Chapter 54 Chapter 54 “It’s cold, Madam, please don’t catch a cold.
The cold winter wind blew the fine snow across the withered yellow meadow outside the hunting ground, making the tents not far away rustle.
Cui Shanggong, the empress's attendant, personally led the way. "Greetings, ladies and madams! The empress said it's freezing cold, and the courtyards in the eastern suburbs are far apart. By the time lunch arrives, it might be cold. Why don't we all gather in the main tent and share some hot soup?"
"Thank you, Grand Palace Lady." The female relatives expressed their gratitude with a smile.
Sheng Puzhu was walking with a group of girls. She looked up and saw that the hunting ground a hundred feet away from the East Suburb Villa was surrounded by a golden tent with dragon patterns in the middle, like a giant beast crawling and taking a nap. Dozens of small tents were wrapped around the outside like stars surrounding the moon.
The sun was warm at noon, and the group walked on the snow without feeling very cold.
The palace maid waiting outside the big tent respectfully lifted the curtain, and the warmth wrapped in the aroma of the pot hit her face, and the queen was sitting in the main seat in the center of the golden tent.
The girl, whose exact age could not be determined, was not thin, but rather had a voluptuous beauty. Her hair was tied up high, with a hollow golden hairpin with a flying phoenix inserted diagonally, pearl tassels dangling gently, and a flower ornament on her forehead, which made her eyebrows and eyes look picturesque and graceful.
"Everyone, get up." The queen raised her hand, and her wide crimson sleeves rose up in an instant, like layers of clouds.
Everyone took their seats. Sheng Puzhu was flanked by Xie Lingyi and Xie Qingshu. She was about to walk over to Lady Dou when Consort Cui approached with a smile, "Madam Sheng, please come this way."
"The two young ladies should go with us."
Sheng Puzhu subconsciously looked towards the Queen, but unexpectedly her eyes met with the heroic-looking girl who was sitting on the Queen's right.
This was a frank scrutiny that would not make people feel disgusted. Their eyes met again, and Sheng Puzhu just blinked, standing neither humble nor arrogant.
"Come, let me take a look, come closer." The queen looked at people gently, and when she smiled, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were faint, but her tone was gentle without any indifference of a superior.
Sheng Puzhu and her two sisters bowed respectfully, and she moved forward half a step as instructed.
The Queen took her hand and said lovingly, "The last time I saw you, you were held in the arms of your father-in-law to watch the Lantern Festival. You were only this tall then."
"Time flies so fast. I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, you have grown so big."
Sheng Puzhu married into the Xie family two years ago. She should have gone to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager on the second day of her wedding. Unfortunately, Xie Zhiyan went out to fight overnight. As a new bride, it would have been a bad omen if she had gone alone.
Later, she was busy with the business of Linlang Pavilion, and she seldom participated in such lively activities as palace banquets and winter hunting. In addition, the queen herself would stay in the Lishan Palace for most of the year, so it was normal that she had never encountered them.
"I was young at that time and don't remember much." Sheng Puzhu said softly.
"It's indeed small, probably only slightly taller than my knees." The Queen smiled and pointed at the heroic-looking girl beside her. "This is my daughter He Yin, only a few years older than you. She just returned from Yumen Pass a few days ago."
"He Yin has a cold personality and doesn't like to talk to the girls in the other palaces. I think she seems to like you very much. If you have time, come to the palace to talk to He Yin."
Sheng Puzhu agreed with a smile, then stood up and saluted Xiao Heyin: "Your Highness, long live the king."
Xiao Heyin nodded and said very little, "No need to be so polite, cousin."
The queen was stunned when she heard this, and the smile in her eyes grew wider. She looked at her daughter with obvious pity in her eyes.
Xiao Heyin pursed her lips, lowered her eyes and stopped talking.
The Queen took Sheng Puzhong's hand and patted it gently, then shifted her gaze half an inch back to Xie Lingyi behind her. "Which sister of yours is this?"
"He is so handsome, I like him."
Sheng Puzhu smiled and raised her eyes, explaining slowly, "She is the second sister of the Xie family, her name is Lingyi."
"It turns out to be Xie's daughter. She looks a bit like her brother." The queen praised, then calmly withdrew her gaze.
Xie Qingshu was still waiting for the Queen to ask her something, but she didn't expect the Queen to just pull her eldest sister-in-law aside and talk about other topics. She felt disappointed, but she also knew that she couldn't show it in front of the nobles in the palace.
"Today is the winter hunt. Are all your sisters from the Sheng family here?"
The queen stroked her temples with a smile, her face expression unchanged and her voice still gentle.
Sheng Puzhu lowered his eyelids and nodded slightly, saying, "Here she is. The one coming to participate in the winter hunt today is our fourth sister, Puyao."
The queen looked curiously towards the Sheng family members. The shortest one sitting in the crowd was wearing a spring-colored skirt and had cute double buns. She was indeed bright and beautiful, but unfortunately she was too young, with obvious baby fat on her cheeks. She was using chopsticks to scoop meat from the hot pot in front of her, holding a large bowl of glutinous rice, and eating it with relish.
This girl from the Sheng family looked like she was not yet of marriageable age. The Queen sighed inwardly and felt sorry for her. She also knew that the Sheng family had no intention of making her the Crown Princess.
"What about this one?" The queen finally noticed Xie Qingshu.
Xie Qingshu was so nervous that she secretly clenched her palms and tried to make her voice sound more virtuous: "Your Highness Xie Qingshu."
"Hmm." The Queen replied calmly and waved her hand, "Go and have your meal. Don't go hungry."
Xie Qingshu couldn't eat at all. All she could think about was the prince choosing a concubine, and she didn't know which girl the queen would eventually choose.
"Big sister, eat quickly." Sheng Puyao was very satisfied with her own meal, but she did not forget to share her eldest sister's portion.
Seeing Sheng Puzhu coming back, she hurriedly handed over the bowl of blanched meat: "Aunt said these are the game the gentlemen hunted in the forest today. They bled them, sliced them, and put them in the hot pot."
“It’s so delicious.”
Sheng Puzhu tasted a piece and found it was indeed fresh.
The sage and his court officials went to the hunting ground in the eastern suburbs. Unlike the women who rode in carriages, the men on horseback went into the woods to hunt early in the morning. Before sunset, they would see who had hunted the most prey. The prey caught that day would then be used for the year-end sacrifice.
After lunch, some girls asked someone to lead their horses and take a walk around the hunting grounds.
Sheng Puzhu had originally had this idea, but when he saw his younger sister following him like a little tail, he could only temporarily put his thoughts aside and wait quietly for the next polo match on the school field.
"Mrs. Sheng, for polo, should we each form a team?" Xiao Heyin asked in a clear voice.
It’s better not to play polo with the queen’s legitimate daughter.
The ultimate goal of this year's winter hunt is to select a concubine for the prince. Many young men in Chang'an City are eager to try, just waiting to perform in front of the queen on the polo field. Why should she occupy this rare spot?
Although Sheng Puzhu was a good polo player, he was reluctant and declined openly: "I am afraid that I will disappoint your kindness. I am not wearing any Hu clothing today."
Xiao Heyin smiled and instructed the palace maid behind her: "Prepare a set of Hu clothing for Madam Sheng. There is no need to look for another one. Just use the one I have prepared."
Sheng Puzhu: “…” What a strong girl.
The winter wind was howling, and a group of people gathered outside the polo field.
Sheng Puzhu had tied her long black hair into a bun and changed into a rouge-colored narrow-sleeved Hu robe.
The Hu clothing was not as loose as the ruqun, and the soft fabric clung to her graceful waistline. She wore a pair of deerskin boots on her feet. Her tall figure and pretty face were so stunning that it was hard to ignore them.
"Sister, you look so beautiful in this dress." Sheng Puyao walked around her and couldn't help but praise her.
Sheng Puzhu took the ball stick handed to her by the palace maid and turned to go to the stable to choose a horse.
A group of noble ladies were whispering beside the polo field, and from time to time, young girls who couldn't control their curiosity would sneak a peek with their handkerchiefs in hand.
It was clearly just a simple and neat-style Hu clothing, but when Sheng Bozhu put it on, it highlighted her long neck, slim figure, and even the neat and taut lines of her legs when she jumped onto the horse.
Her waist is as thin as a hand, her breasts are full, and every inch of her body lines are perfectly outlined, giving people a breathtaking beauty.
Sheng Puzhu and Xiao Heyin were divided into two teams, red and green, distinguished by red and green ribbons around their waists, with ten people in each team.
Xie Qingshu is good at playing polo. She changed her initial aloof attitude and wanted to praise her eldest sister-in-law as a fairy in heaven.
Sheng Puzhu tightened the reins and rode a dark black horse.
"Mrs. Wei San, catch the ball!" Xiao Heyin swung the polo stick in the air, and the polo ball flew out like a meteor.
Sheng Puzhu bent down, swung her staff with her backhand, and with a "bang", she intercepted the ball that flew past her.
"Qingshu, go on."
Of course, Xiao Heyin was no ordinary person. She squeezed the horse's belly tightly, controlled the white horse under her, stepped forward, and with a kick of the ball stick in her hand, she took the ball back from Xie Qingshu.
The crescent-shaped staff in her hand was like a majestic spear.
"Bang." The fist-sized ball was hit into the goal by Xiao Heyin.
"The princess is so skilled!" Sheng Puyao was cheering for her elder sister on the sidelines. Seeing that they had lost a goal, she stamped her feet in anxiety.
There was thunderous cheering from the sidelines, not only from the girls but also from many men who stopped to watch.
This princess, who was born of the same mother as the crown prince and was a twin, a boy and a girl. Although she was the empress's biological daughter, she was sent to a fiefdom at the border by the saint when she was ten years old.
Xiao Heyin grew up in Yumen Pass, and later joined the army under a false name. She started as an unknown soldier and is now the only female general in Dayan.
He is good at riding and his kung fu is not bad either.
Many years ago, the elders in the palace had suggested that the princess and Sanlang Xie get married, but it ended up in nothing.
After Sheng Puzhu scored two goals in a row, he stood up panting and met Xiao Heyin's burning gaze: "Thank you."
"Madam Sheng has great skills." Xiao Heyin raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, with undisguised admiration in his eyes.
In this red and green polo match, Sheng Puzhu lost the game by one goal.
Xiao Heyin rode forward and said seriously, "I rarely admire anyone, but you, Madam Sheng, are one of them."
Sheng Puzhu was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at the princess, smiling, "Your Excellency is kind. I was just lucky today, so I didn't lose so badly."
Xiao Heyin waved the ball stick in his hand and said bluntly: "Although your physical strength is obviously not as good as mine, you are quite strong and good at estimation. You can always predict the location of the polo ball in advance. This is not a skill that ordinary people can have."
"They all say that the peonies in Luoyang are more beautiful than those of Pei Shilang."
"I think it's an exaggeration. Madam Sheng is more beautiful than flowers."
"Sister." Outside the polo field, Sheng Puyao trotted forward, holding a handkerchief in her hand and standing on tiptoe: "I'll wipe it for you, sister."
The black hair at Sheng Puzhu's temples was soaked with sweat and stuck to her blushing cheeks. She handed the cane back to the palace maid and was about to bend down with a smile.
But the next moment, the handkerchief in Sheng Puyao's hand was taken away by another cold white hand.
"Let me do it." Xie Zhiyan's deep and powerful voice fell, his eyes deep.
Sheng Puzhu swallowed inexplicably, her breath still lingering, her rosy, plump lips slightly parted: "When did my husband come?"
"lady."
The handkerchief in Xie Zhiyan's hand gently fell on her snow-white cheek: "I have been here since the Madam came on stage."
Sheng Puzhu unconsciously lowered her eyes, her breathing becoming more rapid. She whispered, "I didn't fight very well. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, my dear."
Xie Zhiyan looked at her, and his thumb holding the wet handkerchief rubbed across her chin, leaving a shallow red mark. He didn't know what had caused it, but it had already turned faintly blue. If he didn't rub it away, it would probably turn purple tomorrow.
Thinking of this, he exerted some strength with his fingertips.
Sheng Puzhu couldn't help but gasp, "My dear."
"It's red, and it might be a little painful, just bear with it." Xie Zhiyan held her soft cheek with his slender and powerful hands, and said in a gentle voice.
Sheng Puzhu endured the pain, raised her chin slightly, and her beautiful almond eyes were moist and bright: "There are many people here, my dear, please hurry up."
She was out of breath, so her voice was even softer, sounding like she was acting coquettishly.
Xie Zhiyan frowned slightly, and his large palm almost completely wrapped around her. The movement of his palm rubbing her wounds inevitably became faster.
The two were close to each other, and Sheng Puzhu could smell the pleasant and cool pine scent from his body, which was a unique scent of the mountains and forests.
After a long time, Xie Zhiyan let go of his hand and took half a step back.
Sheng Puzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment, he covered her head with a dark cloak.
"It's cold, madam, please don't get cold in the wind."
How could it be cold? After a game of polo, she felt like she was about to faint from the heat. Compared to his icy fingertips, her body was as hot as a small stove.
Xie Zhiyan's throat rolled, and he suppressed the urge to carry the person back and nail him to the couch.
On the polo field, at an untouchable distance, Sheng Puzhu's hair was flying at her temples, her slender waist, her fair hands tightly gripping the polo stick, and her lips slightly opened due to exhaustion.
He was clearly in high spirits and full of vitality, but at this moment, he lost control of his body.
He should have restrained himself and cultivated himself, and been absolutely rational, but the moment he met her gaze, desire surged, like a mountain or sea pressing down on him.
Xie Zhiyan knew clearly why he lost control. He stood there almost paranoidly, unmoved.
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