Actually, the strangest thing in this world is not being crowned queen for the second time under a different name, but seeing your former name written on a memorial tablet while paying tribute to your ancestors.
On the day of the Ghost Festival, Ji Feiyu was startled by her own memorial tablet. Then Yong Yaxuan stepped forward and supported her, saying, "It's time. Why aren't you paying your respects?"
Ji Feiyu mumbled a couple of words, glanced at him, and then looked at her own memorial tablet. Yong Yaxuan immediately understood. He raised the corners of his mouth and whispered in her ear, "Now you know how I feel on festivals like this when sacrifices need to be made."
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu couldn't help but sigh. Their relationship had been so full of hardships.
After paying respects to the ancestors and herself one by one in order, Ji Feiyu finally managed to walk out of that solemn and stately place and let out a long breath.
Yong Yaxuan followed closely behind. He waved away the crowd behind them and then took her in his arms. "My dear consort, I heard that there are many activities in the civilian world today. How about we go out of the palace and take a look?"
Ji Feiyu looked at him in surprise. "Your Majesty, didn't you invite great Buddhist masters to set up an altar in the palace to deliver all sentient beings? Why do you still want to go and look around in the streets of the civilian world?"
Yong Yaxuan said, "Isn't it true that you love excitement the most? Although there are many people in the palace, it's completely different from the excitement outside, isn't it?"
Ji Feiyu thought for a while and hesitated. "But it doesn't seem right for both the emperor and the queen to be absent during the deliverance event, does it?"
Yong Yaxuan shook his head. "Isn't there the empress dowager? She believes in these things. We can't stop her."
Ji Feiyu thought for a while and then reluctantly said, "Well, since the most important sacrifice has already been completed, then let's go out."
Yong Yaxuan immediately exposed her reluctance. "You're really something. You clearly want to go out yourself, but you still make me be the bad guy and say it."
Ji Feiyu nudged Yong Yaxuan with her shoulder and said shyly, "Your servant knows that Your Majesty is the best. But Your Majesty, you have to promise first that if anything happens then, it has nothing to do with your servant."
"Okay..." Yong Yaxuan's expression was rather tangled, but he still agreed to this.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but snicker in her heart. It couldn't be said that she was shameless, because someone was much more shameless than her when his wolfish nature flared up...
...
After Ji Feiyu finished talking to Yong Yaxuan, she returned to the palace to change into civilian clothes and then left through a back gate.
During the day, people were all at home preparing for the festival. The streets were not as bustling as usual.
However, one could occasionally see a few people setting up divine altars in the alleys. It was estimated that they were going to invite masters to give lectures later.
The Ghost Festival is a festival for sacrificing to ancestors and comforting the spirits of the dead. People don't gather in groups but conduct the activities in their own families. During the day, the main activities are burning silver paper, steaming flower buns, and setting up divine altars. There's nothing particularly interesting, but when the river lanterns are released at night, it has a special charm.
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan actually came for the river lanterns. Since it was still too early, they sat in a teahouse, looking at the scenery of the moat. At this time, there were not many people in the teahouse. They didn't ask for a private room but just sat in the hall.
The two of them were looking at each other affectionately, the atmosphere was peaceful and beautiful. Suddenly, a group of people with weapons came up to the teahouse. They were talking loudly, looking dusty, with some dark circles under their eyes, as if they had come here overnight.
"You tell me why it has to be on the day of the Ghost Festival? On the way here, every family is preparing for the sacrifice. Few people are willing to take us in. Even the taverns are closed, driving us to this teahouse!" One person put down his knife wrapped in cloth and said rudely. Then someone waved his hand and shouted boldly, "Waiter, serve us good tea!"
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan glanced at each other, not understanding why these two people came to the imperial city on the day of the Ghost Festival.
The waiter didn't dare to offend this group of fierce-looking people. He quickly served them tea and some fruits and snacks.
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan continued to sip their tea and look out of the window, pretending not to see anything.
After a while, someone suddenly spoke up and mumbled, "I heard that the cult leader will come today?"
"Yeah..." Someone nodded, and then another person continued, "Actually, lighting the soul lamp and driving away the spirits don't necessarily require the cult leader to come. But if we want to recruit more cult members, he has to come on this trip..."
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan both pricked up their ears. Although they came out for fun this time, if they heard that someone was trying to develop a cult under the nose of the emperor, they still had to pay attention.
"Hey... Stop talking for now. Let's find a place to stay nearby for the cult leader to rest. Otherwise, we'll be in big trouble later."
"That's right, that's right. Let's rest here for a while and then go quickly." Someone echoed.
Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan couldn't help but feel bored. They only said a few words and then stopped. So Ji Feiyu casually picked up a peanut and threw it at the back of the head of the person sitting with his back to her.
"Who?" The person was hit and immediately glared at them. Who would have thought that seeing this, Yong Yaxuan slapped the table and stood up, shouting at Ji Feiyu, "I've already said that it's not that I won't buy it for you, it's just that no one is selling it now! Why are you throwing peanuts around?"
Both Ji Feiyu and that person were stunned. Fortunately, she quickly reacted. She grabbed a handful of peanuts and threw them at Yong Yaxuan, saying coquettishly, "So what if I throw them? It's your fault that you're useless and can't even buy a thing!"
This time someone from the other side said, "It's just a quarrel between a young couple. We don't need to care!"
The person who was hit sat down first. The "war" between Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan continued. The waiter quickly ran upstairs. "Oh, my lords and ladies, please talk it out nicely. Don't smash my small shop!"
"What's there to talk about!" Ji Feiyu glared at the waiter fiercely and then ran downstairs.
Seeing this, Yong Yaxuan threw a piece of broken silver to the waiter and then went after Ji Feiyu. "Hey, why are you running? Listen to me..."
They quickly ran out of the teahouse and headed for a deserted alley. As soon as they stopped, Ji Feiyu burst out laughing. Then she patted Yong Yaxuan on the shoulder and said, "How did you react so quickly? I almost died from holding back my laughter just now."
Yong Yaxuan, however, looked calm. He took her hand off and whispered, "Susu, don't cause trouble like this in the future. Although I know that you just wanted to test how good that group of people's martial arts were and whether they would pose a threat to us, and although I also know that their martial arts are mediocre and they only reacted after your peanut hit their heads, but now we're alone outside. Try not to use force if you can. Do you understand?"
Ji Feiyu nodded thoughtfully. Then he continued, "And next time, don't act so real. The peanuts you threw just now hurt my face so much!"
"Pfft!" Ji Feiyu burst out laughing. She quickly reached out and gently rubbed his face and said, "Does it still hurt now? Let me blow on it for you."
Yong Yaxuan lowered his head and looked at her lovingly and helplessly. So Ji Feiyu gently blew on his face. While blowing, she suddenly kissed his face. Yong Yaxuan was stunned for a second, then turned his head and kissed Ji Feiyu back. Since they were outside, both of their faces turned red. Just then, a gentle breeze blew over, bringing a touch of coolness to their hot cheeks.
"Okay, let's go for a stroll in the city and inspect the people's livelihood." Yong Yaxuan took Ji Feiyu's hand and turned around to leave.
Ji Feiyu only felt the warmth in his palm, which made her feel very at ease. She smiled and followed him, whispering in his ear, "Your Majesty is really dutiful as an emperor."
Yong Yaxuan tilted his head slightly and glanced at her, whispering, "I'm also very dutiful as your husband."
Ji Feiyu saw the teasing look in his eyes and knew what he meant. She couldn't help but scold him gently, "Annoying!" Then she held his hand and walked with him.
Well, Ji Feiyu had to admit that although she had been in the imperial city for many years, there were still many places she had never been to. So walking and strolling with Yong Yaxuan along the way was really quite interesting.