Song Jinglan looked at the two lanterns and smiled as if he had just remembered something, “No wonder, I was rather surprised when I saw the streets outside the palace being so lively, so it was the Qiqiao Festival.”
Lin Feilu said disappointedly, “Yeah, I heard that there would be Qi Tian lanterns tonight as well.”
She couldn’t hide the envious hint in her tone that caused Song Jinglan to raise his eyebrows, “Then why don’t you leave the palace?”
Because someone’s trying to make me accompany him!
Lin Feilu secretly complained in her heart as Song Jinglan glanced at her. He suddenly said, “Then, let me accompany the Princess out of the palace to admire the Qi Tian lanterns.”
She was stunned for a while and took a long time to react, “Ah? Really? Can you bring me along with you as you fly?”
Song Jinglan smiled and shook his head, “I can come and go as freely as I want, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to take the Princess with me.”
Lin Feilu pouted.
He used a gentle tone and tried to coax her, “How about the Princess leave the palace on her own and wait for me under the lotus tree on East Street?”
Lin Feilu thought about it— it was already this late; Xi Xingjiang shouldn’t be waiting outside the palace anymore, right? What’s more, she already said that she wouldn’t be going, so maybe he would have gone with his gangster friends to indulge in the ecstasy of singing and drinking.
She could go to the night celebrations with Pretty Boy!
It was exciting to just think about, so Lin Feilu nodded happily, “Okay!”
Song Jinglan also laughed. He kept the two lanterns for her and said warmly, “See you later then.”
Lin Feilu had been frequenting outside the palace numerous times in the past two years. Every time she wanted to leave, she had to ask for the Imperial Decree from the Emperor. Though he loved her very much, repetitively handing her an Imperial Decree annoyed him so much that he simply gave her a jade plate, permitting her to travel freely. After returning to the Mingyue Palace, she changed into an inconspicuous but beautiful skirt before getting on a carriage and leaving the palace.
Approaching the exteriors of the palace, she was a little nervous, fearing that Xi Xingjiang was still somehow waiting for her. Fortunately, he wasn’t that stubborn as he was nowhere to be found. With that in mind, Lin Feilu became slightly relieved as the carriage smoothly drove out of the palace towards East Street.
Every time she went out of the palace, there were guards constantly following her wherever she went; naturally, she didn’t want them around this time. After she got to the docked courtyard, she asked Songyu to cover for her and slipped through the window secretly.
She went straight to the lotus tree on East Street.
The streets were vivacious tonight as many people were already coming and going on the main road. A series of lanterns under the eaves illuminated the supposedly dark night.
The wood lotus tree with sparse branches and leaves were tidily tied with red ropes. Clusters of flowers made themselves at home on its branches as the tree boasted its fragrance, causing the floral scent to wash across its surroundings like an ocean wave crashing onto the shore.
Song Jinglan was already there.
He was wearing a set of white clothes and adorned with a mask on his face. Although she couldn’t see his face, the vibe he gave off was cool and sharp, working well with his body build. The tree that was full of arrogance seemed to have accented his charm as the petals swayed with the wind, attracting the little girl over to him.
Lin Feilu suddenly began to feel her heartbeat accelerate.
Ahhh, this feels like a date! Why does he become more attractive as he gets older?
She used to be the one that attracted others, winning them over with her cuteness; so how could she be affected by a teenage boy that was younger than her?
No, this was absolutely impossible!