Early the next morning, Jiang Zhiyi indulged in half an hour more sleep. By the time she arrived at the Tianchong Academy, the first morning class was already half over.

Hearing that today’s first class was again taught by that old teacher from yesterday, Jiang Zhiyi immediately abandoned the idea of entering the classroom mid-session.

Such a senior scholar with an unyielding temperament, who had called on her by name yesterday, might well publicly reprimand her for being late today.

Considering that since her parents’ passing, she had barely heard a harsh word spoken to her in nearly ten years, let alone being scolded, Jiang Zhiyi simply decided to nap in the carriage until the first class ended, only entering the classroom during the recess period.

Upon entering the Tian Hall, she discovered only a scattered few students inside, and Yuan Ce was not in his seat.

Jiang Zhiyi sat down at her desk and looked toward Pei Zisong in front of her.

After yesterday’s “cheating” exchange, she no longer pretended to ask Gu Yu and directly questioned him: “Where has everyone gone?”

Pei Zisong looked up from his book and answered: “The second class today is polo. Young Master Zhong and Commander Shen have each formed a polo team, and they’ve all gone to change their attire.”

“So that means…” I’ll get to see Brother A-Ce’s gallant figure on horseback again!

Jiang Zhiyi’s excitement abruptly changed course: “…there will be excitement to watch.”

Pei Zisong smiled without speaking.

Looking at back, which answered every question asked but never spoke unnecessarily, Jiang Zhiyi was quite satisfied. Remembering something, she signaled to Gu Yu beside her.

Gu Yu understood immediately, picking up a gift box prepared that morning and stepping forward.

The princess disliked owing favors. Whenever she received help, she would always bestow something in return. Having received assistance from this young Pei yesterday and needing to continue relying on him to learn about Commander Shen’s activities at the academy, now was the perfect time to present a gift in return.

Gu Yu walked to Pei Zisong’s desk, explained the purpose, and presented the gift box with both hands: “A modest gift, please accept it, Young Master Pei.”

Pei Zisong showed a surprised expression, stood up, and turned to bow to Jiang Zhiyi: “Classmates should naturally help each other. Such a small gesture hardly deserves mention. Having rendered no service, I dare not accept a reward.”

Jiang Zhiyi was most annoyed by such ceremonious refusals. Her storerooms were filled with dusty antiques and treasures; ordering a steward to select a gift was merely a matter of a single command, whereas arguing with someone over it wasted far more breath.

“When I give you something, it’s given. Open it yourself and see. If you don’t want it, feel free to pass it to any classmate.” Jiang Zhiyi waved her hand dismissively.

Sensing Jiang Zhiyi’s displeasure, Pei Zisong opened the box and was taken aback: “This is the inkstone used by Vice Director Lu of the previous dynasty during his official tenure. Only one exists in the world—how did Young Master Jiang know I admire Vice Director Lu?”

“Didn’t you cite Vice Director Lu’s deeds yesterday? Is that so difficult to guess?”

Pei Zisong’s eyes brightened slightly, and he immediately bowed to her more solemnly: “Since it’s Vice Director Lu’s precious inkstone, it shouldn’t be lost to common hands. Zisong will presumptuously accept it.”

Though a modest and courteous scholar, he was still a youth who had not yet come of age, and his true feelings showed through. Upon seeing something he treasured, he likely couldn’t maintain his Prime Minister father’s careful teachings.

Pei Zisong cherished the inkstone, holding it fondly for quite some time before closing the gift box and smiling lightly: “With this inkstone, Zisong will use it to write more characters for Young Master Jiang to see in the future.”

“…”

There’s no need to be such a jinx!

She came to this academy to meet her lover, not to make friends through literary exchanges. She certainly didn’t want to be called upon by the teacher again!

Jiang Zhiyi raised her palm lightly and put on a serious face: “Such ‘cheating’ in class is surely something Vice Director Lu would not approve of. You’d better use it for your proper studies.”

Recognizing Jiang Zhiyi’s concealed embarrassment, Pei Zisong nodded with a smile: “Young Master Jiang’s admonishment is correct. Zisong was being narrow-minded.”

Several paces away, a figure in polo attire stood silently outside the window, watching the two like-minded people exchanging words, one sentence after another, and raised a cold eyebrow.

Starting with “I, Pei” and now already using “Zisong”—this friendship was developing quite rapidly.

She forbade him from speaking to noble ladies who referred to themselves by their names, yet it seemed the magistrate was allowed to set fires while commoners couldn’t light lamps.

Yuan Ce glanced at Jiang Zhiyi, who had not noticed him at all, gripped his polo mallet with one hand, and turned toward the polo field with a grim face.

Two quarters of an hour later, at the polo field.

Jiang Zhiyi took her seat on the viewing platform with Gu Yu, her gaze eagerly searching the field.

Today, the two polo teams had ten players each, one team in crimson and one in blue. The rules of polo were simple: each rider carried a mallet to strike the ball while galloping, scoring one point for each ball struck into the opponent’s goal, with the team scoring the most points declared the winner.

Jiang Zhiyi’s gaze swiftly scanned the field, immediately finding that figure standing out from the crowd—

The young man wore a crimson narrow-sleeved robe with a crimson headband and black leather riding boots. On horseback, he held the reins with one hand and a black wood and gold-patterned polo mallet in the other, facing the center line, quietly waiting for the opposing team to be ready.

Jiang Zhiyi steadied her heart. Earlier, she had waited in the classroom for a long time before hearing that Brother A-Ce had already gone to the polo field. She had then hurried over in a sedan chair, fortunately not missing the start.

However, looking carefully, Brother A-Ce wore a stern expression today, his eyes particularly sharp, seeming to be in a poor mood.

Could it be that he thought she hadn’t come to cheer him on and was unhappy?

Unlike the previous archery test, the viewing platform was quite far from the polo field. No matter how much Yuan Ce might be distracted by her, he wouldn’t be able to hear her voice.

Jiang Zhiyi wanted to wave at the field to let Yuan Ce know she had arrived, hoping he would stop looking so gloomy and cheer up, but considering that other classmates who weren’t playing and young masters from the three other halls—Di, Xuan, and Huang—were also seated on the platform, she had to refrain.

On the other side of the field, Zhong Boyong and his nine teammates adjusted their formation, completed their final strategic deployment, and turned their horses around. He raised his hand to signal the referee.

The referee placed a fist-sized, gold-painted and colorfully decorated polo ball at the center line.

As the bronze gong sounded, young men in crimson and blue spurred their horses forward, and steeds from both sides instantly galloped toward the center line.

In a dizzying blur, two horses quickly broke away from the crowd.

Yuan Ce and Zhong Boyong passed each other at the center line, both swinging their mallets simultaneously.

Jiang Zhiyi fixed her gaze on the field, watching as the ball was flicked up by the crescent head of one of the mallets.

In the next instant, a crimson-clad youth received the ball struck by Yuan Ce.

Jiang Zhiyi’s heart leaped with joy as she watched the ball quickly approach the blue team’s goal, passed from mallet to mallet in relay.

Yuan Ce and his horse moved like a swimming dragon through the field. At the final stretch, he raised his arm and swung.

The ball soared high, shot straight at the goal, and went in precisely!

The crimson team scored the first point!

The scorekeeper raised a red flag, and cheers erupted from the viewing platform. Jiang Zhiyi brought her hands together to clap, but Gu Yu quickly covered them with her palms.

Jiang Zhiyi: “…”

The applause she intended to give turned into a sigh. Jiang Zhiyi suppressed her surging emotions and concealed the joy in her expression.

Indeed, it was too early to celebrate. Since losing to Brother A-Ce in the last archery test, Zhong Boyong had been trying every means to regain face. According to Pei Zisong, today’s polo match was Zhong Boyong’s challenge to Brother A-Ce, and the crimson team consisted of players Zhong Boyong had left after his selection. Although they had scored the first point, the outcome was still uncertain.

Jiang Zhiyi watched vigilantly, but soon discovered that her concern was somewhat unnecessary.

Because no one could keep up with Yuan Ce’s horse.

Although the crimson team was weaker overall, as long as teammates assisted slightly with passing the ball, no matter where it rolled on the field, Yuan Ce’s horse could reach it with lightning speed.

By the time the blue-clad youths turned to block, they saw only dust clouds and could only taste the flying sand kicked up by their horses’ hooves.

Even those who could keep up with the wind couldn’t keep up with Yuan Ce.

In the blink of an eye, the crimson team scored another goal.

After conceding two goals in succession, the blue team’s morale visibly weakened.

For the third goal, Yuan Ce led two teammates in a victorious charge, breaking through left and right, unstoppable in their advance. The blue team youths not only didn’t dare to intercept but even began to dodge in panic—

Although Zhong Boyong brought a fierce determination born of resentment today, Yuan Ce seemed even more formidable. During the previous archery test, he had at least smiled slightly, but on the polo field, he maintained a cold expression from start to finish. Those who knew understood he was playing polo; those who didn’t might think he was fighting people!

This Zhong Boyong must have upset Brother A-Ce again…

Good, let him lose thoroughly this time, so he’ll know not to provoke someone he shouldn’t in the future!

Across the field, Yuan Ce’s headband fluttered as he swung his mallet time after time. Zhong Boyong couldn’t even get an opportunity to approach the crimson team’s goal, and his face grew increasingly sour.

Ball after ball was scored, and wave after wave of excited cheers rose from the viewing platform. Only Jiang Zhiyi had to pretend to be indifferent to her “enemy’s” goals. Every time she wanted to applaud for Brother A-Ce, Gu Yu forcefully restrained her, until finally her hands nearly cramped from the restraint.

Seeing the crimson team’s flag waving on the field, indicating their victory was assured, Jiang Zhiyi’s unexpressed enthusiasm felt truly stifled. She slightly shifted her gaze away from the field, hoping to ease her feelings.

As she looked away, she discovered that Pei Zisong had also come to the platform at some point and was now sitting quietly next to her, watching the match.

Only then did Jiang Zhiyi remember—

“Why aren’t you playing polo with them?”

Pei Zisong turned his eyes to her: “I’m not skilled in this area. They had enough players, so I didn’t join the excitement.”

Those not participating today were indeed mostly scholarly young men, some of whom had already been embarrassed by falling from their horses during the previous archery test.

However, Pei Zisong’s archery performance had seemed quite acceptable.

Jiang Zhiyi remembered that he had gone up two positions after Brother A-Ce. While his horsemanship wasn’t exceptional, his tall, straight figure and elegant bearing gave him a distinctive scholarly air. Although he had only shot one arrow, he had scored nine rings, showing that he wasn’t completely unskilled in horsemanship and archery—he simply wasn’t proficient and acted only within his capabilities.

Jiang Zhiyi nodded and voiced the question she had since yesterday: “Learning martial arts at this academy is understandable, but for scholarly advancement, it’s quite difficult. Since you’re not skilled in martial arts, why not focus on the imperial examinations?”

Her father and Minister Pei had passed the imperial examinations in the same year, and her father had always praised Minister Pei’s scholarship highly. Thus, she had known since childhood that Minister Pei was a remarkable person. Seeing the Prime Minister’s eldest legitimate son wasting time with these young libertines was truly a pity.

Unexpectedly, Pei Zisong suddenly smiled: “I already did. I came here after passing the examination.”

Jiang Zhiyi was shocked: “If you’ve already passed, why not enter official service?”

“Our dynasty has a rule that father and son cannot serve as officials in the same court at the same time and place. With my father in the capital, if I were to enter service, I would have to be posted to a distant province.”

“Being posted elsewhere is part of a civil official’s career path. What’s so important about that?”

“My mother’s health is poor, and I don’t know how much time I’ll have to accompany her. I believe many others can serve the country and the people; they won’t miss one person like me. But my mother has only one son. Abandoning my closest kin for the sake of the state is not my wish.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s gaze flickered slightly as she looked at his determined eyes, and her expression darkened.

Pei Zisong turned his head and saw her expression, suddenly realizing he had said something wrong—

When the current Emperor was still merely Prince Duan, Princess Yongying’s father had been Prince Duan’s legitimate cousin and one of his strategists.

Ten years ago, Prince Duan was guarding the frontier in the Hedong region on behalf of the late Emperor when he received urgent news that his royal brother in Chang’an had staged a palace coup.

Prince Duan rushed back from Hedong but was intercepted by rebel troops on the way.

To ensure Prince Duan’s safe return to the capital, the princess’s father, a civil official, led local troops into battle. He fought until there was not a single soldier left under his command, ultimately defending a city alone. He sacrificed himself for the city, hastily leaving his wife and daughter a twenty-one-character letter written in blood, saying, “Today I die for the state, a proper death. I smile in the netherworld. Do not lament, do not sigh, take good care of yourselves.”

Later, Prince Duan fought his way back to the capital, ascended the throne, and became the current Emperor. In gratitude for the princess’s father’s loyalty, he posthumously conferred the title of Duke Ningguo, and his daughter was exceptionally granted the title of princess.

Today, his casual remark that “abandoning my closest kin for the sake of the state is not my wish” had inadvertently touched the princess’s deepest wound.

Jiang Zhiyi quietly looked at Pei Zisong, saying nothing for a long time.

On the polo field, Yuan Ce’s horse gradually slowed down, actually allowing Zhong Boyong to pass by with the ball. The crimson-clad youths all looked puzzled and followed Yuan Ce’s gaze toward the viewing platform.

But because of the distance, after looking for a long time, they couldn’t determine exactly what Yuan Ce was looking at.

On the viewing platform, just as Pei Zisong was about to apologize to Jiang Zhiyi, he opened his mouth only to see Gu Yu tugging at Jiang Zhiyi’s sleeve: “Princess!”

Jiang Zhiyi looked in the direction Gu Yu pointed and saw Yuan Ce pull his reins, toss his mallet, and dismount.

“Yuan Ce, where are you going?”

“Young Master Zhong’s skill is superior; I concede defeat.” Yuan Ce left with these words and strode off the field.

Jiang Zhiyi was greatly alarmed: “What’s happening?”

Gu Yu didn’t know either. Just moments ago, Commander Shen had been in high spirits, executing one brilliant play after another on horseback, but suddenly he seemed to lose all interest and no longer wanted to play.

“Just now, I saw Young Master Zhong constantly signaling to people on the crimson team. Could it be that Commander Shen’s teammates were Young Master Zhong’s plants, and that’s why Commander Shen is upset?”

“Such a thing happened?” Jiang Zhiyi didn’t dwell on it further, hurriedly descended from the platform, and chased after Yuan Ce.

Seeing the crimson-clad youth ahead taking such large strides that she couldn’t catch up, she called in a low voice: “Brother A-Ce—!”

Yuan Ce only walked faster.

Jiang Zhiyi had no choice but to run with small steps, becoming out of breath along the way: “Brother A-Ce, wait—wait for me! I can’t—can’t catch my breath!”

Yuan Ce finally halted his steps but still didn’t turn around.

Jiang Zhiyi quickly walked up behind him, panting: “Brother A-Ce, did—did Zhong Boyong cheat? Using such despicable means to win against you is too much. You had so many of his people on your team…”

“Even if it were one against nineteen, I wouldn’t lose.” Yuan Ce suddenly turned and interrupted her.

So it had reached the point of one against nineteen… this Zhong Boyong was truly going too far!

Jiang Zhiyi shook her head quickly, her expression resolute: “Brother A-Ce is never alone in fighting one against nineteen. I will always stand with Brother A-Ce!”

“Is that so?” Yuan Ce raised an eyelid and gave a cold laugh. “Then your ‘always’ is quite brief.”