Chapter 322 - Lantern Festival III
"Interested with what?" suddenly Lory chimed in.
Yuan Shao and Yuan Xue An raised from the sit to greet Lory and Zhao Li Xin, Ming Yue Yin raised from her seat and bow her head slightly to respect Zhao Li Xin of course, lory also know even though she used to act like spoilt brat sometime but she still dignified noble Empress who always maintain her behavior especially when other people are here.
"Flower dumpling," said Ming Yue Yin then.
"That sounds interesting, is it made of flower or what?" she got curious.
"No Sister Luo. Is a dumpling in flower shapes and have beautiful color like flower too, the dumpling filled with red bean pasted, sour plum, chicken and more, its so tasty but you can only tasted it at festival only that's why its so famous" Yuan Xue An sparkle with joy when she explain the dish, Yuan Shao surprised his timid sister can talk so much without stuttering.
"You make me hungry, let eat that and let someone deliver the food immediately for Xue An" Lory bites her lips to hold herself from drolling.
"Let's go, Xue An we will bring you the dumpling just wait!" Ming Yue Yink wink at her.
"And rainbow candy!" she reminds Ming Yue Yin.
"And rainbow candy noted!" Ming Yue Yin patted the little girl head dotingly, Yuan Xue An smiles widely, her cheks blush heavily like a little girl, Yuan Shao never saw her make that expression in front of other people than him she didn't acted childish even in front of they're Father that was disheartened truth how bad they're family situation are.
"Be good and listen to master Jin order, when you get healthy I take you to travel anywhere you want" he patted gently his little sister frail shoulder.
"Really, that's a promised okay!" she beamed in delight.
"Yes, its a promised" Yuan Shao chuckles.
"Let's go now" Lory holler "See you later Xue An, wear more clothes it would be chilly tonight" Lory reminds her before she waved to say goodbye.
"Yes sister Luo, have fun, don't forget my food and lantern" she waved while reminding them again
Ming Yue Yin gives her thumbs up and left with the others, Yuan Xue An let out a long sigh when they all gone.
"Don't worry miss. They all would back before midnight" her maid drape a shawl around Yuan Xue An shoulder.
"I know" she smiles childishly "Let's go back its time for my acupuncture, Master Jin would scowl if I late" she gasped then she takes long strides back to her courtyard. Her maid follows her mistress with giggles although Yuan Xue An talks like that but she doesn't sound afraid at all more like annoyed. At first, he worried how her frail mistress leave at strangers manor, will they received them well? Her mistress is young and weak she also just a normal person without cultivation she can't protect Yuan Xue An when something happens.
Fortunately, everyone in the manor is very kind a little bit eccentric perhaps but all of them is warm and generous, and because most of the maids is older than her because their's no young maid in Zhao Li Xin manor, the maids treat her like little sister they always give her extra dish and sweet, she feel like she left with a bunch of nice aunty and Uncle, she never been this happy and so her Mistress.
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The four of them walk without bringing their servant or bodyguard although the shadow guards still following them and today the shadow guar added by another shadow guard from Yuan Shao side, this is the shadow he established more than a half years ago after what happened to Yuan Xue An he knew he need more people and power to so he recruits talented people from poor family and slaves he found then train them as his personal shadow guard, not even his father knew about this.
"What is that place called again?" Lory glance at Ming Yue Yin
"Tancu tea house" Ming Yue Yin replied briefly.
"Where is that place?" Lory asked again.
"A little bit far from here, it's near the pavilion Chang Er," said Yuan Shao who knows better about the city compared to the three outsiders.
"I told you we should take carriage" Ming Yue Yin scowled at Lory.
"No problem, if I'm tired I just make Li Xin carry me" she grinned at Zhao Li Xin while holding his arms lovingly.
Zhao Li Xin patted her hand "Of course…" he said gently and they look each other with pink bubbles exudes around them...
Yuan Shao shocked when he witness them flirting to each other without care other people presence he glance at Ming Yue Yin with questioning looks 'Is this normal?' Ming Yue Yin understand his disbelieved expression, she sighs and nods 'Yup this normal'
They arrived at the main street, Lory stunned how beautiful the street become hundreds of different colors lampion hanging above the street, the bridge and small pavilion also brightened by lampion, children running while carrying small lampion with animal painting while young women carry flower shapes lampion.
"Its so beautiful" Ming Yue Yin shriek excitedly.
"Yes, it is" Lory gasped "How long the Lanter festival will be held?"
"Three days," said Yuan Shao who doesn't interested with the lantern, if not because Ming Yue Yin here he would rather stay with his sister.
Not just Yuan Shao who doesn't interested with the Lantern festival Zhao Li Xin also doesn't understand what so good with this paper lamp, doesn't his manor have a lot of them, so many paper lamps used kerosene to lit the candles he wonders if their ever been fire? Thankfully he doesn't voice his gloomy thought.
"What are you thinking?" Lory suddenly awoke him from his contemplating.
"Nothing important," he said with a flat tone.
Lory giggles "It's rare watching you on a daze?"
Her soft giggles make his heart flutter he clasped their hand together his expression becomes gentler "I'm just worried about your safety" he does worry, he imagined when the fire really happened he would create a barrier with his immortal flame and carry her away as fast as he could.
If Ming Yue Yin knew about this she might only sigh sadly because her scary uncle only protects her aunty and leaving her behind saving herself but what can you hope for from one-track mind like Zhao Li Xin.
"I'm with you, what could happen to me" she swings their intertwined hands playfully.
Suddenly someone called them from behind "Lord Long Ming"
Lory and Zhao Li Xin frowned at the same time they look each other and turn around, and they found Qian Mu Ting greeted them with a beautiful smile "What a coincidence" she said with an excited tone.
Lory let out a long heaved "Every time…."