Chapter 34: Male Lead

Chapter 34: The Male Lead

Turning around with the lantern in hand, the smile on Qiu Shuiyi's lips faltered.

The scattered lights receded like a tide.

Not far away, Shen Yuchao stood before the bridge, with a brilliantly lit ornate boat behind him.

The man's features were refined and elegant, his expression calm, like an immortal from the clouds who had mistakenly descended into the mortal world.

Standing before this immortal was a young girl.

She wore a begonia-red, waist-cinching long skirt, with large peonies embroidered in gold thread across her chest, and an ochre-yellow woven feather outer garment. In her hair was a gold-dusted flowing cloud hairpin.

Bathed in golden light, she was radiantly beautiful, dazzling and stunning.

She looked up boldly, meeting Shen Yuchao's gaze, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue even without rouge.

Her adoration was plain to see.

Qiu Shuiyi threw her head back slightly. "Who is that?"

Xin Tao shook her head sheepishly. "Miss, I don't know either."

Wordlessly, Qiu Shuiyi slowly approached.

Just then, she heard the girl's shy voice.

"Your Highness is alone here, and Ninghua happens to be alone as well. Meeting like this must be fate. Would Your Highness care to accompany Ninghua?"

Xin Tao whispered, "Miss, I remember now. This is the daughter of Minister Xue of the Ministry of Justice, Xue Ninghua."

Then she gritted her teeth fiercely.

Their miss was having a perfectly good secret rendezvous with the prince—where did this unexpected troublemaker come from!

Qiu Shuiyi nodded in understanding and held out her hand.

"Give me the lantern."

Before Shen Yuchao could speak, Qiu Shuiyi, holding a lantern in each hand, stepped forward with a smile.

"Your Highness, don't you think this lantern is lovely?"

This lantern was very similar to Qiu Shuiyi's, except the inner pattern was of bamboo, and it wasn't adorned with butterflies. It looked simpler but was still exquisitely crafted.

The wick flickered, casting faint bamboo shadows on the lantern, creating a unique atmosphere.

The young girl's fair fingertips were tinted with a warm glow from the lantern, like fine jade, lustrous and smooth, its brilliance subtly contained.

Shen Yuchao was momentarily surprised, then smiled gently. "It is beautiful."

"Then please accept it, Your Highness."

Without waiting for a response, Qiu Shuiyi pushed the lantern into Shen Yuchao's hands.

"One should not accept rewards without merit, this..."

Shen Yuchao was slightly taken aback.

"Didn't Your Highness let me win earlier?" Qiu Shuiyi shook the lantern in her hand, causing the butterflies on it to sway.

"Shuiyi knows that if Your Highness hadn't conceded earlier, I definitely wouldn't have won this lantern."

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes curved into a smile. "By that logic, this lantern was essentially given by Your Highness."

"Courtesy demands reciprocity. Shuiyi should give Your Highness a lantern in return."

Shen Yuchao chuckled, amused by her, and accepted it with a smile. "Then I thank Second Miss Qiu."

Qiu Shuiyi returned the smile.

The subtle intimacy lingering between the two made Xue Ninghua's shy expression stiffen, and the smile in her eyes faded.

Casually glancing out of the corner of her eye, Qiu Shuiyi feigned surprise as if just noticing Xue Ninghua. "And who might this young lady be?"

Xue Ninghua lifted her chin, her tone full of pride. "I am the daughter of the Minister of Justice."

Qiu Shuiyi nodded understandingly and addressed her, "Miss Minister."

Xue Ninghua's phoenix eyes widened in disdain. "What are you calling me? 'Miss Minister'? How unpleasant."

Qiu Shuiyi shrank back slightly, looking wronged. "The young lady didn't state her name, and I don't know the Minister of Justice's surname or given name. Since you find it so unpleasant, why didn't you say so earlier..."

Pausing for a moment, Qiu Shuiyi said softly, "It's Shuiyi's fault. I should have asked for your name earlier."

She curtsied. "My name is Qiu Shuiyi. May I ask for your name, young lady?"

"You!" Xue Ninghua pointed a trembling finger at Qiu Shuiyi, her eyes reddening with anger. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"What did I do?" Qiu Shuiyi turned a bewildered gaze toward Shen Yuchao, her eyes gradually reddening. "Your Highness, Shuiyi... did I say something wrong?"

"Not at all."

Shen Yuchao shook his head.

"I knew Your Highness was the best." Qiu Shuiyi's tears turned to a smile.

Xue Ninghua watched their "affectionate exchange" with a grim expression, tears of anger falling. She stamped her foot fiercely and said harshly, "You just wait!"

Then she turned and ran off crying.

"Your Highness, I think I made that young lady cry."

Qiu Shuiyi blinked her eyes pitifully.

"She's an unimportant person. Pay her no mind."

Shen Yuchao spoke gently and softly.

Qiu Shuiyi then smiled.

"Second Miss seems... quite happy?"

Shen Yuchao smiled meaningfully.

Qiu Shuiyi thought to herself, how could she not be happy? She certainly didn't want an innocent girl getting involved in her life-saving mission.

But on her face, she showed a hint of shyness. "Naturally."

"If that young lady were here, how would I and Your Highness fulfill the bet?"

She turned her back, took a few quick steps onto the bridge, rested her hands on the stone parapet, and looked up at the scenery.

She clearly didn't want to talk anymore.

Shen Yuchao looked momentarily taken aback, then slowly walked up behind her.

Shang Ze was about to follow when Xin Tao, quick-witted, immediately stopped him, "Don't go over there."

"Why not?"

Shang Ze looked puzzled.

"If you go over, you'll disturb our young lady and His Highness."

"I won't say a word, how could I—"

"Ah! You blockhead!"

Xin Tao stamped her foot, beyond caring, grabbed Shang Ze's sleeve, and refused to let him go over no matter what.

"Hey, you little maid, why are you so bossy?"

Shang Ze protested.

"My young lady doesn't mind, why should you care?"

Xin Tao rolled her eyes.

"You little..."

Shang Ze grumbled, and right there on the street, he started arguing with Xin Tao.

Neither wanted to attract odd looks, so they kept their voices low, but their flushed, urgent faces made it clear they were quarreling.

Qiu Shuiyi didn't notice the commotion from Xin Tao's side.

Lantern-lit boats drifted on the river, dazzling and brilliant.

The night breeze carried a hint of coolness, tousling the stray hairs at her forehead.

Qiu Shuiyi raised a hand to tuck the strands behind her ear.

"Boom—" A loud explosion startled her, causing her to step back involuntarily and bump into a solid wall of warmth.

She turned her head.

The man was extremely warm, a cool fragrance lingering around him—indescribable yet utterly pleasant.

He lowered his head slightly, his bangs falling, his dark pupils clearly reflecting her image.

Only then did Qiu Shuiyi realize that although he often smiled, his gaze was distant, hiding his true feelings.

"Wow, what beautiful fireworks!"

A few steps away, Xin Tao stopped arguing with Shang Ze, her face lighting up with delight, so excited she nearly jumped.

Qiu Shuiyi shifted her gaze away from Shen Yuchao and looked up at the sky.

"Boom—"

Another cluster of fireworks bloomed, competing with the starry sky, so dazzling it seemed to light up half the night.

Sparks cascaded from mid-air like falling meteors.

"The Lantern Festival in the capital is truly lively."

Qiu Shuiyi mused.

Shen Yuchao lowered his eyes.

The young girl's smile was like a flower; the delicate mole on her nose, usually evoking tenderness, now inexplicably added a touch of radiance.

He said, "Naturally, the capital under the Emperor's rule is prosperous."

Qiu Shuiyi turned to look at him.

Under the fireworks, the young girl stood with her back to the tall man, leaning gently into his embrace.

She tilted her head to meet his gaze, the fireworks illuminating her eyes, which seemed to hold endless affection.

Both held similar lanterns in their hands, like a pair of mandarin ducks entwined neck to neck.

It stung the eyes of the newcomer.

"Lian Ying."

The sudden voice startled Qiu Shuiyi. She searched around and finally spotted someone below the bridge.

The man wore a floral blue wide-sleeved robe, sitting upright on horseback, a jade crown on his head. His features seemed exquisitely carved—thick brows, phoenix eyes, thin lips slightly pressed—exuding an air of noble pride.

Meeting Qiu Shuiyi's gaze, his eyes softened, "Lian Ying, I've returned."

With that, he dismounted and strode toward Qiu Shuiyi.

Qiu Shuiyi was a bit dazed, stepping back from Shen Yuchao's embrace, and whispered, "Your Highness, who is this?"

Before Shen Yuchao could answer, the man had already approached.

"I was ordered to leave the capital some time ago. Before departing, I said I'd try my best to return to spend the Lantern Festival with you. I hurried as fast as I could and managed to make it."

He stopped in front of Qiu Shuiyi, his tone carrying a hint of caution, "Lian Ying, are you angry with me?"

Qiu Shuiyi couldn't help but look at Shen Yuchao.

The latter smiled slightly and nodded in greeting, "The Prince has mistaken her. This is not First Miss Qiu."

Zhou Yundun frowned, his sword-like brows knitting together, hostility in his eyes, "Is Your Highness trying to deceive me? This is clearly Lian Ying."

He emphasized the last two words heavily, as if stressing a point.

This damn competitive spirit.

Qiu Shuiyi now knew who this person was.

Sure enough, Shen Yuchao smiled at Zhou Yundun, "Prince, this is the second young lady of the Marquis of Yun'an's household, Qiu Shuiyi."

Then, turning to Qiu Shuiyi, he said, "This is Prince Yuewang."

Zhou Yundun, heir to Prince Yuewang, the original novel's male protagonist and the canonical love interest of Qiu Lianying.

In the original plot, after Qiu Lianying was taken by Han Zicheng, she reasoned with him earnestly, convincing him to send her back.

The Yun'an Marquis and his wife were already weeping bitterly over Qiu Shuiyi's corpse when they suddenly saw Qiu Lianying safe and sound, both shocked and overjoyed.

After some explanation, the Yun'an Marquis's household ultimately laid Qiu Shuiyi to rest.

Naturally, Han Zicheng never let Qiu Lianying know he was the one who killed her, claiming only that the body was retrieved from a nearby mass grave.

The members of the Yun'an Marquis's household never learned, even until their deaths, that it was their own flesh and blood.

After Zhou Yundun returned to the capital, Qiu Lianying did not tell him she had been taken by Han Zicheng.

However, Zhou Yundun found out by chance, fought Han Zicheng, and used a self-sacrificing ploy to win Qiu Lianying's sympathy. From then on, their feelings grew steadily warmer until they finally acknowledged their mutual affection.

But now, Qiu Lianying has disappeared for some reason, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Han Zicheng has also vanished, not staying in the capital to engage in a fiery rivalry with the male lead and the other male suitors.

Thinking of this, Qiu Shuiyi collected her thoughts and curtsied in greeting, "I, Shui Yi, pay my respects to Your Highness."

Zhou Yundun stared at Qiu Shuiyi's face in startled disbelief, "You truly are not Lian Ying?"

How can this male lead not even recognize his own beloved?

Isn't it said that male leads generally possess the skill to accurately identify the female lead in a crowd?

Secretly grumbling, Qiu Shuiyi smiled gently on the surface, "Shui Yi and my sister are twins, so naturally we look alike. This isn't the first time someone has mistaken me for her."

Zhou Yundun frowned, scrutinizing Qiu Shuiyi carefully from head to toe.

Qiu Shuiyi remained motionless, allowing his inspection.

Though her features were identical to Lian Ying's, there was an extra small mole on the tip of her nose, and her demeanor was quite different from Lian Ying's.

Zhou Yundun finally believed that the young lady before him was not Qiu Lianying.

"I was mistaken, Second Miss Qiu. Please do not take offense."

Qiu Shuiyi shook her head with a smile, "How could I?"

"However, why have I never heard Lian Ying mention she has a twin sister before?" Zhou Yundun asked.

Qiu Shuiyi replied succinctly, "When Shui Yi was young, she was separated from her family due to bandit unrest and only returned home recently."

Zhou Yundun pondered thoughtfully, then asked, "Do you know where Lian Ying is?" With a subtle glance toward Shen Yuchao, his tone carried intimacy, "I brought her a gift."

Qiu Shuiyi wore an apologetic expression, "My sister went to our maternal grandparents' home some time ago. She likely won't return until after our grandmother's birthday celebration."

"I see." Zhou Yundun concealed the disappointment in his eyes, "That is unfortunate."

"Thank you, Second Miss Qiu, for informing me." His gaze flickered past Shen Yuchao briefly. Zhou Yundun nodded slightly, then turned and strode away.

Qiu Shuiyi watched him leave, musing with a sigh.

These days, even a "third party" can openly assert their claim in front of the "official partner."

Truly, the bigger the forest, the more varied the birds.