Chapter 455: The Lantern Festival

Chapter 455: Chapter 455: The Lantern Festival

The purple Jade Bell that Mo Lingwei gave Shen Ningning was truly exquisite and beautiful.

The imperial purple jade in particular had a warm, rich luster, completely free of impurities. It was clearly of the highest quality.

The little girl couldn’t even bear to put it away in the Immortal Realm.

Fortunately, Mo Lingwei knew the jade pieces she collected would slowly disappear. He didn’t mind; as long as she liked them, he would give them to her.

The day after Shen Ningning placed the jade inside, two more sophisticated instruments appeared in the Thunder Hall within the Immortal Realm.

The little girl stared at the metal box, which had only four buttons and emitted a blue glow. She had no idea how to operate it.

Fortunately, after so many years of studying the dictionary her mother had left behind, she could finally understand the words on the device.

The words on one of the buttons read:

"Destroy Heavenly Disaster Spirit Key"

Shen Ningning’s eyes widened. "Heavenly disasters can be destroyed?"

Thinking of the recent locust plague, which hadn’t yet been fully eradicated, the little girl pressed the button without hesitation.

However, the blue screen prompted her to enter a password.

She scratched her head in confusion.

’What’s the password? Could Mother have set it?’

’But I don’t know what it is!’

The little girl decided she could only wait. ’Perhaps that Master Gu knows something about this.’

A few days later, Shen Ningning went to her classes at the National Academy and ran into Qi Xiuwei. She kindly asked after her, recalling that she had been unwell last time.

Qi Xiuwei smiled warmly and said it was nothing serious.

She also shared some good news with Shen Ningning.

Her aunt, Princess Consort Qi, had finally forgiven their family. Mrs. Qi Sr.’s birthday was approaching, and Princess Consort Qi had even sent someone from the palace with a special gift.

Afraid that Shen Ningning’s dislike for Princess Consort Qi would extend to her as well,

Qi Xiuwei took Shen Ningning’s hand and said earnestly, "Ningning, you’re my good friend. I would never do anything to hurt you for my aunt’s sake."

Shen Ningning beamed. "Of course I believe you!"

The two young girls sat chatting in the sunlight, their smiles dazzlingly bright.

*

The State Preceptor, observing the heavens by night, discovered that the third day of the seventh lunar month was an auspicious date, perfect for holding a lantern festival.

The colorful lanterns would serve as prayers for blessings from the Heavenly God, and as an auspicious symbol inviting the deity to bless Cangyun Country with ever-growing prosperity.

The Emperor, for his part, did not object.

After all, the people had just suffered a locust plague, and a lantern festival was just what was needed to restore their hope.

The Emperor immediately issued a decree, funding the event with silver from the court. He also ordered that a Glazed Buddha, which was enshrined in the National Temple, be brought out for the occasion.

He called upon the people to make their own lanterns, announcing that the government would select the most beautiful one and award the Glazed Buddha to the winner.

To make the prize even more enticing, the Emperor entrusted the Glazed Buddha to Shen Ningning for safekeeping.

At first, the people only knew the prize was a Buddha statue that had long received offerings of incense.

But when word spread that it would be personally blessed by the blessed girl, the populace erupted with excitement.

In no time, the lantern-making shops were completely sold out of supplies.

*

「On the night of the lantern festival.」

Shen Ningning was dining in the palace.

The Emperor was holding a small banquet, having invited many of the Capital’s nobles and dignitaries.

Once the lively meal concluded, everyone would be free to go into the city and admire the lanterns.

Word was that the people were incredibly enthusiastic; the lanterns they had crafted were hung on every street in the Capital City, packed so densely there was hardly any space left.

A little eunuch sent to scout for news returned saying that the city streets were as bright as day!

Such a bustling and prosperous scene was a rare and precious sight for Cangyun Country.

Shen Ningning had been in possession of the Glazed Buddha for several days. Since the grand prize winner was to be announced today, the little girl brought it out.

The Emperor had someone take the Glazed Buddha to be temporarily enshrined in the palace’s Sunlight Tower. Once the winner was determined, it would be sent out from the palace.

As soon as the meal ended, Shen Ningning, Mo Lingwei, and their group of friends left the palace and headed straight for the bustling, festive streets.

By a lotus pond, a vendor had constructed a small maze out of shrubbery. Anyone who could find their way out within the time it takes half an incense stick to burn would win a magnificent Colorful Phoenix Lamp.

Mo Lingwei looked up and saw the Colorful Phoenix Lamp hanging from a second-story pavilion at the maze’s exit. The lantern swayed in the darkness, a dazzling spectacle.

"That one is beautiful. Let’s play, and I’ll win it for you," Mo Lingwei said to Shen Ningning. He then turned and called his friends over to participate.

Mo Lingwei told them, "It doesn’t matter who wins. The Colorful Phoenix Lamp goes to Shen Ningning."

The young girl quickly tugged on his sleeve. "That’s not fair! Whoever wins it should be the one to keep it."

To her surprise, the group of young noblemen exchanged glances and chuckled.

"Princess, please don’t refuse. Even if you wanted to give it to one of us, we wouldn’t dare accept. We’ll all listen to the Crown Prince."

Mo Lingwei tilted his chin toward Shen Ningning. "Just listen to me."

Just as their group reached the entrance to the maze, the Shopkeeper stopped them.

Apparently, some people had gone in earlier and were still wandering around inside, not having found the exit yet.

The Shopkeeper looked apologetic. "My deepest apologies, but they only just went in. My esteemed guests may have to sit and wait for a short while."

Mo Lingwei frowned. "We don’t have time to wait."

In an hour, he had to return to the palace to authorize the order to have the Glazed Buddha delivered to the grand prize winner.

The other young noblemen stepped forward to persuade the Shopkeeper. One of them pulled out a thick stack of silver notes, while another demanded loudly, "Do you have any idea who my father is? Let us go in first, and it will make things much easier for your business in the future."

Ye Shangyi and Qi Xiuwei, standing behind Shen Ningning, silently watched as the young men brandished their identities one after another, a complicated expression crossing the Shopkeeper’s face.

He said helplessly, "My esteemed guests, the ones who just went inside were the Ninth Prince and his friends, so it’s really quite difficult..."

Before the Shopkeeper could finish, someone beside him let out a loud laugh.

"The Ninth Prince? What a coincidence. Standing before you are the Crown Prince and Princess Funing."

The Shopkeeper’s eyes went wide, and he turned to look at Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

These were indeed guests of even higher status than the Ninth Prince!

He hurriedly bowed and scraped, making an inviting gesture. "Esteemed guests, please, come right this way."

The Shopkeeper then explained the rules of the maze. No teams were allowed; everyone had to enter individually through separate entrances.

To prevent cheating, climbing, using weapons, or shouting were all forbidden. This was to keep anyone from identifying another’s position by sound.

Shen Ningning and the others found these rules acceptable.

Mo Lingwei, however, was worried she wouldn’t be able to find her way out.

"Why don’t you wait for me out here? I’ll win the lamp for you and then circle around to meet you."

Shen Ningning tilted up her sweet, rosy face. "I’m not just going to wait around! I want to go inside and play with you all."

Ye Shangyi, however, looked nervous. "I have a terrible sense of direction. I’m afraid if I go in, I’ll never get out and just end up embarrassing myself. I think I’ll wait for you all out here. Xiuwei, if you’re scared, you can stay behind with me."

But Qi Xiuwei shook her head, smiling brightly. "I’m not afraid."

The one who seemed the most timid was, surprisingly, eager to give it a try.

The surrounding shrubbery walls were easily as tall as two men stacked together. When Shen Ningning looked up, she could only see a narrow sliver of the starry sky.

She had barely taken a few steps before she came to a fork in the path with six different routes to choose from!

One could only imagine how much more intricate it was deeper inside.

Shen Ningning looked up at the position of the stars, then unhurriedly chose a direction and started walking.

After a series of turns, she suddenly found that the narrow path ahead came to a dead end.

The young girl had arrived at a small, circular clearing meant for resting, where two chairs had been placed.

At the same time, this spot was also a junction with three paths leading away from it.

Shen Ningning had to choose one to continue on.

Just as she was considering which direction to take, the RUSTLE of footsteps came from the path on the far left.

A moment later, Pei Yin emerged from that very path.

He froze for a moment when he saw Shen Ningning.

It took Shen Ningning a moment to recognize him.

"Lord Pei," the young girl said with a smile and a wave.

Pei Yin realized that despite corresponding for so long, this was the first time they had ever been alone together.

Despite his cold demeanor, the tips of his ears turned red.

He gave a slightly stiff nod and said, "The left path is a dead end."

"Oh, thank you. Then I’ll take the path on the right."

"I just came from the right path. That one’s wrong, too," he stated plainly.

Shen Ningning looked at him in surprise. "Are you stuck here, Lord Pei?"

’There are only three paths, and he managed to try two wrong ones!’

Pei Yin gave a slightly embarrassed hum of agreement.

"Let’s take the middle path together," Shen Ningning suggested.

Pei Yin nodded quickly. "Alright."

It was as if he had been waiting for her to say just that.