The Great Lantern Tower was not a tower at all. It was a massive iron frame placed at the center of the western market’s long street, where every lantern shop brought out their finest works and hung them up.
Layer upon layer, circle after circle, from low to high, from the outside inward, lanterns would gradually fill the entire structure.
From a distance, it truly looked like a towering lantern building.
Great Lantern Tower
Jiang Jiaran had not seen it yet, but just hearing the description, she could already imagine how brilliant the scene would be.
The streets were already crowded enough along the way. Once they reached the Great Lantern Tower, there would surely be even more people gathered.
Counting carefully, Jiang Jiaran realized it had been a long time since she had seen so many people.
A night market and lantern festival like this, with flickering lights swaying in layers, made one feel as if they had stepped into a dream.
Everyone’s faces carried smiles, relaxed and at ease, without the vigilance or unease of danger lurking nearby.
Jiang Jiaran felt that she did not need to do anything at all. Just walking forward casually made her mood brighten.
Since it was still early, they were not in a hurry and simply walked slowly toward the Great Lantern Tower.
As they walked, the front suddenly grew crowded. Jiang Jiaran was bumped on the shoulder by someone pushing through.
She frowned slightly. Even though she was in men’s clothing and most people would not pay attention, they should still maintain basic social distance.
“It’s the Wing Guard…”
She heard someone nearby whisper.
Looking up, she realized the crowd had parted because people were making way.
Two Wing Guard officers walked past with their hands on their sabers. Whether in plain cloth or fine silk, everyone avoided them immediately. The joyful atmosphere also quieted down, replaced by caution.
The two walked slowly. They did not look like they were there to arrest anyone. After they passed, the crowd finally relaxed.
“Patrolling is so boring,” one Wing Guard said.
“Their patrol area doesn’t even have lanterns to see,” the other replied, patting him.
The emperor had mentioned during court discussion that the people should be allowed to enjoy the lantern festival. So they were assigned to patrol as well.
As they spoke, one of them suddenly sensed something and turned back, scanning the crowd carefully.
After a moment, finding nothing unusual, he looked away again.
Jiang Jiaran and the others only stepped out from behind a lantern after they left.
That was her first time seeing Wing Guards here, so she had looked a little longer out of curiosity, and somehow they had noticed her.
They were really quite alert.
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly realized she had lost sight of Lier.
In the crowd surge just now, she had been distracted watching the Wing Guards and had ended up separated from Lier and Yu’er.
She looked around but could not find them.
Still, she was not worried. Yu’er was with Lier. And given how much Ying Zhaolou valued Lier, he would not let the child wander without care.
Ying Zhaolou would surely have someone watching over him.
She closed her folding fan and continued forward through the crowd.
Perhaps they could regroup at the Great Lantern Tower.
That night, the Jiang household could not take part in any of the city’s festivities.
Jiang Qin, who had nearly died from a high fever, had finally passed the most dangerous stage.
First Madam let out a long breath of relief after seeing him finally asleep and walked out.
The medicine Jiang Jiaran had given was actually effective.
Several physicians had been helpless, and they had almost needed to disturb the Prime Minister’s residence and request an imperial physician from the palace.
Jiang Da Laoye had been busy since gaining the favor of Zhan Cenwei and had no time to spare, but as a father he still stayed by the bedside for half a day.
“The doctor said it still needs debridement. A small wound on the back somehow rotted so badly…” First Madam could hardly continue. “She said she would send more medicine.”
She then murmured in a daze, wondering if it was truly some divine medicine.
Jiang Da Laoye dismissed it. “Nonsense.”
He suddenly thought of someone.
The old master once had a physician friend with extraordinary skill, especially in difficult illnesses and pharmacology. However, that man wandered the world and was rarely seen.
Perhaps it was that physician who had taught her or given her the medicine. That would make sense.
First Madam also felt it was reasonable and quickly ordered servants to search for the item Jiang Jiaran had requested.
She had already sent people, but none could find it.
How could that be? She still needed it in exchange for medicine.
…
“Cousin, do you like this?” Yan Feii kept trying to please Ying Xueshuang as they approached the Great Lantern Tower.
But Ying Xueshuang barely responded. She was already walking ahead.
He sighed and followed quickly.
At the Great Lantern Tower, lanterns were already nearly fully hung, illuminating the night sky so brightly that even the stars seemed dim.
Girls could hardly resist such dazzling sights. Ying Xueshuang’s expression brightened slightly.
“Cousin, this way,” Yan Feii said, pointing toward a nearby restaurant.
He had reserved a private room on the top floor, the best viewing spot for the lanterns.
As they walked inside, a scholar accidentally bumped into Jiang Jiaran in the crowd and knocked some books from his hands.
“Sorry,” he said quickly and turned to help her.
Jiang Jiaran waved it off. “It’s fine.”
The scholar thanked her and introduced himself as Yan Feii, a newly arrived examinee in the capital.
He was looking for cheap lodging but had not found any.
Nearby scholars told him about a “Grass Hall” near the foot of Changdao Mountain, where examinees could stay for free in exchange for copying a book when leaving.
It was simple and crowded, but quiet.
Hearing this, Yan Feii decided to go there.
After they parted, Jiang Jiaran also headed in the direction the scholars had mentioned.
She was curious about the back alley and the flower willow district.
Perhaps places like that would be able to generate more energy.
As she turned the corner away from the lantern festival, the noise gradually faded behind her.
Light dimmed ahead, then slowly brightened again as she stepped into a different kind of lively world filled with fragrance and lantern light.
A beggar glanced at her and looked away. A woman dressed as a man in a place like this was not unusual.
Jiang Jiaran walked slowly along the street, observing everything.
From the surface, it seemed somewhat different from what she had imagined.