"Alas, the stuff in this store is really good!"
"Do you like it? Pick one and I'll give it to you." Yong Yaxuan looked at Ji Feiyu tenderly.
Ji Feiyu nodded immediately. Then Yong Yaxuan said playfully, "But it seems I didn't bring enough money!"
Ji Feiyu was dissatisfied. She gave him a sidelong glance and gently punched him.
He exaggeratedly gasped and touched his chest, saying, "I was just joking. You don't have to take it seriously!" He acted as if she had slapped him hard. Ji Feiyu said, "Keep acting."
Yong Yaxuan burst into a hearty laugh. He hadn't felt so relaxed for a long time. It was only when he was with Ji Feiyu and when he shed the identity of the emperor.
...
As they walked and stopped along the way, the sky gradually darkened, and the number of pedestrians on the street began to increase. During the day, everyone was busy sacrificing to their ancestors, so there weren't many people. At night, when it was time to release river lanterns and the ancestor - worshiping was over, people came out one after another. Since there was a demand for river lanterns, merchants started selling pre - made ones. Over time, driven by profit, many other peddlers gathered, and a night market emerged along the moat.
Ji Feiyu held Yong Yaxuan's hand and walked through the crowd, stopping from time to time. They bought quite a few small trinkets. By now, as the sacrifices of every household were over, some people went to the Buddhist service, while others, like them, were waiting to release river lanterns. The whole street was bustling with activity.
When Ji Feiyu's hands were full of all kinds of snacks and she was dragging Yong Yaxuan through the crowd, it was completely dark. Everyone began to gather by the river to light lanterns for the deceased.
No one knew exactly when the tradition of releasing river lanterns on the Zhongyuan Festival started. Some said that these lanterns could light the way from the world of the living to the underworld and guide the souls of the dead, which was an act of kindness. So Ji Feiyu dragged Yong Yaxuan and happily bought a dozen or so lanterns. After they bought them, the following conversation took place:
"Susu, why did you buy so many?"
"Because the more, the better."
"Then why did you choose these big and beautiful ones?"
"Because I want to outshine everyone else!"
"..."
By the river, Yong Yaxuan took out a fire starter to light it. But unfortunately, there was wind by the river. As soon as the fire starter was lit, it went out. Yong Yaxuan tried several more times and finally managed to light it. Ji Feiyu carefully held the river lantern with both hands and looked at him with shining eyes.
As soon as Yong Yaxuan lit the fire, he said, "Hurry up!"
Ji Feiyu immediately handed over the lantern. Yong Yaxuan leaned forward with the fire starter and finally lit the first river lantern. Ji Feiyu let out a happy cry and carried the lantern to the river to release it. Yong Yaxuan then squatted down to light the second one.
The night in July still carried a hint of heat, but the river water at night was refreshingly cool. Ji Feiyu gently stirred the water to make the lantern drift towards the middle of the river, avoiding the lanterns released by others.
By now, Yong Yaxuan had lit the second lantern and urged her to take it. Ji Feiyu saw the man in front of her carefully holding the lantern with one hand, looking at her expectantly. Her heart was filled with warmth. At this moment, he was no longer a high - and - mighty emperor, but an ordinary man accompanying his wife.
Ji Feiyu took the lantern with a warm heart and went to release the second one.
Now, all kinds of river lanterns were floating on the cool river, drifting with the current and lighting up the entire river surface.
Yong Yaxuan lit the lanterns one by one, and Ji Feiyu released them one by one. They felt that the floating lanterns and the earthly pleasures were truly beautiful.
For the last lantern, Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan held it together and placed it on the water surface. Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Yong Yaxuan's face. He let Ji Feiyu stir the water for a while before taking her hand out of the water. He doted on her and said, "They say that during the Zhongyuan Festival, the river has the heaviest yin energy. You dare to play in it for so long."
Ji Feiyu said indifferently, "So what? With you here, I don't believe they dare to come for me."
Yong Yaxuan smiled, picked up her hand and wiped it on his chest. "Let them all come for me. I'll protect you."
Ji Feiyu dried her hand and then put her arms around his neck, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. Yong Yaxuan put his arms around her waist and smiled faintly.
Just then, there was a commotion in the crowd. Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan looked in the direction of the sound. At a street corner, a large group of people was slowly approaching. Someone was chanting in unison, "Connect the yin and yang, know the past lives, light the soul - guiding lanterns, and send off the dead..."
During this, the clear sound of copper bells rang out, shaking people's hearts.
Then came a few smaller voices. "Come on, everyone has a chance. Write down what you want to say to your deceased relatives on the paper strip. Our cult leader will convey it for you..."
People around them kept rushing over. Yong Yaxuan nudged her and said, "Don't you want to go and have a look?"
Ji Feiyu nodded immediately. "Sure." Then she pulled him and walked towards the street corner with a bit of anticipation.
By now, a group of onlookers had gathered at the street corner. Some people were holding the paper strips and writing on them with their hands after dipping them in some kind of powder. People kept coming and going.
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan stood not far away, watching their grand procession approaching. The whole procession was moving very slowly. There were countless beautiful girls wearing light veils and holding soul - catching bells following the procession from front to back. The men distributing and collecting the paper strips on the side were also handsome. But they seemed to think there were too many peddlers near the moat and didn't plan to go there. Instead, they turned from this street corner to another street.
Not long after, a huge red - lacquered sedan chair with a lotus pattern was slowly carried by eight strong men from the back of the procession. A canopy was supported by four thin columns on the sedan chair. Red and white light veils were fluttering around the canopy. A gorgeously dressed red - clothed woman was sitting on the sedan chair, with a charming figure. As the night wind blew, the light veils fluttered. The woman on the sedan chair looked back and smiled. It was a fleeting glance, but she was truly a stunning beauty.
"The cult leader of Ronghua is so beautiful that she can topple a nation. She can communicate with the dead and do anything..."
The chanting in unison changed to such lyrics. Yong Yaxuan whispered in her ear, "What a beauty that can topple a nation."
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu immediately looked at him. She saw that he was staring intently at the woman. Anger welled up in her heart. She stretched out two fingers and tried to poke his eyes. But he seemed to have anticipated it. He stretched out a hand and directly covered his eyes, so she only poked his hand.
"Humph!" Ji Feiyu took back her hand in frustration. But he put down his hand, turned to her and smiled. "My eyes have just recovered, and you want to cause trouble?"
Ji Feiyu said proudly, "You deserve it."
But he ignored her. His eyes suddenly lit up. He pointed forward and exclaimed, "What a handsome man!"
Ji Feiyu quickly turned her head to look for him. "Where?"
He immediately laughed softly. "See, you're no different."
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but pout. "You lied to me!"
Yong Yaxuan said, "Everyone has a love for beauty. But I was just teasing you when I looked at her. After all, no one in this world is as beautiful as you."
Ji Feiyu pretended to hit him. "I think you're itching for a beating."
Just as they were playing around, the sedan chair of the so - called cult leader of Ronghua had already passed by. At this time, a small sedan chair followed. A young boy in gorgeous clothes was lying lazily on it. The boy's features were extremely delicate and good - looking. At this moment, he was lying on his side, eating the cherries in his hand. The cherries beside his lips looked fresh and juicy against his fair skin. His eyes were clean and clear. Just then, he looked out, and it seemed as if he could see through people's hearts. As the wind blew the light veils on the sedan chair, his beautiful face was faintly visible, giving people an inexplicable illusion of being either a demon or a celestial being.