Chapter 145: Dragon Boat Festival

"...... Official duties are burdensome, state affairs are difficult—could these three matters alone be all? The joy of hunting pheasants has long been unheard of...... To be a minister is not easy; to be a ruler is hard indeed. The ancestral norms of your clan, the laws of a thousand noble families, are not something the Son of Heaven can forcibly impose. And how can one forgive those who break the state's laws? This man may possess extraordinary stratagems, yet he may not be fit for service; does his insight into grand trends come by pure chance—or does he truly possess real learning? This must be clearly discerned. Boasters are easy to find; men capable of managing affairs are rare. A thousand scholars are worth less than one statesman. Ten thousand volumes of classical learning are worth less than one strategy for governing the state. Be vigilant. Be vigilant......"

The moon of the eastern wing, wind and dew across the sky.

Yu Yi stared at the letter, his fingers lightly tapping a newly bound book, its cover boldly inscribed with the four characters "Responses from the Minister," as he let out a soft sigh.

May fifth—Dragon Boat Festival.

In ancient times, the fifth day of the fifth month was deemed an "evil month, evil day," and herbs were gathered to expel poisonous qi; the Da Dai Liji records: "Store orchids for bathing," meaning one gathered orchid grass to bathe and ward off evil—thus, the Dragon Boat Festival was also called the "Orchid Bath Festival."

Before dawn broke, Xiao Little Little Awu rose. First, she tidied Wang Yang's desk, carefully rinsed the brushes, arranged them neatly, emptied the leftover ink from the inkstone, and scrubbed it clean with a soft brush. Then she prepared his washing and bathing utensils. Next, she boiled a pot of tea; as soon as the water boiled, she woke Wang Yang on schedule.

Then the tall and the small stood their postures, following Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's method.

Standing post is not the rigid horse stance seen in TV dramas; Chen Chen Chen Qingshan called that "dead post"—it yields little merit and easily injures tendons and bones.

She had them stand "live post," with three basic stances, each emphasizing strength in the waist, legs, and arms. During the stance, one must remain still yet subtly moving, applying force gently yet steadily—this method drains the most physical energy, called "body training." Beyond body training, one must also "train the breath," adjusting respiration according to Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's method, making the breath long, deep, urgent yet not gasping, weary yet not chaotic.

As they stood, the difference became clear: Xiao Little Little Awu could hold the stance for at most half an hour; Wang Yang, due to his consistent practice of burpees and other aerobic and anaerobic exercises, had improved his endurance and could stand twice as long as Little Little Awu.

Though winning against Little Little Awu held no glory, one must not underestimate Little Little Awu. Since moving into Wang Yang's home, her nutrition improved, and combined with her lifelong labor and earlier start in martial training, her condition might even surpass Wang Yang's state upon his first arrival. Had Wang Yang not trained persistently, he might not have outlasted Little Little Awu.

Yet Wang Yang had not yet entered the realm of standing post; according to Chen Chen Chen Qingshan, one only truly enters when one can apply force effortlessly.

After finishing her stance, Xiao Little Little Awu prepared five-colored cords for everyone in the household—then called "long life threads"—said to ward off illness and plague; even the two new laborers and the gatekeeper each received one.

Given Wang Yang's nature, today was Little Little Awu's birthday and should have been celebrated. But the custom of celebrating birthdays had not yet emerged in society (nor was there such a thing as "birthday celebration"), and even if it had, Little Little Awu likely would not have wished to mark her own inauspicious birthday. So Wang Yang simply gave her a set of brushes and ink, claiming it was preparation for her schooling, a makeshift birthday gift. Upon hearing "schooling," Little Little Awu's head spun, and she hurried off to the kitchen to help prepare breakfast.

When Chen Chen Chen Qingshan returned to the inner courtyard with freshly gathered mugwort, she found Wang Yang already dressed in white linen, standing in the courtyard, refreshed and alert.

"Still sparring today?" Chen Chen Chen Qingshan was startled.

"Of course. What's special about today?"

"It's Dragon Boat Festival—the evil qi invades the bones. Aren't you afraid of falling ill?"

Wang Yang smiled, assuming his stance: "I don't believe in such things. Come on, this time don't hold back—give me your true three-tenths strength! I've figured out how to break your body-grappling palm!"

"You're sure?" Chen Chen Chen Qingshan tilted her head slightly, her eyes holding a trace of condescension.

"Of course! After training this long, can't I handle three-tenths of your strength? I'll tell you a secret—I've trained in boxing. It's a martial art you don't know. One day I'll teach you. Do you understand sliding steps?"

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan shook her head, spun her body, her hair flying, her arm snapping straight like a whip...

Wang Yang slid into motion, his white robe fluttering! His fists rose, his footwork—

KO.

Green lotus leaves, fragrant breeze by the pavilion.

The Yu family's small Dragon Boat Festival banquet was set beside the lotus pond in their garden. Various small dishes and snacks were already laid out: calamus wine, rice dumplings wrapped in reed leaves. Several who had attended the previous scholarly discussion were seated—only Wang Yang was absent. The conversation turned to Yan Yan Youcheng's return to Jiankang and Yu Yu Yuling's entry into the National Academy in October; Yan Yan Youcheng suggested they reunite once all arrived in Jiankang.

A gentle breeze stirred; lotus blossoms revealed dew, lotus leaves rippled, the wind carried a faint, sweet fragrance—a scene of perfect serenity.

Liu Cheng, seeing Wang Yang had not come, was delighted. He raised his cup to the breeze: "Make garments of lotus leaves, weave robes of hibiscus flowers. Though none may know me, my inner fragrance endures! Holding this banquet here today is perfectly fitting! Let us raise our first cup to Qu Qu Qu Yuan!"

Yan Yan Youcheng lifted his wine cup, but Yu Yu Yuling, Yu Yu Qianlou, and Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan sat motionless.

Yu Yu Qianlou lightly rested his fingers on his cup, glanced at his father, then withdrew his hand.

Liu Cheng smiled, feigning ignorance: "Why does no one raise their cup?"

Yu Yu Yuling frowned: "Lord Liu, the seat is not full, the guests are not all here. Let us wait."

"The seat is not full? Guests are not all here?" Liu Cheng feigned a glance around, then exclaimed: "Ah—you mean Wang Yang. He... won't be coming."

Liu Cheng smiled with mysterious assurance.

All in the hall turned to look at Liu Cheng.

Yu Yu Yuling and Yu Yu Qianlou stared in shock. Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan scrutinized him. Only Yu Yi remained expressionless.

Yan Yan Youcheng suspected Liu Cheng had won Wang Yang over—and deliberately kept him away to demonstrate his dominance over him: first to avenge the humiliation of the previous scholarly debate and poetry wager, second to show Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan that the person she valued now served merely as his pawn.

"Impossible. Brother Wang promised he'd come. And even if he couldn't attend, why would he tell you?" Yu Yu Yuling refused to believe it.

Liu Cheng smiled faintly: "You don't understand, Zi Jie. I deeply admire Wang Yang's talent and have already persuaded him to join my father's household—he is now a disciple of the Liu family!"

"What! You're serious?" Yu Yu Yuling was stunned; Yu Yu Qianlou was startled too, glancing at his father, who showed a faint change in expression. Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's eyes also flickered with surprise.

Liu Cheng declared proudly: "Do you doubt my word, Liu Cheng of Hedong?"

Yu Yu Yuling wanted to disbelieve, but then reconsidered—it was not impossible. Brother Wang, though of noble blood and peerless talent, lacked family influence and support. To join the Liu Duke's household would indeed be a fitting path. Still, Liu Cheng was detestable.

Liu Cheng observed all reactions, feeling triumphant. He rose and bowed to Yu Yi:

"Master Yu, Wang Yang has business today and cannot attend. I apologize on his behalf."

Though Yu Yu Yuling knew Wang Yang joining the Liu household would benefit his future, the phrase "apologize on his behalf" grated on him.

Yu Yi nodded slightly, murmuring: "I see." His tone seemed both statement and question.

"Indeed. Master, why not remove Wang Yang's seat? I shall ensure he comes to you personally to apologize!"

Yu Yi looked at Yu Yu Qianlou.

Yu Yu Qianlou:???

Is Father asking me to speak?

No—he wants me to verify?

Or to remove the seat?

Father, I truly don't understand—please clarify!

"Do not remove the seat. Wang Yang will come."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's voice rang out, calm yet carrying undeniable force.

——————

Note: ① Song scholar Zhao Yanwei's Yunlu Manchao states: "Before the Wei Jin dynasties, birthdays were not observed." This is correct but imprecise, giving the impression that birthday celebrations began after the Wei Jin. In fact, the custom only emerged by the late Southern Dynasties. Yet from the Wei Jin period onward, emperors occasionally granted amnesties on the birthdays of princes or imperial grandchildren—though this remained an exclusive imperial practice.

Moreover, even when commoners began celebrating birthdays, from the Qin dynasty through the Qing, official household registers recorded only the year of birth, not the month or day. This is a matter of administrative record-keeping, distinct from historical or imperial records. For those interested, see Hou Xudong's "Birthday Memory and Birthday Celebrations in Qin, Han, and Six Dynasties."

② Reed leaves refer to the leaves of the zhu (water bamboo); these were used to wrap rice dumplings. The Beitang Shuchao, "Seasonal Section 3," cites the Fengtu Ji: "In midsummer, Dragon Boat Festival—meaning the fifth day of the fifth month—is a day of great importance, akin to the Summer Solstice. The day before, glutinous rice, millet, and jujubes are wrapped in reed leaves and boiled in ash-water until cooked."

③ The Nan Qi Shu, "Biographies of the Seventeen Princes of the World Emperor": "The World Emperor enjoyed hunting pheasants....... Six years prior, Left Guard and Palace Guard Han Dan Chao submitted a memorial advising against pheasant hunting; the World Emperor ceased the practice."