Beautiful Lanterns on the 15th
The Ping Palace had come to invite her but never thought that they would run into Xuan Tian Ming and Xuan Tian Hua. For a while, the two sides looked at each other, and the servant of the Ping Palace felt even more awkward.
Xuan Tian Ming asked him: “Just how much of a stir has old fourth caused in his palace?”
Before the servant could reply, Feng Xiang Rong let out a yelp from inside the carriage and shouted: “No matter how much of a stir, I won’t go! Go back and tell him to play on his own!”
Xuan Tian Ming spread his hand, “You’ve heard it. Go back and tell His Highness about it.”
The servant was very troubled, as he could only bite the bullet and beg Xiang Rong for a little while longer. Seeing that Xiang Rong was refusing to relent, he knew that he definitely would not be able to do anything about it. Thus he saluted to Xuan Tian Ming and Xuan Tian Hua then moved to leave; however, he then heard Xiang Rong say: “After he’s done looking at the lanterns, have him write what he’s learned then have him embroider the scene of the lanterns hanging in the Ping Palace. I’ll give him half a month. After half a month, I will go to the Ping Palace to retrieve the embroidery.”
The servant had a bitter expression. The person could not be invited and ended up receiving a mission to be brought back. Who knew if his master would end up tearing his skin off after he went back.
Watching the Ping Palace’s carriage depart, Xuan Tian Ming’s group also climbed back into the carriage. At this time, they looked over and saw that Xiang Rong no longer had that willful look. She was sitting furthest inside the carriage with her head down. Her face was red and did not even dare look over.
Xuan Tian Ming laughed and asked Feng Yu Heng: “Where did your younger sister’s earlier obstinance go?”
Xiang Rong lowered her head even more.
Xuan Tian Hua was rather proficient at understanding the feelings of others and did not say anything. He just sat back down in his former spot. The imperial carriage set out once more and headed toward the liveliest street in the capital.
They thought at first that they would just go and see some lanterns; however, they had clearly underestimated the disturbance that would be caused by two princes. There was naturally no need to speak about Xuan Tian Hua. He was refined like a deity, and it made people not dare approach, as they would watch from afar. As for Xuan Tian Ming’s face after he removed the mask, the people hated that they could not go up and feel it. Regardless of whether it was men or women, once they walked past, everyone’s gaze would focus on them. This left Feng Yu Heng really wanting to gouge out the eyes of those that looked at Xuan Tian Ming.
Fortunately, there were quite a few vendors that sold masks. For the sake of going with the celebratory atmosphere, the masks were very colorful and very beautiful. Feng Yu Heng personally chose a fox mask for Xuan Tian Hua, a tiger mask for Xuan Tian Ming and a demon mask for Xiang Rong. She herself put on a man’s mask.
With masks covering their faces, even Xiang Rong, who had always been following behind Xuan Tian Hua, found the courage to dare walk with him. From time to time, she could also make a joke with Feng Yu Heng and call Xuan Tian Ming second brother-in-law, which made the atmosphere very cheerful.
It was just that Xiang Rong’s gaze mostly still lingered on Xuan Tian Hua. She did not dare look at him directly. She could only take a few glances from the side. For the most part, she would be looking at him from the back. But the more she looked, the more she felt that the seventh prince was far away from her. He was so far that she could not reach him. She did not even dare to secretly touch his sleeve. The bold and relaxed feeling that she had when facing the fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, could not be felt when dealing with Xuan Tian Hua. As long as Xuan Tian Hua was present, she would be the former Xiang Rong. The third young miss of the Feng manor with the least courage. Xiang Rong really wanted to change herself; however, she could not change herself no matter what.
Just as she was thinking, she stopped paying attention while walking. It was at this time that a shop on the second floor began to set off fireworks. The cracks and bangs immediately caused a stir down below. The people shouted and jumped, running away. Xuan Tian Ming also pulled Feng Yu Heng away in a timely fashion; however, Xiang Rong was a step late because she had been in a daze. A small chain of fireworks exploded near her feet, and she let out a shriek. She took a step back but found that Feng Yu Heng’s group had already gotten further and further away.
She suddenly felt very afraid. The fireworks exploded and were very lively. The people gathered around to admire them. Through the smoke that came from the fireworks, she could see that the three people in masks were coming toward her. Those were clearly the people closest to her, but at this moment, they looked very unfamiliar.
Xiang Rong suddenly thought that if it had been the fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, at her side when the fireworks had gone off, the result would have been different, right?
She still remembered that there was a time in the Ping Palace when Xuan Tian Yi had fallen ill and had bullied her into personally preparing his medicine. For some reason, she began to feel sleepy. While working on the medicine, she fell asleep. as a result, the fire got out of control, and she had been woken up by the fire. When she woke up, Xuan Tian Yi’s face was dark with soot and was carrying her while desperately running out. The servants outside were pouring buckets of water. Xuan Tian Yi had used his own body to cover her very tightly, and she was not hurt in the slightest. He, however, had been hit by a falling roof tile and hurt his arm.
Very quickly, the fireworks finished being set off, and Feng Yu Heng personally came over to bring Xiang Rong back. She then advised Bai Ze and Huang Quan to take care of her. The remainder of the time was without disturbance. But for some reason, Xiang Rong kept comparing Xuan Tian Yi to Xuan Tian Hua. With this comparison, even if Xuan Tian Hua was refined, and Xuan Tian Yi was boorish, even if that person always argued with her, in the most critical moments, he would always protect her very well. When she suffered a grievance, he would always help to seek some recompense. The people bullying her would never have a good ending.
But… even if Xuan Tian Yi was great in all these ways, in her heart, Xuan Tian Hua’s image had already been deeply imprinted. It had been two years. That image had existed from when she was ten until she was twelve. It had already become a type of habit. Xiang Rong truly could not imagine. If there came a day when she no longer yearned for Xuan Tian Hua, what would that life be like?
The entire street was filled with lanterns. The group finally could not stop the fatigue and found a restaurant to rest. While they ate, Xuan Tian Hua began to speak about the happenings in the East. He told them: “I fear that I will need to head East next year once more. Although Zong Sui had not moved this entire time, I keep feeling that there is a lurking danger. If I don’t watch it personally, I just will not feel at ease.”
Xuan Tian Ming nodded and also said: “After the new year, I will also head to the South. If I go any later to old eighth’s place, I fear that the fighting will begin.”
“Will you fight your way over?” Xuan Tian Hua smiled wryly, “During today’s banquet, the officials from the South have clearly come up with odd thoughts. Who knows what nice things old eighth has promised them. The small court in the South seems to have become quite lively.”
Feng Yu Heng began to furrow her brow while listening, “Wasn’t the South being commanded by General Ping Nan in the past, so how did it become so chaotic?”
Xuan Tian Hua smiled bitterly and shook his head, “General Ping Nan is already old. He handed back his troops a long time ago and left the court. As for his son of his first wife, Ren Xi Tao, for the sake of avoiding danger, did not take on the troops in the South. Instead, he went to the Southeast. He is only a deputy general with 50 thousand soldiers. This allowed old eighth to sneak into this opening. In just a few short years, he has changed the South. Presently, the South is no longer the way it was before.”
“Does the Emperor not care?” The person that asked was Xiang Rong. She just felt very confused, “Hasn’t His Majesty always treated Your Highness the Ninth Prince very well? Why does he still allow His Highness the Eighth Prince… to act wildly?”
Feng Yu Heng patted Xiang Rong’s head, “The little girl has some thoughts of her own.”
Xiang Rong lowered her head and glanced at Xuan Tian Hua in embarrassment. Her face then became red once more.
Feng Yu Heng was also helpless and could only ignore it. She then asked Xiang Rong’s question to the two princes once more. It was clear that she had the same thoughts.
Xuan Tian Ming, however, told her: “It’s not like Father Emperor favored me from the start. His trust has only truly begun to be built over the past two or three years. Before this, the old man had hoped for all of the princes to shine brightly. He allowed everyone to earn merits through their abilities. In the end, the nine would compete for a single spot.”
Xuan Tian Hua nodded, “That’s right. To us, he is a ruler first and a father second. What he thinks about first and foremost is which prince can make the country better. After that is which son does he like the most. To him, Da Shun Dynasty is most important. It’s just that his mind might have changed over the past two years. In addition to this, Ming’er has indeed shown brighter prospects than the other princes. Also, he has you at his side. This solidified Father Emperor’s resolution to support him. It’s just that the power that he had allowed the others to raise is not something that can be dismantled in just a short period of time.”
Feng Yu Heng smiled, “Sure enough.” The rulers of the past had their own calculations. She had gotten accustomed to seeing the Emperor usually dote on Xuan Tian Ming, and she had gotten accustomed to seeing the Emperor’s feelings for Imperial Concubine Yun. She had gotten accustomed to the equal way in which he treated Zhang Yuan, and she had gotten accustomed to seeing him be unreasonable; however, she had forgotten that he was still the ruler of a country. In the end, he was the master of this world. Behind his foolish exterior was a pair of eyes that had clarity. It was just unknown whether or not the Emperor would feel regret over how many would be hurt and killed in this battle between the nine princes.
“When you go to the South next year, you won’t be bringing me, right?” She recalled what Xuan Tian Ming had said to her. To obtain military merits and to stifle any complaints, he had to personally go South. He had to use sword and spear to settle that area.
Xuan Tian Ming patted her head, “I’ll be back very quickly.”
“But with you and seventh brother both leaving, the capital will definitely be very boring.” She smiled but waved her hand, “It’s fine. You go do what you need to do. I’ve said it before. When men go out to fight, I will stay in the capital to take care of it. I will take good care of it and wait for your return.”
Xuan Tian Ming did not forget to say to Xuan Tian Hua: “Look, isn’t this girl becoming more and more proper?”
Xuan Tian Hua nodded, “That’s right. In the future, the mother of all under heaven will definitely be an empress of great bearing.”
The group chatted and laughed and ended up drinking a large amount of wine without them noticing. Xiang Rong especially downed cup after cup. Her courage gradually began to mount, as she actually dared to directly face Xuan Tian Hua. But as she looked, she noticed a faint trace of the fourth prince’s appearance on this face that was like a deity’s.
She angrily rubbed her eyes; however, Xuan Tian Yi’s appearance became clearer and clearer. Out of anger, Xiang Rong continued to down cups of wine.
At this time, the sound of some urgent footsteps came from the stairs of the restaurant. The footsteps headed straight toward Feng Yu Heng’s table. Upon arriving, without having any time to salute the two princes, the person said to Feng Yu Heng: “Young Miss, this servant finally found you. Quickly come back and take a look. The Lu family… has come and caused a stir!”