Volume 1, Chapter 5: You're Still Too Green to Try and Harm Me

Today happened to be the emperor’s birthday, a day of nationwide celebration. The moon hung hazily in the sky, and along both sides of the streets, lanterns bloomed like a sea of lights, their dazzling colors weaving a splendid panorama of a prosperous era. People tread through the interplay of light and shadow, weaving through the crowd, their laughter and chatter unceasing.

Yet Qin Xianxian could not summon a single spark of enthusiasm. She only wished to finish her task quickly and then roam freely on her own.

“When will the fireworks be set off?” Qin Xianxian lifted her head slightly. In the pitch-black night, only a few twinkling stars and some softly glowing sky lanterns were visible.

“In past years, it was at the second quarter of the Dog Hour,” Fu Yuheng beside her also looked up toward the sky.

“Oh! That’s still half an hour away!”

“Sister Qin, do you want to make a sachet together?” The young girl beside her began to speak, smiling brightly as she looked at her.

Qin Xianxian tilted her head and cast a disdainful glance at the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl.

Speaking of Fu Yuyan, this younger sister of Fu Yuheng was a significant stumbling block in the love story between the original male and female protagonists.

She and Fu Yuheng shared the same father but different mothers, both born of secondary wives. During the days when Qin Xianxian was bullied by servants, Fu Yuheng was like the only piece of driftwood she could clutch onto while struggling to stay afloat. So she could not bear to see any woman steal her brother’s affection.

Outwardly, she maintained a close friendship with the female lead, but behind the scenes, she spread rumors, administered potions, and even resorted to kidnapping without leaving a single misdeed undone.

A character both detestable and pitiable.

Qin Xianxian clicked her tongue.

This “brother-obsessed” character was not to be trifled with!

But making sachets was exactly to her liking.

Qin Xianxian smiled in return. “Alright, Sister Yan’er, let’s go make sachets.”

By the Magpie Carved Bridge stood a stall selling sachets. On the nearby bench, several girls sat stuffing things into the little bags.

Qin Xianxian and Fu Yuyan approached the stall to pick out styles. Fu Yuheng, seeing only women around, felt it inappropriate for a grown man to join, so he stood behind and waited.

The two sat down and began stuffing everything they could find on the table into the sachets.

At that moment, the vendor handed over a few fragrant pink slips and a brush.

“Miss, you must write your blessings for the recipient on the sachet. Only then will it have the purpose of blessing and warding off evil.”

“I see!” Qin Xianxian took the items without hesitation and immediately bent her head to write...

Blessings were no trouble at all; they were repeated every New Year.

Good health, spirited vigor, all wishes fulfilled...

She could conjure them effortlessly.

Once finished, the paper swiftly rolled in the girl’s hand and was stuffed into the sachet, the pouch’s opening tied tightly in one smooth motion!

“Sister Qin, you’re so quick! I haven’t finished a single one yet.”

Qin Xianxian rolled her eyes inwardly. “Sister Yan’er, if your hands are clumsy, just practice more.”

Fu Yuyan’s expression stiffened, seemingly incredulous.

When did Qin Xianxian become so sharp-tongued?

Soon, Fu Yuheng saw the two rise and approach him, feeling a warm current pass through his heart, mingled with anticipation.

Sure enough, Qin Xianxian pulled a sachet from behind and pressed it into his hand.

“For you.”

Before he could respond with thanks, she pulled out another and handed it to her maid. “For you.”

“And one for you too.”

Even the attendant by his side received one...

Fu Yuheng’s smile froze awkwardly on his face.

Qin Xianxian glanced at the four sachets left in her hand, muttering to herself, “Hmm, four left to take home. Everyone gets one.”

She was truly clever—giving out sachets while avoiding any misunderstandings, a genuine genius! Qin Xianxian hung the sachets on her waist.

“Sister Qin, what about mine?” Fu Yuyan smiled at her. “I made one for you!”

Qin Xianxian’s eyes darkened as she looked at the sachet in Fu Yuyan’s hand. Though not possessing perfect memory, the fine stitching on this sachet was unlike those sold at the stall.

What mischief was this girl hiding?

Qin Xianxian calmly took the sachet and said, “Thanks, Sister Yan’er. Mine are just the right number. How about you wait here for a moment? I’ll go make another.”

“I’ll go with Sister Qin,” Fu Yuyan said cheerfully.

“Making a sachet won’t take long,” Qin Xianxian smiled and declined, then turned to Fu Yuheng. “Fu Yuheng, take Sister Yan’er to pick out a lantern. Didn’t she say the rabbit lantern was pretty? I want one too.”

“Alright, then wait here for us.”

“I’ll go with Brother to pick a lantern,” Fu Yuyan said, clearly eager to be away from Qin Xianxian.

Qin Xianxian watched them walk away and quickly took out a sachet, opening it to sniff. A strong fragrance wafted out, mixed with a faintly strange scent.

“Second Young Lady, is something wrong with this sachet?” Lu Qi asked nearby, puzzled.

Qin Xianxian chuckled softly. Fu Yuyan truly harbored poisonous intentions.

“It’s nothing, it just smells nice. I just wanted to take a look. Let’s go make a new sachet.”

The sachets were finished, and those who went to buy lanterns had returned.

“Sister Qin, we also bought fireworks!” Fu Yuyan bounced over excitedly, showing off her treasure.

“Here, Sister Yan’er, take this sachet,” Qin Xianxian handed her the newly made sachet. Fu Yuyan glanced at it with a flicker of disdain in her eyes.

Who would want her things?

“Brother, I have a lantern in one hand and fireworks in the other. I really can’t hold any more. Can you help me hold these for now?”

“Okay,” Fu Yuheng replied, taking the sachet and tying it to his waist.

Qin Xianxian snorted inwardly. It was better on Fu Yuheng anyway, just as she intended.

“Sister Qin, let’s go to the bridge to set off the fireworks!”

Fu Yuyan handed her a firework, briefly glancing at the sachet tied to her waist.

“All right!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as they stepped onto the bridge, several sudden explosions lit up the dark night sky with brilliant fireworks.

“Sister Qin, come on, don’t just watch, here’s a firework for you.”

Qin Xianxian looked at the smiling, yet treacherous girl before her. Coldness flickered in her eyes, but her face remained gently smiling as she accepted the firework.

“All right!”

Qin Xianxian curved her lips into a smile: Little sister, trying to harm me? You’re still too inexperienced!

What followed promised to be quite a show.