Chapter 604: Chapter 604: Wish

A single, breathtaking beauty was a rare sight, let alone two of them creating such a spectacle.

Their mere presence as they strolled down the long street created a picturesque scene all on its own.

Under the mingling moonlight and candlelight, they were an absolutely stunning sight.

Many who passed by were left staring, dumbfounded. They would continue to look back long after they had moved on.

Some were so captivated they grew distracted, accidentally bumping into a stall and nearly stumbling, which drew a roar of laughter from the crowd.

"Stop staring!"

Someone with sharp eyes recognized the two women and lowered their voice, their tone a mixture of envy and awe.

"One of them is Princess Qingyang, and the other is the Second Miss of the Ye Mansion. Neither of them are women ordinary men can even dream of!"

Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd at these words.

"So it’s really them! Such beauty, such an air about them... They’re truly beyond compare."

"More than that! Even the most esteemed ladies from the great families in the capital pale in comparison!"

"Exactly!"

Princess Qingyang, of course, was famous throughout the Capital City for her willful temper. No one dared to cross her.

And while Ye Chutang’s background wasn’t as lofty, her medical skills were nothing short of miraculous. She was not only an honored guest at the Eldest Princess Mansion but now also held the deep trust of the Emperor himself.

They were indeed on a completely different level from ordinary people.

Anyone who had been entertaining ideas immediately abandoned them, though they still couldn’t resist sneaking glances in their direction.

’Such peerless beauties. Just one more glance is a blessing!’

An empty space had somehow formed around them in the crowd, separating them from the others by a short distance.

Ye Chutang paid no mind to the various stares from the crowd.

For one, she never cared for such attention. For another... in a place this packed with people, having a bit of open space was certainly safer.

She wouldn’t have to worry about being separated from Xiao Wu, even if she let go of her hand.

Seeing Xiao Wu’s excitement—gazing at everything around her with wide-eyed wonder as if it were all precious treasure—a smile graced Ye Chutang’s lips. She began chatting idly with Princess Qingyang as they walked.

"Last year in Jiangling, I took Xiao Wu to a lantern festival. It was lively, but it paled in comparison to the one in the Capital City."

As she spoke, Xiao Wu’s eyes suddenly went wide. The child scampered a few steps forward and pointed excitedly, urging Ye Chutang and the princess to look.

Ye Chutang followed her gaze and saw a Kongming Lantern slowly rising from the opposite bank of the river.

The street ran alongside the river, and an arch bridge offered passage to the other side.

Both banks of the river were bustling with activity. Swaying lanterns cast their reflections on the water, which shimmered like flawless pieces of jade.

The flickering candlelight stirred a distant memory.

Ye Chutang watched in silence as her thoughts began to drift.

"Awang, you just got to the Capital City, so you don’t know the custom here yet! Everyone says that during the Lantern Festival, if you write your wish on a piece of paper and place it in a Kongming Lantern, it’s a prayer to the heavens. If the lantern successfully takes flight, it means your wish will come true."

The young man’s features were sharp and handsome, and his smile was bold and unrestrained.

"I’ve already made arrangements with the owner of the lantern shop by the West River Bridge. I told him to save the biggest and best Kongming Lanterns for us. Whatever you wish for, Awang, your big brother will write it all down for you!"

The words had barely left his mouth when one of the little tykes trailing behind him couldn’t help but ask, "Big Brother, what about me and Third Brother? And Xiao Wu... well, never mind. Xiao Wu is still little. She’ll have chances when she’s older! Big Brother, won’t you write one for me and Third Brother, too?"

The other, slightly taller tyke shook his head. His voice, though still childish, was gentle and sensible. "Big Sister isn’t well and can hardly leave the house in winter, so we should naturally make more wishes for her. Big Brother, you can give my turn to Big Sister, too."

The first little tyke was stunned. He glanced around, suddenly embarrassed.

"Hey! No, that’s not what I meant! I... I was planning to use my wish to pray for Big Sister’s health, too!"

As they argued, one of the tykes grabbed the other by the collar, and they scuffled their way out.

Only the young man’s laughing voice drifted back.

"What’s there to bicker about? We’ll write Awang’s wishes first this year. When she’s all better, we’ll just let her write everyone else’s, won’t we? She has nice handwriting, anyway. When she writes Xiao Wu’s wishes later, they might be even more likely to come true, don’t you think?"

The two tykes, who had been wrestling in the courtyard, finally stopped. They exchanged a look, instantly buried the hatchet, and slapped their hands together in agreement.

"Deal! We’ll do whatever Big Brother says!"

...

The air was filled with a cacophony of voices.

Suddenly, a series of gasps erupted from the street, drawing the attention of the crowd.

Ye Chutang’s reverie was broken. She turned her head and saw a performer holding a specially-made fire staff. As he spun and twirled it, the blazing flames painted dazzling streaks against the night sky.

The onlookers gasped and cheered, applauding wildly.

Ye Chutang returned to the present.

"Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu ran to her side and looked up, her expression innocent and questioning.

Ye Chutang smiled and pointed to the opposite bank. "Shall we go release one, too?"

Xiao Wu’s eyes widened in delighted surprise.

’Yes, yes!’

She gripped Ye Chutang’s hand tightly, practically overflowing with joy and anticipation.

The group crossed the arch bridge to the other side, where a crowd had already gathered around the Kongming Lantern stall.

Ye Chutang stepped to one side and took out some silver.

The shopkeeper had set up a table with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Customers could write their wishes before collecting their lanterns.

"One, please," Ye Chutang said.

"You got it!"

The attendant immediately handed her a blank slip of paper.

"Just write your wish on this, miss!"

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod. She held the slip of paper, wondering what to write.

Princess Qingyang saw this and looked surprised. "I wouldn’t have thought you’d believe in these silly little novelties."

’She had known Ye Chutang for a while now. The woman she knew was always so calm and capable, as if there were nothing in the world she couldn’t accomplish.’

’How could a person like that, who always fights for what she wants, place her hopes in something as fleeting as a wish?’

Ye Chutang smiled.

"Perhaps my wishes are just a little more likely to come true?"

Princess Qingyang blinked, finding herself thinking that actually made a strange sort of sense.

"You know... that might actually be true."

Something seemed to occur to her, and she hurried over to buy a lantern of her own.

"I want one too!"

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow.

’Princess Qingyang had been absent-minded all evening.’

’She still couldn’t completely put aside the matter of King Yan Nan. No matter how festive the surroundings, the cheer couldn’t seem to reach her.’

’But now, she seemed to have a bit more spirit.’

"Have you decided what you’re going to write, Princess?"

Princess Qingyang pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.

Ye Chutang looked at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu was leaning against her, her eyes pure and innocent. She tilted her head and smiled with pure delight.

The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved.

"I’ve decided, too."

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