Chapter 93: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 93: It's You**
With a shout of "This jug!" the surroundings fell briefly silent.
Cui Jing sensed countless eyes gathering, and the most fervent and surprised gaze came from the arena above—
On horseback, the boy with red lips and white teeth trembled in shock, his expression so excited that Qiao Yubai worried he might fall off his horse.
“...Eldest Brother!”
His elder brother actually came!
A sincere invitation and the realization of having daydreamed in broad daylight were not contradictory—
But right now, his elder brother truly was here!
“Look, that is my elder brother!” Cui Lang exclaimed, still at the beginning of the match, as he swung his mallet while proudly showing off to his three teammates, “My elder brother came to watch me play!”
Qiao Yubai nodded with a smile, “I see.”
The tall boy, who had just blocked an opponent’s shot and was tied with a blue ribbon at his waist, looked over and said, “Cui Lang's elder brother? That must be General Cui from the Xuanzhe!”
Another teammate, with pale skin and slanted phoenix eyes, also curiously glanced at the young man under the pavilion.
“I must win this Polo match today, and I hope everyone will lend their full support!” Cui Lang, feeling that he had “no way out,” exclaimed excitedly, “After this victory, I’ll host a celebration feast for you all at the Dengtai Tower for three days and three nights!”
Today, he was determined to impress his elder brother!
Qiao Yubai and the others laughed and agreed.
The tall boy at the back of the team swallowed hard, his eyes full of longing: “Then it’s settled!”
The opponents, tied with black belts, exchanged complex glances—this celebration banquet was already decided, did they think they were pushovers?
Both sides were ignited with competitive spirit, and the match began to heat up.
“Eldest Brother really came to watch the monkey show...” Cui Tang remarked with some surprise.
Lu Shi glanced at her spirited son in the arena, nodding, “This monkey is really showing off.”
Under the pavilion where the women gathered, the young maid next to Qiao Yumiananananan was constantly reporting on the match’s situation, her tone rising and falling with the game’s progress, making Qiao Yumiananananan anxious and absorbed.
Hearing the ladies around her praise Qiao Yubai, the usually relaxed Wang Shi simply smiled and said, “The young man is just playing around.”
Wang Shi was indifferent by nature, her most distinctive traits being her lifelong rivalry with her husband over fishing and her deep-seated love for incense burning and praying.
The youthful and spirited boys galloping and swinging mallets in the arena drew everyone’s attention, and in between the games, the women occasionally whispered to each other.
The current holy emperor placed great emphasis on the imperial examination and repeatedly reformed the educational system of the Imperial academy to strengthen its ties with the officialdom—
Among the many students in the Imperial academy, due to their diverse backgrounds, whether they entered service through years of examinations or through recommendations, outstanding scholars would undoubtedly step into officialdom in the future.
In recent years, families seeking suitable husbands for their daughters discovered that there were hardly any good matches left...
Upon inquiring further, they learned that many young scholars who made it onto the lists had already been secretly snatched up while studying at the Imperial academy!
In this situation, to avoid being left with the dregs, families were forced to act earlier to snatch up the best candidates—
As women, they usually had no opportunity to interact with the students of the Imperial academy, making this Polo match a rare opportunity.
Watching the Polo was primary, but scouting for promising young men was the real purpose.
The students not participating in this Polo were temporarily out of the ladies’ sight, and now all six teams of twenty-four students were on the field, all having been seen by the women.
At this moment, among the eight on the field, excluding two who already had the demeanor of husbands, the most eye-catching were all in Qiao Yubai's team.
One woman quietly said to another while looking at a tall, robust youth, “That’s the Hu family’s young man; I heard he’s a concubine’s son.”
Concubine-born sons cannot inherit the family fortune, and their future is unclear unless they are extraordinarily gifted.
“That’s from the Cui family... just a wastrel,” another woman scoffed. “What does it matter if he’s not a wastrel? The sons of the Cui family aren’t the same as ordinary youths.”
Sons of the Cui family wouldn’t even glance at ordinary gentry.
“That one looks quite good; he’s handsome... but he seems unfamiliar. I wonder which family he’s from?” A woman looked at the young scholar in the center of Qiao Yubai’s team.
Many women shook their heads, indicating they did not recognize him.
Qiao Yumiananananan overheard and curiously asked Chang Suining, “Ning Ning, which young men are they talking about?”
“It’s someone from Brother Yubai’s team,” Chang Suining observed, describing, “He doesn’t look like a Da Sheng, must be from Dong Luo—”
Qiao Yumiananananan realized: “Ah, that’s a student from Dong Luo... his surname is Xi, given name Zhiyuan; he’s been in the Imperial academy for about five or six years now.”
The Imperial academy not only accepted students from the Da Sheng but also a few young men from neighboring dynasty for academic exchange.
This student named Xi Zhiyuan came from Dong Luo, an ally of Da Sheng Dynasty.
Chang Suining nodded slightly.
The Xi surname is also a noble clan in Dong Luo.
“So he’s from Dong Luo...” Xi'er exclaimed in surprise, then puzzled, “How did the young ladies figure that out? To me, this Dong Luo man looks similar to our Da Sheng Dynasty men.”
Chang Suining picked up her cooling drink and casually remarked, “If you look closely, there are still distinctions.”
Wei Miaoqing, sitting nearby, carefully examined Xi Zhiyuan but frowned—she couldn’t see any differences. How could Chang Suining tell?
As she pondered this, she secretly glanced into Chang Suining’s eyes, only to see the girl’s eyes as still as a mountain spring, making her feel refreshingly cool all over.
Wei Miaoqing’s expression tightened.
What kind of nonsense is this?
In this world, how could there be such unreasonable people!
Frustrated at her repeated failures, she withdrew her gaze and gloomily sipped her tea.
The news about Xi Zhiyuan being from Dong Luo quickly spread among the women. As Dong Luo people, they required no further consideration; Da Sheng Dynasty law clearly stated that foreign students from the Imperial academy, unless they settled in Da Sheng Dynasty and became Da Sheng Dynasty nationals, could not marry Da Sheng Dynasty women.
While others still needed to carefully weigh their options, the most eye-catching youth on the field required no further differentiation.
Qiao Yubai’s excellence was undeniable.
The son of the Imperial academy's headmaster, possessing above-average looks, a gentle temperament, and outstanding talents—
With such conditions, he was undoubtedly among the most desirable candidates for matchmaking!
Even if one disregarded his noble background and talents, simply relying on the impressive display of the young man on the Polo field could captivate countless hearts.
The number of women gathered around Wang Shi increased significantly, even becoming somewhat crowded.
Marquis Zheng's wife, Duan Shi, turned to her daughter and asked in a low voice, “Qing’er, what do you think of this Qiao family young man? If you like him, your mother will go after him!”
The Zheng family had never been one for subtlety.
Wei Miaoqing, pulling at her handkerchief, shook her head: “He seems nice.”
Beside her, the steward frowned in confusion:
How could the young lady's head and mouth not be aligned?
But undoubtedly, what mattered was that she wasn’t interested in this Qiao family young man at all... her heart was completely with that Chang family girl.
“Then we’ll talk when you see someone you like...” Duan Shi patted her daughter’s hand and turned back to chat with Chang Suining.
Seeing this, Wei Miaoqing felt even more suffocated and downed a large glass of ice drink, causing her teeth to tremble from the cold.
On the field, with the sound of a gong, the fourth period of the match came to a close.
“The blue team has won five flags this period; the blue team is victorious once again—”
On horseback, Cui Lang raised his Polo stick, his sweat-drenched face brimming with joy: “We won! We won!”
Although there were five periods in total, Qiao Yubai’s team had already won three out of four periods, making the outcome clear. His shout of victory was well-deserved.
“Do we still need to compete in the final period?” the boy with the surname Hu wiped his sweat with his sleeve and asked Qiao Yubai.
In the previous match, Huang Team, led by Chang Miao, had also won three out of four periods; according to the rules, the final period didn’t need to be played, but Chang Miao had provocatively insisted, forcing the opponents to play another round, leading to their victory in four periods.
With that precedent, the boy with the surname Hu asked this question.
Upon hearing it, the four boys on the opposing side exchanged glances, waiting for Qiao Yubai’s response.
“Of course, we won't back down now!” Qiao Yubai said boldly, raising his Polo stick, “Let’s show them what we’re made of!”
When the fifth period began, the sky was covered with clouds, casting a large shadow over the playing field, and a sudden cool breeze swept across.
The gust made the opponents hesitant, but the young men of Qiao Yubai’s team were full of enthusiasm.
“Start!” Qiao Yubai shouted, charging toward the Polo ball.
In this match, the boys were more invigorated than in the previous periods.
“This is a real challenge!” Cui Lang shouted with delight, rushing ahead with his mallet in hand.
On the sidelines, the spectators felt the excitement as they cheered for the teams.
**“We support the blue team!”**
“Go for it, Qiao Yubai!”
As the cheers rose, a team member was struck down, and the remaining boys swiftly maneuvered, grabbing flags, changing formations, and competing fiercely.
The ball moved back and forth, passing from one player to another, every stroke giving a hint of elegant skill.
The players were deeply focused, with sweat glistening on their foreheads, causing their faces to shine brightly under the sunlight.
The intensity of the game captivated not just the men but also the women on the sidelines, who unconsciously leaned closer to the edge of the pavilion, fascinated by the action.
The cheers echoed and mingled with the booming sound of the mallet striking the Polo ball, as victory and glory intertwined, raising the tension to its peak.
He spoke honestly, clearly articulating the thoughts of his side.
Though he didn't openly boast about his magnanimity, he made others feel quite comfortable.
The four opponents all secretly let out a sigh of relief.
The outcome was already determined; their fighting spirit had collapsed, and even winning one more period seemed nearly impossible.
Earlier, Chang Miao's team had played fiercely, and the losing side had not only lost the match but had likely also suffered a blow to their pride, making their expressions quite difficult to bear as they exited the field.
At this moment, Cui Lang was already walking toward them, smiling and raising his hand in a gesture of respect. "Thank you for your generosity!"
The young man looked quite pleasant, and his broad smile was endearing. "Today, my elder brother came to watch the match. If I lost, it would be quite impossible to explain myself. Luckily, you all were gracious and let me win this round!"
The four opponents were aware of his identity and felt a bit flattered.
The students at the Imperial academy were divided into various academies, with most of the students in their academy being those who had worked hard to be admitted from distant provinces. Because they were far from the capital, there were many of humble origins among them—
For instance, among the four of them, only one had a family member in a low-ranking official position.
To put it bluntly, horses were rare for them; even before entering the Imperial academy for education, they had only played Polo a few times, mostly just “walking strikes” or “light strikes.”
Currently, Polo is divided into three types: mounted Polo is considered “big strike,” donkey-mounted Polo is “small strike,” and foot Polo is “walking strike.”
Thus, they were truly incomparable to Cui Lang and other capital-born youths who had played Polo since childhood.
With such unfavorable odds to begin with, let alone facing Qiao Yubai’s blue team—
Although they had initially been stirred into a bit of competitive spirit, they knew their own limitations; losing was expected, and Qiao Yubai did not act as aggressively as Chang Miao had. Cui Lang’s demeanor was quite decent as well.
Therefore, the four of them relaxed and returned the gesture to Cui Lang.
They also thought to themselves that this Cui family sixth son, who was considered a wastrel, was actually quite agreeable.
Even more agreeable was what followed—
“In a few days, I’ll host a celebration banquet at Dengtai Tower, and you all are welcome to join!”
“?”
“This…” The four of them pondered for a while, unsure how to respond appropriately, and could only say, “One shouldn’t accept rewards without merit…”
“Why shouldn’t one accept rewards? It’s thanks to your generosity that I won this match!”
Hearing the referee announce the blue team’s victory, Cui Lang hurried to find Qiao Yubai and the others, quickly patting one of the boys on the shoulder. “It’s settled then! You all must not go back on your word!”
Once he left, the four were left looking at each other in confusion.
As they exited the field, they began to speak in low voices.
“We lost the Polo match but were invited to the other side’s celebration banquet. What kind of strange thing is this…”
“Doesn’t that suggest some humiliation on their part?”
“But… do you feel humiliated?” The one who asked already showed his stance on his face—he certainly didn’t feel that way at all.
The others also silently expressed their thoughts.
“Then should we go?”
“But he is from the Cui family. If we don’t go, will we offend them?”
Once this was said, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense, as if any misstep could jeopardize their future.
Amid the tension, one person spoke up: “Wait a minute, did you overlook a point—”
The other three looked at him.
“They haven’t won yet.” That student said, “This afternoon, they still have another match to play.”
Before each team played, they drew lots to determine the match order. After the first half of the day, three teams remained, and in the afternoon, the winning two teams would compete against each other first. After determining a winner, the winning side would then face the remaining team, which was Qiao Yubai’s blue team, to decide the ultimate victor.
It was nearing noon, and the first half of the events was over. Everyone needed to eat and rest in preparation for the crucial final match in the afternoon.
During this time, predicting the outcome was quite an entertaining task.
The crowd dispersed for a moment, chatting in groups.
Most of the students headed to the dining hall, and today the Imperial academy had specially prepared meals for the officials in attendance, guided by attendants.
Some more prominent officials or those with personal ties were personally accompanied by Scholar Master Qiao, including Cui Jing, Wei Shuyi, and Minister Yao.
“Today, let’s taste the fish banquet from our Imperial academy…” Scholar Master Qiao explained as he walked, “Every fish here was personally prepared by me.”
“…”
Following behind, Qiao Yumiananananan, although unable to see, did not miss the opportunity to exchange a knowing glance with Chang Suining.
Their father’s fish would not miss feeding any visitor to the Imperial academy.
At this moment, Qiao Yubai and Cui Lang, who had discussed the strategy for the final match in the afternoon, rushed to catch up.
Cui Lang was running over: “Eldest Brother!”
Having rarely done something praiseworthy, Cui Lang ran extremely fast, and while rushing past, accidentally bumped into one of Qiao Yumiananananan's shoulders.
Qiao Yumiananananan let out a soft exclamation and hurriedly stepped aside.
Chang Suining reached out to support her shoulder: “Don’t be afraid, Sister.”
The exclamation made Cui Lang pause suddenly, and he seemed to ponder, exclaiming in realization, “Oh, it’s you.”
**Is everyone ready to head back? I’ll be going back tomorrow _(:з」∠)_
(End of chapter)**
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