I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 37

Perhaps because the auspicious day was near, the atmosphere in the entire Imperial Palace was completely devoid of its usual severity. Even the female officials who normally wore stern faces seemed unusually approachable these past few days.

A group of little palace maids in thick, pink cotton-cloth skirts helped one another, each carrying two or three large red lanterns as they ran back and forth along the palace pathways.

The lanterns were so large that some of the younger maids could only manage to hug one at a time. Holding the plump, crimson lanterns in their arms, they looked like tiny, fiery balls running about.

Mang Ke sat by the window, watching the servants outside bustling with activity, and couldn’t help but ask, “Haven’t the lanterns already been hung? What are they doing now?”

Xiao Lü, while braiding Mang Ke’s hair, replied, “The lanterns hung a few days ago were for use; the ones hung today are for releasing.”

“Lanterns for releasing?”

“Hehe~”

Xiao Lü looked secretive and said, “His Majesty told us that no matter what the Empress asks today, we absolutely cannot answer, so please don’t make it difficult for us~”

Mang Ke looked at Xiao Lü’s mysterious expression and couldn’t do anything about it. She could only tap her on the head and gently reprimand her.

After she was dressed and adorned, Mang Ke took out the red envelopes she had prepared the day before and handed them out one by one to the servants in the palace. She would not be stingy, even towards a few familiar servants from other palaces.

Consequently, by noon, many palace maids and eunuchs, hearing about the tradition, lined up at the gate, hoping to receive a red envelope.

After handing out around a hundred and finally running out of spare silver, the crowd dispersed.

“What is your Empress Majesty busy with today?” Mang Ke asked, curious. “Doesn’t she rest during the New Year?”

“It’s precisely because it’s the New Year that there are more things to do,” Xiao Lü said, glancing out the palace walls. “There is a New Year’s feast in the palace today. His Majesty is probably busy, but she promised she will definitely come to accompany you tonight, so don’t worry!”

Mang Ke glared at the young girl. Although she did truly miss Xun Fangyun, being exposed in such a way was a bit embarrassing.

Normally, the Empress was also required to attend the New Year’s feast, but Mang Ke genuinely disliked such occasions, and being poor with words, she was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Therefore, Xun Fangyun thoughtfully allowed her to rest in the palace and give out red envelopes, considering it her way of celebrating the New Year.

After lunch, the palace maids in the chamber trimmed the flowers and plants as usual. As the palace maid so close to the Empress, Xiao Lü certainly did not need to do strenuous labor; she only needed to occasionally pop over and supervise.

Because it was the Spring Festival today, she personally came to hang up the Spring Couplets written by Mang Ke.

“The Empress’s handwriting looks unusual,” a nearby palace maid commented, surrounding Xiao Lü. “I feel like I can understand these characters, yet I also feel like I can’t.”

“What do you know?” Xiao Lü said proudly. “Our Empress writes the same style of characters as His Majesty. They must both possess very high literary accomplishments to write such beautiful characters.”

The little palace maids didn’t understand, but the characters certainly looked quite elegant.

“Sister Xiao Lü, Sister Xiao Lü, how do these couplets read? Please teach us!”

“Hehe, then listen closely!”

“Yes!!!!!”

“The one here is called ‘Heaven adds years, people add weight,’ and the one here is called ‘Fortune fills the universe, pigs fill the door’!”

“Hmm????”

A nearby palace maid quickly stopped Xiao Lü and said, “That’s wrong, wrong! Those are the phrases the Empress muttered, not what she wrote.”

Xiao Lü looked back at her. The palace maid explained, “The top line of this couplet is ‘Heaven adds years, people add longevity,’ and the bottom line is ‘Spring fills the universe, fortune fills the door.’ The horizontal scroll says ‘Universal Celebration.'”

“Aren’t they all more or less the same?”

“There’s a big difference, Sister!!!”

Just as the little palace maids were chattering and arguing about which couplet sounded better, they saw someone walking in from outside the palace path.

“Is the Empress in?” the maid asked. “I am a palace maid from E Cui Palace, and I have a message for the Empress.”

“A message?”

Xiao Lü stared at the familiar maid and thought for a moment, then said to her, “I understand. Come with me.”

Walking into the hall, Xiao Lü said to her, “Why doesn’t your Pure Consort visit us recently? Didn’t she used to come every day? I haven’t seen her these past few days, and I actually miss her a little.”

The palace maid from E Cui Palace replied, “The Pure Consort hasn’t been in a very good mood recently; she seems to be troubled by something.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. Every time she talks to us, we don’t understand, and even if we do, we forget it shortly after. It’s probably not something we palace maids can comprehend.”

“It’s certainly difficult to guess the thoughts of the Mistresses. Our Empress also occasionally says strange things, but she is still a very good person.”

“Yes, our Mistress is very good too.”

Just as the two young girls were chatting about their respective mistresses, they saw Mang Ke, now in different clothes, walk out.

When she saw the familiar, yet unfamiliar, maidservant in front of her, her heart skipped a beat, and she had a sense of impending trouble…

“Empress,” the maid bowed, stood up, and said to Mang Ke, “The Pure Consort said she has prepared a festive banquet at E Cui Palace tonight and wishes to invite the Empress to be her guest.”

Before Mang Ke could speak, Xiao Lü asked, puzzled, “Why is your Mistress hosting a separate banquet? Isn’t she joining the Empress Dowager and Grand Imperial Noble Consort?”

“Our Mistress said she doesn’t like the Empress Dowager and the others; she just wants to spend time alone with the Empress.”

“But that won’t work,” Xiao Lü said. “Our Mistress is going to see the lantern show with His Majesty tonight. She cannot go to E Cui Palace.”

Mang Ke was stunned and interjected, asking, “Lantern show?”

Xiao Lü realized she had let the cat out of the bag. Tapping her own head, she confessed truthfully, “His Majesty has arranged a lantern festival for you today, so you cannot go anywhere tonight. She told us to keep a close watch on you, and that you must not go even if anyone comes to invite you.”

No wonder she was so attached to me this morning. She was afraid I’d be intercepted midway.

Mang Ke said to the palace maid, “You heard her. I have plans today. Please convey my apologies to my sister Chun’er.”

The palace maid seemed to have anticipated this outcome. She curtsied and turned to leave.

Xiao Lü watched the maid depart, then looked at Mang Ke’s slightly melancholy expression, unsure what had happened. However, sensing Mang Ke’s unhappiness, she held her hand and said, “Mistress, please don’t look so down on a holiday. Look, you were happy even when we were in the Cold Palace. Why are you unhappy now that you’ve left the Cold Palace?”

Mang Ke looked at Xiao Lü’s serious expression and couldn’t help but smile. “You’re right. I wasn’t sad in the Cold Palace, so I should definitely be happier now that I’m out.”

Moreover, she had found the person she loved. Strictly speaking, there was nothing to regret.

Time passed minute by minute until night fell and the lights were lit.

The sky was also cooperative today. After being gloomy for several days, it cleared up tonight.

Xun Fangyun sent someone to fetch Mang Ke, and the group set off under the cover of night.

The palace paths were festooned with lanterns and decorations. Every palace was adorned with bright red lanterns, and some palace maids and eunuchs moved about carrying lanterns, completely dispelling the chill of the winter night.

It was the tall city wall again. Mang Ke lifted the curtain to look out; the surroundings were quiet.

“His Majesty is waiting for you up there,” the female official who came to meet Mang Ke told her. “Mistress, please go up quickly.”

Mang Ke looked up, feeling her heart beat inexplicably fast.

She knew exactly who would be waiting for her up there, yet her mind was filled with guesses.

Was Xun Fangyun inviting her to see the lanterns?

Had Xun Fangyun been waiting for a long time?

What if Xun Fangyun wasn’t there and left her stranded up there?

These chaotic thoughts made Mang Ke a little flustered. She finally understood what it felt like to yearn for one’s hometown.

She was clearly looking forward to it, yet more afraid than anyone.

Afraid that the dream would suddenly shatter.

And afraid that there would be no chance to return to that moment.

Climbing the steps, Mang Ke reached the top of the city wall easily, thanks to her experience from the first time.

The dark stone wall looked even sturdier at night. Xun Fangyun was standing in the same spot as yesterday, looking back at Mang Ke. As their eyes met, Mang Ke could still see the smile in her eyes.

Without speaking, Xun Fangyun simply waved to her, and Mang Ke obediently walked over to her side.

A cold wind blew, drilling straight into her neck. Mang Ke shivered, then finally reacted enough to ask, “Why did you ask me to meet you here so late at night?”

Xun Fangyun couldn’t resist reaching out to cradle Mang Ke’s face, then gently turned her head to look down over the city wall.

Chang’an City in the daytime and Chang’an City at night were like two different cities. However prosperous it was during the day, it was equally stunning at night.

“The time is almost here.”

Xun Fangyun said softly to Mang Ke, then pulled her into an embrace and smiled. “It’s time to release the lanterns.”

Just as Mang Ke was wondering what she meant, she saw scattered, twinkling objects floating up in the distance. They flickered as they flew toward the sky.

Gradually, the sporadic pinpoints of light turned into two or three, then four or five clusters.

Layer upon layer, beautifully staggered.

They were flying sky lanterns!

Mang Ke was somewhat stunned. She had never seen so many lanterns flying together. They looked like fireflies, yet were far more gorgeous than fireflies!

“Ten thousand lamps lighting up every home.”

Xun Fangyun held her close, pressing her forehead against Mang Ke’s, and looked at her. “Do you like it?”

Mang Ke’s heart beat incessantly. She nodded repeatedly, keeping her eyes fixed on the lanterns drifting in the air.

The sight was filled with red light; the entire Imperial Capital had transformed into a beautiful, flowing ocean of light.

The wind by her ears gradually stopped howling.

Mang Ke’s hands moved slightly, and she finally hugged her back.

Ten thousand lights, lights in ten thousand homes.

Perhaps this was the best New Year’s blessing.

“Do you know,” Xun Fangyun said softly, inhaling the scent of Mang Ke’s hair, “as much as I love you, I am equally grateful that you can leave this place.”

Mang Ke’s entire body trembled.

Xun Fangyun said quietly, “Go back with Jiang Chun’er. That is your world.”