Jiang Xingyan and Xin Zhui both blushed bright red at the same time.
Watching Xin Zhui’s back as she carried the little girl and sped away, Jiang Xingyan shook her head helplessly.
It’s not so great when a child is too clever.
Jiang Xingyan let out a laugh and shook her head, then slowly walked into her main tent.
Looking at Yun Chunfeng, whose expression had completely relaxed and whose breathing had become steady and even, a mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She sighed and said to herself, “It’s been three years since I celebrated my birthday. I never thought that this year, someone would be able to celebrate it with me.
Yun’er, if only you could wake up tomorrow.
Xin Zhui said he’d make up for my birthday with me. I imagine it’ll be quite lively.”
She stole a glance at Yun Chunfeng’s expression, and sure enough, his face had darkened—black as could be.
She laughed to herself.
It seemed that even in a coma, Yun’er could still hear what she said.
That’s enough teasing Yun’er for today!
Jiang Xingyan rested for a bit, then went to visit the wounded soldiers and inspect the repairs on the city walls, mentally estimating the day the army could return to the capital in triumph.
What seemed like a leisurely day was actually busy from morning to night. She didn’t rest until the hour of Hai.
She had originally wanted to stay up until midnight to celebrate her first birthday after being reborn, but exhausted in both body and mind, she drifted off into a dazed sleep.
She had a very long dream.
Everything in the dream was blurry and swaying.
It was a memory from her childhood in Jiangnan.
She wore a tiger-head hat, a tiger-head outfit, and tiger-head shoes. She sat on her grandfather’s neck, joyfully taking in everything around her.
In her left hand, she held the most exquisite and gorgeous dough figurine. In her right hand, she held a candied fruit skewer with all kinds of fruits.
There was also a white-haired youth, running back and forth to collect toys for her.
“Young Miss, look at this little cart—it’s made of wood. Yun’er will buy it for you.
Young Miss, look at that doll—it looks so festive, as cute as you are today. Yun’er will buy it for you.
Young Miss, look at that jade bowl—it’s crystal clear, perfect for you to eat from. Yun’er will get it for—”
He patted himself down for silver, but only two copper coins were left.
“Yun’er will ask the Master to buy it for you.”
Grandfather and granddaughter were both tickled pink by this boy, laughing out loud.
Before the little girl grew up, almost every birthday was spent merrily with just the grandfather, the granddaughter, and the white-haired youth—happy, joyful, and full of warmth.
In the blink of an eye, the plump and lovely little girl had grown to sixteen. That year, on her birthday, her grandfather had gone away on business, and by her side was a tall, elegant young man.
Amid the bustling, noisy lantern festival, he frowned slightly, as if carrying endless worries.
“Young General Huo, let’s buy flower lanterns and release them by the river.
They say if you make a wish to a flower lantern and it floats downstream without going out, your wish will come true.”
The young man only wanted to escape the noisy crowd as soon as possible. He didn’t catch what Jiang Xingyan said and just agreed vaguely.
Jiang Xingyan lowered her head, and her face suddenly flushed red.
She went to the best flower lantern stall and bought the two most expensive lanterns. The stall owner patted his chest and guaranteed, “This rich young lady has a good eye!
My lanterns may cost a lot more than others, but I guarantee they’ll float all the way downstream without going out.
Buy with confidence—I promise your wish will come true!”
She happily took the two lanterns, wrote her own name and Huo Ci’s on them with her own hand, and held them up in front of him.
“Young General Huo, shall we go release the lanterns?”
Huo Ci had his father’s vengeance on his mind and had no heart to be out at all. Only out of respect for Old Master Jiang did he agree to accompany Jiang Xingyan. Now, even less interested in such girlish things, he patiently and gently refused, “I’ve never believed in these things. You go ahead—I’ll keep you company.”
Though Jiang Xingyan felt a pang of disappointment, considering Huo Ci’s state of mind, she didn’t dwell on it.
She first picked up the lantern with Huo Ci’s name on it, closed her eyes, and solemnly made a wish: “This believer’s first wish is for Young General Huo to avenge his great hatred, conquer Beiluo, inherit his father’s legacy, and make the Huo family army flourish.”
Her voice was very soft, but it couldn’t escape a martial artist’s ears.
Huo Ci heard, and his eyes stung with tears. Deep in his heart, he felt even more guilty toward Jiang Xingyan.
She understood his heart.
But he couldn’t understand her the way she understood him.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t know the conflict in Huo Ci’s heart. She carefully lit the lantern and placed it on the stream.
Although many lanterns had already gathered in the river, that lantern stood out like the king of flowers—dazzling and eye-catching, drawing everyone’s gaze.
“Look, the king of lanterns!”
“Wow, it’s floating so steadily and so fast!”
“Let’s follow it and see if it can make it downstream.”
Jiang Xingyan quickly stopped a half-grown boy, gave him a few qian of silver, and instructed him, “Go help me check. If the lantern successfully reaches downstream, be sure to come back and tell me.”
“Sure thing, big sister. Don’t you worry!”
Jiang Xingyan smiled brightly, then picked up the second lantern with her own name on it. Just as before, she murmured her own wish.
Huo Ci, eavesdropping behind her, touched the tip of his nose and lowered his head to hide his reddening face.
She said, “This believer’s second wish is to be joined in marriage with Young General Huo, to grow old together, and never part.”
After saying it, she felt her face burning hot.
She again found a child to watch her lantern and see if it could float downstream.
Before long, the first child came back: “Big sister, your lantern is the best! It was the first to reach downstream, and it’s still lit!”
Jiang Xingyan was overjoyed and clapped her hands, laughing, “That’s wonderful. Thank you for your trouble.”
She took out more silver and rewarded the child.
The child thanked her profusely and went back.
Jiang Xingyan turned to Huo Ci and said, “Young General Huo, don’t worry. Once my grandfather gathers enough men, with your extraordinary talent, you’ll surely win victory after victory and avenge your hatred.”
Huo Ci now dared not be negligent. He straightened his expression and respectfully gave Jiang Xingyan a deep bow: “Huo thanks Young Miss Jiang for her kind regard.”
Flustered, Jiang Xingyan quickly curtsied in return.
The two waited a long time, but the second child never returned.
Jiang Xingyan laughed and shook her head: “Perhaps the child got carried away playing and forgot, and doesn’t dare come back to tell us.
It’s fine. This one is exactly the same as the first—it’ll surely reach downstream too.
Young General Huo, it’s getting late. Let’s head back first.”
Huo Ci, thinking about her second wish, didn’t dare look up at her. He agreed repeatedly, and the two walked back together.
Passing by the flower lantern stall, Jiang Xingyan heard a familiar voice cursing: “Damn it, you’ve got lard for brains, daring to cheat our Young Miss?
These lanterns are twenty taels of silver each, and our Young Miss didn’t even haggle, yet you gave her a broken one.
Say no more—pay up!
Otherwise, I’ll smash your lantern stall today!”
The stall owner had no way to voice his suffering and repeatedly begged for mercy: “Oh, young sir, how would I dare sell you defective goods?
I sell lanterns here every year. Those two king lanterns were handmade by my wife—it took over two months to make them.
How, how could they possibly be broken?”
The white-haired youth in front of the stall flung a soaking wet lantern in front of him.
“Look for yourself—didn’t you guarantee it would float downstream? How could it capsize halfway?”
Only then did everyone notice that the white-haired youth was almost completely drenched.
He must have jumped into the river just now to fish out the sunken lantern.
Jiang Xingyan’s face went pale.
So the lantern she made her wish on had actually capsized into the river?
She quickly stepped forward and stopped the raging Yun Chunfeng.
“Yun’er, forget it. Maybe the wind by the river was strong…”
“Young Miss, the lantern he sold you was broken!”
Perhaps Jiang Xingyan’s expression was too shattered, because the stall owner finally caught on. He hurriedly took out twenty taels of silver.
“Oh dear, I’m truly sorry.
I was too busy today. How could I have forgotten—one of the king lanterns had a hole poked in it by my mischievous little son. I meant to patch it but overlooked it.
It’s all my fault, all my fault.
I’ll not only refund the money but also give this young lady a new lantern for free. This one is very good too.”
Jiang Xingyan forced a faint smile and shook her head: “It’s fine, stall owner. Your lanterns are lovely. Thank you.”
With that, she pulled Yun Chunfeng away.
Yun Chunfeng followed behind Jiang Xingyan and Huo Ci like a puppy that had done something wrong, head hanging low.
Only when the two returned to the Jiang residence did Jiang Xingyan call him over alone.
“So it capsized. What does it matter? Why go out of your way to make a scene at someone’s stall? Life isn’t easy for them either.”
“But Young Miss, today is your birthday. The lantern you released had to reach downstream!”
Jiang Xingyan laughed.
Clearly, Yun Chunfeng was six years older than her, yet today he was throwing a tantrum like a child.
“Alright, I appreciate you remembering my birthday. Go change into dry clothes—don’t catch a cold.
Don’t mention today’s matter to Grandfather, so he won’t worry about me.
It’s just a legend anyway. How could it possibly be real?”
Yun Chunfeng withdrew listlessly.
He didn’t notice a figure quietly standing on the rooftop.
So today was actually her birthday.
Old Master Jiang had gone away to help him raise troops, and had missed the birthday of his most beloved granddaughter.
He had entrusted her to him, wanting him to give her a proper birthday celebration, yet he hadn’t given it a single thought.
Huo Ci’s eyes were dim, and he felt in his heart that he owed her.
With a few swift movements, he returned to the flower lantern stall and bought a lantern slightly smaller than the king lantern.
He went to the stream, solemnly held up the lantern, and made a wish: “May I, after avenging my father, be joined in marriage with Miss Jiang, and live together in harmony for a hundred years.”
By the end, his voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, and his face was like rosy clouds.
He released the lantern and followed it all the way.
The lantern floated smoothly, and Huo Ci’s anxious heart finally settled.
It seemed that lantern really had been defective after all.
Just as he was lost in thought, the lantern that had been fine suddenly swayed and sank.
