Chapter 25: ★Dragon Boat Festival Extra★
It was the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. When night fell, a banquet was held in the palace. The banquet was set up on a platform built by Yuexin Lake. The coolness from the lake permeated the platform, making one feel cool and refreshed. Artemisia and calamus were planted all around to ward off evil and miasma, and the fragrance of the flowers and plants mingled with the strong, pungent smell of realgar wine on the platform.
[Translator’s Notes: Realgar Wine : A traditional Chinese alcoholic drink made with realgar (an arsenic sulfide mineral). It’s a key part of the Dragon Boat Festival, believed to ward off evil spirits and disease. It is, however, toxic and not typically consumed in modern times.]
The King of Bei Miao, Feng Shao, sat in the seat of honor. The princes sat beside him, and the Third Prince, Feng Qi, was currently the most favored by Feng Shao, so his seat was right next to him.
Feng Shao was extremely pleased with this third son of his. Under his guidance, his courage and temperament were exactly like his own, and he was also more intelligent and daring than the other princes.
On the stage, dancers danced gracefully to the sound of string and bamboo instruments, waving their long sleeves and gently swaying their slender waists. The dance was dignified and proper, but it also made one feel bored.
Feng Shao watched with disinterest and waved his hand to dismiss the dancers.
“Let’s play Shoot the Zongzi.”
With Feng Shao’s order, a eunuch brought up a large golden platter. The platter was filled with rice balls, and in the center was a small zongzi. The rice balls were made of glutinous rice wrapped around bean paste, with a thick layer of sesame seeds sprinkled on the outside—a true delicacy. If the rice balls were already so delicious, the zongzi went without saying. Although the zongzi was small, everyone knew that it was filled with good things. What specific good things were inside was changed every year to add to the fun, but it was never revealed. Only by eating it would one know what delicacy was inside.
The golden platter was placed on a high table in the center. Whoever shot the zongzi could have a taste of the delicacy.
Feng Shao stroked his chin and asked with interest, “Who was this morning’s Dragon King?”
The Dragon King was the winner of the dragon boat race.
“Replying to Your Majesty, it was this subordinate.” The sixteen-year-old Wen Ning’an stood up and cupped his fists, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.
Feng Shao thought for a moment before saying, “Wen Ning’an, the Left Army’s Vice-General? I remember your relationship with Huaitian is quite good.”
Wen Ning’an said, “This subordinate was previously His Highness the Third Prince’s study companion.”
Feng Shao nodded slightly. Wen Ning’an had become Feng Qi’s study companion when he was only nine. At that time, Feng Shao had paid no attention to Feng Qi at all, so naturally, he had no impression of him.
“Since you are today’s Dragon King, you shall start first. I’ll give you a special privilege and let you shoot twice. Get me a consecutive win, it’ll be a good omen.”
“Yes.” Wen Ning’an nodded and took the bow and arrow from a servant. The small bow and arrow were purely for entertainment, made of gilded small horns, small and exquisite. Thus, their killing power was not great, so there was no fear of hurting anyone. But because of this, the force was often not enough to pierce the slippery zongzi.
“Then who wants to compete with the Dragon King?” Feng Shao asked, looking around.
“Replying to Your Majesty, this humble subject brazenly volunteers!”
Everyone’s gaze subconsciously turned to the source of the voice. Not far away, at the Li family’s long table, a handsome and high-spirited young man stood up, cupped his fists at Wen Ning’an, and said, “Please give me your guidance.”
Feng Qi recognized him. The young man was Li Huaisheng of the Li family, who had lost to Wen Ning’an in this morning’s dragon boat race by a hair’s breadth. Feng Qi sneered. Li Huaisheng must want to avenge his shame, but…
Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an and, from an angle that others couldn’t see, made a “cut him down” gesture.
Wen Ning’an smiled. This person…
Li Huaisheng stood opposite Wen Ning’an. The two of them held their bows and arrows, pulled them to their limit, and narrowed their eyes, aiming at the small zongzi on the golden platter in the distance.
With a “swoosh,” two arrow shadows flew towards the golden platter at the same time. The two of them were quite fated, to have shot their arrows at the same time. However…
Li Huaisheng had his back to Feng Qi, so it was easier for Feng Qi to see his arrow. He saw the slender golden arrow swerve before it even got close to the golden platter, losing its forward momentum and falling to the ground.
“Pfft…” Feng Qi, whether he couldn’t help it or did it maliciously, put his fist to his mouth and let out a low laugh.
The ministers below felt awkward. Seeing that the Li family all had straight faces, no one dared to make a sound.
Li Huaisheng’s face turned pale, then from pale to red, and then from red to black. The change in his expression was truly “spectacular.”
On the other hand, the arrow released by Wen Ning’an pierced the zongzi without any surprise.
“Good!” Feng Shao clapped his hands, his eyes full of admiration. The other ministers, including the Li family, seeing this, had no choice but to follow Feng Shao’s lead and clap and cheer, whether they wanted to or not.
“To hit it on the first try is truly rare. It’s not just skill, but also good luck, being favored by the gods. I’ll grant this entire platter to you!”
Wen Ning’an knelt down to thank him.
Usually, the zongzi belonged to the winner, and the emperor would often grant the rice balls to his favored ministers to share. Now, it was all given to Wen Ning’an. Firstly, because Wen Ning’an had won consecutively, his skill had greatly pleased the emperor, and secondly, it was because of Feng Qi, a case of “loving the house and its crow.”
[Translator’s Notes: Loving the house and its crow : A Chinese idiom meaning that when you love someone, you love everything connected to them, even the crows on their roof. Feng Shao is fond of Wen Ning’an because he is fond of his son, Feng Qi.]
Although Feng Shao had said so, Wen Ning’an couldn’t possibly take all the rice balls for himself. That would be overestimating his own importance. So, he took the golden platter and slowly walked to the tables of several ministers sitting nearby to share with everyone.
“Your Highness.” When Wen Ning’an walked in front of Feng Qi, Feng Qi reached out to take one, but was stopped by Wen Ning’an.
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. What’s wrong?
Wen Ning’an reached out and gently pushed the zongzi towards Feng Qi.
“Your Highness, please enjoy.”
Feng Shao, sitting beside Feng Qi, let out two “tsk, tsk” sounds, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curving up.
Although these two boys haven’t realized it yet, I can see it.
Feng Qi smiled and smugly took the zongzi.
Hmph, this was given to him by Wen Ning’an. So what if he won? The spoils of war still belong to me.
Feng Shao had already said he would give Wen Ning’an a special privilege, so after a servant replaced the platter, Wen Ning’an was still the one standing in front of it.
“So, who is willing to compete with Wen Ning’an this time?”
After Feng Shao’s words fell, there was no movement from below. No one was willing to test Wen Ning’an’s edge anymore. Those with less experience than Wen Ning’an would be overestimating themselves if they went up and lost, while those with more would be humiliating themselves. After all, this required not just skill but also luck, and no one could guarantee they would win.
“Your son is willing to give it a try.”
Feng Qi walked down the steps.
Wen Ning’an was surprised. Feng Qi is…?
Feng Qi took the bow and arrow and smiled provocatively at Wen Ning’an. “Vice-General Wen, don’t you dare lose to this prince.”
Wen Ning’an pouted. Is he implying that since I’ve been training on the battlefield for years, while he, as a prince, has been pampered, it would be very shameful if I lost!
Feng Qi, who had been in the limelight recently, his power in the court growing like bamboo shoots after the rain, was personally participating. The crowd on the platform couldn’t help but pay more attention, their eyes seemingly glued to him.
Draw the bow, release the arrow.
A gust of wind blew by. Wen Ning’an felt the hem of his clothes fly up, and his hair was blown in front of his eyes. After pushing the strands of hair away, he saw that his arrow had been blown off course by the wind. It had grazed the zongzi, only piercing a small corner of it.
In this situation, it all depended on the opponent. If Feng Qi missed, the zongzi would still belong to Wen Ning’an.
Swoosh—
Wen Ning’an stared intently at the flying arrow. He heard a “thud” as the arrow pierced a rice ball next to the zongzi.
Wen Ning’an let out a sigh of relief.
But then, something unexpected happened…
The arrow, after piercing the rice ball, did not lose its momentum. It went straight through two rice balls and deeply pierced the zongzi in the center! The pierced rice balls oozed white bean paste, and the fragrance filled the air. Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what had just happened.
How much inner energy must one have to do that…
Wen Ning’an was astonished and couldn’t help but admire Feng Qi even more.
“Good! Truly my son!” Feng Shao slapped the table and stood up, feeling even more fond of Feng Qi.
Li Huaisheng gritted his teeth, indignant. The other princes and concubines cast unfriendly glances at Feng Qi. The ministers below all had their own schemes.
However, none of this was important to Feng Qi. His purpose was not to show off his martial arts or his power. It was…
At midnight, after the banquet ended, Wen Ning’an was about to go back with his father when he saw Feng Qi waving at him from not far away.
Master Wen smiled. “Go on.”
Wen Ning’an came before Feng Qi and saw him take out a small zongzi from his pocket.
“Returning this to you.”
It was reasonable for Wen Ning’an to give his prize to Feng Qi; it was considered returning a favor, and everyone knew it. But if Feng Qi gave it to Wen Ning’an, it would be awkward and strange, and might even push Wen Ning’an into the eye of the storm. Feng Qi didn’t want his feelings to become a trouble for Wen Ning’an, so he had “hidden” it in his pocket and only secretly gave it to him after the banquet.
Wen Ning’an took the exquisite zongzi, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Seeing Wen Ning’an’s bright smile, Feng Qi couldn’t help but tease, “You lost to me again today.”
Wen Ning’an’s face immediately fell, and he said stubbornly, “So what if I had won? Don’t I understand Your Highness? If I had won, Your Highness would have just said I was lucky.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Feng Qi said. “No one of our age has ever defeated me. I have almost never tasted defeat. If you succeeded, I think I would treat you as my god of war.”
Wen Ning’an was interested. “God of war? Would Your Highness revere me?”
“In your dreams,” Feng Qi said seriously. “The god of war is my god of victory, so I would definitely keep you by my side always, because you can bring me victory. That’s what the ancient books say.”
“…” Wen Ning’an was speechless. Is that really what the ancient books say? Why do I always feel like you’re the one who benefits in the end?
Perhaps the conversation was too absurd. The two of them looked at each other and both laughed for no reason.
Wen Ning’an peeled off the bamboo leaves. Inside was rice as white as jade. When he put it in his mouth, the flavors of various meats, chestnuts, red dates, adzuki beans, and pine nuts exploded…
Sweet.
“Happy festival.”
“Happy festival.”
