On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, a light snow started to fall from the sky, echoing the ancient saying, "Clouds cover the moon on the fifteenth of the eighth month, snow lights the lanterns on the fifteenth of the first month." The snowflakes landed on the lanterns, covering them with a fine layer of snow. The light shone through the thin snow, making it very beautiful.
Every year on this day, both inside and outside the palace, the streets and alleys of the Capital City are very lively. Young people from various residences would leave their homes and arrange to go to the streets to see the lanterns. If the Emperor was in the mood, he would also go out in disguise to experience this annual grand occasion among the common people.
This year, because of the falling snow, it was especially different from previous years. It had been many years since snow had lit the lanterns.
