In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1131 - 1043: An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 1131: Chapter 1043: An Unexpected Encounter

Since she was out to have fun, Su Pan’er let herself relax, shedding her queenly demeanor and earnestly enjoyed the play.

Because there were people on both sides of the carriage, their faces all wore smiles without exception; some were playing with fireworks, while others carried a variety of festive lanterns, creating a cacophony of joyful noise.

Although the sky was pitch-black at the moment, the main streets of Shengjing were a sight to behold. The shops on either side of the streets had mostly shut their doors, but those selling snacks and festive lanterns remained open, their noise ebbing and flowing continuously.

"Wow, Mother... look over there! There, right there, the lanterns in front of that building are so big and beautiful!"

Little Yanyan was so happy she couldn’t stop jumping and laughing in the carriage.

Both she and Little Sugar Bean held their own hand-made lanterns, shaking them ceaselessly, the bright light flickering before their eyes.

New Year’s great, New Year’s loud, a festival for the Stove with sugared melons abound; the girls want flowers, the boys seek firecrackers’ sound, and the old men desire new fur hats all around...

This proverb was truly fitting at the moment.

Su Pan’er too felt unusually cheerful and turned her head to look in the direction Little Yanyan was pointing, indeed seeing the large lantern she mentioned.

That large lantern was situated in front of the largest Silver Tower in Shengjing, a tall lantern that stretched from the ground up to the four-story rooftop, its enormous size exceptionally bright, dazzling to the eyes.

Su Pan’er involuntarily squinted to block out the glaring light.

"So many people gathered around the lantern, could it be this Silver Tower is holding an event?" Su Pan’er couldn’t help but think back to the various promotional activities conducted by businesses during the New Year in her previous life.

"They must be guessing lantern riddles, I suppose."

Qin Yi obviously knew more about these things, looked toward the bustling crowd, and pointed at the lantern: "It is said once every lantern is lit, there is a riddle solution beneath each one. Guessing one riddle extinguishes one lantern. In the end, whoever extinguishes all the lanterns, takes home this giant lantern."

If such a large lantern were made like the ones Little Yanyan was holding in her hands, crafted from colored glaze screens, then it would surely be worth thousands of silver taels, would it not?

Su Pan’er couldn’t help but be amazed by such a grand gesture.

"Who is the master behind this Silver Tower?"

Qin Yi was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at Su Pan’er. Su Pan’er was originally looking ahead, but when she felt his gaze, she also turned back unconsciously.

This caused Qin Yi to shake his head: "Truly, nothing can be hidden from you."

His words also indirectly confirmed the guess in Su Pan’er’s mind: "What’s so hard about guessing this?"

The Imperial Court on the surface collected various Tribute Taxes to fill the national treasury. But Su Pan’er knew that since Qin Yi’s accession to the throne, there had been two amnesties in just one year, and moreover, three years plus another three years of Tribute Tax had been exempted. Without incoming revenue, the national treasury remained empty.

The Imperial Court needed to maintain troops, to eradicate mountain bandits, to fight against those Tartars—all requiring substantial sums of silver. This was the largest Silver Tower in the Great Zhou Dynasty; if he did not keep it in his own hands, how could he allow the Silver Tower to continue operating under his watch?

"Pan’er, with such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?"

Qin Yi was particularly impressed and took the opportunity to hold Su Pan’er’s hand.

Su Pan’er quickly pulled her hand back, giving him a glare: "Nonsense, the child is here."

Qin Yi smiled and, seeing Little Yanyan’s stifled laughter, promptly sat up straight in a dignified posture: "Pan’er, shall we go down and have a look?"

"Let’s not bother with guessing riddles this year, it’s the same every year, and it’s quite dull. How about we go check out the flower market instead? It should be even livelier over there."

"Sounds good."

Qin Yi’s gaze shifted away from the Silver Tower, and with a wave of his hand, the carriage continued to crawl forward, gradually moving beyond the range of the Silver Tower.

The road was crowded with pedestrians, and the carriage’s sluggish pace frustrated the occupants, who fidgeted and grew impatient. Fortunately, the beautiful scenery on either side of the carriage offered some consolation, but it also made Little Yanyan pout and fuss about getting out of the carriage several times.

In a rare outing from the palace, Qin Yi didn’t mind indulging the child and couldn’t help discussing with Su Pan’er, "How about we get off here? We can ask the coachman to drive the carriage ahead and wait for us at the Desheng Roast Duck Shop? Their roast duck and grilled bones are particularly famous."

"Yes, yes! Father... You’re so good to Little Yanyan!"

Hearing they could get out, Little Yanyan didn’t skimp on giving Qin Yi her utmost flattery.

Qin Yi laughed heartily, "You sly little thing, I wonder who you take after."

Since they decided to get out and walk, the carriage naturally came to a stop. Qin Yi took the initiative to carry Little Yanyan and held Su Pan’er’s hand as they descended from the carriage. Several agile servants followed closely behind.

Little Sugar Bean was being held by the milkmaid, her eyes wide open, looking around without even blinking.

Viewing the festive lanterns from the carriage was certainly pleasing, but observing them on foot was an entirely different experience.

Su Pan’er and her company naturally merged with the crowd, slowly moving with the flow of people. Along the way, anytime they encountered tasty snacks or fun trinkets that the children liked, they immediately bought them. Halfway down the street, the servants were already holding various items.

After turning at the crossroads, they continued moving towards the flower market.

Suddenly, an excited call came from beside them.

"Yan Yan? Third auntie, Third Uncle, is it really you?"

Qin Shuan’er was looking at them with sheer excitement.

Su Pan’er took a closer look and was surprised not only to find Qin Yueshi and Qin Shuan’er there but Mrs. Qin-Li as well.

Seeing Mrs. Qin-Li’s downcast face, Su Pan’er felt a multitude of helplessness within. The entire Shengjing was so vast, with so many people! Yet, they still managed to run into each other on the street, such a coincidence... was simply unmatched!

"Are you also here to stroll through the flower market tonight?"

Su Pan’er looked at Qin Yi, whose smile suddenly faded, and hurried to greet everyone.

"Shouldn’t we be allowed to come?"

Before Qin Yueshi even spoke, Mrs. Qin-Li’s droopy eyelids lifted slightly, her words sharp and acerbic as always: "This is the public street, and you are a nobleman. Are you saying you can forbid us from coming? Look at the wife you’ve chosen, this is how she treats me, your poor old woman..."

Su Pan’er frowned, glancing at Qin Yi beside her with a bit of amusement.

After Qin Hao’s death, Qin Yi’s patience for his stepmother, Mrs. Qin-Li, had completely worn out. Knowing that Old Qin was lonely and unwell back in his hometown, he hinted to Qin Yu to find a pretext to send Mrs. Qin-Li back home.

But Mrs. Qin-Li was indeed shrewd; she took shelter with Qín Wan’er, dodging Qin Yu’s attempts to send her away.

Qín Wan’er had married a few years earlier, and during Su Pan’er’s last visit to the Capital City, her in-laws had been a step behind. However, within these few months, they had successfully moved into a residence in the Capital City.