Chapter 44

Wei Kun didn’t have an objection to this. He only warned her to be careful with her actions and to not be impulsive on that day before allowing her to leave the residence with Wei Luo.

Wei Zheng thoughtfully glanced at Ah Luo and nodded. She said with a laugh, “Don’t worry daddy. I’ll listen to elder brother Song Hui’s words.”

Then, Wei Kun said some minor and not very important details. Seeing that the three of them were seriously listening, he felt reassured, so he stood up and left.

As soon as Wei Kun left, Wei Zheng also followed his action and left.

Wei Luo sat in her chair and attentively watched the direction that Wei Zheng departed.

Wei Luo’s dark eyes moved and her lips held a fake smile. The nearby people just thought that she was in a good mood, but they didn’t know what she was thinking in her heart. As Wei Zheng was leaving, she had deliberately glanced at Wei Luo with clear provocation.

How could Wei Luo not see? The reason that Wei Zheng wanted to go with them wasn’t because of the Spring Lantern Festival, but because of Song Hui.

She didn’t know if Wei Zheng liked Song Hui. But, she knew that Wei Zheng wanted to have Song Hui. There wasn’t any other reason than that Song Hui was her fiancé. She didn’t know when Wei Zheng started to like to snatch away her things. But, as long as it was something that she liked, Wei Zheng would think of a way to get that item. Of course, there were very few times that Wei Zheng succeeded. This time wouldn’t be an exception. Wei Zheng’s intention was too obvious. If she couldn’t see, then she was a fool.

Wei Zheng wanted to snatch away her fiancé to see her what she looked like when she suffered.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have any romantic feelings towards Song Hui. Even if Wei Zheng snatched him away, she wouldn’t feel sad or hurt. It was only that she would feel somewhat unhappy if she saw that something that belonged her being stolen away.

Wei Luo couldn’t help feeling somewhat curious. In her previous life, when Wei Zheng married Song Hui, did she have the same type of mentality? At that time, she was no longer a threat to Wei Zheng, so why did she still remember her? Was the reason because Wei Zheng liked Song Hui?

If that was true, Wei Luo thought this would be more interesting.

If Wei Zheng liked Song Hui, how could she let her have him easily? To give him to her for nothing, wouldn’t that be letting her off too easily?

Wei Luo curved her eyes and showed a bright and lovely smile. Her heart had a sinister idea, but her face was shockingly pure and innocent.

By her side, Chang Hong called out with a somewhat unhappy tone, “What are you thinking about? I tried to get your attention several times, but you didn’t respond.”

Wei Luo turned her head and said smilingly, “What did you say?”

Chang Hong didn’t answer her question and stubbornly said, “Tell me what you were just thinking about first.”

She held her cheek on the palm of her hand and intentionally made a show of being mysteriously, “Not telling you.”

After she said this, Chang Hong didn’t say anything for a long time. He looked as if he had suffered a setback. After a while, he mustered up his courage to ask, “Were you thinking about Song Hui?”

She turned her head in surprise, blinked, and didn’t say anything.

Chang Hong thought he had guessed right. His handsome face immediately changed and he couldn’t resist speaking his mind, “Actually, I can take you outside without Song Hui accompanying us.”

Right before she had entered the room, he had been discussing this matter with Wei Kun. He was grown up now. He wasn’t that six-year-old child anymore. It wouldn’t be a problem from him to bring Wei Luo outside to walk around. But, Wei Kun insisted that Song Hui go with them.

Ah Luo was currently in the prime of her youth. Chang Hong didn’t know why his father didn’t worry about other people gossiping. What was he thinking?

Wei Luo couldn’t resist laughing. When she laughed, it was the same sweet and beautiful sound that she had as a child. Her laughter would make a person feel entirely free of worry when hearing it. “Chang Hong, did older brother Song Hui secretly bully you when we were children?”

Chang Hong shook his head, “He didn’t.”

She became more curious, “Then why don’t you like seeing him?”

Chang Hong didn’t say anything. In his mind, he thought that it was probably because Song Hui will marry Ah Luo in the future. He thought that Song Hui wasn’t good enough for Ah Luo. Ah Luo was so wonderful. Even if there were ten Song Hui, he would still think that it wasn’t good enough.

——-

The next day, the weather was nice with a soft wind that made people feel warm and comfortable and a cloudless sky.

Because they were leaving towards the evening, Wei Luo was worried that it would get colder during the night, so she wore a cloak with a creamy white marten fur trim. Then, she followed Chang Hong to the entrance. House Zhongyi’s black and flat roof carriage was waiting at the entrance. There was a young man standing in front of the carriage and talking with Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng had arrived here very early. A single glance showed that she had carefully dressed up. Her hair was arranged with two loops on the top and the rest of her hair was down. She was wearing a hairpin made of golden wire that was inlayed with rubies and had bluish-green coloring at the two raised edges.

Below, she was wearing an autumn color top with wide sleeves, a skirt that was embroidered with numerous butterflies, and a red silk outer layer with a stylized flower pattern. She was naturally pretty. Dressed up like this, she was even brighter and more eye-catching.

Wei Luo didn’t know what the two of them had talked about. But when Wei Zheng’s lips were curved up in a smile and the sharpness in her eyes were diluted, she seemed more obedient and lovable.

Song Hui had a warm smile on his lips. When he looked at Wei Zheng, it was the same look that he had towards his younger sister, Song Rui Wei. When he talked to her, it was also the same absent-mindedness.

But when he looked up and saw that Wei Luo and Chang Hong had arrived at the entrance, the smile in his eyes deepened. He gave off the feeling of a warm and comfortable spring breeze and his gaze also became more focused.

When Wei Luo walked closer to them, he said, “Younger sister Ah Luo is here.”

The originally handsome and elegant teenage boy had grown into a handsome, tall, and slender man. He was wearing an elegant loose gown with a wide belt. When he spoke, the sound of his voice was as pleasant as the sound of flowing water as it murmured. He was the same as that time when they had sat in the carriage many years ago. Back then, he had gently rubbed her face and helplessly smiled as he said, “Truly a delicate girl.”

Wei Luo nodded, “Older brother Song Hui, have you been waiting here for a long time? I didn’t know you had already come, so I dawdled before coming here. You won’t be angry, right?”

Song Hui smiled as he shook his head. How could he be angry with her? He had never been able to be angry with her. Seeing that it was now dusk, he thought that the streets must already be quite lively. He said to them, “Let’s set out early.”

And so Wei Luo and Wei Zheng went inside the carriage and Song Hui and Chang Hong rode horses to follow the carriage. The four of them headed toward the liveliest area in the capital.

The Spring Lantern Festival’s carnival was held in the western part of the capital. The sight of the countless colored lanterns would dazzle the eyes. Every color and style of lanterns under the sun could be seen. The carnival also had many activities: guessing riddles written below the lanterns, watching puppet shows and people walking on stilts, and releasing the colored lanterns into the night sky. The streets were crowded with people and were very lively.

By the time they arrived, the streets were packed with a jostling throng of people.

Originally, Wei Luo was worried that it would get too cold at night, so she had worn an extra layer of clothing. At the moment, it seemed that she had worried for nothing. With such a lively atmosphere, she wouldn’t be cold here. She took off her marten cloak inside the carriage and revealed a moon white and sky blue sleeved silk top underneath, a honey colored skirt, and a silk sash was tied around her slender waist. It caused even Wei Zheng to looking at her twice.

After they came out of the carriage, Wei Zheng suggested, “How about going to look at the lanterns with the riddles first? It’ll be very interesting.”

Song Hui nodded. It could be counted as approval. He looked at Wei Luo, “Where does Ah Luo want to go?”

Wei Luo curved her eyes in a smile, “I’ll listen to older brother Song Hui.”

Song Hui’s eyes softened. Underneath the light of a thousand colorful lanterns, the warmth in his eyes seemed overflowing. “Then, let’s go look at the lanterns with riddles first. After we’re done there, we’ll go look at the puppet shows and the lanterns being let go.”

Wei Luo said okay and walked with him in the front.

Chang Hong and Wei Zheng followed behind them. Chang Hong’s line of sight was fixed on the back of Song Hui’s head. He fell just short of drilling a hole into Song Hui’s head. In the end, Chang Hong only pursed his lips. When he turned his head, he saw stalls selling fried pastries balls and went to buy a bag of them. He brought the bag to Wei Luo, “Ah Luo, try some of this.”

Wei Luo accepted the bag and used a bamboo stick to bring a piece to her mouth. The small snack ball was fried to a crisp golden yellow, covered with a layer of sugar, and filled with red bean paste. The red bean filling was sweet and very hot. This was the first time she saw an eating method like this. Her eyebrows pinched and she complained, “Too hot.”

When Chang Hong heard her words, his expression became guilty. He had given her the snack as soon as he bought them without trying it first. He didn’t know what the snack would be like. Hearing her say it was too hot, he quickly put his hand next to her mouth, “Spit it out. Don’t eat it anymore.”

It would be too impolite to spit something out on the street. Although Wei Luo thought it was too hot, she still forced herself to swallow it. She clutched her mouth and had tears in her eyes, “My tongue feels burned.”

After she said this, Chang Hong felt even worse. He didn’t even pay attention to rest of the snacks in the bag. He wanted to look at Wei Luo’s tongue, but Wei Luo wouldn’t let him. The two of them of them nosily quarreled over this and ended up ignoring Song Hui who was at their side.

——–

They would pass-through a stone bridge to get to the area with the lanterns that had riddles written underneath.

Standing at the top of the bridge and surveying the scene below, they could see that the entire street had dazzling lanterns that stretched from one end to there other. It was as bright as the Milky Way. It was if the stars in the sky had spilled out onto the ground. When the lights were shined into their eyes, it took their breath away.

There were red, pink, yellow, and white lanterns, and there were also rabbit, lotus, octagon-shaped, and other various lanterns. There were also fish and dragon lanterns from the myth of the dragon gate where a carp could transform into a dragon. There were so many lanterns that the sight stunned their eyes.

There were various kinds of riddles written underneath the lanterns. When people figured out the answer, they would step forward to tell their answer. If they were right, they would get a prize. There were many people surrounding each lantern. Everyone was in high spirits and was guessing the riddles with keen interest and pleasure.

Wei Zheng also wanted to go and guess the riddles written below the lanterns. She wanted Song Hui to go with her.

Song Hui looked at Wei Luo who was eating the Lantern Festival snacks next to him and shook his head, “You can go. We’ll wait here.”

He paused, and then said, “I’ll have Du Yu follow you. There are too many people there. Don’t go too far away.”

Du Yu was his personal servant. He had been with him for three or four years.

Wei Zheng blew out her cheeks. Why would she want Du Yu? She didn’t want to go there with Du Yu. She wanted to go with him.

But it couldn’t be helped. Song Hui was insensitive to her feelings. No matter what she said, he wouldn’t agree to go with her. And so, in a fit of pique, she didn’t go either. She reluctantly stayed with them.

Wei Luo fed Chang Hong the last piece of the Lantern Festival snack, then she turned her head to look at Wei Zheng and questioningly asked, “Weren’t you going to go guess the lantern riddles?”

Wei Zheng didn’t look at her as she coldly said, “I don’t want to go anymore.”

Wei Luo slowly said, “Oh.” Then, she pointed to the front and said, “Let’s go there to watch puppet shows and shadow plays. I also saw people performing magic and juggling swords over there. Do you want to go?” Her question was directed toward Chang Hong and Song Hui.

Chang Hong naturally didn’t have an opinion. He always listened to her. As long as she wanted to look, he would accompany her without a doubt.

Song Hui was the same. He nodded and said, “Let’s go there then.”

Wei Zheng pursed her lips and was even unhappier.

Why was it that when she said she wanted to go guess the riddles, no one would go, but when Wei Luo said she wanted to go watch the puppet show, everyone would go? Her face was calm as she followed behind the three of them. She looked at Wei Luo’s back. Something strange flashed in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

The place that Wei Luo mentioned was livelier than the guessing riddles area. It was bustling with activity. There were people everywhere watching the exciting shows, especially the area with magical tricks being performed. It was completely packed with ring upon ring of people. Even if they squeezed, they wouldn’t be able to get closer.

Wei Luo was slightly regretful, “We won’t be able to see that magical transformation…”

Song Hui suggested going to the balcony of a teahouse that was directly in front of that area, but Wei Luo shook her head. The reason for watching these types of things was for the noise and excitement. Watching the show from the balcony wouldn’t have much meaning. But, this was okay. Other than the magic show, there were also other shows to watch.

As she was preparing to pull Chang Hong with her to watch the show with people breathing out fire, she suddenly saw two lines of people walking on stilts behind them. These people on stilts that seemed as if they were as tall as mountains were walking towards their side.

These people were waving their shui sleeves. Although they were clearly swinging and swaying as they walked, their footing was very stable. They didn’t look like slightest bit as if they were going to fall down. There was even a person holding another person while twirling around.

As the people walking on the stilts came closer, the numerous people on the street retreated. The street became more boisterous and more chaotic than before. People were crowded against one another from the chaos.

The crowd pushed Wei Luo forward. When she turned her head to look, she had already been separated from Chang Hong and Song Hui by a fair distance. Just as she was going to walk back, someone pushed her from behind. By chance, she bumped into the back of a person in front of her.

When the man turned around, she was in the middle of looking behind her and showed a slender neck and a delicate side profile of her face. The other person’s movement came to a stop as he stared at her face and forgot how to walk.

Chang Hong and Song Hui had already seen where she was and were walking towards her spot.

The man that she had bumped into was motionless. The mob of people crowded around them and pushed him closer to her. In the end, he was almost half sticking to her. His arm was pushing the wall behind her. He lowered his head to look her in the eyes. He bit his lip and called out, “Wei Luo?”

She looked back in surprise and met his eyes. Next to the colorful lanterns, she finally saw his face clearly.

The author has something to say:

Guess who he is!

*Ah Yue rests her chin in her hand*

In the corner, Zhao Jie’s hair exploded: You dare to corner my wifey against a wall?