After transmigrating into the body of a widow, I became the richest man in the capital.

Chapter 208 Lantern Festival

The wisdom and experience of our ancestors are hundreds of times better than the so-called enjoyment brought by today's artificial technology.

So you ask, why do you still enjoy these things? Why not go back to the primitive life of our ancestors?
We may not have found a way to travel through time yet, but if we do, we'll definitely escape as quickly as possible.

But it's impossible for me to do that in this lifetime.

Su Xiaoxiao cut watermelon for them, and everyone sat in the courtyard to cool off. The watermelon in their hands, the palm-leaf fans in their hands, the twinkling stars in the sky, and the gentle breeze blowing in the summer night all reminded Su Xiaoxiao that although she was still alive, she was in this dynasty thousands of years ago.

"How sweet!"

The emperor had never tasted such delicious watermelon. Gazing at the clear, bright, and crystal-clear starry sky, he, like everyone else, was captivated by the summer night and forgot that he was still an emperor.

"If I could stay in this place for the rest of my life with the person I love, that would be nice."

While the emperor was thinking this, his gaze involuntarily fell on Su Xiaoxiao beside him.

At this moment, Su Xiaoxiao was looking at Pei Yuan with deep affection and determination.

A fleeting hint of disappointment flashed in the Emperor's eyes, but it was caught by Eunuch Liu.

The watermelons in the fields have ripened in the past few days, and Su Xiaoxiao has received watermelons from the villagers one after another. She can store some watermelons and save them to eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Watermelons can be stored in water tanks or wells, and they can be kept for a long time.

For the past few days, Eunuch Liu has been urging the Emperor to return to the capital. After all, he is not a leisurely person and has so many memorials waiting to be reviewed. He can't just wander around outside all the time. However, the Emperor keeps making excuses, saying that he will wait a few more days until the preserved duck is ready and he has tasted what it is like before he prepares to return to the capital.

However, there was nothing that could be done; Eunuch Liu simply could not go against the Emperor's wishes.

As time went by, the Ghost Festival arrived. Sometimes, the emperor also felt depressed. Although he was the emperor, he also had his own worries, just not like ordinary people who worried about making a living.

As the saying goes, "If you're in a position, you should do your job." Even the emperor has his own worries, but he only worries about what clothes to wear today. Ordinary people, on the other hand, worry about not having any clothes to wear at all.

In any case, everyone has their own troubles. The emperor lay half-reclined on the roof tiles, holding a pot of wine in his hand, drinking alone with the bright moon in the night sky, feeling extremely melancholy.

Eunuch Liu searched for a long time down there but couldn't find the Emperor's men. He was so anxious that he was covered in sweat as he went to find Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan looked up and saw the Emperor on the roof. He said to Eunuch Liu, "Go to sleep. I want to talk to him."

"Your Majesty, you should listen to Eunuch Liu and return to court as soon as possible. The officials in the court need you."

The Emperor looked up at Pei Yuan and said, "So you've come here to say such high-sounding things to me? Then why don't you go back?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan smiled at the Emperor and said, "That's because I like being here; I feel at ease here."

"Is that so bad? You're not leaving, so why are you kicking me out? Or are you afraid I'll get in the way of you and Miss Su?"

As the emperor spoke, he brought the wine jug closer to Pei Yuan. Pei Yuan smelled the alcohol emanating from the emperor's breath and said, "Your Majesty, you're drunk. Get down and go to sleep!"

"By the way, tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. Su Xiaoxiao asked if you want to go into the city to see the lanterns together?"

"Has time flown by so quickly? Isn't the Ghost Festival a festival for wandering ghosts? Why are there still lanterns to see in folk customs?"

Pei Yuan shrugged. "Well, the world is vast and full of wonders. Your Majesty has always been confined to the palace; how could you possibly know the customs of different places?"

So you mean if you don't descend to the mortal realm, how would you know about the sacrificial activities in the common people?
Upon hearing this, the emperor's melancholy vanished immediately. He dusted himself off and perked up.

"Very well, tomorrow I will see what's so interesting about these folk rituals!"

Pei Yuan thought to himself, "You're so carefree. I was worried you were feeling melancholy up there, but now that you hear there's something fun to do, you've completely changed."

"Alright, Your Majesty, go back to sleep!" Pei Yuan said as he floated down from the roof, and the Emperor's voice came from behind him.

"Pei Yuan, you're only thinking of yourself. Why don't you take me with you?"

Pei Yuan shouted from below the roof, "Then how did you climb up there?"

"I climbed up the ladder!"

"Then why don't you just come down the ladder?"

"My legs are numb from squatting up there for so long, can you help me?"

Having no other choice, Pei Yuan once again floated onto the roof and lifted the emperor down from it.

"That's my true brother!"

Pei Yuan was speechless.

On the Ghost Festival, city dwellers would go to a river in the suburbs to release lanterns. The river in front of Su Xiaoxiao's village was one such river, but it was downstream, so you could see many lanterns floating down from upstream.

The emperor stared with wide, curious eyes and said, "I've never seen a lantern before in my life!"

Su Xiaoxiao didn't believe it; the Emperor's words were the only lies.

"If we're talking about people who've lived this long and haven't seen a lantern festival, it should be Da Bao and Xiao Bao," the two children excitedly asked Su Xiaoxiao.

"Mother, what exactly is a lantern?"

"I'll find out tonight. You two must remember not to leave my side for even a moment today. Stay close to me, understand?"

"understood."

The two little devils responded.

Su Xiaoxiao was still worried, after all, there would definitely be a lot of people watching the lanterns tonight, so she gave Da Bao and Xiao Bao some more instructions.

"If you get lost, go ask people on the street. Tell them the name of our shop and ask how to get to Baihua Jam Specialty Store, okay?"

"I understand, Mother. Don't worry, I will take good care of Xiaobao."

Da Bao readily agreed.

Su Xiaoxiao also thoughtfully brought them fruit jam, which she put in bamboo tubes so they could carry it with them and drink it when they were thirsty.

The rest, like Pei Yuan and the Emperor, are all adults, so Su Xiaoxiao didn't need to give them any instructions.

We set off from home together, and after walking a short distance, we smelled a very fresh and delicious aroma.

The aroma is very strong, and you can find it in every household. Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be cured ducks that they hang outside their houses to dry.

No wonder the aroma was so rich. Against the backdrop of the sunset, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of every house, creating a truly beautiful scene of daily life.

Quiet and harmonious, Su Xiaoxiao couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so good to be alive!"

Why? If we die, we won't be able to see this scene, will we? Everyone walked forward excitedly, and the night grew darker. The lanterns in Xianglan Ancient Town had just been lit, and everything was full of anticipation.

(End of this chapter)