She was famously quick-witted and eloquent, but she was still too young, and she mispronounced certain words.
Gu Jiao curved her lips into a smile and stretched out her finger, not mentioning the issue with her pronunciation.
The Little Princess also extended her tiny finger and hooked it with Gu Jiao’s.
The night before the Cuju match, Master Wu, as usual, brought Gu Jiao and her entourage to stay at the same inn as last time.
As Mu Chuan entered the inn, he couldn’t help but mutter with a touch of resentment, "Didn’t we win last time? Why are we staying in such a shabby place again?"
Wasn’t it because the funds were tight?
To be honest, the Academy had indeed allocated a bit more silver, but this year’s Cuju match was extraordinarily popular, causing the prices of inns to soar again and again.
Master Wu patted his chest and said, "I promise you, as long as you win this match, I’ll pay out of my own pocket to get you a better inn for the finals!"
Mu Chuan curled his lips, clearly not quite believing it.
Master Wu then looked at the other students, who also wore skeptical faces.
Master Wu justified, "What’s wrong with this inn? There’s a Lantern Festival tonight! It’s just around the corner! I specifically chose this inn! You’re allowed to... go check out the lanterns tonight! Be back by the time of Hai!"
This was the biggest concession Master Wu could make.
Mu Chuan’s interest was piqued, and he sidled up to Gu Jiao as they walked up the stairs together, "Hey, Langliu, have you ever been to Shengdu’s Lantern Festival?"
"Mhm," Gu Jiao replied as she stepped upstairs.
Mu Chuan smiled, "Shall we go have a look later?"
"Sure," Gu Jiao agreed.
Mu Chuan looked back at Mu Qingchen, "Fourth Brother, are you coming? Never mind, you definitely won’t go." His fourth brother had no interest in lanterns.
The group reached the second floor. Mu Qingchen pushed open his own room door and turned to Gu Jiao, "See you at the entrance."
Mu Chuan was startled; was this his fourth brother indicating that he would go?
That’s a sight for sore eyes. His fourth brother was actually going to wander around the Lantern Festival?
Zhao Wei and Yuan Xiao, also having nothing better to do, gathered at the entrance.
Even Master Wu showed up.
Mu Chuan’s smile stiffened, "Master Wu, what are you doing here?"
Master Wu said earnestly, "I thought about it, and it’s better if I accompany you. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease."
Mu Chuan: "..."
Regarding the Lantern Festival, Master Wu indeed did not deceive them; it really was near the inn, just a hundred steps forward and around a bend.
The entire long street was like a rainbow in the Deng City, dazzling and bright. On both sides, vendors hung their lanterns, crafting them on the spot and calling out vigorously to sell them. The crowd had already surged forth, with a bustling throng brushing shoulders.
Yet the street was busy without chaos, noisy but not clamorous, crowded without congestion, orderly and well-managed.
Here, not all lanterns had to be bought with silver. Some could be won by solving riddle or composing poetry.
Gu Jiao liked the liveliness.
Seeing it felt marvelously novel, like a child seeing a toy for the first time.
Despite fundamentally being a quiet person.
"Young Master, why not buy a lantern?"
An old granny said affectionately to Gu Jiao as she passed by.
Gu Jiao stopped in her tracks, looking curiously as the old granny offered a lantern, blinking her eyes.
Pretty.
Seeing her interest, the granny picked up another lantern, "This is a lotus lantern, newly made by my husband. Buy them together, and it’s ten coins cheaper!"
The lotus lantern was pretty, too.
Gu Jiao’s gaze swept past.
Hm, there were peach blossom lanterns as well. And they were beautiful too!
Mu Qingchen looked at her oddly, "You’re not really planning to buy a lantern, are you?"
What would a grown man do buying a lantern? Just looking around was enough.
Buys were for scholars to present to lovely ladies, where would you see a man fixated on not letting go?
"Sigh," Gu Jiao sighed and touched the peach blossom lantern in front of her. She couldn’t collapse her persona; she couldn’t buy the lantern, especially not the delicate and pretty ones.
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