The New Year was approaching quickly.

Visiting relatives and friends, exchanging New Year greetings—these matters need not be elaborated. In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived.

The annual Lantern Festival, with its sweet rice dumplings, lantern viewing, and fireworks displays, was a day of celebration for people of all ages.

Grand Marshal Luo looked at his daughters with distress.

The Lantern Festival—a day when young men and women could openly go on outings together. How was it that not one of his four daughters showed any inclination to go out and enjoy themselves?

This wouldn’t do!

Grand Marshal Luo carried a bag of gold leaves and tried to persuade his eldest daughter, Luo Ying. “Ying’er, you embroider in your courtyard all day—be careful not to strain your eyes. Why not have your sisters accompany you out for a stroll, look at the lanterns, buy some trinkets that girls like.”

Luo Ying shook her head in refusal. “I prefer tranquility and won’t go out to join the crowds.”

Just thinking about the packed lantern festival made her shudder.

Grand Marshal Luo turned his gaze to his second daughter, Luo Qing.

Luo Qing’s expression was numb. “I’m disabled. It’s fine for me to stay home.”

Grand Marshal Luo looked at his second daughter and sighed inwardly.

To speak frankly, he was somewhat angry at his second daughter’s foolishness, but now that she had become like this, what more was there to say?

“Don’t overthink things. Injuries to tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal. With proper rest, you’ll recover.”

Luo Qing’s eyelids trembled, her face expressionless. “Thank you for Father’s concern. I will rest properly.”

She was waiting for Father to find Pingli so she could ask him face-to-face why.

Why he so heartlessly pushed her off the horse, why he so trampled on her sincere heart.

Grand Marshal Luo knew Luo Qing’s thoughts and privately resolved to instruct the household staff never to let his second daughter learn of Pingli’s death.

Hatred was also a way to sustain a person’s spirit and vitality.

Of course, having his second daughter go out to the lantern festival was unrealistic.

Grand Marshal Luo cast an expectant gaze toward Luo Sheng. “Sheng’er, go out and enjoy yourself. Your cousins are all going.”

“I don’t have much to say to my cousins.”

“Er, then take your fourth sister and Chen’er out for a stroll. Who knows, you might come across something you fancy and buy it.”

He would rather Sheng’er go out and buy herself a male attendant than have her cooped up at home refusing to leave.

“We lack nothing at home.” Luo Sheng ruthlessly rejected Grand Marshal Luo’s suggestion.

Grand Marshal Luo took a deep breath and asked with one last glimmer of hope, “Sheng’er, hasn’t anyone invited you out?”

Could that Prince Kaiyang fellow be dead or something?

Luo Sheng thought of someone’s dry, perfunctory invitation before the New Year and shook her head without changing expression. “No.”

Grand Marshal Luo cursed Prince Kaiyang several times in his heart and directly tossed the bag of gold leaves to Luo Yue. “Go out and have fun!”

Luo Yue thought that since her elder sisters weren’t going, there would be no point in going alone. She hesitated. “But—”

Grand Marshal Luo’s face darkened. “But what? You’re a young lady—if you don’t go out on the Lantern Festival, what are you staying home for?”

The eldest daughter had just broken off her engagement, the second daughter was heartbroken and physically injured, as for Sheng’er… he had never been able to control Sheng’er. Surely he could still control his youngest daughter?

Grand Marshal Luo assumed his paternal authority and looked at Luo Yue.

Luo Yue clutched the heavy money pouch and could only nod in agreement.

Father was so strange—who forces someone to go out and have fun?

Grand Marshal Luo breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At least he’d managed to send one out. Whether he could become a father-in-law in the future would depend on his youngest daughter.

As for the other three, relying on them would worry him to death.

As evening approached, the outside was bright as day with lanterns, teeming with people.

Luo Yue left with Sheng Sanlang and the others.

Hong Dou asked eagerly, “Miss, are you really not planning to go out? There are so many handsome young gentlemen at the lantern festival.”

“Want to go out and have fun?”

Hong Dou nodded frankly. “Yes.”

Going out was so interesting. In the past, Miss would take them out on the streets all the time—how imposing that was.

Speaking of which, she did miss those days, though the delicious food provided some consolation and made up for the regret.

“Go have fun then. Take plenty of silver.”

Hong Dou’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Miss.”

“Kou’er should go too.”

Kou’er hesitated somewhat. “If both this servant and Hong Dou are away, there will be no one to attend to Miss. How can that be?”

Luo Sheng smiled. “There are so many maids—why worry about no one to attend to me? You two go enjoy yourselves. Soon the Eighteen Tavern will be opening for business again.”

Hong Dou and Kou’er exchanged glances, their vigilance rising.

There were far too many scheming wenches coveting their positions. They would only play for this one day, no more.

The two maids left together, and Luo Sheng casually picked up a book to pass the time.

With the tavern closed for so many days, once it opened on the eighteenth day of the first month, Consort Xiao’s people should be coming.

The spring and summer of the eighteenth year of Yong’an might be quite lively.

The moon hung like a silver disc in the sky.

Every household had hung colored lanterns at their doors, and the lanterns on the streets stretched endlessly, bright as daylight.

Wei Han walked out of Prince Kaiyang’s residence, wandering aimlessly at the lantern festival.

Ahead, the crowd’s voices rose and fell, bustling and lively.

Wei Han’s steps paused slightly as he prepared to head toward a quieter area.

Shi Yan, who had keen eyes and ears, quickly said, “Master, do you know why it’s so lively over there?”

Wei Han looked at him.

“They’re solving lantern riddles over there. Just now this subordinate ran over for a look. That Young Master Su solved two lantern riddles from last year’s Lantern Festival that had remained unsolved. After tonight, he’ll probably become famous throughout the capital.”

The Lantern Festival was an activity encouraged by the imperial family to begin with, and solving lantern riddles was an indispensable source of entertainment. Merchants used lantern riddle games to earn some silver, while prestigious families also joined in the fun by creating riddles and offering prizes.

The imperial family carefully prepared three lantern riddles each year. Those who solved them would undoubtedly gain great prestige, and this had become a grand event where talented scholars competed and vied with each other.

Last year’s three lantern riddles from the imperial family were created by the great scholar Wang Mao and stumped countless talented scholars. Only one was solved by Lin Shu.

This year’s three new riddles from the imperial family still included the two unsolved ones from last year.

Wei Han stepped forward, and as soon as he drew near, he heard people eagerly discussing Su Yao solving the lantern riddles.

“Which family’s son is that? I’ve never heard of him.”

“I heard someone call him Young Master Su.”

“See that slightly plump young man beside Young Master Su? That’s Miss Luo’s cousin—I’ve seen him at the You Jian Tavern. Seeing how familiar he is with Young Master Su, I’d guess Young Master Su is a talented scholar from the south who came to the capital for the examinations.”

“If that’s the case, Young Master Su will surely rank high in the spring examinations. Looks like the title of capital’s foremost talent should change hands.”

…

Wei Han only glanced briefly at that refined gentleman surrounded by admirers before his gaze fell elsewhere.

He saw Hong Dou and Kou’er.

In that instant, joy involuntarily overflowed from his heart, like fireworks illuminating his chest.

So Miss Luo had come after all!

The corners of Wei Han’s mouth lifted slightly as he strode in that direction.

Shi Yan also saw the two servants and muttered as he walked behind Wei Han, “Hmm, Miss Luo brought Hong Dou and Kou’er out to view the lanterns but didn’t even mention it.”

The smile on Wei Han’s lips stiffened, and his steps slowed.

Earlier he had invited Miss Luo to stroll at the Lantern Festival, and Miss Luo had said she wouldn’t go out. Yet now she had come on her own.

If that was the case, perhaps he shouldn’t be happy…