Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Lantern Festival

The streets seemed endless, with no beginning in sight, just a distant spectacle of lanterns and people.

The interesting part is that between every few lantern stalls, there are places selling snacks, which are particularly enticing on this day.

Furthermore, it’s a day when women can show themselves freely, and while the young men are eager to see beauties on the streets, the ladies also want to step out of their usual reserved demeanor to get a glimpse of the gentlemen.

When Lin Youning and her group ventured out, they wore veils, which immediately indicated that they were daughters of wealthy families. With escorts surrounding them at the front and back, holding lanterns, it was obvious which mansion they hailing from.

But when they reached the lantern street, the crowd thickened, making it difficult to move. Waiting for the guards to clear a path was impossible. Surrounded by escorts, they broke into a sweat after only a few steps, and the joy of the outing was lost.

Sister Yue immediately felt displeased, “Look, no one else goes to see the lanterns like we do. I think it’s better we split up, so we don’t have to keep waiting for each other. It’s been half an hour, and we’ve hardly moved.”

Sister Hui remained silent, knowing that this was for the best.

But what if something happened?

She didn’t want to bear that responsibility, so she kept quiet.

Sister Jian and Sister Ran, being concubine’s daughters, dared not express opinions.

Lin Youning also hoped for this; otherwise, she couldn’t slip away secretly. “Since that’s the case, let it be as Sister Yue said. What do you think, Brother Er?”

Gu Er frowned, “To appreciate the lanterns, one needs company. It’s unsafe to wander alone, better to stay together.”

“Each person can have two escorts, plus the constant presence of government officers. How could it be unsafe?” Sister Yue mumbled softly, not daring to argue.

Lin Youning had anticipated Sister Yue’s temperament, so she wasn’t in a hurry as they set out, waiting for Sister Yue to relent. “Brother Er, let’s do it this way: you take Sister Hui and Sister Yue while I take Sister Jian and Sister Ran. The escorts will be split equally. We’ll meet by the moat, release the lanterns, and return together.”

Sister Jian and Sister Ran were easy to handle; when Lin Youning was with them, she naturally found a way to send them away.

“Why not do as you suggested,” Gu Er didn’t want to argue with Sister Ning but also wanted to be with her. After all, Sister Ning’s beauty was such that, even with a veil, her alluring figure was apparent.

But here they were the elders, and it wouldn’t be proper for them to stay together while the younger ones separated.

If anything happened, they would bear the blame.

After splitting up, Sister Yue promptly dashed into the crowd, while Gu Er gave Lin Youning a few more reminders. Seeing Sister Hui waiting, he embarrassingly chased after Sister Yue.

“Let’s go take a look as well,” Lin Youning said with a smile, calling Sister Jian and Sister Ran over. “With a crowd, it’s inconvenient to walk together. Let two escorts follow you, I’ll take one. If we get separated, we’ll meet by the moat.”

Sister Jian agreed obediently, while Sister Ran remained silent.

She raised her chin slightly, showing her disdain for Lin Youning, but Lin Youning didn’t care, and the three of them walked forward. Before long, she had discreetly shaken off the other two.

Sister Jian didn’t notice and quietly scolded her sister, “That’s Aunt, whom even Grandmother dotes on. Brother wasn’t happy with her and got punished by Grandmother; you saw it, yet why this attitude?”

Sister Ran huffed, “I just can’t stand her pride. She’s called our aunt, but she comes from a poor background. You know the New Year’s gifts from Lin Mansion — just some big dates from Shandong. With such parents, why should she be so high and mighty?”

“Alright, stop getting confused. Don’t say such things again,” Jian Ran reprimanded her sister and said no more.

She understood that her sister felt their aunt, despite her lowly origins, lived better than them. Although they were concubine’s daughters, they were still from the Marquis Mansion.

But the truth was, she did live better than them.

That’s why her sister remained resentful.

Looking up and not seeing their aunt anymore, Sister Jian, recalling the previous arrangement, didn’t panic, thinking it was just as well, preventing Sister Ran from saying anything else troublesome.

Having shaken off Sister Jian and Sister Ran, Lin Youning felt even more spirited, moving quickly despite her small stature. With a veil and the fabric of her clothes indicating her high status, people instinctively made way.

Shanmoi followed closely behind. As agreed upon leaving the mansion, they squeezed through the crowd, leaving the escorts behind.

But these escorts were, after all, soldiers under Gu Yifeng’s command. Lin Youning covered two streets only to find the escorts five paces behind, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

No need to try further; Lin Youning understood that she wouldn’t shake the escorts today.

Her plan was so well devised, but she missed this one thing.

Shanmoi panted heavily, glaring at the escorts. They, in turn, bravely stepped closer, thinking they weren’t doing well enough under her stare.

Shanmoi was furious, wanting to jump in anger.

“Huh, what’s this?” A voice from above reached her ears, and Lin Youning turned to look back.

Behind was a wall, or more precisely, a man’s chest, barely visible in the dim lantern light was a blue robe. Looking up, she recognized Xu Kuan and opened her mouth in surprise.

She didn’t expect to encounter him.

And in such a way.

She had been trying to shake off the escorts, squeezing through the crowd despite the discomfort, and now tired, she hid in a less crowded alley, unexpectedly running into Xu Kuan.

Glancing around, Xu Kuan seemed to be alone.

Lin Youning raised an eyebrow, finding it quite romantic for someone to watch lanterns alone.

“Do you recognize me?” He asked, noticing her looking at him. Though her face was veiled, her eyes betrayed familiarity.

Xu Kuan felt a strange delight in his heart.

Though the little girl in front of him was veiled, he wasn’t sure why he recognized her from behind, and her turning to him confirmed he hadn’t mistaken her identity.

Lin Youning slightly furrowed her brows; she sensed Xu Kuan was pleased to see her. But hadn’t they barely interacted before?

The incident in the bath was handled by her older brother, and she seldom left the mansion in this life. Counting childhood, they’d only met twice.

“A solitary pride that’s unmistakable — you’re from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, aren’t you?” Xu Kuan spoke again, with a hint of smugness in his tone.

This little child bride of his had crossed his path once more.

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