Early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Chun Xing returned with a lot of mountain goods for Rong Rong to try.

Rong Rong took Chun Xing to the meat market to buy five top-quality pork hind legs, preparing to make another batch of “Early Spring Legs” ham.

With the right materials this time, Rong Rong chose the best pork hind legs: full of meat, with more lean meat and less fat, and well-trimmed skin.

The time suitable for making ham only lasts two or three months each year, and since she hadn’t figured out what else to do for a living, these five hams might be the only source of income for her this year.

She found the work in the embroidery workshop too tiring and not profitable enough, and she was tired of it.

Ham can be either cured or smoked.

Since Rong Rong didn’t have her own kitchen, she used the curing method.

The high price of ham is partly due to the secretive methods and the fact that making a single ham involves over eighty steps.

Thus, these five hams were the maximum that Rong Rong and Chun Xing could manage.

Rong Rong and Chun Xing worked hard on the ham, and by the time they hung the hams to dry, it was already Lantern Festival.

“Miss, shall we go see the lanterns in the street?” Chun Xing, who had heard the seamstresses talking about going out to see the lanterns, was eager to join.

Seeing Rong Rong sitting by the window reading a storybook, she couldn’t help but ask.

Rong Rong had noticed Chunxing’s desire to go but decided to tease her by not mentioning it.

“If you want to go, you can go with Autumn Moon and the others.”

Chunxing was delighted and then asked, “Miss, aren’t you going? I heard the Lantern Festival in the capital is very lively, with lanterns hanging from the imperial city to the South Gate!”

Rong Rong had never seen the Lantern Festival in the capital, but during her time in the palace, the Imperial Garden would be filled with various lanterns each Lantern Festival.

She felt that even the best lanterns from the common folk couldn’t compare to those in the palace, so she wasn’t very curious.

“Go ahead, I don’t like crowds.”

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade Rong Rong, Chun Xing went to the courtyard to tell the seamstresses to wait for her, then changed into a nice outfit and carefully styled her hair.

Rong Rong gave her some money to buy anything she liked, appreciating Chun Xing’s hard work caring for her when she was injured recently.

Chun Xing happily accepted the money and went out.

Soon after they left, the sky darkened.

Rong Rong lit two candles and sat at the table reading Yang Tong’s manuscript.

She had been too busy with the five hams to read his stories earlier.

Yang Tong’s stories were all unique and varied, with different themes each time.

Sometimes they featured wandering swordsmen, sometimes traveling merchants, and sometimes reclusive hermits.

His plots were quite intriguing.

In contrast, the stories by Xiao Heshang and Zhujian Sheng followed different paths.

Xiao Heshang’s stories usually featured a single monk, who, after his temple’s incense had withered, traveled the world and encountered many sensual tales with beautiful fox spirits and ghosts.

Zhujian Sheng, on the other hand, liked to write about women in deep courtyards, including widowed marquesses having affairs with the least noticeable coachmen, a prime minister’s daughter falling in love with her sister’s husband, and a housekeeper’s wife enjoying watching her husband with the maids.

To be honest, it’s not that Yang Tong’s books are bad, but the works of Xiao Heshang and Zhu Jiansheng seem more relaxing.

After a long day, Rongrong just wants to read some entertaining stories without using much brainpower.

She finds little interest in forensic science or criminal investigations and tends to yawn when reading such things.

She wonders why Mei Ningxiang prefers this style of storybook.

Perhaps she is too idle and seeks more excitement and suspense?

Yet, the books by Xiao Heshang and Zhu Jiansheng aren’t perfect either.

Rongrong always feels that the women in those stories, despite being portrayed as celestial beauties, are merely playthings for the male protagonists.

She despises such portrayals.

“Well, you’ve become a scholarly woman reading by candlelight after leaving the Marquis’s residence.”

A familiar voice made Rongrong look up to see Zhenzhen’s radiant smile.

Surprised, she stood up and pulled Zhenzhen into the room. “What scholarly woman? It’s just some storybooks, mere pastimes. What brings you here? Your jacket is so beautiful. The embroidery is of the style only Suzhou embroiderers can create.”

“This is the new year’s clothing from the Marquis’s residence. I didn’t know about this embroidery style. I usually wear it for work, but you seem to know a lot about it.”

“Have you forgotten? I’m living with a group of embroiderers now.” Rongrong smiled and poured a cup of tea for Zhenzhen. “I haven’t bought a tea set here, so you’ll have to make do with my cup.”

Zhenzhen sat down at the small table and glanced at the manuscripts on it, finding them rather uninteresting. “There’s no need for so many formalities between us. You’re quite bold; why didn’t you close the door?”

“The courtyard is usually crowded, so the door is always open. Besides, the common folks’ places don’t have large windows or charcoal stoves, so there’s no need to keep the heat in. It’s not stuffy with the door open.” Rongrong then asked, “You haven’t told me what brings you here today.”

“The heir and a few young masters went to the East Lake for a boat outing and might not return until the next morning. I happened to have a break this month, so I took some time off.”

“Today is the Lantern Festival. There must be many people taking time off, right? Was it easy to get leave from Rongkang Courtyard?” Last time, when Zhenzhen and Rongrong got permission from Xie Yuanchu to go out for half a day, they were scolded by Wang Yilan and had to kneel as punishment!

“I didn’t take leave on the 30th and the first day, so taking leave today is no problem.” Zhenzhen said proudly, then suddenly thought of something, “You wouldn’t know about Rongkang Courtyard, would you?”

Rong Rong’s thoughts were stirred as the scene from that night’s “catching the adulterer” flashed back in her mind.

“What happened at Rongkang Courtyard?”

“During the days you were redeeming yourself, the servants at Rongkang Courtyard were either sold off or driven away. That worst servant, Xin Rong, who was close to Wang Yilan, was sent back to the Wang family. Now the servants there are mostly from the Marquise’s courtyard, with many others bought from outside.”

“Did the Young Master’s wife cause you any more trouble?”

Zhen Zhen smiled happily, “She made the Marquise and the Young Master unhappy, so she’s been staying behind closed doors. She’s too busy to bother with me.”

“That’s good.” Rong Rong felt relieved.

Zhen Zhen looked at her and asked, “This matter with Rongkang Courtyard, it wouldn’t have anything to do with you, right?”

Rong Rong quickly denied it, “How could it be related to me? The Young Master and his wife’s matters are far beyond my influence. Maybe something else upset the Marquise?”

Even though the Marquise had handed over the household management to Wang Yilan, everyone knew it was because the Marquise wanted peace and quiet.

If she decided to take charge again, she would do so decisively.

Zhen Zhen considered it and nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Zhen Zhen had no doubts and seemed unaware of the prince’s visit that night, Rong Rong was reassured.

She felt that the Hou Family had likely handled the incident thoroughly, so she finally relaxed.

It’s better to have one less trouble.

Rongrong felt embarrassed recalling that night, so she preferred to think of it as never having happened.

“How are things with the Young Master?”

Zhen Zhen blushed and shyly replied, “What do you mean? We’re just master and servant. What could happen?”

“Didn’t you…?” Rong Rong asked, still concerned.

“You really ask too much. It’s just master and servant!” Zhen Zhen avoided answering.

“Just take care of yourself. Things will get better,” Rong Rong reassured her, seeing Zhen Zhen’s shy and aggrieved look.

She then stood up, put on her green cotton cloak, and took Zhen Zhen by the arm. “I won’t ask about that anymore. I don’t have much to offer you here. Let’s go out and see the lanterns.”

Zhen Zhen, happy to hear this, waited for Rong Rong to lock the door.

The two of them walked hand in hand to the street.

This year’s Lantern Festival was held on the main street of the capital, stretching from the Imperial City Gate to the South Gate of the capital.

From the high walls of the palace, one could see a long dragon made of lanterns.

Even though Rong Rong thought she was calm, seeing the various gorgeous lanterns and the bustling crowd at the festival made her feel the lively atmosphere and lifted her spirits.

Rong Rong thought that after seeing the palace lanterns, the lanterns in the streets would be boring.

But as she walked around, she discovered a different charm.

Take the lanterns, for instance.

The palace lanterns are naturally new, unique, large, and splendid, with some inlaid with jewels and precious.

In contrast, the lanterns in the streets can’t compare but have their own merits.

For example, the common rabbit lanterns are made differently by every craftsman, and there are dozens of styles of rabbit lanterns at one festival.

Rong Rong and Zhen Zhen each chose a rabbit lantern.

Both wanted to pay for them—one saying she had just received New Year’s money from the noble family and the other saying she had earned a lot of money herself and wanted to treat.

While they were arguing, someone nearby generously gave the shopkeeper two silver coins and said there was no need for change.

“Why are you here, Young Master?” Zhen Zhen asked, her expression a bit unnatural and her smile somewhat stiff. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a boat trip?”

Xie Yuanchu took the rabbit lantern from the shopkeeper, gave one to Zhen Zhen and kept one for Rong Rong, smiling, “The boat trip was really boring. I came over here after a while.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Xie Yuanchu’s gaze briefly landed on Rong Rong before quickly moving to Zhen Zhen. He said affectionately, “I saw a very interesting revolving lantern earlier. Let me show you.”

“Is it one of those moving revolving lanterns?” Zhen Zhen’s interest was immediately piqued.

“Let’s go!”

The two walked ahead, seemingly oblivious to everything else.

Rongrong trailed behind, noticing how close and cheerful the two seemed, feeling somewhat out of place.

Thinking that Zhen Zhen would soon have her wish fulfilled, Rong Rong was happy and decided to slow down and explore on her own.

Xie Yuanchu and Zhen Zhen walked ahead until Xie Yuanchu stopped at a stall.

“Didn’t follow us, right?” Xie Yuan Chu asked, turning his head.

“No, she followed for a few steps and then went off to the side. I can’t see her now,” Zhen Zhen said, breathing heavily. “I’m so nervous, Young Master. She didn’t notice anything, did she?”

Xie Yuan Chu looked at Zhen Zhen’s flushed cheeks and found her quite adorable.

Gently, he said, “Don’t worry, she didn’t notice anything.”