Chapter Forty: A Dominant Game on the Polo Field

Song Yiqiu interrupted her without any politeness:

"What crime has Qingzhu committed? How could someone who can barely speak properly and whose every move is under everyone's watchful eyes have access to the important warehouse, obtained the key, and then smuggled such conspicuous valuables out of the mansion to resell them?"

"Mother, you've really gone mad."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Song Sangye, her expression suggestive:

"As the saying goes, even a keeper can steal from his own lap. Mother should know better than anyone whose person Cui Rui is, right? This attempt to smear her is far too clumsy."

Speechless, Madam Song cursed her third son, Song Haochu, inwardly for being so useless, being completely fooled by a prostitute, and even dragging her down with him.

She knew this game couldn't continue, so she could only grit her teeth and say:

"This matter... indeed has many suspicious points and needs to be carefully investigated. Everyone, please disperse!"

Song Sangyu became anxious:

"Mother! How could this be..."

Madam Song glared at her fiercely, signaling her to shut up, and then, full of anger, led her group away in a dejected manner.

The courtyard finally became quiet.

Bai Mei's chest heaved with anger:

"Miss! This was clearly the Second Miss's doing! She actually tried to frame Qingzhu with such despicable means!"

Song Yiqiu's eyes were cold as she shook her head:

"No, it wasn't Song Sangyu who led it. It was Ying'er."

Bai Mei stared wide-eyed in shock:

"Ying'er? That scheming woman we helped? Why?"

Song Yiqiu twitched the corner of her mouth and looked towards the west of the city:

"I was careless. I underestimated her greed. This thing was most likely stolen by that love-struck Third Brother to please Ying'er. Ying'er is cunning and vicious. She wanted the thing but was afraid of being exposed, so she came up with this wicked plan."

"I secretly put the bracelet in Qingzhu's room, and then deliberately leaked the news to Song Sangyu, who was eager to cause me trouble. I used her to kill two birds with one stone. I got rid of Qingzhu, who might be in the way, and also dealt a blow to me."

She snorted coldly:

"Unfortunately, she overlooked one thing: Qingzhu was already healed. She also didn't expect that I would take the opportunity to shift the blame back onto them."

Bai Mei was stunned, then angrily said:

"Good heavens! This is truly a case of the farmer and the snake, Mr. Dongguo and the wolf, Hao Jian and the old lady. He saved her, only to be bitten in return. How terrifying!"

Song Yiqiu murmured:

"Ying'er... Hehe, good, very good. I'll remember you."

She made a note of it.

...

The next day, Song Yiqiu brought Bai Mei and Qing Zhu to the largest polo field in the capital.

Unexpectedly, upon arrival, I saw several familiar figures.

Song Sangyu, He Jianren, and several other noble ladies were sitting under the sunshade, chatting and laughing.

He Jianren asked Song Sangyu with a smile:

"Sister Sangyu, what brings you to such a pleasant occasion today? Why are you inviting us to play polo?"

Song Sangyu's eyes anxiously searched the room until she saw Song Yiqiu, who was arriving late. A sweet smile spread across her face, and she got up and ran to greet her.

"Sister! What a coincidence, what brings you here too?"

Song Yiqiu was utterly speechless. This Song Sangyu was like a stubborn plaster that she couldn't get rid of. She would come as soon as she smelled it, and she was so annoying that she couldn't get rid of her no matter what!

Of course she knew that Song Sangyu had found out yesterday that she had an appointment with Wu Dayong today, and deliberately brought this group of spectators early in the morning to embarrass her.

Too lazy to mince words, she answered clearly and directly in front of everyone:

"I have an appointment with Wu, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War."

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, the noble ladies under the awning immediately began to whisper among themselves:

"Wu Dayong? That old, ugly lecher who married eight concubines?"

"My God, how did Song Yiqiu get involved with him? Could it be that she wants to become his ninth concubine?"

"Tsk tsk, no wonder he can have an ambiguous relationship with a coachman. He's really indiscriminate, he can eat anything, even rotten vegetable leaves!"

"You have truly disgraced our noble ladies!"

Song Sangyu immediately adopted a worried and helpless expression, and said in a tea-like tone:

"Sister...you...how could you come here? Alas, what about Lord Wu's reputation...Sister, you should really cherish your own image..."

Song Yiqiu glanced at the group of gossipy women and slowly began to speak:

"If you come to the polo field and don't play polo, are you all here just to talk trash like everyone else?"

"you!"

The ladies blushed with anger at being rebuked, and He Jianren stood up, pointing at Song Yiqiu and saying:

"Song Yiqiu! What are you so arrogant about? You've only been on the frontier for a few years and know how to ride a horse a few times! What's so great about that!"

"Exactly! If you're so capable, why don't you have a match with us!"

Another noblewoman chimed in.

Song Yiqiu nodded, "I was afraid you wouldn't compete!"

He immediately agreed:

"Fine, let's have a competition. What's the prize?"

The noble ladies exchanged glances, and He Jianren's eyes darted around as he deliberately tried to provoke them:

"Hmph! Everyone knows you've been on the frontier for seven years, you're strong and healthy. It's not fair to compare yourself to us. If you really want to compete, you'll have to use your left hand!"

These conditions were extremely demanding, but Song Yiqiu didn't even flinch, readily agreeing:

"Can."

Her gaze swept indifferently over the exquisitely crafted red gold hairpin inlaid with jewels and depicting butterflies and flowers on He Jianren's head. It was the beloved possession of the wife of the Minister of War, which He Jianren wore to show off.

"The prize..."

Song Yiqiu raised her hand and pointed to the hairpin.

"This is it. If I win, the hairpin is mine."

He Jianren was taken aback and instinctively wanted to refuse, but with the encouragement of those around him and out of consideration for his pride, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"Fine! But if you lose, you'll have to kneel down and kowtow to each of us, admitting that you're vulgar and despicable!"

It's a deal.

As the race began, Song Yiqiu kept her promise and switched to using her left hand to hold the reins and her right hand to swing the club.

Even so, her horsemanship remained superb; she was agile in controlling her horse and quick in her reflexes.

He Jianren wasn't really interested in playing ball; he was deliberately trying to cause trouble.

She deliberately spurred her horse to ram Song Yiqiu's horse several times, and when she swung her club, she deliberately aimed at Song Yiqiu's arms and the horse's legs, her actions were insidious.

Even in the heat of the game, He Jianren seized an opportunity and suddenly swept his club towards the front leg of Song Yiqiu's horse.

The horse was startled, reared up on its front hooves, and let out a painful neigh, nearly throwing Song Yiqiu off its back.

"Miss!"

The green bamboo on the sidelines screamed in fright.

Bai Mei angrily cursed:

"He Jianren, you cheated! Have you no shame!"

Despite the danger, Song Yiqiu remained calm. She used her waist and abdomen to grip the horse's belly tightly, managing to stabilize herself. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Her face darkened; she truly didn't want to leave her a way out.

In the following matches, Song Yiqiu showed no mercy.

She seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, always skillfully avoiding all of He Jianren's little tricks.

His left-hand swing was precise and powerful, hitting the ball at tricky angles. His figure moved swiftly and gracefully on horseback, exuding a sense of power, which made the group of delicate noble ladies appear clumsy and disheveled in comparison.

With the sound of a gong, the match ended, with the winner narrowly defeated by one goal.