Chapter 196: A Goal Scored

Galloping onto the field, Nan Xueyin turned her head again and asked, "Shu Yu, what are the rules?"

This remark was heard squarely by Cui Miaohua.

She could not help but reveal a disdainful smile: "Yo, how can you come onto the field to play polo without even knowing the rules? Later, should I win against you, or should I not? If I win, it will be said that I am bullying people, and I fear you will go to find His Highness the Crown Prince to lodge a complaint."

Nan Xueyin glanced at her: "You really should be a little careful. I have only just learned the rules; if you lose to me later, will you be unable to hold your head up in Fengdu?"

After thinking for a moment, she smiled slightly: "However, if you beg me, I can also tell others that you were afraid of offending His Highness the Crown Prince, so you deliberately lost to me."

Having said that, she pulled the reins and left without looking back.

Cui Miaohua was furious on the spot. She wanted to open her mouth to curse at Nan Xueyin's back, but she did not dare to speak loudly, so she could only mutter in a faint voice: "Only a ghost would lose to you!"

She turned her head to look at Lu Yan beside her.

He was staring fixedly in the direction Nan Xueyin had left.

Cui Miaohua thought to herself that he must feel that woman was too excessive, and he would surely teach her a harsh lesson on the polo field later!

The polo match soon began.

Because Nan Xueyin and Shu Yu were on the field, they attracted much attention from those present.

Nan Xueyin was naturally adept at riding a horse. When Cui Miaohua deliberately rode over to obstruct her, wanting to squeeze her off the horse's back, she also dodged it with ease.

In fact, Nan Xueyin could also have easily knocked Cui Miaohua to the ground, but she felt there was no need.

For one, there was no deep hatred; playing a polo match was merely a small amusement.

For another, she did not want to cause trouble for Xiao Youlan.

When she thought of this, Nan Xueyin herself found it incredible; she had always relied on intuition for everything she did and would not consider so much.

After meeting Xiao Youlan, she had grown a lot...

"Miss Nan, the ball!"

Shu Yu let out a loud shout.

Nan Xueyin reacted immediately, her gaze locking onto the ball that Shu Yu had struck.

She firmly remembered what Shu Yu had taught her: polo was simply about hitting the ball into the goal.

Thus, she raised her hand high, aimed at the goal, and struck fiercely—

The ball traced a very elegant and smooth arc in the air and landed steadily into the goal.

The surroundings were silent for an instant, then immediately erupted into loud applause and cheers.

Nan Xueyin turned her head happily to look at Shu Yu, thinking he would praise her a couple of times.

Yet she saw Shu Yu laughing uncontrollably: "Miss Nan, does your stomach hurt?"

Nan Xueyin:?

Seeing her completely bewildered, Shu Yu laughed even louder: "You hit the ball into their goal!"

Nan Xueyin realized it belatedly, and her face turned more than half red.

Cui Miaohua was overjoyed and leaned over, saying with a grin: "It seems it is very difficult for me to lose to you."

Nan Xueyin did not want to pay any attention to her at all.

On the other side.

At the Crown Prince's seat.

Cui Zhu, the younger brother of the Dingguo Duke, saw that scene on the field and asked Xiao Youlan with a smile, "The little girl you like hit the wrong goal; will you have to coax her well later?"

Xiao Youlan was calm and composed: "Today is her first day playing polo."

Cui Zhu was half-doubting: "The first day? Really? Although she hit the ball wrong just now, she hit it very beautifully; one look and you know she has practiced."

Xiao Youlan gave a hum: "She has practiced."

But what she practiced was not polo; it was killing.

Seeing that Cui Zhu was about to ask more, Xiao Youlan added coldly: "This niece of yours seems to be bullying my Crown Princess."

Cui Zhu accompanied him with a smile: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you know how it is; Miaohua is the only daughter my elder brother and sister-in-law had late in life, and she has been spoiled since childhood, so her temperament cannot be called gentle. When the Emperor said he wanted to take a wife for Your Highness, he also asked my elder brother. Although my elder brother felt the Crown Prince was very good, he also knew his own daughter was not worthy of the Eastern Palace, so he declined at the time. If you really want me to say it, Miaohua cannot bully that young lady; she is just being stubborn."

Xiao Youlan had not intended to argue with him about anything anyway, so he gave a hum of laughter and turned his gaze back to the polo field.

It was also at this moment that Lu Yan reined in his horse, raised his hand, and said to the referee on the side: "This goal does not count!"

Cui Miaohua was clearly startled and questioned him as to why.

Lu Yan was very firm, saying it did not count.

Cui Zhu stroked his chin: "This Lu Little General, is he so tender-hearted toward the fair sex?"

Xiao Youlan did not say a word about this, only narrowed his eyes.

"Miss Nan is clearly playing polo for the first time and is not familiar with the rules. This goal was a mistake and cannot count," Lu Yan was very persistent.

Cui Miaohua was very angry: "If she is not familiar with the rules, why come onto the field? She must acknowledge the ball she hit herself!"

Nan Xueyin also said: "I acknowledge it. This goal counts."

Hearing her say this, the stifled anger in Cui Miaohua's chest eased a little; she looked at Nan Xueyin and felt she was not that annoying after all.

"But..." Lu Yan looked at Nan Xueyin with sorrow, having quite the air of someone who cherished everything about her and wanted to solve it for her.

Nan Xueyin pulled the reins, backed up two steps, and said calmly: "There is no need to yield to me like this, making it seem as if you look down on me."

"I am not..." Lu Yan wanted to explain, but Nan Xueyin had already galloped away.

"Continue!"

The match continued.

Shu Yu felt a lot of pressure.

Because Nan Xueyin had accidentally hit the wrong goal once just now, and according to the rules of polo in the Ye Dynasty, whichever side hits three goals first wins.

That is to say, if Cui Miaohua and Lu Yan scored just two more goals, they would win.

Now, he not only needed to guard against Cui Miaohua and Lu Yan, but he also had to be wary of whether Nan Xueyin would hit the wrong goal again...

"Shu Yu, pass the ball to me!"

Nan Xueyin called out; her current position was an excellent spot for a strike.

Shu Yu looked toward her.

In truth, he had not initially intended to pass the ball to her—what if she missed again? But at a sudden glance, he saw Nan Xueyin's cold, sharp eyes.

Completely subconsciously, he passed the ball over.

Cui Miaohua had approached at some unknown moment, right between Shu Yu and Nan Xueyin.

She was just about to snatch that ball.

"Watch out!" Shu Yu warned.

Nan Xueyin cast a glance at Cui Miaohua, then suddenly turned to the side and flipped off the horse's back, one hand still gripping the reins, with most of her body hanging off the side of the steed.

Because of this, she reached out, and the distance her mallet extended became even greater, allowing her to strike the ball before Cui Miaohua could.

The ball was seen carving a curve through mid-air, and it successfully landed in the goal.

For a moment, Cui Miaohua did not react to what had happened.

Nan Xueyin nimbly pulled herself up, sat back on the horse, and smiled at Cui Miaohua: "Trying to steal my ball, what were you thinking?"

"It's in!"

Shu Yu confirmed the goal was correct, and finally, a beat late, he cheered aloud: "Miss Nan, you scored!"

Nan Xueyin curled her lips: "Look at how worthless you look. Keep playing!"

Now, the two teams were tied.

Cui Miaohua walked back to Lu Yan's side, just about to discuss the next strategy with him.

Yet she heard Lu Yan sigh softly: "That was a truly beautiful shot."

Cui Miaohua was greatly shocked: "Lu Little General! You are my teammate, why are you praising them? We have to win this game!"

Lu Yan, however, looked dejected: "But I will always lose to her."

Cui Miaohua:...

Big brother, what on earth are you doing!

Lu Yan is truly a menace!

And that other person, the one who suggested I drag Lu Yan over to play, is an even bigger menace!

Lu Yan was absent-minded, Cui Miaohua was all on her own, Shu Yu performed steadily, and Nan Xueyin grew more courageous with every fight.

Without any suspense, Nan Xueyin and Shu Yu easily won the match with a score of three to one.

When it ended and the crowd dispersed, Cui Miaohua's face fell, looking very unhappy.

Yet Lu Yan actually ran over to congratulate Nan Xueyin: "Miss Nan, your shots are more beautiful than the last."

Nan Xueyin did not speak.

To the side, Shu Yu said with a grin: "But your shots are worse than the last; if I were Cui Miaohua, I'd want to give you two lashes with a whip."

Lu Yan lowered his eyes: "I only wanted to have a match with Miss Nan."

Nan Xueyin's expression was cold: "If you want to compete with me, then compete properly. You agreed to take the field, yet you didn't play well. You are truly very immature."

Lu Yan was stunned.

To the side, Cui Miaohua heard this and felt deep approval in her heart; she even began to find Nan Xueyin's face quite pleasing to the eye.

Nan Xueyin quickly walked past Lu Yan to ask: "What is the prize for this match?"

This was important; after all, she intended to win the prize and take it to give to Xiao Youlan.