CHAPTER 22 (going back to re-read the chapter when they first met at the Lantern Festival, also called Shangyuan Festival, which is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, during the full moon.
Tomorrow is the 10th day of the first month, the Shangyuan Festival. Because the country is experiencing a rare period of peace, the emperor reduced the curfew by two hours and opened the main road so that normal citizens can enjoy the lantern festival.
When the night fell, the whole Cheng family went out to enjoy the festival.
Cheng Shui was afraid that the festive street would be crowded today, so he first drove the female relatives to the side of the road in large carriages, then sent the family guards to gather around the females before leaving.
Cheng Shao Shang (CSS) was extremely excited; as soon as she got off the carriage, she exhaled a long "awww". She was breathless. Her red lips and white teeth were highlighted. Her beautiful face was like a flower blooming early in the morning on a cold winter day.
The mom saw Cheng Yang wearing a deep red robe wrapped three times by a crimson brocade, the hem of her gown was embroidered in gold brocade, so pretty.
Clearly, she had prepared similar outfits and accessories for the girls today, but unexpectedly, her fussy daughter pretended to be dumb: she wore a green over a white petticoat instead.
While her family was all a little disappointed for various reasons, CSS was not. She has been abused all her life so if she was sensitive, she wouldn't have survived the ordeal.
Hanging the most upstairs on both sides of the street were regular and rotating lanterns.
Lanterns are brightly lit in a circular lampstand about the size of two arms: the sturdy frame of the lantern is wrapped in multi-colored sheepskins. Tonight, many restaurant owners hung dangling giant lanterns in the front in order to attract the attention of passersby.
CSS looked with unblinking wide-opened eyes. Her black eyes opened so big to look at each lantern: there was a picture of a returned soldier greeted by his wife, there was a scene of children playing and chasing, there was a picture of a martial artist arching a bow to shoot beasts, even with a head-to-head fish.
Cheng Shui saw his innocent daughter and thought she was very cute so he generously told the servants to buy a few lamps to take home to play with. He didn't expect CSS to shake her head and said she just needed one lamp, "When I come back, I will do it myself, making it even more beautiful."
She is a physics student. She can draw a straight square without a ruler. Although she is not as good as an engineer, such a simple lantern construction should be easy for her.
CSS was engrossed in looking at the lanterns again, slowly walking behind the Cheng family, with two servants following beside her, she didn't worry about safety issues, leisurely walked. Suddenly, a bamboo ball rolled to her feet.