Where the Mask Ends - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Following the conclusion of the riding and archery portion, the departure order for the dragon boat race was set: the Dragon Soar Army in first, and the Divine Martial Army in second.

In any competition, if the champion is already a foregone conclusion, watching the rest of the race loses much of its charm. However, when two teams vie fiercely for the top spot, their strength so evenly matched that the winner remains unknown until the very last moment, the blood of the spectators is destined to burn for their favored team.

"Who is the commander of the Dragon Soar Army?" the Empress Dowager asked.

The head eunuch by Emperor Yuanjia’s side, Eunuch Kang, replied with a smile: "It is Han Liao, the heir to the Marquis of Xiting."

The Empress Dowager drew a breath: "Han Liao against Lu Zhuo—this dragon boat race is going to be worth watching. Your Majesty, why don't we place a wager to see if Lu Zhuo can lead the Divine Martial Army to snatch the championship from the hands of the Dragon Soar Army?"

Emperor Yuanjia nodded in a noncommittal manner.

The Empress Dowager invited everyone present to participate in the wager. She led the way by removing the gold bracelet studded with precious stones from her wrist and placing it on the tray Eunuch Kang presented: "I wager on the Divine Martial Army."

Emperor Yuanjia produced the other golden walnut used for exercising his finger joints: "The Dragon Soar Army."

The Empress, the three consorts, the Prince of Duan and his wife, Prince Jing, and the Prince of Fu also placed their wagers.

The Empress Dowager proposed that the winnings of the losers would all be bestowed upon the commander of the winning team.

Just as Eunuch Kang was about to carry the tray back behind Emperor Yuanjia, the Empress Dowager suddenly looked at Wei Rao: "Rao'er, you should choose a team as well."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wei Rao’s hands.

Wei Rao’s attire today was simple; apart from the single hairpin securing her hair, she wore only a pink silk begonia flower. Everyone else had produced valuable personal items for the wager. If Wei Rao were to participate, she would have to use the golden walnut Emperor Yuanjia had bestowed upon her.

If Wei Rao put forward the golden walnut, she would offend the Emperor; if she refused to participate, she would appear petty and small-minded.

Even Emperor Yuanjia looked over at Wei Rao, curious to see how she would react.

Wei Rao smiled. She took the plate of cherry pastries that the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her—of which she had only eaten one—and presented it to Eunuch Kang with both hands. Acting coyly toward the Empress Dowager, she said: "This subject’s daughter has no treasures of her own. Thanks to your grace in bestowing these palace pastries upon me, I shall borrow flowers to present to Buddha. If I win, the cherry pastries remain mine; if I lose, I offer them to the winning commander to help him and his teammates replenish their strength."

The Empress Dowager maintained her smile: "With only a few pieces of pastry, there won't even be enough for one piece per person."

Emperor Yuanjia stepped in at the right moment, pointing to the plate beside him that he had not yet touched: "Wei Rao’s heart is in the right place. If she loses, take my plate as well and distribute them to the winning team."

The wrinkles at the corners of the Empress Dowager’s mouth drooped downward.

Emperor Yuanjia shot a look at Eunuch Zheng.

The little eunuch waved his embroidered flag; the second round of the dragon boat race was about to begin.

The six teams were lined up along the lakeshore according to their riding and archery scores, each trailing the one before it by half the length of a dragon boat.

The six dragon boats matched the colors of their respective teams. Twelve members sat in six rows, pulling the oars with their hands, while the commander stood at the bow, issuing commands and adjusting tactics at any moment.

The lake surface was closer to the island, and Wei Rao finally saw the faces of the six team commanders clearly.

The commander of the Divine Martial Army was Lu Zhuo.

Wei Rao had seen Lu Zhuo twice before, and both times his appearance was that of a gentle and cultured scholar. This remained true now; his face was as lustrous as jade, his smile was gentle, and his dashing red uniform made him look like a man of letters drifting through a crowd of warriors. Had Wei Rao not witnessed with her own eyes his heroic posture as he shot through the course like a shooting star on horseback, she would never have believed he was actually a martial officer.

The commander of the Dragon Soar Army was Han Liao. Wei Rao had never met the man; she had only just confirmed his identity through Eunuch Kang’s words. She had heard of Han Liao’s fame on the battlefield many times. Now seeing him in person, she found he had a majestic, imposing figure and a stern, cold face—and was quite handsome, looking to be only in his twenties.

If Han Liao were not lecherous, did not have a pile of concubines and children, and did not have a difficult mother-in-law to deal with, her cousin Zhou Huizhen marrying him would have been a fine match.

But then again, it was precisely because marrying Han Liao was not a desirable prospect that the position of his wife remained vacant; otherwise, it would have been snatched up by other noble ladies of the capital long ago, and it would never have been her cousin’s turn.

The third team in line was the Imperial Guard, the team Wei Rao had wagered on.

Wei Rao did not like the Empress Dowager’s cherry pastries; even if they weren't poisoned, she had no desire to eat them. Since it was possible for either the Divine Martial Army or the Dragon Soar Army to win, she might as well have chosen a different team. However, Wei Rao had not expected the commander of the Imperial Guard to be an acquaintance—Qi Zhongkai, the Second Master of the Marquis of Pingxi’s mansion. With his thick brows, tiger-like eyes, and a physique as sturdy as a mountain, he looked quite confident of victory despite being in third place.

Looking at Qi Zhongkai’s rugged, bronze-colored face, Wei Rao’s heart stirred.

Before being urged to marry by her grandmother this year, Wei Rao had never thought about marriage. Now that she was taking it seriously, she had to start choosing. The Marquis of Pingxi’s mansion was a family of warriors whose ancestors had rendered distinguished military service. While they hadn't been quite as prominent as the Duke of Ying’s or the Marquis of Xiting’s in recent years, their influence and connections remained significant; they belonged to the ranks of high-ranking nobility.

As for Qi Zhongkai, he had become an Imperial Guard at a young age and was highly regarded by Emperor Yuanjia. His voice might be a bit loud, but he possessed a free-spirited, uninhibited nature and was not a man who cared for rigid rules. He had always been attentive to her, and he would likely be very willing to marry her. What Wei Rao remained uncertain of was the situation with Qi Zhongkai’s family; she would have to ask her grandmother later.

Wei Rao also looked at the commanders of the remaining three armies. To be a commander, one likely had some background, but none of the other three looked as pleasing to her as Qi Zhongkai.

A prestigious background was important, but being pleasing to the eye was equally vital—after all, this was someone with whom she would share a bed for a long time.

Three drumbeats sounded; the race began!

The six dragon boats moved like six swimming dragons, speeding forward accompanied by the passionate rhythm of the drums. Wei Rao’s eyes followed Qi Zhongkai. The Divine Martial Army was in hot pursuit of the Dragon Soar Army, while Qi Zhongkai commanded the Imperial Guard to bite hard at the heels of the Divine Martial Army. The Imperial Guards were responsible for protecting the Emperor and were equally elite, and they now showed their true strength.

However, as the dragon boats circled half of Qionghua Island, Qi Zhongkai’s Imperial Guard remained in third place, and the distance between them and the Divine Martial Army ahead had clearly widened.

With Qi Zhongkai’s hope of victory gone, Wei Rao turned her attention to the Dragon Soar and Divine Martial armies ahead.

The gold and red dragon boats had started half a boat-length apart, but now that distance had been cut in half.

Would they be able to overtake them in the remaining distance?

Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo, then at Han Liao. Both men looked down upon her and her cousins, but Lu Zhuo at least possessed a helpful heart.

Wei Rao hoped Lu Zhuo’s Divine Martial Army would win.

With only one zhang left until the finish line, the Divine Martial Army’s boat was only an arm’s length behind!

At this very moment, Lu Zhuo suddenly leaped into the air toward the stern of the boat. The Divine Martial Army’s boat, suddenly relieved of the weight of an adult man and pushed forward by the force of Lu Zhuo’s kick before leaving the vessel, surged as if aided by the gods. They were the first to cross the red silk line; at the same time, Lu Zhuo landed steadily on the tail of the dragon boat.

The lake breeze ruffled his red robes. He was like jade, elegant and fairy-like.

Regardless of his martial arts skills, his face was truly worthy of the title "The Number One Beauty of the Capital."

As Wei Rao stared at Lu Zhuo, Qi Zhongkai’s dragon boat team also crossed the finish line. That fellow excitedly jumped onto Lu Zhuo’s boat, laughing heartily as he offered his congratulations.

Standing side by side, Lu Zhuo truly eclipsed Qi Zhongkai in every way.

Wei Rao finally felt a touch of envy for the Sixth Miss Xie. Whether or not she was a peony, the woman Lu Zhuo was marrying was indeed better off than she was.

Fortunately, Wei Rao had inherited her grandmother’s clarity of mind and quickly got over it. Lu Zhuo was indeed outstanding, but beneath his gentle elegance lay the arrogance of a noble scion who looked down on women like them. If they were to marry and live together, Qi Zhongkai would be much more suitable for her.

"Lu Zhuo is truly excellent. It is a bargain for the Sixth Miss Xie. It is a pity you didn't give me a princess granddaughter; otherwise, I would certainly have recruited Lu Zhuo to be my son-in-law," the Empress Dowager said with a smile to the Empress and the three consorts after winning her wager.

The Empress, the Prince of Duan’s birth mother, Consort De, and the Prince of Fu’s birth mother, Consort Xian, all offered polite smiles. Consort Hui, however, could not smile; she bowed her head slightly, her heart feeling as if it were being pierced by needles. She had once given birth to a princess, raised like a delicate piece of gold and jade until she was eight, only for the child to die prematurely.

In truth, the Empress Dowager only wanted to sting the unmarried Wei Rao and hadn't thought about Consort Hui at all.

Emperor Yuanjia, whether remembering the pain of losing his daughter years ago or simply disliking the Empress Dowager’s chatter, ignored her continued praise of Lu Zhuo to the Empress and ordered Eunuch Zheng to summon the six commanders.

The six men, including Lu Zhuo, had already reached the island. Upon learning of the Emperor’s summons, the six spirited young martial officers made their way up as if walking on flat ground.

Lu Zhuo walked at the forefront, with Han Liao close behind.

Qi Zhongkai laughed and patted Han Liao on the shoulder: "Uncle Han, don't be depressed. That brat Lu Zhuo just took advantage of his age. If he were competing against you when you were twenty, he would certainly be no match for you."

Han Liao looked young, but he was actually thirty-two, belonging to the same generation as Lu Zhuo’s fourth uncle.

There were winners and losers in martial competitions. Han Liao had only been slightly unhappy about losing to Lu Zhuo, but after being comforted in such a way—where Qi Zhongkai was clearly insulting his age—he really wanted to turn around and punch Qi Zhongkai.

Since he couldn't hold a grudge, yet couldn't help but be bothered, Han Liao snorted coldly and brushed Qi Zhongkai’s hand away without ceremony.

Qi Zhongkai grinned, showing a mouth of white teeth.

Wherever they passed, one could see the guests in the pavilions smiling and sizing them up. Qi Zhongkai remembered that Wei Rao had entered the palace today and couldn't help but look left and right. But after searching the whole way, he did not see the beauty’s figure.

Upon reaching the Star-Plucking Tower at the top of the island, Qi Zhongkai spotted Wei Rao sitting by the side of the Empress Dowager at a single glance.

In the presence of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Qi Zhongkai’s expression was steady, but he felt a great sense of joy in his heart. He didn't know what was happening—among so many beauties, only this Fourth Miss Wei made him feel joyous and happy every time they met. It was like hunting in the mountains: after turning around and seeing only rabbits and pheasants, a phoenix suddenly appeared; just seeing her made his heart blossom with joy.

The six commanders stood in a row to receive the Emperor’s appraisal.

Wei Rao kept her eyes on her nose and her heart on her own business.

Her dress was not striking and her head ornaments were simple, but as the only young lady in the tower—and one who had been granted a seat by the Empress Dowager—Lu Zhuo could not avoid noticing her. However, because Wei Rao lowered her lashes to conceal the brilliant light in her eyes and had deliberately painted her lips into a soft, alluring shape, Lu Zhuo’s gaze merely swept past her quickly. He did not recognize this woman at all as the Fourth Miss Wei in male attire whom he had encountered twice in the Misty Mountains.

After the appraisal, the Empress Dowager took over the conversation and bestowed the winnings from those who had lost their wagers—such as Emperor Yuanjia—upon Lu Zhuo.

There were five portions in total. The most precious was the Emperor’s golden walnut, but the most conspicuous were the two plates of cherry pastries—they were quite substantial!

"This is Fourth Miss Wei’s contribution," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, eyeing Qi Zhongkai. "The Fourth Miss wagered on the Imperial Guard."

Qi Zhongkai’s eyes lit up. Had the Fourth Miss wagered on the Imperial Guard because she believed in him?

"Many thanks to the Fourth Miss for your confidence. The Imperial Guard will definitely win the next dragon boat race."

Wei Rao stood up and returned the greeting with a smile.

Lu Zhuo looked over again. This time, he finally recognized Wei Rao, yet the more he looked, the more ridiculous he found it. It was clearly an enchanting face, yet she had deliberately painted it to look dignified. If she truly wanted to be praised as a dignified and virtuous lady, she should abide by the rules instead of resorting to petty tricks and superficial gestures.

"Withdraw and prepare for the banquet," Emperor Yuanjia said suddenly.

On this Dragon Boat Festival, the feast would be held after the race at the Penglai Pavilion on the mountainside.

Emperor Yuanjia walked toward the bottom of the mountain first, accompanied by the Empress Dowager.

The Empress and the three consorts followed. The Princess Consort of Duan waved at Wei Rao, inviting her little cousin to accompany her with a smile.

Wei Rao walked over to her cousin’s side.

Of the six commanders, apart from Lu Zhuo, the eyes of the other five—Han Liao, Qi Zhongkai, and the rest—followed Wei Rao, from her charming side profile to her slender, graceful back.

Qi Zhongkai’s gaze was purely one of appreciation, but a fiery passion burned in Han Liao’s eyes.

In the third month, he had taken a songstress to the Misty Mountains for an outing and encountered Zhou Huizhen and her mother chatting up a young gentleman along the way. Han Liao had been attracted by Zhou Huizhen’s beauty; the more he looked, the more beautiful he found her, and the more he wanted to press her onto the bed and indulge in his affection. Upon returning home, he had discussed marrying Zhou Huizhen as a secondary wife with his mother.

Han Liao was a martial officer; he didn't care for the intricacies between women. He only wanted to marry a delicate beauty. Besides, he already had sons, both legitimate and illegitimate. Once he brought a wife home, she would only need to serve him; he and his parents would be responsible for the upbringing of his children.

Unexpectedly, his mother had agreed, but Old Madame Shou’an had rejected him.

He had been very regretful that he couldn't marry the beauty. Today, however, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Zhou Huizhen was only a second-rate product—Fourth Miss Wei was the true unparalleled beauty! If he could obtain the Fourth Miss Wei, what did Zhou Huizhen matter?