In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, the Jiangs make a strategic move to secure a marriage alliance between a late bloomer, Jiang Ying, and the crown prince, Lan Xichen. However, their plans are disrupted when Jiang Ying is abducted before the mee...
Panicking, Xie Yun rushes out of the flower stall, calling out Jiang Ying's name as he scans the crowded street for any sign of him. Suddenly, he spots a white rabbit hopping toward him, being chased by someone. As he looks closer, he sees Jiang Ying running after a small horde of rabbits, curiosity and excitement written all over his face. Xie Yun sighs in relief at the sight, grateful to have found him unharmed and unworried.
"Ah! Come here! Come back!" Jiang Ying chases after the fleeing rabbits, hands outstretched and grasping. There are too many for all of them to escape him. He manages to corner a pair of them against the bench and scoops them up to cradle against his chest.
"So cute! How could you run from me? Xie Yun, they're so soft! And so plump!" He nuzzles one and then the other, showcasing his teeth as he grins and coos.
Xie Yun walks over, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "We can roast these for dinner tonight," he suggests, eyeing the rabbits in Jiang Ying's arms.
Jiang Ying's eyes widen in horror. "No way! I will make these little guys my wedding guests," he protests, holding the rabbits protectively.
Xie Yun chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. "You already have guests."
Jiang Ying frowns. "Many, many, many guests. Can you keep them for me?"
Xie Yun leans closer, his breath warm against Jiang Ying's ear. "I have one already. I don't need any more," he whispers, causing Jiang Ying to release the rabbits and turn to look at Xie Yun with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"Where?" Jiang Ying asks, tugging at Xie Yun's sleeves to peek through them. He hopes to find a rabbit that Xie Yun is secretly carrying, but he sees nothing there. Or maybe Xie Yun won't let him find out as he pulls the pouting Jiang Ying back to the street to continue their journey.
As they walk along, they come across a large crowd gathered in the town square, where a puppet show is just beginning. Jiang Ying's eyes light up with excitement, and he pushes his way through the onlookers to get a better view. Xie Yun stands back, watching with amusement. The puppeteers captivate the crowd with their impressive skills, bringing the characters to life, and Jiang Ying can't help but join in with the cheers and applause.
Moments like these remind Xie Yun of what he loves most about Jiang Ying. Keeping a close eye on Jiang Ying's childlike wonder and enthusiasm, Xie Yun sits down in the nearest tavern and calls for the finest wine from the innkeeper, along with peanuts to accompany his drink.
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"Not bad!" he exclaims after downing his first glass. Contemplating his future and what to do upon reaching Yunmeng, he notices a lantern hanging on the wall that captures his attention. The flickering light draws him in, causing him to look around and spot lanterns adorning each of the houses. The lanterns sway gently in the wind, casting a warm glow over the bustling street.
Intrigued, he turns to the man sitting beside him at the table and asks, "I've just noticed that all the houses and stalls have lanterns hanging outside. What's the occasion?"
