Chapter CXIV - The Festival of Lanterns
The Festival of Lanterns arrived with music.
And lights.
Far too many lights.
—
By sunset—
the entire capital glowed.
Lanterns hung from rooftops.
Lanterns floated above streets.
Lanterns reflected across rivers.
Lanterns appeared in places lanterns had no reasonable business appearing.
—
The city looked magical.
Beautiful.
Alive.
—
Prince Rui remained suspicious.
Very suspicious.
—
Because large public gatherings historically resulted in:
assassinations,
conspiracies,
political scandals,
or all three simultaneously.
—
Unfortunately for him—
this was actually a festival.
—
An entirely normal festival.
—
A shocking development.
—
The Emperor ordered the imperial family to attend.
Naturally.
Because emperors enjoyed forcing people into celebrations.
—
The Crown Prince arrived first.
Smiling.
A dangerous sign.
—
Then Lady Shen arrived.
Also smiling.
An even more dangerous sign.
—
Then Prince Rui noticed both of them exchanging glances.
—
Interesting.
Very interesting.
—
Then Shen Li appeared.
And every concern immediately became irrelevant.
—
She wore pale blue silk embroidered with silver plum blossoms.
No elaborate jewels.
No formal court regalia.
Just elegance.
Effortless elegance.
—
Prince Rui stared.
—
Silence.
—
Then Shen Li smiled.
—
"Your Highness."
—
Prince Rui remained completely serious.
—
"Princess Rui."
—
Long pause.
—
Then:
"You look beautiful."
—
Direct hit.
—
Absolutely shameless.
—
Lady Shen nearly laughed.
The Crown Prince looked personally offended.
—
Because after years of emotional repression—
Prince Rui had become unstoppable.
—
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
—
The festival began shortly afterward.
—
Crowds filled the streets.
Children ran between market stalls.
Musicians performed.
Merchants sold sweets and decorations.
The entire capital seemed determined to enjoy itself.
—
Then disaster struck.
—
The Emperor disappeared.
—
Not kidnapped.
Not assassinated.
—
Worse.
—
Matchmaking.
—
Because thirty minutes later—
he was discovered showing Prince Rui and Shen Li baby clothes again.
—
In public.
—
The betrayal was complete.
—
Prince Rui immediately retreated.
Strategically.
—
Shen Li abandoned him completely.
Laughing.
—
A second betrayal.
—
Eventually they escaped to the river.
At last.
Peace.
—
Thousands of lanterns floated across the water.
Golden lights drifting beneath a dark summer sky.
The sight was breathtaking.
—
Neither spoke immediately.
Because some moments didn't require words.
—
Then Shen Li noticed a familiar figure standing near the riverbank.
Black clothing.
Silent posture.
Watching the lanterns.
—
Interesting.
Very interesting.
—
The Black Sparrow.
—
Alive.
Well.
And somehow looking less like a ghost than before.
—
The assassin noticed them.
Then approached.
Calmly.
—
Prince Rui immediately became alert.
Out of habit.
—
The Black Sparrow rolled her eyes.
—
"Relax."
—
Silence.
—
Then:
"I'm off duty."
—
A terrifying statement.
—
Because nobody knew what an off-duty assassin actually did.
—
The answer turned out to be:
Buying sweets.
—
A shocking revelation.
—
Then she handed Shen Li a small lantern.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Handmade.
—
"For luck."
—
Silence.
—
Then before either of them could respond—
she disappeared back into the crowd.
As usual.
—
Some habits never changed.
—
Later that evening—
the festival reached its peak.
—
Thousands of lanterns filled the sky.
Rising slowly.
Carried upward by warm summer air.
—
The entire capital stopped to watch.
—
Even Prince Rui.
—
Then Shen Li quietly held up the lantern the Black Sparrow gave her.
—
"Should we?"
—
Prince Rui nodded.
—
Together—
they lit the candle.
Watched the flame grow.
Watched the lantern glow.
Warm.
Bright.
Alive.
—
Then Shen Li smiled.
—
"You're supposed to make a wish."
—
Prince Rui looked skeptical.
—
"This prince already has everything."
—
Silence.
—
Then Shen Li laughed softly.
Because somehow—
he meant it.
—
Completely.
—
Then she asked:
"Not a single wish?"
—
Prince Rui looked toward her.
The lantern light reflected in his eyes.
Warm.
Steady.
Certain.
—
Then quietly answered:
"Only one."
—
"What is it?"
—
A long moment passed.
—
Then:
"That every year feels like this one."
—
The words settled gently between them.
Simple.
Honest.
Perfect.
—
No grand declarations.
No dramatic promises.
Just a wish for more ordinary days.
More peaceful years.
More shared sunsets.
More life.
Together.
—
Then they released the lantern.
—
It rose slowly into the night.
Joining thousands of others.
Drifting above the capital.
Above the palace.
Above the empire they had fought so hard to protect.
—
And beneath that sea of lights—
Prince Rui took Shen Li's hand.
Naturally.
As though he always would.
—
Perhaps he would.