Government offices throughout the Jing Kingdom even issued directives to actively encourage literary assemblies. In Xiang Prefecture and Jiangzhou, which bordered the Yangtze River, local officials mobilized their entire staffs to light lanterns, set off firecrackers, race dragon boats, hold literary assemblies, stage operas, host feasts, light boat lanterns, and more, bringing all manner of traditional customs together on this one day.
Many officials had already petitioned the Grand Secretariat and the king to establish a "Jiang Lord Festival" in the Jing Kingdom to commemorate Fang Yun becoming the Lord of the Yangtze.
Ji County, Dayuan Prefecture, Jiangzhou.
Lanterns and decorations adorned the entire city, and every household brimmed with festive cheer. Answering the county magistrate's call, the city's wealthy households had set up open banquets along Literary Academy Street, and all the townspeople flocked there.
The scholars gathered at literary assemblies in various places, some in restaurants and some out in the countryside, though most were along the Enlightenment River.
Ji County bustled with excitement, but three streets away from Fang Yun's famous little Fang Household courtyard, the Ge Family residence stood cold and quiet.
Ge Xiaomao, the Ge Family's only son, was getting married that day. Lanterns and decorations hung both inside and outside the courtyard. Ten banquet tables had been set up inside, while, following Ji County custom, more than twenty tables for an open banquet stood out in the street.
Yet there was not a soul outside. Only four tables in the courtyard were occupied, all by relatives of the Ge Family and their new in-laws.
The Ge Family's new in-laws were the Sheng Family of Ji County. Though not an illustrious clan, they were a prominent wealthy household in the county. The dowry alone included a shop and a hundred mu of fertile farmland, enough