riddles on the street: "Father, do you want to guess the riddles?"
The Ninth Prince glanced at it and said, "I... stopped guessing riddles many years ago."
Yuan Yao suddenly remembered that her father had once been a distinguished and virtuous young master from a prominent family...
At that time, he must have been full of wisdom.
How could a riddle possibly stump him?
Later, his entire family was executed, and he was forced to enter the palace and become a eunuch...
He probably stopped engaging in the pastimes of scholars from that time onward.
Yuan Yao felt a pang of pain in her heart and softly said, "Father, I'm sorry..."
"Hmm?" The Ninth Prince looked down at her.
Yuan Yao looked at him with heartache.
The Ninth Prince paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "What are you thinking about, you little dumpling?"
When I was young, I solved all the riddles on the street.
Back then, this angered many scholars, especially my old friend, who forced me to swear that I would never touch riddles again in my life.
"Ah...Is that so?!" Yuan Yao was quite surprised.
She misunderstood.
She also thought that the fact that the Ninth Prince didn't solve the riddles was related to his tragic experience of having his entire family wiped out and becoming a palace official!
Yuan Yao asked curiously, "What oath did Father make?"
What oath could have kept the Ninth Prince's promise for so many years?
The Ninth Prince paused, then said calmly, "If I break my oath, I will live out my days alone."
Will you die alone?
This oath is so vicious!
Yuan Yao was heartbroken.
She stretched out her delicate white hands and hugged the Ninth Prince's neck tightly: "Father won't grow old alone! In this life, Yao'er will stay by Father's side!"
We don't need the lanterns anymore.
Holding the little one tightly in his arms, the Ninth Prince smiled and said, "Little Yao'er, you must keep your word."
"In the future, if I grow old and you dare not support me, I will punish you for the grave crime of filial impiety."
Hearing this, Yuan Yao felt a pang of sadness.
What does the Nine Thousand Years Old Look Like When He's Old?
She dared not think about it...
Her nose stung with tears, and she tightened her grip, hugging the Ninth Prince's neck tightly: "Yao'er can't bear to leave Father!"
Where can you find a father who treats her so well?
"Alright." The Ninth Prince reached out and gently patted her back. "Let's go for another stroll."
As they spoke, they arrived at the liveliest spot—the riverbank.
In the bustling city of Tongcheng, a clear and gentle river flows through the city.
Small bridge, flowing water, restaurant...
The river was already covered with lanterns.
At this time, the release of river lanterns has not yet begun.
The clean water reflects the weeping willows, lanterns, and pedestrians dressed in red and green.
The Ninth Prince carried Yuan Yao and walked along the river.
As we were walking, suddenly, a large number of people surged in one direction.
Yuan Yao craned her neck curiously: "What's going on up ahead?"
As she watched, a young woman in a light red silk dress beside her laughed and said, "I heard that the daughter of the richest man in Tongcheng has set up a stage in front of us, preparing to throw an embroidered ball to find a husband."
Is this a marriage proposal?
Yuan Yao immediately became excited: "Father, let's go take a look too!"
She'd only ever seen the custom of throwing a bridal bouquet to choose a husband on TV!
When I watched it, I found it absurd.
Surprisingly, there are actually people doing this in ancient times!
The richest man in Tongcheng!
Your family must be extremely wealthy, right?
With so much money, you should have a lot of suitors.
However, they chose to choose a husband by throwing a bridal bouquet...
Tsk tsk!
Yuan Yao was extremely curious about that richest woman!
The Ninth Prince lowered his eyes, gazing at the little dumpling in his arms: "You really want to go see?"
"Yes!" Yuan Yao said in a childish voice.
The Ninth Prince raised his hand and couldn't help but pinch her little face: "I really can't do anything with you, you little dumpling."
What's so interesting about throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband?
It's just a gimmick.
His tone was disdainful, but the old man's feet did not stop.
He carried Yuan Yao and walked forward with the crowd.
Along the way, a lot of noise kept ringing in my ears—
Ah! This young master is so handsome!
"Her appearance is absolutely stunning!"
"I wonder if he's holding a daughter or a younger sister..."
"Such a handsome young man, he must already have a family... Waaah..."
Yuan Yao poked her little head out from the Ninth Prince's arms, her sweet, soft voice saying, "My father has no family!"
Above his head, the Ninth Prince's lips twitched: "Nonsense."
The voice was soft yet warm.
The unmarried girls around them felt like they were about to faint from lack of oxygen!
That handsome young man has no family!
At this moment, the beautiful little one in the young master's arms blinked and added, "But my father is going to participate in a marriage contest!"
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