Chapter 80 Polo

Ming Huashang thought about the fact that she had originally intended to give the sachet to Su Xingzhi today, and she felt a little guilty. She chuckled twice and said, "Second brother is both a scholar and a warrior, and he is a handsome man. Naturally, everything he has is worth being unique."

Ming Huazhang stroked his purse with his fingers, his eyelashes drooped, and the expression in his eyes could not be seen clearly. He said slowly: "Shang Shang is also unique in my heart. I just don't know, am I unique in your heart?"

Ming Huashang found that since the night when they had a bad conversation, Ming Huazhang's attitude became more and more strange and aggressive. Ming Huashang was not sure whether he did it on purpose or she was just being sentimental. She said vaguely, "I only have one brother, my second brother, so of course he is unique."

Ming Huashang silently added in her heart that Ming Huazhang was her only one in the first sixteen years, and Su Xingzhi was her only brother after she returned to the Su family, so there was nothing wrong with it. She just forgot to mention a prerequisite, how could it be considered a lie?

Ming Huazhang finally felt relieved. He put down the book, stood up and said, "I feel relieved to see you return safely. It's getting late, go to bed."

After that, he paused and said, "Shang Shang, remember what you said today. I don't want to compete with Ren Yao, but at least, I can't let other men surpass me."

Ming Huachang looked up and accidentally met Ming Huazhang's eyes. One of them was standing and the other was sitting, Ming Huazhang was looking down, the candlelight cast a shadow on him, his eyes were hidden in the semi-darkness, moist and deep, the light was calm, and it seemed very ambiguous.

That strange feeling came back. Ming Huachang inexplicably felt that Ming Huazhang was like a hunting cat. After seeing the prey, he would guard it without eating it, and poke at it with his claws. He would not eat it, but he would not allow the prey to leave him. She paused, smiled, stood up, and agreed without much concern: "Okay. Goodbye, second brother."

After Ming Huashang stood up, she could see his eyes more clearly. They were crystal clear, black and white, as if the previous glance was just an illusion. She saw Ming Huazhang out, and as soon as she reached the door, Ming Huazhang asked her to stop. After telling her the time to pay respects tomorrow, he turned around and walked into the autumn breeze.

Ming Huashang had been playing all day and was already tired. She quickly put the previous conversation behind her, washed up, and went to sleep.

The next day, Ming Huazhang went with her to pay her respects. As expected, old lady Ming was in a bad mood, but with Ming Huazhang around, it was inconvenient for the old lady to lose her temper. She could only scold Ming Huashang a few words with a cold face and asked her to copy some books to calm her down.

Ming Huachang was in a good mood and was not really bothered by being scolded, but Ming Huazhang could not stand it. Ming Huazhang could not openly blame the old lady, so he went to Ming Huachang's yard in private and brought her a lot of compensation. The Duke of Zhenguo was also worried that his daughter was upset, so he bought new things from outside to cheer her up.

Ming Huachang had the latest food delivered to her every day, all kinds of toys to play with, and she could stay at home without leaving the house. She was living the life she had always dreamed of. She pretended to copy a few pages of the rules for women, and then she ate and slept as she pleased. She lived a more comfortable life than usual, which made people wonder whether she was punished by her elders or whether they were treated coldly by her.

After lying down for a few days, news came from the palace that the empress was going to play polo with the newly-minted Jinshi and royal relatives. Ming Huashang had to struggle to get up, put on her clothes, and go to Furong Garden for the banquet.

Polo, also known as Jiju, was all the rage. This sport requires sitting on a horse and hitting a fist-sized ball. It tests both riding skills and teamwork. It is highly competitive and entertaining. It is the favorite sport of the royal family and nobles, second only to hunting. Taizong once used it as a military training project, and later Gaozong and the empress also attached great importance to it. After the prosperity of the imperial examination, the two events were even combined to become the climax of the annual imperial examination celebrations - the polo match for new Jinshi.

This was naturally a kind of grand demeanor. Even the top scholars who had gone through long examinations and layers of screening were all versatile talents who could play ball on horseback and draw a bow on foot. The newly-appointed scholars played polo in the royal garden in front of the people of Chang'an. This was not only a way to have fun with the people and show their talents to the superiors, but also a threat to the surrounding vassal states.

The empress was getting older and it was time for the empire to change its successor, so it was particularly important to show the power of the country. This was the first time the empress had shown her martial virtues after returning to Chang'an. She attached great importance to it. Not only did she go out of the palace to watch the game in person, but she also brought the crown prince, the prince of Xiang, the prince of Liang and other princes and princesses of Li and Wu with her. She also opened the Furong Garden that day and allowed the people to enter and exit freely.

The palace was so full of excitement that other officials and nobles also became busy. The gentlemen hurriedly practiced horse riding, planning to surprise everyone on the day of the competition, and the ladies also bought new clothes and skirts like spinning tops, looking forward to the garden tour with joy, hoping that they could find a good partner.

Ming Huashang had no interest in these things, but Madam Ming was very serious about it, and the second and third wives were desperate to dress up their daughters. For a time, the prices of Chang'an's horses, rouge, and powder soared, and the merchants in the East and West markets competed to launch new products, with each one shouting louder than the last. In the midst of this national carnival, the day of the polo match arrived.

Ming Huashang followed her elders and sisters out of the house. It was no surprise that Chang'an was once again jammed with traffic. Ming Huashang opened the curtains. In front of her were neatly dressed servants wearing all kinds of family crests, shouting at each other and refusing to give in. Looking back, there were also BMWs and luxury cars, and there was no end in sight. Ming Huashang lowered the curtains and sat back in the car, saying, "Come on, wait. I can't move for a while."

Ming Huashang and Ming Shuo were in the same car. Ming Shuo was checking her makeup for the umpteenth time. She caught a glimpse of Ming Huashang fanning herself without any image, sneered, and said sarcastically, "You have no manners when sitting. It's not decent."

Ming Huashang leaned against the carriage, fanning herself with a round fan. If she hadn't been concerned about the crowd, she would have unbuttoned her collar to get some fresh air. She looked at Ming Shuo, who was wearing three layers of thick and gorgeous clothes, and asked in confusion, "Aren't you hot?"

Ming Shuo snorted, her neck turning red from her depression, but she still held her neck high and said, "Today is a big day. We have a new Jinshi in our family. I don't know how many ladies have been paying attention to our family along the way. Maybe he will even meet the princess in a while. How can I be unruly?"

Ming Huashang tutted her words and asked, "So what does this have to do with the heat? If you go to see the princess, will the sun be lenient towards you?"

"You!" Ming Shuo was furious. He glared at Ming Huashang angrily and raised his head and said, "Summer insects cannot talk about ice. I have nothing to say to you."

Ming Huashang shrugged, also thinking that there was no point in talking. The closer they got to Furong Garden, the slower the carriage moved. Ming Huashang opened the curtains to let in some air. She saw a stall selling cold drinks on the side of the road, so she called Zhaocai over and whispered, "Ask the stall how much cold drinks are on sale. If the price is right, buy as much as you want and bring them back to our car."

Ming Shuo had been eavesdropping when he heard Ming Huashang asking someone to buy some drinks. He was angry and looked down on her: "You are such a useless person. The garden is full of nobles and their families, and you are still thinking about food? Aren't you afraid of losing face in front of the nobles?"

There were endless banquets of various names in the capital. In order to maintain their appearance, the young ladies would not eat or drink anything before the banquets. Some even went on a diet three or four days in advance.

Ming Huashang leaned one arm on the car window, slowly waving a round fan, and said leisurely: "My silly sister, eating and drinking are the most important things in life. As long as there is food and drink, there is nothing to worry about. If there is nothing to eat and drink, even the king of heaven will come and it will be useless."

Ming Shuo sneered at this, looking down on this cousin who had a superior status but did not make progress and only knew how to eat and drink. The legitimate daughter of the Duke should have been the face of the Duke's Mansion, but such a heavy responsibility fell on Ming Huashang, which was a waste of talent and the heavens were blind.

The carriage team moved very slowly, but fortunately this place was very close to Hibiscus Garden. After half an hour, Ming Huashang finally stood in Hibiscus Garden.

Ming Huazhang, as one of the protagonists today, did not act with the Zhenguo Mansion, but entered the palace early and will come to Furong Garden with the Empress, the Crown Prince and others.

Madam Ming regarded this appearance as her life. In her opinion, Ming Huazhang's success in winning the second place was a good sign for the Ming family's comeback. She must seize today's opportunity to reopen the social circle of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. It would be best if she could use her granddaughters to make some good marriages to pave the way for Ming Huazhang's future career.

Ming Huashang followed the elders obediently. On the way from the parking lot to the polo field, Mrs. Ming stopped more than ten times, constantly greeting other noble ladies and looking at each other. Ming Huashang pretended to smile shyly and waited in boredom. Finally, she arrived at the polo field, which was already filled with elegant people and fragrant air.

The royal family had not yet arrived, and the ladies were scattered around socializing, with constant laughter. Because of Ming Huazhang, the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion had become quite popular during this period. As soon as the old lady Ming appeared, she attracted a lot of attention. Many ladies took the initiative to bring their daughters to greet them, and asked about Ming Huazhang's marriage openly and secretly.

When the wife of the Minister of Personnel, Mrs. Wu, came over with her daughter, everyone in the Ming family was surprised. The wrinkles on Mrs. Ming's face were all smiling. She took the other lady's hand and looked at her left and right, and asked, "Ms. Wu is so pretty. What kind of books do you usually read?"

Miss Wu lowered her head, with a gentle and coy expression that was just right: "I am a dull girl, and I have only read the "Book of Filial Piety", "Zuo Zhuan" and "Wenxuan".

Old Madam Ming was more satisfied after hearing this. The Minister of Personnel was in charge of the promotion of court personnel and was the head of the six ministries. The imperial examinations were so turbulent, but in fact, passing the imperial examinations only gave one the qualification to be an official. Whether one would be granted an official position and what position one would be granted depended on the selection and evaluation of the Ministry of Personnel.

有鎮國公府的名頭在，吏部不至于不給明華章授予官職，可是朝中水深，分配到什麽位置幾乎決定着未來上限，可以說明華章接下來的官途，全掌握在吏部尚書手中。

尚書夫人吳氏主動來找明家，簡直讓明老夫人受寵若驚。能和吏部尚書的女兒結親，京城多少兒郎求之不得，而這位小娘子還得父親寵愛，讀的都是男子的書，若把她娶回家來，何愁明華章不能分到一個肥缺？

明老夫人看向吳小娘子的目光愈發慈愛，她親切地拍着吳小娘子的手，對吳夫人笑道：“小娘子聰慧好學，溫柔賢淑，夫人好福氣。”

吳夫人笑：“她呀，被她阿父寵壞了，像個皮猴一樣，老夫人這話可真是擡舉她。”

明老夫人和吳夫人相視而笑，心照不宣地說着體己話。明華裳就站在明老夫人身後，她聽着這些話，像迎面被人潑了盆涼水，寒意從血管竄入她心尖。

她當然明白明老夫人和吳夫人的意思，吳夫人相中了明華章，有意結親，明老夫人也十分樂見其成。

是啊，吏部尚書的女兒，多好的親事。明華裳仿佛被人堵住呼吸，渾身憋悶卻又無處釋放。

明華章芝蘭玉樹，尚書千金蕙質蘭心，任誰看都會覺得十分般配，她甚至連不高興的資格都沒有。

吳夫人和明老夫人寒暄過後，注意到隊伍中站着一位青蔥一樣的小娘子。她身材勻稱，穿着鵝黃上襦，石榴紅裙，肩系湖藍披帛，顏色鮮豔亮麗，不像時下小娘子那樣追求楚楚可憐、弱柳扶風，看着健康而自然。

吳夫人又仔細去看她的相貌。她長着一張鵝蛋臉，秀鼻朱口，杏眼大而圓，是很明豔、有福氣的長相。但那雙眼睛卻像林深遇鹿，清澈靈動，看着人時含情脈脈，欲言還休，霎間給她增添了不少靈氣。宛如一株盛放的三色牡丹，美麗而不呆板，富麗而不庸俗。

吳夫人心裏暗暗驚豔，她早就知道鎮國公府有位出息的公子，明華章在洛陽時就已經是有名的才子，和陳郡謝氏謝濟川齊名，如今他們兩人又雙雙中進士，實乃一段佳話。

俊俏又上進的少年郎可遇不可求，何況明華章潔身自好，從不出入聲色場所，身邊甚至沒有通房侍妾。兼之他生母早逝，這些年鎮國公專心教導兒子，一直沒有續娶，這份家教尤為難得。所以無論吳尚書還是吳夫人，都對明華章十分滿意。

吳夫人今日來之前有意打探過鎮國公府的情況，但她竟不知，公府裏還有這樣一位相貌出衆的娘子。

吳夫人心中驚訝又警惕，笑着問：“這位小娘子面生，她是……”

明老夫人回眸瞥了眼，道：“哦，這是老身的二孫女，二郎的同胞妹妹，讓夫人見笑了。”

明華裳沒料到話題突然轉到她身上，笑着行禮問好。吳夫人隐約記起明華章似乎是龍鳳胎，驚訝問：“莫非，這就是二郎的龍鳳胎妹妹？”

“正是她。”

吳夫人隐隐提着的一口氣松下去，笑容越發真摯，把明華裳拉近打量。連吳小娘子聽到明華裳是明華章的妹妹後也熱情多了，一改剛才當她是隐形人的态度，親近地和她說話。

明華裳被吳小娘子碰到後，差一點本能抽手。她勉力保持着微笑，只聽不說，無論問什麽都微笑以對，果然沒一會，吳小娘子就聊不下去，悻悻放開她的手。

明老夫人見明華裳那個木頭樣子實在來氣，幸而她還有兩個聰明的孫女，明妤、明妁看到機會，立刻接話，不動聲色将明華裳擠出去。

明妤在心裏嘲笑明華裳蠢笨，不懂得和尚書千金、未來嫂子打好關系，殊不知明華裳心裏也松了口氣，她在老夫人身後當了會隐形人，見沒人注意她，悄悄對三夫人說：“三嬸，我去更衣。”

三夫人忙着交好尚書夫人呢，聞言只是随意點了點頭，連頭都沒回。明華裳無聲脫離隊伍，招財跟在她身後，不解地問：“娘子，您怎麽出來了？”

放眼望去，到處都是輕聲談笑的貴族夫人和武裝到頭發絲的大家閨秀，每個人都忙着交際。明華裳快步穿過這片熙熙攘攘的名利場，淡淡說：“一群面具人，沒一句真話，沒意思。”

“啊？”招財詫異，又有些着急，快步追在明華裳身後，“可是娘子，您要說親了。您本身就沒有母親張羅，又不去認識那些貴夫人，您的親事可怎麽辦？”

“我現在是女冠，本身就不用說親。”明華裳心情似乎格外差，冷冷道了句，“何況，婚姻嫁娶又不是喝水吃飯，不成婚莫非還能死了嗎？”

招財驚詫地望着明華裳，往常無論多大的事，明華裳都情緒穩定，甚至能反過來開解她們這些丫鬟，招財跟着明華裳這麽多年，還是第一次見她發這麽大脾氣。

明華裳意識到自己失态了，她深吸一口氣，很快控制好情緒，說：“天氣太熱了，我被曬得心浮氣躁。招財，去車上取一杯冷飲過來，我渴了。”

“啊？”招財臉上複雜，欲言又止，“娘子，這麽多官眷在呢，您要喝冷飲？”

“不然呢？”明華裳同樣詫異掃了她一眼，目光澄澈無辜，“在宴會上喝水觸犯律法嗎？”

招財說不出話了，叉手後默默轉身。明華裳随意從場中掃過，目光猛地頓住，對招財說：“拿兩杯過來。”

把招財支走後，明華裳一身輕松，慢慢朝馬球場邊緣走去。

馬球場外站着一位女子，她身材柔韌纖長，穿着時興的襦裙，只不過顏色稍顯素淡。她遠遠避開人群，站在馬球場邊遠眺，風掀起她茶白色的裙擺，宛若即将乘風而起。

明華裳只一眼就認出那是蘇雨霁。明華裳實在不想回去聽祖母和尚書夫人商量明華章的婚事，相比之下，還不如去和真千金聊聊。

今日有兄長的馬球賽，蘇雨霁一大早就趕來芙蓉園。然而來了之後她卻十分失望，這些看着溫柔和善，其實比誰都勢利眼的官宦夫人……不談也罷。

蘇雨霁獨自尋了個偏僻的地方吹風，要不是為了蘇行止，她簡直想扭頭就走。她正出神望着空曠的馬球場，身後突然傳來一道含笑的嗓音：“蘇娘子。”

蘇雨霁驚訝回頭，看到來人詫異又警惕：“怎麽是你？”

“是我呀。”明華裳笑着蹦到蘇雨霁身邊，說，“你也來看馬球賽？估計開場還有好一會呢，日頭這麽毒，我們去旁邊蔭涼地坐坐吧。”

蘇雨霁看着明華裳，心中頗為無語。這些貴族小娘子社交起來都是如此旁若無人嗎，她們很熟嗎，明華裳就來邀請她？

蘇雨霁淡道：“不了，謝謝，我要在這裏等我兄長，明娘子的好意恐無福消受。”

明華裳就像聽不懂蘇雨霁言外之意一樣，依然笑吟吟道：“我也要等我阿兄，一起吧。還沒有恭喜令兄奪得狀元，那日游街，蘇狀元可真是風采照人。”

伸手不打笑臉人，明華裳如此主動，蘇雨霁也不好冷臉，只好點頭道謝：“多謝。阿兄和我說過，明華章和謝濟川才是真正才華橫溢之人，他能奪冠，多少存了些僥幸。”

“能考贏就是厲害，這世上哪有那麽多僥幸？”明華裳笑着問，“蘇狀元會打馬球嗎？他騎術怎麽樣，今日能不能衛冕？”

蘇雨霁默默望着明華裳，她真的好恐怖，蘇雨霁都忍不住懷疑她們的關系了。蘇雨霁說：“阿兄騎術尚可，但馬球是團體運動，能不能贏，得看隊伍。”

“也是。”明華裳點頭，說，“雖然蘇狀元很厲害，但我還是賭我二兄贏。”

蘇雨霁無語地望着她：“随你。”

她本來也沒指望過明華裳向着他們吧？反正蘇行止的為人她清楚，無論如何，在她心裏蘇行止都是最好的。

經過這番對話，蘇雨霁對明華裳稍微熟悉了些。她們在終南山就見過，如今在人滿為患的芙蓉園裏相遇，算是難得的熟人了。周圍人聲鼎沸，沒人注意她們這邊，明華裳突然問：“那日在天香樓，是你故意碰倒晾衣杆的吧？”

蘇雨霁淡淡瞥了眼，道：“我沒去過天香樓，不知道你在說什麽。”

時刻隐瞞身份，隐藏行蹤，是一位合格的玄枭衛。明華裳點點頭，不再追問，輕聲道：“多謝。”

蘇雨霁依然沒理她。這時候招財抱着兩杯冷飲過來了，她找了很久，總算在場中找到明華裳，她氣喘籲籲地跑過來，道：“娘子，您怎麽站到這裏來了，叫奴婢好找。”

明華裳回頭看到招財，笑眯眯招手：“招財，快過來見過蘇娘子。”

蘇雨霁聽到那個名字，微微一怔，以為自己聽錯了。招財以為這是某位貴族娘子，依言行禮：“奴婢參見娘子。”

Ming Huashang took the cold drink from Zhaocai and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Zhaocai. Go take a rest in the shade. You don't need to follow me here."

Zhaocai was also a young girl of seventeen or eighteen. It was a rare opportunity for her to come to the beautiful Furong Garden, so how could she not want to look around? She hesitated: "But my wife..."

"I'm an adult now, it's fine for me to stay here for a while." Ming Huashang said generously, "Go ahead, if grandma asks, just say I asked you to leave, don't worry."

Zhaocai said no more, crossed his arms and ran away happily. Su Yuji looked at Ming Huashang and the maid, and to be honest, she was a little surprised.

Her grandmother had been a maid in a wealthy family, and she knew very well that in the eyes of those ladies, maids were not considered human beings at all, and they were supposed to be loyal, tireless, and protect their masters from disasters. Especially on such an important occasion as today, no lady would let a maid go out to play.

But Ming Huashang and the maid got along casually and naturally, not like master and servant, but more like... friends of equal status.

Su Yuji looked at Ming Huashang with a complicated look. Ming Huashang handed her a cold drink and said, "It's been so long, the ice inside has melted a little, just drink it."

Su Yuji didn't take it. Ming Huashang raised her eyebrows and said, "Are you afraid that I'll poison you? Or why don't you give me this cup instead?"

Su Yuji was increasingly confused about this woman. She was born into a wealthy family, but she had an easygoing and cheerful personality; it was rumored that she was very lazy and had studied music, chess, calligraphy and painting for more than ten years but still had not mastered a single skill, but she could quickly find the murderer and read through the files counted in boxes.

Su Yuji was confused. What kind of person was this? Which one was true, the one in the rumors or the one Su Yuji saw?

Ming Huachang was about to change to iced drinks, but unexpectedly Su Yuji reached out to take it without checking whether it was poisonous. She lowered her head and took a sip, then asked, "I heard that you are the only daughter of the Duke of Zhen. Your father has been holding you in his palm since you were a child, and he never gave you anything you wanted. As a result, you have been spoiled into a fool. You can't play chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, or women's sewing. But you insisted on running ten laps on the mountain. Why?"

Seeing Su Yuji so straightforward, Ming Huashang also smiled, holding an iced drink and said absentmindedly: "Maybe it's because I didn't learn calligraphy, painting, needlework and sewing for myself, but to find a good husband. If that's the case, then why should I work hard? A wrapped gift trying to paint itself to make itself more valuable?"

Su Yuji raised an eyebrow and looked at her profile for a long time. Ming Huashang turned around and touched her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

Su Yuji shook her head, looked ahead, and after a while whispered, "You are nothing like what I imagined."

"Oh?" Ming Huashang raised her eyebrows, "Then what do you think I should be like?"

"I don't know either." Su Yuji said, "Looking at your appearance, I always think you are a very pampered person. You were pampered by your father and brothers before you got married, and you will be pampered by your husband in the future. You should be the kind of noblewoman who is lazy and doesn't know how to grow crops. I really didn't expect you to say such a thing."

Ming Huashang smiled, lowered her head and took a big sip of black plum ice drink: "I feel it, you are telling the truth."

The autumn heat was still fierce. The two of them stood in the fame and fortune market of Chang'an, surrounded by the voices of the noble ladies who were "lazy and ignorant of the five grains" as Su Yuji said. After drinking half a cup of black plum ice drink, the relationship between the two seemed to have subtly changed.

Su Yuji asked: "I just heard you call your maid Zhaocai. Which Zhaocai?"

"Zhaocai means to bring in wealth and fortune." Ming Huashang smiled proudly and said, "This is a good name!"

Su Yuji was speechless. It turned out to be these two words. She said in disgust, "Why don't you call it Jixiang Ruyi?"

Ming Huashang clapped her hands, feeling like she had met a soulmate: "My other two maids are indeed named Jixiang Ruyi!"

Su Yuji choked up and was speechless for a long time before saying, "You really are..."

Suddenly, there was a gust of wind on the field. Ming Huashang was talking to Su Yuji with his back to the polo field. Su Yuji saw the colorful ball coming from behind, his face changed drastically, and he suddenly pulled Ming Huashang away.

Loud and low screams of surprise rang out all around. Ming Huashang had no idea what was happening and was pulled away by Su Yuji as she staggered.

A gust of wind passed over her head, and the air flow made the tassels jingle. Ming Huashang was unsteady on her feet and almost fell backwards. Suddenly, a force came from behind and held her arm steadily.

Ming Huashang looked up in astonishment and saw Ming Huazhang appear behind her, catching the ball that almost hit her with his other hand. Ming Huazhang's eyes were like cold stars, and his face was extremely cold. He gently tossed the ball up, picked up a crescent-shaped staff from the side, and turned the crescent-shaped staff violently when the ball fell, hitting the polo ball hard. The ball attacked the instigator with the momentum of thousands of troops.