After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

When Gan Cai'er and the others left Changqing Restaurant, Zhu Xiaoxiao made a special detour to the counter and once again emphasized to the manager that he should send someone to the Ding residence on Fangcao Street as soon as possible. She said that Miss Ding was in such a state that it might be difficult for her to return on her own.

As she spoke, her eyes were earnest, filled with concern and worry. After she said this, everyone who had dispersed earlier knew that Miss Ding, who had been embarrassed upstairs, was from the Ding family on Fangcao Street.

After saying that, Zhu Xiaoxiao stepped out of the restaurant with satisfaction.

"Hehe, I really didn't realize you were so cunning." Gan Cai'er looked at her amusedly.

"Hmph, that's because you haven't messed with me. If you do, I'll show you what I'm made of!" Zhu Xiaoxiao raised her head and snorted proudly.

"That's not true, is it? When you were little, I beat you so much that you cried a lot." Gan Cai'er felt unconvinced.

"I did cry, but you wiped away my tears, didn't you? Besides, I've won before too," Zhu Xiaoxiao retorted, equally unconvinced.

Xiao Hong and Huan'er exchanged a glance. What were these two comparing? Were they comparing who won more fights when they were kids? That was so many years ago.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiaoxiao said earnestly, "A-Cai, I knew it! If you want to fight with these noble ladies, you have to bring me along. Otherwise, you're bound to suffer!"

"You're too straightforward and lack shrewdness. When dealing with these people, even if you're right, they'll make you look like you're wrong."

"Look, didn't we almost let those two scoundrels down the whole thing today?"

Gan Cai'er looked back and thought about it carefully, and realized that it was indeed true. If Zhu Xiaoxiao hadn't provoked Zhao Cen to take action, this matter would have been resolved peacefully and quietly.

As long as Pei Zhang successfully coaxes Zhao Cen away, this matter will not cause any trouble. Such scandals are usually suppressed in the end, at most resulting in a break in the relationship between Zhao Cen and Ding Peilan. This is of little consequence to the people involved.

Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Now, from this day forward, Ding Peilan's reputation is utterly ruined. The power of gossip in the streets is far greater than the unspoken hints within aristocratic circles.

Not only did she secretly meet with other men, but she also stole her best friend's boyfriend. Such scandalous affairs would quickly become gossip in Kyoto, a mysterious tale that the common people talked about with relish, and a disgrace to the aristocratic circles.

From then on, what decent family would dare to marry a woman like her? And what noble lady would dare to confide in her again?

In her past life, Ding Peilan gained wealth and status by betraying friends and trust. In this life, she will lose it all because of her habitual tendency to betray.

But today is just the beginning.

Before dark, Gan Cai'er returned to Wangjing Restaurant with Zhu Xiaoxiao in a good mood.

Before returning, Gan Cai'er made a special detour to the jewelry store she had visited before, bought the string of red coral earrings that complemented her skin tone, and gave them to Zhu Xiaoxiao.

Zhu Xiaoxiao accepted it without hesitation, since Gan Cai'er was now richer than her.

Not long after they returned, the grand Lantern Festival parade began. When they heard the distant sound of gongs, everyone stood at the windows and looked out.

A brightly colored flower boat slowly sailed in from afar, its boat laden with light. Behind it stretched for miles a dazzling array of colorful lanterns, each unique in shape and exquisite in its beauty, truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

The massive lantern procession, like a dazzling river of lights, flowed slowly along the streets of Kyoto, its lights shining brightly and dazzlingly.

As the lanterns passed by, the shops on both sides of the street lit up simultaneously. For a moment, the city was ablaze with lights, a dazzling spectacle of thousands of lanterns illuminating the night.

"Wow, so many lights! Sister-in-law, look! There's a tiger, a dragon, and another dragon over there!" Lan Tingzhi exclaimed excitedly, pointing and gesturing.

"The treasures of Kyoto are truly magnificent, far surpassing those of Danzhou. I've never seen so many lanterns before," Zhu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but exclaim.

“That’s right, it’s under the emperor’s nose,” Gan Cai’er said. “I heard the Lantern Festival in the capital is even better.”

"There's also a Lantern Festival? When does it start?" Lan Ting asked.

“Look, isn’t that where it’s started?” Gan Cai’er pointed out the window.

As soon as the lantern parade ended, a large number of vendors suddenly appeared on the street, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Before you knew it, they had burst out in a flash. In no time, both sides of the street were packed with vendors.

Sculptors of sugar figurines, vendors of pastries, hawkers of masks... a dazzling array of goods. Among them, many stalls had tall bamboo poles with various lanterns hanging from them, and long strips of paper fluttering from the bottom of the lanterns.

This is the most traditional activity for the Lantern Festival: guessing lantern riddles.

“Come on, brother, let’s go solve some riddles,” Lan Tingzhi said enthusiastically. “You have to help me win the most magnificent lantern.”

"If you're willing to study hard, you can win back any cup you fancy yourself. Why would you need to ask someone else?" Lan Tingzhou said softly.

"You're his brother! He wants a lamp, so you should help him!"

"It's a holiday, and instead of helping him, you're scolding him. Is that how a brother should act?" Gan Cai'er protected Lan Tingzhi and directly confronted Lan Tingzhou.

“Yes, sister-in-law is right!” Lan Tingzhou chimed in excitedly.

Lan Tingzhou choked on his words, glanced at the two of them, silently turned and went out to win the lanterns.

Kyoto has a river called the Shahe River, which is the liveliest place during the Lantern Festival every year. Because the riverbank is open and can accommodate more people, vendors like to gather there, and thus the crowds also gather there. Moreover, the Zhaixing Tower is also located here.

Located on the banks of the Shahe River, Zhaixinglou is the tallest restaurant in Kyoto, its name meaning "one can reach the heavens and pluck stars." Zhaixinglou has four floors, and during the Lantern Festival, each floor is covered with riddles, with increasing difficulty from floor to floor, the first floor being the easiest and the fourth floor being the most difficult.

If you guess one correctly, you will receive a corresponding reward, including various lamps, wine, small items, and even small amounts of silver.

The lantern king for the Lantern Festival every year comes from Zhaixinglou.

This year was no exception. On the fourth floor of the Star-Picking Tower, there stood an exquisite five-colored glass lamp. Its shape was that of a lotus flower, with petals made of fired glass. The base was inlaid with gold foil, topped with a white jade handle resembling a ruyi (a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune), and adorned with blue tassels. The top was a lotus-leaf-shaped glass canopy, providing shelter from wind and rain. Besides being beautiful, it was also very practical.

Lantingzhi heard that the Zhaixing Tower had the most and most exquisite lanterns, so he went straight to the Zhaixing Tower after leaving the Wangjing Restaurant.

When they arrived at the Star-Picking Tower, it was already packed with people, so crowded that they couldn't squeeze through.

Looking at the room full of people, Lan Tingzhou frowned and said, "Let's go upstairs."

The riddles upstairs were difficult, so there were far fewer people there.

“Then let’s go up to the fourth floor. If we’re going to win, we’ll beat the King of Lights!” Gan Cai’er pointed to the top floor.

"Heh, you're so young, but you have such high standards." Lan Tingzhou chuckled lightly.

"Hehe, everyone says you're the reincarnation of Emperor Wenchang, so a little riddle is nothing to you!" Gan Cai'er didn't even blink when it came to flattering Lan Tingzhou.

Lan Tingzhou glanced at her, then stepped upstairs.

"Then let's go, the Emperor Wenchang will pluck the stars for you."