The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 146 Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival.

On that day, the Imperial Guards were on leave and did not need to train, but Xiao Yi, without fail, got up early to practice martial arts.

He sensed a high probability that he would fight Li Chongjin tonight.

After bathing and changing, they first went to the residence on Guanqian Street. It was too big to explore completely, so they hired someone to prepare two rooms to make it easier for Zhang Wan to stay.

Afterwards, he visited Li Tao's residence, went around to the back side gate to enter, had some tea, and then talked with Li Fang.

"Brother Mingyuan, why have you been staying at Lord Xinchen's residence all this time?"

"It's because I'm short of money."

Xiao Yi said, "The Su Fengji residence I acquired was expanded from four ten-acre houses, covering a total area of ​​over forty acres, which is too large for me. I plan to divide it into four parts: the Li residence in the northeast corner will be returned to Madam Li, and the southeast corner will be given to Brother Mingyuan. What do you think?"

"What about the money owed?"

"Brother Mingyuan, please help me out a few more times in the future."

"I mean, how much money do you owe me?"

"It's all wiped clean."

"Do not."

"Why?"

"You've got a clever plan, but if my clan..."

Li Fang seemed to have something more to say, so he shook his head and said, "If I buy your house, I'll have to spend money on renovations. I live in the Xinchen Mansion, where I can read thousands of books. In the future, someone will bestow a large mansion upon me. This is what is meant by 'there is a golden house in the books'."

Xiao Yi smiled wryly and said, "It's not easy to live in a big house."

"What? The deal really went wrong?"

"I've found a craftsman to make glass as a substitute for crystal. Brother Mingyuan, could you give me some advice?"

Li Fang waved his hand and said, "Come ask me again when the craftsmen can't solve it."

We had lunch at the Li residence; the dishes were exquisite.

Xiao Yi knew that Li Zhaoning had put a lot of effort into preparing it, but he didn't see her.

When we came out after we finished eating, we saw her standing in the corridor with a food box in her hand.

"Was the food delicious today?"

"Come to the table with us next time, and you'll know for sure."

"As a guest in someone else's home, how can I be so rude?" Li Zhaoning quickly changed the subject, saying, "I've prepared a carriage, so you won't be riding a horse, will you?"

"it is good."

The two then rode together in a carriage.

Li Zhaoning had previously said he wanted to tame wild horses, but in reality, he wasn't very good at riding.

The carriage was enclosed, with a faint fragrance in the air. As the carriage jolted, there were occasional physical collisions, but the two seemed quite at ease.

"I heard there's a particularly beautiful Aoshan lantern at the lantern festival tonight."

"Really? An Yuanzhen probably can't see it."

"It's too pitiful for her to be alone in Taiping Palace. May I keep her company tonight?"

Xiao Yi turned his head to look, and Li Zhaoning's eyes seemed to be misty with tears.

It was as if they were asking her if it was pitiful for her to stroll around the lanterns alone tonight, and if they could keep her company.

But tonight is a difficult night to plan.

"I'll talk to the guard and see if you can stay with her for the night."

"it is good."

"Is there any news about your brother?"

"Not yet. Jiangnan is far away, and finding someone isn't that easy."

The topics they were discussing were all trivial, because their hands touched lightly.

As Xiao Yi felt the smooth, cool sensation on the back of his hand, he had a strange premonition that he might encounter some trouble today.

Upon arriving at Taiping Palace, my premonition grew even stronger.

As soon as he arrived at the moon gate of the guest courtyard, a palace maid saw him and immediately ran to announce his arrival.

"My lady, General Xiao has come to see you."

"Hmph, that heartless bastard, tell him I'm already dead."

"Please, my lady, stop talking nonsense."

Xiao Yiju stepped inside and saw An Yuanzhen sitting with her back to the door, wiping away tears. She looked much thinner.

But she's actually the type who looks better when she's fuller.

"Madam An".

"You still have the nerve to come here? I treated you so well, even sending a message to my father to buy cotton cloth for you, and you only remember me now? You wicked person."

An Yuanzhen, who speaks in a delicate and sweet voice when she is not playing the empress, is even more melancholic today, making it seem as if Xiao Yi owes her something.

Turning his head, he saw that Li Zhaoning was indeed staring at him, and seemed to let out a soft snort of dissatisfaction.

"Mom, I've come to see you."

"what?"

An Yuanzhen turned her head and looked at him, her expression blank.

Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback. He thought she was wiping away tears, but he didn't expect her to be applying lip rouge in front of a small bronze mirror.

Before she finished applying the cream, her cherry lips were slightly red.

"Waaah... Young lady... You're the best to me. I knew he was avoiding me, how could he possibly come to see me?"

"You suffered."

Li Zhaoning stepped forward and, seemingly by accident, stepped on Xiao Yi's boot.

The two women then embraced and cried, creating a rather comical scene, though their occasional glances at each other were rather unfriendly.

Xiao Yi thought to himself, if they were really that close, why didn't An Yuanzhen come to Li Zhaoning's rescue when her property was confiscated?

Of course, it can't be called hypocrisy; everyone has their own way of surviving.

"I brought you some pastries, would you like some?"

"Yes, you're still the best."

The two opened the food box, which contained only four pastries. An Yuanzhen seemed to have a hard time choosing, and after picking for a while, she said, "I want to eat them all."

"It was meant for you, but you ate it all."

“I don’t have a big appetite like him, I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish it.”

"It's alright, you can pick one first, and I'll bring you more next time. There are red bean cakes, osmanthus cakes, apricot blossom cakes, and peach blossom cakes."

"I've never seen peach cake before, your craftsmanship is truly amazing."

An Yuanzhen picked up a pink pastry, took a small bite, and glanced over at Li Zhaoning while he looked down, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Li Zhaoning took a piece of red bean cake, tasted it, and handed over the food box, saying softly, "You eat it."

"it is good."

Although the conversation was simple, it had a familiar feel to it.

Seeing that there was still a piece of white cake and a piece of apricot-colored pastry left in the food box, Xiao Yi suddenly remembered something. When he bought cotton cloth earlier, the shop still had a bolt of apricot-colored cloth, which was quite beautiful. He could go and buy it for Zhang Wan when he had time.

He sat quietly eating his pastries without saying a word.

An Yuanzhen wouldn't let him off the hook. After a while, she steered the conversation back to him, saying, "He was as well-behaved as a cat today. You don't know, he's incredibly bold and wicked."

"But I wonder what Xiao Lang has done?"

"Well, it's nothing."

Xiao Yi looked over, but An Yuanzhen stammered and couldn't say anything.

She probably intended to scare him a little, but ended up feeling a bit awkward.

He simply threw a handkerchief at him.

"We want to go see the lanterns, will you take us?"

"I'm afraid Madam An won't be able to go."

"Hmph, who said that? I paid a donation, and the new emperor allowed me to go. If you don't believe me, ask the guards outside the gate... Young Lady, how about we go see the lanterns later?"

Xiao Yi then went outside Taiping Palace and asked the guards. He was indeed given an order to allow An Yuanzhen to leave Taiping Palace to watch the lanterns, but he had to make sure that she did not get lost.

He glanced at the sky and realized that it was already late afternoon.

He then went back to Li Zhaoning and said, "I still have some official business to attend to. Shall I take you back first?"

"I'd like to accompany my stepmother to see the lanterns. Can you come after you finish your official duties?"

Seeing the expectation in her eyes, Xiao Yi calculated in his mind that Guo Xin would have to return to the palace by 7:45 PM after coming out to watch the lanterns.

"Then I will come to Zhouqiao to find you at Hai Shi (9-11 PM)."

"it is good."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiao Yi regretted them, feeling that he had acted impulsively and had put himself in a precarious situation.

But having made the promise, and seeing how happy Li Zhaoning seemed, it wasn't good to go back on it.

Upon leaving Taiping Palace, he discovered that he hadn't brought his horse. Fortunately, the palace was not far from here, so he went to wait at the palace.

Before long, Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin arrived in a horse-drawn carriage with their wives.

"I said I couldn't find Xiao Lang, but it turns out he was already waiting here. He really cares."

"It just so happens to be nearby."

Suddenly, light snow began to fall from the sky.

Not long after, a figure wearing a chubby baby mask emerged, escorted by palace servants, a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time.

She wore a white blouse with a long skirt, covered by a fox fur coat, and was holding a paper umbrella.

Guo Xin did not bring Zhang Wan with her; instead, she was followed by the two Shatuo female guards.

When she was right in front of him, she didn't remove her mask, and said in a deep voice, "You little brat, do you still remember me?"

Xiao Yi casually flicked the chubby baby.

Guo Xin laughed and scolded, "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"

She lifted the mask, revealing another mask underneath, a rather frightening one.

Xiao Yi couldn't help but smile, while Li Chongjin next to him burst into laughter.

"Haha, you're so clever."

Xiao Yi looked over and saw Li Chongjin holding Madam Ma's arm, his gaze towards Guo Xin filled with affection. He suddenly realized that if Li Chongjin found out something, the worst thing that could happen wouldn't be a fight.

Given Li Chongjin's personality, an even worse outcome was that he beat all his other female lovers to death.

A chill ran through him, and he even suppressed his smile.

"Let's go see the lanterns on the Imperial Street..."

Guo Wei valued frugality, and during the Lantern Festival, there were no palace banquets or imperial processions to view the lanterns, in order to avoid spending too much money. He only did not prohibit folk entertainment.

As dusk settled, the group headed south from the palace and soon arrived near Fanlou.

Looking around the Imperial Street, it was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere. It wasn't spectacular, but it did show a rare sense of peace and tranquility during the festival.

Children ran by carrying rabbit lanterns and fish lanterns.

The vendors' shouts rose and fell, selling fried dough sticks, iced dumplings, and crystal-clear sashimi, all of which Xiao Yi had neither heard of nor tasted.

Zhang Yongde suggested first, "How about we try solving riddles?"

Li Chongjin exclaimed, "What's the point of guessing riddles? I heard that the Xiangguo Temple built a magnificent lantern called Aoshan Lantern..."

"I will not go to Daxiangguo Temple."

Fearing that Guo Xin might be reminded of painful memories, Xiao Yi quickly changed the subject, saying, "How about we go to Fanlou to get something to eat first, and then watch a variety show?"

"You're always thinking about food..."

"Let's go to Fanlou."

"Okay, I'm hungry too."

But then they saw a large lantern erected in front of Fanlou, depicting overseas fairy mountains, rare birds and animals, and even bamboo strips that could be used to drive the lanterns. Immortals waved their sleeves, and cranes stretched their necks and cried out, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

As Xiao Yi was walking, he suddenly saw someone waving at him. He turned around and saw Li Zhaoning and An Yuanzhen watching the lanterns.

He paused, waited for the others to enter Fanlou first, and then walked over.

"What a coincidence."

Li Zhaoning asked with a smile, "Are you done with your work?"

An Yuanzhen scolded, "You said it was official business, but you came here to drink."

"The two military officers who accompanied me came."

"I saw it. That black guy climbed onto your head. Who's the masked person? That's interesting."

Xiao Yi turned his head and saw Guo Xin standing at the entrance of Fanlou, looking around as if searching for him in the crowd.

Where are you planning to go?

"I wanted to get something to eat at Fanlou, but there were no seats available."

"Wait, let me go ask."

"Well, you are somewhat useful."

Xiao Yi then turned and entered Fanlou. Squeezing through the crowd, Guo Xin spotted him and asked with a smile, "Where did you run off to just now? Haven't you ever seen such a lantern before?"

"I met two friends."

"Let's go, my brother-in-law asked around, and we can see variety shows in a private room."

"Where are they?"

Xiao Yi's bad premonition grew stronger.

He thought to himself that he clearly hadn't agreed to date them yet, but somehow he had ended up in this situation.

"it is good!"

Cheers erupted in the lobby, and the crowd surged.

"They're over there, let's hurry over!"

Suddenly, Guo Xin grabbed Xiao Yi's wrist and led him towards the stairs.

(End of this chapter)