Volume 1 Chapter 26 Undercurrents on the Lantern Festival

Night had just fallen, and the lanterns were already aglow.

The Lantern Festival of the thirty-fifth year of Yongan was more vibrant than any in recent memory. From one end to the other, the entire Vermilion Bird Avenue was illuminated by tens of thousands of colorful lanterns, making the night as bright as day.

The brilliant, shimmering light reflected off the ancient bluestone pavement of Luoyang, casting a glaze-like luster across the ground. The air was thick with the scent of street food, the faint fragrance of ladies’ powders, and the joyous laughter of the common folk, all coalescing into the bustling warmth of human life.

A magnificent carriage pulled by eight spirited horses, escorted by the Imperial Guard, slowly made its way into the heart of the avenue.

A hand with well-defined knuckles parted the carriage curtain, and Crown Prince Li Xuan stepped out first. He was dressed in a black, gold-woven python robe, his waist cinched with a jade belt, and his long hair secured by a purple-gold crown. His face was handsome, and a perfectly measured smile played at the corners of his mouth.

His appearance was met with a thunderous roar of greetings from the surrounding crowd: "Long live the Crown Prince! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!"

Li Xuan raised a hand with a smile, signaling for them to rise. That calm and approachable demeanor caused countless young women to blush, their gazes lingering on him in secret.

He then turned, extending his hand toward the carriage with natural grace.

Inside, Xiao Ning-shuang looked at the hand offered to her, momentarily stunned. She wore a moon-white court dress embroidered with delicate winter plums at the hem, her long hair styled into an intricate "Flying Immortal" bun held by a simple white jade plum blossom hairpin. In the brilliant lantern light, her cool, detached air made her look like a fairy from the moon palace, untainted by the mundane world.

She remembered Li Xuan's plan: "Act like a loving couple."

But here, in the bright light of day, under the eyes of all...

Seeing her hesitation, a flicker of playful mischief crossed Li Xuan’s eyes. He whispered, his voice audible only to her: "Your Highness, it is time to get into character. My second brother is watching."

Xiao Ning-shuang cast a subtle glance in the direction he indicated and, sure enough, spotted the gentle, jade-like face of the Second Prince, Li Zhan, seated among the royals nearby. At that moment, his face wore a look of probing, icy amusement.

She took a deep breath, hesitated no longer, and gently placed her slightly cool hand into his broad palm.

His hand was warm, with a thin layer of calluses—the mark of a life spent in martial arts. A surge of warmth traveled from her fingertips, causing her heart to skip a beat for no reason.

Li Xuan held her steady as she stepped down from the carriage, his movements gentle and thoughtful. To the onlookers, this was the very model of imperial affection. He held her, and they stood side by side, bathed in the gazes of the populace.

Xiao Ning-shuang felt uneasy, her body slightly rigid.

Li Xuan seemed to notice. He turned slightly toward her, leaning in to whisper with a smile: "Don't be nervous. Just think of it as a sparring session on the training grounds. Only this time, our opponent is the eyes of the entire world."

His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her already heated cheeks burn even more. She gave an almost imperceptible nod, struggling to make her expression look natural.

Emperor Li Chengye sat upon the highest viewing platform. He looked down at the pair, like golden boy and jade maiden, and felt quite satisfied. Seeing Li Xuan’s attentive gestures, he stroked his beard and smiled. Whether this love was real or feigned, at least in public, Li Xuan was playing the role of Crown Prince flawlessly.

"Father, Sixth Brother and his wife are truly deeply affectionate; they are the envy of all," the Second Prince, Li Zhan, remarked as he approached the Emperor, his tone dripping with flattery.

"Hmm," Li Chengye responded noncommittally, his gaze lingering on Li Xuan. "Harmony between husband and wife is the foundation of a peaceful household. As the Crown Prince, it is a good thing for him to set an example for all the couples in the realm."

Li Zhan’s smile remained, but the chill in his eyes deepened. He knew his father was warning him. He became more certain than ever that the display between Li Xuan and Xiao Ning-shuang was nothing more than a performance. He refused to believe that Xiao Ning-shuang, who had once harbored such deep hatred for Li Xuan, could have changed her heart in such a short time.

He would tear away their hypocritical masks.

Soon, with a loud proclamation from the Master of Ceremonies, the most anticipated event of the Lantern Festival—the "Quest for the Lantern Queen"—officially began.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: On this festive day, we share the joy with the people. A competition of talents is hereby established. All noble ladies of the capital may participate. The one who excels in the four arts—riddles, calligraphy, painting, and music—shall be named 'Lantern Queen,' awarded a bushel of South Sea pearls, a pair of gold and jade ruyi, and a tablet personally inscribed by Me with the words 'Orchid Heart and Willow Qualities'!"

The announcement sent the crowd into a frenzy.

This was not merely a contest of skill; it was a battle for family honor. Whichever daughter claimed the title of Lantern Queen would not only gain immense personal glory but would also make her family the object of envy in the capital's social circles for the coming year.

At once, the noble ladies at their respective tables began preparing themselves with eager anticipation.

Among them, besides the Crown Princess Xiao Ning-shuang, several others stood out:

Song Qingwan, daughter of the Minister of War, Song Ming. Dressed in a water-green gown, she sat quietly beside her father. Her temperament was as gentle as water, and though a faint sorrow lingered in her brows, her gaze drifted from time to time toward Li Xuan. When she saw him standing "intimately" with Xiao Ning-shuang, a shadow of desolation crossed her eyes.

Zhao Yurou, daughter of the Right Chancellor, Zhao Dexiu. Clad in fiery red, she was vibrant and striking. Her sharp, spirited personality made her a loyal supporter of the Second Prince, Li Zhan.

Zhou Yuyao, daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Zhou Wen. In a goose-yellow dress, she was dainty and charming, known to be quite close to the First Prince, Li Yuan.

Shangguan Wan'er, daughter of the Left Chancellor, Shangguan Ding. Dressed in purple, she was mysterious and noble. It was said she possessed immense talent, though she rarely appeared in public.

Each of these women represented the deep-rooted, tangled factions of the court. Tonight’s competition was destined to be a war without smoke.

"Crown Princess, will you not give it a try?" Li Xuan tilted his head, asking Xiao Ning-shuang with great interest.

Xiao Ning-shuang shook her head: "I am not skilled in these arts."

Having grown up in military camps with her father and brothers, she was well-versed in horsemanship, archery, and military strategy. As for the music, chess, calligraphy, and painting expected of a lady, she could only claim to know a little—certainly not enough to excel.

"How do you know until you try?" Li Xuan’s lips curled into a cunning smile. "Sometimes, winning or losing is not what matters; it is the participation. Let everyone see that our Crown Princess can not only pacify the world on horseback but can also command the heavens with a brush."

His words were half-encouragement, half-teasing.

Just then, the first round—guessing lantern riddles—began.

Hundreds of lanterns bearing riddles were hung up. The ladies moved in groups, darting between them to pluck the ones they could solve and bringing them to the redemption table for verification.

Zhao Yurou, Zhou Yuyao, and others were clearly well-prepared, solving several in succession and drawing bursts of applause. Song Qingwan, relying on her own wit, did not fall behind.

Only Xiao Ning-shuang stood still, her brows furrowed as she looked at the colorful lanterns. These riddles, which played with the nuances of language, were more difficult for her than analyzing a battlefield. She did not want to step forward, fearing she would embarrass Li Xuan.

Li Xuan noticed her distress. Without a word, he walked slowly to her side, pointed casually to a nondescript lantern nearby, and whispered: "'When drawing it, it is round; when writing it, it is square; in winter it is short, in summer it is long.' Your Highness, do you know what this is?"

Xiao Ning-shuang was startled. The question was simple and direct; she answered almost instinctively: "It is the character for 'Sun'."

"Correct," Li Xuan pointed to another. "'I have a good friend, who visits me every day, tells me everything, yet never speaks a word.'"

Xiao Ning-shuang pondered for a moment: "A book."

"Look at that one," Li Xuan said with a smile in his tone. "'Seven or eight brothers, sitting around a pillar; when they part ways, their clothes are all torn.'"

"Garlic." Xiao Ning-shuang could not help but let a faint smile touch her lips. She understood now—Li Xuan was using this method to help her resolve her embarrassment. He had chosen the simplest riddles, the ones most grounded in everyday life.

"Go ahead," Li Xuan encouraged her with a look. "Solve those few, if only to do me a favor."

Xiao Ning-shuang felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded, stepped forward, and plucked the riddles from the lanterns. Though they were simple, when she walked to the desk and the official announced loudly, "The Crown Princess has solved three riddles!" a round of polite applause rippled through the crowd.

She returned to Li Xuan with her prizes. Though her face remained cool, the ice in her eyes had melted significantly under the glow of the lanterns.

Yet, as this scene fell into the eyes of Li Zhan in the distance, it was interpreted quite differently.

He saw Li Xuan whispering in Xiao Ning-shuang’s ear, saw the smile on her face, and saw the intimacy between them that no outsider could pierce.

*Acting,* he thought. *They are acting so well!*

Li Zhan’s fingernails dug deep into his palms. He would never allow these two to deceive his father and the world with such fake affection!

He cast a subtle, meaningful glance at Zhao Yurou beside him.

Zhao Yurou understood immediately, a malicious smirk curling her lips.

The first round of riddles ended, and soon, the second round—calligraphy and painting—was about to begin. The official held up a scroll and proclaimed loudly: "The second round, a duel of brush and ink! The theme is—"

He slowly unrolled the scroll, where four large, sweeping characters were written:

"Spring in the Borderlands!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

This theme was both obscure and incredibly difficult. Among the noble ladies of the capital, who had ever seen the borderlands? Let alone spring in the borderlands? The best they could paint was a clichéd image of smoke rising over the desert or a few sprigs of green conjured from thin air.

Everyone’s gaze turned, without exception, to one person: The Crown Princess, Xiao Ning-shuang.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, if anyone was qualified to paint the "Spring of the Borderlands," it was surely the daughter of the general who had grown up on the frontier.

The theme seemed tailor-made for her.

However, Zhao Yurou smiled. She looked at Xiao Ning-shuang with eyes full of provocation.

Li Zhan smiled as well. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Lift Xiao Ning-shuang up high, only to let her fall hard. A warrior’s daughter who only understood swords and spears—even if she had seen the borderlands, what could she possibly know of the nuances of brush and ink?

He wanted to see how they would continue this performance!