Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 92: Viewing the Lanterns

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Viewing the Lanterns

There were rabbit lanterns, tiger lanterns, and lion lanterns shaped like animals, as well as a variety of lanterns in the forms of flowers.

Fengyu did not like bustling crowds. Holding a peony lantern, she watched the street performances. The stage was surrounded so tightly with people that not even water could seep through, and the noise rose to the heavens. Qiuxiang and Chunlu pushed through the crowd, bringing Fengyu to the front row. Fengyu watched attentively. The performers included girls, children, and elderly folk, all proficient in a myriad of acrobatic skills, creating a scene of lively excitement.

After watching the acrobatics, she went to see the shadow play. Fengyu handed out rewards all along the way, giving silver wherever she watched, truly embodying the God of Wealth. While others rewarded with copper coins, she always used fragments of silver.

As she strolled and admired the sights, she also ate as she went. Qiuxiang and Chunlu bought nearly all the street food. Fengyu particularly favored water chestnut cakes and dried fruits, which were mostly sweet.

Once full and satisfied, she stopped to watch as people guessed riddles tied to lanterns.

Fengyu didn’t enjoy solving lantern riddles, primarily because she didn’t enjoy reading. Most lantern riddles involved verses to decipher characters, and she was often unable to guess the answers. However, she did enjoy watching others engage in the challenge.

Coincidentally, Fang Lingjun and Lin Yu Yan were in the middle of guessing lantern riddles in the crowd.

Each had six lanterns, and victory was to be determined within the span of one incense stick, with the winner being the one who solved the most riddles.

Fang Lingjun had already solved four riddles, while Lin Yu Yan had solved five. Before the incense burned out, Fang Lingjun clung to Princess Xue Lan, wracking her brain to no avail as she struggled with the remaining two riddles.

Lin Yu Yan cast a haughty glance at her, full of contempt. Princess Xue Lan, being raised in the countryside with limited literary knowledge, was unable to assist Fang Lingjun. Fengyu glanced at one of the lanterns.

Sixty is insufficient, eighty is in surplus.

Left has eighteen, right has eighteen. Two fours make eight, one eight makes eight.

Fengyu had not yet figured out the answer when the incense stick burned out, and the "Underachiever Trio" failed to solve the riddles. Fang Lingjun lost, and Lin Yu Yan sneered, saying, "If you know nothing about literature, don’t bother guessing these riddles. Losing is such a shame."

"What’s so bad about losing once in a lantern riddle? If you’re so capable, why don’t you solve all the riddles on this street?" Fang Lingjun retorted boldly, hands on her hips. "Two years ago, my brother left behind a lantern riddle that no one’s been able to solve. Why don’t you try it?"

Two years ago, Fang Chuning created a lantern riddle that was not a character-based puzzle and remains unsolved to this day. It has since become a signature challenge of this lantern-riddle street, drawing contenders yearly without resolution.

Lin Yu Yan pressed her lips together, choosing not to engage Fang Lingjun further. Then Xue Lan caught sight of Fengyu and waved enthusiastically, "Ayu, you’re here too!"

Fang Lingjun dashed over to Fengyu like the wind upon seeing her. "Finally, you’re here! Let’s go release flower lanterns together later!"

"All right!" Fengyu replied cheerfully. Clad in red, holding her peony lantern, and adorned with flower hairpins and a sway of dangling ornaments, she outshone the vibrant colors of the festive lantern street.

Lin Yu Yan’s eyes betrayed an irrepressible hatred. Ever since the horseback archery banquet, she hadn’t laid eyes on Fengyu, but back in the manor she often dreamt of flaying Fengyu alive. Upon returning to the city intending to cause trouble for Fengyu, she ended up being confined instead. Lin Yu Yan, who had always been fawned over and adored, was used to being the most pampered among her peers, second only to the princess or Elder Lin’s granddaughters. Everyone flattered her, currying favor. Previous Lantern Festivals would find her surrounded by a group of noble young ladies, yet this year, they all declined her invitations—Wu Changhuan and Zhang Jingmiao even refused to accompany her.

For the first time, she experienced the coldness of human relationships. After being schemed against by Fengyu at the horseback archery banquet, her hopes of securing a favorable marriage were dashed, let alone marrying Xie Xun. No family would want a ruthless daughter-in-law. Even Li Pengfei, who had always flattered her, found his family unwilling to accept her as a bride.

Her entire life had been ruined by Fengyu. Recent rumors and gossip had fueled Lin Yu Yan’s anger. She dreamed of making Fengyu pay for her suffering.

Yet she also feared Lin Cheng’s threats and dared not act against Fengyu.

Fengyu, however, greeted Lin Yu Yan with a radiant smile, "Miss Lin, you look well. Back from the manor already? You must have had a pleasant time."

"Thanks to you, I’m doing quite well. Did I disappoint you by not staying in the manor for a few years to recuperate?" Lin Yu Yan replied brazenly, spreading her hands. "And what can you do about it anyway?"

Fengyu chuckled lightly, showing no trace of malice. "Then I wish you great success in your future endeavors."

Lin Yu Yan’s face darkened. How could she possibly have a successful future after the horseback archery incident? Fengyu’s words were like a knife in her heart. Lin Yu Yan stormed off in a fury.

"What bad luck!" Fang Lingjun grumbled. "We come out to enjoy the lanterns only to run into her."

"We’re all in the capital, so encounters are inevitable."

After meeting Fang Lingjun and Xue Lan, Fengyu did not join them in their outing. Being more leisurely in nature, Fengyu preferred to stroll and stop at her own pace. Fang Lingjun, on the other hand, was quick and energetic, never missing an opportunity to join in the revelry. Fengyu encouraged them to go ahead and play, saying they’d run into each other later if fate allowed—it wasn’t a large lantern festival, after all.

Princess Xue Lan had initially wanted to stay with Fengyu, but Fang Lingjun dragged her away to play. Fengyu wandered at her own pace, suddenly sensing an intense gaze fixed upon her. Looking up, she saw Xie Xun standing atop the Observation Tower, hands behind his back, quietly watching her.

Fengyu stood on the bridge, where the lake shimmered with multicolored hues, the flowing waters echoed endlessly, and the interplay of moonlight and lanterns cast a soft glow that caressed her snow-white face. With her peony lantern in hand and surrounded by fluttering snowflakes, she appeared as otherworldly as an immortal.

Their gazes met across the cascade of lanterns and snowflakes. Xie Xun leaned against the Observation Tower’s railing, his phoenix eyes smiling with beguiling charm. "Third Miss, care to come and enjoy the lanterns from up here?"

The Observation Tower rose eleven stories high, situated in the city like a massive watchtower. Normally inaccessible, it offered a vantage point unmatched by any. Xie Xun had only ascended to the third floor when he spotted Fengyu, already leaning on the bridge railing, watching Fang Lingjun, Princess Xue Lan, and the others as they laughed and played. The height afforded him a view of their riddling, their antics, and their parting by the bridge.

The Observation Tower was typically closed but had been transformed into a lantern tower tonight. The exterior was adorned with various lanterns and ornaments of gold and jade that chimed melodiously as the wind passed through, captivating those who gazed from afar.

Qiuxiang and Chunlu had intended to accompany Fengyu up the tower, but Nuanyang grinned and said, "Ladies, the tower passage is narrow and not suited for many people climbing up."

"Then who will attend to my mistress?" Qiuxiang stretched her neck to peer upward.

Nuanyang laughed, "Isn’t my master already here to see to her needs?"

Qiuxiang and Chunlu exchanged glances, puzzled. Your master attending to our mistress? Feiying noticed this and invited them to wait on the third floor to admire the lanterns. Seeing the young lord’s guards stationed below, Qiuxiang and Chunlu reluctantly stayed.

The tower’s passage spiraled upward, its stairways flanked by oil lamps that glimmered softly. Halfway up, Fengyu began to regret her decision. Why did she agree to climb this tower?

Xie Xun stood above, arms crossed and smiling lightly. "Exhausted?"

She was breathless, her cheeks flushed from exertion, and she felt Xie Xun’s gaze filled with mischief. It seemed as if he might say at any moment, "Give me ten thousand bushels of grain, and I’ll carry you up."

Thinking of her grain warehouse, she denied it firmly, "I’m not tired."