I am the champion of palace intrigue, and even the proud prince bows his head in submission.

Chapter 117 The man next to me exuding a cold aura

At this moment, a carriage departed from the palace and slowly made its way up Suzaku Street.

Lanterns hung at the four corners of the carriage, each bearing the character "谢" (xie, meaning thank you) written in calligraphy.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a little boy with delicate features peeked out, blinking his eyes as he looked around.

Looking at the various lanterns hanging outside and the pedestrians coming and going, Xie Jue was so excited that she couldn't help but jump around on the spot.

Qin Jiuwei couldn't help but chuckle when she saw this.

Xie Jue is still the same as always; he gets incredibly excited whenever he's outside.

But isn't that how kids are? If we don't let them play now, they'll have to prepare for the imperial examinations later. When will they have the time and mood to play?

Qin Jiuwei turned her gaze to Xie Yanli sitting beside her, a smile in her eyes.

"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Why don't we take Jue-ge'er out to the streets for a stroll? What do you think, my husband?"

Not only Xie Jue, but she also wanted to go out and see the streets. She had never participated in such an occasion before, neither in her past life nor in this one.

Upon hearing this, Xie Jue immediately jumped up happily, "Yay! Let's play! Let's go shopping!"

Seeing that the two of them were so enthusiastic, Xie Yanli could only chuckle helplessly, "Then let's take a stroll."

The three of them got off the carriage and strolled around the streets.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the lanterns are lit, they display a dazzling array of shapes and sizes.

People came out in droves, women dressed in their finest attire in groups, and men accompanied by relatives and friends.

Children played with lanterns, their laughter ringing out.

Xie Jue blinked her big eyes and pointed her little hand around on the street.

"I want to try this, and this one too... and this one!" He pestered Qin Jiuwei, pleading, "Mom, can you buy me some too?"

Xie Jue's spleen and stomach are much better now, but Qin Jiuwei is still worried that he will have indigestion if he eats too much.

In the end, I only bought candied hawthorn and pea flour cake.

Xie Jue ate so fast that he accidentally got pea flour cake on his face.

Qin Jiuwei took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and bent down to wipe Xie Jue's mouth.

Just then, a gentle male voice rang out, "Cousin."

Qin Jiu turned her gaze slightly and saw a man in a green robe with a straight posture. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

But she quickly realized what was happening and said gently, "What a coincidence? Cousin, you're here to visit the lantern festival too?"

Xie Yanli, who had been smiling to the side, turned cold the moment he saw Jiang Chirang.

unlucky.

Jiang Chirang approached with a smile and said softly, "I was just about to go to the Marquis's residence to find you and give you this—"

As he spoke, he picked up the lantern in his hand and showed it to the three of them.

Xie Jue's eyes lit up instantly when he saw the lantern.

Xie Yanli's eyes grew even colder.

The lanterns are made with bamboo strips as the frame, skillfully crafted to create a smooth and elegant outline.

The lampshade was carefully covered with a thin, delicate silk fabric that had a soft sheen.

The lantern depicts Chang'e, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn water, wearing a flowing, colorful fairy dress, as if she were really about to ride the wind away.

At the bottom of the lantern, several delicate tassels hang.

The tassels fluttered in the night breeze, swaying gently and adding a touch of lively beauty to the entire lantern.

Jiang Chirang chuckled and handed the lantern to Qin Jiuwei, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I'm giving this lantern to my cousin. I wish her all her wishes come true."

Qin Jiuwei stared blankly at the lantern handed to her, and did not take it.

Then I was speechless.

Cousin... please stop hurting me.

"It's such a waste to give me such a beautiful lantern. I'm already too old to play with lanterns. Please give the lantern and your good wishes to someone else, cousin." Qin Jiuwei declined.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chirang tightened his grip on the lantern, and his eyes dimmed slightly.

They slowly retrieved the lanterns that had been handed out.

Upon seeing the exquisite and beautiful Chang'e lantern, Xie Jue completely forgot about his father and everything else.

Seeing the lantern about to run away, they were extremely anxious.

Completely ignoring Xie Yanli's dark expression behind him, he hopped forward.

The little girl chattered, "Mother, why don't you want to? It's such a pretty lamp! If you don't want to play with it, let me!"

Seeing that Xie Jue liked it, Jiang Chirang handed the lantern to him directly.

My cousin loves these three children so much; they're happy, and my cousin will be happy too.

Xie Jue received the lantern and jumped up and down happily.

Standing to the side, Xie Yanli thought: ...I've raised you for nothing.

Seeing the child so happy, Xie Yanli wouldn't be so disappointed and insisted that Xie Jue return the lantern.

"Xie Jue," Xie Yanli said coldly, "you took your cousin's things, what should you say to him?"

Xie Jue grinned and chuckled, then bowed to Jiang Chirang.

"Thank you, cousin."

Jiang Chirang smiled and said, "You're welcome. If Jue-ge'er likes it, your uncle will make a lantern for him."

Seeing this, Qin Jiuwei breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, no fighting broke out...

Afterwards, the three continued to stroll around the lantern festival.

"Guess the riddles! The person who guesses three riddles correctly will receive a rabbit lantern!"

Upon hearing the words "rabbit lantern," Xie Jue couldn't move.

He turned to look at the lantern riddle area, where rows of colorful lanterns hung, each with a slip of paper bearing a riddle.

On the display stand next to it, there were several exquisite and adorable rabbit lanterns.

Those rabbit lanterns are incredibly lifelike, with fluffy bodies, long, upright ears, and red eyes that sparkle like jewels.

Xie Jue blinked her big eyes and reached out to tug at Qin Jiuwei's sleeve.

Qin Jiuwei couldn't help but chuckle. Even if Xie Jue didn't say anything, she knew what this kid was thinking.

She reached out and gently pinched Xie Jue's nose.

"You want the lantern, don't you? I'll win it for you when your mother does!"

Xie Jue jumped up high immediately, "Mother, you're so wonderful! I love you the most, Mother!"

The group walked to the place where they were guessing riddles.

This area is the liveliest, with a large crowd already gathered, all racking their brains to find the answers to the riddles.

The old man tending the stall noticed that the group was dressed in fine clothes and spoke with more respect.

"Young master and madam, would you like to try guessing this riddle?"

Qin Jiuwei said gently, "I'll give it a try."

She looked at the riddle under the lantern in front of her, and saw that it was written on a piece of paper.

"Birds sing idly in the deep forest, dappled green shadows fall on the stone spring. Guess a flower."

Qin Jiuwei paused for a moment, then said gently, "Orchids. Orchids mostly grow in secluded mountain forests, their green leaves accompanying the rocky springs, which perfectly matches the poetic imagery."

"Congratulations, Madam, you've answered correctly! It is indeed an orchid!" The old man nodded with a smile, and several exclamations of praise rang out from the surrounding crowd.

Xie Jue was the most enthusiastic, clapping her little hands until they were rosy red.

"Mom is so amazing! Mom is so amazing!"

At this time, not far away.

"Brother Xian, it's so lively over there!" Mo Qingkui was dressed in a plain silk dress and her face was covered with a veil.

Pointing to the riddle-solving area, she said in a high-pitched, cheerful voice, "Shall we go take a look?"

Gao Xian, dressed in a black robe, also looked in the direction she was pointing.