Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“Right, it’s okay to take a little more.” Yu Linlang lifted the carriage curtain and poked half her head out. “Let’s stop here.”
The coachman quickly brought over a small stool for her to get out.
“You guys go back, I’ll wander around. I heard there’s a lantern festival tonight, I’ll go check it out, I’ll be back later.”
Jiu Jin hurriedly jumped out of the carriage. “Miss.”
Ba Liang gently pulled her and whispered, “Let Miss go. It’s rare for her to be in the mood for the lantern festival, let’s not spoil her enjoyment.”
“Alright, then let Miss relax a bit. Being cooped up in this small prefectural city all day, it’s all just trivial matters, so boring.”
While Miss Yu was relaxed, Huo Shi was in a bad mood.
Upon learning that Yu Linlang wasn’t even going home for the New Year’s Eve dinner, her anger flared up again.
“This is outrageous! What kind of behavior is it for a young lady to be out all the time? She has no shame, but the Yu family does!”
“Mother, don’t be angry.” Yu Pianpian handed her a cup of hot tea, leaning against her and smiling to soothe her. “Sister Linlang is quite talented, and her medical skills seem very impressive. Prince Pingkang invites her to his residence every few days. If she can really cure the prince’s stubborn leg ailment, she’ll become famous.”
“In that case, the entire Yu family will benefit from her fame. It’s a good thing, Mother.”
“Pah!” Madam Huo spat, poking her daughter’s forehead with her finger. “You’re still too naive. With her arrogant and haughty nature, what good can she possibly do? I’ll be grateful if she doesn’t bring any unnecessary disaster to the family!”
“Mother, don’t say that. Didn’t Father say last time that the case of the demon murder was solved thanks to Linlang’s superb painting skills?”
Madam Huo said with a look of disdain. “She can only paint those low-class criminals. Ask her to paint lifelike and moving flowers, birds, and animals like you? Can she do it?”
“A perfectly good New Year’s Eve dinner, and just mentioning her makes me angry. It’s better if she doesn’t come! Your father will be back soon. Call your brother, and the four of us will have a happy meal.”
….
Yu Linlang walked along the bustling Chongyuanfang Street towards the East Market.
She specially went to the money exchange to get a bag of copper coins, planning to try all the delicacies in the East Market. In previous years, she would reunite with her adoptive parents on New Year’s Eve, but this year she was alone. Eating, strolling, and admiring the lanterns wasn’t so bad.
Yu Linlang took out eight copper coins and bought a koi lantern on the street, carrying it in her hand as she walked.
The streets were filled with the sounds of vendors and the bustling crowds.
Yu Linlang bought another bag of zongzi candy, and carrying her koi-shaped lantern, skipped across the stone arch bridge. She originally intended to watch the lantern and lion dance on the other side, but unexpectedly, her gaze met Mu Zhao’s.
Under the starlight and streetlights, the two exchanged a glance from opposite sides of the stone bridge, both momentarily stunned.
Mu Zhao reacted and walked towards Yu Linlang first, bowing respectfully, “Miss Yu, are you also strolling through the lantern market alone?”
Yu Linlang quickly returned the greeting, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet Miss Yu on this New Year’s Eve. No need for such formality. We are equals; Miss Yu can simply call me Huaizhi.”
Miss Yu forced a smile, intending to give him a perfunctory one, but she couldn’t manage a single one…
Mu Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle, “Miss Yu, are you going to see the dragon and lion dance?”
Yu Linlang nodded, her eyes fixed on his face, scrutinizing his complexion.
The intense gaze made Mu Zhao feel inexplicably uneasy…
This young master Mu was used to seeing all sorts of noble ladies and daughters of high society in the capital, their eyes filled with all sorts of adoring glances, but he had never seen Miss Yu like this before.
Her gaze wasn’t of love, nor was it of any lingering affection or admiration; it was more like… looking at a freshly made medicine doll.
“You…” they both spoke at the same time, then abruptly stopped.
“You speak first.” Yu Linlang nodded gently to him, her eyes filled with affection…
“The medicine Miss Yu gave me last time was very effective.”
Yu Linlang nodded repeatedly. “Has the family physician examined it? What did he say?”
“The family physician has been wanting to visit you, Miss, to ask how you made this pill, so I can take it long-term.”
“Long-term use might not be feasible.” Miss Yu shook her head, looking thoughtfully at him. After looking at him, she reached out and grabbed his wrist, touching it repeatedly. “This medicine will probably need to be changed after another ten days. Treatment should be tailored to the specific symptoms; it can’t be static.”
Mu Zhao looked down at the young girl standing before him, and for some reason, he felt a dazzle from the fireworks display.
Yu Linlang also looked up at the fireworks.
Mu Zhao said gently, “Let’s go to the riverbank. The view is open there, and there are many snacks sold along the river. I think you’ll like them.”
Yu Linlang’s eyes lit up, and she followed him along the river.
Sure enough, there were many delicious foods along the street. Miss Yu ate roasted mutton, then roasted quail, drank sweet soup, and then eyed steamed rice cakes from another stall…
The young master Mu thought the girl had a great appetite and was very straightforward and innocent, which made him very likable.
Yu Linlang was also quite happy. Along the riverbank, she saw Uncle Bing selling plum blossom soup cakes and greeted him with a smile.
“Young master and young lady, please have a seat. Business has been good in the East Market these past few days, so I specially moved here to do some business for a few days. I didn’t expect to meet two distinguished guests like you. Please, please have a seat.”
“Uncle Bing, you’re busy. No need to make a fuss about us. Just bring us two bowls.”
Before long, two steaming bowls of plum blossom soup were brought over.
Yu Linlang sipped the soup slowly, turning her head to look at the fireworks that exploded with a “bang” on the opposite bank of the river.
For a moment, clusters of fireworks enveloped the scene, mixed with strings of firecrackers, rising and falling.
Mu Zhao put down his spoon and smiled gently, “It is an honor to spend New Year’s Eve with you today, young lady. I wish you a happy New Year, Linlang. May you have much joy and peace. May you have no worries and enjoy lasting health.”
Yu Linlang’s eyes brightened. She thought to herself that sitting face to face with a beauty, listening to him gently recite New Year’s greetings, was truly a delightful experience.
Miss Yu smiled sincerely at him, “Then I wish Young Master Mu peace and happiness every day and every year. May your youth last forever, and may next year be the same.”
“Miss Linlang, would you like another bowl?”
“Since you asked, then I’ll have another bowl.”
Mu Zhao almost laughed out loud…
He found the little girl’s serious face under the rising smoke particularly amusing.
….
“Bang, bang bang!”
“Dry weather, be careful with fire!”
The night watchman, carrying a lantern, hunched his shoulders and looked up to see a drunkard staggering towards them.
He squinted for a while, trying to make out who it was, “Is that Li Mazi? Why are you wandering the streets in the middle of the night?”
“There’s no curfew on New Year’s Eve.” The drunkard Li Mazi waved his hand and stumbled a few steps.
“Hurry back, Weizhou City’s been in turmoil lately. Aren’t you afraid of demons killing people? Wandering around in the middle of the night, you’ve really drunk yourself silly.”
“Hey~” Li Mazi waved his hand, feigning indifference, “You’re the silly one.”
He staggered forward a few steps, drunk. “The case’s solved. It wasn’t a demon at all, it was a human imitation. Where are there demons in this world? It’s all just nonsense people make up to fool children.”
“Hey, stop drinking, hurry home.” The night watchman stepped forward and pushed him, “Go away, don’t wander the streets.”
With that, the watchman ignored him and continued beating his clapper as he left.
Li Mazi groaned and staggered to the corner, when suddenly a long tongue wrapped around his body, dragging him into a dark alley.
The watchman looked back and saw no one, assuming Li Mazi was gone, and left beating his clapper.
A flash of blood-red pupils appeared deep in the alley, followed by a rustling sound of gnawing.
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