Chapter 218: Feiyan, you really need to be more mindful

On Jinming Pool,

in front of the Waterside Palace diagonally opposite the left side of the crowd's tents,

on several colorful boats, commoner performers and Imperial Guard soldiers were performing lion dances, fire-breathing, and other variety shows for the Great Zhou Emperor and the officials.

Rong Feiyan stood up, smiled, and after performing a squatting salute to bid farewell to the other noble young ladies, she exited the tent of the Duke of Ying.

Listening to the cheers and applause from the surrounding audience on the shore, Rong Feiyan, whose eyes were very similar to those of Imperial Consort Rong, lost her smile and said with a lack of interest, "Let's go."

Having said that, she walked toward the Rong family tent without waiting for Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang to react, and the maidservants behind her hurried to keep up.

Although the Rong family was currently enjoying great imperial favor, the location of their tent was behind that of the Duke of Ying.

Having walked a few steps in a daze, within Rong Feiyan's line of sight,

across the distance of several tents, Xu Zaijing and Liang Han emerged from the tent of the Marquis of Ningyuan in high spirits, standing on the platform in front of the tent to look around for a moment.

Rong Feiyan, who had been uninterested, saw her eyes light up, and the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily. A surge of surprise filled her heart, and she failed to notice her own footsteps and the shallow pit in front of her.

"Young Lady!"

"Ah!"

Amidst Seeing Xi Bu's exclamation, Rong Feiyan's foot stepped into empty air, a pain shot through her ankle, and she fell to the ground. The maidservants behind her were terrified and hurried to help her up.

Whether it was from the pain, some other reason, or both, Rong Feiyan's eyes were instantly filled with tears.

Hearing the sound, Xu Zaijing and Liang Han glanced over there, then Xu Zaijing pulled Liang Han, who wanted to go watch the excitement, and turned to walk toward the Xu family tent.

After entering the tent,

"Jiong Ge'er, by then my sister will definitely be in our tent. What happens in the end will depend on your performance."

After Seeing Hu Yanjiong cupped his hands in salute, he left the place with Zhang Fang and the others.

When Xu Zaijing went to the shore outside the tent to see Seeing Hu Yanjiong off, he finally saw a small dragon boat docked at the shore. A cowhide drum was placed at the bow of the small dragon boat, and there were soldiers dressed in red clothes and red headscarves like Seeing Hu Yanjiong and the others. One of them held a flag with the character 'Jiong' written on it. A rough count showed there were about fifty people.

And in the distance, in front of the Waterside Palace, the performance had changed to a puppet show, with lifelike puppets performing a fishing act.

Relying on his excellent eyesight, Xu Zaijing was surprised to see that the puppet had actually caught a fish.

When Seeing Hu Yanjiong, acting as the drummer, led the small dragon boat to the distance, the performance in front of the Waterside Palace had added a new item: 'Water Swing.'

As the name suggests, it was to set up a high swing at the bow of the boat. After the performer swung to a position level with the swing frame, they would jump straight into the water.

Because Rong Feiyan had gone to the Rong family tent to change her clothes and rearrange her hairpins, she naturally did not see the scene that followed:

Ten tiger-head boats and twenty small dragon boats like Seeing Hu Yanjiong's, both types of boats carrying more than fifty people each,

these small boats sailed at a fast speed toward the 'Ao House' in the distance to the front right of the crowd's tents. The thirty small boats worked together to drag the huge dragon-shaped storied boat out from inside the Ao House.

After coming out, six giant oars extended from each side of the storied boat, and it began to row.

The ten tiger-head boats were responsible for moving forward, and ten small dragon boats on each side were responsible for the direction, sailing toward the Waterside Palace where the Emperor was located at a very fast speed.

When Rong Feiyan was helped out by her maidservants, limping, the large dragon boat had already docked in front of the Waterside Palace, and the Emperor, his consorts, and the ministers began to board the dragon boat.

The Bao family and Huyan family's Da Niangzis, who were sitting in the Rong family tent, looked at each other after seeing Rong Feiyan's face, which was still slightly immature but already showing signs of beauty.

Looking at her limping appearance, the corners of the mouths of the two sisters-in-law curled in a very subtle and tacit understanding:

'A fallen family whose ancestors were masons.'

Rong Feiyan took all this in. After she took her seat, Bao Da Niangzi of the Huyan family's main branch swept a look of ill intent at the Rong family's maidservants and said:

"I say, sister, your family's maidservants really don't know how to serve people. How could they let a person as good as Young Lady Feiyan get hurt? In my opinion, they are truly lacking in upbringing!"

Hearing these words and feeling the gaze of the Rong family's Da Niangzi, Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang lowered their heads in shame and fear.

"It was I who fell myself; it has nothing to do with them."

Rong Feiyan interjected with a smile.

The dissatisfaction in the eyes of Bao Da Niangzi, who had been interrupted, flashed by, but she still said to the Rong family's Da Niangzi with a smile:

"Sister, just as we said earlier, today you should watch our two families' young masters win a jade carving on the golden target for Young Lady Feiyan, which can be considered a good start for this marriage! By then, our three families will be close relatives through marriage!"

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan looked at her mother in disbelief, and Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang behind her also looked at each other in surprise.

"Mother, does sister know about these two matters?"

The Rong family's Da Niangzi, who was usually sharp and mean, hesitated a little at this moment, because being able to connect with two Marquis households at once would be of great benefit to the Rong family, which made her not know how to speak.

The Da Niangzi of the Marquis of Ruyang's household said with a smile:

"Young Lady Feiyan, this isn't the elders discussing letting our Bao family's young lady marry into the Rong family! Your mother is also willing!"

Bao Da Niangzi of the Marquis of Jinghai's household said:

"As for you, you can marry into my Huyan family. Isn't this becoming close relatives through marriage?"

"Mother, does sister know about these two things?"

Rong Feiyan, young as she was, looked at Da Niangzi Rong with a straight face, actually showing some presence.

"No, isn't this because the two of them just came to our tent today!"

"Oh, daughter thought sister had nodded. In that case, Feiyan is feeling unwell, so I will take my leave first."

Saying this, Rong Feiyan stretched out her hand in a manner quite like her sister's. Seeing Xi Bu hurried over to help her up, and after standing up and nodding slightly, she left the place with a limp that somewhat ruined her presence.

"Hey! This... what is this for!"

"Tsk! She is so... so young, how can she be so rude!"

"Two Da Niangzis, calm your anger. She has been spoiled by her sister!" Listening to the mention of Imperial Consort Rong in Da Niangzi Rong's words, the two adjusted their mindset.

They believed that the relationship between the two Marquis households was enough to persuade Imperial Consort Rong to nod.

"Da Niangzi Rong, it's not that I'm boasting, but our Huyan family has also received the Emperor's decree and has important errands. I don't know how many noble young ladies want to marry into our Huyan family! We are not begging anyone!"

"Yes, what Bao Da Niangzi says is true!"

Xu Zaijing naturally did not know about these things happening in the Rong family tent.

Because at this moment, he was concentrating on watching the huge storied boat still docked in front of the Waterside Palace,

at this time, the Emperor was already on the top floor of the storied boat, looking down at the tiger-head boats and small dragon boats that were performing.

These dozens of boats, under the command of the naval officers at the bow of the storied boat, first formed a large circle while moving and kept rotating. This is called 'Xuanluo';

then, under the command of flags, they divided into two small circles, still rotating. This is called 'Haiyan';

when the flags waved again, the two small circles composed of boats exchanged positions under the lead of the head boat. This is called 'Jiaotou'!

Shu Bo, standing beside the Xu family tent, pointed to the palace in the center of Jinming Pool and said to Chu Zhan: "Alright, the next thing is for the tiger-head boats and small dragon boats to go to the five-room palace over there."

After speaking, Shu Bo shouted along with the cheers of the surrounding commoners.

From time to time, someone would shout the progress to those outside who could not see the scene in the pool:

'The small boats have already stopped at the five-room palace'

'The boat inserting the target pole has already come out!'

'The target grabbing is about to begin!'

In Jinming Pool,

the master of the Huyan family's fifth branch inserted a bamboo pole hung with colorful satin, brocade, silver bowls, silver cups, and a jade carving onto the water surface between the Waterside Palace and the right side of the storied boat, near the tents on the east bank of Jinming Pool.

At this time, the difference in the field of vision of the nobles' tents was revealed. Xu Zaijing looked at the target pole, which was only a dozen zhang away from their tent, and smacked his lips.

When that naval commander returned to the storied boat by small boat,

Sun Shi also brought Anmei, Hualan, and the others back to Xu Zaijing's side, watching the dozens of small boats with colorful flags fluttering, preparing to grab the target, along with other noble and official families who had walked out of their tents.

On the storied boat,

after the Emperor on the throne said a few words to Zhao Fang, under the encouraging gaze of the Empress, Zhao Fang came to the front of the storied boat, looked at the naval soldiers in the distance who were ready to go, and shouted: "Start!"

The eunuch beside him hurriedly shouted loudly.

Seeing Hu Yanjiong, who was on the small dragon boat, glanced at his cousin from the main branch, who was wearing green clothes and a green headband not far away,

then looked at his father on the storied boat,

the colorful flag had not yet waved.

In fact, Zhang Shun and the others on this boat were fierce soldiers carefully prepared for the main branch by Seeing Hu Yanjiong's father. Zhang Shun and the others had also practiced for quite some time, and their retirement from the Imperial Guard to the canal soldiers was not due to ability issues.

Originally, he thought that after helping the main branch grab the target, they could turn hostility into friendship, but this good intention was rejected.

The main branch was using Imperial Guard soldiers selected by themselves after taking over the Huyi Army.

Looking at the figures moving on the storied boat, Seeing Hu Yanjiong shouted: "Enter the water!"

From far and near, the shouts of oars entering the water also came from around.

While others were still shouting 'enter the water' in the distance, Seeing Hu Yanjiong saw the waving colorful flag and quickly started beating the drum.

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

Zhang Shun and the others' strong arms began to row hard with the drumbeat, the frequency getting faster and faster.

This target grabbing was not a race with separate lanes, but a swarm to see who could row the fastest.

If you were slow, you would be squeezed to the back by others, occupying the forward waterway, and then you would have no chance to grab the target at all.

Seeing Hu Yanjiong's small dragon boat slowly emerged from the crowd. Sitting at the bow of the boat and looking at the opponents behind, Seeing Hu Yanjiong shouted: "Don't let them hit our stern! Faster!"

As he spoke, the frequency of his drum beating accelerated again.

Zhang Shun and the other fierce soldiers didn't speak either, just rowing along with the drumbeat with their heads down.

Halfway through the race,

the drum sound clamored past the side of the storied boat.

On the storied boat,

the Empress looked at the small dragon boat that had emerged from the crowd, smiled, pointed, and asked: "Your Majesty, whose young master is that?"

Emperor: "Marquis of Jinghai?"

The Marquis of Jinghai, standing to the side, squeezed a smile onto his face and said: "Returning to Your Majesty and the Empress, looking at the 'Jiong' character on the flag, it should be the eleventh son of the fifth branch of my humble official's family, Seeing Hu Yanjiong."

Hearing this,

the Empress didn't know what she thought of, smiled, and nodded.

Zhao Fang, who was beside her, whispered: "Mother, is that the person who wants to marry Sister Anmei from Jing Ge'er's family?"

Looking at the Emperor, who was listening to the Imperial Prince's words with a smile on his face.

The Marquis of Jinghai tried hard to maintain the expression on his face and smiled slightly at the Emperor's only son.

He thought to himself: This fifth son of the Marquis of Yongyi's household is so sustainably favored by the Emperor!

He pondered the strength of the Marquis of Yongyi's household: This Xu family has a good relationship with the Cao, Gu, Liang, Xie, Sheng, Wang, and other families.

And the Bao family of the Marquis of Ruyang's household: Hmm... let me think again.

Thinking this way,

the old man had some other thoughts in his heart.

The drum sound got closer and closer,

Seeing Hu Yanjiong glanced at his opponent who was one boat length behind him, then turned his head to look at the target pole not far away, and continued to beat the drum hard.

The boat speed did not decrease. Under the control of Zhang Heng at the stern, Seeing Hu Yanjiong reached out and steadily grabbed the target pole.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding onlookers burst into huge cheers.

The noble young ladies who knew some news also came to the front of the Marquis of Yongyi's tent to watch.

Sure enough,

Seeing Hu Yanjiong's small dragon boat began to row toward the shore.

The fifth daughter of the Duke of Ying's family, Tingyi of the Marquis of Ningyuan's family, Feiyan of the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang's family, the fifth daughter of Minister Li's family, Yanran of Grand Tutor Yu's family, and other noble young ladies all gathered around.

Each of them covered their mouths with round fans and teased.

And the Da Niangzis of each family watched all this with a smile.

Liang Han, who was beside Xu Zaijing, looked at Anmei and Seeing Hu Yanjiong in the crowd, then looked at Zhang Shun and the others who were tough and strong in Jinming Pool, and then looked at the opponents who had just arrived nearby,

Liang Han had a flash of inspiration and thought to himself:

This could also be a business!

Once every three months, expressing admiration in front of many Bianjing nobles, officials' families, and commoners!

As long as you have this group of naval soldiers, grabbing the target is easy!

He looked at Xu Zaijing beside him again:

Perhaps,

he could let Jing Ge'er make a suggestion to the Emperor,

adding one more peony jade carving, no, two, wouldn't that earn even more!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 219 =====