The morning sun had barely risen when a familiar figure appeared outside the Empress’s temporary courtyard in the Duke residence.
A maid hurried inside.
"Your Majesty, Princess Zhi has arrived."
Lian An looked up from the invitation cards she had been reviewing.
"Princess Zhi?"
Before the maid could say anything else, the door burst open.
Princess Zhi entered dramatically.
But—
She wasn’t dressed like a princess.
She wore a simple pale blue commoner’s dress, her hair tied in an ordinary braid, carrying a cloth bag over her shoulder.
Lian An blinked.
"...What happened to you?"
Princess Zhi grinned.
"Nothing."
Then she pulled out another bundle of clothes.
"And these are for you."
Lian An stared at the bundle.
Then at Princess Zhi.
Then back at the bundle.
"No."
Princess Zhi imdiately grabbed her arm.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I’m not going."
"You are."
"I have work."
"You have been doing wedding preparations for days."
"I am helping."
"You need fresh air."
Lian An narrowed her eyes.
Princess Zhi narrowed hers back.
The two won stared at each other.
The maid wisely moved farther away.
After several monts—
Lian An sighed.
"I lost, didn’t I?"
Princess Zhi bead.
"Completely."
---
Half an hour later—
Lian An stepped out of her room.
Wearing simple commoner clothes.
A light cream-colored dress.
A plain cloak.
No imperial jewelry.
No elaborate hairstyle.
Only a simple ribbon holding her hair.
Princess Zhi gasped.
"You’re beautiful."
Lian An rolled her eyes.
"We’re supposed to blend in."
"Impossible."
---
The two won slipped out of the Duke residence accompanied by several hidden guards.
The capital was transford.
Today was the annual Lantern Blossom Festival.
Every street overflowed with people.
Children ran carrying colorful lanterns.
Musicians played cheerful lodies.
Food vendors lined every corner.
Flower decorations hung from buildings.
The entire city seed alive.
Princess Zhi imdiately grabbed Lian An’s hand.
"Let’s go!"
Lian An laughed.
"You sound like Lian Hua."
Princess Zhi proudly nodded.
"She’s a genius."
---
The first stop was food.
Of course.
Princess Zhi stood before a skewer stall.
"I want one."
Then another.
"And one more."
Lian An looked at the growing pile.
"You only have one stomach."
Princess Zhi bit into a skewer.
"Not with that attitude."
---
Soon they wandered through rows of market stalls.
Jewelry.
Paintings.
Handmade ornants.
Silk flowers.
Lantern decorations.
Everywhere they looked there was sothing beautiful.
A little girl selling flower bracelets approached them.
"Big sisters, buy one please?"
Princess Zhi imdiately purchased three.
The little girl smiled brightly.
"Thank you!"
Lian An watched her run away.
Her heart softened.
---
Further ahead—
A storyteller stood on a raised platform.
A large crowd gathered around him.
His voice echoed dramatically.
"And then the brave general defeated the mountain demon!"
The children cheered.
Princess Zhi sat cross-legged imdiately.
"I’m listening."
Lian An laughed.
"You’re really staying?"
"Obviously."
---
An hour later—
They finally continued walking.
The streets grew more crowded as evening approached.
Lanterns were beginning to glow.
Golden light illuminated smiling faces.
Music drifted through the air.
Couples walked together.
Families laughed together.
Friends gathered together.
The atmosphere felt warm.
Comfortable.
Alive.
Princess Zhi slowed slightly.
Her gaze moved across the crowd.
"...I never had this before."
Lian An looked at her.
Princess Zhi smiled faintly.
"In the palace everything is controlled."
"Everything has rules."
"But here..."
She looked around.
"...People are just happy."
Lian An nodded.
"I know."
For a mont—
Neither spoke.
Simply enjoying the atmosphere.
---
Suddenly—
Princess Zhi pointed.
"Look!"
Ahead stood a massive lantern tower.
Hundreds of lanterns floated overhead.
Red.
Gold.
Blue.
Silver.
Each carrying wishes written by ordinary people.
The sight was breathtaking.
Even Lian An stopped.
The lantern light reflected in her eyes.
Princess Zhi smiled.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
Lian An nodded softly.
"Very."
---
Nearby an elderly woman sold wish ribbons.
Princess Zhi imdiately bought two.
She handed one to Lian An.
"Write sothing."
Lian An raised an eyebrow.
"You believe in this?"
Princess Zhi smiled.
"No."
Then she looked up at the glowing lanterns.
"...But sotis it’s nice to hope."
Lian An looked at the ribbon.
For a mont she rembered everything.
The palace.
Her family.
The ghosts.
The Emperor.
The second chance she had received.
Slowly—
She began writing.
---
As night fully descended, the festival beca even more magical.
Thousands of lanterns illuminated the capital.
Music echoed through every street.
Laughter filled the air.
For one evening—
There was no palace.
No politics.
No conspiracies.
No danger.
Only two friends wandering through a sea of lights.
Enjoying freedom.
Enjoying life.
And making mories they would never forget.
The days leading to the wedding beca so of the liveliest the capital had seen in years.
Everywhere people looked, there was excitent.
Red lanterns hung outside shops.
Silk banners fluttered above busy streets.
rchants smiled as custors filled the market from morning until evening.
The marriage between the Duke family’s young master and the Chen family’s daughter had beco the most talked-about event in the city.
Even commoners who had never t either family spoke about it while buying vegetables, drinking tea, or walking through the market.
---
Inside the Dowager Empress’s palace, the Dowager sat quietly by the window.
A maid knelt nearby, reporting the latest news from outside.
"Your Highness, the markets are full every day."
The Dowager raised an eyebrow.
"So lively?"
The maid nodded eagerly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"People are buying wedding gifts, sweets, silk cloth, jewelry, and decorations."
"The entire city feels festive."
The Dowager remained silent.
The maid continued.
"I heard many shops have sold out of red silk already."
"The restaurants are also crowded."
"Especially the Whisper Bowl."
At the ntion of the restaurant, the Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Empress’s restaurant?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid smiled.
"People say they are preparing food for the announcent banquet."
"Many custors are curious and want to try the dishes beforehand."
The Dowager tapped the armrest thoughtfully.
---
Outside the palace walls, the city truly felt different.
Children chased each other through the streets carrying paper lanterns.
Young won gathered at fabric shops discussing wedding dresses.
Elderly n sat outside tea houses talking about the upcoming celebrations.
Even the atmosphere seed brighter.
---
The maid continued her report.
"Many people are saying the wedding is a blessing for the Empire."
The Dowager looked up.
"A blessing?"
"Yes."
The maid hesitated slightly.
"Many people are wishing happiness to the Imperial Family."
The Dowager listened quietly.
"The citizens say that since the Empress recovered, many good things have happened."
"The harvest was good."
"The plague ended."
"The capital is peaceful."
"Trade is increasing."
The Dowager’s fingers paused.
---
The palace had been filled with rumors recently.
Dark rumors.
Fearful rumors.
Stories about the Empress’s illness.
Stories about the attack.
Stories about strange events.
Yet despite everything—
The people seed hopeful.
---
The maid smiled softly.
"I passed through the market yesterday."
"Many people were talking."
"What were they saying?" the Dowager asked.
The maid lowered her head respectfully.
"They were wishing for the Emperor and Empress to have a long and happy marriage."
The Dowager blinked.
For a mont, she said nothing.
---
The maid continued.
"They said the Emperor personally visited the Duke residence."
"They believe His Majesty cares deeply for the Empress."
The Dowager’s expression beca complicated.
She rembered seeing her son these past few days.
The way he constantly asked about the Empress.
The way he rushed to her bedside.
The way he refused to accept her death.
The way he stayed at the Duke residence.
---
A sigh escaped her lips.
Perhaps...
Perhaps she had been wrong about many things.
---
Outside, another maid entered carrying fresh tea.
The first maid bowed again.
"There is one more thing, Your Highness."
"Speak."
"The invitation cards have already been sent."
The Dowager nodded.
"Good."
"Almost every noble family has accepted."
The maid smiled.
"Many are preparing gifts already."
---
The Dowager looked out the window again.
The capital stretched beyond the palace walls.
Bustling.
Alive.
Happy.
---
For the first ti in a long while, the Empire felt peaceful.
At least on the surface.
---
Yet deep in her heart—
A small unease remained.
The attack on the Empress.
The strange incidents.
The rumors of dark practices.
Sothing still felt wrong.
---
But as she listened to the sounds of laughter drifting from distant palace courtyards, she pushed those thoughts aside temporarily.
The wedding preparations should be a happy occasion.
The people deserved happiness.
The family deserved happiness.
---
Outside the palace, bells rang from a nearby temple.
rchants called to custors.
Children laughed.
And all across the capital, people spoke excitedly about the upcoming celebrations.
For now—
The Empire rejoiced.
Unaware that beneath the joy and festivities, hidden shadows were still waiting for the perfect mont to strike.
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