“Yes!” Fu Tingyun replied with a smile. “We’re going to see the lanterns on West Street.” As she spoke, she suddenly realized that A Sen had been staying in the outer courtyard these past days and hadn’t visited her quarters. Could it be that he felt uncomfortable now that she had officially married into the family? With this thought, she asked him gently, “Would you like to come with us to see the lanterns?”
A Sen’s eyes brightened momentarily, then he quickly glanced at Zhao Ling and mumbled, “I—I don’t want to go…”
Why did his words sound so insincere?
Fu Tingyun looked toward Zhao Ling.
She saw him standing there with his hands behind his back, his expression stern—no different from usual.
She smiled at A Sen and said, “What’s wrong with you? You’re stuttering as if we’ve become strangers.”
“No, no,” A Sen hurriedly replied. “I haven’t become distant from you, Sister-in-law.” His eyes darted about. “I—I was just wondering if Sister-in-law could bring me back some nest-silk candy from Chen Fuji when you return? I can go see the lanterns on West Street with Brother Zheng San and the others tomorrow.”
Fu Tingyun patted his head and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you some nest-silk candy when I return.”
A Sen nodded with a beaming smile, his bright eyes curving like crescent moons. The joyful, carefree spirit returned to his face.
Zhao Ling helped Fu Tingyun into the carriage.
Fu Tingyun immediately tugged at Zhao Ling’s sleeve. “What exactly did you say to A Sen?”
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Zhao Ling feigned ignorance. “When did I ever say anything to A Sen?”
“You still won’t admit it.” Fu Tingyun glared at him. “Otherwise, why would that child keep looking at you for approval when speaking? Tell me quickly, what did you say to him?”
“I truly didn’t say anything,” Zhao Ling stubbornly denied, then whispered in her ear, “I’ve been with you every day recently—when would I have had time to deal with other matters? You mustn’t wrongly accuse me.” His tone was suggestive.
Fu Tingyun wasn’t falling for it. “You know what you’ve done, and even if you won’t admit it, I won’t pursue it further. However, he’s your brother now—don’t always treat him like a servant. Also, when you return to your duties at the palace after your leave ends, make proper inquiries. A Sen isn’t little anymore, and it’s not proper for him to always follow me around. He needs to find a good teacher to start his education. We don’t expect him to become a Juren or Jinshi graduate, but he should at least become a student. That way, whether he goes into business or farming later, he’ll have some foundation.”
“I understand,” Zhao Ling replied somewhat dejectedly. “I’ll ask Master Yan about it.”
Fu Tingyun pressed her lips together in a smile.
Zhao Ling had most likely created this situation because he wanted to be alone with her.
She gave him a light kiss on the cheek and said shyly, “Let’s go see the lanterns.”
This kiss immediately seemed to revitalize Zhao Ling. He perked up and pulled Fu Tingyun into his embrace.
Fu Tingyun quickly said, “We’re going to see lanterns later. If you mess up my makeup and cause people to point and stare at me, I’ll never go out with you again.”
Zhao Ling smiled sheepishly and obediently just held her.
Still feeling somewhat uneasy, Fu Tingyun lifted the carriage curtain to look outside and pointed at a memorial archway by the roadside. “Where is this?”
Since Zhao Ling had brought her out to enjoy herself, and seeing her interest, he was naturally happy to explain. He moved to the carriage window, looked out, and said, “This is the memorial archway for Shuangnian Street.”
The carriage driver, finding Zhao Ling’s answer too brief, couldn’t help but elaborate: “Madam may not know that Shuangnian Street connects to Chaoyang Gate Avenue, which is why they erected this archway here. To the east is Chaoyang Gate Avenue, and to the west is Shuangnian Street. Speaking of Shuangnian Street, there’s a story behind it. They say that during the previous dynasty, there was a family surnamed Chen who had two sons. The elder was called Da Nian, and the younger was called Xiao Nian…” The driver continued his tale as if he were a storyteller, captivating Fu Tingyun, who listened with great interest, occasionally asking questions. The driver grew even more enthusiastic, continuing his stories as they traveled—from Da Nian Street to Mingzhao Ward, from Mingzhao Ward to Anle Hall. With his humorous speech, he had Fu Tingyun laughing heartily, and she would occasionally ask Zhao Ling, “Did you hear that?”
Zhao Ling would smile and nod, saying, “Yes, I heard.”
Fu Tingyun would then turn her attention back to the driver’s stories.
Looking at Fu Tingyun’s flushed cheeks from laughing so much, Zhao Ling felt extremely happy.
Only when A Yun was this joyful would his life feel complete!
In the distance, they could already see the brilliant lanterns of West Street.
The driver stopped the carriage by the roadside and said with a smile, “Master, Madam, the carriage can go no further. I’m afraid you’ll have to walk in to see the sights.”
Zhao Ling helped Fu Tingyun down from the carriage. Before them stood magnificent lantern towers made of colorful lanterns, even taller than the Penglai Pavilion. Spectacular fireworks occasionally burst in the night sky, and well-dressed men and women of all ages walked by in groups, laughing and chatting. Though they hadn’t yet entered West Street, they could already glimpse the bustling excitement and grandeur of the capital’s lantern market.
Fu Tingyun grew excited.
Zhao Ling took her hand. “Stay close to me and be careful not to get lost.”
“Mm-hmm!” Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly.
Rabbit lanterns made of silk gauze, horse lanterns made of horsehide, octagonal lanterns made of glass, linked-pearl lanterns made of white silk… Fu Tingyun, squeezed in the crowd, couldn’t take in all the sights at once.
Suddenly, fried pig’s ears wrapped in oiled paper appeared before her.
“Here, eat while you look,” Zhao Ling smiled at her and added, “Have you seen any lantern you like? We can buy one to take home later.”
Their situation was different now from when they were in Zhangye.
Since buying this house, getting married, and having to support an entire household, things have changed. Zhao Ling used to be single, but now that he was married, there were necessary social engagements and relationships to maintain. They needed to save where they could!
Fu Tingyun shook her head. “I’ll tell you when I see one I like.”
Zhao Ling didn’t doubt her and smiled with a nod. Looking up, he saw a hawthorn drink stall surrounded by people and said, “Stay right here and don’t move. I’ll go buy you a cup of hawthorn drink.” Without waiting for Fu Tingyun’s response, he squeezed through to the stall.
Fu Tingyun stood there with a radiant smile, suddenly feeling that the noisy crowd and crowded streets were somehow endearing to her.
When Zhao Ling returned with the hawthorn drink, she led him to a stall selling small ornaments and bought a peachwood hairpin for men to give to him. “Though it’s inexpensive, it has good meaning, and the craftsmanship is naturally rustic, with a sense of great wisdom hidden in simplicity.”
Peachwood was known to ward off evil spirits.
Zhao Ling lowered his head. “Put it in for me.”
Fu Tingyun removed his bamboo hairpin and inserted the peachwood one.
Zhao Ling took her hand. “Come, I see a lantern riddle stall ahead. Watch me win a lantern for you.”
Fu Tingyun’s eyes and brows danced with smiles as she followed Zhao Ling to the stall.
Sure enough, Zhao Ling won a melon-shaped lantern with the Four Noble Ones (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum) painted on white silk.
“We can hang it at our bedside,” Fu Tingyun accepted it happily, carefully holding it to prevent it from being crushed by the crowd.
The couple continued like this—talking, laughing, walking, stopping, eating, and drinking—until Fu Tingyun began to yawn. Only then did Zhao Ling lead her out of West Street.
However, when they reached the place where they had left the carriage, the driver was nowhere to be seen.
They searched for quite a while but couldn’t find him.
Seeing Fu Tingyun yawn several more times, Zhao Ling felt increasingly annoyed with the driver and said, “Tomorrow I must speak with the manager of the carriage service. They should at least dock half his wages.”
West Street was still crowded with people. The driver probably hadn’t expected them to come out so soon and had gone to see the sights himself.
“I think we should forget about docking his pay,” Fu Tingyun said with a smile, her eyes revealing a hint of mischief. “Why don’t we walk back? Wouldn’t it be amusing to watch the driver frantically search for us?” As she imagined the driver’s panic-stricken face when unable to find them, she couldn’t help but giggle.
Seeing her happy, Zhao Ling naturally went along with her wishes.
If A Yun got tired from walking, they could always hail another carriage.
With these thoughts, guided by the light from Fu Tingyun’s lantern, the couple slowly made their way back.
Fu Tingyun began telling him about visiting lantern festivals when she was a child: “…Once, a relative’s child got lost. Xiu Zhu carried me on his back, Chen Sheng carried my fifth cousin, and Huai Sheng carried my sixth cousin, with the family guards surrounding us. When I saw all the lanterns lining the streets, it was like the Milky Way had fallen to earth—I was so amazed I couldn’t speak! My fifth cousin made fun of me then, saying it was just shops following the magistrate’s orders to hang up lanterns, yet I was goggle-eyed with wonder. When we reached Xi’an Prefecture and I saw streets full of lanterns, she said I’d probably drool.” As she spoke, her face brightened with pleasant memories. “I never imagined that as an adult, I would be living in the capital and fortunate enough to witness the capital’s lantern festival!”
Zhao Ling gazed at her with a face full of smiles.
Fu Tingyun then asked him, “Are the lantern festivals in Jiangnan the same as those in the capital?”
“They’re different,” Zhao Ling replied softly. “Although every household hangs lanterns and wealthy families also fund lantern towers, they’re mostly built near lakes. The lantern reflections in the water complement the towers on shore, and against the backdrop of a starry sky, there are twinkling lights everywhere. Beautiful, yes, but more elegant and restrained. Unlike the capital, with its wide streets filled with lanterns and towers every few steps, magnificent and grand in scale.”
“The capital is, after all, the imperial city, right beneath the Son of Heaven, a strategic area around the throne,” Fu Tingyun nodded. Knowing that Zhao Ling didn’t particularly like Jiangnan, she asked about Shuoping Prefecture. “Do they also hold lantern festivals for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”
“Shuoping is impoverished. During my father’s tenure, no lantern festivals were held,” Zhao Ling explained. However, they have a type of mooncake with sugar filling. Locals store them in jars and take them out during the New Year as gifts when visiting relatives.”
“What other customs does Shuoping have?” Fu Tingyun asked with interest.
“Let me think,” Zhao Ling smiled. “It’s been a long time, and I don’t remember very clearly…”
Although carriages passed by on the road, they were all occupied. As the couple walked and talked, they reached the memorial archway of Shuangnian Street.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Only then did Zhao Ling realize his oversight and quickly asked, “Are you tired? Do you want to rest before continuing?”
“No need,” Fu Tingyun shook her head. “Just around the corner and we’ll be there.” She quickened her pace onto Shuangnian Street, but her feet felt somewhat weak. The lantern in her hand swayed, and the already dying candle flame flickered in the wind before turning into a wisp of smoke, plunging their surroundings into darkness.
“It is like meeting continuous rain when the roof leaks,” she muttered, but Zhao Ling heard her.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and crouched in front of Fu Tingyun. “Come, I’ll carry you on my back.”