The banks of the moat blazed with light, all manner of Qixi lanterns hanging high along the shore, while countless lotus lanterns drifted across the water, merging into a dazzling sea of light. Crowds flowed endlessly, laughter and chatter rising and falling in waves, utterly at odds with the silence of Prince Wei’s carriage.
Leng Yue’er sat astride her horse, drifting along with the flow, her eyes darting everywhere as though they could barely keep up.
Yet the farther they went, the slower the carriage moved. This mattered little to Prince Wei, for with his frail condition, walking would be far too exhausting, and on such a crowded night, it would be even more inconvenient.
But Leng Yue’er was growing anxious. There was something ingrained deep in the bones of the Chinese, the irresistible urge to gather and watch the excitement. She knew the spectacle was right before her, yet she could not see it, and the frustration clawed at her heart like a restless cat.
She wanted to watch the drama. In her otherwise unruffled heart, this was her only desire, to openly witness those famous palace and household intrigue scenes. Yet with Prince Wei’s pace as slow as a snail, she would end up missing everything.
The shops lining the street were brightly lit, and the crowd ahead surged thickly. After finally passing through a street, Leng Yue’er lifted her gaze from horseback and could faintly make out the river enclosed by railings in the distance.
But Prince Wei was unlikely to go near the riverbank. The wind there was stronger, and the crowds even denser. What a pity… she almost considered slipping away under the pretense of relieving herself.
Just as she was fretting inwardly, the carriage came to a steady halt. The driver bowed from outside and reported, “Your Highness, the crowd ahead is too dense. The carriage cannot pass.”
Moments later, a young eunuch hurriedly lifted the curtain and carefully helped Pei Qingmin down. His long-standing frailty made prolonged sitting exhausting, and his face grew even paler.
Leng Yue’er dismounted alongside the other guards and followed closely behind. Pei Qingmin glanced at a teahouse nearby. It was refined and quiet, a good place to avoid the crowded streets below, and he softly instructed, “We will rest in a private room upstairs for a while and continue once the crowd thins.”
The eunuch quickly acknowledged and led him inside.
A glimmer flashed in Leng Yue’er’s eyes. The timing was perfect. While everyone’s attention was focused on attending to Pei Qingmin, she quietly pulled aside a nearby attendant and said in a low, indifferent tone, “I’m going to relieve myself. I’ll be right back…”
Before she even finished speaking, she slipped away without waiting for a response, using the corner of the teahouse as cover. With a swift movement, she vanished silently and headed straight toward the lively sea of lanterns. After waiting so long for this chance, she had no intention of missing the show.
The moment she turned past the corner, her vision was filled with a dazzling spectacle of flowing light.
The entire moat had been dyed in lantern glow, becoming a moving sea of brilliance, while Qixi lanterns hung in staggered rows along the banks.
On the water, countless lotus lanterns drifted with the current, scattering into shimmering points of gold that swayed with the waves, reflecting and intertwining with the lights along the shore.
A faint trace of surprise flickered in Leng Yue’er’s eyes before quickly fading back into her usual cool composure. Without slowing, she used the cover of the radiant lights to move swiftly toward the most bustling flower platform.
The platform jutted halfway over the water, its wooden surface gleaming softly under the lantern light. Carved railings lined the edges, entwined with delicate lanterns and pale silk flowers, both preventing falls and adding an air of elegance.
Leng Yue’er approached quickly, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Though lively, the key figures described in the book had yet to appear, indicating she had arrived a bit early.
A trace of impatience passed through her eyes, but she remained composed. With the innate agility of a dark guard, she lightly tapped the railing with her toes and leapt like a swallow, landing silently on a lush, sprawling locust tree by the water.
Choosing a sturdy branch, she settled down, legs casually crossed, arms folded over her chest. From her perch, she gazed lazily over the river, watching the flower boats come and go, docking one after another as she calmly awaited the start of the show.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a lavishly decorated flower boat slowly approached. Its hull was painted in gold and bright colors, adorned with strings of lanterns and Qixi embroidery. As it moved, the lights swayed, and faint strains of music drifted across the water.
The boat came to a steady stop beside the platform. Two attendants quickly stepped forward, efficiently placing two wide planks, one end resting on the boat and the other securely set against the platform railing for passage.
By now, the platform was packed with people, filled with laughter and lively chatter. Nearby, performers put on acts, with the sounds of drums and cheers blending into a vibrant din.
Before long, faint movement came from within the cabin, and several figures emerged one after another.
Leng Yue’er lifted her gaze, her eyes sharpening as she immediately recognized the leading woman. Dressed in a seven-colored brocade gown with a thin veil covering her eyes, her figure was slender and gentle. There was no need to guess, the blindfolded woman was Qu Moying.
Following behind were two elegantly dressed young women of striking beauty, their expressions distinct from one another. From her memory of the book, Leng Yue’er recognized them as the other two daughters of the Qu family, Qu Qiuyan and Qu Xuexin.
Walking last was a flamboyantly dressed young man in fine robes, his expression bold, with a hint of scholarly refinement in his features. He was the very young Master Wang who was about to stir trouble. As his gaze swept the surroundings, the two attendants finished securing the planks. He stepped across first, then beckoned to Qu Moying with a gesture.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Leng Yue’er’s lips. Folding her arms tighter, she watched from above, her eyes calm and unruffled, save for a barely perceptible spark of interest.
The show was finally about to begin.