Chapter 22 Apology
Just then, Feng Caixing turned around and caught sight of the ball hurtling towards him. His expression changed drastically, and he only had time to shout, "Watch out—"
Amid gasps of surprise, the ball landed on the girl's raised foot, bouncing up and down several times due to the impact.
Before anyone could react, the girl flicked the ball with her toe, sending it flying back and just piercing the eye of the net.
After a moment of complete silence, cheers and exclamations erupted.
For those who love Cuju (ancient Chinese football), this scene is so exciting that they can't help but cheer.
In the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, who could not love Cuju (ancient Chinese football)?
"Sixth Miss Qiu, you're actually a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) master!" Feng Caixing practically pounced on Qiu Heng.
Compared to the refined pursuits of incense and flower arranging, she preferred Cuju (ancient Chinese football).
Knowing she had become the center of attention, Qiu Heng smiled and said, "There's nothing fun in the countryside. We just played around with a bunch of friends when we were little."
This is not a lie. While ordinary people may not have enough money or time to enjoy refined pursuits like burning incense and appreciating tea, anyone with hands and feet can play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), the only difference being skill level.
Qiu Heng was originally quite skilled, but after ten years of hard training in martial arts, she also improved her Cuju (ancient Chinese football) skills.
Showing off one's superb Cuju skills might also lead to meeting new people and opening up new opportunities.
Qiu Heng couldn't guarantee who would help her plan, but she would do her best to seize every opportunity.
For ourselves, and for the greater Xia, let's fight for a glimmer of hope.
At this moment, several teenagers walked over, one of whom was the playboy who had kicked the ball at Qiu Heng.
"You are Miss Qiu Liu?"
Qiu Heng looked over and said, "Yes."
"Sorry about earlier." The spoiled young man grinned, his sincerity completely lacking. "I didn't expect Miss Qiu Liu to know how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Would you like to have a match with me?"
Qiu Heng's gaze passed over him.
A hand rested on the shoulder of the spoiled young man, and the owner of the hand met her gaze and nodded slightly.
"Who is it!" The spoiled young man turned around in annoyance and saw a cold and indifferent face.
"Lord Xue?" He wanted to call out Xue Han's name, but even a playboy like him knew how powerful the Imperial City Guard was, given its reputation and the eunuch behind it.
"Is there something you need, Lord Xue?" The spoiled young man shrugged, but couldn't break free from the hand's grasp.
Xue Han lowered his hand: "I just saw you deliberately kick the ball towards Miss Qiu Liu. Was it to avenge your friend Han Ziheng?"
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.
Looking at the expressionless young man in scarlet robes, everyone wondered: Is this imperial envoy being too direct?
The spoiled young man's expression changed: "Who did that on purpose? We're playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Isn't it normal to accidentally kick the ball away?"
"It's common to accidentally kick the ball away; it doesn't mean you didn't do it on purpose."
"What gives you the right to say that?"
Xue Han said calmly, "I saw it."
"What kind of evidence is that you saw!" The纨绔少年 (wán kù shàng, a spoiled young man) lost all his fear of the Imperial City Guard, pointed at Qiu Heng, and revealed a habitual, frivolous smile, "Why is Lord Xue so protective of Miss Qiu? Is he trying to be a hero and save the damsel in distress or what—"
He stopped talking when his clothes were grabbed.
Xue Han's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on the纨绔少年's face: "As everyone knows, the murderer who killed Miss Qiu Liu's adoptive father was discovered by chance by the Imperial City Guard, which led to Han Ziheng's case. Your trouble with Miss Qiu Liu is an insult to the Imperial City Guard and an offense against me, Xue Han."
The spoiled young man had never been so embarrassed in public before. He reached out to push away the hand that was grabbing his collar: "Let go! The Imperial City Guard can't be unreasonable, can they? I've already said I didn't do it on purpose, and it has nothing to do with Han Ziheng!"
"Reasoning? It just so happens that the Emperor is here. Let's go and reason with him. Let's see if he believes you didn't do it on purpose, or if he's just trying to hurt the plaintiff to avenge Han Ziheng." The young man spoke calmly, but his actions were ruthless as he dragged the纨绔子 (wán kù zǐ, a spoiled brat) towards the direction of the imperial family.
This immediately frightened the spoiled young man's companions who wanted to help him.
They never complain to their parents about their fights and troubles anymore, so isn't it too much for this kid to go to the emperor all the time?
The spoiled young man was also quite frightened, repeatedly shouting, "I was wrong, I was wrong!"
Xue Han stopped and shoved the spoiled young man aside: "Then you should apologize."
The spoiled young man stumbled, and before he could regain his balance, he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "I spoke without thinking, please forgive me, Lord Xue."
Xue Han raised an eyebrow: "You should apologize to Miss Qiu Liu."
The spoiled young man paused, then turned and bowed deeply to Qiu Heng: "I wanted to avenge my friend. I was wrong. Please forgive me, Miss Qiu."
Xue Han sneered: "Just apologize, why ask for forgiveness? You're so greedy—"
The spoiled young man was so angry his nose was crooked.
These are just polite words, how is that being greedy!
But all I could do was swallow my pride and apologize again.
"Sixth Miss Qiu, I was wrong."
The girl looked innocent and harmless: "Then don't do that again."
The spoiled young man was stunned for a moment, his feelings inexplicably complicated.
A companion quietly tugged at his sleeve.
The spoiled young man snapped out of his daze, looked at Xue Han, and forced a smile: "If Lord Xue has nothing else, we'll be leaving now."
Seeing Xue Han nod, the group lost all interest in continuing to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) and only stopped after they had run far away.
"That Xue fellow has gone too far!"
"A eunuch's adopted son, what a bully he is, relying on his master's power!"
"Most of the imperial city envoys are eunuchs, and he seems to enjoy his position."
"But he can complain to the Emperor..."
One sentence silenced the group of spoiled brats.
Xue Han remained where he was: "Miss Qiu, may I speak with you in private? I have something to ask you."
His open and aboveboard manner prevented the onlookers from suspecting anything else, and those who had a good impression of Qiu Heng even felt a little worried for her.
"What does Lord Xue want to ask?" Qiu Heng asked, standing in an open space some distance away from the crowd.
"Actually, I don't have any questions to ask, but I want to prepare Miss Qiu Liu mentally. Han Ziheng's case is about to be settled, and His Majesty... is a person who cherishes old friendships."
Qiu Heng lowered her head slightly and said after a while, "Thank you for informing me, Lord Xue."
"Also, Miss Qiu, please be extra careful in the future. If you discover that Han Ziheng intends to retaliate, please pass on a message to me."
Qiu Heng paused for a moment, then looked into Xue Han's eyes: "Lord Xue is too considerate. I don't know how to repay you."
The boy's eyes were dark and deep, like the night in the mountains, making them difficult to see clearly.
“Sixth Miss Qiu, you don’t need to feel burdened.” Xue Han paused, sounding more sincere. “I just like to get involved in injustices, um… to pity the poor and weak.”
Qiu Heng: "..."
This reason is not even as convincing as the playboy's claim that he wanted to be a hero and save the damsel in distress.
She believed it.
After all, we can't peel back his heart to see his true thoughts.
"Then I'll go first."
Xue Han watched the girl walk back, and was soon surrounded by a group of girls. He lowered his eyes slightly and walked towards the tent where Emperor Jingping was.
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