The dragon boat races in Yunyang City were an annual grand event in Yanzhou. Every Dragon Boat Festival, the prominent aristocratic families of Yanzhou would gather here.

When the Ren family’s carriages departed from Baihezhen, there were already many traveling carriages on the official road. However, families mobilizing over twenty carriages like the Ren family were still in the minority.

They arrived in Yunyang City at the si hour of the morning. Though daylight had fully broken, it wasn’t yet hot enough to be unbearable.

As the weather was growing warm, the Ren family carriages used breathable gauze curtains. From the moment they entered the city gates, Ren Yaoqi’s gaze remained fixed outside. Though she could only see the vague shadows of pedestrians and carriages and hear various noisy sounds from the marketplace, she could still sense the prosperous scene of Yunyang City as Yanbei’s greatest city.

When the Liao people invaded the south, the Liao King had once insisted against all opposition on moving the Liao capital south to Yunyang City. Unfortunately, before this could be achieved, he was driven out of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun by the fourth Yanbei Prince Xiao Qishan. Establishing the capital in Yunyang City became the Liao King’s dying wish.

Ren Yaoqi was very unfamiliar with Yunyang City. In her previous life, she had only visited a few times with her mother when young. After growing up, she rarely had opportunities to travel. Like her mother Li Shi, she was an overlooked existence in the Ren family. The last time she had wanted to flee to her maternal family in Yunyang City for protection, she was intercepted halfway before even entering the city.

The Ren family carriages slowly passed through Yunyang City’s widest main thoroughfare and entered the inner city.

“Where are the carriages heading?” Ren Yaoqi asked Ren Yaohua.

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi strangely, then remembered this was Ren Yaoqi’s first time coming to watch the dragon boat races.

“The dragon boats need to launch first. The formal races don’t start until afternoon. We’re going to the Ren family’s villa in Yunyang City. We’ll stay at the villa for the next few days.”

Ren Yaoqi did know the Ren family had a residence in Yunyang City. She had visited it before.

The carriages ahead stopped, and Ren Yaohua lifted the curtain to look: “Aunt is returning to the Lin family. She’s taking a different route from us.”

Indeed, after several carriages left the convoy, the Ren family carriages moved again. After traveling for less than a quarter hour, they finally stopped before a red-lacquered gate. This was the main entrance to the villa. Though the gate wasn’t large, Ren Yaoqi remembered this residence was a spacious four-courtyard mansion.

Individual lodging arrangements had been made before departure, so as soon as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua alighted from their carriage, they were led by servants to the west wing of the third courtyard. The two sisters shared the first room on the north side of the west wing. The room was spacious with complete furnishings, and some of the daily items were ones Ren Yaoqi was accustomed to using, showing the room had been specially arranged before their arrival.

Ren Yaohua was familiar with this room, having presumably stayed here during previous visits to Yunyang City. Old Madam Ren resided in the north rooms of the third courtyard, so the west wing of the third courtyard had better conditions.

Just after settling in, Fifth Master came to consult Old Madam Ren, then took Fifth Madam Lin Shi and their children to his father-in-law’s house. The fifth branch rarely stayed at the villa when visiting Yunyang City, usually residing at the Lin family. Though Old Madam Ren was dissatisfied with her youngest son, she didn’t want to create unpleasantness that would embarrass the Ren family before others. She waved her hand and let them go.

This left no proper daughter-in-law to attend Old Madam Ren, only Concubine Fang as a concubine.

Concubine Fang changed clothes, intending to attend Old Madam Ren, but Ren Yaohua had already pulled Ren Yaoqi to Old Madam Ren’s presence first. When Concubine Fang arrived, they didn’t give her any opportunity to serve.

With several granddaughters around Old Madam Ren, plus the eldest grandson’s wife, and a roomful of maids and servants bustling about, there truly was nothing for Concubine Fang to do.

Finally, Old Madam Ren looked at Concubine Fang, then at Ren Yaohua, and still sent Concubine Fang away.

Old Madam Ren was quite shrewd. Behind closed doors in the Ren family inner quarters, she didn’t mind giving Concubine Fang extra dignity, even letting her overshadow Li Shi, the legitimate wife. But outside, when prominent families gathered, she truly couldn’t bring herself to treat a concubine as a proper daughter-in-law. She could sacrifice her face, but the Ren family couldn’t afford such embarrassment.

So Old Madam Ren wasn’t ignorant of the distinction between legitimate and secondary wives – she just chose her occasions.

Old Madam Ren ordered an early lunch at the villa, then they would depart. The inner quarter’s women only needed to relocate when the time came. Travel arrangements were handled by the Ren family men and stewards.

Ren Yaoqi listened to the sisters cheerfully discussing last year’s Dragon Boat Festival around Old Madam Ren. She remained quietly seated to one side, listening.

The atmosphere was harmonious when a servant hurriedly entered to report: “Old Madam, carriages from the Yanbei Prince’s residence have arrived.”

Old Madam Ren, who had been reclining with eyes closed, immediately opened them and sat up straight: “Who has come?”

The servant glanced at Ren Yaoqi seated to one side and replied: “Just one carriage with a maid. They say the Princess sent them to fetch Fifth Miss.”

The room instantly fell silent, with everyone’s eyes turning to Ren Yaoqi.

Old Madam Ren also looked at Ren Yaoqi. After thinking, her face showed loving kindness as she said, “Since the Princess sent for you, go ahead.”

Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected Xiao Jinglin to find her so quickly and was somewhat surprised. After hearing Old Madam Ren’s words, she softly said “Yes,” then rose and withdrew.

The Yanbei Prince’s carriage waited at the gate – black lacquer with blue canopy, appearing quite ordinary. But approaching closer, Ren Yaoqi discovered the carriage bore the Yanbei Prince’s insignia under the eaves: a soaring eagle.

Ren Yaoqi instinctively glanced toward where the driver sat, feeling somewhat disappointed to see not Dongsheng but a middle-aged woman around forty. The maid guarding beside the carriage came forward to help Ren Yaoqi board.

When Ren Yaoqi emerged, she brought only Pingguo, saying the Princess disliked too many followers. Others couldn’t interfere with her decision. Since the Princess hadn’t come personally, Ren Yaoqi had Pingguo board the carriage too.

Xiao Jinglin’s maid was named Hongying, a quiet girl who answered only when asked. Ren Yaoqi wasn’t talkative either. After asking two questions, she stopped. She believed this maid served Xiao Jinglin – the master and servant were too similar in temperament.

The carriage traveled for nearly two quarters of an hour before finally stopping beside a wharf in Yunyang City.

The Liyang River flowed through Yunyang, so there were several wharfs within the city. However, Yunyang City’s wharfs didn’t exist for civilian or commercial use. The river entrance into the city was guarded by troops, so under most circumstances, no boats traveled the Liyang River within the city. Instead, scattered women crouched on the wharf’s stone steps washing vegetables and clothes, their banter and scolding creating a strong marketplace atmosphere.

Today’s dragon boat races also weren’t held in this section of the river within the city, but required going outside the city gates.

Hongying jumped down from the carriage first, then turned to help Ren Yaoqi.

Alighting from the carriage, Ren Yaoqi saw a small painted pleasure boat moored by the river. Ren Yaoqi had seen such boats in the capital, where wealthy young masters liked to sit inside drinking and listening to music. They were rarely seen in Yanbei.

As Ren Yaoqi stood on the bank examining the boat, the forward cabin door suddenly opened, and Xiao Jinglin emerged.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jinglin’s expression remained cool as always, but she asked: “Are you afraid of water?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head and walked down the stone steps along the bank. On the step closest to the water were some rotten vegetable leaves and even fish scales and other filthy things. Walking down, she could smell the fishy water odor – neither pleasant nor unpleasant.

Xiao Jinglin reached out to pull Ren Yaoqi up onto the boat. Though not large, the boat was very stable – it didn’t even sway when Ren Yaoqi stepped aboard.

Inside the boat was only one maid dressed similarly to Hongying, no one else.

Ren Yaoqi curiously looked around. Inside was fairly spacious, able to accommodate eight or nine people. The center was arranged with several low tables and soft cushions, plus some daily necessities. Apart from these, nothing was particularly special.

Though Xiao Jinglin’s expression was cold, she kept holding Ren Yaoqi’s hand, guiding her to sit on the soft cushions before releasing her, worried she might be unsteady on the boat.

“Second Brother had the Crown Prince buy this pleasure boat in the capital. He bought three altogether. This one first launched yesterday. Hearing you had arrived, I thought you might never have ridden such a thing, so I had someone fetch you,” Xiao Jinglin said coolly, looking at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi was examining the surroundings when she heard this and smiled at Xiao Jinglin: “Thank you, Princess. I truly haven’t ridden one before.”

Xiao Jinglin studied Ren Yaoqi for several moments, then also smiled: “Good thing you didn’t get seasick coming aboard. Yesterday Mother Consort vomited as soon as she boarded, frightening Grandmother and the others so they wouldn’t board. So Second Brother gave me this boat.” Her words carried a rare hint of playfulness.

The north had few rivers, so Yanbei people couldn’t swim like southerners, and most couldn’t get used to boats. Though Ren Yaoqi had never ridden a pleasure boat, she had been on boats before.

The pleasure boat slowly moved through the inner city’s waterways. Many people on the riverbank stopped to stare. Never mind that such boats were rarely seen in Yanbei – few dared navigate the inner city waters. Today, Ren Yaoqi enjoyed Xiao Jinglin’s privileges, being pointed at all along the route.

Xiao Jinglin remained composed, paying no attention to the commotion outside. Ren Yaoqi could also sit calmly, especially since her backlit position made it difficult for outsiders to see her face clearly, reducing the pressure.

As the boat approached a large stone bridge spanning the waterway, there was a “bang” – something struck the boat.

Neither initially paid attention, but immediately came two more successive “bangs.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help looking toward Xiao Jinglin. Someone was throwing things at the boat?