Chapter Nineteen: The Lantern Festival-Forçada a ser concubina? Virei as costas e pulei o muro — o poderoso ministro de rosto frio se arrependeu amargamente.(Bolo de nozes)

Lu Xuanheng returned to Lanyue Pavilion to change his clothes and was about to head to the front hall when Lady Zhao suddenly entered.

"Xuanheng, where did you go today?"

Lu Xuanheng replied casually, "I went to inspect the military barracks."

Lady Zhao looked displeased. "Stop lying to me. I sent someone to the barracks this afternoon to have you return early, but when they asked, they said you were not there at all today."

Lu Xuanheng remained composed. "I made a last-minute decision to meet with some friends."

Lady Zhao walked up to him and stared intently. "Who exactly were you with all day? Was it Jiang You'an?"

Lu Xuanheng's expression shifted slightly. "Mother, why do you say that?"

Lady Zhao’s face turned cold, her voice stern. "Just tell me, yes or no?"

"Of course not."

Lu Xuanheng knew his mother disliked Jiang You'an. If she discovered their secret relationship, she would undoubtedly make things difficult for her.

Although his denial was firm, Lady Zhao remained suspicious. After all, Jiang You'an was beautiful, and Lu Xuanheng was in the prime of his youth; it was not impossible for him to be bewitched.

She wanted to press further, but seeing Lu Xuanheng’s growing annoyance—children never liked being lectured as they grew older—she decided to let it go. However, she still cautioned him: "It is for the best if it isn't her. Xuanheng, while it is common for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, the Princess holds a noble position. She will never tolerate a crowd of women around you, especially now that your marriage has just been finalized. You must not allow any scandalous affairs to arise at this time."

Lu Xuanheng, lost in thought, replied perfunctorily, "I understand."

...

The Spring Festival had passed, but the festive atmosphere persisted throughout the first lunar month. On the fifteenth, the night of the Lantern Festival, the capital held a grand display. Every household went out to view the lanterns, and the Lu family was no exception, though this year, Princess Nanhua would be joining them.

With their marriage plans settled, the two families had grown closer, and they naturally sought opportunities like this to foster their bond.

By dusk, as the sun still hung on the horizon, the streets were already bustling. The Lu family and the Princess set out together.

Ten thousand lanterns illuminated the sky, and the sound of laughter filled every corner.

Lu Yunzhu and the others sat in the carriage, lifting the curtains to happily watch the lanterns and street performers. Finding the carriage too restrictive for their enjoyment, they clamored to get out.

Old Madam Lu was too elderly to join the jostling crowds, so Lady Zhao suggested that the young people go off on their own, instructing them to stay with Lu Xuanheng.

The group stepped out of the carriage, with Lu Xuanheng and Li Lianzhu walking side-by-side in the lead, and Jiang You'an and the others following behind.

It seemed the entire capital had turned out to see the lanterns; the streets were a sea of carriages and people.

Whenever a passerby bumped into them, Lu Xuanheng would reach out to shield Li Lianzhu.

Li Lianzhu would offer a word of thanks, lowering her head with a shy smile.

Watching from behind, Lu Yunyao covered her mouth and chuckled, nudging Jiang You'an with her elbow.

Jiang You'an cared nothing for them; as soon as they reached the street, she began searching the crowd.

With everyone out celebrating, would she run into Su Mingxiu?

It had been over a month since she last saw him. At Old Madam Lu’s birthday banquet, she had been doused with cold water by Lady Su. Was that to be the end of it all?

Jiang You'an felt unsettled, walking listlessly at the back.

After wandering the streets for a while, they boarded a pleasure boat on the river. While the lively atmosphere of the market was delightful, it could also be overwhelming, and the boat offered a chance to drift along the riverbanks and admire the brilliant lights in peace.

Once aboard, the group gathered to drink tea and chat.

Jiang You'an sat by the window, watching the riverbanks light up like trees of silver and flowers of fire, yet her own eyes remained dim.

On this night of reunion, surrounded by laughter, she felt particularly lonely.

Qiulan noticed her low spirits and gently wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders. "Miss, are you missing your family?"

The brilliant lantern light flickered across Jiang You'an’s face. With a look of desolation, she sighed, "What family do I have left?"

Qiulan felt a pang of sadness and comforted her softly, "You still have your elder sister. We will surely find her."

Jiang You'an patted her hand, forcing a smile.

Her sister, Jiang Youzhen, was four years her senior and had married into the Liu family in Jiangnan. After the tragedy befell the Jiang family, she had written to her sister, but received no reply. When she sent people to inquire at the Liu household, they claimed her sister had been divorced and was no longer part of their family, and they had no idea where she had gone.

It turned out that as soon as the Liu family learned that Jiang You'an’s father had been sentenced to death, they feared being implicated and used a flimsy excuse to divorce Jiang Youzhen.

Jiang Youzhen had returned to the capital alone for the funeral, and no one knew what had befallen her on the journey, causing her to vanish without a trace.

For over a year, Jiang You'an had been searching, but there was no news. Whether her sister was still alive or where she might be, she had no way of knowing; she could only console herself with the thought that no news was good news.

The full moon hung high above. Jiang You'an looked up, tilting her head back to keep her tears from falling.

The pleasure boat glided slowly across the water, and music drifted from a waterside pavilion on the bank.

A musician with delicate features played the zither under the moonlight. The melodious, enchanting tune spread out, reaching Jiang You'an’s ears and offering a slight balm to the bitterness in her heart.

She followed the sound and looked toward the second-floor window of the pavilion, where a slender silhouette was reflected.

She turned her head away, listlessly fiddling with her lantern.

At the other end of the cabin, Lu Xuanheng sat beside Li Lianzhu, listening to her chatter with Lu Yunzhu and the others. Unable to join in, his gaze wandered until it found Jiang You'an in the corner, sitting all alone and looking pitiful.

With Li Lianzhu there, he was obliged to stay by her side, and Lu Yunyao and the others were always eager to crowd around the Princess, which inevitably left Jiang You'an feeling neglected. She must be unhappy, he thought; she sat there so wilted, despite having been so lively and curious on the street earlier.

"Yunzhu, didn't you say you wanted to see the Lantern Mountain? Why don't you take Yunyao and You'an to see it?"

Lu Yunzhu declined, as she only wanted to cozy up to the Princess and didn't care about the lanterns.

Lu Yunyao, however, was very interested and urged Jiang You'an to disembark with her.

Jiang You'an said she was fine with whatever.

Lu Xuanheng figured that since she was close with Lu Yunyao, having her company would cheer her up.

The boat pulled over, and Lu Yunyao and Jiang You'an went ashore, while Lu Xuanheng and the others continued westward along the river.

Lu Yunyao linked arms with Jiang You'an and whispered, "Honestly, Lu Yunzhu has no tact. Big Brother clearly told us all to get off just so he could be alone with the Princess, yet she insisted on clinging to her."

Jiang You'an watched the boat drift away, smiling silently. She said to Lu Yunyao, "Let’s go see the Lantern Mountain."

On the vast river, pleasure boats were as dense as a weaving loom. Su Mingxiu sat by a window, watching the lanterns along the bank, his eyes filled with a faint, lingering expectation.