The courtyard trees were bare of leaves, and lotuses blossomed near the water's edge.
The autumn wind was biting, bringing a hint of coolness to Yujing City.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when the nobility decorated their pavilions and the common folk vied for spots in restaurants to admire the moon. The inner city residents heard distant sounds of music, ethereal as if coming from beyond the clouds, while children played all night long. The night markets were bustling until dawn.
From the Emperor and the Royal Family down to the poorest commoner, everyone celebrated the festival in their own way. The lively scenes were mesmerizing.
The dark riverways were brightly lit by lanterns from various households, forming a glowing stream of light that accompanied the people's revelry till dawn.
The lanterns from each household floated on the water, making the river seem like the Milky Way in the sky.