56 Cozy

Jiangnan Province, under Nanzhou, Wuxing Town.

As dusk deepened, a carriage stopped at the entrance of an inn, and a group of people stepped out.

Leading the group was a handsome young gentleman in white with dark ink-like hair, accompanied by a young woman in a white dress with a veil covering her face. The materials of their garments were extremely exquisite, marking them at a glance as coming from a very wealthy family.

"Young master, young lady, please come in, please hurry inside. Are you staying for the night, or just stopping by for a meal?" The inn waiter, instantly recognizing that this group was wealthy and generous, hurried forward to greet them.

The young lady smiled and said, "Both. Please prepare a few of your finest rooms for us, and set up a table of food and wine, just serve your specialty dishes."

"Right away~ Please wait a moment."

The young woman speaking was Lin Yuejiao, and the one in white with ink-colored hair was naturally Rong Yu.

It was unknown what kind of medicine the miraculous doctor had prescribed for him, but it had actually dyed his shock of silver hair into an inky black, and after changing into a fluttering white robe, he was still the same face yet exuded an entirely different aura.

The two of them had concealed their identities, disguising themselves as the young master and daughter of some wealthy mountain estate, and their journey along the way had not attracted the slightest bit of attention.

In two or three days, they had traveled out of Xinzhou, passed through Nanzhou, and their next stop would be Yingzhou.

Sitting down in the main hall on the first floor, Sai Huaishang said, "We’ve been traveling all day, everyone must be exhausted. At this pace, reaching Yingzhou within five days will be no problem at all. I thought Lin Yi’s small frame wouldn't be able to keep up, but unexpectedly, despite his young age, he’s in better shape than the Fourth Young Lady."

"Since childhood, Yi'er has been running around everywhere with Mother, searching for famous doctors and medicinal herbs, so he's used to traveling," Lin Yi turned his head to look at Lin Yuejiao, his bright, dark eyes blinking. "Is Elder Sister tired?"

Lin Yuejiao pressed her lips into a smile and said, "Not tired at all. The Prince's carriage is very comfortable to ride in. It's just that Yi'er had to suffer hardships in the past."

In her previous life, she had been utterly unable to understand why her mother brought her younger brother along and neglected her, but in this lifetime, she felt a profound heartache for the hardships her mother and brother had endured wandering around for all those years. Therefore, she would definitely cure her brother's illness and ensure that her mother and brother lived a good life.

"Miss, the town is so lively today. On our way here, we saw so many stalls selling little trinkets and snacks," said Tuomi.

The waiter, carrying dishes over, chimed in with a smile, "The esteemed guest is entirely right. Today is the Qiqiao Festival, and who knows how many young ladies and maidens are out strolling the streets—tonight's night market is the liveliest of all. You aren't from our Wuxing Town, are you? Every year during the Qiqiao Festival, our town holds a Qiqiao Gathering; you few ladies can go and try your luck, and you might even win quite a few little prizes."

The Qiqiao Festival—so today was already the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

"That sounds like so much fun! Sister, let's go out together tonight to have a look," Lin Yi said with great interest.

Lin Yuejiao smiled and nodded, "Alright."

"Young Master Brother is coming too, right?" Lin Yi turned his head, blinking his eyes as he looked at Rong Yu.

"Mm." Rong Yu pressed his lips together, a trace of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Your sister is far too unsafe-looking; not following you all would be too dangerous."

Lin Yuejiao glared at him, while Lin Yi covered his mouth and chuckled.

After finishing dinner, the elderly divine doctor Sai Huaishang had no interest in celebrating the Qixi Festival, so Rong Yu and Lin Yuejiao, along with Lin Yi, headed out onto the street together.

The streets were bustling with noise and excitement, brightly lit with lanterns, and exceptionally lively.

"Come and take a look! Lock of hearts, the locks of hearts blessed at the Nüwa Temple, absolutely miraculous!"

"Sugar figurines! Sugar figurines that can be molded into any shape!"

"Candied haws on a stick, one copper coin a string!"

The cries of peddlers rose one after another, and seeing such a lively scene, Lin Yuejiao's mood also became much lighter and more cheerful.

On her left was Rong Yu, and with her right hand she held Lin Yi, while the two maidservants followed closely behind.

"Sister, I want to eat this, and this, and also this!" Lin Yi pointed at the dazzling array of snacks, his eyes shining brightly.

Lin Yuejiao smiled and nodded, "Alright."

Iris immediately stepped forward to buy the snacks and trinkets Lin Yi had pointed out, and before they had even walked a single street, Lin Yi was already clutching a large bundle of treats.

Lin Yuejiao thoroughly enjoyed these tender, warm moments.

In her past life, by the time she understood the value of cherishing them, Lin Yi was already gone. In this lifetime, she would give him all the goodness from both lifetimes combined.

"Ah!"

Jostled by the crowd, Lin Yuejiao almost lost hold of Lin Yi's hand as they were about to be separated. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Rong Yu reached out to block the crowd and shielded her.

"There are too many people," Lin Yuejiao murmured, biting her lip. With the three or four of them walking abreast, it was very easy to be separated by the crowd.

Lin Yi looked at Lin Yuejiao, then glanced at Rong Yu beside them, who was faithfully acting like a devoted protector guarding his flower at every step. Grinning, Lin Yi slipped his hand out of Lin Yuejiao's grasp, grabbed Iris's hand, and said, "Sister, I'll walk with Iris Sister and Tuomi Sister. You and Young Master Brother stay behind."

"Yi'er!"

Just as Lin Yuejiao was about to say something, Iris and Tuomi each grabbed one of the young master's hands with a smile and said, "Don't worry, Miss, we'll take good care of the Young Master."

The surging crowd quickly separated them from Lin Yuejiao and Rong Yu by five or six paces, and before Lin Yuejiao could stop them, it was already too late.

Lin Yi turned his head back, made a funny face at Lin Yuejiao, and smiled exceptionally adorably.

Rong Yu also curved the corners of his lips in response.

"This little imp," Lin Yuejiao found it both funny and exasperating. He had clearly asked her to accompany him on the street, so why did he throw her over to Rong Yu instead?

Rong Yu smiled lightly, "Lin Yi is very cute."

Lin Yuejiao replied, "Of course."

The two of them spoke no further. The surroundings were lively and clamorous, and many of those coming and going were couples. This was a festival full of romance and warmth simply by walking shoulder to shoulder.

It was the first Qiqiao Festival since her rebirth.

Strolling down the street, before long they reached the busiest spot, where a banner bore the words "Qiqiao Gathering." On a stage, several young women were threading needles facing the moonlight—this was the custom of the Qiqiao Festival. On the night of Qixi, facing the moon, threading a seven-hole or nine-hole needle with five-colored thread, those who successfully passed through were considered skillful.

"Esteeemed young ladies, please feel free to try your luck. As long as you thread it successfully, you will be rewarded with clever pastries," a woman in her forties said with a beaming smile. "Seven-hole needles, nine-hole needles, and even eleven-hole needles—choose whichever you like."

A burly man in the crowd laughed and said, "Nan Niang, among common folk, it's always seven-hole needles, and only the imperial consorts in the palace use nine-hole needles. How on earth is there an eleven-hole needle? Who could possibly thread that?"

"Our master specially prepared a dagger that cuts through iron like mud as a reward for anyone who threads the eleven-hole needle this year; how could it be so easily obtained? There are many skilled embroiderers in our Wuxing Town, so everyone is welcome to come and try," Nan Niang replied with a smile.

Lin Yuejiao's gaze turned to the dagger placed high on the platform. Its gorgeous scabbard was inlaid with gold, jade, and precious stones; those who didn't know any better might think it was merely flashy and impractical, but Lin Yuejiao had seen an identical dagger in her previous life—it was named Dragon Scale.

"Cuts through iron like mud? Then I want this dagger," a dainty voice rang out, and a young woman in blue flew gracefully onto the stage.

"Then Miss, please try threading the eleven-hole needle first," Nan Niang said with a smile.

The blue-clad woman looked at the eleven-hole needle and furrowed her brows. She only knew how to wield weapons and brandish swords, and was thoroughly inept at embroidery. She waved her hand and said, "I can't do this. Just name your price; I'll buy it outright."

"I am terribly sorry, Miss, but this is a reward prize specially prepared by our master for the Qiqiao Festival and is not for sale," Nan Niang politely refused.

The blue-clad woman became annoyed and demanded, "Why isn't it for sale? Do you think I can't afford it? Name a price, it's not like I can't afford to buy it! I've only ever heard of seven-hole and nine-hole needles, never an eleven-hole needle. You're simply using this as a gimmick to attract attention, and you never intended to give it away at all. An eleven-hole needle—how could anyone possibly accomplish that?"

"Esteemed Miss, this item was brought by our master as a prize to be awarded to a skilled person who can thread the eleven-hole needle, so it truly cannot be sold," Nan Niang explained patiently. "It's not that we didn't intend to give it away, but rather that the item is here, and it belongs to whoever has the ability to claim it."

The blue-clad woman grew angry. "Sophistry! What kind of rule is this? I am determined to buy it. Hand me the dagger."

Clearly, the one engaging in sophistry was herself.

"If Miss insists on forcing a purchase, then I'll have no choice but to report this to the authorities," Nan Niang's expression changed as she immediately shouted, "Come quickly! Constable, please hurry over, someone is trying to rob us!"

"Who dares commit robbery?" Patrolling constables immediately rushed forward and surrounded the blue-clad woman.

The blue-clad woman let out a cold snort. "Mere constables, what of it? You dare arrest me? Do you know who I am?"

"Weilan!" A middle-aged man in his thirties flew out from the crowd and rebuked her sharply, "You have no manners! If you act like this, I won't bring you out with me next time."

With that, he cupped his fists toward the constables and Nan Niang, saying, "My apologies, the younger generation is headstrong and has made you all a laughingstock. Since the dagger is a prize, it should naturally follow the rules."

"Uncle..." the blue-clad woman muttered discontentedly, "We aren't afraid of them anyway, Brother-in-law will naturally help me..."

The middle-aged man glared at her a few times before finally pulling the reluctant blue-clad woman off the stage.

Lin Yuejiao paid no mind to this little interlude. Her eyes locked onto the Dragon Scale dagger, and she stepped up onto the platform, smiling at Nan Niang, "Madam, is it true that as long as one can thread the eleven-hole needle, they can claim that dagger?"

"That is naturally the case. Could it be that you, Miss, can..." Nan Niang asked, her face filled with pleasant surprise.

Lin Yuejiao pressed her lips into a smile and replied, "I will merely make a modest attempt."

Lin Yuejiao picked up the five-colored thread with one hand and the eleven-hole needle with the other. The bright moonlight showered down upon her, casting a glimmering radiance over her figure.

The people beneath the stage all turned to look at her; even the clamor ceased as everyone watched this scene with rapt attention.

Her fingers were deft and nimble, guiding the thread through the needle. The five-colored thread successfully passed through the eleven-hole needle.

"Amazing! She really threaded it!" Thunderous applause erupted from beneath the stage.

The blue-clad woman's expression turned exceptionally unsightly as well.

"Is this dagger mine now?" Lin Yuejiao handed the eleven-hole needle to Nan Niang, a smile blooming on her lips.

Nan Niang looked at the eleven-hole needle in shock, nodding repeatedly, "Naturally, it naturally belongs to you, Miss. You are truly incredible; your embroidery skills must be exceptional. Miss, might I boldly ask for your name?"

"Why do you ask?" Lin Yuejiao picked up the Dragon Scale dagger, feeling quite pleased in her heart, but upon hearing those words, her dark eyebrows arched.

Nan Niang suppressed her inner astonishment, piled a smile onto her face, and said, "Please don't misunderstand, Miss. To be frank with you, our master actually runs an embroidery business, and every Qiqiao Festival, the purpose is to see if we can discover some talented embroiderers among the common folk. As you know, young women stay secluded in their inner chambers and remain hidden at home without any renown, which is why we resorted to this desperate measure. If you are willing to work for our master, he will certainly treat you generously."