Following the plan, the sea voyage from the small fishing island to Yongcheng was supposed to take only two days. However, Zhong Li and her companions were on a merchant ship, which stopped frequently for loading and unloading cargo. They finally arrived in Yongcheng four days later.
As the Lunar New Year's Eve approached, the streets and alleys of Yongcheng were covered in red. The city, which should have been enveloped by cold, suddenly felt very warm.
The first thing Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie did after disembarking the merchant ship was to find a suitable wet nurse for the little one in their arms. Zhong Li had been thinking about the baby's name during the journey. Recalling Nu Ling's earnest plea, she carefully considered and decided to name the baby Zhong Wuyou.
When Zhong Li decided on the name, Lu Wuxie was a little reluctant, as it sounded too much like his own brother's name.
After entrusting Zhong Wuyou to the wet nurse, the two, having finally found some rare free time, sent a smoke signal to contact Lin Jin. They then decided to stroll through Yongcheng.
Yongcheng was somewhat similar to Jincheng. The people here were very fond of nightlife. Moreover, as Lunar New Year's Eve drew near, Fenghe Street became even more bustling in the evening.
Zhong Li had a particular fondness for ancient masks. After walking only a few steps with Lu Wuxie, she stopped at a mask stall, unable to move.
"Which one do you like?" Lu Wuxie looked down at Zhong Li, who was resting her chin on her hand, her expression serious, as if studying something.
Zhong Li shook her head. Her gaze swept past masks painted with cat and dog patterns for children's amusement, finally settling on a mask with a grimacing face: "This thing is probably meant to scare ghosts, right?"
Lu Wuxie followed her gaze. The mask was indeed terrifying, with bared fangs and a gaping maw. He guessed that even if all the masks on this stall were sold, no one would be interested in this one.
"The earliest custom of this kind originated in the Southern Yue Kingdom," he said, picking up the mask and playing with it. "Every Lunar New Year's Eve, the elders of the family would wear such masks to guard the New Year, symbolizing... scaring away fierce beasts and ensuring peace in the coming year. However, during the Ningping era, fewer people wore these. It's truly surprising to see them being sold in Yongcheng today."
Zhong Li took the mask from Lu Wuxie's hand, placed it back in its original position, and casually bought a small tiger mask. As she walked, she said, "What the Prince said only pertains to the Southern Yue Kingdom. Masks have different meanings in different people's hearts."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Lu Wuxie held the small tiger mask up to his face, trying it on.
"Some people wear masks to hide their true selves." Zhong Li looked at the childish man opposite her and smiled as she pulled his mask down.
"Are you talking about me?" Lu Wuxie raised an eyebrow.
Zhong Li smiled even more broadly and said, "You don't wear a mask, Prince, so why would I be talking about you? However... I think it's quite good that you are like this."
"How so?" Lu Wuxie raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Do you remember the self-portrait hanging in your study?" Zhong Li asked casually, looking at the surrounding stalls.
Lu Wuxie nodded.
"Although the Prince in the painting is gentle, refined, and upright in character, I always feel something is missing."
"What's missing?" Lu Wuxie pressed.
Zhong Li stopped walking and appraised him. After a moment of thought, she said, "A bit of joy. Unlike now, even if it's a disguise, you can occasionally be carefree, daring to do things you didn't dare before. That sense of freedom is not present in the painting."
Lu Wuxie was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Zhong Li continued walking. Passing by a stall selling clay figurines, she stared intently at the handsome man with an extraordinary demeanor that the clay artisan was shaping. "However... I imagine the Prince of your previous life must have been adored by the ladies of Jincheng, right? After all, such grace is hard not to notice."
Lu Wuxie followed her, listening to her analysis of him.
Memories gradually flooded his mind. His reputation in his previous life was diametrically opposed to his current one. Thinking of the young ladies who vied for his attention and spared no effort to impress him at every Hundred Flowers Banquet, he now felt that his current reputation had shielded him from quite a bit of unnecessary trouble.
"What about you?" Lu Wuxie asked, looking at Zhong Li, who had picked up another clay figurine. He casually took out two copper coins and handed them to the owner.
"Me?" Zhong Li stuffed the clay figurine into Lu Wuxie's hand and took the mask he was holding, putting it on. "What about me?"
"What kind of... me... do you like?" Lu Wuxie asked softly, looking at the clay figurine in his hand.
Zhong Li's footsteps halted. Her eyes, visible outside the mask, held a hint of vulnerability. She lowered her gaze to the clay figurine tightly held in his hand. After a long pause, her fingertip gently tapped the head of the figurine. "This is good enough now."
With that, she didn't wait to see Lu Wuxie's reaction and quickly ran towards the stalls selling lanterns, where the crowd was thickest.
...
Fenghe Street closed at Hai Shi (9-11 PM). Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie returned to the inn, their bodies weary. Zhong Wuyou had already fallen asleep. Zhong Li placed the masks and the rattle drum she had bought by his bedside, whispered a few words to the wet nurse, and then walked to the adjacent room.
Normally, she was a restrained person, and late-night snacks were the most detrimental to the stomach, never entering her considerations. As it was the New Year, and unable to resist Lu Wuxie's invitation, she made an exception and decided to feast.
The food had already been prepared. Before she even entered Lu Wuxie's room, the aroma of the food drifting from within made her mouth water.
This was understandable, as in the small fishing village, what she and Lu Wuxie ate was barely better than dried grass.
"What fragrant Hundred Flower Brew." As soon as Zhong Li sat down, the clear wine with its faint fragrance captured her full attention.
"The wine in Yongcheng is unlike that in Jinzhou. Jinzhou wine is sweeter, while Yongcheng wine carries a floral fragrance." Lu Wuxie explained, placing a piece of braised duck in front of Zhong Li.
Zhong Li picked up the wine cup and took a sip. She instantly felt her mouth filled with floral fragrance. "This is truly good wine. The aroma is not pungent, and it carries a unique astringency belonging only to wine."
After taking a sip, Lu Wuxie nodded in agreement.
As they ate, they admired the night view outside the window. After an unknown amount of time, Lu Wuxie suddenly spoke, "Speaking of the Spring Festival, it suddenly reminds me of something my mother told me."
"What is it?" Zhong Li asked.
"When she married my father, she had a prior engagement."
"Oh?" Zhong Li was quite surprised. Girls married early in ancient times. As far as she knew, Princess Consort Xian, Xie Yunxia, was considered late when she married into the royal mansion, likely around nineteen. As for Zhong Li herself, she considered herself an unwanted old maid. If a nineteen-year-old princess consort had a prior engagement, how early would that have been?
Lu Wuxie looked at the surprise on Zhong Li's face. His mood was already excellent today, and he chuckled heartily, "Lier, are you overthinking?"
Zhong Li raised her eyebrows, waiting for his explanation.
"The engagement I'm referring to might be related to the jade pendant you're wearing," Lu Wuxie said, pointing to the jade pendant that Gai Chen had left for Zhong Li at her waist.