Chapter 334 – Young Master Wang Screwed It Up
Chapter 334 Young Master Wang Screwed It Up
Lanterns were everywhere in the city. There were big lanterns with dragon and phoenix patterns on the top, and below them were numerous pairs of festival lanterns.
This was the liveliest place in the capital on Qixi Festival. The Sea of Lanterns could be seen from afar, and the sight was inexplicably beautiful.
Some fastidious people made the lanterns themselves. They drew some obscure patterns or wrote some verses on the lanterns. The couples would hang the lanterns up together and pray for a beautiful future.
Some people bought lanterns directly from stalls nearby. They were not expensive and there were various styles. Some shops made unique lanterns, and many women liked them.
Pei Luo’an stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he spoke to a cloaked woman beside him.
This woman was far away from him just now, but now she was walking shoulder to shoulder with him. There were couples around. It was not a big deal for the two of them to walk together, but the passers-by couldn’t help but take a few more glances at the cloaked woman.
Even though she could not be seen clearly, one could tell that she must be a beauty because the young master beside her was handsome and gentle.
“Your Highness, let’s not go over!” Liu Jingyu stood still and looked into the distance. There were many people crowded there, which made her inexplicably uncomfortable.
Today was the first time she had made an appointment with Pei Luo’an to celebrate Qixi Festival together.
She spent the previous Qixi Festival with Pei Yusheng.
Pei Luo’an asked gently, “Don’t you want to go and hang a Love Lantern?”
Liu Jingyu lowered her head shyly, her eyes swirling, “Your Highness… what if others see it?”
After all, the two of them had not made their relationship official yet.
Pei Luo’an laughed and said, “What’s there to be afraid of? We have already decided on it. Even if others see us, so what? Mother Empress said what I need is waiting for a good day. If I meet someone suitable, I can get engaged first.”
Hearing Pei Luo’an talking about their marriage, Liu Jingyu blushed even more. She shook the handkerchief in her hand and said, “Your Highness, but we have yet… Moreover, I heard that you have a deep affection for the ex-Crown Princess. It’s inappropriate for us to do this at this time, isn’t it?”
“I did love Hanyue deeply before. But after all, she has passed away. I have to look forward and cherish the one in front of me.” Pei Luo’an sighed slightly and said softly. When he looked at Liu Jingyu, there was a touch of affection in his eyes, which was very enchanting.
However, he clenched his fists behind his back and then loosened.
He didn’t like to mention Ji Hanyue at all. He even had a feeling that he would lose control at the mention of her. He couldn’t explain why he felt this way, but he just subconsciously tried not to mention her, think about her, or ask about her.
“Your Highness, you really have an affectionate heart. No wonder others say that you treat the ex-Crown Princess… But you’re right. It’s all in the past!” Liu Jingyu said in a delicate voice. She raised her head slightly, revealing her face under the large cloak. Her face was delicately made up, and it was beautiful and charming. With the cloak covering half of her face, a trace of graceful and soft charm was added to her.
The lanterns in the distance shone brightly.
Liu Jingyu had to look up to Ji Hanyue in the past. Even though she was County Lady, others only flattered Ji Hanyue when Ji Hanyue was beside her. Liu Jingyu had always been the center of attention, and she was used to it. She couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable if the limelight was not on her. However, whenever Ji Hanyue was around, she would cease to be the center of attention.
But now, Ji Hanyue had already died. A dead person was not honorable anymore!
Liu Jingyu curved up her lips silently. A trace of complacency flashed through her eyes, but she quickly put on her gentle face again.
“Let’s not talk about her. Why don’t we go over and hang two lanterns?” Pei Luo’an asked as he pointed at a few stalls that sold well. Many people were buying lanterns, and the lanterns in their hands looked good.
Those stalls provided brush and ink for the guests to write something on the lanterns. The guests could also ask someone to write verses on the lanterns for them, and they could even include their names in the verses.
Liu Jingyu despised this kind of lantern from the bottom of her heart, but of course, she would not say it out. She only smiled and said, “Your Highness, have you ever hung a lantern with the ex-Crown Princess?”
Pei Luo’an shook his head. “No!”
He did want to hang a lantern with Ji Hanyue, but he didn’t make it.
“How could it be? You two were engaged for so long that you must have spent a few Qixi Festivals together.” Liu Jingyu said in surprise, but she was overjoyed in her heart. “Sure enough, he only pretended to be affectionate to Ji Hanyue. If he really cherished her, he would not have brought Ji Youran into the mansion.”
“I didn’t like to do such things in the past, but now I want to have a try. Would you like to hang a pair of lanterns together with me?”
Pei Luo’an’s eyes turned cold as he heard Liu Jingyu repeatedly mention Ji Hanyue, but he hid it well and still looked gentle.
This time, Liu Jingyu did not refuse and said in a delicate voice, “Okay, Your Highness. But can you go over and buy two? There are too many people there.”
She pointed at the stalls. She looked gentle, but she was not happy in her heart.
She thought Pei Luo’an should have prepared Love Lanterns in advance on such a day. The meticulously crafted ones must be better than those casually bought from the stalls.
However, she knew that she shouldn’t be insatiable. Pei Luo’an was the Crown Prince, so it was good enough that he accompanied her here. After all, Ji Hanyue had been with him for so many years, but they hadn’t reached done the same thing.
Pei Luo’an nodded and showed enough respect to Liu Jingyu. He brought a young eunuch who dressed like a lad servant with him and walked forward to choose lanterns.
A trace of a smile appeared on Liu Jingyu’s face. She was somewhat satisfied. “Except me, who else could be so deeply loved by the Crown Prince?”
“There is no one. Not even Ji Hanyue, let alone Ji Youran. She is just the Side Princess. I didn’t even bother to care about her.”
“County Lady Jingyu!” Suddenly, she heard a low voice.
The smile on Liu Jingyu’s face froze. She turned her head and saw the plain-dressed Qu Xuexin.
Qu Xuexin’s clothes were from Pei Yuanjun’s boat, which were prepared for maids and were just slightly better than ordinary maids’ clothes.
Liu Jingyu asked unhappily, “What’s the matter?”
Qu Xuexin cut to the chase. “I didn’t make it!”
Liu Jingyu immediately understood what Qu Xuexin was talking about. Her heart skipped a beat, and her face darkened. She was afraid that the Crown Prince would come back at this time, so she could only say to her coldly, “I see. It’s not a big deal. First Lady Qu, you can go back!”
She couldn’t let Qu Xuexin stay here. If the Crown Prince saw Qu Xuexin, there might be trouble.
Qu Xuexin did not expect Liu Jingyu to be so indifferent. She looked at Liu Jingyu in shock, only to see Liu Jingyu wave at her, indicating for her to leave.
“What… what about my matter…” Qu Xuexin asked. She understood Liu Jingyu’s gesture, but she was unwilling to leave like this.
Seeing that the Crown Prince was about to turn around, Liu Jingyu hurriedly said, “I know. I will ask my mother to keep an eye on it for you!”
Hearing Liu Jingyu’s promise, Qu Xuexin was overjoyed. She hurriedly bowed to Liu Jingyu and then left. Just now, she had recognized that the person beside Liu Jingyu was the Crown Prince.
She felt both envious and self-abased. At the same time, she was more determined to marry a rich and powerful man. She couldn’t just marry someone casually.
Seeing Qu Xuexin leave, Liu Jingyu breathed a sigh of relief. The Crown Prince was turning around. He had a handsome and gentle smile on his face. He was noble, and he was affectionate to her. He was indeed an ideal husband-to-be. Liu Jingyu felt lucky. It was good for her that Ji Hanyue had died, or such a good thing would only appear in her dream.
Before, she could at most marry Lord Jing and become Princess Jing.
She had thought that she could at most be Princess Jing, but her mother asked her to wait a little longer. As she expected, she had an even better option now.
Although Lord Jing also had a chance to be the future emperor, Liu Jingyu still thought that the Crown Prince had a bigger chance. With her help, it would not be a problem for the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne in the future. She was not Ji Hanyue. How could Ji Hanyue compare with her?
Pei Luo’an was coming over with two lanterns in his hands. The ink on the lanterns had not dried yet. He had just written poems on the lanterns. If the two lanterns were placed together, one could tell at a glance that the people who hung the lanterns were a couple.
Pei Luo’an smiled gently as he looked at Liu Jingyu. He slowly walked over. However, at this moment, something unexpected happened. Someone staggered towards Liu Jingyu from behind and was about to bump into her.
Pei Luo’an rolled his eyes and wanted to tell Liu Jingyu to be careful, but it was too late. The man had already bumped into Liu Jingyu.
Liu Jingyu’s attention was on Pei Luo’an. Many people were coming and going around her, so she did not notice someone coming from behind her. She fell to the ground along with the person, who was still half pouncing on her.
“You maniac… Where do you come from? Get out of the way!” Seeing such a scene, Liu Jingyu’s private maid shouted anxiously and hurried over to pull the person away.
It was a man. His clothes were still wet. At this time, he raised his head in panic. After seeing the maid’s appearance clearly, he suddenly stood up, grabbed the maid, and said angrily, “What is the background of the young lady of Qu Mansion that you asked me to scheme against? Are you going to kill us?”
The maid was stunned for a moment. She took a closer look at the man under the light and immediately recognized him. He was one of the human traffickers she had come into contact with. She was shocked. She had heard what Qu Xuexin and Liu Jingyu had said just now. Qu Xuexin said that she didn’t make it. Therefore, what was going on with this person?
“Tell me, what is the background of Fourth Lady Qu whom you and your Master wanted to plot against?” This man was Young Master Wang, who had been taken away before. Seeing the maid’s livid face, he held the maid’s hand and refused to let go.
The maid was frightened and almost screamed, “Who are you? I don’t know you. Let me go.
