Chapter 606: Chapter 606: Chance Encounter

BOOM—!

Gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the night sky, drawing countless gazes upward.

Their brilliant colors reflected in the river, sparkling with ever greater intensity.

Not far away, people danced with embroidered balls. Behind them, a line of others carried a lantern dragon, weaving through the crowd to the sound of drums and music. It was incredibly lifelike and vivid.

It was truly a magnificent sight, rarely seen.

Xiao Wu absolutely loved it.

’No wonder Fourth Brother always said the Capital City was so much more bustling than Jiangling!’

Too bad that he, the one who loved excitement the most, was now the furthest from it all.

’I wonder how he survived all those long days and nights in a remote, bitter place like Xia City.’

Xiao Wu strolled past the various stalls, choosing her items with exceptional care.

She had come today fully intent on a shopping spree!

She was so fair and adorable that the vendors couldn’t help but dote on her, practically falling over themselves to show her their best wares.

Clutching her heavy purse, Xiao Wu bought her items one by one.

For Xie Anbai, she chose an ivory folding fan with intertwined flowers. It was exquisitely crafted and exceptionally beautiful. In Xiao Wu’s eyes, it suited him perfectly.

For Princess Qingyang, she picked a white jade handle horse whip. It was light yet flexible, and felt perfectly balanced in the hand.

"There’s one for me?"

Princess Qingyang was truly surprised and delighted.

Xiao Wu tilted her head and smiled.

Princess Qingyang felt a little embarrassed. "How can I accept a gift from a child like you? This must have been expensive!"

Ye Chutang gently persuaded her, "Please accept it, Your Highness. You bring her snacks and treats every time you visit the estate. This is just a small gift in return."

Princess Qingyang gave an awkward cough.

Ye Chutang didn’t let Xiao Wu eat too many sweets. But whenever Princess Qingyang saw her pitiful little face, she couldn’t bear it and would sneak some in, hidden among other gifts. She never thought she’d be caught...

"Well, they were just little odds and ends, nothing much..."

"Besides, when we were settling the accounts before the new year, Xiao Wu was quite happy doing the books and specifically set aside this money for gifts. She keeps a tally in her heart of who is good to her." Ye Chutang smiled and shook her head. "It’s just a small token of her appreciation. Your Highness, please don’t refuse it."

After returning to the Capital City, their situation had been extremely difficult, and they had faced several crises.

Though Xiao Wu was young, she knew that establishing themselves in the Capital City and getting to where they were today had not been easy. She remembered the people who bullied them, but she remembered the people who helped them even more.

Princess Qingyang had always been unequivocally good to them, and Xiao Wu liked her too. That was why she had so carefully selected this gift for her.

Compared to what she had received, this was truly nothing.

Princess Qingyang was a bit dumbfounded. "What did you say? Looking at account books... can actually make someone that happy?"

She normally despised the classics taught by stuffy scholars, and account books made her head spin just by looking at them. How could anyone enjoy such a thing?

Xiao Wu seemed to sense her confusion and nodded vigorously.

’It’s true, it’s true!’

’All those fields and shops... when you add up all the profits, it’s an astonishing number!’

Xiao Wu would do the accounts whenever she had free time, so she already had a rough idea. But when she saw the final ledger before the new year and calculated the total, she was so excited she couldn’t sleep for half the night.

’With this money, they would never have to struggle like before!’

’Big Sis won’t be pestered by difficult, troublemaking patients anymore. Third Brother won’t have to buy the cheapest ink and books. And Fourth Brother won’t need to lie in a snowdrift for hours just to hunt a few wild rabbits to fill their stomachs...’

’In short, everything would get better!’

Ye Chutang nodded earnestly, giving an affirmative answer.

’If she knew how much Silver Xiao Wu had brought in last year, she would probably find it very easy to understand why she’s so happy.’

Seeing this, Princess Qingyang felt she couldn’t refuse any longer and accepted the whip with a smile.

"Alright! Thank you very much, Xiao Wu!"

Xiao Wu covered her mouth and giggled.

She was also very happy that she could cheer Princess Qingyang up a bit.

When the moon was high in the sky, Xiao Wu finally found the shadow puppet stall.

It was a small, temporarily erected stage. Because it was so famous, several circles of people had already gathered around it long ago.

Xiao Wu stood on the outside, completely unable to squeeze in.

She was so small that all she could see were the backs of the people in front of her.

After trying a few times, she lowered her head in disappointment, turned, and tugged on Ye Chutang’s hand.

Ye Chutang leaned down slightly. "Can’t see? Should I hold you?"

Xiao Wu shook her head again.

’I’m a big girl now. It’s fine for Big Sis to hold me for a moment, but the shadow puppet show will last for quite a while! How can I let her hold me the whole time? She’d get so tired!’

Ye Chutang smiled. "Haven’t you been looking forward to this for a long time? Wouldn’t it be too much of a pity to miss it just like this?"

A conflicted look appeared on Xiao Wu’s face, but she quickly pressed her lips together and gestured.

’I’ve already had a lot of fun today. It doesn’t matter if I see it or not.’

’Actually, if I had come earlier, I could have gotten a good spot. But I saw other people releasing Kongming Lanterns just now and was too tempted, which is why I’m late. It’s my fault for being too playful.’

Ye Chutang glanced toward the front. The screen on the stage was already set up, and with the urgent, clanging sound of a gong, a small shadow puppet appeared upon it.

"It’s a very handsome little general," Ye Chutang said. "Although there are shadow puppet shows in many places, the performers today are all old masters. This play is their best one. I hear everyone who sees it applauds in amazement."

Hearing the words "little general," Xiao Wu’s eyes lit up, only to dim an instant later.

Princess Qingyang clapped her hands. "Xiao Wu, how about I hold you?"

’After all, I know martial arts. Holding a child should be a piece of cake, right?’

Xiao Wu’s previously firm resolve began to waver.

She really did want to watch, but she wanted to avoid troubling others even more.

’This...’

Just as Xiao Wu was wrestling with her decision, a low, familiar voice laced with a lazy smile drifted over.

"Want to watch?"

Xiao Wu whipped her head around, and a delighted smile bloomed on her face when she saw who it was.

’Young Master!’

Shen Yanchuan was dressed in a snow-white brocade robe with fitted arrow sleeves. A jade belt cinched his lean waist, accentuating his broad shoulders and long legs.

Beneath the moonlight, he looked as refined as jade and stood as tall as a pine.

Ye Chutang’s eyelashes fluttered.

’They say to view flowers by lamplight and beauties by moonlight. The same applies to men.’

’Although I’ve seen that face many times, I still find my attention drifting away every time.’

Princess Qingyang asked, somewhat puzzled, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

’Hasn’t he always been uninterested in this sort of thing?’

Lian Zhou, who was following behind, immediately replied with a cheerful smile, "Today is the Lantern Festival. Everyone in the Capital City knows how lively the West River Bridge is. His Lordship has been away from the capital for many years. Now that he finally has the chance, he naturally couldn’t miss it."

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