Chapter 1426 - 773: Flowers and Moon Amid the Spring Breeze (Double Extra, 2-in-1)_3

The sounds of exclamations, praises, and shouts merged into a new wave, overpowering the original clamor.

The crowd involuntarily surged towards the riverbank, standing on tiptoe, craning their necks.

The lantern boat was indeed closer.

The ship was clearly visible, with several layers of pavilions, flying eaves and dougong, carved beams and painted rafters, and at this moment, every contour was outlined clearly with dense lanterns.

At the top of the ship, there was a continuously rotating lotus lamp, with layers of petals able to open and close, scattering countless tiny points of light, like a golden rain of flowers, creating ripples in the murky river.

As the ship moved, two long trails of light dragged across the water, merging with the reflections of the lights from both banks, transforming the entire river into a flowing river of light.

Qin Qingluo glanced sideways and saw Chen Yi standing on tiptoe in the crowd, gazing at the distant lantern boat.

Before long, he suddenly turned his head and asked, "Shall we leap onto the lantern boat for a look? The view of Dragon Tail City from the lotus lamp might be different."

Qin Qingluo didn't want to bother with such things, coupled with a body aching all over, she languidly said, "Where would I find the strength."

"I'll carry you."

With these words, he actually approached her and squatted down.

Qin Qingluo stared at the figure squatting in front of her, momentarily stunned.

He bent down like an ordinary man wanting to carry his wife to see the excitement.

Is this proper?

But her hesitation lasted only a moment. The next instant, she leaned forward, slowly pressing the weight of her upper body onto his back, her arm around his neck. Due to the height difference, her chin could almost reach his hair top. The posture felt awkward to her, somewhat clumsy, excessively covering him.

As soon as she pressed down, Chen Yi's body imperceptibly paused for a moment, then he chuckled lowly.

"Hold on tight." He only said these three words.

Before the words were finished, Qin Qingluo felt herself lighten beneath, her view suddenly elevating.

Whoosh!

The sharp night breeze, carrying moisture, rushed at her face, and the figures below were instantly thrown beneath.

A dark silhouette leapt from the shore, arcing towards the lantern boat.

There was a slight sinking beneath their feet, then they stabilized.

The world, at this moment, suddenly opened up, quieting significantly.

The music, voices, and slight mechanical sounds from the lower decks were filtered by the height, leaving them faint, while the view offered an unprecedented vastness and impact.

The lotus lamp was right beneath their feet.

Chen Yi gently set Qin Qingluo down, her feet planted on the warm, seemingly slightly warm base of the lantern, stabilizing her form, lifting her gaze.

The entire Dragon Tail City now seemingly spread out like an open tapestry, completely revealed beneath their feet, before their eyes.

The lights under every household's eaves joined into a blanket, forming a sea: red, yellow, white, green… various hues intertwined, penetrated, and blurred, outlining gentle contours of black tiles, white walls, pavilions, and terraces. The nearby lights densely clustered like stars falling, while those in the distance gradually sparse, forming a hazy shimmer on the horizon, connecting with the farther night sky.

It was like an unseen flourishing scene of the century.

The night breeze was even sharper up high, causing their clothes to flap loudly.

Qin Qingluo's cloak was puffed up by the wind, like a mysterious bird about to take flight.

"How is it?" he asked.

Qin Qingluo did not answer, only continued gazing at the sea of lights, after a long time she spoke:

"Stars over vast plains…"

This was Master Du's poem, the next line was supposed to be "The moon surges over the great river flows," yet there was no moon now, only this earthly light resembling a river of stars suspended, laid above the city and the wilderness, the next line impossible to utter.

Perhaps, she wasn't only thinking of the poem.

Chen Yi heard clearly, turning his head to see her side profile illuminated clearly by the lights, suddenly pulled her into his embrace. Caught off guard, Qin Qingluo stumbled slightly, leaning into his arms.

The lotus lamp continued its gentle rotation, the falling golden light surrounding them.

He encircled her from behind, tiptoeing slightly, chin resting lightly on her shoulder, overlooking the lights together.

"Qin Qingluo," he spoke beside her ear, warm breath brushing over her auricle, "perhaps in the Capital City, the lantern sea during the Lantern Festival could be even more splendid than today."

Qin Qingluo gradually relaxed, resting in his embrace, she neither admitted nor denied, simply gazed at the endless, gorgeous sea of lights, deep within her eyes, something seemed ignited by the lights, slowly burning.

In the distance, another cluster of towering fireworks soared, wrapping the two upon blooming…

In the sea of lights, cars flowed like water, horses like dragons,

Flowers and the moon, in the spring breeze.