After a light snowfall on the first day of the second month, the soil was half-dry and the yellow dust slightly dampened. The frequent rise and fall of hooves would neither turn it into muddy pits nor would two laps of horse-riding stir up vision-obscuring dust clouds. It was the perfect time for polo.
Behind the rear wall of the Imperial Garden’s Zixu Temple lay a vast, relatively flat space that was originally used for the royal family’s ancestral offerings and yin-yang rituals. In recent years, with polo’s rising popularity, guards from the North Gate garrison frequently came here to gallop and practice.
Chai Yingluo, the head priestess of Zixu Temple, being fond of physical activities herself, simply ordered the ground to be leveled and sturdy goalposts to be planted on both the east and west sides. She would occasionally lead her Daoist priestesses to play, turning this space into the most readily available polo field within the Imperial Garden.
When Li Yuangu rode up to the edge of the field, the game was still in full swing. Around ten riders were galloping about, swinging mallets, striking balls, and shouting with laughter. He recognized his Sixth Brother Prince Zhao Yuanjing, Seventh Brother Prince Lu Yuanchang, Tenth Brother Prince Zheng Yuanli, Fifteenth Brother Prince Bin Feng, as well as the Third Imperial Prince of Shu Wang Ke, Fifth Imperial Prince of Yan Wang You, and Sixth Imperial Prince of Liang Wang Yin. The seven young princes, along with their Kuthen Guard escorts and household attendants, created thunderous hoofbeats that rolled across the ground like spring thunder.
He had come looking for Sixth Brother Yuanjing, but Seventh Brother Yuanchang spotted him first. Wearing light leather armor, the Prince of Lu galloped over like a gust of wind, leaning down from his horse with a raised whip and laughing:
“Fourteenth Brother! You’ve come at just the right time! We were just lamenting being short one player, unable to make even teams! Hurry up, there are fresh horses over there. Do you need armor?”
Li Yuanchang’s birth mother was Consort Sun, not of high rank, but he was dignified, intelligent, and cheerful. Accomplished in many arts, excellent in both calligraphy and painting, skilled at playing the pipa and archery, he stood out conspicuously among the princes of Da’an Palace. It was said that in recent years, he had gained much favor from Crown Prince Chengqian.
In contrast, Prince Zhao Li Yuanjing, though two months his senior and held in high regard as one of the earliest-born princes after the founding of the Great Tang, making him viewed as the leader among the former emperor’s younger sons, was honest and straightforward, never one to steal the spotlight. He was often overshadowed by his seventh brother, sometimes even appearing clumsy and weak. However, Li Yuanjing had always maintained good relationships, and now seeing his Fourteenth Brother Yuangu appear, he too rode over.
After the three brothers exchanged greetings, Li Yuangu laid out the plan he had been considering on his way there. Before Sixth Brother could respond to hearing it, Li Yuanchang burst into laughter and clapped his hands in approval:
“Brilliant! That’s exactly what we should do! Count me in, I’ll go tomorrow!”
“Uh…” Li Yuanjing still hesitated, “Isn’t this rather improper? Shouldn’t we first notify the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court…”
“I say we just need to inform our Second Brother-in-law since we’ll need to use quite a few items,” Li Yuangu urged. “If we make too big a fuss beforehand and word gets out, it won’t be as meaningful. And if we alert the Censorate, or even Minister Wei and the others…”
At the mention of Prime Minister Wei Zheng, the young princes all shuddered. By now, Prince Zheng Yuanli and the others had also gathered around, and Li Yuanchang helped argue the point:
“In my view, it’s not too much! Even if we don’t consider our deceased Third Sister’s face, the High Priestess has served Emperor Emeritus wholeheartedly these past few years. As his sons, we ought to show some appreciation. I’ll tell you, even the Eastern Palace has praised the High Priestess…”
Li Yuangu glanced at his Seventh Brother, secretly amused. Li Yuanchang never missed an opportunity to boast about his close relationship with Crown Prince Chengqian, but he didn’t know about the recent sudden change in attitude. Because of that blood jade ring and the matter concerning Consort Yin De and the Seventeenth Princess, Li Chengqian now certainly held no goodwill toward the Daoist priestess Chai Yingluo. Furthermore, with Prince of Yue Li Tai’s recent admission before the Emperor about his frequent interactions with Chai Yingluo, the Crown Prince had likely already branded the Head Priestess of Zixu Temple as a member of the “Prince of Yue’s faction.”
This was exactly what Li Yuangu was counting on. He was betting that news from Lizheng Hall would take time to reach Da’an Palace and that in these next two days, his brothers would still not know about the Empress and Crown Prince’s ill feelings toward the Chai family, still maintaining their old impression that “the High Priestess enjoys favor in Lizheng Hall.” And indeed, his bet had paid off.
Under Li Yuanchang’s enthusiastic promotion, the young princes all expressed willingness to participate. The three Imperial Princes Li Ke and others were more reserved, saying they needed to consult with their household administrators first. It didn’t matter – Li Yuangu’s plan hadn’t included his nephews anyway – the elder Imperial Princes didn’t live in Da’an Palace, they all had their residences scattered throughout the inner city, making coordinated action difficult.
After discussing the main business, Li Yuanchang insisted that his Fourteenth Brother join them for a game. Li Yuangu was eager to try as well. Currently on the field were seven princes facing off against each other, four on one side and three on the other. Although they could use Kuthen Guards to even out the numbers between teams, polo was a violent sport with frequent collisions and risk of injury, and not a single guard dared to actively block a prince, making such an unbalanced game unsatisfying.
“How should we divide the teams?” Li Yuangu asked with a laugh while practicing swings with a polo mallet in the air. With his addition, it would be five young uncles against three nephews, all within three years of age of each other, ranging from fifteen to eighteen… but still with clear distinctions.
“Easy! I’ll join Third Brother’s side!” Li Yuanchang shouted excitedly. “Fourteenth Brother, you’re good at riding, stay on this side for the charge! Remember to kick Sixth Brother off his horse at the start, don’t give him a chance to accidentally injure his team! Remember that!”
The youths at the field’s edge burst into laughter, and Prince Zhao Yuanjing, though mocked by his brother, laughed and cursed back without taking offense. Over there, Prince of Wu Li Ke also waved his mallet and laughed: “Seventh Uncle has lowered himself a generation, but don’t let your polo skills drop with it! That elbow to my mouth earlier still has my front teeth aching! I was thinking of aiming the next ball right at Seventh Uncle’s mouth to avenge my teeth, but now we’re on the same side, so what to do?”
“Being on the same side is perfect for revenge – the enemy within is hardest to guard against!” Li Yuanchang laughed in response. “Or if you prefer, you could quickly drag two more brothers over here-“
“Excellent! I’m coming right now!”
This voice came from some distance away. Everyone at the field edge turned in surprise to see a procession of imperial guards rounding the back wall of Zixu Temple, escorting someone who had already come close enough to hear their loud conversation. The young princes and attendants had been so focused on discussing teams and joking that no one had noticed this approaching group.
The one who had called out “I’m coming right now” was indeed the brother of Li Ke and the other three Imperial Princes – Crown Prince Li Chengqian.
Given the Crown Prince’s exalted position, everyone immediately prostrated themselves in formal greeting, including uncles like Li Yuanjing. Li Chengqian dismounted and returned their greeting, bidding everyone to rise, then after exchanging pleasantries with Li Yuanjing, asked: “You’re dividing teams between uncles and nephews for polo?”
A flush passed over his face and his eyes sparkled with eager light, clearly showing his desire to join in. Li Yuanjing stammered slightly, smiling apologetically: “We’ve been playing for a while and are quite tired now, we were just about to take a couple more laps around the field before dispersing. Your Highness has come at an unfortunate time…”
Just as no guard dared or wished to compete against a prince, no prince dared or wished to compete against the Crown Prince – the principle was the same.
Hearing his Sixth Uncle speak thus, Li Chengqian swept his gaze over his other uncles and brothers, seeing everyone avoiding his eyes while mumbling agreement with Li Yuanjing’s words. Even Prince Lu Yuanchang, who prided himself on his close relationship with the Crown Prince, could only smile awkwardly and try to smooth things over:
“It is getting late today, and there isn’t enough time left for a proper game. Perhaps Your Highness could set another day, gather a few more uncles and brothers, arrange proper teams, horses, and protective gear, and then we can accompany Your Highness for a few rounds to work up a sweat…”
If it were left to another day, most of those currently in the field would likely suddenly find themselves with urgent matters they couldn’t avoid. Li Chengqian was no fool and naturally understood this, his thin lips curling into a bitter smile as his gaze swept around once more before finally settling on Li Yuangu.
Not good. Li Yuangu’s scalp tightened as he heard the Crown Prince summon him: “Fourteenth Uncle, come here, I have a few words for you.”
“I just returned from Da’an Hall and didn’t see Seventeenth Sister.”
After taking Li Yuangu aside for a private conversation, Li Chengqian’s first words were a cold rebuke. Li Yuangu lowered his head and clenched his teeth without making a sound.
He certainly hadn’t forgotten the Crown Prince’s order from two days ago to escort the Seventeenth Sister back to Da’an Hall within two days. He also absolutely refused to carry out this reckless command. These past two days, he had discussed it with Chai Yingluo, and they both felt that Li Chengqian wouldn’t dare go to Lizheng Hall to forcibly remove someone and disturb the Empress, so they could delay and wait to see how things developed.
Li Yuangu was still somewhat worried and had considered whether he should go bring his young sister of the same mother out of the palace and arrange another suitable place for her. But after much thought, in all of Chang’an city, he couldn’t think of any place safer or more suitable for a Princess to reside than the rear courtyard of the Empress’s sleeping quarters, so he let it be for now.
“While Cousin Chai has hidden herself away and dares not see me, it’s good that you’re here, Fourteenth Uncle.” Li Chengqian sneered, “You’ve always prided yourself on being upright and disdainful of pretense, Fourteenth Brother. Why don’t you just say it to my face – you’re determined not to obey my orders as Crown Prince, aren’t you?”
Li Yuangu opened his mouth, swallowed, and heard his voice emerge from between his lips:
“If Your Highness would honor us, you could join your uncles and nephews for a game of polo. I can arrange the people and set a date, ensuring everything meets Your Highness’s satisfaction…”
Well, he knew this answer was completely beside the point, but… what else could he do?
Li Chengqian’s sword-like eyebrows rose, his expression shifting from surprise to anger:
“Are you trying to brush me off, or attempting to bribe me with a polo match? I’m discussing serious matters with you, concerning the Emperor Emeritus’s well-being! Li Yuangu, answer me!”
The sun was already westering, its rays striking the Crown Prince’s face at an angle, clearly outlining the light and shadow of his seventeen-year-old features. Though his brow and eyes still held traces of childishness, his appearance was remarkably similar to his father’s, and his temperament followed the same vein—impetuous, proud, and arrogant, combined with the fickle playfulness of youth, easily provoked to anger. But Li Yuangu wasn’t meeting Li Chengqian for the first time; he made an instant decision.
Stepping back half a pace, Li Yuangu dropped to one knee before the heir apparent and raised his face respectfully to reason:
“Your Highness criticizes me for acting rashly; I dare not argue and willingly accept punishment. However, in Da’an Palace, Consort Yin De has long held sole authority in attending to the Emperor Emeritus. What the Yin family did to our current Emperor during the Wude years, Your Highness knows far better than I. Since her only son’s death three years ago, her mindset has changed drastically, and what occupies her thoughts now—Your Highness, in your wisdom, surely needs no one to point out. Now that she’s become hysterical and seeks to destroy my mother and siblings, so be it. But can Your Highness be certain that returning Seventeenth Sister to Da’an Hall will satisfy Consort Yin De and make her cease?”
Li Chengqian frowned: “You mean…”
“One side grows increasingly demanding while the other creates endless troubles,” Li Yuangu spoke word by word. “Since Yin has found success in using the Emperor Emeritus to command others, would she be willing to stop there? If Your Highness allows her influence to grow unchecked, once things spiral out of control, how will the Emperor and Empress view Your Highness?”
Li Chengqian considered this but still shook his head: “Right now we’re in a critical situation, we must deal with what’s before us. If anything happens to the Emperor Emeritus’s health, no amount of atonement would suffice!”
This meant he still intended to return his young aunt, temporarily appeasing Consort Yin. Li Yuangu gritted his teeth and said:
“If Your Highness truly cares for the Emperor Emeritus’s health and longevity, it would be better to make a decisive move and remove that witch from his side, eliminating any possibility of her harming his sacred person, and select loyal, honest attendants to serve him carefully! Your Highness, indecision will only lead to chaos!”
He could see Li Chengqian was beginning to waver. But at that moment, another rider came around Zixu Temple, dismounted, and ran toward them. As he drew closer, they could see it was a eunuch from Da’an Palace, announcing that “The Emperor Emeritus is unwell, requesting the Crown Prince to return quickly to Da’an Hall to attend him.”
This eunuch had been sent by Consort Yin De. Li Yuangu thought this didn’t bode well, and Li Chengqian’s face darkened, showing irritation and reluctance. As he turned to leave with the eunuch, after a few steps, he suddenly turned back to Li Yuangu, who was still kneeling:
“Fourteenth Uncle, don’t forget about the polo match!”
“Uh…” Li Yuangu had indeed nearly forgotten about this, “Your Highness… truly wishes to have a match between uncles and nephews?”
“Why not?” Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t Fourteenth Uncle challenge me last time, wanting to compare horsemanship and archery skills? March is approaching, and we’ve been practicing polo anyway, preparing to demonstrate before the Emperor at the Shangsi Festival. Gather your brothers, I’ll bring mine to the field, and let uncles and nephews compete for victory!”
Li Yuangu’s mind stirred, and he rose to move closer to Li Chengqian:
“I will obey Your Highness’s command and do my utmost to arrange this polo match. Your Highness knows that for a true competition, some stakes would make it more exciting. What would Your Highness like to wager?”
Li Chengqian rolled his eyes: “Wager what? Given our status, should we act like common ruffians betting gold, jewels, and silk for profit? It would sound most unseemly if word got out.”
“Yes, that wouldn’t be appropriate.” Li Yuangu took a deep breath and suggested, “What if we wager on the matter of attending to the Emperor Emeritus in Da’an Palace?”
“What do you mean?” Li Chengqian didn’t understand.
With the Da’an Palace eunuch still within earshot, Li Yuangu dared not speak too plainly: “Let one polo match decide victory and defeat. If Your Highness and the Imperial Princes win, I will naturally follow all Your Highness’s orders; if my brothers and I happen to score one point more, please allow me to handle matters concerning Seventeenth Sister as I see fit!”
Now Li Chengqian understood, but his reaction upon understanding was… laughter born of extreme anger.
After laughing, he turned and left, flicking his horsewhip, leaving Li Yuangu with one final comment:
“Fourteenth Uncle, how stupid do you think I am?”
[Author’s Note: Many people know that polo was popular among the Tang dynasty royal family and nobility, as evidenced by the murals in Crown Prince Zhanghuai’s tomb and historical accounts of Emperor Xuanzong playing polo. Previously, it was generally believed that this sport was only introduced to Central Plains from the northwest in early Tang and flourished after Emperor Gaozong’s reign. However, new archaeological findings suggest otherwise. In 1979, a ball 5.5 centimeters in diameter was unearthed at the Han dynasty beacon site of Maquanwan in Gansu, highly suspected to be a polo ball (pictured below). The poem “Ming Du” by Cao Zhi of Eastern Han contains the lines “Fighting cocks on the eastern suburban road, racing horses between tall trees. Before half the course is run, two rabbits pass before me… Continuously strikes the ball, showing countless clever moves. The white sun races southwest, its light impossible to grasp. As clouds scatter we return to the city, to come back again in the clear morning.” Here, “continuously striking the ball” is believed to refer to playing polo.
Therefore, “mounted ball-striking” sports likely existed in the Central Plains much earlier, and during the Tang dynasty, they were further developed and popularized under the influence of Silk Road culture from the West. Setting Li Shimin’s brothers and sons playing polo is not historically inaccurate.]