As dusk fell and the lamps were lit, casting a soft glow in the fading light.
Leng Ruo Li finished all her work at the medical hall, had dinner with everyone, and then, with Xing'er and Ye Ying, prepared to return to the Cold King's manor.
"Xing'er, Ye Ying, let's walk back tonight," Leng Ruo Li suggested to them.
"Okay! Royal Consort, it's been a long time since I've strolled through the night market of the capital."
At this moment, Xing'er replied with a face full of excitement.
"Ye Ying, what about you?"
Leng Ruo Li looked at him and asked.
"Royal Consort, this subordinate follows you. However you go, this subordinate will go," Ye Ying replied in a low voice.
The King's purpose in having him follow the Royal Consort was to protect her safety. Nothing else mattered.
"Alright, then put our carriage in the stable in the backyard of the medical hall. We'll take a walk."
With that, Leng Ruo Li took Xing'er's hand and walked out of the main entrance of the medical hall to wander on the street.
"Royal Consort, look! The lanterns over there are changing!"
Xing'er, with sharp eyes, spotted a small stall selling lanterns not far away, displaying many beautiful lanterns with changing patterns.
Leng Ruo Li also followed Xing'er's gaze and immediately saw those beautiful lanterns.
In fact, the lanterns displayed on the small stall's table were carousel lanterns.
The ancients here were also very clever, able to create carousel lanterns like these.
Leng Ruo Li pondered for a moment. Xing'er had already run to the stall selling lanterns, staring intently at one of the carousel lanterns.
Then, Leng Ruo Li walked over as well.
At this moment, Ye Ying had also caught up with Leng Ruo Li and Xing'er.
"Royal Consort, the images inside this carousel lantern are more beautiful than those of the other carousel lanterns."
Xing'er stared excitedly at the carousel lantern for a long time.
Just as Leng Ruo Li was about to say, "Xing'er, if you like it, I'll buy you one to play with,"
Unexpectedly, Ye Ying had already started bargaining with the owner.
"Boss, how much for the carousel lantern that young lady is looking at?" Ye Ying asked, deliberately lowering his voice.
The boss glanced up at Ye Ying, then at Xing'er, who was staring at the carousel lantern, and said with a smile, "Young sir, this kind of carousel lantern is not expensive. If you're interested in buying, this old man will give it to you for two taels of silver. What do you say?"
This old man quoted a very sincere price.
"Two taels of silver each, so cheap?"
Ye Ying was a little surprised by the old man's words. Two taels of silver for a carousel lantern was truly not expensive. Usually, during festivals, such beautiful carousel lanterns would sell for at least four or five taels each.
"Alas, the cost of making these lanterns is not much. I have no children or grandchildren at home, only my old wife for company. We are not greedy; as long as we can sell a bit each day to make a living, we are content."
The old man spoke with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Okay, thank you, elder! Then I'll buy two carousel lanterns."
After speaking, Ye Ying took out four taels of silver from his sleeve and handed them to the old man. The old man immediately took out two new lanterns and handed them to Ye Ying, politely saying thank you.
Ye Ying picked up the carousel lanterns, smiled at the old man, and then walked up to Xing'er.
"Xing'er, this carousel lantern is for you," Ye Ying said somewhat shyly.
At this moment, Xing'er was still staring at the carousel lantern she liked, but she was startled by Ye Ying's sudden call.
Afterward, Xing'er stood up straight and looked at the carousel lantern in Ye Ying's hand, completely bewildered.
"Brother Ye Ying, is this carousel lantern you're holding for me?"
After hearing this, Xing'er pointed to her own face, feeling flattered.
Upon hearing this, Ye Ying nodded vigorously.
This time, it was Xing'er's turn to want to accept it but hesitate.
This was the first gift she had ever received from a man, and it was the only gift from the one in her heart, so she was somewhat at a loss.
"What, Xing'er, don't you like this carousel lantern?"
Ye Ying suddenly felt a bit deflated. The carousel lantern he bought was exactly the same as the one she was looking at earlier, so why did she suddenly not like it?
Seeing that Ye Ying had misunderstood her, Xing'er immediately smiled and took the carousel lantern from Ye Ying's hand.
"Thank you, Brother Ye Ying. This is the carousel lantern I like the most."
After saying that, Xing'er's small round face gradually turned red.
Holding the carousel lantern Ye Ying had bought for her, she turned and walked away.
At this moment, Leng Ruo Li, who had been watching the show from the side, walked up to Ye Ying with a smile and whispered, "Ye Ying, the remaining carousel lantern in your hand is for me, right?"
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li chuckled.
"Oh, oh, Royal Consort, this carousel lantern is indeed for you."
Ye Ying raised his hand and awkwardly handed the carousel lantern in his hand to Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li took it, glanced at the carousel lantern in her hand, and deliberately said, "Alas, your Royal Consort is truly not as important as Xing'er's beloved!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ying's forehead immediately beaded with two drops of cold sweat.
"No, no, no... it's not like that, Royal Consort. I just, I just..."
"Alright, you blockhead. This Royal Consort is just joking with you. You're so slow, when will you ever win Xing'er over?"
Leng Ruo Li did not hold back and teased him a couple of times.
This made Ye Ying blush intensely again. He raised his hand and awkwardly scratched his head, looking somewhat at a loss.
Then, he muttered to himself, "Am I really that stupid?"
He stood there stunned for a moment, and by then, Leng Ruo Li and Xing'er had already walked far away.
The mistress and her maids had arrived at the main road by the river in the capital.
"Royal Consort, the people on that boat over there look like Prince An," Xing'er pointed to a small boat not far from the riverbank and said.
Leng Ruo Li followed the direction Xing'er pointed and saw that the person standing at the bow of the boat was indeed Prince An.
Prince An also turned his head to look, and his gaze met Leng Ruo Li's.
Immediately, Prince An smiled and greeted Leng Ruo Li.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, Second Imperial Sister-in-law, over here, over here!"
Prince An waved continuously at Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li wanted to pretend not to see him, but when Prince An saw that Leng Ruo Li did not respond, he flew over himself.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, I didn't expect you to be here too?"
Prince An's full lips curved into a beautiful arc.
Facing the enthusiastic Prince An, Leng Ruo Li still smiled.
"Prince An, what a coincidence!"
"Yes, Second Imperial Sister-in-law!"
Prince An said with a smile again.
Then, he asked, "Second Imperial Sister-in-law, where are you heading?"
"Oh, we're just walking along the river," Leng Ruo Li replied with a faint smile.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, why don't you come sit on my rented boat for a while?" Prince An suggested.
"Prince An, we'd better not. You go enjoy yourself!"
Leng Ruo Li immediately refused Prince An.
Unexpectedly, another person then flew down from Prince An's boat.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, you're here to play by the river too!"
"Haha..."
"With the Second Imperial Brother absent, tonight is truly lively!"
The Idle Prince said with a playful grin.
"Oh my, Prince Xian, Consort Shu has finally let you out! It's really not easy!"
Leng Ruo Li raised her eyebrows, a smile playing on her lips as she teased him.