Chapter 19: The Husband’s Authority Falters

Chapter 19: The Husband's Authority Falters

The pavilion gradually filled with people, and if there wasn't enough space, the young masters were sent to watch from the sides of the horse field. The young ladies peeked out charmingly, while the young masters called out spiritedly, all dressed in colorful attire, making the field as vibrant as spring.

The imperial tent to the north was partitioned into three sections with bright yellow drapes. The central section, the largest, was reserved for the emperor and empress. The right section accommodated other royal family members, while the left section was exclusively reserved for Princess Minglan.

Cheng Yian, under the watchful eyes of everyone, was led by Princess Minglan to the imperial tent.

Behind her was a twelve-panel screen embroidered with flowers and birds, and in front of the seats was a very wide long table with a stove underneath, keeping Cheng Yian warm and cozy.

A table was laden with an array of pastries, fruits, tea, and cheese, all as lavish as in the princess's residence. Princess Minglan never deprived herself of comfort wherever she went.

Given Princess Minglan's infamous reputation, many eyes frequently turned towards Cheng Yian, likely sharing her concern that her background might be exposed, leading Princess Minglan to vent her anger on her.

Soon, the eunuch proclaimed the arrival of the emperor. Princess Minglan then rose indifferently and, along with everyone else, bowed towards the central imperial tent. Not only had the emperor and empress arrived, but the empress dowager had also brought the crown prince, along with some favored concubines. The neighboring imperial tent was somewhat overcrowded, so Prince Ning took advantage of the emperor's inattention and slipped over to Princess Minglan's side.

The crown prince also came to pay his respects to Princess Minglan, and the two brothers arrived together.

At a glance, they noticed a charming young lady sitting beside Princess Minglan. Wherever Princess Minglan went, it was usually devoid of people, yet here was someone who had become her guest of honor.

The crown prince couldn't help but glance at Cheng Yian a few more times.

Cheng Yian quickly stood up and bowed to the two, "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings to Your Highness Prince Ning."

The crown prince wore the bright yellow robe of the heir apparent, complete with a winged crown. He was in his early twenties, with a fair and slightly plump face, gentle and humble features, known for his courteous and respectful demeanor.

Prince Ning was dressed in a simple maroon royal robe, his hair tied back with a jade crown. He was taller and more robust than the crown prince, with distinct and commanding features, exuding more regal authority than the crown prince.

Though they were rivals in private, they put on a show of brotherly affection in public, both bowing to Princess Minglan.

"Auntie, good day..."

Princess Minglan also gave a slight bow to the crown prince.

The crown prince smiled and asked, "Auntie, why have you come so early today?"

Princess Minglan paid them no heed and instead tilted her chin slightly to the side. Prince Ning followed her gaze and realized he was blocking the view of the Cheng family's pavilion. He stepped aside, amused.

"Auntie, Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate, and Shen Zhi are discussing the mission to Northern Qi in the Wenzhao Hall, so they probably won't be able to come."

"I know..."

Princess Minglan held a unique position in the court, and the crown prince was eager to win her favor. Seeing the crown prince not moving, Prince Ning also lingered, both trying hard to find topics to please Princess Minglan.

Cheng Yian quietly stepped aside and stood for a while until she heard a voice calling her,

"An An, come here."

Cheng Yian searched for a while before spotting Cheng Yiqiao hiding behind a royal pillar on the left, waving at her.

Cheng Yian quickly walked out of the imperial tent, and Cheng Yiqiao grabbed her hand and ran towards a small pavilion outside the tent. After ensuring they were safe, Cheng Yiqiao let go of her, panting and glaring at her,

"Why were you with Princess Minglan?"

Cheng Yian laughed, "Her Highness invited me."

Cheng Yian was strikingly beautiful, her smile gentle and her eyes curving softly, making her seem easy to bully. Cheng Yiqiao was worried about her,

"Foolish girl, she might not have your best interests at heart. Come, let's go back to the Cheng family's pavilion. I doubt she would dare to do anything there." With that, Cheng Yiqiao grabbed Cheng Yian's wrist.

But Cheng Yian considered for a moment and then declined.

"Sister Qiao..."

"Second sister!" Cheng Yiqiao corrected her firmly.

The Cheng family had many daughters; by age, Cheng Yiqiao was the ninth, and Cheng Yian the seventeenth. Mistakes were common, so they usually called each other by name, but within the main branch, they still followed the hierarchy in private.

By calling her "second sister," Cheng Yiqiao showed she accepted Cheng Yian as family.

Cheng Yian promptly corrected herself, "Second sister."

Cheng Yiqiao, looking at her well-behaved younger sister, felt the pride of being an elder sister.

"Good. Come back with me."

Cheng Yian shook her head again, "Her Highness has treated me well. It would be rude to leave without saying goodbye."

Princess Minglan was known for her volatile nature. If she was treating Cheng Yian with courtesy now, it would be unwise to offend her by being ungrateful. Moreover, with the emperor and the empress dowager nearby, it was unlikely that Princess Minglan would do anything inappropriate. It was probably just that Cheng Yian had caught her eye last time, and the princess was showing her favor.

As Cheng Yian had only recently been acknowledged as her sister, Cheng Yiqiao hesitated to insist, "But if Father finds out, he'll be worried again."

Cheng Yian glanced back at the imperial tent, "With His Majesty present, there's nothing to worry about."

Cheng Yiqiao thought about it and agreed, finally giving up, "Be cautious; Princess Minglan's moods are unpredictable."

After sending Cheng Yiqiao away, Qiu Qing was already waiting for her not far away, looking guilty.

"Madam, did Her Highness cause you any trouble?"

Cheng Yian waved her hand and smiled, "No, don't worry. Where is Second Master?"

Qiu Qing replied, "His Majesty entrusted a mission to the young general, so he went to the Military Governor's Office. He'll be here later. By the way, your horse is tied up over there in the stable. Would you like to try it?"

Earlier, Qiu Qing had gone to fetch the little red horse, but in the blink of an eye, Princess Minglan had barged into the Lu family's pavilion.

Cheng Yian said, "No rush, I'll first pay my respects to Her Highness and take my leave before going."

Cheng Yian returned to the imperial tent, where Princess Minglan was now alone. Seeing her return, the princess looked at her deeply, "Was it that second girl from the Cheng family who called you away earlier?"

Cheng Yian smiled, "Yes, second sister saw me and greeted me."

"Afraid I'd eat you, weren't you?" Princess Minglan saw through it clearly.

Cheng Yian nodded awkwardly, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth from the princess.

Princess Minglan appreciated her honesty, "If that's the case, why did you come back?"

With the emperor here, she couldn't go to the Cheng family's pavilion to fetch her.

Cheng Yian joked, "You personally promised to take me into business with you. I'm counting on you to help me make some money!"

Princess Minglan laughed heartily, "Good, sit down then, and keep me company while we watch the competition."

Cheng Yian sat down and adjusted her wind-blown hair. Only then did Princess Minglan notice that she was only wearing a string of tourmaline beads on her wrist and frowned.

"The jade bracelet I gave you, why aren't you wearing it?"

Cheng Yian replied apologetically, "That bracelet is too precious. I was afraid of damaging it, so I didn't bring it."

A single jade bracelet is already quite pricey, let alone a pair. After all, she and Lu Xusheng aren't particularly well-off, and they can't afford her lavish spending.

Princess Minglan said disdainfully, "It's just a bracelet. If it breaks, there are better ones in my treasury. You won't lack for food, clothing, or necessities. A young girl dressed so plainly, what kind of image is that?"

With that, she gave a glance, and the female official beside her immediately presented a chest of jewelry carried by a maid.

Princess Minglan was extremely fickle. Sometimes she would wear a bracelet in the morning and by the afternoon, she would want to change to another. Therefore, the palace staff had to carry a chest of jewelry with them every day.

A long sandalwood box inlaid with eight treasures was placed in front of Cheng Yian.

This was a special jewelry box designed for bracelets, with compartments to keep them from shifting. The box contained four bracelets, each of excellent quality: a violet jade, a green jade, and a white Hetian mutton-fat jade, dazzling to the eye.

"Choose," Princess Minglan said, barely lifting her eyelids to glance at the field.

The emperor had ordered the imperial guards to start with an archery competition to warm up the atmosphere.

The robust men galloped on their horses, swinging their swords, sweat flying, which captivated Princess Minglan.

Cheng Yian guessed these were Princess Minglan's favorite bracelets and didn't dare to touch them. She quickly smiled and said,

"Your Highness is so kind to me, how could I not notice? But I am about to play polo, and wearing bracelets would be inconvenient."

Princess Minglan found this reasonable, "Then take this chest of bracelets back with you."

Cheng Yian's face fell, and she quickly stood up, "Your Highness, I am overwhelmed..."

Princess Minglan's gaze swept over her lightly, "You should be more worried if you refuse me."

At this point, Princess Minglan seemed to remember something and suddenly ordered a eunuch,

"Go to the Cheng family's pavilion and deliver a message for me. Tell Cheng Mingyu that if he can't afford to raise his daughter, I will raise her for him."

Cheng Yian: "....."

She quietly sipped her tea.

Next, Princess Minglan began to comment on the men on the field. Princess Minglan was nothing if not sharp in her judgment of men,

"See that tall man with the red feather helmet? Don't let his thin frame fool you, his muscles are strong. This kind of man looks slim in clothes but muscular without them. If his face were a bit more handsome, I would take him..."

"And that one, the one holding the command flag, he's quite handsome, but his shoulders are not well-proportioned, and his demeanor is lacking..."

"Look at the one on the far right riding the fiery red Ferghana horse, his features are extremely heroic. This kind of man would not disappoint in bed..."

"Cough, cough, Your Highness!" Cheng Yian couldn't bear to listen any longer.

Princess Minglan saw the young lady's face turn as red as rouge in March, her delicate features somewhat resembling Cheng Mingyu's, and suddenly she was lost in thought, "But even a hundred of them combined couldn't compare to your father."

Princess Minglan was not a fool. While appearance was secondary, she admired Cheng Mingyu's abilities. At seventeen, he could maneuver skillfully among three kingdoms, risking his life, a talent of great magnitude.

She always remembered her first meeting with Cheng Mingyu, the young man in a white robe standing out like a crane among the red pillars, his noble demeanor like a Buddha descending from heaven, making one wish to drag him down to the mortal world.

"How fortunate your mother was to have him. If it were me, I would willingly jump off a cliff a hundred times."

If someone else had said this, Cheng Yian would have taken it as sarcasm, but coming from Princess Minglan, she knew it was sincere.

Just then, a eunuch from the princess's residence rushed into the imperial tent excitedly.

"Your... Your Highness, Lord Cheng is here."

The people of Princess Minglan's household are usually well-trained and composed, but only when encountering Cheng Mingyu do they become so flustered.

Princess Minglan's face immediately flushed with panic.

"Where?" she craned her neck towards the Cheng family's pavilion.

She saw a figure sitting at one end of the pavilion, the upper body obscured from view, hands resting on the knees, radiating authority—it could be none other than Cheng Mingyu.

Princess Minglan's heart raced, and she quickly turned to Cheng Yian, "An An, take a quick look at me, is my makeup smudged? Is my hair messy?"

Cheng Yian was also caught up in her nervousness, hurriedly looking her over, "It's fine, it's fine." She glanced towards the Cheng family's pavilion again and indeed saw her father, "But he won't look over here."

Princess Minglan, however, sat very properly, hardly daring to breathe, gently pulling the slightly askew Cheng Yian back, "He will look."

"You're here."

Cheng Yian was at a loss for words.

"An An, do you think your father would envy me sitting with you?"

Cheng Yian covered her face, "Surely not?"

Princess Minglan gazed intently in the direction of Cheng Mingyu, "I think he would, otherwise why would he come?"

"By the way, you haven't acknowledged your father yet..." Without waiting for Cheng Yian to respond, she quickly added,

"Don't rush to acknowledge him, let Cheng Mingyu also suffer a bit, feel the sting of unfulfilled longing."

Cheng Yian was caught between laughter and frustration, "I'm just not quite used to it yet."

He has always been quietly watching over her, how could she disregard that familial bond.

Princess Minglan didn't care, "Anyway, I haven't given my permission, you're not allowed to acknowledge him."

Cheng Yian wasn't about to humor her antics, "Your Highness...."

"One estate!"

"No...."

"Two!"

Cheng Yian had no choice but to shut her mouth.

Just as she was feeling troubled, she noticed a gaze fiercely fixed on her.

Lu Xusheng had just finished discussing matters with Cheng Mingyu in the Wenzhao Hall, having preliminarily drafted a plan to attack Qi, and they came together to the equestrian field.

In the past, Cheng Mingyu would never have come to such an occasion, but the attendant told him that Cheng Yian was being kept by Princess Minglan.

As a father, he was truly worried and had to come see for himself.

Then he saw his little daughter, innocent and carefree, talking to someone without a hint of caution.

Cheng Mingyu was very concerned.

As for Lu Xusheng, arriving at the Lu family's pavilion and not seeing Cheng Yian, he instead saw her chatting and laughing with Princess Minglan, critiquing those men.

Cheng Yian saw her husband this angry for the first time, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if he could devour her.

Lu Xusheng tilted his chin outward, signaling her to come out and talk.

Cheng Yian then made an excuse to Princess Minglan, "Your Highness, I need to excuse myself for a moment."

Princess Minglan didn't think much of it, "Come back quickly."

Cheng Yian, accompanied by her maid Ru Lan, exited the royal tent from the back and saw Lu Xusheng waiting for her under a large camphor tree to the west. She immediately gathered her skirt and hurried over, "Second Master."

She was wearing a peach-red satin jacket embroidered with scattered flower patterns, edged with rabbit fur, her hair styled in a falling horse bun adorned with a gold hairpin with kingfisher feathers. Her face glowed white under the sun.

Lu Xusheng looked at her smiling face and said with irritation, "Come back to our tent with me, don't join the fun with Princess Minglan."

"Why?" Lu Xusheng had never spoken to her in such a serious tone before, and Cheng Yian didn't like it.

Lu Xusheng frowned, "She keeps male companions in her residence and behaves domineeringly. Won't following her tarnish your reputation?"

Cheng Yian retorted unhappily, "Lu Xusheng, who was it that kept saying he didn't care about reputation just a few days ago?"

Lu Xusheng wasn't worried about reputation; he was worried that Princess Minglan would corrupt Cheng Yian.

"Listen to me, come back," he said, softening his tone to coax her.

Cheng Yian looked at him clearly, "I decide with whom I associate; you are not to interfere. We agreed before not to set rules for me, to agree to everything, and now you're going back on your word!"

Remembering how Lu Xusheng had been giving her the cold shoulder these past few days, she snorted lightly, "Aren't you mad at me? You've been ignoring me for days, why bother with me now?"

With that, Cheng Yian gathered her skirt and ran off.

Lu Xusheng was so angry that his cheeks ached.

She dared to bring that up.

If it weren't for her dreaming about Fan Yulin, he wouldn't have been abstaining all these days.

Watching his wife's charming figure retreat, Lu Xusheng shook his head and walked back.

Not far away, several officers from the Military Governor's Office witnessed the scene and whispered among themselves, "Second Master is decisive on the battlefield, but at home, it seems he lacks authority."

"It's common, who wouldn't when the wife is the daughter of Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate."

Cheng Yian returned to the royal tent and saw Princess Minglan visibly upset, she quickly asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Princess Minglan was heartbroken, "Your father has left..."

Her eyes were red as if sand had gotten into them.

Why bother? Cheng Yian wanted to advise her not to be sad for a man who didn't care for her, but she was afraid of touching a nerve and didn't dare to speak lightly.

She simply tugged at her sleeve, "We're not here to see him today, we're here to watch the imperial guards."

Princess Minglan was amused by her, "Aren't you afraid Second Master will punish you?"

Cheng Yian chuckled.

After the archery competition, the polo match officially began.

Since it was to select a consort for Prince Ning, naturally the girls took the lead. The Great Jin Dynasty was culturally open, not restricting the behavior of young women; playing polo, ice skating, and throwing arrows were all common activities for them.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Cheng Yiqiao openly approached Princess Minglan to request her sister.

She had changed into a deep-colored, narrow-sleeved riding outfit, her black hair styled in a Lingyun bun, with a peony-patterned waistband accentuating her slender waist. Though not stunningly beautiful, she radiated a striking, heroic presence.

"Greetings, Princess Minglan. I wish to take my sister to play polo. May I have your permission?"

Princess Minglan did not object and gently patted Cheng Yian's shoulder. "Is your riding attire ready?"

"Yes, it is ready."

Ru Lan, holding a stack of clothes, curtsied gracefully to Princess Minglan.

"What about the horse?"

Cheng Yian smiled. "Lu Xusheng borrowed a small red hare from Prince Ning."

Red hare horses were extremely rare and precious. Though Lu Xusheng had said it was for her, Cheng Yian was unsure of the actual agreement between him and Prince Ning and hesitated to accept it.

At the mention of "borrowed," Princess Minglan's brow furrowed.

"Borrowed? What nonsense! Do I not have excellent horses here?" She glanced at the guard captain standing by the pillar.

"Go, bring my horse, Zhudian, for An An."

Prince Ning, who was nearby, likely heard about the matter and quickly lifted the tent flap to approach, smiling warmly as he addressed Princess Minglan.

"Aunt, please don't be upset. The horse has already been given to Shen Zhi, so it's naturally his now."

Cheng Yian quickly stood up to apologize,

But Princess Minglan refused on her behalf, "Your horse is too small, how can it showcase our An An's elegance? Let's use Lightning instead."

The guards acted swiftly, and soon both horses were brought over.

The little red rabbit was strikingly beautiful, its coat shimmering like the evening glow, captivating everyone's attention. With a kick of its hooves, it stood tall and proud, drawing the gaze of all the girls present.

Princess Minglan's horse, Lightning, stood apart. It was entirely black, tall and lean, with calm eyes that gazed at everyone impassively, a seasoned and steady steed.

Lu Xusheng chose the little red rabbit for Cheng Yian because it was young and gentle, suitable for a young lady to ride. He didn't expect Cheng Yian to excel in the polo match, only hoping for her safety to avoid any mishaps, lest Cheng Yiyan would hold him accountable.

Prince Ning, aware of his aunt's temperament and her intolerance for any dissent, did not press further,

"Auntie's willingness to part with her beloved is a blessing for Shen Zhi's bride,"

Noticing the girls' keen interest in the red rabbit, he promptly declared, "In that case, this red rabbit of mine shall be the prize for today's final round."

"That's splendid!" The girls exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

Cheng Yiqiao guided Cheng Yian to change into her riding attire and return. The first round of the polo match had already commenced. Played in pairs, six pairs took the field simultaneously. The starting ball was determined by a draw, with the others vying to seize it. The pair scoring the most goals would claim the prize.

The competition was elimination-based, with half eliminated in the first round, another half in the second, and the final pair would compete for victory.

While awaiting her turn, Cheng Yian took a trial ride on Lightning. True to expectations, Lightning was remarkably steady, offering a smooth ride without any jolts. Clearly a seasoned horse, it was no surprise—Princess Minglan had an impeccable eye, and nothing beneath her was ever ordinary.

Having lived to Princess Minglan's age, one would find contentment, even without a man. As her thoughts wandered chaotically, Cheng Yiqiao approached with a horse and asked her,

"How are you doing?"

Cheng Yian had just seen Cheng Yiqiao playing polo for a while and realized she was quite skilled. Not wanting to hold her back, Cheng Yian said, "Second Sister, you should find someone else. I'm just an amateur. I'll join any team later and have some fun."

Cheng Yiqiao glared at her, "Do you think I care about that horse?"

She then signaled Cheng Yian to mount the horse, "Follow me, and I'll teach you the essentials of playing polo."

Cheng Yian rode alongside Cheng Yiqiao.

Behind the brocade tent was a vast grassland stretching all the way to the Taiye Pond ahead. The scenery was breathtaking. Cheng Yiqiao, holding a polo mallet and ball, demonstrated to Cheng Yian how to intercept and pass the ball. After playing for a short while, Cheng Yiqiao realized that Cheng Yian was indeed a hopeless case, leaving her breathless from exhaustion.

Cheng Yian sat upright on her horse, looking at Cheng Yiqiao apologetically, "Second Sister, I really can't do it."

"But your polo skills are truly remarkable."

Earlier, the polo mallet had slipped past her effortlessly, taking the polo ball without any resistance.

Cheng Yiqiao took a handkerchief from a maid, wiping her sweat as she said, "My skills were taught by Father himself..."

She then realized she had spoken out of turn and looked at Cheng Yian guiltily, "An An... I'm sorry."

Cheng Yian smiled and shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.

Cheng Yiqiao coughed lightly, "It's fine, I'll have Father teach you later."

"By the way, who taught you these moves?" She remembered that Cheng Yian had always lived a secluded life and had never played polo before.

Cheng Yian's polo skills were taught by Fan Yulin, though she didn't mention it.

"I just played around on my own," she said with a smile, brushing it off.

Cheng Yiqiao felt a pang of sympathy.

"It's almost our turn to play."

Twelve teams had already taken the field, and Cheng Yian and Cheng Yiqiao were in the last group of six teams.

Cheng Yian, dressed in a black riding outfit and mounted on a tall black horse, stood out vividly amidst the colorful crowd.

"An An, give it your all!"

Princess Minglan waved at her.

Cheng Yian smiled shyly, her peripheral vision catching Lu Xusheng sitting beside Prince Ning, his gaze fixed directly on her.

Cheng Yian blushed and averted her eyes, following Cheng Yiqiao onto the field.

After the draw, the ball landed in the hands of Shi Feiyan, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo. She charged forward, and everyone else followed in a swarm. Cheng Yiqiao was the fastest, clearly an old rival of Shi Feiyan, and the two engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth.

Cheng Yian initially kept up but was soon pushed out. However, she wasn't discouraged, knowing her own limitations and not caring about setbacks, she cheerfully followed behind Cheng Yiqiao.

Cheng Yiyan had been following around the field since she entered, caring more about his sister than the game, constantly urging Cheng Yiqiao, "Take care of An An."

Don't let Cheng Yian be left alone.

Cheng Yiqiao was being double-teamed by Shi Feiyan and her cousin Yao Yuzhuang, and couldn't spare any attention for Cheng Yian.

Was Cheng Yian really just wandering on the outskirts? No, she was secretly analyzing the situation on the field.

Shi Feiyan was extremely cunning, clearly having planned this in advance, collaborating with other teams to target Cheng Yiqiao, aiming to eliminate the toughest opponent first.

Shi Feiyan was born into the Duke of Zhenguo's household. Her father, Shi Heng, was the Left Military Governor of the Military Governor's Office, the head of the military officials. Although he wasn't as capable as Lu Xusheng, he had more experience. Shi Heng was one of the emperor's confidants, and Shi Feiyan had harbored feelings for Prince Ning since childhood. She had likely heard that the emperor wanted Prince Ning to marry into the Cheng family, so she had always regarded Cheng Yiqiao as her rival.

In her previous life, Cheng Yiqiao did not participate in this polo match. The Cheng family did not engage in factional struggles, so Cheng Yiqiao naturally did not seek the limelight. In the end, Shi Feiyan won. In this life, her second sister clearly stepped forward to help her avoid Princess Minglan's scrutiny, and she could not stand by and watch her second sister being surrounded.

Shi Feiyan was a tiger daughter of a military family, and her polo skills were among the top three. Cheng Yian couldn't outmaneuver her, so she targeted Shi Feiyan's cousin, Yao Yuzhuang.

Driving her horse, she aimed directly at Yao Yuzhuang's horse's belly. The horse was highly responsive, as if it understood its owner's intent, and suddenly made a big leap forward, startling Yao Yuzhuang's horse. Yao Yuzhuang's horse was no match for Cheng Yian's and retreated in fear.

Cheng Yiqiao's left flank was now exposed, and Cheng Yian quickly moved to fill the gap.

"Well done, sister!"

If they hadn't been close before and didn't know how to interact, playing a game of polo had invisibly brought them closer.

Cheng Yiqiao wasn't someone to be trifled with. She launched a fierce attack and scored two goals in a row.

Yao Yuzhuang looked at Cheng Yian, her eyes seemingly spitting fire.

Was Cheng Yian afraid of her?

In the first round, the Cheng Yian sisters advanced. The winning team received a Fortune and Prosperity Silver Ingot, which was different from ordinary silver on the market. It was limited in quantity and could be collected. Cheng Yiqiao did not hesitate to give it to her sister, and Cheng Yian accepted it.

In this match, Cheng Yian did not score a single goal, staying by Cheng Yiqiao's side the entire time to assist. Cheng Yiyan, watching her struggle so hard, felt deeply pained. During the halftime break, he instructed Cheng Yiqiao,

"Let your sister score a goal."

Cheng Yian could feel her brother's tolerance and affection for her. In her previous life, she was the eldest daughter of Cheng Mingyou, and her grandmother had told her repeatedly to take on the responsibility of being the eldest sister, setting an example for her younger siblings. She wasn't allowed to cry when she fell or complain when she was tired. After marrying into the Lu family, she walked on thin ice, and after remarrying into the Fan family, she worked tirelessly.

But in the main branch of the Cheng family, she was the youngest sister, and everyone unconditionally indulged her, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The truth was, she had once supported the entire Fan family, and she had never been protected by anyone...

Cheng Yian suddenly choked up, her eyes welling with tears.

Now, seeing this, Cheng Yiqiao panicked, "Third sister, don't cry. I'll let you score in the next round."

Cheng Yian cried even more, "That's not what I meant, I'm fine..."

Cheng Yiyan, seeing this, became even more serious. He pointed in the direction of the Censorate and sternly reminded Cheng Yiqiao, "Be careful, or you'll be scolded when you go back."

The implication was that if Cheng Yiqiao did not take good care of her sister, Cheng Mingyu would definitely reprimand her.

Cheng Yiqiao, seeing her sister continuously wiping her tears, hurriedly comforted her, "An An, don't rush, take it slow, you'll definitely score."

This commotion was noticed by Lu Shuzhi and Lu Shuling under a nearby tree, and they also came over to comfort their sister-in-law. Even the female official beside Princess Minglan was alerted. Everyone thought she was upset about not being able to score and encouraged her, as if scoring a goal would mean winning the entire match.

Cheng Yian found it both funny and frustrating.

In the second round, Cheng Yian still did not score.

Shi Feiyan and Yao Yuzhuang attacked even more fiercely. Cheng Yian focused on assisting. In her previous life, she had watched Yao Yuzhuang and Shi Feiyan play and knew their weaknesses. Yao Yuzhuang's formations were repeatedly disrupted by Cheng Yian, angering her so much that as she passed by Cheng Yian, she cursed her, "Useless, can't even score a single goal."

Cheng Yiqiao, hearing this, was furious and forgot about scoring. She picked up her mallet and sent the ball she had just recovered straight at Yao Yuzhuang's face. The ball hit Yao Yuzhuang's lips squarely, drawing a streak of blood from her teeth, and she cried out in pain.

Cheng Yiqiao was penalized for the foul and was sent off the field.

However, even though she had fouled, the sisters still advanced to the final round. At this point, giving up would be a pity. "A scholar may be killed but not humiliated. We can't let them succeed. I'll find someone to substitute for you."

Cheng Yian, spurred by her words, also gathered her resolve, "Alright, I'll keep playing."

The so-called two-person teams were mostly male-female pairs. For instance, Shi Feiyan, aiming to win Prince Ning's prize, teamed up with her own brother, the infamous playboy Young Master Shi Feiyue from the capital.

Yao Yuzhuang's teammate was her maternal cousin, Young Master Wei Shuting from the Marquis of Chengnan's residence.

By the final round, the proportion of young noblemen had reached fifty percent, all striving to win the red hare to secure a good future for their sisters.

Cheng Yiyan never engaged in frivolous contests or got involved in such trivial games, so Cheng Yiqiao picked someone from the other young masters of the Cheng family.

However, Cheng Yian's gaze was fixed on Lu Xusheng, who was sitting beside the emperor.

Lu Xusheng, receiving his wife's signal, was taken aback. Was she asking him to join the game?

Who did Lu Xusheng despise the most?

Pretty boys.

The thought of competing with these frivolous playboys was beneath him.

It was like a commander of the border army sparring with green recruits.

Not only was it uninteresting, but it was also demeaning.

Prince Ning, seeing the couple's exchanged glances, chuckled,

"Shen Zhi, what are you waiting for? Go on!"

Lu Xusheng really didn't want to go. In such a short time, his reputation for being under his wife's thumb had already spread among the soldiers.

Cheng Yian was just playing around; she could have just picked any girl from the Cheng family to fill the spot.

Princess Minglan, seeing this, signaled to her head guard,

"Go and assist An An, help her score a few more goals."

The poor girl was running around sweating profusely, yet hadn't scored a single goal. Princess Minglan pitied her.

"As you command."

This head guard was a champion of the imperial army's martial contests, not only tall and strong but also handsome, which was why Princess Minglan had taken a liking to him.

However, just as the head guard was about to step forward.

Lu Xusheng, from somewhere, grabbed a mallet and, with a dark expression, reluctantly walked towards Cheng Yian.

Everyone's expressions changed upon seeing him join the game. Before he could even reach Cheng Yian, he was surrounded and stopped.

"Young General, what are you doing here? Just watch the game from the sidelines."

The one stopping him was one of Lu Xusheng's own soldiers, also a nobleman from the capital.

Lu Xusheng didn't want to be there either, but he couldn't defy his wife's wishes. He smiled leisurely,

"Just indulging my wife."

Seeing this, the young master from the Shi family quickly dismounted and, along with others, grabbed hold of Lu Xusheng, shouting towards the imperial tent,

"Your Majesty, you can't let Lu Xusheng join the game. This is bullying."

This is the foremost figure in the Great Jin Dynasty's army, the one who beheaded and publicly displayed the head of the Prince of Nankang of Northern Qi.

Who could possibly stand up to even a single finger of his?

Cheng Yiqiao chuckled, "Who said he can't play? You can back your sister, so why can't he back his wife?"

Yao Yuzhuang turned pale upon seeing Lu Xusheng approach, forgetting about the previous ball, and hurriedly said to the umpire on the scene,

"Sir, it was my own carelessness that caused me to hit the ball with the mallet. It has nothing to do with Cheng Yiqiao. Please let her back on the field."

Umpire: Does he think I’m blind?

Lu Xusheng wasn’t planning to take it seriously and said with a smile,

"Alright, I'll forgo using both legs and my right hand, and only use my left hand to play with you. Is that okay?"

The crowd finally, albeit reluctantly, let him play.

Lu Xusheng casually picked a horse, effortlessly placing his right hand behind his back and gripping the mallet with his left as he rode over. As for the reins... in such a casual setting, he didn’t need them to control the horse.

Lu Xusheng rode up to Cheng Yian, forcing a smile, "Where’d you pick up such half-baked skills, causing a scene here?"

The implication was clear: she was all talk and no skill, dragging him into this mess.

Cheng Yian glanced at his laid-back attitude and smirked, "Fan Yulin taught me."

Lu Xusheng's face stiffened, immediately shedding his weariness, and assumed a stance as if he alone could hold off ten thousand.

"When the ball comes your way, just charge forward. Score as many as you want."

It's just a few goals, isn’t it?

Could he possibly let Cheng Yian down?