Feng Yunshu never expected to learn so much about Helan Yanting's background this afternoon. After hearing it, her heart remained unsettled for a long time.
On the stage, the storyteller was still slapping the gavel passionately. With just one person, he could vividly act out the story with his gestures and expressions. The audience below held their breath, not even blinking their eyes as they listened, occasionally letting out sighs and cheers.
For a moment, Feng Yunshu felt a bit dazed.
Perhaps everyone's experiences would become stories in others' mouths. When listening, they only seemed full of twists and turns and quite interesting. However, only the people involved could feel the joys and sorrows.
Finally, the story told by the storyteller was coming to an end.
"The royal families of various countries may seem glorious on the surface, but in fact, they are full of filth and many secrets. The higher one's status is, the greater the pressure one has to bear, which is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. So, us common folks should just live our own small lives and be content with what we have!"
As the storyteller finished his remarks, the audience below remained silent for a long time before coming back to their senses. After a sigh, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.
"One story is not enough. Keep going! Tell another one!"
"Yeah, tell another one!"
Unconsciously, the tea had lost its warmth. Looking outside, the sky was approaching evening, and the morning market was about to turn into the night market.
"Madam, the lantern festival on the long street is about to start. Let's go."
Feng Yunshu nodded. At this moment, she didn't want to stay here any longer. She felt uncomfortable even for a moment more.
On the long street.
When they walked out of the teahouse, the long street in front of them was bustling with people. The hawking of the vendors mixed with the laughter of the passers - by, as if they had stepped into the mortal world with just one step.
Looking at the wisps of steaming heat floating above some snack stalls, and the unique aroma of different foods, in the misty smoke, Feng Yunshu thought of the words "human fireworks".
As the sky darkened slightly, colorful lanterns were lit up one by one on the street. For a moment, the whole long street became brightly lit. The bright and dazzling lights made people feel a sense of satisfaction and warmth for no reason.
Feng Yunshu couldn't help but turn to look at the person beside her. Today, he was wearing a round - necked robe made of ink - colored Shu brocade, with an ink - colored lychee - patterned brocade belt around his waist. His thick black hair fell on his shoulders. Under his sword - shaped eyebrows were a pair of extremely deep eyes.
Although he was tall and looked thin, with the gentle and refined temperament of a scholar, Feng Yunshu knew that this was actually just an illusion.
He was definitely a typical example of looking thin in clothes but having muscles when taking them off. She had seen before that when he took off his clothes, he had broad shoulders and a slender waist, and his well - built muscles exuded a strong male charm.
As she was looking, Feng Yunshu's face suddenly blushed, and her breath became a bit hot.
Perhaps her gaze was too strange. Helan Yanting noticed it and turned to look at her. "Madam is looking at this king like this. Could it be that... you are attracted by this king's good looks?"
Feng Yunshu was blushing when she was instantly taken out of the mood!
"Your Highness, aren't you ashamed to say such words? Have you ever boasted about yourself like this?"
"Hehe," Helan Yanting shamelessly smiled and leaned closer. "This king doesn't feel ashamed. As long as Madam likes it."
Before Feng Yunshu could react, her cheek was suddenly attacked by something warm and soft.
After stealing a kiss, Helan Yanting saw her about to explode. He suddenly raised his eyebrows and smiled wickedly. "If Madam is about to explode, this king has plenty of ways to calm you down, for example—"
Saying so, Helan Yanting was about to lean in again. Feng Yunshu was really afraid of him and took a step back. "No, this concubine is not exploding! Your Highness doesn't need to calm me down!"
"You look as if this king is going to eat you."
Helan Yanting whispered with a smile. Suddenly, he leaned into Feng Yunshu's ear and whispered, "Madam looks so fair - skinned and tender. This king will surely eat you up sooner or later..."
"Helan—"
Feng Yunshu gritted her teeth and grabbed one of his hands, putting it to her mouth and biting it.
"Let's see who eats who. Doesn't Your Highness know that this concubine has a big appetite?!"
Helan Yanting looked at her with a smile in his eyes. "I'm afraid. This king is really afraid. Please spare this king's life..."
"Humph!" Feng Yunshu snorted and let go of him. "It's good that you're afraid..."
Before she could finish her words, Helan Yanting reached out and pinched her cheek. "Madam's teeth are really sharp."
While they were playing around, Feng Yunshu saw many people gathering in front to watch something. Standing on tiptoe to take a look, she pulled Helan Yanting forward. "Your Highness, it seems that there is a lantern riddle guessing activity in front. Let's go and have a look!"
There was indeed a lantern riddle guessing activity here. The prize for the final winner was a very exquisite revolving horse - lantern of Chang'e flying to the moon. When the lantern rotated, it seemed as if Chang'e carved on it was dancing gracefully with the moon rabbit in her arms. Against the light, it was full of a festive atmosphere.
"Your Highness, that revolving horse - lantern is so beautiful. We must win it! This concubine may not be good at guessing riddles. It's up to you next! Come on, this concubine believes in you!"
Helan Yanting hooked his lips and nodded, looking at her affectionately with a smile. "Don't worry. This king will surely win that revolving horse - lantern and give it to Madam."
Then, Helan Yanting walked to a row of lanterns on one side. There was a riddle hanging under each lantern. Those who guessed it could take the riddle down and go over to answer it.
"Returning during the Mid - Autumn Festival (guess a name of a ci - poem tune)." Feng Yunshu just took one look and her mind went blank. "Your Highness, do you know the answer to this riddle?"
Helan Yanting just took one look and nodded. "Ba Gui."
"Chrysanthemums blooming during the Mid - Autumn Festival (guess an idiom)."
—"The flowers are in full bloom and the moon is full."
"A gentle breeze caresses the face on a Mid - Autumn night (guess a four - character common phrase)."
—"The bright moon and the gentle breeze."
"Looking up at the bright moon (guess a name of a traditional Chinese medicine)."
—"Danggui."
"The top scorer in the provincial examination goes to Yangon during the Mid - Autumn Festival (guess a five - character line from a Tang poem)."
—"Looking up at the bright moon."
After going around, Feng Yunshu and Helan Yanting had clearly become the best MVPs of the whole event!
More than 90% of the lantern riddles in the whole event were solved by the two of them. Helan Yanting could give the answer instantly just by taking one look, which quickly convinced the other riddle - guessers around.
"My goodness, this is not fair! Where did this riddle - guessing god come from? No one can compare with him. I'm scared. It seems that I won't be able to get the first - prize revolving horse - lantern this year."
"Exactly. With this riddle - guessing speed and accuracy, I'm afraid even ten of me can't compare. It's an absolute crush."
Feng Yunshu looked at Helan Yanting with stars of admiration in her eyes. "Your Highness, you are so amazing!太棒了！The first - prize revolving horse - lantern must be ours!"
As expected, Helan Yanting successfully won the revolving horse - lantern. Feng Yunshu held the revolving horse - lantern of Chang'e flying to the moon, happy like a three - year - old child.
"Your Highness, look. This lantern is really beautiful! The carving of Chang'e on it is also very delicate. This little rabbit is so cute..."
As they walked, Feng Yunshu kept chattering excitedly all the way with her head down looking at the lantern.
Suddenly, Feng Yunshu heard a strange sound of a flute. The sound of the flute was very shrill, like countless fine needles drilling into her head.
Feng Yunshu trembled all over. All she could hear in her head was a buzzing sound, and she couldn't hear anything else. The scene in front of her began to spin, and the lights appeared in countless overlapping shadows.
"Your... Highness..."