Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 1680: Chapter 1681: Xiao Changyi Comes Searching

Dongfang Tianyang gave a bitter smile but did not insist on An Jing playing a tune for him, instead saying, ”Tomorrow is the praying ceremony in Dongqing, I will be very busy and likely won’t be able to visit you.”

An Jing immediately smiled and said, ”I wish you wouldn’t come every day.”

Dongfang Tianyang said, ”But I want to come.” After a pause, he added, ”You are the first woman I’ve taken to heart.”

An Jing replied, ”I must have the worst luck in the world.”

Dongfang Tianyang: ”...”

...

The next day, Dongqing held a grand praying ceremony, praying to heaven for favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace for the people.

Meanwhile, in Quiet Heart Garden, An Jing had people bring materials like bamboo strips and paper to make praying lanterns. She wanted to make praying lanterns and make wishes.

If Dongfang Tianyang hadn’t mentioned the ceremony, she wouldn’t have thought of it.

Since she was quite idle every day anyway.

So she made some praying lanterns, wishing for heaven’s blessing for her, her husband, and children to reunite soon.

An Jing originally planned to write words on the praying lanterns, but the guards at Quiet Heart Garden stopped her, forbidding her from writing. An Jing wasn’t foolish; seeing the guards’ reaction, she knew they were afraid she might reveal her whereabouts to people outside the Imperial Palace through the praying lanterns.

Although she had challenged the guards several times during this period and her skills had improved somewhat, she was still no match for them alone, so An Jing didn’t insist on writing, she merely made some praying lanterns without writing a single word on them.

As night fell, An Jing did not immediately release the lanterns to make her wishes but waited until late into the night. Then, she lit each praying lantern in Quiet Heart Garden, letting them fly into the sky, and subsequently, she lifted her head, with clasped hands, earnestly making her wishes as she gazed at them.

”First wish: for my husband and son to be healthy.”

”Second wish: for my husband to find me soon so that our family can reunite.”

”Third wish: for Xiyun to have favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace for all its people.”

...

The day An Jing made the praying lanterns, Xiao Changyi had already arrived at Dongqing in the Imperial City. Fortunately, Nan Chi was not far from Dongqing, allowing him to reach the Imperial City quickly.

However, upon arriving at the Imperial City, the sun had already set, and darkness was imminent, so Xiao Changyi and his group first found an inn to settle in. As for searching for An Jing in the Imperial City, it would have to wait until the next day.

Meng Zhuqing and Tobanya shared a room, Gong Juese and Meng Lanqing shared another, Qin Yi and Qin Er shared one, while Xiao Changyi stayed alone in his room.

Nonetheless, Meng Zhuqing and the others feared Xiao Changyi, their master, might encounter issues, so they took turns patrolling around his room.

Having traveled for ten days, their bodies were very tired, yet Xiao Changyi couldn’t manage to sleep.

Tossing and turning several times, in the end, Xiao Changyi got up and lit a lamp.

It was already deep into the night.

”Master, is there something wrong?” From outside, Meng Lanqing was now patrolling around Xiao Changyi’s room, and upon seeing the light inside, came to his door, gently knocked, and asked urgently in a low voice.

”Nothing.” Xiao Changyi responded mildly and said nothing more. Instead, he walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the bright moon hanging high in the sky.

The moon is fullest on the sixteenth day of the lunar month.

Today is the sixteenth; although the night is very calm, the moon is particularly bright and full. Xiao Changyi gazed at the moon in the sky, and the cool wind from outside blew over him, yet he felt no coldness at all.

His heart had already lost warmth on the day his wife disappeared.