The rising sun in the east brought scorching heat to Chang’an as soon as its summer rays emerged.
Over a hundred men came from the Capital Defense Command, including not just Commander Wang Yun, but also several team leaders like Xu Congyun, most of the department’s personnel, and surprisingly even Prince Consort Wei Baoheng.
Wang Yun looked their way and asked with a smile, “Just the three of you? Oh, only two horses? How will you form a polo team?”
His smile was gentle, but Huang Zixia felt uncomfortable no matter how she looked at him. Though she knew he despised her, perhaps even hated her, he maintained such a relaxed and cheerful facade. This type of person was what she feared most.
Zhou Ziqin, however, smiled at Wang Yun and said, “What’s the rush? Two more people are coming. When they arrive, you’ll surely admit defeat.”
“Oh…” Wang Yun glanced at Huang Zixia and asked, “Could it be Prince Kui?”
Zhou Ziqin winked, “No, but they’ll still shock you.”
“Then I’ll wait and see.” Wang Yun smiled and turned back to his position. Zhou Ziqin caught sight of Prince Consort Wei Baoheng polishing his polo mallet and exclaimed, “Oh no! Wang Yun is too ruthless!”
“What’s wrong?” Huang Zixia asked.
“Wei Baoheng is joining the game!”
“Is the Prince Consort that skilled at polo?”
“Skilled doesn’t begin to describe it! If he hadn’t dominated an entire New Year’s polo match at Daming Palace, single-handedly crushing five Tibetan polo masters, how would he have earned the Emperor’s praise and caught Princess Tongchang’s eye?”
“Too ruthless…” Huang Zixia looked at Zhou Ziqin’s docile horse “Little Xia,” then at Zhang Xingying who didn’t even have a horse, and finally at her slender wrists. She couldn’t help but worry about their chances in this match.
Just as she was at her wit’s end, shouts of “Long live the Emperor” came from outside the polo field. The Emperor had arrived with Noble Consort Guo and Princess Tongchang.
The Emperor wore dark casual clothes, his face full of smiles as he walked to the field’s edge, chatting and laughing with his daughter Princess Tongchang. Palace servants quickly arranged the imperial seat. Noble Consort Guo, being extremely attentive, personally set out fruits and snacks for the Emperor, and even covered them with a brocade cloth to protect against dust.
Noble Consort Guo was about the same age as the Emperor, but thanks to years of careful maintenance, she still maintained her snow-white complexion and flower-like beauty, appearing as lustrous as a pearl, full of grace and charm.
Princess Tongchang’s eyes resembled Noble Consort Guo’s, but her features were harder, making her facial features appear more delicate than her mother’s. Although she laughed and joked with the Emperor, her eyes bright with joy, she couldn’t hide her inherent sharp yet fragile beauty, like easily shattered ice.
After the Emperor took his seat, his gaze swept over everyone as he smiled and said, “When I heard that Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother were having a polo match, I rushed over! This is a rare spectacle that cannot be missed.”
Almost every Tang Emperor loved polo. Years ago, Emperor Muzong died of a stroke at just thirty after being accidentally struck in the head by a polo servant. His successor, Emperor Jingzong, was assassinated by eunuchs at eighteen due to his obsession with polo. Yet the polo trend in the royal family only grew stronger. Though the current Emperor wasn’t particularly skilled at polo, he loved watching it, especially today with royal relatives participating. He even set aside state affairs to come watch.
Everyone paid their respects to the Emperor. Perhaps it was Huang Zixia being oversensitive, but she felt the Emperor’s smile grow slightly stiff when his gaze fell on her.
Perhaps seeing her reminded him of Empress Wang in Taiji Palace.
After the Emperor was seated, Prince Zhao and Prince E rode in together, surrounded by their entourage. When Wang Yun saw them heading toward Huang Zixia’s group, he immediately knew who their helpers were. Yet his expression remained unchanged, seemingly unconcerned. He simply walked over with a smile to greet the two princes, exchanging pleasantries with perfect composure, even showing appropriately measured surprise at seeing them.
Huang Zixia could only silently feed her horse Brushing Sand some hay.
Zhou Ziqin, being the most thick-skinned, saw that neither prince had brought spare horses and directly said to Wang Yun, “Brother Wang, let’s discuss something. We’re short one horse, could you lend us one?”
The Capital Defense Command personnel secretly sneered. After all, borrowing a horse from opponents right before a match was probably unprecedented in history.
Yet Wang Yun didn’t mind at all, showing clear-skied magnanimity as he gestured behind him, “We brought over ten horses. Ziqin, whichever one catches your eye, feel free to take it.”
Zhou Ziqin didn’t hesitate, pointing at the tall chestnut horse beside Prince Consort Wei Baoheng, saying, “That one!”
Wei Baoheng laughed, “Ziqin, you’re quite clever.”
“Obviously! Any horse you choose must be the best. I most admire your eye for quality.” As he spoke, he shamelessly led the chestnut horse over and handed the reins to Zhang Xingying, “Quickly mount up and get a feel for it.”
Though Wei Baoheng was a Prince Consort, he had an excellent temperament. He casually took a black stallion from nearby and smiled, “I’ll beat you with any horse.”
The polo field had been cleared and leveled. Prince Zhao Li Tong and Wang Yun drew lots to determine sides, and both teams donned their uniforms – red for Huang Zixia’s side, white for Wang Yun’s.
A fist-sized ball was placed at the center of the field, with five riders on each side stationed before their respective goals.
As the official raised his small red flag, both sides’ horses immediately charged toward the ball. Nine trails of dust rapidly spread toward the center. Among the ten horses, only Huang Zixia’s Brushing Sand remained still as she sat calmly on horseback, observing the situation from the rear.
Prince Zhao Li Tong’s horse was a thousand-li steed, taking the lead straight for the ball. His horse’s stride was so long that when still two zhang away, he was already in a position to strike. As hooves rose and fell, his mallet struck out, sending the first ball flying toward the opponent’s goal.
Prince Consort Wei Baoheng reacted fastest, immediately turning his horse to defend. The ball bounced off the goalpost and landed right in front of his horse. He swung his mallet to pass to Wang Yun, who instantly spotted a gap on the right side of the opponent’s field and charged straight for the goal.
Huang Zixia was positioned sideways before the goal. Seeing him approach at full speed, she urged Brushing Sand forward, charging directly at Wang Yun.
The two horses brushed past each other in a flash, their mallets crossing for an instant as Wang Yun and her horses each continued forward.
The ball Wang Yun had carried was now under Huang Zixia’s mallet. Her right hand swung lightly, sending the ball in a long arc directly to Prince Zhao Li Tong, landing perfectly in front of his horse.
With no one before him, Prince Zhao easily sent the ball into the goal, scoring first.
“Prince Zhao, Chonggu, well done!” Zhou Ziqin shouted excitedly from horseback, forgetting he was supposed to be guarding against the opponents.
No one had expected this thin, small eunuch to play polo so skillfully, able to take the ball from Wang Yun in a flash. The spectators fell silent for a moment before erupting in cheers.
Huang Zixia kept her eyes straight ahead, urging her horse back to defend the goal.
Wang Yun only glanced at her once, saying nothing as he turned back to his field.
Emperor Li Zhen couldn’t stop praising this excellent opening play, laughing, “Very good, very good! Seventh Brother, your polo skills have improved!”
Noble Consort Guo gently fanned him while smiling, “Yes, and that little eunuch’s skills are impressive too.”
Li Zhen looked thoughtfully at Huang Zixia and nodded, “That little eunuch is named Yang Chonggu, one of Prince Kui’s close attendants.”
“Oh? Could this be the one who solved the Four Directions case in the capital?” Noble Consort Guo covered her smile with her fan, “I heard Prince Zhao once asked Prince Kui for this little eunuch. Indeed, his appearance is refined and lovable.”
Li Zhen smiled faintly but said nothing more.
Princess Tongchang seemed distracted, her elbow resting on her father’s couch back, chin in hand, lost in thought as she frowned at the horses moving back and forth on the field.
The atmosphere on the field had become quite intense. Prince Consort Wei Baoheng scored a goal to tie the game, raising his mallet high to acknowledge the Emperor and others watching.
The Emperor laughed, “Lingxi, the Prince Consort is looking at you.”
“He’s covered in sweat, why should I care?” Princess Tongchang said lazily.
The summer sun hung high, its rays now intense.
Less than a quarter hour into the match, Huang Zixia already felt oppressed.
It wasn’t just the scorching weather; the dust flying up from the polo field also made breathing difficult. Sweat had soaked through everyone’s clothes, but this burning heat seemed to only heighten the excitement on the field. The horses galloped as swiftly as the swirling sand, coming and going like the wind, leaving no time even to blink.
She stood under the blazing sun, guarding before the goal, watching the rapidly approaching rider.
Wang Yun.
As if deliberately, he charged straight at her.
Huang Zixia watched him warily, gripping her mallet tightly as she urged her horse to meet him.
Just as their horses’ heads were about to meet, Wang Yun suddenly raised his hand, his mallet swinging high. While directing the ball toward Prince Consort Wei Baoheng, his mallet also swept past her ear, striking at the hairpin above her head.
Huang Zixia instinctively ducked low, pressing herself against Brushing Sand’s back.
She heard the mallet brush past her hairpin with a faint ting.
A cold sweat suddenly broke out on her back, mixing with the hot sweat, making her skin prickle.
If she had been even slightly slower in dodging, she would now be sitting on horseback with her hair loose. Perhaps someone would have noticed how similar she looked to the wanted female criminal Huang Zixia.
She jerked her head up to see Wang Yun sitting properly on his horse, giving her a sidelong glance.
Dust swirled between them as she caught his gaze, cold and dark.
Before she could straighten up, cheers erupted from the sidelines. Prince Consort Wei Baoheng had scored another goal.
Zhou Ziqin rode to her side and asked, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Huang Zixia frowned.
“Wang Yun was so careless, almost hitting your head,” he said disapprovingly. “Seems those rough fellows at the Capital Defense Command have rubbed off on him.”
Huang Zixia didn’t respond, only adjusting and tightening her hairpin before saying, “It’s nothing.”
Before she finished speaking, another commotion arose from the spectators.
Everyone on the field turned to look – Prince Kui Li Shubai had arrived. He hadn’t ridden in; someone was leading his horse Purging Evil for him.
Huang Zixia froze for a moment. Zhang Xingying approached her, asking nervously, “Um… Chonggu, His Highness is here.”
Huang Zixia only glanced at Li Shubai once before gripping her mallet and turning her horse, saying, “Don’t worry about it now. Let’s finish this match first.”
Li Shubai went to pay his respects to the Emperor, who quickly had someone bring another chair for him to sit on. Noble Consort Guo and Princess Tongchang moved back, and he sat half a step behind the Emperor.
“That Yang Chonggu plays polo quite well,” the Emperor said.
Li Shubai watched the horses continuing to move back and forth on the field and said flatly, “Her stamina isn’t good. She probably won’t last half an hour.”
The Emperor laughed, “But he has quite some influence. I heard Prince Zhao and Prince E were both invited by him to help, all to get his friend into the Defense Command.”
Li Shubai’s gaze fell on Zhang Xingying, his brow slightly furrowed, but he only said, “I suppose Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother had nothing else to do today, so they’re joining in for fun.”