Chapter 1513 - 816: Dragon King Festival (Double Chapter)

Earlier, when I forced myself to open my eyes, the daylight was bright; now that I'm awake again, it's still just as bright.

After asking Yin Weiyin, who was meditating on a nearby cushion and zen bench, Chen Yi learned that he had slept for an entire day and night. When he fell asleep, it was the fifth day of the second lunar month, and today was already the seventh day, Dragon King's Day, the first festival after the Lantern Festival. A poem goes: "The white dragon of Tao Lake enters the city, incense burning along the road at noon."

This poem was told to him by Yin Weiyin, apparently a poem of the Song people, which Chen Yi had never heard of.

Seeing Chen Yi awake, and pressing his head to sober up his mind, Yin Weiyin left the room and returned with a meal box delivered by the servants of Zhang Mansion. Upon opening it, there was a portion of delicious braised pig's head meat and a bowl of thin noodles as fine as hair, known as Dragon's Gall and Dragon's Whiskers.

Perhaps due to excessive exertion, Chen Yi sat up and devoured the food ravenously. Before long, he had cleaned the plates; although there was plenty, it was only half-filling. After letting out a burp, Chen Yi finally cleared his thoughts.

His mind wasn't chaotic; after setting down his chopsticks, Chen Yi simply pondered for a moment, saying, "I need to go out for a while."

Yin Weiyin blinked, glancing at him with composure, and asked, "Going out… for what?"

"To inquire about something," Chen Yi said as he set down his bowl and chopsticks and rose directly, "Something I saw in the Dream Sea bothers me."

The female crown stood up to accompany him, saying, "I'll go with you; it's Dragon King Festival today."

In Great Yin, they deliberately mention the Dragon King Festival to make it seem like she doesn't care too much. At this thought, Chen Yi chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten."

Yin Weiyin didn't feel embarrassed at having her thoughts exposed, only nodding slightly and saying, "It's not that you must remember. Earlier, you went to Chongyang Palace with me, but right now, business is more important, go ahead, don't delay."

"Alright."

Chen Yi nodded slightly, about to turn away but paused, feeling strangely taken aback. This time, Great Yin was unusually agreeable; he thought he would have to banter and tussle a bit, considering she doesn't mention it openly but somewhat values birthdays secretly.

He side-eyed the female crown, wanting to discern any undercurrents beneath her calm exterior. But Yin Weiyin remained as usual; Chen Yi slowly retracted his gaze, thinking that after co-writing the immortals with her that night, Great Yin was also gradually understanding herself.

Recalling all the sentiments shared with Yin Weiyin, something inside Lower Body trembled inexplicably. Chen Yi simply said, "I'm going."

He then pushed the door open and stepped outside; the warm sunlight felt especially comforting on his body. It was only then that Chen Yi noticed his hands and feet felt colder than usual; looking introspectively, his yang energy was slightly depleted due to excessive usage last night, not yet replenished.

Then he remembered something, and Chen Yi smiled cunningly… this little greedy cat.

He hadn't walked but a few steps out of the hall when he saw Miss Donggong practicing steps; she turned her head and said, "You're awake?"

"Awake…"

For some reason, at the moment Chen Yi saw Donggong Ruoshu, a shiver ran up from his tailbone, his waist wanting to straighten instinctively, like a mouse going stiff upon seeing a cat.

"Are you going out?"

Chen Yi quickly regained his composure and nodded slightly.

"I knew it," Donggong Ruoshu dismissed her stance, bouncing a few steps to him, looked up, and asked, "Take me with you?"

Chen Yi raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling that ever since the girl reverted back, she's been unusually clingy. He purposely put on a stern face and asked, "Do you know where I'm going?"

Donggong Ruoshu honestly shook her head, saying, "Nope."

"If you don't know, why do you want to come with me?" Chen Yi glanced over her body teasingly and said, "In this world, what if I were to sell you?"

Upon hearing this, Donggong Ruoshu indeed furrowed her brows and thought seriously for a while,

A moment later, her brows stretched out as she said, "Well, that's also true." But then she tugged at Chen Yi's sleeve, "But I just want to follow you."

After speaking, noticing the strange look in Chen Yi's eyes, Miss Donggong belatedly realized that her tone was somewhat soft and coquettish, making it awkward; she then awkwardly chuckled awkwardly.

Chen Yi didn't mind, only brushing it off as this stupid girl trying to seduce him again. After stroking his chin and pondering, he thought maybe this outing might meet with some luck.

Miss Donggong's fortunes were astonishing; by bringing her along, perhaps he might catch some of it.

But such thoughts couldn't be stated outright; clearing his throat, Chen Yi put on a reluctant façade, "You can come along, but the rules must be clear. First, don't run around; second, don't ask too many questions; third, stay close, it's crowded outside today."

As he spoke, he paused, glancing at her overly rosy cheeks; today, the stupid girl seemed more lively than usual.

"Got it!" Donggong Ruoshu happily agreed, automatically ignoring those rules, just taking it as a yes from him.

"Then let's go." Chen Yi didn't want to linger much longer.

The two exited the guest courtyard one after the other, and a moment later, a female crown slowly raised the lattice window, watching the direction the two were leaving, her gaze somewhat unfathomable.

The matter hadn't been long past; it wasn't right to react excessively…

Right now, they couldn't afford to alert the snake by beating the grass…

......

The pedestrians were like a weaving shuttle, gathered from all directions.

Today is the Dragon King Festival, and indeed the market was several times busier than usual. The streets were crowded with shoulder-to-shoulder pedestrians; the hawkers' shouts, the children's playful laughter, and the distant yet faintly audible sound of drums and music intertwined into a boiling urban symphony.

Chen Yi walked ahead, deftly navigating through the crowd. Initially, Donggong Ruoshu stayed close, but soon enough, her attention was drawn to the dazzling variety of small stalls along the road. There were stalls selling "Dragon Tails" woven from colorful threads, sugar artists crafting small dragon figures on the spot, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of roasted beans and pig's head meat. There were also strong men carrying grass-made dragon lanterns, attracting rounds of applause.