Chapter 469: Shangsi Festival

Chapter 469: The Shangsi Festival

As twilight gradually descended upon the sky, lanterns of various sizes began to hang throughout the capital city of Shangcheng. As if in competition, the grander the shop, the more opulent and exquisite the lanterns that adorned its entrance.

The paper walls of the lanterns displayed not only landscapes and mountains but also riddles written on them—designed especially for those who strolled the streets at night to solve.

Groups of three or five people gathered around the lanterns, continuously guessing.

Those who guessed correctly, amidst others' envy, joyfully plucked their beautifully crafted lanterns and took them home.

Those who failed were met with laughter and teasing from the surrounding crowd before retreating humiliated with folded hands.

One after another, the scene was filled with lively activity. Li Huowang, riding a horse, slightly turned his body to avoid a child running from behind. A girl held a orchid lantern while a boy rode a bamboo horse. Both wore radiant smiles.

Was this the work of the Heavenly Observation Bureau? The capital had been devastated by Doumu just months ago, yet it had already recovered so thoroughly.

After observing for a while, Li Huowang asked Bai Lingmiao, who sat atop the carriage, "Shangcheng rarely lifts its curfew. What festival is being celebrated today?"

"Senior Brother Li," Bai Lingmiao's voice was small as she read a book. "It’s the Shangsi Festival."

"The Shangsi Festival?" Li Huowang quickly recalled from his memories about this holiday. It was the day when young women reaching the age of fifteen would hold a ceremony called “the coming-of-age ritual.”

On this day, adults would dress up fifteen-year-old girls at home, eat flower pancakes, drink floral tea, consume black rice, and then go out for leisure. They would wear pomegranate blossoms on their heads to pray to the god of marriage for a good future union.

Once a woman passed the coming-of-age ceremony, she must observe strict gender segregation—no longer freely showing her face in public.

Moreover, matchmakers could now come calling for marriage proposals.

Li Huowang murmured the name of the festival and walked toward the house he had previously received.

Just as he neared the alley entrance, Li Huowang suddenly saw Zhuge Yuan blocking his path.

"Hmm? What is it? Could there be an ambush?!" Instantly, killing intent flashed in Li Huowang’s eyes, and his muscles tensed.

Zhuge Yuan sighed softly, shook his head slightly, and gave a subtle nod toward Bai Lingmiao on the carriage.

Seeing Bai Lingmiao’s dejected expression, Li Huowang immediately understood what Zhuge Yuan meant. "Miaomiao, have you never experienced the coming-of-age ceremony during the Shangsi Festival before?"

Bai Lingmiao gently shook her head. "No. When I reached my coming-of-age year during the Shangsi Festival, I had already been taken away by Dan Yangzi."

Hearing this, Li Huowang walked toward the direction Zhuge Yuan indicated—a vendor selling pomegranate flowers.

When he returned, placing the deep orange-red pomegranate blossom between Bai Lingmiao's white hair:

"It's okay. Since you've never had it before, I'll make sure you experience it today!"

Before Bai Lingmiao could hesitate, Li Huowang took her hand and led her toward a grand tailor shop nearby.

Li Sui wanted to follow, but was quickly stopped by Li Huowang. "Li Sui, take the carriage home!"

When Bai Lingmiao emerged from the tailor shop again, her simple white robe had transformed completely.

A light-colored silk skirt, water lily-colored sash, and a long purple-blue peony-trailing gown with a fitted bodice and flowing sleeves. She stepped out onto the street, instantly drawing many glances.

Clearly, the tailor shop had prepared well for the Shangsi Festival, with ready-made garments sized perfectly for young ladies. The outfit fit Bai Lingmiao like a glove.

Yet Bai Lingmiao clearly wasn’t comfortable under scrutiny. Nervously, she kept fingernails scratching at the embroidered orchids along the sleeve cuffs. "Senior Brother Li, why do they look at me?"

"Because you're beautiful. In all of Shangcheng, you are the most beautiful. What else should we do next? Oh yes, eat flower pancakes, drink floral tea, eat black rice! Tonight, you won't think about anything else—just enjoy your own festival happily!"

At first, Bai Lingmiao didn’t relax, but as the festive atmosphere enveloped her and guided by Li Huowang, her face slowly lit up with a smile, blending into the bustling street scene.

She followed Li Huowang through the vibrant streets of Shangcheng, admiring the scenery, solving lantern riddles, and tasting flower cakes.

In that moment, dressed in fine clothes, eating delicious food, and enjoying fleeting but immensely joyful moments.

Li Huowang and Zhuge Yuan stood side by side behind, watching Bai Lingmiao’s back as she played cuju (a traditional game), her face focused.

*“Pah!”* The four words inscribed on the folding fan—“I am born for greatness”—spread apart as Zhuge Yuan flicked it open. "Brother Li, your beauty seems burdened with worries."

Li Huowang, with a complex expression, nodded slightly. "I know... I know..."

"Shall I help you unravel them?"

"Zhuge Brother, I know you’re well-read, but this matter... you can’t help. I don’t have a solution right now either. I can only leave it to time, hoping time will take everything away."

While they chatted, a young man walking toward them, holding a jade cat, caught Li Huowang’s attention.

He had fair skin, clear features with a touch of handsome charm, dressed in moonlight white, giving him an elegant air.

There were many girls in the street, and men looking at them was nothing unusual. But strange indeed was that Li Huowang couldn’t fathom the young man’s emotions or troubles—an anomaly.

Moreover, he was accompanied by several tall servants whose depths he couldn’t gauge.

As their distance closed, Li Huowang’s heart tightened. "Who are they? Why are they disguising themselves to approach me? Could my true identity have been exposed?"

Just as he thought this, the young man turned his heel and entered a jade shop by the roadside. Curious, Li Huowang quietly approached.

Upon getting closer, he realized the young man seemed to want the jade shop owner to appraise his cat.

Listening to the shopkeeper praising the cat in his arms, the young man looked extremely pleased. "Ha ha! This young master has excellent taste! Bought for five hundred taels, and it’s worth five thousand!"

As soon as the young man left, his attendants showered him with flattery, making him even happier.

When they didn’t look in Li Huowang’s direction and simply walked ahead, he muttered inwardly, "What’s going on? Could they really just be passing by?"

"Am I being too paranoid?" Just as Li Huowang pondered this, he noticed the young man heading straight toward Bai Lingmiao!

Li Huowang immediately dashed forward, drawing his copper coin sword, ready to hurl it at the slightest movement.

"Miss, please allow me my respects." The young man’s eyes gleamed as he stared intently at her white hair.