The streets on New Year's Eve were indeed bustling with activity. Even the freezing weather could not stop the common people's enthusiasm for the approaching new year.
An Sheng, wearing a large cloak, held A'mei in his arms as they walked down the crowded street. A'mei was likewise wearing a pure white fur cloak, holding a delicate and small hand warmer in her arms. The two of them, one in white and one in black, walked forward slowly.
Behind them, several hidden guards and attendants followed at a discreet distance.
Douzi ran back and forth in front of them, holding a stick of candied hawthorn. The snow on the street had been swept and piled up on the side of the road by the merchants. Children from every household came out to play, building snowmen and having snowball fights. The rows of snowmen looked exceptionally festive.
The couple stopped and started, following Douzi's footsteps. Suddenly, An Sheng's gaze fell on A'mei's cold, red nose, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you cold?"
At this moment, A'mei's eyes were bright. She was so happy; how could she possibly feel cold?
She shook her head and said obediently, "Husband, I'm not cold."
Just as she spoke, a burst of playful cheering came from a gathered crowd ahead. A'mei's attention was drawn to it, and she looked over carefully to see that it was a long stall for guessing lantern riddles.
She grabbed Douzi, who had just darted back to her side. "Douzi, let's go guess lantern riddles, okay?"
Douzi didn't like guessing lantern riddles at all. He shook his head decisively, stuck out his tongue, and pointed to the street to the west that mainly sold various foods. "Ah, I don't want to go. Sister, you and Brother-in-law go. I want to go over there."
A'mei tapped Douzi's little head. "Didn't you just eat candied hawthorn? All you know is how to eat. Did you forget your toothache from before?"
Douzi stuck out his tongue again and acted spoiled to please A'mei. "Sister, I just won't eat anything sweet, and it will be fine."
A'mei couldn't do anything about Douzi. Thinking that it was the New Year anyway and the most important thing was for the child to be happy, she indulged him, "Alright then, no sweets allowed. Off you go."
As they were talking, An Sheng shot a glance to the side, and Wu Da, who had been waiting not far away, came over. "Little Master, it's crowded with people. This servant will take you."
Douzi cheered and skipped away, following Wu Da.
As soon as Douzi left, A'mei leaned close to An Sheng's side. She pursed her lips into a smile, her watery eyes blinking, and called out softly, "Husband."
An Sheng took A'mei's small hand, the corners of his lips curling up in an indulgent smile. "Let's go. It's crowded over there, so don't get squished. I will protect you."
The place for guessing lantern riddles was indeed lively, and quite a few people were gathered around at the moment.
The boss was a good businessman and had set up multiple lantern riddles ranging from easy to difficult.
For the simple ones, as long as you could answer them, a lantern that originally cost five copper coins would be discounted by one copper coin. For the harder ones, it would be discounted by two copper coins. For the most difficult ones, as long as you could answer them, a lantern would be given away for free.
With such a lively event, everyone naturally wanted to join in the fun.
Protected by An Sheng, A'mei squeezed to the front of the row of stalls. She casually opened a simple riddle and looked at it seriously.
The riddle read: One month and one day is not today.
A'mei pondered for a moment, then her eyes curved into a smile. She turned to look at An Sheng, looking pretty and lively, and said happily, "Husband, husband, I guessed this one."
An Sheng slightly raised his eyes, a doting and gentle smile always hanging on his lips. While carefully protecting her, he cooperated fully and asked, "Is that so? You guessed it so quickly. What is the answer?"
"It's the character 'Ming' for bright, as in tomorrow!" A'mei grinned from ear to ear.
An Sheng also laughed and praised, "My wife is truly exceptionally smart."
Being praised by her husband made A'mei extremely happy. Her pretty appearance, filled with a little secret joy and smugness, instantly captivated An Sheng's heart.
Seeing this, An Sheng felt his heart become incredibly soft at this moment.
A'mei then went on to look at the next riddle.
It only had four words written on it: Half of the Spring and Autumn.
"Half of the Spring and Autumn?" A'mei furrowed her brows and read it carefully again.
A'mei thought and thought, but still couldn't figure it out. Then, her watery eyes looked at An Sheng for help.
"Husband, I can't guess this one."
An Sheng patiently guided her, "Be a little more careful. Look closely at these four words and think about it slowly."
A'mei pursed her small mouth, tilted her head, and thought and thought. Finally, she simply pouted and whined to An Sheng, "Oh, I just can't think of it. Did you guess it, husband?"
"Naturally."
A'mei was curious. "What is it, what is it? Husband, hurry and tell me."
An Sheng's gaze fell on A'mei's charming face, a flicker in his eyes. He suddenly lowered his head, leaned close to A'mei's ear, and whispered, "Give me a kiss, and I will tell you."
After hearing An Sheng's words clearly, A'mei's eyes widened instantly. She looked left and right, and said blankly, "But, there are so many people around!"
Suddenly, An Sheng pinched A'mei's chin and planted a fleeting kiss on her lips. He then moved away casually, continuing to look at A'mei with smiling eyes as if nothing had just happened.
Caught off guard by the kiss, A'mei's face grew hot, and a blush crept up her cheeks at a visible speed. Feeling guilty, she looked around, feeling both shy and shocked. She glared at An Sheng playfully, snorted, and complained, "Husband!"
Seeing A'mei's shy and lively appearance at this moment made An Sheng's eyes darken slightly.
A'mei was already protected in An Sheng's arms, and they were so close. An Sheng's face slowly leaned in again, and this time his warm lips pressed against A'mei's completely red ear, landing as lightly as a butterfly. "You are my wife. Naturally, I can kiss you whenever I want, no matter when or where. What does it have to do with anyone else?"
A'mei: ...
Seeing that the wife in his arms was about to turn from shy to annoyed, An Sheng knew when to stop. He immediately stood still and said with a normal expression, "Do you still want to know the answer? Be a good girl and give me your hand."
Saying this, he took A'mei's hand, slowly smoothed out her five fingers, and using his finger as a pen, slowly wrote a character stroke by stroke on her soft palm.
A'mei's attention was successfully diverted. She first let out a sound as if suddenly realizing something, and then turned back into An Sheng's delicate and soft little A'mei.
"So it's the character 'Qin'!"
As she spoke, A'mei's eyes sparkled, her moist eyes full of admiration and love. "Husband, you are so amazing!"
An Sheng's eyes shifted at this moment, and he suddenly smiled slightly.
He asked, "Do you want to continue guessing lantern riddles?"
A'mei shook her head, smiling innocently. "No more guessing. We've already guessed two, so we can get two copper coins off. Husband, hurry and buy me a lantern. I want that jade rabbit one."
"Okay."
The sky quickly darkened, and the two of them carried their lanterns, continuing forward with the crowd.
Along the way, they saw lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere. Firecrackers sounded in unison, fireworks bloomed, and there were many exquisite items. However, A'mei just felt that nothing was as beautiful as the lantern she and her husband held in their hands.
Suddenly, A'mei stopped in her tracks and called out softly, "Husband."
An Sheng stopped and looked back.
At this moment, A'mei was holding up the lantern. The blush on the young woman's face was completely visible even under the illumination of the dim candlelight outdoors.
She said:
"I suddenly really want to kiss you too, husband. Can we go home now?"
An Sheng: ...
