Nianzu, Lei Wanxi, and Weng Yu were strolling in the market. Because of the fair, there was more crowd compared to the other days. Some artists were doing a stunt that grabbed Lei Wanxi's attention. "Brother, let's go there," he said, and the three walked ahead. People were standing in a circle, cheering for the two stuntmen.
They came to the front to enjoy the show. One stuntman was standing on the rope, which gave goosebumps to everyone there. Lei Wanxi put his palm over his mouth as he was intimidated by that stunt. Nianzu smiled upon seeing the expressions of his younger brothers.
"Brother, what if he falls?" Weng Yu asked Lei Wanxi.
"He cannot fall. He has practiced a lot for this," Lei Wanxi affirmed when the toes of the stuntman slipped from the rope, and he leaned to the left. "Ahhh," some people shouted in the crowd, including Lei Wanxi and Weng Yu.
The stuntman balanced himself, and it relieved everyone there. They clapped for the stuntman who soon reached the other end. "Look, I told you that he would not fall," Lei Wanxi delightedly told Weng Yu. Now, an 8-9 year-old girl climbed up and stood straight on the rope. She had a long stick in her hand, and she was going to perform some stunts.
"Little girl, be careful," Lei Wanxi shouted from the crowd. His one hand rested near his chest, which was beating fast.
Nianzu was calmly watching the stunt when his eyes fell on Chuntao. She was standing in front of him on the other side. A smile appeared on Nianzu's face, seeing her there. There were some weird expressions on Chuntao's face watching those stunts. She was grabbing her friend's hands tightly. Sometimes, she would squeeze her eyes tightly, while the other times, she brought her palms in front of her eyes.
The young girl, standing on the rope, somersaulted in the air. It hitched the breath of everyone there. The girl stood straight on the rope, balancing herself well. The people cheered for her. Soon the stunts were over. That little girl came ahead with a hemispherical bamboo basket in her hand. Lei Wanxi put a few silver coins in the basket and turned to look at Nianzu, but he was not there.
He looked around but did not find him there. "Brother Yu, did you see Brother Nianzu?" Lei Wanxi asked.
"No. Where did the Brother go?" Weng Yu mumbled.
"Maybe Brother Nianzu has gone back to the Palace. Brother has a load of work on his head. Let's go there and have some dumplings," Lei Wanxi stated and walked ahead with Weng Yu.
Oppositely, Nianzu followed Chuntao, who was walking towards the market ground where a street play was going on. The play was about a legendary hero who was a great military general, who loved a woman lower in birth status than him but could not marry him because of her low status.
Nianzu stood at the left hand while Chuntao was standing somewhere in the middle of the front row. She had a circular paper fan in her hand. The young women standing beside the Prince were whispering, some were sobbing upon watching the end of the play, where the military general died recalling his love.
Nianzu's attention was not on the play but on Chuntao, whose eyes had turned teary, watching the play. He looked towards the stage and found the dramatists were acting. For a few minutes, his eyes were fixed on the stage, watching the heart-wrenching scene. 'It is sad indeed,' he murmured.
~~~~
Sheng Li and Ying Lili arrived at the market. The carriage was pulled up, and the chauffeur quickly opened the door for them. Sheng Li caught Ying Lili's hand and stepped down from the cart.
"Stay here. We will be back soon," Sheng Li instructed the chauffeur, who bowed. Sheng Li glanced at Ying Lili, who was looking around. "Let's go," he held Ying Lili's hand and dragged her along with him.
"Where are you taking me to? The shops are here," Ying Lili stated.
"Don't tell me you want to buy something from those stalls. I am taking you to a place that is popular for various plays and games," Sheng Li explained to Ying Lili.
Ying Lili saw a 'Zhiyuan' (kite) seller. She never once saw anyone in the Palace flying kites, so she requested Sheng Li to buy a few for her. Sheng Li stopped before the shop. "We can call him in the Palace," Sheng Li whispered in her ear. "I will call a good one for you. It would be a headache-"
Ying Lili tilted her head as she glared at him. "I want it now. You said we would enjoy the fair," Ying Lili opined.
"Okay. I am buying for you," Sheng Li said and walked ahead. He asked the price of 'Zhiyuan' from the seller. After checking the various patterns, he bought a red one for Ying Lili. As he was paying, Ying Lili came near him. "Buy fifteen kites," Ying Lili whispered in his ear.
"Why fifteen?" Sheng Li questioned.
"For seven princes, including my husband and their respective wives. We will fly the kites together, that's why," Ying Lili explained to him further.
"Okay," Sheng Li replied and asked the seller for fourteen more kites. Now, a problem had arisen in front of him. How to carry those to the Palace? He was thinking of a way when he heard a familiar voice and looked towards the voice.
"Wanxi is here." Sheng Li knitted his brows as he saw Lei Wanxi standing in front of a dumpling stall.
"What is he doing here? If he sees me then, he definitely will recognize me. I have prepared a surprise for Lili, and I do not want anyone to ruin it," Sheng Li told himself. He turned to the seller and asked him till what time he would be selling those kites.
"I will wrap up before the curfew hours," the seller humbly replied. Ying Lili confusedly peered at him when she saw him keeping the kites on the table there. "I will pick them up later," Sheng Li affirmed and handed half money to the seller.
"Don't go away from this place until we come to pick those up," Sheng Li told the kite seller in a threatening tone, who nodded and assured the Crown Prince that he would wait for them.
"We will take them later. It would be inappropriate to carry these kites with us," Sheng Li told Ying Lili, who understood him.