Chapter 62 Xie Nai and Lin Wen Compete for Palace Lantern

Chapter 62: Xie Nai and Lin Wen Fight Over the Palace Lantern

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the New Year in the capital.

The New Year in the capital was incredibly lively. On New Year’s Eve, the city buzzed with music and revelry from morning until night, every household filled with laughter and the thunderous crackle of firecrackers.

With Lin Wen’s words serving as his free pass, Qin Jiao was no longer confined to the Qin residence and could come and go freely. On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Qingrong arrived early outside the Qin mansion to wait for Qin Jiao.

"Qin Jiao! Hurry!"

Prince Jiang wore a festive red robe, his headpiece adorned with a bright red coral bead, exuding an air of nobility and vitality.

"Coming." Qin Jiao ran over to Jiang Qingrong laughing.

"Hurry, hurry, get on the carriage. Xiusheng North Street is already bustling!"

Jiang Qingrong yanked Qin Jiao onto the carriage and told the driver to hurry.

Xiusheng North Street, like Jinxing South Street, was a lively market in the capital. This year, it was rumored that there would be a novel New Year’s lantern festival there, and Jiang Qingrong had long since arranged to go with Qin Jiao. Unfortunately, Cong Shuang had come down with a cold a few days earlier and couldn’t join Qin Jiao.

Since returning to the capital, this was the first time Qin Jiao had been alone with Jiang Qingrong, and Jiang Qingrong’s questions kept coming. He asked about life in Nanzhou, Lin Wen’s annulment of the engagement, Li Chengwei and Xu Rujin, the assassin who targeted Qin Jiao... Jiang Qingrong’s chatter never ceased throughout the journey.

Knowing that Jiang Qingrong was concerned about him, Qin Jiao answered each question, but when he did, he glossed over Xie Nai’s role.

As Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong made their way along the route, the crackling of firecrackers filled the air, accompanied by the clear, cheerful laughter of children. Occasionally, a sky lantern or two rose into the sky, illuminating the bustling scenes of mortal life.

Jiang Qingrong couldn’t stop talking to Qin Jiao, but the journey was short. The carriage stopped, and they had arrived at Xiusheng North Street.

"Prince Jiang, Young Master Qin, we’re here!" The lantern festival was so crowded that the driver had to yell to get their attention.

"Come on, let me show you the excitement!"

Jiang Qingrong, impetuous as ever, grabbed Qin Jiao and leaped off the carriage. A group of guards chased after them, yelling, "The festival is crowded, Your Highness, slow down, slow down!"

Ignoring the guards, Jiang Qingrong pulled Qin Jiao through the crowd with agility.

On the bustling street, pedestrians jostled shoulder to shoulder in an endless stream. Wherever Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong went, they were surrounded by sparkling lights and thunderous drum music.

Looking into the distance, Xiusheng North Street was now covered with tens of thousands of lanterns. The multitude of lights blended into a sea of radiance, reflecting the splendid and magnificent spectacle of the capital of Tianyuan, with its endless feasts and toasts.

"Qin Jiao, buy this one!" Jiang Qingrong picked up a beautiful narcissus lantern and recommended it to Qin Jiao. "This one’s pretty too—buy it quickly!" Before Qin Jiao could respond, Jiang Qingrong handed him another lantern shaped like a green-leafed hibiscus.

Taking the lantern, Qin Jiao said with amusement, "That’s not how this works—you invited me out to see the lanterns, yet you’re asking me to buy them myself?"

"You not only have to buy one for yourself, but you also have to buy one for me, Prince Jiang." Jiang Qingrong’s stinginess was unapologetically shameless, leaving Qin Jiao both amused and exasperated. "Alright, let’s go take a look ahead."

Amid the clamor, Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong continued forward. A large crowd had gathered not far ahead, and Jiang Qingrong pulled Qin Jiao to squeeze through.

Before them was a magnificent ornate pleasure boat, hung all around with lanterns of various designs—some novel and unique, others ancient and elegant, and some so lifelike they seemed real. Among all these lanterns, one was exceptionally beautiful: a palace lantern made of delicate white porcelain, crafted into a hundred flowers design.

Qin Jiao, too, was captivated by the exquisite lantern and unconsciously fixed his gaze on it.

This Exquisite Hundred-Flower Palace Lantern was adorned with vivid paintings, so artful it could astonish even immortals. Its basket-shaped body was thin and translucent, with flowers such as weeping crabapple, pure white magnolia, sparse red plum, and gorgeous hibiscus—crafted from tourmaline, lapis lazuli, white jade, malachite, and amethyst—competing for beauty on the "basket."

A hundred blossoms layered like brocade, and as the candlelight cast dancing shadows, the feather tassels hanging below the lantern swayed gently. The lantern glimmered brightly, dazzling and impossible to look away from.

"How beautiful!"

"It’s made of porcelain and still lets light through—how incredible!"

The onlookers marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of the Exquisite Hundred-Flower Palace Lantern, and Jiang Qingrong was no exception. He kept shaking Qin Jiao, "Qin Jiao, buy it, buy it!"

Qin Jiao replied just as decisively: "No money, no money."

This lantern clearly cost a fortune. Although Qin Jiao liked it very much, he could only look at it from afar, not even daring to think about buying it.

As for Jiang Qingrong, despite having money, his tight-fistedness got the better of him. So in the end, after exchanging glances, both of them chose to keep silent.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this Exquisite Hundred-Flower Palace Lantern?"

Qin Jiao heard someone already asking about the price. The boat owner stepped forward and cheerfully answered the customers’ questions.

More and more people gathered around. Jiang Qingrong and Qin Jiao were squeezed together, standing close. "If you really like it, I could lend you the money," Jiang Qingrong whispered in Qin Jiao’s ear.

"And then you’ll charge me interest?"

"So clever—that’s so like you!"

Qin Jiao swatted away the sly Jiang Qingrong. "In your dreams."

"It’s a real bargain, sure you won’t consider it? Haha..."

As Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong laughed and bantered, they listened to the bids around them. The Exquisite Hundred-Flower Palace Lantern was very popular and had already been bid up to one hundred fifty taels of gold.

"Three hundred taels of gold." A clear, youthful voice rang out from the crowd.

He had directly doubled the price, and the surrounding people turned curiously to look at the youth. Qin Jiao and Jiang Qingrong also glanced over with interest.

Not far away stood a tall, slender youth, dressed in a blue brocade robe with paired deer and flower patterns. At his waist hung a spring-water jade pendant carved with hibiscus, and a black veiled hat covered his head, with black gauze hanging down from the brim to obscure his face.

The boat owner smiled brightly. "Excellent! This guest bids three hundred taels of gold. Is there any higher bid?"

"Loaded." Jiang Qingrong murmured in Qin Jiao’s ear.

"Yeah." Qin Jiao nodded in agreement.

This youth in the veiled hat, though young, possessed an extraordinary aura, clearly someone of wealth. The boat owner had certainly encountered a moneyed patron today.

"Very well. Three hundred taels of gold, once!"

"Three hundred taels of gold, twice!"

The boat owner began calling the bids. "Three hundred taels of gold..." Just as he was about to call the final bid, a higher price emerged!

"Five hundred taels of gold."

The crowd chattered in astonishment, turning to look.

They saw a young man wearing a dark gauze robe with gold-woven peacock patterns, draped in a tea-green crane-feather mantle. The swaying lanterns illuminated his stern, upright bearing, noble and refined.

"Wow, which family does this young master belong to?"

"I wonder if he’s married?"

"Such a gentleman belongs in a painting; alone I know the way here..."

The onlookers murmured among themselves, speculating about the young man’s identity.

Commoners didn’t recognize the Prince of Lingnan’s appearance, but Jiang Qingrong had seen Xie Nai before. Now, gripping Qin Jiao’s hand, he said, unable to contain his excitement, "Of all people, it’s the Prince of Lingnan!"

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