Chapter 74: Night of the Lantern Festival

Chapter 74: Night of the Lantern Festival

What, does Mister Su know this person? Xia Dong asked, looking at Mei Changsus expression.

Not know, precisely, but we have met before. He is from the imperial Jing residence, and though I have only visited Prince Jing once, I have developed quite an impression of this dear brother.

Xia Dong looked a bit surprised. A centurion left an impression on Mister Su? He must have some remarkable traits, then?

Mei Changsu nodded. I wonder whether he has rectified those remarkable traits yet.

At these strange words, Xia Dong raised her eyebrows and was about to inquire further, but the centurion had already strode over and, ignoring Mei Changsu, cupped his fists and bowed to Xia Dong, saying, Your servant is Qi Meng, a centurion of Prince Jings army, may I ask if Officer Xia has just descended from the mountain?

Xia Dong eyed him up and down as she answered, Correct.

Did the two of you see a beast on the mountain?

A beast? Xia Dong frowned. This area is still within the jurisdiction of the capital, how could there be a beast?

There is, it is a beast covered in long fur that has been disturbing the villagers living on the mountain, which is why we received the order to come and capture it.

Mei Changsu broke in to say, I remember you have been working on this for some time already, have you still not been able to catch it?

Qi Meng had originally been a military general of the fourth rank, but the title he had achieved by the blood and sweat of the battlefield had been reduced to centurion with a few cold words from Mei Changsu, so it would be a lie to say he felt nothing towards this man, but at least three of the wise members of the imperial Jing residence had come to him the day he had been demoted, explaining and analyzing the whole event, and he had ended up blushing in shame, with no words left to justify his behaviour. Now, faced with Mei Changsu again, although there was still some discomfort in his heart and he was not willing to acknowledge him at first, since he had now spoken up, there was no reason for him to shame himself further by refusing to answer.

These mountains are thick with forest, and the beast is very cunning, and we cannot stand guard here all day every day, we only come when the villagers report another sighting, but when we arrive, there is no sign of so much as the shadow of a beast, I dont know if the villagers really saw anything.

Mei Changsu looked around, thinking that these mountainous regions were indeed so dense with overgrown forest and covered such a tremendous area that trying to catch a beast in these parts was like trying to find a needle in an ocean, and so it was small wonder that their efforts had borne no fruit.

Shouldnt the Capital Magistrate Office be responsible for the villagers reports? Xia Dong asked.

The beast is so fierce that, though fifty people from the Capital Magistrate Office managed to surround it once, half of them ended up injured and they couldnt capture it in the end, so Magistrate Gao had no choice but to come to my lord. My lord is the only one who will take up these kinds of lowly tasks that bring no glory or prestige.

Xia Dong knew in her heart that this centurion spoke the truth, but she bore her own grudge towards Prince Jing and so she was not willing to comment, and only scoffed before turning to Mei Changsu to say, I will return to the city now. Until we meet again.

Officer Xia, please take care. Mei Changsu bent forward in a bow, watching as Xia Dong retrieved her horse and rode away, then turned slowly and gave Qi Meng a look.

What now? Qi Meng, frightened by the look, began frantically turning over the last few minutes in his mind, trying to figure out if he had said anything wrong.

Like all children, Fei Liu especially loved bright, glowing objects, and no matter whether they were rabbit lanterns, or goldfish lanterns, or horse lanterns, or fairy lanterns, or pumpkin lanterns, or butterfly lanternshe gazed in awe at every one, and each time Mei Changsu asked him, Buy or not?, he would answer firmly, Yes!, so that, before they had even gone down half a street, there were two or three lanterns in everyones hands.

Chief, this is not the way to pamper children. Li Gang couldnt help saying apologetically. At this rate, Fei Liu is going to move this whole street into our home.

Good! The youth agreed immediately, delighted.

Never mind, after we meet up with them later, have two of our people bring these lanterns back, we have a large courtyard anyway, and we can hang them up along the eaves of the roofs and let Fei Liu enjoy himself for a few days. Mei Changsu smilingly placated Li Gang, and then turned to Fei Liu to say, Fei Liu, according to the rules, these lanterns can only be hung up in the first month of the new year, so after the first month passes, we will have to take them down, understand?

Understand!

Li Gang smiled ruefully, unable to add anything else, and so he craned his long neck and peered into the distance, saying, There are so many people, how can we find them?

Look for the peach lanterns, we said we would meet them there.

As soon as Mei Changsu spoke, one of the guards shouted, Look there!

Everyone turned to look in the direction he was pointing in, and about fifty paces away, there was a giant peach lantern glowing pink and yellow, eye-catching even amidst the thousands of lanterns hung up in the streets.

Its so big, we couldnt miss it if we tried. Mei Changsu smiled as he led them over to the lantern, and though it was only a short distance away, it was almost an hour before they managed to make their way over to it.

Xiao Fei Liu, this peach lantern is for you, do you like it? Yan Yujin grinned as he waved the long handle of the lantern.

Ng!

Say thank you to Yan gege, Mei Changsu reminded him.

Thank you!

There are so many people, it will be dawn before we make it to your Miaoyin House. Mei Changsu looked at the massive crowd and sighed. I regret promising to come.

Dont worry, Xiao Jingrui said. It is only the main streets that are so busy, if we take the small alleys, we can go straight to the back door of Miaoyin House. Yujin knows the way best, he takes it almost every other day.

Yan Yujin rolled his eyes. So what if I know it well? Thats nothing to be ashamed of. The frankness of true heroes and the honesty of great scholars belies their outstanding natures

Alright, hold on to the outstanding nature, wed better go now, or the place youve booked will be cancelled by the time we arrive. Its rare to see Miss Gong Yu in the main hall, and they say she will be performing a new piece today too. Xie Bi cut in, and the group began shoving their way through the crowd, only letting out a sigh of relief when they finally arrived at the entrance to the small alley.