Double Ninth Festival was around the corner.

Since Zheng, Imperial Noble Concubine Duanmin of Jingyang Palace just died not long ago and Huanan Xin, the Emperor, argued with Imperial Mother Xiao of Cining Palace because of Zheng, the family banquet in the Palace was far less lively than last year. Everything was arranged more like a formality.

Xiao Miaoyin was also sensible. In the early morning, she declined the Emperor's invitation to climb Yufeng Mountain on the pretext of her poor health and only attended the entertainment banquet held in Baohe Palace on time at sunset.

After several cups of wine, the Emperor was haggard and drunk. He shouted "Yunxi" to the beautiful women who danced gracefully on the stage and overturned the table on which there were all kinds of wine and delicacies. He cried and made a lot of noise to release the sorrow that had accumulated in his heart for many days.

The Imperial Mother was furious and left, and the family banquet finally ended.

…

The evening breeze came into the deep courtyard of Shuofeng Hall, with the coolness of autumn swaying all over the ground.

Xingmu, a palace maid, quietly walked to the porch and gently put a peachy cloak embroidered with the pattern of dandelion on Commandery Princess Jingle. She gave Jingle a piece of glutinous rice cake and said sympathetically.

"Just now, the family banquet was terrible. Your Highness, you must have not eaten well. Here you are. I've tasted. The sugar cake of sweet plum flavor is the best. Your Highness, have some quickly."

"Thanks."

Jingle stared at a certain point on the ground with her washed-out beautiful eyes and carefully put the sugar cake in her hand to her mouth.

Seeing the girl take a bite and chew it slowly, the palace maid raised her thin eyebrows and leaned over to her. Xingmu asked in a flattering way.

"How do you like it? Is it delicious?"

Jingle smiled happily and took several more bites of the cake. Then she nodded and puckered her face in a smile.

"Delicious. It's so delicious. There are my favorite dried plums and honey!"

"Ha-ha. Seeing you gobble it, I know that my choice is right..."

"Is that because she's really hungry?"

Leshuang's laughter suddenly came into the courtyard.

Jingle was overjoyed. She couldn't care about the taste of the sugar cake but got up and groped. Then she slowly moved.

"Big brother? Are you here? Where are you? Tell me quickly."

Xingmu hurriedly held the girl who was unable to move freely. She even didn’t have time to salute Leshuang again and just lowered her head to him with a smile.

"I pay my respects to you, Master Le."

"Where is he?"

Being helped by the maid to the middle of the courtyard, Jingle turned around and pricked up her ears to distinguish carefully.

Xingmu couldn't bear to see her so anxious. She guided Jingle to turn to the left, pointed to the high palace wall, and said.

"Your Highness, Master Le is right in front of you. He's standing on the wall and smiling at you. He looks so dashing in black!"

That day, Commandery Princess Jingle was trapped. Her afterbrain was injured by the hundredor of the Eastern Depot and she was pushed into the pool. Saved by Noble Concubine Hui, she finally survived. However, since then, she had been blind.

According to the imperial doctors in the Palace, her eyes were not injured, but blood clots accumulated in her brain, making her temporarily blind.

If one day the blood clot disappeared, she would still be able to restore her eyesight.

After quelling the rebellion of Yue Xilou, Imperial Mother Xiao tried to take Jingle back to Cining Palace but was rejected by her.

She did miss the Empress Dowager, but compared to the life in Cining Palace, which had cumbersome rules and strict constraints, the girl now more longed for the life in Shuofeng Hall.

In Shuofeng Hall, she had someone she wanted to wait for every day.

After successfully being the leader of the Eastern Depot, Leshuang went to Shuofeng Hall more frequently. He usually came in the evening.

He often supported Jingle and walked in the courtyard, teaching her to feel the breeze with her heart. Smelling the flowers in the courtyard, he also carefully explained to her the changes of grass and trees at the turn of seasons.

His delicate gentleness and patience soothed the inner wounds for the girl so that she no longer had any anxiety or panic in the face of the unknown dark world.

With the care of Leshuang, Jingle finally restored her confidence.

She trusted and relied on him.

When she sat under the moonlit eaves at night and waited for him with a longing for happiness. It was the happiest time of every day she spent in the dark, just like this moment.

The man had come to the courtyard slowly when the three people were talking. He approached the two girls and looked at Jingle with a smile.

"Today's Double Ninth Festival. It's bustling outside the Palace now. I'll take you out to have fun."

Without waiting for the girl to respond, he wrapped an arm around her waist and tiptoed lightly.

Jingle only felt that she seemed to be flying. Her heart couldn't help but beat faster. She held her breath deeply and closed her eyes to enjoy this wonderful and exciting moment.

With jolts, the girl felt that she was in a wide street and the noise in her ears was very lively.

On the night of the Double Ninth Festival, there were markets in the streets and alleys of Jing City.

As she could not see anything, Jingle was a little panicked when she was in the downtown area. She held Leshuang tightly with her small hands. Her legs were so stiff that she could not take a step.

In her ears, his gentle words came.

"Don't worry. There are indeed many people here. How about I carry you behind my back?"

Jingle flushed but had no intention of refusal. Then she was taken to his back by the man.

Leshuang's laughter was clear. Obviously, he was much happier than the girl. He walked easily and explained kindly.

"Now we come to the stall of the stick of sugar-coated haws and its syrup is the best to make the most delicious stick of sugar-coated haws... Now it's a shop of velvet flowers... Well, it's the most famous Dough Figurine Li in Jing City. He is on our left... Be careful. On the right side, some children are about to let off firecrackers near the entrance of the alley. Cover your ears. Let's run!"

Jingle, who was lying on the man's back, moved slightly and half of her cheek was pressed against the man's back. She gave a satisfied smile.

Her big brother's back was solid, broad, warm, and safe.

His current identity was different from before. He was Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot that all people respected and feared, and he led Imperial Guards. In the Palace, he was also in charge of the Imperial Ceremony Office, the hub institution. He was only second to the Emperor.

It was hard for Jingle to imagine that such a mighty figure was still willing to condescend to her and carry her in the crowd.

If the people saw them, would it have an impact on the image of him as rank-second Commander-in-chief?

"Big brother, is there a stall of masks?"

Jingle asked suddenly.

"Yes. Do you want one?" Leshuang was curious.

"I want you to wear one."

"Why? You don't want people to see us?"

Leshuang was not stupid.

"No. No." Jingle panicked and quickly explained.

"When you and I first met at the night market, you were wearing a mask. I still want to feel the old days."

Jingle casually made up a sweet white lie.

Leshuang did not refute. Carrying the girl on his back to the booth of the mask, he put down the girl and selected a mask.

Jingle touched the mask with her smooth little hand and cried out in surprise.

"Wow, that long-eared rabbit mask!"

Leshuang, with soft gentle eyes, held her small hand.

"Yeah, I wore this rabbit mask when I first met you. I find it after looking for several stalls."

Jingle felt warm in her heart and twisted the thin rope of the mask with her fingertips. She puckered her lips with shyness.

"Big brother, you are so nice. As a high official, you don't dislike me, a blind girl..."

When he took the mask and put it on his face, he said.

"Even if I am a high official, I will always be your big brother who takes care of you and loves you."

Jingle was touched and smiled. The next moment she felt that her feet were empty, and she fell on Leshuang's back. They continued to go forward while Jingle was on his back.

"In the future, you are not allowed to say that you are blind. You will not be blind forever. It is only temporary, so you have to have confidence in yourself. I and Xingmu are with you, right?"

Leshuang's tone was extremely warm. Without looking at his face but just listening to his voice, she knew that he was in a very good mood at this time.

"There is a snack street in front. What do you want to eat? Just tell me. I will satisfy you."

The girl bit her finger and thought about it. Then she replied with a big grin.

"Well... I'm going to eat pea cakes and glutinous rice balls. Oh yes, fried osmanthus yellow rice cakes!"

"So many sweets. Beware of tooth decay!"

"That's impossible. Go! Go!"

…

In this way, Jingle and Leshuang were laughing all the way. The breeze swept through with a trace of warmth, lingering into the bone.

The girl suddenly had a very absurd idea in her mind. She hoped that she would never be able to restore vision for the rest of her life so that she could rely on him forever and enjoy his meticulous care.

Having eaten and drunk, they followed the crowd through a few more blocks.

Jingle held up a butterfly sugar painting and thoughtfully asked.

"Big brother, are you tired? Am I heavy?"

She thought that Leshuang would say that he was not getting tired and praised her for her lightness.

However, Leshuang sighed and said in a serious voice.

"Hey, Ying'er, you've finally grown up, and you finally have self-knowledge. Anyway, the food of Shuofeng Hall is good. You are a big girl now. Ha-ha."

The girl blinked and her round cheeks flushed. She stopped talking.

Leshuang suddenly felt that his neck was itching. It was the girl's pink and fragrant little face that rubbed behind his head.

"What are you doing?"

Leshuang smiled embarrassedly and his heart fluttered. When he was enjoying it, there was a sudden pain in his right ear.

"Ah, you bite me!"

It turned out that she had just kept rubbing him and groping. Once she found his ear, she bit it.

Leshuang's complaining cry attracted many people. He completely ignored it and deliberately loosened his arms.

"Hmm, you even make fun of me and call me a big girl... Ah!"

When Jingle was complacent, she suddenly felt weightless. She was frightened to scream continuously. She tightly wrapped around Leshuang's slender body with her arms and legs, afraid that she would fall down.

Leshuang then held her. It was a false alarm.

He snickered incessantly with the cacophony of the people around him.

"Oh, this young couple is really naughty."

"It looks like they just got married..."

"Young man, listen to me. It is your blessing to be able to marry such a beautiful young lady, and you must treat her well."

Jingle was surprised and delighted. She buried her blushing little face in Leshuang's back and urged.

"It's too embarrassing! Big brother, hurry up. I don't want to stay here. I don't want to..."

―

In the still of the night, all the shops and stalls were closed.

The girl who ate delicious snacks such as white square rice cakes and fried sugar cakes had fun. She lay on the back of Leshuang and fell asleep sweetly.

Her wrists and waist were tied with incense bags, grass locusts, and a gold-faced dough figurine, which were dazzling.

The moon in the sky was also sympathetic. Seeing the sweet appearance of the young man and woman on the ground, it deliberately appeared from the hazy clouds, illuminating the road under the man's feet with a clear light.

The man, with a doting smile, stepped on the empty night road. He took each step lightly and steadily for fear of disturbing the sweet dream of the girl on his back.

Facing the night breeze with the fragrance of chrysanthemum, Leshuang sincerely wished.

"Have a good sleep, Ying'er. May you wake up with a bright light before you."

"May you bid farewell to the darkness and see the blue sky, white clouds, the birds, and flowers again."

"May you see my face again with your dark eyes to meet my long-awaited gaze..."