Wan'er took Xue Gucheng around the streets all day before remembering to go home. By then, the sky had gradually darkened.
Wan'er began to worry, thinking that her father would be back soon. If he found out she had sneaked out, she'd likely receive a few good spankings.
So, she pulled Xue Gucheng and they hurried home. When they arrived, they saw Master Lu's sedan chair already at the doorstep.
Xue Gucheng then noticed the grand gate, upon which three large characters were carved: "Shangshu Mansion."
He murmured to himself, "Shangshu Mansion?" Everything here felt so unfamiliar, as if it never belonged to him.
Seeing him still lost in thought, Wan'er pulled him along. This time, they had to climb over the wall to get in.
Xue Gucheng looked at the wall, which was over a person's height. He grabbed Wan'er, stepped on the ground, and flew over. Before Wan'er could even react, they had already entered the garden.
Wan'er couldn't help but exclaim.
"Wow, I didn't realize you were so amazing! How about this, from now on, I'll call you Brother Tianming."
Wan'er thought that by calling him brother, and with his martial prowess, she wouldn't have to sneak around anymore when going out.
Xue Gucheng smiled faintly, "Miss can call me whatever she likes."
Wan'er said with a hint of displeasure, "Don't always call me Miss, Miss. From now on, just call me Wan'er."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
"It's nothing. Alright, it's settled then." With that, she ran off.
Xue Gucheng paused for a moment, watched her retreating figure, and smiled knowingly before returning to his own quarters.
The next morning, Lian Sheng was awakened from his sleep by a puff of black smoke.
He opened his eyes and looked outside, seeing black smoke billowing from the kitchen. Yan Wushuang was bustling in and out of the kitchen.
Lian Sheng thought, "Oh no, I hope she didn't set the kitchen on fire."
He immediately got up and hurried to the kitchen. He saw that the stove was completely stuffed with weeds, and something inside was emitting black smoke.
"What are you doing?" Lian Sheng asked, confused.
Hearing his voice, Yan Wushuang turned around and saw that Lian Sheng had woken up. She looked at him with an innocent expression.
"I woke up hungry this morning, but I couldn't find any food in the entire kitchen. There were only the sweet potatoes I brought back yesterday. I thought I'd start a fire and roast them."
"Can you start a fire?" Lian Sheng asked doubtfully.
"No, but I'm trying to figure it out."
Lian Sheng felt helpless but didn't blame her. He simply crouched down, removed the weeds, and began to teach her.
"You can't stuff so much in at once. You can light the fire first, then put things in, and then add small pieces of firewood. Once it's burning, you can add larger logs."
As he spoke, he lit the fire.
When he turned back, he saw that Yan Wushuang's face was covered in soot. He reached out to wipe it for her.
Yan Wushuang flinched back in surprise and asked suspiciously, "Are you trying to flirt with me?"
Lian Sheng's face flushed at her words, but he couldn't help but laugh. "Look at your face, it's all black. There's water outside. Go wash your face."
Yan Wushuang touched her cheeks and indeed, her hands were black. Embarrassed, she ran out to fetch water to wash her face.
Lian Sheng also tossed a few sweet potatoes into the stove to roast. Then, he walked to the door and said to her, "There's a lantern festival in a few days. Do you want to go?"
"What festival?" Yan Wushuang asked, confused.
"The lantern festival."
"What's that?"
"It's a festival. On that day, the entire city of Chang'an will be brightly lit, and colorful lanterns will hang all along the streets."
"Wow, that sounds beautiful." Yan Wushuang couldn't help but yearn for it.
"Yes. We'll go see it then."
"Okay."
"Ah, the sweet potatoes should be ready." Saying this, he ran back to the stove. Yan Wushuang had also finished washing her face and hurried over. "Save some for me, save some for me."
Lian Sheng took out the sweet potatoes and shared them with her. They looked at each other and smiled, then peeled the sweet potatoes and took a bite.
In the following days, Lian Sheng studied and memorized books with even greater determination, while Yan Wushuang began to learn cooking, though she wasn't very skilled.
Meanwhile, in the Shangshu Mansion, Wan'er would visit Xue Gucheng whenever she had free time, and she often brought him delicious food.
Sometimes, when discussing poetry and literature, Xue Gucheng could respond flawlessly.
Soon, it was time for the lantern festival. Wan'er found Xue Gucheng again. Since it was the lantern festival, everyone was given a day off to go out and have fun. Wan'er went to his courtyard to tell him about it.
"Brother Tianming, it's the lantern festival today. Shall we go out and have fun later?"
Xue Gucheng asked doubtfully, "What is a lantern festival?"
"I don't understand it very well either, I just know it's a festival. But on this day, the entire city of Chang'an is decorated with colorful lanterns, which is very beautiful. We can go take a look."
Xue Gucheng shook his head. "I don't really want to go."
Wan'er used her usual tactic, "Perhaps seeing the lantern festival will help you remember something."
Hearing her words, Xue Gucheng thought it made sense. "Alright, when should we go?"
"Tonight. Nighttime is when it's most fun."
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
"Great, I'll come find you tonight."
"Mmm."
Meanwhile, Yan Wushuang had been eagerly awaiting this day. Lian Sheng had eaten raw food for several days and was quite weak.
When he emerged from his room, Yan Wushuang was startled by his gaunt face and dark circles under his eyes.
"Wow, what have you been doing? You've gotten so thin."
Lian Sheng weakly replied, "I'm hungry."
"Then wait here, I'll go make you some food."
"Wait a moment," Lian Sheng quickly stopped her. "I'll go myself."
Saying this, he staggered into the kitchen and tremblingly started a fire to cook. It took him a long time to prepare the meal. Yan Wushuang stood by the door, looking at him with pity.
Fortunately, when he finally brought the food to the table, he looked exhausted and weak. Yan Wushuang quickly urged him,
"Come, come, eat something."
Lian Sheng then picked up the bowl and began to eat heartily. She also ate the food Lian Sheng had made without hesitation, and it was indeed much tastier than what she made herself.
After eating, Lian Sheng seemed to have regained his strength and spirit. He then said to Yan Wushuang, "It's the lantern festival today."
"Really? Shall we go then?"
"Yes, I'll take you to experience the Chang'an lantern festival today. The lanterns all over the city will surely dazzle your eyes."
"That's wonderful! When should we go?"
"After we tidy up the room."
"Okay."
As soon as she spoke, she began to tidy up, cleaning the room inside and out. Lian Sheng also took out two Kongming lanterns he had made from a corner.
However, they weren't very pretty. The white paper was yellowed and smudged with black, but at least they were still made of whole sheets of paper.
Seeing him take out two rather ugly lanterns from the room, Yan Wushuang quickly asked, "What are these?"
"These are called Kongming lanterns. We'll release them by the river later."
"Okay."
"This one is yours, this one is mine. You can make a wish."
"This is fun."
"Alright, let's go."
"Hey, wait for me."
With that, they headed towards the market. On the other side, in the Shangshu Mansion, Wan'er saw that the sky was darkening and went to find Xue Gucheng.
When she arrived at his residence, he was still sitting under the tree as before.
"Alright, we can go out now." She walked up and extended her hand.
Xue Gucheng took her hand and nodded. "Then let's go."
"Okay, let's go."
With that, the two of them walked out of the mansion. This time, Wan'er was dressed beautifully, unlike her usual disguise as a boy when sneaking out. Today, she could proudly wear her female attire.
The two arrived on the street and saw people coming and going, a bustling crowd. The entire street was adorned with lanterns.
Red, white, yellow, and purple, they bloomed like colorful flowers.
At this moment, they passed a stall with a hanging sign. The stall owner called out to them, "Two, two! You two are such a perfect match, a match made in heaven. You must be married already, right?"
Wan'er replied shyly, "No, no, Brother Tianming and I are just friends."
"If that's the case, why don't you write your names on these pendants? Then, give the pendant to the person you like, and you'll receive a good marriage."
"That's great, that's great! Brother Tianming, let's write our names too." Wan'er looked at Xue Gucheng with eager eyes.
Xue Gucheng agreed, "Alright then."
The stall owner picked out two high-quality pendants and handed them to them. Wan'er picked up a brush and wrote "Lu Wan'er," then handed it to Xue Gucheng. Xue Gucheng took the brush and wrote "Tianming" on the blank pendant.
"That will be six copper coins. Who will pay?"
Wan'er knew Xue Gucheng wasn't very familiar with money, so she proactively paid the owner. She took the pendants with the names written on them and exchanged hers with Xue Gucheng's. "Brother Tianming, this is my pendant. Please keep it safe."
Xue Gucheng didn't think much about what accepting the pendant meant, nor did he recall what the stall owner had said. He simply accepted the pendant naturally and hung it on his waist.
Wan'er also hung his pendant on her waist. Then, they heard a loud bang from above, and saw fireworks exploding in the sky.
At this moment, Wan'er suggested, "Brother Tianming, let's go release Kongming lanterns."
"Kongming lanterns?"
"Yes, you can make a wish." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Saying this, she pulled him to another stall to buy two Kongming lanterns, and then they went to the river.
Meanwhile, Yan Wushuang and Lian Sheng had been wandering the market for a long time. Yan Wushuang was experiencing the prosperity and beauty of Chang'an for the first time.
Then, Lian Sheng pulled her to the river to release Kongming lanterns.
Upon arriving at the river, Lian Sheng asked Yan Wushuang, "What wish do you want to make?"
Yan Wushuang thought for a moment and didn't tell him. "If you say your wish, it won't come true."
"That's true."
"Then let's make our wishes."
After speaking, they both lowered their heads to make a wish, then lit the Kongming lanterns and released them into the sky.
"It's so beautiful," she exclaimed.
At this moment, Wan'er, who was releasing Kongming lanterns nearby, asked Xue Gucheng, "What did you wish for?"
Xue Gucheng said, "Can I say my wish?"
"No, if you do, it won't come true."
Yan Wushuang heard the familiar voice and was very excited. She turned her head and saw her Brother Xue was right in front of her.
She couldn't believe it and shouted, "Brother Xue!" Excitedly, she ran over and pulled him into a hug.
Wan'er and Lian Sheng looked confused, not understanding what was happening.
Xue Gucheng coldly pushed her away. "Are you the woman who was fighting on the street that day?"
Yan Wushuang said excitedly, "Yes, yes! You saw me, why didn't you call out to me?"
Xue Gucheng said gently, "Miss, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I don't know you."
"You don't know me? I'm Shuang'er, Yan Wushuang!"
Xue Gucheng still shook his head, indicating he didn't recognize her. At this moment, Wan'er also came out to comfort her. "Miss, you must have mistaken him. Brother Tianming is not the person you are looking for."
"Brother Tianming? You call him Tianming?" Yan Wushuang couldn't believe her ears.
Wan'er patiently replied, "Yes, his name is Tianming."
Yan Wushuang became agitated. "No, no, no, his name is not Tianming. His name is Xue Gucheng."
"Xue Gucheng?" All three were stunned.
Xue Gucheng only felt that the person in front of him looked familiar, but he couldn't recall anything. He thought he might have met her before, but her behavior was too strange.
Xue Gucheng said again.
"Miss, you've mistaken me. My name is not Xue Gucheng. My name is Tianming. I can see that the person named Xue Gucheng is very important to you, but I am truly not him."
With that, he took Wan'er's hand and turned to leave.
Yan Wushuang looked at him being so intimate with someone else, and a pang of pain shot through her heart. She stepped forward to block him.
"You can forget me, you can choose someone else, but you cannot forget Muye, nor can you forget Liu Shinian. They are still waiting for us to return."
Xue Gucheng felt that this person was being inexplicable. He pulled Wan'er's hand and left from the side.
Yan Wushuang felt heartbroken and stood there in a daze. Lian Sheng quickly ran up to comfort her.
"Don't worry, perhaps you really mistook him. Let's go back."
Saying this, he led Yan Wushuang back.
Back in the dilapidated courtyard, she felt the surroundings were colder than ever before. She hugged herself and thought,
"None of this is real. Brother Xue wouldn't forget me."
Lian Sheng saw that she was cold, so he draped his best garment over her and led her to sit on the steps.
Yan Wushuang calmed down for a moment before murmuring, "Brother Xue, are you really this heartless?"
Lian Sheng then asked, "Who is that Xue Gucheng to you?"
"He is my husband."
"What!" These few words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Lian Sheng stunned for a long time. He stammered, "You, you are, already married?"
Yan Wushuang nodded heavily.
Upon hearing this news, his heart ached. He knew he wasn't worthy of her, but he wanted to strive for success and then marry her.
However, he was now told that she was already married. He couldn't accept this sudden change.
But he knew she must be very upset right now, so he suppressed his own sorrow and comforted her.
"Don't worry, you will definitely find your husband. I can help you look."
However, Yan Wushuang didn't want to say much at this moment. She still couldn't believe her Brother Xue could be so heartless.
They had overcome so much in the past, so what was the meaning of him forgetting her now?