Chapter 40

Sincerity.

This was something Wen Qingheng had drunkenly mentioned before, and now Scholar Zhang echoed the same sentiment.

Pei Jian couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

During the first Qixi Festival after meeting Nianxi, he had deliberately set aside time and promptly picked her up to see the lanterns. However, when they were just two streets away from the Western Market, the roads were already filled with carriages and crowds. The streets were adorned with silks, bustling with people, and filled with noisy chatter. He didn’t enjoy such lively and chaotic scenes.

Still, he worried that Nianxi might get jostled in the crowd, so he tried his best to shield her as they moved forward.

Nianxi understood him well and, being considerate, said, “The lanterns aren’t that special. I’ve heard that Panlou’s Mohe dolls are the best. Why don’t we buy a Mohe doll and release river lanterns instead?”

“Mohe” was a mispronunciation of the Sanskrit word “Mahura” and referred to clay figurines made of wood or clay. These figurines were richly adorned with colorful garments, gold and jade embellishments, and lifelike details, making them extremely popular at the time.

Of course, Pei Jian had no objections.

But they had underestimated the festive bustle of the Qiqiao Festival.

Three to five days before Qixi, Panlou was already teeming with crowds. This was because the shop would release special male and female pairs of “Mohe” dolls during these days, tied to the theme of Qiqiao prayers for blessings. Lovers would offer these pairs as tributes to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, hoping to wish for eternal love.

Nianxi very much wanted a pair of Mohe dolls. However, they were already sold out by the time they reached the front of the line. She was deeply disappointed and in low spirits. Pei Jian was also unhappy, feeling they had wasted so much time with no worthwhile result.

He hastily bought a random Mohe doll from a street vendor to keep with the occasion. Without even releasing the river lanterns, he took her back to Yiqiao Street.

It was the first time he saw Nianxi cry. Her delicate eyes, filled with tears, were caught on her long lashes, trembling slightly in her sockets. They resembled dew trapped within the petals of a begonia flower—exquisite and heartbreakingly tender.

He couldn’t help but soften his heart. Under the flowering tree by the side gate, he gently embraced her, soothing her tenderly, “It’s a festive day; don’t cry. Next year, I’ll buy them early and give them to you, alright?”

Nianxi’s tears soaked the front of his robe as though they fell directly onto his heart. She shook her head, her voice hoarse from crying, making her sound even softer and more endearing. She said, “I just want to wish for a good outcome so we can stay together forever.”

Having lost his parents at a young age, Nianxi was the first person to tether him so deeply, the first to love him like this.

Pei Jian was moved. He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, and kissed her trembling, tear-streaked lips. Amid the kiss, he promised, “We will stay together forever, with or without the Mohe dolls.”

But the promises of youth often scatter with the wind. By the next Qixi Festival, he still hadn’t bought that pair of Mohe dolls. And after that, they even drifted apart.

If he had bought them back then, would the ending have been different? Would they have avoided becoming strangers?

Pei Jian didn’t know. All he could do now was give his all to make up for every regret Nianxi once had.

Their regrets.

Pei Jian snapped out of his thoughts and nodded to Scholar Zhang. “Thank you.”

After putting down his pen, Pei Jian tidied up his desk and stepped out of the Hanlin Academy.

“Ah, young people…” Scholar Zhang shook his head as he watched Pei Jian’s figure disappear. “They never run out of energy!”

…

On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the servants in the Wen residence began sweeping the courtyard early in preparation for the festival. A vibrant Qiqiao tower was set up in the courtyard, its pavilion decorated with a variety of exquisite delicacies, carved melons, roasted treats, brushes, inkstones, needles, and even Mohe dolls for burning incense and making offerings—a ritual known as “Qiqiao,” or praying for skills and blessings.

Gu Ci arrived early to escort Nianxi out.

“Aren’t we going to see the lanterns? It’s far too early for that,” Nianxi remarked with a smile as he urged her to change into her outdoor attire.

Gu Ci laughed as he explained, “You’ve just arrived in the capital, so you wouldn’t know. At the Western Market, if we wait until the lanterns are all lit, it’ll be almost impossible to move through the crowd.”

Feeling the heat, Nianxi asked, “So, are we just going to stand there and wait like fools?”

Gu Ci chuckled as he playfully ruffled her hair. “Do you take your Sixth Brother for a fool? I wouldn’t dream of making you suffer. I’ve already booked a private room at Xinghe Pavilion, which is close to Lantern Street. After we’ve had dinner, we’ll take a nice walk to digest while enjoying the lanterns.”

Nianxi was pleased with this arrangement. Pinching Gu Ci’s cheek playfully, she feigned a stern tone, “Be honest, how many girls have you taken to see the lanterns?”

Nianxi was considered tall among women, but standing before Gu Ci, she still seemed delicate and petite. Her height barely reached his shoulder. Worried she might get tired, Gu Ci bent down to let her pinch his cheek, closing his eyes and joking, “Just five, six, or seven, maybe.”

“Just…?”

Gu Ci chuckled. “What, have you never heard of my nickname, ‘The Gentleman with a Jade Face’?”

Nianxi glared at him and, without another word, turned around, lifted the curtain, and walked inside.

Now it was Gu Ci’s turn to be stunned. He couldn’t tell whether she was truly upset.

To be fair, Nianxi had an excellent temper. Still, like any woman, this wasn’t something she could take lightly. Truthfully, if he ever found out Nianxi had gone on a lantern stroll with someone else, he would probably be driven mad with jealousy. At that moment, his heart was filled with unease. Yet, having been well-mannered since childhood, he dared not step into a woman’s quarters under any circumstances. He could only stand outside and call inward: “You know me better than anyone. With three elder sisters, I’ve seen how my brothers-in-law navigated these situations. I’m just learning from experience to plan carefully and save you from being annoyed.”

“If it weren’t for you, I’d never bother with such lively crowds. Where would I find the nerve to take anyone else?”

“Nian’er…”

When Nianxi stepped out, she had already changed into her attire. Today, she was adorned more elaborately than usual, and on the crown of her head rested a diamond-shaped ruby, with long strands of colorful silk woven into her dark hair, faintly visible, tied behind her head with a red silk ribbon. At the connection point were two equally lustrous rubies. She wore a spring dress made of begonia-patterned fabric in an imperial red hue. Her graceful movements as she walked highlighted her elegant figure.

She seldom dressed in such vibrant colors, leaving Gu Ci utterly mesmerized.

Nianxi waved her hand in front of Gu Ci’s face. “According to you, accompanying me for the festival seems like quite a burden.”

Gu Ci instinctively caught a whiff of her delicate fragrance. Without thinking, he reached out, opened his hand, and found a delicately embroidered sachet adorned with pearls and coral featuring floral patterns.

“Not at all; I’m delighted,” he carefully held the sachet and asked cautiously, “Is this for me?”

Amused by his reaction, Nianxi laughed. “My embroidery skills aren’t great, so you’ll have to make do with it.”

Instead, Gu Ci brought it closer to his nose to take another sniff, remarking, “It smells a lot like you. It’s wonderful.”

At that moment, Nianxi felt a bit shy. She pointed to the sachet at her own waist and explained, “It’s the same fragrance blend, so of course, it smells the same.”

Only then did Gu Ci notice that Nianxi was also wearing a sachet that matched the design and material of the one in his hand. The only difference was that the one he held lacked tassels and was adorned with a few beads—clearly a men’s version.

Gu Ci’s eyes lit up with delight, and he couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face. At first, he was reluctant to wear it, intending to tuck it away safely in his pocket. However, he quickly tied it to his waist on the same side as hers. Now, he felt as though he was completely enveloped in the subtle, lingering fragrance that belonged to Nianxi.

It left him feeling refreshed and elated.