Chapter 27 Lanterns
The two watched the giant Phoenix lantern in the center of the city for a while before wandering around.
They bought a pair of lanterns and went to the riverbank inside the city.
The river shimmered with faint glimmers in the night, and the lanterns hanging on both banks were reflected on the water’s surface.
Countless lanterns carrying prayers drifted slowly down the river, like a flowing river of stars.
Qian Renxue squatted by the riverbank and carefully placed the Lotus Lantern in her hand into the water.
Jiang Bai followed her lead and pushed his own lantern away from the shore.
The two lanterns spun on the water’s surface and soon drifted downstream side by side.
"Where will they drift to?" Qian Renxue asked softly, her eyes following the receding points of light.
"Who knows," Jiang Bai squatted down beside her. "Maybe they’ll be picked up by children downstream, or maybe they’ll hit something and sink—"
Before he could finish, an evening breeze blew across the river, and the Lotus Lanterns suddenly accelerated, drifting into the distance.
"Oh, why are they drifting so fast?"
Qian Renxue stood up and stomped her foot in slight annoyance, her gaze following the light that was gradually fading away and almost merging into the river of lanterns in the distance.
She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see further, her long golden hair fluttering gently in the night breeze.
After a moment, she seemed to think of something, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she turned and pointed toward a three-story teahouse nearby.
"Let’s go up there and watch! We should be able to see where they drift from a high vantage point."
Jiang Bai looked in the direction she was pointing.
It was an elegant wooden building with strings of lanterns hanging from its upturned eaves, looking particularly striking in the night.
Both the second and third floors had terraces overlooking the river, and many guests were already seated there.
"Alright," he nodded in response.
The two walked into the teahouse.
The first-floor hall was bustling with noise; a Storyteller was recounting a legend of a Spirit Master, with the sound of his gavel striking the table ringing out from time to time.
The Waiter greeted them warmly and, upon hearing they wanted a riverside seat, led them to the second floor.
Compared to the bustle downstairs, the second floor was much quieter.
The wooden floor creaked slightly underfoot, and the air was filled with the aroma of tea and a faint scent of incense.
The private seat they chose was at the outermost edge of the terrace; beyond the wooden railing lay the flowing river, providing an excellent view.
"What would you two like to order? We have fine Cloud-Mist Tea and freshly made Osmanthus Cake—" the Waiter skillfully recited the menu.
"A pot of black tea, two servings of Osmanthus Cake, and a few miscellaneous snacks."
Qian Renxue ordered casually, her gaze already drifting beyond the railing.
The Waiter bowed and withdrew.
Qian Renxue impatiently walked to the railing, leaning her hands on the wooden banister as she peeked outside.
From this height, the entire stretch of the river was in full view.
Hundreds of lanterns moved slowly across the water like scattered stars.
"Found them!"
She suddenly whispered excitedly, pointing downstream. "Our lanterns are there!"
Jiang Bai walked to her side and looked in the direction she pointed.
Indeed, the two small lanterns were huddled close together in the river water.
The Waiter soon brought the tea and snacks.
Wisps of steam rose from the white porcelain teapot, and the Osmanthus Cakes, shaped like delicate flowers, were served on porcelain plates.
But Qian Renxue didn’t bother tasting them; she remained leaning on the railing, her right hand propping up her cheek, her eyes gazing dreamily at the river.
The lanterns on the second floor were sparser, and the light was softer and dimmer.
Warm yellow light hit her face from the side, outlining her delicate features.
A few stray hairs fell from her temples, fluttering gently with the night breeze.
"If only it could be like this forever... how wonderful that would be..."
She sighed softly, her voice carrying a rare sense of relaxation and longing.
Jiang Bai’s heart stirred.
Perhaps—this girl leaning on the railing, worried about two lanterns, was her truest self after setting down all her burdens.
The river breeze blew, bringing the bustle of the distant market and the faint sound of a zither from within the teahouse.
In this moment, he really wanted to—
"The east wind at night puts forth a thousand trees of flowers," he recited softly.
Qian Renxue turned her head slightly to look at him.
"And blows down stars like rain."
Jiang Bai continued reciting, his gaze sweeping over the bustling street below, where lights blazed and crowds surged like a woven tapestry.
"Carved carriages drawn by noble horses fill the road with fragrance. The sound of the Phoenix flute plays, the jade pot light turns, and the fish and Dragon dance all night long."
Qian Renxue turned around completely, leaning against the railing, her purple eyes appearing exceptionally bright in the dim light.
She didn’t speak, just watched him quietly, waiting for the rest.
Jiang Bai paused, his gaze moving from the street scene back to the person before him.
The girl’s fair face flickered in and out of view in the sparse lamplight; her long golden hair seemed to be all the brilliance of tonight.
"Adorned with moth-like hairpins and golden threads," he recited slowly, each word clear and solemn, "amidst laughter and chatter, a faint fragrance fades away."
Qian Renxue’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the railing.
"Having searched for her a thousand times in the crowd," Jiang Bai took a step forward, the distance between them closing until they could clearly see the reflected lamplight in each other’s eyes, "suddenly turning back—"
"There she is, where the lights are low."
As the final words fell, a clear note from a zither happened to ring out from the teahouse, as if placing a perfect period on this poem.
Qian Renxue was stunned.
"Searching for her... a thousand times... in the crowd..."
She unconsciously repeated the line, her heart suddenly beating very fast.
Qian Renxue’s pretty face flushed at a visible speed, the redness spreading from her cheeks to her ears and then down to her neck.
"Jiang Bai—" her voice trembled slightly, "you can even compose poetry?"
"Not really, I just... happened to think of it."
Jiang Bai smiled and took a pre-prepared Brocade Box from his Storage Bracelet.
The box opened to reveal two hand-sewn puppets.
One was a Little Angel with golden hair and a white dress, exquisitely crafted so one could tell what it was.
The other was a boy in blue, holding a small seven-story pagoda—though compared to the Little Angel, this puppet was significantly cruder, and the pagoda in his hand was just a small pillar made of cotton.
"This is...?"
"Here, a Little Angel and the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!"
Jiang Bai put one on each hand, making the two puppets face each other. "I made them myself, my craftsmanship isn’t very good..."
He manipulated the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King puppet, clumsily bumping the Little Angel’s head, and then said, "The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King wins!"
"..."
Qian Renxue finally snapped out of it; she puffed out her cheeks and snatched the two puppets. "Hmph—wrong! It should be the Little Angel who wins!"
She held the two puppets in her palms and examined them closely.
The Little Angel was indeed exquisite and cute, but the crude "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" moved her even more.
Although the stitches were crooked, every stitch was sewn tightly.
The blue fabric was the color she often saw him wearing, and the pillar protruding from the puppet’s right hand was clearly his Spirit.
"So ugly," she whispered, but the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably.