The group's favorite master, the story of a cute baby who travels through the book and defies t

Compared with the daytime, Linchuan Town at night has a touch of warmth amidst the busyness.

Lanterns of all shapes and sizes were hung in the streets and alleys, and lotus lanterns were floating on the lake. Most of the people on the street wore masks of various shapes on their faces and walked together holding small lanterns.

In the guest room, three girls were crowded around the wide-open window, looking out at the street scene below with great interest.

Yao Siyan asked curiously: "Are they holding some kind of event?"

Although Shu Xiaoman has seen this event since she was a child, her heart is still filled with girlish feelings every time she sees this event.

"This is the unique Lantern Festival in Linchuan Town. On this night, beautiful lanterns will be hung in the streets and alleys of Linchuan Town to pay tribute to the Lantern Goddess."

"Lady Lantern?"

Not only Ding Yurou and Yao Siyan were curious, but even Qi Gui and Xia Zixuan, who were whispering to each other nearby, were attracted by their topic.

"Legend has it that the Lantern Goddess was originally an orphan who was adopted by an old fisherman and his wife. She grew up to be beautiful. She had been engaged to the boy next door since she was a child, and the two childhood sweethearts were in love. But one day, a natural disaster suddenly struck, and the Huai River surged to the point of submerging the entire town. The boy next door and other strong men resolutely went to deal with the Huai River and prevent it from flooding Linchuan."

Xia Zixuan was puzzled: "How can a mortal fight against the heavens? Wouldn't it be a waste of life?"

Shu Xiaoman nodded slightly, agreeing with his idea.

"That's right. Therefore, after the disaster, although the town was saved, the neighbor brother never came back. From then on, the Lantern Goddess stayed by the Huai River all day, waiting for the neighbor brother's return. She waited for her whole life. Before she died, she jumped into the Huai River, hoping that her ghost could find the neighbor brother and reunite with him after her death."

While Ding Yurou and Yao Siyan were wiping their tears and sighing, Xia Zixuan looked at Qi Gui and shrugged his shoulders to show that he didn't understand why they were so moved. But subconsciously, he was afraid of being beaten, so he didn't dare to say it out loud.

"After she jumped into the river, miraculous things kept happening. For example, children who fell into the water would be pushed to the shore by the waves; the Huai River never raged again, and the people here lived and worked in peace; and people would always see a young man and woman by the river on the night she jumped into the river, but when they got closer, they found nothing."

Ding Yurou sighed: "I guess that loyal woman must have found her neighbor brother after her death. The two of them finally got together and will never be separated again."

Yao Siyan's tears flowed even more happily, and Shu Xiaoman also wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and continued speaking.

"Because the woman liked lanterns, she would place a lantern over the Huai River every day when she was alive, hoping to tell her neighbor that she missed her. Therefore, people began to call her the Lantern Goddess, thanking her for her protection and praying for her blessing on marriage. It is said that marriages witnessed by the Lantern Goddess often last a lifetime and grow old together."

As soon as these words were spoken, they really attracted the attention of Ding Yurou and Yao Siyan. They even forgot about their sadness and asked Shu Xiaoman to say more about blessing their marriage.

"Tonight, all single people who want to get married will wear masks and hold a small lantern. If they meet someone they are destined to be with, they will first communicate. If they like each other, they will give each other lanterns and then travel together. If they want to develop further, they will both take off the masks on each other's faces. If they accept each other's appearance and decide to be together, they can go to the lake and release a lotus lantern with both of their names on it."

Yao Siyan was puzzled: "Lotus lanterns? Why do we need to put up lotus lanterns?"

"It is said that the lotus lanterns will float to the Lantern Goddess. If they receive the blessing of the Lantern Goddess, the two can live hand in hand and grow old together in love."

"Then how can we know whether we have received the blessing of the Lantern Goddess?"

"The exit of Panyang Lake is the Huai River. Tonight, a net will be set up at the exit. All the lotus lanterns will be caught in the net and will be salvaged tomorrow. However, only the lotus lanterns blessed by the Lantern Goddess will not appear there. Instead, they will sink to the bottom of the central Panyang Lake. The names on the lotus lanterns fished out will be announced. This can be regarded as a small climax of the second day of the event."

Xia Zixuan couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the lotus lanterns sunk to the bottom of the lake are all blessed?"

Shu Xiaoman said with a smile: "The lotus lanterns here are made of a special material. No matter what happens, they will not sink to the bottom of the lake, but will always float on the water surface. Therefore, it is incredible that they can sink to the bottom of the lake or to a specific location."

Xia Zixuan was very surprised. He looked at Qi Gui, but the other party gave him an equally puzzled look in return.

Yao Siyan asked, "Hey, Xiaoman, have you ever released a lotus lantern? With your...lover?"

Unexpectedly, Shu Xiaoman's eyes darkened immediately, without a trace of brilliance. Such a sudden change made everyone present look at each other in bewilderment, somewhat at a loss.

Ding Yurou hugged her gently: "Xiaoman, do you... not want to get married?"

Shu Xiaoman shook her head, was stunned for a while, and then nodded.

"You all should know that I was adopted by my father. Although the young master and I grew up together, I don't have the slightest romantic feelings for him. I just want to learn medical skills and become a good doctor. At the same time, I can stay by my father's side to take care of him and repay his kindness in raising me. But..."

Yao Siyan was puzzled: "Since you don't like Gongsun Qiubai, why do you want to marry him?"

Shu Xiaoman showed a sad look on her face: "Father...is dying soon. His only wish is to see me and the young master get married. I, I can't let him down, and I don't want him to leave with regrets."

Yao Siyan frowned: "But, no matter what, nothing is more important than your happiness. I think if Island Master Gongsun really treats you as his own daughter, he certainly doesn't want you to force yourself."

Shu Xiaoman remained silent, and Ding Yurou held her cold hand.

"Si Yan is right, Xiao Man, if you sacrifice yourself just to reassure the island master, I believe you will regret it in the future. I think what you should do is to tell the island master Gongsun your true wishes. The father you respect so much will surely understand you."

Shu Xiaoman held Ding Yurou's hand tightly, as if she was grabbing the last piece of driftwood, but she kept shaking her head, as if she was avoiding or denying something.

"No, no, it's not like that. I have to marry the young master. No, I must marry the young master. Otherwise, otherwise..."

Seeing that Shu Xiaoman seemed to be trapped in some kind of obsession, Ding Yurou had to interrupt her mumbling, but her condition was still worrying.

Seeing this, Yao Siyan suddenly grabbed Shu Xiaoman's shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.

"Xiao Man, no matter what happens tomorrow, do you want to give it a try tonight?"

Shu Xiaoman's pupils were dilated: "Try?"

"Yes! Try to pray to the Lantern Goddess and ask her to grant you a happy marriage instead of a painful one."

"Pray to the Lantern Goddess..."

Shu Xiaoman's pupils focused quickly and her eyes regained their brilliance.

Behind them, Qi Gui and Xia Zixuan looked at each other and saw deep helplessness in each other's eyes.