“That couldn’t be better.”

Pei Wenxuan smiled and nodded, counting it as a salute. Then the two men held their polo mallets behind them like swords and walked in opposite directions. As Pei Wenxuan passed Xie Chunhe, he caught a faint, barely perceptible fragrance from him.

That scent made Pei Wenxuan stop in his tracks. He couldn’t help but turn back to look at Xie Chunhe. Seeing him stop, Xie Chunhe was somewhat surprised and smiled: “Does Lord Pei have some matter?”

Pei Wenxuan swept a glance over Xie Chunhe, his gaze falling on Xie Chunhe’s waist: “The sachet Lord Xie is wearing today is quite distinctive.”

“This one?” Xie Chunhe looked down at the sachet at his waist. He smiled: “Today on the road I encountered a wandering mystic who gave it to me, saying it would ward off disasters and difficulties, seeking peace and safety.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan smiled: “I see. I just found this sachet rather attractive. I still have to play polo. When I return, I’ll chat more with Lord Xie.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan cupped his hands in salute and withdrew.

After a moment, Su Rongqing and Pei Wenxuan rode out on horseback.

“Su Rongqing has taken the field.”

Shangguan Ya breathed a sigh of relief. Li Rong tapped her palm with her small fan, looking at Su Ronghua being helped away by people in the distance, then glanced at Shangguan Ya beside her who was deliberately staring at the field refusing to look away. She thought for a moment, coughed lightly, and instructed: “Go check on Young Master Su.”

“I won’t go.”

Shangguan Ya refused flatly: “At a time like this, Your Highness must not act on emotion.”

“Everything is arranged now,” Li Rong watched as Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing both changed clothes, mounted their horses, and returned to the field. She spoke slowly: “If you stay here, you’ll just watch polo. Going to see him—what would it delay?”

Shangguan Ya sat upright without speaking. Li Rong turned her head: “If you don’t clarify things with him, he won’t give up. Aya, he is after all the Su clan’s eldest young master. No matter how dissolute he is,” Li Rong emphasized each word, adding weight to her tone, “he is still the Su clan’s eldest young master.”

The Su clan—such a behemoth that had dominated Great Xia for hundreds of years, a true noble house of power that wouldn’t lose half its influence even through dynastic changes. Even a dissolute and unrestrained eldest young master would make Li Ming look upon him favorably and take pains to win him over.

“If you don’t handle this properly,” a gong sounded on the field, and the two teams instantly intertwined on the ground. Li Rong’s voice was bland: “That would truly be you acting on emotion out of avoidance.”

Shangguan Ya pressed her lips together. After a moment, she stood up and said respectfully: “Yes.”

After speaking, Shangguan Ya rose and left. Just at that moment, there was a cry of surprise from the crowd. Li Rong lightly raised her eyes to see on the field Pei Wenxuan holding the reins with one hand, his entire body suspended on one side of the horse as if about to fall at any moment. He crossed under Su Rongqing’s mallet, raised his hand in a beautiful strike, and the polo ball passed through the goal. The earlier cry of alarm that hadn’t yet subsided became cheers!

Li Chuan, holding a teacup about to drink tea, heard the sound and instantly raised his head, exclaiming in surprise: “So fast?!”

The first half had been deadlocked for so long—who would have thought that in the second half, as soon as Pei Wenxuan took the field, he would directly score.

Li Rong said nothing on her face. She watched the young man on the field ride his horse back to the serving position. The young man seemed to also sense her gaze and turned around in the crowd. From a great distance, as if light had fallen on his face, he raised his eyebrows at her in a smile.

That smile carried some provocation and flamboyance, as if claiming credit.

Li Rong’s secretly clenched hand couldn’t help but relax somewhat. Her expression remained calm, carrying not half an emotion, as she said slowly: “When he was at the academy, he was first in everything.”

The cultivation of Great Xia’s aristocratic young masters wasn’t limited to just studying.

Through literature, they could stabilize the nation; through martial prowess, they could secure the realm.

They had the ambition to support the state and also the refinement to blend fragrances and play the zither.

These young people, cultivated with all of Great Xia’s finest resources, were given countless expectations.

Even polo competitions required them to strive with all their might.

The referee started the game again. The ball was tossed up. Before it hit the ground, Su Rongqing’s mallet spun out instantly, flying and smashing toward the goal of Pei Wenxuan’s team. He used tremendous force—it seemed the ball would immediately fly off the field. However, before anyone could react, he nimbly guided his horse around several people’s defenses, chased after the ball, raised his hand to add another strike, and changed the ball’s direction.

Goal!

“This Su Rongqing isn’t bad either,” Li Chuan listened to the thunderous cheers resounding throughout the field, peeling an orange with interest. He stuffed a segment into his mouth and said indistinctly: “I heard he was also first in his academy? Are all these number ones so amazing at polo?”

“You have the nerve to say that?” Li Rong raised her fan and pointed at the field. “You learned even less than them. The six arts of a gentleman—forget being outstanding in each, you can’t even write a proper essay. When your brother-in-law returns…”

“Stop, stop, stop.” Li Chuan quickly raised his hand to halt Li Rong’s nagging. “Sister, watch the match. Look at the field quickly. Two such handsome men playing polo—aren’t you happy?”

Li Rong scoffed but didn’t make things difficult for him, turning her head to look at the field.

Completely different from the first half’s stalemate with not a single goal scored throughout, both participants in the second half were masters extremely skilled at offense on the polo field.

The score was neck and neck all the way. Even Li Ming couldn’t help but applaud frequently from his seat, turning back to say happily to Shangguan Yue: “This is the first time in my life I’ve seen such a beautiful match. Magnificent!”

The entire venue’s attention was drawn by the two people on the field. Li Rong casually glanced at Xie Chunhe sitting in his seat beside them, watching the field with rapt attention.

Xie Chunhe’s entire gaze was fixed on the field. He paid no attention to any movements of the young servants beside him. Seeing that everyone’s attention was diverted, Li Rong relaxed and turned her head. Following another goal, she raised her hand along with everyone else and gently applauded.

“I originally thought Lord Su wouldn’t take the field.” Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to strike the ball out. Su Rongqing rode alongside him as they both chased after the ball.

“Since Lord Pei has taken the field, why would I not dare?”

“Lord Su is quite confident,” Pei Wenxuan smiled and glanced at him sideways. “I wonder if Lord Su knows what I intend to do?”

“You want to kill Xie Chunhe.” Su Rongqing raised his hand for a strike. Goal!

The two rode their horses back. Pei Wenxuan understood in his heart: “So it seems His Majesty gave you the message to have the Su clan let Xiao Su pass through.”

Su Rongqing knew in advance that Xiao Su would enter the capital. Xiao Su’s route passed through two regions—one belonging to the Su clan, another to the Xie clan. At this time, Lin Feibai entering the capital must be to compete for control of the Xie clan to cut off Xiao Su’s route into the capital.

And to seize control of the Xie clan, Xie Chunhe absolutely had to die.

The ball was tossed out again. This time Pei Wenxuan seized the initiative: “Then do you know how I plan to kill him?”

Su Rongqing charged ahead of Pei Wenxuan, striking the ball far away in time, his voice bland: “Xiang Meiren. Today you’ll add the catalyst to tea water and make the poison activate.”

“So you temporarily replaced Xie Chunhe’s tea servant to ensure his tea—from leaves to utensils—was all separately prepared.”

Pei Wenxuan’s face carried a smile. Su Rongqing instantly realized something and suddenly raised his eyes: “Water!”

As the words fell, Pei Wenxuan struck the ball into the goal with one stroke, raising his eyes with a light smile: “Today’s pastries are rather salty. Xie Chunhe has always loved sweets—he’ll inevitably be thirsty. The water you brought probably won’t be enough.”

“Ah!”

As the words fell, a cry of alarm came from the crowd. Li Rong raised her eyes to look and saw Xie Chunhe suddenly collapse.

While the field was fiercely competing, Shangguan Ya found the tent where Su Ronghua was resting. She had someone announce her, then lifted the curtain and entered the tent.

After entering, she swept a glance around and saw Su Ronghua lying on the bed with a servant kneeling beside him, bandaging his hand.

“Is the Young Master alright?”

Shangguan Ya smiled as she entered and sat down. Su Ronghua said nothing. He glanced at her blandly, then withdrew his gaze.

A nearby attendant came in and poured tea for Shangguan Ya. Shangguan Ya picked up the tea and took a sip. Su Ronghua waited a while, then spoke softly: “What did you come for?”

As he spoke, Su Ronghua said mockingly: “Don’t tell me I’ve ruined Miss Shangguan’s good deed, and you’ve come to demand an explanation?”

“Oh my,” Shangguan Ya raised her eyes. “So you know you’ve ruined my business?”

Hearing this, Su Ronghua’s gaze suddenly turned cold. He pulled his hand from the young servant’s hands and waved. The young servant silently withdrew.

Shangguan Ya glanced over carelessly: “I’ve long heard that the Su clan is a prestigious family of hundreds of years with strict rules. Indeed, even the servants are so sensible.”

With that, she raised her head to look at Su Ronghua: “I just don’t know why Young Master Su is so insensible. You and I were friends. You’ve ruined my marriage like this,” Shangguan Ya held her tea, her smile carrying some warning. “Isn’t that rather disloyal?”

“Friends?”

Hearing this, Su Ronghua looked up with a light laugh.

“Shangguan Ya,” Su Ronghua sighed. He threw off the blanket and stood up, his bare feet landing on the carpet as he walked to stand before her.

Shangguan Ya’s expression didn’t change. He bent down, his injured hands supporting himself on both sides of the chair’s armrests, staring at Shangguan Ya’s expression, his face carrying a smile: “Are you taking me for a fool?”

“After spending so much time together, do you truly consider me a friend, and do you truly think I consider you a friend?”

Shangguan Ya said nothing. He leaned forward slightly, leaning close to her ear, and said softly: “I’ve never considered you a friend. And neither have you.”

Shangguan Ya gripped the armrests tightly. Su Ronghua retreated slightly, creating distance between them, his eyes carrying some amusement: “At first you just wanted to use me. And later? You still dare say you only wanted to use me?”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

“Using me, you came to apologize to me in prison? Using me, when you learned I went to take the blame for Rongqing, you came to the palace gates to meet me? Using me, knowing I’d had a conflict with Rongqing, you took me to watch the sunrise, drank with me, walked across half of Hua Jing to go home together?”

“I just like playing around,” Shangguan Ya’s voice was very bland. “The Young Master takes things too seriously too easily.”

“Playing around?” Su Ronghua spoke mockingly. “If you truly only consider me a playmate, I absolutely wouldn’t pester you. But Shangguan Ya,” he stared at her, “look at me and say those words again.”

“Why not?” Shangguan Ya smiled lightly and raised her head. She stared at Su Ronghua and opened her mouth to speak harshly: “I just consider you…”

“The power you want, I can give you.”

Su Ronghua suddenly spoke. Shangguan Ya was stunned. Su Ronghua gazed at her, rarely serious: “I know you want the Shangguan household, freedom, to always be the person in control of the Shangguan family. I can request to be removed from the Su clan and marry into your family.”

Shangguan Ya’s eyes widened in shock. Seeing her reaction, Su Ronghua couldn’t help but smile.

“After I marry into your family, you can always be the eldest miss of the Shangguan household. I have my own businesses under my name. Over these years, I’ve managed them well—they can provide grain and provisions. I have Lan Commandery as my fief, bestowed by the late Emperor in earlier years. You can build an army there. If you need to compete with your brother for the Shangguan household, if you need the court’s assistance, I can enter official service. If you don’t want me in official service, I can also stay in the Shangguan household and assist you.”

“Shangguan Ya,” Su Ronghua slowly restrained his smile. He looked at her seriously: “Whatever you want, I can give you. I can give you even more.”

“I didn’t propose marriage before because the timing wasn’t suitable. His Majesty is currently watching your Shangguan clan. To divide the aristocratic families, he made me Prince Su’s teacher. The Su clan is the chess piece in His Majesty’s heart to balance the Shangguan clan. If I propose marriage now, His Majesty won’t agree. And you’ve only recently gained control of the Shangguan clan not long ago. If I marry in, I can withstand the pressure from the Su clan, but you may not be able to withstand it from the Shangguan clan. So I haven’t spoken up—not because I’m indifferent, but because I guessed that you should know the timing isn’t right yet.”

“Then when will the timing be right?” Shangguan Ya’s tone was mocking.

At these words, Su Ronghua leaned down slightly, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear: “After the Crown Prince ascends the throne.”

“The Crown Prince ascends?” Shangguan Ya scoffed. “When the Crown Prince ascends, how will your Su clan have any life left? Don’t you know what Su Rongqing is doing?”

“I know what Rongqing is doing. But,” Su Ronghua raised his eyes to look at her, “has my father made a move?”

Shangguan Ya was stunned. Su Ronghua straightened up, his hands folded in his sleeves: “Aya, no matter who ascends the throne, the Su clan will be fine. The Su family never involves itself in succession struggles. When His Majesty wanted to win over the Su clan to support Prince Su, the family pushed me to become his teacher. In fact, it was to use someone like me—who’s always had no interest in pursuing an official career—to placate His Majesty.”

“Rongqing now is just a chess piece of His Majesty. With family constraints, he’ll know when to stop. The Crown Prince has the aristocratic families’ support. Right now, the Shangguan clan only needs to lie low. Wait for His Majesty’s hundred years to end, for the Crown Prince to ascend. Then you and I can marry. If you’re willing, I’ll bring eight palanquin bearers to welcome you as my Su clan’s first wife. If you’re unwilling, I’ll request to be expelled from the Su clan gates and marry into your family.”

“Su Ronghua,” hearing these words, Shangguan Ya slowly smiled. “You truly don’t understand Su Rongqing at all.”

Su Ronghua was stunned. Just at this moment, a cry of alarm came from the competition field, as if some commotion had broken out.

Su Ronghua’s expression changed drastically. He turned to put on his shoes and hurried out.

The field competition was nearing its end. Less than fifteen minutes remained, and both sides were still tied. But at this time, everyone’s attention was long since no longer on the field.

Everyone was carefully peeking at Xie Chunhe, who had suddenly collapsed. Li Chuan quickly stood up and hurried toward Xie Chunhe’s direction to handle the situation.

Li Rong silently followed behind Li Chuan and came before Xie Chunhe.

Xie Chunhe’s face was pale and bluish, but it wasn’t the appearance of directly vomiting blood when Xiang Meiren activated.

Li Rong frowned. She moved closer and caught a faint, barely perceptible, extremely familiar scent.

She had too deep an impression of this smell. In her previous life, the last time she saw Pei Wenxuan, when he entered the room, he carried that scent.

Pei Wenxuan said that sachet was given to him by Su Rongqing. Everyone around her wore them, but the sachet Pei Wenxuan wore had a strong fragrance, so she noticed it.

She wasn’t someone sensitive to scents. Unlike Pei Wenxuan, a master at blending fragrances, she almost forgot scents as soon as she smelled them.

But this scent was from the last time she saw Pei Wenxuan—it was the most important clue to her death. So even after rebirth, she firmly remembered it.

The Xiang Meiren that Pei Wenxuan used to assassinate Xie Chunhe should be this scent.

Li Rong imperceptibly retreated a step, watching as people hurriedly carried Xie Chunhe away.

The competition continued. Everyone was tired, but Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing were still locked in competition.

“Second Young Master, if you don’t score soon,” Pei Wenxuan and Su Rongqing chased after the polo ball, his voice very light, “you’ll lose this match.”

“Why do you think I would still score?”

Su Rongqing used his mallet to block Pei Wenxuan’s mallet. Pei Wenxuan rode his horse and separated from Su Rongqing, circling around the ball. Both sides struck the ball back and forth, repeatedly crossing on the field.

“Xie Chunhe still hasn’t died.”

If he’d been poisoned with Xiang Meiren, it would be impossible for him to still not be dead after this long.

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, Xie Chunhe was carried into a tent. Li Rong watched the physicians surround him. She crossed her arms, leaning to one side, secretly observing Xie Chunhe.

Why wasn’t he dead yet?

“That poison was something my elder brother found from a wandering mystic. If you can administer it, I can resolve it.”

Su Rongqing snatched the polo ball from Pei Wenxuan and struck it into the goal with one stroke.

In the tent, Li Rong watched Xie Chunhe twitch lightly. The young servant beside him yanked the sachet from his waist, hurriedly went to fetch tea water from the side, poured everything from the sachet into the water, and urgently brought it to Xie Chunhe.

Seeing this, Li Rong swiftly rushed forward, grabbed the young servant, and shouted: “What are you doing!”

With Li Rong’s rebuke, everyone turned around, all staring at the young servant.

As the words fell, Xie Chunhe spat out a mouthful of blood. Li Rong glanced at the sachet in the young servant’s hand, then looked back at Xie Chunhe’s rapidly deteriorating condition. She instantly understood the purpose of this sachet!

It wasn’t poison—this was the antidote. This was the antidote to Xiang Meiren!

Her mind suddenly became somewhat chaotic. She didn’t dare think deeply at this moment. She only gripped the young servant’s hand tightly. The young servant pleaded bitterly: “Your Highness, today on the road a wandering mystic said my master would have a great calamity today. He gifted this sachet, saying if something happened, to put the sachet in tea water, soak it, and give it to my master to drink. Your Highness, something has already happened. Please let me pass—human life is at stake!”

“Let me see,” the physician, hearing this, quickly stepped forward, took out the medicinal materials from the teacup to examine them, and nodded: “None of these are critical materials. Let’s try it first.”

With that, the physician snatched the teacup and directly brought it before Xie Chunhe, having people support Xie Chunhe while feeding him the tea water.

Li Rong stared blankly at this scene. On the field above, the final three ending gongs for the competition—the first one sounded.

“As expected,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, competing with Su Rongqing for the final ball. “You can resolve Xiang Meiren. So the poison I used today isn’t Xiang Meiren.”

Hearing this, Su Rongqing knew something was wrong.

If the poison Pei Wenxuan used wasn’t Xiang Meiren, where else could he have administered it?

All food required poison testing first, using living people to test for poison. Except for…

Su Rongqing’s eyes suddenly widened—

Except for medicine! Life-saving medicine!

No one would verify whether life-saving medicine was poisoned at a critical moment.

The second gong sounded.

Li Rong watched as Xie Chunhe drank the antidote from the water cup gulp by gulp. She involuntarily clenched her fists.

She suddenly realized she needed an answer, a truth!

Pei Wenxuan’s horse approached Su Rongqing’s horse. He stared at Su Rongqing: “So I have a question I want to ask Lord Su.”

Su Rongqing didn’t turn around. His hand gripping the reins trembled slightly.

Pei Wenxuan struck his mallet toward the polo ball. The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air. Pei Wenxuan looked up at the polo ball and asked aloud: “The sachet you gave me back then—was it poison,” the third gong sounded. Pei Wenxuan turned his head to look at Su Rongqing, “or antidote?”

Su Rongqing said nothing. He looked up at the polo ball slowly passing under the sunset’s radiance, leaping over the goal.

In the tent, Xie Chunhe spewed out a mouthful of black blood.

The physician urgently pressed down on Xie Chunhe, shouting loudly: “Bring the ginseng! Silver needles—give me the silver needles!”

The crowd was in chaotic panic. A long sword thrust straight from the crowd toward Li Chuan. In that instant, fierce screaming erupted from within the tent. Li Chuan dodged the first sword, rapidly retreated before Li Rong, his long sword held in front, surrounding Li Rong together with the guards. He grabbed Li Rong and they fled wildly outward.

They fought their way out from the tent. Li Chuan realized these people were coming for him. He pushed Li Rong to the side and shouted urgently: “Protect the Princess and leave first!”

After speaking, he led people to escape in another direction.

At these words, the guards immediately protected Li Rong and headed in another direction.

Li Rong followed the guards in rapid departure. She raised her head to glance at the assassins already lying in ambush in the crowd and nodded toward them.

Receiving the order, the assassins quickly left the crowd. In no time, arrows rained down like rain toward Li Cheng, who was standing on the corridor watching the polo match!

“Assassination attempt!”

A great shout exploded across the entire venue. In an instant, nobles screamed and scattered in all directions. Guards protected Li Ming’s surroundings. Li Cheng hadn’t yet had time to react before being violently pierced through by arrows and pinned to the ground.

Pei Wenxuan abruptly reacted. The assassination had started early—something must have happened on Li Chuan and Li Rong’s side.

He turned his horse around and urgently rushed toward Xie Chunhe’s tent.

Li Rong and Li Chuan separated. The pressure suddenly lessened. These people were going after Li Chuan. Now that there were only so many people on the field, as long as she quickly returned to Li Ming’s side and followed Li Ming back to the palace together, she would be completely safe.

But she had only taken a few steps forward with her people when she felt arrows coming from the side like a blanket covering the sky. A guard shouted urgently: “Your Highness!”

Before Li Rong could react, someone tackled her to the ground. Just as she hit the ground, a long blade came chopping down urgently!

She rolled on the spot. Her hair immediately came loose. Then she felt someone grab her and pull her onto a horse. The person said urgently: “Your Highness, I’ll take you to escape first!”

Once on the horse, Li Rong looked up in panic only to discover assassins charging toward her from all around!

Where had so many people come from? So many people—why hadn’t they gone to Li Chuan’s side?

Li Rong still hadn’t had time to react when she saw her people scattered by these attackers. The guards protecting her were pursued all the way and charged straight into the dense forest!

Li Rong suddenly reacted and shouted urgently: “No! We can’t go in!”

Inside were soldiers from the six armies—a full six hundred men. And among these six hundred, there was no telling how many were assassins.

“Your Highness, we can’t retreat!”

The guard answered urgently, spurred the horse in a leap, and entered the forest. At the same time, he raised his hand to press Li Rong’s entire body down. Li Rong lay prone on the horse’s back, hearing nothing but the sound of arrows all around.

She held her head, feeling tree branches scraping across her body, wind howling past. Behind her were pursuers everywhere. She vaguely heard Li Chuan’s furious shout from behind: “Elder Sister!!”