Chapter 125: Begging for Skill Festival

"Go back." Jiang Yunchu waved her hand, knowing she was anxious to return and speak, so she didn't keep her.

Third Prince, he really has a hand in everything!

The Third Prince's birth mother is Consort Cao.

Cao Hai is the Third Prince's maternal uncle; that's why, at the West Village racetrack, there was favoritism toward the Cao manor.

Now they've turned their schemes against her Jiang family.

Interesting!

The Begging for Skill Festival arrived as scheduled.

Begging for Skill is the Seventh Night Festival, also known as the Daughter's Festival.

On this day, it is a festival for girls who do not leave their chambers to display their embroidery; they can send hand‑embroidered sachets to their beloved, and if the recipient accepts, the two families can proceed with the engagement formalities.

This is the Begging for Skill Festival.

Every year on this day of the Begging for Skill Festival, the streets are extraordinarily lively.

"Wow, brother, I want to make a sugar figurine, like Mother's!" Ning Yue Xue ran over, staring with surprise at the sugar‑figurine stall.

Seeing the sugar figurine take shape as the silk was pulled, the little girl widened her eyes in disbelief.

"This year's Begging for Skill Festival is livelier than in previous years," Zi Su said, smiling as she followed beside Jiang Yunchu.

The children of Kang Fu and the Regent Prince's Manor gathered together, now looking at this stall, now at that one.

Watching the children's happy little faces, Jiang Yunchu followed behind them.

"Second Aunt, why did you come out with us?"

"These little rascals, if no one comes out they won't be kept in line, and I have nothing else to do, so I'm watching them to put your mind at ease." The Second Aunt smiled; she wore a plain blue‑green robe that gave a feeling of refreshment.

In their conversation, they all carried an air of grandeur.

"Thank you for letting Zhi Xia convey your words; it made me feel deeply." Thinking of that day's words, she could set aside some of her suspicions.

The Second Aunt turned her head and looked at Jiang Yunchu.

"To be honest, I didn't expect that!"

"What?" Now it was Jiang Yunchu's turn to be puzzled.

The Second Aunt smiled, lifted a flower lantern, stepped aside, and then replied, "I didn't expect Zhi Xia to warm up to you so quickly, both heart and mind."

As she said this, she couldn't help laughing.

You should know, her children each look either kind or mischievous, but they all have their own personalities.

Their standards are high; getting them to take a liking to someone is no easy feat.

Since Zhi Xia passed the message along, it shows her approval of Yun Chu and also that he sincerely wants to learn.

This was his own proposal, but she did not refuse it.

In commanding troops and waging war, a commander must have the ability to win the soldiers' hearts himself.

If that requires others' intervention, it's better to call off the troops early!

"Hmm… could there be a possibility of extracting a confession under torture?" Jiang Yunchu said, unable to hold back laughter.

That could be the case.

After all, in that game of kickball, every kick was aimed at his body—kick wherever you point.

The Second Aunt burst out laughing, "Extracting a confession under torture and making him convinced heart and mind—that's also your ability."

No matter the means or path, being able to tame her own little rascals is Yun Chu's strength.

"And that piece of information is something you ought to obtain."

The Second Aunt's words gave Jiang Yunchu some food for thought.

"Mother, there's a teahouse over there." Kang Zhi Chun came walking from afar, older in age, she looked after these younger siblings, especially Yue Yue, whom she liked a bit more.

Actually, Ning Hanmo and Ning Yue Xue are of a different generation from the Kang Fu children.

They should be called uncle and aunt.

At first they obediently called them that, but as time went on they became more familiar with each other.

Kang Ziwei then suggested that they each address each other by their own names, since they were peers; being called "aunt" felt really awkward.

After that, the adorable Yue Yue always called them older brother and sister; Ning Hanmo simply called them by name, and as they were classmates, calling each other by name was nothing strange.

"All right, let's go rest; we've run so long, those few must be tired." The Second Aunt said.

Kang Zhi Chun walked over to the children, pointed to the teahouse over there, then pointed to the spot for the acrobatic show.

"Mother, I can't bear to eat the sugar figurine." Yue Yue came over, wrapped one arm around Jiang Yunchu's leg, lifted her head, and the little bell jingled—ding‑dong, ding‑dong—still clearly audible even amid the bustling Begging for Skill Festival.

"Why can't you bear to eat it?" Jiang Yunchu bent down and held her in his arms.

Seeing the sweat on the little girl's forehead, he quickly wiped it with a handkerchief.

"It looks just like Mother, so beautiful—how could Yue Yue bring herself to bite it?" The little girl pouted; if she had known earlier, she wouldn't have let Grandfather paint Mother's likeness, and now, knowing the sugar figurine is sweet, she simply can't bring herself to eat it.

Wuu wuu wuu~

Jiang Yunchu tapped her forehead, "Go ahead and eat it; Mother only wants to be beautiful on her own, not to compete with it."

Hearing that, the little ones couldn't help but laugh.

The Second Aunt also chuckled and shook her head—what an interesting family.

"Is there still a riverside private room on the second floor?" Jiang Yunchu went up to the teahouse and asked directly.

"How coincidental—this riverside private room is the only one left today; shall I lead you gentlemen to see it?" The attendant bowed with a smiling welcome.

"Let's have a look." Ning Hanmo stepped forward and said to the attendant.

"Sure thing, gentlemen, follow me."

When Ning Hanmo appeared, the attendant's eyes twitched slightly, but the teahouse was bustling today, he kept his head down, and nobody noticed his expression.

"This is it—downstairs the acrobatic show, the river‑side flower lanterns and the jade boats, all can be taken in at a glance." The attendant pushed open the door, led everyone into the private room, opened the lattice window there, and then the outside scenery could be seen—this spot really is not bad.

Jiang Yunchu raised his head and asked, "Such a good spot, it should have been booked long ago, right?"

They, who came on short notice, naturally had already prepared for the possibility of having no seats.

The private rooms of the teahouses, inns, and restaurants with good spots for the Qixi Festival had already been booked a month earlier.

"Hey, what a coincidence — the place originally booked couldn't come today; this morning someone came to cancel it. This private room offers the best view, naturally pricey, not something ordinary folks could afford, so it's just been left vacant." The waiter said that, then wore a shrewd expression.

"Bring four plates of your teahouse's special pastries and a pot of hot tea." Jiang Yunchu gave the order, then found a seat by the table to rest a while.

Mainly because those few little rascals have been running around the street for a while, letting them rest their feet.

"Got it, please wait a moment, honored guest." The waiter flicked his towel, then closed the door before leaving.

Looking at the river, it was full of jade boats adorned with various lanterns; some young men and women chatted on the pleasure barges, while flower lanterns drifted on the water, floating endlessly.

Not even Half an Hour later, the waiter brought a pot of hot tea, followed shortly by four plates of pastries.