[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-6":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2307784,4510,"Chapter 6: Horseball Field: Tents of the Noble Families and Official Ladies","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>At the transition between spring and summer, Xu Zaijing accompanied his older siblings under his mother’s guidance to Wu Dangzi’s horseball field outside the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Xu Zaijing, this horseball field was the grand social hub of the capital’s noble families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also a matchmaking ground for young men and women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each had their own circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobles ranked high and low, with countless marital ties;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the wives and daughters of officials also had complex relationships of superior-subordinate, fellow graduates, and teacher-student bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People gathered in groups according to these connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the horseball field,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>outstanding performances sometimes drew the attention of noble ladies and official ladies, potentially leading to a desirable match others envied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could also be like Qi Xiaogongye Qi Heng, whom Xu Zaijing remembered, gaining favor from multiple noble ladies due to his brilliance—how it would turn out was hard to judge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tall steeds galloped across the field, thundering hooves echoing; after a goal, drummers beat drums in celebration, stirring blood and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the vast enclosure’s edge,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>each family had sizable tents,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>with only one side facing the field, the other three sides screened from view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble ladies and official ladies could relax inside, whispering, clapping softly, cheering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loud screaming, however, was considered ill-bred and mocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The legitimate and illegitimate sons of each family faced no such restraint—they could stand by the field and cheer loudly at good plays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather was neither cold nor hot; beneath the Ningyuan Marquis’s tent, Bai Shizheng sat on a couch, her belly swollen, one arm wrapped around Xu Zaijing seated on a chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shizheng beamed; Xu Zaijing wore a white inner robe over a dark blue silk small robe embroidered with silver-white rising-flower qilin patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slightly older boy tugged at Bai Shizheng’s left hand, wanting to be held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I’m your own child—why do you always hold him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This drew smiles from the women in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, hold me too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing knew this was Gu Tingye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was kind—he offered his pastry to Gu Tingye, but Gu Tingye refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get up, let your mother hold you—my mother wants to hold me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeye, Jingge is our guest when he comes to our tent—he deserves extra care,” chuckled Chang Mama beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, a girl of eighteen or nineteen did not smile; though her gold-threaded silver-butterfly brocade narrow-sleeved jacket was luxurious, it was worn, and her hair ornaments were sparse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the tent’s corner, she hugged the boy in her arms and whispered: “Yu’er, did you see? She is not your birth mother—your mother was cast out by your father because of her, and died of sorrow. She is the murderer of your mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, is that true? But Bai Shizheng treats me well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu’er, your auntie is your mother’s own blood sister—the most devoted person in the world to you. Why would she lie?” said the girl’s maid gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the tent’s cheerful atmosphere, the women’s laughter drowned out this trio’s quiet exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy, thin and sallow-faced, with dark, bright eyes, frowned in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shizheng, returning from the horseball field, was unfastening her blue arm wraps, her forehead slightly damp; she approached the Ningyuan Marquis’s tent and saw her youngest son quietly eating pastries beside Bai Shizheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, you’re such a bother—this month, if that little rascal doesn’t find you, he wails. You’re nearly nine months along, yet still plagued by this little monster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shizheng looked at Xu Zaijing, peacefully eating beside her, her eyes full of warmth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, no trouble at all—I have a bond with Jingge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I truly wanted to stroll the garden with Chang Mama, but she said Jingge had come and urged me to watch you play horseball, so I came in our family’s carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And luckily, the Marquis is off duty today—he’s playing over there in the men’s enclosure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shizheng looked at her son: “Little rascal, come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in her embroidered horseball tunic, Sun Shizheng handed her arm wraps to Xiao Zhu, yet did not go to Bai Shizheng to take Xu Zaijing—she stood at a distance, letting Xu Zaijing walk to her himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A five- or six-year-old boy beside Gu Tingye followed closely behind Xu Zaijing after Bai Shizheng set him down, clearly guarding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shizheng’s eyes filled with approval; she glanced questioningly at Bai Shizheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Xiao Er Tingye’s servant, Zhi Que.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shizheng held Xu Zaijing and glanced at Xiao Zhu beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhu held out a silver cake in one hand and grabbed the boy’s other hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little master, walk slowly—this is a gift from my lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She placed the silver cake into the servant Zhi Que’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant looked back at Bai Shizheng and Gu Tingye; seeing no one object, he took it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the crowd, Sun Shizheng smiled and said to Bai Shizheng:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, Wu Dangzi is pregnant and cannot play—I’ll go keep her company. Your time is near too—please be extra careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shizheng still looked reluctant, but nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, go ahead. I’ve made arrangements—my father sent several experienced midwives, and they came with me today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’m at ease. You’re fine in every way—except you’re even more like a mother to this little rascal than his own auntie. Even his auntie is jealous—says he favors you more than her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a bond with Jingge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shizheng replied, eyes smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shizheng’s group laughed and left the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shizheng scanned the tent and spotted the girl hugging Gu Tingyu—she knew this was Qin Er Niangzi, the biological sister of the late Qin Dangzi, and nodded in greeting; then she beckoned to Gu Tingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Er Niangzi’s face beamed with affection, revealing no trace of her earlier words; she released Gu Tingyu and gently pushed him toward Bai Shizheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she knelt in a bow, watching as Bai Shizheng was once again surrounded by relatives and ladies; a flicker of unknown emotion passed through her eyes before she rose and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Gu Tingye pushed through the crowd, seemingly heading somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Er Niangzi pretended not to see him, exiting from the back of the tent; her Yanjiao  caught Gu Tingye following, with a servant behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She feigned stopping, waited for Gu Tingye to approach, then knelt as if adjusting her clothes, whispering: “Those who stole from me—I’d rather push them into the water and teach them a lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she acted as if nothing had happened, and with her maid’s support, strolled away calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Tingye’s small body paused for a moment, his eyes brightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the Qiguo Duke’s tent, the interior was even more luxurious than the Gu family’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman, stern-faced, every movement radiating noble bearing, sat poised behind a table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was slender; though no one beside the tent could see her, she did not relax her posture for lack of observers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched the thundering steeds across the field and listened to the lively chatter of noble families and officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her brow remained furrowed—clearly, her thoughts were far from the horseball field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her personal lady-in-waiting whispered beside her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princess, have some tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman accepted the teacup; though porcelain, it had the luster of jade—clearly a set of precious tea ware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there are typos or awkward passages, readers are kindly invited to point them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1240,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","76dfa9d9f8c7cef2847512718da67a71272ff266e19c844537cde894025b82a3","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-7","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-5",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]