Chapter 36: The Hundred Flowers Festival

Note: if you want to get access to +20 Advance Chapters before everyone else and help me Translate More Chapters For You join my /flokixy Translator: we start paying to get the chapters so I hope to support us by joining my Patreon Thank you all ❤️ "Sister, are you going out? Can I come with you?" Just as Su Li and Wei Yuanyao were about to step out the door, Su Yue's voice called out from behind. Wei Yuanyao pretended not to hear and pulled Su Li toward the carriage. Su Yue hurried forward, grabbing Su Li's sleeve. "Sister, today is the Hundred Flowers Festival. Since you're going out, let me come with you. The streets will be crowded, and you haven't been out in a while. What if someone bumps into you..." Wei Yuanyao cut her off. "Hey! If you want to go out, go by yourself. Why are you clinging to my cousin? With me here, who would dare get close? Li'er, let's go!" Watching the two of them leave in the luxurious carriage from the Duke's residence, Su Yue stomped her foot in frustration. "What are you all staring at? Go prepare the carriage!" Su Yue shouted at the servants. It was still early evening, and the streets hadn't yet been lit up. But the number of pedestrians was gradually increasing. Su Li took Wei Yuanyao to the Drunken Immortal Inn and went straight to a private room on the second floor. Opening the window, they had a clear view of the Hundred Flowers Festival stage across the way. "Li'er, this spot is perfect. We have the lake view on one side and the festival stage on the other," Wei Yuanyao said excitedly, pacing around the room. Su Li smiled. "Yes, from here, we can watch the poetry contests, riddles, and the flower ball competition." Every year, the Hundred Flowers Festival was a grand event. Women would carry a flower and give it to their sweethearts. If the man reciprocated the feelings, he would pluck a flower and place it in the woman's hair, symbolizing mutual affection. If a man was interested in a woman, he could solve lantern riddles on the stage and gift her the lantern. Of course, anyone could participate in the lantern riddles. After passing several rounds, one could win the flower ball and receive generous rewards. Su Li teased, "Cousin, if that Mr. Ji gives you a lantern, will you accept it?" Wei Yuanyao blushed at the jest. "Pfft! You're just making fun of me. One day, the tables will turn." Su Li chuckled softly, and the two sat at the table, sipping tea and enjoying some snacks. "Wow!" "Miss, come look!" "It's so beautiful!" The maids by the window exclaimed in awe. Wei Yuanyao and Su Li got up and went to the window, equally amazed. The streets were lit up, bustling with people, and the city was ablaze with lights, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Young men and women on the streets carried flowers or lanterns, their eyes sparkling with joy. Su Li murmured softly, "East wind blooms a thousand trees at night, Scattering stars like rain. Fine horses and carved carriages fill the roads with fragrance. The sound of phoenix flutes, the glow of jade pots, All night long, dragons and fish dance. Moths and willows, golden threads, Laughter and whispers, faint fragrance fades. Searching for him in the crowd a thousand times, Suddenly turning back, there he is, In the dim light of the lanterns." Wei Yuanyao turned to her in surprise. "Cousin, if anyone says you're not well-versed in poetry, I'll curse them to no end!" Su Li smiled gently. "Cousin, shall we go down?" Wei Yuanyao nodded eagerly. "Yes! Watching from up here is boring. Let's go down and solve riddles, compete in poetry, and win some lanterns!" Su Li replied, "Forget the flower ball. We don't need the money." In previous years, the flower ball prize was either money or a house, neither of which she lacked. "Then let's win some lanterns ourselves." Su Li put on her veil and nodded. "Let's go." Once on the street, the maids and servants surrounded the two, ensuring no one bumped into them. Su Li wasn't worried. There were plenty of servants, and Mo Yun was also watching from the shadows. Wei Yuanyao was strikingly beautiful, her bright eyes clear and sparkling like stars. She chatted animatedly with the women around her, her laughter causing her eyes to curve like crescent moons, radiating a lively charm. Her every smile and gesture exuded an elegant and radiant aura. Beside her, Su Li, though veiled, had a graceful and slender figure. Her steps were light, and her clothes rustled softly. She wore a moon-white long skirt with a delicate yellow gauze outer robe, tied with a white belt, giving her a mysterious and noble air. As soon as the two appeared, many men's eyes turned toward them. Despite the servants' efforts to block them, some still tried to hand their lanterns to the women. It took a while to reach the festival stage. "Cousin, let's have a competition to see who can win more lanterns!" Su Li nodded. At that moment, an elderly man appeared on the stage and announced loudly, "Everyone, quiet please!" The crowd fell silent, curious. "Everyone, the annual Hundred Flowers Festival is here again. The rules are the same, but the prize is different this year!" The old man stroked his beard, deliberately building suspense. Some people who had come for the prize immediately asked, "What is it this year? Did the reward money increase?" "No, no! My master said that those who come to solve riddles and compete in poetry are refined scholars. We cannot taint them with mere gold and silver. So this year, the winner will receive what's inside this box!" "What is it? Stop keeping us in suspense and show us!" "I came for the money! How can you change it just like that?" The crowd buzzed with chatter, but the old man raised his hand to quiet them. He stepped aside, signaling the servants to open the box. Two servants carefully opened the box and slowly took out its contents, placing them on the stage. It was an ancient guqin, its body black with faint green hues, as if green vines were entwined around ancient wood. "What is this? A broken guqin?" "That guqin looks very valuable!" "That's the Green Jade Guqin! It's actually the Green Jade Guqin!" The old man chuckled. "It seems some of you know your treasures. This is indeed the famous Green Jade Guqin! This year, in addition to the usual challenges, there will be a musical performance. The winner will take home this guqin!" As soon as the guqin appeared, Su Li clenched her hands tightly. "Sister, yesterday, my brother-in-law gave me a fine guqin. He said it's called the 'Green Jade.'" At the time, Su Li had been stunned, unable to believe it. When she saw the guqin in Su Yue's room, she finally accepted the truth. She had gone through great lengths to win this guqin from the music master Wu Xian, only for Zhao Huaian to give it to someone else. When she asked him about it, Zhao Huaian had said, "Li'er, I saw that Yue'er is skilled in music, and she's your sister, part of the family. So I gave it to her." At that moment, Su Li had wanted to ask him if he knew how she had battled the music master Wu Xian for three days and nights, her fingers bleeding, just to win this guqin. "Li'er, what's wrong?" Wei Yuanyao's voice pulled Su Li out of her memories. "Nothing, I just really like this guqin." Wei Yuanyao frowned. "I can handle poetry and lanterns, but playing the guqin is beyond me." Su Li replied, "It's fine." This guqin, she would definitely win it.