Though it wasn’t any festival, colorful fireworks scattered across the night sky outside the window. The streets were endlessly crowded, with the street corners especially lively, as people seemed to be hurrying somewhere.

Her heart skipped a beat—they weren’t going to execute someone again, were they?

She quickly grabbed a waiter to ask.

The waiter smiled, “From your accent, you’re not from the capital, are you? This is our capital’s annual trade fair—the Wei Kingdom merchant caravan has come to our Great Zhou to trade goods for silver.”

Hearing this, Su Zhen understood without needing him to say more.

This was Great Zhou’s annual grand event. She had heard her father mention that Great Zhou’s commerce wasn’t developed, while neighboring Wei was a wealthy great nation, producing fine fabrics, porcelain, premium grains and tea… Every year they exchanged large quantities of gold and silver in Great Zhou.

Afterward, she marveled at the restaurant’s luxury and was amazed by the fireworks’ beauty, but still hadn’t waited for Murong Sixth.

Half an hour passed. Her anxiety had completely evaporated, leaving only panic, when someone finally pushed the door open.

“Young Master Li, my young master was delayed by business and is still detained on Ning’an Street. Please wait a bit longer.”

The voice was indifferent, and she recognized him as one of the blue-robed man’s attendants from that day.

Su Zhen nearly flipped the table, thinking that damn Murong Sixth, so late and only now sending someone to explain.

“Is Young Master Li… dissatisfied about something?” The young man slightly narrowed his eyes.

Su Zhen suddenly had a deep understanding of the phrase “using others’ power to intimidate,” but only smiled apologetically, “Your young master is busy with important matters—that’s only natural. May I ask what to call you, sir?”

“Azure Dragon.”

Azure Dragon left his name and departed.

Behind him, Su Zhen bared her teeth and raised her fist, thinking I might as well be White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, or Black Tortoise.

She rolled her eyes and followed him out.

She figured that damn Murong Sixth was very likely watching the trade fair on Ning’an Street, and indeed saw Azure Dragon heading toward the neighboring street.

Azure Dragon quickly noticed her following and turned to raise an eyebrow at her. She quickly said, “No need to trouble Sixth Young Master to come find me—I’ll go over.”

“As you wish.”

Azure Dragon replied indifferently and turned into the next street corner.

Su Zhen made another fist gesture at him and followed, but the next moment was mesmerized by the lights that met her eyes.

Years later, whenever she recalled this night’s sudden glimpse of the brilliant winter evening, her heart would still flutter slightly.

The ink-blue sky canopy sparkled with stars, swept by crimson and purple fireworks, as if some family’s little concubine had playfully flicked her red sleeve, scattering countless stardust. Under the starlight were arched bridges and willow-lined rivers, hundreds of boats floating on blue waves, reflecting the shores’ countless paths, countless shop courtyards, countless stalls. The aroma of food, the scent of cosmetics, thousands of carved buildings, hundreds of flavors—among them hung great red lanterns high, with lights like flowers in every pavilion.

She had often seen night markets in Huai County, but their splendor was nothing compared to this. Such prosperity was like flowers blooming to their fullest, then spring arriving again in an instant, continuing endlessly. It gave one the illusion of being willing to be crushed to pieces to protect it all.

She also saw that all this light and shadow culminated at a high platform ahead. On the platform were sacks of grain, tea leaves, porcelain and silk goods. Behind each type of merchandise stood merchants, proudly smiling. The goods extended for entire blocks—such magnificent scale, golden and brilliant, displaying every possible treasure.

Below the platform, the crowd was ten times more dense than during the examination results announcement, packed so tightly that her mind was left with only the words “impenetrable.”

“Li Huaisu.”

A voice suddenly rang out quietly not far away.

Not loud, yet like water pouring over her heart, making her shiver. This voice—she had heard it that day at the Imperial Academy. Su Zhen looked around in shock and saw beyond the crowd, where the lights were dim, several people standing in a circle with a blue-robed man in the center, his eyes lightly gazing at her with his hands behind his back.