Chapter 50: Releasing Lanterns

Chapter 50: Releasing the Lanterns

◎ The two purchased river lanterns and returned to the riverbank. ◎

As the sweet, lingering fragrance faded from his tongue, Xie Zhenchuan remained noncommittal. Brilliant fireworks burst across the sky, illuminating his long, narrow, and profound phoenix eyes. Aside from the slender, exquisite figure reflected within them, everything else was an unfathomable darkness.

Li Ci, accustomed to charming and persistent ways, saw Xie Zhenchuan’s silence but showed no sign of backing down. She straightened up and reached out to tug at his sleeve, her tone plaintive, “Is it not allowed?”

Both were dressed in moon-white garments today, with layered lotus blossoms seemingly floating on clouds. In the shimmering moonlight, their figures almost merged into one.

Xie Zhenchuan raised an eyebrow, the corners of his eyes curving slightly upward. “Even if I were to invite them, would they dare to come?”

Only then did Li Ci belatedly grasp the implication. If the Commander of the Zhuoying Directorate were to host a leaf card game, it was indeed likely that no one would dare to attend.

She released Xie Zhenchuan’s sleeve, her wrist still limply extended, and slumped over the table, resting her cheek on its surface as she looked at him with a troubled expression.

No wonder the River God had taken her river lantern—she simply couldn’t make up her mind.

“Ah Ci, you are far too self-deprecating,” Xie Zhenchuan said, his tone calm, though the line of his jaw tightened slightly, a contrast to Li Ci’s despondency. “You are so remarkable; there’s no need to worry about whether they would agree. Instead, you should carefully consider whether they are worthy of you.”

Li Ci looked puzzled, thinking she might have misheard, but then he continued, “Since I promised to help Ah Ci evaluate suitors, I will naturally put them through tests for you. If they are not the best, how could they possibly be worthy of you?”

Her thoughts had already been led astray by him, and she tilted her head. “How will you test them?”

“A gentleman should cultivate virtue and restrain desires,” Xie Zhenchuan said, even as he pushed the plate of Qiqiao festival pastries toward Li Ci. As if returning a favor, he handed her one shaped like a pair of lovebirds and added, “If someone is easily swayed by external temptations and cannot hold fast to their principles, they are naturally unworthy of you.”

His clear, mellow voice cut through the cool breeze and mist over the Jinling River, softly wrapping around her. His beautiful phoenix eyes fixed on her, as if he knew exactly what she liked. His jade-like fingers held out a golden, crispy Qiqiao pastry, uninvited yet irresistible.

Fireworks reflected in his eyes, casting mesmerizing patterns of light and shadow. By the time Li Ci came to her senses, she had already nodded, and the pastry was in her hand. On it were painted two bluish-red birds, each with one wing and one eye, needing each other to fly.

For some reason, this Qiqiao pastry seemed especially vibrant in color and sweeter in aroma.

To demonstrate her resolve to “restrain desires,” she reluctantly said, “I’ve already eaten two Qiqiao pastries. Perhaps I shouldn’t have this one?”

Xie Zhenchuan chuckled softly. “The filling of this pastry is made from golden sweet potato—a tribute from the Sultanate of Sulu. It’s sweet, soft, and glutinous. Won’t you try it, Ah Ci?”

Innocent as she was, Li Ci didn’t yet understand that human nature is easily tempted. Upon hearing this, she immediately lowered her head and took a bite. The golden filling was rich and smooth, filling her mouth with a sweet, soft flavor.

After finishing the pastry, she remembered the serious matter they had just discussed and looked at him expectantly and earnestly.

Xie Zhenchuan knew what she was about to say and slowly revealed a faint smile. “Once everything is arranged, I will send someone to inform you immediately.”

One relaxed their brows, the other brightened their eyes—both were thoroughly content.

The prepared fireworks had not yet burned out, but as it was getting late, Xie Zhenchuan ordered the painted boat to dock at the pier near the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence to see Li Ci home.

When they reached the riverside lantern market, the crowd of lantern buyers had thinned considerably compared to earlier. The vendor, now with some leisure, began hawking enthusiastically, “Last few river lanterns! Buy one, get one free! Buy one, get one free!”

Remembering the fourth river lantern she hadn’t managed to buy earlier, Li Ci’s steps slowed as she passed the stall. She turned her head to examine the patterns on the lanterns.

Her thoughts were always plainly written on her face, so Xie Zhenchuan stopped as well, patiently waiting for her to finish looking.

When the two stood together before the stall, the vendor, who had been watching the lanterns all evening, couldn’t help but brighten up. Compliments flowed from his lips like free offerings: “Ah, have the young master and his lady come to enjoy the lantern festival? Truly a match made in heaven, a pair of flawless jades! Buy a river lantern and make a wish. Right now, it’s only twenty copper coins each, and buy one, get one free!”

Li Ci stood before a rosy-cloud-colored lantern, its crimson-gold light swaying gracefully in the night. Her face seemed tinged with a faint blush, like peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Xie Zhenchuan had already prepared the silver, but she was still weakly correcting the vendor’s misunderstanding. “D-Don’t talk nonsense.”

Only then did the vendor realize this was a couple not yet formally betrothed. He quickly added, “My apologies for speaking out of turn, miss. Would you like to buy a river lantern?”

Li Ci glanced secretly at Xie Zhenchuan. He seemed to be in a good mood, showing no annoyance at the misunderstanding. Instead, he generously said, “Pick one.”

It was just a lantern, after all. If he heard any wish he didn’t like, he had plenty of ways to ensure it sank to the bottom of the Jinling River again.

Li Ci nodded, first reaching for a lantern painted with auspicious clouds and handing it to Xie Zhenchuan. As she was about to pick a second one, the vendor said, “Miss, the free lantern is that plain one. If you want a pattern, you can paint it yourself. Would you like to buy another one, or would you prefer to paint it yourself?”

Li Ci glanced at Xie Zhenchuan and, out of habit, tried to save him money. “I’ll paint it myself.”

The vendor recognized her as the young lady who had bought three lanterns here earlier. Losing a sale, he couldn’t help feeling a bit regretful. As he handed her the plain lantern, he shook his head and looked at the young man, his eyes full of pity for the girl’s unfortunate choice.

Xie Zhenchuan casually tossed a silver ingot his way, neatly silencing him.

The vendor immediately ushered the two esteemed guests to a table. In addition to ink, he generously provided three colors of paint for them to use.

Xie Zhenchuan had already picked up a brush quite naturally. “What would you like to paint, Ah Ci?”

Since she was painting the lantern herself, Li Ci naturally wanted something unique. Without hesitation, she said, “I want to paint a little squirrel.”

Xie Zhenchuan nodded understandingly and, with a few deft strokes, outlined a charming little squirrel on the yellow cotton paper. Its light ochre fur was topped with two cute ear tufts.

Li Ci’s heart softened at the sight. Then she noticed the hand holding the brush pause before adding a bright red persimmon to the squirrel’s embrace.

“It’s so cute,” she said, carefully blowing on the still-wet paint. “But don’t squirrels like peanuts? Why is it holding a persimmon?”

Xie Zhenchuan’s tone was lazy, but his words were as forceful as a vendor pushing a buy-one-get-one-free deal: “The squirrel I painted holds a persimmon.”

He paused, then found a more dignified reason. “Persimmons symbolize ‘everything as wished’—isn’t that good?”

Li Ci nodded, enthusiastically supportive. “Yes, persimmons are sweet. I like them too.”

Xie Zhenchuan pressed his lips together, saying nothing, and turned to set the brush down on the table.

Unbeknownst to them, the vendor had moved the rosy-cloud-colored lantern. Its fiery glow fell on the gentleman’s jade-like complexion, casting a faint blush over it.

The two purchased their lanterns and returned to the riverside.

Li Ci generously shared her technique for releasing river lanterns with him. “…You need to close your eyes, make a wish first, then gently and steadily place the lantern on the water. Be light and even, so it doesn’t sink.”

Xie Zhenchuan had long since lost the childlike faith that placed hopes in river lantern wishes or divine blessings. But gazing into those clear, round eyes, he still cooperatively closed his eyes for a moment before carefully placing his lantern on the water as instructed. A gentle breeze carried it smoothly to the opposite shore.

“It made it! It made it!” Li Ci gazed at the distant lantern, her eyes crinkling with irrepressible joy. “What wish did you make, Lord Xie?”

Xie Zhenchuan hadn’t made a wish but casually said, “For a peaceful world and tranquil seas.”

Li Ci’s eyes immediately filled with respect. Lord Xie’s lantern was truly impressive, unlike hers, which couldn’t even bear the weight of a small wish.

Xie Zhenchuan paid no mind to the fate of his lantern. He turned slightly to make room for her. “Your turn.”

Li Ci nodded, cradling her lantern in both hands. Just as she was about to place it on the water, she looked at the little squirrel’s dark, bright eyes and the vividly red, adorable persimmon in its embrace and suddenly couldn’t bear to part with it.

Xie Zhenchuan noticed her hesitation. “What’s wrong?”

Li Ci hesitated for a moment before finally withdrawing her hand. “I like this lantern. I don’t want to release it.”

The evening breeze brushed lightly over the river surface, causing the lantern lights to flicker and dance—perhaps carrying someone’s unspoken wish.

-

Xie Zhenchuan saw Li Ci back to the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence. It was already almost 9 PM.

Without time to rest, he returned to the Zhuoying Directorate’s headquarters in Yingtian Prefecture.

The torches on the stone walls burned relentlessly as a damp, chilly gust swept through, carrying a slight chill even on a summer night.

Xu Yuxuan lay on a crude wooden bed, his clothes tattered and stained with blood, his appearance ragged. Yet upon closer inspection, the torn flesh had begun to scab over, and his injuries had already begun healing.

Bei Ming stood outside the cell, his brow furrowed tightly.

He had initially thought Xu Yuxuan was nothing more than a timid merchant, but after applying torture, he realized that beneath a weak exterior lay a will tougher than most. Concerned about Xu Yuxuan’s frail health, Bei Ming dared not use harsh methods again, fearing he might kill him and have to answer to Miss Li later. Instead, he switched to a softer approach.

"Even if you don’t care about yourself, you must think of your wife and daughter," Bei Ming said, softening his tone in an attempt to sway him. "They are out there alone, a mother and child, with no one to rely on. Who knows what hardships they might suffer?"

Xu Yuxuan remained motionless, lying as if he hadn’t heard a word, silent.

Seeing this, Bei Ming intensified his tone. "You just saw those two kidnappers sent by Feng Ruicai. If Lord Xie hadn’t rescued your wife and daughter tonight, they would have already fallen into Feng Ruicai’s hands, their lives in grave danger."

Finally, Xu Yuxuan reacted. He opened his eyes and said stubbornly, "As long as I say nothing, neither Feng Ruicai nor the Zhuoying Directorate would dare lay a finger on them."

…Bei Ming was momentarily speechless. It was flawed logic, yet not entirely wrong.

He sighed helplessly and continued to persuade him, "Don’t you want to see them?"

Xu Yuxuan fell silent again. Bei Ming sensed something amiss—his silence didn’t seem like despair but more like confidence from having a hidden safeguard.

Just then, firm, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the cell, the firelight casting a long, slanting shadow.

"Enough talk," Xie Zhenchuan’s voice came from afar, carrying a chilling authority. "It seems this man from the Xu shop has long since hidden his outside family securely."

At these words, Xu Yuxuan’s face paled abruptly. He jerked upright from the bed, shrinking involuntarily toward the corner, his voice trembling. "H-how could you know?!"