PDLP Chapter 163: Shangyuan Jiazhang
Chapter 163: Shangyuan Jiazhang
Walking into the avenue, the bustle is evident at this moment.
During the Lantern Festival, everyone's face is filled with smiles, as if they live in a peaceful country, and suffering and war seem to have never existed.
The lanterns on the vendors’ carts are of various shapes, and the children, accompanied by their adults, look at them curiously.
Mu Qingchen held Qiao Shinian's hand tightly and walked forward.
"This, this one is beautiful." Qiao Shinian stopped in front of a lantern and pointed at her favorite lotus lantern.
Mu Qingchen looked at the stall owner, who immediately took down the lantern and approached enthusiastically: "Three taels of silver. The young lady is beautiful and the husband is handsome. You are truly a match made in heaven."
Seeing the two holding hands, the stall owner guessed that they might be a newly married couple.
Qiao Shinian turned his head to look at Mu Qingchen and said with a smile: "Yes, my husband is very handsome and is loved by many girls. I spent a lot of effort to make him like me."
"No need for change." Mu Qingchen handed a silver coin to the stall owner and squeezed Qiao Shinian's hand tightly. He looked like he was shyly angry, but seeing the corner of his mouth raised, Qiao Shinian was ready to say a few more words.
"It's rare for the prince to go out. Why don't he come with us, it will be lively." Mu Qinglan walked forward, with many people standing behind her.
Among them was Mo Lin, whom Qiao Shinian was very familiar with, a lady who looked pregnant, and some young men who were obviously of high status.
Qiao Shinian swallowed all the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She turned her head to look at Mu Qingchen and found that his eyes were on the lady. She stood on tiptoe and asked in Mu Qingchen's ear: "Someone you know?"
"Wenshan's wife." Mu Qingchen lowered his eyes and looked at Qiao Shinian who was curious. He looked at her: "Do you want to join in the fun?"
"Look at you. I don't care. We're not familiar with each other anyway." Qiao Shinian said with a smile, "Just don't break my lantern."
Mu Qingchen raised the lantern in his hand, looked at the people in front of him, and said in a cold voice: "I have already greeted you, so I will not go with you. Thank you for your kindness, Princess."
After saying that, he turned around and took Qiao Shinian's hand and continued walking forward.
"Oh, long time no see. You seem to be living a comfortable life in the palace!" Mo Lin didn't care about the people around him. He caught up with Qiao Shinian and looked at her. "It's rumored that a maid betrayed her master and became a phoenix. I didn't believe it at first, but now I see that you look good, so I guess the rumors are not all false."
Qiao Shinian glanced at Mo Lin beside him. After not seeing him for a long time, he seemed to be more unruly and bolder than before.
"Does it have anything to do with you?"
Mo Lin shrugged: "Look at you, we know each other after all, why are you talking like this?"
"Didn't you start it first?"
"Okay, okay, I was wrong." Mo Lin shrugged and apologized, looking nonchalant. "It seems that you are doing really well now. It seems that as the rumors say, His Royal Highness the King dotes on you very much! Are you not going back to your master?"
"Just say what you want to say." Qiao Shinian turned his head to look at him.
Mo Lin smiled brightly at her, "What a coincidence! Today is the Lantern Festival. Princess Yu'an wanted to go out of the palace to play. She brought Princess You'an and the thirteenth prince who was blessed by the goddess with her. Why don't you go and reminisce?"
Although Qiao Shinian didn't say anything, his eyes lit up slightly. He hadn't seen Wen Jiu for a long time and wondered how he was doing.
If she could take this opportunity to see if he was okay, she would feel more at ease.
"Come on, Your Highness, stop staring at me. I'm leaving and won't go with you." Mo Lin said, stopping and walking in another direction.
Qiao Shinian turned to look at Mu Qingchen, the meaning in his eyes was obvious.
Mu Qinglan looked at Mu Qingchen, who didn't even glance at her, with sadness in her eyes.
From the intimate conversation between the two in front of her, to the hands that never let go after they left, it all was so glaring.
She had never seen Mu Qingchen be so gentle and caring towards anyone. There was only that person in his eyes, and no trace of anyone else.
From the last time she was humiliated in Prince Xian's Mansion to today, how could Mu Qinglan be willing to accept this?
It was obviously her who had always been chasing after him, and it was obviously her who told him that she loved him regardless of everything, but now, all of this was broken.
If an unknown maid could win Mu Qingchen's heart, then what was she, the princess, worth? !
"Qinglan, you need to let go of some things." Madam Wen stepped forward and advised softly, "Now that it's like this, you should let it go."
Mu Qinglan looked back at Madam Wen, who was still visibly pregnant. She clenched her fists and said, "How can I let this go?"
A man in royal blue stepped forward and said reluctantly, "Miss Mu, your hand is injured. The prince may not really like this maid. Maybe he is just pretending to be nice to her. After all, it is still unknown whether the Thirteenth Prince is favored by the goddess.
Your Majesty cannot judge the truth of this matter, so this maid who knows the Thirteenth Prince best is the best breakthrough point."
Mu Qinglan looked at the person who was speaking, and her expression softened slightly: "Mr. Tan is right. Today is the Lantern Festival, and we shouldn't worry about these things. You guys continue to play, and I'll come find you later."
"I'm tired too, I should take a break." Madam Wen looked at the teahouse nearby, "Qinglan, let's go there and have a cup of warm water."
"Okay." Mu Qinglan nodded, then looked apologetically to the person behind him.
Walking into the private room, Mu Qinglan looked into the distance with a gloomy expression: "If the prince really likes her, then she must die!"
Madam Wen reached out and held Mu Qinglan's hand. She sighed softly, "Qinglan, don't be like this. There are thousands of men in the world. Why bother?"
"I only want him." Mu Qinglan said firmly, "If it's not him, even a god wouldn't be worthy of my attention!"
"Oh, what should we do? If the prince really likes her, you can't stop him." Mrs. Wen was very worried.
She looked down at her belly, helpless: "You were happy at the beginning, so you should find a good husband to marry. Don't be like me, who has to become a widow right after getting married. Fortunately, I still have a child in my belly, so that my life will not be too boring in the future."
Mu Qinglan looked at Madam Wen, her former best friend, who had married out of a family marriage. This best friend once had a man she loved, but she ended up choosing the man chosen by the family.
Wen Wenshan is Mu Qingchen's good friend, and Mu Qinglan thinks he's a good friend. When Mu Qingchen stops avoiding her, she might be able to visit Mrs. Wen more often.
Unexpectedly, the huge Wen Mansion now falls into the hands of this close friend.
Wen Wenshan's death was a carefully planned conspiracy, and the beneficiary was the weak and helpless person in front of him.
"You will help me, right?" Mu Qinglan asked softly, looking at Mrs. Wen who was worried across from her.
The Lantern Festival is the day when the heavenly official bestows blessings. People pray devoutly to the heaven, praying for good weather, safety for their families, enough food to eat this year, and no longer suffering from hunger and cold this year.