Based on the comprehensive ranking of equestrian and archery results, the starting order for the Dragon Boat Race was set with the Soaring Dragon Army in first place and the Divine Martial Army in second.
In any competition, if the champion seems predetermined, the excitement of watching diminishes. However, when two teams are fiercely contending for victory with nearly equal strength, and the winner remains uncertain until the very end, spectators' passion is destined to burn fiercely for their favored team.
"Who is the commander of the Soaring Dragon Army?" the Empress Dowager inquired.
Eunuch Kang, the chief eunuch beside Emperor Yuanjia, replied with a smile, "It is Han Liao, the heir of the Marquis of Xiting."
The Empress Dowager drew a sharp breath. "Han Liao versus Lu Zhuo—this Dragon Boat Race promises to be quite a spectacle. Your Majesty, why don't we place a wager to see if Lu Zhuo can lead the Divine Martial Army to snatch the championship from the Soaring Dragon Army?"
Emperor Yuanjia nodded indifferently.
The Empress Dowager invited all present to join the wager. Taking the lead, she removed the gem-encrusted gold bracelet from her wrist and placed it on the tray held by Eunuch Kang. "I wager on the Divine Martial Army."
Emperor Yuanjia produced another movable golden walnut. "The Soaring Dragon Army."
The Empress, the three consorts, Prince Duan and his wife, Prince Jing, and Fu Wang also placed their bets.
The Empress Dowager suggested that all wagers from the losers would be awarded to the commander of the champion team.
Just as Eunuch Kang was about to retreat behind Emperor Yuanjia with the tray, the Empress Dowager suddenly turned to Wei Rao. "Rao Rao, why don't you pick a team too?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Wei Rao's hands.
Wei Rao's makeup was simple that day. Aside from a hairpin to secure her bun, she wore only a pink silk crabapple flower in her hair. The others had wagered with valuable items they carried, but if Wei Rao were to participate, she would have to use the golden walnut bestowed by Emperor Yuanjia.
Presenting the golden walnut would offend Emperor Yuanjia, but not participating would make her appear petty.
Even Emperor Yuanjia looked at Wei Rao, curious to see how she would respond.
Wei Rao smiled and handed the plate of cherry cakes, which the Empress Dowager had gifted her and from which she had only taken one piece, to Eunuch Kang with both hands. She coquettishly addressed the Empress Dowager, "Your humble servant possesses nothing of value. Thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I was gifted these palace pastries. Now, I shall borrow these flowers to offer to Buddha. If I win the bet, these cherry cakes remain mine. If I lose, they shall be passed to the champion commander to help him and his team replenish their energy."
The Empress Dowager maintained her smile. "Such a few pieces of cake aren't even enough for each of them to have one."
Emperor Yuanjia timely pointed to his own untouched plate. "Wei Rao's gesture is commendable. If she loses, my plate shall also be distributed to the champion team."
The corners of the Empress Dowager's mouth drooped slightly.
Emperor Yuanjia signaled to Eunuch Zheng with his eyes.
A young eunuch waved a brocade flag, indicating the start of the second round of the Dragon Boat Race.
The six teams were staggered along the lakeshore according to their equestrian and archery rankings, with each subsequent team half a dragon boat length behind the previous one.
The six dragon boats matched the colors of their teams' uniforms. Twelve team members sat in six rows on each side, paddling the boat with oars, while the commander stood at the bow issuing commands and adjusting tactics as needed.
The lake was closer to the island, allowing Wei Rao to finally see the faces of the six commanders clearly.
The commander of the Divine Martial Army was Lu Zhuo.Wei Rao had seen Lu Zhuo twice before, and each time he appeared as an elegant and refined scholar, much like the top candidate in the imperial examinations. Even now, with his jade-like complexion, gentle smile, and dashing red team uniform, he still resembled a literary talent mingling among martial artists. Had Wei Rao not witnessed Lu Zhuo riding his horse like a shooting star across the track, she would never have believed he was actually a military officer.
The commander of the Soaring Dragon Army was Han Liao. Wei Rao had never met him before and had only confirmed his identity through Eunuch Kang moments earlier. She had heard many tales of Han Liao’s battlefield prowess, and now, seeing him in person—tall, imposing, with a stern and authoritative face—she realized he was also a handsome man who appeared to be in his twenties.
If Han Liao weren’t lustful, didn’t have a crowd of concubines and children, and didn’t have a difficult mother-in-law, it might not be a bad match for her cousin Zhou Huizhen to marry him.
But then again, precisely because marrying Han Liao was not an ideal arrangement, the position of his wife had remained vacant. Otherwise, it would have been snatched up by other noble ladies in the capital long ago, leaving no chance for her cousin.
The team in third place was the Imperial Guard, which Wei Rao had bet on.
Wei Rao disliked the Empress Dowager’s cherry cakes; even if they weren’t poisoned, she had no desire to eat them. Betting on either the Divine Martial Army or the Soaring Dragon Army could have meant a win, so she decided to switch teams. However, she hadn’t expected the commander of the Imperial Guard to be an acquaintance: Second Master Qi Zhongkai of the Marquis of Pingxi’s estate. With his thick eyebrows, fierce eyes, and a physique as sturdy as a mountain, he exuded confidence in winning the championship, even though his team was only in third place.
Gazing at Qi Zhongkai’s bronze, resolute face, Wei Rao felt a stir in her heart.
Before her grandmother started urging her to marry this year, Wei Rao had never given much thought to choosing a husband. Now that she was paying attention, it was time to start evaluating her options. The Marquis of Pingxi’s estate was a military family with a history of meritorious service in previous generations. Although their prominence in recent years couldn’t match that of the Duke of Yingguo’s manor or the West Pavilion Marquis Estate, their influence and connections were still formidable, placing them among the elite noble families.
As for Qi Zhongkai himself, he had become an Imperial Guard at a young age and earned Emperor Yuanjia’s favor. Though his voice was a bit loud, he was free-spirited and unrestrained, not one to fuss over formalities. He had been quite attentive to Wei Rao and would likely be very willing to marry her. What Wei Rao remained uncertain about was the situation with Qi Zhongkai’s family; she decided to ask her grandmother about it later.
Wei Rao also glanced at the commanders of the remaining three armies. To hold such a position, they probably all had notable backgrounds, but none of the other three appealed to her as much as Qi Zhongkai.
A prestigious family background was important, but so was finding someone pleasing to the eye—after all, this would be the person sharing her bed for a long time.
Three drumbeats sounded, and the race began!
Six dragon boats, like six swimming dragons, surged forward to the rhythm of passionate drums. Wei Rao’s eyes stayed fixed on Qi Zhongkai. The Divine Martial Army was closely pursuing the Soaring Dragon Army, while Qi Zhongkai commanded the Imperial Guard to tenaciously chase the Divine Martial Army. The Imperial Guards, tasked with protecting the emperor and all meticulously selected, now demonstrated their capabilities.
However, as the dragon boats rounded halfway around Qionghua Island, Qi Zhongkai’s Imperial Guard remained in third place, but the gap with the Divine Martial Army ahead had noticeably widened.
Seeing that Qi Zhongkai had no hope of winning, Wei Rao shifted her gaze to the leading Soaring Dragon Army and Divine Martial Army.
The gold and red dragon boats had started half a boat length apart, and now that gap had been halved.
Could the remaining distance be overcome?
Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo, then at Han Liao. Both men had scorned her and her cousin, but at least Lu Zhuo had shown some willingness to help.Wei Rao hoped Lu Zhuo's Divine Martial Army would win.
With just one zhang left to the finish line, the Divine Martial Army's dragon boat was only an arm's length behind!
At that moment, Lu Zhuo suddenly leaped into the air toward the stern. The dragon boat, now lighter by one grown man's weight and given an extra push from Lu Zhuo's kick-off, surged forward as if divinely aided, becoming the first to break through the red silk ribbon. Simultaneously, Lu Zhuo landed steadily back at the stern.
The lake breeze lifted the hem of his crimson robe, making the jade-like gentleman appear as graceful as an immortal.
Regardless of his martial skills, his face truly lived up to the praise of "the most handsome man in the capital."
While Wei Rao was staring at Lu Zhuo, Qi Zhongkai's dragon boat team also crossed the finish line. The excited fellow jumped onto Lu Zhuo's boat, laughing heartily as he congratulated him.
Standing side by side, Lu Zhuo outshone Qi Zhongkai in every aspect.
Wei Rao finally felt a twinge of envy toward Sixth Miss Xie. Whether she was a peony or not, Sixth Miss Xie had indeed married better than her.
Fortunately, Wei Rao had inherited her grandmother's clear-sightedness and quickly came to terms with it. Though Lu Zhuo was exceptional, beneath his gentle elegance lay the arrogance of a noble scion who looked down on women like her. For a harmonious marriage, Qi Zhongkai was truly more suited to her.
"Lu Zhuo is truly remarkable. What a bargain for Sixth Miss Xie. It's a pity you didn't bear me a princess granddaughter, or I would have surely chosen Lu Zhuo as her consort," the Empress Dowager said cheerfully to the Empress and the three consorts, having won her bet.
The Empress, Virtuous Consort (mother of Duan Wang), and Worthy Consort (mother of Fu Wang) all offered polite smiles, but Kind Consort could not bring herself to smile, lowering her head slightly as her heart felt pierced. She had once borne a princess, raised like a golden branch until she passed away at eight.
In truth, the Empress Dowager only meant to provoke the unmarried Wei Rao and had completely forgotten about Kind Consort's loss.
Whether Emperor Yuanjia was recalling the pain of losing his daughter or simply disliked the Empress Dowager's chatter, he ignored her ongoing praise of Lu Zhuo to the Empress and directly ordered Eunuch Zheng to summon the six commanders.
Lu Zhuo and the others had already arrived on the island. Upon hearing the Emperor's summons, the six dashing young generals ascended as effortlessly as walking on level ground.
Lu Zhuo led the way, with Han Liao close behind.
Qi Zhongkai grinned and clapped Han Liao on the shoulder. "Uncle Han, no need to feel down. That lad Lu Zhuo only won because of his youth. If he were competing against you at twenty, he'd surely be no match."
Han Liao looked young but was actually thirty-two, belonging to the same generation as Lu Zhuo's fourth uncle.
Having lost to Lu Zhuo in the contest, Han Liao had initially felt only slightly displeased. But Qi Zhongkai's overt consolation—which was really a veiled jab at his age—made Han Liao want to turn around and punch him.
Restraining himself yet unable to let it slide entirely, Han Liao snorted coldly and brusquely shook off Qi Zhongkai's hand.
Qi Zhongkai grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.
As they passed by, guests in the pavilions smiled and observed them. Remembering that Wei Rao had entered the palace today, Qi Zhongkai glanced around eagerly but failed to catch a glimpse of the beauty along the way.
Upon reaching the Star Plucking Tower at the island's summit, Qi Zhongkai spotted Wei Rao seated beside the Empress Dowager at once.In the presence of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Qi Zhongkai maintained a composed expression, yet his heart swelled with joy. He couldn't explain why, among so many beauties, only this Fourth Miss Wei Rao could bring him such delight every time they met. It was like hunting in the mountains—after circling around encountering only rabbits and pheasants, suddenly a phoenix appeared, and the mere sight of it made his heart blossom with happiness.
The six commanders stood in a row, receiving Emperor Yuanjia's critiques.
Wei Rao kept her eyes downcast, focusing on her own composure.
Her dress was not ostentatious, and her hair accessories were simple, but as the only young lady in the pavilion granted a seat by the Empress Dowager, Lu Zhuo inevitably noticed her. However, because Wei Rao had lowered her lashes, concealing the brilliance in her eyes, and had deliberately painted her lips into a gentle, charming shape, Lu Zhuo's gaze merely swept past her quickly. He did not recognize her as the same Fourth Miss Wei he had encountered twice in male attire on Cloud Mist Mountain.
After the critiques, the Empress Dowager took over, awarding the stakes lost by Emperor Yuanjia and other nobles to Lu Zhuo.
There were five stakes in total, the most valuable being Emperor Yuanjia's golden walnut, but the most conspicuous were two plates of cherry cakes—their portions were generous!
"This is Fourth Miss Wei's stake," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, glancing at Qi Zhongkai. "The young lady bet on the Imperial Guard."
Qi Zhongkai's eyes lit up. Did Fourth Miss Wei bet on the Imperial Guard because she believed in him?
"Thank you, Fourth Miss, for your confidence. The Imperial Guard will surely win the next Dragon Boat Race."
Wei Rao stood up and returned the courtesy with a smile.
Lu Zhuo looked over again, and this time, he finally recognized Wei Rao. Yet the more he looked, the more ridiculous he found her appearance—a face inherently alluring, deliberately painted to appear dignified. If she truly wished to be praised as a proper lady, she ought to adhere to decorum rather than resort to such superficial tricks.
"Dismissed. Prepare for the banquet," Emperor Yuanjia suddenly declared.
For the Dragon Boat Festival, the Dragon Boat Race was followed by a banquet held at Penglai Pavilion on the mountainside.
Emperor Yuanjia accompanied the Empress Dowager as they descended the mountain first.
The Empress and the three consorts followed. Princess Duan waved to Wei Rao, inviting her young cousin to walk with her.
Wei Rao thus joined her cousin's side.
Among the six commanders, aside from Lu Zhuo, the gazes of Han Liao, Qi Zhongkai, and the other four followed Wei Rao—from her radiant profile to her slender, graceful figure.
Qi Zhongkai's admiration was pure, while Han Liao's eyes burned with fervor.
In March, he had taken a songstress to Cloud Mist Mountain for leisure. On the way, he encountered Zhou Huizhen and her mother flirting with a young nobleman. Han Liao was captivated by Zhou Huizhen's beauty—the more he looked, the more exquisite she seemed, and the more he desired to press her onto the bed and indulge in her charms. After returning home, he discussed with his mother about marrying Zhou Huizhen as his second wife.
As a military officer, Han Liao cared little for the intricacies of women's affairs. He simply wanted a delicate, beautiful wife. After all, he already had legitimate and illegitimate sons; once married, his wife need only attend to him, while the upbringing of children would be handled by his parents and himself.
Unexpectedly, though his mother agreed, Shou An Jun rejected his proposal.
Failing to marry the beauty left Han Liao deeply regretful. But today, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Zhou Huizhen was merely a second-rate substitute—Fourth Miss Wei was the true peerless beauty! If he could obtain Fourth Miss Wei, what would Zhou Huizhen matter?
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