After finishing brewing the wine, Jiang Li stepped out into the courtyard and saw Zhang Yingying peeking into the tavern from outside. When Yingying spotted her, her round eyes lit up with excitement.
"A Li, hurry! The temple fair is about to start!"
Zhang Yingying had come to take Jiang Li to the temple fair. On West Willow Street, there was a temple with a thriving incense tradition. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the temple hosted a "Willow Shooting" competition.
The "Willow Shooting" competition, as the name suggested, involved hiding pigeons inside gourds, which were then tied to willow branches. Contestants would shoot arrows to break open the gourds and release the pigeons. The winner was determined by whose pigeon flew the highest.
Zhang Yingying had been talking about this event for the past two months.
Jiang Li informed her mother, Yang Hui Niang, that she was going to the temple fair, then linked arms with Zhang Yingying as they headed toward West Willow Street.
"I heard that in Jinling City, the Willow Shooting competition is done on horseback! Those handsome young men gallop on their horses, shooting arrows with incredible precision—it's so impressive! Our Tong'an City is just too small. Next year, I’m definitely going to beg my father to take me to Jinling to see it!"
The temple fair's Willow Shooting competition was more about fun than skill. There were no horses involved; contestants simply stood in a corridor several dozen feet away and shot arrows at the willow trees.
While it wasn’t as challenging as shooting from horseback, it was still no easy feat.
Jiang Li had attended the fair last year, and out of ten participants, only three or four managed to hit the gourds.
By the time the two girls arrived, the willow trees outside the temple were already adorned with gourds. The bright red gourds hung from the flexible, resilient branches, swaying and clinking in the wind.
At the end of the corridor, on a red wooden table typical of temple settings, sat three dazzling glass lanterns.
"Wow, the prizes this time are glass lanterns!" Zhang Yingying exclaimed, pointing at the lanterns. "A Li, didn’t you want a glass lantern during the Lantern Festival? Maybe I’ll give it a try and win one for you!"
Zhang Yingying had been pampered since childhood and was even weaker than Jiang Li. She probably couldn’t even draw a bowstring. But seeing her enthusiasm, Jiang Li didn’t want to dampen her spirits. She smiled and said, "If you want to give it a try, go ahead. But don’t worry about winning the lantern for me. I’m not as keen on it as I used to be."
Jiang Li’s voice was gentle, her eyes smiling, with a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Huo Jue had just stepped out of the carriage when he saw Jiang Li’s radiant smile and heard her say, "I’m not as keen on the glass lantern as I used to be."
He lowered his gaze, walked over, and asked casually, "A Li, do you want a glass lantern?"
Jiang Li and Zhang Yingying turned at the familiar voice. Under the soft sunlight stood a young man in a simple green robe, tall and elegant like a pine tree, his presence as striking as the moon. Just standing there, he drew attention effortlessly.
Jiang Li was surprised to see Huo Jue at the temple fair. Her eyes sparkled with delight. "Huo Jue, why are you here?"
Earlier, when they had parted, Huo Jue had mentioned he had important matters to attend to. Jiang Li had thought she wouldn’t see him again today.
Huo Jue met her starry-eyed gaze, his expression softening. "I finished my work, so I came to find you."
After speaking, he turned to Zhang Yingying and gave her a slight nod.
Zhang Yingying greeted Huo Jue with a smile, but inwardly, she was amazed. When he looked at Jiang Li, his eyes were gentle, his voice warm. But the moment his gaze shifted to her, his face turned cold and indifferent.
In Zhang Yingying’s eyes, Huo Jue was always reserved, rarely showing emotion. The fact that he could display such tenderness meant Jiang Li had truly won his heart!
Zhang Yingying was thrilled for Jiang Li.
She knew she could never pluck this lofty flower, but her best friend had done it! She felt proud by association.
If Huo Jue were to pass the imperial exams and become a scholar, Jiang Li would be the wife of a scholar! How impressive and prestigious would that be!
After exchanging greetings with Zhang Yingying, Huo Jue turned to Jiang Li and said, "I’ll win a glass lantern for you."
He said it as casually as if he were offering to pick a flower.
Jiang Li quickly grabbed his sleeve. "No need, really. I’m not that interested in the lantern anymore."
It wasn’t that Jiang Li didn’t want the lantern—if he could win it, that would be wonderful. But what if he lost? Would he feel embarrassed?
It was just a glass lantern. She couldn’t bear to see him upset.
Zhang Yingying, unaware of Jiang Li’s thoughts, assumed she was just being modest and chimed in, "A Li has been dreaming about a glass lantern since the Lantern Festival. If you can win one for her, Huo Jue, that would be perfect!"
Huo Jue glanced at Jiang Li, perhaps seeing through her concerns, and smiled. "Don’t worry, A Li. I’ll win."
---
In a carriage across the street, Wei Huan lifted a corner of the curtain and peered through the half-open window at the young girl outside the corridor. A smile tugged at her lips. "Nanny, the girl in the pale yellow dress must be A Li. Just as A Jue said, she’s a lovely and kind-hearted girl."
Nanny Tong couldn’t help but chuckle.
How could one judge someone’s character from a single glance? But Wei Huan’s fondness for her brother extended to the girl he loved, so of course, she saw only the best in her.
Nanny Tong held the curtain open and glanced outside. She saw the bright-eyed girl watching Huo Jue’s retreating figure, her smile radiant and utterly charming.
Nanny Tong felt that the girl’s smile could lift anyone’s spirits. She smiled and replied, "How could the young lady our young master loves be anything but wonderful? Don’t you remember, Miss, how picky he’s been since he was a child?"
Wei Huan laughed. "Grandmother used to worry that A Jue would never find a wife. He’s always been like this—if he doesn’t like something, he won’t take it, no matter who offers it. Who would have thought he’d grow up and quietly find himself a wife?"
As they chatted, they watched Jiang Li for a while before finally lowering the curtain. Soon, the carriage slowly made its way to Zhu Fu Street.
Wei Huan touched a string of mutton-fat jade bracelets on her wrist and mused, "Nanny, do you think this bracelet would make a suitable gift for A Li?"
Nanny Tong’s gaze fell on the bracelet, and she felt a pang of reluctance.
It wasn’t that she was materialistic, but this bracelet had been a gift from the old lady to Wei Huan.
The eighteen exquisite mutton-fat jade beads were smooth and translucent, each carved with an image of Buddha and blessed by the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple. It symbolized enduring blessings and a lifetime of peace.
Such a bracelet could easily serve as a family heirloom for a noble family.
After the Wei family was annihilated, all their possessions were seized. When Wei Huan was rescued, the only things she had left were this bracelet and the jade pendant around her neck.
Such meaningful heirlooms were irreplaceable.
Despite her reluctance, Nanny Tong knew Wei Huan had already made up her mind. She replied, "Miss A Li has fair skin. This bracelet would look beautiful on her."
Wei Huan smiled. "Giving just a bracelet feels a bit inadequate. It’s a pity we left in such a hurry. Otherwise, among the things Xue Wu gave me, there’s a set of jewelry that would suit A Li perfectly."
At the mention of Xue Wu, Nanny Tong hesitated before saying, "Miss, are we really not going back to the capital?"
"Of course not. We’ll return with A Jue and A Li when he goes to the capital for the exams."
Nanny Tong thought of Xue Wu, who had been injured in the inn but refused to see a doctor, stubbornly waiting for Wei Huan to tend to his wounds. She sighed softly and said no more.
---
When Huo Jue said he would participate in the Willow Shooting competition, he meant it. He walked over, obtained a token from the temple monks, picked up a bow and arrow, and stepped into the corridor.
Jiang Li had known Huo Jue for six years but had never seen him shoot an arrow. She had no idea when he had learned.
Zhang Yingying, of course, hadn’t seen it either. She nudged Jiang Li and whispered, "A Li, do you think Huo Jue will win?"
Jiang Li nodded confidently. "He will."
Seeing Jiang Li’s unwavering faith, Zhang Yingying smiled and suddenly remembered an incident from three years ago.
It had been a sunny early summer day, much like today. Zhang Yingying had wanted to fly a kite in the mountains and had dragged Jiang Li along.
Unexpectedly, a wild boar had charged out of the woods.
The boar was huge and fierce, sending the two girls running for their lives.
Zhang Yingying, being frail, could only run a few steps before collapsing.
In a panic, Jiang Li picked up a stone and threw it at the boar, then dashed off in another direction. The boar, enraged, chased after her.
When Jiang Li returned to find Zhang Yingying, her hands and neck were covered in scratches, and her dress was filthy. Zhang Yingying was horrified.
Later, Jiang Li explained that she had rolled down a hillside while trying to escape the boar.
Zhang Yingying wiped her tears as she escorted Jiang Li home. As they approached the tavern, Huo Jue happened to step out of the pharmacy.
Back then, Huo Jue was just a young boy, cold and aloof toward everyone.
But when he saw Jiang Li’s disheveled state, there was a flicker of something in his usually icy eyes.
Zhang Yingying thought back carefully. That flicker had probably been surprise and... anger?
At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it. But now, it suddenly made sense.
"A Li," Zhang Yingying nudged Jiang Li again. "Do you remember that time when we were twelve and ran into the wild boar in the mountains?"
How could Jiang Li forget? It was etched into her memory!
They had been happily flying kites when suddenly a wild boar appeared and started chasing them.
What embarrassed her the most was that Huo Jue had seen her in such a sorry state when she returned.
Not only had he seen her, but he had also walked over with a cold expression and asked, "Who did this to you?"
Huo Jue rarely spoke to her, and their private interactions were almost nonexistent.
His sudden question had startled both her and Zhang Yingying.
Back then, Jiang Li had been so intimidated by his icy gaze that she stammered, "I—I was chased by a boar, and then I rolled down a hill."
To this day, Jiang Li remembered the look on Huo Jue’s face when he heard her answer—a mix of disbelief and amusement.
He probably thought she was foolish and ridiculous...
"Of course I remember," Jiang Li pursed her lips and turned to Zhang Yingying, puzzled. "Why are you bringing that up now?"
Zhang Yingying glanced at Huo Jue in the distance, then back at Jiang Li, and smiled mischievously. "A Li, do you think it’s possible that Huo Jue has liked you for a long time?"
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