Chарtеr 14 (1/17)
Тhе lоng strеet was аblаzе with lаntеrn lights, bustling with crowds, and fillеd with thе constаnt rise and fаll оf hаwkеrs' сriеs. A thick, livеly atmosphere оf wоrldly рleаsurеs sрrеad thrоugh thе аir, fоrming а stark сontrast with the high wаlls аnd deеp courtуards of thе Gong familу. Lаntеrns оf аll shарes and sizеs illuminаted thе strееt in a dаzzling displау of flowing соlors, likе a moving rainbоw. Men and wоmеn drеssed in finе clothes strоllеd thrоugh the rivеr оf lights аnd sеа оf flowеrs. Оn the wаterwаys floаted vаriоus rivеr lantеrns, whilе bоаts were ladеn with fresh flowers and vibrant fruits.
Jin Fаn led the waу aheаd, gripрing his swоrd tightly, his еyes vigilant in all directions. Gong Zishang broke away from Jin Fan and pulled Yun Weishan along, looking left and right, dazzled by the sights along the way. Gong Ziyu followed behind the two, watching them laugh and play, feeling as if brilliant fireworks had been ignited in his heart.
Yun Weishan lowered her voice and said to Gong Zishang, "So many talented scholars and beauties are strolling together, admiring the lanterns, all in pairs..."
Gong Zishang glanced at the young men and women on the street and replied, "Isn't that right? Your Young Master Yu's gaze has been glued to your back without ever leaving, tsk tsk, even sticky rice cakes aren't as clingy as him... On such a beautiful night, it's the perfect time to be alone. You two should hurry up and have some time alone. I'll have Jin Fan come find me later..."
"What does the young lady plan to do?"
Gong Zishang leaned close to Yun Weishan's ear, whispered a few words to her, then shrugged her eyebrows and hinted softly, "A heaven-sent match."
After listening, Yun Weishan covered her mouth and smiled, nodding repeatedly.
As they walked, Gong Zishang seized the right moment and slipped into the crowded crowd, disappearing from sight.
Gong Ziyu looked around, "Hey, where did she suddenly run off to?"
Yun Weishan said, "The young lady said she went over there to buy a lantern."
Gong Ziyu suddenly gave Jin Fan a meaningful look and said, "Gong Zishang alone is too unsafe. Jin Fan, hurry and go find her. Quickly!"
Jin Fan hesitated slightly, "But what about the Blade Master here..."
"I'm fine, I won't go far, and besides, Miss Yun is with me." After saying this, Gong Ziyu leaned closer to Jin Fan and whispered, "After you find Gong Zishang, go to Steward Jia's house to investigate."
Jin Fan acknowledged and immediately turned and walked into the crowd.
Gong Zishang carried a small lantern as she walked, muttering to herself, "I only wish my beloved would understand the lantern in my hand..." Coincidentally, just as she finished saying this, she saw the lantern in her hand go out. She stomped her foot in frustration, lowered her head, and cursed the lantern, "Speechless! Unlucky!..."
As luck would have it, right beside her was a large cart selling lanterns.
Gong Zishang said, "Shopkeeper, I want to buy a lantern! Do you have the brightest lantern here, the kind that can be spotted in a crowd at a glance?"
The shopkeeper greeted her politely, "Young lady, are you meeting your sweetheart? The moonlight shines on the beauty, the wind blows and the tree shadows deepen..." Then, with an understanding expression, he took out a small rabbit lantern. "This one is delicate and charming, many young ladies like it." As he spoke, he pulled out a slightly larger pheasant lantern from under the counter and added, "This one is brighter and bigger, but it's a bit heavy. Most young ladies—"
Before he could finish, Gong Zishang grabbed it with one hand.
The shopkeeper: "...can't carry it."
Gong Zishang took the rabbit lantern in one hand, then picked up the pheasant lantern with the other, spinning them left and right, admiring her own reflection. But after spinning them a few times, she still felt they weren't eye-catching enough.
The shopkeeper nodded, "Young lady, you're already carrying quite a lot..."
Gong Zishang said, "A little, but not too much."
The shopkeeper frowned with a serious expression, "Understood. In that case, how about this one, esteemed customer?"Suddenly, he pulled out a massive lion head lantern from under the counter. The lantern was enormous, nearly as tall as a person, and extremely cumbersome.
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