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Chapter 606: Lantern Festival on the Boat

After New Year's Eve, it is the 36th year of You'an, but it is still the New Year before the end of the first month.

The day when the navy camp's fleet arrived at the Beijicheng wharf happened to be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, which was also Prince Yi's birthday.

Zhou Chang also returned to the place where he was pushed into the river a year and a half ago.

In a place like this, I have no mood to celebrate the festival, let alone my birthday. I just hope that I can smoothly turn into the Dadu River, a tributary of the Jinmin River, and continue northward tomorrow.

According to the military reports obtained through repeated consultation in the past few days, it can be confirmed that the Jizhou port is still under the control of Dalin. If the ship goes directly to Jizhou from the sea, it can be four or five days earlier than by land.

Therefore, Zhou Chang decided to take the risk and take a detour by sea.

Since we have to take a detour, there is no need to get off the boat. As long as we get supplies in the north, we can continue forward.

However, today was the Lantern Festival after all, and although Prince Yi did not celebrate, the officers and soldiers on board still had to celebrate. Zhou Chang asked Jin Run to arrange for all the officers and soldiers of the Navy Battalion and the Jin Caosi to go ashore to celebrate the festival.

However, since they had arrived in Beiji, if Prince Yi refused to go ashore, then Beiji Governor Yang Yi would have to board the ship with his subordinates to pay a visit.

The last time he saw Yang Yi was after rescuing Yuan Yu and before leaving Beiji. During his time in Beiji, Yang Yi was very considerate and attentive to Zhou Chang.

This time, Zhou Chang still came as Prince Yi so it was difficult to refuse too much.

Yang Yi brought his own sumptuous food and wine, as well as Kabuki music and singing.

Zhou Chang also toasted with Yang Yi on the main boat.

"During the Lantern Festival last year, the lights in the flower market were as bright as day. The moon was above the treetops, and people made appointments after dusk. During the Lantern Festival this year, the moon and lights remain the same. But I miss last year, and my sleeves are wet with tears." The singer played the pipa and the dancer danced.

The air was filled with singing and the lights were bright, creating a festive atmosphere. Zhou Chang also called all the sailors who were on duty on the ship to join in the fun.

At the banquet, Yang Yi, as the host, entertained everyone warmly.

Zhou Chang was already drunk, and with the main ship still in the middle of the river and unstable, he felt a little dizzy.

If he didn't drink, Yang Yi would think hard and find a topic to talk about: "The military supply team of the garrison camp just arrived half a month ago. It was originally said that Your Highness might not be able to set out until the end of the first month of the lunar year, but I didn't expect that they would arrive on the fifteenth day. Your Highness Prince Yi is really quick in his actions, but it's also a coincidence."

"It's fast, after all, it's by water. But where does the word 'coincidental' come from?" Zhou Chang took a bite of the dish to suppress the smell of alcohol.

Yang Yi was already tipsy, his cheeks flushed, and he was no longer as cautious as before when he spoke: "Miss Yuan returned to Beiji half a month ago, and these days her Yuan family's new boat has been built and is being tested. I heard that there will be a pleasure boat sailing on the river tonight. Your Highness, is it a coincidence?"

Yuan Qi is coming to the north again?

Zhou Chang was surprised that it had been such a long time since he heard from Yuan Qi.

Prince Yi's consciousness seemed to suddenly awaken, and his heartbeat accelerated.

In order to cover up, Zhou Chang asked vaguely: "Ah, really? The Yuan family also has a shipyard?"

Yang Yi and the Yuan family are old friends. Although he knew about the past of the two, he did not have the scruples of others: "Yes, it has been there for a long time. They were originally in the south and only started to move to the north in recent years."

"How is the Yuan family's business?" Zhou Chang wanted to ask so many questions, but he couldn't ask too many in front of a group of Beiji officials.

"All good, all good..." Yang Yi replied briefly, and pointed to the kabuki who was singing and playing the instruments, "Your Highness Prince Yi, the kabuki you brought today are from Longyun Tower."

Although Zhou Chang knew that Long Yuyuan's family's business was all over the world, he had never thought that it would be so pervasive right before his eyes. He didn't know what to say for a moment.

Yang Yi was half drunk, and he was in a good mood to talk: "I have been close friends with the Yuan family for many years, and I know them well. Beiji City can be regarded as the second foundation of the Yuan family. Building a shipyard and expanding it has been a long-cherished wish for many years. But I didn't expect that the elder brother of the Yuan family would have such an accident. But thanks to his courage and foresight, the Yuan family can have such a daughter, who not only inherited the previous business of the Yuan family, but also expanded the scale of the shipyard. The spirit of my elder brother in heaven can be comforted."

Zhou Chang felt sad when mentioning Yuan Yu, but he learned from Yang Yi that Yuan Qi was doing fine. Not only was she doing well, but she could also expand her career. He was really happy for her.

Yang Yi knew from observing people's expressions that Prince Yi was interested in the Yuan family's affairs, so he continued, "Your Highness Prince Yi should also know Kunyufang, which was originally opened in Jindu and is a workshop that specifically recruits women to work. But Your Highness must not know that most northerners are taller and stronger than southerners, and women are no exception. Therefore, the Kunyufang opened by the Yuan family in the north is much stronger than the southern ones."

"Then all the women here should be grateful to Miss Yuan." Zhou Chang also felt relieved.

The more Yang Yi spoke, the more excited he became. "That's for sure. Northern women are more rugged and independent than Southern women. They have more opportunities to support their families, and the men in their families are supportive. Not to mention that the war with the Mirage Kingdom has started again. Every family in the north is in trouble, but those women who go to Kunyufang to supplement their family income have really helped many families out of their difficulties."

Zhou Chang had a smile on his face and could only nod with restraint.

After all, there are many accompanying officials below, and as Prince Yi he still has to take his status into consideration.

Yang Yi drank two more cups, and finally found a common topic with Prince Yi, so he kept talking: "Oh, I don't know what the pleasure boat looks like. I heard it is unprecedented in scale, and it was built when the elder brother of the Yuan family was still alive. If I can see it on the river tonight, I would like to see its full appearance."

Zhou Chang's heart had already flown out of the cabin and headed straight for the river, but his identity did not allow it.

Now that Yang Yi had spoken out, she followed suit: "If Lord Yang hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known about it. It's just that I arrived at an unfortunate time today, which has delayed everyone from celebrating the festival and Lord Yang from going to see the pleasure boat. Haha... Since we've almost finished the wine, why don't we go to the deck and get some fresh air, and I'll accompany Lord Yang to look for the pleasure boat."

How could Yang Yi refuse? He stood up and bowed repeatedly: "Your Highness Prince Yi, what are you talking about? It's my humble servant's fault for being so rude. I am honored to spend the Lantern Festival with Your Highness today."

The other officials who were traveling with him also stood up and echoed: "It is an honor for us to be here."

Zhou Chang then stood up and waved his hand casually, "It's windy on the deck, so you guys should stay and continue to enjoy the singing and dancing. I'm only accompanying Lord Yang for a short trip, and you guys haven't eaten or drunk anything good, so just stay. Today is the Lantern Festival, so you guys should just enjoy yourself."

Yang Yi was drunk at the moment and said, "Yes, Your Highness has always been humble and courteous to us, so we, the subordinates, will not be too formal."