Chapter 249

While Prince Yong and Governor Kong were heading to the governor’s residence, Ye Chutang and Qi Yanzhou were happily enjoying the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Both of them had exceptionally sharp hearing and had heard what Prince Yong said to Governor Kong.

Ye Chutang took a sip of iced sour-plum soup and raised an eyebrow at Qi Yanzhou.

“You’d already planned to deal with Prince Yong, hadn’t you?”

If that were not the case, he would not have made such a big issue of things and injured Zhao Sirui so severely.

Qi Yanzhou did not deny it.

He placed a piece of beef tendon, stewed until meltingly tender, into Ye Chutang’s bowl.

“If Prince Yong had been content to live as a prince with no worries about food or drink, he could have enjoyed a comfortable life as long as the Beichen Kingdom remained intact.

“But instead, he raised his only son into a tyrant who seized farmland and shops, abducted women from respectable families, and preyed upon the common people.

“The Prince Yong’s residence is rotten to the core. It must be uprooted completely before the people of Jizhou can have peace.”

The beef tendon was like a spicy, savory jelly, and Ye Chutang loved it.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‍finishing one piece, she picked up another.

She set down her chopsticks and asked, “The governor, the regional inspector, and the commander of the garrison—they’re all on your side?”

Though phrased as a question, her tone was certain.

After nodding, Qi Yanzhou refilled her cup of sour-plum soup.

“They are. They’ve repeatedly impeached Prince Yong’s heir, but every memorial has sunk without a trace.”

The emperor looked down on Jizhou because it produced so little tax revenue.

As a result, he could not be bothered to care about the lives of its people.

Thinking of this, Qi Yanzhou added, “If nothing unexpected happens, an honored guest will arrive tonight.”

Ye Chutang lifted her cup, enjoying the coolness against her fingertips.

“Prince Yong has no real authority or military forces in Jizhou, does he?”

Feudal princes were allowed to fund private troops of their own, but the numbers were limited.

A prince who was out of favor could maintain three thousand private soldiers, while a favored prince could maintain five thousand.

Of course, they could also choose not to keep any.

Private troops cost a great deal of money to support.

Qi Yanzhou took a sip of iced sour-plum soup, using the chill to suppress the heat in his body.

“Jizhou is less than half the size of Dingzhou, and much of it is covered in mountains and forests. There isn’t much farmland, so Prince Yong doesn’t receive much in annual taxes. He used to spend his money supporting his wives and concubines; now he spends it raising his son. He has no ability to maintain private troops.”

“Without authority or soldiers, he can’t make much trouble. There’s no need to concern ourselves with him.”

Having finished discussing business, Ye Chutang ate a few more bites.

When she was about sixty percent full, she put down her chopsticks.

She had to save room in her stomach. She still wanted to eat while strolling through the streets.

Qi Yanzhou followed suit and set down his chopsticks. Rising to his feet, he said, “Let’s go. The streets will be livelier now.”

With that, he put on his mask and picked up the magpie lantern.

The two of them went downstairs, paid half the bill, and left Lingxiao Tower.

By then, night had completely fallen.

The streets glittered with lantern light and seethed with people.

The cries of vendors, the calls of hawkers, and the laughter of the crowd rose and fell one after another.

Surrounded by the festive bustle, Ye Chutang’s spirits lifted as well.

“I want to play Threading the Needle.”

It was the most common and easiest way to “win cleverness” during the Qixi Festival, and there were stalls offering it everywhere.

Large groups of women had gathered around each stall.

Qi Yanzhou smiled. “Go ahead.”

Ye Chutang chose the most difficult needle, one with nine holes, and paid the stallkeeper a copper coin.

Ten women competed at a time. The first person to thread the needle through all nine holes would receive a beautifully made pair of qiaoguo pastries.

The stallkeeper was only trying to add to the festive atmosphere, not make money.

Having inherited the original owner’s memories, Ye Chutang possessed needlework skills that were second to none. She easily won first place.

She handed the qiaoguo she had won to Qi Yanzhou.

“One for each of us. We share both sweetness and hardship!”

Looking at Ye Chutang’s bright, triumphant smile, Qi Yanzhou accepted the pastry with an expression full of tenderness.

“Never part, never abandon one another!”

The qiaoguo was crisp and sweet, just like his mood at that moment.

After that, Ye Chutang followed the local customs.

She prayed to the moon, worshiped the Weaver Girl for blessings in love, released flower lanterns, watched acrobatic performances, and sampled local delicacies.

It was the happiest day she had experienced since crossing into this world.

She did not have to worry about anything or think about anything. All she needed to do was eat well and have fun.

Ye Chutang stuffed the lotus-paste pastries she could not finish into Qi Yanzhou’s hands.

“What time is it?”

“Almost the hour of Xu. Are you tired?”

Ye Chutang did not really feel tired. She had simply done everything she wanted to do, and continuing to wander would no longer be very interesting.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go back.”

Qi Yanzhou put away the pastries, gazed deeply at Ye Chutang, and held out his hand.

The glazed magpie lantern shone brightly, casting dazzling patterns of light and shadow across the bluestone pavement.

“It’s rare for us to have a chance to relax. Will you come with me to look at the stars?”

Ye Chutang had always thought of Qi Yanzhou as a practical military man, so she was a little surprised by his sudden romantic gesture.

She took his warm, broad hand and asked, “Where are we going to see the stars?”

To gaze at the stars, one needed either a high place or somewhere quiet.

There did not seem to be anywhere like that within Jizhou City.

Qi Yanzhou tightened his grip on Ye Chutang’s hand and led her away from the bustling streets.

Only after they had left the noise far behind did he answer.

“Jing’an Temple.”

Jing’an Temple stood at the northernmost edge of Jizhou City. A small mountain rose within its grounds.

At the summit was an octagonal pavilion overlooking the entire city.

The temple usually closed at night, but it remained open throughout the day and night during special festivals.

Since today was the Qixi Festival, the temple was open after dark.

Quite a few people had come to pray, but no one seemed to be heading up the mountain.

For one thing, it was too dark to see the path. For another, the mountain trail was steep, narrow, and not particularly safe.

Qi Yanzhou had come to Jing’an Temple that afternoon to scout the route, so he knew the mountain path well.

When they reached the trailhead, he handed the magpie lantern to Ye Chutang.

“Hold this. The path is difficult. I’ll carry you.”

At his words, Ye Chutang keenly realized that Qi Yanzhou had not come to Jing’an Temple on a sudden whim. He had planned this in advance.

With great interest, she accepted the glazed magpie lantern, hooked her arms around his neck, and jumped onto his back.

Qi Yanzhou caught her at once and carried her up the mountain.

His steps were light and steady, and he did not let her feel even the slightest jolt.

In less than the time it took to burn one stick of incense, Qi Yanzhou had carried Ye Chutang to the summit.

The wind was strong at the top. Her hair streamed behind her, and her sleeves fluttered in the breeze.

The heat of midsummer was swept away without a trace.

The spacious octagonal pavilion was empty.

Ye Chutang jumped down from Qi Yanzhou’s back and looked up at the sky.

A crescent moon hung high above, while stars glittered across the dark heavens.

The Milky Way was clearly visible, with the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl gazing at each other from opposite banks.

“This really is a wonderful place to look at the stars.”

Qi Yanzhou took Ye Chutang’s hand and turned sideways, shielding her from the wind.

“I don’t like the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. If two people love each other, they should stay together.”

Ye Chutang turned to look at Qi Yanzhou’s handsome profile and deliberately asked, “If you don’t like it, why did you bring me here to look at the stars?”

Qi Yanzhou led Ye Chutang into the octagonal pavilion. They sat facing south, gazing at the brilliant lights of Jizhou City.

“Atang, what I want you to see isn’t the stars filling the sky, nor the lights shining from every household, but…”

He did not finish the sentence. Instead, he covered Ye Chutang’s eyes with his hand.

“Wait a moment.”

Her curiosity piqued, Ye Chutang did not ask any further questions. She obediently sat there and waited for her surprise.

The scorching warmth of his palm against her eyelids made her feel completely at ease.

A short while later, Qi Yanzhou removed his hand.

“Atang, may you always remain safe and blessed. May all your wishes come true, and may you enjoy happiness, health, and longevity.”

Countless sky lanterns rose into the air, their written blessings swaying in the wind.

There were as many sky lanterns as there were monks at Jing’an Temple.

Every blessing had been imbued with spiritual protection, to bless her and keep her safe.