Chapter 96 Why is this person so difficult to deal with?

"I'd like to play polo, but I also want to go out for a walk with you. I wonder if you'll be free that day?" Ye Mingzhu said. "I'm getting a little bored staying cooped up at home all the time."

"Really?" Sheng Yunche raised an eyebrow.

"How could it be fake?" Ye Mingzhu retorted.

Sheng Yunche cleared his throat and said nothing more, only nodding.

Ye Mingzhu walked to his side, sat down next to him, and looked at him with a smile through her bright, dark almond-shaped eyes, asking, "However... Duke, I have something I'd like to ask of you. Could you help me?"

Sheng Yunche: "..."

He knew it!

He gritted his teeth inwardly, trying to appear nonchalant, and asked, "What is it? Speak."

"It's like this..." Ye Mingzhu whispered in his ear.

They spoke softly, like birds chirping on a branch.

Sheng Yunche only caught the gist of what she said, but his hands on his knees couldn't help but wrap around her slender waist, and his gaze shifted from her eyes to her full, cherry-red lips.

As soon as she finished speaking, he casually replied "okay," and immediately lowered his head to kiss her lips, silencing any potential "waste of time" she might do next.

The Crown Prince has been giving him too many things lately, keeping him extremely busy. Sometimes he only goes back to his residence to sleep, and it has been a long time since he has done the things he loves to do.

He didn't want to miss this rare opportunity tonight.

...

In Yanjing, besides the Imperial Polo Field and the Royal Training Ground, which are the best places to play polo, there are also several private estates where polo can be played.

Jingyuan Garden was a favorite place for military officers and nobles, and it was also the place where Sheng Huai'an and the woman had arranged to meet.

In her past life, Ye Mingzhu loved playing polo. Not satisfied with playing it at her family's estate, she secretly asked Ye Yu to take her to watch a polo match or two, even disguising herself as a man.

At that time, Ye Yu said he would definitely get a place in Jingyuan and take her to see the best private polo field, but she got married soon after.

After marrying Sheng Huai'an, Jia Shi wouldn't even let her leave the house, not even ride a horse at home, let alone go to watch a polo match, so she had to give up all hope.

She originally thought that Sheng Yunche wouldn't easily agree to go to Jingyuan to watch polo, and that she would have to flatter him before he would agree. Unexpectedly, he agreed without any hesitation.

...Although I pestered her for a long time afterward, at least she agreed readily, which made me feel better, didn't it?

Sitting in the carriage on the way to Jingyuan Garden, Ye Mingzhu was filled with anticipation.

He would occasionally lift the carriage curtain to look out the window, as if he wished he could sprout wings and fly forward.

Sheng Yunche deliberately poured her a cup of hot tea and said calmly, "Haste makes waste. The polo field isn't going anywhere, why are you in such a hurry? Do you want to see Sheng Huai'an as soon as possible?"

"..." Ye Mingzhu barely managed to hold back her gagging, and said irritably, "Don't disgust me, what's there to see him about? If you're jealous, why don't you have a cup of tea?"

Sheng Yunche raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. He moved his hand on his knee, as if about to do something, when Bu Xi, who was driving the carriage outside, suddenly spoke up:

"Sir, we've arrived at Jingyuan."

Sheng Yunche: "...?"

Jingyuan is the private property of the Yongping Marquis's manor. The estate covers a vast area, with a flat area designated as a polo field, and surrounding it are areas for practicing riding and archery, as well as hunting in the mountains.

No wonder military officers and noble sons love to come here.

There happened to be a polo match today. The red team consisted mostly of sons of noble families from the capital, while the blue team was largely composed of descendants of military generals. This attracted a large number of people to watch the match.

Ye Mingzhu and Sheng Yunche walked to the polo field and were immediately struck by the lively scene before them.

Compared to the polo fields she had visited two or three times in her previous life, Jingyuan was indeed Jingyuan. Not only were the facilities top-notch, but there were also drummers playing drums and dancers dancing freely on the sidelines.

One by one, drummers with red cloths around their waists and bare chests took to the stage, striking out powerful and exciting drumbeats, making the atmosphere at the polo field even more heated.

On the largest red lacquered cowhide drum, a dancer dressed in a red costume is barefoot, performing the Hu Xuan dance on the drum surface. Her graceful and charming dance moves win rounds of applause.

Guided by servants, Ye Mingzhu and Sheng Yunche took their seats in the pavilion in the viewing area.

Ye Mingzhu glanced at the crowd and saw that everyone participating in the competition and watching from the sidelines was either rich or powerful.

Suddenly I saw a dashing young man wrapping a blue cloth around his arm; he looked somewhat familiar.

Upon careful recollection, she realized that it was Xiang Tiancheng, the third son of the Minister of War, who had left a deep impression on her at Yunxi Mountain Villa.

This person looks quite nice. If he were with Wan'er... Ye Mingzhu was just thinking this when she suddenly felt her earlobe being pinched, and she couldn't help but blink.

Sheng Yunche's sinister voice rang in her ear, laced with threat, as he asked, "Should I call him over so you can take a closer look?"

Ye Mingzhu slapped his hand away and asked with a headache, "What nonsense are you talking about? I saw him once at Yunxi Mountain Villa and thought he and Wan'er were quite a good match, so I took a second look."

"You're not using Sheng Wan'er as an excuse to take a second look at him, are you?" Sheng Yunche didn't believe him. "You always have an excuse."

Ye Mingzhu: "..."

"What does he have that I don't have?" Sheng Yunche's phoenix eyes were deep as he reminded him in a low voice, "Didn't you touch my chest and abs a few days ago? Did you think that wasn't right?"

"Shut up! Do you think I'm like Sheng Huai'an, a hypocrite with ulterior motives?" Ye Mingzhu was so angry that her face turned red. She couldn't hold back and pinched his arm.

Sheng Yunche hissed softly, and after thinking for a moment, he finally behaved himself.

Not only was he honest, he even smiled.

Ye Mingzhu wanted to pinch him again, but she was afraid that it would make him even happier, so she had to hold back.

When Sheng Huai'an was mentioned, she finally remembered why she had come to the polo field and began searching for him.

Upon closer inspection, she indeed discovered Sheng Huai'an's location.

Instead of sitting in the pavilion in the spectator area, he sat on a bench by the polo field, about ten feet away, talking to a young woman in a smoky pink dress.

That woman is...

“She is the illegitimate daughter of the Minister of War, the illegitimate sister of Xiang Tiancheng whom you were spying on,” Sheng Yunche suddenly said.

Ye Mingzhu: "...What do you mean, 'peeping'?!"

She thanked Sheng Yunche for the reminder, but also felt conflicted about his sarcastic remarks!

Why is this person so difficult to deal with?

"Miss," Baozan said, suppressing a laugh as she stepped forward and asked softly, "would you like me to find out what they're saying?"

Ye Mingzhu thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No need, just knowing who the other party is is enough. Lian Yu is keeping an eye on everything else, so today's arrangements won't go wrong."

"Yes." Baozan withdrew.

Just then, the polo match started.

Amidst the rousing drumbeats, both teams entered the field simultaneously. Ye Mingzhu's eyes lit up, and she began to watch the polo match intently.

This exhilarating polo match lasted for more than an hour.

In the best-of-three series, Xiang Tiancheng's blue team emerged victorious.

Ye Mingzhu let out a soft cheer, her eyes shining with joy.

Completely unaware, Sheng Yunche beside her glanced at her again and again, his handsome face growing increasingly dark and even showing signs of gritted teeth.

As the polo match ended, a servant from the stadium came to ask if we wanted to dine at the Jingyuan Garden.

Just as Ye Mingzhu was about to ask Sheng Yunche for his opinion, Baozan suddenly walked quickly to her side and asked in a low voice, "Miss, Sheng Huai'an and Miss Xiang are leaving. Should we follow them?"

"Miss Xiang the Fifth?" Ye Mingzhu was taken aback at first, then quickly looked at Sheng Yunche, "Lord Duke, you are so familiar with the Xiang family, do you know Miss Xiang the Fifth's given name?"

Why does this surname and birth order feel so familiar to her?

If it were really as she thought, she wouldn't mind using someone else to do her dirty work and creating a formidable enemy for Sheng Huai'an.