in2ebook Chapter 319 Polo Match (Part 1)
Chapter 319 Polo Match (Part 1)
Ignoring Dongfang Yi's sinister gaze, Song Yaozhu turned her attention back to the horse farm.
Although I was sitting under the shade of the canopy, the late summer heat still lingered, and the sun was quite strong.
Xie Liwei held an umbrella for her, worried that she would get sunburned, and even took out a water pouch.
The officials watching couldn't help but remark on how good the couple's relationship was!
Song Yaozhu smiled faintly and remained silent, accepting the other person's evaluation.
Once both sides had arrived, they began warming up. Not long after, Yuwen Wuji, surrounded by many ministers, arrived at the horse farm. After he took his seat, it was almost time.
At his instruction, the master of ceremonies struck the gongs and drums, and everyone in the room fell silent.
"Now that our Great Chen and Northern Qing are on friendly terms, we are holding this polo match. The focus of the match is on mutual learning and exchange, to further deepen the friendship between our two countries. The match should be played to the point of injury or death..."
The master of ceremonies on the stage was still slowly explaining the rules of the competition. The two groups of people on the field had reached the center of the field. They looked at each other and saw the resentment and provocation in each other's eyes.
The Fifth Prince, dressed in protective gear, rode a tall horse. However, he was still young and not as tall as an adult man. In addition, he resembled his mother and appeared weak and unable to take care of himself. Therefore, he lacked a certain imposing presence as he led the Great Chen army.
Tuoba Yunwu was holding back his anger and wanted to use today's polo match to regain some face and then give the Great Chen a good slap in the face.
As long as they win this polo match and return home, they won't have to worry about being scolded by the Prince of Beiqing for their incompetence.
"It seems the Great Chen Dynasty is truly lacking in talent, otherwise they wouldn't have sent a mere child to fight!" Tuoba Yunwu exclaimed loudly in the Northern Qing language. The three people beside him burst into laughter, making no attempt to conceal their contempt for the Fifth Prince.
"A little kid like you, instead of staying home to drink milk, comes out looking for a beating. If we beat you and you cry later, don't go to your mother to complain! Your mother is too old to give you any more milk!"
After he finished speaking, the people of Beiqing burst into laughter again.
The Fifth Prince felt a sense of shame, as if he had been stripped naked and placed on a platform. Although he couldn't understand what the other person was saying, he could tell that they were mocking him.
It's not that they're mocking him and the people behind him, it's that they're mocking him!
Looking at the empty seats around the horse stable, the Fifth Prince felt his face burning. For a moment, he wanted to escape.
Even after training for so long, he still felt that he would be the worst performer. Although Consort Shu said that as long as he did his best, the rest could be left to the others.
"Ignore them, let's get ready!" The Fifth Prince took a deep breath and said to the people behind him. Only he knew that he was speaking to himself.
Yuwen Wuji, standing in the stands, was also puzzled. "What are those Northern Qing people saying?"
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "It's too far away, Your Majesty, I really can't hear you."
Yuwen Wuji clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction and said to Li Wei, "Go and let Xiao Wu have a good match. When he wins, I will throw a banquet to celebrate!"
Li Wei immediately sent a young eunuch to deliver the message.
The Fifth Prince on the polo field, upon receiving the Emperor's words, did not feel his morale boosted. Instead, he became even more nervous, and his hand gripping the polo mallet began to sweat.
"Your Highness, just follow the tactics we've already planned. We're sure to win!" said the oldest member of the Imperial Guard. He noticed the Fifth Prince's nervousness and tried to reassure him.
The Fifth Prince nodded, and soon the gong sounded again, and the two sides began to draw lots to see who would serve first.
Perhaps due to the home advantage of Da Chen, the Fifth Prince easily won the service game.
The first match began, and the stadium was filled with cheers.
Many young girls watched the Fifth Prince on the field with great anticipation, hoping that he could win the championship!
Song Yaozhu drank the water from her water pouch, which was sweetened with osmanthus honey. Clutching the pouch, she whispered, "If I weren't from Da Chen, I really would have bet on Bei Qingsheng this time. It's so frustrating not to make money!"
Xie Liwei chuckled and flicked the tip of her nose with his index finger. "Didn't you bet on Da Chen to win the women's group? Are you worried about not making money?"
"That's too little profit. So many people bet on Da Chen and win." Song Yaozhu pouted, feeling a kind of sadness, like looking at a table full of delicious food but not being able to eat it.
Xie Liwei smiled and said, "I wish we could earn this money."
On one hand, there's the joy of making money; on the other, the pride of winning.
As the two were talking, the ball was already served, and the two teams began to compete for it on the field.
Although the team leader was the Fifth Prince, whom Song Yaozhu disliked, she still watched very attentively. Seeing that Tuoba Yunwu's group was targeting the Fifth Prince at every turn, and the other three going to provide support, they were busy rescuing the Fifth Prince. This allowed the other Northern Qing people to exploit the situation, and the first match was won by Northern Qing.
The start was not smooth, and Yuwen Wuji's brows were already furrowed. He slowly exhaled, but in order to appear magnanimous, he did not show it directly.
But he still gave Consort Shu a reproachful look. Consort Shu received Yuwen Wuji's gaze and let out a deep breath.
Yuwen Wuji felt that he hadn't taught the Fifth Prince well, but he had already tried his best. The child wasn't just hers; she couldn't be the only one teaching him.
The match continued, and the people of Beiqing seemed to know that the Fifth Prince was an easy target. So they continued their strategy from the previous match, focusing solely on the Fifth Prince.
After losing again, the Fifth Prince's face darkened. The entire audience at the racecourse also calmed down.
They were all holding their breath, not daring to imagine how ugly it would be if Da Chen kept losing.
Fortunately, during the third match when Da Chen served, the Fifth Prince turned around and said something to everyone, and then the match continued.
Seeing that two people from Beiqing were targeting the Fifth Prince, three people from Dachen took advantage of the opponent's lack of reaction and quickly dribbled the ball forward, scoring a goal before the Beiqing people even expected it, and cheers erupted on the field.
"Fantastic! Go for it! Charge!" The audience waved flags and cheered loudly.
Song Yaozhu covered her ears, feeling her heart pounding wildly.
No, we've only won by one goal, what are you all getting so excited about!
Soon, Da Chen's serve was over, and it was Bei Qing's turn to serve.
This time, Bei Qing didn't specifically target the Fifth Prince. They changed their strategy, with four people escorting the ball all the way into the hole.
Beiqing scored again!
The boos and groans from the crowd seemed to stem not from the loss of the game, but from the loss of money.
On the field, the Beiqing people, like apes, raised their hands and cried out "Oh oh," riding their horses around the four men from Da Chen, a gesture that was full of humiliation.
The veins on Yuwen Wuji's forehead bulged, and he felt as if his face had been trampled on!
At the start of the second round, all four players from Da Chen rushed to grab the ball, while the four players from Bei Qing all flanked the Fifth Prince!