Chapter 81 Events

Feng Wulang came to Furong Garden with his family to watch the game today. He is the youngest son in the family and is very accustomed to it. When he saw that his hands were itchy from playing polo, he took the偃月腿 and played with three or five of his friends.

Gradually, he was no longer satisfied with just gesticulating, and he used more and more force, accidentally shooting the ball off target, sending it flying straight into the crowd.

Feng Wulang thought to himself, this is not their home. The guests coming to Furong Garden today are all important people. If they were unlucky enough to run into the family of some important person, they would have to pay compensation and apologize.

He quickly had someone throw down the crescent pole and was about to chase after him to say something, but in the blink of an eye, the ball actually flew back. The ball had a lot of force, and it made a sound of hunting all the way. Feng Wulang was startled and dodged in panic. They bumped into each other and fell heavily.

When had Feng Wulang ever made such a fool of himself before, falling down like a wolf in front of so many people? When he got up, he was furious and rushed over to ask for culpability.

Unexpectedly, the person who committed the crime had no intention of leaving. He just stood on the sidelines, holding his hands and waiting for him to come over.

When Feng Wulang approached, the first person he saw was a tall, graceful man, who was as slender as a pine tree. He was wearing a scarlet round-necked robe, and a black leather belt which made his figure look particularly slender and lean. Under the strong color collision, his face looked overly red, with white teeth and fair complexion.

Feng Wulang had a bad feeling when he saw the man in black clothes from a distance. When he got closer and saw his imposing appearance, his heart was beating even more nervous. His arrogance to accuse him was subdued unconsciously. Feng Wulang stopped in front of him and asked in a bad tone: "I was almost hit by a polo ball just now. Was it you who hit me?"

Ming Huazhang looked down at him coldly and said, "It's me."

He agreed so decisively, with a loud bang, that Feng Wulang was upset. Feng Wulang said unhappily, "Don't you know that His Majesty is hosting a banquet today? There are so many people here. Who can you afford to pay if they get hurt?"

"You also know that there are many people here today." Ming Huazhang said in a cold tone, "You almost hurt my sister."

Feng Wulang then noticed that there were two women standing behind him, one was as pure as a lotus, the other was as beautiful as a peach, both were first-class beauties. However, Ming Huazhang's aura was too strong, covering up the people around him, so Feng Wulang didn't see it.

Feng Wulang thought that they were actually a pair of sisters, and they were looking for support from their cousin. Feng Wulang was used to being flattered by his family, so he felt contemptuous and said, "I was just playing with my friends and accidentally hit the ball wrong. Aren't they fine?"

"I also missed." Ming Huazhang weighed the crescent-shaped staff with an ambiguous look and said, "According to you, as long as nothing goes wrong, I can fight as I please?"

Ming Huashang silently grabbed Ming Huazhang's sleeve and gently pulled it. She was almost hit on the back of the head by the polo ball, so of course she was angry, but Ming Huazhang was here, and the empress, the prince and others must be nearby, so she should not make a fuss, so as not to affect Ming Huazhang's reputation.

The scholars came together, and their movements startled the others. Xie Jichuan came over and asked, "Jingzhan, what happened?"

Jingzhan? Feng Wulang frowned when he heard this name. This name seemed familiar to him.

Xie Jichuan saw Ming Huazhang's face as cold as iron, and then looked at Ming Huashang, and probably guessed what was going on. Xie Jichuan remained calm and asked with concern: "Second sister Ming, why are you here? There are many people around the polo field, be careful not to get hurt."

When Feng Wulang heard the surname "Ming", he finally understood why it sounded familiar. Isn't Jingzhan the only son of the Duke of Zhenguo and the newly-appointed Jinshi who is now in the limelight?

Su Xingzhi heard the voice and turned around. He saw Su Yuji standing there. He also came over with a frown and asked in a low voice: "Yuji, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Su Yuji glanced at Feng Wulang and shook her head slightly: "No, it was Madam Ming who was almost hit by the polo ball."

Su Yuji's words immediately made the truth clear. Three young and handsome men in black robes came over one after another. Even if Feng Wulang was stupid, he could guess that they were the protagonists of today - the famous Jinshi Lang. Judging from their age, they were probably the top three.

Feng Wulang secretly cursed his bad luck. Why was he so unlucky that he just hit the first, second and third place winners of the imperial examination? However, these three people had three different surnames and there was no mention of any marriage relationship between them. Why were they all called sisters?

Feng Wulang didn't understand the relationship between them for a moment, but he knew that a man of insight is a wise man. The Queen was very fond of this group of people, and they would go out to play polo soon. If they played well, they would have to see the Queen. It was not a wise move for Feng Wulang to offend the new Jinshi at this time.

Feng Wulang could only put on a smiling face, laughed dryly a few times, and said, "So you are three Jinshi. I am sorry, I am sorry. Sorry, Brother Ming, I was careless and offended you just now."

In terms of age, it doesn't matter who is older or younger. Feng Wulang took the initiative to address the younger brother, which was considered as a sign of submission. But Minghua Zhangsi was unmoved and said coldly: "Your ball didn't hit me, why are you apologizing to me?"

His words were cold and powerful, and could be described as aggressive. Su Yuji and Su Xingzhi could not help but look at him, somewhat surprised that Ming Huazhang would be so disrespectful. Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows, crossed his arms, and looked at the scene with a half-smile.

Feng Wulang was very embarrassed, but due to the situation, he could only endure the humiliation and apologize to Ming Huashang: "Sister Ming, I'm sorry for scaring you just now. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, the Feng family will pay for the medicine."

Seeing that more and more people were coming, Ming Huashang didn't want to cause trouble on Ming Huazhang's big day, so she smiled and said, "No problem. Fenglang, be careful next time. I'm lucky that Sister Su saved me today. If it were any other lady, they might not be as lucky as me."

Feng Wulang smiled awkwardly. Before he could reply, Ming Huazhang grabbed Ming Huachang's hand and pulled her away: "She is my sister. It's not your turn to call her. Let's go."

Ming Huashang staggered and smiled at Su Yuji and Su Xingzhi, then was dragged away by Ming Huazhang. He walked too fast, and Ming Huashang tried to hold the ice drink in his hand steady, saying, "Second brother, slow down, my ice drink is going to spill!"

Ming Huazhang turned around and saw that she was still holding the drink in her hand. He didn't know what to say: "I really admire you. You almost fell down after drinking the drink."

Ming Huashang pouted, lowered her head and took a sip of black plum ice drink to suppress her surprise.

Ming Huazhang looked at Ming Huashang silently. When he came over just now, he saw the whole process of Ming Huashang talking to Su Yuji, the polo flying towards Ming Huashang and Su Yuji pulling her away. He was almost scared to death, and she was so heartless that she still had the mind to drink.

Ming Huazhang stared at her lips, which were particularly red and moist after being dipped in black plum juice. His Adam's apple moved, and he turned his eyes away in an obvious way: "Why did you end up with Su Yuji?"

She even called her Sister Su in a cheesy way. How did she get so many brothers and sisters? When she went to Feihong Villa, she got Sister Ren and Brother Xie, and now she has Sister Su. Will Su Xingzhi also become someone close to her next?

Ming Huashang said righteously, "He saved me, shouldn't I return the favor? Besides, you and Su Xingzhi will serve in the same court in the future, and it will be good for your career if I make friends with Su Yuji in advance."

Ming Huazhang was so angry that he laughed. Was she saying that for him? Ming Huazhang turned around and was about to argue when he felt a chill on his lips. Ming Huachang held the ice drink to his lips and smiled as she shaded him from the sun: "You've been in the sun for so long, you're sweating. Drink something cool to cool down."

Ming Huazhang was stunned for a moment, realizing that this was the place where her lips had just touched. He was about to scold her coldly, "How shameless!", but Ming Huachang found the flaw as soon as her lips moved, and poured a mouthful of black plum drink into her mouth.

Just like swallowing a piece of ice, the coolness slid from the tip of his tongue into his throat, chest, waist and abdomen, and finally turned into a numbing shiver that spread throughout his limbs.

Ming Huazhang stared at her with his dark eyes. Ming Huachang thought that she had bought a good deal of black plum juice, and boasted, "Isn't it delicious? There's more in the car. Second brother, just play polo. I'll bring it all to you after you win!"

Ming Huazhang looked at her and felt as if a fire was burning inside him and then covered by a layer of ice. He had no place to release all his strength. He finally sighed as if resigned to his fate and asked, "Only if I win?"

"No matter what, it belongs to Second Brother." Ming Huashang's flatterer immediately followed up, saying, "Second Brother will definitely win, so I will congratulate Second Brother in advance on his great victory."

Ming Huazhang's Adam's apple moved, and just as he was about to say something, a slow voice came from behind him: "What are you talking about? Why don't you take me with you?"

Ming Huazhang frowned, feeling rather disappointed. He turned around and said in a very disgusted tone: "Why are you here?"

"Brother, I thought you still remembered that you and I were on the same team and were about to compete." Xie Jichuan rolled up his sleeves and approached slowly. He saw Ming Huashang and raised his eyebrows and asked, "Second sister, how are you? I thought we were quite familiar with each other, but on the day of the results announcement, you couldn't bear to throw away my sachet when you saw me?"

Ming Huashang was very embarrassed to be pointed out by the real owner. She smiled and said, "Brother Xie is handsome and graceful, and my sachet was bought on the street. It is really not worthy of Brother Xie's elegance, so I was embarrassed to throw it away."

Xie Jichuan said "oh" and pointed at Ming Huazhang's belt: "So, my sister prepared one just for Jingzhan?"

Ming Huashang turned his head to look at Ming Huazhang, and then he found that he was wearing that ugly purse. Ming Huashang felt his eyes darken, and he smiled stiffly: "I guess so. I'm ashamed, my embroidery...is not very good. I'm grateful that you don't mind it, but I really don't have the face to give it away. Let me prepare some cold drinks in the car to cool down, and after the polo match, I will give you some cold drinks to thank you for your victory."

God knows how much courage Ming Huachang mustered to say "not very good". Xie Jichuan smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll borrow your good words."

Ming Huazhang looked at Ming Huashang silently. If he remembered correctly, she had just said that if he won, she would move everything to him. How long has it been since then, and she has given it to Xie Jichuan?

But Xie Jichuan wanted to add fuel to the fire. He looked at Ming Huazhang and asked, "Jingzhan, why don't you say anything? Are you unhappy?"

Ming Huazhang smiled, staring at Xie Jichuan silently with his dark eyes, and said word by word: "It's okay, I don't mind."

In the back, after Xie Jichuan left, Su Xingzhi asked Su Yuji: "Why did you get together with her?"

"Her?" Su Yuji asked, "Do you mean Ming Huashang? Oh, I was waiting for you here, and I happened to meet her and chatted with her."

Is it a coincidence? Su Xingzhi frowned, feeling uneasy: "The person who followed you last time hasn't been found yet. Didn't I tell you to stay at home? Why are you out again?"

"You didn't let me out on the day the results were announced. What's the point of your polo match today if I'm absent again?" Su Yuji was not afraid of Su Xingzhi and shouted back at him. He said with some suspicion, "Didn't that group follow us at the same time? How did you say they followed me?"

Su Xingzhi knew that he had let something slip unintentionally, so he quickly stopped talking about this topic and said helplessly: "You are always so stubborn. Forget it, since you want to come and see it, just come and see it, but remember to be careful, don't be silly and believe everything others say."

The "others" in Su Xingzhi's words seemed to have a hidden meaning. Su Yuji didn't think much about it and replied impatiently: "I know. The polo match is about to start, you should get ready."

On the high platform, the palace maids escorted the empress to take a seat, and the princes and princesses sat down in their respective seats in order of rank. After the empress appeared, the people in Furong Garden immediately stopped talking and walked to their respective seats. Shangguan Wan'er walked quickly to the empress and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."

The Queen nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "Let's begin."

Shangguan Wan'er agreed, walked to the East Palace seat, and presented the prince with a memorial: "Your Highness, please."

The prince pinched his fingers nervously, took the memorial from Shangguan Wan'er, and stood in front of the stage to deliver the opening speech for the empress. This speech was written by Shangguan Wan'er, with gorgeous words and high-spirited words. It was magnificent to read it in one breath, but the prince's voice was a little timid, which greatly reduced his momentum.

The original author, Shangguan Wan'er, felt very sorry after hearing this, but fortunately she finished reading it without any errors. The prince closed the memorial and looked at the empress nervously. The empress looked gloomy and her emotions were unexplainable. She nodded and said, "Okay, let's start."

The empress gave the order, and the eunuchs hurried down to pass on the imperial edict. The scholars were divided into two teams and entered from the east and west sides. They saluted the high platform from a distance, and then each mounted their horse. The referee blew the whistle, the ball was thrown high, and the polo match began.

Everyone's eyes followed the small colorful ball as it rose. Before it fell, a white horse jumped over several lengths of space to get close, struck the ball in the center with a high strike of its stick, and the colorful ball flew towards the goal at a rapid speed like a rainbow of light.

Dust rose on the field, horses neighed, and everyone chased after the polo ball. A young man in black clothes and a white horse rushed out first, took the lead, and hit the weak colored ball in the middle of the field with a powerful shot, right in the middle of the goal, and scored the first point cleanly.

The first round ended too quickly, and the audience was silent for a moment before they reacted. The surrounding stands immediately burst into cheers. Ming Huashang had just returned to his seat at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and was answering questions from his elders when Ming Huazhang scored his first goal.

She exclaimed in surprise. Old Madam Ming was busy talking to someone else and had no intention of paying attention to Ming Huashang.

Ming Huachang was relaxed and happy. She put her hands up to cover her eyes and followed the movements of the field with great effort. Ming Huazhang was a good rider and cooperated very well with Xie Jichuan. The two young men rode white horses one after the other and galloped, which was very exciting to watch.

Su Xingzhi from the other team was also not weak. He had trained in Xuanxiaowei for many years and was proficient in riding and archery. He had also learned battle formation tactics. In the first round, he was caught off guard by Ming Huazhang, but he immediately organized a counterattack. The two sides fought back and forth, and the situation changed rapidly, which was truly exciting.

Ming Huashang was watching with great interest. When a round was over, she quickly told Zhaocai, "Zhaocai, take a few people with you and move all the iced drinks in our car over here."

"Ah?" Zhaocai was increasingly confused about their wives' thoughts and asked in surprise, "Madam, what are you going to do?"

Ming Huashang rolled her eyes at her and said, "Go quickly! It will be too late if you are any later!"

Madam Ming was busy socializing with other people in the palace and had no time to watch the scene. Ming Huashang was completely the opposite. She didn't want to meet people and was immersed in the competition. In order to see the movements clearly, she simply squeezed to the front.

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao were also watching the game. Jiang Ling glanced at Ming Huashang and waved, "Ming Huashang, over here!"

Ming Huashang turned around and saw the wide open space in front of the Jiang family's seat. She was really jealous. She ran over and asked rudely: "Jiang Ling, Sister Ren, when did you come? Why didn't I see you?"

"She just came here." Jiang Ling pointed at Ren Yao and said, "She had a quarrel with her grandmother. If I hadn't found her, she would have left."

Ming Huashang looked at Ren Yao and saw that she looked unhappy. It was difficult for Ming Huashang to talk about the family affairs of the Pingnan Marquis Mansion. She smiled and said, "I bought some ice drinks on the way and specially left the flavors you like. It's just right for cooling off. Jiang Ling, quickly send the servants to the carriage parking place of the Zhenguogong Mansion to meet me. My maid doesn't know I'm here, so don't make the wrong choice later."

Jiang Ling looked disgusted and said, "Why do you only remember to eat wherever you go?" But he still immediately sent a team of guards over.

With the help of the tall and strong guards of the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion, all the iced drinks were brought in soon. Ming Huashang picked a well-chilled one and handed it to Ren Yao. Ren Yao didn't want to drink it at first, but couldn't resist Ming Huashang's deer-like eyes looking at her expectantly, so she had to take it.

As the sweet and sour ice drink went down his throat, his body sighed comfortably, and the depression in his chest seemed to dissipate a lot. Ming Huashang saw that Ren Yao's face was a little more relaxed, and asked expectantly, "Is it delicious?"

Ren Yao nodded slowly. Jiang Ling came over and asked, "Where's mine?"

Ming Huashang rolled her eyes at him unhappily: "Don't you have hands? Go get it yourself."

Jiang Ling snorted, picked up a bamboo tube and took a big gulp. He had just rejected Ming Huashang not long ago, but when the ice drink really went into his stomach, he found that it seemed quite good.

Jiang Ling drank one sip after another and discussed the situation with Ming Huashang: "The score is very close. Ming Huazhang and his team may not win this round."

Ming Huashang immediately glared at him: "Don't be so stupid, my second brother will definitely win."

Ren Yao calmed down a bit and started to focus on the game: "Su Xingzhi's idea is correct, but he is alone. The longer the game goes on, the less stamina his team members will have. The winner is already decided, and the score will soon be drawn."

Ming Huashang immediately hummed and said, "Sister Ren is indeed from a military family. She is a genius in military tactics and has a keen eye."

Jiang Ling sneered and rolled his eyes, "Flatterer."

"I'm telling the truth." Ming Huashang said, and seeing the empty bamboo tube jingling behind him, he asked in disbelief, "How many cups did you drink?"

"Not much." Jiang Ling innocently reached for the next cup and said, "You still have so much, I'll help you solve it so you don't have to carry it back."

"Stop it!" Ming Huashang was furious and used both her hands and feet to grab his hand, "Don't drink it, I have to give it to someone later."

"You're so stingy. How much can a drink cost? I bought it from you."

"Dream on! Can you buy an ice drink with money in this place?"

On the field, Ming Huazhang scored another goal. Xie Jichuan reined in his horse and slowly walked over from behind: "Were you on drugs today? You hit so hard."

Ming Huazhang was riding his horse the whole time, and a light layer of sweat appeared on his body. He untied the armor on his sleeves, rolled up his sleeves casually, and said, "Just fight casually."

"Is this what you call a casual fight?" Xie Jichuan looked at him with a smile and asked, "Are you doing this intentionally to show off in front of someone, or are you afraid of losing and disappointing your sister?"

Ming Huazhang didn't pay attention to his ambiguous words and glanced at him coldly: "She is not your sister."

Xie Jichuan's smile deepened: "Is that your sister?"

Ming Huazhang ignored him, tightened the reins, and drove the horse past Xie Jichuan. Xie Jichuan didn't care about his cold face, and followed behind him like a sticky candy, saying in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Jingzhan, don't forget who you are."