Chapter 124: Never Entangle

After Tuo Ba Heng made this request, even a normal person—or even Xiao Wei, that pervert—found it unbelievable, and burst out laughing: "Prince, you want to compete with my Southern Qi pregnant woman, right?"

"Hahaha……"

The surrounding commoners also chattered, thinking that Tuo Ba Heng, this Bei Di barbarian, was really bullying people.

Gu Jiu Ling, having been named publicly, slowly rose and looked at Tuo Ba Heng, smiling: "Prince, are you joking?"

"I am now pregnant, the fetal pulse is unstable; even riding a horse is difficult, let alone riding a horse to play polo. Prince, you should find someone else to compete!"

The people around muttered, "Is this Bei Di barbarian even willing to show his face?"

"Hmph! When will they ever give us a face?"

"Indeed, Princess Consort of Rui is clearly pregnant, and one or two people stepping forward to compete with a pregnant woman—feels like madness."

Tuo Ba Heng was unfazed, stared at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Princess Consort of Rui, don't worry. I will select ten people on my side, you select ten on yours; we will have a match, but…"

Tuo Ba Heng sneered, "I have a rule: anyone who has already participated cannot take the field again. Today we will each re‑select our participants!"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flashed; the two hands hidden in her sleeves slowly curled into fists.

The surrounding murmurs fell silent at once; this method of competition—no one knew what those Bei Di barbarians were thinking.

If we compare like this, it does have some spectacle.

Emperor Longqing, seated nearby, raised his eyebrows slightly; he never understood what scheme Tuo Ba Heng of the Bei Di had in coming to Southern Qi this time.

And it had always targeted Gu Jiu Ling; now he wanted to see the reason.

Tuo Ba Heng turned and, cupping his fist to Emperor Longqing, said, "Your Majesty, before I came to Southern Qi I heard that the Double Ninth Festival polo tournament here is very lively. To demonstrate the friendship between our two nations, why not have a match between Bei Di and Southern Qi, as a way to deepen our mutual friendship? What do you think, Your Majesty?"

He had raised it to such a level; Emperor Longqing could say nothing else but nod, "Princess Consort of Rui, you will select Southern Qi's representatives for this match!"

Gu Jiu Ling truly wanted to curse her mother; every time she attended a palace banquet, they could find something for her to do—could she even enjoy herself anymore?

This time the emperor had already issued an order; if she were to whine and shirk again, it would be defying the edict.

Gu Jiu Ling looked again at the Bei Di side; Tuo Ba Heng had already begun selecting, and the men emerging were the strongest men from the Mo Bei grasslands.

Whether in riding skill or resistance, each could defeat ten skinny Southern Qi sprouts.

Now Tuo Ba Heng even set a trap for her to fall into: the rule that anyone who just fought for Southern Qi could not fight again, and Emperor Longqing seemed to agree with this shameless decision.

Gu Jiu Ling knew that Emperor Longqing was up to no good; today he was going along with Tuo Ba Heng's wishes just to mock the Rui Wangfu.

The Imperial Guard under Xiao Yin could still struggle a bit, but the guards who could play polo had already taken the field, as had the scions of other noble families who could play polo.

Even those who hadn't taken the field might not be willing to aid the Rui Wangfu; after all, the emperor now deeply feared Xiao Yin, and helping the Rui Wangfu meant opposing the emperor—everyone's mind was as clear as a mirror.

Soon the Bei Di selections, one after another, began changing into blue surcoats; Gu Jiu Ling had no idea where they were pulling people from.

Tuo Ba Heng gave a faint smile at Gu Jiu Ling: "Princess Consort of Rui, let's discuss the prize in advance."

"Since we are to compete, there must be a prize."

He took a placard from his bosom—it was the Du family's master seal.

The seal, once revealed, made those around gasp; wasn't that the item the Du family patriarch always carried?

Earlier Tuo Ba Heng had brought some of the Du family's treasures to Southern Qi, perhaps acquired midway; now even the Du patriarch's master seal was in his hand, clearly announcing to everyone that he had killed the Du patriarch.

He killed the man, looted his wealth, and now looked at Gu Jiu Ling—will she step into the arena? This is coercion.

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes grew slightly cold; she took a few steps forward, but was stopped by Xiao Yin, who rose slowly.

All these years, the Du patriarch's death had been an unsolved mystery; now the truth was being exposed in this brutal situation, and everyone understood.

Xiao Yin shouted loudly, "In this match, I will take the field for my family's princess consort!"

The crowd erupted in amazement, all staring in disbelief at Xiao Yin.

For seven years, Prince Rui has not held a polo mallet.

It is said that the former Prince Rui was a perennial champion in polo, but his brothers died in Qi Sha Gu and never returned; since then, Xiao Yin could not lift a polo stick, as if cursed.

At this moment he stepped forward slowly; the onlookers were excited, for it was Prince Rui! The champion Prince Rui!

Tuo Ba Heng was slightly stunned, then smiled lightly: "Prince, indeed you and the Princess Consort are a loving couple, very good!"

"Brother Prince!" Tuo Ba Yu also stood up, "Brother Prince, I also wish to join."

As soon as Tuo Ba Yu finished speaking, Tuo Ba Heng's eyebrows rose sharply, "What chaos is this half‑dead weakling causing?"

Adding him would only weaken Bei Di's strength; before he could speak, Emperor Longqing laughed, "Second Prince's courage is commendable; participation is what matters. Bring someone! Send clothes to the Second Prince!"

"Brother Prince, I also want to join!" Princess Yuan Qing suddenly stood up.

Tuo Ba Heng twisted his eyebrows, "Why does everyone refuse to obey?"

Could it be that Xiao Yin has provoked them all?

However, the younger sister is a Bei Di female commander, excellent at riding and archery; last time she lost to Gu Jiu Ling because Gu Jiu Ling was sufficiently cunning.

This time the sister stepped forward, and he was willing to let her go.

Princess Yuan Qing stared at Xiao Yin and said, "But I also have a condition!"

Xiao Yin smiled lightly, "You Bei Di folk have many demands."

Princess Yuan Qing fixed her gaze on him and said, "If you lose this time, you will part ways with that woman Gu Jiu Ling, and I will become your Princess Consort of Rui!"

Whoa! The surrounding chatter exploded instantly.

"Heaven! How can there be such a shameless woman?"

"Indeed, indeed, where is there a public divorce and remarriage like that?"

"Heaven!"

Xiao Yin's cold peach‑blossom eyes narrowed slowly, and Gu Jiu Ling sneered, "What if you lose?"

Princess Yuan Qing gritted her teeth, "If we lose, I, Princess Yuan Qing, will no longer entangle Prince Rui; our lives will be cut cleanly."

Xiao Yin coldly laughed, "Fine!"

"Hold on!" Tuo Ba Heng lifted the Du family's master seal, looked at Gu Jiu Ling and shouted, "If you win, the Du master seal will be yours, Princess Consort of Rui!"

"If you lose… I want the landscape painting in your hand!"