Princess Xiao Jingling’s pleasure boat indeed arrived quickly. Though Xiao Jingling hadn’t come today, both pleasure boats had been moored in this section of the river since early morning.
Yun Qiuchen asked with a normal expression: “Princess’s pleasure boat is also quite stable. Shall we board?”
The other capital young ladies exchanged glances, then all looked toward Yan Ningshuang simultaneously.
Yan Ningshuang smiled: “Then let’s board.” She took her servant girl’s hand and led the way toward the pleasure boat.
Zhao Yingqiu suddenly pressed her forehead and swayed unsteadily. Yun Qiuchen, standing beside her, quickly caught her with sharp eyes and quick hands, asking with concern: “Miss Zhao, what’s wrong?”
Yan Ningshuang also turned to look.
Zhao Yingqiu showed a somewhat weak smile: “I’ve been in the river breeze all afternoon and feel somewhat unwell. I didn’t notice before, but now seeing the boat…”
Everyone understood – Zhao Yingqiu was probably remembering the boat journey to Yanbei, when her condition on the boat hadn’t been good, and she had been listless throughout.
Yan Ningshuang said, “Why don’t you go back and rest first?”
Zhao Yingqiu nodded and said apologetically to everyone: “Then I’ll leave first. Please enjoy yourselves, sisters.”
Yun Qiuchen beckoned her servant girl Yinzhu over and instructed: “Accompany Miss Zhao back, and have someone fetch Physician Yang to examine Miss Zhao.”
Zhao Yingqiu expressed her thanks and left with Yinzhu.
The others all followed Yan Ningshuang and Yun Qiuchen aboard the pleasure boat.
Xiao Jingxi’s pleasure boat slowly sailed toward the lower reaches of the Liyang River, while the other pleasure boat followed behind, maintaining a moderate distance. The trailing boat showed no intention of catching up, and the people on both boats seemed genuinely interested in admiring the river scenery and mountain views.
However, the boat behind didn’t seem to affect those on the front boat. Pei Zhiyan invited Xiao Jingxi to play a game of Go, which Xiao Jingxi readily accepted. The Xu couple and Ren Yaoqi sat quietly to the side, observing the game.
Both Pei Zhiyan and Xiao Jingxi were top-tier masters at Go. Pei Zhiyan’s style appeared casual but favored occasional unconventional moves, with each placement containing hidden traps. Xiao Jingxi’s style possessed a steadiness that didn’t match his age. No matter how Pei Zhiyan played, Xiao Jingxi wouldn’t be drawn away from his rhythm. When the time came for killing moves, however, he showed no mercy, decisive and ruthless.
Though both played at a measured pace, the battle was extremely intense, capturing the attention of the observers even more than the dragon boat race had.
Ren Yaoqi had played against Xiao Jingxi before and had privately wondered who would be superior if Xiao Jingxi faced Pei Zhiyan, concluding that her teacher might have a slight advantage. But watching this battle unfold, Ren Yaoqi felt her previous judgment might have been somewhat subjective. Though Xiao Jingxi had no clear advantage against Pei Zhiyan, he never showed signs of defeat from beginning to end.
Thus, Ren Yaoqi came to understand that when Xiao Jingxi had played Go with her, he had more or less held back. Especially that drawn game – with Xiao Jingxi’s steady style, he shouldn’t have fallen for her trap so easily. After all, when it came to setting traps to lure enemies, if Pei Zhiyan claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.
When both sides were locked in an intense battle with a deadlocked situation, Pei Zhiyan smiled, looking at Xiao Jingxi with genuine appreciation. He teased leisurely: “One can see a person’s nature through their Go style. Young Master Xiao remains so unmovable and impenetrable even while playing Go. I can’t help but be curious – has Young Master Xiao never been flustered by anything?”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi looked up, a white stone spinning deftly between his fingers. He glanced almost imperceptibly at Ren Yaoqi beside him and smiled: “Naturally, there are such things.”
“Oh?” Pei Zhiyan rarely showed curiosity, and the Xu couple also looked toward him, wanting to hear more.
However, when Ren Yaoqi saw that glance, her heart jumped and she became somewhat nervous, afraid Xiao Jingxi might say something inappropriate.
Xiao Jingxi gently placed the white stone in his hand on the board – another clever killing move. Only when everyone’s attention was drawn to the board did he slowly say: “Whether one feels nervous depends on the people and matters involved. As long as one is human, there will always be things one particularly cares about. I naturally have such things too.”
Pei Zhiyan looked at Xiao Jingxi with some surprise. Having vulnerabilities wasn’t something one could speak about casually, especially for someone in Xiao Jingxi’s position and status – they wouldn’t admit to such things, as having vulnerabilities equated to having weaknesses.
Meeting Pei Zhiyan’s gaze, Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly: “Avoiding one’s ‘weaknesses’ is equivalent to denying oneself – that’s the behavior of the weak.”
Pei Zhiyan placed a stone while tilting his head, his expression showing interest: “Then how does Young Master Xiao deal with his weaknesses? By overcoming them?”
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment, his voice still carrying light amusement: “Overcome what can be overcome, face what cannot be overcome. Since it’s an integral part of oneself, treat it seriously.” He paused, then added, “Moreover, I don’t think it’s bad for a person to have one or two weaknesses. No one is perfect, and the taste of being lonely at great heights isn’t particularly pleasant.”
Listening from the side, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but stare somewhat dazedly at Xiao Jingxi’s profile, unable to look away.
Though Xiao Jingxi’s expression remained calm while speaking these words, somehow he possessed a particularly attractive quality. Though he admitted to having weaknesses, at this moment no one would doubt that the composed yet confident young man before them was an absolute strong person.
Everyone present felt moved by his words, seemingly drawn into their thoughts by what Xiao Jingxi had said – they too were ordinary people with weaknesses.
But at this moment, Xiao Jingxi turned his head and met Ren Yaoqi’s gaze. The gentle warmth and tender smile in his eyes, carrying heart-stirring affection, was transmitted to Ren Yaoqi without reservation. Though he quickly turned his attention back to the Go board, it still made Ren Yaoqi’s heart race uncontrollably, unable to calm down for a long time.
The game reached its end and, unsurprisingly, ended in a stalemate.
Xiao Jingxi and Pei Zhiyan looked at each other. Pei Zhiyan smiled slightly and tossed a stone into the pot: “I’ve lost.”
Xiao Jingxi raised his eyebrows: “This is a draw.”
Pei Zhiyan shook his head leisurely: “For you to defeat me now might not be easy – I’m merely benefiting from my age… In a few more years, I might not be able to get any advantage from you.”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but smile, also joking: “According to Master Pei’s meaning, it seems in a few more years you won’t need to benefit from my age?”
Xu Wanli couldn’t help but laugh heartily, looking at Pei Zhiyan teasingly: “This reminds me of children who always think that in a few years they’ll grow taller than their older brothers, not realizing that while they’re growing, their brothers are growing too. Jinyan, you’re growing more childish with age!”
Mrs. Xu also laughed.
Pei Zhiyan didn’t mind his old friend’s teasing, smiling and shaking his head: “What I meant was that in a few more years, even if I benefit from my age, I might not be able to defeat this Young Friend Xiao. Why must you force me to admit it openly?”
Hearing this, Xu Wanli was stunned, then said unhappily: “What young friend? Your casual forms of address are disrupting generational order!”
Xu Wanli was Xiao Jingxi’s teacher, naturally a generation older. Pei Zhiyan was Xu Wanli’s brother-in-law and old friend, so Pei Zhiyan was also a generation older than Xiao Jingxi. Addressing him as “friend” did indeed disrupt generational order.
Pei Zhiyan picked up his tea and leisurely took a sip, saying unconcernedly: “I acknowledge my young friend – what does it have to do with you? You’re still his teacher. Otherwise, at your age, accepting me as an old friend is barely acceptable, but accepting him would inevitably raise the suspicion of an old bull eating tender grass.”
Hearing this, Xu Wanli couldn’t help but become furious and began arguing with Pei Zhiyan.
Ren Yaoqi watched with great surprise as Pei Zhiyan bantered with Xu Wanli with a relaxed expression and sharp words. She had never seen how Pei Zhiyan interacted with true close friends. So her teacher also had a childish side like a little child? Ren Yaoqi found it quite refreshing.
All in all, this brief pleasure boat excursion was quite pleasant. Unfortunately, Pei Zhiyan had to return to the retreat house to discuss with the other two officials how to write their memorial, so he couldn’t accept the invitation to stay for dinner. The pleasure boat made a round trip along the middle and lower reaches of the Liyang River before stopping at the original boarding location.
The pleasure boat that had been following them also returned, though it maintained a somewhat greater distance.
Xiao Jingxi left some people to look after them. Just as everyone was about to board their respective carriages, they saw someone run to the bow of Xiao Jingling’s pleasure boat, waving toward them while shouting something. Unfortunately, the distance was too great to hear clearly.
Everyone stopped. Xiao Jingxi beckoned a guard over and had him take people in a small boat to provide assistance and see what had happened.
Ren Yaoqi said to Xiao Jingxi in a low voice: “Is there anyone with medical skills here? For safety’s sake, it would be better to have someone knowledgeable in medicine go along.”
Ren Yaoqi’s concern wasn’t unreasonable. The pleasure boat had been sailing fine on the river, yet the people aboard had become panicked – a physician might be more useful.
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi nodded: “There are two physicians on standby – they should still be here.” He then turned to give some instructions.
When the small boat here was ready, indeed, a physician carrying a medicine box came over.
Several guards boarded the small boat with the physician and rowed toward the pleasure boat at great speed. Xiao Jingxi himself didn’t go – the small boat had people capable of both fighting and healing, so his presence wouldn’t help.
Before long, the small boat that had rowed over returned, though the physician wasn’t on board. As soon as the guard came ashore, he immediately reported: “Young Master, a young lady suddenly fainted.”