As soon as Mrs. Xu finished speaking, Xu Wanli expressed his dissatisfaction: “In that case, where’s the fairness in this wager? In my opinion, Young Master Xiao is only suited to be a spectator in this betting game.”

Everyone thought about it and agreed. Although the court’s participation was a new variable this year, Xiao Jingxi would still find it much easier than others to predict the race rankings.

Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but smile: “Then I’ll be a spectator. The pleasure boat is moored right beside us – shall we all move over?”

No one had any objections, and they followed Xiao Jingxi out of the cabin.

The Prince of Yanbei’s pleasure boat was indeed moored right next to their vessel. By bringing the boats a little closer together, they could board directly. Xiao Jingxi let everyone board the pleasure boat first, while he followed behind. After Pei Zhiyan and the Xu couple had boarded, Xiao Jingxi called over Leshan and Leshui, who were beside Ren Yaoqi, instructing them to carefully assist her. He also softly reminded Ren Yaoqi: “Be careful.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled at him and steadily boarded the pleasure boat, then paused slightly and turned to wait for him to come aboard as well.

After Xiao Jingxi boarded the pleasure boat and looked at Ren Yaoqi, his lips curved into a pleased smile.

Xu Wanli was essentially Xiao Jingxi’s teacher, so he felt no awkwardness being on his student’s boat. He directly accompanied his wife in pulling Pei Zhiyan around to admire the pleasure boat.

After everyone had looked their fill, Xiao Jingxi led them all to the flower hall in the center of the pleasure boat, which had the best view. Xiao Jingxi seemed to have given advance notice that guests would arrive – the flower hall was already prepared with tea, refreshments, and fruits, fulfilling his earlier words that he had truly come to invite guests aboard the Xu family’s boat.

After everyone was seated according to host-guest protocol, Xu Wanli glanced at the racing lanes already set up on the river surface: “Then let’s begin placing our bets.”

Xiao Jingxi beckoned a servant girl over and gave her some quiet instructions. The girl acknowledged and withdrew, returning shortly with a tea tray holding a stack of cut rice paper, followed by several other servants carrying writing implements.

“Why don’t you all first write your bets on paper, then open them after the results are announced? This way it’s more fair,” Xiao Jingxi suggested.

“That’s quite good,” Mrs. Xu nodded with a smile.

The servant girls placed the writing implements and cut rice paper before everyone. Xiao Jingxi had said he wouldn’t participate and indeed didn’t, merely watching as everyone used paper and brush to place their bets.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at everyone. Xu Wanli and Mrs. Xu were writing while conversing in low voices, seemingly discussing what to use as their stakes. Their elegant style of wagering naturally wouldn’t involve money.

Pei Zhiyan was lowering his head to savor his tea, his calm features showing leisurely amusement. He didn’t seem in any hurry to place his bet, occasionally chatting with Xiao Jingxi beside him about the tea ceremony while drinking.

Ren Yaoqi was also in no rush to write. She glanced toward the river outside the window, where several dragon boats were already spread out and stationed in the waterway. They seemed to fill the entire river surface. Though previous years’ competitions had been purely recreational, this year somehow carried an atmosphere of drawn swords and taut bows.

The court’s dragon boat was anchored in the very center, with the Prince of Yanbei’s Azure Dragon to its left. To the left of the Prince of Yanbei was the Lei family’s Red Dragon, while the Yun family’s White Dragon was positioned on the other side of the court’s Golden Dragon. All were poised like arrows ready to fly forth at a single command.

Pei Zhiyan spoke up: “Young Master Xiao seems unconcerned about the outcome of this match?” Pei Zhiyan was referring to the dragon boat race’s outcome, not their wagering.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly: “Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. Moreover, this is just a dragon boat race. Winning has its pleasures, and losing has its pleasures too.”

Hearing this, Pei Zhiyan raised his eyebrows, seeming thoughtful.

Ren Yaoqi also heard their conversation. She glanced at Xiao Jingxi and couldn’t help but feel moved. She studied the lineup on the river surface again. After pondering briefly, she picked up her brush and began writing on the rice paper. After finishing, she folded the paper.

Xiao Jingxi looked toward her and asked softly: “What’s your stake?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then picked up her brush to write a few characters on another piece of paper.

Xiao Jingxi glanced and saw “Spring Outing at West Mountain” written there. He couldn’t help raising his eyebrows curiously: “I haven’t heard of this painting. May I ask whose work it is?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled with pursed lips and wrote the artist’s name on the paper. Xiao Jingxi looked and saw “Ren Shimin” written there. So the very clever Second Young Master Xiao wisely said nothing more, lest word spread that he didn’t even know his future father-in-law’s masterworks – the consequences would be unthinkable.

By this time, the Xu couple and Pei Zhiyan had also finished writing. Xu Wanli’s stake was a yellow stone seal from his collection, Mrs. Xu’s was a famous inkstone, while Pei Zhiyan’s was somewhat similar to Ren Yaoqi’s – it was his copy of the “Clear Heat Calligraphy.”

Ren Shimin’s paintings already had considerable fame, and since his works didn’t circulate in the market and others couldn’t obtain them even if they wanted to, using one as a stake was quite impressive. Pei Zhiyan had long been famous, and his calligraphy was worth a thousand gold pieces, so everyone had no objections to the stakes.

Outside, the sound of drums had already begun. When the Prince of Yanbei’s gong sounded, the shouting and clamor outside swept over them like an overwhelming tide, so lively it made their eardrums tremble.

While it was bustling outside, the few people on the pleasure boat became more leisurely.

Pei Zhiyan had just been chatting with Xiao Jingxi about tea when Xu Wanli picked up his tea bowl, took a sip, and nodded: “Good tea, and good water too, though the tea-making technique is somewhat lacking.”

Mrs. Xu laughed: “You’re just being picky! But speaking of tea-making skills, there are several masters present.”

Xu Wanli laughed heartily: “Madam speaks exactly to my liking.”

Mrs. Xu was somewhat puzzled: “What did I say?”

Xu Wanli glanced at Pei Zhiyan and feigned surprise: “Don’t you mean you’d like to drink tea personally prepared by Jinyan? After all, it’s been many years since we’ve had any.”

Mrs. Xu immediately spat at him, then said: “Jinyan is our guest – how can we ask a guest to prepare tea?”

Xu Wanli shook his head with some regret.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, “If you don’t mind, sir, please let this student prepare it.”

Of those present, only she and Xiao Jingxi were juniors – they could hardly ask Second Young Master Xiao to prepare tea, could they? So Ren Yaoqi voluntarily stepped forward.

Mrs. Xu smiled: “I was just thinking – the Yangtze River’s rear waves push the front waves forward. This student of mine is no less skilled than Jinyan and Jingxi.” Mrs. Xu spoke with a tone of shared glory.

Pei Zhiyan glanced at Ren Yaoqi: “Oh? Is this truly so?”

Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi, who smiled and nodded. Ren Yaoqi then rose to go to the tea room, laughing as she said: “I am my teacher’s student, so naturally my teacher thinks I excel at everything.”

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

Ren Yaoqi was proficient in the tea ceremony, but brewing tea required a quiet environment and a calm mind. With the gongs and drums clamoring outside today, it wasn’t suitable to sit down and slowly brew tea, so Ren Yaoqi chose the simpler method of steeping.

She had often prepared tea for Ren Shimin at home, so her movements were swift. Before long, she had several servant girls bring out the tea bowls.

By now, the dragon boat race outside had completed one round. The Prince of Yanbei’s Azure Dragon and the court’s Golden Dragon had reached the finish line almost simultaneously, followed by boats from other noble families.

This result made the outside even livelier. Many ordinary Yanbei citizens stood on the riverbank watching the competition, with some privately opening betting pools. Unlike the recreational wagers of the noble children, these gamblers were betting real gold and silver. The few people on the pleasure boat looked at the results without taking it too seriously – this was only the first round, eliminating one-third of the boats. The final results were still far off.

Ren Yaoqi personally brought the tea to everyone’s tables before returning to her seat.

Pei Zhiyan picked up his tea bowl, used the lid to skim off the foam, and leisurely took a sip. He couldn’t help but pause, then lowered his head to drink another mouthful.

Mrs. Xu smiled: “How is it? I wasn’t boasting, was I?”

Pei Zhiyan glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then nodded to Mrs. Xu with a smile: “Very good indeed.”

However, Ren Yaoqi noticed that Pei Zhiyan’s glance at her just now, though seemingly casual, carried some scrutiny. She couldn’t help but sigh.

She had been Pei Zhiyan’s student, and even tea ceremony had been taught by him. Their tea preparation methods were identical. When Pei Zhiyan tasted the tea just now, he could surely detect that everything from the amount of tea leaves to the water temperature control in her preparation was familiar to him.

She hadn’t failed to consider that Pei Zhiyan might notice. She still prepared tea this way, not for any other purpose, nor did she intend to reminisce with an old friend. It was simply that he was her most respected teacher, once a relative like a father or brother. Now meeting without recognition, she just wanted to personally prepare a bowl of tea for him to express her feelings – nothing more.

Fortunately, Mrs. Xu and Xu Wanli hadn’t seen Pei Zhiyan for many years, and his tea ceremony habits had certainly changed considerably over the years. So, Mrs. Xu and Xu Wanli didn’t notice that Ren Yaoqi and the current Pei Zhiyan could prepare tea with nearly identical taste.

After his initial shock, Pei Zhiyan calmed down and continued chatting leisurely with everyone from time to time.

Outside, three races had already been completed, leaving only the court’s Golden Dragon, the Prince of Yanbei’s Azure Dragon, the Yun family’s White Dragon, the Lei family’s Red Dragon, and the Su family’s Blue Dragon.

The fourth race was particularly intense. The Golden Dragon and Azure Dragon continued to lead at nearly equal speeds, while the battle between the White Dragon, Red Dragon, and Blue Dragon made people’s blood boil. Even those who had originally focused only on the contest between the Prince of Yanbei and the court couldn’t help being drawn to these three dragon boats.

In the end, the Lei family’s Red Dragon won against the Yun family’s White Dragon and the Su family’s Blue Dragon by a narrow margin. The final race would be between the Golden Dragon, Azure Dragon, and Red Dragon.