On the lake surface, there were four dragon boats in red, green, white, and black uniforms, belonging to the Liu family, Lu family, Wang family, and Liuyang family respectively. Among them, the Liu family referred to the Mei Prefecture Liu family, which was the in-law family of Duke Liangguo’s heir Zhu Pengju and also the in-law family of the Sun family’s third young miss.
Wearing a blue Daoist robe, the eloquent Langyue explained from the side: “…The next team is Group B, from the Sun family, Chen family, Wu family, and Qian family respectively. This Sun family has produced a vice minister—that’s the natal family of the Liu family’s seventh mistress. There are twelve groups in total. The winning dragon boat from each group will be divided into four groups to participate in the semifinals. The dragon boats that win again can then participate in the finals. This time, the Shen family of Shen Qingyun, Assistant Magistrate of Jinling Prefecture, also has a boat participating in the dragon boat race, placed in Group You.”
Zhu Zhu asked curiously: “How did the Sun family also participate in the dragon boat race? I remember the Sun family doesn’t have many sons!”
Langyue smiled and said: “It seems they selected some hereditary servants from their estates.”
Zhu Zhu said disdainfully: “Are they trying to compete with the Liu family?”
The matter between the Liu family and Sun family had already become known throughout Jinling City.
Langyue cleverly didn’t answer, but instead smiled and said: “Our Fourth Master has also prepared a telescope for everyone, but there’s only one, so the young misses will have to make do with sharing it.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Seventeenth Aunt jumped up happily, saying repeatedly: “Bring it over quickly, bring it over quickly. Let us have a look. I’ve never seen a telescope before! I’ve only heard of it, only seen it in books.”
Cheng Jia also made a fuss: “Go quickly, go quickly!”
The others all smiled with pursed lips.
Langyue went to fetch the telescope.
Zhu Zhu sighed: “No wonder my eldest brother admires Fourth Master Chi the most—he can get his hands on such rare things. However, everyone must never speak of this. This item is prohibited by the court.” She added, “It’s also fortunate that Fourth Master Chi dares to bring it out. If it were our family, we wouldn’t dare.”
The several young misses from the Gu family promised repeatedly not to tell anyone.
Zhou Shaojin, however, wondered why the Guo family people hadn’t arrived yet.
Before long, Langyue came in carrying a case.
Several people gathered around to look.
The telescope was no more than a foot long, with gold plating on the outside and carvings of vermilion birds and dark tigers. It was also inlaid with pigeon-egg-sized rubies, and when extended it could reach about two feet in length.
Everyone gathered around to look at it as if viewing a curiosity.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly thought of Old Madam Guo and quickly asked Langyue: “Does the old madam’s side have one?”
Several people were all startled.
Langyue smiled and said: “Fourth Master borrowed three in total—one for the young misses to use, one sent to the old madam’s side, and he kept one for himself. Second Cousin Miss need not worry. There’s no shortage.”
Only then did Zhou Shaojin breathe a sigh of relief.
Zhu Zhu couldn’t help but smile: “Shaojin is still the most thoughtful. We were all just excited and forgot about this matter.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled: “Everyone is seeing it for the first time, naturally they’re all very curious!”
Several people were all young misses from prominent families with straightforward personalities. They weren’t given to flattering anyone, so they didn’t say much more, but in their hearts they felt that Zhou Shaojin was truly a good person, worth befriending.
The drumbeats sounded by the lakeside, and everyone watched the dragon boat race from the windows.
Drums beating in succession, oars spinning like flying wheels, white waves rolling, applause and cheers resounding.
The banks of Mochou Lake suddenly became even more lively than the temple fairs during New Year.
Zhou Shaojin also couldn’t help but clench her fists, sweating for the several dragon boats.
Soon, the winner was decided.
The Liu family’s dragon boat team in red uniforms took first place.
The Liu family’s dragon boat went to rest on the side, waiting for the semifinals. The other dragon boat teams left Mochou Lake either sighing or hanging their heads.
Group B rowed over and began preparing for their race.
Taking advantage of this interval, everyone either discussed who would win first place, or turned to buy packets of melon seeds and peanuts, or went to the sugar figure vendor’s stall to get a sugar figure made.
Zhou Shaojin and the others also returned to their seats and began talking about gossip from Jinling City.
Zhu Zhu, however, pulled Zhou Shaojin aside to complain: “My elder brother too—I don’t know why he agreed to this marriage with the Liu family. Now it’s fine—probably everyone in Jinling City is laughing at him. Yet brother still treats it like marrying a proper wife. Not only are the three letters and six etiquettes all complete, but the betrothal gifts and dowry are not a penny short. My father and mother don’t stop him either. I don’t even know what to say!”
Zhou Shaojin advised her: “Once she enters your family’s gate, she becomes part of your family. If your sister-in-law has face, that’s also your family’s face. Now that the rice is already cooked, why should you fuss about these things? As long as your brother and sister-in-law are happy, that’s what matters!”
“I understand the reasoning too.” Zhu Zhu pouted, “But my heart just feels uncomfortable. Like I’m holding in a breath…”
As they were speaking, Group B was about to begin their race.
The two stopped their conversation and went to the window to watch the dragon boat race.
After several groups like this, everyone’s excitement passed, and their attention gradually shifted to conversation.
Zhou Shaojin was concerned about Old Madam Guo, so after informing Zhu Zhu and the others, she went to the eastern private room.
The eastern private room was even quieter than theirs. The several old madams simply sat together talking, with no one watching the dragon boats at all. Only two young misses were leaning by the wide-open window looking outside, taking turns using the telescope.
Zhou Shaojin looked carefully and saw—who else could it be but the two young misses from the Guo family?
She was greatly surprised.
Old Madam Guo then said: “They arrived late and have reserved personalities, so I kept them here.”
Zhou Shaojin quickly stepped forward to greet the two Guo family young misses, apologized, and asked them if they wanted to go over and greet Zhu Zhu and the others.
The two Guo family young misses were very polite, softly telling her there was no need for such formality, then looked to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo nodded slightly, and only then did the two Miss Guos follow Zhou Shaojin to the west side.
Everyone became lively, making introductions to each other and exchanging greetings.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin learn that the two Guo family young misses were ranked sixth and seventh, both seventeen years old this year and not yet betrothed.
Several people arranged themselves by age, addressed each other as sisters, and Group You began their dragon boat race.
Cheng Jia ran to the window to watch and even called Zhou Shaojin and the others: “See if the Shen family will appear?”
The two Guo family young misses then rose to take their leave, saying that the elders had no one to attend them.
Zhou Shaojin smiled as she escorted the two Miss Guos to the west side, then stayed to chat for a while.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said: “It’s almost noon now. By the time all twelve groups of dragon boats finish racing, it will be around the beginning of the wei hour (Note: 1 PM). The most exciting parts are the semifinals and the finals after that. I think we might as well have lunch early, so we can watch and see who takes the championship this year.”
Everyone said “good.”
Old Madam Guo indicated for Zhou Shaojin to make the arrangements.
Zhou Shaojin knew this was Old Madam Guo showing her favor, smiled and withdrew, exiting the west side feeling anxious and uneasy.
Nanny Lu had already been waiting for her in the middle private room.
She handed her the menu and whispered in her ear: “The old madam has arranged everything. Second Cousin Miss only needs to go through the motions.”
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned red and she said in a low voice: “How can this be acceptable?”
“What’s unacceptable about it?” Nanny Lu smiled kindly, “Even if the old madam arranged it herself, it would just be giving orders! If everything required you to handle personally, then what are we nannies here for? Second Cousin Miss mustn’t take away our rice bowls!”
She made a round of jokes, dispelling Zhou Shaojin’s nervousness.
Zhou Shaojin arranged everything and went to Old Madam Guo to report: “Lunch will be served in half an hour. Does that work for you?”
Old Madam Guo looked toward Old Madam Guan and Old Madam Guo sitting beside her.
The two old madams nodded, and Old Madam Guo smiled: “Then we’ll have lunch in half an hour.”
Zhou Shaojin presented the menu and asked the several old madams if they wanted to add or remove anything.
Everyone said the arrangements were good, and only then did Zhou Shaojin withdraw again. Turning around, she went to the west side and said with a cheerful laugh: “Lunch will be served in half an hour. Is that acceptable?”
“Good, good!” Zhu Zhu smiled, “What dishes are prepared? In such hot weather, more cold dishes would be better.”
Zhou Shaojin showed her the menu, but discovered that Cheng Jia wasn’t in the room.
Her heart started pounding irregularly. She quickly asked: “Cousin Jia?”
Gu Seventeenth Aunt, who was huddled with Zhu Zhu looking at the menu, said absently: “She said she drank too much tea and needed to go to the privy.”
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, but waited left and right without Cheng Jia coming, waited right and left without seeing Cheng Jia either.
Her heart began pounding irregularly again. She quietly instructed Chun Wan: “Go to the privy and look for Miss Jia!”
Chun Wan withdrew unobtrusively.
Before long, Cheng Jia, looking somewhat pale, walked in supported by Chun Wan.
“I’m sorry!” Before anyone in the room could speak, she said apologetically: “My stomach isn’t cooperating. Everyone, don’t worry about me.”
Gu Seventeenth Aunt and the others all gathered around to ask after her with concern. Seeing that she had nothing serious, they then went together to the middle private room to eat.
Zhou Shaojin, however, had been observing coldly throughout.
She felt that Cheng Jia wasn’t someone who got sick so easily.
After lunch, after resting for a short while, the semifinals began.
Everyone’s emotions were stirred up again. They all gathered at the windows to watch. Even the two Guo family young misses, having eaten lunch together, had gradually relaxed and would occasionally joke with them, and at Old Madam Guo’s suggestion came over to watch the dragon boat race with them.
Cheng Jia quietly told Zhou Shaojin that her stomach was uncomfortable and she needed to go to the privy.
Zhou Shaojin had Chun Wan accompany her.
Cheng Jia didn’t stand on ceremony and went out supported by Chun Wan’s arm.
Zhu Zhu and the others were all watching excitedly, and no one noticed.
After one group of boats finished competing, everyone turned around and asked about Cheng Jia in a chorus of voices.
Zhou Shaojin explained for her: “…She went to the privy!”
Everyone asked no more questions and continued focusing on the dragon boat race.
But after another round of racing, Cheng Jia still hadn’t appeared.
Zhou Shaojin was about to signal Bitao to go look when Chun Wan came running in with a panicked expression.
She whispered in Zhou Shaojin’s ear: “Second Miss, this is bad—Miss Jia has disappeared!”
Zhou Shaojin’s heart skipped a beat, yet she also felt a sense of relief that what had to happen had finally happened.
“Where is Cui Huan?” she asked.
“She’s nowhere to be seen either.” Chun Wan said, both anxious and frightened, tears almost falling: “I was guarding outside the privy the whole time. When I felt something was wrong and made an excuse to go in, I discovered the privy window was open. I searched all along the way but couldn’t find anyone…”
Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath.
Could it be that Cousin Jia eloped with Li Jing?
She prepared for the worst and instructed Chun Wan in a deep voice: “Don’t make a fuss yet. Go quickly to find Uncle Chi and tell him about this matter.”
Chun Wan hurried away.
Zhu Zhu came over and said in a low voice: “Has something happened?”
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said: “Cousin Jia has disappeared! I’ve already sent someone to look for her.”
Zhu Zhu was greatly shocked. She looked at the roomful of people and said: “Don’t make a fuss yet. There are hidden sentries from Duke Liangguo’s household around Qingyan Tower—she couldn’t possibly have been kidnapped or abducted. Later I’ll find a way to pass you the telescope. Look around. It’s only been about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense—she shouldn’t have gone far.”