When Jiang Si asked, the Empress replied with a gentle smile, “Fuqing… she loves watching lanterns the most.”
Princess Fuqing had suffered from an eye ailment since childhood, unable to see the world’s vibrant colors for over a decade. After Jiang Si cures her eyes, she can’t get enough of looking at everything. She would even laugh watching ants carrying food on the ground, let alone the dazzling lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
Unlike commoners, the imperial princesses couldn’t roam the streets to enjoy the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. However, they could ascend the Xuande Tower to view the lights.
The Xuande Gate was the main entrance to the imperial city, with the ten-mile-long Imperial Street stretching south beyond it. On both sides of the wide street stood magnificent buildings with ornate railings and vermilion doors. During the Lantern Festival, lantern mountains and colorful towers would be erected, creating a breathtaking spectacle of flowing lights and colors. The most spectacular display was always the colorful mountain in front of the Xuande Tower.
Talking about her beloved daughter, the Empress had endless stories: “I remember last year’s Lantern Festival when Fuqing went up the Xuande Tower to view the lanterns. She cried through two handkerchiefs and had to be dragged back to the palace…”
Jiang Si smiled, “If it were me, three handkerchiefs might not have been enough.”
Princess Fuqing’s eyesight had been restored two years ago, so last year’s Lantern Festival was her first time seeing the lanterns in many years. Her emotional response was understandable.
In her previous life, Jiang Si wouldn’t return to the capital from Wumiao until next year. At that time, fearing the discovery of her connection to the Fourth Miss of the Marquis of Dongping’s family, she had lived a secluded life, avoiding imperial banquets whenever possible. Later, she heard that the only legitimate princess had fallen from a high platform and died.
The Empress, devastated by the loss of her beloved daughter, was deeply affected. No one dared to mention Princess Fuqing afterward.
Thinking of that gentle girl who had been blind, Jiang Si felt guilty. She wondered if the accident could have been avoided if Princess Fuqing had been able to see.
Now that Princess Fuqing’s eyesight was restored, Jiang Si couldn’t be certain if the tragedy would still occur, but she dared not be careless.
In her previous life, it seemed strange now to think of why a blind Princess Fuqing would ascend a tower to view lanterns.
Was it because Princess Fuqing wanted to hear the lively sounds of the human world, or was it perhaps not a simple accident?
Originally, Princess Fuqing’s accident didn’t happen during this year’s Lantern Festival, but Jiang Si couldn’t forget the lesson from the tragic deaths of the Baron of Yongchang and his wife.
In her previous life, the Baron and his wife were alive and well before her death. But in this life, they both died tragically because she had changed some events, leaving her good friend Xie Qingyao without parents.
This served as a warning to Jiang Si: not all changes brought about by her rebirth would lead to good outcomes.
She had cured Princess Fuqing’s eyes, but who could say that the tragedy meant to happen two years from now during the Lantern Festival wouldn’t occur earlier?
Even if the Empress thought her words nonsensical, Jiang Si felt she needed to give a warning.
As the Empress continued recounting amusing anecdotes about Princess Fuqing since her eyesight was restored, Jiang Si had to break the pleasant atmosphere.
“I had a dream yesterday—”
As soon as Jiang Si spoke, the Empress fell silent, her expression changing.
The Princess Consort of Prince Yan had another dream.
It was known that a few days ago when Princesses Fuqing and Fourteenth were sent to Prince Yan’s mansion to confirm if Princess Consort was there, they couldn’t even exchange a word with her. The reason was that the Princess Consort had received a message in her dream, requiring her to remain silent and pray to show sincerity.
Before Yu Jin’s return, the Empress would have merely shaken her head at this. But when Yu Jin brought back the lively heir of the Marquis of Dongping, the Empress was shocked.
It seemed that while others’ dreams were just dreams, the Princess Consort of Prince Yan’s dreams were premonitions…
Hearing about another dream from Jiang Si, the Empress couldn’t help but take it seriously. She quickly asked, “What did you dream about?”
“I dreamed that the Princess was injured while viewing the lanterns—”
Before Jiang Si could finish, the Empress abruptly stood up, her face turning ashen. “What did you say?”
Jiang Si wasn’t surprised by the Empress’s reaction.
Princess Fuqing was the Empress’s only daughter, cherished more than her own eyes. The Empress couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her.
Completely disregarding decorum, the Empress gripped Jiang Si’s wrist tightly. “Princess Consort of Yan, what exactly did you dream?”
Jiang Si pressed her lips together, hesitating.
The Empress came to her senses and immediately waved for the palace maids to withdraw. Once they were alone, she asked urgently, “What happened to Fuqing?”
Jiang Si bit her lip, looking troubled. “It was just a vague dream. It seemed we were in a sea of lanterns, and somehow Fuqing fell…”
She couldn’t say that Princess Fuqing had fallen to her death, nor could she provide too many details. After all, in her previous life, Princess Fuqing’s tragedy didn’t occur during this year’s Lantern Festival. Her warning was just a precaution.
If things truly unfolded this way, the Empress would undoubtedly be grateful. But if nothing happened, the Empress might blame her in her heart. So it was best not to be too assertive.
Even with such a vague warning, it was enough to make the Empress break out in a cold sweat.
“It was just a confused dream. When I woke up, I had already forgotten most of it… I shouldn’t have mentioned it and risked ridicule, but because it concerned Fuqing, I couldn’t help but tell Mother Empress. I hope you won’t think I’m speaking nonsense—”
The Empress, remembering her status, regained her composure after the initial shock. She managed a smile and patted Jiang Si’s hand. “How could I blame you? It’s better to believe it than not. Perhaps it’s a warning from the immortals or Bodhisattvas through you for Fuqing…”
How could she not take the Princess Consort of Yan’s dream seriously? She had to!
Jiang Si secretly twitched her lips.
The Empress must be truly anxious, mixing up immortals and Bodhisattvas, who weren’t of the same sect. If they entered her dream together, they might end up fighting in it.
“Mother Empress, it’s getting late. I should take my leave,” Jiang Si said, having said what she needed to say and not wanting to overstay her welcome in the palace.
The Empress personally escorted Jiang Si to the door, instructing the eunuch, “See the Princess Consort out. Be careful in guiding her.”
Seeing the eunuch respectfully leading Jiang Si out, everyone in the Kunning Palace couldn’t help but marvel at how much the Empress valued the Princess Consort of Yan.
Meanwhile, the Empress’s mind was in turmoil. She paced back and forth in her chamber, suddenly stopping to order, “Summon Princess Fuqing.”
Princess Fuqing had just returned to her palace and barely embroidered half a “longevity” character when she was called back, confused. “Mother, did you call me back for something?”
The Empress looked her daughter up and down, gently stroking her hair. She swallowed the words she wanted to say and instead replied, “It’s nothing, just checking if you’ve been slacking off.”
Although she was very concerned about the Princess Consort of Yan’s dream, it would be too abrupt to forbid Fuqing from viewing the lanterns now.
Never mind, she thought. She would use the excuse of feeling unwell on the day of the Lantern Festival to keep Fuqing by her side.
Having made her decision, the Empress temporarily regained her composure.
Soon, it was the eve of the Lantern Festival. Before the Empress could feign illness, Princess Fuqing, who had just come from the Palace of Benevolent Longevity, excitedly announced in front of the Emperor and Empress, “Father, Mother, Grandmother says she also wants to go up to the Xuande Gate to view the lanterns this year. It’s perfect for me and Fourteenth Sister to accompany her—”