Hearing the ball fall into the goal, Gu Yi let out a soft, incredulous “Ah.”

A corner of the Imperial Garden suddenly fell completely silent.

A moment later, the blue-robed palace attendant who had been holding the ball was the first to recover, exclaiming loudly, “Congratulations to Talented Lady Gu! Felicitations to Talented Lady Gu! Ten consecutive wins, claiming today’s first victory!”

Gu Yi forcibly suppressed the urge to jump on the spot, politely fake-coughed, and smiled with pursed lips, “Thank you for the praise!”

One thousand taels!

My goodness!

Among the consorts, it was the usually reserved Consort Duan who spoke first, “Talented Lady Gu is truly formidable! So quickly claiming the first victory!”

Noble Consort De bit her lip and forced out a smile, “Talented Lady Gu has been quiet and unremarkable, yet she’s been hiding such skill… But this polo match is not yet over. After the remaining sisters have taken their turns, the outcome will be clear, and only then can the prize be awarded.”

Gu Yi handed the mallet to the palace attendant, turned to the sidelines, and curtsied obediently, “Your Highness speaks truly.”

Xiaoyan turned his head and asked, “Who has not yet played?”

Noble Consort De was taken aback, then answered, “Palace Lady Gong from Zhaigang Hall and Concubine Wan from Xiu Yidian should be the last two rounds.”

Xiaoyan nodded, then heard Palace Lady Gong laugh, “Noble Consort De thinks too highly of me. I can score two points at most.”

Zhao Wan gripped her mallet but remained silent.

Talented Lady Gu’s polo skills were truly surprising—her ball control was skillful and effortless, as if she had practiced specifically for this.

Gu Yi walked to the side of the grass field and waited with bated breath.

As in the original plot, Palace Lady Gong truly only scored two points.

“This concubine is dull-witted and has made my sisters laugh,” she said.

Noble Consort De waved her hand dismissively.

The sun hung high overhead, breaking through the clouds, casting circles of light large and small on the imperial lawn.

The attendants thoughtfully retraced the baselines on the field with white lime.

The thousand taels of silver she had been thinking about for so long were now within reach, making Gu Yi’s heart grow anxious with anticipation.

After waiting for a short while, it was finally the female protagonist’s turn to take the stage as the final player.

She wondered if the plot would stay on track.

Xiaoyan noticed Gu Yi’s eyes fixed unblinkingly on Concubine Wan as she struck the ball.

With light powder on her face, the smile in her eyes hadn’t faded.

Winning the game had made her so happy.

Was the desire to win always this strong?

Watching Concubine Wan on the field score six points in succession, Noble Consort De clutched her silk handkerchief tightly, her eyes revealing dissatisfaction.

But fortunately… she still had a backup plan.

She turned to the Emperor standing beside her and smiled faintly, “Sister Zhao is truly impressive! I never expected that this year’s newly arrived sisters would be so formidable, making this concubine seem like nothing in comparison.”

The Emperor merely smiled faintly without saying a word.

Noble Consort De felt increasingly displeased.

Consort Duan stood half a step behind her and couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Concubine Wan upon hearing this.

In this polo match, Noble Consort De had truly lost more than she gained. She had intended to win the Emperor’s favor with her polo skills, yet two newcomers had stolen all the attention.

How interesting.

Gu Yi’s gaze remained fixed on Zhao Wan. After the time it took to burn an incense stick, she watched as Zhao Wan finally struck all ten points, also claiming victory on the field.

She couldn’t help but secretly let out a long breath.

The plot was still on track.

Seeing this, Noble Consort De fanned herself with her handkerchief and laughed softly, “Sister Wan’s polo skills are excellent! It seems she is equally matched with Sister Gu.”

Zhao Wan’s face reddened slightly as she curtseyed, “Your Highness flatters me. I was merely lucky, certainly not as steady and precise as Talented Lady Gu.” Her last few points had indeed been narrowly made, not as solid as Gu Yi’s.

Please don’t, please don’t mention me again, thank you.

Gu Yi quietly retreated half a step from the crowd, trying hard to minimize her presence.

Xiaoyan caught a glimpse of her movement and smiled lightly, “Concubine Wan is too modest. There’s no need to belittle yourself. Since your skill is superior, you should certainly be rewarded.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a palace attendant who had been waiting nearby came forward with gleaming silver, bowing and saying, “Your Majesty, here are the thousand taels of prize money in full.”

Gu Yi felt her eyes dazzled by the gleaming silver, and her heart began to race faster and faster.

She slowly took a breath.

Sure enough, she heard Noble Consort De speak, “Your Majesty, please wait.”

She knew it—the original plot was indeed on track!

Things weren’t that simple!

Gu Yi consoled herself inwardly.

It’s alright—even if the female protagonist was deprived of the prize money because of the weight of the polo ball, this was just one of the final storms on her path to becoming Empress.

As for herself, she could beat her chest and guarantee that every ball she had struck was completely regulation.

To prevent Noble Consort De from targeting her as well, she had weighed the polo balls several times before the match and even marked them with cinnabar as identification.

She had thoroughly checked the mallets inside and out.

There was no problem!

Xiaoyan’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked toward Noble Consort De, “Why wait?”

Noble Consort De saw the apparent displeasure on his face and felt alarmed, but laughed, “This concubine believes that for the fairness of the polo match, before determining the winner, we must carefully inspect the mallets and balls to ensure this prize money is well-deserved. Though the prize isn’t a large sum, if we allow impropriety, this concubine wouldn’t dare organize polo matches in the future.”

As soon as Noble Consort De spoke these words, everyone present understood clearly, and all looked toward Concubine Wan and Talented Lady Gu with complicated expressions.

Xiaoyan smiled faintly, “Summon people from the Palace Regulatory Office to investigate, to ensure fairness.”

Noble Consort De curtseyed, “Your Majesty is wise.”

Zhao Wan’s heart tightened, and she glanced at Gu Yi, only to see her standing in the crowd, silent, as if in a daze.

Is she not afraid?

Zhao Wan knew she had not cheated and had been conscientious in planning the polo match.

But while an open attack is easy to dodge, a hidden arrow is hard to prevent.

Could Noble Consort De have secretly tampered with something?

The people from the Palace Regulatory Office arrived quickly.

They examined all the polo equipment one by one.

Gu Yi watched as several blue-robed female officials placed all the polo balls on an iron scale to weigh them, recording each measurement.

The Imperial Garden fell momentarily silent, with only the sound of polo balls dropping onto iron plates.

After about a quarter of an hour, the leading blue-robed female official held up a register and reported, “Reporting to Your Majesty, after examination by the Chief Regulators, Deputy Regulators, and four Standard-Keepers of the Palace Regulatory Office, all the mallets are without fault… but one polo ball weighs three ounces more than the others.”

Everyone feigned surprise.

“Whose ball weighs more than the others?” Xiaoyan asked slowly.

The female official lowered her head and answered, “It belongs to Concubine Wan of Xiu Yidian.”

Zhao Wan immediately knelt, “Your Majesty, please investigate clearly. This concubine has not cheated and knows nothing of this matter.”

Gu Yi, separated by a layer of people, saw that Zhao Wan’s forehead was instantly covered with fine sweat, and her face had turned completely red. A sudden feeling of guilt arose in her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Had she done wrong?

Should she not have maintained the original plot?

Should she have warned her, as she had done the last time, and tried to avoid this?

Hearing this, Xiaoyan did not respond but cast a scrutinizing gaze toward Zhao Wan.

Noble Consort De, seeing this, immediately said coldly, “How dare you, lowly person! How can you quibble? You… the ball you struck was slightly heavier, allowing you to make more stable slope shots than others. Even on flat ground, it would hold its path better. This cunning act was cheating to win, and worse, an attempt to gain favor. Zhao Wan, you were the one organizing this polo match, yet you showed favoritism—your crime is compounded!”

Zhao Wan pressed her forehead to the ground, “I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly, and Your Highness to see the truth. This concubine did not cheat!”

Gu Yi instinctively stepped forward half a step, about to speak, when she heard Xiaoyan say, “Right and wrong will be determined. Since Concubine Wan claims a clear conscience, this matter will be handed over to the Palace Regulatory Office for further investigation. The craftsmen who made the balls and those from the Reception Office who were responsible for the equipment shall all be investigated…”

Tears suddenly welled up in Zhao Wan’s eyes, “Your Majesty…”

Xiaoyan continued, “This matter cannot be resolved today. The polo match… is hereby concluded.”

Noble Consort De panicked inwardly, her lips trembling as she forced a smile, “Your Majesty, why go to such lengths…”

Zhao Wan prostrated herself fully and said, “This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your great mercy.”

The others present also chorused that “His Majesty is wise.”

Gu Yi couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

The Palace Regulatory Office accepted their orders and departed.

A moment later, the attendant holding the prize money awkwardly stammered, “Your Majesty… since it’s like this… should today’s polo prize money… be… be awarded entirely to Talented Lady Gu of Pingcui Palace?”

Gu Yi’s heart rose again with sudden elation, her body and mind feeling instantly lighter.

Xiaoyan was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Gu Yi before he said carefully, “Today’s prize money was to be awarded to the winner of the polo match, but unexpected issues have arisen with this match, making it difficult to be fair. For everyone to be treated fairly, the outcome of today’s polo match remains undecided, and this match… today’s results are nullified, with no prize to be awarded…”

The attendant acknowledged this and withdrew from the Imperial Garden with the tray.

Gu Yi stood frozen, watching his blue-clad figure gradually recede, turning past the stone path and finally disappearing.

She suddenly felt as if there were a thousand weights on her feet, with several bolts of lightning striking her head from a clear sky.

What kind of human suffering was this?

Was Xiao Gouzi promoting the legendary ancient Olympic spirit of competition?

Fairness and justice?

Just because she hadn’t warned the female protagonist, did she have to endure such inhuman torment?

She had put her heart and soul into practicing, waking early and staying up late to practice polo for months—what was it all for?

With her heart set on getting rich through this polo match, she had barely endured the initial pain of experiencing the same events five times, only to end up practicing for nothing?

Was she destined to leave the palace without ever experiencing the life of a wealthy woman, spending the rest of her life in poverty?

Gu Yi closed her eyes, utterly heartbroken. If not for the many people around, she would have squatted down right there and burst into tears!

Xiaoyan looked up to see Gu Yi’s face as white as snow, her apricot eyes reflecting disbelief.

She stood there, dispirited and truly pitiable.

A ripple of emotion rose in his chest, and he was about to speak when he heard Consort Duan behind him say with a smile, “Your Majesty is indeed wise, but Sister Gu has been wronged. The balls she used had no weight discrepancy. Sister Gu’s polo skills were divine, yet in the end she received no reward. In this concubine’s opinion, why not give Sister Gu some other reward?”

Gu Yi had just raised her head to look at Consort Duan and saw that she was a beauty in palace attire the color of rouge, with a golden hairpin inserted at an angle in her hair, gleaming in the sunlight. But her features were somewhat plain, elegant but not bold.

She found it quite strange.

She and Consort Duan had never associated with each other, so why would she help her seek a reward?

Then she heard Consort Duan continue, “Sister Gu was originally demoted from Concubine to Talented Lady. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to restore her rank… Your Majesty… what do you think?”

Xiaoyan turned his head, carefully observing Consort Duan’s expression, seeing her smile warmly, and suddenly smiled as well, “Beloved Consort is kind-hearted and speaks truly.”

He turned back and announced in a clear voice, “Today, Talented Lady Gu of Pingcui Palace is promoted to Concubine Gu.”

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat. She stepped forward and knelt, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”

Xiaoyan saw her head lowered, the dark blue ribbon in her hair falling to her ear, blown by the breeze.

He spoke slowly, “You may rise.”

Gu Yi stood up and glanced at him.

Seeing his eyes filled with inquiry, she gave a forced smile.