There were indeed many people on the street.

As soon as Shen Xiling got out of the carriage with Qi Ying, she was bumped by the surrounding pedestrians. Being only eleven years old and extremely thin at the time, she nearly fell. Seeing her bumped by passersby, Bai Song instinctively moved to help her, but unexpectedly the young master was quicker than him, immediately embracing her with one arm.

Shen Xiling was half-held in Qi Ying’s arms, her nostrils filled with the scent of sweet pine from his body, her mind going blank for a moment. He quickly released her, frowning and saying in a low voice, “Be careful.”

Shen Xiling nodded helplessly.

Zhao Yao, who was getting out of the carriage with her parents nearby, happened to see this scene and was so angry she was fuming. She and her mother had schemed for so long to find a way to spend the Lantern Festival with second brother, only to have this pauper intercept their opportunity. Fortunately, her mother had counseled her extensively during the journey from Fenghe Garden, and she had also come to her senses—she couldn’t indulge in momentary pleasure by competing jealously with that orphan girl. Not only would she lose her composure, but she might also incur second brother’s displeasure.

She didn’t need to lower herself to the level of this orphan girl. That was her second brother, who had raised her since childhood—how could such affection be compared to by an outsider like Fang Jun?

Having settled on this mindset, Zhao Yao’s heart calmed somewhat. She then put on a very happy and innocent manner, walked to second brother’s side, pulled at his arm and said, “Second brother, look! That lantern over there looks like a fox—how unique!”

Following Zhao Yao’s pointing, Shen Xiling also instinctively looked over and indeed saw that a shop by the street had made a beautiful fox lantern. The fox was painted very realistically, attracting many children to cluster in front of the lantern.

Shen Xiling only glanced once before quickly looking away.

At this moment Qi Ning and Qi Le also arrived, walking toward them. Hearing Zhao Yao mention a fox lantern, Qi Le immediately became very excited and repeatedly asked where it was. Qi Yun also came with his wife and daughter, holding Hui’er in his arms. This was Hui’er’s first time seeing lanterns on the street, and seeing such brightness made her extremely happy. Her grape-like big eyes looked around curiously with novelty, and she was utterly adorable.

Seeing the younger generation all gathered together, Zhao Run laughed and said, “You young ones shouldn’t block the middle of the road. Go stroll toward that end of the long street—all the excitement is over there.”

Everyone present was Zhao Run’s junior, so naturally they complied. The family was harmonious and happy, talking and laughing as they walked toward that end of the long street.

Shen Xiling had originally stayed close by Qi Ying’s side, but later when Zhao Yao came over, she subtly squeezed her out. Later when the several Qi young masters arrived, Shen Xiling, being an outsider, couldn’t crowd forward and gradually fell further behind. When everyone moved together toward that end of the long street, she was separated by other pedestrians on the road and soon could no longer see Qi Ying.

She was initially somewhat panicked, looking around to search for Qi Ying’s figure. But being young and too short, her view was blocked by the crowd and she couldn’t see anything, so she had to accept the fact: she was lost.

Shen Xiling felt quite helpless. She originally planned to return to the carriage to wait, but thinking it over, she estimated everyone would play until they were satisfied, which would take a long time. Going back to the carriage now meant she didn’t know how long she’d have to wait, which would be rather difficult to endure. So she followed the flow of people and walked on, straight to the moat.

Jiankang City’s moat was built very wide, drawing water from the Qin Huai, Qingxi, and Jinchuan rivers as well as Xuanwu Lake, Front Lake, and Pipa Lake. It had guarded this most prosperous capital in the world for decades. However, Jiankang had long been free from warfare, and the moat had never been called upon for its protective purpose. Now during the Lantern Festival it had become an excellent place for floating lanterns. At this moment, tourists wove like fabric, bright lanterns drifted on the river surface, and everywhere were Jiankang citizens making sincere prayers for blessings.

It was at this moment that Shen Xiling thought of her father and mother.

Since that serious illness on New Year’s Eve, she had tried her best not to think of her deceased parents, as falling into those memories only caused herself trouble, and she didn’t want to waste herself and make her parents sad. But on this night when all families reunited, she inevitably felt moved.

The Lantern Festival—she had mostly spent it with her mother. When she was small, her mother’s health wasn’t so bad yet, and for several years she had even brought her out to float lanterns. That fox lantern Zhao Yao had mentioned to Qi Ying—her mother had also bought one for her. It wasn’t anything novel; it had existed for many years already.

Later her mother’s health began to deteriorate. Every winter was very hard to endure, so they could no longer celebrate the Lantern Festival. Last year’s Lantern Festival, it was her father who took pity on her and found an opportunity to insist on bringing her out for the holiday. That was the first time she had ridden in a luxurious carriage. Her father bought her many lanterns, and she released them all at once by the river, each lantern praying for her mother’s health. Later her father even took her to eat yuanxiao at a street-side shop—sweet ones with black sesame filling. She still remembered that taste even now.

Last year Jiankang’s streets had also been as bustling with voices and crowded with people as today, with jostling shoulders everywhere. But then her father was there, always firmly holding her hand, so she hadn’t gotten lost and had always followed by her father’s side.

Everything was vivid in her memory, but now both parents were gone, leaving only her alone.

She really didn’t want to be so sentimental and repetitive, but at this moment she felt lonely again. Just moments before in the carriage, she had felt that Qi Ying was someone close to her, but now she felt somewhat uncertain again.

All day today she had heard Miss Zhao call Qi Ying “second brother” with such intimacy and harmony. Although she knew she shouldn’t harbor improper thoughts, she couldn’t help but think: if her father were still alive, if she could openly be her father’s daughter, then she would be Miss Shen. The Shen and Qi families were old friends, and Qi Ying himself called her father his uncle—then… could she also call him “second brother”?

Such a thought flashed through Shen Xiling’s mind but was immediately killed by herself. She cursed herself in her heart for being delusional and greedy, then fell into deep self-reproach and cowardice, thinking somewhat bitterly: Shen Xiling, how could you have such thoughts?

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt weight on her shoulder. Shen Xiling was startled and turned around, coming face to face with a fox mask. She was frightened, and looking closely realized it was a fox lantern. She pressed her lips together and went around the fox lantern to see who was holding it, only to see a pair of smiling peach blossom eyes.

It was actually Fourth Prince Xiao Ziheng.

Shen Xiling hurriedly turned to bow, but was stopped by Xiao Ziheng. His peach blossom eyes were bright and blazing with thick amusement as he lowered his voice and said to her, “Don’t bow, don’t bow. If you bow and others see it, they’ll have to bow too. It’s such a good Lantern Festival—why bother with that?”

Shen Xiling found this prince very strange. He always seemed unwilling to let others see his true identity. Last time when they met in the plum grove at Fenghe Garden, he had used the Han family young master’s name, and now he was again afraid of being recognized by Jiankang’s common people. It was truly painstaking.

Since he had said so, Shen Xiling could only comply. She then heard this prince laugh and say, “I thought it was you earlier—couldn’t be sure from just the back view, but it really is you. How are you here alone? Where’s Jingchen?”

He looked around but didn’t see Qi Ying’s figure. Shen Xiling was silent for a while, then said to him, “Second Young Master is elsewhere. Your Highness might look for him up ahead.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ziheng raised an eyebrow, looked Shen Xiling up and down, showed a mischievous smile, and asked, “Did you get lost?”

Shen Xiling: “…”

Seeing the little girl remain silent but her face turn red, Xiao Ziheng knew he had guessed correctly. He pulled Shen Xiling to turn and walk toward the crowd, and Shen Xiling, not knowing this prince’s temperament, hadn’t expected him to just pull her along like this. She was truly startled and asked from behind him, “Where is Your Highness going?”

Xiao Ziheng walked while turning back to smile, “Since you’re lost anyway, why not come with me to eat yuanxiao? When your young master discovers you’re missing, he’ll naturally come look for you.”

Shen Xiling had never imagined that one day she would eat yuanxiao with Great Liang’s Fourth Prince. Eating yuanxiao was fine, but what she hadn’t expected even more was that they would sit in a shabby little shop by the street to eat yuanxiao.

She herself didn’t mind—she had long been accustomed to eating in such places. She just hadn’t expected that Xiao Ziheng, a prince, would be willing to condescend to this level. She saw that Xiao Ziheng was wearing a silver-gray brocade robe today. Though she didn’t understand fabrics well, she could see the stitching was fine and dense—it was something very precious. Yet he sat in this somewhat dirty street-side stall with a natural expression, not minding at all if his clothes got dirty.

What a strange person.

Xiao Ziheng noticed Shen Xiling was observing him and quite calmly let her observe, then said, “Tell me, how did you get lost?”

Shen Xiling didn’t think it appropriate to discuss these matters with this prince, so she only vaguely said she had accidentally gotten lost. Hearing this, Xiao Ziheng’s peach blossom eyes again took on amusement. He shook his head and said, “Earlier by the river I saw you in low spirits, looking heartbroken. You weren’t scolded by that Second Young Master Qi of yours, were you?”

Shen Xiling didn’t speak, but this Fourth Prince was in high spirits and continued, “That’s not right either. Though he’s strict with people, he wouldn’t spoil the mood during a festival—so what was it? Could it be…” His eyes rolled, and again showing a fox-like expression, he smiled and said, “Could it be that he went off with someone else and left you behind?”

Shen Xiling was speechless.

Seeing the little girl freeze upon hearing this, then slowly lower her head, Xiao Ziheng knew he had guessed quite accurately. He laughed and said, “It really is so?”

Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, shook her head, and said, “Your Highness shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

Xiao Ziheng snorted with laughter and said, “This isn’t any big matter—you needn’t feel embarrassed. There are plenty of people chasing after him. How could he attend to them all? Never mind you—even my sister often gets upset because of him.”

Fourth Prince’s sister?

Shen Xiling had never heard rumors about the Sixth Princess and Qi Ying. Hearing this was only surprising, and she couldn’t help but want to ask about the connection, when she heard Xiao Ziheng laugh and say, “You’re just a child—why am I telling you these things?”

Though Shen Xiling was much more mature mentally than other children due to her difficult childhood, by age she was indeed still a child. Because she was so thin and weak at the time, she appeared especially young. Xiao Ziheng had just mentioned his sister’s affairs because he saw Shen Xiling’s mature gaze and accidentally treated her as a girl who had already reached hairpin age, only then realizing she was still just a young girl, so he stopped discussing such matters with her.

Just then, the shopkeeper brought two bowls of steaming yuanxiao for them. The plump white dumplings crowded against each other in the porcelain bowls, looking quite adorable. Xiao Ziheng was very interested, picked up a spoon and stirred them a couple times, then said to Shen Xiling, “Try them.”

Shen Xiling thanked the Fourth Prince, and at his urging scooped up one yuanxiao and bit it open in small bites. Immediately sweet black sesame filling flowed between her lips and teeth—almost exactly the same taste as what her father had brought her to eat last year.

Shen Xiling’s other hand under the table gripped tightly, forcing back tears. To disguise her emotions, she even smiled at the Fourth Prince through the steaming white vapor and said, “It tastes very good. Your Highness should try some too.”

Looking at the smile she showed at that moment, Xiao Ziheng was briefly stunned.

When he first saw Shen Xiling at Fenghe Garden, he had known this girl was beautiful, especially that red mole between her eyebrows, which gave her a particular spiritual quality and was quite pitiful among the flowers. But Xiao Ziheng had thought that during that first meeting, the little girl’s beauty was enhanced by the full garden of flowers and trees at Fenghe Garden. He hadn’t expected that now, sitting in such a shabby place, when she smiled at him through a thin layer of mist, her beauty would be even more heart-stopping.

Even though he had seen many beauties in his life, at this moment he couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat.

Author’s Note: Xiao Ziheng: Intercepting someone feels great for a moment, and intercepting continuously feels great continuously.