220: Visit the lantern festival with the beauties!

"Big Brother!"

Seeing Li Shengyuan, Li Ruotang exclaimed. She didn't have so many qualms and just wanted to hug Li Shengyuan, no longer caring for the food in her hands.

"Big Brother... Tangtang missed you so much!" Li Ruotang's chubby, greasy face rubbed against Li Shengyuan's embrace.

Li Shengyuan's face showed a tender smile, and he said softly, "Big Brother missed Tangtang very much too. After not seeing you for so long, Tangtang has grown up..."

Li Ruotang, however, raised her head and pouted, saying, "Big Brother, you're lying... If you missed Tangtang, why didn't you come to see me sooner...?"

Li Shengyuan coughed dryly with a hint of guilt and smiled, "Big Brother just had a lot of things to be busy with, otherwise I would have come to see Tangtang much earlier."

"Alright then..." Li Ruotang nodded, then showed a brilliant smile and threw herself into Li Shengyuan's arms.

As long as she could see Big Brother, that was enough.

Princess Pingyang, on the other hand, blinked, then suddenly showed a mischievous smile and lowered her voice, looking at Female Emperor Mu Qingning:

"So Imperial... ahem... so Imperial Sister also sneaks out to play?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "sneaks out."

Perhaps it was because she had been outside for a long time and her wings had hardened, or because Li Shengyuan's strength had given her confidence, making her feel bold enough to push Female Emperor Mu Qingning a little...

She actually dared to tease the Empress.

Female Emperor Mu Qingning's ear tips reddened slightly, and she glared at her with feigned authority, but due to her disguised face, it lacked any deterrent power.

She could only put on her usual majesty: "I... I am merely observing the people's lives, seeing how they are faring..."

Before she finished speaking, Li Shengyuan stuffed a sugar-roasted chestnut into her mouth. He had taken it from Tangtang's hand.

"Mmm!" The Empress puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, showing a touch of girlish charm.

Yue Xiyan and her disciple watched dumbfounded. Was this the majestic and aloof Empress of Great Gan from before?

Shen Xinrong chuckled softly, and Yue Xiyan and her disciple immediately showed an expression of "I understand."

They also hadn't expected Li Shengyuan to actually get the high and mighty Empress to come out to a lantern festival.

It seemed the relationship between these two, a senior and junior, was even more extraordinarily close than they had imagined!

"Big Brother!"

The little food-lover Li Ruotang cheered, like a joyful little rabbit, pulling Li Shengyuan's big hand and holding up a sugar figurine, offering it to him like a treasure.

"This one is so delicious!"

Li Shengyuan smiled and ruffled her head, taking the sugar figurine and taking a bite.

Seeing this, Female Emperor Mu Qingning subtly pinched his waist—this action was caught by the sharp-eyed Princess Pingyang, who immediately laughed even more heartily.

It seemed Imperial Sister was not far from being pushed along!

"Since we've met, why don't we stroll together?" Shen Xinrong suggested gently, her gaze shifting between the Empress and Li Shengyuan.

"It's livelier with more people."

Because of Li Shengyuan, they actually didn't have too much reverence for this Empress of Great Gan.

Instead, they felt more like sisters, or perhaps rivals in love...

Female Emperor Mu Qingning was about to politely decline when Princess Pingyang already affectionately linked arms with her:

"Exactly~ It's no fun for Imperial Sister to monopolize... ahem, to stroll alone!"

Saying that, she winked at Li Shengyuan, "We can even help you cover up."

Now that they weren't in the Imperial Palace and she wasn't wearing her dragon robes, Princess Pingyang's fear of her Imperial Sister had also diminished greatly.

Amidst the fading lamplight, Li Shengyuan looked at the Empress, surrounded by her 'sisters' and showing a rare moment of embarrassment, a gentle smile blooming in his eyes.

This was probably the first time his confidantes had gathered together!

For now, their relationship seemed very harmonious.

The subtle rivalry between Female Emperor Mu Qingning and Yue Xiyan when they first met had also vanished, replaced by joyful laughter.

Suddenly, Li Shengyuan's palm warmed. He looked down to find Tangtang secretly stuffing sesame candy into his hand, whispering:

"Big Brother, hide this well. This is Tangtang's favorite, don't let the Imperial Sisters see it."

When a child shares their favorite thing, it means they truly enjoy playing with you.

After a long while, the sound of the night drum echoed in the distance. Female Emperor Mu Qingning seemed to sense it and turned back, her gaze meeting Li Shengyuan's.

Amidst the myriad lanterns, she subtly mouthed: "Go home?"

Li Shengyuan nodded, taking her hand when no one was looking.

Princess Pingyang and the others pretended to look at the lanterns and turned their heads, but their lips curled high—the lights in Qingyao Garden tonight seemed three points warmer than in previous years.