Chapter 618: Pfft, pfft, pfft!

On the road back to the city,

inside the Gu family carriage,

Yu Yanran, sitting beside Pingmei, would turn her head to glance at Pingmei from time to time.

Yet whenever Pingmei looked over, she would always dodge her gaze and look to the side.

The carriage curtain fluttered in the wind,

and Yu Yanran took the opportunity to look at the streets of Bianjing in the morning.

A breeze blew in from outside,

and Yu Yanran took a deep breath, beginning to distinguish the scents carried in from outside the carriage.

Suddenly,

"So this is what it feels like to have an older sister?" A faint, impulsive thought drifted through Yu Yanran's mind.

Thinking of this, Yu Yanran glanced at Pingmei again.

Seeing Pingmei's smile, Yu Yanran lowered her head once more.

"I've heard that you, Sister Yanran, have excellent embroidery skills and are used to keeping your head down while working. But if you always keep your head down like that, it's not good for your neck; you'll suffer when you get older."

"Oh."

Yu Yanran nodded, then straightened her neck and lifted her head, though her eyelids remained lowered, looking at the patterns on her own clothes below.

Perhaps sensing that the carriage was too quiet and the atmosphere awkward,

Yanran murmured, "Sister Pingmei... how do you know that keeping your head down... will cause suffering when you're older?"

Pingmei smiled:

"I heard it from others, of course! Like the embroiderers in our household—most of them have chronic ailments in their waists and necks!"

"Also, in the salt manor under my mother-in-law's name, there is a stewardess surnamed Wei. The elder in this woman's family injured their eyes when they were young, and now that they are old, they cannot see things clearly."

Yu Yanran looked at Pingmei with a lingering fear, then nodded gently to show she understood.

Pingmei looked at Yanran's expression and smiled slightly at her.

Consequently, Yanran lowered her head again.

Usually,

Yu Yanran would taste tea and burn incense with the noble young ladies of the capital, and she had heard more or less that Madam Wu and Da Niangzi Ningyuan were inquiring about her.

When she followed her grandmother, Old Madam Yu, to the Sheng household, she had also been teased and 'flirted with' by the sixth younger sister, Minglan, using the fact that Gu Er Lang was interested in her.

But since the Gu family had never sent a matchmaker to visit the Yu family, Yu Yanran had not taken the matter to heart.

Today, in front of the Yu family's tent,

Yu Yanran had first been made to feel distressed by Gu Tingye's dissolute show of favor, raising his eyebrows and chin at her.

After returning to the tent, she was mocked and ridiculed by her stepmother and younger sister because of this incident.

Yu Yanran was extremely angry at Gu Tingye in her heart; she wished she could stab him a dozen times, bite him a dozen times, and punch him a dozen times,

just like playing polo... right, and use a polo mallet to swing at him a dozen times too.

Then, just like in polo, kick him flying into the sky with one foot—only then would her hatred be appeased.

What kind of marriage or betrothal!?

She, Yu Yanran, would rather jump off a cliff! Jump into a river! Become a nun!

She would never discuss any marriage with this damned lecher, Gu Er Lang!

However!

On one hand, in the Yu family, no matter how much Old Madam Yu cared for Yu Yanran, she was not just her own grandmother; there were also the legitimate Yu Erlang and Yu Yanhong below.

Yanran was filial and concerned about Old Madam Yu's advanced age, so she dared not cry openly when encountering anything, fearing that the elderly Old Madam Yu would worry too much and suffer some accident.

As she grew older, her marriage became a matter of concern for Old Master Yu and his wife.

On the other hand,

Yu Yanran already had a special, non-romantic fondness for Xu Zaijing, whom she had only met a few times.

What exactly this feeling was, Yu Yanran could not explain clearly.

In any case, she felt that Xu Zaijing was friendly toward her.

After some of Xu Zaijing's ingenious ideas helped her earn money, this fondness became even stronger.

Furthermore,

Pingmei was Xu Zaijing's own sister, and there was a resemblance between their brows and eyes!

Just now, Pingmei had made Yu Yanran feel a sense of being cared for and comforted that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Under the influence of several factors, Yu Yanran's feelings toward Pingmei changed drastically all of a sudden.

This made Yu Yanran think involuntarily: "If only Sister Pingmei could be my sister-in-law, what a wonderful thing that would be."

Yu Yanran immediately shook her head, thinking to herself: "Pfft, pfft, pfft! Yu Yanran, you shameless girl, what are you thinking about! Sister-in-law or not, just being a sister is enough!"

Pingmei, on the side, looked at Yu Yanran, who was nodding and shaking her head, and smiled helplessly; this was simply a little girl who hadn't grown up yet.

On the polo field,

eight young ladies stood before the Empress's main tent once again.

Madam Wu leaned forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, this last one is the legitimate daughter of the Xie family from Jiangnan, Sister Yun. Her ancestors had some connection with the Viscount Xie family."

"This young lady's attire is quite ingenious; it seems she has put in some thought," the Empress said with a smile.

Zhao Fang, the young ladies of the Gao family, and others sitting near the Empress nodded one after another.

Xie Yun, who heard the words outside the tent, lowered her head shyly.

Madam Wu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right! Several young ladies have come to the field often these days, and I have watched several matches; their polo skills are all quite good!"

The Empress nodded gently and smiled, "Then let us begin."

"Yes."

Subsequently, a gong sounded at the edge of the field, and another polo match began.

At the Gu family tent,

"Madam, the young lady from the Xie family, relatives of the Xu family, has taken the field."

The maid at the entrance reported.

Hearing this, Gu Tingye's eyes lit up. He glanced at Bai Shi and said, "Mother, if there is nothing else, my son will go outside with Brother Jing to watch the match and cheer for our relatives."

Looking at Gu Tingye's appearance, Bai Shi waved her hand and said, "Go ahead!"

"Yes, Mother."

Gu Tingye hurriedly stood up and walked outside with Xu Zaijing.

After exiting the tent and standing at the entrance,

being closer, the various sounds from the polo field became much louder.

Gu Tingye looked at the noble young ladies galloping on horseback on the field and sighed helplessly.

At this moment,

Xu Zaijing caught a glimpse of several people walking over from the corner of his eye.

When he turned his head to look, he discovered it was Gu Tingyi and Chai Zhengzheng and the other two, walking toward them with their maids.

Upon reaching them,

Gu Tingye asked in confusion, "Younger sister, why have you all come over?"

Gu Tingyi did not answer the question, but just pursed her lips and looked at the two, saying, "Pei Erge, Xu Wu Ge Xu, I heard that sister-in-law went to chase after Yanran?"

Gu Er Lang nodded somewhat embarrassedly, saying, "Yes! Sister-in-law just left not long ago."

Xu Zaijing also nodded and said, "Auntie Bai said that she is going to the Sheng household this afternoon, and Old Madam Yu will also be invited to the Sheng household then."

"The Sheng household?" Gu Tingyi looked at Xu Zaijing in surprise.

"Yes!"

"Going to the Sheng household, could it be...?" Gu Tingyi asked.

"Yes! It is exactly as you think, Sister Yi," Xu Zaijing affirmed.

"Oh! That's good then." Gu Tingyi's expression cleared slightly, and she nodded repeatedly.

While the few were talking, the shouting on the field and the thundering sound of hooves were incessant.

Gu Tingyi continued, "Pei Erge, then I will go to the Sheng household with Mother later! It's not good for our tent to be left completely empty! You just stay here and watch the match!"

"Good! Good!" Gu Tingye nodded repeatedly, "If there is any news, younger sister, don't forget to send someone to tell me."

Gu Tingyi curled her lips, "Pei Erge, let's talk about it when we get home today!"

Gu Er Lang had just finished nodding.

"Giddyap!"

A delicate shout from a young lady on the field came over.

"Clatter! Clatter!"

The sound of hooves came from far to near.

Everyone looked over,

and it was a noble young lady holding a polo mallet high, signaling while galloping toward the field in front of the Gu family's main tent.

"Two brothers, continue watching the match; we will go in first," Gu Tingyi said.

Subsequently,

Gu Tingyi walked into the Gu family tent first.

Zhang Wu Niang, who was behind, gave Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye a look of annoyance.

Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, who were walking at the very end, followed behind Zhang Wu Niang, stopping slightly at the entrance, preparing to bow to Xu Zaijing before continuing.

"Smack!"

On the polo field, the crisp sound of a polo mallet powerfully striking the ball came over.

Just hearing this sound, one knew it was a good shot!

The position where the mallet struck the ball was excellent; the polo ball would certainly fly high and fast.

Not even a breath of time passed.

"Ah!!"

A startled cry from a young lady on the polo field came over.

Following it were the gasps of the people around.

Before that young lady's startled cry had faded,

"Clack!"

A strange sound came from near Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, who were just bowing with their maids.

Hearing the sound, Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan looked up in confusion.

In their line of sight,

Xu Zaijing was facing them, nodding in return.

However, his posture was a bit strange: Xu Zaijing had one arm behind his back, while the other extended arm was clenched into a fist, blocking the side of the two with his palm facing outward.

At this moment,

"Huh? What was that!"

"How did he catch it?!"

"This person is so amazing!"

"Wow! What skill!"

"Hiss, does it hurt!"

The ladies and young ladies in front of the surrounding tents exclaimed and praised one after another.

Looking at the confusion in the beautiful eyes of Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, Xu Zaijing smiled, nodded, and said, "Go on in."

Bystanders are often confused; Chai Zhengzheng, who still didn't understand what had happened, also smiled reflexively.

Then, looking at the expressions of others not far away and their actions of clapping and giving thumbs-up, Chai Zhengzheng asked in confusion, "Xu Wu Ge Xu, what exactly happened?"

Rong Feiyan, on the side, also blinked and turned her head to look at the polo field a few yards away.

At this time, the noble young lady who had galloped over just now had already reined in her mount and was looking over here with wide eyes and a face full of surprise.

Feeling that something was wrong, Rong Feiyan looked into the distance again, feeling more and more that something was amiss in her heart.

Before Xu Zaijing could speak, Rong Feiyan frowned and asked in surprise, "Eh? Where is the polo ball from the field?"

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng also glanced at the polo field, then she withdrew her gaze and looked at Xu Zaijing's arm.

Rong Feiyan sensed something and hurriedly asked, "Xu Wu Ge Xu, was it the polo ball flying over just now, and you used your arm to help us block it?"

Wuniang and Gu Tingyi, who had already entered the tent, also turned back to look.

Chai Zhengzheng frowned at the person on the field, looked at Xu Zaijing, who was withdrawing his arm, and said, "Xu Wu Ge Xu, did you hurt yourself anywhere?"

Gu Er Lang, beside Xu Zaijing, swallowed and said with an uncomprehending face, "Don't worry, you two! Brother Jing didn't use his arm to block it, and he wasn't hurt."

Before the two could ask, in the surprised eyes of Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, Xu Zaijing turned sideways, swung his arm slightly, and threw the object he was holding in his hand toward the polo field.

Watching the polo ball that Xu Zaijing threw back,

Miss Xie Yun, who had witnessed the whole process on the field, hurriedly shouted, "Many thanks, Xu Wu Ge, for your righteous action."

Xu Zaijing smiled and waved his hand, signaling them to continue.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing bowed to the surrounding crowd who were cheering and praising him.

Finally, Xu Zaijing turned to look at the two young ladies in front of him and smiled, "Erlang is right! I didn't use my arm to block it, and I wasn't hurt!"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing's actions, felt relieved, and nodded, "Hmm! That's good then."

After saying this, she bowed again and walked toward the Gu family tent.

Rong Feiyan, on the side, let her beautiful eyes wander; she didn't dare to look at Xu Zaijing, so she also bowed and quickly caught up with Chai Zhengzheng.

The personal maids following behind also smiled at Xu Zaijing, bowed, and followed.

Not far away,

at the entrance of the Liang family tent,

Liang Han and Qi Heng, who had come out to watch the match, stood there together.

Just now, they had witnessed the whole thing:

The polo ball was powerfully struck and flew rapidly to one side; the young lady holding the polo mallet high failed to block it, so the ball flew toward the noble young ladies of the Chai and Rong families.

Xu Zaijing, standing beside the two, reached out directly without even moving his head and steadily gripped the rapidly flying polo ball in his palm.

Xu Zaijing's movements were crisp and neat, as easy as reaching into a bag to take something.

At a glance, those who didn't know would have thought Xu Zaijing and the person on the field had coordinated a pass.

Liang Han shook his head beside Qi Heng and said, "This, beyond reach, beyond reach! Brother Jing can attract so many noble young ladies' gazes even without taking the field!"

Qi Heng said with some envy, "Sixth Brother, how come Brother Jing's skills are so handsome now!"

Liang Han said, "Little Duke, it's not just now!"

"Before, when Brother Jing beat the Bai Gao warriors, I arrived late! I heard that Brother Jing beat the thieves with his back to them and even caught the poisoned arrows from the thieves' sneak attack. I didn't believe it before, but seeing it today, the rumors are not false!"

In the Empress's main tent,

seeing Xie Yun fail to catch the polo ball, Madam Wu hurriedly stood up, "Oh my, don't hit anyone!"

Following that was a burst of gasps and cheers.

Because of the angle, the Empress and others didn't see it very clearly.

The female official standing outside the tent hurriedly explained a few sentences.

Miss Gao Taotao, after hearing the female official's accurate and clear description, asked in surprise, "He just reached out and caught the polo ball right beside the two noble young ladies?"

"Yes, young lady," the female official said.

Zhao Fang, on the side, said with a face full of smiles, "Tsk tsk tsk! Wonderful! Wonderful! Brother Jing is truly amazing!"

The Empress and Madam Wu looked at each other and smiled kindly, "Brother Jing, this child, wherever he is, there is always endless limelight!"

Madam Wu smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty is right! The ladies and noblewomen standing outside each tent just now saw it very clearly!"

"Brother Jing made just one move! Your Majesty, how many ladies and madams do you guess will come to this minister's wife to inquire about him?"

The Empress smiled helplessly.

After this incident,

many matrons and madams of noble families from outside the capital who had recently arrived and didn't know the situation well began to inquire about Xu Zaijing's identity.

Just Xu Zaijing's move just now gave people a full sense of security at a glance.

After all, the young ladies who could pass the selection to enter the palace and become concubines were few, and the position of Crown Princess was almost predetermined.

Even if the young ladies who came to the capital couldn't use the news about Xu Zaijing, the young ladies raised in the deep boudoirs of their clans might have a chance.

Although there were those who heard about the need to 'compete' with the Chai family's young lady and gave up the idea, there were also families who wanted to vie for it and were not afraid of this matter.

When Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye stood at the entrance of the tent, watching Bai Shi go to the Empress's tent to take her leave.

Jiying Lane,

Sheng household,

Shou'an Hall,

Qingzhi stood in the hall, bowed, and said, "Madam sent this servant to ask Old Madam for help!"

Old Madam Sheng frowned, her eyes full of contemplation, and said in a deep voice, "Gu Er Lang is indeed too dissolute!"

"Old Madam is right; Madam is also very angry about this matter," Qingzhi said.

Old Madam recalled the content of her previous chat with Old Madam Yu, nodded, and said, "Go back and tell Da Niangzi Gu and Pingmei that I will help with this favor! Go!"

Qingzhi hurriedly agreed and said goodbye.

(End of chapter)