Chapter 88 Part 2:

Big streets and small alleys of Yanjing, restaurant tea shops, all had colored lanterns spread out; which were personally tied by the common people. Each place’s tradition was virtually the same, for example, Yanjing’s colored lanterns, which were the same as the river lights in Tongxiang. It’s just that colored lanterns were suspended by a rope, while the river lights floated on the water.

There were hexagonal ones, as well as some others that were made to look like a lampstand. The number of dexterous people were not few. Don’t be fooled by Jiang Jing Rui’s usual carefree look, towards these beautiful things, he unexpectedly was very interested. From time to time, he would pull Jiang Li to say “this one is pretty”, or “that one is pretty”. Jiang Li was quite speechless, only feeling, compared to her, Jiang Jing Rui more resembled a genuine budding young lady. The whole face was innocent, tenderly longing.

When seeing a rabbit shaped lantern, Jiang Jing Rui refused to move, no matter what. Not keeping pace with the people from the second branch who’d walked ahead and insisted on purchasing the lantern. However, this lantern seller also had a stubborn temper and insisted that the lantern was not for sale. Unless someone could guess the riddles written on top, only then would the lantern be gifted.

Jiang Jing Rui immediately had a headache looking at literature. Jiang Jing You and the others had since earlier walked ahead. He grasped Jiang Li’s sleeve tightly and said: “Aren’t you the number one in the examination? Come! Guess this! Help me win this rabbit lantern and I’ll give you 50 taels!”

Jiang Li totally disdained this act of Jiang Jing Rui. She originally wanted to refuse, but upon hearing his final sentence, she changed her mind. 50 taels was not a small number, Jiang Jing Rui deserved to be called a hedonistic son of rich parents, really squandering money like dirt. Willing to spend 50 taels of silver to exchange for a lantern that had no use. It’s a pity, a penny stumped the hero. Jiang Li also didn’t expect there’s a day that she would exchange her talent and learning for money.

But it’s better to have silver than none at all. One couldn’t see how many scholars in the world were of great talent yet penniless.

She stopped, then carefully looked at the lantern that Jiang Jing Rui was very interested in.

The person tying the lantern had a bit of craftsmanship. Lanterns shaped like animals were originally hard to tie, yet this person tied it very realistically. The body was wrapped with snow white cloth while the inside framework was done well using bamboo. There’s a pair of long pink ears and the eyes used two red beans to decorate. Along with the swaying of the light inside, the rabbit’s eyes appeared moving a bit, as if going to hop in the next moment.

It was indeed a very beautiful lantern.

Once again looking at riddles written on the wooden board above the lantern, the original smile Jiang Li had suddenly froze and her expression changed greatly.

To her shock, the riddle written in a row of small characters was a riddle she was familiar with: “Searching for him a hundred thousand times in the crowd”

In an instant, by Jiang Li’s ear, she seemed to hear the voice speaking with deep feelings. He said: “This word reflects how I am towards you.”

The past events set into the present, Jiang Li pulled her hand back as if burnt.

Jiang Jing Rui urged her: “What’s the matter? Quickly guess!”

“I can’t guess what it is.” Jiang Li coldly said.

“How is that possible?” Jiang Jing Rui said: “You are the first one in Ming Yi Hall, this riddle is not famous and not the hardest to guess. How could you not be able to guess it?”

Jiang Li said: “Can’t guess means can’t guess. It’s better for you to find someone more qualified than me.” She turned her head and immediately walked away as if disgusted with the lantern. So much so that she wasn’t willing to give the lantern another glance.

Jiang Jing Rui was surprised by what happened. But he was reluctant to part with the lantern and didn’t catch up to Jiang Li for a while. When he finally chased after her, Jiang Li’s shadow could no longer be seen among the crowd. Jiang Jing Rui’s heart at once said: “Bad!”

Jiang Li was walking slowly, following the crowd.

Lu-shi and the others had already walked towards the very front while Jiang Jing Rui was at the back. The crowd was densely packed, very soon forcing people to scatter. Since not a place one was familiar with, it’s very easy to get lost.

Jiang Li was not afraid at all. She recognized the roads in Yanjing. From the corner of her eyes, she glimpsed the position of the nearest city guard. In case there’s really a problem, she could call for help from the nearest city guard as soon as possible.

She also didn’t want to look for Lu-shi or Jiang Jing Rui and felt that this was a rare time to be alone. Ever since returning, she became Jiang Li. Though already getting used to this ident.i.ty, occasionally she would recollect that her original name was Xue Fang Fei.

Afraid that living the days as Jiang Li for a long time, she would forget her original name and the things she had to do. Indulging in this ident.i.ty would produce an easy and comfortable life, which was not what she wanted. Tonight’s riddle was like a dose of strong, bitter medicine, the astringency made her heart numb, yet also made one momentarily sober.

Therefore, a time where she was able to throw away being “Jiang Li” and be herself was very good.

Tong’er and Bai Xue didn’t know what Jiang Li was thinking. Finding that they could no longer see Jiang Jing Rui’s silhouette among the crowd, Tong’er said: “Miss, let’s go and look for second master and the others, okay? Nothing could be seen, what to do if I couldn’t find the way back to the residence?”

“No matter.” Jiang Li said: “I remember the road.”

“There are too many people.” Bai Xue also advised: “We don’t even bring a single bodyguard, what to do if we meet with an accident?”

Jiang Li looked at herself. Currently, Jiang second miss’s most ruthless enemy was none other than Ji Shuran mother and daughter. However, if Ji Shuran mother and daughter wanted to start with her, they wouldn’t pick a place with multiple eyes staring. No need to mention Jiang You Yao, but Ji Shuran was extremely meticulous and wouldn’t leave behind the slightest handle for others. But everything had an external factor which could not be inferred based on common sense. Supposedly these mother and daughter went berserk, then everything was possible.

She stopped thinking of taking a walk alone and said: “Your words make sense.”

Bai Xue and Tong’er let out their breaths. Jiang Li was about to move forward to look for Lu-shi’s figure but inadvertently glanced at someone not too far away: “Ye Shijie?”

After the palace banquet, Jiang Li didn’t go to Ming Yi Hall much. In the end, Jiang Yu’e’s matter still affected the Jiang family’s young misses’ reputations. Old madam Jiang told them to go out as little as possible if there’s no matter, waiting for a period of time for the wind to blow in another direction. Thus Jiang Li had no chance to run into Ye Shijie.

At this time, in front of a small peddler selling lanterns not too far away, Ye Shijie and a middle aged man seemed to be picking out lanterns as they were chatting, seemingly quite familiar with each other.

Jiang Li guessed that he was someone Ye Shijie knew. She wanted to ask about Ye Shijie’s recent situation, especially whether Li Lian tried to rope him in again. So she planned to go through the crowd and walk towards Ye Shijie’s side.

But she wasn’t aware that her own movement was all seen by another person.