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Chapter 230 A Full Moon Night, A Deception

The Mid-Autumn Festival will arrive in just a few days.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in this era is in a transitional phase, from the moon-viewing and moon-worshiping customs of the Tang and Song dynasties to the reunion festival of later generations, and both customs are present.

The whole family would have a reunion dinner when the moon was just rising. After cutting and sharing the mooncakes, the girls could go out to play in groups.

Because the moon is associated with the yin spirit, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month is also known as the Girls' Festival. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, girls would put on elaborate makeup and new clothes, carry lanterns and osmanthus branches, and walk along the river in groups to admire the moon. This custom is called "walking the moon" or "treading the moon."

The "Treading the Moon" ritual is particularly particular about "walking across three bridges," meaning one must cross three stone bridges without turning back along the way. It is said that this can "cure all diseases and ward off disasters."

This is actually similar to the Lantern Festival and the Third Day of the Third Lunar Month. In those days, women's daily activities were limited, and "walking under the moon" during the Mid-Autumn Festival was a rare opportunity for public social interaction. They could pray for blessings under the moonlight and also take the opportunity to meet the man they admired.

So often, when the rooster crows, young ladies would stroll under the moonlight, believing it could ward off illness and prolong life. In reality, they were just out for some fresh air…

~~
Huang E also wanted to go to the moon, and even went so far as to go on a hunger strike a few days in advance to protest.

Huang Ke finally couldn't resist, and besides, he had indeed kept her locked up for long enough. As a father, he felt bad about not letting his daughter go out and get some fresh air, so he agreed.

But the condition is that her brother must accompany her and cannot leave Huang Feng's sight at any time.

Huang E immediately objected, twisting her body into a pretzel shape and saying, "People only get to go out once every few months, and they have to let a wasp follow them around, buzzing around and annoying them."

The relationship between the brother and sister has plummeted to a freezing point in the past few months, almost to the point of becoming enemies.

But this wasn't Huang E's fault; Huang Feng had been keeping a close watch on her for months. She had tried to sneak out several times, but each time her brother caught her. The most frustrating time was when she had already left the manor gates, only to be caught and brought back…

Huang Feng wasn't annoyed and laughed, "It's pitch black outside. How can Dad let you go out without me following you?"

Then he assured her, "Don't worry, as long as you don't meet with that thief, I promise I won't interfere with whatever you do."

"With you following me so closely, I lose all motivation to do anything," Huang E snorted.

"Can I stand further away?" Huang Feng was quite good-natured.

"Alright, stop nagging. If you don't let your brother come with you, you're not going out," Huang Ke said decisively.

"Hehehe..." Huang E made a face in an annoyed tone.

~~
On Mid-Autumn Festival night, the weather was perfect. The full moon, like gold, quietly climbed to the treetops.

In the back hall of the Military Governor's Office, Huang Bingxian's family enjoyed a reunion dinner.

Huang Ke's wife passed away many years ago. His eldest son is an official in Beijing, and his second son is imprisoned at the Imperial College in Nanjing. Only his youngest son's family and his youngest daughter are left with him. With She Yunluo joining them for the holidays, he is not too lonely.

The two brats were restless and kept urging her to cut the mooncake quickly, which annoyed Huang Ke. She said irritably, "They're practically out of their minds. Hurry up and cut it."

The youngest daughter-in-law then brought out a huge mooncake, which Huang Feng cut into eight pieces with a silver knife, first offering one piece to his father.

The two girls looked longingly at Huang Feng, placed the mooncakes on their plates, and She Yunluo picked one up and stuffed it into her mouth. Finding Huang E eating too slowly, she ate half of it for her.

"Alright, we're finished eating, let's go!" She Yunlu wiped her mouth hastily and said, "Sister Zhu must be getting impatient."

"Father, I'm taking my leave." Huang E didn't forget to give Huang Ke a slight bow.

"Yes," Huang Ke quickly replied. It wasn't easy; this was the first time in three months that he'd heard his daughter call him "Dad."

"Dad, I'm going too." Huang Feng stuffed the remaining five-nut mooncake into his mouth, choking and rolling his eyes back. He couldn't help but sigh, "Luo Luo's women are truly formidable!"

"Okay." Huang Ke nodded and whispered, "Your sister rarely goes out, so don't follow her too closely."

"Yes," Huang Feng replied and quickly chased after him.

Seeing him scurrying up, She Yunlu said irritably, "It's our daughter's holiday, what's the point of you, a man, following along?"
"I'm your protector," Huang Feng said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll just follow behind. Just pretend I don't exist."

"You mangy dog..." She Yunluo had no choice but to glare at him and say, "Stay away from us!"

As they spoke, the two women arrived at the back door and, sure enough, saw the Zhu family's carriage already waiting there.

Miss Zhu hadn't seen Huang E in a long time, and she got out of the car to greet her warmly. "Sister, you've finally come out! I've missed you so much!"

"Sister, I miss you too!" Huang E and Miss Zhu held hands tightly.

"Oh dear, why didn't you two put on your night-out makeup before coming out?" Miss Zhu, heavily made up and adorned with floral makeup, looked at Huang E and She Yunluo, who had no makeup on.

"Following around like this makes me lose my mood for makeup," She Yunluo said irritably.

Huang E also gestured with his lips toward his back.

"Good night, Brother Huang." Miss Zhu then curtsied to Huang Feng.

"Goodnight, Miss Zhu." As Huang Feng walked towards the carriage, he asked, "Who from your family is with you?"

Actually, every family has brothers who follow them, so it's not surprising that Huang Feng followed along.

"My brothers are all here." Miss Zhu pointed to the street corner, where the Zhu brothers were indeed present, and they greeted Huang Feng warmly. "Come here, Third Brother Huang." Huang Feng glanced quickly into the car, saw that it was empty, then looked away and went over to chat and laugh with the Zhu brothers.

"Get in the car quickly, I'll help you two with some simple makeup." Miss Zhu said with a smile, "Going out without makeup is disrespectful to the Moon Goddess."

So the three girls got into the car and drove towards the river.

Because the ladies in the carriage needed to put on makeup, the carriage moved extremely slowly. The young men weren't in a hurry; after all, they were just bodyguards tonight, so they chatted and laughed as they followed behind.

“Brother Jingchen, just let those boys follow. We’re all married with families, it’s such a waste not to take advantage of this rare opportunity to come out at night and have some fun,” Zhu Zigeng whispered to Huang Feng. “Cuiwei Residence just got a few cans of new tea, shall we go and try some?”

"Where did it come from?" Huang Feng was indeed knowledgeable: "Before the Qingming Festival or before the rain?"

"West Lake Longjing tea! It hasn't been exposed to wind and rain yet. Smooth and straight, with a tender and lustrous color, elegant and refined, it's known as 'Daughter's Red'." Zhu Zijing gave a thumbs up.

"That must be very expensive, right?" Huang Feng couldn't help but ask, tempted.

"It's rare for us to get out, so I'll treat you!" Zhu Zigeng said generously.

“Okay…” Huang Feng was eager to go, but looking at the carriage in front of him, he finally resisted the temptation. “Let’s do it another day.”

"We won't wait until it's too late," Zhu Zigeng said in a muffled voice, his hopes of killing two birds with one stone dashed.

~~
On the carriage.

She Yunluo pulled the carriage curtain tighter, and Miss Zhu lifted the curtain of the bench. Hidden under the bench was a woman with heavy makeup and floral embellishments. Moreover, the woman's clothes were exactly the same as Huang E's.

Huang E looked at the woman with anticipation, and the woman chuckled softly, "Miss Huang, I am Haitang."

Only then did she recognize that it was Haitang, the maid of Miss Zhu, and the light in her eyes dimmed.

"What, did you think your patriot was hiding under there dressed as a woman?" Miss Zhu covered her mouth and teased her, "How could that be? He's not Sima Yi, and besides, how could a great man lie under a woman's skirt?"

"Sister, please stop joking. I'm so worried!" Huang E said with a pained expression. "I haven't seen him for almost half a year."

“It’s only been three months…” Miss Zhu muttered, then smiled and said, “I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t worry. Don’t fret, you’ll have plenty of time tonight.”

He then said to Haitang, "You do Miss She's makeup, and I'll do your hair."

"Okay." Haitang nodded, then opened the makeup box, first applying a thick layer of foundation to She Yunluo, and then using pearl powder to brighten her forehead, nose, and chin.

"Wait, she's meeting her lover, why is she putting makeup on me?" She Yunlu was a little confused.

"Because Haitang did her makeup." Miss Zhu said, as she restyled Haitang's hair into a double bun just like Huang E's, and used the same hair ornaments.

Huang E and Haitang are the same height, Haitang's face is slightly larger, but after applying heavy makeup, the difference is not noticeable.

Then, with the same hairstyle and hair accessories, in the dark, it would be completely indistinguishable from the real thing.

"Alright, it's your turn to hide." Miss Zhu patted Huang E's shoulder and pointed to the area under the seat.

Huang E was going all out and squeezed inside without hesitation...

Miss Zhu couldn't help but sigh again, wishing she could also have such a reckless day.

~~
The carriage stopped by the river. Along the stone path, many young women in their finest attire, holding osmanthus branches or lanterns, were singing as they walked under the moon.

She Yunlu couldn't wait to jump out of the car, startling Huang Feng.

Her face was covered in a thick layer of white powder, her lips were painted cherry-red, her cheeks were rouged, and she even had floral makeup on. If it weren't for her dress and hairstyle, he wouldn't have recognized her at all.
"What, never seen a beautiful woman before?" She Yunluo approached him.

"What's wrong with you?" Huang Feng was so frightened that he backed away, managing not to utter the word "ghost," which showed he had some manners.

"Are you questioning my makeup skills?" Miss Zhu also got out of the car, sporting the same makeup as She Yunluo. So much so that Huang Feng was already used to it when Huang E, the third person to get out with similar makeup, came out.

"Aren't you afraid of frightening the Moon Goddess by doing this?" Huang Feng asked.

"Mind your own business?" She Yunlu glared at him, reminding him, "Didn't we agree to pretend you don't exist?"

"Alright, alright." Huang Feng raised his hands in surrender and obediently followed behind the Zhu brothers. The three girls then joined hands and entered the Moonwalking group.

~~
The coachman then drove the carriage to a scenic spot to stop.

Then he eagerly lifted the carriage curtain and met the eyes of the girl inside the carriage. It was Su Lu and Huang E!

"Xiumei," Su Lu called out affectionately.

“Hongzhi…” Huang E was already in tears, and without hesitation threw herself into his arms.

After a hundred days of longing, a thousand emotions surged forth, and the two couldn't help but embrace.

The golden moon shone brightly through the car window, illuminating the interior. The two young lovers nestled together, endlessly expressing their longing after their separation, their whispered sweet nothings…

(End of this chapter)