Chapter 1009: Chapter 1002: Temple Fair (Part 2)
She said that, and Xiqiu indeed heard the ding-dong of gongs and drums from outside the window, along with the voices of street performers. She smiled, got up, and stood by the window to watch. As expected, not far away, there were a lot of people gathered to watch the excitement. In the middle, two people were performing martial arts, singing constantly, but Zhi and Tong Minzhi were nowhere to be seen.
At this moment, Tong Minzhi was strolling the street with Zhi, looking at lantern riddles. Zhi fancied a lantern and tugged at Tong Minzhi’s sleeve to make him guess: "This tiger one looks great, Seventh Uncle, I want this one."
"Let me see!" Tong Minzhi asked the shop owner to take the lantern down. On top of it, a riddle was written in small characters. Since ancient times, the rule of temple fairs was that only by guessing the lantern riddle could one buy the lantern. If one couldn’t solve it, even if very wealthy, the lantern wouldn’t be sold. Tong Minzhi glanced at it, raised his eyebrows, and gave the answer. Tiancheng, who followed behind them, skillfully threw silver, took the lantern, and handed it to Zhi...
Zhi already had two in his hand. He handed the previous two to Tiancheng, holding the tiger lantern, laughing happily: "Seventh Uncle, you are amazing." Tong Minzhi chuckled, but Zhi had already noticed the giant dragon-shaped lantern ahead.
Approximately one zhang long and two chi in diameter, entirely silver-white, with red dots on the eyes, sparkling and very attractive.
Zhi couldn’t move, exclaiming: "Seventh Uncle, I want that one!"
Nearby, several literati and scholars had long gathered, all pointing at and discussing the lantern riddle. Tong Minzhi felt a bit unsure; with so many people gathered here unable to solve it, the riddle must be challenging.
Thinking to himself, he tiptoed to see the riddle, but before he could clearly see it, a sweet female voice reached over: "Shopkeeper, I want this riddle!"
The crowd couldn’t help but be curious, and Tong Minzhi also followed the crowd to see. He saw seven or eight maidservants surrounding a girl wearing a pink overcoat, with a silver-fox cloak, standing prettily in the center. She wore a veil, so her face was unclear, but her attire was unmistakably noble, likely a young lady from a distinguished family. Beside the young lady stood another girl, also wearing a veil, dressed in a goose-yellow jacket, whose garments were not as luxurious as the former; whether due to the cold or not being used to crowds, she stood somewhat timidly by.
As if sensing someone was watching, the girl glanced at Tong Minzhi, who awkwardly lowered his head to speak to Zhi: "Let’s go; this riddle your uncle can’t figure out." With so many wanting it, he didn’t want to cause any trouble.
Zhi reluctantly glanced at the dragon-shaped lantern but didn’t insist, pouting: "Alright then."
Tong Minzhi took Zhi and left the crowd, glancing back at the girls. The one in the pink overcoat had already thrown a silver ingot to the shopkeeper, determined not to leave without taking the lantern.
He shook his head and quickly left.
"Mother." Zhi ran into the elegant room, holding the lanterns, displaying them one by one on the table like treasures: "Seventh Uncle is really amazing; whichever I point at, he guesses..." Then he added: "...just there’s one riddle he didn’t guess."
Tong Minzhi smiled foolishly beside him. Xiqiu glanced at her younger brother and asked Zhi: "Oh? Is there a riddle your uncle can’t guess?"
Zhi recounted what had just happened to Xiqiu. She finally understood the reasons and said with a smile: "Did you see the shopkeeper sell it?" Zhi shook his head, then Xiqiu said: "Perhaps the shopkeeper never intended to sell it; lucky you didn’t waste the effort!"
Zhi tilted his head, thought for a moment, and nodded with a hint of doubt.
They sat for a while longer and then took a carriage back to the mansion, passing a quiet night!
The next day, the court ministers all congratulated Min early in the morning. He now lived alone in the West Five Houses, with various congratulatory gifts filling both sides... When he went to pay respects to the Emperor, the Second Prince said: "Congratulations, brother. I wanted to visit you this morning, but saw you were busy, so I came to Father first."
The Emperor paused while drinking tea and looked at Min.
The Third Prince listened, blinked, and asked: "Brother, what are you busy with? Need help?" Min waved his hand, saying: "No, no!" showing a look of helplessness...
"What’s with you, brother?" The Second Prince raised an eyebrow, having received a mansion the previous night, and he was the one who got the richest reward among many. He also received countless gifts this morning, yet now he presented this troubled look, clearly for Father’s attention.
"Father!" Min looked at the Emperor, bitterly saying: "Those things... I don’t know how to handle them." He lowered his face uncertainly: "I’ve recorded them down..." Then he took a small book in his hands and presented it to the Emperor: "Inside are the congratulatory gifts from various ministers, for Father to review."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, and Chief Chang looked at the Emperor. Seeing no objection, he took the book and handed it to the Emperor. The Emperor opened it, casually flipping through it. They were all not particularly valuable gifts, not exceeding limits. He said: "Since they are congratulatory gifts meant for you, it’s their token of goodwill, you should accept them."
"I understand. Though the gifts are meant for me, they are actually due to Father’s benevolence. I received Father’s gift because I am Father’s child. But as a Prince, I shouldn’t take the ministers’ gifts... Therefore, these gifts troubled me all morning, and I don’t know how to handle them." Finishing, he folded his arms inside regretfully and said: "I am dull-witted; I hope Father can guide me!"
The Second Prince twisted his eyebrows, eyes revealing coldness. Chief Chang watching Min couldn’t help nodding secretly. The Eldest Prince’s words were most appropriate, justly accepting the Emperor’s gifts, as he is the Emperor’s son, and a son taking from the father is natural. However, as a Prince, he shouldn’t take from the court ministers, as they are subordinates of the Emperor, not his. Taking anything must have the Emperor’s consent!
Simply put: what is given by the Emperor is indeed yours!
Sure enough, the Emperor’s eyes showed satisfaction; he closed the book and smiled: "Take them; they are yours!"
Min secretly breathed a sigh of relief, received the order, and clasped his hands: "Thank you, Father!"
