Chapter 60 Chinese Valentine’s Day
After Yuan Chenghai left, Nie Siniang sat in the bathtub and vigorously washed her body.
Her skin was as white as jade, making the red marks that remained on her skin all the more noticeable.
This made her nauseous.
She thought of her childhood sweetheart.
She promised to marry him, but she broke her promise.
She asked her sister if Brother Shuang knew about her situation, and how he was doing.
My sister said he was sick because of the shock, but he's better now.
But my sister is terrible at lying.
She thought that her boy might no longer be around.
If her sister didn't tell her, she stopped asking.
She'll wait until the day that scoundrel dies before asking.
Hatred was like the most poisonous medicine, tormenting Nie Si Niang's heart.
"Fourth Sister, are you not done washing yet?" A familiar voice came from outside the screen.
Nie Si Niang quickly dried herself off, changed her clothes, and went out.
Nie Sanniang looked at her younger sister with concern.
Every time Yuan the traitor came to my sister's place, it made her suffer even more.
The worry in her sister's eyes stung Nie Si Niang.
In the room where only the two sisters were present, Nie Si Niang threw herself into Nie San Niang's arms and sobbed softly.
"Sister, how exactly do we make him die?"
"It'll be soon, it'll definitely be soon," Nie Sanniang comforted her sister, though she herself felt uneasy.
I haven't heard from Brother Que recently. Is everything going according to his plan, or has it failed?
She didn't know and had no way of confirming it, but this was all she could do to comfort her sister, lest she give up.
The waiting process was truly agonizing.
Is it related to incense?
Nie San Niang looked at the wisps of fragrance emanating from the lotus-shaped incense burner.
The fragrance was so pleasant, like a gentle breeze blowing across a boundless wilderness, soothing the restlessness in one's heart.
How could such incense kill someone? She must be overthinking it.
As Nie San Niang's confidence dwindled day by day, Qixi Festival arrived.
Qixi Festival is a festival for women. It is customary to test needlework skills and worship the moon and the Weaver Girl. Nowadays, releasing river lanterns is also a popular activity.
Young girls would write their wishes on lanterns and release them into the river, watching the lanterns drift away and hoping their wishes would come true.
Some of these lanterns were unlucky and quickly fell into the river, while others were picked up by the young men with laughter.
Qiu Heng would not miss such an opportunity to openly go out and familiarize herself with the capital. When Qiu Xuan invited her, she immediately agreed.
As evening fell, the Qiu sisters went out together to the banks of the Bibo River.
The Bibo River flows through the inner city, and on the day of Qixi Festival, soldiers patrolled constantly, making it a favorite playground for young ladies from wealthy families.
Of course, the banks of the Bibo River are not only home to young women, but also to various vendors and a dazzling array of stalls, as well as young men who share the same aspirations.
The legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl adds a touch of splendor to this day, and there are stories of young men and women finding their perfect match every year.
As darkness fell, the riverbank was brightly lit, with countless lanterns placed in the river, twinkling and dimming like a cascading river of stars.
"How beautiful!" Qiu Ying exclaimed, gazing at the lanterns filling the river. Curious, she asked her sisters, "What wishes did you all write down?"
Qiu Fu rolled her eyes at her: "You're the only one who's curious every year."
Qiu Ying covered her mouth and smiled: "I know, Fourth Sister must be praying for a good marriage."
Qiu Fu wasn't shy at all, and instead asked, "Isn't Fifth Sister one? Second Sister and Third Sister one too?"
They've all reached marriageable age; what else could they ask for but a good match?
Unlike them, she doesn't deny what she's thinking.
"Isn't there also Sixth Sister?" Qiu Ying gave Qiu Heng a teasing look.
Qiu Fu replied matter-of-factly, "Sixth Sister must be too."
"Oh, I'm not," Qiu Heng said honestly.
People came and went along the riverbank like a flowing river, unaware that a young man had stopped in his tracks at the sound of her familiar voice.
During the festive occasion, inspections by various officials were indispensable, and the young man was none other than Xue Han, the Imperial City Envoy.
Hu Si was with him, and when he spotted Qiu Heng, he excitedly tugged at Xue Han's sleeve.
What a coincidence to find red bean cake in such a crowded place!
"You're not?" Qiu Fu asked incredulously. "Then what is Sixth Sister's wish?"
If they don't say it, then it's definitely because they love to say one thing and mean another.
Faced with her sisters' curious gazes, Qiu Heng was quite frank: "I only wish for peace in the world."
Is the world at peace?
Qiu Xuan and the others were taken aback at first, and then they all laughed in unison.
"Hahaha, Sixth Sister, are you trying to make me laugh to death?" Qiu Ying linked arms with Qiu Heng, laughing until tears streamed down her face.
Qiu Fu laughed in anger: "Sixth Sister, if you don't want to talk about it, fine, but don't try to fool us with such absurd words."
Qiu Heng listened with a smile, without refuting.
The simple phrase "peace reigns throughout the land" resonated deeply in Xue Han's heart.
He silently walked past the girl who had spoken those words so earnestly, his gaze following the lantern she gently placed into the river.
It was a koi lantern, its fish shape making it more stable as it drifted with the current, clearly distinguishing it from the flower-shaped lanterns that filled the river.
The koi lantern attracted the attention of many young men, who bent down and reached out to try and scoop it up.
A handsome young man touched the lamp with his fingertips, and his face had just lit up with joy when a hand with distinct knuckles reached out and picked up the lamp.
"Why don't you know the order of arrival!" The young man turned around angrily, but when he saw Xue Han in his scarlet official robes, he became quiet.
How could anyone afford to offend someone so young who wears such a colored official robe?
What a pity about the koi lantern; I wonder what kind of interesting young lady released it.
The boy glanced once more at the lantern Xue Han was holding in his hand, then ran off quickly.
Hu Si snorted: "Sir, look at that kid, he's still reluctant to part with it, it's not like it's his lamp."
Some young punks just don't know their own limitations.
"My lord, what did Miss Qiu Liu write? Is it truly a wish for peace throughout the world?"
Urged on by Hu Si, Xue Han looked down at the koi lantern in his hand but hesitated.
Although it is a custom for unmarried young men to retrieve the lanterns of unmarried young women and place them in the river on Qixi Festival, and no one can criticize them, it is somewhat strange for him to do so knowing that the owner of the koi lantern was already there.
It was as if he had deliberately tried to pry into her thoughts.
But he really wanted to know.
Xue Han inwardly despised himself for a moment, then finally looked at the wish written on the lamp.
The elegant and graceful handwriting came into view: My first wish is for a peaceful world, my second wish is for good health, and my third wish is to see you often in my old age.
Even though he knew this wish had nothing to do with him, when he read the line "My third wish is to grow old and see you often," Xue Han clearly felt something fall on his heart.
The girl he couldn't understand didn't lie to her sisters; her wish was truly for a peaceful world and tranquil waters.
It was something he had never seriously considered.
The sky suddenly brightened, and Xue Han looked up to see magnificent fireworks blooming. After a moment of brilliance, they vanished into nothingness, and then new fireworks bloomed, even more beautiful and brighter.
In an instant, the noisy riverbank became quiet, and people held their breath and looked up at the magnificent scene in the sky.
The Three Wishes comes from a poem by Bai Juyi.
(End of this chapter)
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