Seducing the Heart - Chapter 6

In the middle of midsummer, the cicadas sang and the pomegranate blossoms were in full bloom.

A strange phenomenon was occurring within the Prince’s Manor.

As Yun Jin walked through the corridor, she encountered a young maid coming from the opposite direction. The maid hesitated before asking for leave, falsely claiming she felt unwell. Yun Jin looked at the young girl’s rosy cheeks but did not expose her. She simply smiled gently and nodded in agreement.

“Phew! I got my leave!” After receiving permission, the little maid went to show off to her sisters with a beaming face. “The Prince personally agreed to it.”

“How did you ask? How did you ask? Teach us quickly!” The crowd asked all at once.

“Is it not simple? Just claim to be sick.”

The sisters looked at each other, and the envy they felt initially vanished. This girl looked lively and energetic; the Prince granted the leave simply because she was easy to talk to. Consequently, Yun Jin encountered several more maids coming to ask for leave. Their reasons became more varied, and their credibility increased significantly.

“So many people in the manor asked me for leave today. How strange.” While being watched by Xie Lianjing to drink her medicine, Yun Jin jokingly mentioned this unusual occurrence.

To her surprise, both the healer and Ah Ning stared at her with peculiar expressions.

“Hmm? What is it?” Yun Jin set down the medicinal bowl, almost suspecting something was wrong with her face.

Xie Lianjing wore a look of frustrated disappointment and gave a cold snort. “I am also taking leave tonight. However, unfortunately for you, I will be going out regardless of whether you approve or not.”

“Pardon?” Yun Jin blinked, her curiosity growing.

“Prince, have you forgotten? Today is the Lantern Festival.” It was Nangong Ning who finally pointed it out, her tone quite helpless.

Yun Jin had actually forgotten a festival that every man, woman, and child in every household remembered clearly.

Yun Jin suddenly realized. “So that is why. Ah Ning, inform everyone in the manor for me that the Prince’s Manor is granting them leave tonight. They may go out and enjoy themselves as they wish.”

The Lantern Festival was for forming fated bonds. Every year on this night, the streets would be even more lively than usual. Most of the young masters, talents, and ladies from various households would take to the streets, hoping to encounter their destined partners.

In previous years, Yun Jin had also celebrated this festival. Naturally, it was not to find a partner; it was mainly because the liveliness of the streets was a rare sight, and perhaps she could witness and bless the good fortune of others. This year, for some reason, she had forgotten.

“Today’s dishes seem to have been made without salt.” Qin Zhanluo took a taste and frowned slightly.

Yun Jin also took a bite; indeed, there was no salt. She smiled. “Perhaps the chef was absentminded. I must ask the Princess Consort to make do for now.”

Qin Zhanluo did not make an issue of it and continued the meal with Yun Jin. But after a while, the two discovered that the dishes on the table either had no salt or way too much salt. It was difficult to swallow.

The head chef of the kitchen was summoned, and he repeatedly apologized. “Ah, this old servant deserves death! I was feeling unwell while cooking, so my apprentice took over. She has been learning for several years; I do not know how she could make such a mistake!”

“It is because I did not teach her well! It is all my fault!”

The chefs of the Prince Jin Manor were carefully selected. Having cooked for the manor for over a decade without a single slip-up, Yun Jin also felt these dishes could not have come from his hands. The chef’s apprentice knelt beside him, a girl who did not look very old. She was currently so scared she was crying.

“I, Prince, Princess Consort, please appease your anger. This servant was simply overexcited thinking about the Lantern Festival tonight, which led to being absentminded and making such a mistake!”

“This servant is guilty; it has nothing to do with my Master!”

The two were eager to take the blame for each other; their master-disciple bond was worthy of praise.

Yun Jin listened to the young girl’s reason and could not help but smile. “This Prince understands. Both of you may rise. You and your Master just need to prepare another portion.”

“Thank you, Prince!” “Thank you, Prince!”

Qin Zhanluo looked at Yun Jin, her eyes filled with curiosity. Yun Jin knew there was no such thing as a Lantern Festival in Northern Chu, so she explained it to her in detail.

Qin Zhanluo lowered her eyes, appearing thoughtful. “Forming a marriage bond.”

She sat there with her long black hair contrasting against her skin which was as white as snow. She was like a painting, pleasing to the eye. Yun Jin’s heart stirred, and she instinctively issued an invitation. “The Lantern Festival does have some charm. I wonder if the Princess Consort is willing to accompany this Prince for a stroll tonight?”

To her surprise, the other party agreed.

Yun Jin could even feel that throughout the journey as they walked side by side, Qin Zhanluo’s mood seemed quite good. Although her face remained cold and indifferent, showing no emotion, Yun Jin felt this way for no apparent reason.

The Lantern Festival was indeed extraordinarily lively. Everyone carried several red silk threads; if they encountered someone they favored, they would offer their red thread. If the other person was also interested, they could weave the red silk thread into a bracelet and wear it on their wrist right then and there. After that, the two could enjoy the festivities together, signifying a successful bond. If the other person was uninterested, they would wrap the red silk thread around their own finger, and the person who offered the thread would tactfully leave.

The girls were clearly more enthusiastic. After walking for a long time, the red silk threads on Yun Jin’s fingers were a tangled mess. While the young masters were interested in Qin Zhanluo, they looked at Yun Jin standing beside her and felt they could not compete, so they withdrew.

Qin Zhanluo watched as Yun Jin rejected a girl in purple with an apologetic gaze, then looked at her fingers covered in red threads with distress, wondering what to do. Finally, she said, “Your Highness is truly popular.”

Yun Jin laughed somewhat awkwardly. “This Prince did not expect it either.”

In truth, Yun Jin was lying. Every year she went out during the Lantern Festival, the situation was like this. Because there were too many red threads on her hands, they were difficult to untangle after returning to the manor. Therefore, to avoid trouble, Yun Jin usually wore a mask.

Yes, a mask.

Yun Jin suddenly remembered this treasure, so she grabbed Qin Zhanluo’s hand. “Princess Consort, follow me.”

Qin Zhanluo subconsciously followed Yun Jin in a light jog. She looked at the place where their palms met, her eyes flickering. Not far away, a girl dressed in red was looking at them with a complex gaze.

“Miss, this red silk thread.”

Yaoqin withdrew her gaze and wrapped the red thread offered by the man around her finger. “My apologies.”

“Ah, it is no matter. I wish for the lady to find her true partner soon.” Perhaps feeling embarrassed by the rejection, the young master quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Yaoqin had been dragged out by Xing’er to join the festivities, but she didn’t expect to happen upon Yun Jin and her Princess Consort traveling together. Yaoqin watched them leave together and suddenly felt that the festival was nothing more than noisy surroundings. Other than that, it was meaningless.

“Xing’er, I want to go back.”

“Hmm? Miss, won’t you play for a while longer?”

“No.”

Yaoqin turned and walked away decisively; Xing’er could only follow in a hurry. From the moment the girl in purple went to give Yun Jin a red silk thread, Yaoqin had noticed them. Consequently, she saw every detail thereafter. When a person is acting naturally, the unconscious look in their eyes does not lie. Yaoqin did not know what kind of story existed between this Princess Consort and Yun Jin. But the way Qin Zhanluo looked at Yun Jin, and the deep affection contained within, made it difficult not to be moved.

Yun Jin stopped with Qin Zhanluo in front of a stall. Looking at the wide variety of masks before them, Qin Zhanluo immediately understood her meaning.

“This old man finds the young master quite familiar.” The stall owner gestured for Yun Jin to choose as she pleased while looking at her and thinking back. He looked at Yun Jin’s fingers, and his memory successfully returned. “Yes, yes, it is you! Because the young master was too popular, you bought a mask from me for three years in a row.”

The stall owner stroked his beard. “Oh, this lady looks so beautiful. I remember in previous years, the one beside the young master was a girl dressed in black with no expression on her face. How come this year”

“You old man, come over here!” Before the owner could finish, he was dragged away by his wife and scolded harshly. She then gave an apologetic smile to the two in front of the stall. “He is talking nonsense; please do not mind him.”

Qin Zhanluo knew the stall owner was referring to Nangong Ning and said nothing, focusing instead on the masks. Yun Jin first played with a red-faced ghost mask and asked Qin Zhanluo what she thought, only to receive a short “ugly” in response. So she put it down with a smile and picked another style.

After choosing again and again, Yun Jin finally put on a red fox mask. “Princess Consort, what do you think of this mask?”

“Acceptable.”

For some reason, Qin Zhanluo felt a fox suited Yun Jin very well. So Yun Jin chose two similar styles and bought them, then handed one to Qin Zhanluo. “The Princess Consort only felt this one was acceptable, so I bought a pair.”

Qin Zhanluo only looked at Yun Jin and refused to reach out to take the mask. Yun Jin thought for a moment and felt she understood her meaning for some reason.

“I will put it on for you then.” Yun Jin lowered her eyes slightly and placed the mask on Qin Zhanluo’s face. She carefully helped adjust it to the proper angle.

“There.” Yun Jin looked it over and felt it was quite good. “The Lantern Festival has many other interesting places; I will take you there.”

Her eyes were full of smiles, and her tone was gentle, always giving off the feeling that it was difficult to refuse anything she said. The effect of wearing the masks was immediate; indeed, the number of girls who approached could be counted on one hand.

Yun Jin took Qin Zhanluo to taste her favorite pastries. While passing the stream, they saw many people gathered. Only then did she remember that this was also one of the features of the Lantern Festival.

“My heart is like the bright moon, wishing only to shine upon yours.” “Giving you red beans, to never betray our mutual longing.”

“What are they doing?” Qin Zhanluo looked at the young men and women. Some were reciting various phrases, while others simply closed their eyes, likely reciting in their hearts. Finally, they released their respective lit lotus lanterns into the river. She found it very interesting.

“Praying for a bond. This is the most crucial step of the Lantern Festival. People silently recite their wishes in their hearts and then let the lotus lanterns drift away in the river.” After explaining, Yun Jin asked with a smile, “Does the Princess Consort want to try as well?”

Later, the two placed their own lotus lanterns in the river and watched them drift away. A gentle breeze, as if understanding their intent, appeared at just the right time to carry the lanterns on the riverbank further away. Looking out, the river surface was covered with flickering lotus lanterns of various colors, which looked quite spectacular.

Looking at the focus in Qin Zhanluo’s eyes, Yun Jin suddenly felt a bit of curiosity. “What wish did the Princess Consort just make?”

“Wishes, if spoken, lose their magic.” After Qin Zhanluo finished speaking in a calm voice, she turned around cleanly. “Your Highness, it is time to return to the manor.”

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