A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 152

Chapter 152

When the time came, a palace maid came over first and asked everyone to stand facing the palace where the Emperor was.

A ceremonial officer with a loud voice shouted: “Kneel!”

Everyone knelt down with a clatter and kowtowed as instructed.

The ceremony ended without even seeing the Emperor’s face, which made Old Madam Wen a little disappointed.

The inner hall was a place for noble ladies to socialize, and they could come out. But those outside, without being led, could not go in.

Moreover, the inner hall was connected to another hall, where the imperial female family members were.

The Empress would also receive some titled ladies.

The noble ladies and young misses here had good relationships, and some had become enemies due to various reasons. Some wore masks and remained expressionless, while others were not so subtle. If you were dissatisfied with me, and I was unhappy with you, it was common for a few sharp words to be exchanged.

Tan Shi had no faction or affiliation, and she had a good relationship with everyone. Consort Xiang even invited her over for a chat.

Before the Empress entered the palace, she had a good relationship with Madam Qi’s family, so she called Madam Qi over and asked about the incident at Heavenly Dragon Temple.

Madam Qi spoke vividly, and the Empress listened with great interest.

When the Empress summoned her, Madam Qi went in directly by herself and didn’t even mention bringing Xu Shi! Xu Shi was so angry…

She had been furious these past two days.

That night at dinner, she saw a large red and swollen mark on Qi Wu’s face and knew that her husband had hit him, which made her so happy.

Her mouth stretched to her ears, and she couldn’t stop mocking him sarcastically.

But how could she know the bitterness in Qi Xiao’s heart!

Qi Wu and Madam Qi acted as if they hadn’t heard anything, remaining calm and composed.

Qi Xiao, looking at his mother’s expression, thought to himself: “Even though I beat Fifth Brother like this, Mother isn’t even unhappy. Fifth Brother must have told her that I didn’t beat him… Humph, she must be secretly delighted that I didn’t beat Fifth Brother!”

His heart churned with discomfort, but Xu Shi still wouldn’t stop. He finally lost his patience and yelled at Xu Shi a couple of times.

Xu Shi, who had never experienced this, was stunned.

With Tan Shi’s “persuasion,” Xu Shi ran off crying.

Qi Xiao was even angrier. At night, he simply slept in the next room.

Xu Shi refused to give up and ran over to pester him, but she saw Qi Xiao’s injuries all over his body…

✿✿✿

A stage had been set up in the square, and the performance of silk, bamboo, string, and wind instruments, as well as dancing, had already begun.

The Empress, being childless, was very enthusiastic about this. The palace performers were highly skilled, and with no shortage of money, they put on a truly stunning performance!

However, on a day like this, everything had to have good implications.

The music was grand and celebratory.

The dances were mostly “Celestial Maidens Scattering Flowers” and “Magu Offering Longevity” and the like.

The audience could stand under the stage bundled up warmly or go inside the shed, where charcoal braziers were burning.

The place was full of women, and at most, you could see the consorts and princesses…

Yuan Shi, who had thought she could see some young gentlemen, didn’t see a single one.

Then she heard that they had all gone to watch polo.

Upon further inquiry, she learned that women could also go, but that place was not close to here.

In the palace, except for the consorts and princesses, no one could ride in a sedan chair or carriage. Even the county princesses had to walk.

Looking at the direction people were pointing to in the distance, she really had a headache.

She heard that the princesses and county princesses had already gone after paying their respects.

Yuan Shi told Old Madam Wen the information she had gathered and asked if she wanted to go.

Old Madam Wen hesitated a little and looked around. Not many families were going; most were watching the dance.

She said, “Wen Huan, Wen Jiao, you two can go if you want. Grandmother won’t go. It’s too far, and when they play polo, there’s a lot of dust.”

With her saying this, Wen Huan and Wen Jiao also hesitated.

✿✿✿

Meanwhile, at the polo field, flags were waving, and it was very lively.

When the Emperor was young, although he was not tall, he was a good polo player! When he was first seizing power, some people even tried to scheme against him on the field!

After becoming the Emperor, others dared not compete with him or win against him, so it became uninteresting to play.

As he got older, whenever he mounted a horse, a group of people would surround him, making a fuss and advising him, which made it even more boring.

But he loved to watch! At this moment, sitting in the main seat, his usually unfathomable face was full of smiles!

Those sitting around him were almost all princes, imperial grandsons, ministers, and their sons. The match hadn’t even started yet, and everyone was shouting, the atmosphere was quite enthusiastic.

The Emperor looked around, wanting to join the game!

Today’s matches were between several teams from the imperial family.

The Emperor casually handed out number plates.

One team was the Crown Prince’s, and he was playing in person today.

The second team was Prince An’s, but he wasn’t playing. Prince An’s team had very good horses, fast runners, often fouled, and liked to bump into people.

The third team was Prince Yun’s Prince Yongping’s. The second son of the Jiang family, Jiang Er, was a member of the team. Jiang Er’s strength was slightly inferior when playing polo, but his technique was quite good.

✿✿✿

The fourth team was Prince Wu’s Prince Yongqing’s. There was one nicknamed “Little Hawk,” with a hooked nose and sharp eyes, long arms and legs, who played extremely well.

The fifth team was Prince Ping’s. Prince Ping was the Emperor’s paternal uncle. This team had been around for a long time, with a steady style and unique playing tactics.

The sixth team was Princess Zhengyang’s, and it was actually all women… Although their skills were decent, the main thing was that they were pleasing to the eye. Even the Emperor frequently glanced over there!

There were also two teams composed of sons from prominent families. Although they were considered “miscellaneous,” they often played together, had unorthodox tactics, played cunningly, and even had some underhanded tricks. They couldn’t be underestimated!

With a shout from the Emperor, the competition began.

The first match among the eight teams was between Prince Yongping and the miscellaneous team. It didn’t take long for Prince Yongping’s team to win.

Next was the Crown Prince’s team against Prince An’s. The Crown Prince played in person and narrowly won. However, one of his players was knocked off his horse and injured, and it seemed he couldn’t continue playing.

Then it was the miscellaneous team against Princess Zhengyang’s team. The difference in skill was obvious. However, those few brats, looking at the beautiful girls, had some compassion for the fairer sex and dawdled, unwilling to win. The spectators went crazy, cheering, stamping their feet, and making a ruckus.

The Emperor laughed heartily at first, but seeing them dawdle endlessly, he cursed a few times. Then, like lightning, the match ended!

The Crown Prince, lacking a player, anxiously searched, but couldn’t find anyone suitable. So, he personally ran to the stands to look, and his eyes fell on Qi Wu.

Qi Wu was sitting there like a jade statue, but a bruise on his chin was very conspicuous.

Seeing him, the Crown Prince pointed and laughed, but his eyes turned cold. How did this kid get hurt?!

“Qi Wu?”

“Your Highness!” Qi Wu stood up and bowed.

“How did you get that?”

“I bumped into something.”

“Do you know how to play polo?”

“Yes!”

“Want to play?”

“Alright!”

So, Qi Wu followed the Crown Prince, and everyone around was watching them…

Over there, the final match of the first round had already finished.

Prince Wu’s Prince Yongqing won.

Qi Wu changed his clothes and entered the field. Seeing him, the Emperor pointed and asked those beside him, “Who is that…”

The eunuch inquired and reported back: “Your Majesty, that is the fifth son of the Qi family, Qi Yang.”

“Oh, he’s quite handsome! What happened to his face? Is he on the Crown Prince’s team?”

“Your Majesty, someone on the Crown Prince’s team was injured just now. Unable to find a suitable replacement, the Crown Prince grabbed him from the stands on a whim!”

“That boy is unreliable! Looking at Qi Yang’s appearance, that physique, can he even play polo?”

The Emperor didn’t even think about himself. With your small physique, didn’t you also play well?

The first match of the second round was Prince Wu’s team against the miscellaneous team. It took quite some time, but they won.

Next was the Crown Prince’s team against Prince Yongping’s team… Jiang Er’s team.

Finally able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him in public, the Crown Prince felt excited. His eyes didn’t look at Qi Wu, but he whispered, “Jiang Er, do you want to do it yourself, or should I?”

Qi Wu didn’t speak, and rode his horse forward…

In the end, Jiang Er was injured… Of course, it was the Crown Prince who, seeing Qi Wu not moving, became angry and struck him. He looked a bit battered, but the injury wasn’t serious.

After resting for a while, the Emperor, satisfied, made some knowledgeable comments.

In the third round, Prince Yongqing didn’t play and replaced himself with that “Little Hawk.” Just looking at his imposing manner was different!

Then, some mischievous people began to place bets, but basically, the bets on both teams were evenly matched, as everyone didn’t have a strong preference…

This match should be the most exciting of the entire game.

Although the Crown Prince usually lacked seriousness, and his polo playing posture was displeasing to the Emperor, it was quite practical.

The entire team, even with Qi Wu being newly added, their coordination was “slightly unpolished.”

But they didn’t drop the ball at crucial moments.

If someone made a mistake, someone else would recover it.

As the match went back and forth, even the Emperor became excited watching.

Finally, all eyes in the entire field were on Qi Wu and that “Little Hawk”…

The two fought fiercely, neither holding back. One attacked, the other defended, one struck, the other received, one was ruthless, the other was equally ruthless, pushing the excitement to a climax again and again.

“Good!” Seeing the exciting play, the Emperor couldn’t help but stand up.

All eyes in the field were focused on Qi Wu.

Although “Little Hawk” also played well, his appearance wasn’t anything special…

In the end, with Qi Wu leaning half his body off his horse for a powerful strike, they narrowly won the match!

“Good!” The Emperor shouted again.

Cheers erupted throughout the field!

Qi Wu became famous in one battle.

I must be mistaken, my eyes are playing tricks on me…