The dragon boat starting order was determined by the combined mounted archery scores: Longxiang Army first, Shenwu Army second.
In a competition where the champion is already obvious, continuing to watch would hold much less enjoyment. However, if two teams fiercely compete for the championship with evenly matched strength, where the victor couldn’t be determined until the final moment, the spectators’ blood would surely boil passionately for their favored team.
“Who is the Longxiang Army’s commander?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Eunuch Kang, beside Emperor Yuanjia, smiled and replied: “It’s Han Liao, the heir of Marquis Xiting.”
The Empress Dowager drew in a breath: “Han Liao against Lu Zhuo—this dragon boat race will be quite the spectacle. Your Majesty, why don’t we place wagers to see if Lu Zhuo can truly lead the Shenwu Army to reclaim the championship from the Longxiang Army?”
Emperor Yuanjia nodded with indifference.
The Empress Dowager invited everyone present to participate in the wagering. She took the lead by removing the gem-studded golden bracelet from her wrist and placing it on the tray Eunuch Kang brought over: “I wager on the Shenwu Army.”
Emperor Yuanjia produced the other golden walnut for exercising hand bones: “Longxiang Army.”
The Empress, three consorts, Prince Duan and his wife, Prince Jing, and Prince Fu also placed their wagers respectively.
The Empress Dowager proposed that all the losing stakes would be awarded entirely to the commanding officer of the champion team.
Just as Eunuch Kang was about to withdraw the tray behind Emperor Yuanjia, the Empress Dowager suddenly looked toward Wei Rao: “Raorao should also choose a team.”
After speaking, she glanced at Wei Rao’s hands.
Today, Wei Rao’s makeup was simple—aside from a hairpin to secure her hair, she wore only a pink begonia silk flower. The others had all wagered valuable items they carried with them. If Wei Rao participated, she could only use the golden walnut bestowed by Emperor Yuanjia.
If Wei Rao wagered the golden walnut, she would offend Emperor Yuanjia. If Wei Rao didn’t participate, she would appear petty.
Even Emperor Yuanjia looked toward Wei Rao, wanting to see how she would react.
Wei Rao smiled and handed the plate of cherry cakes the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her—of which she had only eaten one piece—to Eunuch Kang with both hands. She said coquettishly to the Empress Dowager: “This subject daughter possesses nothing of value. Thanks to Your Majesty’s favor in bestowing palace pastries upon me, I’ll now offer borrowed flowers to Buddha. If I win, these cherry cakes remain mine. If I lose, the cherry cakes will be transferred to the victorious commander, perfectly helping him and his team members replenish their strength.”
The Empress Dowager maintained her smile: “These few pieces of cake wouldn’t be enough to give each of them even one piece.”
Emperor Yuanjia pointed to the untouched plate on his side: “Wei Rao’s intention is good. If she loses, my plate will also be taken together to distribute to the champion team.”
The corners of the Empress Dowager’s mouth drooped slightly.
Emperor Yuanjia gave Eunuch Zheng a meaningful glance.
The young eunuch waved the brocade banner—the second round of dragon boat racing was about to begin.
The six teams arranged themselves along the lakeside according to their mounted archery scores, with each subsequent team positioned half a dragon boat’s length behind the one before.
The six dragon boats matched their team members’ uniform colors. Twelve team members sat in six rows of two on each side, gripping oars to row the boats. The commanders stood at the bow issuing orders and adjusting tactics at any moment.
The lake surface was closer to the island, and Wei Rao finally got a clear view of the six team commanders’ faces.
The Shenwu Army’s commander was Lu Zhuo.
Wei Rao had seen Lu Zhuo twice before, and each time his appearance resembled that of a gentle, refined scholar who had placed third in the imperial examinations. Even now, with his jade-like complexion and gentle smile, wearing the elegant red team uniform, he still looked like a literary talent mingling among warriors. If Wei Rao hadn’t personally witnessed Lu Zhuo’s heroic figure riding like a meteor across the racetrack, she truly wouldn’t dare believe that Lu Zhuo was a military officer.
The Longxiang Army’s commander was Han Liao. Wei Rao had never met this person and had only just confirmed his identity from Eunuch Kang’s words. Wei Rao had heard Han Liao’s martial reputation many times. Seeing him in person now—with his imposing stature and stern, dignified countenance—he was quite a handsome man, appearing to be only in his twenties.
If Han Liao weren’t lustful, didn’t have a bunch of concubines and children, and didn’t have a difficult mother-in-law, cousin Zhou Huizhen marrying him wouldn’t be bad either.
But then again, precisely because marrying Han Liao wasn’t a good match, his wife’s position had remained vacant. Otherwise, it would have long been claimed by other noble daughters in the capital—where would it be, cousin’s turn?
The team ranked third was the Imperial Guards, whom Wei Rao had wagered on.
Wei Rao didn’t like the Empress Dowager’s cherry cakes—even if they weren’t poisoned, she didn’t want to eat them. Wagering on either the Shenwu Army or Longxiang Army could both potentially win, so better to choose a different team. But Wei Rao hadn’t expected that the Imperial Guards’ commander would be an acquaintance: Second Master Qi from Marquis Pingxi Mansion, Qi Zhongkai, with thick eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, robust as a mountain. Despite ranking third, he still appeared very confident of claiming the championship.
Looking at Qi Zhongkai’s bronze-colored, resolute face, Wei Rao’s heart stirred slightly.
Before being urged to marry by her maternal grandmother this year, Wei Rao had never thought about marriage and choosing a husband. Now that she was paying attention, she needed to start selecting. Marquis Pingxi Mansion was also a military family with ancestors who had established military merits. Though their prominence these years couldn’t compare to Duke Ying Mansion or Marquis Xiting Mansion, their power and connections remained formidable, belonging to the ranks of distinguished noble houses.
As for Qi Zhongkai himself, at a young age, he became an Imperial Guard and was appreciated by Emperor Yuanjia. His voice might be a bit loud, but his personality was carefree and unrestrained—he wasn’t someone who valued propriety highly. He was also sufficiently attentive to Wei Rao and should be very willing to marry her. What Wei Rao wasn’t certain about was Qi Zhongkai’s family situation—she’d have to ask her grandmother about it later.
Wei Rao also looked at the remaining three armies’ commanders. To become commanders, they probably all had some background, but the remaining three didn’t look as pleasing as Qi Zhongkai.
Noble birth was important, but being pleasing to the eye was equally important—after all, this would be someone to share a bed with long-term.
Three drum beats sounded, and the competition began!
The six dragon boats moved like six swimming dragons, advancing rapidly to the passionate drumbeats. Wei Rao’s gaze followed Qi Zhongkai closely. The Shenwu Army was in hot pursuit of the Longxiang Army, while Qi Zhongkai commanded the Imperial Guards to bite tightly onto the Shenwu Army’s heels. The Imperial Guards, responsible for protecting the emperor, were all carefully selected and now revealed their capabilities.
However, when the dragon boats rounded half of Qionghua Island, Qi Zhongkai’s Imperial Guards still maintained third place, though the distance between them and the Shenwu Army ahead had widened.
With Qi Zhongkai having no hope of winning the championship, Wei Rao finally looked toward the leading Longxiang Army and Shenwu Army.
The gold and red dragon boats had started half a boat length apart, but now that distance had been reduced by half.
Could they overcome the remaining half?
Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo, then at Han Liao. Both men disdained her and her cousins, but at least Lu Zhuo had a helpful heart.
Wei Rao hoped Lu Zhuo’s Shenwu Army would win.
With only one Zhang remaining to the finish line, the Shenwu Army’s dragon boat was only one arm’s length behind!
At this moment, Lu Zhuo suddenly leaped through the air toward the stern. The Shenwu Army’s dragon boat suddenly lost the weight of one adult man and was propelled forward by Lu Zhuo’s final push before leaving the boat. As if divinely assisted, it was the first to break through the intercepting red silk. Simultaneously, Lu Zhuo landed steadily at the dragon boat’s stern.
The lake breeze fluttered his red robes—a gentleman like jade, graceful as an immortal.
Setting aside his martial skills, his face truly deserved the praise of “the capital’s most handsome man.”
As Wei Rao stared at Lu Zhuo, Qi Zhongkai’s dragon boat team also crossed the finish line. This fellow excitedly jumped onto Lu Zhuo’s boat, congratulating Lu Zhuo with hearty laughter.
Standing side by side, Lu Zhuo truly surpassed Qi Zhongkai in every aspect.
Wei Rao finally felt a bit envious of Sixth Miss Xie. Whether she was a peony or not aside, Sixth Miss Xie was indeed marrying better than she could.
Fortunately, Wei Rao had inherited her maternal grandmother’s perceptiveness and quickly thought it through. Lu Zhuo was indeed excellent, but beneath his gentle refinement lay the pride of a noble family’s son who looked down upon women like them. For an actual marriage and life together, Qi Zhongkai would be more suitable for her.
“Lu Zhuo is truly excellent—Sixth Miss Xie is so fortunate. What a pity you didn’t give me a princess granddaughter, or I would recruit Lu Zhuo as a prince consort,” the Empress Dowager said with a beaming smile to the Empress and three consorts, having won her wager.
The Empress, Consort De (Prince Duan’s birth mother), and Consort Xian (Prince Fu’s birth mother) all smiled apologetically. Consort Hui couldn’t smile, slightly lowering her head with her heart pierced like a knife. She had given birth to a princess, raised like a precious golden branch and jade leaf until eight years old, then died young.
The Empress Dowager only wanted to sting the unmarriageable Wei Rao and hadn’t thought of Consort Hui at all.
Whether Emperor Yuanjia was reminded of that past grief of losing a daughter or simply disliked hearing the Empress Dowager’s chatter, regardless of the Empress Dowager still praising Lu Zhuo with the Empress, he directly ordered Eunuch Zheng to summon the six commanders.
The six men had already reached the island. Upon learning of the imperial summons, the six valiant young military officers ascended as if walking on level ground.
Lu Zhuo walked at the front with Han Liao close behind.
Qi Zhongkai laughingly patted Han Liao’s shoulder: “Uncle Han needn’t be dejected. That boy, Lu Zhuo, just took advantage of his age. If he competed with Uncle Han at twenty, he definitely wouldn’t match you.”
Han Liao looked young but was thirty-two years old, the same generation as Lu Zhuo’s fourth uncle.
Martial competitions had winners and losers. Han Liao losing to Lu Zhuo had only caused him slight displeasure, but being consoled so openly by Qi Zhongkai—which was mockery about his advanced age—made Han Liao truly want to turn around and punch Qi Zhongkai.
Unable to endure it, yet unable to truly make an issue of it, Han Liao snorted coldly and unceremoniously brushed away Qi Zhongkai’s hand.
Qi Zhongkai grinned, revealing white teeth.
Along the way, they could see guests in pavilions smiling and sizing them up. Qi Zhongkai remembered that Wei Rao had also entered the palace today and couldn’t help looking left and right, but despite searching the entire way, he saw no trace of the beauty.
Reaching Zhaixing Tower at the island’s peak, Qi Zhongkai immediately spotted Wei Rao sitting beside the Empress Dowager.
Before the Empress Dowager and Emperor, Qi Zhongkai maintained a steady expression, but his heart was quite joyful. He didn’t know why, but among so many beauties, only this Fourth Miss Wei made him happy at every meeting. It was like going hunting in the mountains—turning around and around, seeing only rabbits and pheasants, then suddenly encountering a phoenix. Just seeing it made his heart bloom with joy.
The six commanders lined up to receive Emperor Yuanjia’s evaluation.
Wei Rao kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart.
Though her dress wasn’t striking and her hair ornaments simple, as the only young maiden in the tower—a maiden granted a seat by the Empress Dowager—Lu Zhuo inevitably noticed her. However, because Wei Rao lowered her lashes, restraining the brilliant light in her eyes, and deliberately painted her lips into a gentle, lovely shape, and because Lu Zhuo’s gaze only swept over quickly, he didn’t recognize this woman as the male-dressed Fourth Miss Wei he had encountered twice at Yunwu Mountain.
After the evaluation, the Empress Dowager took over the conversation, bestowing the stakes from Emperor Yuanjia and other nobles who had lost their wagers upon Lu Zhuo.
Five stakes total—the most valuable was Emperor Yuanjia’s golden walnut, but the most conspicuous were the two plates of cherry cakes. Such quantity!
“This is Fourth Miss Wei’s stake,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile, glancing at Qi Zhongkai. “Fourth Miss wagered on the Imperial Guards.”
Qi Zhongkai’s eyes lit up. Had Fourth Miss wagered on the Imperial Guards because she believed in him?
“Many thanks for Fourth Miss’s regard. In the next dragon boat race, the Imperial Guards will claim the championship.”
Wei Rao rose and smiled in return.
Lu Zhuo looked over again. This time, he finally recognized Wei Rao, but the more he looked, the more ridiculous he found it. Possessing an alluring face, she deliberately painted it toward propriety. If she truly wanted to be praised for dignity and virtue, she should abide by proper conduct rather than taking shortcuts with such superficial efforts.
“Withdraw and prepare the feast,” Emperor Yuanjia suddenly said.
On the Dragon Boat Festival, after the dragon boat race came the Dragon Boat Feast, located at Penglai Pavilion halfway down the mountain.
Emperor Yuanjia accompanied the Empress Dowager down the mountain first.
The Empress and three consorts followed. Princess Duan beckoned to Wei Rao, smilingly inviting her younger cousin to walk with her.
Wei Rao then moved to her cousin’s side.
Among the six commanders, except for Lu Zhuo, the gazes of Han Liao, Qi Zhongkai, and the other four all followed Wei Rao, from her charming profile to her slender, graceful silhouette.
Qi Zhongkai’s was simple appreciation; Han Liao’s eyes burned with passion.
In the third month, he had taken a singing girl to play at Yunwu Mountain and halfway encountered Zhou Huizhen and her daughter accosting young gentlemen. Han Liao was attracted by Zhou Huizhen’s beauty—the more he looked, the more beautiful she seemed, the more he wanted to press her onto a bed for tender loving. After returning home, he discussed with his mother about marrying Zhou Huizhen as his second wife.
Han Liao was a military officer who didn’t care about women’s scheming—he only wanted to marry a delicate, beautiful wife. Since he already had legitimate and illegitimate sons, a wife brought home only needed to serve him. His parents would handle the children’s education along with him.
Unexpectedly, while his mother agreed, Shou’an Jun rejected him.
Unable to marry the beauty, Han Liao felt great regret. Today, however, he was delighted to discover that Zhou Huizhen was merely a defective product—Fourth Miss Wei was the true absolute beauty! If he could obtain Fourth Miss Wei, what would Zhou Huizhen matter?