When Prince Luo returned to his residence, he was not nearly as angry as he had appeared. The streets had been packed with people. Everyone had seen him abandon his horse and walk back to his manor because of a single remark from his imperial elder brother.
Perfection was not always a favorable thing. A person who was usually a bit impulsive but willing to listen to his elder brother would not be criticized too harshly.
People always held the perfect to the highest standards, while treating those who occasionally made mistakes but knew how to correct themselves with greater tolerance.
His elder brother was frail and sickly, destined never to inherit the throne. He could afford to wait. Thinking of the young woman he had met on the street, he turned to his attendant.
“Has the glazed lantern from the palace been delivered to my residence yet?”
The attendant lowered his head, not daring to meet Prince Luo’s gaze. “Your Highness, that lantern has already been taken away.”
“Taken away by whom?”
“I-It is said… by Prince Ruining.”
Ling Yanhuai again!
In his memories, for many years he had been the only child in the prince’s residence. His father and mother had treasured him like a precious jewel.
Then, on a night filled with rolling thunder, the Emperor and Empress suddenly brought home a half-grown youth who was little more than skin and bones, covered in wounds. They said he was his elder brother. From that day onward, he was no longer the one and only child of his father and mother.
“A lantern is just a lantern. Since Elder Brother likes it, let him have it.” Prince Luo’s tone was calm. “Pick out a few more attractive lanterns and send them to his residence as well.”
The night was long. But how long could the candles inside a lantern continue to burn?
“Yun Qiya, how long have you studied physiognomy?”
Under Yun Qiya’s solemn instructions, Lu Mingzhu obediently changed seats several times. After listening to an impressive string of terms like earlobes, palace of destiny, and other face-reading jargon, she began to believe Yun Qiya knew a little about the art.
Yun Qiya held up two fingers.
“Two years?” Lu Mingzhu asked skeptically. What could anyone really learn in just two years?
“Two months.” Yun Qiya looked even prouder. When she saw the doubt on Lu Mingzhu’s face, she quickly defended herself. “Don’t worry. I read fortunes for lots of people in Guozhou. Everyone said I was good at it. If you don’t believe me, ask He Lu.”
The instant Lu Mingzhu’s gaze shifted toward her, He Lu lowered her head, too embarrassed to meet Miss Lu’s eyes.
“When Miss was at the God of Wealth Temple, there really were people who specifically came to have their fortunes read by her.”
The only reason, however, was that Miss had been less than ten years old at the time. The adults thought she was adorable and only let her tell their fortunes to amuse her.
Back then, He Lu herself had believed that her young mistress was a once-in-a-generation genius who could do anything. Only after she accidentally overheard the adults chatting did she realize they had merely been humoring Miss and trying to make her happy.
But seeing Yun Qiya sitting there so confidently now, He Lu wisely kept those thoughts to herself. After all, whenever Miss told someone’s fortune, she only ever said pleasant things. Even if her predictions were completely wrong, nobody would resent her for it. Perhaps by now, the only person who still believed those words originally meant to humor a little girl was Miss herself. If nothing else, her young mistress was truly remarkable when it came to self-confidence.
“Very well, then. Give me a proper reading.” Lu Mingzhu nodded, a little more trust appearing in her eyes. He Lu did not look like someone who would lie.
He Lu was completely speechless. One was bold enough to say it, and the other was bold enough to believe it.
“Your hands are warm, soft, and fair. You were born with the fate of a noble young lady,” Yun Qiya declared seriously. “Your earlobes are full and rounded, a sign of blessings and longevity. Your brows are graceful, your eyes are bright, bringing fortune in all directions. Your destiny palace shines brightly, and your neck is long and elegant. From birth, yours has been a life of great auspiciousness.”
“Elder Sister Mingzhu, yours is a once-in-ten-thousand superior physiognomy.” Yun Qiya shook her head sagely, putting on the air of a true master. “Anyone who sincerely treats you well and stays by your side will share in your good fortune.”
After finishing her analysis, she quietly scooted her stool closer until she sat right beside Lu Mingzhu.
“What are you doing?” Lu Mingzhu’s face reddened. Though her tone sounded fierce, she stiffened and let Yun Qiya lean against her without moving away.
“Borrowing some of your good fortune, hehe.” Yun Qiya wrapped both arms around Lu Mingzhu’s arm. “If you spend more time around fortunate people, your own luck will improve.”
Having heard so many people say her fate was ill-omened, this was the first time anyone had clung to her arm so intimately and declared they wanted to share in her good fortune. Lu Mingzhu felt a little flustered and, at the same time, she felt happy.
“Watch your hairpins. Don’t poke my neck with them,” she said, pretending to be annoyed as she pressed a hand against Yun Qiya’s head. Yet the smile on her face only grew brighter and brighter.
Below the teahouse, a handsome young man looked up at the upper floor and asked the elderly man behind him, “Is Lu Mingzhu really inside?”
“She has come to this teahouse every Lantern Festival for the past several years.”
When the old man spoke, the prominent cheekbones on his gaunt face shifted slightly.
“This is the finest teahouse in the capital. From the upper floor, one can take in most of the city’s night scenery. While everyone else attends banquets, she, the only daughter of a princess, can only sit alone in a teahouse admiring the view. Don’t you think she must feel lonely and unhappy because of that?”
“When people are at their most vulnerable, they are most easily moved by others.” The gaunt old man urged him on. “You must find a way to get close to Lu Mingzhu tonight. Don’t waste such a perfect opportunity.”
“Elder Sister Mingzhu, you really know how to pick a place.” One hand hooked around Lu Mingzhu’s arm, while the other held a pastry she happily nibbled. “You can actually see most of the capital’s night view from here.”
“It’s all right, I suppose.” Lu Mingzhu was quite pleased by Yun Qiya’s admiration. “The very best place in the capital to view the night scenery is the Wentian Tower outside Yaoguang Hall. From the top of Wentian Tower, you can overlook the entire city.”
When she saw curiosity spark in Yun Qiya’s eyes, Lu Mingzhu immediately doused her enthusiasm. “Don’t even think about it. Yaoguang Hall houses the ancestral tablets of the Ling imperial clan. Other than members of the imperial family, outsiders are not permitted to set foot on Wentian Tower.”
The light of curiosity instantly vanished from Yun Qiya’s eyes. If something was beyond her reach, there was no point wasting energy thinking about it. That would only make life harder for herself.
“Being able to look out over most of the capital’s splendor from here is already wonderful. Besides…” Yun Qiya’s words were interrupted by the sound of a flute drifting in from the neighboring room.
The sound was mournful and desolate. If anyone happened to be in low spirits, hearing such music could easily bring forth two bowls’ worth of bitter tears on the spot.
“Who plays such a sorrowful tune during the first month of the year?” Yun Qiya covered her ears. “Aren’t they afraid of blowing away all their good luck for the year?”
The New Year celebrations were not even over yet. People ought to play more festive music, if only to invite a good omen. The people of the capital really were unique. They had no taboos at all.
“I’ll have someone drive them out of the room next door.” Lu Mingzhu frowned. On the Lantern Festival, of all days, someone had come to a bustling teahouse filled with customers to play heartbreaking melodies. Weren’t they afraid of provoking complaints? What bad luck.
“It’s a holiday. Forget it, forget it.” Yun Qiya stopped her. “If they don’t think it’s unlucky themselves, why should we bother arguing with them?”
She stood up. “It’s so lively outside. Let’s go take a walk.”
“Go downstairs?” Lu Mingzhu was momentarily dazed. In previous years, at this time, she would sit by the window and watch the streets gradually change from bustling to quiet, the brilliant lanterns slowly giving way to darkness.
“With so much excitement out there, it’s much more fun to be on the streets yourself.” Yun Qiya dragged Lu Mingzhu downstairs, leaving her no chance to change her mind.
In the neighboring room, the young man kept blowing his flute. He blew and blew until his mouth was dry and his throat hurt, yet not a single sound came from next door.
No one had taken the bait. Something’s wrong. Even if the people next door were monkeys, after hearing such a heartbreakingly sorrowful tune, they ought to have been howling in misery by now.
Left with no other choice, the man opened the window, hoping those in the neighboring room would hear his music more clearly. The melody became even lonelier and more desolate.
Once Lu Mingzhu heard it, she would surely be moved and send someone to find him.
“Stop playing that thing!” The window of the room next door slammed open, and an angry man’s roar exploded from inside.
“It’s a holiday! What kind of awful nonsense are you playing? Keep it up, and I’ll punch your crooked dog mouth sideways!”
Afraid the hot-tempered man might actually come over and beat him up, the musician immediately stopped playing. The people of Great An were far too martial and aggressive. He was genuinely scared.
The lively night scene on the street caught his attention. Rubbing his nose, red from the cold because he had dressed too lightly, he shrank his shoulders miserably.
That young woman in the distance… Didn’t she look a bit like Lu Mingzhu?
But she was smiling so brightly, with a close companion beside her. There was not the slightest trace of loneliness or isolation about her. So that couldn’t possibly be…
The hell it couldn’t! That was Lu Mingzhu!
The man immediately became furious. Who told him Lu Mingzhu had no friends and would be lonely, miserable, and cold tonight?
Then who was this person standing there now, grinning from ear to ear with a face full of radiant happiness? Who was the girl linking arms with her? And who said she would stay cooped up in the teahouse all night without going out?
Every piece of information he had received was false. Then what, exactly, had all that time spent standing in the cold wind playing the flute amounted to?! Just him being made a fool of?
“Hm?” Yun Qiya, carrying the lantern that Lu Mingzhu had bought for her, looked around curiously.
Lu Mingzhu stuffed a piece of candied fruit into her hand. “What are you looking for?”
“I feel like someone is watching us.” Yun Qiya popped the sweet into her mouth and kept scanning the surroundings.
“It can’t be helped.” Lu Mingzhu raised an eyebrow. “We’re too good-looking.”
Yun Qiya immediately stopped looking around. “Elder Sister Mingzhu makes an excellent point.”
He Lu turned her face away and pretended she had heard nothing. Her young mistress and Miss Lu really were perfectly like-minded.
Princess Rongshan sat anxiously in the courtyard. As soon as the banquet in the palace had ended, she had hurried back to the princess’s residence to wait for her daughter’s return. None of the servants in the residence dared speak loudly, for fear of worsening Her Highness’s mood.
“Your Highness, it’s late.” Her personal maid tried to persuade her softly. “Please return to your chambers and rest.”
“It’s all right. I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.” Princess Rongshan suddenly heard movement at the main gate. “Has Miss returned?”
Lu Mingzhu returned home in silence, but the smile on her face showed she had thoroughly enjoyed herself. The attendants behind her carried their arms full of purchases.
“Mingzhu?” Seeing her daughter so cheerful, Princess Rongshan was astonished. In previous years, Lu Mingzhu always returned home downhearted after the Lantern Festival. What had happened tonight?
Thinking of all the grievances her daughter had suffered over the years, an absurd and alarming possibility surfaced in her mind. Could some scoundrel have taken advantage of the occasion and deceived her daughter?
Keeping her expression composed, she coaxed her daughter to bed and then summoned the servants to ask about the evening’s events. The moment she heard that her daughter had met the young lady from the Marquis Chengping’s household, she immediately relaxed. Her worries vanished, leaving only happiness behind. Her daughter had made a good friend. That was a wonderful thing.
At the God of Wealth Temple in Guozhou.
The Lantern Festival night was already more than halfway over, and the bustling temple, crowded with worshippers earlier, had gradually grown quiet. A small, thin old woman with a cloth scarf wrapped around her head slowly packed up her little stall. Scattered across the stall were all sorts of odds and ends: protective talismans, red lucky bracelets, and similar trinkets.
“Fortune-teller Granny, how many wealthy patrons did you read fortunes for today?”
A vendor from the neighboring incense-and-candles stall finished packing away his remaining stock. Seeing the old woman move slowly, he began helping her gather her things.
The vendors who set up their stalls beneath the God of Wealth Temple were all old acquaintances. Hearing the teasing remark, they all burst into laughter.
Everyone knew that whenever the fortune-telling granny read someone’s fortune, she always declared them destined for greatness or blessed with influential benefactors. Whether her predictions were accurate or not was anyone’s guess, but she certainly knew how to make people feel good.
The old woman laughed along with them, baring her few remaining teeth. “A kind word can warm someone through three winters. Life isn’t over until it’s over. Sooner or later, good things will happen.”
The crowd laughed again.
“Fortune-Teller Granny, everybody becomes a noble person in your mouth. Have you ever met a truly extraordinary one?”
“Of course.” The old woman nodded. “That person’s destiny was supremely exalted, and their blessings ran deep.”
More laughter followed.
The lingering incense smoke curled through the God of Wealth Temple, but no one took her words seriously. After all, how could a small place like Guozhou produce so many remarkable people?
“Miss, you’re really amazing at fortune-telling. After hearing your reading, Miss Lu’s mood improved so much.”
Amazing, not accurate. This was the final bottom line of He Lu’s blind admiration for her mistress. She absolutely could not lower the standard any further.
“Of course I am. Just look at who I am.” Yun Qiya proudly lifted her chin.
“Miss…”
“Miss.”
Yun Qiya turned around.
A modest-looking carriage was parked by the roadside. The curtain had been lifted, revealing the face of the sickly-looking man.
The invalid held something out toward her. “Thank you for giving me those flowers today, Miss.”
The moment Yun Qiya saw what he was offering, her scalp went numb. The proud little head she had been holding so high instantly shrank down like a startled quail.
My good sir, since you couldn’t pluck flowers from the Imperial Garden, you went and took down the glazed lantern instead?! It’s a holiday, for heaven’s sake! Do you not intend to live the rest of your life?!