The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 29

The fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival.

Liang Yu had Shuanzi come pick him up early, saying there was a lantern fair in town tonight and they should go see the excitement. Su Qingyu told Mother Su, changed into a newly made lotus purple padded jacket, combed his hair neatly, and hesitated at the door before going out. He took out those silver bracelets and put them on.

Shuanzi hitched up the cart, a covered cart that blocked the cold wind, with thick bedding laid inside and a hand warmer placed there. Su Qingyu got in the cart, Shuanzi drove from outside, and after about half an hour they entered the town.

The sky wasn’t dark yet, but the streets were already lively. Shops on both sides hung all kinds of lanterns, lotus lanterns, revolving lanterns, rabbit lanterns, and ones shaped like characters from stories.

Su Qingyu even saw a steamed bun shaped lantern, and looked at it with such novelty that he leaned against the cart door to watch. People came and went on the street, food stalls one after another, the aroma of tangyuan filling the whole street.

The cart stopped at the back courtyard of an inn. Liang Yu was already waiting there. He was wearing a new black robe, his hair tied up neatly, the scar under his eye had scabbed over. Not only did it not damage his handsome face, it added a bit of wildness to it. Su Qingyu’s heart beat wildly watching this, and the roots of his ears grew hot.

Liang Yu saw Su Qingyu get out of the cart, his gaze swept over, stopped on those silver bracelets, then stopped on that face, the corner of his mouth curving up in a smile.

“You’re here.”

Su Qingyu nodded, walked over, and was immediately grabbed by the hand. That hand was warm and rough, strong too, but careful not to squeeze Su Qingyu painfully. Once held, it wouldn’t let go.

The two of them walked toward the street. The sky wasn’t completely dark yet, but the lanterns were already lighting up one after another, colorful, making people’s faces look pretty. Su Qingyu looked at those lanterns, full of novelty, stopping every few steps to look, looking and looking again.

Liang Yu didn’t rush him, just stood at the side waiting, occasionally reaching out to push away people squeezing over, not letting them bump into Su Qingyu.

Up ahead there was a lantern riddle guessing stall, surrounded by quite a few people. A revolving lantern had the Eight Immortals crossing the sea painted on it, spinning around and looking very pretty. The stall owner gave out riddles, and if you guessed right they gave you a lantern.

Su Qingyu stood outside the crowd watching, watching with rapt attention. Liang Yu lowered his head and asked. “Want to guess?”

Su Qingyu shook his head, thinking there were too many people and it was too crowded, but he couldn’t help looking at it with eager eyes.

Liang Yu laughed, pulled him to squeeze inside. The stall owner gave out a riddle. “A little girl, born in the middle of the water, wearing a pink shirt, sitting in a green boat.” Guess a flower name.

Su Qingyu thought about it, and said softly. “Lotus.”

The stall owner smiled and nodded, handing over a lotus lantern, with a candle lit inside, bright and shining.

Su Qingyu took that lantern, a smile on his face, smiling very happily, prettier than that lotus. Liang Yu looked at that face, and a soft spot formed in his heart.

Squeezing out of the crowd, they walked forward again. Up ahead there was a tangyuan selling stall, steaming hot. Liang Yu bought a bowl, and the two of them stood by the roadside to eat.

The tangyuan were black sesame filling, sweet and sticky, so hot they made people huff air. Su Qingyu took small bites, a bit of sesame stuck at the corner of his mouth. Liang Yu reached out and wiped it off for him, rubbing until Su Qingyu’s face went red.

After finishing the tangyuan, they walked forward again. The lanterns grew more and more numerous, the people grew more and more numerous. Su Qingyu held that lotus lantern, following Liang Yu, seeing everything as fresh, wanting to look at everything.

Up ahead there was an acrobatics stall, someone breathing fire, someone balancing bowls on their head, someone doing somersaults, and someone breaking a big rock on their chest. Surrounded by many people, cheers came in waves. Liang Yu pulled Su Qingyu to squeeze inside, standing at the front to watch.

The one breathing fire, a mouthful of wine sprayed out, flames shot up high, making people’s faces red. Su Qingyu watched with rapt attention, not even blinking.

At the one breaking the rock on their chest, Su Qingyu watched with his mouth open wide. Suddenly he looked up at Liang Yu, and Liang Yu’s mouth twitched. He pinched Su Qingyu’s face, lowered his voice and said. “What are you thinking? Hmm?”

Su Qingyu smiled, got his head patted, and shrank his head without speaking.

After the acrobatics were finished, they walked forward again. Up ahead there was a river, with many river lanterns floating on the surface, scattered like stars, slowly drifting downstream with the current. Some people were setting lanterns by the river, making wishes.

Liang Yu bought two lanterns, and handed one to Su Qingyu.

“Make a wish.”

Su Qingyu took that river lantern, a lotus flower shape, pink petals, with a small candle lit in the middle. He squatted by the river, closed his eyes and made a wish, gently placed the lantern on the water surface, and watched it slowly drift away.

Liang Yu also set one afloat, and after setting it he turned back to look at Su Qingyu squatting by the river. His face was softly illuminated by the river lantern light, his eyes carrying an indescribable sorrow.

Liang Yu walked over, pulled him up, found a darker place and kissed him until he became a little red faced person. Although his lips were swollen, his eyes brightened again.

“Let’s go, we’ll look a bit more then go back.”

Su Qingyu nodded, and followed him.

They walked around a bit more, and the lantern fair reached its most lively time. The whole street was full of people, so crowded they couldn’t move. Liang Yu shielded Su Qingyu in front of him, his hand blocking to prevent him from being squeezed. Su Qingyu was protected in that embrace, his face pressed against Liang Yu’s chest, able to hear that strong heartbeat. His eyelashes trembled.

Suddenly he felt that the most reassuring place in this world was this person’s arms.

When the lantern fair dispersed, it was already very late. The two of them returned to the inn’s back courtyard, and got in the cart. The cart was laid with thick bedding, warm and cozy. Su Qingyu leaned against that bedding, holding that lotus lantern, the candle inside almost burned out, the flame flickering.

Liang Yu got in the cart, and put down the curtain. Shuanzi drove the cart steadily from outside, and the cart slowly moved.

Su Qingyu leaned against Liang Yu’s shoulder, so tired his eyes could barely open, but still holding that lantern, reluctant to put it down.

Liang Yu lowered his head to look at that sleepy little face, took the lantern, put it to the side, and let him lean in his arms.

“Sleep, I’ll wake you when we get home.”

Su Qingyu gave an “mm,” closed his eyes, curled up in that warm embrace, and slowly fell asleep.

Liang Yu held that soft and fluffy body, lowered his head and kissed Su Qingyu again.

The person in his arms moved, mumbled something, and fell into a deep sleep again.