Joyous shouts and laughter rang out as a group of women jumped in excitement. Shop owners began bringing out their colorful lanterns, their warm glow casting a golden hue over the bustling streets.
Children ran past, proudly carrying their paper creations, eager to see them light up the night sky. Musicians changed to lively melodies, and dancers stepped forward, moving in sync with the rhythm.
Mei reached Yú Yúe and Xiao, taking a deep breath as she absorbed the infectious energy around her. "Nothing lifts the soul like seeing people so happy," she said.
Yú Yúe smiled in agreement.
Mei gave a few coins to the children, smiling as their faces lit up with excitement. Their happiness was simple and pure, reminding her of easier times.
As the evening went on, the group came across a small crowd gathered around a storyteller. Using wooden puppets, he told tales of great heroes, his voice rising and falling with each twist of the story. Yú Yúe stepped closer, watching with interest.
When the story ended, the audience clapped in appreciation. Mei turned to Yú Yúe, expecting to share in the moment, but noticed she hadn't been paying attention at all. Mei didn't comment, instead suggesting they grab something to eat before enjoying more of the festival. Above them, the moon rose higher, casting a soft glow over the lively streets.
Yú Yúe walked through the crowd, looking around as she searched for Yizé. She peeked into stalls selling masks, lanterns, and embroidered clothes, thinking he might have stopped to browse. But after several minutes, she still hadn't found him.
Feeling disheartened, Yú Yúe turned back, ready to rejoin Mei and Xiao.
Then, through the shifting crowd, she spotted a tall figure ahead. Her heart leaped. "Yizé!" she called, hurrying forward. But as the man turned, a stranger's confused smile met her instead causing her further disappointment.
Perhaps fate had no intention of reuniting them tonight.
With festival lights shining around her, she continued on her way to her friends, until her eyes landed on a familiar sight across the street.
Yizé stood beside Xiao, the two of them leaning in as they admired a display. He said something, and Xiao laughed brightly. Yizé's own face softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that warm, genuine way Yú Yúe knew all too well.
It was clear.
He cared for Xiao...deeply.
Yú Yúe's heart twisted painfully. Had she truly been so blind? While she had been holding onto secret feelings for Yizé, he had already given his heart to someone else. She suddenly felt foolish. How had she never noticed? And now, how was she supposed to face him?
Before they could spot her, she turned and walked away quickly. She stopped near a lantern shop, staring at the glowing orbs without really seeing them.
"Quite the sight, isn't it?"
The voice startled her. She turned to find Prince Xuan standing beside her then quickly bowed. "Your highness."
Xuan studied her closely. Though she smiled, it did not reach her eyes. He knew something was wrong.
He tilted his head. "Are you enjoying the festival?" He asked casually.
Yú Yúe hesitated before offering a polite nod. "Yes, your highness. It's a lovely evening."
They began walking slowly, Xuan falling into step beside her. He glanced at her again, unconvinced. "You seem troubled this evening. Is everything all right?"
She exhaled softly. "It's nothing important, your highness."
Xuan didn't press her, but he wasn't one to ignore what was clearly bothering someone. He spotted a nearby stall where a vendor was selling silk fans, their patterns painted with vibrant flowers and golden cranes.
"Something for the lady?" the vendor asked.
Xuan picked up a fan, inspecting the design. "Which one do you like?"
Yú Yúe blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, I—I don't need—"
"Then humor me," Xuan said with a small smirk, handing a fan to the vendor. "Wrap this one."
They moved to another stall, where trays of sweet rice cakes were displayed in neat rows. Xuan bought a small box and handed it to her. "A festival isn't complete without a little indulgence."
Yú Yúe finally let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You don't have to keep buying me things, your highness."
"And yet," he said with a slight grin, "it seems to be working."
She glanced at him, realizing her heart felt a little lighter. The festival lights glowed warmly above them, and for the first time that night, she let herself enjoy the moment.
...,..
As Yizé spoke, Xiao's gaze drifted beyond him, landing on a tall figure in the distance, Prince Yizong.
He walked alongside Princess Xin Yi.
He leaned in slightly as she spoke, his expression was warm and his focus entirely on her. The princess, in turn, looked up at him with a small smile, with her hand resting lightly on his arm. They moved together effortlessly, like they were the only two people in the world.
Xiao's pleasant facade faded.
She had always known this moment would come. She never stood a chance with him, but knowing it didn't make it any less painful. Seeing him like this, so devoted to another, made her realize just how impossible any dream of him had been.
"Xiao?"
She barely registered Yizé's voice. He had asked her something, but she hadn't heard. Noticing her distraction, he followed her gaze and saw what had captured her attention. His jaw tightened, and he hesitated for a bit, as if considering what to say, but in the end, he simply reached out and tapped her arm.
She flinched slightly, startled out of her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She forced a small smile. "Just tired from standing."
Yizé stared at her, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push. "Come on, let's find a place to sit."
Without waiting for an answer, he stepped forward, leading her toward a quieter part of the festival. As they passed Yizong and Xin Yi, Yizé gave a polite bow. Yizong acknowledged him with only a brief glance before returning his focus to the princess.
Xiao hesitated for a fraction of a second before following.
She half expected that Yizong would recognize her or glance her way, even with the mask she wore. But his eyes passed over her without a flicker of recognition. He simply continued walking, his attention never wavering from his princess.
Xiao stopped in her tracks, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.
For a moment, everything around her blurred, the lights, the sounds, the people. She curled her fingers into the fabric of her gown, gripping it tightly as a single tear slipped down her cheek.
Yizé had taken a few steps ahead before realizing she wasn't beside him.
"Xiao?"
Yizé's voice reached her again.
Xiao wiped the tear away in a single, unnoticeable motion and took a slow breath. By the time she looked up, there was no trace of sorrow.
She stepped forward and followed Yizé without another word.
..,,.
"Mei," Li Ming called out, after spotting her among the festival-goers.
She turned to face him, with an expression that was soft but slightly hesitant.
"You didn't come with me as planned," Li Ming said, his voice calm but all the same filled with disappointment. "I waited."
Mei lowered her gaze briefly before looking back up at him. "I'm sorry, Li Ming. Something unexpected came up."
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he said nothing. Just then, a hush spread through the crowd as the first lanterns were released into the night.
One by one, glowing orbs floated skyward, their golden light reflecting in the eyes of the onlookers. More followed, until the entire sky shimmered with soft, flickering light. Gasps and murmurs of awe filled the air.
Li ming glanced up at the lanterns for a moment before looking back at her. "It's hard to stay upset when you're looking at something this beautiful," he admitted with a smile. Mei stood still, her eyes following the lanterns as they soared higher and higher.
Not far away, Cheng stood among the onlookers, but his gaze wasn't on the lanterns.
It was on her.
The way she tilted her head slightly as she watched the lanterns gave her an air of grace that held him captive. For a long moment, he simply watched, unable to turn away.
Cheng's breath hitched when she turned, and her eyes met his, sending a tremor through him. The lantern light cast a soft glow over her face, making her seem almost unreal, like something woven from dreams. Then she smiled, and everything else vanished.
It was just a small smile, fleeting yet powerful, and it struck him harder than any battlefield wound ever could. His world narrowed to that single moment, that single look. The distant music, the hum of voices, the glowing lanterns drifting into the sky, all of it disappeared. There was only Mei.
And then, just as quickly, she looked away, her attention returning to the lantern-lit sky. Cheng exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm his racing heart but his pulse thundered in his ears, and thoughts spinning in ways they shouldn't.
How was it possible for someone to affect him so completely with just a glance?
His fingers curled into fists at his sides.
Chàn Juàn stood nearby, her presence was a reminder of the constraints that bound him like an iron shackle. Duty. Honor. Obligation. He had no right to long for someone who was not his to want.
Still, no amount of reason could erase the undeniable truth that settled deep in his mind.
No matter how much he fought it, no matter how impossible it was, his heart was already hers.
Li Ming, who had been watching Cheng from a distance, took note of his every reaction. With a casual air, he stepped closer to Mei, pretending to admire a particularly beautiful lantern. He leaned in, close enough that their arms touched. Mei acknowledged him with a polite nod but instinctively put some space between them.
At first, Cheng let it pass. Mei had kept her distance on her own. But when Li Ming closed in again, the frown returned to Cheng's face. Li Ming, catching his expression from the corner of his eye, smirked in amusement.
Then, as if testing his limits, Li Ming moved behind Mei, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders while pointing out a cluster of lanterns. The move was casual, effortless.,. too effortless. He stood too close, spoke too softly, and when Mei chuckled at something he said, the sound cut through Cheng like a blade.
His grip tightened at his sides.
He told himself it didn't matter. That he had no claim to her. That attachments, especially his, must remain distant. And yet, watching another man slip so easily into the place he wished were his, jealousy burned inside him like a relentless fire.
Not long after, a gentle pull at his arm broke his focus.
Princess Chàn Juán had returned, holding two lanterns. She smiled up at him expectantly, waiting for his attention.
But his attention remained on Mei.
Sensing his distraction, Chàn Juán's smile faded. Tightening her grip, she pulled him away, forcing him to turn his back on the one person he couldn't stop thinking about.