Chapter 61

Returning to their respective rooms, Shen Yao Xing fell onto the bed and took a nap, only to be awakened by a knock on the door when the sun was setting.

Half-asleep, she propped herself up and went to open the door. The person knocking was Bai Sha, who looked excited as if she had just returned from playing outside. Her eyes were bright as she grinned and pointed outside, “Young Miss, it’s so lively out on the streets. Why don’t you come out for a walk too?”

Shen Yao Xing scratched her hair and glanced down at the inn’s lobby, which was already packed with people, filled with laughter and chatter. It was indeed very bustling.

“Alright.” After sleeping for a day, a walk would be good.

“Oh, and let’s invite Meng Xin Yi along,” Shen Yao Xing suddenly thought.

“Miss Meng is already waiting in the lobby downstairs, along with Young Master Yin.”

The hand closing the door froze, and the young girl’s mouth twitched: “Why… is he coming along too?”

“Yes! This subordinate informed the master about Young Master Yin’s accompaniment on this journey, and the master instructed this subordinate to protect Young Master Yin well. This inn is a mixed bag of people, and this subordinate feared for Young Master Yin’s safety if he were alone, so I invited him to join us.”

Shen Yao Xing’s expression was complex. Why did this child talk so much? Besides, a person who wouldn’t bat an eye at dismembering a corpse hardly needed their protection.

She looked down over the railing.

Sure enough.

The two of them were standing in a corner of the lobby waiting, with some distance between them. Half of the young man’s face was hidden behind a veil, his slender fingers holding the monkey-faced mask given by the innkeeper earlier.

As if sensing something, he suddenly looked up, his cold gaze meeting the young girl’s.

The fingers holding the mask tightened slightly. Jiang Ming Yue’s chest grew warm, his gaze pretending to be reserved as he looked away, but his attention remained firmly fixed on her.

The streets outside were indeed lively, so crowded that it seemed like you’d bump into someone just by turning around.

Bai Sha watched the two people walking in front of her, feeling gratified in her heart. If the master knew how well the young miss and Young Master Yin were getting along, she would be so pleased she couldn’t close her mouth. If she could just secretly push them together a bit more, the master would surely reward her when they returned.

Thinking this, Bai Sha had a sudden inspiration. She immediately bent over, clutching her stomach and crying out in pain.

Shen Yao Xing stopped in her tracks and turned back: “What’s wrong?”

“Young Miss, I… I need to go to the latrine…”

“Oh, then go ahead.” The young girl waved her hand understandingly.

Bai Sha glanced at the indifferent woman beside her and grabbed her wrist. “Miss Meng, I’ve forgotten the way to the latrine you went to today. Could you take me there once?”

Meng Xin Yi frowned slightly, about to speak when she was stopped by Bai Sha’s winking expression. She instantly understood her intention, and as she turned her head, her gaze deliberately swept over the young man, saying, “Alright.”

It wasn’t until the two had left that Shen Yao Xing realized the awkwardness, but it was too late to follow them.

Feeling something wasn’t quite right but unable to put her finger on it, she could only cough dryly, scratch her neck, and say to the person beside her, “I suppose we’ll wait for them here.”

Jiang Ming Yue pressed his lips together silently, lowering his eyes to look at her.

The two stood quietly in a less crowded area near the wall, watching men and women pass by carrying lanterns of various styles. They waited for a long time, but no one returned.

Suddenly, Shen Yao Xing felt her sleeve being lightly tugged. She looked up.

The young man was no more than an arm’s length away from her, and as he moved, she could smell the faint, cool fragrance on him, which was quite pleasant.

Shen Yao Xing was momentarily dazed, her gaze focusing on his raised index finger, long and smooth, even more beautiful than white jade. She followed his hand to his face, her eyes showing confusion.

The young girl’s gaze was rarely so focused, causing Jiang Ming Yue’s ears to grow hot. He pointed towards a stall not far away and said softly, “Shall we go over there and take a look?”

Shen Yao Xing looked in the direction he was pointing. It was a lantern stall, and the lanterns carried by the people coming and going were probably bought there. They were of all shapes and sizes.

Since standing here idly was awkward anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to go take a look.

Thinking this, Shen Yao Xing nodded and stepped forward.

Jiang Ming Yue’s lips curled into a slight arc, and like those gentlemen who accompany their wife-masters out for a stroll, he obediently followed behind the young girl.

The two arrived at the lantern stall, and upon closer inspection, they found that each hanging lantern had a few lines of text written on it.

The one closest to Shen Yao Xing was shaped like a lotus flower, pink in color, with the words “Light clarity for heaven, heaven not clear, heavy turbidity for earth, earth not bright, in between is man, hard to see, mixed with myriad things, hard to find” written on it. Without thinking much, knowing only that the lantern shape was pretty, she picked it up and asked,

“Auntie, how much is this lantern?”

The stall owner was busy writing at the time, but upon hearing the question, she looked up with a smile and said, “These lanterns are not for sale. You can take one if you guess the riddle written on it.”

Riddle?

Only then did Shen Yao Xing seriously look at the words, but even after a good while, she couldn’t make anything of it. This… text had never been her strong suit, and just looking at it made her head ache a little.

She secretly glanced at the young man beside her, feeling that if this went on, he would surely mock her. So she puffed out her chest and said with feigned composure, “Auntie, how could I take your lantern for free? Just tell me how much silver you want!”

It’s just a lantern, even if it’s pretty, it can’t be worth much, right?

She had intended to exchange silver for intelligence, but who knew the auntie was an honest person: “Young lady, really, there’s no need. Today is the August Festival, and these lanterns are distributed by the government. The yamen will pay me wages, and if I were to take your silver, I’d be punished.”

Now Shen Yao Xing was truly embarrassed. She thought about just choosing another one, after all, it wouldn’t be the first or second time she’d made a fool of herself in front of him. The most important thing was to stay calm.

Just as Shen Yao Xing was about to put it back and choose another, her outstretched arm was suddenly grabbed by a hand. Her face stiffened, and before she could react, she felt a warmth approach the side of her face.