The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1379 - 1379 The couple sees each other 3

Chapter 1379: The couple sees each other 3 Chapter 1379: The couple sees each other 3 She was famously quick-witted and eloquent, but she was still too young, and she mispronounced certain words.

Gu Jiao curved her lips into a smile and stretched out her finger, not mentioning the issue with her pronunciation.

The Little Princess also extended her tiny finger and hooked it with Gu Jiao’s.

The night before the Cuju match, Master Wu, as usual, brought Gu Jiao and her entourage to stay at the same inn as last time.

As Mu Chuan entered the inn, he couldn’t help but mutter with a touch of resentment, “Didn’t we win last time? Why are we staying in such a shabby place again?”

Wasn’t it because the funds were tight?

To be honest, the Academy had indeed allocated a bit more silver, but this year’s Cuju match was extraordinarily popular, causing the prices of inns to soar again and again.

Master Wu patted his chest and said, “I promise you, as long as you win this match, I’ll pay out of my own pocket to get you a better inn for the finals!”

Mu Chuan curled his lips, clearly not quite believing it.

Master Wu then looked at the other students, who also wore skeptical faces.

Master Wu justified, “What’s wrong with this inn? There’s a Lantern Festival tonight! It’s just around the corner! I specifically chose this inn! You’re allowed to… go check out the lanterns tonight! Be back by the time of Hai!”

This was the biggest concession Master Wu could make.

Mu Chuan’s interest was piqued, and he sidled up to Gu Jiao as they walked up the stairs together, “Hey, Langliu, have you ever been to Shengdu’s Lantern Festival?”

“Mhm,” Gu Jiao replied as she stepped upstairs.

Mu Chuan smiled, “Shall we go have a look later?”

“Sure,” Gu Jiao agreed.

Mu Chuan looked back at Mu Qingchen, “Fourth Brother, are you coming? Never mind, you definitely won’t go.” His fourth brother had no interest in lanterns.

The group reached the second floor. Mu Qingchen pushed open his own room door and turned to Gu Jiao, “See you at the entrance.”

Mu Chuan was startled; was this his fourth brother indicating that he would go?

That’s a sight for sore eyes. His fourth brother was actually going to wander around the Lantern Festival?

Zhao Wei and Yuan Xiao, also having nothing better to do, gathered at the entrance.

Even Master Wu showed up.

Mu Chuan’s smile stiffened, “Master Wu, what are you doing here?”

Master Wu said earnestly, “I thought about it, and it’s better if I accompany you. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”

Mu Chuan: “…”

Regarding the Lantern Festival, Master Wu indeed did not deceive them; it really was near the inn, just a hundred steps forward and around a bend.

The entire long street was like a rainbow in the Deng City, dazzling and bright. On both sides, vendors hung their lanterns, crafting them on the spot and calling out vigorously to sell them. The crowd had already surged forth, with a bustling throng brushing shoulders.

Yet the street was busy without chaos, noisy but not clamorous, crowded without congestion, orderly and well-managed.

Here, not all lanterns had to be bought with silver. Some could be won by solving riddle or composing poetry.

Gu Jiao liked the liveliness.

Seeing it felt marvelously novel, like a child seeing a toy for the first time.

Despite fundamentally being a quiet person.

“Young Master, why not buy a lantern?”

An old granny said affectionately to Gu Jiao as she passed by.

Gu Jiao stopped in her tracks, looking curiously as the old granny offered a lantern, blinking her eyes.

Pretty.

Seeing her interest, the granny picked up another lantern, “This is a lotus lantern, newly made by my husband. Buy them together, and it’s ten coins cheaper!”

The lotus lantern was pretty, too.

Gu Jiao’s gaze swept past.

Hm, there were peach blossom lanterns as well. And they were beautiful too!

Mu Qingchen looked at her oddly, “You’re not really planning to buy a lantern, are you?”

What would a grown man do buying a lantern? Just looking around was enough.

Buys were for scholars to present to lovely ladies, where would you see a man fixated on not letting go?

“Sigh,” Gu Jiao sighed and touched the peach blossom lantern in front of her. She couldn’t collapse her persona; she couldn’t buy the lantern, especially not the delicate and pretty ones.

Reluctantly, she put the lantern back in its place.

“`

Suddenly, a slender, jade-like hand reached out, the fingers sculpted like jade pinching a silver coin and placing it on the stall; then a clean and mellow voice rose slowly beside Gu Jiao, “I’ll take this peach blossom lantern.”

Gu Jiao turned her head swiftly.

The other person was wearing a silver mask, hiding most of his face, only revealing soft lips, a delicate chin, and those deep, harbor-like eyes.

The night breeze was breezy, coming from his side, a familiar scent enveloping Gu Jiao in its ethereal embrace.

Gu Jiao was momentarily transfixed.

Mu Qingchen saw Gu Jiao’s reaction and his brows unconsciously furrowed, watching the young man who had suddenly appeared with a guarded look. Just as he was about to call Gu Jiao to leave, the Boss selling lanterns hung up a few newly made lanterns but lost his balance, plunging forward toward the stall. The lanterns in his hands flew out.

Mu Qingchen quickly reached out to deflect the lanterns heading straight for Gu Jiao.

At the very same instant he moved, the young man also lifted his hand to block the flying lantern. What was different, though, was that his other hand pulled Gu Jiao into his embrace, shielding her within his arms.

And Gu Jiao did not resist; she simply let herself fall into his embrace.

Was it an illusion or something else? Her little head even rubbed against his chest.

“Are you alright?”

Mu Qingchen heard the other man ask softly.

“I’m fine.”

He heard Gu Jiao reply quietly.

It wasn’t with the usual chilly or unrestrained tone, but with a feeling he couldn’t quite identify.

In just a moment, they had parted.

“Thank you, Young Master, for lending a hand,” Gu Jiao said politely.

Xiao Hen picked up the peach blossom lantern in his hand, and said genteelly, “It was nothing. I felt a connection with this young brother at first sight, so I will gift this lantern to you.”

Gu Jiao, accepting the lantern, replied, “Then I shall humbly accept. I’ll also give you one!”

Xiao Hen nodded with a smile, “Alright.”

Gu Jiao bought a tender pink lotus lantern, which she also liked, “Here you go!”

A type of lantern that only women would like, Mu Qingchen wouldn’t want it, and he thought the other wouldn’t either.

To his surprise, Xiao Hen accepted it without hesitation and sincerely expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for the lantern, young brother. Since we hit it off at first sight and have also exchanged gifts, why don’t we walk together?”

Mu Qingchen: No way.

“Sure!” Gu Jiao readily agreed.

Up ahead, some performers were juggling, and Mu Chuan and the others had already run over to see the attraction.

The three of them walked down the long street at a leisurely pace.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen, each holding a lantern, unexpectedly seemed to be a perfect match.

But they are both men, thought Mu Qingchen to himself.

“Where is Jingkong?” Gu Jiao asked Xiao Hen with her eyes.

Xiao Hen whispered back, “The master called him to make up a lesson.”

Mu Qingchen broke the silence, “Are you from Shengdu?”

Xiao Hen’s linguistic talent was top-notch, even his Shengdu accent sounded more native than the locals.

“Yes,” replied Xiao Hen.

Mu Qingchen continued, “May I ask for your distinguished name?”

Xiao Hen replied, “Long Yi.”

Mu Qingchen: What kind of name is that?

Ignoring Mu Qingchen’s confusion, Xiao Hen turned to Gu Jiao, “Are you hungry? The dumplings over there are really good.”

“Hungry!” said Gu Jiao.

The three went to a bean curd vendor’s stall and sat down at an empty table, Mu Qingchen and Xiao Hen facing each other.

“I’m not hungry, you go ahead,” said Mu Qingchen, a legitimate son of the Mu Family who did not favor street stall food.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen each ordered a bowl of cabbage pork dumplings.

Then, something strange happened again.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen reached for the condiments on the table at the same time. Gu Jiao took the vinegar, and Xiao Hen took the chili oil. However, Gu Jiao placed the vinegar in front of Xiao Hen, while Xiao Hen set the chili oil beside Gu Jiao.

Mu Qingchen: “…”

“`

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