Under the Bamboo Parasol

After half a day on horseback, they reach the outskirts of Xi Nan City. Such a place is large beyond comparison, and in some way, this place is even more bustling than the capital city. Perhaps this was because the capital was currently in a harsh winter that seemed to desolate the population size.

On the other hand, the thought of having spring weather all year round was good. But this also made things feel too boring. To have no other types of weather would make one feel as though they hadn't been to enough places, making an unfulfilled life. Of course, there was some folk who had been here all their lives and thought nothing of it.

The two figures, one dressed in dark blue and the other dressed in green walked through the busy streets, hand in hand.

Beneath all the music played from large hide drums and bamboo flutes, they looked very much like a young couple in love. Similar to that of little lovebirds flying from the nest. Yet at the same time, the look in their eyes also resembled that of an old married couple.

There was an unspoken connection that tied them together. They were not like the young lovers that had heated passions, joyful for the times ahead. Instead, their temperaments were slightly muted by the passing years.

As Feng Rong looked at the other couples that were chasing each other around, he seemed quite happy, and looked towards Feng Yun, as though hoping that they might do the same.

But after seeing that look in her eyes, he could tell that she was reluctant, so he could only smile and look around.

The flower festival, as one called it. Although such an occasion was only happening once a year, this was more of a festive gathering. Since flowers bloomed endlessly all year round, it was practically pointless to dedicate once a year to this holiday. This was unlike the capital where there would be colder climates, with events such as blossoms withering made flowers more of a rarity to behold.

Such a sight made it seem as though the blooms were worthless.

Feng Rong brushed past a couple who had flower crowns placed upon their heads. The crowns are interwoven with begonia, chrysanthemums, lilies, and marigolds, all different flowers that sat upon two heads of dark hair. He shook his head in distaste, such flowers, alone were already imbued with enough beauty. Was there such a need to heedlessly combine such flowers together in one place.

Seeing him like this, Feng Yun knew that he had resigned himself to not wearing a flower crown. She could not help but want to tease him a bit.

"What if I want one?" She looked at him with her wide eyes blinking.

"Then I will make it myself." He declared, then he leaned in closer to her in almost a whisper, "Do you really want one?"

Feng Yun, seeing him so close, gave a slight nod, "Will you wear one as well?"

He looked towards all the couples who were wearing the same flower crowns and nodded, "As long as you like it."

Hearing this answer, Feng Yun merely nodded and looked around, while Feng Rong went up to a flower merchant to purchase the flowers. To prevent Feng Yun from watching, he turned his back to prevent her from sneaking a few peaks while he worked on the pair of flower crowns.

Not that Feng Yun would have any intentions of peaking, but it was better to make it a surprise and stop temptations in their tracks. The crowd was loud, with a few ladies chatting around, there were also scholars who attempted to create a presence to get noticed by a few maidens. Reciting poems that they had memorized from the anthologies of famous poems.

The ladies hid with propriety behind their painted fans, as they listened to the scholars who had hoped to catch their eyes. The sounds of giggling laughter carried by the gentle breeze made its way to Feng Yun's ears, evoking precious memories of past festivals. Of course, people change and go, but tradition always stays with some new customs getting added in through the years.

With the sound of the flutes, slowly building its way up a climax. The gentle buzzing of the pollinators could be heard from far away as they pranced upon the blooms. The sound of the drums that had stopped slowly inched its way back into the music.

Feng Rong who seemed to have completed his task of making a flower crown also walked towards her figure that was dressed in green.

The second the music from the drum hit its loudest note. A thunderous vibration shook, and flower petals are thrown into the air by the festival participants. Feng Yun's lips are slightly agape as she could not remember when this act was a part of the festival.

[It seems much has changed.]

As the petals fall, Feng Rong quickly places the flower crown atop her head. Not expecting such a thing, her hand involuntarily reaches to her head. But such an action is stopped in its tracks, as her hand is held hostage by Feng Rong's palm. He is smiling so much, that his dimples are revealed. There is an urge to pinch those cheeks as one's eyes gaze upon the mesmerizing smile.

She looks atop his head, to see that resting upon it is a flower crown, mixed with the red blossoms, yellow marigolds, with neither flower overtaking the other's glory. It is this that deserves to be hailed as a flower crown.

"Can I see?" She looks towards Feng Rong and asks.

"Yun'er, do you trust me?" Feng Rong looks deep into her obsidian eyes.

"Yes." Feng Yun answers without hesitation.

"You can judge it later, but for now, let's enjoy the festival, alright?"

Although she was unable to see the final result of the flower crown, she could assume that his taste would not be too horrible, "Alright." She agreed, after all, they had known each other for so long, that mutual trust had long been built. It was difficult to knock down the wall to build one made of suspicion.

Feng Rong pulled on her delicate jade-like hand, as the pair began running. Soon Feng Yun ended up doing the one thing she had been reluctant to do.

Soon, they like all the others around, arrived at the base of a peony stage, that was decorated with silk ropes that were the vibrant colors of spring. The ropes twirled into each other, tying off at the balconies of surrounding establishments.

"The festival has not truly begun yet, it is better to watch from a higher place." Feng Yun says.

As of now, they were at the base of the stage, soon many more would come, and they would be all cramped up with the others in the audience in the warm weather. No matter how one saw it, it did not seem to be a pleasing feeling.

"En, we should try the flower wine now." Feng Rong said as they made their way away from the stage, and to the wine shops that had set up small stalls on the streets.

The flower wine this year had come from last year's harvest and had been fermenting in the jars for an entire year. This was not a really long time, considering the famous daughter's red liquor would be fermenting deep underground for eighteen years. Thus the seller did not put such a high price on it.

A small jar costing just a few copper coins. As Feng Rong bought two jars, they found seats in a private room with a view that overlooked the peony stage.

"I wonder what kind of performance will be set on that stage?" Feng Yun said as she looked outside.

"Didn't you already see this in the past?" Feng Rong asked as he placed the two jars on the table, seeing that Feng Yun was not looking in the general direction, he reached out for a jar.

"I don't remember, it should be a dance." Feng Yun said as she reached out to grab the jar that had neared Feng Rong's lips, "We will drink later."

This left Feng Rong an empty feeling, looked dejected as the jars were placed far away from him.

To pass time, they had called for some snacks along with some tea to be prepared first.

Soon night fell and the world beyond the city grew dark, while the lanterns and candles that hung in the establishments were lit, making the city exceedingly bright. Breathtaking as it was, it was only newcomers to the city that were looking at the prosperous city in surprise.

The peony stage in the middle seemed to gleam in the night as candles were placed in the perimeter of the stage. Once they were fully lit, there were a few figures in long peach-colored dresses that came onto the stage.

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Feng Yun watched as women in their long dresses came upon the stage one by one, "Are they not afraid the dress will catch fire?" She asked as she took the jars of wine, pouring them into smaller porcelain cups, she turned to see Feng Rong who was laying on his back, seemingly despondent that he was unable to drink.

"It's time to drink." The two cups of wine were placed on the table, and Feng Rong immediately sat up to take the cup.

The wine was drunk and Feng Rong licked his lips, "It is not strong, but it tastes good."

"Do you think mister Song would be willing to make this?" Feng Yun seemed to enjoy it as well. But thinking as mister Song would not approve of low-grade wine, she only kept it as a question.

Feng Rong shook his head, "It should be easy to make, and the fermentation time is not too long."

They both looked over the stage. The place that they had chosen indeed had a great view, but strangely, the entire ground level by the stage was packed with people.

The figures that had just gotten up on stage when a gentle melody started playing, the figures started to turn in the same direction, and slowly their long dresses slowly wound itself around their legs, this continued to happen until there was no longer anything left to be wound. The music stopped all of a sudden, and the figures froze.

After a few moments, the music started to play again, this time the music was more lively, played with flutes and the pipa, giving the feeling of a new beginning. The figures that had been cloaked in their long dresses slowly stepped out like butterflies emerging from a cocoon. Their dull peached colored cloaks were no longer as they stepped out in dresses that were vertically striped in purple and green.

The dancers danced in a very lively manner as though signaling the arrival of spring.

By the time the dance ended, the crowd erupted clapping.

"Hm… They're still standing there." Feng Yun said as she peered out from the window, onto the crowd. Since no one moved to leave, this meant that there would be something to happen after.

Her questions were soon answered as the dancers took up baskets and started to throw some small trinkets into the crowds. At a glance, she could tell that they were a pair of tassels that signified the connection between a pair of lovers, in other words, this was a sort of blessing for a happy marriage for the pairs.

[No wonder there was practically no one watching from above, it seems they all wanted to get this blessing.]

Seeing the commotion beneath the window, Feng Rong came over to wrap his arm around Feng Yun's shoulders and watched the scene unfolding on the streets.

The scene beneath them was for some reason beautiful. As chaotic as it was, there was some meaningfulness in every action.