Over in Jiangnan.
Jin Wang had been busy for several days straight, but things were progressing. Today was Qixi, and there was a Lantern Festival, so he took the time to bring Bai Fei Wan out to see it.
Jin Wang said, “Today is the Qixi Festival, and there’s a Lantern Festival. I’ll take you out to see it.”
Hearing that she was going out, Bai Fei Wan was quite happy. Since ancient times, the scenery of Jiangnan had been a topic of much delight. She also wanted to see the night views of Jiangnan described in novels and experience the legendary Lantern Festival for herself.
Bai Fei Wan said excitedly, “Wangye, please wait a moment. I’m going to change my clothes.”
With that, she quickly ran back into the room.
When Bai Fei Wan emerged again, she was wearing a crescent-white cotton inner garment, paired with an Emerald Green Sprinkled Flower Yanluo Shirt and a Scattered Flower Water Mist Green Grass Pleated Skirt. Draped over her was an Emerald Water Light Gauze shawl. Her black hair was styled into a Single Coil Bun, with a greenish-blue floral hairpin tucked in at an angle. To complete the look, she wore a small, light blue satchel slung across her body.
Bai Fei Wan happily walked up and looped her arm through Jin Wang’s. “Wangye, let’s go. I’m ready.”
Jin Wang hummed in agreement, and the two walked outside.
Jiang Shun, Zi Zhu, and Ying Yi followed behind them.
They were all staying in the eastern part of Hang City, while the streets and alleys were in the center. The two took a carriage to the head of the street and disembarked.
The lantern market was just ahead. From a distance, the thousands of bright lanterns looked like the luminous moon and countless stars floating in the celestial river, their radiance brilliant and dazzling.
The streets were bustling with people coming and going in an endless stream.
Traveling merchants carried their wares on shoulder poles, their cries rising and falling; vendors pushed single-wheeled carts, hawking their goods along the street, filling the air with the rich, lively atmosphere of the mortal world.
Bai Fei Wan thought to herself that Hang City was truly worthy of its reputation as a vital hub of the Jianghuai region and a strategic gateway between the north and south. It was a place of wealth and prosperity with a population of nearly a million. On this street alone, the crowd was dense and goods were plentiful, with people packed shoulder to shoulder.
Seeing such a beautiful scene, Bai Fei Wan tugged on Jin Wang’s arm and turned her head to say excitedly, “Wang… Husband, look how beautiful it is up ahead!”
Hearing Bai Fei Wan call him “husband,” Jin Wang’s heart began to pound relentlessly. His eyes, as gentle as water, gazed at the person before him. He loved hearing her call him that.
Noticing Jin Wang’s intense gaze, Bai Fei Wan stammered, “I can’t call you that outside… I, I didn’t know what to call you, so I just called you hus-husband. Or, maybe I should just call you ‘brother’ instead.” As she spoke, she lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed.
In the entire Prince’s mansion, only the Wangfei could address Jin Wang as “husband.” The rest of them were all concubines, unqualified to be called husband and wife with the Wangye. She had forgotten that for a moment.
Jin Wang immediately said, “No need. Just call me ‘husband.’ It’s Qixi today, and everyone out and about is a couple. Calling me ‘brother’ wouldn’t be quite right.”
Hearing this, Bai Fei Wan thought it made sense and nodded. “Alright.”
Looking at the radiant smile on her face, Jin Wang asked softly, “Do you like the Lantern Festival?”
Bai Fei Wan nodded vigorously. “I do, I like it very much. I’ve never seen a Lantern Festival since I grew up, especially one this lively. The one in my county was much smaller and not as bustling. I only went twice when I was a child.”
Although modern lights were brighter than these, they lacked this kind of feeling, this lively atmosphere.
“If you like it, I’ll bring you out to see them again when I have time. Jing Cheng has lantern festivals too, and they’re even more prosperous and lively than this one.”
“Okay, okay! Thank you, husband.”
The two chatted idly as they strolled along.
Spotting some candied hawthorns, Bai Fei Wan shook Jin Wang’s hand. “Husband, I want candied hawthorns.”
She then blinked her big eyes at Jin Wang, a look of pure longing written in them.
Jin Wang couldn’t resist that expression. Buy it! He then had Jiang Shun pay.
After that, Bai Fei Wan saw many little things she liked. She was on a shopping spree the entire way, with Jin Wang accompanying her and Jiang Shun constantly paying.
It was also Zi Zhu’s first time at a Lantern Festival. Since her young miss never went, she had never been either. She too would buy any novelties she saw.
The group walked on, stopping here and there. Everyone’s hands were filled with small items—some to eat, some to play with, and some for practical use.
As they wandered, they saw a large crowd gathered up ahead. It was very lively, so the group squeezed forward to see. They discovered it was a Qixi poetry gathering. Bai Fei Wan watched the people on stage composing poems on the spot. The poetry was of a high caliber; the scholars of ancient times could truly produce literary masterpieces at a moment’s notice.
Just as Bai Fei Wan was engrossed in the spectacle, Jin Wang, Ying Yi, and Jiang Shun all sensed that they were being watched. Only Bai Fei Wan and Zi Zhu, who had no martial arts skills, were completely unaware.
It was worth noting that Jiang Shun also knew martial arts. He was a eunuch specially chosen for Jin Wang by the Emperor, and his skills were excellent. He had been with Jin Wang since he was nine.
Jin Wang took Bai Fei Wan’s hand and squeezed it gently, giving her a look. Bai Fei Wan understood his signal and obediently followed him away.
They had been walking from the east and had already covered a long distance. Turning back was not an option, so the group could only head west. There were too many people here; if a fight broke out, innocent commoners would be injured.
The western district of Hang City was where the common folk lived, but most of them were out at the Lantern Festival, so the area was less crowded.
The people following them quickly caught up. Ying Yi immediately went to engage them in a fight.
There were about thirty of them. Jiang Shun also joined the battle at once.
Jin Wang held Bai Fei Wan’s hand with one hand while drawing the soft sword from his waist to fight the men in black with the other.
In an instant, the clash of swords and miserable screams filled the air.
The slaughter began in the dark of night.
Bai Fei Wan had truly never witnessed such a scene. Just hearing it was enough to make her legs go weak, but fortunately, she managed to hold it together. Forcing herself to remain calm, she stuck close to Jin Wang, but the terror in her eyes did not lessen one bit.
The men in black were all attacking Jin Wang. Suddenly, one of them raised his blade and swung it at the hand with which Jin Wang was holding Bai Fei Wan. Jin Wang let go, pushing Bai Fei Wan away to prevent her from being cut.
After they separated, all the men in black charged toward Jin Wang.
Pushed away, Bai Fei Wan stumbled right into Zi Zhu. Trembling, Zi Zhu supported her young miss. Having regained her footing, Bai Fei Wan gripped Zi Zhu’s hand tightly, and the two fearfully and quietly retreated to the side.
Two of the men in black, seeing they couldn’t get to Jin Wang, turned their attention to Bai Fei Wan and her servant.
Seeing the two men in black coming toward her, Bai Fei Wan grabbed Zi Zhu and ran.
When Jin Wang saw someone going after Bai Fei Wan, his movements became even more ruthless.
Bai Fei Wan pulled Zi Zhu along, running with all her might. She had poison she could use to deal with these two.
But she wanted to use this opportunity to leave the Prince’s mansion, so she didn’t use the poison. Instead, she just pulled Zi Zhu and ran as hard as she could, hoping to get far enough away to fake her death and escape.
However, while the dream was beautiful, reality was cruel. Jin Wang quickly caught up and dispatched the two men in black.
Bai Fei Wan was speechless and could only look to the heavens.
After dealing with the two men, Jin Wang immediately looked Bai Fei Wan over and asked nervously, “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
Bai Fei Wan quickly composed herself and asked with concern, “I’m fine. Is Wangye injured?”
Hearing that Bai Fei Wan was unharmed, Jin Wang pulled her into a tight embrace. The moment he saw the two men in black chasing after her, he had felt a fear like never before. That was why he had so quickly dispatched the men surrounding him to find her.
“It’s good that you’re alright. It’s good that you’re alright. I’m fine too.”
Sensing Jin Wang’s worry and anxiety, Bai Fei Wan reached out and gently patted his back. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”
Seeing how much Jin Wang cared for her, Bai Fei Wan felt a pang of guilt for her earlier thought of running away.
But then she remembered that she was just a minor concubine, and if she stayed in the Prince’s mansion, she might eventually bring disaster upon her family. That fleeting trace of guilt vanished.
Soon after, Ying Yi and Jiang Shun also arrived. They looked at Jin Wang with concern. “Is Wangye alright?”
Jin Wang released Bai Fei Wan but still held her hand tightly. He did not want to experience the fear and terror of that moment again.
“I’m fine.”
Ying Yi glanced at Zi Zhu. Seeing she was unharmed, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
A moment later, the shadow guards and regular guards who had come as reinforcements arrived. “This subordinate was late. Please punish us, Wangye.”
Jin Wang said faintly, “It is not your fault. All of you, rise.”
Ying Yi said, “Wangye, we should leave quickly. It’s not safe here.”
Jin Wang nodded and, holding Bai Fei Wan’s hand, prepared to leave.