It was the Lantern Festival.
After nightfall, the streets and alleys were adorned with colorful lanterns of all kinds, hung everywhere in dazzling displays. The entire city seemed to have been illuminated by thousands of brilliant lights.
Anyone who saw it would exclaim: What a splendid and prosperous capital this is!
Common folk poured into the streets, jostling shoulder to shoulder, their laughter and chatter rising one after another.
The Sheng family had finished their dinner early. Except for Sheng Mingyi, everyone wore excited and eager expressions as they headed out to admire the lanterns.
The streets were packed with people, and despite bringing plenty of maids, nannies, and young attendants, they were quickly separated.
Sheng Yong had vanished somewhere.
Sheng Mingjian and Sheng Mingbo were escorting Sheng Mingzhu, and they too had wandered off to who knows where.
Sheng Minmin was with Huang Yaning, Huang Xianjing, Sheng Mingli, and Sheng Mingshu.
Sheng Minmin had never seen such beautiful sights in her past life, because during every major festival, she was either forgotten or set up by Sheng Mingzhu to “make a mistake” and get punished…
Even the lightest punishment—kneeling in the ancestral hall—meant a night of kneeling that would leave her knees hurting for half a month.
Huang Yaning recalled how she used to invite her to family banquets or to go out and enjoy the lanterns together, but Minmin could never join because she was always injured…
And in the years since she’d crossed over, she’d been so focused on revenge that she’d had no heart for sightseeing.
Now that her revenge was nearly within reach, Sheng Minmin couldn’t help but want to relax a little.
She took in her surroundings, and a trace of joy stirred in her heart.
But soon, that joy turned into intense resentment and hatred.
Because everything she saw and heard reminded her of just how much had been stolen from her in her past life…
And also, her child who had died so tragically…
“It’s rare to have such a lively scene. Go enjoy yourselves. I’m getting older and don’t have your stamina. I’ll rest at the teahouse ahead…”
Sheng Minmin told Xian Jie’er and the others to go off and have fun.
Huang Yaning offered to stay with her, but she waved them all away.
She even sent her attendants off with them, keeping only Qingying and Qingchi by her side.
Settled into a private room at the teahouse, Sheng Minmin looked down at the bustling scene below, her eyes dark and unreadable.
“Madam, our people saw the master heading over there…” Qingying said softly.
Qingying had long learned from the madam that Sheng Yong might have orchestrated the murder of the Huang family, so she understood why the madam had kept him at arm’s length all these years and been cold toward her own children…
Qingying had the sense that the madam had already begun her revenge long ago.
Still, there were some things the madam hadn’t told her, and Qingying didn’t ask.
Hearing the news, Sheng Minmin smiled.
How wonderful. Sheng Yong was utterly bewitched by Qingxin!
True, Sheng Yong had practiced martial arts for years and had good stamina, and he took proper supplements daily. But at this rate, in three years, his health would plummet.
Once Sheng Yong fell, the rest of the Sheng family would be fish on her chopping board.
Sheng Minmin was getting impatient…
——-
Meanwhile, Huang Yaning and the others had stopped in front of a large stall.
The lanterns on this stall included lifelike animal shapes and traditional patterns symbolizing good fortune…
They came in all forms, dazzling and radiant.
The most prominent spot held three beautiful rabbit lanterns, which drew the admiration of many young ladies.
The stall owner declared they weren’t for sale—they could only be won by correctly guessing all three lantern riddles at once.
But the riddles were tough. Many had tried and failed.
Huang Yaning and Huang Xianjing had written down two answers on paper, but the third stumped them. They looked helplessly at Sheng Mingli and Sheng Mingshu.
Sheng Mingli looked at Sheng Mingshu as well. Sheng Mingshu thought for a moment, then wrote down his answer in the blank space.
The stall owner took it, glanced at it, and let out a hearty laugh. “All correct!”
He then announced the correct answers aloud, drawing some applause from the crowd.
The other young ladies looked at Huang Yaning and Huang Xianjing with envy as they held their lanterns… making them all a little embarrassed.
Just then, Commandery Prince Duanmu Hui and Commandery Princess Duanmu Rui arrived.
“What a coincidence, you’re here too.” Duanmu Rui was the first to greet them with a smile.
Huang Yaning and the others quickly offered their respects.
“No need for formalities—
“These lanterns are gorgeous! You have great taste!”
Duanmu Rui praised them, and after speaking, she felt her face grow warm.
Earlier, when she and her elder brother had passed by, she’d spotted Xiao Qi and Xiao Xianxian. Normally, she’d have run over immediately, but she hadn’t come right away because she’d also seen Sheng Mingshu.
For some reason, the moment she laid eyes on Sheng Mingshu, her heart stopped for a beat before pounding wildly.
And then she couldn’t help but let her gaze linger on him.
To stay hidden in the crowd and steal a few more glances at Sheng Mingshu, she’d waited until he won the lantern before stepping out.
She wanted Sheng Mingshu’s… lantern in her hands…
A breeze brushed past, cool to the touch, yet Duanmu Rui felt her palms sweating.
Gathering her courage, she looked at Sheng Mingshu and spoke.
“Fourth Young Master Sheng, I like the lantern in your hand. Would you be willing to sell it to me?”
Sheng Mingshu paused, then said.
“A lantern isn’t worth much. If the Commandery Princess doesn’t mind, I’d be happy to give it to you…”
“…Thank you…”
Duanmu Rui calmly took the rabbit lantern, but inside she was nervous, shy, and even a little sweet…
Duanmu Rui thought she’d hidden it well, but Huang Yaning beside her had seen right through her.
Huang Yaning had previously suspected that the Commandery Princess seemed to treat Sheng Mingshu differently, and now she was certain.
The princess liked Sheng Mingshu.
Huang Yaning’s feelings were complicated.
In her past life, Sheng Mingjian had achieved the rank of Tanhua (third place in the imperial exams), and Sheng Yong had held a higher official position than in this life—yet in the end, Sheng Mingjian had only married a county princess, Murong Yan.
But in this life, Sheng Yong was stuck at the fifth rank, and Sheng Mingshu hadn’t even passed the provincial exams—yet he’d caught the eye of a commandery princess…
This not only showed how exceptional Sheng Mingshu was, but also how fortunate his fate was.
But given the current status of the Sheng family and Sheng Mingshu’s situation, it was absolutely impossible for him to marry a commandery princess.
If Sheng Mingshu could place among the top three in the next imperial examination, there might be a slim chance.
But could the commandery princess wait that long?
Word had it that the Grand Princess had already begun selecting a husband for her…
Huang Yaning wondered if the Grand Princess had noticed anything. She should probably give Minmin a heads-up…
The group walked through the streets, each lost in their own thoughts.
That day, Duanmu Rui wasn’t the only one with “something on her mind.” Duanmu Hui’s gaze also kept drifting to Huang Xianjing.
Ever since that day at the Sheng residence, when Duanmu Hui had seen Huang Xianjing risk her life to save Seventh Miss Sheng—almost dying at the hands of a thug in the process…
Huang Xianjing’s figure had been etched into Duanmu Hui’s heart.
Duanmu Hui had never imagined that a young lady so delicate could possess such courage, decisiveness, and resilience…
That she could unleash such immense strength in a critical moment!
Huang Xianjing was unlike any other young lady he’d ever met.
And her parents had died young, leaving her to live under the Sheng family’s roof all these years.
Though most of the Sheng family treated Huang Xianjing with care and affection, she was still an orphan, and she must have endured plenty of hardships growing up…
Yet Huang Xianjing had developed such beautiful virtues—like a flower blooming on a sheer cliff.
Whenever Duanmu Hui thought of Huang Xianjing, he felt both admiration and surprise, and a tender affection welled up within him.
Duanmu Hui wanted to protect Huang Xianjing.
Aside from his family, she was the first person who made him feel protective.
But when he calmed down, he knew full well how vast the gap was between their stations.
Even if he wanted to marry her—let alone take her as a concubine—his parents and the Emperor uncle might not approve.
Duanmu Hui didn’t want to put Huang Xianjing in a difficult position. And of course, his feelings for her hadn’t yet grown strong enough to defy his elders…
So Duanmu Hui kept his feelings well hidden, not wanting to cause Huang Xianjing any trouble.
Even Huang Yaning hadn’t noticed.
But this scene downstairs was spotted by County Princess Murong Yan from a pavilion nearby.
Murong Yan’s attention was fixed on Duanmu Rui, and when she noticed Duanmu Rui staring at a mere concubine-born son of the Sheng family, her heart nearly burst with joy.
This would later lead Murong Yan to concoct a massive conspiracy targeting Duanmu Rui and Sheng Mingshu…
