"A balloon-launching contest?" An Ke listened to Qing'er's retelling. The scene from that time immediately flashed into her mind.
Putting everything else aside, the scene itself was quite inspiring.
“Yes, it’s a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition, and a men’s and women’s Cuju tournament at that,” Qing’er said in shock. “I just didn’t expect the Emperor to agree to it.”
An Ke sat to the side, smiling faintly and remaining silent. With Xiao Yanzi present, how could the Emperor possibly disagree?
"The Empress Dowager agreed, you must have said something behind her back." Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had also agreed, An Ke's first thought was of Qing'er. After her last conversation with the Empress, although the Empress had visited Cining Palace more frequently, she hadn't gossiped about Xiao Yanzi as she usually did. While the Empress might outwardly disagree, she probably wouldn't say much more.
“Yes, after all, women are just as capable as men. There were many heroines in ancient times. It proves that women are no less than men.” Qing’er said with longing. “Originally, the Empress Dowager and the Empress had some complaints, but Ziwei, the palace maid who served Princess Huanzhu, said a few words that made the Empress Dowager change her opinion slightly.”
An Ke didn't care about what was happening inside Shufangzhai. "Did your aunt say that the men and women would compete together in this balloon-launching contest? It's improper for them to bump into each other." An Ke gently blew on her tea and took a small sip.
"You're amazing! You weren't even there, yet you knew what the Empress was going to say?" It wasn't hard to tell how surprised Qing'er was from her expression.
"What's so special about this? My aunt is very particular about the rules and dignity of the royal family, and she'll only say a few words about that. She won't say anything else. Besides, you've already brought up those heroines from the past, so my aunt naturally won't say anything more. Moreover, my uncle has already agreed. My grandmother and aunt naturally won't say anything either, so there's nothing to disagree with." An Ke calmly sipped her tea.
“Yes,” Qing’er nodded in agreement. “This is the first time the palace has held a men’s and women’s Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition, isn’t it?”
"Since Sister Qing is so interested, then we'll watch it carefully on that day." As she said this, An Ke also became interested in the famous scenes from the TV series.
Shufangzhai
"Really? Little Swallow, you really succeeded?" Jin Suo, holding several cups of tea, stood to the side in disbelief. Ziwei was also incredulous, her eyes wide.
"Of course it's true! What can't I, Little Swallow, handle?" Little Swallow held a cup of tea in her left hand and raised her right hand in unison with her bold statement.
Mingyue and Caixia, standing to the side, also looked at their princess with great admiration.
Yongqi, Benjamin, and Erkang, who were sitting to the side, naturally wanted to vouch for Xiaoyanzi.
"It's true, the Emperor has agreed to hold a balloon competition in the palace. But I still find it unbelievable that you actually convinced the Empress Dowager." Erkang slowly walked to Ziwei's side and held her hands tightly.
"So how is this balloon contest going to be held?" Jin Suo was naturally quite worried about the unknown.
“It’s a men’s and women’s balloon popping contest!” Benjamin added in his broken Chinese. “We can hold an unprecedented men’s and women’s balloon popping contest.”
Ziwei: "So, how do we begin?"
Benjamin stepped forward and said, "Since it's a competition, let's set some rules." After all, Benjamin was quite familiar with competitions.
"Alright. The men's team will be led by Yongqi, and we'll call it the Prince Team. As for the women's team, of course, I, Xiaoyanzi, will be the captain, and we'll call it the Princess Team." Xiaoyanzi patted her chest and said proudly.
Yongqi chimed in from the side, "It's settled then. Your four great talents from Shufangzhai, along with my Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoguizi, will be included in my prince team." Yongqi immediately began poaching people.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanzi was naturally extremely excited. "What? You actually poached people from my Shufangzhai? Fine, you win. Then the members of our Princess Team will be our Four Beauties: Ziwei, Jinsuo, Mingyue, Caixia, and me, Xiao Yanzi."
Upon hearing this, Ziwei quickly declined, saying, "No, no, you can't count me. It's fine if you want me to write, play the piano, or talk. But playing football is out of the question. With me on the team, the princess team is doomed to lose."
When Xiao Yanzi heard that Ziwei was about to refuse, she quickly went to her side and said, "Don't worry, when you usually tell me to study, don't you say that nothing is impossible for a willing heart? Why are you backing down when it comes to yourself? What kind of hero are you? You have to participate." Xiao Yanzi glared at Yongqi, who was watching the show from the side.
After persuading Ziwei, they went to discuss things further. "Tell me, tell me, how do we plan to play?"
At this moment, Ertai, who was sitting to the side, spoke up quietly. "Actually, as far back as the Han Dynasty, there were Cuju (ancient Chinese football) matches trained in the army. The earliest one was a 12-player, six-goal game. Later, it evolved into a two-goal game, and even into the single-goal football skills competition that became popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Which one do you think we should compete in?"
Little Swallow was completely bewildered, muttering to herself, "Huh, why is there so many doors to this balloon game? Six doors, two doors, can't we play one with no doors at all? Let's play the one with no doors!"
Yongqi chimed in, "How can we play without a goal? Cuju (ancient Chinese football) is all about scoring points by getting the ball into the goal. Otherwise, there's no point in us fighting for the ball."
Er Kang concluded, "The six-goal match is more complicated, while the single-goal match is much simpler. Find a large net and cut a hole in the middle. Then place it between the two teams. The team that kicks the most balls into that net at the end wins. This single-goal match is all about skillful footwork."
Jin Suo chimed in, "Isn't that too unfair to us? The Fifth Prince, the two young masters of the Fu family, and the painter Ban all know martial arts. But we don't. The gap between us is just too big!"
Hearing these words, the members of the Gege team were a little discouraged.
Benjamin suggested, “Why don’t we play our British 11-a-side double goalie game? It’s more fun when everyone is competing and going back and forth. Each team has 11 players, including one goalkeeper.”
Before Benjamin could finish speaking, Little Swallow exclaimed in surprise, "Eleven people? Where am I supposed to find so many people?"
Er Kang laughed, "You don't even understand the rules of the game. And you dare to suggest holding this balloon-popping contest!"
Yongqi glanced at Xiaoyanzi and laughed, "Fearless of heaven and earth, isn't that Xiaoyanzi's consistent style?"
Afterwards, Benjamin drew a diagram for them showing how to calculate the winner and loser, and how to compete. He also explained that no light-footed skills or martial arts were allowed in the game. Only footwork mattered. They could touch the ball with their head, shoulders, or feet, but not their hands.
"Now you can all rest assured, right?" Er Kang said with a smile.
The members of the princess team at Shufangzhai finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Since the rules and methods were all set by Benjamin, then let Benjamin be the referee." Er Kang thought this was a good idea.
The other members of the princes' team nodded in agreement. Only Little Swallow jumped up and down in disagreement. "Sigh, Dove, you can't go easy on the princes' team just because you're a good friend of the Fifth Prince."
Benjamin raised his right hand and said, "I swear to my God, it will be absolutely fair and just, except in case anyone disobeys the referee during the competition." He then gave Xiaoyanzi a meaningful look. The others smiled but remained silent.
"Ah, no, no, we have to obey the referee!" Little Swallow jumped out immediately.
Benjamin immediately chimed in, "Well, you said it yourself, you have to obey the referee."
"Alright, then I'll recruit the remaining six members. Then we'll crush your Prince Team." Xiao Yanzi walked to Ziwei's side and hooked her arm around Ziwei's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm here! Once we've recruited enough people, we'll start the grueling training."
Jin Suo laughed and teased, "It's precisely because you're here that I'm worried."
Then, Shufangzhai launched a vigorous recruitment campaign.
Everyone in the palace heard about the balloon-shooting contest and rushed to the Shufangzhai to sign up. As you could see, two very long queues formed inside. Naturally, it was Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei who were recruiting.
The recruitment plan didn't go so smoothly either, because some people were unsuitable, and others needed to work in the palace during their training. Some were too tall, some too thin, some too short, and some too fat.
"Oh dear, Ziwei! I've been busy all day but haven't recruited anyone." Xiaoyanzi slumped into a chair, exhausted, and gulped down her tea.
"The main thing is that the people we recruit definitely need a certain amount of time and skill." Ziwei was also rubbing her neck and arms. Seeing this, Jin Suo handed her young mistress a teacup with heartache and took over rubbing her wrists.
"I heard your recruitment drive is going very well today," Yongqi's voice came through before he even entered.
The two Fu brothers and Benjamin followed behind them.
"What's wrong with you two?" Erkang asked, leaning closer to Ziwei with a pained expression when he saw Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi slumped in their seats.
"And you're telling me? When I recruit people, they're either not all the same height, or they have some minor flaws, or their schedules aren't the same." Before Ziwei could even speak, Xiaoyanzi started complaining.
"I think we should call off this balloon popping contest," Er Kang said, looking at Ziwei with concern. "Don't let them all collapse from exhaustion before you've even recruited anyone. There are still other competitions to come, which will only make things worse."
"No, I've already told Father Emperor that I want to hold a balloon-releasing competition. Erkang, what are you leaking? What was it again?" Xiao Yanzi was about to scold Erkang, but then she hesitated and didn't know how to say it.
"Are you saying we shouldn't undermine our confidence?" Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi were truly on the same wavelength. She knew exactly what Xiaoyanzi wanted to say at a glance.
"Yes, yes, don't try to undermine our confidence." Little Swallow immediately stood up, put her hands on her hips, and said angrily.
"Okay, okay, don't be discouraged. Are you still going to recruit people tomorrow?" Yongqi asked softly.
"Of course! I, Little Swallow, am determined to see this through to the end!" Little Swallow still has a lot of backbone.
The four guards looked at each other, utterly helpless. They simply couldn't dissuade the girls from competing.
Early the next morning, Consort Ling arrived at Shufangzhai with two senior palace maids by her side.
"Little Swallow, I've brought two people over for you." Consort Ling introduced two of her head maids directly to Little Swallow. "These two are usually quite agile, so they should be suitable for you."
"Ah, Consort Ling, you've really done me a huge favor!" Little Swallow exclaimed excitedly, about to hug Consort Ling.
Consort Ling took a small step to the side, and Xiao Yanzi immediately took her arm. "Alright, I've delivered the person. You all need to keep up the good work."
By the next day, they had gathered all their men: tall ones, short ones who could endure the humiliation of being between the legs, and fat ones who were very flexible.
When evening came, only Benjamin came over.
He looked at them and gave them a suggestion. "On that day, we can do a surprise and find some palace maids to cheer you on and encourage you."
“Qi’er Liding?” Little Swallow found another word that could replace it.
“Yes, we can call it ‘Qi’er Liding’ (meaning ‘energy boost’).” Benjamin smiled helplessly.
Unbeknownst to them, there was a furtive person lurking at the door, peering around suspiciously.
After leaving Shufangzhai, the man went straight to Yonghe Palace. This man was none other than Ertai, who had been sent by the princes' party to visit and comfort the princesses' party.
"What is Qi Li Ding?" Er Kang didn't know and was very puzzled because he hadn't heard Benjamin's explanation.
"They just gather a bunch of palace maids to cheer them on; it's probably just for show." Ertai only had a vague understanding, but this was the only way he could explain it to them.
"Oh, I see. Then why don't I bring my cavalry over and have them run a lap around the field?" Er Kang said with great interest.
Yongqi, still somewhat rational, immediately objected, "No, if we transfer the cavalry over, Father Emperor definitely won't agree. He'll say we're wasting talent. After all, Xiaoyanzi's side consists of palace maids."
"What should we do? Are we going to be outmatched in terms of presence?" Er Kang asked anxiously. "We can't exactly send a bunch of eunuchs to find us, can we? Even though they're essentially the same, it just feels like we're being suppressed in terms of presence."
Although Yongqi didn't say anything, he thought the same thing. "No rush, I'll go and sound someone out tomorrow."
Ertai remained silent, acting as if he were invisible, only occasionally interjecting with his own opinions and insights.
After discussing for a while, the three cobblers said goodbye.
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