Chapter 32: The Lantern Festival (4)

After dinner, it was time to head to the streets to view the lanterns.

Qi Le had been impatient for some time, urging the elders and his brothers to hurry so they wouldn’t miss out on the beautiful lanterns being bought by others. Everyone was helpless against his insistence, so not long after the meal, they descended the mountain and boarded their carriages.

Everyone had their own carriage, except for Shen Xiling, who felt a bit worried as they descended, unsure what to do. When they reached the foot of the mountain and everyone began boarding their respective carriages, she hesitated, lingering behind. Raising her head, she saw Qi Ying standing by a carriage, looking back at her.

She had seen this carriage before—it was the same one he had stepped out of on that snowy night at the city gate. Made of fragrant wood, with copper bells hanging from its four corners, it was both grand and luxurious. That night, as she sat in the snow cradling her mother, she had turned her head to see him alight from this very carriage, his phoenix-like eyes sharp as ice, his presence noble and distant like a far-off mountain.

Now, Qi Ying stood beside the carriage, glancing back at her. His brows furrowed slightly before he gestured for her to come over, saying, “You go ahead and get in.”

Shen Xiling’s heart inexplicably tightened, and her face grew warm. Fortunately, it was already dark, so no one could notice. Still, she lowered her head and quickly walked over, climbing into the carriage ahead of him. Qi Ying steadied her as she entered, and only after she was seated did he follow her inside.

On the other side, Zhao Yao watched as Shen Xiling climbed into the same carriage as Qi Ying, her heart burning with indignation. Her mother discreetly pulled her aside and whispered in her ear, “Where else could that girl ride if not with Jingchen? Your second brother is merely taking pity on her—what are you getting so worked up about?”

After several comforting words, Zhao Yao reluctantly and sullenly boarded her own carriage.

Meanwhile, Qingzhu instructed the servants to remove the carriage steps but did not enter the cabin himself, instead sitting on the carriage’s perch alongside Baisong. Baisong glanced at him sideways, smirked, and asked, “Why aren’t you following them inside?”

Qingzhu snorted coldly and ignored him. Baisong’s lips curled into another faint smile as he flicked the reins, and the carriage began to move.

Qi Ying’s carriage was lavishly decorated, and the interior was extremely spacious. A newly replaced charcoal brazier kept the cabin warm and cozy.

Shen Xiling sat at a moderate distance from Qi Ying, and the two remained silent. Shen Xiling wasn’t the talkative type, but the silence between them made her uneasy. She pursed her lips and softly said, “T-today, I didn’t know there would be guests at Fenghe Garden, so I wandered around outside… I hope I didn’t cause any trouble for you?”

Qi Ying had been lost in thought, but upon hearing her voice, he snapped back to attention. He raised his eyes to look at Shen Xiling, seeing the small figure huddled in the corner, her expression tinged with nervousness. He couldn’t help but reflect on when he might have frightened her, causing her to remain so wary of him even now.

Qi Ying sighed and said, “It’s fine. You can’t stay hidden forever—you’ll have to meet people eventually.”

Indeed, someone as meticulous as Qi Ying wouldn’t have allowed her to wander freely if he truly intended to conceal her existence. Since he hadn’t stopped her, it was clear he had already arranged for her future.

Shen Xiling gave a soft reply and nodded.

Qi Ying glanced at her again and asked, “As for the matter of studying, you can think it over carefully. If you’re willing, let me know. If not, that’s fine too.”

Shen Xiling was taken aback and looked at him.

She had assumed Qi Ying had already decided she would attend the family school, and that his earlier remark to the eldest master about “letting her think it over” was merely polite. But now, hearing his words, it seemed he genuinely meant for her to decide for herself.

Shen Xiling found it hard to believe and tentatively asked, “…I can decide for myself?”

“Of course,” Qi Ying replied. “This is your life—it’s only natural that you make your own decisions.”

Shen Xiling’s gaze turned vacant.

It was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, still bitterly cold, with the wind whistling outside the carriage windows. Inside, however, it was warm as spring. Qi Ying’s voice sounded especially calm and steady amidst the winter chill: “I can give you many things—just as when we first met, I could provide you with carriages, guards, and money to send you north to Langya. But ultimately, the decision to stay there was yours.”

He turned to look at her, his phoenix-like eyes clear and penetrating: “Your life is the same. I can still offer you many things, but whether or not to accept them—and what to accept or reject—is entirely up to you. Wenwen, the road ahead is difficult. I can assist you, but I cannot walk it for you.”

Qi Ying’s tone was calm, but through the moonlight filtering in through the carriage window, Shen Xiling could vaguely see the gentleness in his eyes. For a moment, he seemed almost like a father or older brother to her.

Thinking of her father, Shen Xiling felt a pang of emotion. She quickly lowered her head to hide it, her voice slightly hoarse as she asked, “Then… do you want me to go to the Qi family school?”

Qi Ying noticed the fluctuation in her emotions but didn’t immediately comfort her, simply answering her question: “It’s not about what I want. However, if I were in your position, I would go. First, you’ll get to know your peers. Second, you’ll gain more knowledge. Compared to staying within the walls of Fenghe Garden, it will be better.”

His explanation was straightforward, his tone devoid of any dramatic fluctuations or comforting words. Yet his plain advice gradually calmed Shen Xiling’s heart. Looking at Qi Jingchen, she felt, for the first time, a deep sense of familiarity. It was also the first time she truly realized: the man sitting before her was perhaps the person closest to her now.

At that moment, Shen Xiling still harbored some resistance to attending the Qi family school. After all, she was now an orphan without parents, and she had never received much proper upbringing. Being among noble sons and daughters would likely make her feel out of place.

She wasn’t good at socializing, and Miss Zhao seemed to dislike her. She didn’t know how to navigate such situations. At that moment, she felt like a frightened bird, preferring to shut out everything and retreat into her own tiny world—narrow and confining though it may be, as long as it was safe, she was willing to stay there forever.

In truth, she would rather remain in Fenghe Garden, closer to Qi Ying. But at the same time, she understood that Qi Ying was right—she had to walk her own path in life and couldn’t always rely on him. After all, he wasn’t truly her father or older brother, and he wasn’t obligated to keep treating her kindly. She needed to grow up sooner and stop troubling him.

Shen Xiling lowered her eyelids to conceal her thoughts, remaining silent for a moment before replying, “…Alright, then I’ll go. Thank you, Master.”

Qi Ying observed her for a while but said nothing. Just then, the sound of voices outside grew louder. Qi Ying partially opened the window, and through it, Shen Xiling caught sight of the bustling street outside, filled with dazzling lights and throngs of people—a scene of peace and prosperity.

Qi Ying smiled and turned to her, saying, “There will be many people on the streets. Remember to stay close to me later.”

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Author’s Note:

Come to think of it, Qi Jingchen really has it tough—he’s not only helping his future wife choose a school but also providing pre-school psychological counseling. (Sigh)