The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

Yin Zheng changed into new clothes early in the morning to pay her respects to Old Madam Yin.

Because it was a festive day, Old Madam Yin’s courtyard was exceptionally lively. Not only was Madam Yin present, but so were Old Master Yin and Yin Zheng’s second uncle and aunt.

After Yin Zheng paid her respects, Old Madam Yin beckoned her over to sit beside her.

Before long, Yin Zheng’s eldest brother, third younger brother, and the children of her second uncle and aunt also arrived. Last to appear was Yin Muxue, the fourth miss.

“You’re so old, still sleeping in,” Madam Yin lightly poked Yin Muxue’s forehead.

Yin Muxue cried out “Ouch!” and clutched her forehead, acting spoiled with her mother. “It wasn’t intentional. Eldest Brother took me out yesterday, and it was so much fun that I kept thinking about going out again today, so much so that I forgot to sleep.”

Madam Yin teased her deliberately, “So you’re saying it’s your eldest brother’s fault? Then I’ll have to punish him.”

Yin Muxue widened her eyes, panicking. “No, no, you can’t punish Eldest Brother! If you punish Eldest Brother, I, I…”

Madam Yin was amused. “You’ll what?”

“I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Everyone burst into laughter, causing Yin Muxue’s cheeks to flush red as she hid behind Madam Yin, throwing a small tantrum.

Yin Zheng was held affectionately by Old Madam Yin, a smile identical to everyone else’s on her face, as she watched Madam Yin and her daughter with slight absent-mindedness.

The whole family ate together at noon. After the meal, the Old Madam needed to rest, so everyone dispersed.

Yin Zheng and Yin Muxue were kept behind by the Old Madam for a moment. As soon as they came out, they ran into an old woman sent by Mama Liu to take Yin Zheng to the Small Buddhist Hall.

The old woman stepped forward to greet them, explaining her purpose to Yin Zheng. The old woman remembered Mama Liu’s words, so she didn’t directly mention the Small Buddhist Hall, only saying that Mama Liu had asked the Second Miss to go to the Main Courtyard to help Madam Yin.

Yin Muxue, who hadn’t left yet, heard this and, remembering her promise to Yin Zheng from the night before, turned around and said, “Wait, Second Sister is going out with me tonight, so she won’t be going to the Main Courtyard this afternoon.”

The old woman hesitated. “But…”

“But what ‘buts’?” Yin Muxue didn’t treat her servants with the same spoiled cuteness she showed her elders. She glanced askance at the old woman. “Mother dotes on me the most. Naturally, she’ll agree to such a small matter.”

The old woman couldn’t afford to offend this little tyrant, but she didn’t dare return empty-handed either.

Yin Muxue grew impatient. “Fine, fine, I’ll go to the Main Courtyard with you and tell Mother myself. Is that alright?”

Only then did the old woman agree, leading Yin Muxue to the Main Courtyard to find Madam Yin.

Yin Zheng, who was left behind, took Guo Jie back to her courtyard. Guo Jie had been holding it in the whole way, but once back in their own courtyard, she asked Yin Zheng, “Miss, will we be able to go out with Fourth Miss tonight?”

No matter how cold Guo Jie’s personality was, she was still a young girl of sixteen or seventeen. When it came to a grand celebration like the Lantern Festival, which happened only once a year, she naturally looked forward to it. However, Mama Liu’s actions yesterday had made her realize that they probably wouldn’t be able to go out this year. Feng Nian had been so angry about it that she hadn’t been able to sleep all night. She hadn’t expected things to take a turn for the better; the Fourth Miss was actually helping them.

Yin Zheng smiled. “Didn’t Little Sister say that Madam Yin dotes on her the most? Of course, she wouldn’t refuse her such a small request.”

Sure enough, before long, word came from the Main Courtyard saying that Yin Zheng didn’t need to go there today. She should prepare herself properly to accompany the Fourth Miss out tonight.

Feng Nian was so happy that she almost screamed. Guo Jie also smiled. The two of them began preparing the things they would need to take with them and discussed with the sweeper maids in the courtyard, who wouldn’t be able to go out, what they should bring back for them.

As evening approached, the two maidservants, Feng Nian and Guo Jie, emboldened by the heavens, pulled Yin Zheng in front of the dressing table and restyled her hair and put on makeup. This time, Guo Jie did her hair while Feng Nian applied the makeup. Working together, they didn’t give Yin Zheng a chance to do anything herself.

Yin Zheng simply let them do as they pleased, sitting in front of the mirror with her eyes closed, the sounds of the two of them choosing hairpins and rouge floating in her ears from time to time.

After what felt like forever, they finally finished. Yin Zheng opened her eyes and stared blankly at herself in the mirror.

Without the deliberate attempts to hide her features, the unique vitality of a young girl Yin Zheng’s age immediately stood out.

Her dark-blue eyebrows were soft and without sharp peaks. She hadn’t put on much powder on her delicate skin, only applying bright-red rouge on her lips, which made her complexion appear even more radiant and fair. This also added a touch of unprecedented strikingness and allure to her consistently gentle face, creating a contrast so great that one couldn’t tear their eyes away.

Feng Nian wanted to draw a floral design between Yin Zheng’s eyebrows, but Yin Zheng dodged her.

“Let’s just leave it like this,” Yin Zheng said with a helpless expression. However, her tone was indifferent, causing the excited Feng Nian to stop.

Feng Nian felt strange. Even though Yin Zheng’s behavior was no different from usual, she felt a bit scared.

Just then, someone arrived from the courtyard, saying that the Fourth Miss had sent someone to urge them to hurry. Feng Nian grew anxious, throwing the fear she had felt a moment ago to the back of her mind. She and Guo Jie picked up their things and followed Yin Zheng out.

Two carriages had already been prepared in front of the Yin Residence’s main gate. Yin Muxue had been waiting impatiently in one of the carriages. When she heard that Yin Zheng had finally arrived, she lifted the carriage window curtain and, just like Yin Zheng when she had opened her eyes and looked in the mirror, was stunned.

Yin Muxue had long heard that Yin Zheng’s birth mother was a “Hu” concubine, beautiful and alluring, but because of Yin Zheng’s appearance, she had always scoffed at such claims. It wasn’t until she saw Yin Zheng’s appearance after she had been properly made up that she believed those words. Then, she began to feel displeased again.

This displeasure caused her to adopt a cold attitude towards Yin Zheng while strolling through the lantern market, letting Yin Zheng follow behind while she chatted happily with Miss Wu, whom she had arranged to meet.

The bustling streets were crowded with people, filled with bamboo frames hung with lanterns everywhere. The shops along the street were also more lively and festive than usual.

A dragon lantern carried by dozens of people, accompanied by gongs and drums, passed through the crowd. Yin Muxue and Miss Wu were watching the dragon lantern when, as the dragon lantern’s tail swished past, Yin Muxue saw some familiar faces standing across from them, making her eyes light up. “Lin Gongzi!”

Among the group were both men and women. The two leading figures were the Son of the Duke of Anguo and Lin Jueqing, whom Yin Muxue had referred to as “Lin Gongzi.”

Yin Muxue pulled Miss Wu along, and Yin Zheng had no choice but to put down the fan pendant she had just picked up and follow them.

The Son of the Duke of Anguo’s younger sister, An Rujian, was also following behind him. The group was chatting when they suddenly noticed Yin Zheng, a new face, and curiously asked a few questions.

Upon learning that Yin Zheng was Yin Muxue’s sister, the Son of the Duke of Anguo’s younger sister, An Rujian, showed great curiosity towards Yin Zheng. Not only her, but everyone else also began to size up Yin Zheng openly and secretly. It was only because Yin Zheng’s appearance was truly outstanding. If she were as interesting as Yin Muxue, everyone would naturally like her too.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for everyone to be disappointed.

They discovered that Yin Zheng was just pretty. Apart from that, she had no other shining qualities. She agreed with everything that was said, only echoing others, without any of her own thoughts or opinions. She was like an empty vase, good-looking but useless.

Coupled with Yin Muxue’s distant attitude towards her, the group gradually ignored the extremely boring Yin Zheng, just like Yin Muxue.

The neglected Yin Zheng continued to smile faintly and indifferently, as if she had no desires. The two maidservants beside Yin Zheng were long used to it. They accompanied Yin Zheng, admiring the beautiful lanterns and buying things, content in their own way.

At the Lantern Festival, several shops, in order to make money, jointly created a gimmick related to the lanterns, saying that for every certain amount of silver spent on purchases, one could exchange it for a flower slip. With the slip, one could go to the lantern riddle stands and guess riddles. The person who guessed the most correctly would win the most beautiful lantern.

No one knew who started it, but suddenly, a group of young masters began competing with each other, determined to win the most beautiful lantern.

In the end, Lin Jueqing won the top prize, giving the most beautiful lantern to Yin Muxue. The others also each received a beautiful lantern, giving them to the girls who were with them or simply handing them to strangers who passed by.

Yin Zheng, who was lagging behind, was probably forgotten by everyone, so she didn’t receive a lantern from anyone.

Seeing that Yin Zheng’s hands were empty, Feng Nian felt a little embarrassed and quietly asked Yin Zheng, “Miss, should we buy a lantern?”

“No need.” Yin Zheng raised her head, her deep-blue eyes reflecting the seven-story tower not far away. The tall tower had white walls and dark-gray tiles, simple and grand. Eave bells hung on the eaves of each level, making crisp sounds in the wind.

She said, “Let’s save the money and go to Sitian Tower to release a Praying Lantern.”

Sitian Tower was the name of the seven-story tower. Every year during the Lantern Festival, the base of the Sitian Tower would provide specially made Praying Lanterns and paper and brushes for people to write or draw on the Praying Lanterns. Afterwards, as long as they lit the lantern, the Praying Lantern would slowly rise, flying into the sky.

Yin Zheng spent money to buy a Praying Lantern but didn’t write anything on the blank lantern. She directly lit the pine resin under the lantern, watching the Praying Lantern slowly rise into the air.

There were many people like Yin Zheng who spent money to buy lanterns and release them. Yin Muxue released three lanterns in one go, writing all her wishes on them.

The Praying Lanterns flew higher and higher, surrounding Sitian Tower. The warm colors seemed to be able to dye the cold night air, gradually burning into people’s hearts…

Due north of Sitian Tower was the palace city. Many palaces in the palace city were built on high platforms, especially Lingyu Hall, which was used very frequently. Not only was it built on a high platform, but it also had two floors.

Tonight, the Lantern Festival palace banquet was held on the second floor of Lingyu Hall. Besides the Emperor, Empress, princes, and ministers, there were also envoys from overseas who had arrived in Yongdu before the new year to pay their respects.

At the banquet, people chatted, laughed, drank, and watched the dances and music. Separated by a wall, a man draped in an overcoat leaned against a pillar without standing properly.

The man wore a gold dragon crown, and his red shirt under the overcoat was embroidered with four five-clawed dragon patterns. He wore a pair of jade pendants on his waist and a thumb-sized Qilin Hand Yin. He was undeniably noble and imposing. The man seemed to be drunk, his expression looking somewhat lazy and weary. His beautiful eyes were looking in the direction of Sitian Tower, his pupils reflecting the scattered Praying Lanterns, like bright stars lighting up the deep night sky, tempting people to lose their footing and fall into the abyss.

The eunuch Jia Yuan, seeing him staring in fascination, suggested, “If Your Highness likes them, we can have Sitian Tower send a hundred or so Praying Lanterns to the palace and have the palace maids light them by Qilin Pond. Then, the sky and the lake would reflect each other, surely more beautiful than the view from Sitian Tower.”

The man turned his eyes to Jia Yuan. “Doesn’t the palace also have Praying Lanterns? Why specifically ask Sitian Tower for them?”

Jia Yuan wore a cheerful smile, explaining for the man, “Your Highness may not know, but the Praying Lanterns from Sitian Tower are all specially made by the Qianbei Military Department, using Linxi pine resin as fuel, Danan red bamboo shavings as the frame, and pasting them with fire-resistant paper that only Sudong has. Naturally, they are different from the Praying Lanterns in the palace. This servant also heard that this year, these lanterns were specially sent to Linxi’s Guanshi Tower to be blessed with sound. Therefore, in previous years, they were sent a month in advance, but this year they were delayed, only being sent to Yongdu on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month.”

“Qianbei, Linxi, Nandan, Sudong…” The man counted off the place names Jia Yuan mentioned one by one, then chuckled, “Sitian Tower is quite generous.”

Jia Yuan deeply understood his master’s nature, which feared nothing more than a peaceful world. Hearing him say this, he couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat, the smile on his face becoming subtly strained. “Your, Your Highness…”

Before the words of dissuasion could leave his mouth, Eunuch Xu, who served by the Emperor’s side, came over and said to the man, “My dear Crown Prince, why are you staying here? His Majesty is looking for you.”

Wen Ze didn’t show the slightest bit of fear and trepidation that a son of the Emperor should have. He lazily glanced over and directly asked Xu Gonggong, “Does Father Emperor need me for something?”

Xu Gonggong raised his orchid fingers, pointing to the wall and saying, “After the Ling tribe’s princess performed her dance, she openly expressed her admiration for Your Highness. The Ling tribe’s envoy also intends to propose a marriage alliance with us. His Majesty doesn’t want to decide on his own, so he wants you to make up your own mind.”

Wen Ze, upon hearing this, laughed and said “Oh?” The eagerness contained within that one word made both of the eunuchs, who had seen their fair share of storms, fall silent.

Everyone in the entire imperial palace knew that the Crown Prince was so outrageous that even the Emperor and Empress could do nothing about him. He was still unmarried because he didn’t want to get married. Any minister who submitted a memorial urging him to do so would be dug up and bitten until they were covered in wounds, leading to no one in the front court or the rear palace daring to say another word.

Xu Gonggong sighed inwardly, thinking that the Ling tribe was, after all, a foreign tribe. They didn’t know the mad-dog reputation of their Crown Prince. Later, they would probably be publicly humiliated by their Crown Prince in front of everyone.

Wen Ze followed Xu Gonggong back. Jia Yuan, who was comforting himself that he had managed to avoid the matter of Sitian Tower, then heard Wen Ze casually drop a sentence without turning his head.

“Tomorrow morning, have Qianjun take people to search Sitian Tower.”

…

Below Sitian Tower, Yin Zheng looked up at her Praying Lantern, watching it fly higher and higher. For some reason, she suddenly shivered.