Chapter 100, first published on Jinjiang Literature City, 100 chapters, Peacock
The palace was bustling with activity today, and the emperor still welcomed the Chaha tribe who had come from afar.
The palace not only hosted a banquet but also organized a polo match, aiming to enhance the friendship between the people of the two countries.
Hearing about the polo match, the people of the Chaha tribe became interested and were extremely excited all morning.
You know, things were really chaotic in the tribe last year, and the Naadam festival was canceled. They've been itching to play polo for ages. Isn't His Majesty afraid of losing too humiliatingly?
Haha! Let's hurry and go to the palace to play!
Ruan Yu also heard the news early in the morning.
Ruan Ziyan was ecstatic: "Sister, Mother, I want to go... I want to play polo too...!"
Jiang was still angry with her son: "Don't even think about it! You've been getting more and more outrageous lately!"
Ruan Ziyan: "I definitely won't play... I just want to go and watch..."
He looked at his elder sister pitifully. Ruan Yu had actually been thinking about whether or not to go to the palace today.
Since her conversation with her father that day, Prince Chen has stopped interfering with Ruan Yu's decisions, so she was actually hesitant about whether to go to the palace today...
Chao Lu's words from yesterday are still echoing in my mind...
"Sister..."
Ruan Yu said helplessly, "Okay... I know, I'll take you there."
"Yay! Big sister is the best!"
By the time Ruan Yu finished dressing up, it was almost 9 AM. At this hour, the people from the Chaha tribe had already entered the palace.
She wasn't in a hurry and walked slowly forward.
Ruan Ziyan sat properly in the carriage, though excited, he kept the rules in mind.
At this very moment, Chaolu and his entourage had already entered the palace, and the emperor was already receiving the Chahar tribe near Chengtian Gate. Several princes of the imperial clan and officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites stood beside Emperor Qianyuan. Chaolu led more than ten members of the Chahar tribe forward. Today, he had changed out of the animal skin robes commonly seen on the grasslands and was wearing a dark blue brocade robe in the style of the Central Plains, with a silver belt around his waist. He looked heroic and more disciplined.
"Khan, you have come from afar; you must be very tired," Emperor Qianyuan said first, his tone gentle yet retaining his imperial dignity.
The emperors of Chaolu and the Central Plains bowed, their hands clasped in front of them, and said, “Your Majesty is too kind. Dagan and Chahar are neighbors and have a long-standing friendship. Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, it is only right that our tribe come to offer our congratulations. We hope Your Majesty will accept this small gift.”
Behind them was a group of people carrying gifts that had just arrived in Chang'an.
Among the gifts presented to His Majesty the Emperor were a fine horse and a rare gyrfalcon.
Emperor Qian Yuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I have long heard that you are the most outstanding hunter on the grasslands and that you also have a gyrfalcon. I never expected to see you today."
Chao Lu: "I do have one, but this is only a gift for Your Majesty. May our two nations be friendly and our friendship last forever."
Emperor Qianyuan was slightly taken aback, then laughed loudly: "Very good, very good, Khan, I accept this gift. Great Khan, please, I will host a banquet today to welcome you! I have also arranged a polo match today. I have heard that the Chahar tribe is skilled in riding and archery, so it will be a good opportunity for me and my officials to witness the prowess of the steppe warriors."
Chao Lu: "That is exactly what I wish for."
As they spoke, Chao Lu and Emperor Qian Yuan entered the main hall together, with the officials following behind.
After entering the palace, Chao Lu glanced around without making a sound. To his slight disappointment, he did not see the figure he was looking forward to.
Emperor Qianyuan keenly noticed his gaze, followed it, smiled knowingly, but said nothing.
Everyone took their seats in accordance with etiquette.
This palace banquet was a meeting between the emperor and the Khan, and all the procedures were in accordance with the rules. Not only was the eldest princess absent, but even Prince Chen was not present.
Chao Lu could only refocus his attention and discuss important matters with Emperor Qian Yuan.
At this moment, Ruan Yu's carriage had just passed through the Zhuque Gate.
Along the way, Ruan Ziyan, being just a child, couldn't help but ask his older sister about things on the grasslands.
“I spent a few days with him… He’s really amazing, but I was too stupid. I didn’t know his true identity. He also has a name from the Central Plains, Wei Jun. Do you know that, sister?”
Ruan Yu: "Um...I know."
"There's polo later, and maybe wrestling too. Do you want to go watch, sister?"
"Didn't you want to go? I'll just look around casually."
Ruan Yu seemed uninterested, but Ruan Ziyan smiled and said, "Sister is the best."
After entering the palace, Ruan Yu became somewhat nervous, though she couldn't explain why.
Chao Lu had been talking with Emperor Qian Yuan for a long time, and by the end, his expression had clearly become somewhat solemn.
Emperor Qian Yuan smiled and said, "It's about time. Shall we go to the polo field?"
Chao Lu also stood up, a sense of disappointment passing through his heart.
The polo field was located in the western garden of the palace, a wide grassy area surrounded by a wooden fence, with a viewing platform erected on the north side. At this time, the contestants from the Daqian side had already arrived, mostly young members of the royal family and descendants of military generals, all dressed in tight-fitting clothes, leading their warhorses, and eager to compete; the members of the Chahar tribe also quickly changed into short robes that were easy to ride and shoot, mounted their horses, and galloped around the field twice, drawing cheers from the viewing platform.
Chen Wang arrived during the competition.
Sitting atop the viewing platform, he remained detached, like a hermit, observing everything with indifference.
When Chaolu arrived, he sat down as well. Emperor Qianyuan smiled and said, "If the Khan gets bored later, he can go up and stretch his muscles."
Chao Lu smiled and said, "Let's talk about it later."
He is the Khan, and whether he goes or not is entirely up to him; Emperor Qian Yuan certainly wouldn't force him.
Also present today was Toya, who sat in the back with the Chaha tribe, her gaze fixed on Chaolu with a deep, unsettling look.
"The match begins!"
At the command of the master of ceremonies, the referee tossed the red polo ball into the air, and both sides immediately spurred their horses forward. Although the players from the Da Gan side were familiar with the rules of polo, they were not as skilled as the riders from the grasslands. A member of the Chahar tribe swung his mallet first, striking the polo ball toward the opponent's goal. Just as a point was about to be scored, a descendant of a Da Gan general suddenly spurred his horse to intercept. The mallets collided with a loud "thud," and the polo ball changed direction, landing in the center of the field.
Emperor Qian Yuan on the viewing platform watched with great interest, clapping and cheering, but Chao Lu was somewhat absent-minded, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the entrance of the viewing platform.
Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance, and a servant announced loudly, "The Princess has arrived!"
Instantly, Chao Lu's eyes lit up.
Emperor Qian Yuan seemed a little surprised, as he had obviously thought An An wouldn't come.
Even King Chen looked over.
Chaolu's breathing became a little rapid, and his neck stretched even longer.
As Ruan Yu stepped forward, the sunlight fell directly on her face, making her skin appear even whiter and her eyes brighter. Ruan Ziyan followed beside her, skipping and pointing excitedly at the court, saying something. Ruan Yu listened attentively, a faint smile playing on her lips.
The eldest princess naturally had her own spot on the viewing platform. When she passed by Chao Lu, Ruan Yu could feel his burning gaze without even having to turn her head.
Because it was so obvious, Ruan Yu's ears felt slightly hot.
Before taking their seats, Ruan Yu and Emperor Qian Yuan bowed to each other. Emperor Qian Yuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you've come at the perfect time. The polo match is in full swing. Let's watch together."
"yes."
"good!"
A cheer erupted from the viewing platform. The first round ended in a draw, proving that the Jinyiwei generals were not to be underestimated. The grassland soldiers, who hadn't been very serious at first, were now becoming serious as well.
The next game will clearly be an upgrade in the competition.
Suddenly, a military general named Li Su stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have always longed for the grasslands and wanted to spar with the warriors there. This time, I have dared to ask the Khan for guidance on riding and archery. I know I have offended Your Majesty and the Khan, but if I do not seize this opportunity, I fear I will never have another chance!"
Chao Lu looked at the man.
Emperor Qianyuan laughed and said, "Great Khan, this is Li Su, the valiant general of our dynasty. His ancestors were also a family of martial arts practitioners for generations."
Chaolu: "I've heard of you. Who is General Li of Zhenbeiguan?"
“Reporting to the Khan, that is my grandfather.”
Chao Lu laughed and said, "As expected of someone born into a military family. Perfect, I'm getting tired of sitting here. How would you like to have a friendly spar?"
Li Su was overjoyed when he heard there was hope!
"I will obey the Khan!"
The civil and military officials were also intrigued; if they could actually see the Khan of the steppes appear, their trip today would not have been in vain.
Chao Lu thought for a moment and said, "Let's have a match each in polo and archery, but I won't wrestle with you." People from the Central Plains are generally weaker, so as not to be accused of bullying.
Li Su: "Okay!"
Chao Lu stood up, and a cheer erupted not far away.
As he stepped off the viewing platform, he glanced at Ruan Yu out of the corner of his eye, and Ruan Yu looked somewhat helpless.
Has brought over the Xiangwu, which was clearly a fine horse! Its appearance immediately drew envy from many.
"What a fine horse!"
Chao Lu mounted his horse, glanced again in the direction where Ruan Yu had sat, and gently stroked the wooden handle of the polo mallet with his fingertips, a hint of excitement gradually igniting in his eyes.
Li Su's side has also made preparations.
With the sound of a gong and drum.
"Next match, begin!"
The first half has just ended, and the score is still close.
When Chao Lu entered the arena, he immediately changed the situation—riding Xiangwu, he nimbly weaved through the herd of horses, and the polo mallet seemed to come alive in his hands, his interceptions and shots were incredibly accurate.
The crowd immediately erupted in cheers.
Li Su was clearly no less skilled. He suddenly spurred his horse out from the rear, gently flicked the polo ball with his mallet, and then, with a flick of his wrist, struck the ball towards the center of the field. The force of the blow sent the ball tracing a beautiful arc through the air.
Ruan Ziyan was so excited he was practically blind, his eyes practically glued to the screen. Ruan Yu on the viewing platform also straightened up, his gaze still fixed on Xiang Chaolu.
In an instant, she felt as if she had returned to the grasslands of the Chaha tribe, and the image of Chaolu riding a horse and galloping with her was still vivid in her mind.
The excitement on the field was clearly still going on. Chao Lu stared at the opponent's goal, took a deep breath, and spurred his horse toward the ball's landing point.
Li Su quickly followed, attempting to intercept them. The two horses were almost side by side, and the polo mallets collided in the air, making a crisp sound.
Chao Lu seized the opportunity, suddenly turned to the side, flicked his wrist, and the polo mallet struck the polo ball precisely—with a "thud," the polo ball shot straight into the opponent's goal like an arrow!
"The Khan wins!"
The people of the Chahar tribe cheered.
Li Su's horse gradually came to a stop, his breathing unsteady.
"Great Khan, you are mighty!"
General Li's archery skills were among the best in the army, but compared to the best on the grasslands, he was indeed at a disadvantage.
He accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.
Emperor Qian Yuan stood up, clapped his hands, and laughed loudly: "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
Chao Lu reined in his horse, turned around and looked at the viewing platform. His eyes immediately fell on Ruan Yu, and a big smile appeared on his face, with a youthful sense of pride.
Ruan Yu curled her lips into a smile, but it was fleeting.
The archery competition that followed was also quite exciting. After all, Chaolu was the Khan, so he only sparred with Li Su once. The rest of the time, his subordinates competed together.
Li Su had no regrets. Before returning to the viewing platform, he shook hands with Chao Lu.
"I have no regrets now. I wonder how long the Khan plans to stay in the capital?"
"Not sure? What, you want to spar with me privately?"
Li Su, whose thoughts had been seen through, did not hide anything, "Yes, there are some. If you ever feel like stretching your muscles, you can come to me anytime."
Chao Lu laughed heartily: "Easy!"
As he turned to leave, he suddenly saw Pei Du in the crowd, who smiled at him in his official robes.
Chaolu suddenly remembered the information Yang Chong had gathered—
Although it was just a rumor that the emperor intended to choose a consort for the eldest princess, it was a certainty that Pei Du would be sending gifts to the Prince of Chen's residence every day.
In an instant, Chao Lu's face darkened.
Pei Du: "?"
-
Back on the viewing platform, Emperor Qian Yuan and Chao Lu continued their lively conversation. Ruan Ziyan, having thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, let out a long sigh of relief: "I must practice martial arts diligently."
Ruan Yu: "Alright, did you enjoy it today?"
"Hehe, that was so much fun, sister... I think the Khan is amazing... If I had known, I would have had him practice with me more..."
Qingguo smiled and said, "Young master, there will be other opportunities later... The Khan will probably stay in Chang'an for a while longer."
Ruan Ziyan glanced cautiously at his older sister, Ruan Yu, who didn't say anything. After a moment, he glanced at Chao Lu's head, which was constantly tilting in their direction, and whispered, "The competition is over, let's go."
As she got up to leave, she forgot what Emperor Qian Yuan had just said and stared blankly at him.
In fact, besides Emperor Qianyuan, other ministers also saw it, but they understood implicitly and remained silent.
The polo match gradually came to an end, and there was a banquet in the evening, which was just about eating and drinking.
Chao Lu made an excuse to slip away, intending to chase after Ruan Yu.
But the palace is full of people and eyes, making it really difficult to get close to her.
Ruan Yu hadn't gone far when she first encountered Zheng Shuyu, the eldest daughter of the Grand Secretary's family and her future sister-in-law.
Zheng Shuyu bowed to her, and Ruan Yu, also concerned about her brother's important life event, took the initiative to suggest going for a stroll in the Imperial Garden.
Zheng Shuyu also had the same idea.
"I heard that Miss Zheng grew up in Youzhou?" Ruan Yu spoke first, and Zheng Shuyu smiled and said, "Yes, I grew up in Youzhou. I'm not used to Chang'an yet."
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "You'll get used to it eventually. Besides, I still have my brother."
Zheng Shuyu's cheeks flushed red upon hearing this, as if she and her brother were childhood sweethearts: "Princess, you..."
"What's wrong? Am I wrong? The wedding should be coming soon, right?"
Zheng Shuyu blushed even more: "No, not yet... at least we'll have to wait until next year."
"You're younger than me, right?"
"Hmm... I'm two years younger than the princess."
Ruan Yu gasped, "Brother really is..."
She hadn't expected Zheng Shuyu to be so easily teased; her cheeks turned as red as apples after just a few words. But the young girl wasn't about to back down: "Didn't we say that the princess would be chosen for a matchmaking session at the Qionglin Banquet next month..."
Ruan Yu paused for a moment, then smiled calmly and said, "No, that won't happen."
"Um?"
Ruan Yu said calmly, "I've already been married before, so I won't be looking for another partner."
Zheng Shuyu's eyes widened: "You mean the Khan..."
"Although many people don't want to talk about this, it's true, even though my relationship with him has changed... It's just that so much has happened in the last few months, and I'm still feeling confused."
Zheng Shuyu gasped: "We all thought..."
"Did you think I didn't want to go back to the grasslands?"
"yes……"
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "Actually, it's hard to say. We'll see how it goes."
Zheng Shuyu understood and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "Judging from the Khan's performance? No wonder His Majesty didn't prepare for this matter seriously... Perhaps it was also a test for the Khan. However, I also saw him at the polo match today, and he was indeed in high spirits."
Ruan Yu: "..."
What a spirited and dashing figure.
She looks about the same as a peacock...
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