Zi Shou seized the opportunity to provide commentary, analyzing every player on both sides with convincing authority, pointing out their weaknesses and delivering his final verdict.
The Imperial Guards looked fierce, but their greatest weakness was precisely their fiercest player, Fang Xiang. Tall and powerfully built, he was worth two men, but teamwork was the key to football. Once Lei Kai led the defense and marked Fang Xiang relentlessly, the repeated failure to score would sap the Imperial Guards' momentum, leaving victory ripe for the taking.
Zi Shou missed neither a tap nor a flick of the ball, utterly absorbed.
By halftime, the two sides had traded attacks back and forth. Relying on brute strength, Fang Xiang had charged into the penalty area several times, only to return empty-handed every time against Lei Kai's defense.
Zi Shou sipped the grape wine Daji handed him, openly flaunting their affection before the crowd, and said with perfect composure, "Lei Kai and his men will turn things around in the second half."
He had already noticed displeasure on some of the lords' faces. A little indulgence in amusement from King Zhou would have been tolerable, but such complete absorption was hardly fitting for a sovereign.
They had heard that King Zhou even liked taking to the field himself. He left affairs of state unattended to go and play football?!
What possible sense did that make!
Whatever they thought, however, the match continued.
In the second half, Lei Kai's side continued to play steadily, refusing to rush their attacks even when they gained possession.
Fang Xiang, on the other hand, had gained nothing from his fierce assaults in the first half. If that continued into the second half, he would lose face.
The spectators were all feudal lords. He could not disgrace the Imperial