Too high to reach

Chapter 230 This large group
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

After everyone in the Prince Qi's mansion finished getting ready, they gathered at the second gate and waited for Li Jing to arrive before setting off to see the lanterns.

Mo Yi also sent a letter to Granny Zhao, who had arrived early with her grandson and granddaughter to join the group. At that moment, she was taking a moment to speak to everyone: "Previously, the Prince and the Empress must have given some hints. This old woman will just repeat a few more words."

Today, we're going to view the lanterns along the lake, so we need to be especially careful with the water. Princess and Shao-ge'er, in particular, must be led around and kept away from the lakeside. Also, where there are lanterns, there are candles, and where there are candles, there's a risk of flooding. With so many people watching, panic could easily ensue, and if someone falls, it would be terrible! So, let's try to avoid crowded areas.

Furthermore, all valuable and important items have been put away. You see, after each Lantern Festival, people lose hairpins, earrings, purses, handkerchiefs, and even shoes.

Everyone laughed when they heard that.

"Also, our residence isn't far from Jingyuan Garden, so remember the direction of your home. Today we entered through the South Gate. When watching the lanterns inside, try to stay together, but don't panic if you get separated. As long as you don't leave the main gate, you'll be fine."

After watching the fireworks, wait at the South Gate. If you can't find it, there will be people from the Prince's Mansion on site; just ask them. We must go home with the Prince through the main gate; we cannot go back on our own. Especially the children, absolutely do not go out the gate by yourself, understand?

Consort Tian, ​​holding Qianqian's hand, agreed the most readily.

"Make sure you hold the princess firmly. Keep close to the prince..." Granny Zhao specifically instructed Zhou Jiu. Unlike Shao Ge'er and Qianqian, the princess doesn't have adults protecting her. With Zhou Jiu's frail body... she probably needs someone to protect her herself.

"Don't worry, Granny Zhao!" Mo Yi smiled. "His Highness has specially arranged guards to accompany them, but even so, we must be careful. It's best to stay with His Highness..."

Miss Zhou nodded quickly and held Xiangxiang tightly.

Mo Yi wore her hair in a bun today, tied tightly to reveal her smooth forehead. All the accessories she wore were from her own shop.

Mo Yuan, standing beside her, wore a georgette dress underneath, which made her look ethereal as she walked. However, with the velvet cloak covering her, she wasn't too conspicuous... Her black hair was styled into a bun at the front and sideburns, with the rest flowing down her back.

One can easily imagine how beautiful and charming she must have been under the lamplight.

Seeing her expression, Mo Yi sighed inwardly: After all this trouble, from Mo Yuan's perspective, none of those people who went to great lengths to inquire were as good as Zhang Debao. What a waste of time!

Mo Yuan, unaware of her thoughts, pointed to the large purse adorned with trinkets on her person: "I'm acting as your living advertisement, isn't that good for me?"

"Behave yourself and don't cause trouble..." Mo Yi whispered to her.

At this moment, Li Jing arrived. He glanced at them briefly and asked, "Is everything ready?"

Mo Yi smiled and said, "Everything is ready. We'll set off as soon as you arrive."

"Let's go!"

Li Jing walked to Mo Yi's side, paused briefly, and then the two walked out side by side. Seeing this, Consort Feng tightened her grip on Shao Ge'er's hand and followed.

It was already dark, but there were still quite a few pedestrians on the road, and almost everyone was carrying a lantern...

The mansion also prepared things for everyone, especially for the children, who all carried their own rabbit lanterns, rooster lanterns, and so on.

Several guards were in front, and several guards were at the rear.

There were quite a few masters alone, plus guards and maids, making for a large and impressive procession. This group was very conspicuous as they walked down the street, attracting the attention of passersby who stopped to watch…

It's really close to Jingyuan Garden, only about a mile away. Even before we got close, the road was already bustling with traffic. It seems the people from the Yong'an Prince's Mansion were maintaining order; the cars were lined up, and there was no congestion.

Everyone rolled up their car windows and looked out, all beaming with joy.

Someone spotted the Qi Prince's entourage, and someone said, "Oh, wouldn't it be great if they walked by with lanterns like that?" Amid cheers, many people began to get out of their carriages.

Li Jing smiled at Mo Yi and said, "It seems that walking is a good idea."

"It's because we live close by; it wouldn't work if we were far away!" Mo Yi was happy, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Soon we saw the south gate of Jingyuan.

Suddenly, Mo Ruhai appeared on the road ahead...

Mo Bao was following beside him. Behind them were Mo Da with his wife, then Mo Qing. Finally, there was the well-dressed Wang Shi and her sister Wang Xiujuan... The group walked along, craning their necks to look in this direction.

Li Jing, being tall, was the first to see them. Mo Yi had told him she would invite his father. But unexpectedly, they all came…

...No, not all of them came...

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Today is my first time doing this!
Mo Ruhai saw them and called out through the guards, "Yi Yi! Your Highness!" "Father!" Mo Yi waved and called out when she saw her father.

Li Jing was slightly embarrassed. The guard stepped aside, and he stepped forward, forcing himself to call out, "Father-in-law..." Then he nodded to Wang Shi, who was not moving forward.

In fact, Mo Ruhai was equally embarrassed. In front of this son-in-law, he couldn't put on any airs at all. "Ah... Your Highness. Today is truly lively!"

Wang and her sister held hands, but did not get close; they seemed to be bowing from a distance.

Everyone in the Prince's residence saw this and had different thoughts, finding it all amusing. Consort Feng, however, felt extremely stifled; she had never seen the Mo family so shameless. How many people had come?
Then, she realized she was too influenced by Moe…

“Let’s move forward…” Li Jing said, “Let’s not block the road.” Then he started walking forward.

Mo Ruhai stepped aside and moved closer to Mo Yi, saying, "Yi Yi looks so beautiful today!"

"Second Uncle, what about Yuanyuan?" Mo Yuan called from behind.

"Yuanyuan is beautiful too, like a fairy!"

Mo Qing followed closely beside Zhou Shi, stealing glances at the people from the Prince's Mansion. Wang Shi and her sister, walking with the group, also secretly glanced at the people from the Prince's Mansion in the dim light... The two of them kept whispering to each other.

What kind of behavior is this? Consort Feng was furious again...

Mo Yi knew her mother was like that; she simply waved to the two of them…

“Your second brother is here today too, but they’re here on official business,” Mo Ruhai whispered to Mo Yi.

"Really? Is Second Brother in the garden, or outside?"

"It's inside..."

As they were talking, they arrived at the gate of Jingyuan Garden. A man in blue immediately stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness Prince Qi, I am here on behalf of my master to welcome you! May I ask which of your people are from your household?" It seemed that this man knew Li Jing.

Li Jing turned around and pointed, startled himself at the sheer size of the group... "These are all things I brought..." he calmly gestured...

Seeing so many people, the steward's smile remained unchanged. "Yes. Please, distinguished guests of the Prince Qi's residence, follow me! Your Highness, please..." He raised his hand and said loudly, then led the people inside.

Mo Yi, holding her father's hand, turned back and called out, "A-Jiu, Xiangxiang, come quickly... Mother..."

Zhou Jiu quickly pulled Xiangxiang forward, but the little girl hesitated, seemingly unwilling. Zhou Jiu understood that she didn't want to go forward and meet the Mo family.

From Mo Yi's perspective, this was also her maternal family, but the young girl felt somewhat resistant.

Fortunately, when Mo Yi saw that they were catching up, she pulled her father along and continued walking forward.

Li Jing stood at the door, watching the people he brought walk inside. They walked for ages... and still hadn't finished.

When Consort Feng passed by him, perhaps having been instructed beforehand, Shao Ge'er immediately took Li Jing's hand and said, "Father, your son will go with you."

Li Jing was somewhat surprised, but he pulled Shao Ge'er along and nodded.

Consort Feng smiled indulgently yet helplessly, released her hand, and went inside first.

The manager led the group to an open space, which was dimly lit but filled with laughter and chatter... It was quite lively.

The garden is already lit up, and as far as the eye can see, the scattered lights outline the shape of the lake.

Like a fairyland...

The crowd surged, shoulder to shoulder. As darkness fell, it became impossible to discern who they were, but waves of fragrance and laughter wafted from all directions—a dreamlike luxury.

Mo Yi sighed with some emotion, "Father, look at the style of the Prince of Yong'an..."

Mo Ruhai nodded: "Father actually arrived quite some time ago, but they wouldn't let us stand at the gate, so we went over to greet you. With so many carriages and horses, as soon as they stopped, people from Jingyuan helped us get out, and the carriages had to move as soon as the people got out. So, even with so many people and carriages, there wasn't any congestion..."

“Yes… to do something like this is quite an achievement. How much money must it have cost…” Mo Yi was very impressed.

Consort Feng had also hosted several banquets and could see through the intricacies of the business. She was both impressed and somewhat apprehensive.
Could I organize such an event on my own...?

Having taken on all the affairs of the Prince's mansion, she had no time for anything else, meticulously examining every detail, her mind constantly calculating...

The second chapter will be very late. I really didn't sleep well and got up very late...