SEHE Chapter 71.2

The other two in the team were Sun Mao, from the Southern Barracks Imperial Army, currently serving as a fourth-rank Middle General in the Jinwu Guards, and another also from the Northern Barracks Imperial Army, named Qi Miao, a fifth-rank Lieutenant General in the Longwu Army.

Qi Miao greeted him warmly with a smile, “The move you showed on the polo field yesterday truly made people envious. Teach me another day so I can show off too.”

Pei Yanci verbally agreed. Outside, gongs sounded. The several of them, fully equipped, mounted their horses and rode out solemnly.

Great Yu’s polo matches had few rules. Within one hour, whichever side struck the ball into the opponent’s goal hole won. During this time, players couldn’t leave their horses, feet couldn’t touch the ground, hands couldn’t touch the ball—all strikes had to be with the mallet in hand.

With the judge’s shout, mud and water immediately flew across the polo field.

Soon, the opposing team paled in comparison before Peng Chulang.

Peng Chulang truly lived up to his reputation as a general of the Shence Army—commanding with skill, displaying the bearing of a great general. He must have spilled much enemy blood in his youth.

He arranged Sun Mao at the front as vanguard. Sun Mao’s mallet and mount often entangled inextricably with the opponents’. Relying on fierce momentum, he frequently snatched the ball from opponents. Pei Yanci and Peng Chulang took advantage to pass the ball and strike it into the goal hole.

Cheers periodically rose from around the field.

In contrast, Qi Miao appeared somewhat inadequate compared to the other three. After two matches, although they advanced, this person’s stamina was far inferior to the other three. His ball skills weren’t good either. In the second match, he basically just wandered the edges of the field—his mallet barely touched the ball a few times.

Only after privately inquiring did Pei Yanci learn that Qi Miao came from the Duke of Jingguo’s manor. His current position had also been purchased by his family. Because the Longwu Army guarded the imperial palace, frequently walking before the throne with opportunities to see the Emperor and chances for promotion, it was mostly staffed by aristocratic family sons protected by clan influence. This time, the Duke of Jingguo had also wanted to leverage Gu Jiuqing’s influence to let his own son gain some reflected glory.

Qi Miao had volunteered all this information himself. After winning, he had become familiar with Pei Yanci, calling him brother. As they returned together, Pei Yanci only asked a few questions, and he spilled everything about himself.

“My old man has been worried to death these past few days. You have no idea how competitive the slots for the polo competition are. He went through enormous difficulties to get one. Yesterday when His Highness was injured, he didn’t sleep all night, thinking this team was finished with me in it.” He laughed carelessly. “He was worried I’d drag everyone down and offend those two generals. He nagged about it all morning, making me nervous too.”

“His worry is understandable,” Pei Yanci said as he removed his armor. “Your horsemanship is excellent—you just can’t keep up stamina-wise. Tomorrow, just patrol near our own goal hole, intercept any balls the opponents strike toward the hole and knock them away.”

“That sounds good.” Qi Miao stroked his chin. “I really can’t manage all that scrambling and snatching.”

The two bid farewell to Peng Chulang and Sun Mao and went together to Jiangwu Pavilion. As soon as Pei Yanci appeared, he saw the worry in Gu Jiuqing’s eyes gradually recede.

“This humble one helped Your Highness win two matches,” he whispered with a smile while bowing.

“You’ll be greatly rewarded later.” The corners of Gu Jiuqing’s mouth unconsciously lifted. “Whatever you want—new achievements and old merits will all be counted together.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Are you tired? How are the injuries on your hands?” Gu Jiuqing took his hands to examine them.

“No problem.” Both of Pei Yanci’s hands were wrapped in gauze. Today he hadn’t exerted much effort, so his palms didn’t hurt.

“Mm-hmm.”

Their whispered conversation was interrupted. Pei Yanci looked up to see a large swathe of bright red flutter past his eyes, bumping him aside so that his hand naturally separated from Gu Jiuqing’s grasp.

Tang Xizhui glanced sideways at Gu Jiuqing without speaking, merely shaking the brilliant red robes on his body—whether in mockery or showing off.

Pei Yanci: “…”

As he stood speechless, his back went cold. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at a certain someone and received a look full of warning mixed with resentment.

Heaven and earth could bear witness—he hadn’t done anything!

At most, he let the Crown Prince look at his hand.

The gongs on the field sounded opportunely. Only then did Tang Xizhui reluctantly return to his seat.

The next match quickly began.

Whispers gradually spread through Jiangwu Pavilion.

“How is Young Master Qi also competing?” someone blurted out.

Hearing this, Pei Yanci and Gu Jiuqing looked toward the field. Indeed, Qi Lan sat astride a black horse, his loose hair gathered with the braids at his temples and tied back with a silver crown, making him look dashing and unrestrained.

“The match begins.”

As soon as the judge’s words fell, Qi Lan and his mount became one, shooting forward like an arrow.

The entire audience was in uproar.

Strong. Truly too strong.

In just one hour, Qi Lan won the match with overwhelming victory.

When the result came out, the field quieted momentarily.

But immediately, cheers thundered throughout. Inside Jiangwu Pavilion, everyone wore customary smiles, all congratulating Gu Yueqian.

“Truly a hero emerges young.”

“Worthy of being the Princess’s child.”

“When His Majesty was young, he also created such feats. It really brings to mind campaigning with His Majesty in those days.”

“We old bones should make way for these young people.”

When Qi Lan returned to Jiangwu Pavilion, the Emperor even descended from his throne, intimately patting his back with a smile, “Worthy of being my grandson—with the bearing of a great general. Today, let them all see the mettle of our Gu family men!”

Having received the Emperor’s praise, pride flashed in Qi Lan’s eyes. He casually cupped his hands, saying, “This year, grandson will definitely win the championship for Imperial Maternal Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Hearing this, the Emperor patted his shoulder again. “Your intention is enough. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Our Great Yu is full of talented people and brave generals. We just soundly defeated Great Xi at year’s end. This year’s competition is fierce. Even I dare not make hasty predictions about who will prevail,” Prime Minister Zheng said with a genial smile.

“You mean that general with diarrhea?” Qi Lan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly. “He couldn’t possibly have fled because he didn’t dare take the field, could he?”

Gu Yueqian disapprovingly called out to him, “Lan’er,” though she didn’t admonish him much.

“He was perfectly fine normally. It’s quite a coincidence it happened today,” a minister’s face showed a trace of worry. “May Your Majesty summon an imperial physician to examine him. If it’s water and soil incompatibility, or if he ingested something unclean, that would still be a minor matter.”

What would be a major matter? Naturally, if someone had secretly administered poison. Putting it mildly, it was to obtain a competition slot and show off. Putting it seriously, it was the grave crime of harming a high court official.

These words awakened the Emperor. He waved his sleeve, “Tang Xizhui, take two imperial physicians later to examine Jiang Yi’s condition. A man who has traversed battlefields for twenty years shouldn’t be brought down by a minor illness.”

It was precisely because this person had fallen ill before the match that Qi Lan was able to compete.

Tang Xizhui bowed and responded, “Yes.”

The atmosphere in attendance was harmonious. Qi Lan left surrounded by everyone.

The Emperor watched his retreating figure, the smile in his eyes slowly fading.

****

The second day brought the finals. The ground, which had been rained on the previous day, had already dried. After clearing, the sun appeared harsh and fierce.

In the morning, Pei Yanci competed in two matches, both successful, taking the lead into the finals.

Next, Qi Lan’s team entered. He didn’t know how they had communicated, but three generals in their twenties and thirties were willing to follow the commands of a teenage foreigner. Qi Lan rode a robust black horse, wearing brown clothing and trousers, cuffs and pant legs bound tight. His tall, imposing body radiated an invincible, vigorous momentum.

Killing Buddhas when Buddhas block, slaying demons when demons obstruct.

What impressed Pei Yanci most were his eyes—always looking at everyone with contemptuous dominance, sharp as a blade’s edge.

This was how a seventeen-year-old youth should be—above heaven and earth, who else but me?

Pei Yanci seemed to see the young general from his previous life who had once stirred his heart. He couldn’t help feeling somewhat dazed. Back then in the Golden Luan Hall, that man had also been so proud and unmatched, unable to hide his brilliance, even bearing some slight contempt for him, the young emperor.

What a pity he was useless—not even as bold as a eunuch.

The match on the field began.

Thinking of that brief, abortive stirring of the heart from his previous life, Pei Yanci couldn’t help feeling dispirited. Yet his gaze never left the most distinctive person on the field.

There was a high probability he would face this person in the finals.

Last night, through chatting with Qi Miao, he had learned from this idle aristocratic son about the current strength of the several teams that could reach the finals. But regarding this Qi Lan, many in the court knew little. His only opportunity to gauge this person’s strength could only come from yesterday’s and today’s matches.

This was an enormous gamble.

Pei Yanci’s palms hadn’t sweated from excitement in a very long time.

Half an hour into the match, Qi Lan’s opponents were already showing signs of giving up. If not for the Emperor’s presence, they might have declared forfeit directly.

Clearly, this match couldn’t satisfy the Emperor. When it ended, he directly announced no rest—the next match would begin immediately.

With his decree, what could those gasping victors on the field say?

The second match began immediately.

Pei Yanci also noticed that Qi Lan’s teammates were beginning to show signs of insufficient stamina, yet he grew more energetic and spirited, as if he had inexhaustible energy. Those hawk-like eyes grew increasingly brilliant in the process of pursuing and toying with prey, never showing fatigue.

He greatly enjoyed the feeling of one-sidedly crushing opponents.

Of course, this was based on his truly formidable strength.

The morning matches quickly ended. As expected, only Pei Yanci’s and Qi Lan’s teams advanced to the finals. After a simple lunch, at the beginning of the hour of Wei, both teams lined up in two rows, silently confronting each other on the field.

Pei Yanci’s horse faced directly opposite Qi Lan’s.

The youth rested his mallet on his shoulder, backlit, looking at him with great interest.

“I remember you. Last time you struck my mother and shot an arrow into her arm,” Qi Lan’s brow pressed down, his long, thin eyes concealing frightening ferocity.

“What, you want revenge?” Pei Yanci smiled indifferently. In this polo competition, only the two of them were youngest, similar in age, quite conspicuous among the generals in their twenties and thirties.

“The old are useless, so they have to send the young for revenge. If you lose again, won’t you have to wait for your grandson to avenge this arrow?”

“You think you can win?” Qi Lan sneered. “Only knowing how to hide behind other men—you call that a man?”

“This is Great Yu,” Pei Yanci glanced at the three beside him. “Your teammates are all Great Yu people. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Everyone says Great Yu has good customs—inclusive and open, with all southern nations respectfully calling it the superior nation. Looking at it now, it doesn’t seem so. I don’t know if Great Yu people can’t even tolerate the imperial grandson of the Gu family, or if you, a lowly slave, are ignorant—a frog in a well also dares to be presumptuous.”

The judge on the sidelines began shouting loudly, “Prepare——!”

The two stopped talking.

Pei Yanci saw he wasn’t flustered or annoyed, gaining some additional judgment about him.

Rebelliously untamed, yet not merely brave—not easily provoked or sown with discord.

He had found himself a formidable rival.

A bitter smile flashed across his face. As a “Begin!” sounded from the sidelines, his expression turned solemn. He swung his mallet to strike down the ball the judge had thrown into the air.

But someone was faster than him.

Another mallet intercepted the ball more quickly, sending it flying to the other side. The ball had just fallen to the ground. Before Sun Mao’s mallet could touch it, a whoosh sounded by his ear. His horse cried out in pain, nearly throwing him off.

Sun Mao shouted in exasperation and hurriedly spurred his horse in pursuit.

Pei Yanci and Peng Chulang followed closely. The three surrounded and intercepted from all directions, but Qi Lan was one step faster, directly swinging his mallet in the center of the field and striking into the goal hole.

Cheers rang out from outside the field.

They hadn’t seen such a beautiful, decisive goal in too long.

Qi Miao looked at the three in confusion and guilt, “His ball came with such force, I instinctively dodged.”

“If you’re afraid, just say you’re afraid, coward.” Sun Mao spat on the ground. “Whether we can catch His Majesty’s eye and gain fame and fortune in the future depends on this match. Pull yourself together.”

Qi Miao mumbled assent, his face reddening. He had only come to go through the motions anyway—what need did aristocratic family protection give him to risk his life?

“They’ve only scored one ball. There’s still plenty of time.” Peng Chulang patted his shoulder. “Just follow this morning’s formation. Stay calm, don’t get agitated.”