Chapter Three: Lantern Riddles

The evening banquet had been meticulously prepared. Lanterns of all shapes and colors hung in rows throughout the hall, each with a small strip of paper dangling beneath—a riddle, it seemed.

In five years, she had never truly found herself amidst such joyous festivities, and her heart softened at the sight. She called for the chief steward and gave him a few instructions.

The chief steward, delighted, raised his voice and announced to the hall, “His Majesty has decreed: whoever proves themselves the most skilled at solving lantern riddles, regardless of rank or station, will be greatly rewarded!”

With Feng Yewu’s decree, the hall became even livelier, filled with laughter and spirited discussion as everyone competed to solve the riddles. Lu Jue joined the crowd with a smile, stepping to the center of the hall, selecting a lantern riddle, and began to ponder it in earnest.

“Just now, more than a dozen people tried and failed. Do you think you can solve it?” The young eunuch in charge of that section passed by, sizing up Lu Jue with a mocking glance.

Lu Jue unfolded the paper, his gaze drifting toward Feng Yewu, who sat upon the phoenix throne, enjoying the performances before her. He murmured, “The emperor descends to the mortal realm, snow transforms into emptiness. The answer is ‘Phoenix’.”

“…I stand corrected!” The young eunuch, surprised that this unfamiliar face possessed such wit, begrudgingly handed Lu Jue a red cord as proof of his success.

“I don’t want this cord. May I have the lantern instead?” Lu Jue lifted the flower lantern, turning it in his hands as he spoke to the eunuch.

The eunuch looked startled, but with one less riddle to manage, he was happy to oblige. “Take it, it’s all yours.”

“Thank you.” Lu Jue gave a gentle smile.

Feng Yewu was not particularly interested in the riddles, but found the Western region’s whirling dance before the steps quite captivating. She watched with growing delight, only to catch snippets of conversation among the palace maids.

“Who is that man? He’s so handsome!” “I heard he’s the emperor’s new attendant. I once saw him admiring flowers in the imperial garden—I almost thought he was an immortal descended from heaven!” “Oh, I must solve more riddles! If I win a reward, I’ll give it to him!” “Me too…”

Quite a number of palace maids gathered around Lu Jue as he solved riddles, their expressions full of admiration, chattering and laughing. Feng Yewu considered this; with Lu Jue’s refined looks and demeanor, it was only natural that he attracted such affection.

Not far away, Lu Jue held a lantern, intently raising his head to ponder a riddle, his profile strikingly handsome. Did he too wish to win a reward and gift it to someone he cherished? Was his preference for gentle, quiet women, or perhaps someone more lively? Or even… Feng Yewu’s thoughts wandered further and further, and it was only after a moment that she snapped back to herself—what was she thinking!

“Your Majesty…” Lu Jue, at some point, had approached with a lantern in hand and now looked at Feng Yewu in surprise. Only then did Feng Yewu realize her ears were flushed with embarrassment, and she forced herself to maintain composure, suppressing the strange flutter in her heart as she replied coldly, “It’s nothing.”

Lu Jue seemed puzzled, but gave a helpless smile and offered the lantern to Feng Yewu. “I wished to give this to you.”

Feng Yewu arched a brow, reaching out to take it. Upon the lantern was painted a fledgling phoenix perched at the edge of a dense bamboo grove, ready to spread its wings.

Lu Jue said, “I don’t know which maid came up with this design. Last time in the imperial garden, I noticed you often looked at the bamboo on my robe and guessed you must like it, so I brought you this lantern.”

His attentiveness, so refined and delicate, startled Feng Yewu inwardly. Outwardly, she merely gave a faint smile. “You are thoughtful. Do not trouble yourself over me. Go now.”

Lu Jue bowed and withdrew. Feng Yewu watched his upright figure, her heart stirred. If he truly cherished someone, would he treat her with the same meticulous care he showed his sovereign? The thought made Feng Yewu feel strangely unsettled, and she hastened to banish it from her mind.

There were many lanterns, and the palace staff, failing to solve one riddle, would quickly move on to another, eager to win as many as possible.

Lu Jue alone remained calm, methodically solving each riddle in sequence, pondering briefly before revealing the answer—each time correct, without a single error! He soon traversed half the hall, his collection of red cords nearly a hundred. Eventually, even the maids and eunuchs abandoned their own attempts, gathering around Lu Jue to watch, occasionally erupting in soft cheers.

“This is the final riddle!” The chief steward’s shrill voice snapped Feng Yewu from her drowsy reverie, and the hall gradually quieted. Lu Jue held the last lantern, reading the riddle aloud:

“When swans fly away, birds do not return,
Countless cold stars shine beside the boat,
Wishing to speak, yet words cannot be found,
You and I, together as husband and wife…”

Lu Jue’s cool, clear voice grew softer as he spoke. “The answer is, ‘I am fond of you…’” His words trailed off, and at the end, Lu Jue lowered his head, silent, as if confessing to some beloved woman in his heart.

Feng Yewu was suddenly wide awake; the maids near Lu Jue blushed and lowered their heads, while hushed whispers began anew.

The chief steward laughed, “My, how impressive! Tonight’s reward surely belongs to you!” He leaned in and whispered, “That reward can be gifted to the woman you cherish!”

Lu Jue smiled, raising his eyes to Feng Yewu, his smile deep but silent.

Feng Yewu heard the steward’s words clearly, and an inexplicable irritation arose in her heart, distracting her from the meaningful look in Lu Jue’s eyes.

To gift it to the woman he cherishes…