Chapter 597: Chapter 208: Chaos in the Heart
The streets were teeming with people.
Coming down from Qiqiao Tower, Lu Tong had been silent all the way.
It seemed as though something unusual weighed on her heart, causing her to inadvertently glance at Pei Yunmeng from the corner of her eye as he walked beside her.
The long street was ablaze with lights, and at every intersection, the crowd jostled each other. Walking side by side, they were suddenly surprised as a colorful silk ribbon flew in from the side, like a magpie spreading its wings, landing accurately in Pei Yunmeng’s embrace.
Both turned to look at the same time.
The one who had thrown the ribbon was a young girl who, upon seeing Pei Yunmeng, showed no sign of shyness. Instead, she boldly flashed a charming smile, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
Lu Tong understood.
She had heard from Yin Zheng that, in Shengjing during the Qixi Festival, young girls who had someone they fancied would often weave silk ribbons by hand to give to that person. On this day, there was no need for subtlety or restraint; the Weaver Girl would protect every girl who boldly expressed her love.
Du Changqing had already received four or five ribbons during the day.
Pei Yunmeng, with his striking appearance, attracted the affection of many girls both inside and outside the Imperial City. Sure enough, along a short stretch of street, he was presented with seven or eight colorful silk ribbons, and the trend seemed to be increasing.
Lu Tong was reminded of the multitude of brightly colored ribbons in Duan Xiaoyan’s arms.
"I’m holding these for him. There’s a mountain of them at the door of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion."
A mountain...
She sneered inwardly; this man was quite popular.
Pei Yunmeng had been bombarded with a plethora of ribbons, but had no desire to keep them. Seeing there was an incense bridge gathering nearby, he tied the full assortment of ribbons he had received to the railing of the incense bridge, hoping that burning incense at the bridge would serve as a form of prayer and blessing for the owners of the ribbons.
Lu Tong watched his actions with a detached gaze before suddenly asking, "Why don’t you keep them?"
Pei Yunmeng, puzzled, replied, "Why should I keep them?"
Without pausing, Lu Tong continued to walk forward, her tone neutral, "They are expressions of people’s feelings. Why disappoint them unnecessarily?"
The hint of mockery in her words was unmistakable.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression turning to one of pleasure, and with a smile, he said, "But with so many tokens of affection, I am destined to disappoint. It’s difficult to refuse such warmth."
Her displeasure grew at his words, and she retorted sharply, "That’s true, after all, as the Commander of the Palace Front Office, if you don’t disappoint a hundred or so admirers, the reputations of the Palace Front Office won’t be preserved."
He chuckled, "Could it be that you’re jealous?"
Lu Tong’s heart tightened, "Jealous of what?"
"Jealous..." He gazed at Lu Tong, speaking slowly, "that I have received so many colorful ribbons and you have not one."
Her hanging heart abruptly sank, and Lu Tong replied coldly, "The Marshal is overthinking it; I can make my own."
"Oh?" He caught up to her, nodding, "That’s impressive. Then you should give me one."
Give him one?
Wishful thinking.
Lu Tong halted, "Why should I give you one?" She glanced back at the incense bridge gathering they had left behind, her tone growing increasingly sarcastic, "The Marshal couldn’t possibly believe that his face could also bewitch me, could he?"
She rarely spoke like this; today’s sudden outburst of anger made Pei Yunmeng turn his head away to suppress a laugh.
He cleared his throat, lazily saying, "I didn’t say you had to give it today. My birthday is in a month; surely asking for a birthday gift from you isn’t asking too much?"
Before Lu Tong could reply, he continued, "On your birthday, I gave you a pair of Golden Swallowtail Butterflies."
"I already returned the Golden Swallowtail Butterflies to Treasure Bead."
"Then, I’ll give you something else."
Lu Tong remained silent.
This man always found a reason.
She continued walking, reminding him, "The Marshal seems to have forgotten something. My embroidery skills are poor, not fit to be seen."
"No matter," Pei Yunmeng laughed dismissively, "they can’t be worse than they were back then."
Lu Tong: "..."
"Then I will look forward to Doctor Lu’s birthday gift," he asserted confidently.
Lu Tong pursed her lips, about to speak, when she heard voices coming from a colorful tent selling Qixi festival items ahead.
"These lamb heads you’ve got are not fresh at all! They smell off," complained a customer buying snacks.
The vendor, bending over and nodding repeatedly, defended himself, "Nonsense, the weather’s just too hot, they aren’t keeping well. I sliced this lamb this evening. Forget it, it’s Qixi today, let’s not quarrel. Here, take this plum ginger as a gift, may you be prosperous!"
The voice sounded familiar, and Lu Tong looked over, slightly surprised.
"Minister Shen?"
The man busying himself inside the colorful tent was rearranging the lamb in the warmer. Hearing the commotion, he looked up, his expression one of surprise as well, "Lord Pei, Doctor Lu?"
It was indeed Shen Fengying.
Lu Tong looked at Shen Fengying, who was not dressed in his usual official attire but in the attire of a vendor: a short jacket in crossed-neck style of gray-brown, with the hem tucked into his waist, white drawstring trousers, a black cloth head wrap, and straw sandals.
"Minister Shen, why aren’t you on patrol?" Lu Tong looked around and saw none of the other patrol officers.
Shen Fengying scratched his head, "I’m not working at the Patrol House anymore."