Chapter 16

After the whole family finished paying respects to the Buddha, the Old Lady’s spirits remained high. On the way back, as they passed by the canal, she instructed the steward to hire a painted pleasure boat.

By the riverside, Xu Hao, who had been putting on a brave face, now suffered from the aftereffects, his legs aching incessantly. Exhausted, he had little interest in the surroundings. While the others were excitedly sightseeing, he could only stand by the river, facing the gentle breeze.

Xiao Shi knew her son was likely tired but couldn’t let him rest in public. Helplessly, she secretly instructed Qiuxiang and Laibao to bring a food box and a pot of clear tea.

After drinking the tea and eating two pieces of thousand-layer cake, Xu Hao’s spirits immediately lifted. He thought to himself that being young was indeed different. Even though he used to play soccer frequently, his body had been weakened by alcohol and age, and his health had steadily declined.

Nothing could be more delightful than regaining his youth. Xu Hao, feeling secretly pleased, boarded the boat with the family. The Old Lady ordered the boatwomen to sail the pleasure boat to the center of the river. As the gentle waves rippled, they occasionally passed by other boats with musicians playing.

The maids brought lunch and served some Laojun tea. After the meal, the Old Lady instructed them to set out a tray filled with fresh fruits and various pastries. All the food, including lunch, had been sent from home to avoid spoilage in the hot weather.

“Pour the wine, but don’t overdo it,” the Old Lady said with a smile, her gaze fixed on the distance.

Lady Wang, the first wife, quickly instructed the maids to set out the wine utensils and then said to her personal maid, “Tell Wen, Ji, and Song to come down.”

Due to his leg pain, Xu Hao had been sitting with the women in the middle cabin of the pleasure boat. Bored, he admired the carved windows and the landscape paintings hanging on the cabin walls. When he heard Lady Wang’s words, he thought to himself that what was bound to happen had finally come.

Eldest sister Xu Qinglian looked slightly nervous. Hongye blinked and whispered, “What are they going to test us on? There’s only one table, and it’s not enough for us sisters to do embroidery together.”

“I can’t guess either,” Xu Qinglian shook her head slightly.

Xu Hao, on the other hand, became indifferent. Since he was already in the old lady’s bad books, he might as well go all the way.

Just as the other sisters were also feeling uneasy, Xu Wen, Xu Ji, and Xu Song came down from the upper deck, chatting and laughing. Xu Wen said with a smile, “An official boat is coming. I wonder whose it is.”

At this, the Old Lady said happily, “Quick, tell the boatmen to stop the boat.”

“Why?” Xu Wen asked, puzzled.

“Ha ha,” the Old Lady said with a joyful smile, “That’s our boat, and there are distinguished guests on board.”

“Our boat? Could it be Jingqin and Jingchang? Haven’t they been training the troops recently?” Xu Wen asked, confused.

The Old Lady pointed to a wooden stool in front of her and said impatiently, “Sit down and be quiet. Ji and Hao, you two sit next to grandma and watch your words. No nonsense.”

Xiao Shi’s eyes flashed with concern and surprise, signaling Xu Hao to stand up and go over. The third wife, Lady Liu, asked in surprise, “What’s going on? Who’s on that boat?”

“Probably some scholars from the Imperial Academy,” Xiao Shi guessed, but she was already trembling with nervousness.

“Oh,” Lady Liu found her sister-in-law’s guess reasonable and nodded. Then a sense of injustice welled up in her, and she said coldly, without regard for the Old Lady’s presence, “Song is young, but he’s already fourteen. Why not give him a chance?”

The Old Lady, however, smiled and waved her hand, saying, “Song isn’t suitable. He needs a few more years. Ha ha, everyone sit quietly and don’t make a fuss.”

With the Old Lady’s words, everyone felt even more puzzled. Xu Hao, following everyone’s gaze, watched as a boat of similar size to their pleasure boat slowly approached. An official boat, with large Ming flags at the bow and stern, was almost identical to a pleasure boat in structure, clearly used for sightseeing.

Shortly after, the two boats sailed side by side on the river. While the Xu family’s pleasure boat was crowded inside and out, the official boat had only a few boatmen and soldiers visible, and even the windows were covered with pearl curtains.

Xu Hao, like everyone else, was guessing the identity of the people on the boat. Suddenly, he felt a jolt, thinking, “Could it be Xu Da and Zhu Yuanzhang, the two big shots of the Ming Dynasty?”

It was very possible. Xu Hao’s heart pounded. Perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang had come to visit his old friend, and as an emperor, he had sent people to notify them in advance. Thus, Granduncle Xu Da had taken him on a lake tour, taking care of his own children as well.

But then, Xu Hao thought it was unlikely. Was it necessary to make such a big fuss? That was the suspicious and iron-fisted Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang! Xu Da, a renowned general who had almost never made a mistake in battle, wouldn’t just take the emperor on a private tour for a few nephews and grandnephews. That was too absurd.

As Xu Hao’s thoughts raced, the Old Lady received a note from the other boat, unfolded it, and said with a smile, “Listen carefully, the three of you. Compose a poem on the theme of spring, each of you. The time limit is one incense stick.”

Xu Wen and Xu Ji exchanged glances. Even though they were still confused, they could see that the Old Lady was taking the distinguished guests very seriously. They immediately began to think.

Their mother, Lady Wang, first looked delighted, then became very nervous. The theme of spring was too simple, but precisely because it was simple, there were countless excellent works throughout history, making it difficult to create something extraordinary.

Xiao Shi became even more convinced of her guess, her hands tightly clasped, staring intently at her son.

Lady Liu watched this scene with a hint of jealousy, sighed, and stroked her son’s head. The others were all focused, sensing the unusual from the Old Lady’s expression.

Only Xu Hao remained calm, though he was actually at a loss. Poetry was his weakness. He could come up with a simple, unrhymed ditty, but composing a proper poem was as difficult as the Chinese national football team qualifying for the World Cup.

Since he couldn’t do it anyway, Xu Hao began to observe the opposite boat through the carved windows. The pearl curtains were deep, and faint shadows could be seen moving behind them.

“Spring as a theme, not for women, what a waste of time,” Xu Hao thought to himself, almost ruling out the possibility of the giant figure being on the boat. If it were Zhu Yuanzhang, the theme would likely be ‘governance’ or ‘war,’ fitting his identity.

As time passed, Xu Wen’s eyes lit up, and he said, “I’ve got it.”

Lady Wang said quickly, “Say it.”

Xu Wen glanced at his two brothers with a hint of pride and recited, “Spring birds chirp incessantly on the branches, spring flowers and spring’s end, who will stay? Seeking the message of spring, it stirs sorrow everywhere.”

“Not bad, not bad,” the Old Lady nodded in approval, and Lady Wang’s face lit up with joy.

Xu Hao looked at his elder brother with new respect. On the side, Hongye stared at her second sister, Xu Cuita, who was fanning herself, and whispered to her elder sister, Xu Qinglian, “Hmph, it seemed like Second Sister was helping him cheat with lip movements.”

Xu Qinglian was taken aback and whispered, “I don’t know if Hao has thought of something. How about I write a poem, and you can copy Cuita’s method?”

“Mm, mm,” Hongye nodded excitedly, her face turning red.

Leaving the sisters to their covert operation, Xu Hao observed his second brother, Xu Ji. Although he thought his elder brother’s poem was very good, he believed it wouldn’t surpass Xu Ji, who had studied poetry diligently.

After a while, as Lady Wang grew anxious, Xu Ji raised his head and smiled confidently, saying:

“Spring’s breath urges us to this tour, the mountains and waters of Nanjing bring no sorrow.

The fragrant path leads to the bamboo grove, the distant light and colors follow the wild gulls.

Leaning on the rock, I compose as the sun sets, seeking flowers, my interest full, I wish to return to the city.

All say this night’s moon is for a thousand people, the swirling mist and clouds linger for the guests.”

---

(End of the page, ads start)

(End of the page, ads end)