Chapter 161: An Appointment with Prince Anton of Anle Commandery

The summer night was lively.

Just as Zhou Yuanqi had said, the weather made the riverbanks the only cool place, attracting countless people to escape the heat.

Shops lined the river, with lanterns hung high; several painted boats floated on the water, their lights dazzling as if molten gold had been scattered into the river’s heart.

Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanqi boarded one of the painted boats.

On the boat were several people, as well as the children of Prince Rong’s household, including the Seventh Miss, who had been saved by Cheng Zhao’s maid last time.

Cheng Chao had not yet arrived.

After polite greetings, Cheng Zhao chose a seat near the western side, from where she could overlook the teeming crowd along the river.

The inky waves rippled with the lamplight, swirling in an air of luxury and decadence.

“...Your Fourth Brother still isn’t here.” Zhou Yuanqi leaned closer.

Cheng Zhao: “Did you set a time with him?”

“I said at the hour of the Rooster.”

“It’s already dark—this is the hour of the Dog,” Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi: “I’m not playing with him anymore!”

Cheng Zhao chuckled softly and lightly stroked his hair.

Then, a little puzzled, she asked, “Why would you want to play with my Fourth Brother? He has neither skill nor learning.”

“...He’s very clever. He knows so many people and everything about everything,” Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao curled her lip dismissively. “That’s just petty cleverness.”

“A person like that also has great wisdom,” Zhou Yuanqi said.

“You flatter him. He’s the most disobedient, always going his own way...”

As Cheng Zhao rattled off her brother’s faults, Cheng Chao stepped onto the boat.

Behind him followed several familiar sons of noble families, along with Helian Xuan, the Prince of Andong.

Cheng Zhao’s face darkened.

Zhou Yuanqi glanced at her expression, then at Helian Xuan.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries.

“Little Sister.”

“Fourth Brother!”

Her tone carried a veiled warning. Cheng Chao and the others looked at her, but Cheng Zhao quickly smiled again, as if their impression had been mistaken.

On the second floor of the painted boat was a folding screen. In front of it, they could play pitch-pot; behind the screen, two songstresses played zithers and sang.

The music mingled with the water’s ripples, spreading through the night breeze, adding a layer of extravagant ease.

“...How did you trick Yuan Qi and then also invite Helian Xuan?” Cheng Zhao called her Fourth Brother down to the first floor, and the siblings sat down.

Cheng Chao played with the water while gazing at the riverbank scenery. “Don’t slander me. It was Yuan Qi who made an appointment with me, and he specifically asked me to bring some friends to keep him company.”

“And you just had to bring Helian Xuan? Don’t you have any other friends?”

“I didn’t expect you’d come,” Cheng Chao said. “Yuan Qi hinted that I should bring the prince—he likes him quite a bit.”

“You misread the hint. What does a child like him know?” Cheng Zhao said.

Cheng Chao replied, “I’m not stupid.”

The siblings bickered a little more.

Cheng Chao added, “I didn’t actually invite him. I ran into him on the bank. He was also here for some fun.”

“Really?”

“Would I deliberately harm you? You’re my own sister.” Cheng Chao rolled his eyes at her.

“You wouldn’t do it on purpose, but you sometimes can’t tell friend from foe. Those sycophants of yours are way more important to you than I am,” Cheng Zhao said.

Cheng Chao retorted, “...I’ve never criticized you, yet you’re always trying to control me!”

“If you ever took my words to heart, why would I need to keep an eye on you all day?” Cheng Zhao said.

Cheng Chao was exasperated.

It was impossible to reason with her.

No matter what he said, she always had a comeback—she just had to be obeyed.

What right did she have?

If she loved giving orders so much, why wasn’t she born the eldest sister?

The real eldest sister wasn’t nearly as fond of throwing her weight around.

The more you lack something, the more you crave it. The youngest girl, yet she wanted to play “the eldest proper lady”—Cheng Chao wouldn’t indulge her.

Everyone else let her have her way because they were older and didn’t bother with a child’s tantrums, but Cheng Chao was close to her in age and equally wanted to “be the one in charge.”

“Sooner or later, you’ll have to listen to me,” Cheng Zhao said.

“Look at you, so full of yourself. I’m your elder brother—you’ll just have to accept that! What use is being an ultra-rank titled lady?” Cheng Chao said.

Cheng Zhao: “You’re defying me again.”

Cheng Chao: “...”

With nothing more to say that wouldn’t clash, he turned and left, heading upstairs without another word to Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao’s maids, Suyue and Qiubai, were both downstairs. Seeing Cheng Chao leave, they handed Cheng Zhao some river lanterns.

“Where did these come from?” Cheng Zhao asked.

“Bought by the river. The Ullambana Festival is almost here, and many vendors have already started selling river lanterns,” Qiubai said. “Light one and make a wish for yourself.”

Cheng Zhao smiled.

Suyue added, “When the festival actually comes, we might not have time. Let’s do one now.”

Cheng Zhao thought she had a point.

Qiubai took out a fire striker, and Cheng Zhao lit the river lantern.

She set it on the water.

Not far away, others were releasing river lanterns too—scattered lights like stars fallen onto the river’s surface.

Cheng Zhao closed her eyes and murmured a prayer.

She prayed for a good future.

Her marriage, her children, her power, and her prospects—she hoped for smooth sailing, even if bumpy. As long as she got what she wanted, it would be a bright road ahead.

“Lord Duke.”

Cheng Zhao opened her eyes and saw Zhou Yuanshen, dressed in a sky-blue long robe, standing beside her. He must have come down without her noticing.

Remembering how he had turned and walked away that afternoon, she closed her eyes again to continue her prayer, ignoring him.

The boat tilted slightly as Zhou Yuanshen sat down beside her.

Cheng Zhao kept ignoring him.

When she finished her prayer and opened her eyes, Zhou Yuanshen was quietly gazing at the river, not looking at her.

Both were silent.

Cheng Zhao couldn’t help wondering—if he wasn’t going to speak, why had he come downstairs?

But she was too lazy to ask.

If he wouldn’t start talking, she wasn’t about to hand him an opening. She wouldn’t indulge that habit of his, or he’d end up as stubborn as Cheng Chao.

“Third Sister-in-Law!” Zhou Yuanqi called from the staircase.

Cheng Zhao stood up. “Are you coming down to play?”

“Come up—we’re playing pitch-pot,” Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao: “...”

There wasn’t much fun in it.

Still, anything was better than sitting in silence with Zhou Yuanshen, so Cheng Zhao replied, “Coming,” and headed upstairs.

Zhou Yuanshen rose almost at the same time and followed her up the stairs.

He still said nothing.

Zhou Yuanqi gave him a look, then whispered to Cheng Zhao, “The Brute’s wandering around like a ghost. Haunting us without a sound. Did you annoy him again?”

“I never annoy him,” Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi pursed his lips. “Well, watch out—you’ve been unlucky lately, attracting all kinds of filth. It’s almost Ghost Festival.”

Cheng Zhao: “...”

With so many outsiders around, Cheng Zhao couldn’t roughhouse with him, or she’d have pinched his cheeks.

She was already frustrated enough, and now he was deliberately trying to scare her. Her young brother-in-law was growing more disobedient by the day.

But he was cute and amusing, so Cheng Zhao was lenient with him.

Prince Rong’s Heir, Helian Jian, suggested they play pitch-pot.

“...Uncle Prince Xuan, what reward would you like?” Helian Jian asked Helian Xuan.

Helian Xuan smiled. With his peach-blossom eyes, the smile was especially charming. “Whatever you decide—I’m easy.”

“The reward will be a cup of wine,” Helian Jian said.

Cheng Zhao found it ridiculous.

Winning just for a cup of wine—what kind of prize was that? Who actually liked drinking?

She lost interest.

Fan Xiao asked, “If children like Yuan Qi join, what would they win?”

“A word of praise, probably,” Helian Jian said.

Cheng Zhao: “...”

Zhou Yuanqi glanced at him, then at his Young Uncle Fan Xiao, silently chiding: Look at the friends you keep!

None of them were reliable—his Young Uncle included.