He Yan walked in front of Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue glanced at her and frowned. "Why are you wearing such thin clothes?"
"It's too hot." He Yan clenched his teeth and swallowed his blood. He cursed Chi Wu in his heart, but he still pretended as if nothing had happened. He fanned himself with his hand and said, "I don't know why, but I keep feeling a little hot."
Xiao Jue was about to take off her cloak, but He Yan quickly stopped her. "There's really no need. If I feel cold, I'll go back and get another set of clothes. The reason why I'm wearing this is because it's too hot. Haven't you heard Lin Shuanghe talk about it? Sometimes people feel hot. If you wear too much, it won't dispel the stuffiness in your body. It's easy to get sick. "She made up a story.
Xiao Jue stared at her suspiciously.
He Yan grabbed her arm. "Alright, don't worry about what I wear. Let's go to the East Market first. I'm afraid we'll miss out on some interesting places."
In Shuo Capital, the markets were prosperous. They were divided into the East Market, West Market, South Market, and North Market. The most prosperous one was the East Market, which was near the City God Temple.
The East Market was divided into the December Market, the Lunar Market, the February Flower Market, the March Silkworm Market, the April Jin Market, the May Fan Market, the June Fragrance Market, the July Treasure Market, the August Osmanthus Market, the September Medicine Market, the October Wine Market, the November Plum Market, and the December Taofu Market.
It was the end of November and the beginning of December. The Plum Market had already closed. There were only a few stalls selling piles of red plum blossoms. The Taofu Market had already opened. Everywhere, there were stalls selling Spring Festival couplets. Everywhere they went, they would see people crowding around, cheering, clapping, and praising. It was very lively.
Because it was almost the end of the year, the lantern market had also started to light up. The streets were brightly lit and filled with people. It was very festive.
He Yan followed Xiao Jue to the entrance of the East Market. He could already feel the bustling crowd.
"It's too lively." She looked up at the colorful lanterns hanging above her head and couldn't help but exclaim. "This is my first time visiting a night market."
"First time?" Xiao Jue turned to look at her.
He Yan nodded. "That's right. In the past, I couldn't come to places with so many people, so as to avoid exposing myself. Every year, when the He family's younger generation went to the night market together, I was especially envious. When I was in Jiyang City, I felt that Jiyang City's night market was really fun. I didn't expect Shuo City's night market to be so good. So beautiful! "
Her eyes were filled with excitement and joy. She had lived two lifetimes, but at this moment, she was as happy as a child. The night market was not a place that only the rich and powerful could come to. Ordinary people could come here to have fun, but this was the first time for this person.
Many things that ordinary people took for granted were forbidden to her.
The young man looked at the girl beside him with a gentle and tender gaze. The next moment, He Yan had already pulled his sleeve and squeezed in front of a candy man.
"Candy man!" He Yan exclaimed happily. "I still remember when I was young, I couldn't go to the night market. I craved it so much that I asked Eldest Aunt to get someone to buy one for me. I couldn't bear to eat it, so I put it in a pen holder. In the end, it melted everywhere." She turned to look at Xiao Jue. "Xiao Jue, do you want to eat it? I'll buy one for you. What do you want? Is this qilin pretty? Or do you prefer phoenixes? "
Xiao Jue glanced at the candy man on the haystack. "No."
"Why not?" He Yan was very generous. "I have money, I'll buy it for you."
Xiao Jue's gaze shifted from the candy man to her face. Her tone was indifferent. "I don't have a flower basket."
"Flower … basket?" He Yan was confused. "Do you like flower baskets?"
His tone was as calm as usual, but there was a subtle subtlety in it. "When we were in Jiyang City, didn't you give Chu Zilan a brown sugar flower basket?"
"How did you know?" He Yan was frightened.
"I just knew." The man raised his eyebrows slightly and turned to walk away. He Yan hurriedly followed. At this moment, he also came back to his senses. Xiao Jue's tone of voice sounded a little displeased.
Well, Second Young Master Xiao might be particularly bothered by the fact that he was giving something to his enemy.
"… At that time, he gave me a tassel," He Yan tightly clutched onto his sleeve, so as to not get separated from him in the crowd, while trying to curry favor with him to show his loyalty, "I also felt that a gift would blind the eyes, so I definitely couldn't owe him a favor, so I gave him a flower basket. You know that in this world, it's the hardest thing to repay a debt. My relationship with you isn't like this. There's no need for us to draw such a clear line. Don't be angry. It's just a trivial matter. Don't take it to heart. Military Governor Xiao is magnanimous. Don't fuss over such trivial matters with me. Military Governor Xiao, Second Young Master … Little Young Master? "
Xiao Jue seemed to be annoyed by her pestering. She turned her head away. Her expression was serious, but the corners of her mouth were slightly raised.
He Yan could tell that Xiao Jue wasn't as calculative as before. She turned her head and saw a stall selling plain noodles. She pulled him over. "It's your birthday today. You should eat a bowl of longevity noodles. Come, I'll treat you! "
The stall was a couple. They set up an iron pot on the side of the street. The pot was filled with boiling water, and there was flour in a shaving pan. There were jars of salt and vinegar on the small table. A few tables and stools were set up on both sides. This was the stall.
He Yan let Xiao Jue sit down first. She ran in front of the Lady Boss and smiled. "A bowl of noodles." She paused, then said, "Today is this young master's birthday." She secretly pointed at Xiao Jue. "I'll have to trouble the Lady Boss to make this bowl of noodles more beautiful. Add an egg, more vegetables, and more braised meat … Oh, it's good to have a drumstick …"
"That's enough, that's enough, Miss." The Lady Boss smiled. "Any more and the bowl won't fit."
"Oh." He Yan nodded. "That's all for now."
The Lady Boss smiled as she kneaded the noodles. "The young master sitting here must be Miss's lover. He's really handsome."
He Yan's face turned red. She didn't dare to respond.
The Lady Boss probably didn't know Xiao Jue. She was simply captivated by Xiao Jue's beauty. "I've been selling noodles here for so long, but this is the first time I've seen such a handsome young master. Since you two are lovers, why don't we order a bowl of sweet dumplings with sesame fillings. The two of you can eat a bowl of sweet dumplings at the lantern market. You two will be lovers for the rest of your life. "
"No need." He Yan smiled. "This young master doesn't like sweet things."
"I see. What a pity." The Lady Boss was still smiling. She didn't try to persuade him.
He Yan was about to walk towards Xiao Jue, but after taking two steps, he turned back and said to the Lady Boss, "That … I think I'd better have a bowl."
The Lady Boss smiled sweetly. "Okay!"
When the noodles were served, Xiao Jue stared at the bowl in front of him. He was speechless for a moment. "He Yan, are you feeding a pig?"
The bowl wasn't big, but it was filled to the brim with noodles. There was an egg, emerald green leaves, and a few large pieces of braised meat. It was very sumptuous. Looking at it, the noodles were about to overflow from the bowl. The other bowls were all filled with clear water. Only the bowl in front of Xiao Jue was different.
"Eat more." He Yan passed him a pair of chopsticks. "Since it's your birthday, of course you can't just casually celebrate it. I specially asked the Lady Boss to put some noodles in for you. It's my treat. Don't be shy. "
Everyone's eyes fell on their table. This was the first time in Xiao Jue's life that someone looked at him as if he was a rice bucket. However, the girl in front of him held her cheeks with her hands and smiled sincerely. After holding back for a moment, he finally resigned himself to his fate and picked up the longevity noodles in front of him.
He Yan was very satisfied. "Remember to eat it all."
Xiao Jue's chopsticks trembled. He tried his best to maintain a calm expression.
At this time, the Lady Boss's Lantern Dumplings were served. The dumplings were round and there were exactly nine of them. They were served in red porcelain bowls and were very pleasing to the eye. The Lady Boss didn't know if it was intentional or not, but she only gave her a spoon. He Yan lowered her head and scooped one into her mouth. The sesame filling was very sweet.
It was very cold when they came out. However, the night market was bustling and crowded, so the cold was dispelled. At this moment, the hot soup in front of him was warm, the dumplings were sweet, and the person sitting opposite him was quietly eating noodles. Suddenly, He Yan felt that the years were peaceful.
The days filled with danger, conspiracy, scheming, and saber light seemed very far away in a trance. It was as if the peaceful days in front of him could continue for a long, long time to come.
She lowered her head and smiled. She picked up the spoon and obediently ate the dumplings in front of her.
She ate a bowl of dumplings and a bowl of longevity noodles very slowly.
Perhaps it was He Yan's "great hospitality", or perhaps it was because of the Lady Boss's excellent cooking skills, Xiao Jue finally finished the bowl of noodles. When she put down her chopsticks, He Yan was finishing the eighth dumpling in the bowl.
When she was about to scoop up the ninth dumpling, she suddenly remembered what the Lady Boss said.
"Two people eating a bowl of dumplings in the lantern market will be lovers for life."
She had always felt that this phrase was far away. However, she didn't know when she started to look forward to it.
Xiao Jue saw her hesitation and asked, "What's wrong?"
He Yan gently pushed the red porcelain bowl to the center. He raised his head and looked into Xiao Jue's eyes. He coughed softly. "Do you … want to eat one too?"
Xiao Jue looked down at the bowl of soup with only one dumpling left. She didn't say anything.
He Yan felt inexplicably guilty. He suddenly felt like he was a demon seducing a good girl. He added, "I remember that you don't like to eat sweet things anymore … forget it …"
Xiao Jue smiled and didn't say anything. She took the bowl, picked up the spoon that He Yan used and ate the remaining dumpling.
The Lady Boss was cleaning up the table next door. When she saw this, she smiled and said, "Okay, two people eating a bowl of dumplings. It's sweet and honeyed. It's a perfect match."
He Yan was shocked. He subconsciously looked at Xiao Jue. The young man's beautiful eyes were staring at her. It was as if he had seen through her secret thoughts.
He Yan stood up and took out a few copper coins from his pocket. "Well, I've finished eating. Let's go."
She ran away.
After eating, they walked around the night market. Their bodies felt much warmer. He Yan and Xiao Jue walked to a corner. They noticed that there were many people in front of them. He Yan casually asked a young man beside him, "Excuse me, what's going on in front?"
The young man glanced at He Yan and said, "They're guessing lantern riddles. Today is the last day. If you want to go, you can still make it. The more guesses you make, the more likely you are to win the most beautiful peacock lantern! "
Since they were here to visit the night market, they naturally wanted to join in the fun. He Yan held Xiao Jue's hand and squeezed into the crowd. After squeezing through the crowd, they saw a long corridor. There were all kinds of lanterns hanging from the eaves. Under the lanterns, there was a piece of paper with words written on it. It was the lantern riddles. Most of the people who came here were lovers. Some of them had already guessed a few lanterns. He Yan looked and was eager to try. He asked Xiao Jue, "Do you like any lantern? I'll help you win one. "
Xiao Jue looked down at her. "You'll help me?"
"Of course. Isn't it your birthday today? I'll buy you whatever you want. Winning a lantern is nothing. After all, I studied at the Xianchang Dojo. "
Xiao Jue smiled. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard someone call out to her from not far away. "Xiao Huaijin!"
He Yan turned his head to look and saw a pair of man and woman walking towards the two of them. It was actually Yan He and Xia Chengxiu.
Today, both husband and wife were wearing goose yellow long gowns and skirts. At first glance, they looked very compatible. Yan He was still the same. He never looked at people in the eye. When he walked, his ponytail swung high. When he walked in front of them, without waiting for He Yan to speak, Yan He said to Xiao Jue, "Yo, a rare guest. I really didn't expect that one day, I would be able to see Xiao Huaijin shopping in the night market."
Compared to Yan He's rudeness, Xia Chengxiu was much gentler. He looked at He Yan and Xiao Jue and smiled. "Miss He, Military Governor Xiao."
He Yan returned the greeting. "Miss Chengxiu."
Yan He finally caught a glimpse of He Yan beside Xiao Jue. He sized up the two of them and revealed a disgusted expression, "Xiao Huaijin, don't tell me you're here to accompany this brat … this guy to the night market." He pretended to rub his arm, "So disgusting, I have goosebumps all over my body!"
He Yan was speechless. Where did this person get the right to criticize others? Didn't he accompany his wife to the night market?
Xia Chengxiu pulled Yan He. Yan He said, "What's wrong? I didn't say anything wrong. "
"Sorry." Xia Chengxiu smiled at He Yan. "Nan Guang is like this. He's just joking. He doesn't mean any harm. Miss He, are you here to guess riddles too? "
He Yan nodded. "Yes. We happened to pass by here. Generals Yan, are you here to guess riddles too? "
"I'm not guessing." Yan He said, "I'm here to accompany Chengxiu." His gaze fell on Xiao Jue. "Xiao Huaijin, you …"
"He's not guessing either. He's here to accompany me." He Yan quickly cut him off. Yan He was like a cockfight whenever he met Xiao Jue. He had to compete to see who was better. If Xiao Jue wanted to guess and aroused Yan He's competitive spirit, he wouldn't go to the night market tonight. He would just watch the two of them compete in riddles.
He Yan decisively stopped him so that he could go to other places later.
"Sure." Yan He crossed his arms and said, "Then hurry up and guess."
He Yan and Xia Chengxiu looked at each other. Xia Chengxiu smiled and took a piece of paper from the lantern in front of them. He Yan followed her movements and looked at the lantern beside him.
The riddle was written very simply. "Every mountain has the meaning of yearning." He Yan knew all the words, but he didn't know what they meant when they were connected.
Xia Chengxiu had already taken the piece of paper and read it aloud, "The meaning of parting with my husband." She thought for a while and looked at the shop owner. "This is' Bin '?"
"Miss, you have good eyesight." The craftsman who made the lantern smiled and gave Xia Chengxiu a wooden sign with a red stroke.
It seemed that ten strokes could be exchanged for one of the lanterns here.
He Yan took a deep breath and felt that the lantern riddle he had chosen was not right. It would be better to change to a simpler one. As he thought about it, he walked to a lantern shaped like a lotus and picked up the note hanging below.
"Neverwinter and Neversummer."
He Yan was speechless. What is this?
She glanced sideways at Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue was standing not far away and looking at her calmly. He Yan didn't want to embarrass herself. She coughed lightly and walked to another spot.
"Lost Pavilion in Fog, Moon Maze Crossing."
He Yan was confused.
She was about to cry. Just now, she had praised herself and said that she had studied in the Virtuous Prosperity School. Now, she felt that it was better if she hadn't studied at all. What are these things? She could recognize the words, but she couldn't understand why they were put together. She looked at the girls who were guessing like fish in water. He Yan felt a headache coming on. She felt that even if she had encountered the most difficult battle, it would not be as difficult as this.
She held the piece of paper in front of her and didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a voice came from behind her. "Didn't you want to give me a lantern?"
Xiao Jue had walked over and stood behind her. He Yan said "Yes" for a while and didn't say anything else.
He smiled. "It seems that your poetry hasn't improved after all these years."
"Everyone has their own specialties." He Yan braced herself. "I can't multitask."
He seemed to chuckle, and the hot air he exhaled fell on He Yan's neck, tickling it. On the other side, Xia Chengxiu had finished guessing ten riddles in the blink of an eye. The craftsman drew ten ink characters on her wooden tablet and exchanged it for a jade rabbit lantern.
He Yan held the lantern in his arms and said proudly to He Yan, "Why haven't you guessed it yet? Don't tell me you haven't studied before? Xiao Huaijin. "He held Xia Chengxiu with one hand and even provoked Xiao Jue." The wife you found is not as good as my wife. "
Was Yan He crazy? He Yan was speechless. He thought that since he couldn't beat Xiao Jue in other aspects, he might as well compare with his wife, right? Who didn't have their strengths and weaknesses? How could he be so shallow!
She was scolding He Yan in her heart when Xiao Jue suddenly whispered in her ear, "Don't worry about him." Then, he stood behind her and picked up the paper riddles in front of He Yan.
Xiao Jue was very tall. When he took the paper from behind, he had to bend over slightly. From the eyes of others, it looked like he was holding He Yan in his arms. He Yan could almost feel the warmth from his back touching his chest. His ears turned red and he forgot to look at the note in front of him. Xiao Jue had already opened his mouth and said, "Both places are vast and boundless."
"Ah?" He Yan was stunned.
The craftsman smiled and came over with a wooden tray. "You guessed right!"
"Xiao Huaijin, you're cheating." Yan He said angrily, "How can you help her guess!"
"What does it have to do with you?" He Yan couldn't take it anymore and replied, "If you don't want to, you can help me guess!"
"Who wants to help you guess!" Yan He flung his sleeves. "Let's go, I get annoyed when I see them!" He pulled Xia Chengxiu's hand and walked away.
At this moment, He Yan finally had time to focus on the riddles in front of her.
She pulled the paper and read the words on it. Xiao Jue said the answer behind her.
"Since ancient times, too much love leads to regret."
"The heart is full of sorrow."
"Every ten, enter the top three."
"Base."
This person used to be the number one in the Xianchang House. When He Yan read the riddles, he didn't even need to think and directly said the answer. Xiao Jue's appearance was outstanding. She was smart and handsome. In this kind of situation, she was especially eye-catching. Not long after, the girls with lovers and without lovers all gathered in a circle. They either stared at Xiao Jue with infatuation or looked at He Yan with envy.
When the nine riddles were almost finished, He Yan picked up the note on the last lantern.
"Two trees not in the forest, the field has a heart." After she finished reading, she didn't wait for Xiao Jue to speak and said, "I know this, it's yearning!"
The craftsman laughed. "Miss, you have a pure heart."
He Yan blushed at this praise. She only guessed one out of ten riddles. She really didn't deserve this praise. The one with a pure heart was the one behind her. The craftsman finished the last stroke on her wooden tablet and said to He Yan, "Miss, go and pick a lantern you like!"
He Yan turned around and pulled Xiao Jue. "How about it? I said I would give you a lantern, so I will definitely give it to you. Which one do you like? "
There were all kinds of lanterns hanging under the eaves. It was a dazzling array.
He Yan pointed at a double-fish shaped lantern. "This double-fish lantern is quite nice. Do you like this one? Or this gourd lantern is also not bad … this lantern has a picture of a horse riding … "
From the beginning to the end, Xiao Jue only smiled faintly and let her be.
He Yan saw a green gauze lantern on the side. It had a picture of a mountain and a pavilion. As the person walked, the light changed and the waterfall seemed to flow. It was very strange. This mountain and river lantern was among the other lanterns. At first glance, it looked inconspicuous, but in fact, there was a universe inside. He Yan was attracted at first glance. He thought that if he gave this lantern to Xiao Jue, it wouldn't be embarrassing. He said to the craftsman, "I want this one."
The craftsman was busy handing out wooden tablets to another pair of lovers. When he heard this, he said, "Miss, you can take it yourself."
He Yan said to Xiao Jue, "Wait, I will take the lantern for you."
She walked to the mountain and river lantern. Just as she was about to take it down, she heard a familiar voice not far away. "There is a lantern riddle up ahead. Do you want to take a look?"
Then, a woman's voice sounded. "Okay, I can buy one later and hang it in the courtyard."
He Yan turned his head to look and saw a man and woman walking over a few steps in front of him. The man was handsome and elegant, and the woman was beautiful and charming. It was Xu Zhiheng and He Xinying.
Xu Zhiheng was holding He Xinying's hand. The maidservant behind He Xinying was holding a large pile of trinkets in her arms. They were probably rouge, face powder, and the like that she had casually bought in the night market. On the surface, the two of them looked like a perfect couple. Xu Zhiheng smiled dotingly, and when he spoke, it was like a gentle breeze and drizzling rain.
He Yan looked at them in a daze. She didn't know if she was mocking him or not. She originally thought that Xu Zhiheng would only accompany He Wanru to the night market. Now, it seemed that as long as it wasn't her, he could accompany anyone.
"Miss?" The craftsman saw her standing there in a daze and called out to her curiously. He Yan turned his head and was shocked. He subconsciously looked at Xiao Jue.
He was also standing under the lantern. His figure was handsome, and his gaze was calm to the point of indifference.
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