26 Jealousy
◎Disappointment in love.◎
"Why are there so many people today?"
Gu Ningxi sat down in the pavilion and felt as if she were being watched. However, she looked around in confusion but saw nothing unusual.
Taking the five-color drink handed to her by Meng Ting, she smiled and said, "Thank goodness my cousin came early today."
The spectators seated in these pavilions were of relatively low rank, roughly sixth or seventh rank. Although their views weren't as good as the center, they could still clearly see the polo match.
Gu Ningxi didn't want to squeeze into the inner circle. If she ran into someone she knew, the socializing would be incredibly troublesome. Especially since she heard that His Royal Highness the Huai Prince would also be performing today, she would inevitably have to deal with officials from the Huai Prince's Palace. After all, the Eastern Palace and the Huai Prince's Palace were on good terms, suggesting a united front.
Sitting in the Qingfeng Pavilion, she and her cousin occupied a small table. Gu Ningxi took the food box from the servant and took out the cakes her mother had prepared for them.
A plate of tuohua glutinous rice cakes, a plate of giant shengnu, a plate of mung bean cakes, a plate of preserved fruits, and a plate of roasted melon seeds. Sitting in the pavilion and leisurely watching the polo match was so pleasant.
"My mother said my cousin loves Ju Sheng Nu, so she asked me to bring an extra portion so he can take it back later."
Meng Ting smiled and said, "Thank you, aunt, for me."
The two chatted for a moment, and soon the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and the players were already in position. As usual, they were divided into two teams, the red and blue, with Wu Anhou and his men playing the blue team. They waited for the hour of Si to arrive, and then the gong sounded to begin the match.
"Isn't His Royal Highness Prince Zhao going to perform?" Meng Ting asked curiously.
Gu Ningxi thought without hesitation: "Isn't it bullying if he plays? We should give other children from aristocratic families some opportunities to shine." After a pause, she added, "But it's not much better if Prince Zhen and Marquis Wu'an play."
But the two of them had just returned from a victory in Kyoto and had never participated in a polo match there, so no one could say anything when they played polo.
Meng Ting had watched several games this month and nodded, "Indeed."
The riding and archery skills of the generals under King Zhao were by no means comparable to those of the pampered young men from aristocratic families.
Gu Ningxi was in a good mood during this rare leisure time. Especially since he had just received his salary yesterday, he suddenly had a lot more money on hand. He could save up two strings of cash to return to his sister.
At the exact time of Si, gongs and drums sounded in unison. Two sticks of incense were lit simultaneously, and the judge tossed the polo ball high into the air.
Xie Qian took the lead, wielding the polo stick in his hand freely and was the first to hook the polo ball under his stick.
He spurred the horse under his crotch and galloped towards the center goal with unstoppable momentum.
Zhen Yuan and another member of the Xuanjia Army provided cover on both sides. Less than half a quarter of an hour into the game, Lan Fang scored a goal right into the hole.
There was a burst of cheers from the stands. Gu Ningxi took a sip of fruit drink and couldn't help but applaud.
The match was indeed exciting. Gu Ningxi saw that Wu Anhou and the others cooperated well with each other. They controlled the situation in an orderly manner after the start and played quite smoothly.
Today's polo match has a total of seven rounds. The outcome should be no surprise. It all depends on how much the blue team can win.
Gu Ningxi occasionally looked at the scene, and whispered something serious to her cousin: "The newly purchased house has been handed over. I thought that since I won't live in it for the time being, I can rent it out first, which is also a good income." During these three to five years, she wanted to save more money to support herself.
Meng Ting agreed: "I'm on rotation in Beijing these days, so leave this matter to me. Will you still be painting next month?"
"Yes, nine in total."
Gu Ningxi's paintings all follow a routine, and he can complete a piece in two or three days. Since they are not meticulously crafted, they certainly cannot be sold at a high price, but they are still quite impressive.
Meng Ting gave her an idea: "I think the ornaments you made a few days ago are even better. If you sell them in the shop, I wonder how much they can be worth of paintings."
Gu Ningxi only briefly considered his cousin's idea before shaking his head: "Forget it, forget it. I don't have that much free time."
It would take too much effort to make a decent ornament, so she decided to just focus on painting.
She continued to watch the polo. Meng Ting seemed to be thinking about something and said, "You are willing to spend time and effort on that prince."
Because they were in the pavilion, he did not point out who it was.
Gu Ningxi said matter-of-factly, "He's very arrogant, how can we just give him a perfunctory response?"
The red team on the field rarely controlled the ball. Prince Zhen stepped forward to chase him. Gu Ningxi's attention was quickly attracted to him and he didn't pay much attention to the previous topic.
Meng Ting didn't say anything else.
In the first round, seven chips against two chips, Wu Anhou and his team easily won the first game.
When the second match was about to begin, a eunuch arrived at the Qingfeng Pavilion and bowed with a smile, "Master Gu, how are you?"
Gu Ningxi recognized him as Xi Ping, the apprentice of the chief steward of Prince Zhao's mansion, Sun.
"What's the matter?"
Xi Ping gestured for two or three plates of cakes from the palace to be placed on the table. "I have been ordered to bring some snacks to Lord Gu."
The snacks are exquisite and delicious, all freshly made in the morning by the kitchen of Prince Zhao's Mansion.
"Thank your Highness for me."
The table was piled high with food. Xi Ping finished the task his master had assigned him and bowed, saying, "Then enjoy your meal, Master Gu."
He took his leave first and went back to report to his master.
Sun Jing looked around and asked, "You didn't invite Master Gu?"
His original intention was to remind Master Gu and ask him to come to Ruiyun Terrace to sit for a while, but Xi Ping's eyes were confused: "You didn't say that."
Fortunately, Manager Sun had also experienced many ups and downs. He remained silent for a moment after hearing this. When he was about to give some instructions to his young disciple, he discovered that something had happened on the polo field.
The second round of gongs and drums began to sound. When Meng Ting had a clear view of both sides, he asked with a hint of surprise, "Your Highness, Prince Huai?"
Beside him, Gu Ningxi had put down the half piece of cake in her hand.
With His Royal Highness the Prince of Huai leading the charge, the Red Team naturally followed his lead. Gu Ningxi pondered, thinking that given His Royal Highness's temperament, it would be very difficult for the people from Prince Zhao's Palace to face him.
As expected, from the very beginning, His Royal Highness the Huai Prince advanced to control the ball, protected by both sides. Among the royal princes, His Royal Highness the Huai Prince's riding skills were also quite impressive. Within half a round, Gu Ningxi quickly discovered that His Royal Highness was attacking all the way, specifically snatching the polo ball from Marquis Wu'an and Prince Zhen.
He acted recklessly, and the two men on the other side didn't dare to actually hurt him, so they were inevitably restrained. With the palace's personal guards protecting him, the Prince of Huai won victory after victory.
In the second round, the red team led by Prince Huai won by two chips, and Marquis Wu'an and his men felt very frustrated.
Gu Ningxi and his cousin exchanged a glance. There were no set rules on the polo field; winning the ball was supposed to be a matter of skill. Though it wasn't overt, His Royal Highness the Prince of Huai was clearly... clearly using his status to pressure others.
In the third game, His Highness continued his momentum and was temporarily ahead at the end.
The situation on the field reversed, Gu Ningxi frowned, and his eyes unconsciously looked towards the center of the north.
"It seems that Prince Zhen and his men will be defeated in today's battle."
"No." Gu Ningxi shook his head and said affirmatively.
On the Ruiyun Terrace, Lu Jing withdrew his gaze: "Are you all ready?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
…
The game was nearly halfway through, and Xie Qian and Zhen Yuan had just lost the third game and were taking a short rest in the house.
They discussed their next move, the most important of which was how to avoid Prince Huai and obtain the chips smoothly.
Today's fight was really frustrating. No matter how hard we tried, there was no satisfactory solution. Even Zhen Yuan looked gloomy, which was unusual for him.
"Your Highness."
"Your Highness."
Everyone in the field saluted. Seeing His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, dressed in a round-necked, narrow-sleeved riding uniform, Xie Qian immediately perked up: "I knew Your Highness would not sit idly by."
With His Royal Highness Prince Zhao around, the problems they faced were easily solved.
"No need to hold back." Lu Jing said concisely.
"Your Highness understands."
Xie Qian was ready to fight. After the two rounds of the game, they were still angry.
…
Before the start of the fourth round, the already bustling Qingyun Racecourse was even more crowded.
Their Highnesses Prince Zhao and Prince Huai both took part in the competition themselves, and today's competition was undoubtedly exciting.
Even though His Royal Highness Prince Zhao has not returned to the capital for three years, many spectators still remember his heroic appearance on the football field in the past.
The green horse under King Zhao's throne is ready to go, with high morale.
Amidst the clamor in the room, Prince Huai Lu Chen looked at the person in the center opposite him and tightened his grip on the reins.
Naturally, the same fighting style cannot be used again. Lu Chen knows that his brother will not care.
While ordering his guards to do their best, Lu Chen also had a vague idea in his mind.
In that case, why not have a real fight with real guns?
The two princes have led the crowd to their positions. The judge looked around and sounded the gong to start the ceremony.
The competition became more and more intense, and the small polo ball flew across the field as if it had grown wings.
In Qingfeng Pavilion, the pastries in front of Gu Ningxi had not been touched for a long time.
Her eyes followed His Royal Highness Prince Zhao in the field, watching him swing his stick and hit the ball, almost never missing the target; he galloped on his horse, unrestrained and happy.
In a moment, another ball hit the goal hole, which was very eye-catching under the blue sky and white clouds.
Wu Anhou and the others coordinated with each other, working in perfect harmony. Often, a single glance was all it took for them to respond appropriately.
Gu Ningxi stared intently. Even though she had never seen it before, she seemed to be able to imagine what His Royal Highness Prince Zhao looked like on the battlefield, and how he could command the support of hundreds of people.
After two consecutive victories, by the end of the sixth round, Meng Ting couldn't help but sigh softly: "This is too cruel."
After three full rounds, His Royal Highness Prince Huai's side only scored three points in total, and this round was likely to end in a draw.
On the other hand, Prince Zhao's Mansion had already made twelve moves in a row in this round alone.
Gu Ningxi smiled, understandingly saying, "Perhaps Prince Huai was unlucky and happened to be in a bad mood with His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so ruthless."
But come to think of it, the way Prince Huai had fought before was not exactly fair, no wonder His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was displeased.
…
In today's match, Prince Zhao's Palace was badly defeated by Prince Huai's Palace. This news was already flying all over Kyoto before they even left the polo field.
Interestingly, a family dinner had already been scheduled for today, so there was no way to refuse. Besides Emperor Mingde and Empress Yao, only the Crown Prince, Prince Zhao, and Prince Huai were present.
At dusk in Taiji Palace, before the Emperor and Empress arrived, the atmosphere was indescribably tense.
King Zhao and King Huai sat the farthest away from each other. Lu Heng was sandwiched between his two younger brothers and had to bring up some topics to mediate the relationship between them.
The situation on the polo field during the day spread throughout the country. His Royal Highness Prince Zhao showed his prowess and won three consecutive games in a crushing manner.
Lu Heng sighed softly. Three chips against thirty-two was truly too brutal. Qi'an hadn't held back, so it was no wonder Cheng Yu was embarrassed.
He racked his brains to talk to his two younger brothers one by one, trying his best not to make the atmosphere in the hall seem so strange.
When the announcement of his father, the emperor, and his mother's arrival was made, Lu Heng stood up almost immediately.
"Your sons and I pay our respects to Father, the Emperor, and Mother, the Empress."
The banquet was served in the usual order.
How could the emperor and empress not know what was going on on the polo field?
They are already adults, but they are still unwilling to give in to each other.
Empress Yao did not say much, but according to Emperor Mingde, although Cheng Yu was no match for Qi'an, there were so many people watching at the polo match, and the opponents were not the enemy, so Qi'an had to be cautious when taking action.
Emperor Mingde originally intended to be a little less critical, but as an elder brother he did not know how to be more humble.
But when he was about to speak, a few words involuntarily emerged in the emperor's mind.
"They are still children. Who says that the elder brother must give in to the younger brother? I think it is enough to distinguish right from wrong."
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Emperor Mingde swallowed them. Yiwen had passed away early, leaving only Qi'an with him. As a father, he couldn't help but favor Qi'an.
Besides, on the polo field, not to mention brothers, even fathers and sons are not treated equally. In the final analysis, Qi An was not at fault in this matter.
Emperor Mingde and his first wife exchanged glances, understanding each other's feelings. Chengyu was the youngest, and had been upset over losing the tournament, so he and the empress needed to comfort her.
But Emperor Mingde looked at Lu Jing and asked why Qi'an didn't look happy despite his great victory?
Emperor Mingde thought to himself, this kid, could it be that someone provoked him, causing him to go into battle out of anger?
Emperor Mingde thought it made sense. Thinking back to his birthday, he suddenly had an idea.
Judging from Qi'an's expression, could it be that he is successful on the polo field but unsuccessful in love?
【Author’s words】
Prince Huai: Speak for me!!!
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