Meng Tao didnât notice them on the crowded bridge; she was excitedly holding a lantern, looking around.
Then, a burst of laughter came from the crowd. Yu Fanxin looked up to see a young couple standing on the bridge. The man was holding a peach blossom lantern, trying to give it to the girl opposite him, which set off teasing from the surrounding onlookers.
In Yueyang, the people are open-minded; there are no strict rules regarding interaction between men and women, especially on a day like the Lantern Festival. The bridge beneath them is Loverâs Bridge, where such courtship events often take place.
Curious, Meng Tao stood in the crowd, watching the spectacle. Yu Fanxin saw this and did not intervene, thinking there was no harm as long as Meng Tao was just being playful and didnât cause trouble.
At this moment, the girl being courted, either from shyness or nervousness, was clutching a handkerchief tightly, repeatedly retreating with an embarrassed expression, while the maid beside her appeared angry, standing in front of the girl with furrowed brows, saying something.
The scene was too noisy; no one could hear what they were saying. They could only tell that the girl had likely rejected the manâs courtship and wanted to leave.
The man looked utterly dejected, his face full of grief, eyes pleading; what might have been tears still marked his rather delicate face. The girl across from him continued to lower her head, intending to leave, but was blocked by the thickening crowd.
"A perfect match made in heaven; why not accept and create a beautiful story!"
"Accept him! Accept him!"
The girl bit her lip, head down, face red as a tomato. The maid stood with hands on her hips, pointing at the manâs nose and saying something, which from her expression, didnât seem pleasant. The manâs mortification and despair moved the onlookers.
Jiang Lai watched silently from the side, yet her focus remained on Meng Tao. As expected, Meng Tao started making small movements. A flash of gold shot from her fingertips, and the maid blocking the girl was swept aside by a gust of wind.
Next, the girl, who had been avoiding the man, was pushed forward by the gust, stumbling uncontrollably into the manâs arms.
The crowd roared with excitement, never having seen such a bold move in their lives. Even the man was taken aback before his face filled with joy, ready to embrace the beauty falling towards him.
As everyone was ready to watch the show unfold, just as the girl was about to fall into the manâs arms, he suddenly stumbled backward, losing control and falling off the bridge amidst the gasps of the crowd. A loud splash followed, scattering the lanterns on the waterâs surface, and he plunged off the bridge.
The stumbling girl managed to grab onto the bridge railing.
The maid, who had been knocked aside, quickly ran over to support her. Seeing her mistress on the verge of tears, the maid comfortingly covered her face with a sleeve.
"Itâs alright, Miss, itâs alright, that rogue fell into the water. Letâs go home."
The maid and her mistress took advantage of the crowdâs distraction and quickly left.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of her control, Meng Tao turned and immediately caught sight of Jiang Lai standing nearby.
"Why did you push him into the water? Havenât you heard the saying: itâs better to dismantle ten temples than ruin one marriage?"
Meng Tao was displeased. She was unhappy with Jiang Laiâs lack of empathy, deliberately sabotaging the couple at a moment that could have united them.
Jiang Lai slowly walked over, using her height to look down at Meng Tao.
"How do you know theyâre lovers? All I see is the man forcing the girl into submission."
"You know nothing of the human world; a girl being shy doesnât mean sheâs unwilling. If she didnât want to, why come to see the lanterns, to cross the Loverâs Bridge with him?"
Meng Tao was infuriated.
She felt Jiang Lai was using spells to mock ordinary people unjustly.
Jiang Lai chuckled, speaking loudly.
"Junior sister, I understand you havenât had a good time in the human world and canât discern social status by attire, given your lowly background, unable to recognize that the girlâs modestly adorned garment is actually of high value, clearly marking her as a daughter of an officialâs family.
However, you should see that the manâs coarse linen garment, though the best he has, is not suitable for matching with a wealthy lady.
Are you trying to help them because you see yourself in that man?
Poor meeting poor, is that it?
Long hair and short insight, even after entering our school, you still canât shake off your aura of poverty, and yet you dare to use spells in public, exposing us peers. That alone is enough for me to punish you!"
After speaking, Jiang Lai shot a cold glance at Meng Tao, then turned to Yu Fanxin, her voice still icy.
"Keep an eye on her, or you wonât be able to explain, and Iâll get dragged down too!"
Being scolded so sharply by Jiang Lai, Meng Taoâs face burned, her eyes stung with tears, and the unbearable shame filled her gaze with hatred for Jiang Lai. She couldnât understand why Jiang Lai singled her out, using seniority to bully and suppress her, the newcomer.
Her eyes reddened, for the first time desperately wishing their master would appear, to defend her and scold Jiang Lai severely.
Finally, with no other options, she tearfully looked at Yu Fanxin, her eyes full of grievance and helplessness, her voice pitifully weak.
"Senior brother, I didnât mean it, I just... I just wanted to see lovers... reunite. I am indeed lowly, not as noble as senior sister, but I truly meant no harm. Brother, believe me."
Yu Fanxin frowned, listening to Meng Taoâs cries, what was once a sweet tone now seemed cloying and irritating.
"Whether I believe you or not doesnât matter, what matters is you used Immortal Law and exposed our position. If the demon escapes, itâll be hard to find him again. You made a grave mistake, and I will send someone to take you back for punishment."
Meng Tao shook her head incessantly.
She couldnât go back, she knew theyâd mock her, and her master would surely be disappointed.
Regardless, she refused to return.
"I wonât do it again; Iâll listen to you and never act on my own again. Senior sister, senior brother, I beg you, donât make me go back."
She grabbed onto Yu Fanxinâs sleeve, which only made Yu Fanxin more irritated, shaking her off with a cold tone.
"Iâm not the master, donât try that on me. Also, just go back now, or Iâll send you personally, and then itâll be embarrassing for you."
Meng Taoâs mind buzzed, her heart full of confusion and grievance as she watched Yu Fanxinâs indifferent expression.
Why has Fanxin senior brother become like this?
He used to be so tolerant and protective of me.