Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

Zhao Wan invited everyone to look at the location of the lanterns, which was called "Lanyunlou," the tallest restaurant in Liangzhou City.

Located in the most prosperous area of ​​the city, it was a favorite place for high-ranking officials and nobles, just like the "Zuihualou" in the capital.

The princess had already secured the best private box in the building, which was very convenient for watching the performances or the lantern festival outside.

The streets tonight are indeed more lively than usual.

This is enough to show that most of the people of Liangzhou have recovered from that calamity and started a new life.

When the carriage arrived at Lanyun Tower, the manager and staff came out to greet the occupants.

Seeing Zhao Wan and Xia Ximo get out of the car together, their eyes lit up.

They all began to speculate about Xia Ximo's identity, thinking, "If she can be on equal footing with Princess Fenghua, could she be a princess in the palace?"

Following closely behind the princess, several young men alighted from the carriage, each possessing an extraordinary air.

With A-Xia's help, Yan Zhengchu got off the carriage. He had even changed into an elegant brocade robe, and he looked much better.

Thus, led by Princess Fenghua and Xia Ximo, the group followed closely behind and entered the private room inside the building.

Before long, some prominent figures from Liangzhou City came up to toast the princess.

Zhao Wan was unusually happy and accepted almost everyone who came, giving them face.

As night deepened, the banquet in the private room had been underway for some time.

As everyone ate and drank, they could see through the windows a dazzling array of lanterns illuminating the streets, and even on the moat not far away, lanterns floated on the water, lighting up the entire river.

Inside the Lanyue Tower, many dancers and musicians took to the stage, playing instruments and singing, their laughter never ceasing.

The innkeeper even came to inform us that there was a "grand finale" tonight, which was guaranteed to be spectacular.

This, as expected, piqued Zhao Wan's interest.

"Then when the show is about to air, send someone to let us know."

As Zhao Wan spoke, she pulled Xia Ximo to go outside and watch the excitement.

"I just saw some sugar figurines for sale on the street, let's go buy one and try it."

Influenced by her personality, Xia Ximo was no longer as dull as before. Hearing that they were going to buy sugar figurines, he found it quite novel.

After going downstairs, Zhao Wan refused to let the guards follow her and led Xia Ximo across the street, intending to find the candy vendor herself.

I looked and looked, but I still couldn't find him.

Just then, a young man in brocade robes stepped forward and gave Zhao Wan a polite bow.

"Greetings, Princess Fenghua."

Zhao Wan saw that although this person was unfamiliar, he had very handsome features, a tall and slender figure, and a clear and pleasant voice. He was quite attractive.

She asked, "Who are you?"

"My surname is Shangguan, and my given name is Jue."

Upon hearing that the surname was Shangguan, Zhao Wan immediately understood that there was only one prominent family in Liangzhou City with the surname Shangguan.

"Oh, so it's Young Master Shangguan."

Shangguan Jue smiled, then suddenly turned around and waved. The servants following behind him brought over the candy vendor.

"I overheard the princess mentioning she wanted to buy sugar figurines while I was inside, so I had my servants keep an eye out for them."

Seeing that he had catered to her preferences, Zhao Wan felt naturally pleased. "Young Master Shangguan is truly considerate."

As he spoke, he and Xia Ximo went to buy sugar figurines.

The vendor had sold out of the sugar figurines he had made earlier and was about to pack up and go home when the princess wanted to eat some, so he had to make some fresh.

Just as they were struggling with this, Zhao Wan spoke up: "No rush, you can just do one of them. I can wait here."

The two of them, like children, gathered around the vendor's stall, watching him make sugar figurines, which added to their enjoyment.

This was Xia Ximo's first time experiencing this kind of folk craft up close, and for a moment, she observed it with even more care and attention than Zhao Wan.

Suddenly, he noticed a burning gaze fixed on him, which distracted him for a moment.

She turned her head and her eyes met Shangguan Jue's.

It turned out that he had been observing him the whole time.

Xia Ximo gave him a cold glance, which was considered a warning.

Shangguan Jue was also very observant. Realizing that he had been impolite, he quietly took a step back.

But the woman before him, both in temperament and appearance, had deeply captivated his heart.

Once this heart is stirred, it's hard to control.

He couldn't help but look at her. As his gaze lingered on her, a wicked thought arose in his mind, and he couldn't wait to find out the woman's identity.

Suddenly, a man's figure blocked his way...

Shangguan Jue frowned in displeasure, about to scold whoever dared to block his way, but upon closer inspection, he was slightly taken aback.

The man in front of me was tall and slender, wearing a sky-blue brocade robe with a dark pattern, and a black cloak over it.

His attire was understated, yet it couldn't conceal his innate air of nobility.

His eyes were cold and his aura was imposing. Shangguan Jue lost his confidence after just one glance from him.

But knowing that his beloved was nearby, even if he was intimidated, he absolutely could not lose his composure.

"And what is the meaning of this, young master?"

Shangguan Jue asked the question with a straight face.

Ren Fengjue, standing before him, remained motionless, not budging an inch, and simply said, "What is the meaning of staring at other girls like that?"

His question was so direct that Shangguan Jue felt a little embarrassed, but then she thought, how did you know I was looking at her? Were you looking at her too?

Hmph, so we're all on the same page. What right do you have to criticize me?

"This young lady is beautiful..."

He was about to expose the other person when, before he could finish a sentence, the person in front of him raised their elbow and struck him in the chin, causing him to stagger backward and fall to the ground.

When he realized what was happening, blood was spilling from his mouth, and he became furious.

Seeing their young master being bullied, the servants nearby rolled up their sleeves, ready to step forward and teach Ren Fengjue a lesson.

Having already heard the commotion, Zhao Wan immediately shouted, "Stop!"

Holding the finished sugar figurine, she walked up to Shangguan Jue and said with a smile, "Young Master Shangguan, you should be glad that you only glanced at this young lady a few times. Otherwise, if the young master of the Renxuan Marquis's mansion got jealous, this princess wouldn't be able to stop him."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Jue's anger subsided instantly.

He looked at Ren Fengjue, his face filled with panic: "Princess, you mean this is...Young Marquis Ren?"

As a nobleman from Liangzhou City, how could he not know the name of Ren Fengjue?

Moreover, his father named him "Jue" after the character "Jue" in the young marquis's name...

Zhao Wan handed Xia Ximo a sugar figurine and replied casually, "Would I lie to you?"

Shangguan Jue hurriedly apologized to Ren Fengjue, finally managing to keep his eyes from looking at Xia Ximo.

He had originally thought he could take the opportunity to flirt with the beautiful woman, but now he was so frightened that he didn't even dare to look at the lanterns and ran away on his knees.

Watching Shangguan Jue flee in panic, Zhao Wan said to Ren Fengjue, "Look how scared he is, he'll have nightmares when he gets back."

Ren Fengjue's expression remained unchanged, but he turned to look at Xia Ximo, who was holding a sugar figurine and tasting it, as if everything in front of her was irrelevant.

Under the lights, she was indeed dazzling, and it's no wonder that people couldn't bear to look away...

Just then, a waiter from Lanyue Tower suddenly ran over to report: "Princess Qi, the grand finale in the tower is about to begin, and we're waiting for you."