Chapter 435: Polo Match
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Tang Jinghong was a general with real power. In the future, when Chu Qingzhi married him, she could indirectly influence the Imperial Court. She was someone who had a greater influence than the daughters of important officials like them. It was also necessary to build a good relationship with her.
Chu Qingzhi said politely, “Thank you for preparing these.”
Fan Yuru waved her hand. She had a carefree personality. “It’s just a meal. You’re welcome.”
The food was very sumptuous. The table was filled. It could be seen that every dish was carefully prepared. The person who arranged it was very considerate.
The meal went smoothly. After the meal, Fan Yuru arranged an event… to play polo.
Playing polo was an activity that involved riding on a horse and hitting the ball with a cue. This was an activity that young boys and girls in the capital liked very much.
There was a place to play polo in Pear Phoenix Garden. It was just a few steps away.
Chu Qingzhi had never played polo before and was a little interested. “I don’t have an outfit.”
“It’s fine. I’ve prepared it for you.” Fan Yuru brought Chu Qingzhi and Ge Lihua to change.
Seeing that Fan Yuru was so attentive to Chu Qingzhi, Rong Shiyu was afraid that Chu Qingzhi would side with Fan Yuru. She hurriedly chased after her and grabbed Chu Qingzhi’s other hand. “I’ve prepared one too. Take mine.”
Chu Qingzhi was speechless.
“If you keep doing this, I won’t play anymore.”
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu glared at each other and could only compromise.
Fan Yuru said, “I’ll get the clothes.”
Rong Shiyu said, “I’ll get the pants.”
Hence, Chu Qingzhi’s patched-up polo outfit appeared. It was light yellow on the top and light blue on the bottom. However, she was tall and it looked very good on her.
Ge Lihua sized up Chu Qingzhi and smiled faintly. “This polo outfit is unique.”
Chu Qingzhi lowered her head and looked at her outfit. It was indeed quite unique. “Don’t tease me.”
At this moment, everyone changed their clothes and came out.
Fan Yuru grabbed Chu Qingzhi and walked towards the court. “Let’s go this way.”
Rong Shiyu came out a step later. When she saw that Fan Yuru had left, she quickly chased after her. “Fan Yuru, you are really swanky.”
Fan Yuru was not ashamed. Instead, she was proud. “If it were you, you would be faster than me. We’re the same. Don’t criticize me.”
Rong Shiyu, just one move away from victory, coldly snorted and said, “Fan Yuru, you wait to lose in a moment.”
At this point, Fan Yuru asked another question that gave Chu Qingzhi a headache. “Miss Chu, will you join our Team Fan? Or Team Rong?”
Chu Qingzhi came up with a compromise and took the lead, saying, “I don’t think we should split like this. Let’s draw lots later, and whoever we draw will be our teammate. This will be fair and square.”
She had to reconcile the two sides as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would be a headache if they asked her which side she would join every day.
Fan Yuru thought for a moment and couldn’t think of a better idea, so she agreed. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Rong Shiyu agreed to Chu Qingzhi’s suggestion.
Drawing lots was fair and just, but Fan’s team and Rong’s team had never played together before. They weren’t sure if they would be able to coordinate well this time, but they didn’t have any other choice. They both thought that once they had Chu Qingzhi on their side, everything would be fine.
With a total of over forty women, excluding a few who weren’t familiar with the game, it worked out perfectly with forty participants. They could form four groups of ten, with two groups playing against each other at a time.
On the 4.0 slips of paper, there were four words, “1, 2, 3, 4”. Those who drew the same word were in a group.
The servant girls prepared it and placed it in a box. All the girls stepped forward to draw lots.
Chu Qingzhi was the last to take it. She did not look at it immediately.
Fan Yuru quickly unfolded the paper slip. “I drew ‘one’. Miss Chu, what did you draw?”
Rong Shiyu also ran over and looked at the slip of paper in Chu Qingzhi’s hand with interest. “I drew ‘one’. Miss Chu, what did you draw?”
Before Chu Qingzhi could answer, Fan Yuru said excitedly, “You also drew ‘one’?”
Rong Shiyu nodded and looked at Rong Shiyu suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you drew a ‘one’ too?”
Fan Yuru covered her face. How unlucky. Why did she get the same number as Rong Shiyu?
Rong Shiyu turned away, feeling a bit awkward. They had always been at odds, and she never expected that one day they would end up on the same team.
Chu Qingzhi blinked and looked a little mischievous. She would take this opportunity to reconcile the two of them.
She opened her slip of paper. “I drew a two.”
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu turned around to look at Chu Qingzhi’s paper slip with disappointment. They wanted to be in the same team as Chu Qingzhi.
When the people from Team Two heard this, they were very happy and surrounded Chu Qingzhi. Yuan Qingqing and Feng Xuejun were both in Team Two.
Yuan Qingqing said excitedly, “That’s great, we are in the same group.”
Feng Xuejun echoed, “Miss Chu’s martial arts are so high. We will definitely get first place.”
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu looked at Feng Xuejun in unison and asked, “Can we change it?”
Yuan Qingqing and Feng Xuejun said in unison, “No.”
“Tsk…”
They continued drawing lots to determine which teams would face each other in the games.
The second team asked Chu Qingzhi to draw, and she drew a “one.” The first team also drew a “one,” so for the first game, it was the first team against the second team.
They arrived at the polo field, each with a polo mallet in hand and a horse, getting ready for the game.
Chu Qingzhi was assigned a sleek black stallion, a horse that was certainly not an ordinary choice, given that it was for the enjoyment of these rich young ladies and gentlemen. The other participants also received high-quality horses.
Chu Qingzhi touched the horse’s head and got on the horse’s back gracefully.
Everyone mounted their horses and tied the team ribbons to their foreheads to distinguish their teammates.
First match, Team One vs Team Two.
The young prince and Lin Yingmin walked to the side to watch. Watching a group of beautiful girls play polo was definitely an enjoyment.
The young prince was accustomed to such scenes and appeared relaxed, enjoying the spectacle.
Lin Yingmin was especially restrained. Sometimes, he didn’t even dare to look at the girls on the stage. Each of them was bright, beautiful, and dazzling. He felt that they were unapproachable.
The young prince took the initiative to chat. “Have you seen girls play polo before?”
Lin Yingmin shook his head honestly and said, “I’ve never seen this before.” In the past, he had a troubled lifestyle and had difficulty going out, let alone attending such events.
The young prince couldn’t help but feel sympathetic and said, “In the future, you can join me, and I’ll show you even more grand events.”
Lin Yingmin nodded with a smile. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The polo match on the field began. It was very intense…
Chu Qingzhi took the lead and ran to snatch the ball.
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu rode over to snatch the ball, showcasing their excellent equestrian skills. With one hand on the reins and the other holding the polo mallet, they demonstrated stability and precision.
Members of the second team, Yuan Qingqing and Feng Xuejun, came over to assist. Both young women came from martial families and had strong martial arts skills. They were also skilled equestrians, and as soon as they rode over, they blocked Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu effectively.
However, there was still Ge Lihua in Team One. Seeing this, Ge Lihua passed through a gap to snatch the ball from Chu Qingzhi..