After the turn of the year, there were several days of good weather in a row. At this time in previous years, the capital city would already show hints of spring. Though Yingguan still looked like winter would never end, at least there was no more heavy snow.
Feng Lezhen was staying at Zhenbian Marquis’s residence, originally intending to use this opportunity to improve relations with Qi Zhen. But Qi Zhen was very slow in most matters — except when it came to this issue, where he was extremely sharp.
“Your Highness need not waste your efforts. I spared you then out of consideration for your status and didn’t kill you to appease my son, but that doesn’t mean the matter is over,” Qi Zhen said with a faint expression. “If you lived badly, I would feel somewhat better inside. But now you have everything you want while my son has been locked away in the deep mansion year after year, getting worse by the day. How do you expect me to swallow that?”
“That was just an accident. The Marquis knows this better than anyone; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let it go so easily back then,” Feng Lezhen looked him in the eye.
A trace of mockery flashed in Qi Zhen’s eyes: “Yes, an accident — but the fact remains my son will never live a normal life again.”
Feng Lezhen fell silent at his words.
“Eldest Princess, I know you’re in Yingguan now, and you think the only way to live well is by making peace with me. I also know you’ve tried many ways. To save you the trouble, I’ll tell you clearly today: as long as I live, the Zhenbian Marquisate and the Qi family army will never be friendly with the Eldest Princess’s household.”
Qi Zhen stepped forward and stared straight at her. “If you know what’s good for you, avoid me from now on. If you keep pestering me like recently and making me constantly think of my son’s miserable situation, don’t blame me for being rude.”
“What do you mean by ‘being rude,’ Marquis?” Feng Lezhen’s gaze grew cold. “You plan to kill me? Let me remind you, the current emperor is even more wary of you than the late emperor. That’s why he sent me to Yingguan—to keep you and me in check. If you lose control and lay a hand on me, you’ll be the one who suffers next.”
Qi Zhen snorted lightly. “You think I’m afraid?”
Feng Lezhen smiled faintly and stepped closer. Her young face showed no fear compared to Qi Zhen’s. “If you’re not afraid, then why have you tolerated me living here in the Marquis’s residence so long?”
Qi Zhen’s expression darkened, ready to speak, but Feng Lezhen turned and left. Qi Zhen’s anger caught in his throat, unable to say a word. His face flushed red.
Feng Lezhen hurried out of the courtyard and only relaxed her steps when she saw Ah Ye. “Finally, I see you.”
“Why are you so tense, Your Highness?” Ah Ye asked, puzzled.
Feng Lezhen calmly said, “I’m just afraid Qi Zhen will get angry and do something to harm me.”
“…But didn’t Your Highness come to give gifts to Qi Zhen? Why would you be worried he’d be angry?” Ah Ye was even more confused.
Feng Lezhen stopped and took a gift box from her sleeve to show her.
“He didn’t accept it?” Ah Ye was surprised.
Feng Lezhen expressionless: “Not only did not accept, he also humiliated me thoroughly, telling me plainly there’s no chance of friendship between the Marquisate and the Eldest Princess’s household and to stop wasting my efforts.”
“How dare he!” Ah Ye’s voice suddenly rose, but then she spotted a servant sweeping nearby looking this way and quickly lowered her voice, suppressing her anger. “Who does Qi Zhen think he is? Ungrateful and insulting Your Highness at every turn.”
Feng Lezhen shrugged. “I think the same, so I talked back. Things are basically at the point of tearing apart.”
“Well done, Your Highness!” Ah Ye praised but then fell silent.
The two walked out of the courtyard in silence before Feng Lezhen finally asked, “Worried already?”
“…Yes,” Ah Ye admitted embarrassedly. “Your Highness came here to win over Qi Zhen, but now that he’s made it clear no friendship is possible, what do we do next?”
“There’s always a way when the carriage reaches the foot of the mountain. No need to worry prematurely…” Feng Lezhen hadn’t finished when Qi Jingren suddenly appeared before them.
Qi Jingren hadn’t expected to see her and paused, then cupped his hands in salute. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Miss Qi.” Feng Lezhen softened briefly.
Qi Jingren clearly had no mood for small talk. She nodded and passed by. Ah Ye stared at her back for a long time before noticing Feng Lezhen still watching her.
“Your Highness, that’s Qi Jingren?” Ah Ye was a bit surprised.
Feng Lezhen smiled faintly. “Exactly.”
“She’s gotten so tall, and her looks and demeanor have changed a lot,” Ah Ye said with feeling. “I remember she used to cause so much trouble for Your Highness, always chirping like a sparrow. Didn’t expect her to be so composed now.”
“Girls change a lot as they grow,” Feng Lezhen said as she walked into the small garden and sat down in a pavilion.
Ah Ye followed, confused. “Your Highness, aren’t you going back inside?”
“No.” Feng Lezhen stared at the garden entrance — the very spot where she had just met Qi Jingren.
Ah Ye had followed her for years and, seeing this expression, knew Feng Lezhen was preoccupied with something. She quietly accompanied her without speaking.
Though the sun was out today, it was still bitterly cold. The pavilion was open on all sides to the wind, and soon they both felt chilled. Ah Ye touched Feng Lezhen’s cooling fingertips. “I’ll go get you a hand warmer.”
“You get one for yourself too,” Feng Lezhen said casually.
Ah Ye smiled and happily left.
Feng Lezhen watched her go with amusement and then turned to see Qi Jingren standing at the garden entrance.
The pavilion directly faced the garden. Qi Jingren couldn’t pretend not to see her and, following etiquette, stepped forward again to salute, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Miss Qi, you don’t look well. Did you quarrel with the Marquis?” Feng Lezhen asked gently.
Qi Jingren’s expression was cold. “This lowly official’s family matter. No need for Your Highness to worry.”
“Lowly official…” Feng Lezhen chuckled, “Miss Qi is not my guard, so there’s no need to address yourself like that in front of me.”
“I serve as Canjian of the Qi family army; it’s proper to speak this way before Your Highness,” Qi Jingren’s expression grew even colder.
Feng Lezhen’s brow twitched slightly: “But I don’t recall Great Qian having any laws permitting women to hold military or political office.”
“But Great Qian also has no laws forbidding women from holding military or political posts.”
Feng Lezhen: “Some things don’t need to be written in law—like the sun setting and the moon rising.”
Qi Jingren detected she was looking for trouble and her gaze turned cold: “Whether the sun sets or the moon rises is none of my concern. I only know the late emperor promised my father fifteen years ago that appointments within the Qi family army were decided by him. So I’m afraid the Eldest Princess’s hand can’t reach into the camp.”
The atmosphere instantly froze. In the silence, Feng Lezhen smiled lightly: “It’s just idle chatter. Why are you unhappy, Miss Qi? I only asked casually; I have no intention to interfere with the Qi family army.”
“Military affairs are busy. If Your Highness has no business, I’ll take my leave,” Qi Jingren said, not wishing to continue the conversation, and prepared to leave.
Feng Lezhen blinked: “Miss Qi is not easy either—just endured a scolding from her father, now must return to the army to work for him.”
Qi Jingren could bear no more and turned away angrily.
Feng Lezhen watched her storm off and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen paused, then turned to see Ah Ye giving her a look full of unspoken words.
“When did you come back?” Feng Lezhen asked in surprise.
Ah Ye: “…Never left.”
She had already left but heard Qi Jingren’s voice again. Worried about her lady facing childhood troubles alone, she came back, only to hear Feng Lezhen provoking her repeatedly while the once quick-tempered Qi Jingren endured quietly and then finally left.
“Then let’s go together.” Feng Lezhen was in a good mood and walked lightly toward the separate courtyard.
Ah Ye followed with mixed feelings, hesitating before deciding to say: “Your Highness, I know you were upset just now dealing with Qi Zhen, but overall we didn’t suffer a great loss, right? We have a long time in Yingguan. It’s not good to make things too hostile. At least, before they cause us trouble, we shouldn’t provoke them.”
“You’re rambling nonsense; I don’t know what you’re saying,” Feng Lezhen’s lips never stopped curling into a smile.
Ah Ye sighed: “I’m talking about you. Miss Qi didn’t do anything to provoke you, so why do you keep targeting her?”
“I’m not targeting her,” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow.
Ah Ye was shocked: “Isn’t your attitude just now targeting?”
Her lady was usually someone who cared for everyone, rarely reckless or bullying. But just now, every word seemed to jab at Qi Jingren, yet she claimed not to target her.
Feng Lezhen laughed: “I really wasn’t.”
They spoke as they entered the separate courtyard.
“I just haven’t seen her for years and wanted to see what kind of temper she has now,” Feng Lezhen explained.
Ah Ye didn’t understand but asked anyway: “So… did you find out?”
“Not as composed as I thought, but has some fighting spirit,” Feng Lezhen sat at the table, and Ah Ye immediately brought tea.
“Is that good or bad?” Ah Ye asked, and before Feng Lezhen could answer, she nodded to herself, “It should be good—Your Highness seems in a good mood now.”
Ah Ye didn’t quite understand why her lady wanted to test Qi Jingren, only knowing a good mood was good, so she didn’t press.
Feng Lezhen found her obedient demeanor amusing, and tapped her on the head: “How’s the roof repair going?”
“Your Highness, they just laid a few wooden boards.”
Feng Lezhen paused: “They’ve been fixing it for two days and only laid a few boards?”
“Didn’t Your Highness say to delay the work?” Ah Ye countered, counting on her fingers. “You thought the shizi liked you and told the workers to hurry up so you could move out soon. Then you realized you misread it and told them to slow down so you could stay longer.”
Feng Lezhen thought about it; it did seem so. After a moment, she said: “Then order them to speed up again—I want to move out of the Marquis’s house as soon as possible.”
“…Why change your mind again?” Ah Ye was puzzled.
Feng Lezhen glanced at her: “I’ve already torn things with Qi Zhen. What’s the point in staying?”
“But if you stay, seeing each other every day, there’s still a chance to mend things,” Ah Ye advised.
“Forget it,” Feng Lezhen sipped her tea lightly, “I’m too lazy to please him. If he won’t cooperate, someone else will.”
“But the military power is in his hands,” Ah Ye frowned.
Feng Lezhen paused on her fingertips and corrected her: “It’s only currently in his hands.”
As for the future… a smile curved her lips.
Who wins in the end is still unknown.
Ah Ye didn’t understand or see through it and simply stopped asking, focusing on supervising the mansion.
Under her diligent supervision, the workers repaired all the roofs in a few days. She also helped clean the whole household thoroughly, and they finally moved back the day before the Lantern Festival.
On moving day, everyone in the Eldest Princess’s household was visibly happy. Although life at the Marquis’s house wasn’t bad, they still felt more at ease at their own home.
Perhaps influenced by them, Feng Lezhen too felt a sense of belonging to the little old house. Watching Ah Ye and others pack piece by piece, she felt a faint illusion of a weary bird returning to its nest.
Although she had only stayed at the Marquis’s residence for half a month, there was no shortage of luggage, and Feng Lezhen, as the only one who didn’t have to do any work, felt somewhat in the way standing in the courtyard.
“Your Highness, please step aside, your humble servant needs to move the table.”
“Your Highness, are you hungry? Why not go back inside and have something to eat? With your servant here, it’s enough.”
“Your Highness…”
Feng Lezhen was being constantly pestered and just when she felt helpless, she turned and saw Qi Jingqing smiling.
“Why have you come?” Feng Lezhen greeted him with a smile and did not avoid the passing servants of the Marquis’s household outside the courtyard.
Though she had lived here for half a month and often kept an eye out, she was frequently seen talking with Qi Jingqing, yet not once had the news reached Qi Zhen and his wife, which showed how much authority Qi Jingqing held in this household.
“Came to see Your Highness move,” Qi Jingqing answered. “Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival—why not celebrate the festival first before leaving?”
“Look at them, each waiting eagerly to go home for the festival,” Feng Lezhen nodded toward the cheerfully busy attendants.
Qi Jingqing smiled: “True, it’s always more comfortable to be back at one’s own home.”
Feng Lezhen walked over to him and handed him a hand warmer: “I’ve already informed the Marquis and his wife. I planned to find you after lunch, but you came before I could.”
Qi Jingqing glanced at the messy courtyard and asked, “They’ll be busy for a while. Why don’t you just have lunch with me?”
Feng Lezhen didn’t want to be a nuisance: “Then I won’t refuse.”
Qi Jingqing’s eyes brightened with a faint smile at her quick agreement.
He was dressed simply in white today, with only a hairband to tidy his hair, a few stray strands falling casually over his forehead, which made his brows and eyes look even more picturesque. Feng Lezhen couldn’t help but get a little lost in his gaze, but luckily kept her expression neutral, so no one noticed.
Though ordinary people wouldn’t notice, Qi Jingqing caught her brief daze. He looked down at his white clothes and smiled lightly.
After they finished lunch together and Ah Ye and others tidied up, Feng Lezhen prepared to leave. Qi Jingqing instinctively pushed his wheelchair to follow.
“Don’t see me off. I’m leaving now,” Feng Lezhen smiled and waved.
Qi Jingqing paused briefly, then lifted his eyes calmly, as if the impulse just now to see her off was nothing: “Take care, Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen nodded and left, holding Ah Ye’s hand.
The house suddenly grew quiet. Qi Jingqing calmly returned to the soft couch and picked up a white chess piece. The paper-covered window faded from white to black as lamps and candles lit the bedroom, but the white piece lingered at his fingertips, never settling on the board.
“Shizi, time to take your medicine,” the steward softly reminded.
Qi Jingqing snapped back and saw a large bowl of bitter medicine brought over. Without changing his expression, he drank it down. Just as he put down the empty bowl, the steward handed him a dish of candied fruit.
He casually picked one and ate it, then looked at the dish again: “Sweeter than before.”
“The servant had someone change the pickling method—it tastes better,” the steward hurriedly explained.
Qi Jingqing nodded: “Send some to Her Highness. She’ll probably like them.”
The steward was stunned: “Shizi, Her Highness already returned to the Eldest Princess’s residence this afternoon.”
Qi Jingqing paused: “Right, she’s gone back.”
“If the Shizi wants her to try some, I can run there.”
“No need,” Qi Jingqing refused. “She promised to go to the Lantern Festival with me tomorrow. I’ll personally bring them then.”
“Then I’ll have them prepare more kinds later, so Her Highness can try them all,” the steward smiled.
Qi Jingqing lifted a corner of his lips and looked at the tightly shut window.
The flickering candlelight reflected on the window, making his eyebrows and eyes seem to tremble slightly.
“When she was here, it didn’t feel lively, but once she leaves, the courtyard becomes so cold and quiet,” Qi Jingqing slowly said.
The steward opened his mouth but seemed unsure how to respond. Fortunately, Qi Jingqing didn’t need an answer and fell into silence again.
Whenever he stared blankly like this, the steward felt as if he might ascend to immortality at any moment, untouchable and beyond grasp, powerless to stop.
“Shizi…”
Qi Jingqing returned to himself.
“Tomorrow night you’ll be going out with Her Highness. Let’s pick out some clothes,” the steward masked his unease and smiled as he reminded him.
A glint appeared in Qi Jingqing’s eyes: “Alright.”
“Although the weather will be good tomorrow, it will still be very cold, so we must choose thick clothes,” the steward said, quickly moving to the wardrobe and pulling out several pieces in no time. “These are all new. Does the Shizi like them?”
Qi Jingqing scanned the clothes once and finally shook his head: “I want white clothes.”
The steward was stunned: “Shizi, don’t you dislike white clothes most?”
Because the Shizi was weak and sickly, the Marquis and his wife were wary of white, especially clothing, so over time the Shizi also disliked white. The white clothes he wore today were a gift from someone unaware last winter, and it was unclear how the Shizi noticed and suddenly wore them.
“White clothes,” Qi Jingqing repeated.
The page could only go search the storage and spent most of the night before finding a pale garment embroidered with golden clouds.
“This is the closest to white we have,” the steward said helplessly.
Qi Jingqing was not entirely satisfied: “Send someone to the tailor shops in the market to buy a set?”
The steward chuckled: “Shizi, the tailor shops have clothes in every color, but none as beautiful as this one.”
Qi Jingqing re-examined the robe in his hands.
Under the candlelight, the garment was the color of aged rice—if forced to call it white, it was a softened shade. The embroidery and folds were pressed perfectly. Although he usually didn’t care for these things, he could tell this was a very carefully made piece.
After hesitating for a long while, he finally spoke slowly: “Then let’s go with this one.”
The page boy immediately let out a breath of relief.
Once there was something to look forward to, time began to move particularly slowly. Qi Jingqing waited and waited, and at last, the night of the Lantern Festival arrived.
He arrived at the entrance of South Street as promised. A carriage was already waiting. A smile rose in Qi Jingqing’s eyes as he leaned on his cane and slowly climbed aboard.
Feng Lezhen had been lost in thought, and when she sensed the carriage curtain move, she looked up. When she saw Qi Jingqing entering with a single hand supporting himself on the cane, a flash of surprise passed through her eyes. “Why aren’t you using your wheelchair today?”
“The wheelchair draws too much attention. I might be recognized,” Qi Jingqing explained.
Feng Lezhen extended her hand to him. Qi Jingqing hesitated briefly, then took her hand and used it to help himself into the carriage.
“Will the cane be enough?” Feng Lezhen still remembered how he had broken into a sweat after just a few steps last time.
Qi Jingqing also seemed to recall that night, and a faint blush appeared on his face. “T-that time I was in a rush and went too fast. As long as I walk slowly, it’s not too bad.”
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “Good, then.”
Qi Jingqing’s lips curled into a smile. Just as he was about to say something else, he noticed a trace of distraction between her brows.
He paused and asked, “Is Your Highness troubled by something?”
“Hmm?” Feng Lezhen returned to her senses. “No, why do you ask?”
She was indeed quite troubled. Shen Suifeng had promised to return before the Lantern Festival, but now it was already evening, and he had yet to appear. She was worried that something might have happened to him and Chen Jinan, so she’d had Ah Ye lead people out of the city to look for them along the road. If she hadn’t promised Qi Jingqing to come out tonight, she would have surely stayed home to wait for news.
Qi Jingqing, seeing her deny it, did not press the matter. Instead, he lifted the carriage curtain and called for the page to bring in a box of candied fruits.
“These are freshly made by the kitchen. They’re quite good—please try them, Your Highness.” He offered the box with both hands.
Feng Lezhen smiled as she picked one out. After tasting it, she showed a hint of surprise: “It really is delicious.”
“If Your Highness likes it, I’ll have the kitchen make more,” Qi Jingqing said, his face lighting up with a smile.
Feng Lezhen nodded and, putting aside her worries, continued chatting with him.
As they chatted, the topic eventually drifted back to Qi Jingren.
“After you spoke with her, did she return home to be with your family today?” Feng Lezhen asked casually.
Qi Jingqing sighed. “She did return, but her and Father couldn’t even say a few words before they quarreled again.”
“They quarreled again?” Feng Lezhen’s eyes flickered. “Did it affect you?”
Qi Jingqing heard the concern in her voice, and his chest trembled slightly. “No, it didn’t.”
If it didn’t affect him, then the fight wasn’t serious enough. Feng Lezhen raised her eyebrows slightly and calmly sipped her tea.
By now it was around the hour of Xu, and the streets were bustling with noise. The carriage stopped silently at a corner, and Qi Jingqing and Feng Lezhen got off.
“Can you manage walking?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Qi Jingqing had the word “yes” on the tip of his tongue, but when he met her gaze, he swallowed it back and silently raised his right arm. “I’m afraid I’ll need to trouble Your Highness to support me.”
“In all of Great Qian, you’re probably the only one bold enough to make such a request of me.” Feng Lezhen joked as she reached out to support him.
Qi Jingqing smiled. “Much obliged, Your Highness.”
It was the Lantern Festival today—whether as grand as the capital or as poor as Yingguan, people everywhere celebrated with lantern riddles. The streets were packed with people, and the sound of cheers rose now and then from the acrobatic stalls.
Feng Lezhen supported Qi Jingqing as they slowly walked along the street, seemingly fully immersed in the festivities, yet also strangely out of place among the crowd.
After they had slowly walked a while, Feng Lezhen’s gaze fell on a peace charm made of bamboo.
She thought once again of Shen Suifeng, who still had not returned.
“Does Your Highness want it?” Qi Jingqing asked.
“Hm?” Feng Lezhen was momentarily caught off guard. “What?”
Qi Jingqing smiled and, leaning on his cane, walked toward a lantern by the roadside. Feng Lezhen watched as he took down a riddle from a lantern and finally realized what he was doing.
“The answer is ‘bright moon,’ isn’t it?” Qi Jingqing asked the vendor.
The shopkeeper clapped. “This gentleman is correct!”
Qi Jingqing smiled and went on to take down more riddles. By the time Feng Lezhen had made her way through the crowd to catch up, he had already solved five and received a peace charm.
“This is for Your Highness,” he said.
Feng Lezhen accepted it with a smile. “Thank you.”
Seeing her carefully put away the charm, Qi Jingqing seemed encouraged and started solving more riddles.
After he had won several more little prizes, Feng Lezhen quickly dragged him away.
“I can still guess a few more,” Qi Jingqing frowned lightly.
“I know you’re smart, but leave some fun for the others,” Feng Lezhen shot him a look. “These are more than enough.”
Qi Jingqing looked at the pile of things in her arms and smiled. “Let me carry those.”
“You’d better take care of yourself first,” Feng Lezhen sighed. Just as she spoke, a shadow flashed by, and when Qi Jingqing looked again, her hands were already empty.
“Your Highness’s guards are truly impressive,” Qi Jingqing said with a laugh.
Feng Lezhen smiled as well. “People of mine are never lacking.”
The hidden guard lurking among the crowd silently straightened his back with pride.
After the riddles, they went to watch the acrobatics. Feng Lezhen occasionally spaced out, occasionally glanced at Qi Jingqing’s face, worried he might get tired and fall ill again.
Qi Jingqing could also sense her distraction but didn’t mind. She was the Eldest Princess, burdened with countless concerns. For her to spare time to accompany him tonight and to care for him as she did—that was already enough.
People who are too greedy often face retribution.
So this was enough.
The two of them followed the crowd forward, and before they realized it, they had arrived at an open area. The space was already surrounded by people, but there was only one person tending to a fire in the center.
“Are they going to do molten iron fireworks?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Qi Jingqing nodded. “Your Highness recognizes it?”
“I saw it once before in the Central Plains. It was spectacular and beautiful—didn’t expect Yingguan to have it too,” Feng Lezhen said, then hesitated slightly. “But with Yingguan’s climate, can it even work?”
“It should be fine. Yingguan holds it every Lantern Festival. If it didn’t work, how could it have lasted so many years?” Qi Jingqing said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
Feng Lezhen caught the hesitation in his voice and couldn’t help but feel curious: “You’ve never seen it?”
“This is my first time going out for Lantern Festival,” Qi Jingqing explained with a smile.
Feng Lezhen paused when she heard that, and immediately showed sympathy: “Our dear Shizi—how pitiful indeed.”
She said… our dear Shizi.
Qi Jingqing’s heart skipped a beat. And just in that moment, a sharp crack rang out from the open space ahead—then came a burst of firelight, erupting into a magnificent spectacle.
The firelight lit up Feng Lezhen’s face in warm hues. Qi Jingqing’s throat tightened. Suddenly, he felt like everything else had faded away—heaven and earth disappeared—only Feng Lezhen remained in his eyes.
“Your Highness…”
He couldn’t help but call out to her in a low voice.
Feng Lezhen was still immersed in the stunning display of molten iron fireworks. Hearing him, she instinctively turned her head—and happened to fall right into his gaze.
She paused briefly, then suddenly smiled. “Your outfit today looks very nice.”
Qi Jingqing’s eyes flickered slightly. “Really?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you?” Feng Lezhen laughed.
Another explosion lit up the sky again, firelight blooming brighter than before, met with cheers that grew louder and louder. Qi Jingqing’s lips moved—he seemed to say something.
Feng Lezhen didn’t catch it. Just as she was about to lean in and ask, she suddenly heard someone call from behind: “Ah Tao!”
She froze for a moment. Then, as if realizing something, she spun around—and saw Shen Suifeng dressed in snowy white, smiling as he waved in her direction.
“Ah Tao!” he called again.
Feng Lezhen broke into her first truly relieved smile of the night. Without a care for propriety or decorum, she ran toward him. Shen Suifeng’s smile grew even broader as he opened his arms and caught her in a tight embrace.
There’s nothing more moving in this world than lovers reunited after a long parting.
Qi Jingqing watched this scene—which outshone even the molten fireworks—with a blank expression in his eyes.
