Qingi pulled along Bai Zhi’er and the little palace Servants to peek out the window at the big tree in the courtyard.
At first, there was no movent.
But soon, faint glimrs began to fly out from the nearby flowers.
Initially just a few, then more and more.
The fireflies deftly squeezed into the bamboo cage, savoring the sweet taste of the sugar cubes.
"Wow! The bugs are amazing, so beautiful!" Bai Zhi’er propped her little hands on the window ledge, her watery eyes filled with joy.
The tree filled with fireflies made the autumn leaves shine, creating a unique grace under the moonlight.
Soon after, Qingi led Bai Zhi’er outside as everyone lit lanterns.
A bamboo cage with five or six fireflies was handed to Bai Zhi’er.
The little one leaned in to look, the few fireflies still tasting the sweetness of sugar, their tails glowing brightly.
"You are so pretty~"
Bai Zhi’er suddenly rembered sothing and ran off with the little bamboo cage.
Qingi hurriedly asked, "Princess, where are you going?!"
The little one’s cheerful voice floated back with the wind, "I’m going to give it to Father!"
Mother is in Heaven, and if Father hangs the bamboo cage, she can see his longing!
The little palace Servants, seeing the Princess leave, beca even bolder.
So of them carried bamboo cages out of Ruizhu Palace.
"It’s said that walking with fireflies will bring you your destiny, Sister Qingi, we’ll be back soon."
Bai Zhi’er was always lenient with the Palace Attendants. Since it was a festival today, Qingi didn’t restrain them and nodded in agreent.
In the end, it was just Qingi left guarding Ruizhu Palace.
She sighed helplessly.
Qingi stood under the tree, looking at the last bamboo cage hanging above.
It was hers, but she hadn’t taken it down.
Because Qingi actually wasn’t very hopeful about eting her so-called destined partner.
She clasped her hands together, silently speaking to the bamboo cage, "If I must get married eventually, then may Heaven grant a good marriage."
"Hopefully, he won’t be like my father, who would hit my mother when drunk. He doesn’t need a lot of money or power, but he must be good, have a good personality, and... best if he can tolerate always."
Just then, a tall figure ran toward the entrance of Ruizhu Palace.
"Xiao i!" Chu Ping’s voice called out.
Qingi opened her eyes, looking skyward in resignation, "Chu Ping, why are you here again?"
Chu Ping ran in with a food box and a wine jar.
"Today, the whole palace is celebrating the Chasing Moon Festival. The Marquis gave us all ti off. Soone gifted my family drunken crab, and I ca to share it with you!"
As he spoke, Chu Ping pulled Qingi to sit on the steps of Ruizhu Palace.
Qingi initially didn’t want to eat, but when Chu Ping opened the box, the aroma of the drunken crab filled the air.
"It slls so good." Suddenly, Qingi had an appetite.
Chu Ping’s eyes twinkled with a cheerful smile, "You have a sharp nose. These are Huizhou golden crabs, specially rushed back by my father for my mother and to taste."
Qingi once heard Chu Ping ntion that his father seed to be the governor of Huizhou.
Chu Ping deftly pulled two wine cups from his pocket.
Qingi paused, "I can’t drink, how can I serve the Princess if I drink?"
Chu Ping laughed, "This is realgar wine, it won’t get you drunk, you can’t eat crab without wine!"
anwhile.
Inside the Imperial Study Room, Bai Xilie stood by the window, gazing at the full moon like a jade disc.
He glanced to the side, at the small cage of fireflies that Quanxi caught, his face full of emotion.
"Jing’er, I wonder where you are now, are you looking at the sa moon as I am?" Bai Xilie murmured with his thin lips.
Suddenly, the sound of books falling to the ground echoed behind him.
Bai Xilie turned around, freezing in shock.
By the table stood a beautiful woman who picked up the fallen books.
Jing Jia looked up, her face full of smiles, "A Lie!"
She ran a few quick steps, like a youthful girl, throwing herself into her husband’s embrace.
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