Chapter 20: The Pleasure Boat

“Sister, let’s go!” At this moment, Xiao Jingchi returned to Shen He’s side, led by the palace maids, his tone somewhat impatient. “Sister, it’s terribly boring here. Let’s leave.”

Shen He glanced back at Cui Ya, nodded in acknowledgment, and then led Xiao Jingchi away.

As they stepped out of the Laundry Bureau’s gates, Ming You and Gu Yu were waiting outside to greet them. Shen He was about to have Ming You escort Xiao Jingchi back to the palace.

Xiao Jingchi tugged at Shen He’s sleeve, blinking his bright eyes and coaxing, “Sister, I want to go out of the palace to play. Will you come with me?”

Shen He sighed helplessly but pondered silently. After all, if she wished to marry Xiao Jingchi, winning his heart was paramount.

Softly, she asked, “Where would you like to go, Jingchi?”

“I heard there’s a place called Jinmo Street. They have all sorts of delicious food and fun things to do there,” Xiao Jingchi replied excitedly, his eyes shimmering with anticipation.

“Alright, we’ll go where you want,” Shen He answered gently.

Jinmo Street was the bustling heart of the capital—merchants gathered, crowds surged, and the scene was lively beyond compare.

Xiao Jingchi gripped Shen He’s hand tightly, the strength in his hold carrying an undeniable resolve.

“Look! Sister, over there they’re selling sugar figurines!” His eyes sparkled with excitement, and before she could respond, he was already pulling Shen He through the thronging crowd.

On Jinmo Street, countless stalls glittered like stars, brimming with colorful goods, and the cries of vendors rose one after another.

Wearing a broad smile, Xiao Jingchi led Shen He from stall to stall, sometimes stopping, sometimes moving on—his childlike wonder and joy at the world evident on his face.

“Sister, look at that clay figurine master! The figure he’s making looks just like you!” Xiao Jingchi pointed at a stall where a man shaped dough into figures, his eyes crescent-shaped in delight and admiration.

Just as Xiao Jingchi’s hand reached into his robe to fetch his purse, Shen He swiftly took the lead, paying the silver coins before he could.

“Thank you, Sister! Whatever you want, Jingchi will buy it for you!” he exclaimed.

Shen He smiled softly, shaking her delicate head. “No, Jingchi, I don’t need anything.”

“That won’t do!” Xiao Jingchi stubbornly protested.

A mischievous glint flickered in Shen He’s eyes as she laughed, “Today, everything goes by your choice. If there’s something you love, just say so, and I’ll buy it for you.”

“Alright!” Xiao Jingchi’s face blossomed into a radiant smile.

Without hesitation, he selected a dazzling array of trinkets: sugar figurines, clay statues, vividly colored kites, and various masks.

Ming You and Gu Yu trailed closely behind, their arms laden with goods, yet still burdened by the ever-growing weight.

“Ming You, look at all these things—they’re so heavy, I can barely carry them,” Gu Yu chuckled softly, a note of helplessness in her voice.

“No matter, I still have strength,” Xiao Jingchi’s voice brimmed with childlike excitement as he picked out a gleaming string of candied hawthorns, delicately placing it in Shen He’s palm. The bright red fruits seemed to glow under the setting sun.

As they strolled through the market, Shen He’s steps gradually grew heavier, a flicker of weariness crossing her brow.

Yet when her gaze fell again on the tempting candied hawthorn, an inexplicable craving welled within her. She bit into one—it was truly sweet.

The sky deepened into a profound blue, and along the eastern side of Jinmo Street, strings of multicolored lanterns quietly blossomed, like scattered stars in a dream—dazzling and elusive.

“Sister, let’s take a boat ride!” Xiao Jingchi held Shen He’s hand tightly, his eyes shining with excitement and hope, pointing toward the gently swaying boats along the riverbank.

Shen He smiled faintly, offering no refusal.

Together, they stepped lightly onto an exquisite painted boat. The boatman leisurely guided the vessel with a bamboo pole, slowly drifting into the silver-lit river.

The water gently lapped against the boat’s edge, whispering softly.

The river glittered with lights; the reflections of the shores appeared dreamlike and ethereal.

From his pocket, Xiao Jingchi produced a delicate box and handed it to Shen He.

“Sister, this is for you.”

Opening the box, Shen He found a finely crafted hairpin adorned with an intricate hollow orange design, lifelike and exquisite.

“Do you like it?” Xiao Jingchi asked expectantly.

“Mm, it’s very beautiful.” Shen He placed the hairpin in her hair.

“Orange means ‘may all your wishes come true.’ I hope your wishes do come true, Sister,” Xiao Jingchi said with a smile.

“Jingchi…” Shen He called softly.

“Hm?”

“Do you like me?”

Xiao Jingchi paused briefly, then grinned sheepishly. “Of course I like you, Sister.”

Shen He nodded. “Thank you for liking me.”

“Sister, why do you seem unhappy?” Xiao Jingchi asked with concern.

Shen He lifted her gaze, staring at the flickering lights on the river, her thoughts a whirlpool. After a moment, she looked back at Xiao Jingchi. “Jingchi, on the day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, I said I wanted to marry you. Do you understand what that means?”

Xiao Jingchi hesitated, then smiled. “I know. It means we can always be together from now on.”

“Do you want to be with me forever?”

“Of course. Jingchi wants to be with you forever. Jingchi will protect you.”

“Good. Then from now on, Jingchi, you will protect me, okay?”

After circling the river twice, Xiao Jingchi finally agreed to return to the palace.

Shen He, also somewhat weary, drifted into a faint sleep on the carriage ride back, accompanied by Xiao Jingchi.

Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly; he did not know whether he was Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being Zhou.

What is truly real, and what is but a dream?

Her aunt’s body, marked with whip scars; Meng Yi lying in a pool of blood; the cold palace—so cold, piercingly so.

Shen He’s hand curled slightly into a fist, then a warm hand grasped it. Was it Xiao Jingren’s hand?

Hatred surged, gripping tightly, yearning to question him: Why? Why, exactly why?

Suddenly, Shen He awoke, staring at Xiao Jingchi before her.

His high nose, his half-loose black hair deepening in the night’s shadow, his profound eyes gazing deeply at her.

She lowered her eyes and saw that the hand she’d been clutching was Xiao Jingchi’s, her grip so tight it had nearly turned purple.

Startled, Shen He quickly released his hand, her palm slick with sweat.

Xiao Jingchi withdrew his hand and sat back slightly. “Sister, did you have a nightmare?”

“Did I hurt you by squeezing too hard?”

He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Sixth Prince, Miss, we’ve arrived,” Ming You called outside the carriage.

Shen He lifted the curtain and saw they were just outside the Shen Mansion. Gu Yu lay against Ming You’s shoulder, also fast asleep.

“Gu Yu, wake up.”

Gu Yu blinked groggily. “Miss.”

Spotting the gates of the Shen Mansion, she quickly leapt down from the carriage and turned back to support Shen He.

After Shen He descended, she looked back at Xiao Jingchi and the carriage laden with goods. “Jingchi, you should rest early. Ming You, please be careful on the way back to the palace.”

Ming You clasped his fists respectfully. “Don’t worry, Miss.”

“Good night, Sister,” Xiao Jingchi smiled, waving at Shen He.

Shen He returned the smile. “Good night.”

With that, she and Gu Yu entered the Shen Mansion.