Without comparison, there’s no harm – compared to his bald opponent, Wang Ning could truly be called a fairy flower from Langyuan.
Princess Huaiqing’s eyes brightened. Actually in terms of appearance, Wang Ning wasn’t the most handsome, but after Mu Chun’s mad dog indiscriminate attacks, only nine people remained on the field, making Wang Ning the most dazzling North Star.
Humans naturally possess desire for beautiful things, and Princess Huaiqing was human too. Though she knew she had no decision-making power over her future consort, she instinctively liked good-looking men.
If it were this person, she could anticipate a harmonious long marriage ahead – they wouldn’t just be sovereign and subject, but also husband and wife.
Unfortunately for Wang Ning’s opponent, he was called Hu Bin, from a distinguished family – the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Dongchuan Hu Hai. His father Hu Hai was also a fellow Fengyang native of the Hongwu Emperor and one of the founding meritorious officials. The Hu family held a hereditary marquis title, and Hu Bin would inherit the Marquis Dongchuan title – he was a popular candidate for prince consort.
Hu Bin was handsome with good family background, but unfortunately was bald, with scalp hair as sparse as thin rice porridge. The visible hair could be counted on ten fingers.
Hu Bin was mortified: I only wanted to break your horse’s leg, but you had to expose my fake hair piece!
The next competition was willow shooting. Hu Bin withdrew from competition without question, because for imperial dignity, the royal family could never select a bald prince consort.
Baldness was an incurable disease. Other ailments might be treatable, but even in modern society five hundred years later, baldness only had the single option of giving up treatment. Otherwise, Prince Charles and Prince William wouldn’t look as they do now, despite the royal family’s wealth.
The prince consort dream became moon in water, flower in mirror. Hu Bin sat in his tent, combing his disheveled hair before the mirror, shedding countless tears from autumn to winter, spring to summer.
The next competition was willow shooting.
Willow shooting wasn’t a group randomly shooting at willow trees – imperial willow shooting had many different methods.
First, bells were tied to pigeons’ legs, then a string tied to the pigeon’s leg, with a gourd attached to the other end. Pigeons were placed on willow branches with the string wrapped around branches once, gourds hanging below to prevent the pigeons from flying away.
Contestants had to shoot arrows to cut the string, making gourds fall and pigeons fly free. The bells on pigeon legs would ring melodiously – beautiful to see and hear.
“Jasper adorning the tree so high, ten thousand hanging green silk ribbons” – distinguishing the gourd-bearing string among “green silk ribbons” tested eyesight. With strings swaying in wind, cutting them required extraordinary archery skills.
This was clearly beyond normal difficulty – the Emperor used martial arts champion-level difficulty to select prince consorts. Actually this benefited contestants, because success would showcase them before the Emperor. Even if not selected as consort, it would benefit future careers.
Each person had three arrows, three chances. At least half ultimately hit strings, gourds fell, pigeons flew free, wings fluttering toward the sky, bronze bells ringing continuously like celestial music.
The Hongwu Emperor was greatly pleased – today’s talented youth would become future generals. Da Ming’s military leadership had successors. By custom, successful shooters received colored silk rewards.
Mu Chun scored two hits out of three, freeing two pigeons and receiving double silk rewards.
He smugly showed off his silk before Wang Ning: “Don’t be nervous – it’s actually simple. I casually shot and freed two pigeons. If you perform normally, freeing one pigeon won’t be a problem.”
Actually it wasn’t so “casual” – Mu Chun had exerted full effort to free pigeons. He carried his maternal grandfather’s longbow. With honor at stake, failure wasn’t an option.
Moreover, Sister Shanwei was watching him.
This willow shooting was too difficult for concealing ability – even full effort might not guarantee complete success.
Wang Ning regulated his breathing, unaffected by Mu Chun’s interference. When officials called his name, Wang Ning shouldered his bow and arrows and left the tent.
In the tent, Xu Zengshou predictably freed no pigeons. He sidled up to Mu Chun: “Chun-chun, the silk is so beautiful – share half with me?”
With his father Xu Da not watching nearby, Mu Chun couldn’t be bothered and cruelly refused: “No.”
Mu Chun planned to give the silk to Sister Shanwei.
Xu Zengshou persisted: “Little Chun, I want to give it to my eldest sister – she likes bright colors.”
Beating shows affection, scolding shows love. To cure Xu Zengshou’s gambling addiction, Princess Yan had him bound and dragged behind horses, nearly chopping off his fingers. Yet Xu Zengshou still cared for his eldest sister.
Mu Chun said: “No need to worry – Prince Yan just freed three pigeons and got three silk rewards.”
As they spoke, bronze bell sounds came from outside, approaching in three distinct layers.
Could it be… Mu Chun rushed out to see Wang Ning carrying three silk rewards to thank the Emperor.
Very few freed three pigeons – only three people total. Among royal family, only Prince Yan and Princess Ningguo’s consort Mei Yin hit all three arrows.
Princess Ningguo was Empress Ma’s biological daughter. Mei Yin was accomplished in both civil and military arts, handsome, from a distinguished noble family – his uncle was Marquis Runan Mei Sizhu.
This showed the Hongwu Emperor’s strict son-in-law selection standards – everything had to be the best, especially family background.
Precisely because of this, Wang Ning knew he was just “accompanying the crown prince’s studies.” During willow shooting he held nothing back, going all out. The Emperor had enfeoffed him as Earl Yongchun, Da Ming’s youngest earl – he had to prove his ability with strength.
Wang Ning went to thank the Emperor, only five steps from female official Hu Shanwei standing beside Empress Ma.
As Wang Ning approached, Hu Shanwei’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened. She dug her nails into her palms, forcing herself to stay calm.
She cursed her own uselessness – she could even ruthlessly recommend “The Lute Song” to the Emperor. After the Jiaofang Bureau rearranged the music, the palace performed several acts daily. Her initial excitement gradually calmed until now when watching “The Lute Song,” her heart was like still water.
During the earlier competition, her attention was all on Mu Chun. Wang Ning’s background was too ordinary – he had no possibility of selection. But when Wang Ning consecutively freed three pigeons and Princess Huaiqing beside her showed overflowing admiration, Hu Shanwei discovered her cultivation was still far insufficient. She was a worldly person who still cared about certain things, unable to control them with willpower.
As Wang Ning approached, Hu Shanwei saw Princess Huaiqing’s eyes growing brighter. If fate was over, emotions severed, relationship ended, why did it still hurt?
The former lovers were mentally connected at this moment. As Wang Ning walked closer and the faces of the two female officials beside Empress Ma became clearer, he dared look directly at them less and less.
As if a long blade lay ahead, piercing his heart – the closer he walked, the deeper it penetrated, the more his heart ached. But he couldn’t stop and had to maintain calm composure.
Having lurked in Northern Yuan’s Privy Council for four years, he’d developed an impeccable mask to hide his thoughts – this skill now proved useful.
Hu Shanwei watched him perform the four bows of gratitude right before her eyes, movements elegant and natural without any stiffness. She cursed her own sentimentality – Wang Ning could achieve emotional severance as if nothing had happened before. Why couldn’t she?
Facing someone who once made her heart flutter; to whom she gave all emotions and passion; for whom she waited long, seemingly lifelong; for baseless love, like a mantis stopping a chariot, using her own strength to oppose worldly conventions and break with her father…
All these past events kept returning, barely leaving her brow before entering her heart again. Could this emotion truly never be eliminated?
Just as Hu Shanwei’s palms nearly bled from gripping, Wang Ning finished thanking the Emperor and left the viewing stand.
Hu Shanwei sighed inwardly and had just relaxed her hands when she noticed Princess Huaiqing’s gaze following Wang Ning’s retreating figure.
In Hu Shanwei’s eyes, Wang Ning was terrifyingly calm. In Wang Ning’s eyes, Hu Shanwei was equally heartbreakingly composed.
Ahead lay blades, the viewing stand like a furnace. His heart dripped blood while his body suffered in the furnace. Yet she stood straight as a pine beside the Empress awaiting orders, purple robe, red skirt, black gauze cap, confident and composed, unmoved by his arrival.
“Ning-lang,” “Ning-lang!” Countless miniature Hu Shanweis in his mind sweetly called him like demons.
After thanking the Emperor, Wang Ning withdrew. Carrying his silk rewards back to the large tent, he encountered Mu Chun coming out to see his competition results.
Seeing Mu Chun, Wang Ning vented all negative emotions while appearing nonchalant but actually cold and sarcastic: “I casually shot and freed three pigeons.”
Mu Chun was inferior in skill, losing this round, but remained defiant: “Don’t laugh too early – there’s still dragon boat racing.”
Returning to his tent, Mu Chun found only one silk reward remaining – Xu Zengshou had vanished. Losing both person and property, Mu Chun stamped his feet in fury but was helpless.
Who told the guy to have such a wonderful father? Being born into the right family was truly important.
The final competition was dragon boat racing, the most ancient Dragon Boat Festival contest in Central Plains.
There were nine narrow dragon boats total, each with ten people – eight rowers, one drummer at the bow, one helmsman at the stern. They still drew lots to determine which boat.
While candidates drew lots, Princess Huaiqing went to whisper a few words to the Hongwu Emperor, who said: “What propriety is this for a young lady?”
Princess Huaiqing acted coquettishly: “Father Emperor, I just want to play a little. They’ll be busy rowing – who would notice me?”
As long as it wasn’t a matter of principle, the Hongwu Emperor was willing to indulge his daughters. He nodded permission.
Princess Huaiqing disappeared from the viewing stand, changed into men’s clothing, and appeared riverside holding the “ding” character lot, boarding the same boat as Wang Ning.
Mu Chun drew the “bing” character lot – jia, yi, bing, ding – exactly two boats side by side.
Mu Chun was full of schemes, thinking dragon boat racing was collective competition – his individual effort alone wouldn’t work. With ten people per boat, he couldn’t control everything.
If he couldn’t beat Wang Ning, he had to find ways to trip him up, letting him know not to be too arrogant. What was so great about freeing three pigeons!
Mu Chun’s eyes darted around, spotting Xu Zengshou who had just stolen his silk also drew the “bing” character lot, same boat as him.
Knowing his small strength would drag others down, Xu Zengshou volunteered to be helmsman at the stern.
Mu Chun had an idea, going over to whisper to Xu Zengshou: “…After success, I won’t pursue your theft of my silk and will give you the other piece too. How about it?”
Since quitting gambling, Xu Zengshou was a wastrel about to die of boredom. Hearing this, too lazy to even ask “why,” he nodded: “Good, it’s settled.”
Everyone boarded boats according to their drawn lots. Nine boats lined up across the wide Qinhuai River, taking positions.
At the drum sound, narrow dragon boats shot forward like arrows from bowstrings.
Wang Ning only focused on bending over to row, not noticing a small-framed contestant sitting behind him. Princess Huaiqing stared blankly at Wang Ning’s broad back and the rising and falling muscles around his waist as he rowed, seeming to smell his unique scent.
Except for Father Emperor, she’d never been so close to a man.
Nine boats were evenly matched, staying close together. Halfway through the race, they were still neck and neck.
It was time. Mu Chun deliberately raised his oar higher – this was his signal with helmsman Xu Zengshou.
Xu Zengshou understood, pretending his hands slipped and steering right, changing the boat from straight forward to diagonal left, naturally slowing speed and immediately falling half a boat length behind the “ding” character boat.
The drummer ahead yelled to Xu Zengshou: “Steer left, straighten the direction!”
“Got it!” Xu Zengshou pretended panic, confusing left and right, continuing to manipulate the boat toward ramming the “ding” character boat’s waist.
Dragon boats were narrow and light, accommodating only one row of rowers for speed. Being rammed in the waist, it immediately capsized!
Xu Zengshou sharply straightened the rudder and their boat continued forward. Capsizing in dragon boat races was common – everyone aboard could swim, and non-swimmers had companions to rescue them. No need to worry.
Thinking of Wang Ning falling into water delighted Mu Chun greatly. He only focused on rowing, not seeing that after the boat overturned, Embroidered Uniform Guards led by Mao Qiang jumped into Qinhuai River like dumplings.
The moment the boat capsized, Wang Ning held his breath underwater. Opening his eyes underwater, he discovered someone thrashing like a stranded fish on land – the more they struggled, the faster they sank.
Wang Ning immediately knew this person couldn’t swim. He surfaced for a deep breath, then dove down to find the “landlubber” whose legs were tangled in water plants at the river bottom.
Wang Ning found a mussel shell at the river bottom, cut through the water plants, then pulled the landlubber to the surface.
Swimming to shore, this person first coughed violently, then wailed while covering their chest with both hands.
Wang Ning said: “What’s a grown man crying about? Born in Jiangnan, how can you not even swim? If you can’t swim, why did you sign up for dragon boat racing? Really so self—”
Self-overestimating. He didn’t finish the last two words because Wang Ning realized the crying sounded wrong – too crisp. Looking again, this person had no Adam’s apple, and with clothes clinging to their body, despite covering their chest with both hands, their body outline clearly showed they were a woman.
Then Mao Qiang swam over, removing his flying fish robe while coming ashore to cover this person, frantically signaling Wang Ning with his eyes while whispering: “Leave quickly. If anyone asks, say you saw nothing and only saved someone.”
Wang Ning was confused but Mao Qiang had been his superior – he had to listen. So Wang Ning immediately left the scene.
Dusk, Qinhuai River.
Except for the “ding” character boat, all eight others successfully reached the finish line. Mu Chun’s “bing” character boat, due to helmsman Xu Zengshou repeatedly confusing directions and ramming neighbors, greatly reduced speed and ranked last.
The capsizing incident was quickly overshadowed by the grand award ceremony. The Hongwu Emperor bestowed wine and silk on the ten-person “jia” character first place team. Officials announced the competition’s end, and the imperial couple returned to the palace.
Everyone performed four bows and shouted long live three times before dispersing to reunite with families for Dragon Boat Festival.
No one knew the underwater truth, thinking it just ordinary capsizing and drowning. Little did they know on Qinhuai River: racing, racing, stirring up countless troubles.
Western Six Palaces, Yikun Palace.
Drug Official Ru checked Princess Huaiqing’s pulse and examined her body. Noble Consort Sun worried about her daughter: “How is the Princess?”
Drug Official Ru said: “No problem, just a bit frightened, no medicine needed. If sleep is disturbed, this minister has calming pills – dissolve in hot water and drink.”
Princess Huaiqing half-reclined on bed, pouting: “Mother Consort, I told you I’m fine. I don’t want to drink bitter medicine soup, but Mother Consort insisted Drug Official Ru make this trip.”
Noble Consort Sun firmly poked her daughter’s forehead: “Fortunately Mao Qiang arrived in time before Earl Yongchun discovered you were a woman, or great trouble would have resulted.”
Princess Huaiqing lay back down, turning to face her mother, cheeks flushed with red clouds, thinking “great trouble” would be wonderful…
Imperial Study, the Hongwu Emperor asked his secret service chief Mao Qiang: “Go investigate Earl Yongchun’s background thoroughly – three generations of ancestors, everything. Also, though he has no wife, find out about any past lovers, concubines, mistresses, or courtesans – investigate everything clearly.”
Mao Qiang’s heart skipped: “Your Majesty has chosen Earl Yongchun?”
The Hongwu Emperor nodded: “Except for poor family background, other conditions are perfect. Though he doesn’t come from a great family, he himself is a great family – Da Ming’s youngest earl, worthy of Da Ming’s noble princess.”
Mao Qiang said urgently: “Your Majesty, Earl Yongchun was once this minister’s subordinate. This minister knows his family situation thoroughly – three generations above are all dead with nothing to investigate. But… Earl Yongchun was previously engaged. Later he faked death to lurk in Northern Yuan, severing worldly ties. He once entrusted this minister to find another good match for his fiancée, but she was loyal and righteous, insisting on remaining chaste rather than remarrying. Three years later, due to conflicts with family over refusing remarriage, she was forced to enter the palace to make a living and became a female official.”
Even the Hongwu Emperor found this remarkable, asking: “Who is this loyal and righteous extraordinary woman?”
Mao Qiang: “The Director female official beside Her Majesty the Empress – Hu Shanwei.”
Author’s note: Chun-chun: On the downfall of ex-boyfriend