Mrs. Han and the Marchioness chatted more and more amiably, even agreeing on a time to visit the Marquis Residence for fun.
The Marchioness was inwardly thrilled.
She had finally taken the difficult first step.
First, she would build a good relationship. Once Mrs. Han met Hanbo, the Marchioness didn’t mean to brag, but her son was rather outstanding.
He was adept in both literary and martial arts, having wandered the jianghu in his earlier years, he was certainly a man of broad experience.
Although Yun Jinnian’s medical skills were exceptional, her son wasn’t bad either. If all else failed, she could simply be nice to Yun Jinnian and that would surely make up for something!
Dai Hanmi pinched a piece of pastry, took a bite, and then disdainfully put it back, "It’s not as tasty as what my second sister-in-law makes!"
The Crown Princess couldn’t help but laugh.
Then, the wife of the second son said, "I’ll make more the day after tomorrow then. Sister Jinnian, you must come!"
"Sure!" Yun Jinnian answered, knowing that Mrs. Qu’s pastries were indeed quite good, even better than those from Xufuji.
Down by the riverbank beneath Huiquan Tower, the area was already packed with people, bustling with energy.
On the river, there were over thirty dragon boats.
Yun Jinnian immediately noticed that Chu Yu was leading one.
"I heard that the Emperor is offering generous rewards for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival. The captain of the first-place team seems to be getting a pair of glass luminous cups, and the teammates will receive things like jade pendants and jade ruyis. My third brother is also leading a team in the competition. I really hope he wins first place and brings home the glass luminous cups!" Dai Hanmi said, continuously scanning the water for Dai Hanbo’s figure.
But no matter how hard she looked, she just couldn’t find him.
Seeing her anxious, Yun Jinnian spoke gently, "What color clothes is third brother Dai wearing?"
Each dragon boat team has its own distinct uniform.
Yun Jinnian didn’t know why she could spot Chu Yu at a glance. It was strange but not unpleasant.
"Ah, my third brother is wearing a black and white team uniform!" Dai Hanmi replied, still searching, "It was so far away I almost couldn’t find it. Sister Jinnian is so clever, spotting third brother just by the color of his uniform!"
This was Yun Jinnian’s first time watching a dragon boat race. She leaned against the window and watched the boats rush out at the referee’s command.
The dragon boat race required not just skill but also physical strength. To win, the teams raced to grab a "colorful head" (a flag or streamer) at the destination and then return first to the starting point.
The sounds of drums and gongs resounded across the river.
Each pair had their own slogan and team name, with cheer squads on shore shouting words of encouragement.
Watching, Yun Jinnian herself felt a rush of excitement.
"Sister Jinnian, do you think my third brother will win first place?"
"He will!" Yun Jinnian replied, somewhat absently.
She didn’t quite mean it.
"I also think my third brother could come in first!" Dai Hanmi said and then suddenly let out an exclamation, "Oh my, isn’t that Prince Rui over there? He, he, he is also participating?"
If Prince Rui, Chu Yu, was taking part, the few flatterers following him would definitely join as well.
These spoiled youths might not be good at much else, but their martial arts were not insignificant, they knew how to have fun, and were quite cunning besides.
Before Yun Jinnian could offer comfort, Dai Hanmi said, "The chance of my third brother coming in first is mysterious now!"
Although the dragon boats had surged past, the excitement remained. Many people still waited for the boats to return, and there were plenty of vendors. The crowd of buyers was considerable.
Boiled zongzi, fragrant sachets, braided colorful strings, and a variety of snacks and treats were all thriving activities.
"I really want to go down to the riverbank and experience it close up!" Dai Hanmi said wistfully.
Little did Dai Hanmi realize how many people below would love to be up high where she was!
Yun Jinnian couldn’t exactly tell Dai Hanmi that, so she diplomatically said, "It’s too crowded today. Look at that young woman, squeezed in the middle of several men, she’s almost crying!"