Lantern Festival (Part 1)
Since returning from the last palace banquet, Bai Hui has become increasingly silent.
The atmosphere throughout the entire mansion turned icy.
It was completely out of place with the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival outside the door, which was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.
The Lantern Festival is just around the corner, and Guishu City will soon be holding a large-scale lantern festival once every five years.
I heard there are many exquisite lanterns, some even from the Western Regions.
Qu Linghan was truly moved.
Bai Hui's silence made Qu Linghan dare not make any rash moves, for fear that he might accidentally anger this great Buddha, Bai Hui.
Her own life doesn't matter, but what if her shop goes out of business?
Bai Hui remained as cold and distant as when she first met Qu Linghan.
I don't know what he was afraid of. Was he afraid of people's hearts? Or was he afraid that the emperor's wrath would implicate her?
He always got up early every day to practice, eat, and go to bed.
The days passed slowly until the day before the Lantern Festival.
When Qu Linghan came out of the shop and returned home, he saw the scattered lights on the road and was very happy.
Unfortunately, Bai Hui wasn't there, so she had no one to share with.
After Qu Linghan returned home, he saw Bai Hui reading in the study.
"I'm back."
Bai Hui remained silent.
"Um, can I ask you for a favor?"
Bai Hui put down the book in his hand.
"What is it?"
Upon hearing the answer, Qu Linghan immediately skipped and hopped towards Bai Hui.
His eyes held expectation.
"There's a lantern festival tomorrow, let's go together."
"You're so smart, you're sure to win lots of lanterns!"
"I want to fill the whole shop with lanterns, so it will be sparkly and beautiful when we open for business."
Qu Linghan held his face in his hands, his elbows resting on the white table.
After speaking, Bai Hui finally looked up at her.
Being alone is not necessarily a bad thing.
Qu Linghan sighed silently in his heart.
"It's no fun going alone. Guessing riddles is more interesting with two people."
But I…
Before Bai Hui could finish speaking, Qu Linghan placed his hand on Bai Hui's lips.
It felt cool, and Qu Linghan was momentarily stunned.
He then put his fingers down.
Then turn around,
"Um... I'm sorry."
The temperature inside the room seemed to be gradually rising.
Qu Linghan wanted to escape as soon as possible.
"I...I'll go now. You continue reading."
Her figure gradually moved closer to the entrance.
At some point, Bai Hui finally showed an expression on his face.
"Never mind. Wait for me at the lantern festival tomorrow."
Bai Hui's words made Qu Linghan stop in his tracks.
"Um!"
As the sun sets in the west, night falls.
Qu Linghan tossed and turned excitedly, unable to sleep well all night.
After all, this was the first time she had celebrated a festival in such a grand way in the Liu Dynasty.
Moreover, he was with Bai Hui.
During the day, Qu Linghan was busy with odd jobs in the shop.
To be honest, I was just absentmindedly and carelessly handling some odd jobs.
Qu Linghan tentatively plans to open the business on the third day after the Lantern Festival, and the date is fast approaching.
Qu Linghan, however, always felt that there was something he hadn't prepared for.
Clearly, silk, tools, errand boys, everything was there.
What exactly is missing...?
As I was thinking, night fell.
As dusk settles and the bright moon hangs high in the sky.
The lantern festival is coming soon!
Qu Linghan shouted excitedly in his heart.
She quickly returned home and changed into new clothes. As she was leaving, she noticed a hairpin glittering in front of her dressing table.
Upon closer inspection, she realized it was the hairpin Bai Hui had bought for her in Yuzhou.
"Sister Ling Han!"
Qu Linghan had just picked up the hairpin and was about to examine it closely when she heard a familiar yet unfamiliar, childish voice.
She hastily inserted the hairpin into her hair bun.
I looked up at the door.
It was a child that Bai Hui saved when he was in Yuzhou.
Before returning to Shucheng, Qu Linghan was still wondering where Bai Hui had placed the two children at the Bai residence.
After all, the two children had tragic pasts, and the Bai family was small and desolate.
Qu Linghan thought about taking them out for a walk and buying some necessities for the children.
The older child did not continue his studies due to an accident.
We should find a good school.
However, once back in the capital, the shop opened immediately, and Bai Hui stayed in the palace for a long time without returning.
Qu Linghan completely forgot about the matter.
Now she sees this child alive and well, standing right in front of her.
It would be a lie to say I'm not pleased.
Zhao Shizhong was eleven or twelve years old, a time when he was growing taller, but he was very thin and small due to malnutrition.
He was about a head shorter than Qu Linghan.
She bent down and gently approached him.
"What do you want, little kid?"
Although the two had met in Yuzhou before, they were not very familiar with each other.
Zhao Shizhong was hesitant and awkward.
"My brother told me to tell my sister that he's waiting for you on the Ziying Bridge."
Ziying Bridge is a very famous bridge in Guishu City.
Ziying Bridge was already there before the founding of the Liu Dynasty.
They were probably a couple in love who liked to stroll hand in hand on this bridge before they got married.
Shortly after their marriage, she gave birth to a child.
He was named Ziying, and later Ziying became a founding hero of the previous dynasty.
Therefore, the former emperor renamed the bridge Ziying Bridge.
It was used to commemorate Ziying's achievements and the fairytale love story of his parents.
Even today, many loving couples stroll back and forth on the Ziying Bridge.
I pray for a bright future.
Qu Linghan didn't believe Bai Hui didn't know what this meant.
"Thanks, kid."
Qu Linghan flicked her loose hair.
The air smells wonderful.
Qu Linghan's steps became much lighter.
It felt as if we were treading on clouds and chasing the moon.
Then they arrived at Ziying Bridge.
Beside Ziying Bridge is a huge rock, roughly two meters high.
A man with a nimble build and an aura of ferocity stood beside the Ziying Stone, almost as tall as it.
The man was wearing a mask, which was neither gold nor silver.
It has probably lost its charm over the years.
However, this did not affect his dignified demeanor.
His noble demeanor and the fierce aura he exuded seemed somewhat incongruous.
Yet it gives people a sense of mystery.
Qu Linghan slowly approached Bai Hui from behind, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd.
Cover his eyes.
Bai Hui's body trembled slightly.
Guess who I am!
He gently stroked Qu Linghan's hands, which were placed in front of him.
Then put it down and hold it in your hand.
He turned to face her.
"Madam, please don't bully me."
…
"Ah, this."
What's wrong with this man today? He's speaking so pleasantly.
Some are...cute.
Qu Linghan almost blushed.
"Who bullied you? It's clearly you who likes me. Why are you bullying me?"
The surprised passersby, upon seeing this, wisely left.
The newlyweds' playful banter~
"Fine, I won't argue with you."
Qu Linghan gripped Bai Hui's hand tightly.
Before they knew it, their feelings for each other had grown.
Qu Linghan and Bai Hui no longer reject each other's presence.
It was when he protected her in the palace, when he bought her food on the street, when he personally wrote the two characters "Lan Xu" for her...
It was still during those late nights when the two of them sat down and talked.
He once dreamed that in his previous life, he was murdered and killed in battle.
Holding her lifeless child, she committed suicide out of love.
In his dream, his spirit tried every means to catch her as she jumped off the cliff.
Later, he woke up.
Seeing Qu Linghan lying beside her, his quiet breathing inexplicably made her feel at ease.
He suddenly realized that there was something in the world worth holding onto.
He wanted her shop to become famous worldwide, her children to grow up safely, her to be free from all constraints, and her to go wherever she wanted…
"Hey! Bai Hui! I've called you several times, why aren't you saying anything!"
Qu Linghan's voice was a little hoarse.
"Sorry, I was a little... cough, a little distracted."
"What were you just saying?"
Something's really wrong!
Qu Linghan almost suspected that Bai Hui's soul had been replaced.
In the past, Bai Hui might have given Qu Linghan a retort.
"What business is it of yours how I handle things?"
Today, he! Actually! Apologized!
This is too bizarre.
Qu Linghan touched the index fingers of both hands together.
Make a very aggrieved expression.
"My lord, what I was saying was, when our store opens in a couple of days, should we also hold a riddle-guessing activity? If we guess it correctly, we'll get a chance to win a prize, which is a discount coupon that we can use when we find clothes we like."
Bai Hui cast an admiring glance at Qu Linghan.
"Madam is intelligent."
He casually straightened the hairpin in Qu Linghan's hair, the tassels clinking together with a crisp sound.
It echoed Qu Linghan's laughter.
Bai Hui's cold and aloof heart suddenly began to melt.
"Bai Hui, come here!"
Qu Linghan removed the mask that Bai Hui had worn for who knows how many centuries.
His gaze fell upon the dazzling array of masks displayed at the stall.
Which one do you like?
"Is this one with flower petals? Or this one with a little bee?"
"I still like this one with plum blossoms the most! What do you think?"
Bai Hui smiled indulgently at Qu Linghan, though he felt somewhat helpless.
"Is my wife choosing for herself or for her husband?"
"Young man, you are mistaken!"
The mask stall owner looked at the old man with an air of "he knows a lot about this stuff."
"You two must have just gotten married. As time goes on, you'll understand: listen to your wife, and your career will go smoothly!"
"Listen to your wife, and life will be better this way!"
The boss then turned his gaze to Qu Linghan.
"Young lady, tell me, am I right?"
Qu Linghan removed Bai Hui's mask, revealing his stunning appearance.
A sharp face, gentle eyes.
A high, straight nose and soft lips.
A scar above his eyebrow, wheat-colored skin.
That thing looks so soft…
Oh no, oh no, this is a trap!
Qu Linghan didn't look at Bai Hui again, and then put the mask with plum blossoms engraved on Bai Hui's face.
hiss…
Bai Hui gasped.
"Pay up quickly."
"Um."
So the two continued walking on the flower street, where Qu Linghan told Bai Hui about the fun things he had when he went to temple fairs as a child.
She said that several hours before the temple fair started, she brought her small stool and reserved a good spot.
"You know what? I was so excited the night before that I couldn't sleep."
Qu Linghan told Bai Hui many interesting stories.
How funny was it? Well, it was the laughter that came from this aloof male god, not a cold laugh.
The two strolled around and came to a lantern shop.
It completely struck a chord with Qu Linghan.
"Little rabbit, little orchid, little butterfly, little plum blossom..."
In Qu Linghan's words, it can be summed up in two words.
"Absolutely amazing."
Qu Linghan ran excitedly towards the place where they were guessing riddles.
Then he came back sheepishly, head down.
"What's wrong?"
Bai Hui's eyes were full of doting affection.
"I won't."
"Um."
Bai Hui let out a soft laugh.
"why are you laughing."
If you're so capable, then go ahead and do it.
"Wait for me here."
Qu Linghan swore that she hadn't said what she was really thinking at all.
In less than a minute, the owner of the riddle shop opened his eyes and mouth wide.
His eyes were filled with surprise and anger.
"You're simply unreasonable!"
This person seems to know everything!
"no sooner said than done."
"Okay, okay, take it away now and don't come back."
Qu Linghan looked at Bai Hui's triumphant return, his eyes practically overflowing with joy.
Qu Linghan looked around, trying to see if there were any stalls selling bags.
Suddenly I realized…
"Wait, who is this?!"
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