Cuiguo’s eyes reddened as she knelt beside the couch. “Princess, please don’t blame yourself. How old were you back then?”
“His Majesty had no other choice when he sent you away. At that time, so many people outside the palace were watching what you said. His Majesty was protecting you!”
Princess Ming Zhao squeezed Cuiguo’s hand in return, forcing a calm smile. “I know. I have never blamed Imperial Father.”
She suddenly shifted her mood, springing upright on the couch. The faint gloom from earlier vanished entirely. “Enough of these old, stale matters! Today is a good day. We should be happy!”
Cuiguo blinked. “Good day? Right, today is Laba Festival!”
“The palace will have rituals and family feasts tonight, but you just recovered from an illness and had that fiasco with Second Miss Zheng. Are you still going?”
“Family feast? I’d rather be bored to death at the palace!”
Princess Ming Zhao ran to the wardrobe, rifling through it. “Laba, Laba—drive away evil, pray for blessings and fortune!”
“The palace rules are boring; the streets are lively. I heard at West Market there’s a parade with the exorcism ritual, they serve Laba congee, and lots of small stalls. It will definitely be fun!”
As she spoke, she pulled out an outfit from the wardrobe.
The top was a cross-collared, narrow-sleeved short jacket in apricot red, trimmed with pure white fur at the collar and cuffs. The bottom was a striped skirt in begonia red, with tiny intertwined floral patterns embroidered in gold and silver thread along the hem, sparkling subtly with movement.
It was bright and youthful, yet much more convenient than palace attire.
Cuiguo looked at the red outfit. “Princess, you just pledged to study before Lord Cui, and now you’re sneaking out to play? What if someone recognizes you…”
“Recognize me?!” Princess Ming Zhao was already taking off her simple palace clothes. “We’re wearing masks!”
“During Laba exorcisms, lots of people wear masks. Who would recognize us?”
She quickly changed into the red outfit, checked herself in the mirror, satisfied. “Thinking about having Cui Weijin watching over me, correcting every little thing every day, forbidding this and that… life would be unbearable. Better get out now and have some fun before I’m locked up!”
She dug into her makeup box and pulled out two masks: one a silver fox covering the upper half of the face, sharp and sly; the other a cute little rabbit.
She placed the silver fox mask over her face and handed the rabbit mask to a hesitant Cuiguo. “Hurry up, change your clothes. If we dawdle, it’ll get dark and all the fun will be gone!”
“Maybe there’ll be a surprise too!”
Seeing her mistress so excited, Cuiguo gave up trying to persuade her. She changed into a simple outfit herself and wore the rabbit mask.
…
West Market, Ye City, lanterns glowing.
Though it was a cold winter night, the Laba Festival atmosphere warmed the streets.
In the distance, the sounds of drums and solemn horns echoed. The exorcism parade moved along the streets, with figures in terrifying bronze masks slowly proceeding. People gave way and prayed along the route.
Many children wore all kinds of exorcism masks, chasing and playing.
Princess Ming Zhao pulled Cuiguo through the bustling crowd. Her apricot and begonia red outfit was eye-catching in the lantern light, but the delicate silver fox mask hid most of her face, leaving only a small chin and rosy lips exposed. She wasn’t worried about being recognized.
“Cuiguo, look! Over there are sugar figurines!” Her eyes lit up, and she squeezed toward a stall surrounded by children.
The stall owner was an elderly craftsman with graying hair. In the blink of an eye, he crafted a lively little rooster from sugar, drawing cheers from the children.
Once the kids had their treats, Princess Ming Zhao approached. “Grandpa, two please. One Fox Spirit,” she pointed at Cuiguo’s rabbit mask, “and the other, a silly Little Rabbit!”
The old craftsman looked at the two masked girls and smiled. “Alright, Young Lady, wait a moment.”
Soon, a smiling little fox and a round-headed Little Rabbit were handed to Princess Ming Zhao.
She raised the sugar figurines and turned to call Cuiguo to the nearby puppet show stall—but froze.
“Cuiguo?” She looked toward the other stall.
There, Cuiguo was grabbed by the wrist by a young man in a brocade robe with a sly grin, a hand covering her mouth.
Three attendants lingered nearby. He was clearly a young master from a noble family.
Cuiguo struggled, but she lacked strength to break free.
Princess Ming Zhao’s eyes instantly grew cold. She crushed the fox sugar figurine in her hand.
The brocade-clad young man seemed to notice her, spotting the fair chin and peach-blossom eyes beneath her silver mask.
He released Cuiguo and sauntered toward Princess Ming Zhao, folding and fanning a fan lazily in one hand.
“Have I seen this little sister before? In a dream or a past life?” he said flirtatiously.
Princess Ming Zhao’s expression beneath the mask turned sharp. “I don’t know you. Keep your people away from mine.”
The young man openly teased, “How could I not know you? Every dream, you’re by my ear, calling me ‘Heng Lang’ sweetly.”
His shameless gaze roamed over her.
“Impudent!” Princess Ming Zhao glanced at the guards behind him.
【Their pathetic skills might handle one, but three…】
One guard scolded, “Young Lady, my Young Master speaks to you out of respect!”
“Don’t act shameless! Do you know who my Young Master is?”
The young man tapped the guard lightly with his fan, introducing himself. “I am Wang Heng, eldest son of the Wang clan of Langya.”
“Meeting such a beautiful lady in this crowded city is fate. Follow me, and silk, satin, gold, and jewelry will be yours.”
He spoke as if offering the greatest favor.
【Wang Heng? That incompetent eldest son of the Langya Wang family? A spoiled brat abusing his status?】 Princess Ming Zhao’s heart sank. 【He is worse than the rumors.】
She forced herself to remain calm. “Forcibly taking a common girl in broad daylight? Is this the Wang family upbringing? Not afraid of the law?”
Wang Heng laughed. “Law? In Ye City, my Wang Family is the law!”
“Who dares offend the Wang clan of Langya?” His arrogance was boundless.
Princess Ming Zhao inhaled sharply. “The Wang family is powerful… Could it be that even the Cui Clan of Qinghe is disregarded?”