The Lantern Festival arrived soon. Lin Zhijie happily came to the Jiang Mansion to pick up Gu Liyue. Seeing Gu Liyue come out with Little Red in her arms, he couldn't help asking curiously, "Sister, why are you bringing it? It likes to run around. We might not be able to catch it later."
Gu Liyue explained, "I wanted to return it to you, but it's not convenient for me to leave the mansion. So I had to wait until today."
Lin Zhijie asked, "Why? Don't you like it?"
Gu Liyue shook her head. "I... like it. But I can't protect it. A Jie, please return it to Lord Lu."
Lin Zhijie pouted. "I went through so much trouble to get it for you, and now you don't want it. You can tell Brother Jin Chen yourself later. I'm not getting involved."
Gu Liyue was stunned. "Lord Lu is coming too?"
Lin Zhijie nodded. "Yes. Mother definitely wouldn't be at ease with me going alone. Brother Jin Chen and Brother Gu Si will accompany me."
Gu Liyue didn't say anything. She lowered her head and stroked Little Red. Little Red seemed to sense that it was going to be abandoned by its master today. It kept rolling in Gu Liyue's arms and refused to leave no matter what.
If I can leave the Jiang family in the future, I'll come back for you. Okay?
Gu Liyue thought silently to herself.
Before long, they arrived at the east bank of Tianmi River. There were already many carriages parked there. Not far away, they could see shops on both sides of the street, all selling various lanterns.
Lin Zhijie lifted the curtain first and jumped into Gu Chengzhi's arms. "Brother Gu Si, I'm here!"
Gu Chengzhi put him on the ground and then noticed there was another person in the carriage. "You... Why are you here?"
Gu Liyue politely nodded at him. "Good day, Lord Gu."
Gu Chengzhi rolled his eyes. He didn't really want to talk to her. But after thinking about it, he still stretched out his arm for her to hold as she got out of the carriage.
Gu Liyue quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Lord Gu."
Lin Zhijie chattered non - stop. "Sister, you also have the surname Gu, right? Why didn't you say so before?"
Gu Liyue nodded with a smile but didn't answer.
Gu Chengzhi then suddenly remembered that Gu Liyue had only said her name was Liyue before and didn't mention her surname. Although the customs in the Great Zhou Dynasty were open, most young ladies would state their surnames instead of their names when introducing themselves. Gu Liyue didn't mention her surname that day probably because they shared the same surname and she didn't want to seem like she was trying to get on familiar terms with him.
Lin Zhijie spotted Lu Jinchen at a glance and quickly pulled Gu Liyue's hand. "Look, Brother Jin Chen is over there."
Lu Jinchen came over with two lanterns in his hands. "There's a lantern fair over there. I won two. A Jie, you and Sister Liyue can choose one each."
One was a rabbit lantern and the other was a lotus lantern. Lin Zhijie loved them both. He couldn't decide which one to choose. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Maybe sister should choose first? Girls usually like flowers. Sister, why don't you choose the lotus lantern?"
Although he said so, Lin Zhijie kept holding the lotus lantern and had no intention of giving it up.
Gu Liyue replied, "A Jie can play with them. I don't like lanterns."
Lu Jinchen said, "One for each of you. If A Jie likes both, I'll buy another one for you."
Gu Liyue shook her head with a smile. "No need, A Jie. I'll hold it for you."
Lin Zhijie was overjoyed and jumped towards the river to release the lanterns. There were already many people by the river, men and women, old and young, all releasing lanterns.
There were an unusually large number of lovey - dovey couples today, making the four of them seem a bit out of place.
Lin Zhijie ran down with a lantern in his hands. Afraid that something might happen to him, Gu Chengzhi shouted and followed him.
Gu Liyue looked at the rabbit lantern in her hand. After hesitating for a while, she just stood there and didn't go over.
Lu Jinchen said, "Do you want to release a lantern? Don't worry. I'll buy another one for him later."
Gu Liyue shook her head. "I won't release a lantern."
Although it was night, the place was brightly lit. Lu Jinchen and Gu Liyue were standing right under a street lamp. Lu Jinchen looked at Gu Liyue's face and felt that the sadness on her seemed almost overwhelming.
Was she sad?
Lu Jinchen asked, "Why?"
Gu Liyue bit her lip. "Today is the anniversary of my parents' death."
Lu Jinchen was a bit stunned. He asked in confusion, "Then why did you agree to come out and play with A Jie?"
Gu Liyue thought for a while, then handed the lantern in her hand to Lu Jinchen. She smiled and said, "Because life is my own. Not wanting to release a lantern today doesn't mean I have to be sad all the time. I actually don't have many memories of my parents. They passed away when I was only five or six years old. My memories of them are all blurry. Moreover, Nanny Yun once told me that my parents only wished for me to be happy all my life. Today, I want them to know that I'm very happy with A Jie's company."
Lu Jinchen held the lantern and looked at the side profile of the young girl. She had grown a lot and was elegant and refined. He could even imagine how stunningly beautiful she would be when she grew up.
It was a good thing she was in the Jiang family. Otherwise, with her background and such a beautiful appearance, she would surely attract trouble.
Lin Zhijie released a lantern and shouted excitedly, urging Gu Chengzhi, "Brother Si, go and get the other lantern. I want to release them together."
Gu Chengzhi helplessly told him to be careful and then turned around to come back. He saw that under the street lamp, the young girl was smiling and looking at the twinkling lanterns on the river, while his friend was staring at the young girl without blinking.
His heart skipped a beat. He quickly ran up and said to Gu Liyue, "A Jie wants you to take the other lantern down to him."
Gu Liyue nodded, picked up the lantern and went down to the river. She lit the lantern for Lin Zhijie and then handed it to him.
Gu Chengzhi nudged Lu Jinchen. "What was that look on your face just now? You... Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to her?"
Lu Jinchen frowned but didn't say a word.
Gu Chengzhi was extremely anxious. "I think it was a mistake to agree to accompany the princess to Cangyun County back then. I admit that the girl is quite attractive. But Lu Jinchen, don't forget your own identity. Even if she's not a scheming person trying to climb the social ladder, she's just a country girl. You're the heir of the Liang Prince."
Lu Jinchen glanced at Gu Chengzhi and sneered disdainfully. "Heir? I'd rather be a country girl than be the heir."
Gu Chengzhi was even more worried. "Are you crazy? Jin Chen, you need to be clear. The eldest daughter of the Qi family has feelings for you. If you marry her, do you still need to be afraid of your step - mother's schemes? What's the status and position of the eldest daughter of the Qi family? With her talent and appearance, how many young men like her?"
"I don't like her."
Gu Chengzhi was so angry. "So you like that country girl? Even if the Jiang family has adopted her, she's just an adopted daughter. How can she be worthy of you? At most, she can just marry a poor scholar. Or do you want to take her as a concubine?"
Lu Jinchen's gaze shot over like a knife.
Gu Chengzhi of course knew that because of his family background, Lu Jinchen had long made up his mind never to take a concubine in his life. He was also a loyal person. Once he made a decision, it would be very difficult to change his mind.
This was his close friend. He would never let him abandon everything for love.
"Have you heard the story of my third uncle?"