The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is neither long nor short.
Even for men, polo is a strenuous activity, let alone for women who are less physically fit. As the game progressed, Xuan Ci and Zhou Zhenrong were both struggling to keep up. Not only were their legs, which were gripping the horses' bellies, trembling slightly, but their arms were also starting to feel weak and sore.
Shen Youying wasn't much better than them, but she was better at hiding and pretending, gritting her teeth and holding on so that no one could see through her.
Xuan Ci looked at the banners on the sidelines of the court. Shen Youying's red team had five banners, while her blue team only had two.
By this time, the incense in the burner had burned down to its last bit and was about to go out; no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't turn the tide.
Xuan Ci threw down his polo mallet, spurred his horse back, and said angrily, "I'm not playing anymore."
Zhou Zhenrong was unwilling, but Xuan Ci was of higher status than her. Xuan Ci had already given up voluntarily, and it would be embarrassing for her to insist. She could only follow her and ride back.
Seeing this, Shen Youying called out to them, straightened her back, spurred her horse, and rode closer: "Have the princess and Consort Zhou admitted defeat?"
Xuan Ci didn't want to admit it, but in front of everyone, reneging on the bet was more embarrassing than losing the polo match. She could only grit her teeth and glare at Shen Youying, saying, "I'll accept my loss."
"It's good that you admit defeat." Shen Youying laughed, spurred her horse over the two of them, and arrived at the edge of the polo field.
Bai Luo and Dan Zhu were already waiting on the side. When they saw her turn to dismount, they quickly stepped forward to help her.
Shen Youying glanced furtively at her calloused palms and instructed Danzhu, "Go find a doctor and get some ointment for skin injuries and some liniment for bruises." As she spoke, she turned to look at Xie Qinglan and Shen Muyu, asking, "How are you two?"
Xie Qinglan was also exhausted. She had given it her all to win the game. If it weren't for the countless eyes watching her, she would have collapsed to the ground and never gotten up again.
"You have to treat me to a meal at Fanlou. It's been years since I've played polo this hard."
Shen Youying said, "I understand. I'll treat you to a meal tomorrow, okay?" Then she looked at Shen Muyu and said, "I've already asked Danzhu to fetch the medicine. You two go change your clothes and apply the medicine first."
Everyone gave it their all today, and many of us have scrapes and bumps on our bodies.
Shen Muyu nodded silently, giving her a complicated look.
She was naturally happy to have won the game and vented her anger. But then she thought about how Shen Youying and Xie Qinglan had stolen the show on the court that day, while she seemed to have been just an extra, and she couldn't be so happy anymore.
Moreover… she glanced up at Chen Wang, who looked unwell on the observation deck, and began to regret her actions.
Chen Wang lost the small seal; it's unknown whether he will hold a grudge against her for it.
.
After the three of them changed their clothes, they returned to the observation deck.
Xue Shen was unusually cheerful today, not with a gloomy expression. He smiled warmly and, seeing Shen Youying arrive, ordered his maid to bring over the two small seals of a prince and place them in front of Shen Youying: "These are what you won back, so they are yours."
Shen Youying glanced at Chen Wang, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot but who was still forcing a smile, and said softly, "It's no use for me to have the seal."
Prince Chen was indeed a strong contender for the crown prince position. She could oppose Princess Xuanci and Zhou Zhenrong, but she didn't expect to incur Prince Chen's wrath over such a trivial matter.
The Prince's Seal is no small matter; it would be a hot potato in her hands. It would be better to return it to Prince Chen and save face for both sides.
But Xue Shen seemed not to understand her meaning and nodded in agreement, saying, "It is indeed of no use. Why not pawn it and get some money in return?"
As he said this, he actually summoned a guard, handed over the Prince of Chen's seal to the other party, and instructed, "Take it to the pawnshop and say that this is the Prince of Chen's seal. Ask how much money it can be pawned for."
This is nothing short of a blatant humiliation.
Shen Youying glanced at Xue Shen, feeling a slight headache, but there was nothing she could do.
She had witnessed firsthand Xue Shen's vindictive nature.
She only hoped that if Prince Chen had any trouble, he would go to Xue Shen, and not come to her again.
Shen Youying lowered her eyes and pretended not to exist.
The forced smile on Chen Wang's face had completely crumbled. He stared coldly at Xue Shen, the veins on the back of his clenched fist bulging out, looking particularly frightening.
But as Xuanci said, one must accept the consequences of a bet. If he were to go back on his word and launch an attack under the watchful eyes of everyone, it would sound terrible, and his father would likely have even more memorials impeaching him on his desk.
Prince Chen glared at Xue Shen fiercely, made a mental note of the matter, and then turned and left.
Princess Xuanci, who came out a step later, saw her brother's back without turning around and complained to Zhou Zhenrong, "It's all your fault. You couldn't catch the first two balls. If you had caught them, you might have been able to win the game."
After saying that, she ignored Zhou Zhenrong's expression and left on her own.
Zhou Zhenrong stood there, her chest heaving, watching her retreating figure with a gloomy expression.
But after a moment, she still caught up with him.
The wedding of Prince Chen and the daughter of the Yang family is scheduled for the second half of the year. If she cannot win over Prince Chen and Xuan Ci before then, she will probably have a hard time once the daughter of the Yang family enters the mansion.
Zhou Zhenrong chased after him but couldn't find Xuan Ci. Instead, she unexpectedly spotted Prince Chen, who had left earlier.
King Chen had his back to her and was talking to someone.
"Young lady, there's no need to apologize. Since it's a competition, it's perfectly normal to have winners and losers. How could I possibly blame you for this?"
His figure completely obscured the other person, and Zhou Zhenrong could only vaguely see a glimpse of a woman's clothing.
"I'm glad Your Highness Prince Chen doesn't blame me."
Shen Muyu had considered it for a long time before she mustered the courage to stop Prince Chen here and explain.
As she had imagined, Prince Chen was indeed gentle, easy-going, and magnanimous.
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