In the afternoon, Wanyun took a group of young noblewomen out on canopied boats to tour the Lotus Pond.
Having learned a lesson from getting heatstroke while rowing under the scorching sun, Wanyun had commissioned the construction of canopied boats a few days prior.
Blocks of ice were placed inside the boats to cool them down. Coupled with the fact that the Lotus Pond was filled with lotus leaves, it was very cool and refreshing.
The boats weaved between the lotus leaves and flowers, and whenever the ladies spotted a beautiful blossom, they would pick it and bring it aboard.
While they were picking lotus flowers in the middle of the pond, one of the young noblewomen said, "Miss Rong, I hear that Yangzhou City has many delightful boat shanties. I wonder, could you teach us one?"
Wanyun smiled faintly. "Of course. I'll teach you 'The Rocking Boat.'"
Wanyun cleared her throat and began to sing softly:
