"Since the young prince is in such high spirits, let's have two more matches." Xiao Yuan looked at the officials, "Gentlemen, who is willing to fight?"
"I am willing to give it a try."
The one who responded was Lu Chi Lu Mingzhe's half-brother. Years ago, his mother was executed for poisoning Lu Chi's biological mother, and his father, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, was also implicated and stripped of his title. This time, he volunteered only to make a name for himself before the Crown Prince and restore his family's honor.
Xiao Yuan glanced at him indifferently, "Captain Lu, perform well."
Lu Mingzhe clasped his hands in agreement, ordered someone to bring over a warhorse, and gestured to Jin Xiaoji, "General Jin, please."
Jin Xiaoji was taken aback. When had he ever said he was going to participate? Why was this guy provoking him right off the bat? Who are you?
You Tuo glanced at him, "Go."
Jin Xiaoji had no choice but to agree. He mounted his horse with swift and decisive movements.
The two men stood side by side at the starting line. As soon as the gong sounded, their horses galloped off.
At first, they were neck and neck, but before they had even completed half a lap, Jin Xiaoji had already firmly pinned Lu Mingzhe behind, making it impossible for him to overtake.
Xiao Yuan's smile was almost too wide to hold back, You Tuo laughed heartily.
He immediately spoke up, feigning displeasure as he shouted at Jin Xiaoji, "General Jin, how can you be so impolite? What kind of guest bullies the host like this? Slow down the pace!"
With these words, even if Lu Mingzhe wins, it would only be the other party giving in.
He was both ashamed and angry, and a sudden surge of resentment rose in his heart. He abruptly pulled on the reins and spurred his horse, aiming to ram it sideways into Jin Xiaoji's mount and throw him to the ground.
This move immediately caused an uproar among the audience.
Competitions are usually decided by a point; such insidious tactics have utterly disgraced the Sheng Dynasty.
Xiao Yuan's face instantly darkened like a frozen pool, and a mocking smile curled at the You Tuo's lips.
In a flash, Jin Xiaoji lightly flicked the reins, urging his horse to dodge to the side. Lu Mingzhe's attack missed its mark, and his momentum was too strong to stop; he and his horse crashed heavily to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.
Jin Xiaoji rode his horse back to the finish line and turned to bow.
You Tuo laughed loudly, "Lieutenant Lu only made a mistake just now. Why don't you send someone else to continue the match?"
Upon hearing this, all the officials fell silent, and the scene reached a stalemate.
The suggestion to "give way" just now put everyone in a dilemma. Winning would be dishonorable, and losing would be even more embarrassing. For a moment, no one dared to respond.
Xiao Yuan took in everyone's expressions, suppressed his anger, and slowly said, "Since the young prince is so interested, how about we try something different?"
You Tuo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Your Highness, please speak."
How about polo?
"Polo is good," You Tuo a deeper smile, "But it's rather boring with only men. The women of Silla are all skilled in riding and archery, so why not have a mixed-gender match? That would be much more exciting."
He had long heard that the men of the Sheng Dynasty liked to play polo, but the women mostly stayed in their boudoirs, at most doing embroidery and pitch-pot. The women he brought with him, however, trained in horsemanship year-round. With this combination, even if they couldn't win, they could at least draw.
Xiao Yuan looked at his ministers, "Is there anyone among you who is willing to go into battle?"
Madam Su stepped forward first, saying, "This humble woman, of the Song family of Su, is willing to fight for the Sheng Dynasty."
Fu Congxi followed closely behind, saying, "Your wife, from the Lu family, surnamed Fu, is willing to go."
Jin Shanyao looked around. On one side was her niece-in-law, and on the other side was Lu Chi's wife. They were all her own people. As the eldest brother, how could she let them go out and get beaten up?
She immediately raised her voice, " Jin Shanyao is willing to join the war!"
Upon seeing their aunt enter the arena, Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci immediately declared in unison, "Your subjects are willing to fight alongside you."
Fearing that Meng Anzhi might get hurt, Zhao Zhiyuan also stepped forward.
Before long, Sheng Dynasty had assembled his forces.
Meanwhile, You Tuo secretly instructed several Silla women, "Keep a close eye on that man, don't hold back with your baseball bat, hit him as hard as you can."
Several women glanced coldly at Jin Shanyao and replied in a low voice, "Young Prince, rest assured, we have been training in riding and archery for eight years, and this is the day we have been waiting for."
Meng Anci's black horse was still outside the palace, while Meng Anzhi's white horse was at home. Xiao Yuan immediately ordered someone to bring Meng Anzhi's white horse over, and also to bring the old ox with the Jin Shanyao to the racetrack.
Jin Xiaoji sneered at the old ox, " Madam Jin, riding an ox on the polo field is rather against the rules, isn't it?"
Jin Shanyao confidently, "What's wrong with the ox? At the speed of an ox and a horse, we're actually at a disadvantage! You should be secretly happy!"
Jin Xiaoji was about to speak when Jin Shanyao interrupted him, "Are you going on stage?"
Jin Xiaoji was taken aback by the sudden concern and subconsciously said, "Going on the field? I'm a starter."
Jin Shanyao smiled and beckoned to Jin Xiaoji with her finger. Jin Xiaoji instinctively took a half step back and said warily, "What are you doing?? Say what you have to say right here."
Jin Shanyao her tongue, " Xiaoji, you hurt me... I was just asking if you wanted to watch the game?"
Jin Xiaoji said awkwardly, "I don't watch polo matches, what would I watch?"
Jin Shanyao, indicating that she understood...
With their horses in position, Meng Anzhi rode a white horse, Meng Anci rode a black horse, standing on either side of Jin Shanyao. Jin Shanyao withdrew her Spiritual Power power and rode on the old ox.
The old ox glared menacingly at the horse opposite it; it hadn't seen such a defiant look in a long time...
With a loud thud, the old ox leaped out and charged towards the opposing cavalry with overwhelming force, catching everyone off guard.
Jin Shanyao had already snatched the red ball; with a flick of his cue, the ball was instantly delivered to Jin Xiaoji.
"My ji... look, your ball."
Jin Xiaoji was initially shocked, wondering how she could so steadily control a spinning ball on the cue stick.
Just as she was about to grab the ball, Jin Shanyao dodged it, clicking her tongue twice... "Didn't you say you were just watching? Why are you attacking?"
Thump... The gong sounds, and the referee shouts, "Passive delaying, call a jump ball!"
Jin Shanyao her head and turned to look behind her. What did that mean???
Meng Anci rode forward on his horse and said with a smile, "Auntie, when you receive the ball, you have to hit it."
With a Jin Shanyao of his hand, Jin Shan announced the start of the competition. The gong rang out, and Lao Niu darted off again, his speed leaving only a blur.
Jin Shanyao snatched the red ball and held it up in front of Jin Xiaoji. She shouted anxiously, " Xiaoji... look, your ball..."
Jin Xiaoji reached out to snatch it but missed. He spurred his horse and angrily said, " Jin Shanyao, you've gone too far..."
Jin Shanyao was displeased with these words and was about to retort when the gong rang out again.
Oops... another foul.
She glared at Jin Xiaoji, "Stop dawdling... Who am I fighting so hard for? It's all to make you happy." With that, she tossed the ball to the referee.
Xiao Yuan glanced at You Tuo Tieqing's pale face, and couldn't help but smile. "Young Prince, please be lenient. This Madam Jin comes from the countryside and probably doesn't understand the rules of the competition."
You Tuo gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the arena.
When the referee threw the red ball again, neither side rushed forward to grab it. Jin Shanyao observed the surroundings for a long time, secretly pointing his cue at the ground.
He whispered, " Xiaoji... watch... the game..."
Dong... The gong rang out again.
Jin Shanyao's temper flared up. She pointed at the referee and yelled, "Knock, knock, knock! All you know is how to knock! I didn't even touch the ball, and you still knock!"
The referee looked at Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan smiled and said, " Madam Jin... the Silla envoys are guests after all. What's wrong with letting them play a few rounds? Why don't you rest first... and let them get some exercise."
Jin Shanyao was unhappy, but this wasn't her own territory. To put it bluntly, she was a guest, and as the saying goes, a guest should follow the host's lead... So she glanced at Jin Xiaoji with regret.
" Xiaoji... do you still want to watch the game?"
She pointed at Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci, "Those two are my children. If you want to see them, I'll have them bring you the ball. After all, we've known each other for a while, so naturally I'm on your side..."
Jin Xiaoji's hands, gripping the reins, were bulging with veins. He closed his eyes, too angry to utter a single word.