Chapter Sixty-Three: Has No One Tampered With the Process?

After finishing the meal, she left behind everything that had just happened, forgetting it all. Once the dumplings were cooked, not only did she share them with the servants of Shaohua Court, but she also sent some to Old Madam Shen and the others. In this way, the dumplings they had wrapped were nearly all gone.

After bathing, she sat on the soft couch wrapped in her cloak, opened a storybook, and as she read, her thoughts drifted away. Suddenly, the image of Xiao Yan lowering his eyes and carefully wiping the flour from her face appeared in her mind. Her hand paused, and she furrowed her brow.

She gently touched her own cheek, then abruptly returned to herself, shaking her head vigorously and settling back into her book.

After the New Year, Shen Yi’s letter arrived alongside news of victory. One letter was for His Majesty, and another was for the Duke of Zhen’s household. In his letter, aside from assuring them of his safety so they need not worry, he also mentioned Shen Jinyu. Between the lines, there was a hint of delight, which made Shen Jinyu elated.

He even became more talkative than before.

Shen Jinyu had changed greatly; he no longer stirred up trouble at every turn in public. The people of the capital, surprised at the transformation of Young Master Shen, still did not alter their opinions of him. Most continued to see him as a dissolute noble.

Yet, though Shen Jinyu minded this somewhat, he was no longer as arrogant and domineering as he used to be.

As the days grew colder, Shen Nanyuan stayed within Shaohua Court, unwilling to go out. Not until the Lantern Festival did she venture forth. That day, the capital had no curfew; people could go out to admire the lanterns and guess riddles. His Majesty and the Empress would stand atop the city gate, enjoying the lanterns alongside the people. Shen Sinian had been commanded to lead the Imperial Guards to protect the emperor and empress, so he could not accompany Shen Nanyuan out of the mansion. Fortunately, Gao Xueluo was with her today.

Shen Nanyuan was, in truth, a little uneasy. With the emperor and empress at the city gate that night, would taking Xiao Yan out lead to some unforeseen mishap? But then she reasoned that the capital was vast and the crowds were thick—who would notice the likes of them? Besides, with Xiao Yan by her side, she felt reassured.

The streets of the capital were festooned with red lanterns, bustling and prosperous, throngs of people everywhere. Vendors lined both sides of the streets, selling lanterns or hosting riddle games. Shen Nanyuan followed Gao Xueluo, dazzled by the spectacle.

Gao Xueluo grabbed her wrist and, in high spirits, pulled her to a riddle stall, already surrounded by a crowd. The vendor called out the riddles in a loud voice. Answers rang out in quick succession, and soon someone guessed the correct solution.

Xiao Yan’s gaze never left Shen Nanyuan. Seeing the brightness in her eyes, he couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, aren’t you going to try guessing?”

Shen Nanyuan smiled faintly and shook her head. “No, I’m not interested in these.” Gao Xueluo, undeterred, threw herself into the game. Shen Nanyuan patted her shoulder lightly and gestured that she’d be waiting nearby, then walked away with Qingrui and Xiao Yan.

The crowd grew thicker. She edged back toward the riverside, where many lotus-shaped water lanterns floated, casting a warm glow. Her interest piqued, Shen Nanyuan bought one, rolled up her sleeves, and gently set it on the water.

Ripples quickly carried the little lantern further out, swaying and shimmering. The red candlelight reflected on the river, lighting it with a soft glow that spread across the surface.

Shen Nanyuan let out a quiet sigh.

She realized, unexpectedly, that she missed home.

Xiao Yan watched her calm profile, sensing an inexplicable sorrow between her brows. It left him at a loss. In his memory, whenever he saw her, there was always a smile on her face.

So she, too, had things that troubled her.

Words rose in Xiao Yan’s throat, but just as he was about to speak, a hand reached out from the side and tugged at Shen Nanyuan’s sleeve. His expression turned cold as he looked over, only to find it was Gao Xueluo.

She grinned and said, “Let’s go to Chao’an Gate, it’s almost time.”

Shen Nanyuan was puzzled. “What time?”

“The hour to release the wishing lanterns,” Gao Xueluo replied. “Let’s find a good spot before the crowd gathers, or we won’t be able to see anything.”

In her hurry, she pulled Shen Nanyuan through the throng, quickly arriving at Chao’an Gate. Many people were already waiting there. Armed guards stood in front of the gate, keeping the crowd at a distance. Clearly, Gao Xueluo had come here in previous years, for she led Shen Nanyuan unerringly to a spot with the broadest view. “It should start soon,” she said.

Shen Nanyuan nodded, half-understanding. Sure enough, more and more people arrived; soon, the once-spacious area was packed.

Gao Xueluo beamed with pride. “See? If we’d come any later, we wouldn’t have found a good place.”

Xiao Yan protectively kept Shen Nanyuan before him, his brow slightly furrowed and a hint of chill on his face.

He had never liked crowded places.

Now, even less so.

As the hour approached, the emperor and empress appeared atop the city gate. The people prostrated themselves. Shen Sinian stood beside the emperor, his expression cold, eyes alertly scanning the surroundings—his black pupils cold as winter stars, his bearing stern and imposing.

Shen Nanyuan rose with Gao Xueluo, raising her eyes to the sky as one by one the wishing lanterns floated upward. Soon, the heavens were filled with them, mingling with the bright moon and stars—a breathtaking sight.

All around came the voices of awestruck citizens, rising and falling.

But Xiao Yan’s gaze drifted away, fixed on the emperor and empress standing atop the city wall, his eyes dark and fathomless.

Within, he felt not the slightest ripple.

In his memory, those two figures had never appeared. Now, seeing them, he felt no emotion at all.

So many years had passed, and the search parties sent from the palace had never ceased. Yet not a single trace had been found—was it really possible that no one had interfered along the way?

Xiao Yan’s gaze shifted again, clouded and unreadable.

——

Jun Ci and Liu Yuli walked through the capital’s streets.

He had never liked crowds; the jostling and commotion always wore on his patience. In previous years, he had seldom come out for the Lantern Festival, and when he did, it was only because his father summoned him to accompany Shen Nanyuan.

But this year, before Liu Yuli could drag him out by force, Jun Ci came of his own accord.

The crowds surged endlessly toward Chao’an Gate, but he and Liu Yuli did not follow. In any part of the capital, one could see the wishing lanterns; it was only a matter of the view.

His gaze passed over everything without betraying emotion.

On nights like this, Shen Nanyuan loved nothing more than to stroll the streets.