The delicate cannon fodder is stunning, saving the male supporting role but getting teased instead

The Lantern Festival was considered the most important holiday in the capital, with grand celebrations held both inside and outside the palace. Civil and military officials were required to bring their families to the palace to celebrate with the emperor, a truly honorable occasion.

Mu Yunzhou and Shangguan Baixu were naturally among them. Mu Yunzhou, as the General of Dingyuan and a favorite of the Emperor, was naturally the most important guest at the Lantern Festival banquet. He also had another mission today: to ensure Mu Wanying's dance went smoothly.

Mu Yunzhou and Shangguan Baixu had come together, but upon arrival, Shangguan ran off to a corner, finding a place where no one would notice him. Mu Yunzhou was puzzled. Shangguan always loved the hustle and bustle, so why was he hiding in a corner today? Usually, as a general, Mu Yunzhou would always sit in the most central position, and Shangguan Baixu would come over whenever he had the chance. But today, he was acting differently.

Mu Yunzhou didn't say much, though. Shangguan Baixu had been pestering Wenrou for the past few days, much to Mu Yunzhou's annoyance. He also didn't want to sit too close to Shangguan, lest he start endlessly chatting with him about Wenrou.

The banquet was halfway through, and it was almost time for Mu Wanying's dance performance. Mu Yunzhou was drinking with his colleagues when he looked up and saw that Shangguan Baixu had disappeared. After his colleagues left, Mu Yunzhou muttered to himself in confusion, "Shangguan was acting strangely today. Why did he leave halfway? He usually doesn't go home until the banquet is over."

Futian stood beside his master, opened his mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "Master, Shangguan promised Miss Wenrou today that he would take her to the Lantern Festival." Through this period of time together, Futian felt more and more that Master Shangguan and Miss Wenrou were a good match. If the person in front of him was not his master, Futian would definitely not tell this news.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunzhou placed the wine glass on the table with a slap. His face was gloomy, and he asked Futian in a cold voice, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Futian lowered his head and secretly curled his lips, thinking that since you are busy running around for your sister every day, you should give me a chance to talk. However, he did not dare to say it, but just kept apologizing.

Mu Yunzhou ignored Futian and went straight to the eunuch beside the emperor, saying that he was not feeling well, and left quickly. At this moment, Mu Wanying just went on stage to perform a dance. When she saw Mu Yunzhou hurriedly leaving, her face instantly darkened.

Outside the palace, the capital, which was supposed to be under curfew, was ablaze with lights. Street vendors hawked their wares, some selling paper lanterns, others selling flower hairpins. It was a bustling scene. Although Wenrou had participated in Lantern Festival celebrations in Jiangnan before, they still lacked the grandeur and scale of those in the capital.

"This mask suits you very well." Shangguan Baixu saw a stall selling masks on the roadside, picked up a half-fox mask, and put it on Wenrou's face.

If other girls were told that a fox mask would suit them, they might be displeased. After all, the word "fox" often describes women as vixen. However, Wenrou had a gentle personality and was not angry. Instead, she smiled and said, "Then this mask will suit you, young master." Wenrou picked a smiling pig from the stall and handed it to Shangguan Baixu.

Shangguan Baixu took the mask and was not angry. He looked at Wenrou with affection in his eyes and said with a smile, "It does have my charm." After saying that, he threw a piece of silver to the stall owner.

Wenrou blushed and quickly covered her face with the fox mask to hide her shyness.

After buying the masks, the two walked to the lantern riddle stall, and Wenrou fell in love with a rabbit lantern at first sight.

Shangguan Baixu's eyes lit up when he saw the lantern, and he slowly recited, "Those near the water are the first to see the moon." Then, he looked at Wenrou with a gleaming gaze and said, "It seems that this lantern is asking us to write the second couplet."

As Shangguan Baixu spoke, he was racking his brains to come up with a romantic line of poetry to express his love for Wenrou.

But before Shangguan could figure it out, he heard an unpleasant voice from behind him.

"The one who is near the water gets the moon first, and the one you love falls into your dreams early." Mu Yunzhou almost ran through the entire celebration before he finally found Wenrou. He saw the two of them standing there close to each other, and hurried over.

He just happened to hear what Shangguan Baixu said, so Mu Yunzhou looked at Wenrou deeply and slowly recited the second line of the couplet he had written.

Wenrou was stunned when she saw Mu Yunzhou. She hadn't expected Mu Yunzhou, who was supposed to be attending the Lantern Festival banquet in the palace, to actually show up here. Mu Yunzhou strode past Shangguan and stood directly in front of Wenrou. He said, "Didn't I tell you that if you want to go out and play, just tell me directly."

Seeing this, Shangguan hurriedly tried to push Mu Yunzhou away, but Mu Yunzhou, a veteran general, remained motionless. Shangguan then said anxiously, "What are you doing? Wenrou and I are having a great time. And how could you leave the palace banquet without permission?"

Mu Yunzhou looked at Shangguan coldly and said unhappily, "How many times have I told you that Wenrou is mine? Put away your thoughts." As if asserting his sovereignty, Mu Yunzhou took Wenrou's hand and gently brought her into his arms. He realized that if he didn't make it clear with Shangguan directly, she would play dumb.

Shangguan's eyes widened when he saw this. He looked at Wenrou with grievance, hoping that she would say something. However, Wenrou was still feeling embarrassed because she had sneaked out without Mu Yunzhou's knowledge, so she naturally missed Shangguan's hint.

Shangguan Baixu watched helplessly as Wenrou was taken away by Mu Yunzhou. He was so angry that he stamped his feet on the spot.

Mu Yunzhou held Wenrou tightly all the way, feeling his heart beating rapidly. He knew he had fallen for her. This feeling was something he had never experienced before. Even before, Mu Yunzhou had only doted on Mu Wanying out of habit, but he had never experienced this kind of anxiety, this kind of sleepless nights.

After Mu Yunzhou figured it out, he felt his whole body clear up. He couldn't wait to stop and look at Wenrou affectionately, saying gently: "The Lantern Festival celebration in the capital is lively, but the most worthwhile place to go is not in the bustling place."

Wenrou couldn't help but be curious when she heard this, and asked, "If you're not in a busy place, then go to a quiet place. Is there any quiet place in Beijing during the Lantern Festival?"

Mu Yunzhou smiled and said in a magnetic voice, "I'll take you there right away."

Mu Yunzhou walked gently through the brightly lit streets, across the majestic and beautiful white jade bridge, through the bustling crowd, and finally came to a quiet lake.

Wenrou looked at the beautiful scenery in front of her and couldn't help but walk forward. She saw that the lake, which should have been silent in the night, was now dotted with stars. They were the sky lanterns released by the people to pray for blessings, and together with the starry sky, they were reflected on the lake.

There is also a singing boat on the lake, and the ethereal and beautiful singing can be heard from it continuously.

"A flute tune brings the breeze, and the two hearts are united under the moon. The talented man writes his love with his brush, and the beautiful woman smiles lightly to express her feelings.

The flickering red candles illuminate the eyes, the golden cups are filled with sweet conversation. The talented scholar plays the piano melodiously, the beautiful woman dances with her sleeves like flying geese.

Witnessed by the blue sky and the stars, mandarin ducks soar in pairs. A gifted man and a beautiful woman share a deep love, and will grow old together in this life."