Lantern Festival (3)
He turned his head sharply and saw Gu Jinghong, whom he was protecting behind him, with her head slightly lowered and her shoulders twitching suspiciously. She covered her lips with the back of her hand, but the upturned eyebrows and the mischievous smile that was about to overflow from her clear eyes could not be hidden.
Seeing Gu Jinghong's smiling eyes and her trying hard to suppress her laughter, her lively and slightly gloating playfulness was like a ray of warm sunshine that suddenly pierced through the gloom in Xiao Chengyan's heart and the thunderous anger that was about to erupt.
That's all.
The surging anger in his heart inexplicably paused, and strangely, most of it dissipated.
To make this deep-thinking woman, who never showed her emotions, laugh so heartily, it seemed... that her disheveled state wasn't entirely worthless? In fact, watching her laugh, he even felt a... indescribable sense of satisfaction?
The icy coldness in Xiao Chengyan's eyes melted away quickly, replaced by a helpless yet indulgent warmth. He ignored the trembling boss kneeling on the ground and the deathly silent crowd, and didn't bother with his own comical sleeves.
Just then, a quick-witted and bold young woman in the crowd suddenly exclaimed in a shrill voice, "Oh my! For the King of Jin to wear this, could this be the latest trendy style in the capital?... It looks so unique and stylish!"
Her shout was like lighting a fuse.
Whether it was because King Jin was too handsome, too tall and straight, or for some other reason, when everyone turned around to look again, they felt that the long and short sleeves actually had a unique charm.
Everyone chimed in:
"Yes, yes, yes! It must be a new style!"
"His Highness King Jin is setting a trend!"
"These 'long and short sleeves' certainly exude an extraordinary air, making the prince even more... well... heroic and unrestrained!"
"Look! The cut of the Prince's cuffs is so...unconventional! It must be the work of a master!"
In an instant, praise for the "long and short sleeves" rose and fell, and the awkward moment was replaced by a "fashion trend" that was forcibly brought up.
The moment Xiao Chengyan's cloak was torn off, revealing his sleeves, his face darkened, and a storm of anger welled up between his brows. He didn't care what others thought, but when had he ever been so disheveled?
Especially in front of Gu Jinghong! This offended anger caused his aura to plummet.
However, just as he was about to explode, a soft, clear laugh, as melodious as a silver bell, which he tried to suppress but ultimately couldn't hold back, clearly entered his ears.
Just then, Gu Jinghong seemed to remember something. Her bright eyes darted around, and she suddenly turned and squeezed into a nearby mask stall. She moved quickly, picked through the masks a couple of times, and returned with two masks in her hands.
One is an adorable rabbit mask with curved eyes, very cute. The other is a black fox mask with cold lines and a touch of majesty.
Gu Jinghong shoved the cute rabbit mask into Xiao Chengyan's hand without a word, and then quickly put on the black fox mask herself, revealing only a pair of eyes with a sly smile.
She looked up at Xiao Chengyan, who was still somewhat taken aback, and her voice, though muffled and chuckled through the mask, was exceptionally clear: "Your Highness, with so many people around, it's best to conceal yourself. This... suits you!"
She pointed to the rabbit mask in his hand, her mischievousness almost overflowing.
Xiao Chengyan looked down at the rabbit mask in his hand, which was completely different from his temperament, and then looked at Gu Jinghong in front of him, who was wearing a black fox mask and only revealed a pair of cunning star eyes. Some indescribable emotions rose in his heart—this woman... is really bold!
Far from being angry, he found her lively and mischievous demeanor even more...attractive than her calm and collected appearance when she solved the puzzle.
A barely perceptible smile curved Xiao Chengyan's lips as he slowly and deliberately put on the rabbit mask, which seemed completely out of place with his status and demeanor. The imposing and aloof King Jin, paired with an adorable rabbit mask… the visual impact was simply too strong!
Gu Jinghong was stunned when she saw him actually put on the rabbit mask. Then she couldn't help but let out a clear laugh through the black fox mask, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Xiao Chengyan looked at her through the rabbit mask. His deep eyes were filled with helplessness, indulgence, and a tender warmth that even he himself was unaware of because of her. He watched her smile and listened to her laughter, feeling that all the noise and trouble of the night had been worthwhile.
He said nothing more, but simply reached out and, through the mask, precisely grasped Gu Jinghong's wrist. His voice, deep and tinged with a barely perceptible chuckle, came through the mask: "Now that the lamp has been taken, this place is too noisy. Let's go, little fox."
Gu Jinghong's wrist was grasped by his warm, large hand. She felt the strength from his palm and the indulgent smile. Looking at the funny and cute rabbit mask on his face, her heart skipped a beat for no reason.
She stopped laughing and softly replied, "Mm."
Changfeng and the others had already stepped forward, carefully lifting the enormous nine-star linked lamp and coldly separating the crowd. Under the invisible pressure of King Jin and the strikingly contrasting cuteness of his mask, the crowd automatically parted to make way.
Xiao Chengyan led Gu Jinghong, one wearing a majestic black fox mask yet smiling slyly, the other wearing a silly rabbit mask yet exuding an imposing aura, as they calmly walked out of the crowd's encirclement amidst the stunned and awe-inspiring gazes of the onlookers.
A night breeze swept by, carrying the damp scent of the riverbank and the lingering echoes of distant clamor.
Gu Jinghong felt the warmth of his palm on her wrist, and looked at the tall man with the rabbit mask beside her. A thought became crystal clear: This deep-thinking and renowned Prince Jin... seems to have moments when he's not so "Jin"? And... he's quite fun?
As the two walked together, Xiao Chengyan's palms unexpectedly became sweaty.
Gu Jinghong actually sensed it earlier than Xiao Chengyan. It wasn't until the two passed a sugar figurine stall surrounded by children that Gu Jinghong secretly shook off Xiao Chengyan and went over with a happy expression.
A bright carp lantern hung in front of the stall. Under the warm yellow light, the craftsman's nimble fingers danced, and golden sugar syrup strands twisted and turned, transforming in an instant into lifelike birds, beasts, and mythical figures. A freshly blown, crystal-clear phoenix sugar figurine shimmered and shone under the lantern, eliciting gasps of amazement from the children.
Gu Jinghong's steps unconsciously slowed down. Her gaze swept over the exquisite sugar figurines, finally settling on the butterfly that seemed about to take flight, a fleeting, imperceptible hint of girlish curiosity and longing flashing in her eyes.
She doesn't remember much about her childhood. Her memories become clearer after Uncle Gu passed away and she was taken to Zhuoyue Tower by the old master.
The cold training, the harsh tasks, the pain of whipping... these formed the background of her childhood.
Sugar figurines? Those were luxuries for carefree children on the streets and alleys. She only remembered the distant and vague sweetness of occasionally catching a glimpse of children running past with sugar figurines in their hands through the high windows of Zhuoyue Tower.
Later, she worked her way up from scout and inspector to chief clerk, and now she is a cabinet minister. Sugar figurines are readily available to her, but she seems too naive.
She is Grand Secretary Gu, who needs to be authoritative, calm, and in control of the overall situation—none of which are related to sugar figurines.
Xiao Chengyan keenly caught the fleeting glimmer in her eyes. The way she looked at the sugar butterfly seemed to be the most genuine longing gaze after all pretense had been shed.
He stopped and walked to the noisy stall.
The children's noise seemed to subside a little as they watched the distinguished young man with curiosity. Xiao Chengyan said to the craftsman, "I want butterflies; one for each child here..."
The craftsman responded and skillfully scooped up a spoonful of scalding hot golden syrup. His wrists flew as he pulled, blew, pinched, and pressed... his movements were fluid and graceful.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
"Thank you, Uncle!"
The children were so happy they almost surrounded Xiao Chengyan, their initial fear completely gone.
Bathed in the surrounding lights, several sugar butterflies, delicate as cicada wings and translucent as if melting into the light and shadow, gradually took shape. When they were handed to Xiao Chengyan, they shimmered with a warm yellow and orange glow, their beauty otherworldly.
Xiao Chengyan handed out sugar butterflies to the children one by one, then left the biggest one for Gu Jinghong: "The craftsman made too many..."
Gu Jinghong looked at the candy butterfly handed to her, then glanced at Xiao Chengyan, whose features were softly outlined by the lamplight. Her cheeks instantly flushed red, as if illuminated by the red lanterns beside her.
Yes, she is no longer Gu Gefu, but Gu Jinghong, just a maid accompanying Prince Jin to the lantern festival... A maid, being personally handed such an exquisite sugar butterfly by the prince, and wearing a mask... Can't she be a little unrestrained this once?
She hesitated for a moment, then finally extended her slender fingers and carefully took the light, warm sugar butterfly.
Just as she reached out to take it, Xiao Chengyan handed it to her. Gu Jinghong's fingertips inevitably touched his slightly cool fingertips, and that coolness made the texture of the sugar butterfly under her fingertips even more vivid.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Her voice was so soft it was almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.
She lowered her head, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
The butterfly in my hand is shimmering with light; the sugar threads on its wings refract tiny sparkles under the lamplight.
A gentle yet incredibly genuine smile spread across her lips, and even the small red mole at the end of her eyebrow seemed to come alive in that smile, as if it too were illuminated by the festive lights.
Xiao Chengyan stared blankly at Gu Jinghong's appearance. A strange emotion, filled with warmth and a peculiar sense of satisfaction, quietly grew and spread in his heart, like warm ripples slowly spreading on the surface of a river.
—Damn it, why do I feel like she has a bit of A Ning's shadow in her again?
Not far away, Changfeng held his sword, trying his best to maintain a serious expression, but the corner of his mouth twitched upwards suspiciously.
The other guards behind them also tacitly shifted their gaze, as if studying the pattern on a revolving lantern next to them.
Just then, a familiar voice, tinged with mockery yet concealing a sharp edge, pierced through the noise: "Oh! This... isn't this my beautiful sister Jinghong? Happy New Year! What's wrong? You've climbed onto the high branch of King Jin's tree and forgotten all your worries, you don't even recognize your own brothers?"
The sound was like a venomous snake's tongue licking the eardrum.
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