Chapter 198: A Legend

And so, on this day, Cui Miaohua really did play three more matches.

In the end, Cui Miaohua didn't even have the strength left to swing her polo mallet.

Nan Xueyin, however, acted as if nothing had happened and quickly won another round.

Cui Miaohua was limp all over and practically slid off her horse's back; the maid serving her was quick-witted and agile, coming over to catch her body and supporting her as they returned to rest.

"Hey, Cui Miaohua." Nan Xueyin was still calling to her from horseback, "Why aren't you playing anymore?"

Cui Miaohua pretended not to hear.

"Cui Miaohua?" Nan Xueyin's date-red horse took two steps forward.

The maid thought Cui Miaohua hadn't heard and reminded her patiently, "Miss, someone is calling you to play polo."

Cui Miaohua glared at her viciously, "Shut up! You are not allowed to speak! That is a crazy woman; from now on, whenever I see her, I must take a detour!"

Nan Xueyin had actually heard her words, but she wasn't angry at all; instead, she found it amusing and laughed aloud, "Let's play polo together again next time!"

Cui Miaohua quickened her pace, as if fleeing in a panic.

On this day, she had acquired a living nightmare.

Everyone in Fengdu also knew that the woman the Crown Prince liked was surnamed Nan, and that she played polo with such god-like skill that she had beaten everyone who took the field that day until they were utterly routed.

She had already become a legend in Fengdu City.

And the legend, having played until dusk, finally saw the jade pendant that served as the prize.

Seeing that there wasn't even a single drop of sweat on her forehead, the messenger asked with a smile, "Miss, will you continue to play polo? The final three matches are coming up, and the rewards are very generous."

Nan Xueyin then asked, "Is there anything better than this jade pendant?"

The messenger shook his head, "No. There is only one hundred taels of gold."

Nan Xueyin: "Oh, then I won't play. One hundred taels of gold, that's nothing interesting."

The messenger:?

O-one hundred taels of gold, nothing interesting?!

Nan Xueyin toyed with the jade pendant and strode away.

The messenger asked behind her, "Miss, what should be done with the prizes you won earlier?"

Nan Xueyin didn't even look back and waved her hand casually, "Send them to the Eastern Palace!"

As she walked along, she noticed many people all around were looking at her.

She remained unmoved, calm and composed, until she returned to Xiao Youlan's seat.

Upon looking, she saw that besides Xiao Youlan and Shu Yu, there was an additional man she had never seen before, who looked to be in his thirties or forties, wearing a brocade robe, with features that looked somewhat familiar.

The moment the man saw her, he smiled, "Miss Nan, your polo is excellent. Did you study it specifically?"

Nan Xueyin gave a hum and replied, "I just learned it."

She turned her head to ask Xiao Youlan, "Is this from the Dingguo Duke's family?"

Xiao Youlan's expression was gentle, "How did you know?"

Nan Xueyin said, "He looks very much like the Dingguo Duke, and a bit like Cui Miaohua too. I feel they must be from the same family."

As someone with face blindness, Xiao Youlan didn't have any clear perception of these things.

But hearing Nan Xueyin say this, he still smiled, "Your intuition is quite right. He is the younger brother of the Dingguo Duke, surnamed Cui, with the given name Zhu; he currently serves in the Fengdu Supervisory Court."

Nan Xueyin was lost in thought, "I see."

Now that Fengdu had launched an investigation into Xiao Mingyu and Xiao Youlan, this matter was primarily handled by the Supervisory Court, so it was within reason for Xiao Youlan to meet this Cui Zhu at such a time.

She didn't say anything more and sat down beside Xiao Youlan, looking at the table where fruits and pastries were placed; Xiao Youlan was always cautious and hadn't touched any of them.

Nan Xueyin looked around, picked a pastry that looked most pleasing to her eye, and put it in her mouth.

"Miss Nan, your uncle is the Qingzhou Chief Clerk, named Nan Jiyun, is that correct?"

Nan Xueyin chewed the pastry and nodded.

Cui Zhu asked again, "Then may I ask about your father?"

Nan Xueyin swallowed the pastry and was concise, "He passed away."

Cui Zhu was taken aback.

But compared to Cui Zhu's large reaction, Nan Xueyin was much calmer.

Having lost her parents for so many years, she had long since accepted this fact; although her heart still felt sour and tight with some sadness, she didn't show any very obvious change in expression.

After saying this, Nan Xueyin took a second pastry and stuffed it into her mouth.

Xiao Youlan glanced at her, "Are you hungry?"

Nan Xueyin gave a muffled hum, swallowed, and added, "I got tired from playing polo just now."

Xiao Youlan laughed, "Then let's go have dinner; it's not early anymore."

"Okay!"

Nan Xueyin hurriedly put down the third pastry.

She remembered that at noon they had three-fresh noodles, and in the evening they were going to a restaurant for a meal.

This pastry tasted average, and she didn't want it to take up space in her stomach, causing her to be unable to eat the meal later.

Xiao Youlan stood up and said to Cui Zhu, "I am returning now; it is inconvenient to go and bid farewell to the Dingguo Duke and his wife, so please convey my regards on my behalf."

Cui Zhu also stood up and bowed, "Yes."

On the way from the polo field to take the carriage, Nan Xueyin remembered something important, took a jade pendant from her bosom, and handed it to Xiao Youlan, "This, I won it. I'm giving it to you."

Xiao Youlan took it.

The quality of the jade pendant was quite good; after all, it was a prize specifically prepared by the Dingguo Duke.

And for him, the most precious thing was not the pendant itself, but that it was a gift from Nan Xueyin to him.

"At first I didn't want to play polo for so long, but the prize for the first match was actually a hairpin, and giving a hairpin to you certainly wouldn't be appropriate, so I played a few more matches," Nan Xueyin said, "I wanted to give it to you just now, but as soon as I saw that Cui Zhu, I forgot again. I only just remembered now."

Nan Xueyin looked at Xiao Youlan, feeling a bit uneasy, and asked, "Do you like it?"

Xiao Youlan's gaze was gentle, "I like it."

Nan Xueyin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled happily, "As long as you like it."

She couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "I previously thought that since they used such good things as prizes, they must be very skilled at polo, but after playing a few matches, I discovered they all lacked strength, and their play was soft and weak. I could take on three of them by myself."

Xiao Youlan rubbed the jade pendant and chuckled, "Those who come here to play polo are basically all powerful nobles; they can't carry anything on their shoulders or lift anything with their hands, so how could they possibly beat you?"

Nan Xueyin nodded, "That's why it was quite boring; I won't play anymore in the future."

Xiao Youlan smiled, "If you want to play, I will accompany you next time."

Nan Xueyin was surprised, "You know how to play polo too?"

"I do. I am basically good at everything." Except for not recognizing people's faces.

Nan Xueyin looked a bit excited, "Then why didn't you go on the field today?"

Xiao Youlan replied, "There were too many people today."

Nan Xueyin was puzzled; what did that have to do with there being too many people?

Shu Yu, who was behind them, explained, "His Highness the Crown Prince has a noble status and pays close attention to his image in the eyes of outsiders. With so many people, it would not be appropriate for His Highness to go on the field."

Nan Xueyin suddenly realized.

While they were talking, the group had already walked up to the Eastern Palace's carriage.

Nan Xueyin had been in a good mood, but when she looked closely, she saw an uninvited guest hesitating near the carriage.