At this point, the guards brought over the fireworks. Jin Siyu personally wrapped his arms around Shao Yao to light one of the fireworks. The fire fuse ignited and crackled, shimmering in the night, reflecting its light on the man and woman smiling at each other, a truly beautiful picture. 

Liu Sanhu tossed back the wine and the peanut shells piled up even faster. 

The sweeper servant scowled, feeling that although he doesn’t want to see this woman with his master, for some reason it doesn’t sit comfortably with him to see her with another either.

However, Qiu Shu and Xiao Dai who stood behind her just silently stared at her hand lightening the firework, not sparing anyone else a glance. 

 “Shoo!” 

The east wind blew down stars like rain, the sky blossomed with deep purple, gold, yellow, red and green streams of light, like a phoenix waving its gorgeous tail feathers across the sky. Some clouds were shattered, glittering in the satin-like night, enveloping the entire crowd of people in the manor. 

Under the firework, she suddenly closed her eyes and muttered something. 

Some people under the fireworks glanced at each other, their eyes focused and calm. 

As the fireworks filled the sky of the manor to welcome the New Year, at the same moment, all the people that have been stationed in the city also made their move. 

The sound of firecrackers drowned out the screams while the light from the fireworks hid the flames. At such a moment where everywhere is bursting out with lights, no one would notice if a few houses are on fire nor would the army outside be easily dispatched. 

Under the firework, she is whispering softly. Due to the loud noises, what she is saying couldn’t be heard but judging by her expression she seemed to be making a wish. Jin Siyu stared at her, his eyes full of adoration. 

May every year be like today, with flowers blooming.

Before the fireworks finished, he took her to go guess the lantern riddles. He was naturally proficient in guessing the riddles but she was not, and failed repeatedly until she became stubborn, insisting on going through one after another to find the one she knew. 

She suddenly stopped in front of a riddle lantern. 

The riddle was written on all four sides of the lantern, slowly spinning in the air. 

The riddle was very simple: “Empress Lu must have a different intention if she is insistent on using her relatives.” 

Guess a word. 

She stood silent under the tree with her head tilted slightly. Jin Siyu came over and smiled, “What, did you guess this one?”

“How can I figure out something so hard.” She smiled, “I was looking at the painting on the lantern, it’s interesting.”

Jin Siyu looked up and the painting was nothing special. It’s a painting of a vast reed field under the moon with white birds sweeping through the sky. This is a rather ordinary painting but it stood out during the New Year’s festival where everything is something along the line of auspicious dolls so this particular painting felt especially refreshing. As the lantern turned, it seemed like the reed flurries and the white feathers are floating in the air, making one feel as if those flurries and the feathers are slowly falling on one’s neck. 

After reading the riddle, Jin Siyu also felt the painting is unique so he beckoned the butler to ask, “Who made this?”

The butler squinted his eyes at the lantern for a bit before admitting, “Your Highness, many of the riddle lanterns were bought from outside and everyone helped to hang them up, so it’s really impossible to…”

Jin Siyu waved his hand and told him to leave. He turned to see she had already walked excitedly towards the next lantern, not giving the previous lantern another glance. 

He followed her, the answer to the riddle passing through his mind for a moment. 

“Regret.” 

(You guys caught the meaning behind the reed field and white feather? If not, think back to the letters and presents Ning Yi sent Zhi Wei.)

The lantern riddles were set under the trees on the shore of the lake. The stage was built on the opposite side of the trees, leaning against a fake rocky mountain. 

Inside the heated tent, the floor was covered with cushions. There was also a table with snacks and a fire basin in the corner of the tent. 

After the two of them sat down in the tent, she randomly chose a play. The opera group bowed from the stage and the instruments started, a cue for the whole crowd to fall silent. 

“….The flowers have withered, and we have wasted too many springs. The hometown is a million miles away, separated by smoke and mountains, A body, like a flower flying in the snow.” (These are the lyric the opera singers are singing)

Someone flew up like a flower and crossed the high city gate in the snow, a black shadow flashed. 

In the warm tent, she leaned forward to discuss the opera with him. Her tone is one of delight, praising that this opera is indeed deserving of its fame. Stroking her hair, he promised that she could listen to them as often as she likes. 

“…remnants of the beautiful dusk are scattered, the crescent moon gradually brightens, and hidden mountain peaks can almost be seen among the clouds…” 

The cold swords flashed under the burst of fireworks in the sky. Someone fell head down from the city gate, splashing a bright color of red on the snowy ground. 

She was so fascinated by the opera that she had forgotten she had a piece of red fruit in her mouth. The fruit was bright red but nowhere as bright as her lips. He stared at her with equal fascination, who knows if he is there to enjoy the opera or to enjoy the person. 

“…cold, to see the stream surrounding the lonely village.”

A team of people walked on the vast snowy ground. A litter further away, in the border town between Da Yue and Tian Sheng, soldiers in white armor marched in silence, the metal horseshoes on their horses have all been covered with softwood. In the darkness, the horses snorted, spraying out ice flower-like mist. Their marching route slowly circled around to the Da Yue military camp outside of Pucheng city. 

She finally noticed his distracted state and gave him a smiling glare. Embarrassed, he turned his head away, no clue what they have been singing about on the stage. 

“…Looking at the end of the world without a friend in sight, a metal heart and tear-filled face. It hurts, meager profits, the vein meaningless fame.” 

City gate, beacon towers, weapons depots, grain storage, straw depots, post station, Pucheng County Office, Pucheng Military Divison…all the places that are resting on this New Year’s Even night that had only left a few men to guard during the night, all that could affect the stability of Pucheng and could relay information, they all have shadows passing in and out, being turned inside out. 

She personally poured him a cup of tea. He took the cup and then took the opportunity to take hold of her hands. She lowered her head and smiled shyly. 

“…Thinking of the past, drinking under the moon, only adds to sorrow and resentment…”

More swords flashed then put away. When a person would fall, someone would immediately drag them away. Someone would quickly jump up to take down the red lantern under the porch and replace it with wind chimes with red tassels. 

She fed Jin Siyu a piece of the orange cookie. With a smile, he returned the favor with candied fruit. He wanted to feed her with his mouth but there were too many people around and he was too embarrassed to do so. 

“…let your heart be at ease, don’t worry. Take your time, and stay here for the night…” 

One figure after another gathered outside of the manor, entered through an old room, and disappeared into the tunnel that had already been dug. 

He gently peeled sunflower seeds, the seeds of course belonged to her. 

“…Only gratitude and accumulating hatred will not become dust for thousands of years…”

*BANG!*

A few readers have commented that they feel kinda bad for Jin Siyu. I guess I do too but only a tiny tiny bit. Jin Siyu might be a smart and capable prince but he would fail in every way as a life partner, especially for our heroine. As “special” as he is treating Zhi Wei right now, it doesn’t change the fact that he thinks becoming a concubine is a great thing for Zhi Wei. A concubine that could easily be tortured and killed by his wife and other higher stationed concubines- because a concubine will always just be an amusing toy. If Zhi Wei was an ordinary woman, then perhaps becoming Jin Siyu’s concubine could really be considered a blessing. However, as a woman whose birthright is to rule empires and one who is loved by three exceptional men that treat her as their equals, what Jin Siyu is offering her is…rather offensive and pitiful.

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

Liu Sanhu- Helian

Qiu Shu- Ning Yi

The outer manor servant Helian gave the map to- Ning Cheng

Physician- Zong Chen

Apprentice- Gu Nan Yi 

Jiarong- the maid Helian is romancing to get information. She has a mysterious background. 

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