Chapter 116 Lights

Out of nowhere, the two of them started arguing again for some unknown reason. Ming Huashang felt very upset and exhausted.

The Duke of Zhenguo wanted her to have more contact with Cheng Xun, to see for herself what kind of person Cheng Xun was and how he treated people. If she still didn't like him, she could just refuse. The Duke of Zhenguo had already said this, and Ming Huashang couldn't refuse any more. She could just treat it as an appointment with a friend, and she would have a reason to refuse next time.

Unfortunately, she just wanted to complete the task, but the two people who were traveling with her were more restless than each other. Ming Huashang thought that the test was not Cheng Xun's level of dealing with people, but hers.

Ming Huashang said, "Thank you, Mr. Cheng, for reminding me. Second brother, you don't mind me squeezing you, do you?"

Ming Huazhang shook his head, and Ming Huashang naturally held Ming Huazhang's arm and said with a smile: "I knew my brother was the best. Look, there is someone spewing fire over there, second brother, Mr. Cheng, let's go and take a look!"

She kept calling him "my brother", and Ming Huazhang seemed to be smoothed by an invisible hand, and the anger in his heart dissipated unconsciously. After Ming Huachang finished speaking, she pulled Ming Huazhang and ran away. Ming Huazhang was forced to follow. He lowered his eyes to look at her beautiful and bright face under the light, like a helmsman bewitched by a mermaid, knowing clearly that this was an illusion, but unable to break it.

She was kind to everyone, including Cheng Xun, Jiang Ling, and Ren Yao. The only special thing about him was that he was her brother. If one day he was no longer her brother, would he be different from Jiang Ling in her heart?

Probably not. His sister is so lazy and content with the status quo that she will never move forward unless she is pushed.

Ming Huazhang is now like a gambler who has reached the end of his rope. He knows that he has very little left, but he still can't help but put all his chips on the gambling table, madly wanting to break the window paper, either completely turn over, or lose everything. He clearly warned himself to abide by the etiquette of brother and sister and not to be a person of bad morals, but he still can't help testing Ming Huachang and testing the Duke of Zhenguo. On the one hand, he suppressed himself, and on the other hand, he hoped that someone would find out that he had crossed the line.

Sometimes Ming Huazhang even despised himself. He was such a hypocritical person that he actually expected the worst to happen and the Duke of Zhenguo would be forced to marry her out of loyalty. With her optimism and insight, she would surely come to her senses soon and would not blame him for having such thoughts about his sister who grew up with him, right?

Ming Huazhang was lost in thought when he suddenly felt a chill on his face. He came to his senses and found that Ming Huachang had put a mask on his face. Through the dark hole, he saw Ming Huachang standing in the brightly lit area, glaring at him unhappily: "I've called you several times, why are you still distracted?"

Ming Huazhang was stunned for a moment before he found his voice: "Sorry, I didn't pay attention just now."

"You have to wear a mask. No, this one is too good-looking. You have to wear an ugly one." Ming Huashang picked and chose on the stall. She picked up a green-faced and fanged devil mask with satisfaction and showed it off in front of Ming Huazhang. "Look, is it scary?"

Ming Huazhang curled his lips slightly, his eyes tender and helpless: "Yeah."

"Then you will be punished to wear it, and you are not allowed to hide!"

Ming Huazhang didn't even think of hiding. He was a head taller than her, but he let her manipulate him and let her put the green-faced, fang-toothed mask on his face. However, when it was Ming Huachang's turn, she rejected the simple masks and went to another stall to choose one. Ming Huazhang paid for the masks without complaint. The stall owner saw it and said enviously, "You are so good to me. I wish you two will live happily together forever."

The vendor misunderstood, but Ming Huazhang did not explain. He handed the copper money to the vendor and said in an almost inaudible voice under the mask: "Thank you for your auspicious words."

Cheng Xun was blocked by the crowd and finally squeezed through. He almost didn't recognize them as siblings. Ming Huazhang was so handsome, but he wore a mask with fangs and claws. He stood aside and waited patiently for Ming Huashang to choose a mask. He didn't show any displeasure when facing the people's scrutiny. Cheng Xun walked over and asked, "Mrs. Ming Er, do you want to buy a mask?"

Ming Huashang turned around and saw Cheng Xun. She took out the two masks in her hand without any hesitation and said, "Yes, but I don't know which one to choose from these two."

"If Second Lady likes it, just buy it all." Cheng Xun was about to pay when he was stopped by Ming Huazhang. Through the green fierce ghost mask, his sense of oppression was particularly sharp and undisguised.

"No need. My sister doesn't need anyone else to spend money on her."

Cheng Xun couldn't help but retort: ​​"I am lucky enough to accompany the beautiful lady to watch the lanterns tonight, and it is my honor to pay for her."

Behind the mask, Ming Huazhang finally no longer had to suppress his emotions and said coldly, "There are so many beauties on the street, many of them are willing to satisfy Mr. Cheng's taste, so there is no need to get close to her."

"It's true that there are many beautiful women on the street, but only the Second Lady has done a favor to the Cheng family, so I naturally have to repay her."

"She doesn't need it."

"Ming Shaoyin, although you are my elder brother, aren't you being too controlling..."

"That's enough." Ming Huashang couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, and bought both masks with her own money, saying, "I came out to enjoy the lights, not to listen to people quarreling."

Cheng Xun and Ming Huazhang looked unhappy when they saw Ming Huashang paying for it herself. They drove very fast, and when Ming Huashang's eyes paused for a moment, they would rush to pay for it. In the end, Ming Huashang didn't even dare to stop.

Ming Huachang smiled brightly on the surface, but was speechless in her heart. She once again emphasized in her mind that she should not go shopping with men. It was simply a waste of time and effort to save face, and there was no fun at all.

Before they knew it, they were in front of a restaurant. In front of the restaurant, there was a row of lamp stands, like thousands of falling stars, with pieces of paper hanging under the lamps. It seemed to be a place for guessing lantern riddles. Ming Huachang turned over a riddle and was thinking about it when Cheng Xun had already given the answer.

Ming Huazhang glanced at Cheng Xun coldly and said in a bad tone: "Shang Shang is still thinking, what are you doing?"

"I just reminded the Second Lady." Cheng Xun said, "We have to wait for the Second Lady to decide whether it is right or not."

The waiter beside him heard this, took down the corresponding lantern, handed it to Ming Huashang with great discernment, and said with a smile: "Congratulations, sir, you got it right. This lantern is for you, my lady."

Cheng Xun smiled, looked at Ming Huashang and said, "It's just luck. I'm glad that Second Madam likes this lamp."

Ming Huashang could only take it with a smile. Even if she didn't see it, she could feel that Ming Huazhang's face looked very bad, and the night wind seemed to make it much colder.

Ming Huachang had no choice but to coquettishly put the lamp into Ming Huazhang's hands and said, "This lamp is so heavy to carry, second brother, please help me carry it. This rabbit lamp is so cute, second brother, do you know what the answer to the riddle is?"

Ming Huazhang condescended to take the lamp, glanced at it calmly, and uttered a word. Ming Huachang applauded and said, "I see. Thank you, second brother, this lamp is mine too."

Ming Huachang laughed and acted coquettishly, and finally managed to make Ming Huazhang look better. She breathed a sigh of relief silently, feeling very tired.

Ming Huashang lost interest as he walked along the street. He tightened his hood and said, "It's a bit cold. Let's go back and find the others."

Cheng Xun and Ming Huazhang both looked unhappy, and silently accompanied Ming Huashang back. The lanterns attracted many people, and Ming Huashang was running in the opposite direction of the crowd, and it was very difficult to squeeze. Seeing this, Ming Huazhang stood in front of her without saying a word, and blocked the people around her.

As they walked out, they could vaguely hear someone talking behind them, as if it was the owner of the restaurant. Ming Huashang was struggling to squeeze out, not paying attention to what was happening behind her. She grabbed Ming Huazhang's sleeve and finally walked to a slightly wider place, and breathed a sigh of relief: "There are so many people today."

Ming Huazhang looked up at the endless crowd and the people who were still coming in, and he instinctively felt a little ominous. He handed the light to the guard, pulled Ming Huachang and said, "There are too many people here, let's go to another place."

Ming Huachang was also squeezed and felt uncomfortable, so he nodded vigorously. There was a burst of cheers from behind, and Ming Huazhang turned around and said something, but Ming Huachang couldn't hear clearly, so he went over and asked, "Second brother, what did you say?"

Ming Huazhang no longer cared about the difference between men and women, and whispered in Ming Huachang's ear, "Follow me closely."

When he said this, Ming Huashang was half looking up at him, so she could see the sudden expansion of white light from his dark pupils.

Then there was a shrill sound. Before Ming Huashang could turn around to see what happened, Ming Huazhang hugged her.

Ming Huachang felt a scorching wave coming from behind, followed by countless screams and cries, knocking her off her feet. In the chaos, only a pair of hands held her tightly, blocking the crowd of people pushing her away and forcibly creating a space for her.

"Run, there's a fire!"

"Ah, someone's dead!"

Even if she didn't see it, Ming Huashang could probably guess from the cries of passersby that the owner of the restaurant had just turned on the lights, and for some reason the lights exploded, and the owner was probably in danger. What was even more terrifying was that today was the Lantern Festival, and the people of the entire city and even the surrounding counties were all out in Chang'an. There were millions of people on the streets, including women and children. If the panic was allowed to spread and a stampede occurred, it would be disastrous.

Ming Huashang suddenly felt a force gripping her waist, and then her body became lighter. Ming Huazhang actually used the strength of his arms to hold her and jumped onto a roadside shelf, moving lightly in the lantern. He put Ming Huashang in a safe place, and before she could speak, Ming Huashang said hurriedly: "Second brother, I learned the art of self-protection in Xuanxiaowei, so it's okay for me to stay alone. Go and maintain order, and don't let the trampling expand."

Ming Huazhang looked at her deeply, put a dagger in her hand, turned around without saying a word, and ran towards the restaurant. Ming Huashang stood up with the help of the wooden frame, staring nervously at the small dot in the crowd that was moving against the flow.

他已經将那張青苗獠牙的面具解開，卻沒有扔，而是依然握在手中。他四肢修長，底盤穩固，哪怕置身于亂流中也巋然不動，像漲潮時分江心唯一的一塊磐石，朗聲道：“我乃京兆府少尹明華章，大家冷靜，勿要推搡，所有人聽我指揮。”

上元節無宵禁，是舉國狂歡的日子，最容易出岔子，因此朝廷早就有了預案，每年都會在各街巷安排巡邏的人，就是為了防止今日這種意外發生。明華章本就是京兆府的人，對節慶這一套流程很熟悉，他表明身份後，迅速穩定民心，指揮士兵封路、限流，引導百姓有序疏散。

明華章的冷靜鎮定極大感染了四周，百姓們看到一個清俊美好的郎君從天而降，如定海神針般伫立在洪流中，有條不紊指揮人群，心神漸漸也安穩下來，不再推搡逃竄。

街上逐漸亂中有序，程荀有侍衛護着，還算毫發無傷，他剛脫身就趕快找明華裳，結果一擡頭看到明華裳站在燈火煌煌中，木架在黑暗中幾乎不可見，只能看到她如天女般浮在半空，衣袂翩跹，發絲拂動，花一般嬌豔的臉上既悲天憫人又淡漠無情，宛如壁畫上的飛天，随時要迎風而去。

程荀頓了頓，擠過去問：“二娘，你下不來了嗎？”

明華裳正極目眺望事發之地，忽然聽到有人叫她。她低頭看到程荀，這才慢慢回到現實中，扶着架子，輕輕松松跳下來：“沒事，我自己能行。”

程荀正待伸手接她，發現明華裳已經自己跳下來了，裙裾如彩蝶般一掠而過。程荀手頓了頓，默然收回，笑說：“危險發生時你及時躲到架子上，真是機智。”

“是二兄放我上去的。”明華裳和程荀說着話，心思還完全在前方事故中，喃喃自語道，“好端端的，為什麽會炸死人呢？”

程荀順着明華裳的視線回頭，看到明華章正站在人群中，有條不紊指揮疏散。程荀早就聽聞明二郎容貌好，但今日他站在人潮中遙遙仰望，才發現明華章姿容竟這般出衆。

清隽俊秀的皮相只是他身上最不足為道的優點，他鎮定自若的氣度，冷靜銳利的眼睛，發生騷亂時毫不猶豫往人群中沖的堅定，才是這副皮囊的靈魂。

程荀暗暗和明華章較了一晚上勁，這一刻那些沖動如潮水般褪去，只餘下一地狼藉和羞愧。他終于明白祖父、祖母對明華章的誇贊來源于何處，也明白明華裳為什麽毫不猶豫說她二兄是天底下最好的郎君。

他确實遠遠不如。程荀暗暗慶幸，幸好這個人只是她的兄長，哪怕他終究無法撼動明華章在她心中的地位，但至少他還能以另一個身份，成為她下半生最重要的男人。

程荀說：“二娘，少尹估計要忙一陣子，這裏太危險，我先送你走吧。”

明華裳想都不想搖頭，眼睛依然看着前方，說：“不，我留在這裏幫忙，多謝程大郎君好意，你先走吧。”

程荀皺眉：“不可。你一個姑娘家，我怎麽能将你丢在這種地方？”

“不是丢，是我自己選擇留在這裏。”明華裳終于回眸，鄭重看向程荀雙眼，說，“我很欣賞大郎君的坦誠，我不想拖延大郎君的時間，不妨直說了吧。程夫人和世子夫人的意思我明白，我很感謝貴府認可我，但是，我和大郎君不合适。”

這種事情所有人都是揣着明白裝糊塗，程荀沒想到明華裳一個姑娘家，竟然會率先說開。他驚訝了一瞬，索性也打開天窗說亮話：“既然二娘已經知道，那我也沒什麽好掩飾的。你為何會說這種話？莫非擔心嫁到程家後受委屈嗎？如果你擔心這一點，我可以保證……”

“并非如此。”明華裳柔柔截斷程荀的話，認真看着他，說，“我知道程夫人和世子夫人寬厚明理，程家姐妹也俱是好相處的人，我很喜歡成國公府，但是，我們之間的問題，并非任何外在，而在于你我。”

“你我？”程荀越發糊塗了，問，“二娘子是覺得我哪裏做的不好嗎？”

“不。”明華裳連忙解釋，“大郎君你很好，這一點毋庸置疑。反倒是我，無才無德，平平無奇，得成國公府如此看重，十分惶恐。只是我們不合适，就比如現在，我想要去現場看看到底發生了什麽事，掌櫃為什麽會被炸死，哪怕折騰到入夜我也甘之如饴。我二兄和父親都支持我如此行事，可是程大郎君，成國公府會允許一個不順從長輩，自作主張留在外面看屍體的孫媳嗎？”

程荀凝視着明華裳晶瑩水潤的眼睛，有一瞬間他想說他可以為了她嘗試，但很快他就清醒過來，哪怕他願意讓步，母親和祖母呢，程家那麽多族親呢？

他終于明白他為什麽突然想娶明華裳，他在自己多年來如出一轍的循規蹈矩中，偶然瞥到一只自由的蝴蝶。她從他指尖穿過，嬌豔，美麗，笑着說我不需要和其他人一樣。她說話時眼神中的光彩，深深震撼了程荀。

程荀羨慕這樣的自由和光芒，因此起了私藏蝴蝶的心思。然而蝴蝶一旦關到籠子裏，她的翅膀就會枯萎，眼睛中的神采就會凋零，最終只餘死板晦暗的标本。

他多麽想放縱自己的卑劣，自私地捕捉蝴蝶，将她據為己有。可是程荀最終還是不忍，他後退一步，勉強笑了笑，看着明華裳說：“原來如此，我明白了，難怪我覺得你和他之間密不可分，根本不容外人插足，原來這種感覺是真的。你放心，祖母那邊，我會說的。”

明華裳長松一口氣，程荀如此拿得起放得下，實在給她省了不少麻煩。明華裳望着程荀，誠摯說：“謝謝。”

程荀似乎想風輕雲淡地笑笑，保留最後的風度，但幾次嘗試笑得都很勉強。他放棄了，對明華裳說：“夜越來越冷了，你早點回府。再會。”

明華裳回以明媚笑意，道：“程大郎君路上慢行，再會。”

程荀想說什麽，動了動嘴唇還是放棄了，轉身朝後走去。這時街上已沒多少人了，他走入黯黯闌珊中，忽然停住，回頭問：“二娘，還不知你的名字。若将來等我老後緬懷年少，不知該如何稱呼你？”

明華裳笑了，眼睛亮晶晶的，說：“我叫明華裳。裳裳者華，芸其黃矣。我觏之子，維其有章矣。”

華裳，華章，程荀慢慢咀嚼這兩個字，裳指鮮明美盛，章指禮樂法度，原來，他們從這麽早就相配了。

程荀笑了，遙遙望着燈火下的明華裳，說：“好名字。”

善和坊發生騷亂，幸虧明華章應急及時，除了最開始有幾個人在推搡中受傷，其餘并無傷亡。明華章忙了半個時辰，分身乏術，只隐約在餘光中看到，明華裳和程荀站在一起，兩個人說了許久的話。

明華章在百忙中都忍不住皺眉，他們在說什麽，怎麽說得這樣認真？

這一帶已經封路，此刻街上空空蕩蕩，話事人就是她兄長，明華裳也不避嫌，光明正大走到事故發生地，查看死者。

屍體被炸得血肉模糊，周圍物品也被燒了，線索根本無從找起。明華裳正看得認真，忽然背後傳來一道清朗的聲音：“死者是錦繡樓掌櫃。”

明華裳回頭，看到明華章緩緩而來，腰間竟然還系着那個青面獠牙面具。他聲音有些啞，但氣度依舊晏然從容，說：“掌櫃新得了兒子，十分高興，便在酒樓前搭了燈棚，和行人同樂，還要當衆點燃百歲燈，讨個喜頭。誰能知道百歲燈剛點着，突然就炸了，錦繡樓掌櫃當場被炸死，站在他旁邊的賬房、夥計被炸傷，他的夫人因為兒子哭鬧，抱着孩子站得遠了些，因此幸免于難，只受了些許驚吓。我已經派人送傷者去看郎中了，具體傷情一會才知。”

明華裳點點頭，看着腳下面目全非的屍體，疑惑道：“就算掌櫃為了讨吉利，将長命百歲燈紮的特別大，但裏面無非蠟燭燈油，為什麽會炸呢？”

“應該不是意外。”明華章說，“當時我看到很刺眼的白光，不排除有人對

百歲燈做了手腳，将裏面換成了火藥。”

明華裳聽着咋舌：“給孩子祈福的場合，在燈裏放火藥……這是什麽仇什麽怨，他們到底得罪了誰？”

明華章道：“只能等掌櫃夫人傷情穩定些後去問她了。”

他們兩人站在黑漆漆的爆炸現場說話，忽然一陣馬蹄聲由遠及近，鎮國公飛奔而來，看到他們兩人，又驚又怕：“二郎，二娘，你們沒事吧？”

Duke Zhenguo didn't want to go out on the street and crowd with people. With Ming Huazhang around, he felt relieved to do his own things in the mansion, and let the children go out to play. Suddenly, Ming Yu and others came back and said in panic that there was a stampede on the street. Duke Zhenguo waited for a long time but didn't see Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang. He was shocked and hurried to the scene to look for them.

Fortunately, both children were fine. Ming Huazhang then realized that he was so busy guiding the people that he forgot to report the news to the government.

Ming Huazhang quickly apologized to the Duke of Zhenguo. The Duke of Zhenguo was reluctant to blame them and sighed, "Erlang, this is too much. Get up quickly. I'm glad you're all okay."

Ming Huazhang felt extremely guilty. He ordered his men to seal off the scene, and then quickly asked someone to bring a carriage to take Duke Zhenguo and Ming Huachang back home to rest.

The rest of Chang'an was still bustling, but the Ming family had no interest in playing. The carriage rumbled by, and Ming Huashang leaned against the shaking carriage, closing her eyes and thinking about the bombing. The wheels rolled over the stones, and the curtain quickly opened a crack. She closed her eyes and did not see outside. Su Yuji and Su Xingzhi were walking towards them.

Su Yuji glanced at the person on the horse and was stunned, turning around to look back. Su Xingzhi didn't understand at first, but when he saw the familiar figure on the horse, his expression froze.

Ming Huazhang? The middle-aged man in front is the elder of the Ming family?

What's worse, is that the Duke of Zhen Guo Ming Huaiyuan?

Su Xingzhi quietly looked at Su Yuji. Su Yuji frowned and stared ahead with a confused look in his eyes.

This figure looked so familiar, she seemed to have seen it before.