“Third Miss, please be careful.” Chen Guang promptly blocked someone who nearly bumped into Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao came back to her senses and nodded lightly, but her earlier excited anticipation for the outing had long since vanished.

Would Jiang Yuanchao let this matter rest?

If he acted so recklessly again next time, she would tell his adoptive father!

At this thought, Qiao Zhao frowned with distress.

The childish method of tattling wouldn’t work. Jiang Yuanchao was already certain that she was Qiao Zhao, who had returned from the dead. If things truly became hostile and he exposed this matter, her troubles would be endless.

Not to mention that people already believed in ghosts and spirits, just the Emperor in the palace, who was devoted to pursuing immortality, would lock her up for thorough research.

“Third Miss, the General is over there.” Seeing Qiao Zhao seemed somewhat distracted, Chen Guang reminded her.

Qiao Zhao looked up.

Not far away, countless lanterns glowed, and light danced. The man standing under the lamplight was peerless in bearing, smiling as he watched her.

Qiao Zhao temporarily set aside her worries, lifted her skirt hem, and went to meet him.

Shao Mingyuan stepped forward and took Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Were there too many people? Did they jostle you?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Yes, there are quite a lot of people. It’s the Lantern Festival, after all—it’s supposed to be like this.”

“Zhaozhao, do you dislike such liveliness?” Shao Mingyuan thought of the courtyard full of mandarin duck vines and mint at the Marquis Jing’an’s residence, as if seeing before his eyes the quiet, elegant woman patiently tending to flowers and plants.

Who knew Qiao Zhao would laugh and deny it: “Not at all. When it’s time to be lively, it’s quite nice to have such hustle and bustle.”

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but smile along: “You’re right. Zhaozhao, come with me.”

Qiao Zhao silently followed behind Shao Mingyuan, letting him hold her hand as they walked forward, when she suddenly noticed everything before her had darkened.

Shao Mingyuan stopped.

Behind them was the brightly lit street with its bustling crowds, but ahead seemed like a small world forgotten by people.

The surroundings were dark. The man’s scent mixed with crisp mint occasionally drifted to her nose. Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but curl her fingers, but he gripped them tightly.

“Tingquan—” she called out.

Shao Mingyuan turned around and looked down at the young woman before him.

In the darkness, his eyes were like stars in the sky, gleaming brightly.

Qiao Zhao gradually adapted to the dim light and could see every change in the lines of his face. Those changes formed the gentle smile that gave her peace of mind.

“Chen Guang said there was a surprise.” The young woman said with a bright smile.

Shao Mingyuan frowned in dissatisfaction: “That boy Chen Guang’s words don’t count?”

“Eh, isn’t there one?” Qiao Zhao asked deliberately.

Shao Mingyuan smiled and grabbed Qiao Zhao’s hand, pressing it down toward the front: “There is.”

Qiao Zhao only felt something cool, then suddenly everything before her brightened.

The light gradually rose from the very bottom, inch by inch illuminating the darkness before them, finally revealing its complete form: two jade rabbit lanterns as tall as a person, nestling close together.

“This is… You made this?” After the initial shock, Qiao Zhao looked up and asked Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Can you guess which one is the female rabbit?”

“This one.” Qiao Zhao pointed to one without hesitation.

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes lit up: “You could tell?”

Qiao Zhao looked at him in confusion.

Male rabbits kick and struggle, female rabbits have drooping eyes—it wasn’t difficult to distinguish male from female.

Shao Mingyuan chuckled and pointed to the female rabbit: “This rabbit’s face was modeled after yours.”

Qiao Zhao: “Hehe.”

What should she do if she wanted to beat this man to death?

She wouldn’t stoop to arguing with this big fool!

Miss Qiao closed her eyes and endured for a moment, then opened them, having regained her composure.

“Zhaozhao, aren’t these two rabbit lanterns very cute? I looked around—on this entire street, our two rabbit lanterns are the biggest.”

Qiao Zhao held her forehead.

So that’s why the old saying goes that foolish boys only recognize size?

“They are very cute.” Looking at the two lifelike jade rabbits, although Qiao Zhao found it both amusing and exasperating, she was ultimately moved in her heart.

Shao Mingyuan reached up and ruffled Qiao Zhao’s hair: “As long as you like them.”

The tall man suddenly bent down, leaning close to the young woman’s ear: “Also, thank you for the undergarments you made me. They’re very comfortable to wear.”

It was just a pity there was only one piece, with no spare to change into.

Shao Mingyuan sighed regretfully in his heart, but couldn’t bear to ask Qiao Zhao to make him several more.

Mm, he could now confirm that Zhaozhao probably really wasn’t skilled at needlework. He’d be completely satisfied if the remaining undergarments could be finished by their wedding.

“Oh, there are two huge jade rabbit lanterns here!” An excited voice called out, and soon the area in front of the rabbit lanterns was crowded with people, instead pushing Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan to one side.

A small child with hair in tufts tried hard to jump up and reach the rabbit ears, while a young woman nearby scolded: “Little brother, be careful not to fall!”

Shao Mingyuan withdrew his gaze and asked Qiao Zhao with a chuckle: “Should we take them with us?”

Qiao Zhao shook her head: “No need. It’s enough to have appreciated the beautiful sight. Let’s leave them for others to admire.”

She reached up to touch the white jade hairpin slanted in her hair and smiled with pressed lips.

Shao Mingyuan immediately noticed that what Qiao Zhao wore in her hair was the jade hairpin he had personally polished, and his heart filled with joy: “Zhaozhao, I see many young ladies wear several hairpins in their hair.”

Wasn’t there also a jade hairpin with a pig head? If Zhaozhao wore them both together, she’d look even more beautiful.

Qiao Zhao glanced sideways at someone and said coolly: “I don’t like my head feeling too cluttered.”

If they didn’t mention that pig-headed hairpin, they could still have a pleasant date!

The two walked hand in hand with no particular destination when suddenly there was commotion ahead, and someone urgently shouted: “Oh no! Someone has fallen into the water!”

Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan exchanged glances.

“Let’s go take a look.” Qiao Zhao pushed Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan slightly curved his fingers and brought them to his lips, producing a clear whistle. Chen Guang immediately appeared before them.

“What are your orders, General?”

“Go see what’s happening up ahead. If someone has fallen in the water and no one is rescuing them, pull the person out.”

“Yes, sir.” Chen Guang glanced at Qiao Zhao and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Shao Mingyuan explained to Qiao Zhao: “It’s too chaotic up ahead. Chen Guang’s going will be sufficient.”

The Lantern Festival was one of the liveliest festivals of the year, but often during such festivals, some families would end up heartbroken.

Whether children were kidnapped, young women were molested, or family members were accidentally injured.

Not far ahead was Jade Wave Lake, where many lotus lanterns would float during the Lantern Festival, creating a beautiful sight reserved only for imperial relatives and high officials to enjoy. Although the lantern viewers were all careful, every year, there would be news of people accidentally falling into the water due to crowding.

Before long, Chen Guang returned through the crowd with a strange expression: “General, Third Miss, Young Master Chi, and Young Master Zhu are in the lakeside pavilion over there and have asked you and Third Miss to come over.”

“Was the person who fell in the water rescued?”

“Someone pulled her out.” Chen Guang paused here and looked at Qiao Zhao. “The person who fell in the water was the eldest miss of the Li residence. She’s upstairs crying right now.”

Qiao Zhao’s hand, hanging at her side, clenched, and she said expressionlessly: “Take me to see.”