Chapter 33: The red riding uniform of the young man in red was soaked with sweat on his shoulders...
The polo field on the west side of the training ground was already surrounded by people, with flags fluttering and horses neighing.
The young men from aristocratic families were dressed in tight clothes, holding baseball sticks, and galloping on their horses on the field.
Pei Shaochuan protected Luo Wan as they walked through the crowd and stood at the best viewing spot.
On the field, Jiang Cichen was wearing a red riding uniform, and he used the polo stick in his hand as if it were his arm. He hit the ball accurately while galloping, and the polo ball drew a sharp arc and went straight into the opponent's goal!
"Young General Jiang! Young General Jiang!" The ladies watching the game were so excited that their cheeks flushed.
"Interesting." Pei Shaochuan suddenly lowered his voice, "The Gu family actually sent Gu Zhuohan to play."
In the opposite formation, a young man in dark blue clothes was standing on his horse.
His face was stern, and was seven points similar to Gu Sihan, but with a bit more of a murderous aura.
It was the eldest son of the Gu family, Gu Zhuohan.
Luo Wan has seen him!
In the underground arena of the Red Mansion, the boss whose face was as pale as a ghost.
She never thought that this red building was also the Gu family's property.
But it is understandable. In such a big capital, the only one who dares to do such things in front of the emperor is the Gu family.
Seeing him again at this moment, he is very different from when he was in the underground Colosseum. At least he still has the breath of a living person and can even play polo with Jiang Cichen.
A voice in the crowd murmured, "Young Master Gu rarely appeared in public three years ago, and now he's showing up for a polo match..."
"Perhaps, Master Gu has gotten over the pain of losing his wife."
"It seems that he is not as affectionate as the rumors say!"
This is how the world is. When you are negative and gloomy, they feel sorry for you, but when you come out of the gloom, they mock you for being so in love.
In the field, Jiang Cichen and Gu Zhuohan looked at each other from a distance. The moment their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.
"Boom——" The drum sounded suddenly, and a new round of competition began.
Gu Zhuohan was the first to rush out on horseback, his bat swung like a silver snake, and he broke through the defense with a few fake moves.
Jiang Cichen remained calm and suddenly intercepted the opponent when he was about to shoot, and the polo ball flew in the opposite direction!
Gu Zhuohan's face suddenly changed and he hurriedly reined in his horse.
However, the polo ball went straight into the goal.
Pei Shaochuan clapped his hands and exclaimed: "What a great trick!"
The cheers of the crowd rose and fell like waves, occasionally interspersed with the crisp sound of whips and the dull thud of horses' hooves hitting the ground.
Amid the noise, Gu Zhuohan unconsciously glanced towards the high stands.
Luo Wan followed his gaze and saw two people sitting high up in the stands. Judging from their outlines, they were both men.
The curtain covered the faces of the two people. At this moment, a maid came in carrying a jade tray and lifted a corner of the curtain.
Luo Wan then clearly saw the edge of the crimson-purple robe with a golden python pattern. She was very familiar with it. In the entire Northern Kingdom, apart from the Crown Prince Bei Yeji, no one else would wear such clothes.
They were so far away that she couldn't see his face or meet his gaze, but Luo Wan could clearly feel that he was looking at her.
The person next to Beiye Ji moved slightly and looked over here.
In the capital, the only one who could sit with the Crown Prince was the Prince of the Northern Kingdom.
Luo Wan couldn't guess which prince it was. There had never been any rumors in the capital that Beiye Ji had a close relationship with any of his brothers.
Smoke and dust billowed in the polo field.
Jiang Cichen and Gu Zhuohan were separated by a rolling polo ball, like two beasts locking onto their prey. The sunlight imprinted their silhouettes on the sand, the crimson red and the dark blue, clearly distinguished.
The warhorse under Jiang Cichen's crotch was like an arrow shot from a bow, breaking through the air first. He leaned over to control the reins, and the golf club swept out across the grass.
The polo ball bounced up and turned into a new white shadow, heading straight for the blind corner of the opponent's goal.
The dark blue figure cut in diagonally, and the polo stick struck the air accurately. There was a crisp sound of metal colliding, and the polo ball was abruptly stopped, changed direction, and whizzed past the goal post.
The audience burst into cheers for this wonderful scene.
The moment they passed each other, their eyes swept across each other like knives.
There were no words, only the dull thud of horses' hooves crushing the grass and the sound of rapid breathing.
The offensive and defensive positions change.
Gu Zhuohan controlled the ball and rushed forward. With a few clever feints, he deceived two defenders in succession and approached Jiang Cichen. He moved his stick to the left, but suddenly flipped his wrist and poked the stick head to the lower right, aiming at the front leg joint of Jiang Cichen's horse!
At the critical moment, Jiang Cichen suddenly pulled the reins, and the warhorse neighed and stood up!
The heavy horse's hoof narrowly grazed the attacking club.
At the same time, Jiang Cichen leaned back, and using the upward momentum of the horse, he swung the bat backhand from an incredible angle.
"when--!"
The two fine steel batons collided fiercely, sparks flew everywhere, and the huge recoil force made the arms of both men numb.
The polo ball rolled out from the gap between the sticks.
Gu Zhuohan's eyes were cold, and he tried to force his way through with his wrist, but Jiang Cichen suddenly withdrew his strength, and his stick slid skillfully along with the opponent's force, and then dropped down at lightning speed, and the tip of the stick accurately hooked the rolling polo ball.
The polo ball flew into the air, passed over the heads of two people, drew a high arc, and fell straight into the empty space in the opponent's half.
Thank you for waiting for a long time, and the ball went into the net easily.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the match.
The examiner shouted, "Group B wins!"
The cheers were deafening.
Jiang Cichen reined in his horse and returned to Xinjiang. His red riding uniform was soaked with sweat on his shoulders and back. He high-fived Xie Yan who was coming from afar.
When he looked at Gu Zhuohan, the corners of his mouth curled up in a cold, almost provocative arc.
——A tasteless idiot.
The veins on the back of Gu Zhuohan's hand holding the bat bulged, and the red figure burned his eyes.
Pei Shaochuan asked, "Wanwan, do you understand?"
Luo Wan said: "Jiang Cichen won."
In just that instant, Luo Wan seemed to make eye contact with the red-clothed young man who raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his chin.
Pei Shaochuan seemed relieved: "You have been silent the whole time, I thought you were not interested."
Luo Wan said: "It's quite interesting."
The dispute between Jiang and Gu is quite interesting.
Pei Shaochuan said, "Jiang Cichen has returned to the capital, and Gu Zhuohan has come out of seclusion. The Hongwen Academy exams in previous years were not as lively as this year's Poetry and Martial Arts Conference."
Luo Wan casually asked, "Did Jiang Cichen also study at Hongwenguan?"
Pei Shaochuan said, "Of course not. He was once the prince's tutor, but for some unknown reason, he only tutored him for a year or two before leaving. The next time we heard from him, he was on a military expedition."
Luo Wan found it hard to imagine that Jiang Cichen would sit at his desk like a student listening to the teacher's lecture?
Before the cheers subsided, the curtains on the stands were suddenly drawn back, and Bei Yeji came out clapping his hands, "What a show! What a show!"
The whole place fell silent. The bustling polo field seemed to be strangled by an invisible giant hand, and all sounds stopped abruptly.
Pei Shaochuan subconsciously took Luo Wan half a step behind him.
The boiling joy froze on their faces, turning into panic and awe. The crowd knelt down and said, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Everyone get up." Beiye Ji's voice was not loud, and even had a gentle smile.
"I haven't seen such a thrilling match in a long time." Beiye Ji's eyes slowly swept across the entire field, finally landing on the crimson. "Jiang Qing, I haven't seen you for three years. You're even more charming than before."
Jiang Cichen did not dismount, but only nodded slightly, his voice calm and unwavering: "Your Highness, thank you for your kind words."
Beiye Ji said, "How can it be said that such praise is false when even the eldest son of the Gu family is inferior to him in riding and ball skills? No wonder Princess Xiliang fell in love with him at first sight."
Everyone was surprised. Where did this Xiliang Princess come from?
Jiang Cichen simply said, "I only met Princess Xiliang once on the battlefield. My duty is to fulfill it, so why should I discuss anything else?"
Bei Yeji chuckled softly, "It's understandable that Jiang Qing despises the Princess of Xiliang. How can a Xiliang woman be worthy of my Northern Kingdom General? Moreover, there is already a beautiful woman in the capital who has been obsessed with General Jiang."
The crowd was dead silent, and no one wanted to know which young lady from aristocratic family had won Jiang Cichen's favor.
Following the prince's gaze, countless eyes, like searchlights, instantly focused on Luo Wan!
Pei Shaochuan suddenly felt something was wrong and subconsciously moved Luo Wan half a step behind him.
Bei Yeji said slowly, "Jiang Qing's title of Champion Marquis was coined by Miss Chi. Years ago, while hunting, Miss Chi once wore Jiang Qing's black fox coat to keep warm. Someone even saw Miss Chi get off Jiang Qing's carriage a few days ago... Such a fate, how could it be ordinary?"
As soon as these words were spoken, suppressed, tacit whispers broke out.
Bei Yeji's gaze flickered between Jiang Cichen and Luo Wan, with a nauseating amusement, as if he were watching a play. "Mr. Jiang is a young hero, and Miss Chi is a distinguished lady from a prominent family. If they were to be blessed with a perfect match, it would be a wonderful story. How about I act as a matchmaker today?"
The word "matchmaker" weighs more than a thousand pounds.
The prince personally spoke up to "match" them, which seemed like grace on the surface, but in reality was roasting Jiang Cichen and Luo Wan on the raging fire.
The Jiang family has only one son, Jiang Cichen. The Jiang family has been a military family for three generations and is a first-rank noble family. It would be too shabby for him to marry the daughter of a fourth-rank minor official.
What's more, the Chi family is a retainer of the Gu family and a follower of the prince. This is not a marriage at all, it is clearly an attempt to plant a spy in the heart of the Jiang family.
In this suffocating silence, Pei Shaochuan moved.
Luo Wan took the initiative to grab Pei Shaochuan's arm that was blocking her body, and shook her head to signal him not to move or speak.
At this moment, a clear, yet undeniably powerful, voice rang out from behind the curtains of the high platform: "Your Majesty, brother, are quite right. General Jiang and Miss Chi are indeed destined to be together. However, as your Majesty says, they have only met briefly three times. 'You are not a fish, so how can you understand the joy of a fish?' Your Majesty always taught us that a gentleman helps others achieve their goals, and never forces others to do things against their will. Why not hear what General Jiang and Miss Chi really think?"
The gentle smile on Beiye Ji's face froze for a moment: "Ninth brother, are you doubting my judgment?"
Facing the Crown Prince's objection, the Ninth Prince simply said, "I dare not. I simply remember Father's teachings: marriage is a matter of mutual consent. My Royal Brother is known for his kindness and generosity. I'm sure he would prefer to see this auspicious marriage born of genuine desire, rather than forced by external forces."
Bei Yeji's eyes flashed with a sinister look as he asked, "What do Jiang Qing and Miss Chi think?"
For Yu Luowan, if she agreed to this sudden marriage, she would be confirming everything the prince said. This was not the point. The point was that she would be dragged into the center of the vortex of the Jiang family and the princelings.
If you refuse, you will be publicly offending the crown prince.
Luo Wan took a step forward, bowing slightly. Her voice was as clear as jade falling on a plate, piercing the dead silence. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is so kind to me. I am overwhelmed. General Jiang is a pillar of the nation, not someone I can look up to. I am a humble and shallow person, and I dare not have any improper thoughts that would only annoy the General."
Having said that, Luo Wan was actually thinking that if she were to marry this traitor who committed regicide, she would never have a peaceful sleep again.
After a pause, Luo Wan continued, "Besides, Your Highness has spoken so clearly that the Princess of Xiliang has deep feelings for the Young General. This is a matter of great importance to the diplomatic relations between the two countries, a matter of divine grace and the will of the people. Your Highness should fulfill Her Highness's wishes, thus demonstrating the greatness of our Northern Kingdom. As for me, I dare not marry someone so high."
Dead silence.
The silence was even more complete than before.
In the eyes of everyone, Jiang Cichen had not yet said anything, but the daughter of a fourth-rank official had rejected the marriage proposal cleanly and neatly.
Luo Wan used the "diplomatic relations between the two countries" to throw the hot potato back to the prince with incredible precision, saying openly and secretly that Princess Xiliang was in love with Jiang Cichen, and that arranging this marriage would be tantamount to destroying the friendly relations between the two countries.
Pei Shaochuan took a half step forward at the right moment, blocking Luo Wan in front of him again. He put on that cynical smile again and said to Bei Yeji, "Don't be surprised, Your Highness! Wanwan is straightforward and timid. She was frightened by your words and even lost her composure."
After a few breaths, Beiye Ji slowly opened his mouth to smile even wider, but his smile was dull: "I haven't asked Jiang Qing's opinion yet."
"Royal brother," the Ninth Prince interrupted, "it's getting late, and Father is still waiting for us to report the results of the meeting to him."
"Go back to the palace!" Beiye Ji flicked his sleeves, turned around and left surrounded by his followers.
The crimson-purple figure disappeared behind the curtain, leaving behind an eerie silence and countless complex and indescribable gazes in the training ground.
Jiang Cichen's red figure looked particularly glaring and lonely under the awe and complicated gaze of the crowd.
Luo Wan turned around with Pei Shaochuan, blocking out that tangible gaze. She could feel the burning and oppressive gaze, like a thorn in her back.
Xie Yan came to Jiang Cichen's side, his brows furrowed, his voice filled with confusion. "What was Bei Yeji thinking? He actually wanted to match you up with Chi Wanwan? I really don't know why he chose Chi Wanwan. The Chi family isn't the only princeling family with daughters. If he wanted to match you up, he should have chosen a young lady from an aristocratic family who listens to him as a spy."
Jiang Cichen was silent, his red figure casting a long shadow in the setting sun.
Xie Yan waited for a moment, but saw no response. He couldn't help but nudge him with his elbow and jokingly said, "Hey! You didn't say a word just now. Could it be that... you're really thinking about getting married?"
Jiang Cichen finally reacted, but his words were actually in response to Xie Yan's previous question: "Whether this marriage is successful or not, it won't be a loss for him."
"Why?"
Jiang Cichen said, "He chose to mention this matter in public simply to spread the word that I'm having an affair with another woman. The King of Xiliang only has one daughter. How could he tolerate the Princess of Xiliang marrying a fickle man? The King of Xiliang would not agree, and neither would the people of Xiliang."
Xie Yan understood, and at the end, he did not forget to comment: "A treacherous villain."
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