The Legend of the Loved One

Chapter 23

The fifteenth day of the first month.

On the day of Shangyuan Festival, Song Chen did not rest during the day, and was still dealing with political affairs in the front yard, and Chu Xue only realized that it was the Lantern Festival when he saw the lanterns hanging everywhere in the palace, and couldn't help but lament how fast time passed!

After tonight, the year is completely over.

From the front yard to the back yard, from the gate of the palace to the big garden, there are all kinds of palace lanterns swaying in the wind. It is already dazzled to look at them in the daytime.

Chu Xue got up early and went to Danwei Garden to say hello, and then went back to her own yard while admiring all kinds of lanterns. Before stepping in the door, she heard what the two maidservants in the yard were saying.

"Sister, do you think there are more lanterns in our palace this year?"

"Of course, this year there are more Wantang Gardens we newly built, and more masters. Of course we have to prepare well. Have you forgotten that on New Year's Eve, there are more fireworks than in previous years?"

"That's true! But I heard that there are a lot more lanterns in the city tonight, so I just can't go out to see them."

"You girl, isn't our palace more beautiful than that chaotic street? Be content!"

As soon as the words fell, Chu Xue had already stepped into the courtyard gate, and the two maidservants hurriedly bowed their heads to salute.

She smiled, said nothing, and went straight into the house.

In the evening, we had a reunion dinner again. Today is a big festival. Song Chen went to Danwei Garden to spend the night as usual, so Chu Xue went back to Wantang Garden early, and was about to order the maidservants to prepare hot water for bathing, but saw Yan Ling rushing outside. He rushed in and whispered in her ear: "Miss, hurry up and change your clothes. The prince has prepared a carriage outside and said that he will take you to the city to watch the lanterns."

She was confused for a moment, and opened her eyes wide to look at Yan Ling, but she saw Yan Ling smiled and nodded, revealing a pair of beautiful dimples around her mouth.She slowed down for a while, Fang nodded, got up and went to the inner room to change clothes.

Since she was going to watch the lanterns in the city, her attire in the palace was naturally inappropriate. She picked out a relatively simple and elegant Xueqing forging gown, combed her hair in a relatively simple bun, and only wore a few jade hairpins. She definitely wore a low-key outfit After dressing up, I went out.

Lifting her feet and boarding the carriage waiting outside the courtyard, she saw Song Chen inside who was also dressed in normal clothes.He was wearing a black brocade gown tonight, exuding a low-key aura around him, which made her think of the scene when she first met him. She smiled gently and sat down beside him obediently. Mansion gate, go straight to Yong'an Street, the busiest place in Yanzhou City.

"Why is your lord interested in going to the street to look at the lights tonight?"

She looked sideways at him.

"It's nothing. There are many people on Shangyuanye Street. It's a good time to observe the people's sentiments. I'm bored by myself, so I invite the beauty to go with me. I wonder what the beauty thinks?" There was a smile on his lips, but it seemed a little mysterious.

But she didn't ask any more questions, she just nodded her head and said hello.

The carriage drove unhurriedly for two quarters of an hour, and arrived at the east end of Yong'an Street. It was already past half hour, when there were many people, the street was already bustling with people, and it was difficult for the carriage to move forward.Because of the name of observing the people's sentiments, the two masters in the car got out of the car and squeezed into the stream of people watching the lanterns leisurely.

Although it has been four months since she came here, this is the first time Chu Xue has walked the streets of Yanzhou, and it is also the first time she has gone out to look at the lights after many years.If the capital city is compared to a family, then Yanzhou is an upstart, full of vitality amidst the prosperity.The lanterns here are also very different from the ones she had seen when she was a child. Not only did they have many new styles, but the color patterns were also more beautiful. She held Song Chen's arm and slowly watched the lanterns all the way, with a smile on her lips all the time.

Walking to the middle of Yong'an Street, the lanterns hanging above the head became more and more exquisite. A row of long lamp stands in front attracted passers-by to watch. Chu Xue followed the flow of people and suddenly cried out in surprise.

"Grandpa, look, it's a Chinese zodiac lantern!"

Because he was in a smock, Chu Xue concealed one word of his address, so that it sounded like he was addressing the son of some rich family.

Song Chen looked along her fingers, and sure enough, he saw twelve lanterns in the shape of twelve zodiac signs hanging high on the lamp stand.

Although it is his own fiefdom, he used to go on tour occasionally in low clothes, but he didn't come to such a lively market very often. Right now, there is a strong festive atmosphere around him. His beauty is happy, so he is naturally happy, so he smiled and held the beauty's hand , and walked in that lively direction.

"Let's go see too."

These twelve zodiac lanterns are novel and unique, so they are very popular. As soon as Chu Xue and Song Chen approached, someone bought a monkey lantern.The two watched quietly around the lamp stand for a while, and found that the boss had a very interesting person. It was okay to buy his lantern, but in addition to being able to afford the price, two other conditions had to be met: [-]. You could only buy your own zodiac sign. ; Two, either guess the riddles in front of the lantern, or hit the nameplate above the lantern, or Wen or Wu, one of the two, the boss will present the lantern.

And the scholar who just bought the monkey lantern successfully took the lantern away just because he guessed the lantern riddle hidden in front of the lantern.

Seeing Chu Xue staring at the lamp intently, Song Chen asked her softly, "Do you like it?"

"Yeah." She nodded, then turned to look at him with a smile, "Do you want to buy it for me?"

"What's so difficult about this?"

Song Chen smiled inexplicably, pointed to the tiger lantern, and asked, "I remember you are a tiger, right?"

Chu Xue paused in her heart, and hurriedly looked away from the rabbit lantern, looked at the tiger lantern, and nodded, "My lord is right, I am a tiger."

Song Chen determined the target, stepped forward to ask the boss, and after a while, came back with a light bow in hand.

Chu Xue was pleasantly surprised, "Master, are you going to choose martial arts?"

He raised his bow and glanced at the nameplate above the tiger lantern, and said lightly, "What are the lantern riddles that are easy to guess, naturally we have to choose a difficult one."

Although the name tag was made of straw, it was only the size of a fist, and it was two feet above the ground. The bow was just a toy-like light bow. It was indeed a bit difficult to hit an arrow.

But the boss also has difficulties. He just sold a lamp to join in the fun. If he had prepared a real iron bow in front of the stall, he would have been caught by the patrolling guards and taken to the magistrate's prison long ago. Ordinary people hid weapons privately. Just kidding.

Aiming at the target at a high place, and testing the softness and hardness of the bowstring, Song Chen had an idea in his mind, pulled the bowstring to the full, and shot the arrow, and then saw the light feathered arrow draw a beautiful line in the air. In the blink of an eye, it passed steadily through the nameplate in front of Tiger Lantern.

This was the first time she saw him using a weapon, even though it was in such a lively market place, even though what he was holding was just a toy-like light bow.But such a relaxed and beautiful figure made her think of her father for a moment. It was also like this when her father taught her brother how to shoot arrows in the martial arts field at home.

Someone in the crowd was amazed.

The boss asked people to take off the tiger lantern with a smile on his face, came to the two of them, and complimented them: "I didn't expect this official to have such a refined temperament, but also have such good body skills. Sure enough, there are people beyond the real world! If so, this lamp The tiger lantern belongs to Madam, Madam please keep it."

After finishing speaking, he handed the lamp to Chu Xue, who took it with a smile.

Following what the boss said, the girls and women around her cast envious glances at her.

Lu Fang, who followed behind, came up to pay, and just took out the money bag, but was stopped by Chu Xue.

Chu Xue smiled, and said to Song Chen: "My master gave me one, and I want to give my master one back."

"Oh?" Song Chen looked at her unexpectedly, his eyes were full of smiles lit by lights.

She smiled and turned to look at the boss, "Master's zodiac is an ox, boss, can you help me find out what is the lantern riddle in front of the ox lantern?"

She doesn't know how to archery, but she thinks she's pretty smart, so guessing a lantern riddle... shouldn't be too difficult.

The boss immediately went to answer the question, and returned after a while with the lantern riddle in his hands. After unfolding it, he read aloud, "Once you enter Xichuan, the water level is flat." After reading the riddle, the boss looked at her, "This is an anagram, madam, please."

"Once you enter Xichuan, the water is flat? Once you enter Xichuan..." Chu Xue frowned and read both sides in a low voice, and silently wrote a few strokes in her heart. Suddenly her eyes lit up, and she said affirmatively, "Remuneration, Youzhou remuneration."

Song Chen actually guessed the answer, seeing that Chu Xue was right quickly, the smile on the corner of his mouth grew stronger.

As soon as the answer was given, the boss was pleasantly surprised and sighed: "Madam is so talented, you guessed it so quickly! Oh, you two are such a match made in heaven! Today is really eye-opening."

After finishing speaking, he hurriedly motioned for people to fetch the lamp.

Chu Xue took the lantern she got, handed it to Song Chen, and said with a smug smile, "I'm not as good as my master, but I can still guess a simple lantern riddle. Good!"

Song Chen nodded steadily, "Okay, since you gave it to me, I must keep it well."

After speaking, he took her waist and continued to walk forward with the lantern.

Lu Fang, who had paid, followed quickly.

Mrs. Xue didn't bring her maid tonight, and she seemed a little bit disappointed.

Looking at the backs of the two, the boss behind him sighed in his heart, I don't know which noble couple in the city they are, they are so well matched from appearance to talent, it is really enviable!

Holding a lantern in each hand, the two strolled among the bustling crowd, and the cold night seemed to warm up.Seeing some stalls selling snacks on the side of the road, the business is good, Song Chen cared for her, "Are you hungry, do you want to eat something?"

Chu Xue also scanned the surroundings. To be honest, although she had eaten dinner, she was actually a bit greedy. She really wanted to try the hot wontons bought at the stall, but she was afraid that it would be a waste if a bowl could not be eaten, and she was also afraid that Song Xing would not eat it. Chen laughed at her greediness and hesitated.

Besides, it's too inappropriate for him to be a dignified prince and sit at a stall by the side of the road to accompany her to satisfy her hunger.

She didn't refuse immediately, and he knew that she wanted to eat, but she didn't open her mouth... Following her gaze, he saw the steaming big pot of wontons, and he immediately understood and smiled. He dragged her to the low table and chair of the wonton stall and sat down, then raised his voice to tell the stall owner, "Have a bowl of hot wonton."

Chu Xue looked at him in surprise, she didn't say she wanted to eat it.

He smiled, "I'm a bit greedy, but I can't finish a bowl, can you share half of it for me?"

He is as caring as Xie Yuhua!She couldn't wish for it, and nodded readily, "Okay!"

After a while, the dexterous stall owner brought up a bowl of steaming wontons, a homemade white porcelain bowl, in addition to twenty or so round wontons with thin skins and big stuffing, sprinkled with shredded dried shrimps and eggs, green onion and coriander, Pour a large spoonful of hot broth and sprinkle with two drops of sesame oil. The fragrance disperses in the cold night and seems to surpass all delicacies.

Her eyes were full of anticipation, her expression was very much like Song Ning in normal times, Song Chen couldn't help being full of affection, and handed her the spoon, "It smells good, try it!"

"Yeah." She nodded, scooped up a slippery wonton, and was about to put it into her mouth when she suddenly thought of something and looked at the person across from her embarrassedly, "Master, you come first."

"You don't need to be formal when you come out, you eat first." He was polite and modest.

Left and right are not in the palace, she is no longer pretentious, obediently taste this tempting delicacy first.

Although the wonton skin is thin and smooth, the stuffing inside is quite rich. There are minced pork and green onions, dried shrimps, and some fungus, which are full of delicious fragrance. She nodded while eating, and the appearance of enjoying it was not at all like the usual Chu Xue. Instantly returned to Yue Wen when she was a child.

Swallowing it contentedly, Song Chen didn't move the spoon, still looking at her with a smile, she hurriedly brought the second one to his mouth, and said temptingly: "It tastes very good, please taste it quickly!"

Song Chen was stunned for a moment, but immediately accepted her hospitality.

The taste was indeed good, but the way she ate it just now was even more tempting.Also, how many years have I not been fed by anyone...

After a while, there were twenty or so wontons, and the two of them divided them in half. Of course, Chu Xue held the spoon and Song Chen was fed all the time.

After eating the wontons, his body felt warm, and seeing that the lanterns were halfway through, Song Chen asked, "Do you want to go shopping again?"

Chu Xue knew that he was going to Danwei Garden tonight, and he had been shopping for half an hour just now, it was late, and it was time to go back home, so she quickly shook her head, "The shopping is over, let's go back home."

Song Chen held her hand, "It's still early, since we've had enough shopping, let's go to the next place."

Is there another place?Chu Xue was very surprised, but before she allowed her to ask carefully, he had already been led by him to find the carriage.

(End of this chapter)