"It was pure luck that I managed to narrowly win against the Little Chiba Sword Dojo in that competition," Aoto said with a humble smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Inagawa and Ushiyama, whom he hadn’t seen for some time, Aoto noticed a hint of fatigue on Ushiyama’s face.

"Mr. Ushiyama, you look quite tired. Did you not sleep well last night?" Aoto cast a concerned glance at Ushiyama.

"Oh, it’s nothing..." Ushiyama raised his hand and vigorously rubbed his bloodshot eyes, "The day after tomorrow is Shangsi Festival, right? I’ve been busy these past few days preparing hina dolls and hina platforms for my two daughters at home, so I’m just a bit worn out."

"Shangsi Festival?" Aoto raised an eyebrow, "Oh, right... it’s Shangsi Festival the day after tomorrow."

Shangsi Festival: Also known as the Girls’ Festival, a traditional Chinese festival. In earlier times, it was set on the third day of the third lunar month.

On this day, people would gather by the water to bathe, perform purification rituals, have sacrificial feasts, float wine cups, and enjoy spring outings.

The day is also a daughter’s festival in China.

Girls usually hold their coming-of-age ceremonies on this day: the "hairpin ceremony." Young girls frolic in the spring, walking by the water, collecting orchids, wearing beautiful clothes, and singing and dancing to ward off evil spirits.

Meeting of men and women is one of the activities of Shangsi Festival, thus making it somewhat like a Chinese Valentine’s Day. Spending the day with a beloved girl going out for a spring outing is remarkably romantic.

Unfortunately, as Neo-Confucianism, which advocated "preserve heavenly principles and eliminate human desires," emerged, the Valentine element of Shangsi Festival nearly vanished during the Song Dynasty, and the customs of floating wine cups and purification bathing gradually waned.

In short, due to the rise of Neo-Confucianism, Shangsi Festival lost its "festive feel" after the Song Dynasty, with people no longer making a fuss over it.

While Shangsi Festival dwindled in China, it continued to be regarded with great importance across the sea in Japan.

Over a thousand years ago, when Japan was comprehensively learning from the advanced culture and systems of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, they also adopted Shangsi Festival.

After a thousand years of development and cultural integration, the way Japan celebrates Shangsi Festival differs completely from that in China.

By the Edo Era, Shangsi Festival in Japan had evolved to primarily embody the "Girls’ Festival" aspect.

On Shangsi Festival day, to bless their daughters, families with girls would set up a tiered platform in their homes to display a particular type of exquisite doll known as "hina dolls." This platform is called the "hina platform," and the entire family would partake in foods like chirashi sushi and clam soup, which hold positive symbolism.

Shangsi Festival was one of the most significant festivals during the Edo Era, and on this day, government officials like Aoto would enjoy a day off.

With Shangsi Festival approaching the day after tomorrow, it was evident that the upcoming festival had no relation to Aoto—because he had no daughters, how would he celebrate Shangsi Festival?

Aoto could imagine how he would spend the Shangsi Festival holiday the day after tomorrow—idly practicing sword techniques all day with Kondo and Chokata at Shiwei Hall.

Ushiyama’s mention of Shangsi Festival stirred a desire to chat in Inagawa, who also had two daughters.

"Those hina dolls crafted by famous artisans are outrageously expensive..." Inagawa twitched the corner of his mouth. "The day before yesterday, I visited ’Wujiao Puppet House’ in Ten Houses-cho, intending to buy some new hina dolls for my daughters."

"When I arrived at ’Wujiao Puppet House,’ I was shocked. Do you know how much the most expensive hina doll there was selling for? 120 gold ryo... Was that doll made of pure gold?"

"The craftsman of ’Wujiao Puppet House’: Gojo Shinwa is a renowned artisan," Arima interjected lightly at this moment, "Those top-tier dolls from their household are naturally more expensive."

"Ah, speaking of which—" Inagawa turned to Arima, "When Shangsi Festival arrives, Lord Arima, you’ll be busy again..."

A hint of resignation appeared on Arima’s face "Sigh... I really wish I could spend a proper day on Shangsi Festival with my daughter..."

During the Edo Era, another custom of Shangsi Festival was that all officials of a certain rank in Edo had to ascend Edo Castle early in the morning to celebrate Shangsi Festival with the Shogunate General in the Great Hall.

Edo Castle and Edo are two completely different entities.

Edo Castle is located in the center of Edo, surrounded by moats, and is the residence and place for handling governmental affairs of the Shogunate General.

To draw a vivid analogy—the relationship between Edo Castle and Edo is similar to that of the Forbidden City and Beijing.

Officials of "Three Times" Dōshin rank, like Aoto and Inagawa, due to their lower rank, do not have the privilege to enter Edo Castle to celebrate the festival with the Shogunate General.

But for Arima, it’s different.

Officials of Yoriki Level, like Arima, are required to ascend the castle to celebrate Shangsi Festival with the Shogunate General, which is why Inagawa just mentioned that Arima would be busy on Shangsi Festival day.

After chatting a while longer about "Shangsi Festival" with Arima, Inagawa, and Ushiyama, Aoto suddenly heard a conversation that made him instinctively perk up his ears.

"Ha... I’m so nervous... I’ve never seen Ii Dairou before..."

"I heard he’s especially serious, always with a stern face, commanding respect even without anger."

"Hmm? How come what I heard is different? I heard that Ii Dairou, as a renowned tea master, is also well-versed in poetry and drama, and is a very elegant person."

"How come what you’re saying is different from what I heard... I heard that Ii Dairou is proficient in Iaido and embodies a martial artist’s demeanor in every word and action..."