Chapter Twenty: The Festival of a Thousand Lanterns

Over the next few days, Rong Jiu found herself in a sour mood. It was such a trivial matter, yet it weighed on her heart for a long while, and even she didn’t understand why she felt this way.

Until the eve of the Thousand Lantern Festival before Mid-Autumn in Youzhou—

Rong Jiu, who naturally didn’t want to miss such a lively celebration, wrestled inwardly for a long time before nervously asking A Mu to deliver an invitation, inviting Song Moting to join her for an evening outing the next night.

A Mu explained that on the day of the Thousand Lantern Festival, anyone with a beloved would send an invitation, asking the other to join them in festivities. Should the recipient accept, it meant they welcomed the sender’s affections.

Rong Jiu dearly hoped to spend the festival with Song Moting, yet the thought of his cold, distant demeanor made her expectations wane. She resolved that if he declined, she would dutifully attend the palace banquet instead. After all, if she couldn’t share the revelry with the one she wished for, even the brightest festival would lose its luster.

She suffered through the wait until A Mu returned.

Rong Jiu lay with her hands over her ears, face buried in the table, afraid to look at A Mu lest she see disappointment reflected there.

Her heart thudded with nervous anticipation, threatening to leap from her chest.

“Princess? Why are you lying on the table?” A Mu, breathless from running all the way back from the Great Prince’s mansion, asked hurriedly.

“I’m fine. A Mu, quickly—tell me what happened. Did he… did he refuse?” Rong Jiu ventured, her confidence faltering at the last words.

Though she was certain of his rejection, a sliver of hope persisted.

“Oh, what should I do? My first time doing something like this and I was rejected—how embarrassing! Do you think he sees me as frivolous? Oh, it’s over, maybe he’ll dislike me even more now! Oh…” Before A Mu could reply, Rong Jiu muttered anxiously.

A Mu couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the sight.

“I’m already like this, and you’re laughing at me!” Rong Jiu buried her head in her arms, mortified.

“Princess, what are you worrying about? The invitation, the Great Prince has accepted!” A Mu said, struggling to suppress her amusement.

“What? You said he accepted? Is that true? A Mu, don’t lie to me!” Rong Jiu leapt up in delight, afraid she’d heard wrong, grabbing A Mu’s arm for confirmation.

“Yes, truly. Honestly, I didn’t expect it either—the Great Prince accepted without hesitation!”

“A Mu, tell me what happened!”

“When I brought the invitation to the mansion, the same two guards were there. Surprisingly, they remembered me. I asked one to deliver it personally to the Great Prince, and made sure they would hand it to him directly. And guess what—soon after, the guard returned and said the Great Prince would come himself tomorrow night to escort you!”

“Hooray! Oh A Mu, I adore you!” Rong Jiu was so excited she spun A Mu in circles, already imagining the events of the coming night…

On the day of the Thousand Lantern Festival, Rong Jiu rose early. While eating breakfast, she fumbled for excuses not to attend the palace banquet.

Rong Le and Rong Xian watched her, helpless, as she solemnly concocted stories with A Mu.

“In any case…I can’t accompany you to the palace. And, well… General Mo needn’t keep watch over me.” Rong Jiu, head down, shoveled rice into her mouth to hide her embarrassment.

“Pfft—hahaha!”

Rong Xian was the first to break, laughing outright.

“Why are you laughing?” Rong Jiu thought, Oh no, have they seen through me?

“Ahem, little sister, you could have just told us. The Great Prince sent someone to inform us earlier.” Rong Le, regaining composure, spoke gently.

“What?!”

Now it was Rong Jiu’s turn to be shocked. If only she’d known, she wouldn’t have spent last night rehearsing with A Mu.

“I say, little Jiu, such a proper affair, and you act like a thief?” Rong Xian teased.

“Mind your own business!” Rong Jiu pouted, glared at Rong Xian, then put down her chopsticks and fled. “I’m full, I’ll go first…”

Utterly mortifying!

Never had she felt so embarrassed in her life.

She wished she could dig a hole and disappear.

Second Prince’s Mansion—

“Well? How did it go?” Song Modi anxiously questioned the just-returned Fukang.

“Prince, I’ve made several trips, but as soon as Princess Rong Jiu heard the invitation was from you, she refused outright. And, I heard she sent an invitation to the Great Prince, who, oddly enough, accepted.” Fukang reported cautiously.

“What? Him again!” Song Modi clenched his fists in fury.

“Fukang, send word to Father that I won’t be attending tonight’s palace banquet.”

“Yes, sir.”

That night, Song Moting kept his promise, arriving in person to escort Rong Jiu.

Rong Jiu’s heart brimmed with secret joy; the smile on her lips could no longer be contained.

Song Moting was dressed in black brocade, while she wore a white dress. Together, black and white, they looked for all the world like a couple.

Jing’an City was especially lively tonight. On every street corner were artisans making sugar figures, acrobats, lanterns adorned with riddles, and stalls crafting lanterns on the spot… The crowds were all paired off, sweethearts leaning into each other.

Such a bustling scene dazzled Rong Jiu, but Song Moting seemed lost in thought, staring ahead at a boat on the lake, where a beautiful woman sat playing the zither, graceful and poised.

Rong Jiu recalled that this was the woman she’d seen at the brothel with Song Modi. Jealousy surged, and she quickly stepped in front of him, arms crossed, glaring.

“So, is she beautiful?”

Rong Jiu expected her angry tone would prompt some restraint, but to her surprise, Song Moting nodded in agreement.

She bit her lip in frustration. Even with her by his side, he brazenly stared at another woman. Did he not realize how this would upset her? Or did he prefer that type?

“What’s so beautiful about her? Tell me!”

Although confused, Song Moting sensed Rong Jiu’s anger and shifted his gaze.

“I find the lantern-making fascinating. The process looks complicated, but it’s actually simple, and the finished lanterns vary in shape, size, and color—quite interesting.”

Hearing his explanation, Rong Jiu felt embarrassed. Following his gaze, she saw indeed a lantern-making stall by the lake.

“So you were watching that!”

“What else?” Song Moting retorted.

He already guessed where Rong Jiu’s anger stemmed from.

“Ahem, you like this? Shall we make one together?” Rong Jiu quickly changed the subject, hiding her awkwardness.

“No need, I—”

“Oh, come on, let’s give it a try!” Before Song Moting could refuse, Rong Jiu had already grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the stall.

Compared to his hands, roughened by years of wielding swords, Rong Jiu’s were especially soft and smooth. His heartbeat quickened, a sensation he’d never felt before. Strangely, he didn’t pull away, but instead tightened his grip.

“Sir, miss, would you like to make a lantern?” The vendor, sensing their distinguished air, greeted them with a smile.

“Yes! How do we start?” Rong Jiu asked excitedly.

“All the materials here are yours to use. Once you finish, just pay for the lantern you make,” the vendor explained.

“Let’s make one together!” Rong Jiu looked at Song Moting expectantly, her eyes sparkling.

Though reluctant, Song Moting somehow nodded.

Making a lantern was far harder than Rong Jiu imagined. Despite the vendor’s prepared frames and papers, assembly required patience and skill.

Song Moting watched as Rong Jiu struggled, fumbling clumsily, and finally moved to her side, taking the lantern paper from her.

“Watch me.”

“Have you made lanterns before?” Rong Jiu asked, tilting her head at his deft movements.

“No.” He hadn’t; such things were amusing but a waste of time in his eyes.

“Then how are you so skilled?” Rong Jiu was incredulous.

“I’ve watched,” he replied.

Just two simple words rendered Rong Jiu speechless. She hadn’t expected he’d be so talented, able to master things at a glance.

But the way he bent over and worked so earnestly was incredibly handsome!

Rong Jiu swallowed, entranced, forgetting she was supposed to observe his technique.

“All done.”

Rong Jiu snapped out of her reverie, seeing the lantern Song Moting handed her—a rabbit, adorably crafted.

“Wow! You’re amazing! Is this lantern for me?” Rong Jiu received it as a treasure, carefully admiring it.

“I only helped you make it,” Song Moting corrected her, brow furrowed.

Rong Jiu paid him no mind; to her, his handiwork was a gift.

“They’re about to release the sky lanterns!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd grew restless, abandoning their tasks to run toward the spectacle.

“Let’s go watch!” Rong Jiu suggested. Before Song Moting could respond, she mumbled, “But where’s the best spot? All the good places are taken.”

Song Moting saw her anxious searching and, feeling a twinge of pity, suggested, “By the arched bridge downstream on the opposite bank—fewer people there.”

“Really? Let’s go now!” Rong Jiu’s eyes lit up. Following his gaze, she saw indeed the crowd was thinner and the view open—her heart soared, and she quickly took his hand, eager to head that way. But the dense throng made movement difficult.

“We can’t get through!” Rong Jiu was nearly in tears with frustration. At this rate, trapped in the crowd, how could she enjoy the spectacle?