The next two days were spent walking around the Jiangnan border, traveling all day long and staying in towns in the evening.
When I entered Pingjiang Mansion in the evening of this day, just looking at the towering city gate, I knew that this place was very prosperous.
Ah Yi was very familiar with Pingjiang Mansion and soon walked through the streets and arrived in front of a house. The house didn't have the name "Mansion" written on it like ordinary mansions. There was only the word "Shadow Garden" on the plaque.
Mingruo and Si Haochen entered the house through the front door, and Shi Shi drove the carriage through the back door. There was a housekeeper in charge of the house, but he only spoke to Ah Yi.
Mingruo discovered that the places they stayed at along the way were not inns. They felt a bit like Si Haochen's private inn. There were people taking care of the food and daily life, but no one who served them would come to disturb them.
Mingruo simply freshened up in the room, changed his clothes and came out to wait for dinner. Si Haochen stood in the corridor, with a glazed palace lantern above his head, and the warm golden light shone on his brocade white robe, making it dizzy.
It gives off a warm halo. The black hair is half tied up with a jade hairpin, making it very handsome and elegant.
Mingruo looked at Si Haochen's robe, and then at her cross-collar underskirt. One was a brocade-white robe with azure edges rolled on it, and the other was a sky-green undershirt with brocade-white edges rolled on the hem.
They also embroidered two green bamboo branches in tacit understanding, which looks a bit like a couple's costume.
"Let's go." Si Haochen glanced at Mingruo, and the corners of his mouth curved as he turned around.
Mingruo followed him and asked as he walked: "Where are you going?"
"You'll know when you get there." Si Haochen walked a little slower, and Mingruo walked out of the house side by side with him.
After crossing two streets, we came to the bustling commercial street. The night here is much busier than that of Huangdu City, and the streets are full of pedestrians. This street is built along the river, and there are many pleasure boats, boats, and lights on the wide river.
Transparent like the Milky Way falling on the ground.
"Is it so lively here every day?" Mingruo was a little curious.
"It's usually lively, but today is the Water Dragon Festival, so it should be more lively."
"I've never heard of the Water Dragon Festival." Searching the original owner's memory, there was no memory of the Water Dragon Festival.
"It is a unique festival in Ningzhou. In order to celebrate the harvest and pray for good weather in the coming year." Si Haochen led Mingruo into Yuexiang Residence.
Yuexiangju is a three-story restaurant that stands out compared to the surrounding buildings.
The lobby on the first floor was full of guests, and some people were waiting for a seat next to the window so they could watch the water dragon show.
When the waiter saw Si Haochen and Mingruo, he hurriedly came over to greet them: "Ms. Young Master, have you made a reservation? We are fully booked today."
It was rare for Si Haochen to take her out to a restaurant, so was he going to fail?
Si Haochen said in a deep voice: "Xuan Yue."
"Xuan Yue is on the third floor, please come up." The waiter led the way.
The third floor is different from the noisy lobby on the first floor, and is particularly quiet. When the waiter opens the door of the private room, the first thing he sees is a large round table, inside which is separated by a hollow moon door to a lounge with a tea seat.
Si Haochen and Mingruo sat down, and the waiter quickly served tea and took menus for them to order.
Si Haochen didn't like ordering food, and Mingruo had never eaten here before. After the waiter's introduction, he ordered a few signature dishes.
Just as the waiter was about to leave, Si Haochen said, "I want another shrimp." He found that Mingruo liked shrimp very much.
"Our store's crystal shrimp balls are also our signature product. Can you please take a look, sir?" the waiter immediately recommended.
"Okay." Si Haochen nodded.
Due to the large number of guests, the food was served a little slowly. As soon as the two of them started eating, the sound of gongs and drums sounded outside. Mingruo opened the window and saw a large fire on the river in the distance, slowly moving from far to near.
Move this way. Only when you get a little closer can you see it clearly. It is a dancing fire dragon, with many small boats rowing below it.
"Let's eat, they will perform here for a while before leaving." Si Haochen picked up two shrimp balls and put them on Mingruo's plate.
Mingruo sat down to eat. The food here was relatively light and quite to her taste. Especially the sesame paste, which looked very much like the one made by grandma using a wall-breaking machine. It was particularly delicate.
When I think of my family, my heart becomes inexplicably heavy. I can't imagine how sad my grandparents must be when they know the news of her death.
Ming Ruo looked at Sesame Paste intently, she was obviously right in front of him, but at this moment Si Haochen felt that Ming Ruo was very far away from him. Si Haochen felt a little flustered and reached out to hold Ming Ruo's wrist.
Mingruo came back to his senses and looked at Si Haochen: "What's wrong?"
Si Haochen let go of her and said in a deep voice: "The water dragon is here."
"Oh." Mingruo looked out the window and saw two water dragons, one east and one west, intersecting on the river in front of Yuexiangju, and the performance began.
The dragon dance on the water is wonderful, and with the blessing of torches, it is actually very interesting. But if Mingruo is not in the state now, the water dragon leaves the river and is still standing in front of the window blankly.
"You're already far away, why are you still watching?" Si Haochen spoke again.
"It's good to get some wind like this." The night breeze mixed with water vapor blew against my face, which was quite comfortable.
Si Haochen put down a piece of silver on the table, put his arms around Mingruo's waist and jumped out of the window. They jumped to the roof. The wind is stronger here, and looking at the vast night sky makes people's minds broaden.
Si Haochen pulled Mingruo and sat on the roof: "Why are you unhappy?"
"Well..." Mingruo muttered, "I miss home..."
"..." Si Haochen frowned slightly. What if he wants to go home after marrying a princess? "Your grandpa and grandma have returned to Beijing. You can see them when we return to the imperial capital."
"..." Mingruo curled her lips, her heart filled with bitterness. Those were relatives of the original owner, not hers.
Si Haochen didn't know what Mingruo was thinking, but he could understand that she didn't have much expectations. After all, her mother was married to Nan Rong as a concubine, and she had never seen her maternal grandfather and grandmother when she was growing up.
There were many people setting up river lanterns by the river to make wishes. Mingruo looked at them for a long time and said, "I want to put out river lanterns too."
"Okay." Si Haochen held her in his arms and jumped off the roof, walking towards the river.
"Did we have the King's meal?" Mingruo tugged on Si Haochen's sleeve. She didn't notice that Si Haochen left money in the private room.
"Then let's put out the river lanterns and run faster, don't let the waiter catch up." Si Haochen said seriously.
"Ah..." Mingruo looked at Si Haochen in surprise. Shouldn't he go back to pay the bill? Are he really going to run?
Si Haochen took her to a place selling river lanterns and threw a piece of silver to the vendor. The vendor gave them a dozen river lanterns.
"Why did you buy so much..." Mingruo was speechless for a moment.
"Your home is far away." Si Haochen picked up the river lanterns and led Mingruo to the river.
"..." What you said makes sense, and I can't refute it.
Si Haochen lit the small candle in the middle of the river lantern with a fire stick and handed it to Mingruo. Mingruo put each river lantern into the water.
When it came to the last one, she didn't answer it: "Maybe you can make a wish."
Si Haochen wanted to say that he had to work hard on his own to get what he wanted, and making wishes was useless. But looking at his bright eyes, he still put the river lantern into the water with his own hands.
