With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Just as they finished tidying up, a maid from Qin Senyao's courtyard came to deliver a message, saying that the young master asked Miss Yun to wait at the gate of the mansion so that they could go to the lantern festival together.

Yun Nian did not refuse and led Qi Luo to the entrance of the Prince's Mansion.

Before long, Qin Senyao and Qin Jiaxue arrived side by side.

Qin Senyao had also changed into a brand new royal blue brocade robe today, which made him look quite presentable.

Qin Jiaxue wore a pale yellow dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, looking radiant and her face beaming with undisguised excitement.

"Nian'er, you've come."

When Qin Senyao saw Yun Nian, his gaze lingered on her for a moment, seemingly surprised by her attire today, but he quickly looked away and casually said, "Let's go, Xue'er said she wants to go see what's going on."

Qin Jiaxue affectionately took Qin Senyao's arm and smiled sweetly at Yun Nian: "Sister Yun Nian looks so beautiful today. Standing next to my brother, you two are truly a perfect couple."

She offered compliments, but there was little sincerity in her eyes.

Yun Nian was too lazy to engage in any pretense with her, and simply maintained a distant yet polite smile.

Without saying anything more, he followed the two men toward the busiest East Street.

The streets were indeed packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

All kinds of lanterns illuminated the night as if it were daytime.

Qin Jiaxue was like a bird released from its cage, finding everything new and exciting, and chattering incessantly.

Qin Senyao stayed by her side every step of the way, buying her whatever she wanted with great patience, while leaving Yun Nian, his official fiancée, out in the cold.

Yun Nian didn't care and just silently observed her surroundings.

Arriving at a stall specializing in selling all kinds of lanterns, Qin Jiaxue took a fancy to an exquisite peacock lantern, and Qin Senyao naturally paid for it without hesitation.

When he was paying, he seemed to remember Yun Nian behind him. He casually picked up a lotus lantern from the stall, turned around and handed it to her, "This is for you."

Yun Nian looked up, a flawless, sweet smile blooming on her face. She took the lamp with both hands and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Qin Senyao reached out and tucked a wisp of hair behind Yun Nian's ear, looking very affectionate. "It's good to dress up when you're out and about. You look beautiful today."

Yun Nian lowered her head shyly and smiled.

This scene happened to be seen by a person standing by the railing in a private room on the second floor of a restaurant not far away.

Qin Jiuchen was unusually not wearing black today, but instead wore a dark blue casual outfit, which made him look less austere and more refined.

He had his arms behind his back, his slender fingers twirling a string of black jade prayer beads.

He lowered his eyes expressionlessly, watching the scene below as Qin Senyao handed the lantern to Yun Nian amidst the bustling crowd, and Yun Nian accepted it with a smile.

The prayer beads spun slowly and steadily between his fingers, making a very soft friction sound.

Chen Sha, who was standing behind him, held his breath and dared not disturb him.

After a long pause, Qin Jiuchen finally spoke calmly, "Let's go for a walk."

"Yes," Chen Sha replied immediately.

Downstairs, Qin Jiaxue couldn't wait to pull Qin Senyao forward: "Brother, Sister Yun Nian, let's hurry, the most exciting 'Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers' performance for the Qixi Festival is about to begin, we can't miss it."

The three followed the flow of people to the largest square in the city center.

A high platform had already been erected here, and the area was completely surrounded by people.

After finally squeezing my way to the VIP viewing area near the front, I had just settled down when I heard someone calling out to me.

"Sister Yun Nian!"

Yun Nian turned around and saw Yun Wei, who was accompanied by a richly dressed, arrogant young girl, who was none other than Princess Danyang of General Yu Yuan's mansion.

Princess Danyang came from a military family; her father held military power, and she was favored by the Empress Dowager. She was known for her arrogance and domineering nature among the noble ladies in the capital.

Yunwei had somehow managed to climb up to her and was now following closely beside her.

When Qin Jiaxue saw Princess Danyang, her eyes lit up, and she immediately went up to her affectionately: "Sister Danyang, you've come too!"

Her gaze fell on a jade pendant hanging from Princess Danyang's waist.

The jade pendant is entirely emerald green, with exquisite carving. It shimmers under the light, making it clear at a glance that it is no ordinary item.

"Oh! Sister Danyang's jade pendant is so exquisite. Could it be the 'Azure Sea and Blue Sky' pendant bestowed upon you by the Empress Dowager?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Danyang's smug expression deepened, and she arrogantly raised her chin: "It was indeed bestowed by the Empress Dowager. You do have some discernment after all."

She basked in the envious glances from the other noble ladies around her, which greatly satisfied her vanity.

Qin Jiaxue naturally showered him with praise, and the atmosphere became lively.

At this moment, the crowd parted slightly, and Qin Jiuchen, accompanied by Chen Sha, walked over unhurriedly.

Although he was only dressed in casual clothes, his innate cold and dignified demeanor still made the surrounding noise unconsciously quiet down.

The moment Princess Danyang saw him, her eyes lit up. She quickly composed herself and forced out what she thought was her most beautiful smile to greet him.

"Prince Ningxiang, you've come to see the performance too? What a coincidence!"

Princess Danyang's voice was sweet and delicate, a stark contrast to her previous arrogance.

Qin Jiuchen merely nodded slightly, his gaze not lingering on her, and walked straight to the reserved seat.

Qin Senyao and other noble young men and women also stood by his side.

Yun Nian happened to be standing behind Qin Jiuchen.

Soon, the grand "Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers" performance began.

The melodious music and graceful dance moves, along with the falling petals that accompanied the dancers' movements, created a breathtaking spectacle that drew cheers from the crowd.

Yun Nian watched with great focus, and once left to go to the washroom.

About an incense stick later, she quietly returned.

The performance had reached its climax, and everyone was completely absorbed in it.

suddenly!

A sharp scream shattered the harmonious atmosphere.

"My jade pendant! The 'Azure Sea and Blue Sky' bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager is gone!"

Princess Danyang's face turned deathly pale. Her hands frantically searched her waist and then bent down to look on the ground.

The emerald green jade pendant that she had been so proud of, hanging at her waist, had now vanished.

Immersed in the performance, everyone turned their attention to her.

"Gone? How could it be gone?!"

The maids and nannies around Princess Danyang panicked and quickly squatted down to search carefully around the seats and on the ground.

"It must have been stolen!"

Princess Danyang trembled with rage, her pretty face contorted in anger. "It was just hanging on my waist a moment ago! In such a short time, it must have been stolen by some unscrupulous thief in the crowd. That's a jade pendant bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager! If I can't find it, how... how am I supposed to explain this to the Empress Dowager?!"

The more she talked, the more frightened and angry she became, looking around as if everyone looked suspicious.

"Shelp off this area! Nobody's allowed to leave! The thief is definitely still here!"

She sternly ordered her guards and maids, "Search them! Search them one by one! I refuse to believe we can't find them!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.