Chapter 6: A Bit Small

Chapter 6: A Bit Small

After the midday meal came the activities eagerly anticipated by the dignitaries. This year, the plum blossoms in the capital were particularly splendid, so the Imperial Palace specially set the venue for the events in the Plum Garden.

The content of the annual activities varied each year. Since it was held in the Plum Garden this year, hunting was out of the question, and thus the competitive event was changed to polo.

Polo had an alternative name, which was literally "horse ball."

As the name suggested, it was an activity involving playing ball while riding a horse. The origins of this sport were ancient, not limited to men; it was also popular among noble ladies and even in the neighboring smaller countries, though the forms differed, as did the rewards.

When Ran Qinggu followed the princess consort to watch outside the arena, several matches had already taken place.

He wasn't particularly interested in these activities, so he sat outside, sipping the palace's pear juice one mouthful at a time.

Seeing that he seemed to like it, the princess consort said, "There are plenty of pears in the mansion. If you like it, you can have Chun'er fetch some from me."

Ran Qinggu came back to his senses and hurriedly thanked her, "Thank you, Mother."

In truth, he didn't really enjoy drinking this stuff. He just needed pear juice to soothe his throat.

To make his voice sound like a girl's, he had been controlling his voice these days, speaking in a higher pitch with a falsetto.

Thus, when he spoke for too long, he would run out of breath by the end, always struggling to catch it, giving off a lazy and seductive impression.

So he often had to drink something to soothe his throat.

Having spoken a lot today upon entering the palace, his throat was now parched and a bit hoarse. He hadn't expected the palace to provide pear juice.

This pear juice tasted exquisite, with a rich sweetness, and it contained lilies and wildflower honey.

He was taking small sips when he unexpectedly heard his own name.

Li Feiluan stood before the emperor, wearing wrist guards on her sleeves, her hair tied up high. Dressed in the red armor of a warrior maiden, she was valiant and heroic, not yielding to any man.

She looked in the direction of Ran Qinggu, her eyes showing disdain, her lips curling into a provocative smile. "Your Majesty," she said, "I wish to challenge the princess consort to a match. I've heard that women from the north are all skilled at horseback polo. I want to witness the princess consort's peerless beauty and prowess."

According to the rules, competitors could issue challenges, but the challenged party was not obligated to participate.

If the challenged party accepted the challenge, both sides would need to lead their teams to defeat the other.

Polo could take many forms, from one-on-one to multiple players against multiple players.

Everyone on the field saw through Li Feiluan's intentions.

She was deliberately targeting the princess consort, wanting to embarrass her.

Although Li Xiang was a civil official, he was renowned for teaching his children to be both literate and martially adept.

The young masters of the Li family were all skilled warriors capable of fighting on the battlefield, and Li Feiluan's skills made even General Wei Yuan bow in admiration.

By openly challenging her, if the princess consort declined, she would become a laughingstock. If she accepted, Li Feiluan had a follow-up plan ready to humiliate her in front of the dignitaries.

Moreover, how could a daughter raised in the seclusion of her inner chambers compare to the young lady of the Li residence, who had trained in martial arts since childhood?

Li Feiluan clearly wanted to put the princess consort in an awkward position.

Emperor Xianyuan looked at Ran Qinggu. At first glance, he seemed to have seen this person somewhere before.

But when he looked again, he realized he had been seeing things.

"Where is the princess consort?" Emperor Xianyuan asked with a smile. "The daughter of the Li family wishes to play a game with you."

Ran Qinggu hurriedly walked to the emperor and knelt down. "Your Majesty, Bai Yu cannot accept the challenge."

Li Feiluan laughed derisively. "Are you afraid? They say northern women are skilled in martial arts. Surely the princess consort isn't unable to ride a horse?"

Ran Qinggu lowered his head. "Your Majesty, I know that speaking of such strange matters before Your Majesty would be disrespectful, so I dare not say it."

Emperor Xianyuan narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. "Princess Consort, feel free to speak your mind."

Ran Qinggu said with determination, "Before Bai Yu left the Northern City, I met a fortune-teller. He calculated my destiny and said that I have good fortune this year, but my destiny is too forceful, easily clashing with others. At first, Bai Yu didn't believe it, but within less than a month, I received the great grace of Your Majesty, being granted marriage to the heir. This is a great stroke of luck, so Bai Yu dared not doubt it. Therefore... Bai Yu fears that my destiny is too forceful and might harm Miss Li."

Li Feiluan scoffed. "What do you have to fear under the heavens of the emperor? Just come. If anything happens, I'll bear the responsibility myself."

Refusing to compete yet finding such an excuse—truly, someone from a small household couldn't handle the stage.

The emperor must be blind, actually granting marriage to the pure and noble heir with someone like this.

Empress Xian smiled. "With the emperor here, how can the princess consort believe the words of an old fortune-teller? Just go ahead and compete."

After hesitating for a moment, Ran Qinggu replied, "Yes, Bai Yu will change into a suitable outfit."

Shang Rongque nudged Shang Rongyu, who was watching the scene unfold. "Are you really letting your sister-in-law compete? That young miss from the Li residence knows martial arts. This jealousy was caused by you."

Leaning against the chair, Shang Rongyu tapped his long index finger on the tea table before him. "I will help her when necessary, but right now, I can't quite read the princess consort."

Shang Rongque gave him a look. "How long have you known each other? It takes at least half a year to understand someone."

Shang Rongyu laughed. "It's not that kind of thing. She's different from anyone I've ever met. It's like looking at her through a fog...seeing flowers through mist..."

Shang Rongque shook his head and smiled. "Then look more carefully. There will be a time when you see clearly."

As the brothers conversed, Ran Qinggu emerged.

Dressed in white, his hair tied up high, his sleeves bound at the elbows, he was handsome and otherworldly.

Like a celestial being stepping out of water, everyone's eyes were only on that white figure.

Beautiful people were plentiful, but few could wear white robes with such ethereal grace, transcending the mundane. Human eyes could hardly find its equal.

Shang Rongyu was momentarily stunned.

In truth, without the makeup, pearls, and extravagant robes, the Heir looked far more appealing in male attire than female garb.

On the field, two horses raced against each other, the polo ball rolling between their hooves as the two players exchanged volleys, striking at the ball with their mallets...

Li Feiluan watched as Ran Qinggu was about to score a goal. In one swift motion, she stepped onto her horse's back, pulled on the reins, and executed an elegant turn in mid-air before driving the ball into the goal.

Thunderous applause erupted from the sidelines.

Unhurried and composed, Ran Qinggu continued to gallop across the field as if he were not here to compete but to enjoy a leisurely outing.

As the ball landed near his horse, he raised his mallet to strike it. However, Li Feiluan's mallet collided with the ball first, sending it crashing painfully against Ran Qinggu's horse's leg.

The horse, in pain, reared up with a loud whinny, nearly throwing Ran Qinggu off its back.

It seemed that Li Feiluan wanted not only to embarrass him but also to force him off his horse, potentially causing severe injury or even being trampled underfoot.

Quickly, he tightened his grip on the reins, bent low over the saddle to steady himself, and deliberately redirected the horse's path during his maneuver. As the horse thrashed in pain, its hind legs kicked out, striking Li Feiluan's mount in the belly.

The horse, struck by surprise, buckled to its knees, and Li Feiluan tumbled off, unable to react in time.

As Li Feiluan fell, one of Ran Qinggu's horse's hooves landed heavily on her thumb, which she had extended to break her fall.

Li Feiluan let out a pained groan, but before she could recover, another hoof descended upon her.

Ignoring the pain, she was forced to dodge left and right, trying to escape from under the hooves.

Yet, the horse seemed intent on circling around her, and while she managed to avoid critical hits, she was repeatedly forced to roll on the ground, utterly disheveled and humiliated...

"Miss Li, get out of the way! I can't control this horse."

Ran Qinggu, atop his horse and pulling on the reins, manipulated the uncontrollable steed to force Li Feiluan to roll on the ground in a desperate attempt to evade.

He had warned her that his destiny might clash with hers, causing harm to Li Feiluan, but she had ignored his words and chose to play dirty on the field.

He was never one to back down easily, nor did he have a compassionate heart. Even before entering the competition, he concocted the notion of "destiny" as an excuse.

Exhausted, disheveled, and battered by the relentless hooves, Li Feiluan was covered in bloodstains.

Despite her fatigue and pain, she continued to roll on the ground, desperately evading the hooves.

Seeing Li Feiluan's exhaustion, Ran Qinggu knew it was time to end this charade; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to Minister Li.

With a neigh, he released the reins, feigning being thrown to the ground by the frenzied horse...

But just as he hit the ground, he was caught in a warm embrace.

Shang Rongyu held him tightly, rolling several times on the ground.

When they finally came to a stop, Shang Rongyu was lying on top of Ran Qinggu, with one hand inadvertently resting on his chest!

Ran Qinggu's face paled.

Dressed in thick winter clothes, he wasn't wearing the padded undergarment his aunt had made for him.

Had he been discovered?

Shang Rongyu appeared calm, but his earlobes were flushed red.

Although this person was his Heir Consort, this was the first time he had touched his Heir Consort...

It felt... small.