Grace Harper also hadn’t expected that as soon as Martha Wade entered, she would ask about Eric Blake, so she could only make up a lie, saying she was reading in the study, secretly praying that the little girl would be clever. In the end, she anxiously accompanied the two into the study, and actually saw the little girl curled up in the corner, with countless scrolls scattered around her.

　　Only then did she finally relax, gathering her spirits to deal with the two sovereigns. Even after they left, the flush on her face had not faded, so she reached out to pull Eric Blake up, scolding her with a hint of annoyance, “I thought you were pretending to sleep, who knew you were really asleep!”

　　Eric Blake just smiled without saying a word. When she followed Grace Harper into the outer bedchamber, she saw that Ruby had already tidied everything up, though the scent of dragon musk still lingered in the air. Seeing Eric Blake come out, Ruby bowed with her hands at her sides, glanced at Grace Harper’s expression, and then quietly withdrew, closing the door behind her.

　　“You’ve run into that scoundrel here several times before, and today you even bumped into His Majesty. You really do keep interrupting people’s affairs! So, do you think I’m wanton?”

　　Eric Blake, who had just sat down, hadn’t expected Grace Harper to suddenly ask such a question, and for a moment was stunned, not knowing how to answer. Although her father had once told her to be honest and marry quietly, she knew herself well enough to realize she could never do that, so she took a very detached view of matters between men and women. As for Grace Harper’s private life, she felt she had even less right to interfere.

　　Before Eric Blake could answer, Grace Harper gave a light laugh: “Men have always had three wives and four concubines—why should women be expected to remain faithful to one? As long as a woman is capable, she can have a harem of male favorites, and no one would dare say a word. I understood this clearly back when the Directorate of Crane Control was first established!”

　　It was the first time Eric Blake had ever heard Grace Harper speak like this, and she couldn’t help but ask, “But, after all these years, Aunt, have you really never fallen in love?”

　　Grace Harper was slightly taken aback, then suddenly sighed: “There was indeed such a man, talented in both civil and military affairs, but unfortunately, we were fated to meet but not to be together. If he knew that the edict deposing the crown prince was written by my own hand, I’m afraid he would hate me even in the afterlife! After that, I understood that as long as your heart is as hard as iron, there’s nothing you can’t let go of. Girl, you must understand, whether it’s your uncle or His Majesty, they may be fine lovers, but their power is what truly matters.”

　　She spoke with a tone that was both admonishing and full of emotion: “Girl, when you look for a man in the future, you must keep your eyes wide open! Love is such an illusory thing—you can’t rely on it for a lifetime!”

Chapter Twelve: The Pardon of the Lantern Festival

　　The Lantern Festival was originally called Yuanxiao Festival. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Laozi and Zhuangzi’s teachings were revered, and since the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Heavenly Official of Blessings, the Great Emperor Ziwei, among the people it was mostly called the Lantern Festival. Even during the years when the Empress reigned and held all power, since the Lantern Festival didn’t interfere with her affairs, the name was never changed.

　　This was the first Lantern Festival since the new emperor’s ascension, so the magistrate of Luoyang had been busy for some time, striving to hang colorful lanterns throughout the city in celebration. The so-called embellishment of a prosperous age probably referred to such scenes. However, for the common people, what the officials thought was none of their concern; this was the rare time in the whole year when the curfew was lifted and they could go out to admire the lanterns—how could they let it go to waste? So, young ladies shyly arranged trysts with their sweethearts, young wives eagerly pulled along their new husbands, and even old couples came out to join the fun.

　　Waiting by the gate near Yongtai Ward in the southern market, Eric Blake saw that everyone passing by was in pairs, countless people carrying lanterns in their hands, and at the gates of the grand mansions in Yongtai Ward, colorful lanterns could be seen. Not far ahead, there was a tall lantern tower, with at least fifty or sixty lanterns hanging from it. The brilliant lights turned night into day.

　　She held April Day’s hand as they stood there, staring intently at a troupe performing with spinning lanterns on the street. Seeing everyone’s faces filled with joy, she couldn’t help but smile herself, forgetting the time. She didn’t know how long had passed when a loud, boisterous voice rang in her ears.

　　“Xiao Ling!”

　　Turning her head, she saw a familiar fellow standing behind her, and Eric Blake couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It had just snowed in the first month, and though the weather had cleared up these past few days, it was still bitterly cold. Yet this silly boy in front of her was flushed and sweating, holding his fur coat in his hand, looking utterly disheveled.

　　“What happened to you?”

　　“It’s all because Fifth Brother Locke and the others said it’s chaotic outside during the Lantern Festival and wouldn’t let me out.” At this, Matthew Perry’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. “Seventh Brother Rowe also kept nagging that you can never be too careful with people. If I hadn’t knocked him out and climbed out the window, I’d probably have missed our meeting today! I didn’t expect that you can’t even hire a horse during the Lantern Festival, so I had to run all the way here and ended up drenched in sweat!”

　　These four master and servants really were something! Eric Blake pressed her lips together in a smile, just about to tell Matthew Perry to wipe his sweat, when, unexpectedly, the silly boy suddenly bent down to inspect the horse’s legs, gently pressing on them, clearly fulfilling his promise to tend to the horse. Seeing this, she could only pull him up and explain with a hint of exasperation, “Stop looking, I’ve already had someone check—April Day is perfectly fine!”