Ruan Jiu followed Xie Jingchu out of the mansion with a nervous heart.
On Chinese New Year's Eve in Qinzhou, everyone would stay at home with their families to observe the custom of staying up late on this night, which symbolized family reunions in the coming year.
However, the capital city was quite different from Qinzhou.
On Chinese New Year's Eve in the capital, after having the reunion dinner at home, people would go to the street to attend the lantern festival.
Then they would choose a river lantern they liked, write their wishes on a piece of paper and hide it inside the lantern.
It was said that when the lantern was set afloat on the river, the river god would receive the wishes and help them come true.
At the moment, though, Ruan Jiu had no mind for such things.
All she could think about was whether Xie Jingchu had heard her secretly investigating his background.
If he had, should she confess it and tell him what Old Master Xie had said before he died?
But if he hadn't heard it, wouldn't she expose herself if she confessed?
What if Xie Jingchu investigated on his own later? God knew what problems he might find out.
"Ah Jiu seems to have something on your mind?" Xie Jingchu asked.
Ruan Jiu had been absent - minded all the way, and Xie Jingchu had noticed it.
Ruan Jiu suddenly snapped back to reality.
"No... nothing..." she said, avoiding his eyes.
Xie Jingchu was about to ask further.
But Ruan Jiu hadn't decided yet whether to tell him or not.
So she ran to a nearby stall, grabbed something at random and held it in front of Xie Jingchu.
"Ah Jing, look how beautiful this is!"
A strange look flashed across Xie Jingchu's eyes.
Then, seeing what was in Ruan Jiu's hand, he grinned wickedly. "Ah Jiu likes this?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu looked down at the thing in her hand. Her eyes widened in surprise and her hands froze in mid - air.
Just then, the vendor on the side said, "Madam has really good taste! This is a lovers' knot blessed by a high - ranking monk from the Wanfo Temple. If you give it to your beloved, you'll be together with your lover for all eternity."
"Sir, why not buy one for your madam?"
Hearing the vendor's words, Ruan Jiu immediately put down the lovers' knot.
Blushing, she bit her lip and said, "I'm not his wife."
Then she shyly covered her face and ran away.
The corners of Xie Jingchu's lips curled up. He picked up the lovers' knot and held it tightly.
After putting a silver ingot on the table, he turned around and left.
The vendor picked up the silver and shouted after him, "Sir, I haven't given you your change yet!"
Xie Jingchu didn't turn back.
He waved his hand and said, "It's for you."
He knew well that what the vendor said was just a gimmick to sell the goods.
However, he just liked to hear it.
He carefully put the lovers' knot into his bosom.
Then he strode after Ruan Jiu. "Is Ah Jiu shy?"
Ruan Jiu turned her face away. "I'm not."
"Then why did you run away?" Xie Jingchu teased.
"I'm afraid it'll be too late and I won't be able to choose a nice river lantern."
"Okay, okay. Ah Jiu is always right."
"Of course I am!"
...
The two of them bickered all the way to the place where the river lanterns were released.
The various kinds of river lanterns dazzled Ruan Jiu.
However, she took a fancy to the lotus - shaped lantern at a glance.
But what wish should she write?
Ruan Jiu propped her head up with one hand and twirled the pen with the other, hesitating to write.
Now she had found her biological parents, and there was also a lover by her side.
She was very satisfied with her current life, and it seemed that she really had no other wishes to fulfill.
Just as she was feeling troubled, Xie Jingchu beside her had already finished writing.
"What did you write?" Ruan Jiu craned her neck and asked.
Xie Jingchu showed the note to Ruan Jiu without hesitation.
"May all of Ah Jiu's wishes come true, and may all her paths be smooth. May she live a carefree life, full of joy and peace all her life."
The strokes of the characters were strong and powerful, just like Xie Jingchu himself. Somehow, it made her feel at ease.
Although there were only a few lines, it touched her heart.
She didn't expect that even Xie Jingchu's wish was all about her.
She couldn't help but tease him, "If you write like this, wouldn't it seem that I'm very heartless if I don't write a wish for you in return?"
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu suddenly grabbed Ruan Jiu's shoulders.
Looking serious, he said, "Ah Jiu, you don't have to do anything for me. I just want you to be happy. But..."
Xie Jingchu raised his eyebrows. "If you really want to take this opportunity to express your love for me, it's not unacceptable."
Ruan Jiu couldn't help laughing.
However, she wasn't really used to expressing her feelings.
All along, it had always been Xie Jingchu expressing his love for her.
Thinking of this, she finally knew what to write.
So she picked up the pen and wrote a few lines.
Just as she was putting the note into the river lantern, a voice came from behind.
"Didn't you say you couldn't read or write?"
Ruan Jiu turned around and took a closer look.
It was actually the Second Prince, Xiao Qi!
The Crown Prince, Xiao Wang, was standing beside him. As usual, Xiao Wang had a cold face, showing no emotion.
Ruan Jiu didn't expect to meet the two princes here, and she was caught red - handed.
She immediately forced a smile. "Thanks to the Second Prince. After I got home, I studied hard."
"Let me have a look." Xiao Qi raised his head and reached out his hand to Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu quickly hid the river lantern behind her back and said, "I just learned how to write. My handwriting is crude. Don't let it offend your eyes."
Hearing this, Xiao Qi withdrew his hand and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You're right. For someone like you, the handwriting might look like it was gnawed by a dog."
As soon as he said this, Ruan Jiu clearly felt a chill emanating from Xie Jingchu.
Even his eyes became sharp.
Ruan Jiu thought to herself that something was wrong. She couldn't let Xie Jingchu get into a conflict with them.
She quickly said, "I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll take my leave."
Then she pulled Xie Jingchu away quickly.
"Who are they?"
"I'll tell you later."
...
Ruan Jiu placed the river lantern on the water, closed her eyes, put her hands together and silently recited the wish on the note.
When she opened her eyes, the river lantern had already drifted away slowly with the current.
If there really was a river god in the world, would he help her achieve her wish?
After a long time.
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince, Xiao Wang, stared intently at a lotus - shaped river lantern on the table.
The river lantern was covered with water stains, obviously just fished out of the river.
Xiao Wang reached out his hand and took out the note hidden inside the river lantern.
After seeing the words on the note, his eyes narrowed slightly.
The handwriting was neat, delicate and flowing.
It didn't look like the writing of someone who had just learned how to write.
Moreover, the content on it was definitely not something a person without any literary knowledge could write.
Xiao Wang looked at the words on the note and parted his thin lips.
"May you be happy year after year. May all your wishes come true. The wind makes an appointment, and the flowers never fail. Promise to be together year after year."
He curled his lips, looking playful.
Interesting.