As soon as Cheng Chi entered, he saw this joyful scene.

He couldn’t help smiling slightly and said, “Are you all ready? We should set out! There will be many people today, and Lake Mochou will definitely be congested. We’d better go early.”

“Ready, ready!” Zhou Shaojin said cheerfully, helping Old Madam Guo insert her gold-inlaid jade comb.

Old Madam Guo’s face was full of smiles. With Zhou Shaojin’s nominal support, she left the inner chamber and said to Cheng Chi, “Have your fourth aunt and Great-Aunt Mian arrived?”

They had agreed yesterday that everyone would leave together.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Just waiting for you and Shaojin.” As he spoke, his eyes couldn’t help glancing toward Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin stood there smiling brightly, her eyes curved like crescents, looking so delightful.

He couldn’t help smiling at her as he supported Old Madam Guo’s other side.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart felt like it held a small bird, fluttering joyfully.

The group met up outside Tingyu Pavilion. Great-Aunt Lu and Cheng Jia hurried over.

After everyone exchanged greetings, Great-Aunt Lu smiled apologetically and said, “It’s all my fault. I had Jia change her clothes, which made us late!”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Cheng Jia’s bright red gold-woven Hangzhou silk vest and the ruby-red gold hairpin the size of lotus seeds adorning her peony bun.

Cheng Jia’s face flushed bright red.

On such a hot day, though this outfit was magnificent, it gave people the feeling of being too warm and somewhat inappropriate.

Especially after seeing Zhou Shaojin’s refreshing attire, Cheng Jia wished she could go back and change before returning.

But Old Madam Guo and Madam Guan had already boarded their sedan chairs. Even if she wanted to change clothes, it was too late. She could only pout as she boarded the sedan chair with Zhou Shaojin.

The sedan chairs moved swiftly and soon arrived at Lake Mochou.

The lakeside was already flowing with pedestrians.

By the time they ascended Qingyan Tower and sat down in the second-floor private rooms Cheng Chi had reserved, and Biyu and the others had served tea and refreshments, Lake Mochou was already filled with a din of voices. People jostled shoulder to shoulder, and downstairs already had quite the feeling of being impassable.

Cheng Jia gasped and said, “Good thing we came early, otherwise the sedan chairs would definitely be stuck on the road. I wonder how Zhuzhu and Miss Gu Shiqi are doing?”

“Exactly!” Zhou Shaojin walked over and leaned against the window with Cheng Jia, looking down.

A young maid reported, “The young ladies from the Gu family have arrived!”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia went together to the entrance to greet them.

The three Gu family young ladies wore identical double-spiral buns and coarse cloth vests, though Miss Gu Shiqi wore madder red with ginkgo flower hairpins; Miss Gu Shiba wore silver red with pearl flower hairpins; and Miss Gu Shi’er wore moon white with jade pearl flower hairpins.

They had also brought gifts for Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Jia, and Zhuzhu.

Miss Gu Shiqi brought several travel journals, Miss Gu Shiba brought several boxes of pastries she made herself, and Miss Gu Shi’er brought several pouches she made herself. By comparison, Miss Gu Shiqi’s gift was actually the most valuable.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but size up Miss Gu Shiba and Miss Gu Shi’er.

Miss Gu Shi’er didn’t mind at all and smiled at her generously.

Zhou Shaojin immediately took a liking to these two young ladies and greatly admired Miss Gu Shiqi for having made friends with two such fine sisters—unlike herself, who had no eye for judging people!

Cheng Jia was pleasantly surprised but also very embarrassed. She was about to remove the jewelry from her body to give the Gu family young ladies return gifts, murmuring softly, “I didn’t think of this beforehand…”

Miss Gu Shiqi quickly held down her hand and smiled, “We sisters haven’t seen each other in a long time, so we just wanted to have some fun. If you do this, we won’t bring anything for you next time.”

Zhou Shaojin also felt a bit embarrassed, but having been frequently instructed by Old Madam Guo and Uncle Chi, she wasn’t like before, always afraid of being criticized for doing this or that wrong. So she sided with Miss Gu Shiqi and said, “Today everyone came out to enjoy themselves. If you give your jewelry to Miss Gu Shiqi and the others, your head will be bare and won’t look proper, which would put the Gu family young ladies in an awkward position. Since we’ll be visiting each other often in the future, just remember you owe them this favor.”

Only then did Cheng Jia relent and enthusiastically invited them to come to her home in a few days to go boating.

Miss Gu Shiqi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled in agreement.

If Cheng Jia had really given them her jewelry and was left without adornments, others would only think the sisters didn’t understand social graces.

Zhou Shaojin then led the Gu family young ladies to meet Old Madam Guo, Madam Guan, and the others.

The three connecting private rooms Cheng Chi had reserved were separated by floor-to-ceiling partitions and screens. The east side was for Old Madam Guo and the others, the west side for Zhou Shaojin and the others. Cheng Chi was in the adjacent private room.

Coming out from the east side, Miss Gu Shiqi praised, “Whose clever idea was this? When the screens are pulled back, it becomes an open hall. When the screens are closed, it becomes a separate room—we can talk without worrying about disturbing the elders.”

They were probably afraid of feeling oppressed with people above them, unable to speak and play freely?

Zhou Shaojin pressed her lips together in a smile, remembering how Cheng Chi had smiled at her this morning. She pulled the three Gu family young ladies to tour Qingyan Tower’s private rooms.

After walking around, Miss Gu Shiqi was interested in the peddlers below carrying poles and calling out “wontons” and “soup dumplings.” Miss Gu Shiba was interested in the Suzhou embroidery hanging screens on the walls. Only Miss Gu Shi’er sat there refined and proper, drinking tea and commenting that this tea was this year’s newly marketed pre-Qingming tea: “Top-grade Biluochun. Each leaf exactly one fen long—if you don’t believe me, you can pour them out and look.”

Cheng Jia’s eyes widened: “What do you mean each leaf exactly one fen long?”

Miss Gu Shi’er smiled and said, “The tea leaves! Only the finest Biluochun is like this!”

Cheng Jia had Cui Huan pour out her tea to see if the leaves were really one fen long.

Miss Gu Shi’er looked pained, as if witnessing wanton waste, and stopped Cheng Jia: “At least finish drinking the tea before pouring it out!”

Cheng Jia then gulped down the cup of tea and poured the leaves into the tea tray to compare.

While Miss Gu Shi’er was dumbfounded, she clearly developed some fondness for Cheng Jia and kept talking with her.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stop laughing.

Miss Gu Shiqi, however, quietly thanked Zhou Shaojin with a smile: “…This is even better than sending me pastries. Yesterday, my eldest aunt specifically called me over for a talk.”

“That’s wonderful!” Zhou Shaojin was very happy to have helped Miss Gu Shiqi and smiled, “This is also a coincidence. I didn’t expect there would be dragon boat races this year, that Uncle Chi would go out to watch them, and that we could reserve private rooms at Qingyan Tower.”

Miss Gu Shiqi said optimistically, “Perhaps my luck has come!”

The two pressed their lips together and laughed.

There was a commotion outside.

Zhou Shaojin and Miss Gu Shiqi looked out.

Banners fluttering, canopies magnificent, people calling out front and back, guards clearing the way.

The people from Duke Liangguo’s mansion had arrived.

Cheng Jia squeezed over.

Miss Gu Shiba sighed, “How imposing!”

Cheng Jia curled her lip dismissively.

Zhou Shaojin pretended not to see and said, “The people from Duke Liangguo’s mansion will be coming upstairs soon. We should close the windows to avoid any trouble.”

Everyone agreed and half-closed the windows.

Before long, the Grand Dowager and Madam of Duke Liangguo’s mansion arrived with Zhuzhu.

Everyone went out to exchange greetings. The Grand Dowager of Duke Liangguo’s mansion instructed Zhuzhu with a few words like “don’t be naughty” and “get along well with your sisters” before leaving Zhuzhu and going to their own private room.

The Zhu family also had some relations by marriage who came along to watch the dragon boat races.

Old Madam Guo told them to go play on their own: “No need to attend to us old ladies!”

“Listen to what you’re saying,” Miss Gu Shiqi was most adept at adapting, and smiled. “You’re afraid we’ll disturb you here, aren’t you?”

Everyone exchanged a few more pleasantries before going to the west side.

Zhuzhu immediately relaxed, saying “I’m so hot” as she moved to remove the sapphire blue gauze jacket embroidered with peony and butterfly patterns she wore over her clothes, wanting to drink tea wearing just her undergarment.

Zhou Shaojin and the others were shocked.

Zhuzhu said dismissively, “There are no outsiders here!”

Zhou Shaojin quickly said, “The young ladies from the Guo family haven’t arrived yet!”

Zhuzhu pouted and said, “Guests follow the host’s lead. They’re well-mannered and won’t say anything!”

This truly was taking advantage of a gentleman’s propriety!

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Outside, gongs and drums sounded, and someone shouted, “Quiet, quiet, fellow townspeople, our magistrate, Lord Wu, has a few words to say to everyone.”

With a swoosh, Zhuzhu removed her jacket and, wearing just her undergarment, darted to the window.

The two maids she brought acted as if they hadn’t seen anything.

Everyone could only follow her over to watch the excitement together.

On such a hot day, Magistrate Wu, wearing his full official robes, was speaking hoarsely. Because they were too far away, they couldn’t hear clearly.

Zhuzhu immediately lost interest and said, “So that’s what Magistrate Wu looks like! The eldest Miss Wu does resemble him somewhat. Otherwise, he probably couldn’t have married Madam Wu.”

Zhou Shaojin felt Zhuzhu’s observation was quite reasonable and smiled charmingly.

Zhuzhu then took her arm and went aside to talk: “Do you know I’m being married off to Baoding?”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and said softly, “I heard Uncle Chi mention it.”

Zhuzhu’s eyes reddened as she whispered, “I didn’t expect my father to be so hardhearted—saying he’d marry me off far away, he just did it. No matter how I begged him, it was useless. Who knows what kind of family this Fan is? They say they’re upright and honest, but who knows if it’s all for show? There are plenty of people in this world who hang up sheep’s heads but sell dog meat! I don’t know which heartless person arranged this marriage for me?”

This was practically cursing Uncle Chi too.

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat uncomfortable and said, “Don’t always blame this person or that. You haven’t married over yet, and you haven’t seen the Fan family people. How can you so arbitrarily make such a judgment? Besides, your father has more experience than you. He sent people to investigate secretly and looked into it himself. He surely wouldn’t push you into a fire pit, would he? Just calm down and don’t be prejudiced against them. If you’re really worried, send people to investigate yourself.”

“That’s why I came out,” Zhuzhu said. “Otherwise, how would I have the mood to watch any dragon boat races? Shaojin, didn’t your father serve as magistrate in Baoding? I want to ask you to help me make inquiries!”

Zhou Shaojin could understand her anxious feelings and readily agreed.

Zhuzhu then told her her plan: “…One is my wet nurse, and the other is someone my mother gave me as a companion maid since I was young. After they go, just ask your father to help assign someone to show them the way and run some errands. I’ll have other thanks prepared.”

“Why talk about such things?” Zhou Shaojin said. “When you invited me to see the lanterns before, you didn’t calculate these things with me.”

Zhuzhu smiled bashfully and said, “I was wrong. I’ll never mention thanks again.”

“That’s right!” Zhou Shaojin smiled. She was about to ask in detail if there was anything else she could help Zhuzhu with when gongs and drums thundered outside—the dragon boat races had begun.