Next, the Fourth Master, along with the Third, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Masters, began to coordinate various formations on the field. The Ryukyuans, with their agility and flexible playing style, perhaps having practiced beforehand, understood the Fourth Master's tactics. It became increasingly difficult to score. They adopted a man-marking strategy from the start, no longer wasting energy.
Gradually, the Ryukyu people's advantage became apparent. They started scoring goals. However, the Fourth Prince and his men were not to be outdone, constantly changing their tactics and also managing to score. The scoring became a close contest, and the spectators were on the edge of their seats, shouting incessantly. Even the Eighth Prince's wife and her entourage joined in the shouting, completely disregarding propriety.
After the match, the Qing Dynasty won against the Ryukyu people by one goal. Lan Qin watched the game and felt that the Ryukyu people's skills were slightly better than those of the Fourth Prince and his team. However, they were not as tall as the Fourth Prince and his team and were not as familiar with the field, which is why they ultimately lost by one goal.
Okubo led his team to the Fourth Prince and said, "Your Highnesses and Princes are indeed incredibly powerful. I admire you."
Fourth Master thought that this Okubo was indeed very impressive. He had just scored several goals, yet he could still maintain such a humble attitude in front of him, which showed how deep his shrewdness was.
"Young Master Tokugawa is too modest. I think your team's playing style is excellent. We'll have another chance to exchange ideas in the future," said the Fourth Prince.
"Thank you for the compliment, but I really don't deserve it. I hope to have another opportunity to communicate with Prince Yong in the future." Tokugawa Okubo bowed his head, greeted the Fourth Prince and the others, and then walked out of the stadium in unison.
This game of Cuju (ancient Chinese football) heightened the atmosphere before the hunt. The foreigners also began exchanging ideas about art, culture, and sports activities from their respective countries.
After making a victory sign with Lanqin and the others, Fourth Master went back to wash up. Now, all they wanted to do was change out of their wet clothes.
"Consort Niu, what did Prince Yong mean by that gesture just now?" Lady Tian asked curiously.
Nian turned her face away in jealousy, refusing to look at them.
Lanqin didn't want to tell them about her little dealings with the Fourth Master, so she said, "It probably means victory."
Meanwhile, the results of the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition had already been reported to the Qianqing Palace in the palace.
Emperor Kangxi was sitting in his side hall, but the gate of the Qianqing Palace was closed, because Kangxi should not be here at this moment, but should be at the Western Hills hunting grounds.
"The fourth prince played a pretty good game of football against the Ryukyuans," Kangxi said after hearing the report from his secret guard.
"Your Majesty, Shi Bingde has already begun deploying his men at the hunting grounds. It seems they intend to create an accident while Your Majesty is hunting," the guard reported.
“Good, very good. Keep an eye on them. I want to prove their crimes irrefutable,” Kangxi said.
After the first person left, a second person came in. They existed around the emperor like ghosts, but no one knew their appearance or family background.
"How is the Crown Prince doing?" Kangxi asked.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has already begun his operation. His men changed shifts in the Imperial Guards yesterday under various pretexts, and almost all of them have entered today. I'm keeping a close eye on their movements. They're probably waiting for Shi Bingde to send a message back," the guard reported.
"Don't touch them yet. Let news come back from over there that 'I' have been caught in an accident. I want to see how this rebellious son will handle this!" Kangxi said angrily.
Inside the Crown Prince's palace.
Xiao Quanzi was drinking with the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince drank cup after cup, his brow furrowing with increasing hostility.
"Your Highness, please be careful. Drinking this wine like this will make you drunk," Xiao Quanzi said in a high-pitched voice, standing beside the Crown Prince.
"If I don't drink, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist," the Crown Prince said.
"Your Highness, what are you enduring?" Xiao Quanzi was the Crown Prince's most favored eunuch, but he was unaware of the Crown Prince's plot with the Shi family.
"I am plotting something truly earth-shattering. Little Quanzi, do you know that if I succeed today, I will be able to sit on that throne tomorrow?" The Crown Prince's face was flushed; in fact, he was drinking because he was afraid, trying to numb his fear with alcohol.
"That position?" Xiao Quanzi suppressed his surprise and looked at the Crown Prince with suspicion.
“Yes, Little Quanzi. That position is coveted by everyone in the world. I have waited far too long. Far too long,” the Crown Prince said. Thinking of everything he had endured over the years, he could finally be free. Although he was still afraid, he also felt a sense of exhilaration at being able to completely rid himself of his worries.
"Your Highness, you mean, that?" Xiao Quanzi was now full of surprise. "The Emperor is still in good health."
"Little Quanzi, you'll know after this day. I'm about to do something that will shock the world," the Crown Prince said.
After saying this, the Crown Prince wanted to drink again, and Xiao Quanzi dared not ask any more questions, so he could only pour the Crown Prince cup after cup of wine.
“Your Highness, the Emperor’s confidants are all over the palace. Even if the Emperor has something, what will those princes do?” Xiao Quanzi said.
"Hmph, I am the Crown Prince. If Father Emperor is no longer here, I will rightfully ascend to that position. What right do they have to object?" A strange light flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes as he said, "I will eliminate all obstacles that prevent me from ascending to that position."
Xiao Quanzi's doubts deepened, and he said, "From what we can see now, it seems that only Prince Yi and Prince Yong can rival Your Highness. Your Highness, if the Emperor is not present, you must be wary of these two."
The Crown Prince said, “Don’t worry, I have made preparations. Fourth Prince, I will not let him come back alive. Third Prince, I know his weakness. He is just a scholar who can only recite a few poems. He does not have the power to stop me.”
"Your Highness, the Emperor has so many guards around him, you must plan carefully!" Xiao Quanzi said.
"Rest assured, I have made thorough plans. It will be resolved in the next few days." The Crown Prince seemed unwilling to elaborate.
Seeing that he couldn't get any information out of the prince, Xiao Quanzi had no choice but to drink with him. After a few more cups, the prince became dizzy and was helped to bed by Xiao Quanzi. After serving the prince until he was settled, Xiao Quanzi secretly went to the eunuchs' quarters.
"Grandpa Bao, Grandpa Bao!" Xiao Quanzi arrived at the place where A Bao lived and knocked on the door a few times.
"Who's there!" a voice came from inside the house.
"It's me, Xiao Quanzi. Eunuch Bao, I have something to tell you. Open the door quickly," Xiao Quanzi said.
A moment later, the door was pushed open from the inside. Ah Bao's face appeared in the doorway.
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