CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 200: BIRTHDAY

"Commandery Princess," a familiar hoarse voice sounded from behind.

Jiang Shaohua turned around and smiled slightly at the handsome young man not far away: "The annual Lantern Festival is quite lively. Didn’t you go see the lanterns?"

The young man smiled and said, "I’m not fond of crowds."

This young man was none other than Cui Du.

With the turn of a new year, Cui Du had grown a bit taller. After nearly a year of taking medicinal soups, his voice had improved significantly. It had gone from being harsh and grating to just slightly hoarse now.

However, Cui Du had developed the habit of listening more and speaking less. Even in the past, he was someone who enjoyed peace and quiet and indeed wasn’t fond of crowds.

Jiang Shaohua smiled gently and signaled with her eyes for him to come closer and speak.

Qin Huma and Meng Sanbao were already used to this. The two of them quickly gestured, and all the trusted aides retreated ten meters away. This way, they could ensure the Commandery Princess’s safety without disturbing her conversation with Mr. Cui.

Cui Du walked up to Jiang Shaohua’s side and suddenly seemed a bit bashful. He quickly pulled out a flat wooden box from his sleeve: "Today is the Commandery Princess’s birthday, and this is my birthday gift to you."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and accepted it. After opening it, she found a Black Peach Wood Hairpin inside. Its design was simple, with a half-blooming crabapple flower at the end, polished to a very smooth and glossy finish, showing the care put into it.

As the esteemed Commandery Princess, Jiang Shaohua had seen her fair share of extravagant gifts. This Black Peach Wood Hairpin was the most humble birthday gift she had ever received.

Yet, unexpectedly, she liked it very much: "Did you make this yourself?"

Cui Du’s face turned slightly red, and he nodded: "Yes."

"Everything I eat, drink, use, and spend on comes from the Commandery Princess. To give a birthday gift, I couldn’t very well spend your silver. So, I thought I would make a wooden hairpin with my own hands as a token of my sincerity."

"I specifically went to the workshop to seek guidance from Lu the craftsman, who is skilled in woodworking."

"I worked on the hairpin for a month and ruined over a dozen before producing this best one."

"I know the Commandery Princess is used to fine clothing and jewelry. This Black Peach Wood Hairpin is nothing in comparison. However, it is my heartfelt gesture, and I hope the Commandery Princess won’t laugh at it."

Cui Du mustered the courage to look her in the eye.

The Commandery Princess smiled radiantly and placed the Black Peach Wood Hairpin beside her hair: "How does it look? Nice, isn’t it?"

Cui Du felt his heart skip a heavy beat, as if it was about to jump out of his chest. Under that dazzling smile, even the lanterns in the sky seemed to pale.

"Does it not look nice?" Jiang Shaohua asked again in surprise.

"It looks nice," Cui Du finally regained his voice: "It’s beautiful. The Commandery Princess is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life."

Jiang Shaohua smiled again, took the peach wood hairpin off, put it back in the wooden box, and slipped it into her sleeve pocket with a series of smooth motions: "In the Da Liang Dynasty, when an unmarried young man gives a girl a hairpin, it has an extraordinary meaning. You’re new here and probably don’t understand the customs yet. But let it pass this time. In the future, be mindful not to do anything that could be misunderstood."

Cui Du: "..."

Cui Du swallowed back all the words he wanted to say when he met Jiang Shaohua’s clear gaze, and instead responded with a muffled sound.

Regardless, it was a night worth remembering forever.

Jiang Shaohua was in a good mood as well, and turned to smile at Cui Du: "I want to see the Lantern Festival. Would you like to come along?"

Cui Du immediately agreed: "I’ll accompany the Commandery Princess." Suddenly, he forgot that he had just claimed not to like crowds moments ago.

Jiang Shaohua smiled again, waved her hand, and Qin Huma and Meng Sanbao promptly rushed over with their fastest steps. After receiving orders, they immediately went to make arrangements.

Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong also arrived upon hearing the news, plus two close maids and Mrs. Zhang, who couldn’t leave without worrying. A large group of people escorted the Commandery Princess out of the Prince Mansion.

Tonight’s Lantern Festival was set on the widest and most bustling street of Nanyang County, only three streets away from the Prince Mansion. Jiang Shaohua ambled over there in this manner.

From afar, the noisy, laughing voices could be heard. The various-colored lanterns completely drove away the darkness, and almost all the townspeople came to join the festive crowd, making it a sea of people at first glance.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and instructed, "I’m just here to enjoy the excitement. Keep things low-key and don’t diminish the public’s enthusiasm."

Song Yuan had been away for several months. During these months, Qin Huma and Meng Sanbao took the lead and assumed the responsibility of protecting the Commandery Princess, becoming much more stable in their speech and actions than before.

Upon hearing the Commandery Princess’s instructions, the two responded and relayed the message down. Dozens of trusted aides quietly melted into the crowd.

In this way, Jiang Shaohua’s group did not stand out as much.

Of course, once Jiang Shaohua appeared, many townspeople recognized her. Some got so excited that they were about to kneel and bow.

"No need to kneel," Jiang Shaohua raised her voice slightly, her clear words carrying through to everyone: "You all enjoy the lanterns!"

The townspeople suppressed their excitement and responded loudly. While they said they would continue enjoying the lanterns, they couldn’t help but keep glancing back frequently.

This was their Commandery Princess.

Kind, benevolent, cherishing the people.

Their calm and peaceful lives were all thanks to the Commandery Princess’s protection.

"The Commandery Princess is really beautiful."

"Of course. Our Commandery Princess must be a celestial being reincarnated, beautiful and kind-hearted. May the Bodhisattva bless our Commandery Princess so that all her wishes come true and she lives a long and healthy life."

Jiang Shaohua’s keen ears caught bits and pieces of these remarks, causing her to curve her eyes in a smile.

Chen Jinyu, lively by nature and loving the lively atmosphere, couldn’t help but look around once she entered the Lantern Festival. Spotting an exquisite peach blossom lantern, she immediately said with a smile, "Commandery Princess, I will go guess the riddle and win a peach blossom lantern for you."

Jiang Shaohua nodded happily and joined Chen Jinyu up front.

Looking once more at the lantern vendor, who was so excited he was almost fainting, he stammered, "Whatever lantern the Commandery Princess fancies, just take it, no need to guess."

"How could that be," Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "Let’s stick to the Lantern Festival rules, guess the riddle, and then take the lantern."

Chen Jinyu, full of confidence, chimed in: "Yes, I’ll try to guess one."

"Surrounded by mountains, with mountains everywhere connecting. This riddle is simple, the answer is the word ’field’."

The vendor snapped out of it, quickly took down the peach blossom lantern, and handed it to Chen Jinyu.

Chen Jinyu happily held the peach blossom lantern and urged the Commandery Princess to guess one as well. Jiang Shaohua had studied since childhood, and in her previous life in the palace, she immersed herself in books for several years. Though claiming to have a wealth of knowledge might be an overstatement, guessing riddles was certainly not beyond her reach.

"One side is red, the other side is green, afraid of fire on one side, afraid of wind on the other." Jiang Shaohua read the riddle, thought for a moment: "It’s the character ’autumn’."

The vendor nodded repeatedly and handed over the crabapple lantern.

Ma Yaosong, eager to try, nudged Cui Du with his elbow: "Mr. Cui, want to give it a try?"

Initially, Cui Du felt nervous, fearing he would make a fool of himself. Now, after surveying the riddles, he found them relatively simple, gaining confidence and nodding in agreement.