The dragon boat race in Yunyang City was an annual grand event in Yan Prefecture. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, prominent families from Yan Prefecture would gather here.
When the Ren Family's carriages departed from White Crane Town, the official road was already filled with many traveling carriages. However, few families mobilized over twenty carriages like the Ren Family.
They arrived at Yunyang City around mid-morning. Though the sky was already bright, the heat was not yet unbearable.
As the weather grew warmer, the Ren Family's carriages used breathable gauze curtains. From the moment they entered the city gates, Ren Yaoqi's gaze remained fixed outside. Though she could only glimpse faint figures of pedestrians and vehicles and hear the bustling noises of the marketplace, she could still sense the prosperity of Yunyang City—the largest city in Yanbei.
Back when the Liao people invaded southward, the Liao King had pushed aside dissenting opinions and considered moving the Liao capital south to Yunyang City. Unfortunately, before this could be achieved, he was driven out of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun by the fourth Prince of Yanbei, Xiao Qishan. Establishing the capital in Yunyang City became the Liao King's final wish before his death.
Yunyang City felt quite unfamiliar to Ren Yaoqi. In her previous life, she had only visited a few times with her mother when she was very young. As she grew older, she rarely had opportunities to travel. Like her mother, Madam Li, she was an overlooked presence within the Ren Family. The last time she tried to flee to her maternal grandparents' home outside Yunyang City to seek refuge, she was intercepted before even entering the city.
The Ren Family's carriages slowly passed through the widest main road of Yunyang City and entered the inner city.
"Where are the carriages heading?" Ren Yaoqi asked Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaohua gave her a puzzled look before remembering that this was Ren Yaoqi's first time attending the dragon boat race.
"The dragon boats need to be launched first. The official race won't start until the afternoon. We're heading to the Ren Family's villa in Yunyang City, where we'll stay for the next few days."
Ren Yaoqi was aware that the Ren Family owned a residence in Yunyang City and had even visited it before.
The carriages ahead came to a stop. Ren Yaohua lifted the curtain to look outside. "It's our aunt returning to the Lin Family. She's taking a different route."
Sure enough, after a few carriages left the procession, the Ren Family's carriages moved forward again. They traveled for less than a quarter of an hour before finally stopping in front of a red-lacquered gate. This was the main entrance to the villa. Though the gate was not particularly large, Ren Yaoqi remembered that the estate was actually a spacious four-courtyard mansion.
Accommodations had been arranged before the trip, so as soon as Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua stepped out of the carriage, they were led by an elderly servant to the west wing of the third courtyard. The two sisters shared the first room on the north side of the west wing. The room was spacious and fully furnished, with some items Ren Yaoqi was accustomed to using daily, indicating that it had been prepared for them before their arrival.
Ren Yaohua was no stranger to this room. Presumably, she had stayed here during previous visits to Yunyang City. Old Madam Ren occupied the northern rooms of the third courtyard, making the west wing a relatively well-appointed area.
Shortly after settling in, Fifth Master came to seek Old Madam Ren's instructions. He then took Fifth Madam Lin and their two children to visit his father-in-law's family. The fifth branch of the family rarely stayed at the villa when visiting Yunyang City, often lodging with the Lin Family instead. Though Old Madam Ren was dissatisfied with her youngest son, she did not want to cause any unpleasantness or embarrass the Ren Family in front of others at this moment. She simply waved her hand, allowing them to leave.As a result, there wasn't a single proper daughter-in-law attending to Old Madam Lin, only Concubine Fang, a mere concubine.
Concubine Fang changed her clothes and intended to go serve by Old Madam Ren's side. Unexpectedly, Ren Yaohua had already taken Ren Yaoqi and arrived before Old Madam Ren first. Seeing Concubine Fang arrive, they firmly denied her any opportunity to assist in serving.
Old Madam Ren was surrounded by several granddaughters and her eldest legitimate grandson's wife, along with a room full of maids and matrons bustling about. There truly was no need for Concubine Fang to handle anything.
In the end, Old Madam Ren looked at Concubine Fang, then at Ren Yaohua, and still sent Concubine Fang back.
In truth, Old Madam Ren was quite shrewd in her heart. Behind closed doors within the Ren Family's inner quarters, she didn't mind giving Concubine Fang a bit more face. She didn't even mind letting her outshine Madam Li, the legitimate wife. But when outside, gathered among prominent families and great clans, she truly felt embarrassed to treat a concubine as a proper daughter-in-law. She could afford to lose face herself, but the Ren Family couldn't bear such humiliation.
Thus, it wasn't that Old Madam Ren didn't understand the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate; she simply distinguished based on the occasion.
Old Madam Ren gave the order: lunch would be served early at the villa, then they would go out. The women of the inner quarters only needed to move when the time came; the arrangements for the itinerary were left to the Ren Family's men and stewards.
Ren Yaoqi listened as several sisters gathered around Old Madam Ren, joyfully chatting about last year's Dragon Boat Festival festivities. She remained quietly seated to the side, listening.
The atmosphere was harmonious and joyful when a matron hurried in to report, "Old Madam, a carriage from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion has arrived."
Old Madam Ren, who had been reclining on the kang with her eyes closed to rest, immediately opened her eyes and sat up straight. "Who has come?"
The matron glanced at Ren Yaoqi sitting nearby and replied, "Only one carriage and a maid came, saying they were sent by the Commandery Princess to fetch the Fifth Young Miss."
The room instantly fell silent, with everyone's eyes turning to Ren Yaoqi.
Old Madam Ren also looked at Ren Yaoqi. After a moment's thought, she smiled kindly and said to Ren Yaoqi, "Since the Commandery Princess has sent for you, you may go."
Ren Yaoqi hadn't expected Xiao Jinglin to come looking for her so soon and was also surprised. After hearing Old Madam Ren's words, she softly replied "Yes," then stood up and withdrew.
The Yanbei Prince's Mansion carriage was parked at the entrance. Black-lacquered with a blue canopy, it looked quite ordinary. However, as Ren Yaoqi approached, she noticed the Yanbei Prince's Mansion emblem under the carriage eaves: a soaring eagle.
Ren Yaoqi instinctively glanced toward where the carriage driver sat and couldn't help but feel disappointed. The driver wasn't Dongsheng but a middle-aged woman around forty. A maid waiting by the carriage stepped forward to help Ren Yaoqi board.
Ren Yaoqi had only brought Pingguo with her when she came out, saying the Commandery Princess disliked too many attendants. Others couldn't easily interfere. Since the Commandery Princess hadn't come, Ren Yaoqi had Pingguo board the carriage as well.
Xiao Jinglin's maid was named Hongying, a quiet young girl who answered only when asked. Ren Yaoqi wasn't much of a talker either, so after asking a couple of questions, she stopped. She believed this maid was indeed from Xiao Jinglin's side—master and servant were too alike in temperament.
The carriage traveled for nearly half an hour before finally stopping beside a dock in Yunyang City.The Liyang River flows through Yunyang City, so there are a few docks within the city. However, these docks are not intended for civilian or commercial use. The river entrance into the city is guarded by the military, so most of the time, there are no boats on the Liyang River within the city. Instead, small groups of women can be seen squatting on the stone steps of the docks, washing vegetables or clothes, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a lively, everyday atmosphere.
Today’s dragon boat race was not held on this stretch of the river within the city but outside the city gates.
Hongying was the first to jump down from the carriage, then turned to help Ren Yaoqi alight.
As Ren Yaoqi stepped out of the carriage, she saw a small painted boat moored by the riverbank. She had seen such boats in the capital, favored by wealthy young men for drinking and listening to music. They were a rare sight in Yanbei.
While Ren Yaoqi stood on the bank observing the boat, the sliding door at the front cabin suddenly opened, and Xiao Jinglin emerged.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jinglin’s expression remained calm as she asked, “Are you afraid of water?”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head and walked down the stone steps along the bank. On the step closest to the water, there were a few rotten vegetable leaves and even some fish scales and other debris. As she descended, a faint fishy smell wafted up—neither pleasant nor unpleasant.
Xiao Jinglin reached out and pulled Ren Yaoqi onto the boat. Though small, the boat was remarkably stable, not even swaying as Ren Yaoqi stepped aboard.
Inside, there was only one maid dressed similarly to Hongying, with no one else in sight.
Curious, Ren Yaoqi glanced around. The interior was relatively spacious, able to accommodate eight or nine people. It was furnished with a few low tables and soft cushions, along with some everyday items. Beyond that, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.
Despite her cold demeanor, Xiao Jinglin held Ren Yaoqi’s hand and guided her to a cushion before letting go, ensuring she wouldn’t lose her balance on the boat.
“This painted boat was bought by my second brother from the capital through the Crown Prince. Three were purchased in total, and this one was only launched for the first time yesterday. When I heard you had arrived, I thought you might not have ridden on something like this before, so I had someone bring you here,” Xiao Jinglin said calmly, watching Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi, who was still looking around, smiled at Xiao Jinglin. “Thank you, Commandery Princess. I truly haven’t ridden on one of these before.”
Xiao Jinglin studied Ren Yaoqi for a moment and smiled as well. “It’s good you didn’t get seasick. Yesterday, my mother vomited as soon as she boarded, which scared my grandmother and the others so much they refused to come aboard. So, my second brother gave this boat to me.” Her tone carried a hint of rare playfulness.
With fewer rivers in the north, people in Yanbei were not as accustomed to water as those in the south, and most were unaccustomed to boats. Although Ren Yaoqi had never ridden on a painted boat, she had been on boats before.
As the painted boat glided slowly along the inner-city river, many people on the banks stopped to watch. Not only were such boats a rare sight in Yanbei, but few dared to sail within the city walls. Today, thanks to Xiao Jinglin, Ren Yaoqi found herself the subject of pointing and whispering all along the way.
Xiao Jinglin remained unfazed, paying no attention to the commotion outside. Ren Yaoqi, too, was unperturbed. Besides, her seat was positioned with her back to the light, making it difficult for outsiders to see her face clearly, so she felt little pressure.
As the boat approached a large stone bridge spanning the river, there was a sudden “thud”—something had struck the boat.Neither of them had paid it any mind at first, but then came two more consecutive "thuds."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but glance at Xiao Jinglin. Was someone smashing the painted boat?
OpenNovel