The Great Lantern Tower was not actually a tower. It was simply that all the lantern shops brought out their finest lanterns and hung them on a massive iron frame placed at the center of the far end of West Market’s main street.
Layer upon layer, circle upon circle, from low to high and from the outside inward, it would gradually be filled with countless kinds of lanterns.
From a distance, it looked like a towering lantern structure.
Jiang Jiaran had not seen it yet, but just hearing the description, she could already imagine how brilliant and dazzling it must be.
The streets they passed through were already crowded enough. When they reached the Great Lantern Tower, the number of people would only be greater.
By her estimate, it had been a long time since she had seen so many people at once.
A night market and lantern festival like this, with swaying lights and overlapping shadows, inevitably gave one the feeling of stepping into a dream.
Everyone’s faces carried relaxed smiles, peaceful and calm, without the usual vigilance or fear of danger.
Jiang Jiaran felt that she did not need to do anything at all. Just walking forward casually like this already made her feel happy.
Since it was still early, they were not in a hurry and simply moved slowly toward the lantern tower.
As they walked, the path ahead suddenly grew crowded. Jiang Jiaran was bumped on the shoulder.
She frowned slightly. Even if she was in men’s clothing and might not be immediately recognized, people should still maintain basic distance.
“It’s the Jinyiwei…”
She heard someone whisper nearby.
Looking up, she realized the crowd had parted to make way.
Two Jinyiwei walked past with hands on their sabers. Whether in plain cloth or fine silk, everyone avoided them. The cheerful atmosphere also quieted as people waited for them to pass.
The two moved slowly. They did not look like they were there to arrest anyone.
After they passed, the crowd finally relaxed.
“Patrolling is so boring,” one Jinyiwei said.
“Their patrol routes don’t even have lanterns to look at,” the other replied, patting him.
The emperor had said during court that the people should be allowed to enjoy the lanterns, so they had been deployed here to avoid any mishaps.
As they spoke, one of them suddenly sensed something and turned back, scanning the crowd carefully.
After a moment, seeing nothing unusual, he turned away.
Jiang Jiaran only stepped out from behind a lantern after they had gone far.
It was her first time seeing Jinyiwei here, so she had looked a little longer out of curiosity. She did not expect to be noticed. They really were extremely vigilant.
Just then, she realized something and turned around. Ying Li and Yu’er were gone.
In the crowd surge, she had been pushed aside while distracted, and had somehow gotten separated from them.
She looked around but did not see them. However, she was not panicking.
Yu’er was still with Ying Li, and given how much Ying Zhaolou valued the child, he would not let him wander unprotected. There was no need to worry.
She closed her folding fan and tucked it at her waist, then continued forward with the crowd.
She would go to the Great Lantern Tower. They might meet there.
…
That night, all the liveliness of the city had nothing to do with the Jiang household.
Jiang Qin, who had nearly died from high fever, had finally pulled through the dangerous stage.
First Madam, whose nerves had been tightly stretched all day, finally relaxed after seeing him stabilized and walked out of the room.
The medicine Jiang Jiaran had given… was actually effective.
Several doctors had been helpless, and they had nearly needed to disturb First Master Jiang to request an imperial physician through the Chief Minister.
After Ying Zhaolou had been valued by Zhan Daren, First Master Jiang had been busy running about outside and had little time to spare. Still, as it concerned his son, he had stayed by his bedside for half a day.
“The doctor said it still needs to be cleaned,” First Madam said weakly. “There’s a small wound on his back, but it festered so badly…”
She trailed off.
“Could it really be divine medicine?”
First Master Jiang replied dismissively, “Nonsense.”
Hearing his wife’s account, he suddenly thought of someone.
Old Master Jiang once had a close friend who was a physician. His medical skills were extraordinary, especially in pharmacology and difficult illnesses, and he was known for his remarkable ability in medicine preparation.
However, that person traveled everywhere and was always hard to locate.
His father had never introduced them, but had mentioned him before. Since his father had always been very kind to Jiang Jiaran and raised her from childhood, it would not be strange if she had met him.
Perhaps this was that physician’s teaching or medicine. That would be the only explanation.
First Madam also found this increasingly reasonable and immediately ordered servants to find the accessory Jiang Jiaran had requested.
She had already sent people earlier, but they all said it was not found. That could not be allowed. She still needed it to exchange for medicine.
“Cousin, do you like this?” Xu Yuanzheng asked Ying Xueshuang as they approached the lantern tower area.
He had been trying hard all the way to please her, asking about anything she looked at.
She was already growing annoyed and did not want to respond.
When he turned back, she had already walked ahead, so he hurried to catch up.
At the lantern tower, lanterns were nearly fully hung, dazzling enough to dim even the stars.
Girls could hardly resist such brilliant lights. Ying Xueshuang’s expression brightened.
“This way, cousin,” Xu Yuanzheng said, pointing toward a nearby wine house.
He had reserved a private room on the top floor, the best viewing spot for the lantern festival, where no one would disturb them.
As they moved inside, a scholar-dressed man passing by was jostled by Xu Yuanzheng’s attendants and stumbled into Jiang Jiaran.
He quickly turned and apologized.
“It’s fine,” Jiang Jiaran said.
Hearing voices of dissatisfaction nearby, Xu Yuanzheng glanced over casually. When he saw Jiang Jiaran, he froze, then narrowed his eyes.
She also saw him.
Oh, it was that cousin who had brought people to cause trouble that day.
Their eyes met. His expression turned complicated, and then he quickly turned away and fled inside.
Jiang Jiaran found it amusing.
She then helped the scholar pick up the fallen books.
“Thank you,” the scholar said. Looking up, he realized she was a woman.
Seeing his scholar attire and travel bundle, she asked, “Are you a candidate preparing for the imperial examination?”
The scholar nodded. “Yes. My name is Yan Fei. I just arrived in the capital today.”
He had been wandering all day and had not yet found affordable lodging.
Just then, a group of people moved toward the lantern tower. Most were scholars and literati.
Yan Fei asked someone nearby and learned they were holding a poetry contest.
The best poem of the night would be hung on the lantern tower, with prizes as well.